To the Editor:
In early February, we became aware of the publication and distribution of blatantly offensive pornography in the college journal "Uncommon Threads." The fact that it was funded by student activity fees and was distributed to the doors of all students on campus was most disturbing. We immediately wrote to President James Freedman, who thanked us for our concern and passed our letter on to Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Although there had been several letters and reports in The Dartmouth concerning the "Uncommon Threads controversy," Pelton told us he was "unaware" of the article but would look into it. After reviewing it, Pelton basically defended the article, categorizing it as "fictitional" (there is no indication of that in the journal), "art (?)," "occurring between two women (16 years old?)," not college-funded (student activity fees are on the college tuition bill) and as not depicting "any one individual being violated, subjugated or objectified." Did he read the same article we did? He then said he would pass our complaint on to Linda Kennedy, chairperson of the Committee on Student Organizations who would review the issue.
Today, after three months, we were finally told that the incident would not be reviewed "in particular," although it clearly violated the "Principles of the Dartmouth Community" and probably quite a few local and federal obscenity laws.
Another student publication, the Jack O'Lantern, also published last fall, was immediately reviewed and reprimanded after publishing "racist and insensitive" articles, yet Uncommon Threads remains immune to the principles to which others must be held. The response of every single person to whom we've shown this article has been one of disbelieving shock. We did not make a public outcry about this pornography precisely because it was so offensive, but sought to deal with it quietly through administrative channels.
We are now convinced it would be worse to let the commission of a double standard and unequal applications of the principles of community by our administration go unanswered. We have no hidden agendas and are firm believers in the value of a liberal education, but when the most common boundaries of decency are so brazenly violated, we must speak out. We have decided, despite our embarrassment at promulgating this material, to make it available at our website, so that you may see the serious nature of our protest. We have also included our communiques with the administration to let you know the full story. You may review this material at http://www.members.aol.com/bbwilkens/dartmouth.html. We ask that if you believe in principles of fairness and civility to all, you join us in asking the College for an appropriate redress of this situation.
