The Dartmouth 02/06/19

MIR ROR 2.06.19

CHILL OUT THIS ONE GOES OUT TO ALL MY GIRLS |3

TAKE A HIKE, SOMETIME | 4-5

TIME IN THE EYES OF OUR PROFESSORS | 7 COURTESY OF MATT GANNON

2 //MIRR OR

Editors’ Note

Who Run The World?

STORY

MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

We have different ways of dealing with stress. Some will write down everything they need to get done in the next 24 hours and go down the list, chipping away at a seemingly large mountain of to-dos and don’t-forgets. Others will push off what they need to get done — “Hey, I haven’t cleaned my room in a while, let me rearrange my shelves instead of starting this paper due on Friday.” But it’s almost universally understood that being told to “chill out” is, in most cases, unhelpful.

No, taking a chill pill won’t help me ace this test or interview tomorrow. Wow, does it sound like we need to calm down? Excuse you, it’s week six, the part of the term when things aren’t fun anymore. If you’re like us and are in desperate need of a break, explore this week’s issue and chill out with us.

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2.06.19 VOL. CLXXV NO. 128 MIRROR EDITORS NIKHITA HINGORANI CAROLYN ZHOU ASSOCIATE MIRROR SARAH ALPERT EDITORS NOVI ZHUKOVSKY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZACHARY BENJAMIN INTERIM PUBLISHER VINAY REDDY EXECUTIVE EDITOR AMANDA ZHOU

By Yuna Kim

With the social media craze personality does.” cooler and more rewarding to seek dominating our society more than Similarly, in Mutenda’s experi- a social scene through things I care ever, it seems that people around ence, a girl’s Greek affiliation very most about, like music and the arts.” the world — especially girls — are often played a role on girls’ initial As her four years at Dartmouth passing increasingly superficial judgments of one another. come to a close, Park encouraged judgments on one another. Even “When people ’23s to employ a here at Dartmouth, social standards don’t know a perpositive mentality “Sometimes and expectations are certainly set son, one of the first of unique personal high, with more and more condiquestions they’ll sitting around growth and change tions necessary to meet in order often ask is where and watching — rather than unifor a girl to be labeled by her peers that person is affiliformity — during as “cool.” ated, and they pass people play pong their undergraduate According to Ezgi Okutan ’22, subsequent judg- isn’t the most years. her first encounters with the Dartments about that “What I would fulfilling thing, mouth social scene have posed a person based on personally define number of new, unexpected chalthe answer,” Mu- and you’re not ‘cool’ as now is not lenges, including a constant need tenda said. “There’s crazy for thinking the same as what to put on a facade of ease and no doubt that the someone else here happiness.

Greek system defi- that.” would define it as, “In college, I feel there’s this nitely plays a large or even what I would perception that you have to be role in shaping the have thought in the -NASHE MUTENDA social and happy all the time to be idea of who’s cool past,” Park said. “Alconsidered a cool girl,” Okutan said. on campus or who ’20 ways have intention“Even when I’m feeling down, I’ve has a lot of social ality with who you noticed I always try to smile and say capital.” want to be, and know hi to people, which can be hard at At this point in the your own values and times.” year, with nearly half worth no matter what anyone around Reminiscing on of the Class of 2023 you says.” her own freshman “In college, already committed So, while being known as a “cool” year, Nashe Mutenda I feel there’s through Early Deci- girl on campus might seem to come ’20 shared similar current students with some unappealing criteria such this perception sion, sentiments of the sohad much advice for as putting on an act of perpetual cial expectations she that you have the incoming fresh- enthusiasm, happiness or perfecfaced, recalling the to be social men, particularly the tion, many girls here actually come sometimes unrealistic girls. For one, Okutan to similar conclusions: that these or even toxic stan- and happy all called the ’23s to em- standards are rather unrealistic — dards that she and the time to be brace individuality on and simply unfulfilling — for most. her friends had often a campus that can so This phenomenon is not specific considered a aimed to meet. often value confor- to Dartmouth, however. Now more “During my fresh- cool girl.” mity to social norms. than ever, women are prioritizing man year, I personally “I think the most self-care and emotional well-being felt this overwhelming important thing is to over previous traditional social stanpressure to be active -EZGI OKUTAN ’22 be open about who dards. They have started to embrace in the social scene you are and what you more “wholesome” lifestyle trends, because I felt like I’d want and to share that such as social media detoxes and miss out on something with other people,” booze-free living. In other words, if I didn’t act that way,” Mutenda Okutan said. “Showbeing grounded and said. “The social pressure here can ing people who you “Always have authentic seems to be pretty intense sometimes because really are is honestly be society’s new intentionality there are unspoken expectations for the coolest thing you version of “cool.” girls to seem that they have a lot can do. Don’t do with who you Cultivating this of friends and that they’re always things because other type of culture at want to be, and having fun.” people are doing it, Dartmouth will no It seems that much of the ex- but rather because know your own doubt be a chaltreme social strain imposed on girls you want to.” values and worth lenge, as there is no at Dartmouth stems from the fact Mutenda also foreseeable end to that the Greek system plays such a shared her story of no matter what the college’s “work significant role in the social sphere, rooting her social life anyone around hard, play even especially compared to other Ivy through her personal harder” culture. you says.”

