Original Article: http://dartreview.com/archives/2003/11/03/its_a_start.php
Monday, November 3, 2003
This Homecoming weekend illustrated a striking fact: Not all Dartmouth students are content to sit by and watch idly as this college abandons its core values, or to let this administration dictate what is or is not appropriate behavior. Despite the increasing Safety and Security presence, harsh indoctrination that drinking is bad, and innumerable red flags and red tape, Dartmouth students once again did something that they weren't supposed to: They had fun.
As always, the bonfire on Friday was a sight to behold. Per the trend of the last couple years, however, Dartmouth upped the ante and sent in a phalanx of officers to keep the fun level at a minimum. Admittedly, the Pea Greens seemed to have little concept of the term 'run,' but they did manage to put on an entertaining show—despite the officers' presence.
Saturday's Memorial Field festivities proved even more entertaining—for students, that is. Keggy the Keg (see opposing page), Dartmouth's new unofficial mascot, made his first appearance, much to the delight of the screaming students—and surely to the chagrin of any administrators present. And then, right as the band took the field, at least eight students—that's right, eight—rushed the field, and only a couple were caught. (On a side note, the Review would love to meet those intrepid souls who ran; we can share war stories.) For reference, the last three homecomings have had three, two, and none rush, respectively, so eight is a remarkable turn-around for what many felt was a dead tradition. It is even more impressive since many Undergraduate Advisors, mine included, spread the rumor that students rushing would be suspended. Things were going so well that the football team even managed to win Homecoming for the first time since 1999. The rest of the weekend was lost in the blur of returning alumni and keg parties.
Yes, Homecoming was a success, but it required a lot of effort on behalf of students to escape Parkhurst's watchful eyes. In these pages we've referred to the nit-picky rules and the condescending in loco parentis attitude of this administration as a War on Fun—a non-stop, concerted effort to mold students into mindless dullards, while eliminating what our endearing administrators see as Dartmouth's less-savory aspects, like the keg jump, fraternities, the Indian mascot, The Dartmouth Review, etc. If it's a rollicking good time, involves alcohol, or expresses dissent, it must be banished or marginalized.
The buffoonery extends far beyond on-campus students though. As Nathaniel Ward chronicles in this issue, Dartmouth has been trying to pass a new constitution for the Alumni Association—comprised of all alumni—that will effectively eliminate any say alumni have in the day-to-day activities of the College. Instead, the much smaller Alumni Council—whose members are mostly appointed by the administration—will become the dominant body. Official Dartmouth claims the proposed change will give alumni a "stronger voice." It's mind-boggling, really, that these people can even propagate such vicious lies. We've seen the strategy here on campus with our publication: Dartmouth doesn't want to hear any dissenting views, and it certainly doesn't want its policies and views exposed to the public. With the alumni, however, there's stronger incentive to shut them down. They're the ones that can actually force Dartmouth to heel by nominating and electing Trustees; under the new plan, this duty will be largely eliminated, and Parkhurst will be free to continue its social engineering project in relative peace.
Luckily, one group of alumni isn't going down without a fight. The Dartmouth Alumni for Open Governance (DAOG) is looking to squash the new constitution at an open alumni meeting in December. If that fails, they plan to publicize the chicanery that is the proposal before the final, all alumni vote next year. The Dartmouth Review strongly encourages all its readers to contact the DAOG and to make plans to attend the December Alumni Association meeting.
For far too long, Dartmouth students and alumni have put up with this administration's shenanigans, tacitly accepting wave after wave of in loco parentis rules and regulations. We've heard the administration's babbling, we've seen their diktats, and we've witnessed how they envision Saturday night in Hanover (Saddle up, gents, we're heading to Fuel dance club!). We've seen it, and we don't like it. This weekend offered a glimmer of hope that our students may have finally had enough. Still, it will take a far more concerted effort to send Parkhurst a message.
And while we can try to stem the tide here on campus with antics like field-rushing and our beloved Keggy, it's even more imperative for Dartmouth alumni to pressure the College. Alumni, make sure this new constitution fails, and remember, as always, your strongest vote is your wallet.