Letters

QUOTE/UNQUOTE "Our academic experts should recognize that it is exactly the sort of calculation [Professor Jennifer] Lind advocates that has caused such resentment of the causes our country espouses. —RICHARD D. GLOVSKY '69

Mr. Smith

YOURJAN/FEB ISSUE WAS TERRIFIC. I especially enjoyed the piece ["Cold Warrior"] about Hav Smith '51, with whom I served at the U.S. Mission to Berlin in the early 1960s. Hav became something of a legend among his CIA colleagues. In the early, tense days following the raising of the Berlin Wall, when American and enemy tanks stood nose to nose, he was assigned to find out if the crews of the opposing tanks were Soviet or East German. At Checkpoint Charlie Hav simply walked across the narrow no-man's strip, picked up a large rock and banged on the nearest enemy tank's carapace. Instantly, out popped the head of the driver, cursing in Russian.

Mission accomplished, Hav scurried back to safety on our side of the line. In intelligence, as in diplomacy, sometimes the direct way is the best way.

Norfolk, Connecticut

IT WAS EERIE READING ABOUT HAViland Smiths experience with the CIA in Berlin in the Cold War era. I was there as a high school student in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution and, like him, in 1961, when the Soviets began to tighten the noose.

I had just returned from a national track meet in Dusseldorfwhen I got a call from the American embassy.The message was that the Soviets were up to something big, and the embassy was advising all Americans to get out of town. I left three days later and the next day the wall went up. A surprise, the newspapers claimed, but the CIA obviously knew what was going on.

Boston

For Better or Verse

I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO READ IN "Rhyme and Reason" [Jan/Feb] that, "Today, the trail to [Richard] Hovey has all but evaporated," because a few years ago I picked up a copy of The Laurel, inscribed by Hovey, class of 1885, from the Dartmouth College Library discard bin. It holds a place of honor on my bookshelf, even if Dartmouth did not want it.

Hillsborough, California

I READ WITH INTEREST CARL Japikse's valiant attempt to revive interest in the poetry of Richard Hovey. I'm afraid I don't buy his argument regarding Hovey's stature in the pantheon, especially when it is based on excerpts from some truly wretched verse.

Like many commentators stuck in the past Japikse '69 offers the obligatory putdown of modern poetry, "dreary stuff filled with depression, anger and confusion." Has he actually read Billy Collins, Sharon Olds, Galway Kinnell, Martin Estrada or Rosanna Warren, to name but a handful of contemporary masters? Yes, their verse may reflect the world we live in, but hasn't that been the call of the poet from time immemorial?

The week before Christmas brought news of the death of Sylvester Pollet '61. Emulating the Japanese poets Basho and Issa, Pollet wrote beautifully chiseled poems that responded to his surroundings, be it watching a hawk prey on a jay made fat by birdseed or surviving Maine's infamous mud season. Here, in my humble opinion, is a poet worthy of our attention, whose genius, to rewrite Japikses appraisal of Hovey, lies in the depth of his insight into the real joys of living.

Mount Desert, Maine

State of Denial

JENNIFER LIND IN "A SORRY STATE OF Affairs" [Jan/Feb] claims that congressional pressure on Turkey to apologize for the Armenian genocide is counter-productive, supposedly because it would generate a nationalist backlash within Turkey. Her argument falls flat on several levels. First, successor Turkish republican governments to the Ottoman Empire, which perpetuated this crime of genocide, have all refused to acknowledge what happened to Armenians from 1915 to 1918. All of these governments have been nationalist to some degree (even the present Islamist one) and they didn't need a congressional resolution as an excuse to put off coming to grips with the past.

Second, if it weren't for the activism of the Armenian diaspora and sympathetic politicians in the West the memory of the Armenian genocide would have disappeared from history. It is this activism that keeps the issue alive and is compelling some Turkish intellectuals to question their government's denial campaign. For example, the Turkish Nobel laureate writer Orban Pamuk clearly was sent to prison in Turkey for stating in a newspaper interview that no one in his country speaks of the murder of more than 1 million Armenians. It is unlikely he would have made this statement if the issue had been dormant in Europe and the United States.

