VOL. CLXXIV NO.84
CLOUDY HIGH 90 LOW 64
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Article 23 passes, committing town to renewable energy goals
College revenue dipped slightly in fiscal year 2016
By ANTHONY ROBLES The Dartmouth Staff
OPINION
HUEBNER: MERCY FOR ADMINISTRATORS PAGE 6
BRINCKJOHNSEN: AN HOMAGE TO EBAS PAGE 6
GOLDSTEIN: THE BETTER OF TWO EVILS PAGE 7
CHUN: AM I A YUPPIE? PAGE 7
LAUREN KIM/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
At last week’s town meeting, town voters passed Article 23 in an overwhelming majority.
By JULIAN NATHAN The Dartmouth Staff
O n Tu e s d a y, M a y 9 , H a n ov e r r e s i d e n t s overwhelmingly voted to pass Article 23 during the annual town meeting. Article 23 set a community-wide goal of sourcing 100 percent of the town’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and transitioning heat and
transportation to also run on renewable energy by 2050, joining the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign. Hanover is the first town in the state of New Hampshire and the 29th municipality in the nation to establish a goal of completely transitioning to renewable energy, according to vice chair of the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group Judi Colla.
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SEE RENEWABLE PAGE 2
SEE TAX PAGE 5
Hassan Hassen ’18 named Pickering Fellow By PETER CHARALAMBOUS
ARTS
Instead of voting for the article by ballot, individuals voted on Article 23 verbally at the town meeting that night. Hanover director of public works Peter Kulbacki said that while town officials have considered transitioning to renewable energy for roughly a decade, they did not begin crafting Article 23
The College saw slight decreases in revenue in fiscal year 2016, according to the College’s 2016 990 tax for m. T he re port shows numerous financial changes for fiscal year 2016, which began on July 1, 2015 and ended on June 30, 2016. The College’s endowment for fiscal year 2016 decreased nearly $200 million to $4,474,403,649 from fiscal year 2015’s end of year balance of $4,663,491,080. The decrease comes in part because of the endowment’s net investment earnings, gains and losses, which totaled -$99,549,524 . For comparison, last year’s net investment earnings, gains and losses were nearly $350 million, while two years back saw a high of $777 million. “ We h a d m o d e s t
negative return,” chief financial officer Michael Wagner said. “Investment markets as a whole were performing negatively and Dartmouth’s investment return was not immune to what was happening in the investment markets.” Wagner said that the decline in the endowment retur ns was consistent with that of other colleges, such as those in the Ivy League. When comparing Dartmouth’s endowment with that of fellow Ivies, only Yale University, with a 3.4 percent increase, and Princeton University, with a 0.8 percent increase, saw positive returns in the past fiscal year. “ I n g e n e r a l , w e ’r e p e r fo r m i n g wh e re we would expect over the longterm and for shorter-term time periods,” Wagner said. “We’re performing along the lines of other
The Dartmouth Staff
Hassan Hassen ’18 was recently named a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. The program, which is funded by the U.S. State Department, provides a group of 10 undergraduate students and 20 graduate students the opportunity to gain foreign service experience through internships and
education stipends. The fellowship, named in honor of longtime foreign diplomat T homas R. Pickering, allows participants to work two funded summer internships, one at the State Department’s domestic office in Washington, D.C. and another abroad at an overseas embassy. The program also provides mentoring from a foreign service officer and $37,500 annually for two years of SEE HASSEN PAGE 3
COURTESY OF HASSAN HASSEN
Hassan Hassen ’18 will complete two summer internships as part of the fellowship.
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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
DAILY DEBRIEFING On Tuesday, the New Hampshire House election law committee endorsed, in a partisan vote, a bill that tightens requirements for people who register to vote within 30 days of an election, according to the Valley News. Senate Bill 3 will now be voted on by the full House. The bill will require people who register to vote within 30 days of an election to provide proof they reside in New Hampshire and intend to stay in the state. People may still vote without documentation but must sign a paper agreeing to return with a required form of proof. If a voter does not return within 30 days, the bill allows local election officials to investigate suspected voter fraud. Supporters of the bill believe it will ensure people living temporarily in New Hampshire do not participate in state elections. Opponents said that the bill does not really prevent ineligible voters and will instead discourage individuals such as college students, low-income residents and homeless people from voting. Gov. Chris Sununu supports the bill. In an interview with New Hampshire Public Radio’s The Exchange on Monday, Sununu said the bill is a good compromise that tightens the state’s election regulations and addresses the perception that New Hampshire has widespread voter fraud. Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials are preparing for another potential record year of bear conflicts, according to the Valley News. Officials are urging people to remove food sources that attract bears. In a news release, Vermont’s lead bear biologist Forrest Hammond said the number of bear complaints has increased almost every year for over a decade. According to the release, residents are legally required to remove bear attractants and must first consider nonlethal measures in dealing with problem bears rather than killing them. Hammond also recommended residents keep their distance from bears and contact a local warden if a bear is seen in a residential neighborhood. Other recommendations include removing birdfeeders and cleaning up the seeds beneath them, installing electric fencing around food sources and adding carbon-rich “brown” materials, such as leaves, to compost.
