A New Voice Cries Out

Common Sense, a biweekly publication which examines issues important to the student majority, debuted in early July. Produced by a group of Dartmouth students, the "alternative paper" derives its name from a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Nothing astonishes men as much as common sense." The paper will include in-depth coverage of prominent campus issues with opposing viewpoints submitted by students, faculty, or others, along with columns by administration officials, news, and sports.

Founder and publisher William J. Hanekamp '88 first came up with the idea of publishing an alternative paper last year when the College received national publicity centering on a small number of students espousing radically different ideological positions on divestment. "While the voices of the left and the right are vehemently expressed on our campus, there remains a pensive and ever-potent portion of students on campus who are silent, whose views and ideas remain unexpressed," said Hanekamp. "The majority of students . . . do not sit in the President's office . . . nor wield sledgehammers on the Green at night. . . . We need a newspaper that rationally discusses prominent issues of the day and investigates topics pertinent to the students of this college." The paper hopes to explain the issues at hand in a rational manner "so that the average student can understand the issue." Last spring, said Hanekamp, "many students thought if you didn't agree with divestment, you were a racist."

Joining Hanekamp in establishing "a new voice for the middle ground" are editorial board members Brett Matthews '88, Charles Wheelan '88, Scott Abernathy '88, and David Luczkow '88. The paper will be distributed free to students. Subscriptions are available for other interested readers.

Bill Hanekamp 'BB, left, and Brett Matthews 'BB, right, are editors of Common Sense, a newspaper which represents the "middle ground."