To the Editor,
On April 19 the Board of Trustees released a statement "to make the social and residential experience more reflective of Dartmouth's dynamic, diverse, coeducational community." One of the many recommendations included "the Committee on the Student Life Initiative's recommendation that tap systems, mass refrigeration units, and permanent bars should be removed from CFS houses." This is indisputable and there is little we can do to change the recommendation.
I was present at the CFSC meeting on June 27 when Dean Redman discussed the process of the removal of the permanent bar structure in residential buildings. I was displeased with some of the arguments and problems that so many of my peers are expressing regarding the removal of the taps and bars. The article in Monday's issue reiterated the situation for the larger community.
What is so wrong with changing part of the culture here at Dartmouth -- especially one that isn't necessarily a positive part? The important thing is that we have the opportunity to influence the implementation process of the Student Life Initiative. This is our chance to have the most influence on our own culture here at Dartmouth. There are SLI implementation committees that students are going to be part of. In our CFS houses, we have huge reign over what Dartmouth culture can become. To quote the Nov. 1, 1999 article in The Dartmouth, in which a group of '00s spoke out to their peers regarding their opinions of the Greek system, one of the five said, "if given the chance, Dartmouth students could create a better system than the one that currently exists." Are we doing this? Or are we just whining? Are we giving reasons why there should not be a Greek system to those who are looking for them?
With the beginning of the implementation process, it is students' opportunity to go beyond the Board's decisions and create a different Dartmouth. Some people are doing this. The status quo is not good enough for them. They want something different and I praise them. But with some people arguing about statements set in stone, like the removal of taps, we are submitting to the Trustees instead of doing it our way. There are administrators who are allies of the Greek system, and will help us implement the best that we can offer to Dartmouth. But we can do it without having the administration, specifically the Trustees, dictating it to us and I urge my peers to do so.