Town joins Ready for 100 campaign FROM RENEWABLE PAGE 1
until last September. Kulbacki said that the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group inspired the town to take action. The Sierra Club is a national environmental organization. Colla said that the Sierra Club was responsible for some of the language in Article 23, though town officials modified some of the Sierra Club’s language to make Article 23 easier for Hanover residents to understand. Kulbacki estimated that only a few people out of the hundreds present at May 9’s town meeting voted against Article 23. Colla said that before the vote took place, she was not entirely sure that the article would pass, due to uncertainty following the 2016 presidential election. Kulbacki emphasized that Article 23 only set forth guidelines for the town to follow, and that 2030 and 2050 are not strict deadlines for action. The article’s passing is still impactful because “the first step is to make a commitment,” he said. Hanover has not yet calculated the possible costs of the transition. Kulbacki noted that any cost estimate the town makes today may not be accurate because renewable energy technologies will likely become less expensive in the future.
Kulbacki said that although the town has not yet decided which renewable energy technologies it will use in the transition, solar energy is a promising possibility. The cost of solar panels has decreased so much that the cost of solar energy is comparable to that of energy sourced from fossil fuels. Wind power is not as appealing as solar power because some residents find wind turbines unsightly, he added. Colla agreed that solar energy was a realistic possibility, and added that wind is not abundant in Hanover because the town is located in a valley. Kulbacki identified current zoning laws as an obstacle that may prevent the installation of solar panels in Hanover. Currently, zoning laws dictate that land cannot be primarily devoted to collecting solar energy. Instead, solar panels must be installed as an “accessory” to a property that has another purpose, he said. However, the town has already had some success introducing residents to the idea of solar power, Kulbacki said. From October 2014 to January 2015, Hanover participated in the Solarize prog ram, under which solar panels were installed in 62 homes. The program was run by Vital Communities, a nonprofit based
in White River Junction. Residents purchased all 62 panels from a single vendor, Energy Emporium, based in Enfield, which decreased the cost, as they bought in bulk. Colla said that the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group plans to expand its Ready for 100 campaign to other towns in the Upper Valley, including Lebanon, Plainfield and Cornish. Colla explained that the Sierra Club lobbies for transitions to renewable energy at the local level as environmental issues tend to be highly politicized at state and national levels. Divest Dartmouth member Greg Szypko ’20 said that while the organization was in favor of Article 23, it was not involved in proposing the measure. Divest Dartmouth member Ches Gundrum ’17 said that some Divest Dartmouth members canvassed around campus to encourage students to vote in favor of Article 23. Both Szypko and Gundrum said that Article 23 might pressure College President Phil Hanlon and other college administrators to divest from companies that extract fossil fuels because the wide body of support for the measure indicates that many Hanover residents and College students oppose the use of fossil fuels.
CLEAR SKIES, FULL HEARTS
The town of Hartland will soon purchase a half-acre property and house next to the town recreation center, according to the Valley News. Residents voted 98-63 against an article asking for reconsideration of the purchase at a special town meeting on Tuesday. The original article to purchase the property was passed in a town meeting in March. Hartland town manager Bob Stacey said that since the town’s cash flow is strong, it will likely pay cash for the property, but could decide later to borrow the money. Stacey also said that the purchase will be paid back over five years at $39,000 a year, which is less than a penny on the tax rate. Residents who opposed the purchase said the property qualifies for a tax sale and could be bought for less money. Stacey said that once the town takes ownership of the property he intends to create a committee of residents to look at how the property may be used. Two suggestions were for expanded parking at the recreation center or using the house as a senior center. -COMPILED BY SONIA QIN
CORRECTIONS We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com. Correction Appended (May 17, 2017): Information has been added to the May 16 article “APAHM highlights identity and home” to clarify Kan’s statements.
NICK SAMEL/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Students enjoyed the warmer temperatures on the Green over the past few days.
