The Dartmouth 10/01/2021

VOL. CLXXVIII NO. 18

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Broken windows, missing Rollout of at-home showerheads and no kitchen: La COVID-19 testing kit Casa and SLC residents report program underway substandard living conditions

BY NOAH DURHAM The Dartmouth

NAINA BHALLA/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Disruptive construction is a regular complaint from students on campus.

BY PIERCE WILSON The Dartmouth Staff

This article was originally published on September 30, 2021.

La Casa resident Allan Rubio ’23 said that he did not hear anything about the construction going on until he received a GroupMe message from his undergraduate advisor — a few days before he was scheduled to fly to the U.S. from Thailand — that the house was “not quite ready” for students to move in.

Although Rubio did end up moving into La Casa on his scheduled move-in date, upon arrival, he found out that

PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 64 LOW 45

the house had no kitchen, no working washers and dryers, no showerheads on the showers in the bathroom and no working power outlets in his dorm room.

Ongoing renovation projects in two of the College’s standalone living learning communities, La Casa and the Sustainable Living Center — also known as North Hall — have resulted in safety hazards, inconveniences and noise disturbances for students living in them. Students living in the two LLCs reported that many basic necessities were lacking when they moved into their dorms at the beginning of the fall term.

Another La Casa resident, Ivan

The Dartmouth

THE IPCC REPORT AND THE FUTURE OF HANOVER’S CLIMATE PAGE 2

OPINION

VERBUM ULTIMUM: COMMIT OR DON’T PAGE 3

ARTS

GREEN TO GO: A COZY EVENING AT TUCKERBOX PAGE 4

SPORTS

HALL OF KRAME: ON ELI MANNING AND DEREK KYLER ’21 PAGE 5 FOLLOW US ON

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SEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 2

Tucker Center, Native American Program left with leadership vacancies

BY TREY CRODDICK

NEWS

Tochimani-Hernandez ’24, said that the house also had broken or screenless windows, mice and exposed wires.

Additionally, Rubio noted that, at times, it feels like the house is “on a tilt” or “slanted” because things roll across their rooms and dresser drawers do not stay closed.

SLC resident Amanda Sun ’23 described a similar situation in her residence hall. She did not receive any official communication about the construction in the SLC prior to moving in, she said, adding that during her first week living in the house, the outlets were broken, the bathroom door had no lock and the kitchen had

The Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Life and the Native American Program are currently operating without directors, following the departures of former dean and chaplain Daveen Litwin and former director and assistant dean Sarah Palacios, respectively. Associate dean for community life and inclusivity Bryant Ford is providing support for these programs while the College searches for a new chaplain and director, respectively, he wrote in an email statement.

Ford wrote that he is in the process of searching for a new individual to serve as director and chaplain for the Tucker Center, adding that he plans to begin the search for a new director of NAP soon.

“The NAP and Tucker Center remain important and valuable resources for Dartmouth, and we are working diligently to fill the vacancies,” Ford wrote.

The Dartmouth reported in July that Litwin, one of the few confidential resources on campus, had left the College earlier that month, along with the news that former Dean of the College Katheryn Lively resigned. The Office of Greek Life, too, is operating without a permanent director or program manager, The Dartmouth reported last week. Ford declined to comment on the departures of Litwin, Palacios and former NAP assistant director Shelbi Fitzpatrick ’19.

In an emailed statement, interim Dean of the College Scott Brown wrote that the roles currently vacant in the programs are “very important roles in supporting our students and enhancing our community.”

Some students have expressed dismay at the lack of leadership at the Tucker Center. Diana Alvarado ’22 worked at the Tucker Center as a student assistant for community engagement her sophomore year. Although she no longer works at the Center, she said that she is “disappointed” by the lack of resources and the College’s lack of communication about Litwin’s

departure.

“The College has not communicated anything to students, [and] we don’t have a chaplain anymore — which is particularly dangerous in my opinion because the chaplain is one of very few confidential resources on campus,” Alvarado said. “[During] freshman orientation, [they tell you] that the Chaplain is an important confidential resource. This is very important information for the health and safety of students, but what are students to do if there is no chaplain?”

Other students who work with the NAP have expressed concerns about the program’s capacity to provide services to Indigenous students. Logan Reano ’23, an Indigenous peer advisor, said that although news of Palacios and Fitzpatrick’s departures “was communicated” to the community, he felt that a lot of people were not “held in the loop” regarding the news. Furthermore, he noted that Palacios was originally supposed to take a sabbatical, but the duration of the sabbatical was “never communicated to the community” — which affected how he would serve freshmen as a peer advisor.

“I definitely think that whenever [Palacios and Fitzpatrick] had left, it left a big gap in the community,” Reano said. “[It] left a lot of people without a lot of directionality for how to take on certain programs like the Indigenous peer adviser position. We’re still trying to catch up with that right now — trying to get the programming down and getting other organized events happening for the ’25s who we work with.”

Michael Hanitchak ’73, who directed the Native American Program from 1995 to 2008, will be returning to the NAP as student advisor on Sept. 28, according to an NAP newsletter.

Despite the changes in leadership, many students stress the importance of these programs. Tucker Center volunteer Samantha Palermo ’24 said that the Tucker Center is a “really important, integral part of my life at Dartmouth,” noting that the center has allowed her

In early September, the College announced that it would introduce take-home COVID-19 testing. While some of the logistics of rolling out the program have proven “challenging” and the tests are currently only available for select populations, according to College spokesperson Diana Lawrence, the tests will soon be offered to the remainder of the undergraduate student body.

All student-athletes are currently eligible to participate in the program; faculty and staff who tested on campus before Sept. 25 as well as all graduate students will be eligible by the end of the week, according to Lawrence.

Participants can pick up and drop off their testing kits at various locations around campus. Certain locations — including the Class of 1953 Commons, Byrne Hall, the MacLean Engineering Sciences Center, McKenzie Work Control and 4 Currier Place — are designated for both pick-up and drop-off of the testing kits. Other locations — Baker-Berry Library, the Burke Laboratory, the Hopkins Center for the Arts and Alumni Gymnasium — are only available for drop off.

Alumni Gym remains open as an inperson testing center, which will continue to be an option even when the at-home testing is fully implemented, according to Lawrence.

The take-home test kits include the same cotton swab tests as those used inperson. After administering the self-test, the kit must be delivered to the dropbox within 12 hours. According to Lawrence, the turnaround time for results are the same whether the test is taken in person or at home. She added that Axiom Medical, the health services organization that partners with the College for its testing program, is responsible for collecting the testing kits and ships tests to the laboratory twice a day.

According to Lawrence, a pilot phase of the take-home testing program was introduced in late August so the College could gather feedback before expanding the program to the broader Dartmouth community.

Andrew Ellis ’25, a member of the varsity men’s soccer team, has been using take-home tests for two weeks. He said that per the National Collegiate Athletic Association guidance and College rules, he tests twice a week during competition season. He noted that he would normally bring the take-home test kits in his locker room home the night before and drop it off in the West Gym by 11 a.m. the next morning. Upon arriving on campus, Ellis said, he received around 100 personalized labels to place on his testing kits.

Ellis said he finds that the take-home program is more convenient when compared to on-site testing.

“For me personally, it’s much easier,” he said. “I like that it allows you to test on your own time — Now it just becomes a part of your routine; it’s not a big deal

anymore.”

Lawrence wrote that there were a “variety of factors” that determined which groups received priority, including “space availability, nature of the work, and the ease with which we could deploy the program logistically.” She added that the College will introduce the program to the remaining undergraduate student body “as soon as [the College] can finalize logistics.”

“The logistics are more complicated than they may appear on the surface, so the team wanted to take the time needed to evaluate the best path forward to make it as successful as possible,” Lawrence wrote.

Lawrence wrote the College hopes the program will offer community members “autonomy, flexibility, and convenience” once it is fully rolled out.

“This new process allows the community to do the testing on their own schedule … it reduces the time our community spends on testing/standing in lines … [and] it creates convenience for everyone, with a hopefully minimal walk to the nearest drop box,” Lawrence wrote.

News of the program has been well received among many anticipatory undergraduate students. Ryan Heaton ’25, who is not yet eligible for the at-home testing program, said that the process of testing on-site at the gym is “quite inconvenient,” as he lives in the Choates residence hall cluster.

“I have to go very far out of my way to get there,” Heaton said. “And when I do get there, I have to wait upwards of ten minutes to get tested.”

