VOL. CLXXVI NO. 125
SUNNY HIGH 29 LOW 9
OPINION
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: MAJOR SALARIES NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD PAGE 6
FLAHERTY: A PERSON CAN BE MANY THINGS PAGE 6
TESZLER: TIME FOR A FAIR TRIAL PAGE 7
LEUTZ: CABIN FEVER PAGE 7
ARTS
GRAMMY AWARDS FEATURED A TUMULTUOUS LEAD-UP, FEW UPSETS PAGE 8 FOLLOW US ON
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Executive associate Judge grants preliminary approval athletic director Brian of $14 million lawsuit settlement Austin dies at age 59
B y THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
Brian Austin, the longtime executive associate director of athletics for varsity sports, died of cancer Monday evening. He was 59. “An exceptionally talented administrator, [Austin] had a rare gift for relating to his colleagues, and was a tireless advocate for his coaches and for all of Dartmouth’s student-athletes,” wrote College President Phil Hanlon in an email to the
Dartmouth community. In his nearly two decades at Dartmouth, Austin oversaw the daily operations of the College’s 35 varsity teams and had direct oversight over nine of them, including baseball, field hockey and men’s basketball. Austin arrived at the College in 2002, when he was named the senior associate director of athletics. In 2008, Austin was promoted to his most recent position. SEE AUSTIN PAGE 2
DOC First-Year Trips names 2020 directorate B y MAUD MCCOLE The Dartmouth
Months before the Class of 2024 arrives on campus, preparations for the Dartmouth Outing Club’s First-Year Trips program are well underway. Yesterday, Trips director Kellen Appleton ’20 and associate director Jake Klein ’20 announced the group of students who will form the directorate to oversee this year’s iteration of Trips. The directorate encompasses every aspect of Trips, from the
Hanover Croo captains — who train the students that will welcome members of the Class of 2024 as they arrive on campus, to the outdoor logistics coordinators — whose responsibilities involve more behind the scenes work. This year, the new trip leaders will learn from Eduardo CoreaDilbert ’20, Katie McCabe ’21 and Naomi Miller ’21. Working behind the scenes, Annie Yanofsky ’21 will serve as SEE TRIPS PAGE 3
STAFF PHOTO
Dartmouth and the nine plaintiffs suing the College first announced a settlement in August.
B y THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF A federal judge on We d n e s d a y g r a n t e d preliminary approval of a $14-million settlement in the class action sexual misconduct lawsuit against Dartmouth brought by nine former students who claim the College turned a blind eye to years of allegations against three former psychological and brain sciences professors. In a 43-page order, Judge Landya McCafferty of the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire wrote that the court will likely approve the proposed settlement and scheduled a hearing on June 25 to help the court
determine final approval of the terms. College spokesper son Diana Lawrence wrote in an email statement that the College is “pleased” the court granted preliminary approval, noting the judge’s recognition that the settlement “would achieve an efficient resolution of the class claims, avoiding unnecessary and duplicative litigation for all parties and the judicial system.” “We remain grateful for the courage of the plaintiffs who came forward alongside other students to shine a light on the unacceptable environment created by three former faculty members,” Lawrence wrote. Under the terms of the
settlement, which the parties first announced in August, the College condemned the actions of the former professors but admitted no liability for their conduct; Dartmouth, however, sought “to eliminate the burden, expense, inconvenience, uncertainty, distraction, and risk of further litigation,” as well as to compensate any individuals harmed by the conduct of the professors. The College agreed to a $14-million compensation for the settlement class, which was broadly defined to include the original plaintiffs as well as any current or former female student of the SEE SETTLEMENT PAGE 3
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
Rep. Ann Kuster attends Hanover Amherst alum, Austin meeting on “Ready for 100” campaign came to College in 2002 B y SOLEIL GAYLORD The Dartmouth
On Monday morning, community members, students and a group of panelists including Rep. Ann Kuster ’78 (D-NH) convened at Hanover’s Town Hall to discuss the town’s “Ready for 100” action campaign. During the event, panelists and community members showed support for the town’s renewable energy plans and discussed the progress of the initiative, while some attendees also voiced criticism of College’s proposed biomass heating plant. The town’s plan, which Kuster supports, commits Hanover to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, and to 100 percent renewable heating and transportation sources by 2050. The proposal, which was voted upon and approved by Hanover community members in 2017, would make Hanover the first municipality in the United States to enact a renewable energy campaign through popular support. Monday’s round-table panel consisted of nine members, who worked for various organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club, Clean Energy New Hampshire, the League of Conservation Voters, the Revers Center for Energy, the Sierra Club, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, The Nature Conservancy and Vital Communities. Hanover town manager Julia Griffin also participated in the panel discussion. Throughout the meeting, Kuster consistently emphasized the urgency of climate change, particularly in the Northeast. Kuster, whose father
owned Wildcat Ski Resort, mentioned her personal connection with the changing climate in the state of New Hampshire, where many industries are intimately tied to the environment and outdoor recreation. “In New Hampshire, we are living it day-to-day,” Kuster said. Kuster noted that New Hampshire is well-versed in environmental action, which she hopes will galvanize action throughout the state. “T hese are environmental organizations that have been active in New Hampshire for 100 years and have shown leadership on land conservation, energy conservation and renewable conservation,” Kuster said. “We are not starting from scratch.” Kuster said New Hampshire can use its base of support to prompt further climate action campaigns. “I feel very good about this –– I hope there is this kind of local energy and grassroots support in congressional districts around the country,” Kuster said. “I know New Hampshire can lead the way.” Sarah Nelson, research director of Appalachian Mountain Club, began the meeting with several statistics about climate changes in Northeastern weather patterns. According to Nelson, New Hampshire has experienced 18 fewer freezing nights per winter and 21 fewer days of snow cover over the past century. She added that winters in the state have become three weeks shorter overall –– all alarming statistics in a state where the ski industry is paramount to economic success. “We are calling them winter weather whiplash events,” Nelson said.
