I Can Finally End My Hunger Strike

Monday, May 12, 2003

The Indian symbolhas long been taboo at the College. If it failed to register, however, the Student Assembly is happy to provide a reminder. The Assembly is spearheading the 'Critical Review of Dartmouth Symbols [CaRDS, it's called] Project'—an 'intensive campaign' to purge the Indian mascot from campus once and for all.

Sponsored by Amit Anand '03, the Assembly executives, and a troupe of pea-green freshmen, the resolution decries the 'significant social, emotional, and cultural impact' the Indian has on 'members of the Dartmouth community.' As a remedy, the Assembly will be 'facilitating the exchange of apparel and other items bearing the 'Indian' symbol for comparable Dartmouth merchandise' and, by the end of Spring Term, will be submitting 'a final proposal for a [new] official mascot to the Board of Trustees.'

The introduction to the new CaRDS Project began with a dinner discussion probing the issue. The food— Indian food, from India (Queen) —was dropped off by two beturbaned delivery men. No one could accuse the Assembly of lacking a sense of humor.

It seemed arbitrary, but the purpose of the timing of the CaRDS Project inauguration was self-evident. Mr. Anand said that it was the 'culmination of SA discussions'— but there was an additional justification. Next year will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Indian prohibition. And twenty-nine years is close enough.

The rationale for the dinner was also obvious. Everyone was there to find 'where we stand as a community' with regards to the 'impact a mascot has on a community,' said Mr. Anand. In order that the dialogue would remain civil, he requested the community find out where it stands using 'I-statements and true feelings.'

Based on these statements, the 'community' is decidedly conflicted. Several students supported the Indian mascot. Most who spoke, however, were activists who vehemently oppose it and desire its immediate banishment from campus. Most were shocked that Indian iconography could still be glimpsed at the College. One student was baffled that students continued to wear Indian shirts even when they 'know it insults others.' People still wear Indian garb? Dartmouth has lost its innocence.

Speakers also emphasized the moral inferiority of anyone spotted in Indian shirts. 'A person of conscience wouldn't wear one,' said one participant. People who wear them are 'racist and stereotypical,' claimed another. Others felt that students should not display the symbol because of issues of common courtesy. 'How could someone knowingly offend another human being?' cried one activist.

Others disapproved because the Indian harkened back to the days before the College was 'progressive.' One young woman said that the symbol represented a 'weird old Dartmouth view,' and that students who continued to brandish it today were 'lurching back to tradition before reform.' She felt that it was 'disturbing to go back to the past when people were exploited.' Another said those who 'cling' to the symbol were yearning for the 'downsides of Dartmouth before '74: no women or minorities.' She was also disappointed that 'people in the Greek system' continue to use Indian imagery.

Dissent from such orthodoxy was unwelcome. Pro-Indian sentiment provoked sassy retorts, which in turn provoked giggling. It was obvious why the dialogue was summoned. What were these other philistines doing there?

People being offended is bad. One Native American student in attendance was particularly offended by the Indian symbol, and let everyone know his disgust. He said that he 'doesn't care about freedom of speech,' as it 'infringes upon my freedom of culture, the freedom of just my person...If it was another racial group,' he declared, 'people wouldn't even be having this discussion.' He does not enjoy seeing Indian garments on others. 'I think to myself, 'Why are they allowed to do this?' because I feel like that crazy symbol doesn't represent me.'

He became heated when people questioned his views. The symbol is a 'relic from the past,' he argued.'But we still exist, and we're not relics. I have to prove to you that its offensive, and that's upsetting.' Because he was a Native American, he contended that he could inherently claim the 'moral high ground.' He said, 'This has been thirty years of saying that this is offensive. Why do I have to come to you and defend myself?'

Why, indeed? Never mind that the Indian remains an important part of the College's iconography, gracing both the Dartmouth seal and the concealed Hovey Murals; the Indian is prominent crowning the Baker spire and it exists as cast-iron statue in the Tower Room. Never mind that the Indian holds special significance to generations of Dartmouth alumni. Never mind that the Indian mascot bears no relation to Eleazor Wheelock's lackluster venture in Native American Christianization. Never mind that students continue to wield Indian canes during Commencement. And never mind that, according to one Native American who spoke at the event, the Native Americans at Dartmouth (NAD) House has so much internal disagreement over the Indian symbol that it is unable to make a public statement about the mascot.

But reality has never been much of a stumbling block for these people. Offense is defined by feelings, not facts. The formula is simple. 'I'm upset, and there's no way to console me,' is the basic thrust of their argument. 'If you have native people on this campus who are offended, that's what should be addressed,' said the hot-tempered Native American.

A validation for addressing that offense has been helpfully provided by the Collegeadministration. The 'Principle of Community' admonishes undergraduates to be 'sensitive to and respectful of the rights and interests of others' and to be 'appreciative of the diversity of the community.' It is surely no accident that the 'Principle of Community' is listed above 'Freedom of Expression and Dissent' in the Student Handbook.

Despite the fact that Mr. Anand asked, 'How do we reconcile this with the Principle of Community?' early on during the dinner discussion, it went un- or, at least, under-addressed. Participants were too busy voicing their umbrage. It was just as well. The dialogue, for all its proactivity, was actually only a prelude to the real story the following night. The CaRDS resolution was on the docket before the collected Student Assembly.

Before that happened, freshman Assembly member Shardul Oza attempted to amend the resolution to explicitly condemn Indian apparel. He felt that the bill should be 'community-integrating' and since the Assembly was 'talking on behalf of the entire Dartmouth community, we need to take that stand.'

