Re: Dartmouth only Ivy to abstain from signing letter against Trump administration funding cuts
On April 23, College President Sian Leah Beilock sent an email to alumni explaining why she didn’t join other college presidents, including ALL other Ivy presidents, in standing up to President Trump, refusing to join a NATO of College presidents for mutual support. President Beilock cites Dartmouth’s institutional restraint policy in support of her refusal. However, the policy “encourages taking actions … in solidarity with other schools.”
You defeat bullies by standing up to them rather than offering concessions. Read the April 4th op-ed by Eli Moyse ’26 wherein he states that Dartmouth’s hiring of Matthew Raymer ’03 as senior vice president and general counsel represents a spineless acquiescence to President Trump’s anti-democratic attitude and anti-free speech attacks on higher education. Moyse wrote, “Ryan’s hire is a way to avoid scrutiny. His presence on campus is an attempt to send a message to the White House … It is a clever attempt at defending the College from the intense pressure that other schools have endured.”
President Beilock has yet to learn that you stand up to bullies, not offer concessions. Just ask Columbia. Instead of giving relief, President Trump demanded more concessions. Bullies do that when extorting cowards. One can only guess at the next concessions President Trump will receive from a hapless Dartmouth administration.
Dr. Rick Hanson, in his podcast about dealing with bullies said to “Stand with Others,” noting that bullies target lone individuals and vulnerable groups to display dominance and create fear. He said to “gather allies who will stand with you if you’re being bullied. Also, ask others to stand up to bullies; sitting on the sidelines just perpetuates bullying.”
David deCalesta ’64
David deCalesta is a member of the Class of 1964. Letters to the Editor represent the views of their author(s), which are not necessarily those of The Dartmouth.