League institutions. Joelle Park ’19 identity rather than However, through shared her own experience with the through the maincandid conversaGreek system and its relation with stream Dartmouth -JOELLE PARK ’19 tion between memher social experience at Dartmouth. nightlife. bers of the female “I wouldn’t say there’s a unani“Don’t get me community here mous decision of what it means to wrong, pong can on campus, I think be cool at Dartmouth, since people be great,” Mutenda we’d all be able to and their social environments are said. “But sometimes sitting around agree on tweaking the definition of all so different here,” Park said. watching people play pong isn’t the a “cool” girl, at least a bit; after all, “That being said, people definitely most fulfilling thing, and you’re not why set these unrealistic expectations treated me differently after I rushed, crazy for thinking that. After two if we ourselves don’t truly even wish which introduced me to the concept and a half years of being here, the to meet them? that the Greek house I’m in might social scene can get really repetitive, say a lot more to people than my which is why I now think it’s a lot Okutan is a member of The Dartmouth.

MIRROR //3

This One Goes Out To All My Girls STORY

By Alexa DiCostanzo

This one goes out to all my girls everywhere perpetuating the idea that (and guys) who have ever walked we’ve got to win over the affections away from someone they loved. of someone else, twist ourselves into Let me preface this by saying that I a pretzel to impress someone who don’t always follow my own advice. has demonstrated time and time I know it hurts to again that they do get “iced out.” But not love, want or to be one doing the “Some people value us? If someone icing? To turn your think that cutting refuses to prioritize back on someone you, that is not your someone off is because you know cue to begin firing you deserve better, immature or on all cylinders, fully while every cell in to storm in overdramatic, but prepared your body pleads and make a thousand for you to stay? That I disagree.” and one sacrifices to hurts so much more. win him over and It’s arguably one of convince him to the most difficult change. You know things I’ve ever done. what the Cosmo Icing out, door editors might harp s l a m m i n g, n o on if they actually contact, Dua Lipa’s wanted to imbue “New Rules” or just that unnamed their readers with self-confidence? gut feeling: they’re all different ways That truly fulfilling relationships, of saying the same thing. Someone the ones that will actually provide disrespects, dishonors or devalues us what you need (mutual support, to the extent that it is no longer possible trust, respect and empathy), will to ignore the fact that their presence never require you to compromise in our life does us more harm than your values, your self-esteem or your good. The ice-out, the door slam, the sense of boundaries. This applies to no-contact pledge begins the moment romantic relationships, friendships we decide enough is enough and to and family ties. You can chase stop engaging in any meaningful someone around for years, hoping way with that person. We stop they will come around and change texting, calling, replying to, meeting their ways. You can spend weeks, up with or checking months, years taking up on them. We every quiz in the sever ties completely, “Truly fulfilling book and dreaming with or without an relationships, of the day that official explanation person finally treats the ones that or goodbye. Some you the way you so people think that will actually desperately wish they cutting someone would. I’m telling you provide what off is immature or right now: they won’t. overdramatic, but you need, will There are a I disagree. There is never require you thousand excuses nothing immature we can make for about prioritizing to compromise people who lack your inner peace your values, your basic decency and and well-being over integrity. Let’s run self-esteem or someone who does through the mill real not respect those your sense of quick. “They’re just things very much boundaries.” going through a hard at all. time.” “She doesn’t I had to dissect know what she wants some articles in right now.” “He likes Cosmopolitan last year for an having sex with me but doesn’t want to anthropology course. As expected, commit. If I stick around long enough the magazine was full of anachronistic he’ll realize how great I am and ideas and vaguely insulting change his mind.” “If only I hadn’t suggestions thinly masquerading done X, we would still be together.” as good advice. But none of it kept Or perhaps, the worst of all: “This me from being as utterly taken is my fault. I’m too needy/sensitive/ aback as I was by the plethora of clingy/demanding.” questionable advice the editors No, no, no and HARD no. If you spewed to heartbroken readers. “How are capable of genuine empathy to keep him interested,” “How to get (and I assume you are, if you’re your ex back,” and the quizzes, dear someone who has a Ph.D. in giving God, the quizzes: “Does your ex still everyone and their mother the benefit think about you?” “Why is he taking of the doubt), it doesn’t matter if so long to respond?” it’s a friend or a significant other Um, what? Why are the cultural or family member we’re talking “ambassadors” for young women about here. Nothing that you do