Mr. Anand disapproved of the measure. 'I think this is a great resolution the way it is—it isn't about making a judgment. You have a right to make a decision for yourself, and if you agree that this is wrong, we'll back you up.' The amendment failed; only its sponsor ended up voting for it. The original bill was brought to the table with little discussion, and passed unanimously.

Before the vote, Mr. Anand had offered some technical clarification. The Assembly will only be targeting shirts that are 'truly offensive,' not attire without relation to Dartmouth. There will be an 'intensive campaign' through the Alumni Office to encourage graduates to participate—particularly the older ones. To that end, there will be round-the-clock trade-in stations manned over Greek Key weekend. The replacement shirts will be supplied by the Dartmouth Co-op, at full price.

Clarification of the endeavor's funding was also brought to light at the meeting—and the CaRDS Project instantly moved from just really stupid to actually outrageous. The College will be picking up most of the tab for the project, with support from a slew of administrative bureaus. The President's Office, the Dean of the College's Office, the Dean of Student Life's Office, and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity are all funding the venture.

Approximately eight-hundred dollars have been collected for the project so far. The Executive Board of the Student Assembly quietly allocated around two-hundred fifty dollars, and the rest of the funding will be supplied by Parkhurst. The total bursary can be increased, should the program prove fruitful, but the Student Assembly will not splurge any more than its original allowance. As Mr. Anand put it at the meeting, 'The President's Office is really backing us up on this one.'

While the CaRDS resolution passed unanimously, not all Student Assembly members approve. Ralph Davies '05, an elected representative who was absent for the vote, said that while he considers Mr. Anand a good friend and has worked with him in the past, 'I don't think that the Assembly or the Administration should be spending money on something like this when the College is in the middle of a fiscal crisis.'

The resolution also contained a proviso for 'phase two' of the CaRDS Project—another 'intensive campaign' to find a new mascot for Dartmouth. Mr. Anand said that it was 'important and helpful [for the Assembly] to start the search.' The mascot committee will consult with the Athletic Department, the Alumni Association, and 'especially' the students' voice. They are the Student Assembly, after all. There will be an email campaign requesting student suggestions for a new mascot, and the Assembly will commission artists to render possible Dartmouth icons. Afterwards, there will be an election, though its logistics are unclear. Presumably, once a vote occurs, Dartmouth will instantly have a new mascot. The project is surely bound for success.

Or so it would seem, if you believe most Assembly members. What people may not realize is that the Student Assembly has already organized numerous attempts exactly like this before—and they have invariably failed.

In 1981, the Assembly organized a campus-wide vote where students could choose between the 'Timberwolves,' the 'Vikings,' or the ill-advised 'Woodsmen.' While it aroused the interest of some national press, no alumni were contacted and the effort soon petered out.

During 1996 and 1997, there was another attempt to create a new mascot. Four varsity athletes, distressed about waning school spirit, established a group called the 'Big Green Backers' to find a new Dartmouth emblem. The Student Assembly quickly joined, and organized a website allowing students to propose mascot suggestions: the 'Moose,' the 'Mountain Man,' the 'Dragon,' the 'Yeti'—and the 'Indian'—were the most popular. Others esoterically proposed the Dartmouth 'Fish,' 'Wall,' and 'Granite'. This time, the task force contacted the Athletic Committee of the Alumni Council, which granted its approval. With at least some alumni support, the Student Assembly again brought the issue to vote, and the 'Moose' triumphed.

The Dartmouth Moose had an embarrassing—and mercifully short-lived—tenure at the College. The mascot made its first appearance at a men's basketball game in 1997, come to life in a costume crudely fashioned by the mother of one student. Though never officially recognized by Parkhurst, the Athletic Department endorsed the Moose as official 'fan entertainment.' When the homemade costume began to exhibit signs of wear (the antlers began to sag, and the fur mottled), Dartmouth Athletics commissioned a cartoonish new suit. It pleased young Hanover broods, but never gained popularity with college-age fans. The Moose was clumsy and gangly, and failed to stir crowds.It did not last long.

In short, the Student Assembly has an abysmal record in this department, a litany of ephemeral ambitions and unrealized progress. There is no evidence suggesting this new attempt will prove fruitful.

But why let facts intrude? The Student Assembly is convinced of its own relevance. At one recent meeting Julia Hildreth '05, the Student Assembly Vice President, doled out 'kudos' to those members 'who made a difference on campus in the past week.' The kudos came in the form of delicious Hostess mini-muffins, and everyone applauded the award winners. Mr. Anand received an award 'because the Indian discussion went so well yesterday.' Hooray for Amit.

After the CaRDS resolution passed, Assembly members burst into spontaneous applause. They were pleased with themselves. And there is even more on the horizon. The body will soon be co-sponsoring the Dartmouth Vegetarian Alliance's upcoming 'Cross-Campus Culture Night,' whatever that is.

Mr. Davies continues disparaging the CaRDS Project. 'I just don't think that a t-shirt exchange is a good use of anyone's time—unless we have a community bonfire with the collected apparel.'

At this point, such jubilation seems unlikely. The first week of the trade-in barely garnered any Indian paraphernalia—all but one of the articles was courtesy of The Dartmouth Review. Perhaps no lesson should be drawn at such an early juncture. But perhaps this should be construed as preliminary evidence of the absurdity of the CaRDS Project. If it continues to move forward, it will be a victory for everyone without a shred of common sense.

I Can Finally End My Hunger Strike

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