Dartmouth Hazing Faculty Letter Opens Nation to Hazing Rituals
The Dartmouth hazing scandal has taken a new twist of events, with the carefully worded letter from the faculty of the Ivy League school. They expressed strong disapproval to this event and described it as 'moral thuggery'. More than a hundred Dartmouth professors have signed this letter and have confirmed that the hazing has been known to be a secret for decades, at the New Hampshire College. Professors question the motive behind such a brutal ritual and do not understand how such a practice which is "physically, emotionally, and psychologically damaging" can be used to reflect the core values and principles of the college.
The Dartmouth Hazing Faculty Letter was drafted after senior Dartmouth student, Andrew Lohse, came out with his piece 'Telling the Truth', in The Dartmouth. His description about the terror of hazing left the entire college stunned beyond doubt. The degrading acts pledges had to undergo during the hazing event made the whole nation reel with disgust. The hazing procedure, as brought about by Lohse, clearly points out the there is nothing more revolting than pledging a fraternity at the New Hampshire College. It is definitely a pity when scores of freshmen were put to such dehumanizing acts such as swimming in kiddie pools filled with human excreta and bodily secretions and to feed on omelet's made with vomit. Lohse disclosed everything through his painful words which sounded helpless due to the lack of attention and help he received from the university. His pleas and protests towards such horrendous rituals did not trigger any reaction from the university since he tried to be anonymous. However, he tore his disguise of anonymity and came out with the naked truth about the 'Dartmouth Hazing'.
In his article, Lohse has openly criticized the school's president, stating that Jim Yong Kim's positive records in public health do not match to the all-encompassing hazing act that occurs in the campus. He also proceeds to state that substance abuse and sexual assault culture is just a glimpse of the real campus life at Dartmouth.
In response to 'Lohse: Telling the Truth', the Dartmouth Hazing Faculty Letter described hazing to be an act that infantilized and brutalized the young minds of students. Faculty members described the act to be so heinous that it not only affected the young minds to learn but it also demoralized the capability of the professors to teach. According to the faculty letter," It breaks down their understanding of right and wrong, of decency and indecency, and the lines between healthy sexuality and sexual assault."
Dartmouth faculty members are infuriated about the occurrence of such an incident at their campus. They completely agree with Lohse's accusations at the Kim administration and have stated in their letter that Kim's administration should insist the institutions to understand and recognize the core values of non-discrimination, inclusivity, core values and openness. Furthermore, the faculty members dare Kim administration to make sure that the organizations accept this mission and core principles.
The piece from Andrew Lohse seems to be the triggering factor, on top of the other troubling events that have occurred at the Ivy League schools.
By: Nancy Claire - Degree Jungle writer, teacher, and researcher.
