What is tradition? Webster's dictionary defines tradition in part as "a long-established custom or practice that has the effect of an unwritten law." Apparently, Dartmouth defines the same term as "an aversion to change."
This unfortunate reluctance to disrupt the accepted order of the world has recently manifested itself in the decision not to allow the Pow-Wow to be held on the Green. There seems to be no other logical reasoning.
The College policy for use of the Green is found on page 147 of the Student Handbook. "All events and activities other than informal use may be permitted only upon application to, and approval of, the Conferences and Events Office." As far as one can see, the Pow- Wow committee has been trying since the fall to apply for this event.
Other (paraphrased) rules and regulations apply:
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There shall be no permanent damage to turf, etc. The Pow-Wow did minimal damage to the Green last year. Certainly it is hard to argue that it will incur more damage than the Homecoming bonfire, or the Dartmouth Outing Club's log-chopping festival.
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Permitted vehicle use will be limited to designated walks and drives only. Has anyone ever seen a Pow-Wow participant driving a vehicle through the activities?
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Stakes may not be driven into the ground without prior approval. Not an exceptionally difficult rule to follow.
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Temporary structures, including tents, will not be allowed on the Green. No problem. The Pow-Wow does not set up any tents.
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Cost for set-up and clean-up afterward must be taken care of by the sponsoring organization. One could assume NAD would be willing to pick up the tab.
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Intramural activities and club sports may not use the Green. The Pow-Wow is not an intramural activity or a club sport.
So where does that leave us? One more seemingly hidden rule: there can only be five activities on the Green, and the Pow-Wow is not one of those five.
Why? The only response we have heard is that it is tradition to have Green Key, Winter Carnival, Dartmouth Night, Summer Carnival and the Log-Chopping festival on the Green and the Pow-Wow is just not part of that tradition.
In short: "That's just the way it is."
But where have we heard this before? When Black children were not allowed to go to school with white children, they drank from those different water fountains. After all, that's just the way it was. When women were blocked from careers because they were wearing a wedding ring on their finger, they took the ring off for the interview because that's just the way it was.
And one fine day, people decided that they were tired of the way things were. Our country began to change, move and grow in directions we could not have foreseen.
Quite obviously, the Pow-Wow incident at Dartmouth is not cause for a nationwide revolution. But it is a symptom of a larger problem. Why are we still so averse to change? The word tradition has become inextricably linked with forces that maintain the inequitable status quo, with people who wanted to keep non-white citizens and women from achieving.
While Dartmouth was ostensibly founded with the express purpose of educating Native Americans, it has also become apparent that the meaning of education was that of a white man. Therefore, the traditions that were set up were done so for the benefit of the white men that frequented the College until relatively recent years.
But there comes a point when we must decide that these "traditions," regardless of when, why and how they were founded must be called into question when they violate our sense of justice today. And today, the Pow-Wow would reach more people with its rich culture and diversity (at least a little bit) in the Hanover area, if it were held on the Green instead of hidden in the Bema.
This may cause slightly more work for Facilities, Operations and Management. At this point in the term, it may even cause a hitch in the smooth bureaucratic machine of this fine institution. However, we as a community must stand up and fight for the Pow-Wow's right to be on the Green because in this manner, we will be opening the door for more healthy change on this campus.
After all, there comes a point when we too must fight against the answer "that's just the way it is."
