President  James E. Wright

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH  03755

E-mail:  James.E.Wright@Dartmouth.edu       

 

                        Re:            Intercollegiate Swimming Program

 

Dear President Wright:

 

    I join the chorus of voices urging the College to rescind its decision to cancel intercollegiate swimming programs for men and women.  Given Dartmouth's multi-billion dollar endowment, and the proliferation of new facilities on campus, it is difficult to understand the fiscal imperative to eliminate this fine program so important to generations of Dartmouth families.  Surely Dartmouth is better off with aquatics programs continuing in a less than state-of-the-art pool, than with no varsity swimming program at all.  No other Ivy League or elite institution has cancelled its swimming program.  Thus,  Dartmouth's isolated decision sends a message to the world that Dartmouth is in trouble financially, or is poorly governed;  either perception undermines the school's reputation as it competes to lure top students to rural New Hampshire. 

 

    I was a varsity swimmer my freshman year, and forged lasting friendships on that team that enriched my Dartmouth experience.  In recent years I have participated in several Ironman distance triathlons and witnessed the burgeoning popularity of masters swimming programs and triathlons among professionals and business leaders nationwide.  Swimming is truly a life-long activity, and perhaps the healthiest form of exercise available.  I question whether the decision to cancel would have been made had trustees and alumni been consulted in advance, instead of being presented with a fait accompli by an insular athletic department rubber stamped by your administration.  It is easy to calculate the economic savings from firing three coaches, but the cost of this cancellation to the reputation and soul of this institution is incalculable.  Surely a small fraction of the millions of dollars budgeted for new bricks and mortar can be reallocated to save the swimming programs.

 

Very truly yours,

Thomas D. Waterman
Class of 1981

cc via e-mail:  Barry Scherr, Provost

                     James A. Larimore, Dean of Students

                     Joann Harper, Athletic Director

                     William N. Walker, Office of Public Affairs

                     Dartmouth Trustees (by U.S. mail)