The practice of periodic introspection on my college experience has typically produced a smug smile on my face, indicative of my pride, enjoyment, and an overall agreeable outlook on my Dartmouth days. Despite incompatible D-plans, residential disjunction, and a scatter plot of academic pursuits, this joy-packed inner aura has served to promote personal social continuity. I associate this emotion with my vision of "Old Dartmouth," an institution united by a defined cultural fabric and a unique sense of community. Undoubtedly my short three-year stint here disqualifies me from credibly defining "Old Dartmouth", but at the same time it seems that this abbreviated timeframe is of particular relevance given the contemporary social turbulence that dominates our institution. My vision of Dartmouth, formulated over the course of only a half-dozen terms, has been demolished in the last six months. The complacent smile no longer appears when I consider my relationship with Dartmouth -- its replacement is a neutral, identity-less expression of confusion and bewilderment.
I trace the evolution of this transition to last year's initial Student Life Initiative announcement, an event long since criticized for its presentation. More influential on my psyche, however, was the actual context of the announcement and its direct questioning of my Dartmouth identity. Vague concepts were poorly communicated to a community deeply invested in all elements of its message. The haughty top-down tone combined with this ambiguity made it impossible to seek personal resolution.
This theme has continued to emerge in the College's handling of other contemporary episodes, particularly the administrative decision to temporarily derecognize Phi Delt. Based primarily on the inherently biased testimony of a former member, the brothers of 5 Webster Avenue are victims of a political climate. If the national movement for Greek abolishment was not enough, the Trustees of Dartmouth habitual questioning of our Greek dynamics sealed Phi Delt's fate. The mechanism for appeal, in which the same Dean that rendered the initial decision will be forced to re-evaluate his findings, is itself an injustice unlikely to promote correction.
Juxtaposing this incident with last term's Computer Science 4 melee furthered my cynicism towards the administration, and added to my bewilderment. Professor Rex Dwyer served as a sitcom"esque protagonist who, by virtue of his demeaning words and comedic antics, facilitated the College's decision to use him as a scapegoat. The over-esteemed Honor Code was unable to adapt to Cyber Space scenarios, forcing me to question the credibility of those responsible for its implementation.
The subsequent barrage of national media and community criticism of the ruling seemingly influenced the College's approach to adjacent Honor Code handlings as well. Last term alone, I saw a remarkably diverse sample of friends exit Hanover as a result of COS findings spanning all disciplines, including academic integrity and behavioral mishaps. Certainly my prior relations with these individuals eliminate my chance for objectivity, but the correlation between these clustered incidents and the CS 4 drama is not necessarily coincidence.
Behind my change in facial expressions lies personal disillusionment with an institution that previously adhered to my vision of its dynamics. Indeed change is amongst the sole constants in our experiences, and I accept the notion that every variable responsible for personal conceptualization is forever flexibly unpredictable. But the extent of Dartmouth's recent social volatility, particularly fostered by its administration, concerns me.
I do indeed prescribe to the optimistic philosophy that we are in a unique position to determine the future of Dartmouth, but urge parallel recognition of the potential for community disillusionment in the process. The conservative tone of the most recent Trustee announcement hints at such awareness, and hopefully foreshadows a continued alertness. At a time conducive to internal reflection and the constructive integration of its fruits into our social fabric, let's not forget the rationale that guided our decision to become part of this community in the first place.
