Dear Dartmouth,
The Subtleties want to publicly stand in solidarity with the First-Year Trips directorate in reaction to the recently published and poorly researched op-ed questioning the merit of the chosen candidates and the methodology of the directors.
As a female-identifying group, we feel it is important to use our voices and the privilege of our space here to speak out, not merely against this opinion piece, but against that which produced it, a broader attitude undergirding systems of oppression that play out in this country and on our campus. The writer refers to the fact that “the application information is not publicly available,” making it clear that his stance is speculative; the supposition that a board composed of 80% womyn evidences an “obsession with diversity [that] verges on the inane” and pays only “superficial homage to the notion of merit” is a racist, sexist assumption devaluing the stellar qualifications and work of WOC, POC, and other identities underrepresented at Dartmouth.
In endeavoring to make this campus a truly beneficial environment for all, we must identify prejudice in our community and wholeheartedly refuse it. While we respect The Dartmouth’s adherence to free speech and its responsibility to publish a wide range of opinions, the Subtleties will not tolerate the harmful bigotry, investigative incompetency, and ad hominem attacks of “You’re Not Tripping.” We insist that this campus engage in more critical dialogue, reject pernicious thought, and commit to creating itself as a safe space.
Yours,
The Dartmouth Subtleties