Students for Change! Activism at Dartmouth

By J. Lawrence Scholer | Monday, June 11, 2001

'There is something wrong with Dartmouth.'

The words echoed from the steps of Parkhurst as Dartmouth students rallied for 'change.' The protesters hoped an organized rally would push the trustees to face the problems the students discussed.

Soon after the protest began, the group moved to Rockefeller Hall where the trustees were meeting. The peaceful protest turned rowdy as students began banging on the walls and speaking loudly. Their chants included 'Hell no, status quo' and 'We're here, we're queer, and our parents think we're studying.' At one point, President James Wright left the meeting and confronted the protesters, asking them to calm down and behave. One student, who desired an experimental theater program, tried to force his way into the meeting. When security confronted him, he told officers that he was willing to face arrest.

The scene in Rocky was a brief interlude. The official protest took place outdoors in front of Parkhurst. The organizers of the rally had kept its planning and details secret. Shortly after midnight on the April 6, protest organizers sent out a campus-wide e-mail. The e-mail announced the protest and requested that students 'bring your voice, your signature, your creativity, you ideas and yo' ass to Parkhurst.'

The e-mail demanded that the trustees and the administration reform Dartmouth both socially and educationally, calling for new departments and more co-ed houses. The first demand called for James Wright to officially declare that Dartmouth is an 'anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic institution.' The educational demands all called for more diverse programs. The organizers sought to increase the rate at which the College hires minority professors. 'We are appalled by the lack of true commitment to academic diversity and require that the institution provide a clear plan for securing permanent and well-developed programs in Women's Studies, Latin-American Studies, African-American Studies, Queer Studies, Native-American Studies, and Asian-American Studies,' they wrote in the e-mail. They also demanded a new 'centrally located' Women's Resource Center and a Korean Studies program.

A demand to end 'the crusade to destroy the Education Department' made the list of priorities. '[The Education Department is] currently one of the few in which men and women of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds come together to discuss personal issues and grow intellectually,' the organizers wrote.

Socially, the demands concerned the fraternity system and the penal code. 'In conjunction with the Student Life Initiative, we require integrated gender relations through the creation of more co-ed houses,' read the e-mail. The demand also stated that co-ed houses should be offered incentives to secede from the CFSC. Another proposal called for the 'reformation of a penal system which deems honor code violations more severe than sexual assault and rape.'

Other proposals asked the administration to disclose information concerning the investment of Dartmouth's endowment and off-campus housing, which had been recently purchased. The College was also asked to explore alternative energy sources. One proposal insisted on 'a clear plan for improved campus wide environmental efficiency, including monetary incentives for conservative water and energy consumption within dorms and other buildings.'

The protesters presented these proposals through a variety of colorful and eclectic signs, some of which contained messages like, 'Stop treachery, lies, and deceit.' Students also took turns speaking at an open microphone—some to complain and others to propose solutions for various problems. One student took the microphone and explained his dilemma—the terminology of European and non-European requirements at the College. 'Where is non-Europe?' he asked. His audience, half of which were non-European, cheered boisterously.

One young women took control and said, 'I feel like I've been lied to.' She went on, criticizing the College for donning a mask of tolerance. '[Prospective students] won't come if I told them [about Dartmouth],' she said. 'I can't be proud. I am ashamed of [Dartmouth].' She then stepped down and passed the microphone to another young woman.

Many students participated in the protest to further their own pet projects. One male, MEntioned earlier, was picketing for an experimental black box theater for 'student run productions.' The student claimed that the majority of artistic productions produced by students are of poor quality, but that there is always hope of finding 'that diamond in the rough.' The topic of discussion then turned from black box theater to the Dartmouth Review, which he worried would 'not report appropriately' on the event. He did, however, state that he did respect the Review, although he disagreed with the majority, if not all, of its content. Later, he grabbed the microphone and told the dwindling crowd, 'The Dartmouth Review—so lost.' He then began to recite poetry as someone drummed behind him.

The Dartmouth Review had its pages mentioned a number of times. One student told her captive audience, 'The Dartmouth Review is plotting against us.' She did not go into details. One young woman, who was also an organizer, had less harsh words: 'I would like to thank the Review. We hear what you have to say.' She added, 'We think you are worth it.'

The recent incident at Psi Upsilon fraternity, where a female student accused brothers of yelling racist and sexist remarks, was fresh on the protesters minds. The students agreed with the college's harsh sanctions. 'The type of speech uttered at Psi U interferes with the mission of the college,' said one male. 'It interferes with the mission of [the victim].' One student, who agreed with the punishment, wished students could take the matter into their own hands—perhaps boycotting Psi U, she suggested. Other protesters felt as if the incident at Psi U was nothing new at Dartmouth.

'This environment breeds hateful comments,' she said. 'White males have different responsibilities. You are in the majority. Step into the shoes of the victim.'

Many organizers of the protest felt that Psi U could be punished for speech because the words shouted from the porch were threatening. ''Scalp those bitches'' implies violence,' said one protester.

The protest rally did create a disturbance on campus. Students moved chairs from Collis, moved benches, and the noise from the protest could be heard across the green and in Baker Library. One passing student didn't agree with most of the issues presented, but did sympathize with the grassroots cause. He also felt the protesters were tackling the issues in a poor manner. 'I do support change, but they are going about it in the wrong way,' he said. He added that the rally was 'not for everyone' and 'definitely intimidating.'

The rally outside Parkhurst wound down around three o'clock when five pre-selected protesters confronted the Trustees to present their proposals.

One of the lead organizers said that the five students would 'read the proposals—like hardcore.'

Students for Change! Activism at Dartmouth

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