To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the Monday editorial which described the "apathy of the soon-to-be senior Class of 1998," which "may become known as the 'do-nothing class.'" While I certainly agree that the Class of 1998 as a whole should take a more active role in the leadership of the student body, I feel very strongly that the contributions of 1998s both within and outside of the student government hardly amount to nothing.
Like many of my classmates, I have chosen not to become involved in the formal campus student government, but as a member of many different campus organizations, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of student leaders, both from my class and others. Many of the '98s that I know, while they are not the type to run for Assembly president, are instead making their contribution to community service projects at Tucker, supporting survivors of sexual assault, leading campus affinity groups and participating in many other organizations on campus. These groups, while they may get less recognition for their services, do work that is at least as important as, if not more important than, that of the Student Assembly and Class Councils.
In addition, your statements regarding the number of Green Key candidates did not take into account the improved recruitment and publicity of Green Key positions by the 1998 Green Key delegation. The Class of 1998 was not apathetic about Green Key, but rather uniformed about the opportunity, demonstrated by the large number of interested students who submitted their names to be publicized as write-in candidates for these positions last year.
Your editorial was far more concerned with the lack of interest in the "leadership" found in titles and prestige than in the leadership that many '98s have shown in working to make a difference at Dartmouth and in the Upper Valley. It is unfortunate that you failed to make an effort to see that the contributions of the Class of 1998 go far beyond names on a paper ballot.
