To the Editor:
I read the short retort by Matthew T. Welander '97 and J. Brooks Weaver '97 [Connecting Lack of Social Options with poor Academic Performance is Preposterous, August 11, The Dartmouth] and my reaction ran the whole gamut of outright disgust through sympathetic astonishment and right back to disgust.
It piqued my curiosity -- no, let's try the honest approach -- it horrified me and saddened me at the same time because that column was written by two supposedly intelligent personalities who sound as though they have the time to discuss the existence (rather, the non-existence) of a Student Assembly at Dartmouth College -- quick examples: "It's That Time of Year Again," April 9, 1996, The Dartmouth; "Welander Portrays Assembly Inaccurately," May 2, 1996, The Dartmouth; etc.) but who could not afford the time to be present at the discussion of the issues they were commenting on.
You see, it is true we all came here to study and face the huge academic challenge but to divorce academic performance from the social sphere is sheer folly. It indicates a social analytical facility that can loosely but at best be described as distantly related to garden equipment.
At the meeting that was held at Shabazz lounge late in July, minority students were sufficiently concerned about their academic performances to come together to try to locate the problem. The fact that they were concerned enough to come together is an indication of a resilient will to excel in an environment that can only be said to be non-conducive to their academic welfare.
There are many facets of the problem such as subtle but characteristic pre-grading, low expectations by the mainstream community, a conspicuous lack of both social and academic support and many other hurdles that are placed in our collective path. Lack of social options was only one of the issues and it is unfair to harp on it as if it were the only issue raised.
I hope Welander and Weaver have the grace to reflect on their condescending and dismissive attitude and to feel apologetic in their hearts, if not to say it. I have seen many of us (minority students) work our butts off at courses and get returns that are not reflective of our efforts.
