Playing the role of prophet and predicting what will happen in the future -- defending all sorts of outlandish opinions and saying silly things -- is what we columnists are often known to do.
Less fun, but more practical, is the act of simply using a column to draw attention to a particular issue solely for the sake of drawing attention to that issue without expressing an opinion beyond that of suggesting that one draw one's own opinion. That is the aim of this particular column today. Please don't expect any particular insight or wisdom, but do involve yourself in the debate over freshman dorms and other issues raised in the Report of the Committee on the First Year Experience.
Have you read the Report? You really ought to. If accepted, the recommendations contained in that report will vastly restructure residential life and institute other changes for both freshmen and upperclass students. Since the Trustees will vote on the recommendations in April, the time to educate yourself and to form an opinion about the issues contained in the report is now.
The Report is one issue that cannot afford to be ignored any longer. There is still time for dialogue and debate, and policy changes can still be made.
The current situation with Webster Hall provides a good comparison to the situation that will exist if lively and informed discussion of freshman dorms and other recommendations contained in the report does not take place. The leadership of the Student Assembly and numerous other people have acknowledged that the conversion of Webster Hall into an area for Special Collections is so far advanced that arguing against such a plan is futile. Rather, the focus should be, and now is, on providing funding to compensate for the loss of Webster Hall as programming space. Although the comparison is imperfect in many ways, what happened is that the problems with the plan to convert Webster were addressed too late. The time to question the wisdom of converting Webster and to weigh the advantages and disadvantages is long past since the decision was already made.
Likewise, when the Trustees vote on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on the First Year Experience, the decision will be made whether to accept them or not, or to accept them in an amended form. Dartmouth students present and future will have to live with whatever is decided. Truly, now is the time to help shape the future of residential life at Dartmouth.
Do you strongly oppose or support freshman dorms and upperclass affiliations with clusters? Do you have questions or concerns about any of the recommendations contained in the report? Now is the time to let your voice and the voice of the student body be heard.
Here is a plan of action, and not a difficult one: Pick up a copy of the Report from Dean Pelton's office. Read it, talk about it, form an opinion and make that opinion known. Learn what you can about the crucial and wide-ranging issues involved by going to the meeting sponsored by Dean Pelton on Thursday night.
Whatever your position, let it be known.