Third, Lind admits that pressure by the Western powers compelled the West German government to acknowledge the crimes of the Nazi regime, but says this is a unique case. Maybe it is unique bec ause similar pressure has not been put on other countries with sordid historical episodes. There will always be right-wing nationalist elements in countries that will claim no outside power has the right to interfere in their "internal affairs," but that should not deter those powers and human rights activists from seeking the truth.

Lind also makes an error in stating that even opponents of the congressional resolution agree that the Ottoman Empire forcibly expelled its Armenian population, killing hundreds of thousands through murder, starvation, exhaustion and disease. One notable opponent—the Turkish government-did not acknowledge these facts and lobbied heavily against the resolution, putting out its usual line that some Armenians died in a "civil war." It is only when such denial campaigns end, Turkey acknowledges the crimes of its past and the U.S. administration puts truth above geopolitics that such congressional resolutions become unnecessary.

Vienna, Virginia

AS ONE WHO WAS INTIMATELY INvolved with the Armenian genocide issue as it was considered by the AntiDefamation League and who presented as principal (perhaps, in this instance, it ought to be "principle") spokesman at the leagues recent national commission meeting in favor of an unequivocal recognition of the genocide, it pained me to read Professor Lind's geopolitical analysis.

It would be refreshing for our academic experts to recognize that it is exactly the sort of calculation Lind advocates that has caused such resentment of, resistance to—and suspicion of—the causes our country espouses. Sadly, this includes most particularly those we all might agree are laudable.

Boston

Worth 1,000 Words

YOUR PROMINENT USE OF THE PHOtos of Jamal Brown 'OB and Andrew Goldstein '05 from the project "Fearless" ["Big Picture," Jan/Feb] will help fight the bigotry and hatred that still plague lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in our country.

Dartmouth is far more hospitable now to those of all gender identities and sexual orientations than it was in prior decades, but there is still a long way to go before we are all welcomed for being who we are. Thank you for helping remind all of us that LGBT individuals are indeed everywhere, including in Dartmouth athletics.

Los Angeles

Bitter Pill

ALTHOUGH THE PHARMACEUTICAL industry has obviously served David Mott '86 ["Continuing Education," Nov/Dec 2007] very, very well, I take issue with his contention that "what's really happening is that foreign governments...are exploiting a U.S. public that demands medical innovation and new products."

A recent front-page article in The WallStreet Journal described how the expensive research vaunted by Mott is delivering fewer and fewer effective new drugs. This would seem to undermine his explanation of why we pay such exorbitant prices for his industry's products.

Although Mott depicts the pharma- ceutical industry as a high-risk business, year after year drug companies enjoy higher profits than any other industry. Excess profits are the result of excess prices.

In the United States uninsured patients are charged more for drugs than those who have insurance companies to bargain for them, and the prices of prescription drugs are generally much higher to start with than in other advanced countries. Moreover, the prices of topselling drugs are routinely jacked up in the United States at two to three times the general rate of inflation.

Then there is Big Pharmas control of Congress, which has allowed the industry to exploit patent law to suppress generics and thus stifle the competition that would lower prices. A series of laws has enabled drug companies to extend the exclusive marketing rights of brandname drugs through a variety of tactics.

When patent law manipulation fails them, pharmaceutical companies sometimes simply pay generic manufacturers not to market a competitive product. The fruits of publicly funded research are virtually given to drug companies, with no requirement for reasonable pricing

Westminster, Vermont

At Odds with Todd

TRUSTEE TODD ZYWICKI '88 THINKS James 0. Freedman was evil ["Campus," Jan/Feb]. What sort of a Dartmouth president does he want? There's a clue at the Web page of the Phrygian Society (www.phrygiansociety.com) where the Phryges, "a group of senior men...equally passionate about our College and troubled by its direction," proudly display a group photo that includes Zywicki and gives him "mad props" for all he's done on their behalf.

There's nothing stuffy about these boys; they have "hotlinks" for the John Birch Society, "doing for our republic what we're doing for Dartmouth." Also for Ann Coulter because "she's smart and hot." Pride of place goes to the link for "Our president, George Bush. If only the president of our College could be more like the president of our republic."

