Week in Review

Monday, May 13, 2002

An Uncivil Award

Dartmouth professor of religion Ifi Amadiume's book Male Daughters, Female Husbands, has been selected as one of the best 100 books by African authors in the 20th century, according to a Dartmouth press release. 'I am delighted and honored to receive this award,' Amadiume said. 'I feel particularly pleased with this wide expression of happiness and solidarity across borders, cultures and gender.'

The awards for 'Africa's 100 Best Books' were given out by the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, which, though it describes itself as a non-government organization, has ties with Zimbabwe's government. The ZIBF's board, for example, includes a governor, the director of Zimbabwe's National Gallery (an appointed position), and several academics from state-run schools. The ZIBF's independence should be questioned, as is that, unfortunately, of any successful enterprise in the country.

Given the recent elections in Zimbabwe and the state of civil rights there, Amadiume's statement is troubling for what it omits. Acceptance of an award from a para-statal entity like the ZIBF is tantamount to endorsing its government—many officials of which will be on hand at the ceremony in August, no doubt. Given the Pan-Africanism evident in Amadiume's writing—she was editor of the 'Pan-African Liberation Platform'—perhaps her tacit support of the Mugabe dictatorship is unsurprising, but that still doesn't make this something the College ought to publicize.

Proposed Alcohol Policy Revisions

At a meeting held on April 16, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Alcohol Policy released its list of recommendations for revising the current alcohol policy. 'Dartmouth students are good at game-playing,' said Robert Binswanger, a member of the committee. 'You had to play the game and beat the system to get in here, and it seems to be the same with the alcohol policy. Dartmouth is not a cafe but an academic institute.' The committee also emphasized that current nit-picking rules are bad, but generalizations are good.

And most of what committee said was very general. When the committee started with specifics, the students began to voice concerns. The proposed policy requires that all events—alcoholic or not—with ten or more people, be registered with Safety and Security. The present Tier system will be abolished. All alcohol must be served by designated servers, who have been trained in 'risk management:' how to recognize those who are drunk and to not provide them with drinks. However, the committee emphasized that it did not want to make 'sweeping changes' to the present policy, but make it more understandable.

The other concrete proposal was removing the one-use nature of the Good Samaritan policy, allowing students to use it multiple times, but also implementing some form of parental notification. The Good Samaritan policy allows students to inform S & S of a drunk student without fear of disciplinary action for either party. The committee also stressed organizational responsibility, requiring organizations to see to the safety of participants in their events.
Disengage

Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and sydicated columnist, spoke on April 18 at Dartmouth to a small group of students and members of the community. The Dartmouth Review and the Campus Libertarians sponsored the event.

A self-proclaimed policy wonk, Bandow gave his insights on how the U.S. could best handle the crisis in the Middle East. According to Bandow, the United States would be best served by disengaging its military from foreign lands and by adopting a uniform foreign policy.

Saudi Arabia, Bandow said, is a 'monstrous' nation which has funded, directly or indirectly, terrorism. Also, Saudi Arabia is a repressive regime—women, aside from those in the royal family, have few, if any, real rights. The U.S., then, should disengage its troops from the country and sever friendly ties. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. should be strictly business—the U.S. would purchase the Saudis' oil.

Bandow pointed out the hypocritical stance the U.S. often takes in its foreign policy. The U.S. is very critical of Saddam Hussein for his treatment of the Kurds. At the same time, however, the U.S. has maintained a friendship with Turkey while the Turks have also been waging a war against the Kurds within their borders.

Bandow was often critical of the current administration. He expressed concern for the President's eagerness to attack Iraq. While acknowledging Hussein as a horrific villain, Bandow did not see Hussein as an immediate threat to our national security in terms of weapons of mass destruction. Also, if the U.S. did depose Hussein, who would take his place, Bandow asked. His answer: There would be no safe bet that the new leader would be any better than Hussein. Bandow also stressed that many of the Middle Eastern countries could be considered threats to the U.S. as fomenters of terrorist action—is it worthwhile to depose Hussein, when the Mullahs in Iran are just as bad?

While assuring the audience that he was in no way an isolationist, Bandow stressed that the U.S. should, first and foremost, protect the lives of its citizens in its borders. By providing military support to the world, we are sacrificing our security and also failing in our mission to make the world a safer place.
Are You a Rapist?

The Supreme Court recently heard a case regarding an individual's right to sue over a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The FERPA forbids the release of educational records without approval of the adult student or a student's parents. The defense in the case the argued that the law never intended to give an individual the right to sue over a violation of the law, as such a concession would clog the courts with similar suits.

The case stemmed from a chain of events in 1994 which occurred after Roberta League, an administrator at Gonzaga University, overheard a female student tell another that Ru Paster, a student enrolled in the university's school of education, had date-raped her roommate. League and another administrator initiated an investigation in which neither Paster nor the alleged victim were consulted, and, after finding what they considered to be reasonable evidence, released the findings to the Washington educational authorities and put the offense on Paster's school record. Paster only discovered that he had been labeled a rapist when he applied for and was denied a school-issued certificate of good character, necessary for a teaching position in Washington. Paster sued under FERPA and won. The purported rape victim testified in his defense that no rape occurred.

Humbert Humbert?

