Letters

"My experience in business was similar to [T.J.] Rodgers': College graduates neither think nor write as well as they should, and there is definitely a math hole." —MARCEL DUROT '52

Trusting in T.J.

T.J. RODGERS' PRESENCE ON THE Colleges board of trustees is greatly reassuring to many of us ["A Change Agent," Sept/Oct]. His intended campaign for fully free speech at the College is a necessary undertaking.

Todays unforgiving university speech codes accomplish nothing to reduce prejudice and bigotry. They succeed in merely driving intolerance underground, where it festers. Intimidated by the consequences of speaking out, students who harbor biases, of whatever degree of offensiveness, remain silent—their leanings comfortably intact. Or, worse, they engage in furtive discussions with others, some of whom may very well share, or come to share, their views. Their per- spectives are, one imagines, reinforced. They emerge from college with the same warped preconceptions with which they entered—perhaps even having chalked up a "convert" or two.

At what better time than in ones late teens and early 20s, and in what better place than the campuses of this nations great academies, ought ill-conceived notions be forthrightly addressed? Unfortunately, myopic administrations and faculty members have encouraged speech regulations that are engineered, first and foremost, to ensure campus harmony In the meantime, a hallmark of our Constitution, free speech, takes a beating, and our colleges and universities produce a fair measure, no doubt, of maladjusted magna cum laudes. The future suffers for the present.

We want bigots where we can see them, and deal with them—not hidden away where their misguided thoughts are allowed to smolder.

Dartmouth maintains it has no speech code. Trustee Rodgers disagrees. For the sake of the institution this issue needs explicit clarification. I suggest that Dartmouth consider instituting a code— one that both champions free expression and that cannot be arbitrarily diminished through administration fiat.

Free speech, of whatever stripe, must be enthusiastically encouraged, regardless of its effect on campus conviviality.

Safat, Kuwait

IT IS DEPRESSING INDEED TO READ that T.J. Rodgers' impromptu visit to campus spotlighted 15 professors and 15 fraternity brothers. Woe to the rest of the Dartmouth population, I suppose, as Rodgers seems intent on subjecting the College to identifying internalized hostility among fraternity brothers. His dismissal of date-rape drugs as mere products of the administrations imagination is frightening, and his self-help session for emotionally bruised members of one fraternity has little to do with what will actually benefit the Dartmouth community as a whole.

Reading of his seemingly unwavering focus on implementing a change through cut-throat business tactics and the didactic advice of a libertarian think tank such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, I finished the interview deeply concerned for the future of the trustee board. (I was also more than a little overwhelmed by the irony that the color code Mr. Rodgers cites for measuring free speech on college campuses is deeply reminiscent of Tom Ridges multihued "Homeland Security Advisory System.") Ironic, too, that a man who so values free speech hears only what he would like to hear when fraternity brothers express concern for their female siblings were they to choose to attend Dartmouth. Unfortunately (or, perhaps, hopefully), thanks to views such as those espoused by T.J. Rodgers, they won't.

Brooklyn, New York

I WAS GREATLY PLEASED AND Encouraged to read the interview with T.J. Rodgers. I can add something to his thoughts on fraternity life: The Student Life Initiative (SLI) is one thing when viewed by top administrators, but entirely different when viewed by those involved in it day-to-day. I would love to show T.J. what has progressed out of all that money rerouted from faculty teaching to SLI.

We can take heart from his talk with fraternity folks. I find the students in Coed, Fraternity and Sorority organizations (CFS), to which I have long been an advisor, are diverse and are okay with themselves. The faculty perception of fraternities has, perhaps, the most bias. One bad example taints the entire population. P.S. to T.J.: Don't reveal names; they will reveal themselves!

Keene, New Hampshire

I GREATLY ENJOYED READING THE interview with our new trustee and would like to offer a little suggestion to the administration and the other trustees: Instead of opposing him, welcome him with open arms. Let Dartmouth benefit from his abilities and willingness to serve.

Just think what a consultant with his background of accomplishments would charge. Add his unquestioned love for Dartmouth, and the potential for his doing great things for our beloved College is incredible!

Here's one alumnus who would say to him at the time of the Olympics, "Go for the gold, T.J.! I hope you get the cooperation and support you deserve."

Pensacola, Florida

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERY

organization to have at least one person challenging assumptions and the status quo. Dartmouth always seems to be completing a special gift campaign and planning a new one. When I wondered why, I was unable to get five-year financial and enrollment information on the Colleges Web page to make an analysis. However, I did land on the page listing the undergraduate arts and sciences offerings. Fifty- five subjects are listed. Of these, 14 are foreign languages: Asian-Mideastern languages, Arabic, Chinese, French, French/Italian in translation, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Is this a sign that Dartmouth's objective is to be all things to all people? If so, it is an expensive strategy. The rationale might be that "we have to remain competitive." But if this means following other institutions down the same path, I disagree.

My experience in business was similar to Rodgers': College graduates neither think nor write as well as they should, and there is definitely a math hole.

