The Dartmouth Mirror 1/3/18

MIR ROR 1.3.2018

COMING HOME: '21s REFLECT ON WINTERIM | 3

DARTMOUTH THEN AND NOW | 5

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: 18 FROM AN '18 | 8 SAMANTHA BURACK/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

2 //MIRR OR

Editors’ Note

Reuniting with Your Alter Ego STORY

TIFFANY ZHAI/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Welcome back to campus. We all return weary from all the reunions that occurred over break: reunions with our high school friends (or avoiding reunions with our former classmates), reunions with family members and reunions with our home selves — less or more wild versions of the person we are at Dartmouth. The clock strikes midnight. It’s 2018, and we are now facing very different kinds of reunions. In 2018, we reunite with our academic self, our Dartmouth persona, with friends — the ­members of our family painted in green (or snow). We renunite with the woods, with puffy coats and the snow crunching beneath our feet. With the first day of classes only a few days after New Years, we are forced to shift gears and reunite with our school after six weeks of Netflix-binging and Harry Potter movie marathons. This week, the Mirror will be reuniting with you. We can help you procrastinate on your assigned readings (c’mon, it’s week 1— not a real school week, yet): Enjoy the first issue of 2018!

follow @thedmirror 1.3.18 VOL. CLXXIV NO. 152 MIRROR EDITORS MARIE-CAPUCINE PINEAUVALENCIENNE CAROLYN ZHOU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RAY LU PUBLISHER PHILIP RASANSKY EXECUTIVE EDITOR KOURTNEY KAWANO PHOTO EDITOR TIFFANY ZHAI

By Andrew Sosanya

If coming to Dartmouth has goofy jubilant figure and the serious, puts in upward of 75 hours of work taught me anything, it’s that people steadfast athlete. Those not familiar per week, either in professor Lee can quickly change gears to achieve with her usually only see the latter.

Lynd’s bioengineering lab, studying a goal. For some, it calls for a quick “People tell me that I’m somewhat for his STEM courses or exploring flicker of a light switch, but for intimidating,” Sands said. “There is what piques his interest. However, he others the transformation triggers a a displacement between what you wasn’t like this, personality change — an alter ego. see and what you until he got to “I decided I wanted to Dartmouth.

These alter egos serve a beneficiary actually know.” purpose, and once it’s created, it’s R e c e n t l y be the best student “ I coming off a fourhere to stay. decided that In the new year, Sands is out on course term and — I felt like I had to I wanted to a hunt to end her senior year with an injury, Shawn change.” be the best a rugby championship. As a top O h a z u r u i k e student — I rugby player, biology major and ’20 assumes an felt like I had aspiring pediatrician, her prowess aggressive persona -CAMILO TORUÑO ’20 to change,” on the field and in the classroom is on and off the Toruño said. supported with the help of an alter track.

“I knew that, ego, channeling the energy she needs When I’m on at Dartmouth, to tackle all the goals and obstacles the track, I have I had to change to channel a certain anger to be as to survive.” she faces at Dartmouth.

“The moment when I put my competitive as possible,” Ohazuruike Toruño figured that the only way mouthguard in and stand in the said. of achieving self-sufficiency was to hallway before I run out to the field, There are two different types of craft a new studious alter ego in personas Ohazuruike channels. The contrast to his high school self. something just clicks,” Sands said.

This alter ego helped her adjust first is an athletic, gritty demeanor “I figured if I acted that way, I to Dartmouth’s academic rigor after used to get over the (literal) hurdles would put myself around people in front of him as that did ... [academic] activities, and transferring fast as possible. I would pick up their habits and be from Norwich “It has to be this T h e s e c o n d , able to realize and become the person University version of you that a stoic form of I wanted to be,” Toruño said. in Ver mont, resolve used to Toruño feels that his alter ego g i v i n g h e r can do anything.” w o r k t o w a r d thrives most when he’s working on academic h i s o b j e c t i v e bio-solutions in the Lynd Lab at confidence of s o m e d a y Thayer. to tackle her -FRANKIE SANDS ’19 b e c o m i n g a “I’m working toward my goal of tough biology doctor. classes. sustainability,” Toruño said. “ T h e y w o r k However, Toruno’s academic alter “It has to be towards different ego doesn’t always guarantee success. this version of goals, but’s the end- He said he struggles with his old you that can goal mentality that concepts of what a good, relaxing do anything,” Sands said about her alter ego. drives both of them,” Ohazuruike time is.

