Pomboy to Goodman 2002

TO: goodman@sover.net
FROM: Richard Pomboy (pomboycap@aol.com)
DATE: January 25, 2002

Dear Denny,The September 11 faculty panel and the class reaction were significant and well reported by you in the newsletter.I am not at all surprised by the politically correct, liberal drivel espoused by the "hate America" Dartmouth faculty. What amazes me is that at the same time as our classmates are critical of the "culture" of the Dartmouth faculty (and I believe rightly so) we are being urged by our class officers to give generously to the college.It is this unquestioning, rah rah loyalty to an institution that in no way resembles what we left in 1960 that disappoints me. The question never seems to be raised – why should we give to Dartmouth? Must we be passive patsies or do we have some responsibility to exert some influence on what goes on at Dartmouth?For some, Dartmouth is their identity. Others find themselves pleased with Dartmouth today. Both are rational reasons for contributing. But for many of us there is no reason to support the nonsense that I believe has permeated the campus in recent years. Dartmouth’s principal accomplishment over the past decade appears to be its leadership in political correctness.It is not just the posture of the faculty about 9/11 that is disturbing. How about the proliferation of politically correct, nonsense courses that class contributions help pay for? Or how about the new approach to traditional courses where course material must be viewed through the prism of a variety of deviate behavioral styles? What about the "sexual orientation" for freshmen to insure the legitimacy of all behavior patterns no matter how perverse? Or the absence of ROTC, the college’s social agenda, etc., etc.?Certainly we must be capable of at least discussing what goes on at Dartmouth and determine if the college merits our financial support. Let’s put the rah rah loyalty stuff in the background and use the questioning intellect we employ in all other aspects of life.Taking a critical look at Dartmouth need not impact our bonds of fellowship, and questioning of the merits of Dartmouth today should be viewed as a constructive exercise and not in any way undermining our college experience and our class ties.I set up a scholarship fund at Dartmouth in the ‘70s. Now, when I get letters from the kids who are being assisted by the fund I don’t know if I should be happy that they are at Dartmouth or whether I should feel that I am contributing to a generation which will see only the negatives in our society. I have not been a contributor to Dartmouth for many years other than token gifts given under pressure from classmates to keep our percentages up.

I would like to suggest that rather than requesting contributions to Dartmouth without any analysis, our class leaders foster a discussion as to the merits or lack thereof of contributing to Dartmouth. How about a questionnaire designed to see how class members perceive the Dartmouth of today? Where there is a strong consensus, those points could be presented to the college as our class position. The reaction of the college to our class views would be a more worthwhile basis for gifting than blind loyalty.