Before this week, no one could have said what the release of the steering committee's recommendations would reveal, but there was little doubt that whatever the report's contents, the national media would once again fill their pages with the mythical "Animal House"connection. And so they did.
The headline of the Boston Globe's article detailing the release of the Initiative report read, "Dartmouth Proposes end to the 'Animal House' era." Underneath the headline was a very large photograph taken from the movie "Animal House" as well as an opening line that also contained the phrase "Animal House."
This phenomenon was not limited to The Boston Globe. References to the movie were also made in two separate Associated Press articles which were run by newspapers throughout the country.
Every college has an image, and clearly animal house is ours, but the real question is, should we change the college because of the image, or the image because of the reality?
During this important time of discussion, we urge all involved not to let the media's mistakes become our own.
Few people who have spent any significant amount of time at today's Dartmouth would be likely to compare it to the Dartmouth of the 1960s. In fact, the common reaction of Dartmouth alumni is how different the present school is from the one they attended. Then, why does the media persistently and relentlessly draw this comparison? The reason is simple -- it makes a good story.
Dartmouth should continue to actively battle these stereotypes, but it must separate its hope for a changed image from its desire to improve the student life that truly does exist. This is not to say that the present Dartmouth social system should continue unaltered, but it does mean that Dartmouth should not let stereotypes of questionable validity determine these important policy decisions.
While image is an issue that every college must deal with, the Dartmouth community should not let the recent news coverage be a distraction from its ultimate agenda--making the real Dartmouth a better place. The media is looking to craft a good story, Dartmouth should be looking to produce something a lot more lasting-- a wonderful school.
