Friday, April 25, 2003

Preparing the Fall: Dartmouth's Library Crisis

The flagging morale is difficult to describe, but the overwhelming sense of loss and tension is palpable. Many are heartbroken by recent changes and shifts, but most divisive is the randomness with which jobs have been terminated and rearranged, often without reason. Some have been moved from department to department with scant, if any, explanation.

Greek Diversity Training Wheels

Monica, in the interest of sticking rigidly to obviously ill-conceived procedure, single-handedly brought the whole progression to a halt. Finally, a neglected white sorority girl could contain herself no longer and announced to the room, "I think people are frustrated because they can't respond." From this sprung a litany of complaints from person after person lasting about twenty minutes—all about an exercise that lasted but ten. All the while, Monica and Elliott stood by, helplessly pretending they had control over the room.

Shackling the Greek System (Again)

There was a strong student and faculty reaction against the story, and amid accusations of sensationalism and irresponsible journalism, Assistant Dean of Residential Life Cassie Barnhardt emailed CFSC presidents to inform them that the Review was, indeed, incorrect with regards to the Alcohol Policy. Despite the hoopla, a revised Alcohol Policy quietly took effect on January 5, 2003, and represented a significant first step towards the goals the Review originally outlined.

Get yo' QUEER on: QuEER bAr NiGHt

At one point, two slattern coeds made their way to the stage and performed a randy dance. Interlocking thighs, they ground crotches together seductively and softly caressed each other. Later, one jumped up on a table and swung the microphone around her head like a lasso, her bosom heaving prodigiously. The rest of the performance featured a mouth-watering combination of pelvic-thrusting, sultry sashaying, and various backside-spankings. The cavorting warranted an 8.3 for sexiness.

Affirmative Action, Inc.

Little analyzed have been the less transcendent reasons why more than sixty corporations have now supported amicus briefs favoring the admissions policies of the University of Michigan (and against the claim of Jennifer Gratz). The private sector for very practical reasons wants to hire American blacks, and it is convenient for it to have the university admissions process do its screening.

Barbie's Ethnic Friends

Many of the participants gave an account of an epiphany in which they discovered they were white. Some of the more off-the-wall topics of discussion included the color of "flesh" crayons, bandages, and the skintones of Barbie dolls (versus Barbie's "ethnic" friends). While I do not have a distinctly white coloring, I cannot say that I sense the harm in using a Band-Aid of a different tone. Maybe I'm just callous to the feelings of those for whom bandages administer oppression.

In the Ranks of Guitarmy

Stefan Beck reviews the Blood Brothers' "Burn Piano Island, Burn!" and "Magnolia Electric Co. from Songs:Ohia.