To the Editor:
Dean of Faculty Carol Folt's apologia for the narrow vision of her administration is so filled with cliches that perhaps she should consider a public relations position with Haliburton ("The Fact of the Matter," March 3). Where are the specifics? Consider the following: "When adding new faculty, we will continue to identify critical areas with particular needs for growth while continuing to expand opportunities for faculty-student collaboration. In that manner, we will be able to both strengthen the core of the curriculum and to identify areas of innovation or opportunity where Dartmouth can truly excel." What are the critical areas? What opportunities does she advocate for faculty-student collaboration that do not presently exist? She writes that we recruit "exciting faculty at all levels from Assistant to Full Professor." Who are they? What about their teaching and scholarship makes them exciting? She goes on to say, "our institution, like its peers, thrives on the influx of new ideas." Please tell us exactly what new ideas you have in mind. And how will they "infuse the campus and community with their creativity?" She concludes by saying, "I am inordinately proud of the accomplishments of our faculty." To which accomplishments does she refer? Let me suggest some do appear in spite of her drive for uniformity, administrative control and political correctness. Her comments, as we say down here in the trenches, are simply "dean speak."