Heaton said he thinks the take-home testing program would encourage more people to participate in weekly testing and is a “great idea.”

Satchel Williams ’24 said he thinks the process of testing this fall has been much easier than his experience on campus last year. He noted that when he was on campus his freshman year testing was required twice weekly and students “had no other choice” than to wait in long lines that could often exceed 100 students.

Williams said although he thinks the testing program this year is “a lot better,” there are still some accessibility issues for people living far from Alumni Gym — especially as winter approaches.

However, he noted that the problem could be solved by having two testing sites on campus instead of just one.

“It’s a pretty long hike to go all the way to get tested,” Williams said. “The only time I have time to get tested is if I have a class over there — [near Alumni Gym].”

Williams said he is excited for the opportunity to test off-site.

“Especially with [the] ease and accessibility, it’s a pretty good idea,” he said.

Former COVID-19 Task Force co-chairs Lisa Adams did not respond to requests for comments. Executive vice president Rick Mills and interim Provost David Kotz directed requests for comment to Lawrence.

DANIEL XU/THE DARTMOUTH

Take-home test drop boxes have been distributed across campus, including one in Baker-Berry Library.

to “see through the eyes of somebody else’s [religion], which is absolutely invaluable.”

Reano said that the NAP is “a lot bigger than just a program,” and provides

a safe space for Indigenous students. “[The NAP] definitely does have to do with family and the ideas of kinship that are very important to a lot of Indigenous communities,” he said.

PAGE 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

IPCC report: Upper Valley to see warming, health impacts, less snow

BY Arizbeth Rojas The Dartmouth

On Aug. 6, 2021— eight years after its last report — the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its sixth report, a nearly 4,000-page document detailing the state of the global environment. Including over 14,000 cited studies, the 2021 IPCC report is the most comprehensive compilation of climate research to date, according to earth sciences professor Erich Osterberg.

The report addresses the state of the world’s climate, noting that further warming will lead to continuous reductions in the Northern Hemisphere’s snow cover and that the likelihood of extreme events — including heat waves and increasing regional precipitation — is on the rise.

Osterberg, who presented

the report’s findings on Tuesday, emphasized that the 2021 IPCC report stands out from previous reports because its new models depict a causal relationship between climate change and natural disasters. In the past, reports had primarily focused on rising global surface temperatures, but lacked the definitive evidence to support a connection between climate change and natural disasters.

According to Sarah Brock, program manager at Vital Communities — a non-profit organization in the Upper Valley dedicated to addressing regional environmental issues — an adequate response to the climate crisis will require large-scale infrastructure change.

For example, geography professor Jonathan Winter explained that on the local scale, Hanover’s current lack of air conditioned buildings

could leave vulnerable populations susceptible to heat strokes. In view of this hazard, public spaces like libraries and recreation centers will need to have air-conditioning installed in order to meet community demands, he said.

Rising temperatures, a topic addressed in the report, have been affecting the Upper Valley community for years. According to the report, the rest of the Northern Hemisphere continues to witness shifts toward hotter summers. The report also pointed out that, at best, the next few decades will see 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming.

The summer of 2018 marked record heat waves across the state of New Hampshire, and researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit focused on the “planet’s most pressing problems,” project that future summers only promise more extreme temperatures: Even if the

Granite State takes action to mitigate the effects of climate change, their 2019 study found that the next few decades could see New Hampshire reach two to three weeks of temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit annually.

Brock noted that small, rural towns are not currently equipped to manage rut damage from overheated highways — an increasingly important concern as the Upper Valley sees more extreme heat waves. In the future, these towns will have to budget for significant emergency relief to account for unexpected road maintenance, she added.

Agricultural development will endure negative effects from climate change as well. Rising temperatures invite invasive species and ticks into fields, damaging crops and devastating biodiversity, according to Brock.

The IPCC report stresses that climate change will contribute to dwindling seasonal snow coverage.

Brock said that these changes may negatively affect local markets that depend heavily on ski tourism.

The report does not reveal anything “earth-shattering” about the role of human activity in climate warming, according to Osterberg.

“It’s the same story we’ve had for decades,” Osterberg said.

Despite the disastrous possibilities for

the world’s climate — with some models predicting temperature increases of up to nine-degree Fahrenheit by the turn of the century, depending on the scale of human action — Osterberg said he is optimistic about the future. He added that models suggesting how inaction will lead to poor economic outcomes may guide policy makers’ choices.

“We have all the solutions at our fingertips and, critically, they are now economically advantageous,” Osterberg said.

Brock said she also believes sustainability has become economically advantageous. With initiatives like the Green Real Estate Network and Solarize Upper Valley, Vital Communities aims to help residents affordably reduce the use of nonrenewable energy sources, she said. The Solarize Upper Valley initiative, which focuses on outreach and education, aims to create a “ripple effect to the point where everyone in the Upper Valley knows someone who has gone solar,” Brock added.

Winter stressed the “number one thing” he tells all his students: Vote in local and national elections. He added that it would be “a mistake to get into a spiral of pessimism” when looking to combat climate change. The state of the future, he said, will be defined by the actions humans take here and now.

Labor shortage slowing construction progress FROM CONSTRUCTION PAGE 1

(OPINION) MARLEIGH PETERS: WALKING TO MY 10A

Ambling Through Week 3

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no fridge, dishwasher or sink.

According to project management services director Patrick O’Hern, construction on La Casa and the SLC, which began in the summer, was scheduled to be completed prior to fall term move-in dates. However, the renovation was delayed due to pandemic-induced supply chain issues and labor shortages.

O’Hern said that contractors struggled to obtain the raw materials needed to complete construction projects this summer and had difficulties finding additional workers.

“In years past, it was pretty easy to supplement crews when you needed to, but across the board in the Upper Valley, crews are stretched pretty thin,” O’Hern said. “We’ve felt the effects of that all across campus, even in some of our largest construction projects.”

According to O’Hern, the Irving Institute for Energy and Society and the Center for Engineering and Computer Science — which as of January were scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer, and as of May were slated for the end of fall — are now scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Labor and supply chain issues have also caused delays in other projects, such as the ongoing Dartmouth Hall renovations, O’Hern added.

O’Hern said that near the end of the summer, construction on both dorms reached a point where “life safety systems” — such as fire alarms, sprinklers and carbon monoxide detectors — were operational, which is why students were permitted to move in on schedule. However, there was “a longer punch list of things” that the College had hoped to complete prior to September, he added.

O’Hern added that construction projects in both dorms are currently scheduled to finish by the end of October.

Tochimani-Hernandez said that the unfinished state of La Casa has also affected his sense of community and belonging in the house.

“I was told that living in La Casa would be a lot of fun — that there would be weekly dinners and teas,” he said. “I was very excited about that, but since there’s no kitchen, a lot of the sense of community is gone too.”

In addition to the unfinished amenities in the SLC and La Casa, ongoing construction has also created disturbances for residents.

According to O’Hern, construction is only permitted to take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Sun said that construction on the SLC has started as early as 7 a.m. some days.

Sun said that construction noise is “pretty loud” all day and has made it difficult for her to study in her room.

She said that she has tried to Zoom office hours from her room a few times, but on those occasions she has had to move to another location due to the noise.

Noise while living in La Casa has also been disruptive for Rubio and Tochimani-Hernandez.

“The moment the clock strikes 9 a.m., the construction starts with the loudest things, like hammers and drills,” Rubio said.

Additionally, Rubio said that he is worried that the “large volumes” of dust and paint fumes in the house will affect his health.

Tochimani-Hernandez said that he shares Rubio’s concerns about the fumes and dust, especially because he has preexisting respiratory health conditions. He added that as a result, he does not spend much time in La Casa — which has negatively impacted his academic habits.

“I used to study in my dorm all [of] the time freshman year, but nowadays, I can’t go to my dorm unless it’s my last option,” he said.

Sun said that the paint fumes coming off of the SLC have prompted one of the residents living in the house to move out . According to O’Hern, the College’s standard is to use “low VOC point,” which has reduced amounts of volatile organic compounds, is safer and emits less gas. He added that he hasn’t heard any concerns about the paint fumes and dust.

Sun and Rubio also both raised concerns about construction workers not wearing masks when they were working inside. O’Hern noted that Dartmouth requires all contractors to abide by the College’s indoor masking mandate.

