Racism at Dartmouth

[ndngirl70]

Dartmouth apologizes to Native American students on campus

November 23, 2006

By Marcella Bombardieri Boston Globe

The president of Dartmouth College has apologized to Native American students for a series of incidents on campus that many of those students viewed as racist.

In an e-mail sent to the student body Monday, President James Wright delved into the school's troubled history with Native Americans, and also exhorted students to do more to make the university a welcoming and respectful place.

"They are members of this community ... they are your classmates and your friends," Wright wrote of Native American students. "And they deserve more and better than to be abstracted as symbols and playthings."

The Native American Council, a group made up of mostly faculty and staff, with a few students, took out an advertisement in the student newspaper Monday detailing a string of incidents this fall that they described as racist.

On Columbus Day, fraternity pledges allegedly disrupted a Native American drumming circle, according to the ad. Earlier this month, the Crew team held a party with a "Cowboys and Indians" theme. Team captains later apologized in a letter in the student paper, The Dartmouth.

Informally, Dartmouth had an Indian mascot until the 1970s, when the board of trustees decided to discontinue its use. However, some students and alumni have continued to use the symbol, and that has heightened tensions.

The Dartmouth Review, a conservative independent student newspaper, gave away T-shirts with the Indian symbol to incoming freshmen, according to a student writing on the newspaper's blog. At Homecoming, at least one Dartmouth student sold T-shirts depicting Holy Cross's mascot performing a sex act on a "Dartmouth Indian," the university said.

The Dartmouth development office sent to alumni a calendar that included a photograph of an alumnus who held a cane that featured a carved Indian head. Dartmouth has apologized and said the development staff did not notice the cane in the picture.

The ad taken out by the Native American Council also expressed concern about a dining hall mural painted in the 1930s that caricatured Dartmouth's founding. It shows one Native American holding a book upside down and another lapping rum from the ground. The mural has been covered for years and is set to be removed during renovations, but will be preserved by Dartmouth's Hood Museum of Art.

Dartmouth's 1769 charter created a college "for the education and instruction of Youth of the Indian Tribes in this Land ... and also of English Youth and any others." Officials says the mission was quickly lost, however, and only 19 Native Americans graduated from the college over the next 200 years.

In 1970, Dartmouth renewed that original commitment to Native American students and set out to recruit them. There are now about 150 Native American students, or 3 percent of the student body — a much higher percentage than at most elite private universities. The school also has a dedicated office to work with those students, and a Native American studies program.

But especially this fall, several Native American students said they are not feeling welcome.

"I really feel like the college does not care enough about Native students," said Samuel Kohn, a sophomore who is from Montana and a member of the Crow tribe.

Kohn praised Wright's letter and his decision to meet with a group of Native American students last week, but said the president's comments were long overdue and didn't go far enough.

In his letter, Wright affirmed students' right to free speech. Kohn responded that free speech was important, but that the school should prohibit demeaning speech, "so people know what line not to cross."

In a telephone interview, Wright said he was still considering other ways to address these problems, such as speaking in greater depth at freshman orientation about Dartmouth's history with Native Americans.

Some students are describing his efforts as pandering. Joe Malchow, a junior, wondered on his blog, dartblog.com, whether Wright was really defending free speech, or whether he was "making a weak-kneed concession to a political interest group while trying to insulate his office from criticisms from everyone else."

[Smokin' Ace]

Wow - this is a good thing for me to read, since my daughter was one of the Native students flown up to Dartmouth this year for recruitment. Wow - that is mindblowing - and sad. I pray that the students and faculty will come to a good resolution, but it seems that such a college that promotes their sensitivity and encouragement of Native programs may way to re-evaluate that stance. I pray that it does work in a positive way for everyone.

[eap7]

Here is some more on this

Here's the President of Dartmouth College's email that went out on Nov. 20. I think its great that he wrote this.

November 20, 2006

Dear Dartmouth students:

As you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday and for the end-of-term rush, I
wanted to share with you a few observations and to seek your engagement on
an important matter. I write here out of a deep sense of institutional and
personal concern about the situation.

Last week I met with a group of Native American students to discuss the
distress they felt following a series of racist and insensitive incidents.
They have not felt supported by the administration or by the community
during this time. I assured them that they were not alone and told them
that I would publicly affirm this. I understand that the Native American
Council is also preparing a communication [now published] and I believe
that Dean Dan Nelson's letter ten days ago reflected well the College's
views on these matters.

