The disease of unrealistic chatter that plagues this college must be replaced by a call to actual action. I attended the Student Assembly-sponsored "Visions" dinner last week, and while it generated an immense amount of constructive discussion, it was disappointing in its ambiguity and its overly unrealistic idealism.
I applaud the Student Assembly for setting up such a forum for discussion. Since coming here in the fall, I have noticed hardly any events of a similar type where administrators and students can congregate together in a relatively laid-back setting and delineate the issues that matter to them and the community. Some of the ideas that were thrown back and forth by undergraduate and graduate students alike were impressive; what was perhaps more important was that every individual had their own chance to get the Student Assembly representative seated at their table to write down their own personal thoughts. However, we must guard against unrealistic idealism as well as take the steps to ensure that what we have is not simply administrative heads nodding and promising of action that never materializes, but, rather, actual steps taken to confront such issues head-on.
Some very pertinent problems were raised. Among these was the lack of residential housing available for undergraduate students as well as a non-disclosure policy regarding Dartmouth's endowment. Without the assurance of undergraduate housing for students, how can the college actually promote residential life and increased social options? Additionally, a non-disclosure policy regarding Dartmouth's endowment would finally give us access to our long-overdue right to know where the money we pay for tuition actually goes, and what use it serves. These problems have been raised frequently, but all that has been realized is the tree houses. The Student Life Initiative calls for the construction of a new residential building; unfortunately, it is evident to Dartmouth's community that nothing concrete as yet has happened. Perhaps even the best of Dartmouth's administrators are more susceptible to procrastination than the rest of us college students.
However, at the same time we must guard against over-idealism. I remember a particular comment in which a student made the comment that the buildings that constitute Dartmouth are so "unfriendly." Her vision of Dartmouth, she said, was to "tear down all the buildings" and rebuild Dartmouth from scratch. Food Court, in her vision, would consist of round tables with people sitting together and just being "chill." The unfortunate reality is that Dartmouth is a college, an institution of higher learning. This is not high school where every member of each class is familiar with each other; the fact of life in Hanover is that different people are involved in activities that span across a wide spectrum; individuals are busy and sometimes don't have as much time as they would like to have for one another. College is where one goes to learn and have fun, and this college has some traditions that constitute its very essence -- one simply does not destroy and rebuild Hanover overnight! The idea seemed ludicrous at the time, and it still does come across as over-idealism untempered by reality.
However, a gaping question remains. What did the administration take out of the dinner? Are they looking into the issues that were raised that night, or was it just another free Panda House meal to them? I saw Dean of the College James Larimore looking on attentively; yet he never spoke up in response to many of the issues that were raised. I assume this is an indication of his agreement vis--vis the opinions expressed, or was it simply a sign of his indifference? The Student Assembly needs to pursue this end -- they did mention that the opinions garnered from the dinner would be collated, but they should also include in that a resolution urging the administration to action.
This is my college, my Dartmouth, and I love it for the institution it is and what it stands for. We could have 1,000 more SA Vision dinners, but action (take, for example, the construction of a residential hall) would make the real difference. Now, the administration needs to take up the gauntlet and, through concrete action, prove to its student body that it is not a mere apathetic group of high-browed individuals stuck in a quagmire of inertia, hypocrisy and indifference.