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
PAGE 3
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
Hassan Hassen ’18 awarded foreign affairs fellowship his senior year at South Cobb High School, Hassen attended study in a field related to foreign Dartmouth Bound, a program service. The State Department that allows high school students offers employment to fellows who from historically underrepresented complete all the requirements of backgrounds the opportunity to the program. preview college life and learn about “My interest in the college application foreign affairs goes progress. During this visit, hand in hand with “My interest in foreign affairs goes Hassen wrote that he “fell my l o n g s t a n d i n g hand in hand with my longstanding in love with the campus.” interests in U.S. After his senior year of interests in U.S. politics and politics and high school, Hassen arrived i n t e r n a t i o n a l international relations. Having in Dartmouth in the fall relations,” Hassen the opportunity to pursue these of 2014, joining two of wrote in an email his siblings at the College. statement. “Having passions at such a young age is Ridwan Hassen ’15 was the the opportunity to something that will set a solid first member of the Hassen pursue these passions foundation for the rest of my career” family to arrive in Hanover, at such a young and he went on to study age is something at Oxford University as a that will set a solid -HASSAN HASSEN ’18 Rhodes Scholar. Halimo foundation for the Hassen ’17 graduated a rest of my career.” year early and continued The son of her studies at Tsinghua a Somali and University as a Schwarzman Ethiopian refugees, Scholar. Hassen grew up in “ We a r e j u s t r e a l l y Austell, a small town supportive of each other’s outside of Atlanta, goals and are always looking Georgia. A tinkerer to share opportunities, as a child, Hassen insight and advice,” Hassen would deconstruct wrote about his siblings. “We electronics like consoles and in a manner that has led to such all work very hard and just want televisions, which helped increase great opportunities,” he wrote. to see each other succeed.” h i s i n t e re s t i n e n g i n e e r i n g. During the summer before On campus, Hassen has been FROM HASSEN PAGE 1
However, as he progressed as a student, he became more interested in politics. That interest in politics eventually fostered his interest in foreign service. “My parents are very happy that I’m able to leverage my passions
involved with Dartmouth’s First Year Student Enrichment Program throughout his time at Dartmouth, first as a participant and later as a peer mentor. He also has worked with the program to create more
cultural experiences at the Hop. Because of his work on that project, around 220 students have been able to participate in events at the Hopkins Center despite initial financial barriers, according to FYSEP director Jay Davis ’90. “I’ve always admired T hrough this [Hassen’s] compassion, fierce program, Hassen was able to interact commitment to social justice with Davis, who and sly sense of humor. It’s also served as a mentor for Hassen a nice combination for a throughout his person.” Dartmouth career. “ I ’v e a l w a y s admired [Hassan’s] -JAY DAVIS ’90, FIRST YEAR compassion, fierce STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM commitment to social justice and DIRECTOR sly sense of humor,” Davis said. “It’s a nice combination for a person.” On campus, Hassen has also been involved with t h e Ro c k e f e l l e r Center and the Tuck School of Business. “The people opportunities for low-income I engaged with, and the skills students such as a program that that I’ve learned through these provides students with tickets to programs, were invaluable,” he wrote. Through the Rockefeller Center, He has participated in both the Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behavior Program and the Management Leadership Development Program. “The best thing about MLDP, and I think this applies to [Hassan], is that it gives you the opportunity to reflect on your own leadership,” said Eric Janisch, a program officer for co-curricular programs for the Rockefeller Center. “I think allowing him to reflect on the attributes that he really enjoys in leadership and what he wants to improve on was what he got out of [the program].” Hassen plans to graduate this June, completing his studies in only three years. He will also participate in the Tuck Bridge Program over this upcoming summer and take part in an internship with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as a summer analyst. He plans to attend graduate school and eventually pursue a career in foreign service that centers on international trade, energy policy and economic development. “I think Dartmouth should be particularly proud of [Hassan] b ecau s e h e i s exce p ti o n ally accomplished and also exceptionally kind and humane as a person, and that is the kind of graduate that we should be producing,” Davis said.
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THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
DARTMOUTHEVENTS TODAY
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Dartmouth Organic Farm Seedling sale, featuring tomato, tomatillo, pepper, kale and assorted herb seedlings, Fairchild Hall Patio
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Using R for Basic Spatial Analysis,” 37 Dewey Field Road, Instructional Center, basement floor
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Seminar: “Learning with Your Brain in Mind,” with psychology professor David Bucci, Fahey-McLane lounge
TOMORROW
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Art Exhibit: “Fiber Fusion” by artists Margaret Sheehan and Cindy Heath, 7 Lebanon Street, Suite 107
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Lecture: Jewelry and sculpture lecture and discussion with Cabrillo College professor Dawn Nakanishi, Room 130, Hopkins Center for the Arts
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Film: “Fantasia of Color in Early Cinema,” hand-colored film display, Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center RELEASE DATE– Thursday, May 18, 2017
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Halloween costume that may involve a red cape and tail 6 Respected men 10 Banana Boat initials 13 “I Fall to Pieces” singer 14 “America’s FLAVORite Frozen Beverage since 1967” 15 Considerable age 17 Words requesting a pass 19 Apple choice 20 “Phooey!” 21 Words indicating a pass 23 Prof’s aides 24 Cardio chart 26 Overly 27 Team with 121 medals at the Rio Olympics 28 Throw water on 30 Put the kibosh on 32 Before, once 36 Genetic material 37 Cantaloupe and honeydew 39 Words constituting a pass 42 Infomercial staples 43 Tack on 44 “I almost forgot ... ” 45 “I’m extremely interested in squalor” speaker of literature 46 Ripoff 48 “Viva __ Vegas” 49 Homer stat 51 Camera inits. 52 Hrs. at Coors Field games 55 Words printed on a pass 58 Childcare worker 60 Nullify 61 Words seen in a pass 63 View from a pew 64 Dalí house 65 Great Lakes natives 66 That, in Tijuana 67 URL starter
68 Holding corporation that owns Kmart DOWN 1 Get moving 2 Dominant 3 Levels in a park 4 Gunn of “Sully” 5 Like matryoshka dolls 6 Kim, to Khloé Kardashian 7 Offer of help 8 Faraway 9 Take care of 10 It often spans decades 11 Egg roll cooking medium 12 Pete Seeger’s forte 16 Rocket launcher 18 Chaperones 22 Emulate a news helicopter 25 Tries hard (for) 29 Doctor’s request 31 Disney character who sings “Let It Go” 32 Curved letter 33 Ali ring trademark
34 Simply Cocoa maker 35 Other people 37 Splash guard 38 __-Cat 40 Frost advisory, e.g. 41 Poetic paeans 46 Doughboy’s helmet 47 Peace offerings 48 Soap brand with volcanic pumice
50 Big name in kitchen appliances 52 Two-time French Open winner Sharapova 53 Sunken ship explorer 54 Long lock 56 Creative flash 57 __ China Sea 59 Untainted 62 Genre using speakers?