I have also learned that other students have recently been subjected to
racist and sexist comments. Unfortunately, Dartmouth is not immune to the
prejudices, ignorance, or racism of the larger society. These have no
acceptable place there or at Dartmouth, where we have higher aspirations
for our community and share closer bonds of responsibility to one another.
Racial taunting or name-calling is unacceptable. It harms us all. When any
one individual or group is singled out to be demeaned or diminished, the
entire community is the victim, and we all should share in the response. I
apologize on behalf of the College.

In the early 1970s I worked with some faculty colleagues and Native
students to establish the Native American Studies program and I joined with
others, including students, to end the College's use of the Native American
mascot and symbol. We were successful in the latter because nearly
<script><!-- D(["mb","everyone, when they thought about what it meant to appropriate a race as
mascot and plaything, was quick to respond. Many Dartmouth people who had
used or accepted the Indian symbol for years had not thought about some of
the deeper consequences. Understanding them, they were willing to cease the
use of Native American culture and history in this way.

Dartmouth was one of the first institutions to discontinue the use of the
Indian symbol and mascot. Some schools still refuse to acknowledge this
problem-including institutions with whom we compete in athletic events. One
of them, the University of North Dakota, will be participating in a hockey
tournament here in late December. We clearly must be more thoughtful in our
decision-making on such events and we will review our policies in this
area.

Since the Dartmouth Board of Trustees decided in the 1970s not to use the
Indian symbol the College\'s position on this has never wavered. Nor will
it. American Indians are a rich part of Dartmouth\'s heritage and a strong
contributing part of our community. Collectively and as individuals they
deserve our respect and our admiration. Dartmouth was founded under a
charter that provided that the College\'s purpose would be the education of
Indians as well as English youth and others.

The Mohegan Indian Samson Occom went to England on behalf of Eleazar
Wheelock and raised the money that enabled the organization of the College.
He stands as a founder of the College. But within a matter of a few years,
Wheelock had shifted the emphasis away from Native Americans. In 1970
President John Kemeny recommitted the College to its charter purpose. In
the intervening two centuries we slipped away from our mission and lost a
sense of our true history. Our first students were forgotten and their more
abstract presence became the object of caricature; we neglected our history
and our collegiate ancestors and founders.
",1] ); //--></script>everyone, when they thought about what it meant to appropriate a race as
mascot and plaything, was quick to respond. Many Dartmouth people who had
used or accepted the Indian symbol for years had not thought about some of
the deeper consequences. Understanding them, they were willing to cease the
use of Native American culture and history in this way.

Dartmouth was one of the first institutions to discontinue the use of the
Indian symbol and mascot. Some schools still refuse to acknowledge this
problem-including institutions with whom we compete in athletic events. One
of them, the University of North Dakota, will be participating in a hockey
tournament here in late December. We clearly must be more thoughtful in our
decision-making on such events and we will review our policies in this
area.

Since the Dartmouth Board of Trustees decided in the 1970s not to use the
Indian symbol the College's position on this has never wavered. Nor will
it. American Indians are a rich part of Dartmouth's heritage and a strong
contributing part of our community. Collectively and as individuals they
deserve our respect and our admiration. Dartmouth was founded under a
charter that provided that the College's purpose would be the education of
Indians as well as English youth and others.

The Mohegan Indian Samson Occom went to England on behalf of Eleazar
Wheelock and raised the money that enabled the organization of the College.
He stands as a founder of the College. But within a matter of a few years,
Wheelock had shifted the emphasis away from Native Americans. In 1970
President John Kemeny recommitted the College to its charter purpose. In
the intervening two centuries we slipped away from our mission and lost a
sense of our true history. Our first students were forgotten and their more
abstract presence became the object of caricature; we neglected our history
and our collegiate ancestors and founders.
<script><!-- D(["mb","
Boston sportswriters in the 1920s compounded this loss of memory when they
started calling our athletic teams &quot;the Indians&quot; as a criticism and
dismissal. And we came to adopt what was intended as a negative as our
symbol. This was easier than confronting our history. What should have been
a proud history became the subject of jokes and a significant failure of
historical purpose became a part of the College\'s amnesia.

We have worked for thirty-six years to remedy that failing, and we take
tremendous pride in our Native American graduates and all that they have
accomplished. But tasks such as these are never over. As Calvin Trillin
wrote in a New Yorker article on this subject in the 1970s, the symbol
itself became emblematic for those who were disenchanted with the changes
that marked the College in those early years of coeducation and of renewed
commitment to diversity. We moved on, even if some individuals did not.

