n response to “Lord’s Prayer”

By Alex DiBranco

DFP Issue 6.2

To the Editors,

As a Unitarian Universalist, I completely agree with you. It is up to each individual to search for truth and meaning and respect the right and responsibility of others to do the same.

As a member of Americans United for Separation of Church and State I believe that the use of prayer in a non religious setting or ceremony alienates at least some of the attendees and aggravates those who feel it is a watered down version of their religion. It causes unnecessary friction between the two groups and does little to enhance the occasion.

Dartmouth is an institute of higher learning; the administration should be promoting just that. The Dartmouth Free Press is doing just what a college newspaper should—question, investigate, learn, and grow. Congratulations.

Loretta Middleton

North Andover, MA

o the Editors,

RADICALLY CONSERVATIVE AGENDA. Shame on you, Carlos.

This phrase stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb to me because it shows just how thoughtless the critics of Noah Riner are, and how scared they must be of being found to be so imperfect.

Jesus was not conservative, nor are His followers. They are pioneers, pilgrims, bold and brave persons, who, because of their understanding of who and what we are, and because of the dawning of an understanding of why we were created, have decided to live an anything but conservative lifestyle.

Oh, I suppose that when compared to the hedonistic norm, the attitude of “anything goes,” then perhaps we as followers of Christ might seem conservative indeed, as we no longer have time for those types of pursuits, and when we see the scars and emotional as well as relational devastation that these leave behind, we are confirmed.

But we don’t look on the world with a conservative eye, or sit back in our easy chairs, expecting the world to carve out a niche for us. We step out boldly, just as Noah has, and challenge each other to be better than status quo, to rise above the norm, and to be outstanding in developing our character.

In my opinion, Noah Riner is anything but conservative. He is and will be an icon, not because of what he said, but because of who he serves. You may in your fear try and trample the wisdom of his speech into the ground, but you cannot deny the truth, even if you decide to ignore it.

And the rest of us who hear the truth will shout “AMEN.”

Jim Netzlaw

Winnipeg, Manitoba

To the Editors,

Your article is very biased against Christians, or against Christ.

Could it be that Mr. Riner has an extraordinary amount of personal courage? Could it be that he considers Ms. Donnelly to be the best person to replace Kaelin Goulet? Could it be that he thinks Ms. Donnelly has character? Could it be that he simply does not care what others think of his appointment and that “political calculations” didn’t enter into his decision? Could it be that naming Ms. Donnelly was an act of exceptional leadership? Could it be that he and Ms. Donnelly will strive to make Christ-like decisions in their leadership roles? (Oh, my! How dastardly! Hide the children!)

Could it be that Dartmouth has fallen from so great a height from their founding that even their minds are buried under the darkness of the rubble?

Pamela C. Myers

To the Editors,

Carlos Mejia’s column about Noah Riner leaves the reader only two choices as to who the President is: an inept bumbler, or a radical religious idealogue. [sic] Pick your poison.

In a smooth stroke, Mejia has perfected the propaganda of “name calling.” The name-calling technique links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol. The propagandist who uses this technique hopes that the audience will reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative symbol, instead of looking at the available evidence.

DFP indeed is a free press. But your readers deserve more analysis than just shallow name calling. Many people resort to name calling out of fear. Others out of jealousy. Neither is a worthy motive, and the result is not good journalism.

Jed Morrison

San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mr. Mejia,

After having read both Mr. Riner’s speech and your editorial it seems to me that you have completely missed the point. Mr. Riner’s speech was not the beginning of an evangelical movement but a simple statement of a truth and a challenge to the incoming class that character is important, that character does count.

Your attack because he used Jesus Christ as an example is unjustified. What one believes about Jesus or whether one even believes in Jesus is not the issue. The fact is most people will accept that Jesus was a man of character who sacrificed His life, even before He was nailed to a cross, in service to others. Mr. Riner made an excellent choice to exemplify character.

