The Dartmouth Commencement & Reunion 2017 6/10/17

VOL. CLXXIV NO.92

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

COMMENCEMENT & REUNION Class of

2017 Class of

ISHAAN JAJODIA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

www.thedartmouth.com

Copyright © 2017 The Dartmouth, Inc.

THE DARTMOUTH COMMENCEMENT & REUNION

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EDITORS’ NOTE

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

Table of Contents Commencement speaker Jake Tapper ’91 reflects on Dartmouth 3 The Class of 2017 discusses significance of senior class gift

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Commencement Principals assist with 2017 ceremony

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Mirror: seniors talk life experiences, lessons learned

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Senior student-athletes reflect on their Dartmouth careers

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Studio art majors present final projects

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Class of 2017: Senior Survey

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MADELINE KILLEN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

To the Class of 2017: for the past three years, you’ve served as our mentors, classmates and friends. As you walk across the stage Sunday, know that there are three classes younger than you who were lucky enough to grow under your guidance.

In the past few months, many of you have tried to best articulate your four years here in Hanover. It was clear through your advice and experiences, though varied, that Dartmouth is not the final step for the Class of 2017.

The four years you’ve spent at Dartmouth have been marked by many changes. From the introduction of Moving Dartmouth Forward to several new building on campus to being the last class with Advanced Placement credits, your time here has helped shape this institution.

In addition, while you spent time in Hanover, the world changed. Some of you will work jobs that you didn’t know existed when you graduated from high school. Some of you will continue your studies, Dartmouth degree in tow. Some of you will be inspired to take on the difficult tensions in our country and around the world today.

We look forward to hearing about your life after Dartmouth. Congratulations!

-Kourtney Kawano, Erin Lee, Ray Lu

6175 ROBINSON HALL, HANOVER N.H. 03755 • (603) 646-2600

RAY LU, Editor-in-Chief KOURTNEY KAWANO, Executive Editor CAROLINE BERENS, Managing Editor PRODUCTION EDITORS PARKER RICHARDS & ZIQIN YUAN, Opinion Editors LAUREN BUDD, ANNETTE DENEKAS & MAY MANSOUR Mirror Editors EVAN MORGAN & CHRIS SHIM, Sports Editors HALEY GORDON & MADELINE KILLEN, Arts Editors EMMA CHIU & MARGARET JONES, Dartbeat Editors JESSICA CAMPANILE, Multimedia Editor TANYA SHAH & ERIC WANG, Design Editors JACLYN EAGLE, Templating Editor ALEXANDER AGADJANIAN, Survey Editor

PHILIP RASANSKY, Publisher ERIN LEE, Executive Editor NOAH GOLDSTEIN, Managing Editor BUSINESS DIRECTORS ALFREDO GURMENDI, Finance & Strategy Director ROSHNI CHANDWANI, Finance & Strategy Director SHINAR JAIN, Advertising Director KELLY CHEN, Product Development Director EMMA MARSANO, Marketing & Communications Director HENRY WILSON, Technology Director PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS ELIZA MCDONOUGH HOLLYE SWINEHART TIFFANY ZHAI

Through the Looking Glass: Worth It

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Ma: A Sense of Place

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Ramaiah: self™

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DeChiara: Shifting Focus

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Asoulin: Space and Place

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

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Commencement speaker Jake Tapper ’91 reflects on Dartmouth B y ALI STEINBERG

The Dartmouth Staff

Jake Tapper ’91, the CNN journalist who will deliver this year’s Commencement address, recalled falling in love with Dartmouth when he visited campus for his father’s, Theodore Tapper Med’62, 25th reunion, in 1986.

Tapper said he was initially captivated by Dartmouth because of its small size and because he agreed with former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower who said, upon visiting Dartmouth, that it was what a college campus should look like. Tapper also remembered that he liked that many people on campus were wearing Dartmouth apparel, which he said was different than other schools he visited and signified that people were proud to be at Dartmouth.

At Dartmouth, Tapper majored in history modified with visual studies. He was also a member of Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity until his junior year. He lived on the first floor of Cohen Hall his first year, in what he remembers as a small one room double.

“I lived in the smallest one room double, I think, in College history,” Tapper said.

When he learned that the room is still a one-room double, Tapper suggested that those students should be compensated for their undesirable living situation.

“That is a travesty,” Tapper said. “Those people should get a refund.”

Long before he was peppering

Re publican and Democratic politicians alike with questions — and with repeated follow-up questions — in his capacity as CNN news anchor and Chief Wa s h i n g t o n c o r r e s p o n d e n t , as an undergraduate, Tapper commented life at Dartmouth through a series of comic strips called “Static Cling” he created for The Dartmouth.

He started drawing the comic strips during his freshman fall twice a week, and by his sophomore summer, Tapper was creating five strips a week. Tapper said that created his strips based on “where the jokes were,” drawing inspiration from topics including professors, fraternities and himself.

Tapper said that the comic strip was a “huge” part of his college career.

Tapper noted that he felt that he had complete free speech rights while creating his strips, which he believes is representative of Dartmouth in general.

“It seems to me that Dartmouth is a place where free speech has always been so valued and honored,” Tapper said, “So it was great that no matter how many College professors I made fun of, or how many College deans I depicted as superhero villains, no one ever questioned a line that I drew or a word that I wrote — I just had complete free speech.”

D av i d H i l l m a n ’ 9 1 , o n e of Tapper’s close friends at Dartmouth, said that “Static Cling” made Tapper a campus figure. Hillman said that everyone read the strip and that it was

COURTESY OF JAKE TAPPER

CNN journalist Jake Tapper ’91 will deliver the 2017 Commencement address.

enjoyable. “[‘Static Cling’] was controversial, it was funny and it was always exciting when a new one would come out,” Hillman said.

Even James Wright, who was then Tapper’s freshman History 2 professor and who would go on to become president of the College, took notice.

Wright recalled one installment that depicts a professor teaching a class in which students are daydreaming. Wright said he recognized himself as the professor in the cartoon.

In class the day the cartoon came out, Wright mentioned the cartoon to Tapper, and Tapper became visibly uncomfortable.

“I said, ‘Interesting cartoon today, Jake,’” Wright recalled.

“And he actually got a little flustered, which he doesn’t do very often, because I suspect he didn’t know that I actually looked at the cartoons in The D and that I recognized that I was the model.”

Wright said that Tapper told him that the satire was directed at the students, rather than at Wright.

Wright said he did not take offense when he saw the cartoon then and does not take offense at it now.

Tapper spent most of his time at Dartmouth with Hillman and eight other men who all lived in the Choates Cluster their freshman year.

Hillman, who lived in Bissell Hall, recalled that the group would

use the lounge between Bissell and Cohen to play five versus five puff basketball, a game which he said Tapper played frequently and well. “ [ Ta p p e r ] w a s a l w a y s a participant and was really a puff basketball all-star,” Hillman said.

When reflecting on what he remembered about Tapper while a Dartmouth student, Hillman commented that Tapper was fearless.

“The thing about [Tapper] was that he was somewhat unafraid, which is a little different than most people,” Hillman said, “Most people go to college, they want to learn, they want to have a good SEE TAPPER PAGE 13

COURTESY OF JAMES WRIGHT

While at Dartmouth, Jake Tapper ’91 was a cartoon artist for The Dartmouth. This edition of “Static Cling” depicts a professor lecturing to his students.

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The Class of 2017 discusses significance of senior class gift B y FRANCES COHEN The Dartmouth Staff

The Class of 2017 has already surpassed last year’s graduating class in their participation rate for the senior class gift, which contributes to financial aid for the Class of 2021.

To date, 462 seniors have donated to the class gift, raising a total of $8,989.59. The participation rate so far is 43 percent, and the organizers aim to reach a participation rate of 50 percent by the end, according to managing director of Dartmouth College Fund individual and class giving Heidi Conner.

In recent years, participation rates for donations have dropped.

In 2010, all but one student in the graduating class donated, reaching a peak participation rate of 99.9 percent. The Class of 2016, by contrast, had a participation rate of 31.3 percent, the lowest since 2004.

The drop in participation from the Class of 2015, which had a participation rate of 61 percent, to the Class of 2016 was the steepest drop in over a decade. The Class of 2016 raised $15,887, which was $4,256.30 less than the year prior.

In the 2015 fiscal year, Dartmouth ranked fifth for senior class gift participation rates in the Ivy League, ranking below Princeton University, Yale University, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Princeton, which asks graduating

classes for pledges rather than donations, boasts the highest senior participation rate in the Ivy League with a 91.3 percent pledge rate in 2016.

The recommended donation amount is $20.17, but actual donations have ranged significantly above and below that number, senior class gift co-chair Mary Sieredzinski ’17 said.

The average amount donated so far is $19.54, with the smallest donation being 17 cents and the largest donation being $201.70, Conner said.

Throughout the month of April, the Class of 1967 matched every dollar that was donated by students.

They also have promised to fully sponsor two additional members of the Class of 2021 if the fund’s participation rate reaches 50 percent.

T h o s e i nvo l ve d w i t h t h e fundraising efforts include four chairs and approximately 40 volunteers, Sieredzinski said. The volunteers are educated on how the senior class gift fits into the larger Dartmouth College Fund, which finances all financial aid, and their job is to help spread the word and encourage students to donate.

The chairs themselves focus more specifically on concrete fundraising work.

Maria Jarostchuk ’17 said that the student-organized nature of the campaign encouraged her and many of her classmates to donate.

“It didn’t feel like the school asking for money,” she said. “It felt like your fellow classmates.”

Sieredzinski said that fundraising efforts include creative challenges throughout the campaign to encourage people to donate. For example, the “Greek challenge” awarded gift cards to the Greek house with the highest percentage of donating members, and over Winter Carnival, fundraising efforts included a raffle for original Winter Carnival posters.

The organizers attempted to increase participation rates this year by starting the campaign earlier and focusing on keeping the senior class well-informed on what exactly the money would be used for and why it was important, Sieredzinski said.

According to the senior class gift website, 100 percent of all donations to the fund will go toward financial aid. The senior class gift has been fully dedicated to financial aid for the past several years, Sieredzinski said.