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: B A B E
E L A N
G I S T
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A T A R I
U S U A L
B A S H
A C H E
F L E A
A T E I T
T O R T U G E A L M E N R I F L U D D
P I N E A L G L A N D
I T S N I T U N E R E N L S N F A R A I M A E R E A T E R N S H C Y E A T N D V R E T R E E S Q U A R E T U R N R S O F T S
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M A P L E G E N D S T R A T
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S P A T
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E N E M Y
O P S O O T Z O R Y R O 05/18/17
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05/18/17
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
College sees slight drop in endowment during fiscal year 2016 before the compensation of Brown University president Christian Paxson, whose predecessor made around $650,000 in 2012 according to The Brown Daily Herald. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Columbia University president Lee Bollinger remains one of the highest-paid college presidents in the nation, having made around
with a review of the employee’s performance by a governing body endowments that are of the same to prepare “recommendations for size and same breadth as what compensation adjustments.” Dartmouth has.” Fo l l o w i n g this, the The College’s contributions recommendations are “presented and grants decreased by over $12 for approval to the Compensation million, from $389.2 million to Committee of the Board.” The $376.9 million. This marks the data used for determining the second year of decline from the president’s salary is presented high of $428.4 million to the Compensation in the 2014 fiscal year. by the chief “We had modest negative return. Committee However, investment human resources officer, income increased by Investment markets as a whole which is then approved by over $222 million, from were performing negatively and the Board of Trustees. 2015’s $278.4 million “Based on the to this year’s $500.6 Dartmouth’s investment return comparisons that the million. This year’s was not immune to what was committee does, it’s within total marks the highest the reasonable range of happening in the investment in the last four years. where the Board and the While the tax form markets.” president want it to be,” focuses on fiscal year Wagner said. 2016, the salary data Chief investment officer on the form covers the -MICHAEL WAGNER, CHIEF FINANCIAL Pamela Peedin received the 2015 calendar year. OFFICER highest compensation among Total compensation reported salaries with over increased from $522.5 $1.4 million. This represents million in calendar year an increase of nearly 23 2014 to $548.4 million percent when compared to in calendar year 2015. her compensation last year, M e a n wh i l e, ove r which equaled around $1.1 the past fiscal year million. College President Phil Hanlon $3.4 million in fiscal year 2012. “We don’t pay necessarily the was the second highest paid In 2014, Bollinger made over $4.5 same as an investment officer administrative officer with a base million. might get if they were working salary of just over $1 million The IRS for m states that for an investment company, but and bonuses totaling just over the process for determining the we’re competing for those people,” $250,000. Compared to last fiscal compensation of Dartmouth’s Wagner said. “So you have to year, Hanlon’s base salary nearly President and other officers pay something that attracts them doubled from his previous salary involves gathering “comparability to work for a higher-[education] of $530,092. data . . . from a compensation endowment. It may not be just as Compared to other Ivy League survey gathered by a nationally- much as they would earn working presidents, Hanlon’s salary remains known consulting firm” which at an investment bank, but it has to on the lower end, only coming is then used in conjunction be enough to get them to come.” FROM TAX PAGE 1
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
ISHAAN JAJODIA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Vote for this year’s nominees for Rookie of the Year on The Dartmouth’s website.