If you will honestly answer the following question maybe you will understand the point. If Mr. Riner had used as his example of character Muhammad or Buddha would you have been equally outraged?

The issue is not Mr. Riner’s politics or even a search for who Mr. Riner is. It is about becoming more than a person with a degree. It is about being a credit to one’s school or business or even one’s faith. Go back and read Mr. Riner’s speech again, especially the quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, “We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” And that, Mr. Mejia, was the point of Mr. Riner’s speech.

Don’t let education prevent you from finding the truth while you are at Dartmouth.

An interested reader,

Perry Green

Troy, AL

ear Sirs and Mesdames,

Whoever told you that Sig Nu plays “half cup” line was smoking crack at the time.

Sincerely,

Aaron [Schlosser ‘07]

The Editors’ Response:

Perhaps if the brothers at Sig Nu weren’t smoking crack, they’d be better equipped to play with full cups. As it is, they’re halves.

Warm Regards,

The Editorial Board

rofessor Susan Ackerman

Chair of the Religion Department

As Professor Ackerman lectures on the prophets of the Hebrew Bible, her voice loud and clear, her carefully chosen words imbued with academic inspiration, you might think she is a prophet herself—such is her power over the classroom. Ackerman would undoubtedly reject this mixing of biblical scholarship and religiosity and caution her students to study more closely the nature of prophet-hood and prophecy. Her students, however, can’t help but think that this extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic professor of Religion is somehow exalted.

Professor David Ehrlich

Visiting Professor Film and Television Studies

It’s the first day of class and you’ve lugged all of your shit across campus from the River to the room where Bannerstudent says your film class is supposed to be. You arrive and pull out your handsome new Apple laptop ready to type out notes from your first college lecture. Then, in struts your professor clad in a pink turtleneck and sporting a straggly white ponytail that dangles proudly like a relic from Woodstock memories. “Hi, I’m David,” he says. “And put that damn computer away. This isn’t a note taking kind of class.” With that, the tone is set for an unorthodox term of creativity and collaboration with David serving as more of a guiding spirit than a grader or lecturer. An accomplished animator himself, David encourages students to articulate their own personal vision with clarity and artistry. Do not, however, come in expecting an easy A or a frou-frou artsy class. David’s classes, be they a freshman seminar or an animation workshop, are amongst the most work-intensive at Dartmouth. But when the term is over, you’ll be glad as hell you spent the effort growing and learning with this eccentric auteur.

Professor Terry Osborne

Senior Lecturer in English and Environmental Studies

The creator of what he refers to as “the intimate education,” Professor Terry Osborn firmly believes that there is more to teaching than relaying the pertinent information of the course to his students. He instead strives to allow for individual interactions between himself and each of the members of his class. Through these interactions, Professor Osborn gets to know who his students are, not just how well they can write an expository essay, and the students have the privilege of discovering what an interesting and talented professor they have for the term. Professor Osborn’s focus is on environmental and ecological literature, and he has personal relationships with some well known authors of ecological writing. One of them, Terry Tempest Williams, actually came to Dartmouth to participate in a fascinating discussion with each of his classes recently.

Professor George Edmondson

Assistant Professor of English

Excited about the romantic tales of the Middle Ages? Or worried about what could be dry and somber lectures about equally dry and somber times? However you feel about medieval English, you’ll quickly discover that Professor Edmondson’s course on the subject is the most colorful way to get into the so-called “dark ages”: a misnomer that discredits the importance and beauty of medieval literature. Professor Edmondson shines a light on this era and engages the class in intense discussion. By asking the right questions, Edmonson facilitates both psychoanalysis of the texts and conversations about gender, language, history, government, religion, and more. His wit, liveliness, passion for literature, and genuine interest in students’ opinions make for a superb classroom experience. Professor Edmondson really listens to students, and is often available for discussions about papers. His commentary and criticism are constructive and insightful. Plus, he really cares about the improvement of his students’ writing. Thanks to Edmondson, students feel prepared for more upper level English classes. And even if medieval literature just isn’t for you, be sure to check out Edmonson’s other classes, including those on literary theory.

