Comments by President James Wright, January 6, 2005

While we were enjoying our holiday break with family and friends, sharing memories and dreams, tragedy struck on the other side of the world.

There was a time, within the lifetime of many of us here that such things were abstracted — headlines in newspapers, tallies of numbers, and tales of recent horror. There was no immediacy, no clear human dimension.

Your experiences do not allow such abstracting — there is no emotional buffer that allows you to ignore the tragedy — you see news photos and accounts, television, and Internet descriptions and interviews that shock. On the day after Christmas some fellow passengers on our planet confronted horror. We see this — dead bodies, lost children, shattered lives. Entire landscapes, homes, and lives washed away. So many people whose hopes and dreams were obliterated.  

Members of this community ask “why” and “how?” These are the questions of an academic community. But you have also asked "what can we do?" This question is critical. This is the question of a community that cares. Otherwise all the opportunities and privileges we have had, all of the enabling and empowering qualities of a Dartmouth education become self-indulgent. Your education is not about self-indulgence. It is about assuming the responsibility that comes with our good fortune. You know so young that life can be cruel — the horror of terror, the stunning spread of HIV-AIDS, the brutal strength of natural disaster. And we know of quiet cruelty as well – children without nutrition, education, and hope. And you ask, “what can we do?”

Barbara Jordan once said, “I have faith in young people because I know the strongest emotions which prevail are those of love and caring and belief and tolerance.” And I have faith in you.

As Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey used to say to students, “the worlds troubles are your troubles.” This is a heavy burden to carry. Dartmouth students have traditionally stepped up to assist and confront the world's troubles. Now you affirm this tradition again — emphatically so. I was impressed to have emails over the holidays asking what we can do. You carry the answers. Students have stepped up through fraternities, sororities, and other groups. The Board of Trustees have joined Susan and me in affirming our endorsement of your efforts by making our own commitments for recovery. They have enthusiastically agreed.

 But this is about more than writing a check and assuming that the responsibility has been addressed. The echoes of this tragedy will remain after the cameras move on, and after the dead are forgotten by all except those who knew and loved and hoped with them. The responsibility to help, to restore lives and restore dreams, this work we all incur and embrace. As I have said to you on other occasions, we have work to do. I salute you in responding to the immediate and I am confident that you know this is a life obligation.