“I’ve taken on certain values such as said.

“In high school, when I wanted confidence and self-determination.” Alternatively, Camilo Toruño ’20 to have a good time, I wanted to go Her teammates know the duality adopts an alter ego to connect with a party,” Toruño said. “Now, I have of Sands very well, both the funny, his academic self. Toruño said he to refrain.”

Coming Home: ’21s Reflect on Winterim STORY

MIRROR //3

By Jaden Young

when fall term ended. Her family Winterim is a beast of a break. between them.

At six weeks long, it can feel drawn- “It was all people that I knew lives 30 minutes from campus and out, especially for first-year students so well like six months ago, except had visited during the term, but the coming off of their inaugural 10 I haven’t really talked to most of six-week break felt different. week term. It’s also the first chance them and we’ve all had separate “Ihad decided that I wasn’t going to come home many of those students get to reunite e x p e r i e n c e s a lot during with family and friends from home since,” Lang said. the term,” she after a long term immersed in She and her “I realized I won’t best friend made really be seeing them said. “I didn’t Dartmouth. want home We talk a lot about the Dartmouth the most of the “bubble,” the cultural echo-chamber long break by consistently anymore, being nearby to keep me we all enter when confined to r e c o n n e c t i n g so I really valued from making Hanover for the better part of three on a week-long the time I had with friends. But months. Sometimes it’s not until Canadian road them.” during the you leave the bubble that you get a trip. break I could chance to reflect upon how much “When you actually relax.

10 weeks can change you and the Skype people, When I came people and places you used to know. you kind of have -ISAIAH MARTIN ’21 home during Reuniting with pals sometimes to share just the the term, I was means adjusting to new realities highlights, so it either sick or I about old friendships. Physical was nice to have distance, the creation of new friend the time to talk like we used to,” she had a bunch of homework to do.”

When her mother came to visit, groups and the cessation of shared said. experiences can test even the closest Their time together made Lang Gomez-Ortigoza realized just how realize just how much her friend had comfortable she had gotten with of relationships. being on her own.

Tamara Gomez-Ortigoza ’21 grown in her first term. recognized those differences as “I feel like she’d become a little “It was weird to go back into that inevitable. “I don’t feel like the bit more independent,” Lang said. dynamic of not being completely friendship is ruined — its a natural “She goes to college a lot farther autonomous,” she said. distance,” she said. “I don’t see my away from home so she had to figure After a death in his family during out a lot more by herself. When her fall term Martin was struck by how friendships ending.”

Gomez-Ortigoza didn’t go home bike got stolen, she had to figure out quickly things could change, and to Miami for interim, but she did how to contact security, how and was eager to make the most of his visit with friends going to school where to get a new bike and she time at home with family. had to deal with stuff like that all elsewhere in the Northeast.

“They all changed a lot,” she said. by herself.”

“College changed them, I think. Although spending time with his They have a clearer view of what family was his first priority, Isaiah they want to do with their lives now Martin ’21 found himself valuing his that they’ve had independence for time at a get-together for his small high school the first time.” class.

S h e “There were r e c o g n i z e d “They have a clearer people that I that they likely view of what they didn’t really saw the same talk to much changes in her. want to do with their in high school, But i n lives now that they’ve but I was really one case, the had independence for happy when I change in a saw them just f r i e n d w a s the first time.” because it’s too great. been a while That friend, and I realized who Gomez- -TAMARA GOMEZI spent four to Ortigoza said ORTIGOZA ’21 six years with she wasn’t them and it p a r t i c u l a rl y was nice seeing close with in a familiar the past, had developed new, more extreme face,” he said. religious beliefs since they had last Martin noted that his friends, too, seemed more mature, more met.