Rubio said that throughout the term, Maria Clara De Greiff, the faculty member in residence for La Casa, has encouraged residents to contact their undergraduate deans and the administrators to advocate for themselves and hopefully speed up the construction process.

According to Rubio, after many members of both houses complained to their deans about the impacts of the construction, residential education assistant director Andy Vacca was assigned to hear their concerns. Vacca scheduled a joint meeting between the residents, residential operations facilities manager Christopher Johnson and assistant director of residential operations Bernard Haskell that took place on the evening of Sept.

22.

During the meeting, which lasted for an hour and half, residents communicated their concerns to Johnson and Haskell. Rubio said, however, that he feels like his concerns were not adequately addressed.

“We felt like this was finally the call where we would get some solutions, but that wasn’t the case at all,” he said.

“They kept asking us to send them an email with a list of concerns, but they didn’t offer any solutions.”

Tochimani-Hernandez said that during the meeting, Johnson and Haskell repeatedly mentioned other construction projects on campus and asked students to be patient.

Rubio said that after the meeting, residents of both houses got together to write an email detailing their list of concerns, sending it to Haskell and Johnson the next morning. As of Wednesday, the students have not yet received a response.

Tochimani-Hernandez said that he has been trying to request a refund from residential life.

“I’m not really ‘living’ in La Casa because of the construction, so I don’t think that’s really fair,” he said.

Sun is a former member of The Dartmouth staff.

THE DARTMOUTH OPINION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

PAGE 3

THE DARTMOUTH EDITORIAL BOARD

Verbum Ultimum: Commit or Don’t

Dartmouth must either work towards building a larger student body — and the resources that support it — or keep the student body size small. It can’t do both.

Last Thursday, an article published in The Dartmouth reported that the Class of 2025, with a class size of 1,229 students, is the largest in Dartmouth’s history. This revelation comes only four years after the previous record holder for the largest class, the Class of 2021, matriculated, and is only the second time in Dartmouth’s history that the number of newly enrolled students has surpassed 1,200.

While both of these classes might be dismissed as outliers, an analysis of the last five years of enrollment data from the Office of Institutional Research uncovers that, since the Classes of 2004–2020, which enrolled an average of 1,103 students, class size has grown by more than 6% to an average of 1,173 for the Classes of 2021–2025. Put another way, in just five years, the College has admitted the two largest classes ever, both composed of more than 1,200 students — the Classes of 2021 and 2025 — and admitted two additional classes — 2022 and 2023 — larger than any before the Class of 2021. If only one or two classes had been larger due to unpredictable yield rates, this could be dismissed as a statistical coincidence, but five years is a clear trend: It appears that in recent years, the College has decided to enroll more students than it has in the past.

Although admitting more students to Dartmouth may not necessarily seem like a bad thing — in 2018, College President Phil Hanlon stated that expansion of the student body would “amplify [Dartmouth’s] impact in the world,” a perfectly defensible claim — Dartmouth has not backed the larger student population with expanded resources. As a result, the recent student experience has been riddled with unprecedented challenges, including a housing shortage that left many upperclassmen without housing and forced the College to

convert lounges into dorm rooms, as well as unconscionably long lines at dining halls and COVID-19 testing sites. If Dartmouth is going to continue admitting more students, it must also expand its resources to accommodate a larger student body. Otherwise, the Dartmouth experience will continue to be beset by chaos and frustration.

The idea that admitting more students would require the expansion of resources and facilities is not new. In 2018, the College looked into the possibility of expanding class size between 10% to 25%. A 10% increase would require, according to the report, 66 new faculty, between 164 and 378 new course sections, nine new classrooms, around 400 new beds, a new house community and expansions of Courtyard Cafe and Collis Cafe. In the end, the College officially decided against expansion after the report found that they didn’t even have the necessary infrastructure to support the current student body — a decision this Editorial Board encouraged at the time.

It is puzzling, then, that the College has begun accepting unusually large classes of students anyway — despite the fact that they have data that predicted many of the challenges larger class sizes would cause. Moreover, many of the most pressing barriers to increasing enrollment have persisted. No new housing or classrooms have been built, for example, and course selection continues to be a problem of scarcity. Additionally, myriad administrative positions important to the operation of the College remain vacant or filled by interim staff, including the Provost, the Dean of the College, the director of the Office of Greek Life, the chaplain at the Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Life and the director of the Native American Program. These vacancies would have presented challenges even if the College

STAFF COLUMNIST MAX TESZLER ’23

A Clear Goal for COVID-19 We must redefine how to “end” the pandemic.

This column was originally published on September 28, 2021.

If you were in Hanover this past summer, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the pandemic was over.

Masks came off, social interaction returned and Dartmouth dissolved its COVID-19 Task Force — all actions that seemed to emphasize the lack of a need to plan so intensely around the virus.

Yet at the same time, it now seems more unlikely than ever that we will see a day when the pandemic will finally end. And that’s because there probably won’t ever be an end, at least not totally: SARS-CoV-2 will likely never disappear, public health experts are increasingly convinced. Thus, to “end” this pandemic, we need to redefine our goals — at Dartmouth, across the country and across the world. COVID-19 is not headed the way of smallpox or polio – i.e., completely eradicated or eradicated in most parts of the world thanks to vaccinations. Therefore, in the long term, we should refocus our efforts away from preventing all levels of transmission and instead focus on decreasing severe illness and learning to manage the virus like we do other endemic diseases such as the flu.

To clarify, we shouldn’t abandon many of our current restrictions — COVID-19 is still an order of magnitude more harmful than seasonal influenza. Though more muted in the Northeast, the summer Delta wave overwhelmed regions with lower vaccination rates — a number of Texas hospitals have practically no available beds, for example. Several other states recently experienced their highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths at any point during the pandemic. The daily death rate nationwide has exceeded 2,000 and the total number of deaths from COVID-19 is approaching 700,000 over a year and a half; in comparison, the flu kills 20,000 to 40,000 people in a typical year.

Turning the coronavirus into a manageable illness is the goal, but is certainly not the current reality.

Most of Dartmouth’s current, relatively moderate restrictions actually make sense given the threat of the Delta variant, but nonetheless, these restrictions should be tied to more definitive goals around reducing the pandemic’s severity.

Masking indoors is hardly a tremendous burden, and, given that children under 12 are unvaccinated and high-risk groups are just now beginning to get boosters, routine testing also makes sense. Vaccine immunity has already waned over time among the elderly, raising the possibility that vaccinated older people will have to face more severe infections.

But imagine this pandemic some time down the line, after still more individuals are vaccinated and boosters are available for groups in need.

COVID-19 would still circulate in the population but be less deadly — preventing the virus from threatening to overwhelm the healthcare system and causing massive numbers of severe cases. In this scenario, a positive COVID-19 test should not be a cause for total isolation and contact tracing of all close contacts — just like how if you had the flu, you should probably stay home, but would not be forced into strict quarantine. After we hit a certain goal representing minimized disease severity and deaths — e.g., after a certain percentage of those under 12 are vaccinated and boosters have reached a certain percentage of vulnerable groups like the elderly — we must begin to tolerate some level of community spread. It’s unfortunate that we would find ourselves having to surrender to the disease we tried to totally prevent for so long. But as the

context changes, so too must our mindset around COVID-19.

These past two months have been heartbreaking as we’ve watched the virus surge again — but even in COVID’s re-emergence, there is hope for how it can be managed as an endemic disease. We know that the Delta variant can “break through” in vaccinated individuals, even though some vaccines were nearly 100% effective against previous strains. But we also know that rates of death and severe illness have dropped significantly amongst the vaccinated; according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, a fully vaccinated individual is 11 times less likely to die from COVID-19 than someone who is unvaccinated. The variants won’t stop with Delta — natural selection drives viruses to spread as efficiently as possible, and newer strains could be even more effective at breaking through prior vaccines. But, if we keep vaccinating the population against variants and reinforcing population immunity, the virus could remain less deadly. Think about what happened to the 1918 influenza — at first killing more people than all of the deaths in World War I, it now circulates as multiple new strains every winter season but is managed with yearly flu shots.

If endemic COVID-19 is our goal, every level of power needs to make that message crystal clear. Dartmouth implemented the new mask restrictions as the “best and most effective” way to reduce transmission and achieve the “earliest possible return to normalcy.” But what does a return to normalcy mean? If we’re being honest, the new normal will include some acceptable level of community transmission of COVID-19.