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THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
GUEST COLUMNIST ANNELISE BRINCK-JOHNSEN ’17
STAFF COLUMNIST JULIA HUEBNER ’20
An Homage to EBAs
Mercy for Administrators
I defended my senior fellowship project, the at “the boos” just two nights before for a study culminating experience of my undergraduate and beer session. When we got there, however, career, Tuesday morning. I’m taking one class a locksmith was changing the door, and our this term and have a few edits to do on my favorite waiter came out. “This is it guys,” thesis, but I walked out of my defense meeting he said. We just looked at him. “It’s true?” I feeling happy. I was essentially done with finally asked, “—you’re closing?” He nodded. Dartmouth, and it had been an incredible “Was it !@#$ Domino’s?” my friend asked. time. Not three minutes later I was fighting He explained that it was actually a problem back tears when I learned that something else from before Domino’s — students would order was done with Dartmouth: the venerable late- pizzas and not pay. Fifty or so were coming night institution Everything But Anchovies. back a week: uncollected, unloved pizzas. “It’s Things have changed significantly since too bad too,” he said, cracking a smile “Eddie I matriculated, but I didn’t cry when Alpha was just about to get back from vacation.” We Delta fraternity was shut down. I didn’t laugh-cried, and a voice called him back into cry when Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity the darkened restaurant. “I love you,” I said was derecognized. I didn’t cry about the to his disappearing back. hard alcohol ban or the replacement of the I realized that I had possibly one of the last Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. Although it came veggie burger EBAs ever made — a woman close, I didn’t cry when we failed to build a who came in 10 minutes after me and asked recognizable snow sculpture in 2016 and 2017. for one was told that they “were out,” and two When I found out EBAs was shutting down, days later EBAs was closed. EBAs has existed I cried in the street. for so long that I thought As a townie, I grew “He explained that it always would. up eating EBAs. Its When I was 8 barbeque chicken pizza it was actually a years old, a businessman I was the staple food of problem from before met on a train told me all summer pool parties, and about his son who went our end-of-season sports Domino’s — students to Dartmouth and had a c e l e b r at i o n s a lw ay s would order pizzas tab at “that local anchovy happened there. When I pizza place.” He gave me and not pay.” became a vegetarian and his card and told me to went to college, EBAs’ put all my future pizzas mozzarella sticks were on him. I promptly lost my late-night study fuel. When I turned 21 the card, but every time I went to EBAs I and became vegan, I would study there with a would remember him. That’s the kind of place black bean burger and a beer. My junior fall, EBAs was. It was a local place and a college I became close friends with EBAs’ delivery place and a place where you could become driver who supplied me with food as I struggled really good friends with a waiter and play through Philosophy 6, “Logic and Language.” Trivial Pursuit from 1985 and study for finals My senior year, my two best friends and I were and hang out for hours. Dartmouth students such regulars at “EBAs Live” (the physical sustained EBAs until they didn’t anymore, location) that we had loyalty stamp cards and and now it’s gone. an ongoing bit with our two favorite waiters about “Eddie the falafel guy” (he doesn’t exist). Brinck-Johnsen is a member of the Class of 2017. When we first heard the news, we rushed The Dartmouth welcomes guest columns. We over to EBAs, joking about how “Ebbas” would request that guest columns be the original work of never close down, how it was too obvious of the submitter. a sitcom trope to have our college restaurant Submissions may be sent to both opinion@ shut down just as we are about to graduate. thedartmouth.com and editor@thedartmouth.com. The universe doesn’t actually work with such Submissions will receive a response within three perfect metaphors, we reasoned. We had been business days.
In early March, the entire Dartmouth Second, the diversity of roles among community was emailed an invitation from participants made me re-evaluate the the College president’s office to participate in moral absolute that I put on (my own) “Inside Dartmouth’s Budget,” a five-session opinion as an undergraduate student. lecture series on higher education finance Throughout the sessions, I mostly talked at the College. The email advertised the to Wester Schoonenberg Th ’20 and program as a chance to “unpack Dartmouth’s Bryant Coen, a senior financial analyst at budget by exploring our revenue and Dartmouth’s budget office. Although I often expenditures in the context of national advocated for the undergraduate perspective trends and external forces that impact higher during our small group discussions, their education.” Intrigued, I signed up and was input opened my eyes to the myriad of randomly selected to stakeholders that I didn’t participate. know existed — and A l t h o u g h I o n l y “At the first lecture that the administration a t t e n d e d t h r e e o f on April 4, I was n e e d s t o p a c i f y. five sessions — facing Additionally, learning competition from four most surprised not beside staff helped me other classes, the weekly by content but by to appreciate that staff Tuesday night lectures members are not all were the first to go — I the relatively few part of a bureaucratic would recommend the undergraduates in machine: Those who course to any student attended obviously care interested in affecting the room.” about students and the College’s finances the priorities of the and mission so that he or College. Staff, students she might better ground and faculty asked tough an argument in the reality of administrators. questions of the speakers and panelists On the other hand, while I became more throughout the sessions. sympathetic to the complex balancing act Third, at least some of the material was that administrators must strike to appease downright cool. For those who didn’t sign their many stakeholders, the difficulty of up — and my fellow undergraduates who administrators’ jobs is no excuse for failure signed up and didn’t show up — a few tidbits to create principled policy. bear repeating: At the first lecture on April 4, I was 1. Undergraduate tuition for the 2017-18 most surprised not by content but by the school year is $51,468, not including room relatively few undergraduates in the room. and board. In 1813, tuition was $21; room For this year’s course, which is now in its and board was $2. fourth year, 73 undergraduates signed up 2. The total expenses of Dartmouth — initially, and 39 were randomly selected excluding the professional schools — divided and registered to participate, according to by the number of undergraduate students Dartmouth’s assistant vice president for is about $120,000 per student. That means finance Tricia Spellman. One hundred that, on average, the cost of attendance even participants — faculty, staff, undergraduates for full-paying students is subsidized heavily and graduate students — were registered in by philanthropic gifts and the College’s total. If all undergraduate students attended endowment. the course, four of 10 participants would be 3. The undergraduate “sticker price” undergrads and I’d still be among a sizable — including tuition, mandatory fees, room minority. During any given session, however, and board for a full-paying undergraduate I observed only about five to seven of my student — has grown about 4 percent peers. compounded annually from 1813 to the I understand why so few students — less 2017-18 school year and 4.4 percent from than a fourth — would regularly attend the 2000 to 2018. lecture series. Tuesday nights are usually 4. For undergraduate students on financial bursting with commitments. I missed two aid, the average net price has risen about 1.5 lectures for one reason or another — as percent per year from 2000 to 2016, from a social science and writing geek, higher $13,063 to $17,511. education finance isn’t on my list of sexy Dartmouth is still an institution that I lecture topics. However, the advantages of appreciate for its opportunities but critique for participating in Inside Dartmouth’s Budget its deep flaws. This has not changed. However, outweigh the drawbacks. I’m now willing to give more empathy — but First, the course provides access to high- not leniency — to our administrators. While level administrators — including Provost the undergraduate student voice is important, Carolyn Dever, executive vice president it is far from the Dartmouth administrators’ Rick Mills, chief financial officer Mike sole motivator or largest concern. While I Wagner and College President Phil Hanlon might wish otherwise, Dartmouth continues — that undergrads rarely enjoy. While my to exist because of much more than just the conversations with these administrators students’ collective will. To make meaningful lacked substance, the access to them and their change at the College, we first need to priorities gave me a newfound appreciation understand how finance at the College works, for their constant juggling of competing and Inside Dartmouth’s Budget provides one interests. window to meet that challenge.