Professor Laura Conkey

Associate Professor of Geography

Professor Laura Conkey is more than an instructor to her students. Her classes, mostly seminar in format, are often spent not in reiteration of information covered in the reading done for the class, but instead in discussions concerning the students’ personal reactions to the material and its application to their lives and experiences. One takes away from her class a sense of growth, not just in factual knowledge, but in one’s comprehension of one’s place in the world. In addition, she is known to have her class out to her beautiful ranch in Lyme, New Hampshire for a dinner discussion, as well as to the Hanover Inn for an x-hour over lunch.

Professor Prasad Jayanti

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Professor Jayanti is best described as a space cadet–few professors are more animated. His lectures draw from an elaborate fantasy world wherein red and black stickers are to be placed on one’s forehead, a coffee cup is a black-box of supercomputing, and abstract theories are worth getting really, really excited about. He fools his students into believing all of it, too. That’s because once you hear an idea colorfully explained by Jayanti, it’s hard to imagine it any other way.

Professor Richard Ned Lebow

James O. Freedman Presidential Professor of Government

Govy majors, don’t miss Government 5 with this professor, this fall. Lebow is one of the most respected and prolific government professors at Dartmouth, and he isn’t going to be on campus often in the next few years. If you’re lucky enough to get into a class taught by him, Lebow’s incredibly rich lectures will keep you at the edge of your seat. Each lesson is accompanied by at least one zany story or anecdote that doesn’t merely entertain, but serves to drive his point home. You will appreciate the depth of perspective he provides in every class, masterfully weaving history, psychology, and IR theory together to illuminate the subject at hand.

Professor Benjamin Valentino

Assistant Professor of Government

A young up-and-comer in the Government Department, Valentino offers IR-track classes that explore intricate theories and issues with rare clarity. He’s running the Honors Program this year and not offering courses, but this just means you’ve got a year to take the pre-requisites and look forward to International Security (53) and Genocide and Mass Killings (85.16). Valentino’s brilliance is his ability to make difficult subject matters graspable, while still presenting a full and intellectually challenging course load. He’s also extraordinarily knowledgeable and approachable outside of class, so take advantage of his ability and willingness to explain when you a take a course with him.

Professor Samuel J. Velez

Associate Professor of Neurobiology

One of the most loved professors in the biology department, Professor Velez is as energetic as he is knowledgeable. And he is very knowledgeable. It is true that his exams are among the most challenging in the department. However, Professor Velez’s clear and detailed lectures make difficult material more than manageable. Most importantly, the information one learns from his class will fascinate even the most cynical humanities major.

Professor Mary K. Coffey

Assistant Professor of Art History

Young, enthusiastic, and bespectacled in super hip mod glasses, Professor Coffey is probably one of the cooler teachers you’ll have in your Dartmouth career. Whether lecturing an auditorium-packed introductory art survey or leading a discussion seminar-style, she commands attention with her eloquence, organization, and sophistication. Coffey cares about her students, ready to blitz them in depth responses to their last minute exa
m worries and available during office hours to chat with her devoted fan base. If you’re an Art History major, get with the program and sign up for a Coffey class toute suite. If you’re not, do the same—and get rid of that art requirement in style.

Professor Michael Bronski

Visiting Lecturer in Women’s and Gender Studies

Michael Bronski is an amazing professor. His courses tend to be discussion oriented, with the classes conducted in a circle so you get to face each other. They usually get quite intimate. His topics tend to revolve around contemporary queer/GLBT issues and pop culture, which may be a neat summary, but hardly does justice to the depth of material covered. He consciously sets up times that he is available to meet with students, and people sign up to meet him. He is an extremely intelligent, patient, and kind man. Those who take his courses all agree that he is wonderful.

ow the Old Left Hurts America”

by Andrew Seal

from DFP Issue 5.19

To the Editors,

The Left’s problem isn’t marketing, it’s ideas—or more accurately, the complete dearth of new ones. People who call themselves progressives no longer believe in progress. They look not to the future but to the past for inspiration.

