Dartmouth College in its present incarnation is, in a social sense, a static institution. The Greek system exists, and so too do those factions on campus arrayed in opposition to it. This will not change in the foreseeable future. Their relationship to each other, however, is not adversarial--it is symbiotic. The recent furor over both the salacious Beta Theta Pi fraternity verses and Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity's pledge script has illustrated this relationship well, a mutual dependence which will continue until social Dartmouth is somehow transformed structurally.
There is little dispute that the brothers of Beta were abandoned by the Muse as they embarked on their literary endeavor, composing those fateful rhymes which would lead to such an uproar. Likewise, few seasoned theater critics would regard Alpha Chi's pledge script as a thespian tour de force, and most audiences would probably acknowledge it for its failure to be either profound or amusing. Despite these apparent embarrassments, both fraternities are entitled to a measure of gratitude, at least implicitly, from the College administration and other members of the soi disant "opposition" around campus.
Dartmouth is foremost a place for people to learn, grow, and ultimately discover the personal identity which will determine their course in life. The intellectual climate here is suited to encourage that process of discovery, as it should be. Students begin to find their respective voices and almost simultaneously develop a desire to express them. In this sense, the symbiotic relationship between the Greek system and its ostensibly disgruntled counterpart is good for everybody.
Wednesday night's candlelight vigil on the Green, an event which was sponsored by at least a dozen well-meaning organizations nicely representing Dartmouth's dynamic demographic composition, was intended to appeal to the intellect in finding solutions to the recent strife. Its name, "Candlelight Vigil for Acceptance and Understanding: An Appeal to the Intellect," indicated as much. Unfortunately, the Dartmouth '02 who will pen the next pledge script was unable to attend, as was the Dartmouth '03 who will see the in righteous indignation at such an egregiously offensive document. Both equally deserve these opportunities when they reach Dartmouth and matriculate here, entering a world in which they can find their respective identities and express them. Both are entitled to this experience, and Wednesday's vigil, ironically enough, imperils their right to it.
Having attended Monday night's discussion about the Alpha Chi pledge script at Brace Commons, I sensed that constructive voices were in the minority amongst the participants. I saw relatively apathetic fraternity members, neither stridently defending themselves nor acquiescing in the attacks levelled at them. It was as if they acknowledged that this sort of business has happened before and will continue to happen when they are gone. They were right. I also saw audience members struggling to control their outrage, enjoying every minute of the sweet pleasure that is derived from the powerful indignation which is coaxed up, up, and further into the stratosphere. They were also right. Both sides deserved these opportunities, ones which helped them develop their identities -- that is why they are at Dartmouth.
What stands in the future is perhaps even more offensive poetry and more offensive plays composed by members of Greek organizations trying to have a good time at the expense of the community. Dartmouth is a place where people often think they can suspend the condition that they be responsible for their actions. They will attempt to amuse themselves in the racist and sexist idiom which seems to characterize their communication with each other in general. And the "opposition" factions will be the beneficiaries of ever more outrageous and conspicuous targets at which they can aim the crosshairs of their wonderful, willful malevolence. Both will taste the sick satisfaction of intolerance and hatred, experience the sweet sensation of revulsion, and this environment--our dear Dartmouth--will be the location of this exchange. Don't deprive them of this opportunity, an integral part of the learning process. No problems means no meetings, and no meetings means that students will graduate from Dartmouth without having learned the valuable lessons afforded by their newly formed and offended sensibilities.