To all,

I am a Dartmouth '83, who swam for the 4 years of my Dartmouth experience.

Swimming has been, and remains through various masters swim programs, to be

a major part of my life, and along the way taught me key lessons in team

work, self discipline, drive, challenges and success.

 

I am saddened to see that the quotes attributed to the administration are

so unbending in terms of the potential reinstatement of the program. One of

the lessons I have learned, both in business and in sports, is that an

unequivocating position regarding a volatile issue is typically a mistake.

There needs to be room for negotiation and compromise, particularly when a

decision so dramatically affects a strongly supported program, such as the

swimming and diving program.

 

As an swimming alum, I was angry that the communication on this issue was so

poorly handled and that the monetary crisis which effected this decision was

not identified earlier, with a targeted campaign of support. As a member of

a class approaching my 20th reunion, and aware of the new capital campaign,

it is with great concern that I weigh any giving decisions to Dartmouth,

based on the poor decision making I have seen at the college over the last

few years.

 

That said, any donation I choose to provide to the swim program is outside a

donation decision to the college, and I believe that is the attitude of most

involved. The stance that administration is taking regarding "not being

held hostage to special interests" is quite short-sighted. Most of us care

enough about the program and the school to provide financial support where

needed, and would hope the college would plan well enough to accept that

type of giving, as many other colleges have done without issue. I just

visited the University of Minnesota's brand new women's ice arena, built

almost entirely with private funds, and was impressed to see that the

University was very willing to accept a campaign specific to that program,

even given the significant budget issues they face as a public university.

Dartmouth's financial issues pale in comparison to those faced today by most

public schools, but there are lessons to be learned from the challenges

facing those institutions and they way they manage through them without

losing focus on the programs of vital interest to the college.

 

I would hope that this horrendous decision is reconsidered. There is a way

out, and it would reflect better on the administration if they were able to

reach a public compromise to continue to support the men's and women's

swimming and diving programs into the future.

 

Regards,

 

Martha Gerhan '83