Jarostchuk cited this as her primary motivation for choosing to donate.

“I’ve been on financial aid all four years here, and I think it’s really important … no one should be denied the opportunity to go to school here just because of finance,” she said.

Sierdzinski noted that Dartmouth is ranked as one of the top schools when it comes to financial aid, and the school is also among only a

few universities that adjust the aid that is given according to changing financial circumstances throughout a student’s time here. She said educating students on these details has been a main focus for those involved in the campaign.

“I think it’s our responsibility to give back the opportunity that we’ve been given,” Sierdzinski said. “It’s our duty, whether you like Dartmouth or not, to make sure students, especially from lowincome backgrounds, have the opportunity to come here.”

She noted that some students make the choice not to donate because they consider the choice to indiciate implicit approval of the administration.

“They are allowed to interpret that whichever way they want, but that’s not a fact,” she said.

Though Sierdzinski acknowledged that she worked with the administration, she said administrators do not use participation rates to gauge the level of approval held by the student body.

“I think the ’16s stigmatized it that way … and we’ve been trying to combat that stigma,” she said.

A member of the Class of 2017 who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the topic noted in an email statement that publicity released by the school did suggest that high participation rates for the senior class gift were often interpreted as a sign of student support for administrative decisions.

The student said that, because the majority of student donations are such minimal amounts, the senior class gift cannot be more than “a drop in the bucket” for financial aid. Instead, the school seems to care only about the participation rate as a sign of enthusiasm for the school, they wrote.

The student wrote that they chose not to donate for many of the same reasons that Bryan Thomson ’16 expressed in his column last year in The Dartmouth. Thomson’s column entitled “The Real Cost of $20.16” expressed frustration about many of the policy decisions made during his time at Dartmouth, including the decision to stop accepting Advanced Placement credits, the reinstatement of needaware policies for international applicants and College President Phil Hanlon’s Moving Dartmouth Forward initiative, specifically referring to the hard alcohol ban and the “silent, duplicitous war on the Greek system.”

Sierdzinski said that frustration or disapproval of decisions made by the College should not be a reason to abstain from the fund.

“It’s on us to ensure that future students from all backgrounds can come here and they’re going to be the ones to combat these problems on campus … empowering students and giving them the opportunity that you were given, at least so they can see things on their own, is what’s really important,” she said.

Commencement Principals assist with 2017 ceremony B y SUNPREET SINGH The Dartmouth Staff

Fourteen graduating seniors will take the stage at Dartmouth’s Commencement ceremony as part of the 2017 Commencement Principals, a group of seniors and a faculty speaker nominated by the Class of 2017 to speak and serve a variety of roles at Commencement. The Principals include the class orator, class historians and class marshals. This year’s Class Day Faculty Speaker is English professor Aimee Bahng.

The nine class marshals who were nominated and selected are: Dillon Rich ’17 as Head Marshal, Dennise Hernandez ’17 as U.S. Flagbearer, Brendan Barth ’17 as Dartmouth Flagbearer, Logan Henderson ’17 as Left Outside Marshal, Thuy Le ’17 as Left Inside Marshal, Asha Wills ’17 as Right Inside Marshal, Mary Sieredzinski ’17 as Right Outside Marshal, Abena Frempong ’17 as Left Gauntlet Marshal and Jake Donehey ’17 as Right Gauntlet Marshal.

The four class historians are Robert Cueva ’17, Nicko Gladstone ’17, Terren Klein ’17 and Elise Wien ’17.

The class orator is Iman AbdoulKarim ’17.

The 2017 Class Council sent an email to the entire Class of 2017, soliciting nominations. A committee then reviewed the nominations and made final selections based on their knowledge of nominees and who would be suitable for each role, Gladstone said.

Barth said that Frempong, who is vice president of the 2017 Class Council, reached out to him and the other Principals to ask if they were willing to accept their positions.

Barth did not know that he had been nominated prior to being notified by Frempong and also did not know much about what the position would entail.

Barth said that his nomination made him realize that he has had an impact on the Dartmouth community.

“I was really excited,” Barth said.

“It’s definitely a big honor to ... know that people in your class see you as someone who represents Dartmouth well and that meant a lot to me.”

Gladstone said he knew that a lot of his friends had nominated him before he was formally notified and said he is happy to be able to contribute to

Dartmouth one last time. As a class historian, Gladstone will come up with a sketch or presentation that embodies the class’s time at Dartmouth that is “funny in a tasteful way,” Gladstone said.

“I took a look at the sketch they did last year, [to which] I think the closest analogy would be something along the lines of a [“Saturday Night Live”] sketch,” Gladstone said. “So like a coherent, funny presentation around a theme, the theme being a recap of what four years at Dartmouth have been like.”

Bahng said she was very honored to receive the nomination for faculty speaker by students, particularly given the circumstances surrounding her tenure denial last year.

“It was an incredible recognition of my time and service to this institution, but I also wonder to what extent people wanted to hear about my personal experience negotiating this institution even beyond the denial of my tenure,” Bahng said.

She added that she cannot speculate how administration feels about her selection, but her faculty friends are excited and have been quite moved

by the gesture.

“As one of my friends put it, ‘The students are giving you the opportunity to literally have the last word,’” Bahng said.

Bahng said she had to carefully consider the position before accepting because she wanted to make sure she could speak to the spirit of the Class of 2017 without focusing the speech on her own experiences.

Bahng said she will take her speech as an opportunity to reflect on her seven or eight years at Dartmouth, and the “things [she] has tried to build with” the Class of 2017.

When AbdoulKarim found out she had been selected as class orator, she was surprised and honored, she said.

She added that she was humbled by thinking about why people wanted to hear her speak and commemorate the class’s four years here, given her activist work and political beliefs.

“I think that I have had a pretty consistent voice on campus during my four years here,” AbdoulKarim said.

She noted that her thesis is on Muslim women in the Black Lives Matter movement and said that she thinks her beliefs, activist work and

vocal presence in conversations about race, sexual orientation and class were part of the reasons she was selected.

“I think it would be disingenuous to myself and why I feel I was nominated if I didn’t bring up the things that I am always talking about and that I’m passionate about, which is social justice and strong ethics,” AbdoulKarim said.

She added that she was surprised that Bahng was selected as this year’s faculty speaker.

“Just seeing the people on the list who are going to be speaking that day, I don’t think that anyone would not assume that of course a lot of politics are going to come up, just by virtue of the people who are nominated,” AbdoulKarim said.

She added that while her experience as a black Muslim woman on this campus does not reflect the experiences of the majority of people on campus, she is nonetheless looking forward to talking about her experience with the campus community of women of color.

“I think that often women of color get overlooked,” AbdoulKarim said.

“Not even often — they always get overlooked — and so I would like ... [to] put some shine on that.”

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Mirror: seniors talk life experiences, lessons learned B y ELIZA JANE SCHAFFER The Dartmouth Staff

Dartmouth operates in synchrony with the seasons. In the fall, the leaves change and the people change, and campus is smattered with new colors and new faces. In the winter, animals burrow into their nests and students burrow into their books, minimizing their exposure to the bitter cold. And in the spring, infant flowers and seniors both prepare for their entry into the “real world.”

I sat down to talk with three seniors on the brink of graduation.

Listening as they described their regrets, lessons learned, advice and plans for the future, I realized that we — they, about to leave, and I, new to Dartmouth — were standing on either side of a canyon, with four years of mistakes and memories between us. One day it will be me searching for the words to describe how Dartmouth has made an impact on my life trajectory, but for now, I am listening and learning.

Devyn Greenberg ’17 not only knows what she will be doing after graduation, she has a five year plan: Morocco next year as a Fulbright scholar, federal gover nment consulting in Washington, D.C. for two years, Stanford Graduate School of Business for two years.

David Klinges ’17 will be flying to Puerto Maldonado, Peru to work for the Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon as the organization’s resident naturalist, which involves surveying the surrounding jungle and working with local farmers, until his visa expires (about six months). Doug Phipps ’17’s duties as Dartmouth Outing Club FirstYear Trips director keep him on campus until October. He intends to try to find a teaching job for the following fall, but in the meantime is traveling to Latin America to live on his own, strengthening his Spanish and making enough money to scrape by.

These seniors’ plans have varying degrees of nebulousness, a discrepancy about which I questioned Phipps. Though he does recognize that his plan — or lack thereof — is rather unconventional, he is overall confident that it will work out in the end.

“I am less nervous than I should be,” Phipps said. “I feel like I have a good rationale for everything that I’m doing, but it’s so off the beaten path … But all things considered, I’m very okay with it, and I’m very excited.”

He feels that his ability to remain self-assured in the face of uncertainty is something that he gained at Dartmouth.

“I feel very confident that whatever I do next, I’ll figure it out,” he said. “I don’t think I had

that kind of confidence freshman year.”

His sophomore winter, Phipps travelled to a small coastal town in Ecuador to conduct research. As a self-described extrovert, Phipps said being in such an isolated location without a single person that could speak English was very challenging.

“This was the first time I had to be with myself and figure out how to be okay with being by myself so much,” he explained.

Through this experience, he found a new sense of independence and self.

Klinges also described feeling more sure of himself as a result of his time at Dartmouth, something he attributes to Dartmouth’s open social environment and strong community.

“A place like this, collectively, is very welcoming, and people value when you make apparent what you enjoy about yourself,” he said.

According to Klinges, the s t re n g t h o f t h e D a r t m o u t h community is evident in the way students come together during difficult times, in the lasting connection between the school and its alumni and in a “collective identity” unique to Dartmouth.

This shared identity seems paradoxical given Dartmouth’s geographic, ethnic, racial and socioeconomic diversity, a diversity to which Klinges partially credits his learned ability to appreciate d i f f e r e n c e. Fo r G r e e n b e r g, additional lessons in empathizing with others could be found through the opportunities for travel available to Dartmouth students.

“Through the D-Plan and terms abroad, I’ve learned a lot of inter-cultural empathy, like connecting with people across different backgrounds,” she said.