College journalism sank to record depths on April 24. John Weyand, a columnist at the Texas Christian University Daily Skiff, contributed a column, 'Give me Mary Kate and Ashley or give me death,' detailing his lust for the Olsen twins. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, 16, starred as infants of the sitcom 'Fullhouse.' The Olsen twins have since worked on their own projects. How the column made it through even the most lax editorial process is anyone's guess.

'My God, the Olsen twins are hot,' Weyand begins. What he writes next may border on the illegal, and, if not illegal, just sick: 'What's more, those girls are worth over $70 million—but I'd defile them for free.'
While much of Weyand's column is meant as tongue-in-cheek, it is disturbing nonetheless. 'Will [the Olsen twins] perhaps join the illustrious ranks of the Playboy empire upon (now only two short years away) turning eighteen?' Weyand writes. 'Or will they, as I believe fortune destined, both be wed to me?'

Weyand has most likely learned that sharing one's penchant for pubescent girls is not something one does in the public forum. In the future Weyand should stick to more acceptable pairs of sisters—like the Hiltons.
Not Here, Not Now

The University of California at Berkeley may suspend a group of forty-one students who were arrested after seizing an academic building. The Students for Justice in Palestine held a protest against Israeli aggression in Palestine. The university also banned the student organization from campus. The students face a year's suspension.

Berkeley officials knew in advance that the protesters may try to seize a building but were unsure of which building. Snehal Shingavi, the leader of the group, believes that the university is trying to silence anti-Israel sentiment. 'The things taken away are not an abstract consequence,' Shingavi said. 'It goes to the core of organizing and our ability to come together. It goes to the core of silencing the students of Palestine.'

University officials have taken a hard-line stance on this sit-in because it interrupted classes. In the past, students have occupied university buildings, although protesters usually did not interrupt classes. Officials warned students that they could face suspension for actions that interrupted academic activities prior to the demonstration.
Mister Rogers To Come to Dartmouth Neighborhood

Fred Rogers, known to children and adults alike as 'Mister Rogers,' will give the keynote speech at this year's Commencement. Rogers will also receive an honorary degree from Dartmouth.

Rogers attended Dartmouth for two years before transferring to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Rogers produced 'Mister Roger's Neighborhood' for over twenty years. The show ceased production in January 2001.

Although not an academic or world leader, Rogers established himself as a popular icon in America. Producing a daily television program for twenty years is no small feat, but to do so with such a positive message is an even greater one. Rogers will certainly be a welcome speaker, especially after the tired messages of the past few years.
Boot and Rally

On April 25, Stevie Starr, the Regurgitator, entertained students at Collis with his gastronomic abnormalities—his name provides all necessary explanation. Over 200 students packed Collis Commonground for the free show. In one feat, Starr swallowed a lock and key separately, unlocked the lock in his stomach, and regurgitated them. He also cleaned girls' rings in his stomach and turned a Rubix Cube after ingesting it. Starr concluded his act by swallowing an inflated balloon, followed by a nail, and popping the balloon in his stomach. The crowd loved it. The Regurgitator is a popular attraction at Dartmouth. This year was no different.
A Revolutionary Student Assembly?

Janos Marton '04 is the new president of the Student Assembly. Julia Hildreth '05 is the Vice President.

Marton ran on a reform, pro-Greek, pro-accountability ticket, earning him the ire of Assembly traditionalists. Marton was not the usual SA candidate, evidenced by endorsement of The Dartmouth Review and the Free Press. The Daily Dartmouth, always siding with the status quo, endorsed Mike Perry '03, the runner-up in the election.

Marton was the right candidate for Dartmouth students. There is a sense that students are at last fed up with the Student Assembly's total unwillingness to fight for any sort of student voice at Dartmouth. Dissatisfaction with the SA has gained momentum like a moving train, and, as our new SA president will tell you, it's hard to stop a moving train. Marton obviously was not elected for his slogans.
Alumni Elect Trustee, Trustees Elect Another

The results of the Trustee election are in—Jose Fernandez '77 was named Alumni Trustee, and Leon Black '73 was named Charter Trustee. The election results are not without controversy, however. Fernandez overcame two other candidates—Mark Harty and Chansoo Joung—in an election that was mired in bureaucracy. Alumni did not vote on Black—the Board of Trustees votes on Charter Trustees.

Alumni officials extended the deadline on the election by a month without informing the voters of the reason. This was also the first electronic election. After reading the statements from each candidate, it is obvious that it really didn't matter who won—each spouted the same tired rhetoric.
Who? Gephardt?

In the cramped faculty lounge of the Top of the Hop, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt spoke on May 6. The crowd of seventy-five seemed the more politically active element of campus. Many students did not even know of the event, and a last minute change of venue probably further affected the turnout. Gephardt joked at the beginning that with the beautiful weather and media coverage by C-Span, he was surprised that he had any audience at all. He'll take what he can get these days.

His speech focused on issues in the Middle East, where he has recently traveled. Gephardt characterized American involvement as a necessity for collective peace and prosperity in 'this little bitty community we call the planet Earth.' He suggested that only by solving other countries' problems will America's welfare result. Gephardt praised his colleagues' work on what he called an 'incremental' approach to campaign finance reform. He carefully prefaced his words regarding President Bush's foreign policy with the words 'constructive criticism' when referring to his disagreement with the decision to pull out of Kyoto Accords.

An aging politician, Gephardt concluded with an appeal to college-age students to devote some years of their lives to public service.

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