Dear students,

Over the past couple weeks, campus has participated in a vigorous debate about the proposed Freedom Budget<https://www.dropbox.com/s/ysy0d7ub6y4240v/Dartmouth_Freedom_Budget_Plan.pdf> both in community gatherings and through the editorial pages of the school newspaper. Last night, the administration responded to the document's demands in an article<http://now.dartmouth.edu/2014/03/op-ed-from-vision-to-action/> on Dartmouth Now.

The timing of the piece - right before finals begins, and the day that The Dartmouth stops production - is highly suspect. Students don't have any time during our ridiculous two-day reading period to respond. Even if we did, what avenues are available to voice that opinion? We can't comment on the article itself because there literally isn't a mechanism for commenting on Dartmouth Now.

Had the administration responded on the first day of Spring as was requested, the situation would be reversed. Students would have plenty of time to engage, and the op-ed pages would fill to the brim with supporting and dissenting opinions. While I am truly grateful for the administrations' cooperation with SA in the areas which we have agreed, I am also tired of the tactical release of important documents as a means of avoiding accountability.

These actions do not further dialogue.

As student body president, I will not tolerate the stifling of student speech for public relations purposes. During my campaign, I promised to do everything in my power to make students' voices heard. This issue is no exception. For that reason, if any student or group wishes to write a statement about the administration's response - whether you support or oppose the Freedom Budget - they can blitz it to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. I will compile submissions I receive and send them to campus on Sunday.

Thank you for your time. And best of luck with final exams.

Sincerely,
Adrian

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Adrian Ferrari
Student Body President
Class of 2014 | Dartmouth College


**The views expressed above are solely my own, and do not represent the view of the Assembly, its Execs, Committee Chairs, or General Members. ??