CORRECTIONS Correction appended (Jan. 29, 2020): In the Jan. 28 article “Sig Ep fraternity, disbanded in 2018, eyes fall return to campus,” Isiah Berg was originally quoted as saying that a staffer from Nashville will assist the fraternity. He actually said “National,” referring to Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national organization. We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com.
Nelson stressed the importance of long-term monitoring of air, freshwater and forest health, adding that New Hampshire’s trend towards reforestation will play an important future role in carbon sequestration. According to April Salas, Hanover sustainability director and director of the Revers Center for Energy at the Tuck School of Business, several communities in New Hampshire have already reached out to Hanover, hoping to emulate the town’s adoption of the “Ready for 100” action proposal. She said Hanover’s implementation of the campaign has involved a threepronged approach — first, working with residents, then small businesses and eventually with larger entities such as the College. “Since the vote, and since Dartmouth’s endorsement, they have installed upwards of 13-plus solar systems on the roofs of buildings across the campus,” Salas said of the College’s commitment to sustainability. Some attendants of the meeting criticized the college for its plan to replace its oil-burning energy plant with a biomass plant. Miriam Osofsky, a resident of the Upper Valley who is involved in the Upper Valley Clean Air Committee, mentioned her concern for the College’s heating plans. “Biomass is a false solution,” Osofsky said in an interview after the event. “I’m concerned about the toxic air pollutants that will be emitted in Hanover if Dartmouth proceeds with its plan to incinerate biomass near my home.” Despite these concerns, most panelists and attendees seemed supportive of the College and the town’s progress. New Hampshire Sierra Club chapter director Cathy Corkery praised Hanover’s success as a leader in the clean energy movement, particularly as a small community. “People really are learning from example from what a small town can do with this program, and really dig in,” Corkery said.
FROM AUSTIN PAGE 1
Austin began his career in athletics after graduating from Amherst College in 1984, working as a baseball coach at his alma mater and the University of Massachusetts until 1986. After spending a year at Syracuse University as an administrative intern, he then spent nine years at Cornell University and six years at Translyvania University in administrative capacities. “To Brian, the best life was not
one completely wrapped up in the athletics department — or for that matter, in any department,” Hanlon wrote. “The best life was a well-rounded one, with family at the center, and he wanted that for all those with whom he worked.” Austin is survived by his wife Bev, as well as his two daughters, Sarah and Kristina. A full obituary will be published in the near future. If you would like to share a memory, please contact editor@thedartmouth.com.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
PAGE 3
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
Lawsuit settlement was Director seeks to focus on inclusivity announced in August FROM TRIPS PAGE 1
FROM SETTLEMENT PAGE 1
PBS department who can attest to have experienced harm as a result of the professors’ actions. Every member of the proposed class, unless they choose to opt out, is entitled to a payment of at least $1,000, subject to the evaluation of an independent claims expert, whom the court named to be Maria Walsh of Boston, MA. In an email statement to The Dartmouth, Deborah Marcuse, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said the settlement brings “significant benefits” to both current class members and future students. “We are supremely proud of the plaintiffs who pursued justice here,” Marcuse wrote. “As they had hoped, Dartmouth will be a stronger institution as a result of their courage.” The lawsuit, Rapuano et. al. v. Trustees of Dartmouth College, was filed in Nov. 2018 by seven former students who accused the three professors — Todd Heatherton, William Kelley and Paul Whalen — of having turned the PBS department into a “21st-century Animal House” and claimed that
Dartmouth did not sufficiently act to address over 16 years’ worth of allegations against the professors. The professors were initially placed on leave in 2017 after a Title IX investigation by the College. In October of that year, The Dartmouth reported on the professors’ absence from campus, prompting the New Hampshire attorney general’s office to open a criminal investigation, which is still ongoing. In a response to the lawsuit filed in Jan. 2019, the College denied many of the plaintiffs’ claims and argued that “prompt action” was taken in response to the allegations. In May 2019, two additional former students, whose identities were kept anonymous, joined as plaintiffs to the lawsuit, bringing to light additional allegations against the former professors and also prompting a response by the College challenging the ability of litigants to justifiably use pseudonyms when making specific accusations. However, later that month, the two parties announced that they would be seeking mediation, and the settlement was announced after three days of negotiations.