Mourning the end of a Dartmouth mainstay.
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ISSUE
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On experiencing newfound empathy for the College.
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
PAGE 7
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
STAFF COLUMNIST MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN ’18
STAFF COLUMNIST STEVEN CHUN ’19
The Better of Two Evils
Am I a Yuppie?
Impeachment will only make a martyr of Trump.
Are goat yoga, microbrews and prosperity signs of Yuppieism?
In 1944, one year before the end of World But Americans who have opposed President War II, the British Special Operations Executive Donald Trump at every turn, and those whose — a secret wing of the British military formed ambivalence or support has taken a radical for the purposes of espionage and sabotage shift in light of Trump’s evident inability to do behind enemy lines — devised a plan to kill much of anything right, should bear Operation Adolf Hitler. In its design, a German-speaking Foxley in mind. Disregard, for a moment, the marksman fluent in the dialect of the Bavarian blatant hypocrisy of a man who, during his district of Berchtesgadener Land would campaign, smeared his opponents at every parachute in and assassinate Hitler from afar turn with allegations of improper relations with as he walked to his morning tea at the Berghof, foreign officials and irresponsible handling of his Alpine retreat in Bavaria, Germany. Using classified material. This and other hypocrisies information provided by one of Hitler’s may be maddening, but they are at the moment personal guards, captured at Normandy on largely irrelevant irreparable wrongs. Consider D-Day, plans were drawn up for Operation only that Trump is god-king to his supporters Foxley, which would be the third attempted much as Hitler was to his own and that if execution of the Fuhrer. But those plans, and he is impeached, we may well face the same the operation, were never realized. repercussions to which the Allies gave voice in The Allies recognized two things that deciding not to assassinate Hitler. made Hitler’s premature assassination an Trump is a terrible strategist — more than unadvisable strategic move. First, Hitler was that, he seems to be an id-driven kindergartener an awful military strategist. His tendency to without a semblance of ego, superego, selfplace his confidence in his own battlefield awareness, remorse or common sense. He knowledge, entirely centralizing control of the needlessly extends critical news cycles by Wehrmacht, stripped his vastly savvier generals tweeting out inane garbage in much the way of the power to effectively command their a threatened toddler bangs his fists on the troops. If Operation Foxley were to go through, floor. He systematically undermines the work the British worried, Hitler might be replaced of his sideshow-freak White House staff to with a superior strategist who would be better make him appear even somewhat reasonable. at repelling Allied advances into mainland His rationales are based in emotion and Europe. Second, there swift reaction, with no were worries that killing “Trump is a terrible regard for immediate Hitler before the larger or future consequences. war was won would turn strategist — more There would be more him into a martyr and than that, he seems questions as to his mental deflect blame — in case of fitness for office if its a German loss — from the to be an id-driven absolute absence were not failings of Nazism to the kindergartener already clear. If Trump loss of its leader. Absent is impeached, as greater Hitler, the adherents and without a semblance numbers of lawmakers sycophants of national of ego, superego, are suggesting he should socialism might cling to be, Vice President Mike it, claiming all the while self-awareness, Pence — by all accounts that if only their Führer remorse or common a far greater strategist and had not been killed, their politician — would rise to ideology would have sense.” the Oval Office. prevailed. But the Allies This should did not merely want to beat Germany tactically; concern anyone with fears about Trump’s they wanted to defeat the wider scourge of putative legislative and executive agenda. Under Nazism and demonstrate that they could topple Pence, who has similar — if not more stringent it with Hitler still at the helm. — views on many issues, this agenda would Speed through the geopolitical timeline likely be easier to accomplish. This leads to the 73 years later, and we find ourselves with second argument against impeaching Trump: an inept president who has fired the Federal The supporters of Trumpism — that ill-defined Bureau of Investigation director responsible nationalist, isolationist, big-R Republican for investigating Russia’s role in his election to coalition — will not be defeated until they have the presidency, drawing calls of obstruction demonstrated that the movement itself, and not of justice from lawmakers and the press. This just Trump, is untenable. Trump, like Hitler president has invited the Russian foreign before him, did not create populism or generate minister and ambassador to the U.S. into the the issues driving his supporters’ undying loyalty. Oval Office for a meeting photographed only If he is impeached, Trumpism will not die. It by Russian state media but barred to American may in fact strengthen, deepening divisions press. He has, at that meeting, divulged classified between those who believe his impeachment to information shared with the U.S. intelligence be a blessing and those who believe he would community by its Israeli allies. And he has, have made America great again if just given finally, utterly undermined his White House the chance. Impeachment may indeed feed the staff’s attempts at deflection, spin, explanation very fire that led to Trump in the first place. and qualification of his actions. It may not come It is therefore prudent not to impeach our as a surprise that a poll released after these incompetent commander-in-chief but to vote revelations shows more Americans in favor of him — and all of the lackeys and hangers-on Trump’s impeachment than are against it — 48 he has cultivated in politics — out of office as percent to 41. soon as possible.