For example, take Social Security. The Right’s idea is to create a private or private/public hybrid system, something we have never had before. It may or may not work but it is a new concept that addresses the overall changes in American society since the ’30s. The Left’s ideas on Social Security? They expect the same basic system that worked in ’35 to work a century later in 2035! If that isn’t a conservative or even reactionary stance I don’t know what is.

People want solutions for the internet age not the pre-WWII era. That is why the Left is consistently losing. Repackaging and rebranding old ideas will only take you so far and the Left has long since reached the end of that rope.

Shannon Love

To the Editors,

Nice piece. It’s the best version I’ve yet seen of the argument, “American really agrees with us, but we don’t convey our message well.”

I’m still not convinced that most of America really does agree with the progressive vision of today’s left. Insofar as that message comes down to collectivism with a new paint job, we may continue to disagree for a long time.

Best,

Carl B. Bridges

“Relax—Seriously”

by Heather Strack

from Issue 5.18

To the Editors,

Are you nuts? The reason people spend time reading such trash is because men and women can’t quite figure each other out. That is the attraction, the mystery that keeps men and women coming back to each other. That is why Vogue keeps selling retreaded articles about what turns men on what turns women on, etc…

And people really do want to know. But don’t give me this crap about the modern women, the liberal independent women, because if you ask ten Dartmouth women what they want, nine out of ten will say a man they can settle down with, and the tenth one will lie. Yes women want to be independent for a while but eventually they want to share their life with someone ,and as soon as you do that then you start to compromise (you have to in a relationship) and that is where both parties lose their freedom, independence, etc.

Love ya,

“Tom G.”

“Meleia Willis-Starbuck”

by Jonathan Lesesne

from DFP Issue 5.19.

Dearest J,

Thank you!!! This is a wonderful article and truly captures the spirit and nature of Meleia.

I did not get the opportunity to spend time with you in Berkeley but I look forward to seeing you at Dartmouth in October.

With love,

Meleia’s Aunt Toni

o the Editor,

Just a note to congratulate you on your article about the Dartmouth Newspaper. As a graduate student, I find it to be one of the worst written college papers I’ve ever seen. Sloppy editing, sloppy facts, boring cartoons and personal attacks on fellow students, not to mention their blatant bias against certain groups makes them a journalistic joke. Even their yearly attacks on the Pavilion’s Passover meals reeks of a standardized anti-Semitism and anti-Arab sentiment and I’m so glad someone finally spoke up.

Sincerely,

Vernita Irvin

MALS

walked into a meeting last Sunday morning at Aquinas House only to have an article from the Free Press become the topic of conversation. Though I had not read Andrew Seal’s article “The Leftist Sect,” I quickly realized that the author had not felt welcome, at least in terms of sharing his views, at Aquinas House. Having spent a considerable amount of time at Aquinas House over the last four years, I wondered how similar his experience had been to mine, so I went home to read the article and discovered that though I, too, have felt as he has, I came to the opposite conclusion.

I remember sitting in a pew at church near my home and reading the back of someone’s shirt, which read, “You can’t be Catholic and VOTE pro-choice.” As someone who believes that one must take into account stands on several issues when voting, I had trouble thinking that it was appropriate for this person to be judging others in such a manner. While there may not be much that I can do about people like this, I have eventually come to the conclusion that these are individuals; they do not speak for the whole membership of the Catholic Church, and they definitely do not represent the whole membership of Aquinas House.

I have been actively involved at Aquinas House for the last few years. I attend Mass regularly and participate in Pastoral Council, the group of students who help plan events for the center. I am a part of that group which Andrew claims is “typically conservative,” and I am liberal. Though at first I could not understand where he got this impression, I soon discovered that even members of the Pastoral Council thought that most of the other people who were actively involved were fairly conservative. As this is a politically diverse group, I began to think about how this perception was formed.