the risk management coordinator, while Elise Rust ’21 and Jessica Chen ’21 will work as the sustainability coordinators. Heading Vox Croo are Elliot Ng ’21 and Emily Stehr ’21, while Reyn Hutten ’21 will lead Oak Hill Croo. Sarah Jennewein ’21 will lead Klymbing Croo. The outdoor logistics coordinators are Alex Wells ’22 and Gigi Gunderson ’21, while Alisya Reza ’22 and Mia Nelson ’22 will serve as the outreach coordinators. Rachel Florman ’21 and Sam Lefkofsky ’21 will be the Hanover Croo captains, and Coby Gibson ’21 and Eden Price ’21 will be the Grant Croo captains. Working to direct Lodj Croo will be Kevin Donohue ’21 and Noel Siegert ’21, who will be joined by Kitchen Magician Rachel Kent ’21. Appleton, who worked on Vox Croo in 2017 and served as its captain last year, said he hopes to focus on Trips’ inclusivity this year by making it clear that trips are for everyone. He added that he hopes to increase participation from the incoming freshman class — which was 88 percent last year — while also getting more current students involved in Trips. True to this goal, the biggest three crews — Hanover Croo, Lodj Croo and Vox Croo — will be led by students who have not participated in these groups before, according to Appleton. “Trips is a space where anyone can
volunteer if they want to,” Appleton said. “We’re bringing in as many faces as we possibly can.” In reviewing applications for the directorate, Appleton said he considered both practical skills and aspects that would contribute to the inclusive atmosphere on Trips. “It’s like this balancing act: finding people who are really good at logistics of like, moving things around and making sure that nobody gets lost in the woods,” Appleton said. “And then people who are, you know, vulnerable, empathetic, reflective of all these things that are going to make people better transition into college.” One of the changes aimed at increasing a sense of inclusivity on Trips is the addition of a new directorate position: the Kitchen Magician. Appleton said that in recent years, the Lodj has faced challenges meeting the dietary needs of all Trips participants. Appleton hopes that this new position will provide a remedy for this problem and make Trips more accessible for a variety of people. Reza, one of this year’s outreach coordinators, said that an emphasis on inclusivity goes beyond getting new people to participate directly in Trips. She said she plans to reach out to a variety of student groups about how to cultivate a sense of belonging on campus through honest conversations. “What we really are interested in is
reaching out to campus and listening to what they have to say about Trips,” Reza said. “If we want to be more inclusive to communities on campus, then we also should be trying to hear what they have to say.” Corea-Dilbert, who will serve as one of the trip leader trainers this year, served as a trip leader in 2018 and volunteered on Lodj Croo this past year. Along with the rest of the directorate, CoreaDilbert is responsible for reviewing the applications of the students who apply to lead or serve on different crews. Like Appleton and Reza, Corea-Dilbert said he hopes to have a group that is representative of Dartmouth’s student body. In designing the trip leader training, Corea-Dilbert said he aims to continue last year’s emphasis on mental health. Echoing the sentiment of several directorate members, Corea-Dilbert said that his interest in Trips comes from the positive experience he had and that he hopes to create those same experiences for others. “One of the main reasons why I applied, and one of the main reasons why I keep coming back to [Trips], is just because I felt the Trips magic,” CoreaDilbert said. “That’s just something that I want to be a part of again.” Nelson is a member of The Dartmouth staff.
NATALIE DAMERON/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
The new First-Year Trips directorate will oversee the program for the Class of 2024.
PAGE 4
DARTMOUTHEVENTS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS
ICE AGE
LAUREN PINCHUK ’21
TODAY 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Exhibit: “The Ties that Bind: Slavery and Dartmouth.” Sponsored by the Library, Rauner Special Collections Library.
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Lecture: “DEC Energy Lunch Series: Energy & Society in Northern Greenland with Mary Albert.” Sponsored by the Irving Institute, Occom Commons, Goldstein Hall.
7:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Film: “Parasite.” Sponsored by the Hopkins Center, Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center.
TOMORROW 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Film: “Pain and Glory.” Sponsored by the Hopkins Center, Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center.
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Astronomy: “Public Astronomical Observing.” Sponsored by the Department of Physics, Shattuck Observatory.
FROM TESZLER PAGE 7
of Americans in a recent AP poll thought the President had done something illegal or unethical in terms of Ukraine. Strong majorities also support additional testimony, with about seven in 10 in both polls in favor of the Senate calling more witnesses. Admittedly, the numbers narrow on the question of Trump’s removal — the most recent Fox news poll finds removal favored 50 percent to 44 percent, similar to CNN’s 51 percent to 45 percent, suggesting a narrow majority in favor of removal. These numbers demonstrate that any senator, Portman included, should give Trump a fair trial. Americans are rightly convinced that Trump abused his power, and they deserve serious consideration of removal. Even many Democrats will admit that they think nothing will come out of the impeachment process. Republicans like Portman will stand by the President no matter what the trial reveals, leaving Trump in office. I am not denying that very strong possibility. But this is a matter of principle.
