The comment sections for articles in The Dartmouth are a fascinating breeding ground for dialogue. Over the past few weeks, I have monitored these comment pages with considerable interest as the student body weighed in on the opinions of their compatriots, both past and present, sometimes with vitriol, sometimes with support. I find myself perpetually torn between appreciation of differing opinions and anger at the often rude and trivializing aspects of some columns and commentary.
On the one hand, I am thrilled by the mere presence of the comments — their extreme polarity often makes them all the more interesting, and at the very least, it is encouraging to find that Dartmouth students care enough to react, in one direction or another. It certainly combats the argument that Dartmouth is filled with apathetic, disengaged 20-somethings that cannot be bothered to think about the perceived problems at their school. Yet on the other hand, I am rather disturbed by angry, dismissive comments that deny Dartmouth’s problems, or insist that we should simply stop talking about them.
If this is the case, and if we truly believe that there is no discussion to be had, I want proof. If we were willing to supplement the force of our arguments on virtual platforms with legitimate action on a daily basis, it is my sincere belief that Dartmouth would be well on its way to positive change. The fervor with which the various anonymous commenters insist that opinion columnists are wrong, right, inane, brilliant, naive or worse is a fervor that seems only to exist online.
For those who scoff at the Greek system’s flaws or believe that resistance workshops are ridiculous and unnecessary, it is not enough to get angry at the absurdity of the opinions in the comment section of our college newspaper. Do something more. Take greater initiative than simply submitting an anonymous critique online. Instead of getting angry at columns and columnists, do your part to prove them wrong. The Greek system can indeed be a brilliant venue for constructing and developing community and connections. I would encourage showing that side of the Greek system instead of berating columnists who would beg to differ.
Simultaneously, for those who agree with critiques of the College, do more than that. Nodding at the problem does nothing to fix it, and while recognition is certainly the first step in finding a solution, it seems that we take far more time discussing the problem than acting on it. If op-eds manage to shed new light on a problem, or bring an otherwise unnoticed issue to the forefront, it seems unlikely that their aim is simply to be met with a chorus of agreement. Rather, they should catalyze some sort of action, and not the sort of action that only requires typing a response and posting it online. We should take advantage of the opinions of others to light fires under ourselves and fix the problems.
Dartmouth students are not lazy people. Laziness did not grant us admission, nor did it allow for our success once at Dartmouth. We are not immovable, apathetic or dispassionate students who cannot be bothered to care about our school. Our comments prove that we do have feelings, and strong ones at that.
I do not fault anyone for wishing to defend the College. It is, after all, a four-year home of sorts for the majority of its students. While the willingness to criticize our institution is reflective of a strong commitment to its improvement, so too is the desire to protect and honor the Dartmouth name. Devotion to Dartmouth manifests itself in a variety of ways, and purely antagonizing one another does no one justice.
The willingness and desire to improve Dartmouth must extend beyond a virtual platform. It must be more than just a series of ad hominem attacks or empty compliments. Certainly, it takes considerably less effort to respond online to a column than it does to act in our everyday lives, but the two actions must be linked. Go beyond disagreeing with an article and act instead by, either refuting the point or moving toward a solution. It’s time to put our money where our comments are.
