<p>Well, a good friend of my daughter’s was sexually assaulted at a frat Winter Carnival weekend, by a student from another university (so not subject to disciplinary action by Dartmouth). Yes, it was Winter Carnival, and yes, alcohol was involved, but yes, it happens. I hope that Dartmouth does change its culture, but in the meantime, it’s prudent to be careful. I have no idea if there is more or less drinking at Dartmouth than elsewhere; people assure me it’s all the same everywhere; but that there is drinking and associated dangers cannot be denied. And it’s not enough to say that the responsibility is on women to be careful, not to drink to excess or to attend frat parties–the men have to feel, in their bones, that taking advantage of women who are vulnerable for any reason is wrong. </p>
<p>As for Dartmouth being on the decline, I think that’s wrong; I just posted a news release about a huge new initiative for academic improvement, bolstered by an enormous donation. The new president, Hanlon, is just the right kind of person for Dartmouth, and I think he’ll make a huge difference to the campus focus. The last president, Kim, was a very smart guy but I don’t think he ever got the hang of the place; when he spoke to us, as alums, he talked about the USNWR rankings as if they mattered, without understanding that those rankings don’t reflect Dartmouth’s unique standing as the only Ivy league school that is fundamentally a liberal arts college, rather than a university. It is that uniqueness that makes Dartmouth what it is, not a pale Harvard wanna-be.</p>