Letters to the Editor

Friday, January 12, 2007

“A Gem”

Sir,

Having just read Jeffrey Hart’s article about Fitzgerald and Hemingway, I was suddenly transposed to the late ‘60s when I studied with him. More interested previously in his insights into Burke’s Reflection on the Revolution in France, I was unaware of Professor Hart’s commentaries on the “Lost Generation.” Both are equally insightful, and I am pleased to “study” under him once again by reading this article.

As a Dartmouth ‘68 , and now a 60 year old professor of English at a small, private college in Virginia Beach, I teach courses such as Introduction to Literature, Twentieth Century Literature, and Western Civilization from the Renaissance to the Present, as well as Comparative Politics. I always stress the effects of WWI on literature and Western culture, and particularly on how the impact Hemingway’s sparse prose has transformed the former Victorian (Faulknarian, dare I say) extended (Victorian) prose to become the standard of “good” writing today. Even the way we deal with our collective memory of the Great War.

With one foot in New England where I was born, and now married to a Southerner with extended family connections to OleMiss in Oxford (where my son currently studies Russian), I live daily with the tension of the two styles throughout my days while visiting there, let alone at home in Virginia (a fine compromise?).

The point: Professor Hart is a gem. I was so pleased to read his article; thank you for publishing it. I hope to see more of his articles in the future.

Sincerely,

EDWIN (NED) CUMMINGS, ‘68
Associate Professor of English, and
LtCol USAF (Intelligence), Ret.

The Cover and More

Sir,

Just wanted to say you guys, while not necessarily earning subtlety points for your cover (but then again, that wasn’t the point), are right on the mark. I’m a ‘10 this year, and even before matriculation, at the “Experiences at Dartmouth” presentation, I’ve felt that this campus and administration, which I otherwise feel a great love for, was completely out of line as far as racial issues go. To be told that someone is “ashamed of their white skin,” which was what I took away from Cinnamon Spear’s presentation that night, was as far as I thought it might go in my time here. I was sincerely offended, but I thought that sort of remark was something I misinterpreted or at least an outlier, people didn’t really think like that here. I was mistaken.

Keep saying what you’re saying, because whether or not anyone agrees with it (and they do), it needs to be said. It’s shown clearly every day.

These are smart kids, our students here. They’re not completely impervious to reason. But they’re close. Keep fighting the good fight.

Sincerely,
Robb Fitzsimmons, ‘10

Sir,

I would like to thank you and show my appreciation for your well written editorial in the latest Dartmouth Review. I’m not a huge fan of the Review and in fact have disagreed with many of its opinions and articles, but your editorial, I’m sure, has been long-awaited by the non-vocal majority. A counterpoint of reason, logic, and level-headedness is something hard to find in such a polarized community. How the “mainstream” voice on the topic of racism (regarding the Native Americans on campus) came to rest on the caustic vocal minority of the seemingly oppressed and targeted seems ridiculous to me.

For one article to show more cohesiveness and intelligent thought than an entire organization on campus just goes to show how crazy these cries of “racism,” “intolerance,” and “ignorance” are.

Regards,
Leon Chang ‘08

Sir,

[NADs on the Warpath is] one of the most thoughtful and well written subjects on how the race card is abused that I have ever read.

Don’t let the bastards get you down.

Andrew Terhune
Horsham, PA

Sir,

Look. You’re all intelligent. You’re all witty, funny, creative people with huge futures. You write well, do well, and probably will end up doing great things with your life. I do not think that your shortcomings lie in your abilities.

It pains me, considering all of that, to watch as you sadly, sadly embarrass yourselves. The recent inflammation of racial issues has done nothing but cause conflict and hatred on campus. Your involvement in them has done nothing but exacerbate them. Why must you continue your rants?

I am not questioning your right to do so or the validity of your arguments (though I think I could). All I am asking is that you swallow your pride and stop offending people. Your article on the offensive cowboy symbol is a prime example—what did that prove? Do you really think that solved any issues? Did it do anything but widen the gap between your side and your enemies? It was funny and witty, but while you got a chuckle out of it, someone was deeply offended. Regardless of how stupid you might think it is, you are the ones who come out looking like a**holes.

