VOL. CLXXIII NO.137
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
College to resume all recycling activity next week
MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH 45 LOW 27
By DEBORA HYEMIN HAN The Dartmouth
MORGAN MOINIAN/THE DARTMOUTH
ARTS
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: DOROTHY QU ’19 PAGE 8
OPINION
SOLOMON: NOT JUST A PRETTY PICTURE PAGE 4
OPINION
ZHU: THE ALTERNATE CHOICE PAGE 4
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On Monday, Collis Café resumed its recycling activities with three new waste-sort sections: landfill, recycling and food compost. In mid-August, the College halted recycling activities in Collis Café, the Courtyard Café in the Hopkins Center, King Arthur Flour in Baker-Berry Library and Novack Café due to high concentrations of waste contamination, Jenna Musco, assistant director of sustainability, said. The remaining locations are scheduled to resume recycling on Oct. 31.
The College recently resumed recycling after waste contamination halted the effort.
SEE RECYCLE PAGE 3
College aims to raise $275,000 for United Way
By DANIELA ARMAS The Dartmouth
The College launched its annual Dartmouth United Way fundraiser on Oct. 11, a corporate campaign to raise money for non-profit groups across most of New Hampshire and Windsor Country, Vermont. This year, the campaign aims to raise $275,500 for Granite United Way. Granite United Way is an umbrella organization that provides a pathway for donor funds to smaller service organizations throughout the Upper Valley, raising money for three central focus areas: health, education and
income. Among its beneficiaries are WISE, an enterprise aimed at preventing domestic abuse and sexual assault, and the Twin Pines Housing Trust, which provides housing for low-income families throughout the Upper Valley. Granite United Way is most notable for its immediacy. According to the organization’s coordinators, the group prides itself on keeping all the fundraising within the Upper Valley ecosystem and placing power in the hands of local residents. “There is a group of volunteers called a community impact committee, and they make the decisions about how much money is going to
be placed in each of the focus areas,” said Rob Schultz, Granite United Way area director. “Then a different group of grand reviewers reviews all of the applications and makes decisions about how much money goes to each applicant.” Schultz said that last year, Granite United Way funded 46 programs at 38 different nonprofits. This year’s campaign is just one in a long-standing partnership between Dartmouth and Granite United Way. Schultz said that over the past 40 years, the Dartmouth campaign has emerged as Granite United Way’s largest in the Upper Valley region, providing the
Professors offer wisdom for graduating seniors By MIKA JEHOON LEE The Dartmouth
Yesterday, three professors shared their wisdom in a TED Talk-style lecture to an audience of about 30 seniors in Rockefeller Center 003. Psychological and brain sciences professor William Hudenko, history professor Annelise
organization with crucial funds and manpower. Just last year, the College narrowly exceeded its goal of raising $295,000 by raising $295,509. For the 2016-17 campaign, the College also aims to secure 200 new donors and develop an employee volunteer program that would encourage Dartmouth employees to donate their time to Granite United Way. The heads of Dartmouth United Way developed this year’s financial goal through their annual review process, which involves compiling feedback and donor estimates from different sections of the College, SEE UNITED PAGE 3
IT’S PUMPKIN SEASON
Orleck and government professor Russell Muirhead spoke about mindfulness, risk-taking and privilege. What energizes people, Muirhead said, is leisure — a concept he defined as “activities that are intrinsically worthwhile.” Leisure, he said, “might not help SEE LECTURE PAGE 5
PAULA KUTSCHERA/THE DARTMOUTH
Carved pumpkins adorn the fence surrounding the Green.
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THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
United Way fundraising kicks off FROM UNITED PAGE 1
said Rick Mills, the 2016 United Way Steering Committee co-chair and Dartmouth’s executive vice president. “In each division, whether it’s Tuck or Geisel, we let the coordinator for Granite United Way in that area take a look at last year, see what the opportunity is for this year and feed their recommendations back to us,” Mills said. “This, in turn, totals back into the Dartmouth number.” Though most donations to Granite United Way are accumulated through corporate campaigns, individual donations and fundraising events also play a role in raising money. One example of these events
are football game fundraisers. On Sept. 17, the College enjoyed a victory against the University of New Hampshire at its home opener. The game drew 8,296 spectators, providing the College with opportunity for philanthropy. By contributing one dollar for every adult ticket sold, the College was able to raise $5,000 for Granite United Way. Deputy director of athletics Bob Ceplikas ’78 also highlighted the fundraiser’s role in raising awareness of Granite United Way on campus. “It occurred to us that we could give the campaign a lot of visibility by promoting it on the video board throughout the game and by honoring a local United Way volunteer
on the field in front of thousands of community members,” he said. To many Granite United Way organizers, awareness is the most crucial aspect of the campaign. Coordinators both at Dartmouth and Granite United Way, including Mills and Schultz, said they urge Dartmouth students to engage with their community and note the work that still needs to be done throughout the region on major issues such as poverty and drug addiction. Schultz stressed the need for compassion, saying that “we need to stand together as a community in the Upper Valley, and that includes Dartmouth College. How can we take care of each other?”