(or don’t do, for that matter) will of the doubt, we want to be generous have an effect on someone who is and sympathetic, we don’t want to fundamentally incapable of real overreact. intimacy or empathy. You could be Most of all, we don’t want to be the most attractive, understanding, lonely. That is scarier than anything: accomplished, flawless individual to lean into the empty space that a who sh—ts gold nuggets, and it still relationship once filled, no matter wouldn’t be enough for these people. how unfulfilling or even damaging it In an ideal world — a world in was to your own well-being. To feel which objective self-reflection was that pain, loss and emptiness, to sit always possible — we’d act upon the with it and let it wash over you. Your major red flags that crop up early in hookup that you’ve been in love with our intimate relationships. I would since freshman year comes knocking sincerely encourage at your door after everyone to honor blowing you off for “I would their gut feelings months. A friend who when it comes time sincerely said something hurtful to decide whom to encourage for the 4,957th time invest large amounts apologizes and wants of time and attention everyone to to meet you for lunch. in, instead of trying honor their gut A family member to rationalize certain disregards feelings when it blatantly behavior away. That your best interests sixth sense of ours comes time to and then continues is so incredibly decide whom on with life as if valuable. It’s like nothing happened. It our own internal to invest large is infinitely easier to emotional fire alarm, amounts of time give in, forgive, forget, rigged to protect us slap a Band-Aid over and attention even when we try the bullet wound and to ignore it: “This in.” postpone existential house is about to go dread and loneliness up in flames,” it says, for a few more days “and it’s time to get out fast.” If we or hours. But icing someone out? listened to our intuition more, maybe Slamming the door on them once we’d pause and reconsider the things and for all? That takes a whole new people do that we sweep under the kind of strength. rug time and time again because we I do not want to point fingers here. want to give other people the benefit It is blatantly reductionist, not to

mention utterly impossible, to divide all of humanity into “those who hurt others” versus “those who don’t.” I have been hurt before, but I have also been the one doing the hurting. I’d argue that most of the pain people inflict on each other is unintentional.

In a lot of cases, people are probably not even aware of how their actions make others feel. We all do the best we can. But while someone can have the best intentions, it still doesn’t mean that they are good for you.

And it certainly doesn’t mean that you ever owe them the gifts of your time, attention, friendship, sex, love or intimacy, especially when the person has repeatedly demonstrated that they do not appreciate or value them.

“But what if they change the second I walk away? What if they’re different for the next partner/lover/ friend/sibling who comes along?”

Unless the object of your misguided affection subjects themselves to years of intense self-refection and therapy, they’ll continue to treat people the same way they treated you before you moved on to something better.

In the end, it’s all about who will put up with them. There’s no reason to envy the next poor soul who gets caught up in their whims and ways: you already know what they’ll be subjected to eventually. Stick to your ice and leave them to play games with someone else. And may I remind you: the most powerful thing you can say to someone who hurt you is nothing.

BELLA JACOBY/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

4// MIRROR

Take a Hike STORY

“Here we have a story of injustice, betrayal and diehard survival,” begins Matt Gannon ’22.

Three guys set out to the mountains, only to return 10 hours later with many miles under their feet and even more stories to share.

Second hiker Robert Crawford ’22 jokingly echoes his friend’s description.

“It was about friendship, fatherhood and coming of age,” he said.

Hearing them talk ardently about the grit, trauma and alleged fun of their Cabin and Trail hike inspired my own trek to the snowy peaks.

First, I must admit that I frequently — although with good reason — complain about the cold.

