To the Editor:
Dan Richman has done a disservice to first-year students in his column of September 20 ("A Senior's Advice") by recommending that freshmen "rush the field" at the homecoming football game without having sufficiently revealed to them the possible consequences.
This so-called "tradition" has cast Dartmouth in an embarrassingly negative light in the eyes of our Ivy League peers, whose fans and band members have been injured in recent years by first-year students rushing the field. It is our fear that some Ivy League institutions may simply refuse to compete in Hanover should members of their community be put in danger in the next few weeks -- the prospect of an entire season of away games is not a pleasant one. Nor is the very real possibility that disruptions caused by first-year students during the game itself could result in penalties to Dartmouth's football team.
We are confident that most of those contemplating the rushing of the field have no intention of causing harm. However it is simply impossible for individuals to control their behavior when in the midst of a large, running crowd. Past incidents have resulted in serious injury and destruction of property; those who participate place themselves at risk of being trampled.
For the past several years, the conventional College sanction for "rushing the field" is three terms of College Discipline. While not appearing on the transcript, College Discipline is noted on a student's record and most frequently comes to light when students are applying to law school.
It would be inaccurate to portray the administration's posture on this activity as simply a sour attempt to stamp out a harmless tradition. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our community and our guests, as well as to abide by Ivy League regulations which forbid spectators from coming on the field.
At last Saturday's football game, we were embarrassed that many members of the Class of '98 were nearly goaded into a behavior by upperclass students in which -- we can assure you -- most of them have never themselves engaged. Dartmouth currently prides itself in not putting first-year students through any kind of freshman hazing; unfortunately the attempt by some upperclass students to provoke first years into behavior which has the potential for damaging their professional aspirations bears an uncanny resemblance to the humiliations that freshmen at Dartmouth (and elsewhere) suffered into the 1950's. It is our hope for the Class of 1998 that -- in this instance, as in others -- its members think for themselves without being cajoled into reckless behaviors in the name of a hollow and spurious "tradition."