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Waste contamination halted recycling
for the Sustainability Office, suggested that students put their waste Food products mixed into the in the landfill section if they are recycling rendered most of the unsure rather than risk putting it College’s waste unrecyclable by in the wrong section, which could Casella, the company Dartmouth cause another recycling halt. “It’s better to have some recyhas contracted with for zero-waste sorting since 2010. As a result, the cling than none at all,” he said. Levy and other student volunCollege sent even some properly recycled items from the rest of teers stood in front of the waste campus — such as in academic receptacles in Collis Café earlier buildings and residential halls this week, instructing students on which have continued regular re- the new rules for waste sorting and cycling activities — to landfills. In explaining the new models in the addition to sending disproportion- display boxes. These boxes, as well as inforate amounts of waste to landfills, the College had to pay fines related mational posters and diagrams, to resorting and relocating the are key to educating students in proper waste sorting, said Rosalie waste. Another factor in the recycling Kerr, director of the Sustainability decision was the cost of fossil fuels, Office. Campus Services has gone through 10 Musco said. As fosdifferent itsil fuel prices rise, erations of companies are in- “If you can get enough signs within centivized to care- people caring and the past 10 fully sort contaminated waste be- enough people making years, creating signage cause recyclables their friends feel guilty based off increase in value. about it or enough of research As fossil fuel prices into recyhave declined in people making it seem cling mesrecent years, both like it’s something hip saging from the level of conprivate sectamination that to do...I think that tor organiCasella is able to is where we can get such handle and what Dartmouth students to zations, as Whole it considers to be Fo o d s , a s “contamination” start changing.” well as from have changed. For peer instiexample, Casella tutions with recently removed -CHARLIE LEVY ’19, good recybrown paper nap- SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE cling prackins and paper WASTE INTERN tices. In towels f ro m i ts addition to list of recyclable visual mesitems. saging, the Though some sustainabilistudents were disty team aims heartened to find to develop a that Dartmouth had stopped recycling in areas they sense of responsibility to recycle have the most contact with, Musco in students. “If you can get enough people said the decision to halt recycling, which had never been done before, caring and enough people making was necessary to understand the their friends feel guilty about it or enough people making it seem like College’s recycling problem. During the pause in recycling it’s something hip to do…I think activity, Dartmouth Campus Ser- that is where we can get Dartmouth vices and the Sustainability Office students to start changing,” Levy worked to adjust to Casella’s new said. This incident raised larger requirements by creating new signage and improving collection questions about the total amount infrastructure, as well as assessing of waste the College produces. “Dartmouth generates a lot of the contamination across campus. The College continues to face waste, and we should be reducing logistical challenges in educating that waste first before we’re even worried about recycling it,” Musco students about sorting waste. Charlie Levy ’19, a waste intern said. FROM RECYCLE PAGE 1
CORRECTIONS We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com.