We can take pride in what we have done to resolve to maintain our charter
purpose. Native American students are here because they have worked very
hard, many of them overcoming tremendous and unique obstacles, and they are
subject to the same academic and financial aid standards that all
applicants face. There are no free admits or categorical scholarships. They
are members of this community and they contribute to the whole range of
academic programs, students groups, and teams. They are your classmates and
your friends. And they deserve more and better than to be abstracted as
symbols and playthings.

There will always be individuals - including some who are members of this
community - who empower themselves by disrespecting others. They are few in
number but this is not about numbers. Some who have engaged in the
incidents of the last few months may be unaware of the disrespect that is
entailed and the hurt that is felt. That should no longer be an excuse. The
",1] ); //--></script>
Boston sportswriters in the 1920s compounded this loss of memory when they
started calling our athletic teams "the Indians" as a criticism and
dismissal. And we came to adopt what was intended as a negative as our
symbol. This was easier than confronting our history. What should have been
a proud history became the subject of jokes and a significant failure of
historical purpose became a part of the College's amnesia.

We have worked for thirty-six years to remedy that failing, and we take
tremendous pride in our Native American graduates and all that they have
accomplished. But tasks such as these are never over. As Calvin Trillin
wrote in a New Yorker article on this subject in the 1970s, the symbol
itself became emblematic for those who were disenchanted with the changes
that marked the College in those early years of coeducation and of renewed
commitment to diversity. We moved on, even if some individuals did not.

We can take pride in what we have done to resolve to maintain our charter
purpose. Native American students are here because they have worked very
hard, many of them overcoming tremendous and unique obstacles, and they are
subject to the same academic and financial aid standards that all
applicants face. There are no free admits or categorical scholarships. They
are members of this community and they contribute to the whole range of
academic programs, students groups, and teams. They are your classmates and
your friends. And they deserve more and better than to be abstracted as
symbols and playthings.

There will always be individuals - including some who are members of this
community - who empower themselves by disrespecting others. They are few in
number but this is not about numbers. Some who have engaged in the
incidents of the last few months may be unaware of the disrespect that is
entailed and the hurt that is felt. That should no longer be an excuse. The
<script><!-- D(["mb","rest, those who know of the hurt and disrespect and persist nonetheless,
are simply bullies. &quot;Free speech&quot; rights are regularly asserted by the
latter.

Certainly, freedom of expression is a core value of this institution. The
College is not going to start a selective dress code and we do not have a
speech code. Free speech includes the right to say and to do foolish and
mean-spirited things. We have seen several examples of this exercise this
fall. But free speech is not a right exclusively maintained for the use of
the mean and the foolish - it is not unless we allow it to be, and then the
free part has been minimized.

Let me exercise my right of free speech: I take it as a matter of
principle that when people say they have been offended, they have been
offended. We may apologize and explain, we may seek to assure that offense
was not intended, but it is condescending to insist that they shouldn\'t be
offended, that it is somehow their fault, and that they are humorless since
they can\'t appreciate that what was perceived as offensive is merely a
&quot;joke.&quot; And it is the worst form of arrogance for anyone to insist that
they will continue to offend on the basis of a &quot;right&quot; to do so.
Communities depend upon rights. But they also thrive upon mutual respect.
This community thrives because each generation of students understands and
advances this principle, which finally is more effective than any
administrative sanctions or speech codes.

This College is sustained by you, by the commitment of Dartmouth students
to fairness, to each other and to the wholeness of this community. I am
encouraged by those of you who have reached out and have spoken out. I
respect and thank those who have acknowledged and apologized for actions
that proved to be hurtful. Yet many students with whom I have spoken over
the last few weeks have not engaged in this conversation. We all should do
",1] ); //--></script>rest, those who know of the hurt and disrespect and persist nonetheless,
are simply bullies. "Free speech" rights are regularly asserted by the
latter.

Certainly, freedom of expression is a core value of this institution. The
College is not going to start a selective dress code and we do not have a
speech code. Free speech includes the right to say and to do foolish and
mean-spirited things. We have seen several examples of this exercise this
fall. But free speech is not a right exclusively maintained for the use of
the mean and the foolish - it is not unless we allow it to be, and then the
free part has been minimized.

