Hanover
“I apologize to anyone who took offense (to the email) … ,” Hanlon told an overflow audience of around 100 community members, faculty and students in the Class of 1953 Commons building. “I rarely use emails and much prefer face to face with these kinds of discussions.”
He explained that his full sentiments were described in a subsequent “State of the College” communication in which he “deplored the Pittsburgh murders as the worst (of their kind) in the nation’s history.”
Hanlon’s remarks came in response to criticisms of the email’s content and tone by two audience members — Sergei Kan, professor of anthropology and Native American studies, and a student “from the West Coast,” who declined to be identified.
Previously, an Oct. 30 editorial in the college newspaper, The Dartmouth, criticized Hanlon’s email.
“The email, sent with the subject line ‘Recent National Events,’ is astounding in its vagueness and passivity, ” the editorial said. “One would assume that the purpose of such an email would be to condemn the violence of the attacks and provide support for students who feel threatened or who are in mourning. But if this was Hanlon’s intention, he utterly botched the execution.”
The panel discussion, organized by the Jewish Studies Program, included — besides Hanlon — Susannah Heschel, professor of Jewish studies, and Rabbi Moshe Gray, executive director of the Chabad at Dartmouth. Chabad claims to be the largest Jewish outreach organization in the world.
A key message, reflected unanimously in panel members’ remarks, is that the ancient scourge of anti-Semitism is resurging in America, driven largely by fear and hate emanating from deep political and social divisions as well as the rhetoric of President Donald Trump.
“Words matter … we have to be very careful about how language is used,” Kan said. “I was born in the Soviet Union the year Stalin died. The code words used then to describe Jews were ‘Zionists’ and ‘ruthless cosmopolitans.’ Then it was the ‘Rothschilds’ who were blamed for global wrongs.”
Heschel, who traced the long history of anti-Semitism, said that members of her family in Germany were victims of Jewish persecution during the Nazi period.
“Remember, Hitler came to power with words, language,” she said.
Several students mentioned anti-Semitism incidents they experienced on campus, such as swastika posted inside West House, one of the campus’ six housing groups.
They asked what the college could do to combat this behavior and help victims.
Irene Kacandes, a professor of German studies and comparative literature, urged students to “mobilize when this happens. Say, ‘no, no, no.’ We are this institution. You can have the power to make change.”
Hanlon said: “We need to come together as never before. … Don’t forget to vote tomorrow.”
He urged students to make more use of the college’s Tucker Foundation, a multi-cultural, multi-faith institution.
Edward Bradley, an emeritus professor in classics, encouraged the college to embed the issue in the curriculum.
“Conversations like this one are fine but they won’t change anything,” he continued. “We need to establish a required course for all Dartmouth freshmen about anti-Semitism, racism. The college needs to act.”