“I felt very distant from her,” grown-up after the time away.

Gomez-Ortigoza said. “Every “We’re all doing our own things conversation I tried to start, she now, and it’s kind of hard to maintain would either become very aggressive the same friendship we had in high or start turning it toward religion. school,” he said.

I felt uncomfortable, and I know For Gomez-Ortigoza, Lang and that I’m probably not going to keep Martin, revisiting old friendships in touch with her as much in the emphasized just how much a term can change, but in reuniting with future.”

Hannah Lang ’21 got the their families, each met a comforting chance to reunite with high school familiarity, with some learning to classmates who went to school reconcile old family dynamics with farther away from her hometown newfound independence. but felt a different kind of distance Lang ’21 didn’t have far to go

“The next time I see them could “[It] was really inspiring to see be in three or to six months.” he younger kids that look up to me,” he said. “I realized I won’t really be said. “It made me think of myself seeing them consistently anymore, when I was in their shoes and how so I really valued the time I had with much I’ve grown up. Going back them.” home, you get a better sense of who And Martin’s family was equally you are and a chance to think about happy and proud to see him your childhood and how you got to returning from college — especially who you are today.” at first.

Martin’s advice to the elementary “Towards week five or six they class? noticed that I was still kind of kid- “Surround yourself with the like, and didn’t make up my bed or right people.” Martin said. “That’s anything — they got kind of tired what I’ve learned in high school and of me,” he said. “But they were college.” very loving, and it was kind of like As the ’21s return to campus, I valued them they still have more — they “Surround yourself another sort of kept wanting reunion to grow with the right to tak e me accustomed to; out and make people.” at a school where sure I was the D-Plan exists, comfortable at students may not home because -ISAIAH MARTIN ’21 see friends for they knew I multiple terms, wouldn’t be so they will have there for long.” to learn the art of W h e n picking up right M a r t i n where they left off returned to his elementary school with the friends they made in the to visit teachers and speak to a class, fall. he was struck by how much his time “After such a long break, it feels there had shaped him into who he a little like a beginning again,” is now.

Gomez-Ortigoza said.

4// MIRROR

Q&A with history professor Leslie Butler STORY

By Kylee Sibilia

classes?

LB: It was very strange because I didn’t work on campus for the most part, since I have a really nice study at home. I began the fellowship in January 2017, and I broke three bones in my arm in the first week of January, I was basically housebound for two weeks. Even after that, I mostly worked at home, although I would go to campus in the evenings sometimes to use the library and books W hat has your teaching “It’s a pretty in my office. I’d work at experience at Dartmouth amazing night when nobody was been like so far? around in Carson Hall, LB: It’s been wonderful. It’s been privilege to but it was strange because a privilege to have a job like this. have and you can quickly lose touch I don’t think there’s a term or with the student body. The also to teach even a week that goes by that I year before, I taught a don’t think that. It’s great to be courses that senior seminar, and I was at a place where the students are relate to my only teaching seniors, so I obviously so intelligent, curious basically have never taught and motivated, but at also an work.” t h e c u r re n t f re s h m a n , institution that has such resources sophomore and almost all to dedicate to students. It’s a of the junior classes. I can pretty amazing privilege to have walk around campus and and also to teach courses that be anonymous among the relate to my work. I don’t take student body, which is not that for granted at all — how the teaching a sensation I’ve had since I first arrived on and resources fuel each other. campus in 2003. It’s kind of fun, it’s kind of interesting and it’ll go away very quickly What work was involved with your I know. But that’s been a funny experience, fellowship and how did you decide that I can walk through the library and not to embark on it? run into students.

LB: I got a year-long fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Will you continue to work on your book It’s unrestricted, so you can do whatever this year as you return to teaching you want with it. I stayed in classes?