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THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
DARTMOUTHEVENTS TODAY 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Field Hockey, Dartmouth v. College of the Holy Cross, Athletic Playing Fields Chase Astroturf
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
“So What were they Fighting for? Germans in World War II,” professor Nicholas Stargardt, Oxford University, Carson L01
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
“Spymasters: Can We Kill Our Way Out?” moderated by filmmaker Chris Whipple, Filene Auditorium, Moore Building
TOMORROW
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
“Shifting Accents and Evolving Competence,” professor Jennifer Nycz, Georgetown University, Dartmouth 102
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
“Wonder and Inspiration,” pro-vice chancellor Claire Warwick, Durham University, Rockefeller Center 003
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
“What to Expect When You’re Electing,” performance by The Capitol Steps, Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts
ADVERTISING For advertising information, please call (603) 646-2600 or email info@thedartmouth. com. The advertising deadline is noon, two days before publication. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Opinions expressed in advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of The Dartmouth, Inc. or its officers, employees and agents. The Dartmouth, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation chartered in the state of New Hampshire. USPS 148-540 ISSN 01999931
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
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Seniors invited to hear advice from professors FROM LECTURE PAGE 1
you make a living, but it will help you live.” Muirhead also encouraged students to think about the purpose of the education they are receiving. He said that human beings have a desire for knowledge that is rooted in their minds and that a liberal education can help access and satisfy that desire. To emphasize the power of a positive mindset, Hudenko opened his speech by recounting a story from his youth about visiting a zoo. Elephants, he explained, stay put in their designated zoo areas because they feel restrained by physical ropes, despite the fact that they could easily overpower their restraints. He said early experiences, in which elephants are shackled by heavy, iron chains, instill mental restraint within the animals. Hudenko asked seniors to experiment with different ideas and activities to broaden their horizons. “I challenge each and every one of you to think about the chains that are in your lives and the things you cannot break,” Hudenko said. “Pull on it to see if it is actually a rope, and, if you do that, your mind will be more free, because the only prison that has ever been created is your mind.” Orleck, the last speaker of the day, discussed the significance of recognizing one’s privilege, reminding students that their privileges at Dartmouth may not necessarily extend into the future. She also encouraged students to be more reflective of their daily experiences. “The first thing you should do in senior year is slow down because it is possible to look so far in the
future that this quarter will just go,” Orleck said. “I encourage you to have one moment of panic and to take that terror and uncertainty as an opportunity and think about what you can do to give [your life] meaning [that] somehow pays the bills.” This lecture was part of the second Annual Last Lecture Series sponsored by the Undergraduate Dean’s Office and the Senior Class Deans’ Office Student Consultants. Every year, members of the graduating class nominate “engaging, charismatic and inspiring” professors from various disciplines to participate in the Last Lecture Series,” DOSC Lulu Carter ’17 said. DOSC Josh Warzecha ’17 added that the series has been successful over the past few years and presents students with great opportunities to hear from professors outside of their majors and to reflect on their remaining time on campus. Jonathan Huang ’17, who attended the lecture, said he appreciated that the speakers all challenged him to broaden his thinking. “We were challenged to change our perspective on our problems and struggle to push ourselves and grow in ways that we would not have thought about before,” he said. The lecture was also a positive learning experience for Amy Liang ’17. “It was interesting to see what challenges [the three professors] faced and how they overcame [them],” Liang said. Seniors that missed yesterday’s lecture can attend additional Last Lecture Series events later in the year.
HOLLYE SWINEHART/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Professors give seniors advice in a series of TED-style lectures.
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
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STAFF COLUMNIST IOANA SOLOMON ’19
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST MICHAEL ZHU ’20
Not Just a Pretty Picture
The Alternate Choice
Our connection with nature is flawed and needs to change. Before the first leaf even hit the ground this fall, every pumpkin patch, apple tree and square foot of foliage became coveted backdrops for many Dartmouth students’ new Facebook profile photos. Fall brings the entire campus closer and provides a rare opportunity for many to interact with nature. Unfortunately, for most students much of that connection to nature is superficial and rooted in shallow aesthetics, which undermines the importance of caring for nature as more than just a pretty backdrop. This term, I have been fortunate enough to go on two classic “fall” trips in which I picked apples, took a tour through a corn maze, snapped photos in a pumpkin patch and satisfied my appetite in a raspberry field. At the orchard, I cringed at how many apples were left to decompose on the ground; people would take them from their trees and throw them away as soon as they found another one that looked more symmetrical or more appetizing. The same was true for the corn and the pumpkins. Too many of us have no problem with ripping a fruit or vegetable away from its root and wastefully disposing of it simply because we are tired of carrying it, have decided that we are not willing to pay for it or have found a more appealing alternative. We treat nature the same way we treat people: we have more regard and respect for those we perceive as more beautiful. This is part of what makes our relationship with nature so problematic — we only truly pay attention to and care about nature when we perceive it as beautiful and thus worth protecting. I am sure that if any one of us saw a tall, beautiful tree on the edge of the Connecticut River being cut down, we would do everything in our power to stop the offender. At the very least, we would see the tree’s death as tragic. But when our improper recycling causes many more trees to be chopped down, most of us rarely give it a second thought. Just two weeks ago, the College decided to temporarily suspend recycling at certain collection points on campus because of excessive contamination with regular and
food waste. When taking 30 seconds out of our day to sort trash is seemingly too much for us to manage, we must realize that our attitude has to do not just with a lack of time or knowledge but also a lack of empathy for the environment that we love to use. Unfortunately, it is part of human nature to act this way — we are designed to be more devoted to what is in front of us, especially when we think that it is aesthetically pleasing. We consume so many products with huge carbon footprints and other problematic environmental effects because we are so far detached from the chain of production that we fail to realize each product’s real, direct harm to nature. We fail to perform simple tasks such as recycling because we do not have an accurate perception of how each individual failure to act further exacerbates environmental issues and resource exploitation. We appreciate the beauty of a Hanover fall, but we cannot will ourselves to care enough about it because our actions do not spoil it rapidly enough — on the surface, at least — for us to see a difference in real time. Unless we can find a way to change this pervasive callousness toward nature, the sustainability movement has no future — not at Dartmouth, not in the United States, not in the entire world. Unless we can force ourselves to think long-term, to track our decisions and to see nature not only as beautiful but also important to protect, the sustainability movement will fail. We will not spark change just by picking asymmetric apples or appreciating every kind of pumpkin, misshapen or otherwise. But that is a place to start. Learning to love nature with all of its imperfections is a step in the right direction. Learning to love it even when it is not right in front of us is a step further. Actively working to stop its destruction even when that destruction is happening thousands of miles away is where we need to be. By taking the tiny first step of appreciating all aspects of nature, we can start the long journey toward protecting it from ourselves.