Klinges has also learned a lot about empathy and about interacting with others through his extracurricular activities.

For example, as the chaplain of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he is responsible for resolving conflicts within the house. “[The role as chaplain] resulted in conversations that, initially for me, have been about trying to figure out how I can best understand others and put myself in their shoes, to empathize, in order to come to a common solution because empathy is the best way to problem solve,” he said.

Phipps also stressed the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to learn and forge relationships outside of the classroom but urged current and future students to ignore any outside pressure and instead truly do things for themselves.

“One of my biggest philosophies

is that no one ever has to do anything,” he said. “You could not go to class and not take any of tests if you really want to, you just have to accept the consequences.

Everything you do, you do it because you want to. With that mindset, I am excited to do everything that I am doing.”

He referenced a design-thinking workshop he attended in which the speaker asked the audience to consider how many different lives they would live if they could.

With so many possible ways to live your life, the speaker explained, no matter what you do, you will only reach a fraction of your full potential. This revelation made Phipps realize the profound value of every moment.

“If you have so many lives to live, you can’t possibly just sit around not doing anything,” he said. “You have to be doing things that you want to be doing.”

Greenberg also stressed the importance of appreciating the present and spending your time wisely.

“I love the Annie Dillard quote about how you live your days is how you live your life,” she said. “I’ve learned in my time here to value presence over productivity and to just feel the inherent value of every moment.”

Greenberg, who completely reworked her course schedule to

add a human-centered design minor the fall of her senior year, does not believe in worrying about past mistakes or the potential of future failure and encouraged students to “lean into discomfort and embrace ambiguity.”

“Maybe there are things that I could have done differently… but I’ve learned to reframe those as lessons, or ways to build a way forward in the future,” she said.

Both Greenberg and Klinges acknowledged that not regretting passed-up opportunities can be difficult, especially considering the dizzying array of potential paths Dartmouth students can choose between.

“You’re going to be provided with a multitude of options, there will be so many doors that you can take, and you’ll have to decide among those, so just relish the ones that you do end up opening rather than the ones you kept closed because you can’t change that,” Klinges said.

With so many avenues for exploration, it is easy to get lost, but Klinges expressed confidence in each student’s ability to find his or her calling. While he has known what he wants to do since high school, he recognizes that not everyone is so lucky. Certainly fo r G re e n b e rg a n d P h i p p s, understanding their passions took a little longer.

But, if I learned anything through my conversations with these three students, it was that uncertainty is okay. All three are confident that they are entering the dreaded “real world” with the academic and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed. More importantly, all three expressed a profound belief that anything is possible.

Greenberg urged students to “not be the person who limits your own potential. Believe in your own ability to achieve the vision you have if you work hard enough, if you stick to your values in the process.”

A n d o n l y yo u c a n t r u l y understand your values and your vision, as Phipps reminded me as his interview came to a close.

“My biggest piece of advice is always to not take too much advice,” he said. “A lot of people have this perception that other people have it figured out, and no one ever has it all figured out, even the people who seem like they do.”

So, regardless of which side of the canyon you stand on — whether your time at Dartmouth has just begun, is now ending, or ended long ago — and despite the pages of advice you just read — some of which you may find profound and some of which you may find nonsensical — know that the best life lessons are those you learn yourself.

COURTESY OF DOUG PHIPPS

Doug Phipps ’17 will remain on campus after graduation to fulfill his obligations as First-Year Trips director.

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Senior student-athletes reflect on their Dartmouth careers understand what it’s like to have running at 5:45 a.m. or have practice The Dartmouth Staff in Leverone [Field House] until 10 Some say that college is a time to p.m. and then need to go to class or study passions, grow as an individual, finish a problem set afterwards, but goof off with friends and party. Ask the teammates are what make every a Dartmouth student-athlete about second of it worthwhile.” that statement, and you might get An engineering major modified a different answer. Yes, they must with economics Socher is no stranger immerse themselves in the rigorous to academic rigor. Add multiple 5:30 curriculum of an Ivy League a.m. alarms each week and four institution. There might also be hours of athletic commitments after some time to have a social life. In class to your daily schedule, and you short, they are full-time students and will only understand part of what a whole lot more.

Socher commits to each term. While Many Dartmouth student- some student-athletes are known athletes wake up at the crack of to hang up their cleats because the dawn each term for workouts when daily workouts and practices are too most people have been asleep for much to handle with an Ivy League only a few hours. They routinely workload, Socher insists that such hustle between class and review a thought has never come close to sessions as well as practice and team entering his mind. The studentcommitments. There is also little time athlete experience just means too to begin homework until late in the much. evening following practice, dinner For women’s tennis co-captain and film sessions.

Jacqueline Crawford ’17, college But if you tennis was all were to ask the about embracing average student- “Although having to team culture. athlete if his or balance schoolwork Having entered her experience artmouth and baseball has been D was worth the with experience toil and pain, difficult, I wouldn’t in international you would be change a thing.” competition and g reeted with a professional a resounding, r a n k i n g , “A b s o l u t e l y. ” -BEN SOCHER ’17 Crawford insists Student-athletes that tennis rarely measure before college their career s was always about in wins and her individual losses or even individual records. performance. It was a foreign yet Instead, careers are measured by the refreshing change. experiences they have shared with “I came from an environment in their teammates and how much they which you needed to win your match, have grown off the field. but in college, you can lose your Just ask two-time second team match yet still be part of a winning All-Ivy punter Ben Kepley ’17, a effort,” Crawford said. “My coaches four-year starter for Dartmouth’s really fostered my development as a football program. team player and playing for the better “Being a student-athlete at of my teammates. Being a part of a Dartmouth has been an incredible such close team comes with both fun experience for me,” Kepley said. and memorable moments.”

“It has taught me the value of hard Members of Dartmouth’s Class work and dedication as well as how of 2017 will leave Hanover with their to budget my time effectively. More share of memories and opinions importantly, perhaps, is that playing about what makes the College so football here allowed me to meet special. Considering how much time some amazing people with whom I and effort student-athletes dedicate know I will be lifelong friends.” to their craft, it is likely that some Baseball player Ben Socher ’17 of their finest memories include a shares a similar view. Being a student- buzzer beater for the win or a walk-off athlete at Dartmouth, according to in the bottom of the ninth. You will Socher, is an experience that requires also hear stories about teammates effort and dedication. Embracing the and the people who made the journey grind, however, is the gateway to a memorable. collegiate experience that is sure to “My teammates have become be rewarding in many ways. It is some of my closest friends on this also an experience and something campus and will continue to be that numerous Dartmouth student- some of my closest friends for the athletes insist non-varsity athletes rest of my life,” Socher said. “Being cannot comprehend nor sympathize a student-athlete at Dartmouth has with. taught me that not everything in life “Although having to balance is going to go your way and life is schoolwork and baseball has been not going to be perfect, but as long difficult, I wouldn’t change a thing,” as you surround yourself with good Socher said. “Most students don’t friends, you’ll end up just fine.”

B y JONATHAN KATZMAN

COURTESY OF BEN KEPLEY

Ben Kepley ’17 started on the football team for four years, collecting two second team All-Ivy awards.

COURTESY OF JACQUELINE CRAWFORD

Jacqueline Crawford ’17 served as a team captain her senior year and earned second team All-Ivy honors as a singles player.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

THE DARTMOUTH COMMENCEMENT & REUNION

Studio art majors present final projects B y KYLEE SIBILIA

The Dartmouth Staff

In the culmination of over 500 hours of work per student, each year the studio art department sponsors a curated exhibition of all the senior art majors’ most polished and powerful pieces. This year, the exhibit features a diverse showing of mediums, from painting to charcoal to digital media.

Nineteen seniors have their art featured in the Jaffe-Friede and Strauss Galleries in the Hopkins Center for the Arts as well as in the Nearburg Art Forum in the Black Family Visual Arts Center from May 16 to June 18.

Students who participated in the exhibit were enrolled in a senior seminar offered by the studio art department for two consecutive terms, giving them the opportunity to bond with the other artists who shared their studio space and worked through the class with them.

Moriah Morton ’17, whose colorful paintings and sculptures are featured in the exhibit, spoke to the bonds that were formed with her peers as a result of going through this experience together.

“Usually in an art class, there are people of really varying interests, some who want to be professional artists and some who don’t care much at all and are just doing it for a [distributive requirement] or something,” Morton said. “It was really cool to have everyone be on the same passion level and interest level.”

In addition, students were able to offer feedback and assistance to their neighbors as they worked. Anthony Chicaiza ’17 noted the constant exchange of ideas facilitated by the close studio space.

“Some of your work ends up taking on characteristics of your neighbors,” Chicaiza said. “I concentrated in illustration and drawing, but I didn’t really know very much about printmaking until I asked another student about it, and we were able to go to the studio together and talk about that together and learn more about

each other as we went along.”

In order to meet the deadline for submitting their work for the exhibit, most students had to put in 20 to 30 hours a week over the course of two terms. This Herculean effort, too, brought the senior majors together as a group.

“I think people vibe off each other and get encouraged when everyone collectively is in the studio at 4 a.m. instead of just them by themselves,” Morton said.

While each student has only three pieces in the exhibit, the body of work created over the course of the year is quite extensive. The format of the class gives students the opportunity to pursue various interests, while focusing on one central theme that draws all of their work together. Morton focused on colorful and energetic paintings and sculptures that reflected her proclivity for playfulness and human interaction.

Chicaiza’s final project took the form of a graphic novel in which he deconstructed the idea of the superhero through the idea of mental illness. Both artists concentrated in mediums in the fine arts, but there were also many senior majors who explored digital media in their projects. Kelsey Phares ’17 is one senior major who explored many elements of digital design in her work but admitted there were challenges.

“It’s been hard learning all of these different concepts without anyone to really lead you,” Phares said. “Because the department is mainly fine arts based, but I feel like it’s been worthwhile. I think it would be great if it was something that more artists were introduced to.”

