Dear Ms Harper:
I take happy advantage of this opportunity to
congratulate you on your appointment as Athletic Director. I wish you
the best of luck. With the swimming question so prominent, I hope my
greeting isn't Welcome to Hard Times.
I have sent the following message to President
Wright and Dean Larimore. I am not certain what your position is -- or
has to be -- in this matter.
My background in this matter is simple to
explain: I love Dartmouth and I am certain that my affiliation with the
College was (and is) one of the most definitive and fortunate in my
life. In Hanover I was a squash player (quite average, but varsity)
and tennis hacker (only numerals, and still a hacker). These
experiences were significant for me, and so it is easy for me to sympathize
with a non-revenue (i.e., costly) sport like swimming.
Please exercise your influence to do the best
you can to save the program.
Many thanks,
Robert Baehr '57
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(To President Wright and Dean Larimore)
I have been following the controversy
regarding the abolition of the swimming program, trying to understand both
sides of the matter. The truth is that is been difficult to avoid
the controversy: my son writes from Hawaii about a distraught Dartmouth
freshman, a neighbor here in Norway forwards American news clippings, and
debate on the '57 listserv has been constant.
I understand that your administration is faced
with difficult budgetary conditions. As a consistent donor to the
Alumni Fund, I sympathize with them and do what I can to help -- and I
will continue to do so, of course.
My feeling is that a mistake has been made.
I believe that in many important ways, not least budgetary, the abolition
of the swimming program will be counter-productive.
It is my sense that the overwhelming
majority of Dartmouth alumni wants the swimming program maintained.
This is the administration's opportunity to be affirmatively responsive.
I ask you to explore every alternative to
exploit this opportunity and work to reverse this decision.
I have never had any connection with the
Dartmouth swimming program, but I don't believe this debate is first
about swimming. It is about Dartmouth, and so I am seriously
concerned.
Thank you for considering my suggestion.
Please do not acknowledge; instead, use the time to try to set matters
right again.
'Round the girdled earth,
- Robert Baehr '57
4878 Grimstad
- Norway