No matter what the Senate does, we as American citizens cannot let apathy and low standards define the political process. The senators are our elected representatives, and if they purposefully and proudly neglect their essential duties, they deserve to be voted out. There remains one hopeful possibility: Portman has not ruled out calling additional witnesses after the conclusion of oral arguments. Such a step is obviously necessary. Trump associate Lev Parnas recently outlined a coordinated White House effort to shake down the Ukrainian government, with details corroborated by damning tapes of the President’s “take her out” demand regarding his own Ambassador to Ukraine. Sen. Portman, vote for new witnesses, especially Bolton. Oppose a coordinated cover up. Fulfill the basic responsibilities of a thorough investigation and a fair trial. Perhaps that isn’t a popular position to take right now as a senate Republican, but it is the only justifiable one. Portman has a chance to take a stand — now let’s see if he has the courage to do so.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
PAGE 5
Snow sculpture rises to new heights as Winter Carnival approaches B y GIGI GRIGORIAN The Dartmouth Staff
The College’s 110th annual Winter Carnival, based on the theme “A Blizzard of Unbelievable Beasts,” will begin next Thursday. While the celebration has not yet begun, its preparations are visible on campus — namely with the large wooden scaffolding of the traditional snow sculpture in the center of the Green. The annual snow sculpture, constructed by a team of students, has come to symbolize Winter Carnival weekend, according to snow sculpture chair Christopher Cartwright ’21. This year’s sculpture will be a “recognizable monster,” in keeping with the theme, Cartwright said. The exact creature has not yet been officially announced, though the general shape of the scaffolding has led to some speculation. Cartwright, along with snow sculpture designers Luca Di Leo ’22 and Francis Sapienza ’21, approached the design process for the sculpture with a goal in mind: “We wanted to go taller than it’s been in a while,” he said. However, with size comes safety concerns. Cartwright pointed to the 2009 Moosilauke Ravine Lodge snow sculpture as an example of one that collapsed during a heat spell and subsequently had to be bulldozed. “It was very ambitious,” Cartwright said. “They wanted [students to be able to] walk inside it.” Since then, the College has been “more nervous” about internal structures, Cartwright said. For that reason, the students involved in the design of this year’s sculpture had to submit detailed plans to the College outlining the sculpture’s internal structure, framework and size, among other parameters. Attaining the desired height is not an easy task. According to Cartwright, the first eight feet of snow in the sculpture was dumped into place by College facilities operations and management trucks. Constructed in a wooden frame, the subsequent layers of snow have been put into place by students in an assembly line fashion. Next week, they will remove the frame and begin carving the snow.
Cartwright noted that the sculpture might shrink after the frame is removed, depending on the weather. The snow used for the sculpture has been brought onto the Green from the Dartmouth Skiway, given that there is not a reliable abundance of snow on the Green due to the unpredictability of the weather. Artistically inclined students worked on the execution of the design, engineers helped with the design and planning and groups like the DOC and sports teams provided much of the labor to build the sculpture, according to Cartwright. “It can unite all groups of campus,” he said. “It’s one of the few projects that anyone can get involved with.” The snow sculpture will take on increased visibility this year compared to recent years, with the addition of a new “snow dome.” Historically, according to Cartwright, events such as the Winter Carnival opening ceremony were held outside in the shadow of the sculpture. However, over the years, many were moved indoors due to the weather. This year, many of these events will be moved back outdoors and held in what Winter Carnival Council co-chair Mychaela Anderson ’20 calls an “inflatable dome” on the Green. The dome, a tent-like structure which is slightly smaller than the size of Collis Common Ground, will be located next to the snow sculpture. The dome will allow events to take place outside while also offering some protection from the weather, noted David Pack, associate director of student involvement and an advisor to the Winter Carnival Council. The dome will house the opening ceremony, which has been held in Collis in recent years. The dome will also host other events throughout the weekend, such as a silent disco event called the Snow Glow Disco, Anderson said. This year’s Winter Carnival will see the continuation of well-known events such as the polar bear swim at Occom Pond as well as an ice sculpture contest and human dogsled races on the Green. Winter Carnival Council is also adding new events related to this year’s theme. One such event is the bigfoot races, which will be a competition for students to race each other wearing “big feet,”
or snowshoes. “It’s an event that has come and gone in years prior,” Winter Carnival Council co-chair Juan Miche Rosales ’20 said. “This year, because of Bigfoot and Sasquatch, we’re bringing it back and hopefully continuing it in the future.” This year’s Winter Carnival will also bring several reflective events, which Anderson called “lighthearted academic engagement.” Related to the theme of unbelievable beasts, these events will focus on the personal and cultural influences of folklore across the globe. At the Winter Carnival Council’s event called “S’more Lore,” students and other community members are invited to share stories that are important to them. In keeping with the title, participants will make s’mores at bonfires on the Green. The Winter Carnival Council is also putting on an “Ales and Tales” event on Monday, prior to the weekly Microbrews event in Collis. At this event, two professors will lead a discussion about folklore and why it is so prevalent in different cultures. “It’s going to be a nice event to kick off the theme and Winter Carnival and add an educational factor to it,” Miche Rosales said. While the Winter Carnival Council spearheads many of the iconic Winter Carnival events, other departments across campus create programming in conjunction with the theme. For example, Rauner Special Collections Library puts together an annual exhibit related to the theme; this year, it will focus on folklore. Additionally, this year, the Hop is showing the film “Frozen II” during the big weekend. One iconic piece of Winter Carnival will be missing this year, however: the annual ski carnival at the Dartmouth Skiway. The Winter Carnival big weekend was historically “built to coincide” with the annual ski carnival, in which the College ski team competes against other universities at the Dartmouth Skiway, Pack said. However, due to a new scheduling system in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association, the league in which the Dartmouth ski team competes, the College will not host a home race this season.
