[Student Reporters] Korean-American Students' Reactions to the New Dartmouth President

David Choi / <10th, Los Alamitos High School>

Dartmouth College recently announced their 17th President Dr. Jim Young Kim 49 to succeed James Wright in July being the first Korean-American and Asian-American President of an Ivy League school. Dr. Kim who graduated from Brown University and received his M.D. and Ph. D from Harvard University as a physician and anthropologist is known for his humanitarian efforts in the field of medicine being active in the World Health Organization and providing effective medical treatment of H.I.V. and AIDS to the poor. This unprecedented news elicited different reactions among Korean-American students who saw it as both a groundbreaking event and a concern.

Many Korean-American students hold an optimistic outlook towards Dr.Kim's upcoming leadership as a symbol of hope and societal advancement. Mark J. sophomore believes that doors have opened for other minorities to step in: "Increasingly our society is becoming less and less focused on race and Dr.Kim's story inspires me to strive for higher positions in government and education." In addition he views Dr. Kim's story as a means of motivation to think outside the box. "All my life I've been pushed by my parents to go somewhere like Stanford" states Mark. "Now as I look at Dr.Kim's story of success I realize that where I go for college does not necessarily shape my entire life. Who knows I may end up at Dartmouth!" Similarly many saw Dr.Kim's story as a means of motivation.

However other Korean-American students adopted a rather cynical view to Dr.Kim's upcoming presidency seeing it as a concern. "While it seems great that there is a Korean-American partaking in such an important role" says J.C. a junior "I think we're jumping the gun-Dr. Kim has not done any work in office yet and we will have to wait and see what will happen." Students such as J.C. espouse a practical approach to things stating that like all things it is necessary to make judgments based on his future actions and not overemphasize his race too much. Likewise Cindy V. a freshmen agrees: "Why should his race matter at all in relation to his ability to make improvements in education schools and demonstrate effective leadership?"

Furthermore the students believe that negative stereotypes of Asian-Americans and possible ineffective leadership would lead to a bad reputation among other Koreans. J.C. states "What if Dr. Kim's well-anticipated leadership ends up being ineffective? Then other Koreans will be indirectly affected into such top positions in society."

These preoccupations may end up being simple worries or something far more significant but the consensus among these Korean-American students is that Dr.Kim's upcoming presidency is a revolutionary event that will have larger future influences in education and society.