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TEMPLATING EDITOR: Jaclyn Eagle; COPY EDITOR: Daniela Armas
SUBMISSIONS: We welcome letters and guest columns. All submissions must include the author’s name and affiliation with Dartmouth College, and should not exceed 250 words for letters or 700 words for columns. The Dartmouth reserves the right to edit all material before publication. All material submitted becomes property of The Dartmouth. Please email submissions to editor@thedartmouth.com.
Third-party candidates should be allowed to debate.
Recently, when my friends and I men- hand, responders to online polls tend to tion who we plan to vote for in the current be younger and more left-leaning. Though deplorable state of American politics, media companies use a mix of the two in we consistently use the same rationale: an attempt to ameliorate this issue, these although we don’t like one candidate, we polls are still not accurate. prefer him or her to the other one. This Many argue that there aren’t enough reasoning can sometimes make sense. It’s independent voters to change anything in not always about choosing a candidate who the polls, but more people are registered matches every belief you hold or even most as independent voters than as Republicans of your beliefs. or Democrats. A recent Gallup poll shows But this justification can be dangerous, that 42 percent of voters identify as inespecially in such an important election. dependent, a dramatic increase from the With a political climate marked by tense past decades. On the other hand, identified partisan conflict, we Republicans and Demoneed a president that crats are at historic lows, “By bringing new we truly believe in. at 26 percent and 29 Given two less-than- ideas and different percent, respectively. In stellar main candidates, spite of the dominance ways of problemwe need to have more of independent voters, access to third-party solving, the thirdthey are not given any candidates. clear options except the party candidates The 2016 presidential two mainstays. debates should have could help improve Voters want thirdincluded Libertarian the country.” party candidates to be Party candidate Gary given much more expoJohnson and Green Party sure. In a recent survey candidate Jill Stein. Had they been in the by Suffolk University and USA Today, 76 debates, more voters would have been percent of voters believed that candidates aware of the alternatives to Hillary Clinton Johnson and Stein should have been on and Donald Trump, and the debates would the debate stages. In spite of this, Clinton have been more informative than the prime- and Trump were the only two candidates time entertainment they ended up as. By allowed to speak. Why do we make it seem bringing new ideas and different ways of as if there are only two systems of political problem-solving, the third-party candidates thought when voters clearly want more? could help improve the country. The two-party system has been a large Currently, candidates must reach certain proponent of excluding third-parties from qualifications to make it to the debate stage. debates. The Commission of Presidential Beyond just being legitimate presidential Debates, which administers the restriccandidates, they must also meet ballot tive qualifications currently needed to be access requirements — enough to win the in the presidential debates, was created Electoral College — and have the sup- by representatives of the Democratic and port of at least 15 percent of the national Republican parties. While it seems naïve electorate. to accuse the Commission of establishing This system is ridiculous. A media poll such a high threshold of entry just to limit shouldn’t determine who can broadcast debates to the two main parties, only once, their message and who cannot. By basing in 1992 when Ross Perot joined Bill Clinton qualification on a poll, and George H.W. Bush the process heavily faon the stage, has a third“Only once, in 1992 vors popular candidates party candidate made it and promotes the idea when Ross Perot to a presidential debate. that a less popular can- joined Bill Clinton Our current system didate does not deserve is not necessarily a bad to be heard. With smaller and George H.W. one. The two-party syscandidates already lack- Bush on the stage, tem, in some form or the ing the resources mainother, has roots dating party candidates have to has a third-party back to our country’s aggressively advertise, candidate made it founding. But such a fundraise and otherwise system was not written promote themselves on to a presidential in the Constitution or social media, this re- debate.” inscribed into law. It quirement harms them may be the most comeven more. Candidates mon system, but it’s whose supporter bases lie largely outside not the only one available. We should of media polls are essentially forced out. stop pretending that there are only two Most forms of polling have inherent presidential candidates and instead listen issues as well, with different types of to what the other parties have to offer. We polls favoring different types of voters. do not have to agree with or support third Fewer and fewer Americans use landline parties — but as hopefully intelligent vottelephones, and an even smaller fraction ers, we should be allowed to make our own are willing to be polled; those who are decisions after hearing every candidate’s usually lean conservative. On the other viewpoints.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
