As sports imitate life, so too does life imitate sports.
In recent months, the NBA has undergone a turbulent transition and is now searching for a new identity: Michael Jordan retired, owners locked players out and fans threatened never to come back to the games.
Today's news of impending change at the College reminds me of the NBA situation as it appears that Dartmouth is searching for a new identity. Indeed, it is apparent that the Greek system, the Michael Jordan of Dartmouth social life, will soon be retired, forcing the campus to search for new outlets and new activities. The administration and the Trustees have locked the students out, mandating change they claim that will help recreate the College in the 21st century, just as the owners locked the players out telling them that salaries must change or the future of the league was in jeopardy in the 21st century. It was the deafening speeches of the top players in the league overshadowing the needs of the majority of the players, just as the uproar among the Greeks and freshmen may be drowning out what the rest of the student body may want. Finally, it is up to the students and the alumni to decide whether or not to endorse the eventual product, just as it was up to NBA fans to ret
urn to arenas last week. But eventually the desire for basketball overcame.
Like the NBA was during the lockout, Dartmouth is now a campus in turmoil, a campus divided, a campus on the edge of chaos. The lines in the sand have been drawn: either Dartmouth will become a better institution or a worse insitution, but it will never be the same. Regardless of what becomes of social space, dining institutions and residential life though, there can always be one aspect of college culture that white, black, asian, Greek, non-Greek, conservative and liberal students and alumni can rally around--athletics.
This column is a call to President Wright, the administration and the trustees not to overlook the unifying and inspirational arena that is Big Green athletics. Tens of millions of dollars are going to be spent on trying to improve this campus, and I see no reason why at least 25 percent of that money should not go to an athletics program that could use this money in order to attract more student and alumni attention to Big Green athletics. Nothing is more soothing for tensions than winning sports teams, and winning sports teams are the product of investment and fan-support. Let Big Green athletics be our King Arthur, our proud leader on horseback carrying the Dartmouth name and colors triumphantly across the continent, a flag that a tattered student body and a potentially disgruntled alumni can rally around. School spirit is free from politics and conflict, but fuels pride and cohesiveness.
The benefits of such an investment in athletics are obvious. Improved facilities mean talented student-athletes may choose Dartmouth over another institution for its better facilities. Better players lead to more victories, which leads to greater support and enthusiasm for teams, not to mention enhanced national recognition. Four years ago, Northwestern proved that a successful football team can benefit an institution in both athletics and academics. When the lowly Wildcats went to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 50 years, applications increased by 40 percent the following year, increasing the amount of talented students applying to the school. Crazed alumni with painted faces and newly purchased sweatshirts opened their checkbooks for the University as well, and the Wildcats Athletic Department found itself with enough money to completely refurbish their football stadium, which in turn brought in more talented recruits. The cycle goes on and on.
The trials and tribulations the College is bound to endure in the next five years necessitates a commitment to athletics unseen in previous years. I believe that Dartmouth athletics can be the glue that holds all factions together, but it will take creativity and money to achieve a product that is both therapeutic and bonding. To achieve this ends, the following is a five-point proposal designed to infuse greater interest and success in Big Green sports.
