Letter to the Editor: Simply a Bystander

By College President Jim Yong Kim

Published on Friday, March 12, 2010

Web Update

To the Editor:

A recent posting by Joseph Asch ’79 on Dartblog seems to suggest that a statement attributed to me in The Dartmouth ("Trustee candidates speak at alumni event,” March 10) was an endorsement of Mr. Asch's candidacy for alumni trustee. I would like to address this issue for the sake of clarity. I do not — either directly or indirectly — endorse Mr. Asch's candidacy, nor did I encourage him to run.

On my first day in office, July 1, Mr. Asch requested a meeting with me. I had heard of him through a Valley News letter published on March 25, 2009 soon after my appointment in which Mr. Asch described himself as the "loyal opposition." I have since met with Mr. Asch on exactly one occasion, as I have met with a wide range of members of the Dartmouth community since coming to Hanover last year. I am always open to meeting with people with differing — and critical — views, but let me stress, once again, that I have not endorsed Mr. Asch in this election.

College President Jim Yong Kim