Let me exercise my right of free speech: I take it as a matter of
principle that when people say they have been offended, they have been
offended. We may apologize and explain, we may seek to assure that offense
was not intended, but it is condescending to insist that they shouldn't be
offended, that it is somehow their fault, and that they are humorless since
they can't appreciate that what was perceived as offensive is merely a
"joke." And it is the worst form of arrogance for anyone to insist that
they will continue to offend on the basis of a "right" to do so.
Communities depend upon rights. But they also thrive upon mutual respect.
This community thrives because each generation of students understands and
advances this principle, which finally is more effective than any
administrative sanctions or speech codes.

This College is sustained by you, by the commitment of Dartmouth students
to fairness, to each other and to the wholeness of this community. I am
encouraged by those of you who have reached out and have spoken out. I
respect and thank those who have acknowledged and apologized for actions
that proved to be hurtful. Yet many students with whom I have spoken over
the last few weeks have not engaged in this conversation. We all should do
<script><!-- D(["mb","this. This is not an abstract debate but a real issue. Dartmouth\'s strength
is the sense of belonging and inclusiveness that marks our values.

Words and actions do matter - let us use our words and actions to make the
Dartmouth campus a truly welcoming and inclusive one.


Sincerely,
James Wright


Ellie Smith
Dartmouth College
Office of the Vice President/Alumni Relations
Tel: 603-646-3116
Fax: 603-646-3090

--- End of forwarded text ---



______________________________<wbr />_________________

This message has been sent to you from NAHC, possibly on behalf of another group. The message has been screened and found to be appropriate or relevant to this list. HOWEVER, this does not imply endorsement by NAHC.

NAHC-list mailing list
[email protected]<wbr />.edu
http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu<wbr />/...info/nahc-list

",0] ); //--></script>this. This is not an abstract debate but a real issue. Dartmouth's strength
is the sense of belonging and inclusiveness that marks our values.

Words and actions do matter - let us use our words and actions to make the
Dartmouth campus a truly welcoming and inclusive one.


Sincerely,
James Wright

</div>

[eap7]

Here's the link to the Dartmouth school newspaper article talking about this issue:
<script><!-- D(["mb","http://www.thedartmouth.com<wbr />/article.php?aid\u003d2006111002020


THIS LETTER IS FROM PRESIDENT WRIGHT.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<wbr />~~~~~~

November 20, 2006

Dear Dartmouth students:

As you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday and for the end-of-term rush, I
wanted to share with you a few observations and to seek your engagement on
an important matter. I write here out of a deep sense of institutional and
personal concern about the situation.

Last week I met with a group of Native American students to discuss the
distress they felt following a series of racist and insensitive incidents.
They have not felt supported by the administration or by the community
during this time. I assured them that they were not alone and told them
that I would publicly affirm this. I understand that the Native American
Council is also preparing a communication [now published] and I believe
that Dean Dan Nelson\'s letter ten days ago reflected well the College\'s
views on these matters.

I have also learned that other students have recently been subjected to
racist and sexist comments. Unfortunately, Dartmouth is not immune to the
prejudices, ignorance, or racism of the larger society. These have no
acceptable place there or at Dartmouth, where we have higher aspirations
for our community and share closer bonds of responsibility to one another.
Racial taunting or name-calling is unacceptable. It harms us all. When any
one individual or group is singled out to be demeaned or diminished, the
entire community is the victim, and we all should share in the response. I
apologize on behalf of the College.

In the early 1970s I worked with some faculty colleagues and Native
students to establish the Native American Studies program and I joined with
others, including students, to end the College\'s use of the Native American
mascot and symbol. We were successful in the latter because nearly
",1] ); //--></script>http://www.thedartmouth.com<wbr>/article.php?aid=2006111002020</a>

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Some things never Change....

I have a Number of Relatives and Friends who are Dartmouth Alumni

The Dartmouth powwow was always something I looked forward to....The Campus is awesome. Unfortunately it seems to be a recurring "theme" ....Ignorance continues to be bliss....