So, my point is, prove how great you all are in some other way. Leave the Native Americans on campus alone and let some of your hotheaded steam blow over. If you really want to continue using the Indian as our mascot, my guess is that a friendly relationship with the Native community is probably a much better place to start than court. Pick your battles, and try to choose ones that don’t scream racism.

Mildly concerned for your reputation,

Sam Welch ’10

Sir,

I am not a regular reader of the Review, but because of all the racist hype I’ve decided to tune in and see what’s up. Evidently a Solidarity Against Hatred movement has been organized in response to your most recent issue (or this is the gossip I’ve heard anyway), which I will not be attending. So I read a few of your allegedly insulting articles and I’d just like to offer my two cents.

As a Native American at Dartmouth (NOT a member of the NAD organization, but a real Native American at Dartmouth), I would just like to say thank you for remembering that we are not all part of this movement and we are not all part of the NAD organization. I particularly appreciate the following excerpt from your paper:

“Furthermore we do not accept the NAD organization’s implicit claim that it is the official mouthpiece of all Indian students at Dartmouth. The events of the past term have demonstrated that the NADs have sunk to the level of race-baiting frauds. They do not represent the interests of Indians at Dartmouth anymore than Al Sharpton represents American blacks.”

SO TRUE! In fact, I wrote a critical letter to NAD in response to their letter to President Wright because I thought a lot of it was not exactly valid, but regardless of my opinion I just wanted them to qualify their statements by saying “SOME of the Native Americans at Dartmouth blah blah blah,” so that some of us could remain indifferent to the issues and not be subject to their racist grouping. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate those people involved in this quandry who can discern that individuals are involved here, not just groups of races.

Thanks,
Shasta Small ’10

Sir,

Speaking for those of us in the “real world,” I think Daniel is spot on with his “NAD’s on the Warpath.” Too bad the real world rarely intrudes into the marble halls of academe.

Good luck to you. You’re right, and your opposition is too immature to know it.

Regards,
Henry Mitchell

Sir,

The statements by Dartmouth’s Athletic Director regarding the University of North Dakota are totally inconsistent with the standards of the NCAA and leave Dartmouth open to sanctions, including suspension of sports eligibility. It is unnecessary for UND itself to request that the NCAA investigate this disgraceful matter. I am confident at this time that various alumni organizations are acting to bring the issue forward. It would appear obvious to the legal mind that Dartmouth’s Athletic Director needs to issue an immediate and profound apology in order to mitigate the inherent damages involved. That such damages have occurred in a collegial environment is simply appalling. That they have emanated from one of our Ivy League schools is beneath contempt.

Kindest regards,

Pat West
Toronto

A Different Look at OPAL

Sir,

I wanted to write in about the article “OPAL and the History of Dartmouth.” I understand the College’s desire to be PC about everything, but I believe they should balance that with a ‘challenge the establishment’ mood. Students are there to learn to think for themselves, not be told how to think.

With that in mind, I ask the question why everyone sees the old mascot as the ‘savage Indian’. Has anyone ever thought to think of it as the ‘environmental Indian?’ I realize that the image can be viewed as offensive since it is a stereo type of all Native American cultures, some of which were fighting tribes, but has anyone thought about the other tribes or the other side of Native American culture that held nature in the highest respect.

Native Americans were far more environmentally conscious than anyone today or my European ancestors. Paying tribute to animals souls that were killed for food, only hunting for food out of necessity, and not taking more than was needed. Where do you think the idea of ‘Mother Earth’ came from... Native Americans. Early Europeans were far more savage than Native Americans killing for pelts and leaving carcasses to rot. Showdowns at high noon and the whole thing.

I personally view the old mascot as a symbol of environmental sustainability and how one should interact with his or her surroundings in a symbiotic relationship not a parasitic one.

I am of European descent, and I urge those of European descent, Native American descent, or any other heritage to challenge the status quo, and look at the other side of the symbol.

Starke Mueller ‘04

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