An Open Letter to the Whittemore Center

I am not surprised, given the personal ethos of the piece, that both "Clark" and "Disappointed" question my biographical qualifications more than my specific critiques of the system. Taylor, I am not going to list a pedigree of my life experiences, but I assure you that I have lived more than most, lived in many places in many different capacities and seen more than enough to know the things I have said.

Mr. Kent, I believe the main reason you accuse me of taking too long to get to the point is because you missed it. It has not taken four years at UNH for me to realize that I wasn't happy with my education. In fact by a combination of curiosity and restlessness UNH is the third college I have attended and simply the final station on a long ride throughout which I often wavered between deciding to drop out and reassuring myself that, after all, it may just be THIS school, and there are plenty others. Further, I assure you that while en route to this end I have taken every level and type of college course there is and had teachers with as many different levels of qualification, from "national authorities" on their subjects to no-name adjunct faculty, so please don't tell me I haven't seen all that college has to offer.
Certainly there is a difference between class levels, and as I said in the article I have had good teachers and good classes, but the number of those good classes compared to the number that one takes in four years of college is sadly disproportional. Also sad is the fact that you urge me to take senior-level courses as if the lower-level courses are hardly worth taking for anyone somewhat intelligent. I understand that the curriculum is designed like a ladder, with courses growing more challenging as you climb your way to the top, but it's a shame that you have to get most of the way up before you even have to catch your breath or gulp on looking over your shoulder at how far you've come.
Also, you have all responded as if I'd written that I am smarter than everyone else, which is exactly what I pointed out I was NOT saying. Also, Clark you say: "The professors who require participation are forced to use the threat of a bad grade to get students to care, and they end up being resented for it." The professors who require participation to get students to care are only forced to use it because their classes are not interesting enough to make students care in the first place, which is why I noted that the participation grade is "not a reflection of your contributions to the class but a measure of your success in abating the teacher’s insecurities on a daily basis." I once had an old history teacher who taught and told history like it was one big enthralling narrative comprised of countless interesting characters and anecdotes. He never had a participation or attendance grade and yet more people came to his class of their own will than I have ever seen attend more regulated classes.
About your belief that "If you don't actually speak up in class whatever you think truly doesn't matter," another of the things I've come to realize is that even when you do actually speak up in class, whatever you say still truly doesn't matter. But most people can't see that or won't admit it and if it makes you feel better and more enlightened to join in the discussion, by all means don't let me stop you.

I heard a friend of mine assert a few weeks ago that college is 80% social and 20% academic. I couldn't agree more, and it has been that way for a long, long time, though perhaps not always in those numbers. As hard as it may be to believe, I do enjoy college for that reason, and as I said, I find that the classroom only stifles originality that shows itself in social situations or conversations. So I appreciate your pity, Clark, but academics have always been only a small part of my college experience, and I know I am not alone there, as sad as that truth may be.

Just so you people know, at least 2 of the reported assaults including the one from Halloween night involved groups of 3 or more males jumping a single student on his way to his dorm and then beating him severely. Quit it with the "boys will be boys" attitude and calling these incidents "fights". We all know what a fight is and these were not fights!

No what's sad is that Clark Kent spends so much time on here criticizing people's articles. Why don't you write your own article instead of just sitting around digging on others. Are you one of those people who spends all his spare time writing reviews on Amazon and telling himself he's a critic?

An important aspect to discuss...a Hartwick student tried to stop a fight in the spring of this year...the outcome? He was sucker-punched for his efforts, came within an inch of his life...thankfully he survived, but he is recovering to this day and will never fully be the same. He was in a coma for a period of time and his surgeon told his parents his pulling through was a miracle. All this student did was try to calm down a situation....with words...so that begs the question what does the administration specifically advise a student who happens upon a violent situation TO DO...and equally important what NOT DO? Situations do vary given...time of day/night...location of incident ect...the discussion needs to be more specific in my opinion...intervening in the wrong way can be devastating!

While I respect this article and the author’s opinion and way of thinking, I have a different view. What do you want them to do, put a cop on every corner? The police can't be everywhere all the time. They can only do so much to be proactive, and unfortunately a lot of the time they become reactive to a call instead. This string of assaults has nothing to do with the way police are doing their job. If you ask me, it has to do with the morals of the people on this campus. You would be surprised to see how alcohol arrests can curb violence. I guarantee many fights fueled by alcohol consumption have been avoided due to people seeing a UNH or Durham cruiser roll by. It makes them think twice. Let's start blaming those who are involved and those that do not call these things in instead of the stereotypical “blame the police” opinion.