My business philosophy was to focus company resources on a relatively narrow front to make a deep penetration. This increased the odds of success. The alternative was to spread our resources over a broad front, which was likely to increase the odds of their dissipation. Dartmouth does not have to be all things to all people. Why can't its strategy be to "position" itself to concentrate its resources on a narrower front while delivering a greatly improved product? This requires sound strategy.

Keep asking questions, T.J.

Lincolnshire, Illinois

Remembering Corey

THANKS FORYOURITEM ["CAMPUS," Sept/Oct] referencing the new rugby clubhouse, which will become reality because of the generosity of the late Corey Ford. From 1952 until his death in 1969 the noted writer, humorist and outdoorsman lived in Hanover as author- in-residence, mentoring students and advising various Dartmouth clubs, most notably the rugby club.

When he died, he left his estate to build a permanent home for rugby. After 35 years, his dream and the dream of every Dartmouth rugger is being realized; construction should be completed next summer, and the dedication is tentatively planned for early fall of 2005.

In preparation for the dedication, we are looking forways to recognize Corey, and to let the more recent classes get to know the man who meant so much to several generations of Dartmouth ruggers. We ask those who knew Corey to share their anecdotes with us, and to help us find people and information that will aid us in painting a picture of Corey Ford the author, the outdoorsman and the friend.

Similarly, we are looking to document the history of rugby at Dartmouth. From the earliest beginnings in the late 1870s, before it metamorphosed into football, to the re-founding in 1951 and the start of the women's club in 1978, Dartmouth rugby has had many great moments and a few diversions. Many teams have brought trophies back to Hanover, and many alumni have gone on to play for their country or to spread the rugby gospel by founding clubs else- where. Please share with us your stories of exceptional teammates, memorable games and unforgettable tours. Aid us in our historical research with copies of old newsletters, programs and newspaper articles. Help us outfit the clubhouse with trophies, plaques from touring, famous jerseys and other memorabilia.

If you have something to share with us or have any questions, please contact me via e-mail at boomer@sylsoft.com or phone at (802) 291-6116.

Norwich, Vermont

Spare the 1,000 Words

THE PHOTOGRAPH ["SEEN & HEARD," Mai/Apr] of Hillary Smith Goodridge '78, hand-in-hand with her female lover in front of a "God Bless America" flag, brings PC to new heights.

Smith and her allies are a vocal minority waging a relentless publicity war to convince the simple folks of the nation that public vice is virtuous, and that the flagrant transgression of biblical law is godly. They are clawing at the delicate connective tissue that binds human civilization together.

Fortunately, a natural sense of morality lives deep within the American ethos. As in the film Tommy, resistance to tyranny begins as a whisper, but will eventually grow to a steady roar: "We're not gonna take it!"

Jerusalem, Israel

Editor's Note: To read a debate betweenGoodridge and gay marriage opponent MattDaniels '85, see page 83.

Debate Continued

COULD WE POSSIBLY PUT TO REST all this inane banter about religion ["Letters," July/Aug]? It seems obvious to many of us that man created deities, not the other way around. Primitive man, besieged by forces he couldn't understand, found comfort in assigning the causes of his misery to some agency or entity, who or which, if appeased, could end his torment. One would expect the explosion of knowledge to dispel mysticism and superstition, yet the revealed complexity of life seems to have had the opposite effect.

The usual cast of opportunists seized upon this as a means of placing themselves in positions of authority and thus power, and today we have authoritarian theocracies controlling the unwashed and not doing badly themselves. Ask why so many isolated societies came up with the myriad forms of gods we have today.

A cursory examination of any town will show more churches than libraries and schools. It appears that politicians prefer our children to be obedient and trained in useful menial occupations but not to be the critical thinkers who would turn the rascals out.

In November we either take back the country, religious warts and all, or sink into theofascism. The sucking sounds we hear will not be jobs going to Mexico, India and China but thoughtful citizens moving to British Columbia or other more benign locations.

Brevard, North Carolina

ATHEISTS AND FREETHINKERS HAVE always been marginalized in America even though our tradition goes back to the Revolutionary War and Tom Paine.

Darwin has shown that we were not created but evolved, thereby invalidating any and all creation myths, but mainstream society goes on believing and pretends he never existed.

One of the most vicious lies of religion is belief in a soul that survives death. By manipulating this belief the Al Qaeda leaders were able to dupe the 9/11 terrorists into their suicidal attacks against us. Ancient Egyptians believed that when the soul went to the next world it lived there like it did here: A pharaoh lived like a pharaoh and a servant lived like a servant. Since a pharaoh needs servants in the next world too, these were supplied to the first dynasty pharaohs by sacrificing their servants, whose bodies are found in "subsidiary" graves next to the royal graves. This rationale also guided sacrifices in Ur of the Chaldees, Shan dynasty China, and Scythians.

In the 20 th century the vicious influence of belief in the soul provided support for things such as the Jonestown massacre and the Heavens Gate suicides. And today the rationale of the anti-abortion movement and opponents of stem cell research derives from this same misbegotten belief in the soul.

Dix Hills, New York

Correction: In "Seen and Heard" (Sept/Oct),former Republican Illinois State Senate candidate Jack Ryan was misidentified as class of1990. He is class of 1981.

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