To the Editor:
As members of the Office of Residential Life and as citizens of the Dartmouth community, we are deeply concerned about the series of racist, sexist and homophobic incidents that have been reported since last July within the residential system. We wish to express our outrage at this type of despicable behavior which is antithetical to the mission of the College. We also wish to clarify the role of the Office of Residential Life in preventing or addressing incidents of this nature, to encourage students who experience oppressive behavior to come forward and report it, and, finally, to entreat students, faculty and administrators who deplore these incidents to speak out forcefully against them and act intentionally to discourage them.
Individual student communities, and most recently coalitions of students committed to combating hatred and discrimination, have loudly expressed their disappointment, fear and anger in response to four disturbing incidents:
- during the Summer term a racist, sexist poem was recited at a meeting in Beta Theta Pi fraternity;
-during the Fall term a female student in Lord Hall was awakened by loud voices and dirt being thrown at her window where she displayed a rainbow flag indicating a "gay friendly space;"
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during the Winter term a racial slur was written on the door of two Asian-American male students living in Little Hall; and,
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during the past 24 hours a similar racial slur was written on the door of the off-campus apartment of two Asian-American female students.
We want to state clearly that we are saddened and outraged by these behaviors. These cowardly acts, borne out of ignorance and prejudice, are insensitive, hurtful and oppressive. They violate our principle of community and standards of common decency. Whether public, private or anonymous, these behaviors contradict a core value of this institution -- its diversity.
In our effort to establish halls and houses within the residential system that truly become a "home-away-from-home" for approximately 3,500 students, we feel it necessary to raise community awareness regarding two specific issues:
-The Office of Residential Life is committed to creating and sustaining residential environments that value the uniqueness and talents of all students, promote tolerance and acceptance, and reaffirm the individual responsibility of all community members. We call upon concerned colleagues and students to assist us in sending the clearest possible message that any harassing or oppressive behavior which creates a hostile living environment for anyone at Dartmouth will not be tolerated.
-It is the role of the Residential Life Deans and Directors, Area Coordinators, Undergraduate Advisors, Program Assistants, Program Liaisons and CFS and Undergraduate Society Presidents to uphold community standards and promote responsible behavior. When acts of harassment or oppression occur, students can look to these individuals to be supportive resources and allies.
In response to the hateful attacks on our student-residents, the charge of the Residential Life Advisory Committee, a group of undergraduates who help to improve housing policies and procedures, will be broadened to address all aspects of residential life. We invite strategies for making this committee as representative and responsive as it can possibly be.
No single response from us can eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia or classism from the residential community or from our society. We call upon all members of the Dartmouth community, nevertheless, to report these incidents when they occur and to speak out against them at every opportunity. It will take all of us working together -- students, faculty and administrators -- to create and uphold what we all deserve, a safer and more just Dartmouth community.
