To the Editor:
Regarding your interview with Adam Keller: Saying that student protests led to overturning the elimination of the swim teams is vastly oversimplified. In fact, the swim team came en masse to the Dartmouth Alumni Council to make their case. The Council's athletic committee recommended a resolution both protesting the elimination and beginning a fund-raising campaign. The resolution passed in the Alumni Council after an extended discussion to make the resolution's wording just right. The fund raising campaign -- which involved students, parents and alumni -- brought in $2 million. That meant the restoration of the teams was "revenue-neutral" which means that it did not have an adverse effect on Dartmouth's budget. As a private institution, Dartmouth cannot spend money it does not have.
Teaching point: Protest if you want, but raising the money is a better solution.