Phares’ work included found video footage as well as digital manipulation on various photographs. In addition, her work, like all the other senior majors’ work, is for sale as part of the exhibition. As part of an ongoing partnership, the Office of Residential Life has purchased a piece from each student, and the artwork will eventually be placed in various residential living spaces on campus. In addition, alumni

classes have also purchased some of the works of art, and these pieces will be displayed at Reunions with the possibility of other people deciding to purchase them.

Morton emphasized the extraordinariness of having her work showcased for such a wide audience.

“It’s really cool to have our art in a space that kids walk through every day,” Morton said. “That’s been one of the most exciting parts, for people to showcase to people who haven’t seen it before.”

Because of the showcased aspect of the exhibition, professors in the department are very strict about making sure all pieces are of a caliber befitting a real curated art show. The professors who guided them through this process, many of the students said, were incredibly influential in helping them complete their work on time and to the best of their ability.

The close-knit community and the amount of effort that goes into completing the experience gave students a special appreciation for the magnitude of what they have accomplished. Phares pointed out the unique power of the art she has created over the course of this year.

“A lot of people, especially outside of Dartmouth, judge us for being Studio Art majors, like, ‘Great, you did nothing with your college career,’” Phares said. “But one of the things I’ve realized is that every time I have an assignment, I have something I can bring home; I have something I can be proud of.”

This exhibit marks the culminating experience in the art department for the senior majors. After graduation, some of them plan to pursue art while others are also exploring other options for their future careers. One feature that unites them, though, is a creative ability to put their dreams into action.

“Right now it’s kind of open ended, but I have definite paths that I want,” Chicaiza said. “Now the question becomes, how do I get there?”

KOURTNEY KAWANO/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Studio art majors featured their art in the Jaffe-Friede and Strauss Galleries in the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

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THE DARTMOUTH COMMENCEMENT & REUNION

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Class of 2017: S For the second year in a row, The Dartmouth conducted a survey on the beliefs and experiences of Dartmouth’s graduating class. Over the past four years, the Class of 2017 has lived through a pivotal period for the direction of the school, a much-discussed time for college students across the nation and a historic election period. All of this makes the task of cataloguing the outgoing class’s life at the school an important one. Of the 1,084 seniors, 261 students responded for a response rate of just over 24 percent.

Below are four sections that the Class of 2017 was surveyed about: opinion on issues and figures related to Dartmouth (I), student life experiences (II), opinions

related to politics more broadly (III) and post-graduation plans (IV).

I. Dartmouth Issues Several actions taken by the College have received widespread scrutiny. For the Class of 2017, that has translated into a decisively negative view of College President Phil Hanlon, with just 22 percent of students viewing him favorably compared to 58 percent viewing him unfavorably. The administration as a whole gets much worse marks, with 81 percent of seniors having an unfavorable opinion. Asking about specific administrators makes some of this negativity dissipate — 15/34 favorable/

unfavorable percentages for Dean of the College Rebecca Biron and 8/33 for Provost Carolyn Dever — but likely due to unfamiliarity (most students weren’t sure about or apathetic towards them). When asked about the role the administration should have in regulating student life, seniors are divided: 46 percent answered that it should have a large or some role, while 53 percent said a minimal role or none at all.

A few of the more notable actions taken by the College see mixed reactions from seniors. The Moving Dartmouth Forward initiative, introduced by Hanlon, is viewed unfavorably by 66 percent of the graduating class (just 14 percent express a

ALEXANDER AGADJANIAN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

ALEXANDER AGADJANIAN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

favorable view). Related policies are not plagued by as much opposition however.

Seniors are split in their opinion on the new housing system (40 percent support versus 40 percent oppose). Forty-one percent supported the abolishment of pledge terms at fraternities that was introduced in 2014, while 33 percent opposed it. Two high profile fraternity derecognitions are seen as largely positive: 47 support the 2016 derecognition of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (32 percent oppose it), and 55 percent support the 2015 derecognition of Alpha Delta (26 percent in opposition).

Sexual assault policy has proved a very salient issue over the last four years.

Fifty-one percent of seniors thought sexual assault prevention efforts were not very effective or not at all effective during their time at Dartmouth; 31 percent said they were somewhat effective and only 4 percent said very effective. More students were also dissatisfied (45 percent) with the amount of attention and resources devoted to preventing sexual assault from the College and other organizations than were satisfied (35 percent).

Another noteworthy administrative action during the seniors’ time at Dartmouth was the 2015 hard alcohol ban that came as part of MDF, the effectiveness of which has often come under question. Accordingly, 58 percent of seniors disagree with the idea that the ban has been successful in lowering high-risk drinking on campus compared to 30 percent who agreed. Moreover, 78 percent of seniors reported consuming hard alcohol on campus — in other words, violating the ban — since the policy’s implementation in January 2015.

Concern over many of these issues has often been driven in part by the potential harm they could do to outside perception of Dartmouth. To that end, seniors were asked if the various controversies that have occurred at Dartmouth in the last four years have decreased the value of the degree they’ll earn. For the most part, however, they did not believe this to be the case: 53 percent disagreed with this notion while 30 percent agreed. At the same time, that hardly means seniors have forgotten about these issues. Fifty-six percent agree that because of campus controversies and actions by the administration during their time at Dartmouth, they have become less likely to donate to the school after graduation, while 25 percent disagree.

Finally, seniors were also asked their opinion on a few other important institutions on campus. Given the student body tilts much more left-leaning as a whole, it should come as no surprise that the College Democrats are viewed more positively (44 percent favorably versus 14 percent unfavorable) than are College Republicans (14 versus 56). The Black Lives Matter movement has sparked much debate on campus over the past few years. Despite a supposed polarizing image, more seniors view the movement favorably at 47 percent than unfavorably at 33 percent. The Divest Dartmouth movement has also been very active

B y Alexander

The Dartmouth

during the time the Class of 2017 has been on campus; seniors largely view the group more favorably (52 percent) than unfavorably (20 percent).

A few more miscellaneous areas round out the Dartmouth-related opinion questions. Of the two main publications on campus, The Dartmouth sees a more positive favorable/unfavorable split among seniors (46/24) than does the Dartmouth Review (14/67). Seniors are divided on the dining services on campus, Dartmouth Dining Services, with 41 percent each viewing it favorably and unfavorably. Lastly, the graduating class has an overwhelmingly positive view of faculty at Dartmouth, with 92 percent having a favorable opinion.

II. Student Life Experiences When looking back at the education they received at Dartmouth, seniors by and large express content. Eighty-eight percent were very or somewhat satisfied with the education they received, while only 8 percent indicated dissatisfaction with this aspect of their time as students.

Perhaps that makes it unsurprising how prominently academics have figured into the lives of seniors: 98 percent said academics were important during their time at Dartmouth, with 75 percent indicating academics were “very important.” That mark far surpasses rankings for other aspects of student life. In the order of importance, social life, extracurriculars, traditions, paid employment, Greek life and varsity sports followed academics — which was most highly ranked. Seniors were also asked how important five big milestones were to their experience at Dartmouth. Sophomore summer proved the experience ranked most important, with 57 percent calling it very important.

First-Year Trips followed next at 47 percent, after which came Green Key (33 percent), Homecoming (30 percent) and Winter Carnival (17 percent). The Dartmouth Seven represents another one of these popularized student traditions at Dartmouth, consisting of seven campus locations at which students attempt to have sex. Sixty-six percent of seniors said they did not complete any of these seven acts.

The stacks had the highest completion rate at 29 percent, followed by BEMA (18 percent), the 50-yard line (11), the middle of the Green (10), the President’s lawn (10), the steps of the Dartmouth Hall (8) and the Top of the Hop (7). Though about two of every three seniors didn’t participate in the Dartmouth Seven, that didn’t mean they abstained from sex entirely; 80 percent of students reported having at least one sexual partner while at Dartmouth, with a median of two partners per student.

One set of questions was asked of seniors on the general topic of sexuality. Seniors were asked both about their current sexual orientation and their orientation before coming to Dartmouth. While 91 percent reported

VOL. CLXXIV NO.92

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Congratulations, Class of 2017!

Class of

ISHAAN JAJODIA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

www.thedartmouth.com

Copyright © 2017 The Dartmouth, Inc.

THE DARTMOUTH GRADUATION 2017

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TEGWYTH ALDERSON-TABER

MARY KATHERINE ANDREWS

”On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves or lose our ventures.” William Shakespeare

Yay for you Mary Katherine!

It has been a great four years. You have done so well and we are all very proud of you.

Congratulations!

“I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley”

Very much love always, Anne Marie, James, William Cynthia and Hugh

EMMANUEL WILLIAM ARTEAGA LEDESMA

REBECCA ASOULIN

Congratulations, Emmanuel you’ve made it!

You’ve accomplished something no one from our hood has been able to. We commend you, recuerda que tus pasos quedarán marcados para simpre.

Motivando al mundo, que todo es posible . Orgullosamente, Mom, Chris, Natalie, Vio

Dearest Rebecca, Congratulations on your many achievements! We are all so very proud! We cannot wait to see what adventures lie ahead for you!

All our love, Mom, Papa, Barbara, Benjamin and Jonathan (Sherlock, Tom, Pika and the girls)

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STACEY BENTON

CHRIS BOONE

Words cannot describe how proud we are of WHO you are, as Coco Chanel said, “in order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” You are amazing in every way. Stay true to yourself as a new adventure begins. Love, the Benton Clan

Congratulations Christopher!

We are so proud! You’re a third generation Dartmouth grad. Take that Inauguration optimism you witnessed, use all that you have learned, and make this world a better place.

We know you will!

Love always, Mom and Dad

WILL BUELL

WILLIAM RAYMOND BURGER

Congratulations, Will! We so honor the level of effort that you put into life and have no doubt that it will take you far. You are such a joy and we look forward to seeing what lies ahead for you. We couldn’t be more proud! Love you!

Well done Will, there is no limit to your success!

We are all so proud of you.

Love you tons, Mom, Dad, Andrew, Grandpa, Grandma The Raymonds and the Burgers

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SHANNON CARMAN

Hi Sweetie, We can’t believe four years have gone by and our precious bundle is graduating. Words cannot describe how proud we are of you.

