‘Creative tension’ is undefined
By Frank Gado, White River Junction, Vt.
Published on Friday, March 30, 2007
To the Editor:
To Joe Herring '55, "it is clear enough that what sets us apart from the Amhersts on one side and Harvards on the other is our singular capacity to live within the creative tension between the extremes" ("Dartmouth's identity reconciles the extremes," Mar. 28). That Dartmouth is neither Amherst nor Harvard is indeed clear, but unless he explains the dynamics of what he asserts is "creative tension," we should dismiss his statement as the sort of vainglorious nonsense we have had too much of. The question of Dartmouth's identity as college or university has been raised by the last two decennial accreditation reviews. It is a critical matter, and far too important to be brushed aside by fatuous self-congratulation. Dare we hope that this defining issue will be central to the debate among candidates for alumni trustee?