Since I first arrived Grinnell College, I have been proud to be a part of such a tolerant and open-minded community. However, in recent weeks, my confidence in this community has been slowly undermined and finally shattered. I am writing here because I believe this is an issue that impacts the entire campus community. In the name of self-righteousness and indignation, we have committed a hypocrisy by wronging one of our own in the same way we accuse him of wronging us.
Dan Grossberg has been my friend from the time he arrived at this institution. I neither agree with all of his lifestyle decisions nor do I mean to say that he is entirely blameless in what has happened. However, in no way have his actions merited the kinds of outrageous rumors that have been debasing him. I personally witnessed the first, and only, instance of harassment ever reported against him and though he may have been out of line, his actions in no way constituted harassment, nor were they sexual, nor was he ever forced to leave any school as a result of any sexual offense. Indeed, Dan, together with our administration, has actively sought to discuss grievances others have had with him, but no one has come forward.
Due to Dan’s forward personality, many people, myself included, have at some time felt ill at ease around him. Though this is unintentional on his part, when the slightest rumor of sketchiness is added, it is not difficult to see how people’s perceptions could be altered and how the escalation of such misperceptions could, with time, lead to completely baseless accusations. Dan would never wish to cause discomfort and upon being asked, he has always been willing to accommodate other people even to the extent of discontinuing any kind of interaction with them. In this respect, I am appalled by the countless attacks our community has leveled against Dan as a result of his recent article in the B&S. It is clear to me that people who have never, in accordance with our policy of self-governance, bothered to discuss their concerns with Dan himself, have used this satirical article as a pretext for levying personal assaults against him.
Mr. McGranahan’s editorial in the latest issue of the S&B is a prime example of such an attack. He suggests that Dan’s article is “indicative of a threat to the security of our community.” I fail to see how an article poking fun at its own author could be responsible for such a serious offense. Indeed, if Mr. McGranahan were concerned about the impact of satire on the security of our community, why didn’t he express concern about the article in the same issue written by Mr. Hamfeld about “Grinnellians taking other Grinnellians from behind and bludgeoning them in the back of the skull at the point of climax to heighten their own sensation?” Also, Mr. McGranahan, who claims to be ”an advocate of self-governance,” had never made any effort whatsoever to discuss with Dan the “concerns of fellow community members” until this article was released.
In all fairness, Mr. McGranahan’s article was by far kinder than the personal e-mails many have been sending to Dan. The result is that we are making Dan extremely uncomfortable in every area of the school, an effect that is not dissimilar to that of the harassment of which Dan is so often accused. I wonder, if “a representative of the community” and very many members thereof think such behavior is acceptable, do our ideals of tolerance and self governance have any value whatsoever?
—Matthew Phelps ‘05
supported by Andrew Maginniss ‘05 and Laura Riddle-Ford ‘04
Well, if the fifth principle of self-governance leaves Grinnellians “responsible for addressing situations and communicating concerns about issues that undermine community or individual rights,” then I too have a concern to voice. In Devan McGranahan’s letter to the S&B, he voiced his offense at Dan Grossberg’s satirical article in the B&S. I believe that someone certainly has a right to make fun of himself and well-known rumors in a satirical newspaper. And while he also has the right to do so, I find it offensive that Mr. McGranahan would write a letter to the editor that is nothing more than a personal attack on a member of the Grinnell community. While I commend Mr. McGranahan for talking to Dan before writing his letter, I find it rather disturbing that he failed to comment on what Dan said: “the harassment stemming from the rumors has at times been unbearable.” Why did this statement not incite Mr. McGranahan as much as a self-deprecating article about familiar rumors? Dan’s article said nothing new; his explanation to Mr. McGranahan did, but rather than speak to the college community about the effects of rumors on one of our own, Mr. McGranahan just continued the libel. First of all, if someone finds Dan’s behavior inappropriate, tell him, not Mr. McGranahan, not the S&B, not someone who has no control over the situation. After all, we’re all mature college students and I think everyone here can handle mature discussions about acceptable behavior. Furthermore, it seems that this situation has escalated to the point that a mere acknowledgment from Dan sends girls running. I’m sure someone will point out to me a case where I’m wrong and I acknowledge that it is certainly possible, but I think that most of the complaints about Dan stem from the fact that he’s known as “Sketchy Dan,” and not from any true harassment. If Dan were a threat to his fellow students, Grinnell would certainly not allow him to remain and it’s a shame that in this “welcoming” environment he has to put up with offensive rumors and harassment. Yes, I have heard these rumors too, but I have also spent time (alone, heaven forbid!) with Dan, which I obviously wouldn’t have done if I felt uncomfortable around him. I understand that other girls may have had different experiences with him and I don’t intend to undermine someone’s feelings, but too often the rumors I hear are repeated by people who know nothing about Dan except the stories they’ve heard from others. Why can’t we just judge for ourselves or better yet, not judge at all? This is Grinnell and we should be open-minded individuals, not propagators of hateful rumors. Finally, Mr. McGranahan wrote that he felt “Mr. Grossberg’s flippant attitude toward the concerns of fellow community members is appallingly callous and blatantly disrespectful and represents a poor attempt at resolving any issues between himself and those of us who may find offense in both his words and his actions.” I don’t perceive Dan’s attitude as “flippant” when he mentioned unbearable harassment. Nor do I feel that it is his responsibility to relieve the concerns of his fellow students when he is the object of harassment and slander. Despite my disagreement with Mr. McGranahan’s letter, I agree partially with one of his final comments: “I believe the article only increases the alienation between Mr. Grossberg and a concerned, rumor-addled student body.” Mr. McGranahan’s letter to the S&B certainly increases the alienation between Dan and a student body that is not concerned enough to do anything more than propagate rumors.
—Cathy Geddes ‘06
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