YOUR TURN

YOUR TURN

readers react

Dead Heads

Thanks to DAM and Ethan Weinstein ’21 for the article about the 1978 Grateful Dead show in Hanover [“The Dead Zone,” March/April]. My buddies and I used to hitchhike or drive to N.Y.C. to hear the Dead at the Fillmore East whenever we could. Sometime in 1969-70, we wrote to the Dead asking them to play at Spaulding Auditorium. They responded with an offer to play two shows for something like $3,500! We joyously took the offer to the campus office that handled concerts and were sternly told that only they—not random students—booked concerts, and they showed us the door. Alas, the Dead wouldn’t come to Hanover until long after I left. No matter. I continued to go to their shows until 1995.

DON MEALS 72 Burlington, Vermont

Like several people interviewed for the story, I worked the load-in and strike—nearly 24 hours end-to-end. I had a crew assignment backstage during the concert, so I didn’t see a minute of it. Quite the event, and I kept my backstage pass as a souvenir.

JOHN D. SNYDER 79 Clifton Park, New York

Road Rage

I love receiving my Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. I usually read it cover to cover, learning about the amazing work and achievements of my fellow grads. But I was really disappointed in “Gear Shift” [January/February], Why is the magazine profiling a thief? This wasn’t even a good story to begin with. I myself am an event planner, and I understand the stresses that come with the job. But that doesn’t mean I quit one day, steal a bike, and travel the country as an unproductive member of society. Many people are stressed about work, even hate their jobs, but they don’t have the luxury to pitch a one-man Peloton temper tantrum. DAM should continue profiling alumni who work hard to support themselves, their families, and the greater good, rather than glorifying someone with such privilege, entitlement, and self-pity.

I had a crew assignment backstage during the concert, so I didn’t see a minute of it. Quite the event.”

-JOHN D. SNYDER 79 THE DEAD ZONE | MARCH/APRIL

KATHRYN E. ARION ’11 Bethesda, Maryland

Sorry to say, “Gear Shift” is a problematic story that endorses the actions of a lead character who comes across as oblivious and obnoxious. This is precisely the type of entitled behavior that I found so very annoying when I was an undergrad at Dartmouth. Overly clever dude gets away with breaking the law where others likely would not, then writes a book at least partly to make money off the story— and then gets valorized in an uncritical profile. The story really bothered me (and others I know) on so many levels and looks particularly bad when conversations on equity and justice are taking place in the public arena. Not a good look.

SHAZIA IFTKHAR ’95

Philadelphia

Do the Math

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a harder-hitting, more succinct, more apt, or more important sidebar than the “By the Numbers” column [“Campus,” March/April]. It’s time.

RICK JOYCE ’85 Jersey City, New Jersey

Trailblazer

The description by Susan Dentzer ’77, Adv’22, of early coeducation and those turbulent times is very accurate [“Continuing Ed,” March/April]. There was much hostility toward women at first. Susan was a brave groundbreaker and remains a dedicated alumna.

CLAY SERENBETZ, TU’85 Friday Harbor, Washingtoyi

Price of Profit

As a minor donor to the alumni fund, I was delighted to see that our donations are well shepherded [“Bullish,” January/February], While return on the endowment is crucial, it is not the only criteria for success. I am concerned about the “vulture capitalists,” as described by Robert Reich ’68 and others. The buyout of Sears and Toys “R” Us by hedge funds loaded the companies with debt and ran the companies into bankruptcy. Thousands of workers lost their jobs, and the hedge funds walked off with immense profits. This kind of greed makes many question unregulated capitalism. I hope the keepers of our endowment fund look at where our money goes and how it is used, not just the bottom line.

DON RIES ’66

Tucson, Arizona

Big and Little Green Men

I am disappointed to find a call to censor opposing views in the letter from Kunal Malkani T2 [“Your Turn,” January/February] about the interview with [UFO investigator] John White ’61 [“Continuing Ed,” November/ December 2021]. Free speech is an honored tradition in academia and protected under the First Amendment. To support an alternative view, I recommend a more academically honest approach: Present a counterargument with facts, logic, and conclusions rather than seeking to stifle another’s presentation. Honest debate is both civil and fair, not repressive.

"Many people are stressed about work, even hate their jobs, but they don’t have the luxury to pitch a one-man Peloton temper tantrum”

-KATHRYN E. ARION ’11 GEAR SHIFT | JANUARY/FEBRUARY

BILL BRIGDEN ’73

Sequim, Washington

I was surprised and dismayed to read about White and his UFO investigations. Why the alumni magazine of one of the best colleges in the country chose to publish this nonsense is hard to understand.

S. ADAM STANFORD ’83

San Ramon, California

CORRECTION: We incorrectly reported the point-after-touchdown percentage of kicker Connor Davis ’22 in the November/ December 2021 issue. He finished the season a perfect 30 for 30 and ended his career with 75 consecutive PATs. Regrets.

WRITE TO US

DAM welcomes letters. The editor reserves the right to determine their suitability and edit them for accuracy and length. Letters must be limited to 200 words and refer to material published in the magazine.

Write:

Letters, Dartmouth Alumni Magazine,

7 Lebanon Street, Suite 107,

Hanover, NH 03755

Email:

DAMLetters@dartmouth.edu

Online:

dartmouthalumnimagazine.com