To: James E. Wright, James A. Larimore, Joann Harper
-----------------------
All,
I am writing you from Edinburgh, Scotland, where I am currently
on an FSP and therefore on hiatus from Dartmouth programs.
Despite my distance from campus, yesterday's news about the
annulment of the Dartmouth Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
programs could not have hit me harder. Yesterday, upon reading
about the decision, and then speaking over e-mail and phone with
some of my teammates, I was all set to write a scathing letter; I
reconsidered in order to cool down. This morning, I awoke
expecting to feel less distraught, but that has not happened.
Though my tears (which go out to Jim Wilson, Joann Brislin, and
Chris Hamilton first and foremost) have faded, I am still
completely at a loss and the main reason is that I feel like the
situation was handled without class or dignity. Coming off a
weekend of competition that displayed how far the program has
come in the 3 years I have been involved with it, the team
deserved better than to more or less have our coaches fired
right in front of us. And though the timing was perhaps
coincidental, it saddens me that you would do so the day before
students leave campus for Thanksgiving. Not only does the news
put a damper on the holiday, it also reduces the criticism that
you knew would arise. May you all taste our tears in your
turkey and gravy this Thursday.
 
My main question is how this move is justified. For years, our
team has recruited swimmers who not only could shine in the
pool, but also impressed the varsity athletes with their
enthusiasm towards Dartmouth. At the same time, we have had our
hearts broken as these students were time and time again refused
entry despite their academic and athletic aptitude. For
example, last year, our 2nd most sought after recruit, with a
1470 SAT score, burned a Dartmouth flag he had purchased while
on a recruiting trip, before sucking it up and enrolling at
Columbia (you can watch him compete AGAINST us in January). So,
when you claim that our high GPA had nothing to do with the
decision, but our lack of success did, please show some
integrity and admit that these go hand in hand. It was one thing to
break our hearts, but another to kick us when we were down.
Three years ago, I was sold on Dartmouth by a friend of mine
who was in the class of 2000 and a swimmer at that. His older
brother, a class of 1998, had been captain of the team. When
they spoke about Dartmouth, their eyes revealed fond memories
and a desire for me to share in them. As saddened as I am for
the loss of the program, I am especially saddened that I will
never be able to conjure up such memories. Even though I will
suck it up and graduate, my days of speaking well about
Dartmouth are over. If I wasn't already indebted in
student loans, I would tell you that you will never receive any
money from me. Instead, you will receive that money, in an
envelope sealed with tears of regret. For when I awoke this
morning, expecting to have recovered from yesterday's ordeal, I
realized that I for once regret enrolling at Dartmouth.
Andrew Biteen '04