This idea goes far beyond Dartmouth — the Biden administration has repeatedly published plans discussing its goals to “end the pandemic,” seemingly implying a near-total end to transmission.

Clearer goals — such as a sustained, substantial reduction in deaths across the country — should define the end of pandemic conditions, not the eradication of the virus itself.

If we can set a clear goal, we have a fairly straightforward pathway from where we are now to a less deadly, endemic COVID-19: increased vaccination uptake, the development of vaccinations for new strains, boosters, the discovery of easier treatments for the infected (comparable to the Tamiflu treatment we have for influenza) and more. We are already making progress — last Thursday, the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee voted to recommend booster shots for those 65 and older, hopefully providing further protection to the group most at risk. Careful, measured social restrictions targeted to protect health systems from being overwhelmed should also be part of the picture. But these initiatives must all be part of a strategic, defined plan to reduce the severity of COVID-19 and prepare to manage the virus long-term.

Endemic COVID-19 is not a perfect outcome. Managing something “like the flu” is ultimately choosing to live with rather unfortunate consequences, including tens of thousands of viral deaths per year. But making our goal total elimination is a hopeless endeavor that will leave us with no clear exit out of this nearly two-year period of uncertainty and suffering. For now, we need to keep testing, masking in areas of high transmission and promoting vaccination because we’re still not where we need to be. The virus is here to stay, but its most devastating consequences need not be.

SOPHIE BAILEY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

had not begun admitting more students.

In essence, the data suggests that despite Dartmouth’s decision to not expand enrollment, in part due to not having the requisite infrastructure to do so, the College has, slowly but surely, expanded enrollment anyway — all the while making few if any improvements necessary to support such a decision. The predictable end result of such a decision is a disappointed and frustrated student body that feels fed-up with and abandoned by the College.

Dartmouth is already a rigorous institution, and their lack of accommodations for the inflated size of the student body places even more stress on the entire Dartmouth community.

While we agree that admitting more students to Dartmouth will increase the school’s impact on the world, we doubt that anyone, including the College, wants the cost of doing so to be the gradual deterioration of the Dartmouth experience. The current half-baked decision to increase class sizes, but not resources, cannot continue. The College must make a choice: Either commit to expanding class size — and properly increase resources and facilities — or don’t.

The editorial board consists of opinion staff columnists, the opinion editors, the executive editors and the editor-in-chief.

STAFF COLUMNIST SPENCER ALLEN ’23

Bring Honor to Us All

The College and its faculty must adopt and abide by an updated version of the Academic Honor Principle that reflects contemporary Dartmouth.

This column was originally published on September 30, is questionable in today’s world. Closed-book, 2021. strictly administered exams do not reflect the conditions students will face once they enter the Adopted by the faculty in 1962, Dartmouth’s working world — the exact environment that being Academic Honor Principle commands that “all at college prepares them for. Instead, when solving academic activities will be based on student honor.” problems, Dartmouth graduates — like all other Since then, the Academic Honor Principle has professionals — will have access to personal notes, been a foundational text in the lives of Dartmouth reference materials and even their own peers to students: It is mentioned in nearly every syllabus consult and collaborate with while solving problems. and discussed by many professors on the very first Further, policies in some classes (though, in my day of class. experience, fewer since the pandemic began) that In the past six decades, how students learn has prohibit peer-review of midterm or final papers changed dramatically — yet those changes have before submission do not reflect how academics not been reflected in the Academic Honor Principle engage in scholarly conversations: Professors beyond a small update in 1999. The spirit of the themselves seek out advice and reviews from their principle serves an important purpose, but its text is peers before submitting their work for publication archaic and its punishments draconian. In effect, the because their ideas are pushed farther and made honor code is an oppressive vestige of Dartmouth’s better by dynamic conversations with their peers. distant past. While some of the code’s policies are While more professors began using open-book sensible and should not be thrown out completely, exams and encouraging peer edits on papers after it’s high time the College brought the document the start of the pandemic — in some cases, to into the 21st century for it to best serve students. prevent cheating — there is great variation between The College’s Academic Honor Principle departments, professors and even individual classes. has been a hot topic this year, both on campus This patchwork execution of the Academic Honor and nationally. This past spring, the Geisel Principle can leave students confused, unsure if School of Medicine came under fire when it what a professor allowed in one class is the same as accused seventeen students of cheating on exams what will be allowed in another class taught by the administered through Canvas, Dartmouth’s online exact same professor. Students should be allowed course management system. The scandal made to receive help from a friend on edits for a paper, waves nationally — gaining coverage by The but without universal clarity some students may New York Times — in part because the data used be too afraid of punishment to take advantage of to sanction students was only meant to be used in this. aggregate analyses and not individual cases. While The adjudication of the honor code itself is the charges against the students were eventually also unfair. While the Academic Honor Principle dropped, the effects of the scandal linger and encourages instructors to “discuss the suspected student trust in Geisel as an institution has eroded. violation with the student(s)” to better ascertain Ironically, it was the administration and faculty intent, faculty members are free to either take of Geisel themselves who violated the honor code, or ignore that guidance at their own discretion. not the students: The Academic Honor Principle What’s more, after this optional discussion, very states that the “proctoring of examinations” is different violations of the honor code can receive not allowed. Even if all seventeen students had the same punishment, regardless of whether, for cheated — which, according to the high-quality, example, the student in question hired another publicly available evidence, is not the case — the student to write their paper or merely forgot to data collected via Canvas should never have been cite one journal article. Of course, both violations used against them. Indeed, the examination of are concerning, but one is clearly more deserving Canvas data is akin to a human proctor scrutinizing than the other of the “suspension and separation” the contents of a student’s phone or other materials offending students are liable to. during an in-person exam. If Dartmouth’s own It is imperative that Dartmouth reconsider its professors and administrators violate the Academic Academic Honor Principle. The most productive Honor Principle, what purpose is this apparently and engaging scholarly activities occur in the context sacred document truly serving? of community, not isolation. The current principle The Geisel scandal raises other important not only ignores this fact but actively works against it. questions regarding the vitality of the Academic Open-book exams and open collaboration between Honor Principle in the 21st century and specifically peers on coursework do not negate a student’s at a post-pandemic Dartmouth. As many course individual progress on their academics; instead, they activities have moved online — with some allow students to succeed and produce the highest remaining there permanently — the College must possible quality of work. Some professors recognize reevaluate how to define academic honesty and this and their courses reflect that knowledge, but what to do when dishonesty occurs. the mishmash of policies among professors and I encourage Dartmouth to radically change classes on campus often leaves students too scared the Academic Honor Principle. That’s not to say to take up those helpful accommodations. that the honor code has no value whatsoever: Its The Academic Honor Principle may have core values — that students act with “intellectual made sense 60 years ago, but it has failed the test honesty and integrity” in their coursework — are of time. By reflecting on the time we have had with noble and important to the College’s academic the honor code — as we do all other aspects of the mission.

College — we can work to make it better for future However, what Dartmouth defines as dishonesty generations of students.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

Review: ‘Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy’ an entertaining watch

BY MADELINE SAWYER The Dartmouth Staff

This article was originally published on September 30, 2021.

The CNN original series “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” follows actor, writer and producer Stanley Tucci across Italy as he explores the nation’s cuisine and culture. The sixpart documentary series combines some of the very best things in life: travel, cooking and all things Italian. Tucci — a four-time Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee known for his roles in “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Big Night” and “Spotlight,” among others — travels to a different region of Italy for each episode. Both charismatic and down-to-earth, Tucci introduces each episode by telling the audience that his goal is to explore his Italian heritage and “discover how the food in each of this country’s 20 regions is as unique as the people and their past.”

Tucci certainly accomplishes this.

In the series, which aired in early 2021 and was released for streaming on HBO Max in late summer, Tucci not only savors delicious food but devotes much time to talking about the forces that shaped each region’s cuisine. As viewers learn about the signature dishes of Campania, Lazio, EmiliaRomagna, Lombardy, Tuscany and Sicily, Tucci teaches the audience about the nation’s rich history — to which food is inextricably linked.

Tucci uses a cooking and travel show to impart deeper lessons, prompting the audience to consider the historical, economic and political forces that shape modern Italian life.

In each place he travels, Tucci talks to people from all walks of life.