Over the years, I have had conversations with people who hold several different viewpoints about such things as the role of women in the Church, abortion, and homosexuality. These discussions were always challenging and enlightening and as a result, I have grown and expanded my views. However, occasionally I came across a person who held a very strong belief that his or her stance was the only way any person, and in particular any Catholic, could possibly think. Though I often have tried to continue to discuss issues with them, periodically I have come to the conclusion that no matter what I say, there are a select few people who will never believe that my opinion or that of others could be valid. So I stopped debating with these people. Unfortunately, this meant that sometimes certain viewpoints did not get expressed because it was easier to remain silent.

While this was one way to deal with it, I soon came to the realization that there were others at Aquinas House who also held non-conservative views and did not feel comfortable expressing them. This was problematic in that there was a whole group of people who did not bother to make other opinions known and who helped create a false impression that there is a single point of view at Aquinas House. Luckily, at some time in the last year or so, a couple of friends started bringing up this point and discovered that the other “active members” of Aquinas House were open and happy to discuss various issues and opinions.

While I will never be able to change certain people’s minds or feel like they understand or appreciate my point of view, whether that is in or outside of the Catholic Church, I have come to realize that the students at Aquinas House as a whole are welcoming and accepting. I have friends who do not hold what some would consider the “traditional” Catholic belief about any number of things, but they have found a place for themselves at Aquinas House, as I have done. I can only hope that others will continue to speak up with differing opinions, and that those who have yet to get past an unfortunate first impression of the students here will take the time to get to know us and discover just how welcoming most of us are and how much we can all learn from discussions with each other.

-Katie Hamon ‘05

o the Editor:

While Nick Santos (Everybody’s An Idiot Except Me, 4/8/05) has a valid point that the Harvard Business School possibly overreacted to the alleged website “hacking” incident, his conclusion that the students who checked their admission status “acted entirely ethically” is leaps and bounds off-base. Were the students’ actions legal? Perhaps. Were their actions unethical? Absolutely. Regardless of how poorly the website was designed, these students recognized a flaw and intentionally took advantage of it rather than reporting the problem to those in charge. When confronted with an important decision, they blew it.

After the collapse of Enron and increasing exposure of other dishonest firms in the business world, we must recognize that standards of honor and integrity should be reinforced in students at every step of their education; justifying their actions with silly analogies hardly works towards that purpose. Indeed, a liberal education should enable us “to recognize the bullshit.” That’s exactly what Nick Santos’ conclusion is.

Sincerely,

Kenan Yount ‘06

have a question that isn’t intended to be antagonistic, I promise, although I know its going to sound like it is. Why did you publish the Larry Summers cartoon on the back of the Free Press? [DFP 5.11]

I can concede that his comments were slightly blown out of proportion (though not even really because I found them super offensive) but The Free Press prides itself on its liberalism, no?

Though mocking the media gets my full support, his speech was actually really offensive and biting, and mocking his censure makes light of the misogynistic sentiment he felt really free to espouse.

Michal Jalowski ‘05

n the last issue of the Free Press, a segment of the Commonshare wrongly described a New York Rabbi who transmitted herpes by performing a circumcision “with his mouth.” While the wording we used made it seem as though the cutting itself was performed by mouth, the style of circumcision performed by Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer involves using the mouth only to remove blood from the penis, after the cutting has been performed. The practice, known as metziza bapeh, is rare but not unheard of among some Jewish communities. Most mohels use latex gloves and a glass tube to remove the blood. But according to Agudath Israel of America, some sects of haredi Judaism engage in metziza bapeh regularly. We apologize for the error.

Also in the Commonshare, a segment referred to the College Republicans at the University of Wisconson. The incident actually involved Marquette University in Wisconson. We apologize to any Dartmouth students currently attending the University of Wisconson who may have cared.