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The Dartmouth
July 8, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

A dehumanizing analogy

To the Editor:

Tuesday's column by Zak Moore '09 disgusts me ("A Vote on the Mascot," Jan. 9). He claims to champion democracy, "school pride and unity," yet he does so through an argument that dehumanizes and mocks members of our community and degrades that very notion of solidarity that he says ought to garner support for our athletic teams and other campus groups. If we are unable to rally around the essential tenet of respect for all human beings, it is no wonder we cannot agree upon something as inconsequential as a mascot. By Moore's own argument, a mascot serves as a symbol for the spirit and support of an institution. The truth we ought to face right now is that many of us are struggling to feel that sense of union when so many are intent on demeaning what the real Dartmouth stands for.

Moore's likening of citizens of Native nations to animals reveals his ignorance. His assessment of national sports teams' Native American mascots as tasteful betrays his insensitivity. More damaging, however, is his erroneous belief that we ought to model ourselves after such corporations. We aren't here to sell merchandise or bring in ratings. We're here to excel in the classroom and on the field, and to set an example for the rest of the nation and the world. Democracy isn't just about majority rule. It is a principle of social equality that honors each individual member of a community. I agree, an open dialogue is a great place to start, but thankfully when it comes time to take a stance, even people who think like Moore have only one vote.