To the Editor:
As a member of the audience of the Women of Dartmouth panel, I was incredibly disappointed by the reporting in The Dartmouth on the event (Senior women recount adjustment experiences, May 23). Never before had I seen such utter disrespect and disregard for speakers who seek to share something so personal of themselves with a room full of strangers. The article published was the complete opposite of everything the panel hopes to accomplish. The reporting was dry, absent of emotion or context, uninformative and, frankly, a slap in the face for the seven speakers. The panel is traditionally put on so senior women can share their experiences at Dartmouth, both good and bad, for the benefit of younger students. They connect with their listeners through their highly personal and poignant stories to let others know that they are not alone. What I read in The Dartmouth Wednesday morning failed to capture any of the support or atmosphere that was present in Collis Common Ground on Tuesday night. The article glossed over every womans story, going so far as to lump Sarah Rosa 07 and Sarah Chaudhry 07s experiences together under the topic of culture shock. It merely recounted what was said in a completely objective and meaningless manner, dismissing these womens experiences and misrepresenting the event as a whole. It made no mention of tearful reactions from the audience or standing ovations for these fantastic speakers. Dartmouth is an incredibly diverse place and somehow, these seven women were able to unify an entire audience through their stories. The panel was not an interview, but rather an opportunity for women to speak candidly and off-the-cuff about their experiences. Cherry-picking quotes disturbed the entire spirit of the event. I am extremely dissatisfied and frustrated with the reporting because it failed to communicate to those who didnt attend how moving the event truly was. These women put themselves on the line for the sake of the Dartmouth community. Show them the respect they deserve.