Hanover because I have three LB: I think that I’ve gotten to children and live here. The “But that’s a place with the draft where fellowship was specifically been a funny I can be both working and to write the book that I’m teaching. That’s my goal, and experience, working on, which is called it’s always easier said than “Democracy and the Woman’s that I can walk done. Especially when you Q u e s t i o n i n N i n e t e e n t h through the teach two classes, it’s really Century America.” It was an hard to get writing in, but interesting time to be thinking library and I’m hoping to dedicate at about democracy, certainly, not run into least some part of every week since I started the fellowship to writing. I’ve drafted every students.” right after the election of chapter but the middle one.

President Donald Trump. It’s I’m still figuring out what the hard to get fellowships that middle chapter is doing in this allow you to stay put and not book, and the drafted chapters travel somewhere. If you don’t also need lots of revision, as mind traveling, there are a lot more options, they tend to always do. I am hoping not to but since I do have children at home, that’s set it aside, but to keep it sort of front and not an option for me. So there are only a center in my life for this current year. And couple places you can apply for, and it’s it’s great because I’m teaching my “Debating essentially a very time intensive lottery. I Democracy in the Nineteenth Century” was just extremely grateful that I got it. seminar this winter, so it’s directly related to my research, which is really helpful. I’m I s i t c o m m o n f o r h u m a n i t i e s also teaching a course on gender and power professors from Dartmouth to receive in the spring, which is also directly relevant grants like yours? to the book. As Dartmouth always says, with LB: The NEH year-long fellowship does the teacher-scholar model, the teaching have a funding rate of seven percent, so fuels the research, and the research fuels they’re really competitive, but Dartmouth the teaching. professors have a lot of success with the NEH. Even in the history department alone, Do you think this fellowship will there are several professors who have had it impact the way you teach when you recently. It’s not common, but it’s certainly return to classes this term? something that Dartmouth professors are LB: There is the sort of trite saying that very competitive at getting. absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I think I am really excited to be back in the What was it like being present on classroom. There was a refreshing aspect to campus working but not teaching it, sort of like when you’re on a treadmill, Leslie Butler is a professor in the history department who recently undertook a year-long writing fellowship funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Butler used this time to work on her current book, which explores the political role of women in the 19th century. Butler will return to teaching classes in American cultural and intellectual history this winter in addition to continuing work on her book.

and you get off and get on a different that I just haven’t had time to read. One machine — it’s like that where I’m sort of thing that I did that was really fun was read looking forward to getting back in. I don’t a lot of 19th century novels, since my work know if it’ll change fundamentally, but I relates to the 19th century. Even though feel certainly refreshed and they originally didn’t seem eager and excited. I think obviously connected to my that always happens, and “I definitely am research, they ended up being faculty are always turning very excited to connected to my research in through, with leave time, really interesting ways. Henry get back into it and even the way the D-Plan James, Anthony Trollop — it works. We’re on a term, and because I feel was really fun to see all of these we’re off a term, and the like I have a resonances and get to work nine-week terms are a grind, them into chapters. That’s so you do feel like you need lot of teaching something I never would have to recover sometimes from energy stored been able to do without time, them. Being off makes you since 19th century novels up.” want to get back into it. I are so long. That just kind definitely am very excited to of opened my eyes to how get back into it because I feel pervasive those questions like I have a lot of teaching of democracy and the just energy stored up. constitution of authority in a family were. Way outside of sort of classic W h a t d i d yo u l e a r n f ro m t h i s realms of intellectual history, like political experience? debates and philosophy, I’ve found material LB: Time flies. It went a lot quicker than I really everywhere — religious sermons, thought it would for sure. I pretty radically novels, newspapers, just all over the place. rethought aspects of a book I thought I knew the shape of, and you can only do that This interview has been edited and condensed if you have time. I was able to read books for clarity and length.

COURTESY OF LESLIE BUTLER

History professor Leslie Butler returns to teach after completing a year-long fellowship.