Love, Mom & Dad

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

ANTHONY CHICAIZA

Anthony, thank you for all your hard work and dedication. You can achieve whatever you want in life. All you have to do is continue believing you can.

Congratulations on achieving honors! We are so proud of you and we will always be by your side.

With love, Dad, Mom, Mayra & Ralph You did it, now get ready for a whole new adventure!

MADELLENA CONTE THORNTON

Dearest Maddy, You live the 5 “f”s: Focus, Function, Fight, Fun, Faith. Though the sixth “f” is the most important……Family! You’re a bright star that makes us all shine stronger together.

Xox, Mom, Tessa, Bobby, Snickers, Coco

CATHERINE CONWAY

CatherineWe’re so proud as we watch you ride into the future.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

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RACHEL DeCHIARA

DEVIKA DHOLAKIA

You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!

Congratulations Devika! Through hard work and focus you reached for the stars. Your happiness and peace is a dream of ours. We are very proud of you, our baby girl. Look forward our child, for you will change this world. We love you....Dada, Dadi, Nana, Nani, Dad, Mom and Nikhil

WE LOVE YOU! Mommy & Daddy

ANNIE DUNCAN

ALEC DUNN

All you need is Faith, Trust and a little Pixie Dust

The difference between average people and achieving people, is their perception and response to failure.

Love, Mom & Dad

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HELENA EITEL

ALEX GAKENHEIMER

“The secret to doing anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe you can do strong enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe.” - Bob Ross

Congratulations Alex! You did it and we thank you for letting us share in your Dartmouth experience.

Here’s to your next life experiences in the big world. Remember to work hard, play hard, keep the faith and know we love you always!

Love, Mom, Dad, Ali & Beanie

xo Mom and Dad

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa

VUNGELIA GLYPTIS

ANDREW GOLDFARB

Vungelia, we love you and are so proud of you!

We see so much success & happiness in your future! Love, Baba & Mama

We are so proud of what you have already accomplished and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Continue to blaze your own trail.

We love you,Mom and Dad David and Ann Stephen and Megan Holly

V, I am so excited for the incredible person that you are! CONGRATULATIONS, SISTER! Love you always, Katerina

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LEIGH GOULBOURNE

DEVYN GREENBERG

Congratulations To our dearest Leigh Our hopes are for your paths to be filled with stepping stones of success.

We are in awe of you. You bring us joy and we are so very proud of you.

Love Mom & Dad

Congratulations Devyn!

We are all extraordinarily proud of you. You have so much to offer and we know you will use your gifts to make the world a better place.

We Love You! Your Family

JAKE GREENBERG

SARAH GUINEE

Congratulations, Jake!

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May good luck pursue you each morning and night!

Ever victorious!

Congratulations on another fabulous achievement.

Love, Mom, Dad, Ben, Sarah and Rebecca

With love, Dad, Mom and Emily

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ROBERT HALVORSEN

SCOTT HAMMOND

Robert, as you continue along life’s journey, always keep your sense of wonder and exuberance.

Lead with imagination, compassion, integrity and humility, for you must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Scottie, Always remember you are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think, & LOVED more than you know.

We are so proud of you.

Love, Mom and Dad

Love, Mom, Dad, Ryan and Nora

MEAGHAN HAUGH

DENNISE HERNANDEZ

Congratulations Meaghan!

You have impressed us with your collegiate ride and we look forward to watching you gallop forward in life.

Congratulations Tuki!

The desert knows the name of every grain of sand, but God knows the dreams of every grain. You did it! Yours is the triumph but ours is the pride.

Love Mum and Dad

With love and care, Your family

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KATE HILDRETH

TERENCE HUGHES

Congratulations Kate!

May the abundance of your spirit guide your path in love and light!

Embrace with pause to reflect and rejoice!

We are so proud of you and love you!

May God bless and keep you!

We are very proud of you and we know you have a bright future ahead of you!

Love, Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad

RYAN HYON

KAREN JACQUES

Congratulations Riri!

Hyon fam is extremely proud of you and all of the personal and professional achievements you have accomplished in the past 4 years.

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH <3

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Love, Mom & Dad

Appa, Umma, Keun, Henz, Chincho and Jolly.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

KAREN JACQUES

JAKE JOHNSON

From your proud brothers, to our favorite sister –

Congratulations Jake!

We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished. Your exceptional consideration of others, kindness, honesty and work ethic will guide you well through your life.

We love you so much.

Mom, Dad, Zach and Boppies

We will always be….

A couple of nuts off our family tree.

Love, Davis and Alex

KATELYN JONES

TYLER KELSALL

Katelyn Toni Jones Congratulation, you did it!!

Remember- You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. We are so proud of you and we’ll always be there for you.

Love you Dad, Mom and family

Congratulations Tyler!

From your first day of preschool, we knew you were going great places. Here’s to all the adventures to come. Pack lightly and keep your friends close! We could not be more proud of you!

Love, Mom, Dad, Emily, and Alex

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SOPHIE KERR

ELLEN KIM

Time to kick up your boots and CELEBRATE!!!

We are so proud of you!

Congratulations!

We are so proud of all you have accomplished.

You have a bright future and we can’t wait to see where it will take you.

Love, Mom, Dad, Caroline, Andy, Izzy, John, Lucy and Bear

We love you!

Dad, Mom, Kyle, and Brian

DAVID KLINGES

ANGELA LIU

NATURE DAVE:

Congratulations, Angela!

Always remember: you have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You’ve hardly changed a bit, yet you’ve grown so much in so many ways.

We’re so proud of you as you head off to your next big adventure in the Amazon!

Love the life you live. Live the life you love.

Love, Mom and Dad

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

MICHAEL MACHLIN

ROSIE MAHONEY

Congratulations Michael!!

We are so very proud of all you’ve accomplished, and of the wonderful adult you’ve become!!

Can’t wait to have you back in California spending time together!

All our love, Mom, Dad, Jen, and Steph XOXOXO

To our dearest Rosebud, May your life open into perpetual beauty and goodness. We love you so much! Mom, Dad, Caroline, Peter, Ann, Ryan & John

EMILY NEELY

JACK NEUSTADT

“There are far, far better things ahead than awe leave behind” - C.S. Lewis We are incredibly proud of the woman, artist, and scholar you have become.

Always near at heart, Dad, Mom and Soph

Congratulations, Jack!

Oh, The Places You’ll Go....

We love you and are so very proud of you today and every day.

Dadda, Momma & Wren

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IKEMEFUNA NGWUDO

GEORGE NIEDERMAYER

Congratulations Ike ! You have done well. It takes courage to grow up. Create your own future, with the right attitude nothing can stop you from achieving your goal.

Love, Mom and Dad

Dear George, you never cease to amaze us: intellect, kindness, leadership, voice and athletic skills, to list only a few. New challenges await and you know how to take aim and shoot for goal.

Congratulations on all your achievements! With infinite love, Mama et Papa

EMILY OKUN

THOMAS PALLADINO

Not all those who wander are lost

In the blink of an eye and much hard work on your part, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to retire the school backpack.

We hope you had the time of your life!

Congratulations, Tom! Love, Mom, Dad, Andrew, Julienna & Nick

We love you, Mom & Dad

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ALI PATTILLO

JOSHUA PEREZ

”If you’re out on the road / feeling lonely… / all you have to do is call my name / and I’ll be there on the next train”

Congratulations, Josh!

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Congratulations Ali! We’re so proud of you.

Love, Mom, Kathlyn, and Gus

So very proud, Mom, Dad & Zach

TED POATSY

JULIO RESENDIZ

May you always be equal parts goofy and brainy.

Congratulations Julio Resendiz!

Your future is in good hands, your own hands.

Keep exceeding limits and always strive to learn more.

Cheers to future adventures and success!

We love you and are so proud of you.

Mom, Dad, Laura & Carolyn

Love you!

Your proud mom.

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BEN RUTAN

RAPHAEL SACKS

Onward and Upward!! We’re elated that you’ve called Dartmouth home for 4 years! Great job with all those ‘hats’..you’ve done them proud.

Congratulations on your Dartmouth graduation, Raphael!

As you hike life’s trails, always feel the granite of New Hampshire under your feet, and the hill winds at your back. Greet the world with a hail! And smooth the path for those who follow.

Love, Mom and Dad

Congratulations, and Good Luck to Ben Rutan, Class of 2017 Go Aires! Love, your family

NICOLE SIMINERI

DEEP SINGH

Congratulations Nicole! It’s been incredible watching you grow into the amazing and brilliant young woman you have become. The world is waiting for you to continue your journey and follow your dreams.

Love, Mom, Dad, Steven, Michael and Grandma

Congratulations Deep! We are proud of your accomplishments; we know this is only the beginning! You had a good warm up, get ready for the real game.

Mom, Dad, Komal and Grand Parents.

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ANDRES SMITH

ERIC SUN

Congratulations Andres!! We are so proud of you.

Congratulations, Eric!

Now it’s time to ”Go forth and set the world on Fire!” Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

New journey has begun!

Mom, Dad and Jenny

We love you, Mom, Dad, Jose & Aleco

XINYUE CYNTHIA TAN

STYLIANOS TEGAS

Xinyue Tan Congratulations, Cynthia! Look at you as a little girl standing on the bottom step. See how far you have gone. Keep on going towards your goal. So proud of you!

Congratulations Stevie! We are so very proud of you and your accomplishments! Remember the past, live in the present and look forward to the future! May your graduation be just the beginning of a lifetime of fulfillment for you. With love and pride, today and always! Mom, Dad & Margarita Papou & Yiayia, Dedo & Baba

Love, Dad, Mom, Emmy, Sammy and Winnie

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HATTIE VAN METRE

JAKE WEIDNER

Congrats, Hats!

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, used up, worn out, and loudly proclaiming â&#x20AC;?Wow! What a Ride!â&#x20AC;?

- Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

We could not be more proud of your achievements and we love you so very much!

Xxoo, Dad, Mom, Mary and Buzz

NICK WHALLEY

AMY ZHANG

Congratulations Nick!