In addition to the expected crowd of acclaimed restaurateurs, Michelinstarred chefs and food writers, Tucci converses with locals, small business owners and food producers. One of the most successful parts of the show is when he speaks to Italians who operate businesses that have been in their families for decades — and sometimes even centuries. Eclectic characters such as Daniele di Michele,

a chef and D.J. who cooks while spinning records, pop up throughout the series. Tucci even dines with a Sicilian princess, a member of the last remaining line of Sicilian royal families. He uses her rare status as evidence of the extent to which the nation has changed, despite its strong ties to tradition.

Starting his journey in Naples, Tucci learns about the origins of pizza and visits a cheesemaker turning buffalo milk into mozzarella before he heads to the picturesque Amalfi Coast. Here, locals add Amalfi lemons to everything from espresso to lemon cream-filled desserts and, of course, use them to make the infamous limoncello.

Tucci effortlessly weaves history into each episode, and does so in an engaging way. In Campania, Tucci discusses the nation’s economic, political and social woes — themes present throughout the series. In pastaobsessed Rome, Tucci comments that, “we may think of a bowl of pasta as the ultimate comfort food, but there’s a distinctly uncomfortable history of Italians fighting oppression through pasta.” We learn how pasta originated as the food of the working class and became a symbol of resistance against Mussolini’s fascist regime of the 1930s. Similar examples of the historical and political significance of food abound throughout the show.

Dartmouth students might particularly appreciate the connection to education in the episodes on Bologna — an ancient university town that has evolved into a modern liberal city— and the Tuscan capital of Florence — with its Renaissance history of innovations in art, science and architecture. Tucci seems to especially revel in the food and art of Florence, where his family lived for a year during his childhood. He credits this experience as the start of a lifelong obsession with Italy, igniting a passion for the nation’s cuisine and culture that keep him coming back time and again. The sun-kissed hills of Tuscany provide a gorgeous backdrop as Tucci travels south to the small village of Ponte Buriano for the annual wheat threshing festival. Here, the simpler food of rural Tuscany is joyously

SOPHIE BAILEY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Tucci drives this documentary series, revealing the social and political undercurrents of the nation’s cuisine.

celebrated, taking the audience away from the city and providing viewers with a sense of Italy’s economic diversity.

The contrasts between northern and southern Italy are nowhere more apparent than when the show takes us to Milan, the fashion and industrial powerhouse of Italy. Food and money are of the utmost importance in this sophisticated city full of trendy bars and high-end shopping. Dartmouth students can relate to the Milanese work ethic, which has contributed to the tradition of a citywide happy hour and the determination of the city’s residents to live by the words: “work hard, play hard.”

Though serious topics are presented — and the series is certainly educational — “Searching for Italy” frequently weaves in humor, never staying solemn for too long. One such moment comes in the third episode, as Tucci learns about Emilia-Romagna’s protected food products and how it earned its nickname “Foor Valley.”

Touring a factory where hundreds of Parma hams hang to age, Tucci remarks, “I didn’t know there were

this many pigs in the world. Well, there aren’t anymore.” He continues, “This is a shrine to piggies past. Their sacrifice was worth it.” Jokes about deep-seated food rivalries also provide comedy and intrigue. Once again, Tucci explores the distinct agricultural practices, which are tailored to the unique geography and climate of the region.

In the final episode, Tucci visits Sicily, traveling to the town of Vittoria.

Here, he visits with 38-year-old winemaker Arianna Occhipinti, who is forging ahead in a traditionally male-dominated profession. Even further south is the small island of Lampedusa, where local fishermen attempt to help immigrants arriving on boats from impoverished and war-torn places. The entire island was nominated for a Nobel Prize.

Tucci comments, “The integration of immigrants into a society makes that society so much better, and stronger and richer and more interesting. To turn people away, it’s not natural.”

While learning about southern Italian cuisine, Tucci seamlessly weighs in on one controversial issue confronting the

Green To Go: A Cozy Evening at Tuckerbox

BY ALEJANDRO MORALES The Dartmouth

This article was originally published on Sepetmber 30, 2021.

As a Dartmouth student, there are times I need to flee from the stress of campus life and the monotony of Hanover. In these moments, I often find myself seeking refuge just over the Connecticut River in White River Junction. Most of us have been there at least once — quickly accessible on weekdays by Advance Transit, the town can provide a full day of outings with its many restaurants. These foodie stops vary greatly in both their cuisines and prices, from the chic Thyme bistro to the casual millennial fusion Trail Break taqueria to the flavor-filled TajE-India — which gives Jewel of India a run for its money. This week, however, my partner and I spent an evening in White River Junction at a bustling and warmly lit restaurant whose facade faces the confluence of the White River and the Connecticut: Tuckerbox.

Walking up to the restaurant, I was excited by the warm orange glow emanating from the glass windows, well-paired with the white outlined brick exterior of the building. Gourmands, friends and couples crowded the outside patio, serving as the heartbeat of the vivid restaurant. Doors opened and closed as food runners brought out both simple and complex dishes: a bowl of hummus here, a beautifully presented swordfish kebab there. Before I walked into the main dining room, I entered through the silent room which separates Tuckerbox from the adjacent and celebrated Piecemeal Pies bistro.

Here, I was greeted with a sparse wall of past reviews and articles on the restaurant. The articles spoke of the restaurant’s history, of the owners Vural and Jackie Oktay and of the impact of the restaurant’s success on White River Junction. What mattered most to me, though, was how I felt in this room: quiet and charcoal-grey, it sandwiched me between the vivid currents of the

outer and inner dining spaces. I opened the next door and walked in to feel the experience for myself.

A hostess greeted us with an inviting tone, seated us at a corner table and presented us to our server. She gave us our menus and walked off to another table, giving us time to peruse our options and, more importantly, to take in the decor of the restaurant. I felt that the setting meshed minimalism and maximalism together to create a cozy atmosphere while staying true to its Mediterranean roots. The walls, for example, were solid, matte-textured garnets and sandstones — nothing too eye-catching — but they emphasized Anatolian colors and created a sense of conviviality. These were paired against dark, textured wooden booths and tables, but nothing came close to the unexpected barrage of striking blues, greens and purples emanating from the Turkish lamps and Ayennur plate sets on the walls and ceilings. These added an exciting pizazz to the space and foreshadowed the striking presentation of the dishes to come.

Our server returned, and after we asked her some questions — which she charmingly responded to with clear and concise answers that sold me on everything about the restaurant — it is easy to say that I was impressed. If she was representative of all the staff at the restaurant, then the Oktays have clearly trained their staff well. I ordered two drinks, the Lavender Spritz for $8 and imported Turkish Apricot Juice for $3. I had decided to survey the menu instead of focusing on one dish. The juice came out first; it hit me with that refreshing feeling that fresh apricots bring to the palette, but then quickly faded away.

I found later on that due to that fade, it served as a sort of palette cleanser alongside a sip of water. It had a light grittiness to it compared to the syrupy weight of Goya juices. It wasn’t quite worth its price, though, since it came in too small a glass. On the other hand, the spritz announced the restaurant’s upper-end casual classification. The lilac-colored “homemade lavender chamomile syrup” infused seltzer rested

below a layer of cream topped with an edible purple dendrobium. The drink matched the purple lamps hanging from the ceiling, and the cream eased the carbonation of the seltzer. What did remain of the carbonation, though, delivered the sweet and silky taste of the syrup. It had to be one of the best drinks I’ve had in my life.

Our appetizer, the $12.99 Meze Platter for Two, arrived soon after. It consisted of large spoonfuls of hummus, ezme, haydari and babaganoush alongside four yaprak dolmas — stuffed grape leaves — and a fluffy lavash flatbread. The colors stunned me. The light tan of the hummus, babaganoush and lavash paired with the sandstone walls, while the ezme and haydari piqued my curiosity.

I started with the hummus. Its unequally-sized chunks of blended chickpea proved its homemade status, unlike the smooth glop of the Cedar’s variety we find at Foco. The smoky flavor carried a grilled and garlicky aftertaste.

Then, I tried the ezme, which differed entirely from the hummus with its strong, minty taste. It reminded me of the onion chutney at Jewel of India with its light kick of spice. The acidity of the tomato added a slight citrusy taste which I grew fond of; out of all the sauces, this was my favorite. Next was the haydari, which I assumed would be really heavy due to its yogurt base. Fortunately, the acidity of the ezme helped cut through and lighten it. If one were to start with the haydari, though, it still wouldn’t be too heavy, as the yogurt’s tang synergizes with its own richness to achieve the same lightening effect. Finally, the babaganoush finished off the sampling with its simple and nutty aftertaste, and it felt full circle from the hummus. All throughout, the sweetness of the dolmas set the background of the platter. I find that dolmas are often too vinegary, but these were just right. I can’t state enough how worth it this dish was for its price.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about my entree — the Vegetable Güveç priced at $18.99. Though the earthenware pot it came in looked

beautiful and added to the meal, the vegetables just didn’t live up to the flavors of the appetizer and the drinks.