JULIA LEVINE/THE DARTMOUTH
Wood planks keep the true identity of this year’s snow sculpture a secret.
PAGE 6
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
BARBARA WILL
GUEST COLUMNIST MAGGIE FLAHERTY ’21
Letter to the Editor: Major Salaries not Straightforward
A Person Can Be Many Things
Re: “Dartmouth majors yield wide range of salaries, per federal data” (Jan. 21, 2020): The Dartmouth’s Jan. 21 analysis of the correlation between undergraduate majors and post-graduate salaries could have told a bigger story. While the article presented a strongly positive case for majoring in computer science, engineering and other fi elds that might allow students to pay off debt after graduation, it never mentioned studies suggesting the long-term economic payoff of majoring in non-STEM fi elds. A recent New York Times article titled “In the Salary Race, Engineers Sprint but English Majors Endure, ” suggests that by the age of 40, students who majored in a fi eld like history are making as much as — or even more than — their peers who majored in computer science. Majors that allow students to cultivate “soft skills” vital to a rapidly changing workplace — skills like strong written communication, verbal acuity and ability to think about unintended consequences — are best prepared to navigate a future where they may change jobs as many as four times over their lifetime. At the end of the day, though, it’s the
DEBORA HYEMIN HAN, Editor-in-Chief
Dartmouth degree — rather than the choice of major — that matters. According to a recent Georgetown University public policy analysis, students from liberal arts colleges like Dartmouth have a greater lifetime return on their investment, regardless of major, than students at schools with strong pre-professional programs. By narrowly focusing on immediate post-graduate salaries of computer science, engineering and other supposedly preprofessional majors, The Dartmouth’s article lost a fi ne opportunity to consider the short- versus long-term implications of a college major. In so doing, it perpetuated the myth that at Dartmouth only certain undergraduate majors count. Barbara Will is the A. and R. Newbury professor of English and Associate Dean of the Arts and Humanities. The Dartmouth welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor. We request that they be the original work of the submitter. Letters should not be longer than 250 words and must include the name, location and contact information of the author. Submissions may be sent to both opinion@thedartmouth.com and editor@ thedartmouth.com. Submissions will receive a response within three business days.
AIDAN SHEINBERG, Publisher
ALEX FREDMAN, Executive Editor PETER CHARALAMBOUS, Managing Editor
PRODUCTION EDITORS TEDDY HILL-WELD & MATTHEW MAGANN, Opinion Editors KYLEE SIBILIA & NOVI ZHUKOVSKY, Mirror Editors ADDISON DICK & JUSTIN KRAMER & LILI STERN, Sports Editors LEX KANG & LUCY TURNIPSEED, Arts Editors NAINA BHALLA & LORRAINE LIU, Photo Editors SAMANTHA BURACK & BELLA JACOBY, Design Editors GRANT PINKSTON, Templating Editor JESS CAMPANILE, Multimedia Editor
ANTHONY ROBLES, Managing Editor
BUSINESS DIRECTORS JONNY FRIED, JASMINE FU, RAIDEN MEYER, Advertising & Finance Directors HIMADRI NARASIMHAMURTHY & KAI SHERWIN, Business Development Directors ALBERT CHEN & ELEANOR NIEDERMAYER, Strategy Directors VINAY REDDY & ERIC ZHANG, Marketing, Analytics and Technology Directors
ELIZA JANE SCHAEFFER, Engagement Editor WILLIAM CHEN & AARON LEE, Data Visualization Editors
ISSUE LAYOUT PIERCE WILSON SUBMISSIONS: We welcome letters and guest columns. All submissions must include the author’s name and affiliation with Dartmouth College, and should not exceed 250 words for letters or 700 words for columns. The Dartmouth reserves the right to edit all material before publication. All material submitted becomes property of The Dartmouth. Please email submissions to editor@thedartmouth.com.
