Week in Review

Wednesday, May 14, 1997

Traditional Failure

Over 30 students gathered on Thursday, May 1st, at Tri-Kap fraternity to discuss traditions at Dartmouth. The event purported to decide which traditions were positive, and which needed change.

Traditions such as Green Key, DOC trips and Blitzmail were suggested as examples of good activities while the Greek system, The Dartmouth Review, and Football were classified as 'bad.' The discussion then turned to a search for one tradition that could be deemed universally 'good,' and the Bonfire was suggested. What ensued was a fairly heated debate between supporters of the Bonfire and those that felt it should be severely changed or eliminated entirely.

The argument went as follows:

Anti-bonfire person: 'The Bonfire is a return to savagery.'

Pro-Bonfire Person: 'Huh?'

ABP: 'It doesn't unite the community, and besides, it uses enough wood to heat the homes of all the Upper Valley's poor for a winter.'

PBP: 'The bonfire is essential in bringing the Dartmouth community together. It unites the freshman with the rest of the classes, the current students with the alumni, and incorporates everyone into the history of Dartmouth.'

ABP : 'See, there's the problem.'

PBP: 'Sorry, what? You've lost me'

ABP: 'The history. Dartmouth's history as an all white, male, racist and anti-gay institution. By participating in the Bonfire you're participating in that history and therefore you're supporting the exclusion of minorities.'

The debate continued for the next two hours on similar topics. The bonfire detractors were opposed to the Bonfire because it was started at a time when Dartmouth was exclusive and anything created at that time must be inherently bad.

One bonfire supporter noted, 'if you come looking for something bad you'll find it.'

Belief and Disbelief

Last Friday, Dartmouth Students for a Free Tibet sponsored a lecture by Bhakdo, a Tibetan monk and former political prisoner who escaped from the Chinese-occupied territory.

In 1988, Bhadko participated in a peaceful demonstration against Chinese rule and cultural genocide in Tibet. Chinese troops soon fired upon hundreds of monks, women and children. Bhakdo denounced the violence, and was imprisoned for inciting riots. He endured innumerable tortures, including electric cattle prods, beatings, burning, and contaminated food and water.

After 3 years in prison, he was battered and broken. Bhadko was released and told to return the next day with a confession.

He was also given official records documenting Chinese torture in Tibet, which he sewed into his robe, and escaped to India via Nepal. He has since spent several months in a mental institution for Holocaust survivors. After his speech, several students from the Communist People's Republic of China accosted him, and called him a 'liar,' despite the documents which he laid before them.

Worman Returns

The Dartmouth Review is pleased to announce the return of Professor James Worman to the College for the Summer term. Professor Worman, a staunch conservative and favorite of pre-medical students, will be teaching Organic Chemistry and entertaining students with his stories of growing up with the Pennsylvania Dutch and prairie-dog hunting.

Break Out the Dom

The following was distributed over the Dartmouth Rainbow Alliance's e-mail list.

'Subject: House Bill 421 passed 13 to 9!

Hi—Thought you might all want to know that HB 421, the bill adding sexual orientation to NH's antidiscrimination law, passed the state senate today by a vote of 13 to 9! The governor has already said she will sign it.

So we are soon to be the 10th state in the US to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the areas of housing and employment! Thanks for your help in getting this passed!'

Food Fight III

Two weeks ago, students voted overwhelmingly to curtail Dartmouth Dining Services (DDS), rather than accept a mandatory $800 Declining Balance Account. The administration had promised to abide by the students' vote, and a committee was formed to decide the fate of DDS. The long-awaited decision has been made, but the administration is delaying the announcement until early next week, when they have had a chance to speak with affected workers. The administration has said that the new plan will only solve DDS' short-term problems. The move to lay-off union workers affected by the service cuts will be delayed until the fall.

Dirty Capitalists

In a feature article on April 30, 1997, the New York Times reported on the popular resurgence of America's favorite Latin American communist, Che Guevarra. Guevarra, the right-hand man of Fidel Castro and erstwhile leader of a failed Bolivian rebellion is the subject of six upcoming films and documentaries and two books. His story made its most recent appearance in Madonna's movie, Evita. In addition to movies and books, Che Guevarra can also be found on revolutionary posters and shirts.

Marxist fashion will continue with this summer's premiere of the Molotov series of cocktails, followed by Stalin Purge accessories in the fall.

The Old School Revisited

In 1993 Massachusetts's Springfield College changed the school's nickname from 'Chiefs' to 'Pride' because of alleged 'pejorative' connotations of the former appellation. Four years later, students have won a promise from administrators to reinstate the 'Chiefs' mascot. The change came after a sit-in staged by the senior class president and other influential students. A previous campus-wide referendum had resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Chiefs but proved unsuccessful in changing the policy.

Children of the Rainbow

Ramon Cortines achieved nationwide infamy several years ago as New York Public Schools Chancellor for his attempts to impose a radical curriculum dubbed Children of the Rainbow. He was forced to resign in 1995. He became acting assistant secretary for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the Department of Education. Cortines spoke on Monday at Rockefeller Center about education and his experiences as Chancellor. Despite his reputation, Cortines stressed the importance of standards and achievement among youth. He also found that America has improved its scholastic efforts in the four decades since he began his career.

Quote of the Week

'Life sometimes is a bit of a struggle for everybody, and our family is no different from any other.'
-Joseph Kennedy on the controversy surrounding his brother Michael, who is accused of having an affair with a 14-year-old baby-sitter.

Pass the Hat

The most recently uncovered Democratic donors and Clinton supporters include convicted spy Aldrich Ames who gave $5,000 to the DNC and former member of Castro's camarilla and suspected spy John Henry Cabanez, who gave the Clinton campaign $61,000.

Labor Victory

Labor's Tony Blair swept into 10 Downing Street last week after a landslide victory over the Tory's John Major, who replaced Margaret Thatcher six years ago. Shortly after the polls closed, Major turned the British executive mansion over to Blair observing that, 'When the curtain falls, it is time to get off the stage.'

Thanks, eh ...

The following is an excerpt from Asgard's latest minutes, posted via electronic bulletin:

'We began the meeting with a discussion of the Dartmouth Review. Tomorrow's issue (yes, it's dated May 7), distributed yesterday, quoted from Asgard's minutes for the previous two meetings. They stated, 'It was posed on their electronic bulletin board, and we are still trying to figure out what it means.' In order to foster understanding, Asgard invites the editors of the Review to attend a meeting and find out exactly what the minutes are all about.'Upon reading the rest of the minutes, the Dartmouth Review is honored, but must respectfully decline.

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