The dish was characterized by its mushy texture, which was barely saved by the side of pilav. Usually, tomatoes bring about intense flavors with their natural concentration of umami. Here, they did nothing. The dish popped a bit more after I added some salt, but for a nearly $20 entree, I shouldn’t have had to season my meal. Maybe the meat güveçler would have more complexity, but I feel as if this vegetarian option was lazily brainstormed.

Though we had eaten quite a bit, we still had room for dessert. I ordered the Kunefe for $9.99 and our server advised, in her expertly convincing manner, that I pair it with a Pistachio Latte for $4.

The dish came in a metal plate: melted cheese inside of crisp kadaif noodles covered in simple syrup and topped with shaved pistachios. The evening’s sunset glistened off the syrup in all directions as it traveled through the cracks of the noodles. After I tasted it, I smiled — and then I laughed. I couldn’t do anything else. It was concentrated bites of joy. The sweet cheese glued everything together and balanced out the crisp texture.

The pistachio latte, a bit over-steamed, brought a nutty bitterness that matured the dish into a fully complex dessert. Each factor complimented and heightened the other — the colors against the backdrop of the restaurant, the textures and the flavors in each bite. I strongly recommend this dish.

Though this summed up to a $60 meal without tips, I prefer to call it a $60 experience. Aside from the disappointment of the Vegetable Güveç, everything was perfect. I could picture the amount of effort the Oktays put into their restaurant, be it through the decor, the food itself or even just the amazing staff. Next time you stop by White River Junction, pay a visit to Tuckerbox, even if just for a meze platter and a coffee. I guarantee that it’ll satisfy your gourmand appetite.

Rating: 

nation.

“Searching for Italy” features plenty of traditional Italian dishes and family cooking secrets. However, while there is no denying the show is centered around Italian cuisine, this series has something for everyone. I would extend Tucci’s statement, “The palate is the organ that connects Italy,” to argue that it connects many more of us. In addition to food lovers and cooks extraordinaire, anyone curious about Italian history, geography, politics and even fashion can find something to pique their interest. Expanding his search within the country would make this all the more true. After all, Tucci commits to exploring the cuisine of Italy’s 20 regions.

Set against the backdrop of truly breathtaking shots of the Italian countryside and cities, it is difficult not to start dreaming about la dolce vita. If you weren’t already obsessed with Italy and planning your next trip there, you will be after watching “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.”

Rating: 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

PAGE 5

THE DARTMOUTH SPORTS

SPORTS

Hall of Krame: On Eli Manning’s “Guy from Dartmouth”

BY JUSTIN KRAMER

The Dartmouth Senior Staff

Dartmouth football received a rare mention on ESPN this Monday — but it wasn’t for a SportsCenter Top 10 play like Derek Kyler ’21’s game-winning Harvard Heave in November 2019.

Rather, Dartmouth was the butt of a lighthearted jab from former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during NFL Week 3’s Monday Night Football ManningCast.

During ESPN’s new alternative MNF broadcast — which features a rotating selection of guests alongside Peyton and Eli Manning — the Manning brothers brought in Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and discussed his impressive 2008 showing at the Manning Passing Academy — back when he was still an NFL prospect. Neither Peyton nor Eli had wanted to throw next after watching Stafford show off his cannon and spiral.

“I’m gonna throw after the guy from Dartmouth,” Eli joked on the broadcast.

Throwing after the current Dartmouth quarterback, though, might not do the Mannings any favors.

Kyler — who trained at the Manning Passing Academy this summer — poked back at the Mannings, tweeting a screenshot of the FCS completion percentage leaderboard, showcasing his FCS-leading 78.1% completion percentage through two games.

Hold on, 78.1%? That rate is absurdly high, buoyed by Kyler’s perfect 10 for 10 passing day for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win against Sacred Heart University last Saturday. For context, the current FBS record is 77.4%, set last year by

third-place Heisman Award finisher and New England Patriots first-round pick Mac Jones out of the University of Alabama — which, last I checked, has a bit more of an established football reputation than the Big Green. Kyler also leads the FCS in passing efficiency rating, posting an otherworldly 203.98, which would top Jones’ 203.1 FBS mark from last year and nearly match College of William and Mary quarterback Shawn Knight’s 1993 204.6 FCSrecord mark if sustained.

Neither figure is going to hold, especially considering that Dartmouth is only two games into its season and begins Ivy League competition tonight.

But what Kyler has done in the early going — even against non-conference teams and with only 32 passes thrown — has been impressive. And given his accomplished resume, maintaining his spot atop the FCS leaderboard in completion percentage and passing efficiency rating certainly seems possible.

Kyler’s track record suggests that his hot start is no fluke. In his first season sharing quarterback duties with Jared Gerbino ’20 in 2018, Kyler nearly paced the FCS in completion percentage, connecting with his receiver on 68.9% of his attempts, good for second in the FCS and earning him an All-Ivy Second Team nomination as a sophomore. The next year, he led the Ivy League and broke the Dartmouth record in passing efficiency (183.87).

For the second-consecutive season, he completed over two-thirds of his passes and would have secured the fourth-best completion percentage in the FCS had he met the 15-pass per game threshold.

Granted, Kyler’s high passing efficiency rating and completion percentage are partially inflated by his

reliance on shorter, higher percentage looks. His average yards per completion this year and in 2018 hover just above a more pedestrian 11 yards, placing him in the bottom half of the FCS, though his 2019 mark of 15.14 would have put him in the top five if he qualified.

Nonetheless, for his career, Kyler holds a stellar 169.99 passing efficiency rating and a 69.2% completion percentage — Dartmouth records by a large margin. The Manning brothers might have a tough time throwing after Kyler, considering Eli posted a 137.7 passing efficiency rating and 60.8% completion percentage at the University of Mississippi and Peyton posted a career 147.1 rating and 62.5% completion percentage in four years at the University of Tennessee. Of course, the Mannings faced much stiffer FBS competition, and Kyler won’t be hearing his name called No. 1 overall on draft day like the Mannings each did.

Regardless, Kyler has a chance this season to solidify his standing as one of the premier quarterbacks in the FCS and lock down multiple Dartmouth passing records. With Gerbino now graduated, Kyler should have no issue qualifying for the completion percentage and passing efficiency rating leaderboards as the primary option at quarterback for the Big Green. Given his hot start this year and success in those categories his last two seasons, Kyler is one of the best bets to sit atop the FCS leaderboards by the end of the season.

Fittingly, ESPNU will broadcast tonight’s conference opener against the University of Pennsylvania as “the Dartmouth guy” and his teammates look to defend their share of the 2019 Ivy League Championship.

TWEET USED WITH PERMISSION OF DEREK KYLER JUSTIN KRAMER/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Derek Kyler ’21 clapped back at Eli Manning in a tweet after the two-time Super Bowl MVP said he’d like to “throw after the guy from Dartmouth.”

Women’s rugby off to a strong start, looks for ward to competitive season

BY Katherine Shannon The Dartmouth Staff

After two consecutive missed seasons, the women’s rugby team has finally returned to play in the 2021 fall season and is off to a hot start.

With a seasoned roster, including 25 returning upperclassmen players playing their first fall season since 2019, the Big Green has made up for lost time in its first three games.

In the season opener against Long Island University at Brophy Field in Hanover on September 1, the Big Green handed the Sharks a resounding defeat, with a final score of 92-5. By the end of the first half, the team was up by 50-0, thanks to key players such as Lilly Durbin ’21, Lauren Ferridge ’23, Margot Généreux ’21, Emily Henrich ’22, Sophie Ragg ’22 and Sadie Schier ’25. Abbey Savin ’24 added three strong conversions to run up the score for the Big Green before halftime. In the second half, the team continued to bring the energy and more tries

by Sophia Haley ’22, Asialeata Meni ’25, Yuri Oh ’22, Lily Waddell ’22 and Généreux added to the team’s impressive lead. Penalty kicks by Kristen Bitter ’23 and Savin rounded out the team’s final tally of 92 points.