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass - It is about learning to dance in the rain! Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart and strong enough to live the life you have imagined. We love you!

Mom, Dad and Katie

Twenty-two years later, we found you here today: brave and loving, funny and strong, complex and resilient. No matter what lies ahead, rain or shine, may you always remember to dance, may you always know your way home...

Congratulations, Amy!

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AJ ZUTTAH

PETER LOOMIS

Congratulations AJ.

Congratulations Peter!

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very proud of you.

We Love You. Keep Climbing!!!!

MATTHEW ABATE

Congratulations, Matthew. We are so proud of you!

Love, Mom and Dad

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Rainy Days Photo

B y Ishaan Jajodia

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Senior Survey

r Agadjanian

h Senior Staff

being heterosexual or straight before Dartmouth, 82 percent said they were heterosexual or straight as of right now.

Continuing on the topic of student life experiences, seniors were asked about various substances and activities they engaged in while at Dartmouth. Thirtyeight percent of the Class of 2017 said they drank alcohol for the first time while at Dartmouth, while 34 percent said they used drugs or illicit substances and 47 percent they engaged in sexual activity for the first time.

Seniors also answered how often they used five different illicit substances while at Dartmouth. Marijuana proved the most frequently used with 31 percent of seniors indicating they used it at least once a month if not more. The next most commonly used substance (at least once a month) was tobacco at 15 percent.

Seventeen percent of seniors reported using non-prescribed study drugs at least at one point while at Dartmouth; 15 percent said so for cocaine and only 8 percent for LSD. III. American Politics While attending Dartmouth for the last four years, the Class of 2017 has lived through a very tumultuous period in American politics, an unexpected election result and a passionate post-election response.

In closely matching past student survey results, the partisan distribution of the graduating class was very Democratic: 67 percent of seniors identified as Democrats, 21 percent as Republicans and 12 percent as Independents. The heavy Democratic makeup understandably shaped student perceptions of key American political and social figures. President Donald Trump was widely detested by the senior class, with 90 percent expressing an unfavorable view — and 78 percent saying they had a very unfavorable view — compared to just 6 percent with a favorable perception.

Interestingly, seniors seemed to distinguish between Trump and the party he now leads. Perceptions toward the Republican Party as a whole prove somewhat less hostile — 17 percent of seniors express a favorable view of the party compared to 72 percent with an unfavorable view. A less well-known Republican figure closer to home in New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu drew less of a response (70 percent had no opinion or weren’t sure about him) but received more unfavorable views (20 percent) than favorable ones (nine percent).

For figures and institutions on the Democratic side, the Class of 2017 was much more supportive. Former President Barack Obama received the best marks of any figure surveyed on either side, with 78 percent of seniors viewing him favorably and just 13 percent registering an unfavorable view. Former presidential candidate and current Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (62 percent favorable versus 28 percent unfavorable), former

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (56 versus 29) and the Democratic Party as a whole (57 versus 27) received about the same ratings. Seniors viewed U.S. Congress much more unfavorably at 63 percent than favorably at 13 percent.

When asked about Wall Street, 53 percent of seniors had a favorable view compared to 27 percent expressing an unfavorable view.

Following the 2016 presidential election, there was speculation on the impact the results could have on political engagement, particularly that of younger Americans. While most seniors said the 2016 election has had no impact on their willingness to run for political office, 30 percent did say the election made them more likely to do so. The biggest impact of the election seems to have materialized in how much seniors pay attention to political news, with 72 percent report being more likely to pay attention because of the election. Fifty-eight percent say they’ve become more likely to take part in a protest, march or demonstration, and 34 percent say they’ve now become more likely to seek work in politics as a result of the election. As for more immediate election effects, 25 percent of the Class of 2017 say they have participated in the Women’s March, March for Science or any other protest or march since the 2017 presidential inauguration.

Answers to ideological leanings before and after Dartmouth reveals that seniors’ time at the school may have made them more liberal. While 48 percent describe their viewpoint as liberal and 26 percent as conservative before coming to Dartmouth, 64 percent see themselves as liberal and 17 percent as conservative as of right now. One of the bigger jumps occurs within those classifying themselves as very liberal: 17 percent were ideologically very liberal before Dartmouth and 30 percent were very liberal after.

Freedom of speech on campus and particularly in the classroom has spawned concern among some in the American public. In speaking to this issue, 64 percent of seniors said they have at some point chosen not to express an opinion in an academic setting out of fear it would offend others.

IV. Post-Graduation Plans After graduation, the Class of 2017 will set out on various different career trajectories. In terms of where they’ll be living post-graduation, seniors will concentrate on both coasts: 22 percent say they’ll be living in New York, 18 percent in Massachusetts, 13 percent in California, 9 percent outside the U.S., 8 percent in Washington, D.C. and 7 percent will stay in New Hampshire. A majority, at 56 percent, plan to enter the workforce after graduation, with the next most common option being graduate school with 17 percent of seniors continuing their higher education. Seven percent were still not sure of their future plans and another 7 percent are taking a gap year.

Starting salaries among seniors who will be earning one right out of

graduation vary, but the median salary range is $50,000-75,000. Sixteen percent of seniors fall in this range, while 21 percent each fall in $25,000-50,000 and $75,000-$100,000 intervals; 10 percent will be earning less than under $25,000 while 5 percent will be earning more than $100,000. Thirteen percent of seniors report that they won’t be working after graduation.

Seniors were asked both what field they will be working in immediately after graduation, as well as the field in which they would like to be working in 10 years. Consulting proved the most common occupation immediately out of Dartmouth with 17 percent of students

entering the profession. However, only 1 percent of surveyed senior students would like to be working in consulting in 10 years. The field of finance sees a similar dynamic, with 9 percent working in finance immediately after graduation while 5 percent want to be in the field in 10 years. Three fields see reversed trends: health (7 percent of seniors working in it after graduation compared to 14 percent wanting to do so in 10 years), government and politics (2 percent versus 14 percent) and entrepreneurship (2 percent versus 10 percent).

The Dartmouth fielded an online survey of Dartmouth senior students on their opinions and experiences at the school. The survey was sent out to 1,084 seniors through their school email addresses. 261 responses were recorded, making for a 24.1 percent response rate. Using administrative data from the College’s Office of Institutional Research, responses were weighted by gender, Greek affiliation, race/ethnicity and international student status. Iterative post-stratification (raking) was the method used for weighting.

Survey results have a margin of error +/5.29.

Methodology Notes: From Sunday, May 28 to Saturday, June 3,

Note: Reported percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

ALEXANDER AGADJANIAN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

ALEXANDER AGADJANIAN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

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Jake Tapper ’91’s address to focus on the Class of 2017 FROM TAPPER PAGE 3

time, but Jake was unafraid early on in his college career, and so that was fun and exciting to be friends with someone like that.”

The CNN anchor, who hosts the CNN weekday news show “The Lead with Jake Tapper” and the CNN Sunday morning public affairs show “State of the Union,” grew up in Philadelphia, Pe n n s y l v a n i a . H i s p a r e n t s, Theodore and Anne Tapper, divorced when he was eight years old. He split his childhood between his mother’s home in urban Philadelphia and his father’s in suburban Philadelphia. Tapper has one younger brother and three step-sisters.

Tapper said journalism piqued his interest as a child. At 5 or 6 years old, he said, he created and distributed a neighborhood newspaper to a few houses in his neighborhood. In high school, Tapper wrote for and edited his high school newspaper.

After Dartmouth, Tapper said he expected to become a professional cartoonist. He at t e n d e d t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, but soon realized he was not as enamored with the

film industry as he expected and eventually rediscovered his passion for journalism.

Tapper said journalism appealed to him because he was “a political junkie” and that he could have “the opportunity to speak truth to power, the opportunity to tell stories that I didn’t think other journalists were telling.”

Tapper said he still considers journalism essential, especially after covering the 2016 presidential campaign for CNN. “Jour nalism is more vital than ever before, and journalism needs to be non-ideological, non-partisan, stand up for basic American principles, such as the importance of truth and the importance of basic decency,” Tapper said, “And in terms of lessons from 2016, too many people in the media lean too heavily on polls without looking at the margin of error in those polls.

Questioning our own experts and questioning authority should also extend to people in the media.”

Wright has followed Tapper’s work and watches Tapper’s shows, noting that Tapper is a strong journalist because he is willing to ask questions to determine the answer.

“He really will press a question

trying to get an answer, and that’s what a good journalist has to do,” Wright said.

Nine out of the 10 members of Tapper and Hillman’s Dartmouth friend group are returning to Dartmouth for Commencement this year.

Hillman said he is looking forward to Tapper’s Commencement address. He stated that he thinks

Tapper’s address will be memorable because he is “down to earth” and relatable, since he is an alumnus.

Tapper said that his address will focused on giving the graduating class advice as they enter a new phase of their lives.

“I am going to be giving the best advice that I can give to the Class of 2017, and that the speech is not about me and what I think is

important for my life right now,” Tapper said. “It’s a speech about members of the Class of 2017 and what I wish I knew when I was sitting there in a cap and gown in 1991.”

Hillman said that Tapper’s address should be brief.

“Don’t make it too long,” Hillman joked. “No one likes a long speech.”

COURTESY OF DAVID HILLMAN

Many of Jake Tapper ’91’s close friends from his time at Dartmouth will return to Hanover to hear his Commencement address.

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Through the Looking Glass: Worth It B y GRACE MILLER

The Dartmouth Senior Staff

The best advice I ever got before coming to college was this: for the first couple of months, you probably are not going to love it, in fact you might hate it. After committing early decision to Dartmouth, it was exactly what I needed to hear. I truly had not thought I was going to get in here, and as soon as I did I felt trapped. It seemed that my future was predestined and that there was nothing I could do about it. I did not love my first year at Dartmouth.

I thought I did, I told others I did, I told myself I did. But I did not. I was constantly comparing myself to others, and consistently not measuring up.

