Disinformation, Dartmouth-style

Dartmouth trustee candidates Peter Robinson and Todd Zywicki have criticized the Dartmouth administration for letting the school’s traditional commitment to undergraduate education suffer. Their critique lies at the heart of their candidacies and extends to the administration’s treatment of speech issues on campus and the decline of the school’s athletic program.
The administration has responded in a manner more befitting politicians than academics. Earlier this month the Dartmouth Daily published a powerful statement by junior Alex Tonelli supporting the Robinson/Zywicki critique: “Step two: Electing the petition candidates.” Yesterday the Daily published a guest column by alum Joseph Asch that nails the administration’s response to the critique: “P.R. excellence.” See also Asch’s earlier installments — “Dear old Dartmouth?” and “Be specific, please.”