So Zywicki and his consonant-burdened brethren want to install George W. in the Wheelock succession. I can't wait. We'll see big tuition cuts, but only for the rich kids. No more liberal arts, just dumb multiple choice tests. The Campus Po will be privatized; those gun-toting Blackwater mercenaries will do a far better job. And once Dick Cheney determines the nearest existential threat, look out New London. Let's just hope regime change at Colby-Sawyer goes more smoothly than did the one in Iraq.

San Francisco

Scary Disbelief

WHAT A SCARY LETTER FROM PAUL Tschetter '57 ["Letters," Jan/Feb]. Reacting to the results of a poll showing that the class of 2007 is "liberal," he suggests first that this ignominy results from a liberal bias on the part of Dartmouth's admissions officers and then that this condition should be cured by the imposition of a political litmus test at the admissions level in order to restore conservatism to its rightful status.

As to the supposed liberal bias of Dartmouth students,Tschetter would no doubt find the same leftward slant at the other Ivies and the rest of the nations prestigious colleges and universities. Poll after poll shows that college students are more liberal than their parents and that Americans with advanced degrees—the types of people that Dartmouth attracts—are more liberal than the population as a whole. Perhaps that tells us something.

Neither my son nor I was asked any questions during the admissions process that would reveal our political leanings.l certainly hope thatvotes for petition candidates do not, as Tschetter suggests, represent votes for a "conservative quota." I'd hate to see the drop in average SAT scores.

Alexandria, Virginia

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY printed Geoff Berlin '84 s absurd and insulting letter ["Letters," Jan/Feb] regarding the lack of Alumni Fund giving by Todd Zywicki '88 and Stephen Smith '88. Who cares?!

Writing a check is easy. Is there any better way to prove your love and undying commitment to Dartmouth than to take on the difficult, time-consuming and often thankless task of trustee? I think not.

Highlands Ranch, Colorado

You Can Hear Him Now

IT WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE JEFFREY Harts fine tribute to Eugen RosenstockHuessy ["Christian Existentialist," Nov/ Dec2007]. Dartmouth grads from his era who were similarly impressed by the professors extraordinary power as a speaker should know that in the 1950s students tape-recorded more than 400 hours of his classroom lectures; these tapes maybe purchased from Argo Books, 88 Old Pump Road, Essex, VT 05452-2742 (or ww.argobooks.org). Under the auspices of the Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy Fund, Argo also keeps in print a good number of his publications in both German and English.

Rosenstock-Huessy always had distinguished admirers (such as W.H. Auden) and 35 years after his death we are beginning to witness a remarkable efflorescence of interest in his thought, with doctoral dissertations and books and articles appearing regularly that to one degree or another feature him.

is yet to be fully realized. Judging from the current trajectory it seems probable that in another decade or two the works of this somewhat isolated emigre, who lived in relative obscurity for many years, will be mandatory reading in colleges and universities around the planet.

Providence, Rhode Island

Game to Remember

YOU DID A MARVELOUS JOB OF DEscribing the 125 years of glorious Dartmouth football [Sept/Oct 2007].I would like to add one to your list of "most memorable games." In 1961 we played Yale in a sold-out Yale Bowl before a national television audience. It was the sixth game of the season and Yale, which had not been scored upon all season, was ranked nationally in the Top 20.

It was our line coach, Jack Musick, who developed the defense to defeat Yale's "unstoppable" belly series. He assigned tackle Walt Grudi '62 to drive the tackle in, end Dave Usher '62 to hit the quarterback, cornerback Gary "Spider" Spiess '62 to hit the tailback and me to hit Yale's 230-pound fullback Dick Niglio on every play. The absolute key to the defense working was to never try to decide who had the ball—Yale's deceptive skills were such that that never worked-but to stay on the "strong side" and to tackle our assigned targets on every play.

Yale received the kickoff and started from about its own 30-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage we attacked like banshees. The ball went up in the air and we recovered it inside Yale's 5-yard line. On the second play we scored. Yale never recovered from the shock, and Dartmouth went on to win 24-8.

Medfield,Massachusetts

Sturm and Drang

I DEEPLY RESPECT THE FACT THAT many alumni have differing views on the issues that have been brought forward during recent alumni trustee elections ["Letters," Jan/Feb],

manner in which the administration and its supporters have reacted to this difference of opinion is, to me at least, quite offensive. First denial, then attack, then attempting to rig the process (via the blatantly biased proposed new constitution that was understandably defeated). Finally, when democratic processes did not work, convening a closed committee of the board (excluding those recently elected by alumni) to "restructure" the board in order to minimize alumni influence. All in the name of maintaining "peace and harmony," as defined by themselves.

