A Complicated Culture
To the Editor:
I have never been compelled enough to submit an op-ed piece to The Dartmouth in the nearly 17 years since I first set foot on campus. While extraordinary, I never thought my own experiences would seem so unique. But I can no longer ignore the urge to weigh in on the troubling issues that have surfaced in response to the column written by Andrew Lohse '12 ("Telling the Truth," Jan. 25) and the subsequent media coverage.
Full disclosure: I am a card-carrying alumnus of a Dartmouth fraternity. So you may choose to stop reading now, or hear me out. There is no question that the social life in Hanover is a work in progress. The wife of a classmate and dear friend of mine once affectionately referred to our group of brothers as "sweet, caring boys who have no idea how to act around women." She was right, and each of us left Hanover with a lot to learn about how adults truly relate to each other. Still, she also recognized the strength of our bond as friends and our sincere devotion to the well-being of one another. Life has not always delivered the ultimate highs. The Dartmouth men I know have endured cancer, divorce and even death since leaving Hanover. And each time one of us hit bottom, we all did. This is rare in life. The experiences we shared at Dartmouth and beyond, initially brought together by our fraternity, have solidified friendships that I will cherish for my lifetime.
I cannot begin to understand some of the allegations Lohse claims occurred in his fraternity. I agree that they seem inhumane, even farfetched. However, the traditions in my house celebrated its members. We truly liked and respected each other, and I know that my friends in other houses would agree.
As I said, Dartmouth is not a perfect place. Thankfully, there are more capable people on campus working toward solutions everyday. After all, it is a small college, but there are those of us who love it.
David Maher '99New York City
Unhealthy Traditions
To the Editor:
I am not privy to the accuracy of all the facts in Janet Reitman's article in Rolling Stone magazine. However, last fall, the Dartmouth Club of Washington, D.C. held a social event featuring "beer pong" in a local bar. I pointed out that there was no mention of designated drivers or any limits on intoxication, and, if someone got hurt, the Dartmouth Club could be responsible to some extent. I contacted the president of the Dartmouth Club to suggest that it was poor judgment to have beer pong as a central feature of this group event. He graciously contacted me, but he disagreed with my concerns ,which was certainly his prerogative.
I then wrote President Jim Yong Kim, who had someone from his office write back that alcohol is often served at social events, but the letter did not include any other comments. While Kim is an anthropologist, and beer pong might be interesting from such a perspective, he is also a physician and doesn't seem to understand that the only goal of the game is to get drunk. I was in a fraternity and had my share of beer. Nevertheless, after the publication of this article, I would hope that there will be more of an attempt to minimize excess drinking at Dartmouth events.
I oversee a large behavioral health system with a very active substance abuse program. Many of our patients who first consumed alcohol in college settings were vulnerable to substance abuse. I would not advocate a "dry campus," but I do think there should be better controls for excesses. Our alumni clubs should exercise more common sense regarding alcohol consumption.
Thomas Wise '65, PhysicianWashington, D.C.