Blast From the Past: Dartmouth Then & Now STORY

MIRROR //5

By Jacob Maguire

Although more than seven decades have Thomas, Dartmouth only “had a few dorms Dartmouth’s Greek system. Dartmouth, obviously from the South, and I actually passed since the end of World War II, and for civilians: Butterfield, Russell Sage, which did not begin admitting women until heard one of them say to the other: ‘You Dartmouth College has grown in size, New Hamp[shire], Topliff and Wheeler.” 1972, had several fraternities in the 1940s, know, itʼs a good thing we didnʼt win the prominence and scope over the past nearly Thomas recalled that the Gold Coast and the and they included a mix of veterans and Civil War; we would have had to occupy three quarters of a century, some things Massachusetts Row dorms entirely housed civilians. this damn country.’” haven’t changed. A few interviews from “The U.S. Navy servicemen, and Hitchcock housed “Fraternities had returning vets, and In 2018, Hanover remains cold during War Years at Dartmouth: An Oral History many U.S. Marines. they had young people in it,” the winter, with temperatures frequently Project,” a collection of over 100 stories of Many of the servicemen Thomas said— “So it was hovering in the low single digits. For Friday, Dartmouth alumni and relatives, illustrate were assigned to Dartmouth “But I would a mixed bag. And of course Jan. 5, for example, the National Weather what has changed and what hasn’t. under the V-12 program, say the vast a number of the vets were Service forecasts that the temperature on For instance, in an interview with Mary where aspiring officers of the married ... a lot of those did Dartmouth’s campus will range from a high Donin, former Oral History Project editor United States Navy were able majority of [the not join fraternities, they just of 3°F to a low of -16°F. at Dartmouth, Walker Weed ’40 alluded to to earn degrees at participating servicemen] lived with their wives off- Gordon fondly remembered another a phenomenon to which many Dartmouth colleges. Although Dartmouth campus.” aspect of Dartmouth during the 1940s: the became part of students can relate: the “Dartmouth bubble.” is now considered to be one of To d a y, D a r t m o u t h low tuition rates. When Gordon first began his Weed, who enrolled at Dartmouth in the the best institutions of higher the College and has 28 recognized Greek academic experience at Dartmouth in 1945, fall of 1936, attended Dartmouth during learning in the United States, the mentality chapters, including several and when he returned in 1947, tuition cost the years in which World War II escalated in not all of the servicemen c o e d u c a t i o n a l h o u s e s , just $450 a year. When adjusted for inflation Europe but graduated a year before the U.S. wanted to attend the College. of it and the and nearly 90 percent of in 2018 dollars, Gordon paid approximately entered the conflict, said that he felt isolated Even if they did not come to history of it.”

Dartmouth students live on $5,000 in tuition at Dartmouth. from world events in the quintessential New Dartmouth by choice, Thomas campus in residence halls, “It was amazing how far you could stretch England town of Hanover. said that most World War II College-approved Greek a buck back in those days,” said Thomas “We were in a shell,” Weed said in the veterans eventually became -GORDON THOMAS houses and interest-based in the interview, adding that the G.I. Bill interview. “I was at least. I donʼt know why fully engaged in the community. houses. provided him with $500 per year and he ’49 we werenʼt more conscious of international “A n u m b e r o f [ t h e One other could use that to cover affairs. Probably because it just wasnʼt of servicemen] were here aspect about tuition and books, as great interest [to us].” by sufferance and not by Dartmouth has “...[o]ne of them long as he bought used Weed recalled that, to his knowledge, only choice… [Some] were never involved in not changed: the brutal winters [said] to the other: volumes. one of his peers, William anything at the College and students’ reactions to them. the 2017-18 ‘...it’s a good thing During Howard Wriggins ’40, “We were in a shell. afterwards,” Thomas Waldo Fielding Med’43 recalled school year, tuition who later went on to serve said. “But I would say that Dartmouth’s winters as we didn’t win at Dartmouth costs as the U.S. Ambassador to I was at least. I don’t the vast majority of tremendously cold. Although he the Civil War; we $51,468, a significant Sri Lanka and the Maldives know why we weren’t them became part of adjusted to the New Hampshire increase since the 1940s. from 1977 until 1979, the College and the climate, some of his peers, would have had to However, Dartmouth stayed up-to-date about more conscious of mentality of it and the especially those from the southern occupy this damn distributed $95 million foreign affairs at the time. history of it.”

