Letters to the EditorPaternalism and Arrogance The following letter was carbon-copied to The Dartmouth Review. To President Wright: I join the diverse chorus of voices objecting to the unilateral decision to end the Greek System. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I am shocked by this action. Since I have known Dartmouth, it has been a great enigma: Over 10,000 qualified applicants seek admission to each Dartmouth class. Each matriculating class can withstand comparison to any student body in this country in any area: academic promise, athletic prowess, civic devotion, entrepreneurial skill, and diversity. Yet, time and again the Dartmouth administration feels compelled (or entitled) to direct and channel and, yes, dictate, the choices that these students would make in their lives at Dartmouth. Apparently, the administration fears that this extraordinary student body will take the wrong course without benign guidance. Some call it paternalism, I call it arrogance. As many writers have pointed out, the fundamental issue at stake here is the right of association. This right has long been recognized as essential in a free society and, of course, is guaranteed in this country's constitution. The trustees themselves will not openly stand against it. In principal 1 (of a set of mushy indecipherables), the trustees rally to the banner 'greater choice.' Ironic, isn't it? Each year at Dartmouth, some portion of the students make the voluntary choice to join the Greek system. If you had the courage of your convictions, you would attempt to convince these students through public debate and demonstration (if possible) that this choice is unsound. Each year the Greek system wins this silent debate by convincing a certain percentage of new initiates to join its ranks. The Greeks have demonstrated through their public response that they make substantial contributions to the College even under your narrow view, including community service and public education. Not up to the challenge of debating them? I have served as a District Enrollment Director for the College for three years and now serve as President of the Orange County Alumni Association. I have matched my contributions of time with contributions of money. I have given my time and money to Dartmouth because it is a special place, where despite challenges of nature, geography, and the administration, students create an amazing environment for themselves. I have always believed and continue to believe that Dartmouth's administration is no match for its students. Your stated intention not to debate, reconsider, or withdraw the decision to 'end the Greek system' betrays its inherent weakness. You have abjured the opportunity to win the minds of the students and alumni, instead choosing to bind them through dictat. I suspect and hope that the clever and enterprising undergrads will yet again find a way to keep the administration from destroying the Dartmouth many of us know and love. Brian M. Daucher '91
To the Editor: Being a student at Hamilton College and having witnessed the fallout of the removal of our powerful fraternity system (fall 1996), I categorically urge you to continue this fight to the bitter end. But act quickly! The school will win a war of attrition; Wright and his cronies know they only need time before new students, unaware of the old way, come to the school. New students bring less fervor and fight than ones who were there. So you must act quickly and decisively, lest you follow the path of Hamilton, Middlebury, and Bowdoin. Good luck, Matthew Glassman, Hamilton '00
To the Editor: I'm not a Dartmouth alum. I've never been to Hanover. No one I know has attended Dartmouth. I've only been to New Hampshire once. However, I did belong to a fraternity during my college career and I am a semi-regular reader of the Dartmouth Review via the Internet. As such, I have followed with ever-growing dismay the attempts of the school's administration to try to crush the Dartmouth Greek system. It never ceases to amaze me that administration officials and faculty that are supposedly advocates of the liberal arts and all that once represented the freedoms of academe are so quick these days to resort to experiments in forced social engineering. The very same people that came of age in the 1960s amid the struggle for civil rights, freedom of expression and equality now impose speech codes, thought control and limits on the freedom of association. They, of course, portray their diktats as merely efforts to propagate a more inclusive, less elitist and paternalistic society. Never mind that what they would so quickly destroy has served Dartmouth well for over 150 years. Never mind that their infringement of the rights of their students, in loco parentis, is a blatant and cynical attempt to mold society in ways that have long since been discredited the world over. My fervent wish for Dartmouth is that its students and alumni do not let this outrage come to pass. Do not suffer the same fate as Amherst, Bowdoin and Colby. Vow never to contribute another red cent to the school as long as this state of affairs continues. Refuse to sell non-owned fraternity and sorority property to the school. Boycott classes, particularly those of faculty supporters of this vile plan. The refusal to participate in the Winter Carnival was an excellent start. In a similar manner, every aspect of Dartmouth's current social life should be turned into the same type of farce that it would be if President Wright and his cronies have their way. Sincerely, Daniel V. Zimmerman
To the Editor: I believe this assault on the Greek system is only a pretext for a larger issue. My speculation is that it is about expansion — the best place for the College to get land is from under the CFS houses, and what better way to get it than to end the CFS? 'Tens of millions of dollars' would just about cover the purchase (I estimate $8.5 M) of the houses, demolition, and construction of new living space (estimate $100/sq ft, 150 sq ft/student, 4000 students = $60 M). This would also free up the Greater Hanover rental market for grad students. Now, by order of the Trustees, grad students can only comprise 10% of the student body. Of course, we have just seen how easy it is for the Trustees to change College policy without input. Sincerely, Chris Donley '95
To the Editor: Reflecting on the recent decision of the Trustees, it occurs to me that the development of more and different social options (without touching the Greeks) would not have caused anywhere near the same problems that their actual decision has caused. And if the Trustees truly believed that the options they envision are better and so will ultimately prove more popular than the current system, their easiest (and most defensible) route would have been to simply add these options now. Then in a few years, as the Greek system crumbles in the face of these better options, buy up those that are ready to fold and just let the lone one or two that survive live on on the fringe of the 'new' Dartmouth. However, the truth is that they do not think that the Greek system would ever die of natural causes and so dusted off a blunderbuss from the vaults of our venerable institution and shot it dead to pious hymns of their knowing best. How sad it is this masking of enmity as righteousness. Keep fighting the good fight! Wah-Hoo-Wah! Sincerely, Phil Augur '95
To the Editor: As a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Pi Chapter at Dartmouth in the late 1960s, we did, in the spirit of the day, all of the things that are envisioned by the administration today. Look across from Psi U and see the parking lot where the once proud house was. We admitted women. We had open rush. We had no fraternity in three years. Although it seemed the 'right thing' to do at the time. People need to feel special to pay the money, clean up the house and generally do the things necessary to keep a fraternity going. Sincerely, Ted Severance '70
To The Editor: Apparently the college and trustees feel that no choice will make a better person- at least as long as the administration gets to make the choice. Long live the 'diversity' police. Sincerely, Tim Pfister
To The Editor: Just a word of encouragement to keep on! I am a non-alum who has been supporting and reading the Review for many years now. Best wishes and keep me on your mailing lists. Sincerely, Bill Eberwein
To the Editor: We were thrilled and amused to be featured in your recent article about 'The Pan' (although we weren't familiar with that particular lingo as a description of our house). However, it was obvious that the article was simply a one-shot gimmick designed to increase the readership of your newspaper to include members of Panarchy, who have never really been interested in what you publish. Sincerely, |
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