Despite being surrounded by people I considered friends, I felt downright lonely. Sometimes it was because I was with the wrong people, but usually it was because I was not the person I wanted to be. I thought I had missed opportunities, missed chances to make friends, missed my shot at having that “perfect” college experience. In those moments of intense self-doubt I would remember those words of advice and remind myself that I was not alone, and that maybe things could get better. That summer I joined Dartmouth Outing Club trail crew on a whim, and it was the best decision I ever made. I spent that summer having hour long discussions about Hillary Duff’s Christmas album while staining

a cabin, went to open mic night at a bar as my crew members performed “Get Low” by Lil Jon a cappella and hiked massive mountains at sunset just to spell out “BUTTS” with our bodies at the top. That summer reminded me how to laugh. It reminded me of the person I wanted to be: someone kind, excited and down for anything. Someone that shaped their own future. That summer showed me that Dartmouth is more than one path that you are locked into.

That path for me has been full of twists and turns. When things are great they can be euphoric, when things are bad they can feel insurmountable.

Things that have made me sad: computer science, losing touch with friends over off-terms, how hateful people can be to others, the sun setting at 4 p.m., the entire notion of social capital and being the seventh wheel to some particularly happy couples.

Things that have made me happy: computer science, playing in Masters, summiting Moosilauke again and again, skipping class to go skiing and sharing fresh baked bread with friends. In the happy times it can be hard to recall the bad times. Looking back on freshman year it feels like the solutions to my problems are so obvious. I want to give myself advice, but any big lesson took time to learn. Advice is dumb, it never works. So obviously here is my advice to my freshman self: Don’t curate your life, you’re not a

brand. Learn what goes into compost, recycling and landfill. Send more flitzes.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable with others, and encourage them to do the same. If you make a mess in Collis, clean it up yourself. Get to know a Safety and Security officer or two (preferably without being Good Sammed or breaking your foot). Take responsibility for your actions. Pursue the friendships that matter. Don’t be friends with people you dread interacting with. Cry on the phone to your parents, but be sure to tell them that just having them listen to your tears is helping. Go to therapy when you need it. If you have a compliment, give it. Pee on top of mountains. Get some killer ice breakers. Jump off of cliffs because your friend did it. Play too much pong. Live with six women.

Learn to live with six women. Start calling yourself a woman. Never write someone off. Never stop working out, it’s so much harder to start again than to just continue. Learn where Mink Brook is, then run Mink Brook. Lie on the Green for hours at a time. Go to the Lodge as much as you can. Know that just because you didn’t get into that improv group doesn’t mean you’re not funny. Make others laugh, it’s the best high in the world. Make yourself laugh, it’s the most important thing in the world. The Foco cookies are hotter than you would expect. If you want less, tear sooner. Always check to see if Window #2 is open. Make bucket lists, but don’t

be upset when they aren’t completed.

Quit being so hard on yourself.

Whenitcomesdowntoit,Dartmouth is the people. I have learned that not everyone is a good person. Everyone doesn’t deserve your love nor your time. That is okay. I have learned that most people are good, but just because someone is good does not mean you need to, nor should you, be friends. That is okay. Mostly I have learned that we are all trying our hardest, and people make mistakes. Sometimes they deserve your forgiveness, sometimes they don’t. I am trying to be less judgmental, because at any point we are all three choices away from becoming someone we hate. Be gentle with each other, but be careful with your choices.

Four years ago, before finstas were a thing, my friend encouraged me to make a “private Twitter.” This Twitter is riddled with random thoughts: @disgraceisfull April 3, 2014: Only yesterday did I learn that the six in seal team six doesn’t mean there are only six people in it And drunk night play-by-plays: @disgraceisfull February 7, 2014: We out here 36% it’s rough gotta do the damn thing @disgraceisfull February 7, 2014: leg reverting @disgraceisfull February 7, 2014: holly threw my@phone in the cake You can see that most of it is nonsense, but one tweet stuck out to me: @disgraceisfull October 19, 2014:

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

sometimes the past has been so good that the future seems impossible This is why graduating seems so daunting, the future is unknown.

Everything right now feels so right that it seems impossible for anything else to be better. It reminds me of the conversation I had with my parents as they dropped me off my first day of college. I asked them, “What’s the point of all of this?

What’s the point of making friends?

Everything here has an expiration date of four years, why even invest?”

Four years later I know the answer: because it’s worth it. The feeling I have about graduating, that “I have no more tears but oh wow I think I might vomit” feeling, that is worth it. This unknown future that seemed impossible, it has been better than I could have ever imagined. It has given me a profession that I’m actually passionate about, professors that have caused me to question my world view, a belly filled with Keystone after a successful night of pong, long lingering dinners with housemates that I never want to end and boxes of memories. Memories that make me cry and memories that make me cry of happiness. Sometimes I stand in the center of the Green and let them all come flooding back. This future has been pretty damn good. So yes, the future seems impossible, but I have hope we’ll be just fine.

Grace Miller ’17 is a former Dartbeat editor.

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THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR Staff ANNIE MA ’17

THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR Staff PRIYA RAMAIAH ’17

A Sense of Place

self™

The details are what make a place memorable.

Whatever that means to you.

I’ve only abused my press credentials of people who spend time making statistics once to get into an event. The night before memes instead of doing their statistics the 2016 election, then-President Barack problem sets, who sometimes sleep through Obama was stumping for Hillary Clinton at lunch plans and who often make mistakes. the University of New Hampshire. After a We’re told from matriculation that we’re the lost ZipCard, a 3 a.m. Enterprise car rental, best and the brightest, the future leaders, a 7 a.m. wakeup and a two-hour drive, and when we screw up, hey, at least we’re Priya and I made it to the press line — two at Dartmouth. But I bristle at the idea senior editors downgraded to reporter and that just being here makes us better than photographer for the day. everyone who is not. Some of us have I hadn’t taken news photos in over a year, done exceptional things, but I haven’t been and never for an event of this scale. Too many constantly impressed by the 20-somethings variables have to align for a good photo — trying to make it from day to day — myself lighting, timing, angle, shutter speed — and included. in that crowded stadium I felt so small. The Too often, I think we treat being here as a first black president campaigning for the first golden ticket without questioning where it’s woman to be nominated by a major party, the meant to take us. And ultimately, I think that first woman who might be president — how reverence obscures the fact that Dartmouth could I possibly fit that narrative into a 4 by can be a place that grinds you down. For 6 frame? all that I’ve loved about Dartmouth, there My photo editor at the Pittsburgh Post- are times where I’ve been made to feel like Gazette called that elusive ideal a “sense I’ll never quite be welcome here. It’s where of place.” It means someone told me getting there early there were too many “To be critical of an institution and staying late to Asians in their Greek capture the people doesn’t mean I love it any less— house, or called me and their relationship it means that I hope that it a racial slur at Pine. to the place they where, as an chooses to grow out of its flaws, It’s are in. The best editor of this paper, photos tell a story just like I’ve had to in my time I’ve had to draw the without words, and here.” line on free speech that means looking versus hate speech beyond the spectacle and saw the cruelty to show how we arrived here in the first place. members of this community only exhibit In photography, an eye for that complexity behind online anonymity. To be critical of becomes second nature with practice. At the an institution doesn’t mean I love it any Clinton rally, I found it in the women who less — it means that I hope that it chooses brought their sons as well as their campaign to grow out of its flaws, just like I’ve had to signs, the teenagers that whipped out their in my time here. smartphones once Obama took the stage, Recently, my friend Rachel asked me if I the section so carefully set aside with a sign ever regretted coming here. I don’t. On par, language interpreter to make the event as I’ve had a wonderful time with wonderful inclusive as possible. “Stronger together,” people. Besides, in broad strokes, my growing captured in visuals. up to 22 and finishing college would have I’ve found myself thinking about my been the same in any place. editor’s advice more often as four years at “Right,” she said. “But in any other place, Dartmouth begin to wind down. Here, I find you wouldn’t have met me.” it hard to grasp my own sense of place — how In the moment, I laughed and said I would did I end up here, and who have I become? have met someone else who would have been I’ve smiled and nodded and laughed through like her, but different. A sense of place has so many alumni telling me how Dartmouth taught me, above all, that Dartmouth is just will shape me, but even now, days before a place.

Commencement, I’m still not sure what that But the thing is, I wouldn’t trade my Rachel means. for anyone else. And there’s something Undeniably, this about the specificity, is an exceptional “Maybe I would have ended up the ups and downs place. It’s where I that are unique to learned to ask big the same person in any other the details of being questions and to be place, but I’m glad I did it here. I here. Long nights in critical of answers wouldn’t trade the details here Robinson Hall for that come too easily. the paper, lazy days It’s where I’ve found a for anything else.” by the Connecticut love for telling stories River, unplanned — through photos, chats with professors through data, through the classic archetype in Silsby Hall — this may all just be a place, of being the annoying reporter. Here, I’ve but it’s where this all happened to me. Maybe met people who’ve changed the way I think, I would have ended up the same person in who’ve let me cry through some of my worst any other place, but I’m glad I did it here. moments, and who have been forgiving as I grew through my flaws.

Annie Ma ’17 is a former executive editor of This is also an ordinary place. It’s full The Dartmouth.

