We, the Panhellenic Council, feel it is necessary to take a public stance against the demeaning language in the alleged "pledge notes" distributed over the weekend. While we cannot speak to the notes' credibility, their offensive stereotyping exemplifies a marginalization of groups that happens far too often in all corners of our campus. We firmly believe that reducing any Dartmouth student to a stereotype or sexual object based on gender, sexual orientation, race, class or group affiliation trivializes his or her accomplishments and character. Stereotypes on this campus are baseless. The identities of the groups to which we belong are as diverse as our student community as a whole. It is time that Dartmouth students, as some of the most accomplished young adults in the nation, begin to respect the full worth of our peers.
We, as Dartmouth students, should start by declaring demeaning language about our peers unacceptable in any context and in any company. Simply put, we never act in a vacuum. We cannot compartmentalize our lives to the extent that we can speak cruelly in private and act respectfully in public. The presence of this private discourse warps the way we work, learn and socialize together. It undermines the formation of a strong community based on tenets of mutual respect. The attitudes that engender offensive dialogue as well as those that tacitly endorse it inarguably shape our actions.
We would be remiss not to add that the anonymous distribution of the document is emblematic of an unproductive pattern of anonymous antagonism. While we understand the potential stigma associated with openly criticizing systemic issues, one-sided conversations do little to drive actual progress and instead divert attention from the real issues. As sorority presidents, we have purposely put ourselves in a position to hear the opinions of members of the campus community and attempt as best we can to create change by addressing these concerns. We understand that as Greek leaders we are limited in our capacity to address the concerns of every group on this campus. Therefore, we encourage everyone to engage in open, honest dialogue that does not create confusion but rather is conducive to action.
The fact that some people on this campus feel they must express their criticism anonymously is a testament to the very language of hate we seek to end. We are facing a crisis of respect for our peers and the ideas of others. Collaborative effort is the only way we will arrive at a solution to the ills of mutual disrespect that plague our campus. The organic formation of groups such as Men's Forum and Women's Forum represent the need and desire for open conversations and cooperation to effect positive change on our campus. We applaud these efforts, but also recognize the need for even more opportunities for students to publicly and vigorously voice their opinions and ideas about Dartmouth life.
Starting where we can instigate change most potently, it is our goal as Greek leaders to encourage mutual respect within our own institutions. We pledge to actively root out hateful language, no matter how seemingly innocuous and private it may be. We ask the community at large to not only hold us accountable to doing so, but to join us by promoting respectful attitudes in all of our interactions.
Just as we, Dartmouth students, should not underestimate the potential our voices have to create hostile environments, we cannot underestimate our capacity to create welcoming ones. The onus to create an environment that promotes the utmost respect for one another is on all of us, as we ultimately control the ways in which we socialize and interact with each other. Together, we must work toward social change on the individual level and collectively advocate for systemic change on the organizational level.
