Kim fields students’ criticism, questions
By Emily Baer
Published on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
College President Jim Yong Kim defended the recent tuition increase at a student forum sponsored by Student Assembly on Tuesday evening.
College President Jim Yong Kim fielded a range of critical questions from students who attended a Student Assembly-sponsored forum on Tuesday evening. Students’ concerns guided the conversation, which covered the recently-announced tuition increase, new meal plan, recent resignation of minority faculty members and availability of campus social spaces.
In light of the 5.9-percent increase in tuition, room, board and fees for the 2011-2012 academic year announced Monday, one audience member asked Kim why the College raised costs at a disproportionately higher rate than inflation, making Dartmouth the second-most expensive Ivy League institution.
Kim said the increase was a product of the existing budget deficit. Despite the increased cost, the College is still discounting students’ educations — which are worth twice the amount of tuition costs — by 50 percent, he said.
Kim emphasized the value of an Ivy League education, citing the evaluations of economist and Yale University President Richard Levin. Levin estimated that a four-year college degree increases an individual’s income by 40 percent, Kim said.
“Your return on investment of going to Dartmouth is higher than it’s ever been before,” Kim said.
While the cost of education has increased faster than inflation rates, Kim said the cost to families remains low given the financial aid packages the College offers. The admissions process maintains a need-blind policy, and families who earn salaries under $75,000 a year are still guaranteed financial aid. This past year, the College spent almost $80 million on financial aid, Kim said.
The scheduled Fall 2011 switch to a pay-per-meal dining plan incited comments from students who claimed to have large amounts of leftover funds in their Declining Balance Accounts.
Kim cited Director of Dining Services David Newlove, who said that only 5 percent of students end the term with more than $10 in their accounts. While audience members expressed disappointment regarding the lack of student voice in the switch to a pay-per-meal dining plan, Kim said administrators are working to address student concerns.
“We’re meeting now because some of the critiques are very important,” Kim said. “Is there is a place where you can go and meet with your friends if you’re not eating there? We take that very seriously.”
“The things about it that I really like are that one, no one is going to actually go hungry and two, [Newlove] felt that this was the way that we could have the greatest impact on students’ eating behaviors,” Kim said.
The College plans to “build nutritional education” into the process of purchasing food by including calorie counts on food items, placing the healthiest foods in the front of dining halls and making nutritious food more appetizing, Kim said.
DDS will address issues of portion control and food waste by examining past studies of plate size and other factors that contribute to overeating, Kim said. According to one report the College considered, a plate that is 8.5 inches in diameter will prevent most people from taking too much food, Kim said.
Kim said the College plans to provide a broad range of alternative social activities for students who do not wish to participate in Greek life. The College must ensure that these activities occur on a regular basis and appeal to a variety of students, he said.
While administrators plan to actively support the Class of 1953 Commons as an alternative social space, they will not dictate the events that occur within the building, according to Kim.
“We know that, unless students lead the effort to go to those activities, nothing that we do will work,” Kim said.
After audience member Elisabeth Ericson ’11 asked how — in the midst of the recent economic downturn — at least two fraternities have been able to bypass fundraising mechanisms and gain alumni support to renovate their physical plants, Kim said administrators recognize that the group of active alumni that graduated before the 1970s lack a large representation of minorities and any representation of women.
“In recognition of that, I think we’ve stepped up,” Kim said. “We found a building for Alpha Phi [sorority] and have shown that Dartmouth will support constituencies who don’t have alumni support directly.”
Kim said he supports the First Year Student Enrichment Program, and plans to expand the program while aligning it with plans to revamp the academic advising system.
Kim said that in the future, administrators need to more effectively communicate the rationale behind their decisions regarding campus life and student programs to reduce student discontent and confusion.
“Dartmouth students are extremely bright and extremely critical — that’s what we teach you to do,” he said. “If we don’t communicate our rationale, you will come back at us with very pointed comments. I’m always going to make some people unhappy, but I will always commit to you that in settings like this, I will tell you exactly what I’m thinking.”