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THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
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Student spotlight: singer, musician and artist Dorothy Qu ’19 By MIKEY LEDOUX
The Dartmouth Staff
Dorothy Qu ’19 is a triple threat: singer, flute and piccolo player and doodler. Her art is a more informal endeavor, supplementing her involvement in the co-ed a cappella group The Sing Dynasty and the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra. However, her drawings and doodles, previously found on the margins of her class notes, are now becoming highly sought after by student groups and individuals around campus. For Qu, art is a medium that has the power to make herself and others happy. “I like how [art] appeals to the most basic emotions,” Qu said. “It’s like, ‘this makes me feel happy’ or ‘this feels good to draw.’” Qu’s lack of formal art background has not stopped her from continuing to create pieces.
“I think that’s the fun part — I like this thing that I don’t understand,” Qu said. “Any time I pick up a pencil, I don’t know what’s going to happen because I don’t really know the ‘science’ behind it.” Going to a science-focused high school, art has always been an extracurricular activity for Qu. She took her first art class her senior year because she had maxed out on her science classes. At Dartmouth, Qu is known for her wit and creativity, William Paja ’16, a friend and member of the Sings said. “She’s constantly thinking about creative things,” Paja said. “Music can be very structured and drawing gives her the freedom to do what she wants.” Qu runs the Sings’ social media, which allows her to use her graphic design skills. Julie Solomon ’17, the Sings musical director, said that Qu is particularly good at “coming up with fun concepts and great designs.” “She’s changed the image of The
Sings — we feel so professional now,” Solomon said. After seeing her doodles, the Sings realized that they could use her creativity to promote the group. “Looking through her notebook, you find the wittiest, coolest stuff,” Paja said. “She is an incredibly gifted person.” Qu’s doodles of humans as animals inspired the Sings’ new show poster and cover photo put out in preparation for the new members show her freshman fall. She drew each of the new members, known as “Eaglets,” including herself, as eagles in various stages of growth. These types of human-animal watercolors become so popular that people were asking for them as presents for parents, friends and significant others, Qu said. She has started posting her pieces on an Instagram, @dorothydoesart. There, you can see the breadth of her doodles, which have a variety of styles and subjects. Qu said she gets
inspiration from everything, including interesting one-liners her professor say in class. Qu submitted a design for the official Winter Carnival 2016 t-shirt, which was eventually selected as the winner. She drew a snowflake wherein she cleverly hid Dartmouth-related images like Baker Tower and the Lone Pine. Lillian Zhou ’19, one of the chairs of the Winter Carnival Council, said that the design probably led to increased sales of the t-shirt. In high school, Qu served as the drum major of her marching band and played in the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her passion for music has continued to grow through DSO. In this fall’s show, Qu will have a special piccolo part in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. Qu appreciates the unique sound of the piccolo, noting that it can sound magical and fairy-like. Filippo Ciabatti, conductor of DSO, noted Qu’s im-
provement over the past year. “She is a very committed person and has high technical skills,” Ciabatti said. “She has a good sense of musicality that she’s developed, [and] she knows how to be part of an ensemble.” Her natural musicality has also helped her in the Sings. “[At her audition], she clearly had a music background and musical ability,” Solomon said. “It was clear she could pick up music really fast and would be a great addition to any musical ensemble.” Qu is seeking out opportunities to further explore and cultivate her art skills through organizations like the Digital Arts Leadership and Innovation Lab. As a government major, Qu hopes to combine her interests in international relations and political theory with music and art. “I want to merge all of those spheres,” Qu said. “I just don’t know what that looks like yet.”