Close your eyes and pretend that you are someone who is unaffiliated with Dartmouth. And then imagine what would be the first images to come to your mind when the name Dartmouth College was mentioned. Pictures of drunken fraternity parties, ski slopes filled with brightly colored students, the Green teeming with wealthy alumni on Homecoming weekend, the Dartmouth Review, etc. Regardless of what's actually in your mind's eye, I would bet that it has something to do with privileged youths in an idyllic setting.
Every student at Dartmouth has been confronted at one time or another with the charge that the College is a -- gasp -- elitist environment. Those of us who are members of the Greek system are confronted with this criticism weekly. But it is also the most common comment, other than "Wow, you must be smart!", heard from outsiders, whether it be friends who have come up from city schools for a visit, or friends of parents who know some snotty alumnus from the office.
Most of us tried to combat this slur at first. It's just the media image, we whined. There really is diversity hiding out in them woods. By this point, however, I have given up arguing. It's pointless, because Dartmouth is undoubtedly a hotbed of elitism. But this word is not the insult that it first appears to be. I'll say it -- the College's elitism isn't a bad thing. In fact, it may be one of its strengths. If by elitism we mean the creation of selective groups, a gathering with those of like-minded ideals and a focus on accomplishment, I have absolutely no problem with that.
The Dartmouth student body is itself a product of a policy of elitism. It is made up exclusively of those who could get good grades in high school, or could score well on the SAT, or who could gain leadership positions in important activities or whose family has powerful connections. It is made more select by virtue of the remoteness of Dartmouth's location. It is composed of people who either can afford a huge tuition, or are willing to both work and take courses, knowing that they will be in debt for a long time after they graduate. In this age of college as arbiter of future success, all schools are elite organizations, dividing people by intelligence and past accomplishments. We happen to have the good fortune of being at the top end of this educational social strata.
A number of Dartmouth students decry the social structures inside of the College as elitist as well. This seems to me to be a naive complaint that takes into account none of the shortcomings of humans. By nature, people want to gather around them an exclusive group of friends. Anybody that has ever tried to become a part of a previously formed group of friends can testify to the fact that it is more difficult than any pledge period. The hippie ideal of "Come on people, let's get together," was disproved by our parents, the generation who preached unity until they decided they'd rather have BMWs.
Take the Greek system, the most frequent target of criticism from both Dartmouth students and administration. The claim is that houses are elitist, and by extension, sexist, racist, ageist and guilty of bad fashion taste. The first of these charges is indisputable. I am a member of the Greek system and think that it has both its bonuses and shortcomings. But, by definition, it is an elitist construct. It is a system in which houses choose who they want to include and place all others on the level of outsider. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Every single person at this college has chosen who and who not to associate with. Every person has chosen who to throw a party with and who to ostracize. The Greek system just happens to be the most visible example. Ironically, it also happens to be the most racially, economically and ideologically diverse social group at the College.
Without exception, all other social organizations at Dartmouth are as insulated as the Greek system. For example, I have heard from several persons that the DOC is a very cliquish group. This is not to say it isn't a very good organization. It caters to a group of people who enjoy the outdoors and, by extension, form strong bonds that may be hard for outsiders to break into. Elitism is not something to fear or try to destroy -- it is a fact of life that facilitates both goals and friendships. I, for one, am not ashamed to say that I belong to exclusive organizations, and would not have them any other way.
