To the Editor:
I was disappointed to see that Professor Jim Kuypers decided to resign his position last week, likely ending the study of speech and rhetoric at Dartmouth ("Speech prof resigns, blasts faculty deans," April 22). His classes were well taught and well-received by students. However, the most distressing parts of the article are the comments by Dean Lenore Grenoble. To say that the study of speech is a technical pursuit, appropriate for a technical school but not part of a liberal arts education is not only condescending, but also ill-informed. The study of speech and rhetoric has been a cornerstone of a liberal arts education for centuries. It's disappointing that the College has placed someone so warped in her view of what a liberal arts education is in a position of influence over curriculum. The losses of Professor Kuypers and the Speech Department are significant losses for the College and its provision of a true liberal arts education.
Sincerely,
Ryan Clark '01
New York, NY