“The causes of death were family, clear, these critiques of consumerism, selffinances and fatigue. The tasteful tombstone gratification and frivolity have always been is set amid the soothing green of a field of around. But the parallels to yuppieism are Perrier bottles,” wrote Time magazine in less often brought up. an “obituary” of the yuppie. The year of The other side of the bitcoin is that I death: 1991. earnestly enjoy these pursuits — no matter The yuppie reigned supreme in the how absurd, privileged or indulgent they relative boom of the ’80s. T hough may seem. Is it really so wrong if I love a thoroughly lambasted, the organic, hand- good late-night Korean taco place? How crafted, off-white-sweater-around-the-neck do I reconcile a lifestyle so formulaic with consumerism was nonetheless a powerful a desire for purpose and originality? Is it movement. At its heart was the fresh problematic that the yuppie seems to be college graduate employed in a flourishing back on the rise? industry — banking or real-estate. They The answer lies not in what yuppieism had money in hand, a taste for the nouveau has but in what it professes to lack: struggle. and countless brands chasing after their A perfectly filtered photo of sunrise yoga newfound wealth. It on a beach, açaí bowl was a self-propagating, in hand, projects a materialistic brouhaha. “The realization came calculated carefreeness. And in every way, it’s as soon as the words, In her materialism, back. the yuppie seeks to I’m worried I’m one ‘Wanna try that new have it all, to want for of them. naught. Perhaps this is sushi-rito place?’ The realization why yuppieism’s rise came as soon as the tumbled from my seems to correlate with words, “Wanna try that mouth...” economic prosperity: new sushi-rito place?” the ’80s growth tumbled from my compared to the ’70s mouth, directed at my and today’s economic fellow interns at the midsize Washington, recovery post-financial crisis. In good times, D.C. firm I was working at. It was a damning people can afford to worry less. set of circumstances. Slowly, the things I I contend, however, that this focus on had taken for granted as quirky pleasures minimizing struggle ransacked the yuppie’s — nice coffee, Wes Anderson movies, foods daily life of a vital motivating force. Struggle that pair well with sriracha aioli — revealed is generally good for life. Trees grow frail themselves as the 2017 interpretations of the with shallow roots in the absence of strong Hunan restaurants and pinstriped Italian winds. Yuppies were very much similar. suits with yellow power ties from the ’80s. Devoid of purposeful struggle, they instead They’re gratifying and socially conspicuous turned luxury into their struggle, and forms of consumption. Now, instead of keeping up with the Joneses became their comparing our off-white business cards primary motivator. à la “American Psycho,” we simply scroll So we turn back to my own existential through an Instagram feed filled with fast anguish over my love of pour over fashion and crepe shops. coffee, medium roast I’ve seen many a outdoor seating lit “Struggle is generally and recent college graduate by fairy lights. Can I follow the same narrative good for life. Trees enjoy these frivolous, arc as the yuppies of the pretentious things grow frail with ’80s. They’re attracted without falling prey to to prestigious positions, shallow roots in the yuppieism? I hope so, now largely in consulting if I find a worthwhile absence of strong and technology, and strug g le. T he key gravitate toward urban winds. Yuppies were difference between a centers such as Boston very much similar.” yuppie and someone and San Francisco. The who simply gets excited current trends follow the about kimchi poutine same formulas — any is whether the pursuit combination of goats, of material goods and beer, beards, yoga, essential oils, mobile social status is their main drive, or if they’re design or cold brew. engaged in a worthwhile pursuit and just This narrative is not true of all college happen to enjoy dubious fusion cuisine. students — in most cases, Yuppieism It’s too early to know if I or my fellow translates to the enjoyment of extreme students are or will become yuppies. The privilege, though it can also define goals for so-named Greatest Generation had their social mobility. However, in the Ivy League, struggles thrust upon them: the Great where there are more students from the top Depression and World War II. Some of the 1 percent of the income scale than from the baby boomers, lost in their own prosperity, bottom 60 percent at Dartmouth, Princeton fell victim to yuppieism. Only time will tell University, Yale University, the University if my cohort of college graduates will face of Pennsylvania and Brown University, a similar fate or find purpose in service to it’s a story that’s told quite often. To be greater goods.
