I write to applaud Senior Associate Dean of the College Dan Nelson's and his other committee members' new anti-hazing policy.
Few on campus treat hazing with the gravity with which it must be met. Though I fear that the ignorant may label me a "wimp" or a "baby," I wish to recount to The Dartmouth's readership the painful experience that introduced me to Dartmouth's hazing underground.
I had decided, early in my freshman year, to pursue anthropology as a major. I thought that I could just sign up for a few classes, do a bit of reading, some writing, and I'd be all set. Boy, was I naive!
My first class in the department was a horror: the professor glared at me; he asked me difficult questions that I couldn't answer; he even forced me to admit once that I hadn't done the required reading, in front of the entire class! I was embarrassed, made to feel uncomfortable. I was ridiculed and harassed -- and there was nothing I could do about it if I wanted to stay in the class.
What I could do was dull the pain with prescription drugs and heavy drinking. The stress was unbearable -- I shook uncontrollably on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays before class. The fear was debilitating, and my nascent life at Dartmouth unravelling.
Still, I consider myself lucky. With the understanding and guidance of my Undergraduate Advisor, I was able to resituate myself at Dartmouth that spring. On his advice, I changed my major to education. Since then, I've never had to answer a question I didn't want to, never been harrassed by a professor over something so petty as theory or homework, and skipped any reading that I thought might offend my delicate, anti-sexual sensibilities.
Hazing lurks just beneath the surface of Dartmouth's seemingly-placid surface like a Jaws, preying on self-esteem. And Dean Dan Nelson is our Spielberg, shining Klieg lights into the eyes of the Beast. And his new policy will be our spear or gun or however it was they killed Jaws in the movie.
Between the twin public terrors of matriculation to graduation, and their attending stresses and embarassments, Dartmouth is a procession of subtle hazing horrors, so many College-sanctioned! On behalf of all students, I entreat the good Sr. Ass. Dean of the College: please, make it stop!