United States, struggled to adapt in financial aid to over international affairs.” country.’” “[Wriggins] knew very

Many of these to the extreme temperatures.

50 percent of its students much what was going on students later attended “In the first winter we were during the 2016-17 during those years whereas I -WALKER WEED ’40 class reunions, which there, the paths of the common academic year, with -WALDO FIELDING was not [informed],” Weed are held in September had been plowed and the snow an average award of said to Donin. and June. In general, was piled up over your head on MED’43 $47,833 per year to a Even though today’s each graduating class both sides of the path, and I qualifying student in the students at Dartmouth have at Dartmouth has a happened to be walking back to Class of 2020. access to cell phone service and the internet, reunion every five years, and reunions North Fayerweather ... and there

It’s clear that which allows them to be informed about for different classes are often scheduled were two of these Naval guys in Dartmouth continues to current events if they choose and stay in concurrently. front of me,” Fielding said in an evolve in many respects, touch with their friends in other parts of the Gordon also had fond memories of oral history project interview. “They were while maintaining certain features. country, many share the sensation of feeling trapped in a shell, or bubble, in Hanover.

Although Weed and other Dartmouth students felt secluded from world events during the early 1940s, numerous servicemen and veterans attended Dartmouth during and after World War II. Gordon Thomas ’49 started his college education at Dartmouth in July of 1945 but entered the U.S. military after two terms on campus and served until the fall of 1947.

Thomas, who was studying at Dartmouth throughout the summer of 1945, vividly remembered celebrating Victory over Japan Day on Aug. 15 of that year.

“Everybody of course was glued to the radios for news in those days because the War was still on ... and everybody knew that the end of the War was coming,” Thomas said— “And when Japan capitulated, there [were] huge celebrations — parades, spontaneous parades on campus. I remember up North Main Street in front of Parkhurst and people screaming and hollering and waving flags and passing bottles … there was a lot of drinking.”

The majority of the students at Dartmouth were affiliated with the military, predominantly the U.S. Navy, with a student-serviceman to civilian ratio of 3 to 1. According to

6// MIRROR

Winter: Mind and Body STORY

By Christopher Cartwright

Fresh snow covers the ground changes happen during winter term, as the Dartmouth Coach pulls up bringing both positive and negative in front of the Hanover Inn. I step changes to campus. off the bus, grab my suitcase and Many changes are obvious: trek toward my dorm. It’s hard Sneakers are replaced with ski to imagine, but just six weeks ago boots, Occom Pond becomes an the sun was out ice skating and the grass on rink and it the Green was “Seasonal Affective takes much visible. Now, Disorder is a condition longer to get a blanket of dressed each that occurs when a white covers the day. Other entire campus. person does not have changes are Winter ter m enough exposure to less obvious, has arrived. such as the The seasons sunlight.” emergence all play a strong of Seasonal role in shaping ffective -GAYLE MARSHALL, CLINICAL A the Dartmouth D i s o r d e r, e x p e r i e n c e . SOCIAL WORKER a type of Spring and the depression re-emergence that occurs of greenery during the creates Green Key, summer winter months. According to celebrates the chance to grow the National Alliance on Mental closer with one’s class, fall gives Health, it is usually caused because the campus beautiful foliage that of fewer daylight hours and add to the Homecoming festivities consistent cloud cover. SAD can and winter brings the snow for lead to feelings of hopelessness, Winter Carnival. With each season, changes in appetite and disruptions more changes occur than just the in sleeping patterns. Furthermore, it campus’s scenery. Extracurricular is found in around 4 to 10 percent activities, students’ social lives and of the general population, and even their health can all be affected. it is most common among adults One of the most notable of these aged 18 through 30, according to

the NAMI. Gayle Marshall, a licensed clinical social worker, shed light on the causes of SAD. “Seasonal Affective Disorder is a condition that occurs when a person does not have enough exposure to sunlight,” she said.

Marshall added that Seasonal Affective Disorder can occur in a variety of places, even in southern climates that get more sunlight, but that one’s susceptibility increases in locations further north. Light therapy can be used to help prevent SAD. The light boxes mimic sunlight and can help relieve symptoms, such as improve mood and sleep.

