Dartblog

While I do think that Ms. Bandy raises some serious concerns about housing at Dartmouth (see More Housing Shortages below), I must respectfully disagree with her main contentions. Although it is unfortunate that a number of seniors will be forced to seek off-campus housing next year, I think this falls short of travesty and is outweighed by the considerable overall benefits. I should say, in the interests of full disclosure, that my housing number is poor and I might well be one of the inconvenienced seniors come next year.

My main area of disagreement regards Ms. Bandy’s citation of an”overly ambitious administration” that is sacrificing the needs of current students. I certainly do not think that ambition, especially in the realm of higher education, is something that should be bounded. Moreover I do not think the administration’s ambition has been in any sense reckless, quite the contrary. In my few short years here I have seen the 6 dorms of the McLaughlin Cluster built, Hitchcock renovated, and McLane and Fahey completed. This is to say nothing of the completion of Alumni Gym and the Moore Psychology Building or Haldeman and Kemeny Hall. These buildings were certainly erected with great speed and apparent efficiency. I think they evidence great concern for students and will go down as a significant and lasting accomplishment of President Wright’s administration. I think that students well in to the future, and today as well, are far better off with the construction of the many and fine new and renovated buildings, over which President Wright has presided.

With this said, I think that David Glovsky raises a good point in his column today on the importance of student input. Whether things are going good or ill, more accountability, transparency, democracy, and diversity of input is always a sound idea.