To the Editor:
Professor Craig Steven Wilder's letter, "The Passion of the CEO: T.J. Rodgers' Crusade," (The Dartmouth, April 13) is a notable example of rhetorical flourish combined with artful non-sequiturs. It is interesting to note, for instance, that an advertisement for a human resources manager is interpreted by Professor Wilder as evidence that even the pernicious T.J. Rodgers implicitly admits the need for a "facilitator" at his company to achieve his peculiar version of diversity. Could it be that the job description contained additional, more mundane duties?
Does Professor Wilder suggest that Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice were "produced" by affirmative action? I am aware of Secretary Powell's support for the program, but this seems to be a rather broad inductive leap.
I am not aware that Rodgers has said anything that could be construed as "antagonistic" toward any group of students; nor do I think that the statement "The absence of color is not merit; the absence of color is segregation," adds to the sum of human knowledge.
Finally, having earlier accused Rodgers of "malice," Professor Wilder suggests that Rodgers has also been tarnished by his pursuit of filthy lucre by saying, "Perhaps he seeks to profit from mischief without being accused of malfeasance."
I do agree with Professor Wilder that the subject merits serious discussion. Let's try to do it without polemics.