Marshall said the light can be a good way to prevent seasonal disorders such as SAD. “Not only is it treatable, it is also preventable by getting the light,” Marshall said.

Light boxes can be rented from Dick’s House for up to two weeks at a time, and the NAMI recommended that one uses them for around 30 minutes each day for the optimal effect.

Another seasonal challenge is what some students call the “sophomore slump.” Herbert Chang ’18 described the “sophomore

slump” as a time when many options to look forward to winter sophomores feel down. Chang said term, Chang stated that it is easier it can be caused by several different to work on academics because of factors such as the stress of choosing the increased time students spend a major or changing friendship indoors. circles.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say “You feel that you are spending it’s a good term to do four courses,” more time with your major friends, he said. “The snow looks a lot but you don’t know them quite better from the inside than from as well,” the outside.”

Chang said.

Going outdoors “Freshman “The snow looks a when it’s sunny friendships lot better from the or renting one of might have the light boxes inside than from the not worked when one starts o u t , a n d outside.” to feel down can so, coupled work wonders for with getting one’s health. In to declare a -HERBERT CHANG ’18 turn, students can major, it can remain productive be a bout of and motivated loneliness.” during the long Winter winter months and term brings enjoy the divisive students snow, and with it, new term. And there’s always warm challenges and experiences. drinks to help power you through Chang mentioned that for many the harshest of winters. Chang, international students it’s their who runs Sanborn Tea in Sanborn first time seeing snow, and so library, said that tea time is much the excitement outweighs the more popular during the winter. drawbacks of the season. Winter “My guess is King Arthur Flour Carnival is a highlight for many revenue goes [through] the roof students, as well as a time for ample because everyone drinks a lot more opportunities to ski, skate and hot drinks,” he said. “At least, that’s sled. Beyond the social and sport how I partition my spending.”

MIRROR //7

8// MIRROR

Through the Looking Glass: 18 from an ’18 TTLG

By Emma Sklarin

Before my first Dartmouth winter, I’d seen snow exactly four times. Five if you count the only time it snowed in my lifetime in San Francisco: Dec. 20, 1998, (the day that holds my first memory). I’m two years old at the park with my grandma (Nana to us, although she tried to convince me to call her Aunt Birdy until I was five) and a few glorious snowflakes fall from the sky.

Everything stops. The whole park is filled with slack-jawed humans looking up at the sky, flecks of snow falling between exposed teeth. I look up at Nana, and she is excitedly shouting into strangers’ faces: “Isn’t it wonderful?” Nana’s never left Los Angeles, so this just might be her first time seeing snow, too. And you know what? It is wonderful.

That’s what the first snow at Dartmouth always feels like to me. Eyes big, snowflakes caught in my eyelashes, glittery world kind of wonderful. Maybe not the second, or the third snow. Maybe not that Wednesday freshman year when I walked to Earth Sciences 2 with two friends from Texas and we all cried a little bit on the way to the Life Sciences Center, our tears freezing to our cheeks.

But that night, it was negative 50 and we went out anyways, skipping through the snow and throwing snowballs at each other across frat row. The magic of winter always comes back around. In honor of 2018 I’m going back around to 18 ways I learned to love the spirit of the great, icy north.

4. Do your reading in the sauna.

The gym sauna is unquestionably the best place to spend a few minutes of blissful heat … or an hour. If you don’t have time to relax, just bring your reading right on in with you.

5. Go hiking in the snow once (then never again).

It’s awesome to be able to say you hiked up Moose Mountain in sub-zero conditions, but I’m convinced there is no such thing as “type-one” fun on a snow hike. Try it at least onc — for bragging rights, of course.

6. Pretend it’s not winter.

Grab your speedo, slide your sunglasses on and crank up the happy lamps. Some of my favorite winter memories are the nights that my roommates and I invited all of our friends and floormates over for a little summer-style festivity. It’s always 80 degrees somewhere, my friends.

