To the Editor:
Let us begin with what everyone appears to agree on. Katie Greenwood's friend was upset. She suffered what one might call one of the unfortunate side effects of the Greek system as it exists at Dartmouth. Her roommates and friends got in and she didn't. Ms. Greenwood was appalled by this and by the surrounding lack of sensitivity to her friend's bruised feelings. She was even angry and bold enough to tell everyone about her hurt and her anger. Two women, because of the system or because of the system's flaws (maybe inevitable?) feel hurt, really hurt. Usually that hurt and that anger go unspoken because to speak such feelings is to invite defensiveness, backlash and even more hurt.
Then the members of the system respond. Do they respond by acknowledging the pain or by ridiculing it? Let's listen to the voices in The Dartmouth: "Life is tough sometimes," but some think "rush is fun;" get over it, Katie. How dare you accuse us of insensitivity, or worse. We're the victims, not you. People are always stereotyping us. Don't call our system putrid because that is equivalent to calling us putrid and we're not. Don't you dare criticize the system because that's the same as denigrating other women. If you think our actions imply a judgment towards you and your friend, you must be insufferably insecure. Dartmouth is exclusive; the admissions office does the same things with the same heartlessness that we do; so get used to it. We know some women get hurt in this process, but it's the administration's fault; blame them.
Two people in our community are hurt and angry. One articulates her hurt and her anger. Those with the power and privilege of exclusion and inclusion, with the charters and the houses, the history, the rituals and the overwhelming support of the institution -- those who lay claim to a formalized sisterhood -- turn on her and accuse her of hypocrisy and vindictiveness. That is not a helpful reaction. That does not recognize her pain. That is a classic case of blaming the victim. Why value the system over the ones that it hurts?