Kobe Bryant was an icon, but greatness doesn’t erase harm. An athlete who inspired a generation can be and he certainly did not face any signifi cant a rapist. A parent can be a rapist. Someone who consequences. died too young can be a rapist. And yes, Kobe This happens at Dartmouth, too. A Bryant was a rapist. Dartmouth student may assault someone and In 2003, Bryant had what he claimed was only realize it afterwards — or sometimes never consensual sex with a 19-year-old woman who at all. Either way, being held accountable is rarely worked at a hotel at which he was staying at part of the story. in Edwards, CO. Bryant was 24. After the Ignorance about the impact of one’s actions encounter, the woman went to the police. In does not excuse the harm done. One person can the course of their investigation, the police think a sexual encounter is consensual while the discovered DNA on Bryant’s clothing matching other endures a traumatic experience that is no the victim. After the media and Bryant’s legal less real because of the perpetrator’s (willful) team dragged the victim’s personal history ignorance. As a society, we need to recognize that through a public spotlight, the rape charge was two people can experience the same situation in dropped. The woman then wildly diff erent ways. More fi led a civil lawsuit which was than that, we need to listen “As a society, we settled behind closed doors. to the person who walks away need to recognize A year after the charges, traumatized. The fact that a Bryant’s sponsorships were that two people can perpetrator can be a father, still valued at at least $13 a friend or an accomplished million a year , and fi ve years experience the same athlete does not make it okay after the incident, he was to ignore the horrible things situation in wildly named the NBA’s MVP . His they’ve done. different ways.” reputation did not take a Kobe Br yant was an very hard hit, and any hit it exceptional athlete who did take seems to have been washed away with inspired a generation. I’m not arguing that we time. The biggest story to come out of the case should forget that, or that it is wrong to mourn was the $4-million apology ring he purchased him. The crash that killed him, his daughter and for his wife. their friends is an unquestionable tragedy. But In a statement made through his attorney, we also need to face the fact that Bryant was a Bryant said, “Although I truly believe this perpetrator of sexual violence. Someone is still encounter between us was consensual, I living with the trauma he caused. And in light recognize now that she did not and does not of that, we need to remember Bryant’s actions view this incident the same way I did . . . I in their entirety. now understand how she feels that she did not Bryant’s story isn’t unique. That person consent to this encounter.” In other words, Bryant accused of rape at Dartmouth might be your acknowledged that his victim experienced a rape best friend. They might have a signifi cant other. but blamed the way she “felt” about the encounter They might have been that upperclassman who instead of accepting his own culpability. was nice to you when you were a fi rst-year. That I want to make it clear that there are many person might go on to do great things in the perpetrators who know exactly what they world. You might be inspired by them, just as are doing. They know the other person is not you were inspired by Bryant. But none of that okay with what’s going on and they proceed changes the fact that they perpetrated sexual regardless. But there are also perpetrators violence. who may not understand in the moment that So as we celebrate Bryant’s many what they are doing is assault. Due to a lack of accomplishments and mourn his untimely education, unawareness of power dynamics or death, we must keep in mind this fundamental their own entitlement, they do not understand truth: The person we celebrate might still be why someone might not feel comfortable saying someone’s rapist. no — and they don’t see any need to ask for a yes. Flaherty is a member of the Class of 2021. Bryant, based on his statement his statement, The Dartmouth welcomes guest columns. We request seems to have some understanding of what he that guest columns be the original work of the submitter. did. He knew that the woman had a diff erent Submissions may be sent to both opinion@thedartmouth. experience than his own, but he failed to com and editor@thedartmouth.com. Submissions will take responsibility for the harm he caused, receive a response within three business days.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
PAGE 7
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST MAX TESZLER ’23
Time for a Fair Trial
STAFF COLUMNIST PETER LEUTZ ’22
Cabin Fever
Rob Portman needs to do better.
Searching for perspective in Hanover.
If a juror declared the defendant innocent “total coordination” with the President before the trial even began, would you on the impeachment issue, wanted to consider that fair? Of course not — but that compress the House’s presentation to just seems to be a perfectly acceptable standard two days. To his credit, Portman helped for Sen. Rob Portman ’78 (R-OH), despite lead a group of senators to instead space his “moderate” bona fides when it comes to out the testimony over three days. Such a impeachment. Explosive step was vitally necessary reports that for mer “Portman suggested — many senators have national security adviser discomfort with instead that voters be expressed John Bolton can provide the long hours and tight allowed “to take this rules, which includes a firsthand confirmation of the President’s corruption into the election” — a ban on snacking, talking have yet to yield any and drinking caffeinated reasonable-sounding beverages. definitive statement from the Senator. M c C o n e l l ’ s statement which Back in December, proposed two-day timeline masks Portman’s Portman declared, “I don’t would have made each day dereliction of one see the evidence that leads of the trial 12 hours long, to an impeachable offense” further taxing the senators of the Senate’s — after the testimony and pushing hearings most sacred roles in of several ambassadors into the late hours of the corroborated Trump’s upholding American night, long past primetime pressure campaign to coverage. It was an open democracy.” get political dirt on attempt to suppress the h i s o p p o n e n t s. A f t e r fair functioning of the proclaiming the President innocent before Senate. Portman hardly deserves praise for the trial even started, Portman suggested opposition to something so nakedly biased. instead that voters be allowed “to take this Really, his actions were the bare minimum. into the election” — a reasonable-sounding Compare this to Portman’s zealousness statement which masks Portman’s dereliction during the impeachment of President Bill of one of the Senate’s most Clinton. Like Trump, sacred roles in upholding Clinton abused the power “The Senators American democracy. o f h i s o f f i c e, t a k i n g are our elected Article 1, Section 3 of advantage of a young representatives, and if intern and lying about it the Constitution could not be more clear: “The they