On a grim morning at Starbucks, I what I saw as a gross misperception, but she became suddenly and profoundly conscious didn’t know me—she was seeing my self™. that I may never again be surrounded by This varnish buffed away my encyclopedic as many talented recall of uncool people I am here at “If our personalities are who Pokémon trivia and Dartmouth. Where my unease at parties we are when we are with else, I wondered as along with my acne I looked around at other people, then this self™ is scars. It can make my c o m p a n i o n s, much more a reflection of our you just palatable will I be sitting enough, a filtering w i t h a s p i r i n g audience—of college—than of that lubricates p l a y w r i g h t s , us.” social interactions political theorists as effortlessly as it and geoscientists all settles upon you like at the same time? a mask in a way you Almost as soon as this thought crossed can never admit. How wild it is to realize my mind, I clicked out of the paper I was that everybody around you might also be working on and added a sandalwood candle wearing one. emblazoned with an Edgar Allen Poe quote If our personalities are who we are when to my Amazon Prime cart. Bittersweet we are with other people, then this self™ is rumination: successfully dodged. All we much more a reflection of our audience—of ever see or seem is but a dream within a college—than of us. Now that this audience dream—at least, that’s what my new candle of talented peers is disbanding, we are left says. to wonder who we are without the people Online shopping habits notwithstanding, we have surrounded ourselves with who in four years I’ve come to realize that, in propped us up. Without an audience, for our ceaseless quest for achievement, we whom are we doing what we’re doing? The deliberately avoid looking inward. It is far problem is that introspection —what have easier to click “add to cart,” walk a little I done? who have I become? am I happy? faster or generally move forward on some ­—is excruciating, and these questions don’t scale of progress lend themselves to than it is to reflect. clever solutions or “As we check items off to-do “I hate it when technical mastery. my Apple Watch lists and draft cover letters on When it comes to tells me to breathe the path to accomplishment, it looking inward, deeply for one you can’t test your minute when I’m becomes easier and easier to data for statistical in the middle of put off any meaningful personal significance and call something,” a friend inquiry.” it meaningful. once complained to Questioning me here. “I don’t the self™ means have time for that!” troubling illusions.

As we check items It means poking at off to-do lists and pixels and hitting draft cover letters n e r v e s . We ’ r e on the path to accomplishment, it becomes leaving now, and the progress checkpoints easier and easier to put off any meaningful that drove us to and through here have personal inquiry. Instead of self-reflection, in many ways stopped making sense. we craft our self™—a curated medley of Understanding ourselves as bundles of Instagram posts, demographic banalities, complexities is a lifelong project, and major and minor though this might c o m b i n a t i o n s , “We hug each other in keep you awake at all reeled off night, it might also our matching robes at with practiced keep you alive— Commencement, but our names and I don’t mean a nonchalance.

Two terms ago are read one by one. There is no ventilated sack of and two terms into high-salaried flesh my editorship at shortage of challenges to face bu t re a l l y, t r u l y The D, I struck up after graduation; maybe the first alive, whatever that a conversation with one should be our selves.” means to you. a fellow editor in the

We hug office for the first each other in our time. We worked matching robes at different sections commencement, and passed each other frequently, and after but our names are read one by one. There talking for nearly an hour during a lull in is no shortage of challenges to face after production activity, we both wondered graduation; maybe the first one should be aloud why we hadn’t hit it off sooner. I had our selves. always found her intimidating, I confessed.

She had thought I was too put-together to Priya Ramaiah ’17 is a former managing editor be approachable. I couldn’t stop laughing at of The Dartmouth.

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THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR Staff RACHEL DECHIARA ’17

THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR Staff REBECCA ASOULIN ’17

Shifting Focus

Space and Place

The first time I looked directly into my I went through sophomore summer mom’s eyes, I was 20 years old. feeling happy with my decision. No one My struggles asked me where I with my eyes started “I thought that everyone looked was looking; I could when I was born. I comfortably at foreheads when they spoke to read had a bad case of ( n o t t h at I w a s strabismus — the others. I thought that everyone reading much). It medical term for a had trouble telling which felt like the problem lazy eye — in both was solved. of my eyes. My direction a ball was coming from But then junior irises were barely in soccer—is that girl running fall I did a transfer visible, with just the on the left or right? It keeps term in London. A whites of my eyes bartender sniped, showing. I couldn’t changing.”

“Look at me while see anything. At 11 you’re ordering,” months old, I had and once again I felt my first surgery. like a failure. I was I ’ve a lw ay s v i e we d p ro bl e m s a s looking at him, I was looking right at him. surmountable. Some of this outlook was Maybe everyone in my life was just due to my personality type, some due to being nice when they said my eyes looked my privilege. Getting bad grades? Get a better. Maybe I’d never be successful at a tutor. Feeling unfit? Work out. Feeling sad? job interview or on a first date. Everyone See a therapist. Everything was fixable if says eye contact is important — and I try you just tried, or paid. At Dartmouth, I’ve and I try and I can’t get it right. come to realize my privilege. I have more I went back to the doctor. My eyes than most. weren’t working equally because my right And yet — the one thing I don’t have, had perfect vision so the other was slacking that I for so long off. Third surgery have desperately “My first surgery saved me from j u n i o r s u m m e r : wanted, is a pair of Lasik on my left eye. being blind.” straight eyes.

T h r e e My first surgery surgeries. Weeks saved me from of recoveries. being blind. I wore Thousands of eye patches while dollars. Pain and at home for many more pain. years. Other than the occasional “four- Things could have been worse. I could eyes” comment — kids in my elementary be blind right now, but I’m not. school were gravely unoriginal — I felt But my eyes are still not straight. People normal. say they don’t notice. But I notice. In I thought that everyone looked at pictures, I can see my right eye dipping foreheads when they spoke to others. I below the left. When I’m reading a long thought that everyone had trouble telling book my eyes start to throb a bit. People which direction a ball was coming from in still look puzzled — “Me?” — when I ask soccer — is that girl running on the left or them about their major or to just pass the right? It keeps changing. ketchup. Yes, you. I’m looking at you.

As I got older, more things started to Not all problems can be solved, no matter bother me and my how much time or eyes got worse. money we throw “I had always known she had My friends at them. Certain would say, “Are you brown eyes, but I never knew relationships, talking to me?” in what it felt like to hold their romantic or conver sations — otherwise, haven’t a p p a r e n t l y t h ey gaze.” worked out despite couldn’t tell that I the work I’ve put in. was looking right at Certain classes (or them. Reading for classes sometimes left majors) just didn’t fit. And three surgeries me dizzy, the words doubling like on an old later, my eyes are improved but not perfect. television set, but there were no antennas I have crossed eyes — and I don’t know to jostle to clear the picture. if I’ll ever fix them completely. And that’s At the end of my sophomore year at okay. I am healthy, I am happy. I had Dartmouth, I got my second strabismus successful job interviews. I’ve been asked surgery. I didn’t put much thought into it. out on second dates (heya!). I zoned in I had to be awake for part of it; I couldn’t enough to not get golden treed. I took a leave my home for a week afterwards. It senior portrait that I don’t hate. I’ve read was painful and expensive. But at the end 12 books so far this year, just for fun. And of surgery, I looked at my mom and I cried if I really focus, I can look in my mom’s when I realized all that I had been missing. eyes.

I had always known she had brown eyes, but I never knew what it felt like to hold Rachel DeChiara ’17 is the former publisher their gaze. of The Dartmouth.

Space and place, in geography, are not In my four years, people from every corner interchangeable terms. of campus and all levels of conventional When I first walked into the offices on “success” have echoed my freshman fall the second floor of Robinson Hall on a visit concern with “I’m not good enough” and to Dartmouth in “I don’t belong here 2011, I walked into “I’ve found myself putting off because ‘x.’” a space—a frantic, I h ave b een messy, chaotic one final tasks—dropping off my consumed by filled with students thesis at the printers, studying anxiety here, and putting out a h ave watch ed for my last exam, writing my last Ifriends newspaper. I met the drown in it. then editor-in-chief column.”

And sometimes and I walked away through that pain with the impression I could make that she ate, slept and generally did all her meaning. Other times, I found that I could living in those offices. not make something beautiful out of my On Thursday, I walked up the steps of pain. It was just plain ugly. And in those Robinson Hall to finish my last contribution moments my friends and family often saw to this paper after four years of doing a lot in me the wonder I could not. of work, and a lot of my living, in these My failures did not make me, by offices. definition, a failure—a bad person, a lazy I found the door to the editor’s office person, a cruel woman or a bad friend. locked.

I am not less worthy because of my Instead, I opened a window to the porch missteps. and crawled out onto it.

I am tied up with many people, many I have frantically written stories two hours places, and many institutions—Dartmouth past deadline on this porch. I have watched being one of them. three out of four

They affect me, Collis Green Key “But my worthiness does not and I hope I affect concerts perched depend on any one of them. I them. on the ledge. I’ve But my laughed here. I’ve make it out of the complicated worthiness does not blasted Motown web of my life.” depend on any one of and danced on the them. I make it out of deteriorating wood the complicated web porch boards. I have cried, heartbroken, of my life. on this porch. I have brought many of my After Sunday afternoon, some of these friends up here. places will fade back to spaces for me, “Trust me, it has the best view,” I would while others will morph into new places say. “And you can creep on everyone’s as I change. The people I love, the people conversations below you and in the office.” I admire, the people I tolerate and the I have lived on this porch, in these offices, people who I struggle with will no longer and through that living they have become my be lounging on the Green, studying in the places. And I am struggling to say goodbye. 1902 room, reading in Sanborn, grabbing I’ve found myself putting off final margs at Molly’s, canoeing down the river, tasks—dropping skinny dipping at off my thesis at the for mal, putting printers, studying for “I have built room in myself to out newspapers my last exam, writing hold the chaos of the newsroom, at 1:30 a.m. five my last column. I’ve times a week or the granite of the White picked fights with sneaking out onto friends because that Mountains and the depths of my roof-porches. way it might be easier friendships.”

They will be to leave them. in new spaces, At Dartmouth, I making them into found many of my their own places. people. Friends who love me even when— Dartmouth will never be my place the and perhaps especially when—I falter. And I way it is in this moment. faltered often. No matter how hard I tried to And that breaks my heart. I cannot avoid predict or deflect it, I could not avoid failing, it, put off the pain or pretend to not care.

There was no detour around heartbreak. No It is also beautiful. shortcut out of crippling anxiety. No way Being open to that pain is the way I have to evade sadness over missed opportunities, learned to say goodbye. and lost friendships and relationships.

I have built room in myself to hold the Sometimes I’ve needed to slog through chaos of the newsroom, the granite of the it all.

White Mountains and the depths of my I spent a lot of time at Dartmouth feeling friendships. like I did not deserve to be here. My freshman And I know I will expand to hold more. fall, I planned for the day I would be told to leave. Surely a mistake must have been Rebecca Asoulin ’17 is the former editor-in-chief made. of The Dartmouth.

I have crossed eyes—and I don’t know if I’ll ever fix them completely.

Making room to say goodbye.