Nick Taranto '06 really likes Dartmouth students. He also really likes to help people in need, especially when they are Dartmouth students. Unfortunately, I don't think he likes me all that much.
Last Thursday, Taranto responded to a personal Blitz that I had sent him by copying sections of it and using them to write an op-ed without my prior consent, approval or permission ("The Benefits of the Biloxi Trip," May 4). Instead of responding to me directly through BlitzMail, Taranto surprised me by taking my personal Blitz and publishing it. While using someone's writing without his or her permission is in a legal gray area, you, dear reader, can decide for yourself whether it is an ethical thing to do.
When Student Assembly gave $3,500 to Taranto's group this fall to pay for their food costs and allow them to make a documentary video detailing their winter-break trip to Biloxi, Miss., I was a little discouraged. It's not that I did not like Taranto; in fact, I had never met him. I just thought we could spend our money on stuff that those on the Gulf Coast would actually need: water, clothes, blankets, maybe a little bit of food, etc.
Specifically, I wrote: "I think that money is needed most by the families who lost everything in Katrina, not by wealthy Dartmouth students who want something noble to do for their spring break but who don't want to have to pay for their food while doing it."
Taranto wrote in his article that he agreed with the first part of my statement -- who wouldn't? -- before making the assertion that the second part was "fundamentally flawed." His evidence? "By partially subsidizing the trip Dartmouth has been able to provide all participants, regardless of economic background, with an opportunity that many say has changed their lives." Well, Katrina impacted a lot of people, regardless of economic background, and I still think it would be better to help them get over their life-changing experience before we start to initiate new ones for the good people of Dartmouth. But that's just me.
Later on, Taranto describes what he considers the better use of your money: "Offering scores of students the opportunity to approach community development, race relations, American history and pedagogy from a hands-on, non-traditional perspective was a more favorable alternative [than giving money to the Red Cross]." For Taranto, turning the Gulf Coast into a classroom is apparently more important than feeding and sheltering people while we rebuild their homes.
Taranto also notes that the "generous $3,500 allotment ... has been returned to the Student Assembly." That's just false. You can Blitz the Student Assembly Treasurer, Ruslan Tovbulatov '09, if you want confirmation.
Moving on, the video that Taranto talks about has finally been made, and it is available to the public. It is interesting, in light of his arguments, that in the very opening segments of the video, the camera zooms in on a make shift sign that reads, "Don't just look, stop and help!" The cameraman and documentary crew respond to this urgent plea by continuing to look and failing to stop and help.
Honestly, I'm glad Taranto and his group went down to the Gulf Coast. I think they did a lot of good. I just disagreed with him as to how the money could've been used in a more effective way. That's no reason to get so angry. Whether you lose an election or have someone disagree with you, debate and dialogue on our campus deserve the respect of everyone's patience and tolerance.