“It’s been really great to see all the learning we’ve been able to apply now actually being back on the pitch,” Henrich said. “We did a lot of work while we were away

with COVID remotely — you can’t be satisfied with just a three year old record. We want to keep pushing and learning from each game because each game is an opportunity to grow.”

Henrich and the rest of the team carried this sentiment into their next two games of the season.

On September 11, the Big Green followed up their success on the road against Quinnipiac University, coming out on top by a final score of 50-10. Durbin continued her strong start to the season with 20 points throughout the match. Tries

by Seven Sassano ’22, Haley and Durbin, along with a conversion by Bitter, gave the Big Green 17 points in the first half. In the second half, Durbin, Ragg and Généreux scored a cumulative five tries. Meanwhile, Bitter added three more conversions along with one by Savin to give the Big Green another resounding victory.

The Big Green’s most recent game of the season was a faceoff with the United States Military Academy on September 19, with Dartmouth narrowly beating Army 34-28. Tries by Durbin and Bitter and a conversion by Savin in the first six minutes of the game got the Big Green off to an early 12-point start.

Durbin and Savin added another try and conversion to round out the first half. In the second half, Nicole

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY HENRICH

Emily Henrich ’22 has recorded 20 points through the women’s rugby team’s first three games this fall.

Ihensekhien ’24 and Henrich scored a total of three tries, while Army came back and scored three tries and three conversions. Although the challenges in the second half made the score tight, the Big Green came out with the win over Army.

Looking forward to the rest of the season, the women’s rugby team wants to build off of its strong start and continue to improve.

“We want to play rugby in a way that women’s collegiate rugby hasn’t been played before,” Henrich said.

“So we want to be sort of trendsetters

in our style of play and be able to say at the end of season that we achieved that.”

In particular, the team has been looking to elevate their skills to enhance their offensive strategy.

“We’ve been focusing a lot on our attacking structure… really trying to attack the best space, avoid contact if we can and score on touch tries,” Durbin said.

Head coach Katie Dowty is confident that the team can continue to play at a high level this season and make an impact in the games to come.

“We played a thrilling first 20 minutes of rugby against Army — I know we can do that for 80,” Dowty said. “How we play is so important to us, not just the win-loss column.

We want to unleash some individual

and collective moments of brilliance and really turn some heads.”

The women’s rugby team faces off against Sacred Heart University at home this Saturday and follows up with games against Mount St. Mary’s University, Harvard University and Brown University throughout the rest of October. As the Big Green continues to hit the pitch this season, the players are confident that the team will stick to the high level of play that has been on display in the first three games.

“There’s that fire inside of everyone … how much they want this and how much they want to bring the team to the top together,” Ale Ada ’22 said. “If we keep working towards keeping that fire ignited inside of us, then we’ll see success with this season.”

PAGE 6

MIRROR THE DARTMOUTH MIRROR

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

Dartmouth Dining: Lessons Learned in Long Lines STORY

By Street Roberts

This article was originally published on September 29, 2021.

“Alright, you guys are dismissed. See you on Friday.”

Our physics class rises as a collective unit. I let out a loud sigh, and my two friends next to me grin at my obvious fatigue. The three of us file out of the class, down the creaky, wooden steps of Wilder Hall and out the front door.

“Let’s get some food,” one of them says.

“Do you guys want to do the Hop?” I ask, “I’ve heard it’s really good.”

They nod their heads in agreement, and the three of us begin the walk across

campus, joining the hundreds of other students speed walking to their next class or club meeting or study session. When we arrive outside of the glass doors beneath the arched, modern architecture of the Hopkins Center, my stomach begins to growl: Skipping breakfast was a mistake.

One of my friends holds her wallet up to the ID scanner, and the door clicks to unlock. We enter, and watch several students speed down the hall and bank left and out of sight. They must be picking up mail, I think to myself.

We round the corner and see a short line of students stretching from the hall

SOPHIE BAILEY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

to the front of Hinman center — except the students we saw speeding ahead have not stopped. No, they pass right through it, and the cause of their hurriedness becomes clear — in front of them sits the line for the Courtyard Cafe. It starts from inside the grill and stretches all the way to the glass doors connecting the two sections of the Hop. There must be at least 50 students waiting. We hesitatingly step in line, just behind a girl with a pained look on her masked face.

Just then, I see a friend walking out with a paper plate. On it sits a mountain of crispy-looking sweet potato fries and a grilled chicken sandwich, complete with lettuce, tomatoes and what looks like guacamole. As he comes closer, the smell of fried goodness drifts through my mask into my nostrils. My stomach growls again.

“Took me 30 minutes to get this,” he says to us with a shake of his head.

“I gotta run, but good luck.”

He walks back down the hallway and leaves us standing there, mildly shocked.

We begin contemplating our options.

“Should we leave?” I say.

“I mean, I’m done with classes for the day, I got time,” one of my friends says.

The other nods in affirmation.

“Yeah, let’s do it,” I say.

We begin the wait. We curse the physics problem set that’s due in two days.

We poke fun at all of our Professor’s little idiosyncrasies. We stare at the hanging menu through the glass windows, and I imagine the crunch of fries and the juicy goodness of burgers and chicken that sizzle on the grill. I feel a strange sense of optimism. After dealing with

numbers and integrals and coordinate systems all morning, nothing sounds better than a delicious meal, something that I could actually hold in my hands and feel its texture and warmth. My stomach growls again. But no matter, soon I will be satisfied.

Then, I pull out my phone and check the time. 12:57. How have only ten minutes gone by? I look back to where we entered the line – we have only moved forward five feet. The optimism begins to fade away.

“Why can’t they figure out how to make these lines move quickly?” I say.

By “they,” I was referring to Dartmouth Dining Services, the dining system that we love to hate. It’s easy to point out all of its flaws. I mean, we work so hard in school. We fill our schedules to the brim with classes and work and sports and concerts and clubs and everything in between. We deserve to be able to have a quick, decent meal within all of that chaos, to refuel before we rededicate ourselves to the grind. Meals are the few quiet moments within the day where we can relax, and being forced to wait in these long lines only adds stress and frustration.

“I know, everywhere is crazy right now,” one of my friends says, “It’s so annoying.”

We continue to wait and wait and wait. Every minute that passes feels like an eternity. All the while, I stand there blaming the incompetence of DDS and pointing out its flaws. If only I was in charge, then things would run so much more smoothly.

Finally, after close to thirty minutes, I

reach the front of the line. Only one more person stands in front of me, taking an annoyingly long time deciding between the lunch entree or a chicken sandwich.

“Just hurry up and make a decision,” I thought as I rolled my eyes at my friends.

And then, it’s my turn. I ready myself to face this representative of DDS — this person that must be the cause of the last thirty minutes of frustrated hunger.

I step up to the counter, feeling the rage simmer beneath my skin. A man, face red with exhaustion, greets me. Except under that mask is a beaming smile.

“How’s it going? What can I get for you young man?”

I halt. This isn’t what I expected.

Where is the rude, incompetent worker who bears responsibility? Behind him, two other DDS workers scramble around trying to satisfy the demands of the students hungrily waiting for their orders.

It’s chaotic, and yet they carefully check each order to make sure every student receives what they want. And in front of me, this man waits for me to order with patience and tranquility. How is that possible? How does he not snap his fingers to hurry me along? Or collapse on the ground from fatigue? He exudes positivity and care for my well-being, and I have just spent close to half an hour hating on the system he works for. Embarrassment and shame courses through me.

I place my order, and a few minutes later, he hands me my own plate of fries and a guacamole chicken sandwich.

“I put some extra fries on there for you, bud,” he says with a wink, “Have a great day.”

More Than a Five Year Plan: Preparing for Medical School STORY

By Pierce Wilson

This article was originally published on September 29, 2021.

Seniors on the pre-health track, often referred to as ‘pre-meds,’ are currently gearing up for the next chapter of their academic and professional lives. For many, this entails preparing for and taking the Medical College Admission Test as well as applying to medical schools. However, due to the pandemic, today’s pre-meds have had to take crucial classes online and have missed out on other in-person opportunities like shadowing and research.

I sat down with several pre-med students to talk about their plans for medical school and how the last eighteen months of the pandemic have affected their experience.

A 2019 survey from the American medical association found that 65% of medical students took at least one gap year between graduating from their undergraduate programs and attending medical school. Gap years allow students more time to prepare for and take the MCAT. Additionally, they allow students to do internships or gain clinical experience before medical school.

