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A Necessary Part of the “Dartmouth Experience”?
Ask someone what the Dartmouth Experience is. Then ask another. I bet you the two people didn’t have the same answer. Sure, there are certain traditions that remain similar if not the same, and perhaps people may feel that certain aspects of Dartmouth cannot be removed without changing the fabric of the College — but to posit that a particular DDS worker is an invaluable part of Dartmouth is far-fetched, to say the least.
Let’s take the poster I wrote about yesterday as an example. Kelsey is certainly a part of my Dartmouth experience. I see her when I get food at the Hopkins Center, and now she’s appearing on posters all around campus. But, is she an irreplaceable part of the Dartmouth Experience? No. In fact, she didn’t even work here last year! How vital can she be?
This isn’t to say I don’t value DDS employees. In fact, I chat with them all the time and know a number fairly well. Kevin Collier who works in Food Court is one of them. For the past two years, he has enlisted his son’s Boy Scout troop from Windsor, VT to help retire the flag at the Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony. I certainly pray that he doesn’t lose his job during the current budget cuts — but are he and Kelsey vital parts of the Dartmouth Experience?
While I understand people who feel sympathy for the plight of union workers on campus, it is ridiculous to posit that they are a key cog in the Dartmouth Experience. The campaign that portrays them as that is at best misguided. I came to Dartmouth to receive a world-class education, not to support union workers. While I may be sad if some of my friends lose their jobs, I will be outraged if my academic experience suffers because of the poor management and slack budget policies of the previous administration.
President Kim, please recognize what truly makes the Dartmouth Experience special. Protect that, not the interests of a few well-meaning, but misguided students who believe the Dartmouth Experience means employing as many people as possible.
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