To the Editor:
Twenty years after I matriculated to Dartmouth, I'm sorry to hear that the Dartmouth administration is still trying to eliminate fraternities and sororities. I find this deeply disturbing, highly undemocratic, and dictatorial. The administration apparently feels it is appropriate to impose their social vision, not on themselves, but on the student body. If I understand correctly, this is being done without the vote or consent of the people being governed: the students.
I find this initiative objectionable for several reasons. First, the social environment at Dartmouth is already "substantially coeducational," making this initiative unnecessary. Second, it is natural for people to socialize, at least some of the time, with others like themselves. Look at society at large. Sometimes this means socializing with people who share our interests; sometimes this means socializing with people who share our beliefs, and yes, sometimes this means socializing with people who share our gender. There's nothing wrong with this. Third, most of the fraternities and sororities are private corporations, and their members are legal adults. I find it questionable legally that Dartmouth has the authority to tell a legal adult that he/she cannot join a private social organization. Can you imagine telling an adult Hanover resident that they cannot join the Shriners because Dartmouth doesn't approve of funny hats? Fourth, this initiative smacks of coercion. Since the administration isn't satisfied with students' response to Dartmouth's twenty year effort to impose a politically correct social vision, it has repeated its earlier efforts to eliminate fraternities and sororities, "as we know them," instead.
Dartmouth does not exist for the benefit of the Board of Trustees. Dartmouth does not exist for the benefit of the administration or the faculty. Dartmouth does not exist to provide the Board, the administration, or the faculty with an environment for social experimentation. Dartmouth exists to serve and educate its students.
Whatever happened to government of the people, by the people, and for the people? The United States was founded on principles of FREEDOM. Our ancestors fought and died to protect that freedom. I'm saddened to see that freedom is dead at Dartmouth.
