Original Article: http://dartreview.com/archives/2000/01/24/letters_from_alumni.php
Monday, January 24, 2000
In Defense of Choice
To the Editor:
Change the dining facilities? Fine. Add culturally diverse programs? Sure. Embrace full social freedom? Not a chance! Thus spake CSLI!
Beneath the veil, this proposal is a blow against freedom: more of the same 'we know better than you do how you should live' elitism that plagues American society, best demonstrated at American educational institutions. Dartmouth 'community' is the whole of the campus population, not just those who agree with this hour's politically-correct touchy-feely idea of interaction.
I was not a member of any socially separated group—like a fraternity—while at Dartmouth, unless you consider the denizens of the Kiewit basement to be such a group. I stayed in a fraternity overnight once on a visit during an off-campus term; it was noisy, and I would not have liked to live there. I visited Sigma Nu Delta on hell night once, with transfer student Val Armento and the Boston correspondent for Time magazine: she was giving a campus tour to him, and I tagged along.
Getting there on hell night was an accident of timing, and in spite of the use of frozen hot dogs, vacuum cleaners, nauseating punch, and a three-story staircase, no ambulance had to be summoned. Strangely, all the new members were there by choice. The Time correspondent said he was going to ask his editor to allow him to do a human interest story on Sigma Nu, because he 'didn't know such things happened in 20th century America'.
But you know what? Those people I knew that were part of fraternity life were also part of the fabric of my life, and part of the cultural diversity of Dartmouth. They had freedom, even though it was sometimes abused (is it not sometimes abused everywhere?). That is a good thing.
It is not a good thing, however, to encourage the idea that society can be molded into some kind of ideal by enforcing a certain philosophy in law. Such impressionable minds, like mine at age 18, should be taught respect for freedom of association and freedom of thought, not how to command conformity of life that cannot and should not operate anywhere else in society.
The college seeks to make outlaws of those who choose not to agree with its 'politically-correct' philosophies on lifestyle. That's just a bit fascist, don't you think? Leave freedom of association alone. Let community be defined by all those who are in it, not by any governing body or action that would force conformity by minority—or even majority—opinion.
Specifically, leave the fraternities alone. Be bold, even daring: let freedom have its way, and let students choose as they wish. Place your ideas on student life in the free marketplace of ideas, along with the alternatives you do not respect, and let the student choose. If your ideas are compelling, will you not win in a free market? And if they do not win, do you not still have freedom, yourself, not to participate in fraternity life? That is, after all, what each student will be doing the rest of their lives: making free choices, each of which has consequences, both good and bad.
Sincerely,
Tom Harrison, '74
Oregon City, Oregon
What Sort of Community?
To the Editor:
I never thought I would see the day that spot-checks by the police and social engineering by housing allocation were the norm at an institution of higher learning. But then again that's what Castro did in 1960, didn't he?
Sincerely,
F.R. Mann '74
President, Dartmouth Club of Central Florida
Down With Dartmouth's Thought Police
To the Editor:
I never truly believed in my heart, until today, that the administrators and Trustees of Dartmouth College would dictate to the students how they will behave and think (not even should, mind you—the gall!). They're thought police! They're social goon squads!
Aren't the students legal adults? Don't the administrators and Trustees actually work for the students? They do pay a large portion of their salaries.
Please, God, grant us a massive layoff! Am I even allowed to vote? Or was this never my college to begin with?
Sincerely,
Michael Zigmont '96
New York, NY
Paternalism and Arrogance
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.
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.
Sincerely,
Brian M. Daucher '91
An Issue of Expansion
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
History Repeats Itself
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
Lest the Old Traditions Fail?
To the Editor:
If someone had told me that I would be sending contributions to the Review and the Hopkins Institute instead of the Alumni Fund, I would have questioned his sanity. Sadly that sorry situation has become a reality. I now believe that my modest contributions serve a much better purpose in opposing the dictatorial trend at Dartmouth.
When James Wright was inaugurated, I had a glimpse of hope that his leadership would be an improvement over the previous deplorable administration. However, my optimism was short-lived, when the 'residential life initiative' was proposed, thus dashing my hopes to resume contributions to the Alumni Fund.
I see no reason why Greek-letter societies (in any form: all-male, all-female, or coeducational) must be abolished to make place for a utopian social system. Maybe President Wright had a bad experience with fraternities in his own college years, but why are the Trustees, who are all graduates of Dartmouth, going along with this ill-advised plan, which could be the coup-de-grace for tradition?
Sincerely,
'Jake' Mosser '37
Kennebunkport, Maine
Stay the Course
To the Editor:
The faculty and administration of Dartmouth has managed to keep the trusteeship in their liberal corner, knowing that the student body is ever changing, and if they stick to their liberal leanings, they will eventually wear the opposition out. That is why the consistency of The Dartmouth Review is so important. Your opposition is just waiting for a sign of wavering on your part.
There is very little of the College left as I knew it. I was proud to be from a 'maverick' institution: one that let you make your own choices, one that let you have your social freedom with those you chose to associate with. My memories of Dartmouth are fond ones, most especially of the camaraderie offered by the fraternities.
Please stay the course.
Sincerely,
C.W. Drake '45
Brookside, New Jersey
Making Dartmouth a Laughing Stock
To the Editor:
Somebody should have considered how stupid the latest flap seems to outsiders. DUH!
Sincerely,
Ken McCabe '58
Pueblo, Colorado