7. Get some windburn.

Once a week, the triathlon team joins the Upper Valley Running Club for fast laps around Occom. I leave with windburn on my face and the inexplicable feeling that I’ve conquered winter. Every once in a while it can be fun to grit your teeth, get out in the cold and push yourself.

8. Crack off a piece of your hair.

I didn’t realize the true danger of wet hair until the day that Milan Chuttani ’18 cracked off a big chunk of my frozen hair the first week of freshman winter. We laughed for 10 minutes about it, then I put my hood up until March.

1. Take the plunge.

To me, the Polar Bear Plunge is quintessential Dartmouth — bold, bracing, a little bit crazy.

If you know me, you know I’m always up for a swim, and there’s not much that “To me, the Polar makes me feel more alive Bear Plunge is than jumping into Occom quintessential through the ice.

Dartmouth— bold, bracing, a little bit crazy.”

2. Dive into something you’re terrible at.

My sophomore year, my roommate and I joined the water polo team despite never playing before. We spent 85 percent of game days cheerleading from the bench and our moments of playing time largely underwater, but we had the time of our lives laughing about it. While I retired my Left Bench position at the end of the season, it was just the reminder I needed at the time that in college, you can be anything. Don’t miss your chance to be terrible at something really, really fun.

3. Find the very best sledding hill out there.

After three years at Dartmouth, I still don’t know how to ski, but I can say with confidence that my sledding is of DP2 caliber. Once, I sledded from Mid Fay right up to the gym steps for water polo practice.

I forgot the polo balls in my dorm room and had to run back up the hill to get them, but for a minute there, it was all glory.

9. Pick up a library book, just for fun.

It sounds crazy, I know, but there are so many ancient, beautiful books in the library.

Once, a book caught my eye on the shelf above me while I was procrastinating in Sanborn. When I pulled it down, an exceptionally mysterious note from one ’86 to another fell out.

10. Go to a social event that you haven’t been to

before.

Bake cookies at Phi Tau, go to an open meeting at Panarchy or a concert at One Wheelock — break out of that social box we’ve each carefully built for ourselves. It’s more fun, I promise.

11. Get spirited.

Scream at a hockey game and your best friend’s IM basketball game and that annual community squash tournament at the gym.

School spirit and a little well-meaning heckling warms the body and soul.

12. Get in the game.

I’m returning to the bench this winter, only this time for my sorority’s IM hockey team.

Do I know how to skate? Not exactly. But is

EMMA SKLARIN/THE DARTMOUTH

Emma Sklarin ’18 (right) stands on a Winter Carnival snow sculpture with friends.

my head in the game? You better believe it.

to write in, it always feels good to get the inspiration flowing.

13. Ask your wisest professor for life advice.

16. Celebrate fake holidays.

I’ve been lucky to find incredible mentors in a If there’s one thing that sets Dartmouth few of my Dartmouth professors, and they’ve apart, it’s our deep love and respect for changed my life in more ways than they know. flair and a great party theme. In the dead Don’t be afraid to ask a professor you love of winter, themes are essential to the to coffee — you never know preservation of all things what kind of wisdom they’ve fun. If your friends are “If there’s one been waiting to share. anything like mine, you’ll thing that sets have no trouble spreading 14. Hibernate.

Dartmouth apart, the fake holiday festivity.

The most valuable thing I’ve ever done for myself it’s our deep love 17. Try pond hockey. is one of my high school’s and respect for Since I’ve already mentioned offbeat traditions — three that I can barely skate, I flair and a great days and nights alone in can’t expect you to imagine the desert. While I would party theme.” anything g raceful here. not recommend attempting Nevertheless, there’s truly a solo in 18W, I think it’s nothing more beautiful than so important to find time to take pause a snowy game of hockey on Occom! and reflect on the ways in which we move through the world.

18. Retreat into the wonder of the first time you saw snow.

15. Get creative.

Stick your tongue out when snowflakes fall.

For all of the time we’re forced into the Let your eyes go big and your fingertips tingle great indoors in the winter, we might as well in the frost. Throw snowballs at strangers. make the most of it. Whether it’s painting The magic of winter always comes back with watercolors or finding a cozy chair around.