Since the administration announced its new initiative a week ago today, they have sent conflicting messages to all segments of the Dartmouth community regarding what exactly the new initiative entails. Even after last night's question and answer session, many students were left shaking their heads and wondering what it all means.
When it was originally announced, College President James Wright made the oft quoted remark, "This is not a referendum on these things. We are committed to doing this."
Despite the informational session, it still remains unclear what exactly "these things" and "this" means. The Trustees' letter was undeniably vague, and perhaps it should have been so, given their role of long-term leadership. The objectives they had in mind for the social improvements certainly became clearer last night, but how these goals will affect the current institutions which many students hold dear is apparently up in the air.
The Trustees' recent statement contains worthwhile ambitions. Most of the statement has been well received by students, and the hesitancy that exists is caused only by the uncertain implications. Most are confused, and rightfully so, as to whether or not single-sex Greek houses are completely incompatible with the social renewal. This question was asked pointedly last night, and there seemed to be no concrete response.
From two interviews with Wright and one with Trustee Bosworth that The Dartmouth conducted, it was clear that the Greeks were going to be gone from the College social scene in the very near future. But to many students and alumni, the administration message was not as definitive as that.
Wright's letter to CFSC President Jaimie Paul and Assembly President Josh Green, as many students interpreted it, made the decision to eliminate single-sex Greek organizations seem less definite. And the Assistant Director of the Alumni Fund, Christopher Boffoli, wrote an e-mail message to one alumnus which read, "The accounts you may have read in the media have been distorted and misrepresented. President Wright and the Trustees have no plans to eliminate the Greek system."
What exactly is going on here? Boffoli told The Dartmouth he was "confused," but one would expect that the College would keep alumni relations officers up to date on what the plan is, knowing it would be as controversial as it is. When students were forwarded the e-mail from the alumnus, they had no reason to think Boffoli would be ignorant of what was happening, so they suddenly had hope that maybe it was not as definitive a decision as it had seemed -- but that would contradict what Wright said earlier in the week, and he has not made any statement officially softening his earlier comments.
No wonder people are confused. The administration could do a service to everyone by telling students directly if single-sex Greek houses will be a part of the new social system. The goals of the Trustees are worthwhile, and most of the points are agreed upon by students, but either the Trustees and President Wright haven't made up their minds on this particular point, or maybe they have and just haven't told us. Either way, honesty would be the best policy.