These are not the values I learned at Dartmouth, and I cannot support an administration that promotes them. While I respect the opinions of those who side with the administration, if "winning by any means" is their ultimate goal, they went to a different Dartmouth than I did.

Greenwich, Connecticut

I AM APPALLED BY THE VICIOUS ATtacks by certain alumni on President Wright and the board of trustees resulting from the boards decision to expand, which was completely justified.

These alumni argue that the petition candidates elected to the board are supported by a majority of alumni. Actually they won only because of outside support and a split voting system. Does the election of a disciple of Clarence Thomas reflect the views of most alumni?

I believe candidates such as Stephen Smith '88 have gained seats by making misleading arguments such as claiming the administration has been neglecting undergraduates in favor of graduate education. The hiring of new faculty and building of new facilities—as well as overwhelming satisfaction reflected in student surveys—make a different case.

Critics of the College have also advanced the false argument that the administration discriminates against fraternities and athletes. In fact, the administration has instituted much needed regulations to elevate the standards of the Greek societies. As for athletes, success of teams runs in cycles, and Dartmouth's teams will surely have their fair share ofvictories. President Wright has been well balanced with regard to these and other issues.

Alumni critical of the College have claimed that the boards vote to expand was controlled by President Wright, who did not vote. Since the petition candidates were against expansion, the favorable vote required at least nine of the 12 other voting trustees. Surely those who voted in favor, all of whom are distinguished in their own right, were not acting as pawns of" President Wright but with the welfare of the College in mind.

It is unbelievable that a group claiming loyalty to Dartmouth is willing to slander the school in national newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall StreetJournal.

Their appeal to alumni not to contribute to the Alumni Fund and to change their wills to eliminate gifts shows their true character. Apparently these disgruntled alumni are willing to destroy Dartmouth to achieve their egotistical goals. Their ruthless activities prove that the board adding eight new trustees was an essential move to protect Dartmouth's future. It will enable the board to add needed experts in various fields while still keeping eight trustees chosen by the alumni—more than at most peer institutions.

As an attorney I find little merit in the argument that the board acted illegally. It had the absolute right to add trustees and has done so in the past. I urge all alumni to give President Wright the support he deserves and to repudiate false claims.

New York City

COMMENTARY REGARDING THE board's recent decision to stack the deck in favor of non-elected trustees fails to recognize that the board is the most exclusive, expensive social club within the Dartmouth College family. One of the club's canons is not to criticize the administrations actions. Another is not having a philosophy or theory of the purpose of higher education.

Dartmouth is a firm internalizing search and transaction costs for a beautiful environment featuring a chance to meet nubile, young women, pursue the Mrs. Degree, participate in athletic contests, explore the outdoors, change the world and perhaps learn something. The College combines a sports bar, dating service, millenarian society, travel agency for alumni with money and time on their hands, Outward Bound, secret societies, fraternities and sororities and a means of learning something.

Chief Justice Marshall in Trustees of Dartmouth v.Woodward (1819) described the institution as a private, eleemosynary institution devoted to religious and literary purposes. The "char-ity" had assets of $3,076,249.83 for fiscal year ended June 30,2004, per form 990 filed with the IRS. It posted a profit of $154,445,538, described as excess. Pretty good shooting for a charity!

Dartmouth has a maladapted corporate structure as it lacks de jure stockholders. Its de facto stockholders are alumni, students, the senior administration and tenured faculty. The alumni's claims on the College are their memories. The faculty's claims are salaries and such perks as tenure, medical insurance, pensions and sabbaticals. The senior administrations claims are the same as the faculty's, with the bonus of making lofty statements about diversity and multiculturalism.

We should ask ourselves what we are trying to do with our institutions of higher learning. Are these institutions social clubs aimed at political indoctrination or are they transmitting a liberal arts education aimed at giving the student a means of debating and commenting on pressing issues of the day?

The lawsuit regarding the trustees' decision will solve nothing. We need a different corporate structure and a more modest agenda for higher education, which is big business. We just refuse to face this fact.

Riverside, Illinois

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