purposefully and under oath. Portman voted Senate shall have the to charge Clinton with proudly neglect their perjury and obstruction sole [p]ower to try all [i] mpeachments,” with each essential duties, they of justice, declaring, “... senator serving “on [o]ath the President, by the very deserve to be voted or [a]ffirmation” as a fair nature of his office — has out.” juror. The impeachment a special responsibility process was intended to set an example.” Mr. specifically to remove public servants who Portman, does a president who asks a foreign abused their office and warranted swift leader for a personal political favor meet this removal. Portman seems willing to punt high standard? Does illegally withholding on that job, saying the American people foreign aid and being rebuked by it for by should simply be content to sit around with a the Government Accountability Office “set corrupt president, who, by the way, Portman an example”? considers unquestionably innocent. If this is Polling demonstrates that a strong majority the “reasonable” position, it only shows how of Americans rightfully take the President’s far the standards have fallen. conduct in Ukraine very seriously. Fifty-eight Even the most basic standards of fairness percent of respondents in a CNN poll thought at this trial have been hard-won. At the the President abused his power; 74 percent start of the trial, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has promised SEE TESZLER PAGE 4
Most of us know the famous Daniel like I never truly leave any of them in terms Webster quote about Dartmouth College: “It of mental presence. I leave the library, and is sir, as I have said, a small college. And yet, just seconds later, I can be in bed — even there are those who love it.” Certainly, I am though mentally I’m still in the library. My among one of those who love it. There are perspective within this new space is clouded very few other major universities endowed in by a lingering perspective of the other. the same way with the privileges of proximity Our campus is physically small, which that come with a small, liberal arts college can inspire a kind of claustrophobia to feel. However, there are costs that accompany perspective. It is difficult to create mental these privileges. distance between academic and social life. Such costs are not a result of our relatively When there is little to no physical distance small student body, which allows for a between these spheres of life, that mental tight-knit community of students and close distance (or perspective) becomes increasingly relationships with professors. Rather, the difficult, and each sphere becomes crowded costs are a result of Dartmouth’s campus with the perspective of another. I’m not being small in terms of physical space. As arguing the College should find a way to make one heads down Webster campus bigger — picking Avenue — perhaps the up Webster and moving it “Mental distance is physical embodiment of a few miles down the road necessary to make our “small” college — is not a plausible solution. you’ll pass by a library, It is on us, as up for the physical dormitories, a church and students, to recognize that distance that life countless Greek houses. In our college’s campus is a given day, the average quite small. When moving at a ‘small college’ Dartmouth student can place to place, we may lack. Without it, from study, sleep, pray and party, should make a conscious our minds and our all on the same block. effort to mentally move M y l i f e, w i t h t h e perspectives may catch to that place as well. If exception of the occasional not, we will constantly a crippling case of excursion off campus, feel partially like we are exists within a radius relaxing, partying and cabin fever.” of a couple hundred studying all at the same yards. Certainly, there is time. This lack of mental a convenience to this nexus of college life. presence is exhausting and clouds perspective. Whether it’s going out, going to bed or Beyond making an effort to consciously move going to study, my commute is negligible. through different spheres of life, such clouded However, there is a value to the commute. perspective can be clarified by mentally While at times inconvenient, physical distance engaging with the world beyond the physical between spheres of life provides a mental limits of our campus. This can come in space between them. Such mental space is many forms with varying levels of required necessary for perspective and reflection. commitment: studying abroad, involvement I lived in the River cluster freshman year. in the local community, staying up to date on While the commute was long, especially in current events or even just making sure to call the winter weather, it allowed me to transition home on occasion. While it is a blessing to through both physical and mental space. call ourselves Dartmouth students, it would When I left the library, the time I spent be a shame to be nothing more. walking down Tuck Drive allowed me to When we live our entire lives within fully leave the academic sphere of my life essentially the same space — as I am living and transition mentally into a more relaxed mine within a few hundred yards — it’s easy dorm environment. Wherever I went, the to get trapped within the same mental space long walk forced me to consciously commit as well. to be mentally present in that space. I still Mental distance is necessary to make up transition through different spheres of life for the physical distance that life at a “small on campus, whether that’s academic, social, college” may lack. Without it, our minds and religious or athletic. our perspectives may catch a crippling case However, without a commute, I often feel of cabin fever.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020
THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
Grammy Awards featured a tumultuous lead-up, few upsets B y JACK HARGROVE The Dartmouth
In its 62nd edition, the Grammy Awards ceremony managed to do exactly what it has become known for in recent years: stir up minor controversy despite being completely predictable. The week leading up to the Grammys was a complete mess; Deborah Dugan, the recently appointed president of the Recording Academy who was chosen to deliver much-needed reform to the awards, was placed on administrative leave after she allegedly tried to enact deep reform. After her removal, she claimed that the Grammys were full of corruption and vote-fixing, and Taylor Swift canceled her performance at the show in response. In addition, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter unexpectedly died in a helicopter crash the morning of the Grammys. This cast a dark shadow over the entire ceremony, which took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Lakers’ home stadium. Despite all of this, the show went on with many of 2019’s most celebrated artists putting on great performances as well as a few surprise winners. For the second year in a row, Alicia Keys hosted, and she did a respectable job. She was clearly saddened by the death of Bryant, and in tribute, Boyz II Men joined her onstage for a rendition of their song “It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.” Another highlight of Keys’ hosting was her performance of a song with her own original lyrics to the tune of “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi about various nominees. Over the course of the night, there were 22 separate performances, most by people nominated for at least one award. The sheer number of performances has, at this point,