In the past my reccomendation to University or College Administrators was to establish a mandatory course (series of coures) to introduce students to Indigenous culture. The course can extend to the 100, 200, and 300 level. The courses would be a general requirement included in the 120 or so credit framework. Especially in an institution such as Dartmouth that was founded to serve Indian peoples....Now this is not the "cure all pill" and stupid is as stupid does, but i'm sure a number of students would benefit from it....I'm a Unichusetts of Massversity Alum and back in 1985 (Holay!!!) I attended a Chancellor's Forum. Joe Duffy was the Chancellor then and the "issue" was Halloween....Students wanted to voice their opinions and concerns about a University restriction that barred students from wearing halloween masks? Well....In my usual 15 clicks off of the subject manner I took the oppurtunity to ask Joe if he had ever been taught by an Indian Prof? Had Joe ever taken a course that reflected Indian values or ways? As Joe scratched his head and raised an eyebrow or two I went on to suggest the implementation of an Indian Studies Major and the increase of Indian faculty....Hey oppurtunity knocks be just like a Wasiju and take advantage of it, right....So instead of sitting there and discussing halloween "issues" we talked about Academia, the very reason why we are in school.....

The Dartmouth reps azz covering articulation was intended to stroke the Indian students and staff....Keeping in mind the dollars that flow thru the Fraternal hierarchies in the school....keeping in mind the very same thing a number of the current Faculty and Staff more than likely did when they were Undergrads....So the record continues to skip....Freedom of speech is the sugar coated justification of Racism....If it was any other group of peoples the press would be all over it like white on rice...The College wouldn't stand for it....But its "Okay" if Skins are slandered? The beat goes on.....

I say take over a building....maybe the Dratmouth Financial Aid office....maybe the President's house on campus....Piss those Yuppies right off....

[eap7]

Coverage of yesterday's 500+ strong rally

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new...udents/?page=1

Full text of the students', professors' and administrators' speeches:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/features/rally/

[eap7]

Freedom of speech is the sugar coated justification of Racism....If it was any other group of peoples the press would be all over it like white on rice...The College wouldn't stand for it....But its "Okay" if Skins are slandered? The beat goes on.....

I say take over a building....maybe the Dratmouth Financial Aid office....maybe the President's house on campus....Piss those Yuppies right off....

Um Coyot, no offense but are we reading the same thread? Didn't you see the press coverage not only by the school's paper but also the Boston Globe? I think the press is all over it...and Dartmouth's President himself said that free speech can't violate others or something like that...read the text of his email below. The College isn't standing for it. They are supporting the Indian students and profs. At the rally yesterday, the President again spoke out on this issue so I don't think the issue is institutional (for once, yay) but rather the ignorance of a very small number of current students. I don't think they'd have to take over the President's house because he'd probably invite them in...

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Hostile @ Heart.....

EAP....I'm with that Hit em while their hurt mentality....Initially I glanced at the response....After reading it throughly I was impressed.... Although, I have a number of sour grape tastes from my College years....Believe me I was right there and heard all the promises and speeches....Hey if things move in a positive direction......Great! I'm just a little skeptical....Dartmouth students have taken extreme "liberties" in the past. It would be nice to see a good outcome from this particular situation....

[ndngirl70]

....Keeping in mind the dollars that flow thru the Fraternal hierarchies in the school...

You are right about the Greek system at Dartmouth though. It's very visible.

[veritasxl]

Thanks a lot

Wow,

Dartmouth recruited my daughter back in the 90's and I'm sure things were worse then, we didn't know that part of the schools history so we all wanted her to go, but she followed her own spirit and went to UCLA.

V

[Coyot_In_The_House]

Ivy League

Dartmouth is a great school. Pretty intense curriculum...As I said relatives and friends are Alumni. I've Powwowed there a few times.....Matter of fact a few folks from this board have as well....

Being these Institutions of Higher Learning are located throughout our Aboriginal lands there should be a criteria set to educate folks about that very fact....Referring again to Umass the admins. had a great excuse.(a number of years ago)...They said there were not enough Indian students enrolled in the school to warrant a need for Indian Programs or Studies...Well...its not the Skins who need to take a course about themselves..It's the smuck hanging out of his or her window war whooping Hollyweird style as they drive by the Powwow.... At an "Institution of Higher Learning" to boot....? The list goes on.....Umass has grown though and the Indian student, faculty, and staff population has increased.

*Note* When your surfing the web...look up Land Grant University....Checkout University Charters as well....pretty interesting....

[subeeds]

No matter where ya go, or what you do, you will find bigoted morons. sometimes, you can walk around them, but sometimes you have to go through them. The other night, a customer got all steamed and went out the door going "Dmn Indians" as he went. My Hindu boss looked at me and said "did he mean me or you?" I will venture the opinion that at least Datrmouth seems sincere-let's see what happens with the follow through.