For example, Esme Chen ’22 took the MCAT this past spring, but she also plans on taking a gap year to pursue more

opportunities for clinical exposure to patients. Opportunities she is considering include working as an EMT, scribe, clinical assistant, or clinical research assistant.

When asked how the pandemic has affected her pre-health experience, Chen described the limited opportunities for in-person engagement.

“The pandemic impacted shadowing opportunities because we couldn’t get into the hospital during that time,” Chen said.

“There were limited clinical volunteering and shadowing opportunities, and also research was virtual.”

Manuel Patiño ’22, another pre-med student, said he plans to take two gap years, during which he hopes to take the MCAT and work full-time as a medical interpreter.

Patiño said that he plans to take a twocourse term in the spring so he can begin studying for the MCAT. That way, he is prepared to take the test next September once his workload has “died down.”

Patiño, who currently works part-time as a medical interpreter at DHMC, said that he is excited to continue in this position during his gap year because it allows him to work with doctors and patients in medical settings while also breaking down linguistic, cultural, economic and informational barriers.

As a medical interpreter, Patiño said he is not only responsible for translating information from English to Spanish, but also for finding a way to communicate that information to the patients and doctors in a digestible, accessible manner that ensures that both parties are “on the same page.”

“I’ve kind of interpreted my whole life for my parents and stuff so I’ve always sort of been in that habit of trying to close those barriers,” Patiño said. “I think that’s great. I think that’s really important work.”

Jay Kang ’22 is currently studying for the MCAT while taking courses at Dartmouth, and hopes to take it this winter or spring: According to Kang, the prep work for the exam is “almost like a fourth course.”

Kang said that he studies for the MCAT two or three hours each day, which has forced him to be more intentional about time management between his coursework, extracurriculars and social life. He added that studying for the MCAT is much more manageable now that he is done with all of his pre-med courses.

“I’m better at balancing my time now because I’m done with my pre-med courses, so I’m taking three non-STEM courses that are mostly readings,” Kang

said.

Chen is also done with the notoriously difficult pre-med requisites, and said she has enjoyed being able to shift her focus to major and minor courses, classes she has found “really interesting.”

Like Chen and Patiño, Kang also plans on taking at least one gap year, but he may take two depending on what type of opportunities he is able to find in the coming months.

“What I’d ideally like to do is something regarding community health service and get funded to do more grassroots work in healthcare,” Kang said. “But whether I take one or two gap years will depend on what I end up doing, since some fellowships that I’m applying for are two years long.”

Kang said that although taking premed classes online meantless hands-on experiences in the lab, he appreciated how the classes felt less competitive during the terms in which they were remote.

“With online school there were no physical markers of competition like packed classes or packed office hours,” Kang said. “I realized that my studies are very individualized [and] there’s no need to compare myself to others.”

Kang added that this opportunity allowed him to reflect on his motivations for going

to medical school.

“The desire to be a doctor isn’t really about wanting to out-compete people,” he said. “It’s just about how I want to advocate for people and build relationships with people.”

Julia Shen ’23 — who has not taken an off-term since she matriculated — said that since she will be off this winter, spring and summer, she plans to study for the MCAT this winter and take it in the spring.

Although Shen hopes to complete the MCAT by graduation, she also plans on taking a gap year so that she can pursue research or consulting opportunities.

“Medical consulting has always been something I can see myself doing in the future,” Shen said. “I think it’d be nice to have that exposure consulting right now as a jumping off point for the future.”

Shen, who is still working through some of her pre-med classes, said that she has enjoyed being able to take in-person labs again.

“In person labs have been a much better experience than virtual labs,” she said. “We’re actually learning how to do proper wet lab techniques, learning how to pipette. And working with other pre-meds in person just gives you a huge morale boost.”

The Forgotten Class on ‘The Dartmouth Experience’ STORY

By Arielle Feuerstein

This article was originally published on September 29, 2021.

Earlier this month, we welcomed the Class of 2025 into the Dartmouth community. Upon arrival they embarked on First-Year Trips — albeit a modified version — just as every class has done for the past nearly 90 years, with the exception of the Class of 2024, for obvious reasons. The ’25s attended their matriculation and twilight ceremonies and began classes having completed all the initiatory prerequisites that Dartmouth requires.

A week later, the Class of 2024 attended their own matriculation and twilight ceremonies. I signed my name in a book with the other members of the class of 2024. I lit a candle and struggled to keep it from blowing out as I walked to Bema. I listened to remarks about our class’ resilience in the face of adversity. Phil Hanlon congratulated me on officially becoming a Dartmouth student.

I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I less of a Dartmouth student before I had signed my name in that book? Before I had listened to the College alma mater in Bema?

Several ’24s acknowledge that our class occupies an uncertain space in Dartmouth’s storied history. Jayanth Uppaluri ’24 described the class as “in limbo.” Kaitlyn Anderson ’24 said she feels the ’24s have been “misplaced.”

“It’s just this weird space where we’re like ghosts in our class,” Anderson said.

“Instead of having all these foundations, people and memories about the school, we were just in our rooms, and some people didn’t even get to come to campus at all.”

Katelyn Hadley ’24 was one of those people who took classes remotely all last year. Living on campus this fall, she echoed Uppaluri’s description of feeling “in limbo,” particularly as she saw posters welcoming the Class of 2025 while she was a year into her college experience and moving into a dorm for the very first time.

“I was jumping into a sophomore year without really having that freshman experience,” Hadley said. “[It] kind of felt like when we graduated without having a graduation [in high school] — that feeling like there should be something more, but there wasn’t quite.”

Some, such as Ethan Dixon ’24, have even begun to question the validity of

their claim to the Dartmouth experience.

“Dartmouth is an institution based on tradition, and if one class doesn’t get that tradition, when we graduate, are we truly Dartmouth graduates?” Dixon asked.

Every ’24 I spoke to expressed happiness that the ’25s were able to experience traditions like Trips. Yet, hearing about these experiences and seeing the new class get a glowstick-free Twilight Ceremony still opened old wounds.

“It just emphasized what we missed, because last year was kind of fine in a way,” Hadley said. “We were all having the same things going on and we didn’t really know what we were missing. Now we know what we were missing.”

Seeing the Class of 2025’s morenormal entrance to Dartmouth reminded Anderson that the Class of 2024 may be permanently out-of-place in the wider Dartmouth community.

“It’s complicated to explain,” Anderson said. “I think it’s maybe not a sense of jealousy but just a sense of grief or nostalgia because yeah, you went through kind of the same things as them last year, but it wasn’t all the same. Just the fact that we matriculated after the ’25s tells you that we’re not going to be

in the same place that we were supposed to be a year ago.”

It’s difficult to know for sure whether the experiences we missed as freshmen will continue to haunt our class. Dixon believes they might, saying these traditions were “crucial, simply because they’re the things that unite every class.”

To their credit, the administration has made efforts to revive some of the traditions we lost — like matriculation and the Twilight Ceremony — even if those traditions were late. Most ’24s, including Nicolas Macri ’24, said that they appreciated the attempt, but the belated ceremonies were still not enough to “erase the effects of the whole past year.”

Dixon also expressed frustration that the administration has made little effort thus far to recover the First-Year Trips experience, even though he still thinks it could still be beneficial for building community within the Class of 2024.

Anderson, on the other hand, doesn’t believe it’s the tangible events we missed that are alienating our class from the institution. Rather, he turns to our lack of experience with any sense of normalcy on campus.

“I don’t think it’s as much about the

events, but it’s more that everybody’s so anxious and unclear about everything that we’ve gone through and are going through right now,” Anderson said.

Uppaluri feels that although we missed key components of freshman year, our experience isn’t less real than every other class — it’s just different. He added that he believes the differences that divide our class from the others will fade over time.

“I think as we become juniors and seniors, it’ll get more and more [normal],” Uppaluri said. “But this year especially is going to be very different.”

Macri echoed this sentiment, and said that though he is excited for life to return to normal, he hopes that the Class of 2024 does not forget its unique roots.

“I hope we don’t lose our sense of being ’24s,” Macri said. “Obviously the pandemic was a bad thing, but we were able to create our own special space in our own society — a whole new Dartmouth culture — during that year. And I think it was special. I think you can definitely make a strong argument that the ’24s are the most different from any other class, and I think we should hold on to the unity that that can provide.”