There are so many problems with the administration.
“Kim cited Director of Dining Services David Newlove, who said that only 5 percent of students end the term with more than $10 in their accounts.” : Really? Why are there so many students who struggle to get rid of their DBA by buying cases and cases of drinks from FoCo and Novack and EW each June? And at the end of winter? If this is true, one way the school could help is by rolling over Topside from term to term.
Regarding the lack of student input, it too seems that dining employees aren’t happy about the change. Think about it. With severely limited DBA, the sales of Courtyard Cafe, Collis, Novack, and EW will be severely affected. And since ‘53 Commons will close at 9 PM, how do they expect students, especially freshmen without much DBA at all, to get a meal?
“While administrators plan to actively support the Class of 1953 Commons as an alternative social space, they will not dictate the events that occur within the building, according to Kim.” – If students who are not eating are not allowed into the building (referring to statements presented in a previous article), how can the dining hall be used as an alternate social space? Eating should not be considered an alternative social activity.
“Your return on investment of going to Dartmouth is higher than it’s ever been before,” Kim said. – This is pure rhetoric.
By D’12 on Mar 9 | 2:54 am
If it’s true that only 5% of students have more than $10 left at the end of the term, it’s solely because you can’t get unspent DBA back, not because people need to spend that much to eat well. People often buy a smaller meal plan knowing they’ll go over because if they buy one that’s too big, they don’t get the money back. Or they spend like crazy (like buying $60 packs of Vitamin Water—I’ve done it) to use up their DBA if it looks like they’ll have lots left over, because they don’t want to get nothing for their money.
Even if it were true that the current dining plans aren’t big enough, how would that mean we need all-you-can-eat meals? I’m sure DDS isn’t going to take a loss on those meals—so they’re only a good deal if you eat more than average. The rest of campus subsidizes it. Don’t pretend it’s wonderful for everyone.
“[Newlove] felt that this was the way that we could have the greatest impact on students’ eating behaviors”—sure, impact students' eating behaviors in a way that makes more money for DDS, not in a way that makes students healthier or happier.
Why doesn’t the administration do a student survey if they’re really worried that we’re not getting enough to eat, rather than asking the people who have a financial stake in the answer?
By Anonymous on Mar 9 | 9:10 am
honestly, some of the math/stat profs/classes should help dds out a little bit with their data analysis. Before they conclude that most kids are finishing the term with little to no money left, they should look at the forecasted balances based on a rate of spending through the sixth or seventh week.
By Fred Lund on Mar 9 | 10:37 am
President Kim is a lot like the President of the United States. He does whatever he darn well pleases with no consideration for the students or the parents. He makes the decision first and then asks for “input” later. Just like the President’s unconstitutional healthcare plan that got the greatest number of Democrats thrown out of office since the 1920’s. Kim mandates a nearly 11% increase in room, board and fees from year to year, with 1.5% inflation, along with a nearly 200% over inflation rise in tuition. Then he tells everyone that this is the best ever return on your money and that the College wastes twice that much so you all should really shut up…I’m paraphrasing. There is no way that the room that you get at Dartmouth, frequently no bathroom, never a kitchen or laundry, usually just one room and occupied with another student would cost more than, well, it is an unrentable room. No one would rent one, ever. So, we’ll say $200 a month to be generous, again to be generous multiply it times 9 months, for a total of $1,800 for rent. This leaves over $12,000 for food and fees…for 8 months. Ok, $800 for fees and now we have $11,000 for 30 weeks of food. $52.20 per day for food. Sure, that’s about right. $8 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $32.20 for dinner. It’s the best return on investment ever, according to President Kim. Could you do better for food and a room on your own? If you can’t, you are too brain dead to attend classes anywhere and Kim says, “The things that I really like are that one, no one is going to actually go hungry, and two [Newlove] felt (get it, Newlove felt) that this was the way that we could have the greatest impact on students' eating behaviors.” So, for $52.20 per day, you won’t go hungry and your eating behaviors are greatly impacted…how about you’ve been robbed? Addressing plate size? Studies on plate sizes? Are you kidding me? DDS wouldn’t survive for a week on South Main Street, Hanover. The real restaurants there would eat them alive. People would walk in, look at the prices on the menu, possibly try it and never come back. Then after no consultation with students about anything, like Kim took the $12 million from the Class of ‘53 for Thayer, Kim says, of the student criticism he took for this fiasco, “that’s what we teach you to do.” So, it is all about Kim once again, he takes credit for the criticism as something that “we have taught you to do” this is deep arrogance on parade along with having “the greatest impact on your eating behaviors,” as if you are farm animals.
