I wanted to add my voice to a rising collective one about an incident that occurred this past Friday night on our campus.
Wednesday morning in the Good Morning Message, a newsletter email that many students receive, an anonymous student posted a thoroughly concerning letter. A female student was walking by Psi Upsilon fraternity Friday night and was startled to hear the following:
"One man on the ice explained, "Now, when we shout 'Wah-Hoo-Wah,' you shout 'Scalp 'em!' Okay?" And lo and behold, they began to chant. "WAH HOO WAH!" "SCALP 'EM! SCALP 'EM!" "WAH HOO WAH!" "SCALP 'EM! SCALP 'EM!" over and over again. As I neared Psi U, the shouting ceased for a moment, and then started up again. Except this time, the "men" screamed "WAH HOO WAH!" "SCALP THOSE BITCHES!" " WAH HOO WAH!" "SCALP THOSE BITCHES!""
I know that, unfortunately, these incidents are somewhat common on our campus. There seems to be a pervasive ignorance about this. This occurrence has just happened to come to the attention of many people. To once again say, "That was only a few members of the frat" and "a sincere apology was issued quickly" is not enough. This is how this campus continually ignores things like this without taking responsibility. This band-aid approach is clearly not creating change on this campus. The incident however does present an opportunity for students and the administration to make a statement that racism and sexism will not be tolerated at Dartmouth; that we want to move forward.
It was such an ironic twist of fate. Just this past Monday night at the MOSAIC meeting, we discussed actions that the group wished to take regarding the re-ordering of the Indian jacket by three fraternities this year. We discussed, in an informal, incremental manner, writing letters to the presidents of these houses, to the administration, to The Dartmouth, and passive programming seeking to educate about why this symbol is offensive. Some wearing the jackets these days cling to claims of ignorance. If you are going to wear it, know what you are wearing. If the administration wants a concrete thing to do, ban the jackets, or force classes and discussion about native peoples and the true history of Dartmouth's relations with Native Americans.
Tuesday night, I attended the World Cultures Initiative dinner at Tri-Kap, where the discussion at the table revolved around the conviction that this school does not promote diversity. We spoke of the drop in application numbers overall, and the (although not confirmed) suspicion that minorities' applications have been crashing. I listened to numerous students of color explain that this school had made them stronger through the pain they had endured. They spoke of the "Dart-MYTH" and that they would discourage, and at times actively do discourage, prospective students of color from coming to this school. This has been a repetitive sentiment in discussions about race relations and diversity at Dartmouth that I have attended.
This latest incident was not only embedded in this school's racist treatment and ideology of native peoples, but is another statement about a school that continues to support spaces and structures that empower white men. Here is a structure that stands in a prominent position on this campus, and yet there are many students here who are made uncomfortable, or are even frightened, to walk past it (and other fraternities).
I have awaited for two years something that speaks to change as a result of the Initiative. And yet I fear that I will leave this school with nothing to hold on to. Little has made me believe that this school is moving forward as a place that will foster a better, and more inclusive, community. Instead, I find myself more and more cynical everyday about my early, nave rejection of Dartmouth's reputation as a homogeneous, male-dominated school.
I have been talking with a number of students through the past two days about ideas of student response. Many students feel that this is an opportunity for the administration to make a statement about what will be ignored, and what will be condemned. Some of our belief lies in educating the ignorant. Is this not a role of this institution?
Please do not disappoint us.