become astounding; over the course of the three-hour-and-40-minute event, there were only nine awards presented. The rest of the time was filled with performances. This aspect of the ceremony sets the Grammys apart from the other major awards shows, as there is a much heavier focus on the nominees instead of who wins the awards in the Grammys. While it is a treat to watch so many of music’s best artists perform one after the other, it is a little disappointing that more focus is not put on the awards. This is especially egregious, because there are 84 total categories — and only about 10 percent are shown on screen. But before getting into the performances, an overview of the winners is necessary. The biggest winner on the night was Billie Eilish, who took home five Grammys, including all four of the major categories. She is the second artist ever to sweep the four major categories, which consist of Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Best New Artist, all in one year. The only other artist to ever do this was Christopher Cross in 1981, who quickly faded into obscurity afterward. Despite how massive of an achievement this is, it was obvious how uncomfortable Eilish was with her victories. In her speech for Album of the Year, she said that she believed that Ariana Grande should have won the award, and before being announced as the winner for Record Of The Year, Eilish was seen mouthing “Please don’t be me.” Sudden fame can be difficult for anyone to deal with, especially for someone as young as Eilish, who is only 18. Lizzo won three of the eight awards she was nominated for, including Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Lil Nas
X won two of his six nominations, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, both for “Old Town Road.” The Chemical Brothers won both Dance/Electronic awards and Vampire Weekend came away with the victory for Best Alternative Music Album. Rosalía won the award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album and Dave Chappelle won the award for Best Comedy album despite not being present to accept the award. Tyler, the Creator won his first-ever Grammy in his 13-year career, with a victory in the Best Rap Album field for his album “IGOR.” He accepted the award onstage with his mother, echoing the line “My goal in life is a Grammy, hopefully Mom’ll attend the ceremony” from his 2009 song “Bastard.” While this should have been a happy moment for him, he revealed that it was actually bittersweet after the show. In an interview, he stated, “On one side, I’m very grateful that what I made could just be acknowledged in a world like this. But also, it sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that’s genre-bending, they always put it in a ‘rap’ or ‘urban’ category, which, I don’t like that ‘urban’ word. It’s just a politically correct way to say the N-word to me. So when I hear that, I’m just like ‘Why can’t we just be in pop?’... half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment.” These comments underscore a recurring problem with the Grammys, where it seems that white artists perform in a separate category than everyone else. As a result, the awards for music deemed “rap,” “urban” or “R&B” feel like consolation prizes to the winners. In addition to all of the awards, there were plenty of performances spread throughout the night. The first performance, and also one of the best,
was Lizzo’s. Opening with “Tonight is for Kobe,” Lizzo sang her songs “Cuz I Love You” and “Truth Hurts” while being backed by an entire orchestra. The best part of her performance was when a flute was lowered from the ceiling and she performed a fantastic flute solo. Later in the show, Ariana Grande delivered a great medley of her songs “imagine,” “7 rings” and “thank u, next,” all from her latest album. Eilish gave one of the most mellow performances of the night, singing her quiet ballad “When the Party’s Over” while her brother and producer Finneas played the piano. In a very moving performance, Demi Lovato sang publicly for the first time since her near-fatal heroin overdose in July 2018. She gave an emotional rendition of “Anyone,” a song she recorded only four days before her overdose and that detailed her substance abuse problems. Perhaps the strangest, yet most entertaining, performance of the night was by Lil Nas X, who sang his massive hit “Old Town Road” on a rotating stage accompanied by Billy Ray Cyrus, BTS, Mason Ramsey, Diplo and Nas. The two best performances of the night were given by Rosalía and Tyler, the Creator. Tyler began his performance by singing his hit “EARFQUAKE” with Boyz II Men and Charlie Wilson before transitioning into the much heavier “NEW MAGIC WAND” in front of a backdrop of suburban houses. While giving an intense and incredible rendition of the latter song, he was surrounded by dozens of impersonators, all wearing the same white wig as him. At the end of the performance, the houses all caught fire and Tyler dropped backward off the set. Rosalía’s performance was much less eventful, yet was just as stunning to watch. In
front of a chorus of people clapping into microphones, Rosalía gave an awe-inspiring performance of her singles “Juro Que” and “Malamente.” The music was complemented by her incredible flamenco dancing. While there were many fantastic performances at the show, there were also a few that were rather disappointing. Near the beginning of the show, married couple Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton gave a very uninspired rendition of Shelton’s song “Nobody But You.” The worst performance of the night was probably Aerosmith, who sang “Living on the Edge” and then “Walk this Way,” accompanied by hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C. The performance was a mess from beginning to end, with off-key vocals, botched solos and scatterbrained choreography. It almost felt like they had failed to practice even one time. The tribute to Prince could also have been much better. Usher was chosen to sing Prince’s songs “Little Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry” and “Kiss” — and was joined onstage by FKA twigs and Sheila E. This choice was extremely questionable, as Usher sounds nothing like Prince did — highlighted when he really struggled to hit the high notes. More questionable, however, was the choice to have FKA twigs dance alongside Usher for the entire performance without singing even once. The last performance of the night was a tribute to music education and longtime executive producer of the Grammys Kenneth Ehrlich, in which a collection of musicians sang “I Sing The Body Electric.” This overly long and boring performance felt very self-congratulatory and was wholly unnecessary. Overall, this year’s Grammys proved to be a compelling event to watch despite its long run time and various missteps.