By Bobo on Mar 9 | 10:38 am
“Your return on investment of going to Dartmouth is higher than it’s ever been before,” Kim said. AND AFTER ALL, ISN’T THAT KIM THINKS COLLEGE IS ABOUT?
By Anonymous on Mar 9 | 11:51 am
someone explain to me how D presidents keep saying, ‘tuition only covers 50% of the cost of your education.’ I’m pretty sure this isn’t true. furthermore, in ENGS anyway, I’m pretty sure UG tuition subsidizes graduate research, if you look at it closely.
By anon alum on Mar 9 | 2:34 pm
One of the most troubling things about the whole dds situation is the complete lack of regard for the opinions of the students. Honestly, I have not heard or read ANY positive feedback about this meal plan. I mean, even look at the comments on the D articles on the subject – not a single one is positive – not one comment defends this new dining plan! Yet, Pres Kim continues to defend it and yes, speaks of fixing the whole social space issue, but there are MANY other larger issues to this plan that are causing students concern. It is extremely frustrating that it seems like the administration is not taking this into account. It is appalling that a majority of the student body has been extremely against this plan, but it seems as if the whole concept is just going to be implemented anyways. There is nothing worse than feeling as if your opinion does not matter – and this feeling is completely amplified because it seems as if the opinion of the vast majority of the student body doesn’t matter. It is creating a sense of apathy amongst the students, which is very troubling.
By Concerned on Mar 9 | 3:57 pm
Why didn’t the D publish my comment? I expressed severe disappointed in the way Kim understands education and his lack of leadership (once a proud Dartmouth tradition) in giving voice to the project of the liberal arts. This is a disgrace.
By DefendingLiberalArts on Mar 9 | 10:14 pm
President Kim might as well resign—we all know he doesn’t plan on staying at Dartmouth long term anyway. Save us the hassle of dealing with an insincere facetime whore and social climber as our president.
By Anonymous on Mar 10 | 1:35 am
the fraternity comment smacks of irrelevance. how and when fraternity alumni chose to donate to their houses is no matter of the college, and certainly no matter of the president. frats can afford to renovate their plants because their alumni are numerous, generous, and care about their houses. if the same cannot be said about sorority alumni, it is no fault of the dartmouth administration.
By d11 on Mar 10 | 3:08 pm
The Board needs to convene, first to “un-pack” the Board, second to fire Kim, third to fire 2,000 of the 3,000 non-teaching administrators and finally to fire themselves and call wide open elections for all of the Board seats. The College, in spite of, but more likely because of groups like Dartmouth Undying, is essentially dead in the leadership. Students and alums wonder what happened? All you have to do is look at the Board and no real election this year. Why bother with a closed shop full of closed minds. What a shame, so much could be done there with the time and money of everyone involved. NO vision. No imagination. No direction. Nothing. All the College has to do is to really listen and act on the ideas of the alums and the students…but then they wouldn’t be in power…and that is what too many of them are there for, they think that they know better…just like all good “Progressives.” Just like the NPR execs, who have been exposed as liars, crooks and bigots.
By 11 on Mar 10 | 5:27 pm
Anonymous 1:35 AM- I couldn’t agree with you more. I wish students would do more, though, than simply complain. What about civil disobedience as a form of protest?!?
By Anon 12 on Mar 10 | 10:59 pm