As the tour groups filled with the class of 2000 wander across campus, stop and think about why we have such a great reputation. Sure, academics are important; for some, athletics plays a role in making the decision to attend this school.
The biggest factor, however, is the Dartmouth community. We feel it every time Big Green sports teams do well, when groups of friends come together and when we hear how much someone's little sister wants to come to Dartmouth. It is the knowledge that you know you made the right choice in colleges and you have had the best four years of your life here on the Hanover plain.
It is our job as students and student leaders to create a positive feeling of community. We worked hard to get into this fine institution and we all want to leave our mark here. Some marks, however, have done more to tear apart the community than to bring it together. Some believe that the poems, scripts and scribblings we have seen over the past eight months are symptoms of a greater problem. They can be seen as further examples of how the various factions on campus work to divide us all.
These deeds can also be seen, however, as random acts carried out by individuals. While their escapades were deplorable, we should not condemn their organizations in perpetuity. How can there be progress if our community lives in the past? It is time to stand up and begin to work towards our common goal.
No committee, task force or ten step plan will help preserve our community better than simple communication. Group mentality sometimes makes it comfortable for some individuals to say things they would not normally say. While people are always entitled to free speech, they should be aware that their voice has an impact on our community.
Group mentality also prevents some from speaking their mind for fear of backlash. When the need arises, individuals must be able to break with the group mentality and bring the real world back into focus.
Those who feel stymied should find a way to express their concerns. Instead of charging in on a white horse to dictate to the community how we should act, climb off your saddle and be open with your friends.
We are all intelligent people. We all were smart enough to get accepted to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school with a worldwide reputation for intense debate.
Rather than creating something new, why don't we work with what we have to foster our sense of community? Why don't we bring the various organizations on campus and the Greek system together more often? So much has been said and done to separate us, let us not forget our similarities. We are all a part of organizations, we all study for tests and we all worry about the future. Most importantly, we are a part of Dartmouth College and we must do our part to preserve our community.