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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017
THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
Film review: Tonal issues and twist ending of ‘Table 19’ fall flat By SEBASTIAN WURZRAINER The Dartmouth Staff
Honestly, I should have known how much I would dislike “Table 19” just by looking at its film poster, which is designed to look like an Instagram post. And, like most people who are internally 80 years old and gigantic curmudgeons, I have never once in my life used Instagram, nor do I ever plan to. Simply stated, “Table 19” is made for a crowd of which I am not a member. While I will try to keep that in mind for this review, I’d also counterargue that art shouldn’t just resonate with a very limited intended audience. The film’s premise is simple enough, though I wonder if that isn’t part of the problem. Eloise (Anna Kendrick) was going to be the bridesmaid at the wedding of her friend, Francie (Rya Meyers), until Francie’s brother, Teddy (Wyatt Russell), dumped her. Now Eloise has been relegated to the undesirable Table 19, intended for the guests who really “should have known” not to attend. Her companions are Francie and Teddy’s almost-senile for mer nanny Jo (June Squibb), desperateto-get-laid teenager Renzo (Tony Revolori) , bickering couple Bina and Jerry (Lisa Kudrow and Craig
Robinson) and Walter (Stephen Merchant) , a socially awkward yet harmless convicted criminal. Hijinks ensue! “Table 19” has an interesting premise, but ultimately, it’s the setup to a joke with no effective punchline. Once everyone is uncomfortably together at the table, the question inevitably becomes: Where do we go from here? The writers prove to be of two minds about how to answer that question, and this becomes the film’s downfall. Anyone who has read more than a few of my reviews (in other words, The Dartmouth editors) will know that I criticize films fairly regularly for having tonal issues. And don’t get me wrong, contrasting diametrically opposed tones in a film can be done to great effect; consider, for example, the simultaneous humor and brutality of a film like “Full Metal Jacket.” The result is effective because the tonal contrast is so uncomfortable. But, too often, tonal imbalances in films don’t feel intentional but instead like there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Such is the case with “Table 19.” The structure of the film is that of a romantic comedy, a genre I usually loathe; however, I am nonetheless capable of admiring a
good one when I see it. The issue is that the film incorporates various dramatic subplots and elements that simply do not fit in. The vast majority of the characters in “Table 19” are horribly despicable human beings who are regularly abusive to themselves and each other. While this premise could have worked in a twisted black comedy, it does not jive with the almost fairy tale tone of the romantic comedy that envelops it. This is most obvious halfway through the film, when the screenplay slams on the brakes and tries to have a “moment” with the characters. But it’s hard to take these characters seriously as they explore the brokenness of their lives when, seconds later, they trip and fall in an apparent attempt to fulfill the studio’s pratfall quota. While the tonal issue might be distracting throughout the film, it becomes disastrous during the ending. Unsurprisingly, Eloise ends up romantically involved with a character who will go unnamed for the sake of avoiding spoilers. The problem is that the film has already established that these two characters have some severe issues they need to work through before they can even consider being a couple. However, I might have
been willing to overlook that within the context of a rather unrealistic romantic comedy if it weren’t for the film’s major subplot about Bina and Jerry’s constant marital strife. So at the end of the day, I’m getting mixed messages. The film wants me to focus on and feel critical of the dysfunction of one relationship while ignoring another relationship’s dysfunction in the interest of our happilyever-after ending. This is made all the worse by the fact that the screenplay sets up a totally different character for Eloise to end up with, only to subvert that narrative arc around the midpoint. But when the clichéd yet charming hypothetical outcome sounds infinitely more appealing than the mildly subversive yet deeply questionable actual outcome, you know you’re in trouble. On the plus side, Kendrick is, as always, the most charming presence on screen. She and Robinson both sur prised me during the film’s more emotionally charged scenes. While I found the film mostly bereft of laughs, I have to admit that Merchant is easily the funniest thing about the whole ordeal. The real shame is that these talented actors are often relegated to scenes where they just have to explain their emotions to
each other and to the audience so that we’ll understand what’s going on. You see, when you have an ensemble cast of six characters in an 87-minute movie, it’s hard to establish all the characters’ stories effectively and instead much easier — and much lazier — to have them explain themselves in a manner that doesn’t even come close to resembling how real human beings behave. A few years ago, I might have taken great pleasure in ripping a film like this a new one. But I would like to think that in that short period of time, I’ve matured a little bit. These days, I find that bad films disappoint me far more often than they anger me. I find “Table 19” particularly egregious because people will undoubtedly defend it as a romantic comedy, thus it obviously shouldn’t be critically analyzed. “Turn your brain off,” they’ll say. But why? I’m not suggesting that films can’t have leaps in logic or that there is anything wrong with a film that exists purely for the purpose of entertainment. But shouldn’t we hold all art to some sort of baseline standard? I think so. And when held to those standards, “Table 19” is sadly lacking. Rating: 2/10
GA-GA-GREEN KEY
LA DOLCE VITA
ISHAAN JAJODIA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
An Italian I drill section held class outside Dartmouth Hall in yesterday’s 80-degree weather.
HALEY GORDON/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
Four a cappella groups sang Lady Gaga songs for yesterday’s Artist Challenge.