During the beginning weeks of my first winter in Hanover, I adopted survival techniques not uncommon to the typical Dartmouth student.

These strategies include the classic leggings under pants, “warmcutting” through Novack Café when en route to Webster Avenue, resting clothes on my room’s ancient heater to warm up and, finally, amassing pity by sending Snapchats of the Hanover temperature to friends back home.

The one thing I have not mastered yet, however, is getting outside and having fun.

Hailing from Virginia, a state which can barely claim a Northern title, it is safe to say that I am (owing to my origins) weak when it comes to the cold. So what was it that led

By Helen Horan

COURTESY OF MATT GANNON

Andrew Culver '22 takes a break from his hike in single-digit temperature weather with Matt Gannon '22 and Robert Crawford '22.

me to embark on a seven hour hike on the second of February in the middle of the tundra? Conformity to friends, perhaps? Journalistic desperation? A summons by nature?

Ignorance?

Part of me wanted to be able to do what my three guy friends had done last weekend and without complaint. The week

prior, Matt, Robert and their friend Andrew Culver ’22 accomplished an impressive Mount Moosilauke sunset hike, half of which was spent trekking in the dark with headlamps. I wanted the same experience, although maybe a little tamer: think Moosilauke–lite. Enter Mount Kearsarge. Matt and Robert agreed to join.

Sponsored by Cabin and Trail, the hike was advertised as a 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. affair. We ended up arriving back to campus just nearing 4 p.m., but not to my disappointment. The day was incontestably quite fun.

The kind of fun Andrew describes as “Type 2.”

“It’s really hard and not so fun while you’re doing it — but after,

COURTESY OF MATT GANNON

Mount Kearsarge is located in Wilmont, New Hampshire and is a popular destination for Cabin and Trail hikes.

it’s great,” he said.

When our van departed campus, my weather app displayed a -7 degree temperature. Over the course of the morning, it warmed up to a certifiably toasty 8 degrees.

Our equipment comprised of Nalgenes filled with boiling water so they would not freeze, an abundance of dried mango and corn nuts, and winter overshoes with spikes to bear the slippery terrain. Boots ice-spiked, face fully balaclava-ed and body layered like a Russian nesting doll, I was ready to begin.

The hike itself was moderate and not extraordinarily long, in hindsight. There were some icy, steep patches, but it was mostly well packed snow from previous trekkers.

Don’t get me wrong, though: it still was no carefree dash to the top. The ascent was around three hours of careful steps and the occasional break for snacks or layering, while the return took only half as long and featured plenty of plunges into knee-deep fresh snow. The summit was by far the most challenging bit; up there above the tree line, the biting wind had the ability to pierce bones. The top is a flattish stretch of rocks and boulders, onlooking sheets of wind-polished ice and glass forests: the landscape almost Mars-like in a way. We stayed briefly to take photos for proof and enjoy the incredible panoramic views.

Allegedly, on a very clear day, you can see the skyscrapers of Boston 80 miles away from the Mount

MIRROR //5

e, Sometime Kearsarge summit. mettle. But, at least at that moment, As I took in the sublime and I was actually glad it was winter. As sweeping view, I thought for a terribly trite and John Muir of me moment about my antagonistic it is to say, maybe the mountains relationship had taught me with winter. "The winter, and something.

The winter, In order to this Granite state, and this make the most G r a n i t e offered something I of Dartmouth state, offered had not yet realized: winters, our only something I real option is to a chilly, invigorating had not yet exploit the season. r e a l i z e d : power. The freezing Rent some skis, a c h i l l y, on some weather is definitely a throw invigorating skates or fill up a power. The challence, but that is pack. This school is f r e e z i n g where the beauty of very lucky to have weather is the Dartmouth definitely a winter arises."

O u t i n g C l u b, challenge, which sponsor s but that is so many winter where the beauty of winter arises. activities, and even a winter sports The challenge is to make good club (which can be reached at of conditions hypother mia@ that a r e "In order to make the darmouth.edu, if determined to you’re interested). most of Dartmouth oppress you.

In comparison I noticed a winters, our only real to many other simple purity winter pastimes option is to exploit in all that quiet that Dartmouth o n t h e i c y the season. Rent some students take summit. No skis, throw on some part in, like mosquitoes ice-climbing or or masses of skates or fill up on a spending nights in people that pack." heat-free cabins, come with the hike I did was the summer tiny, but it was not months. Only the untouched snow my last. Living in the tundra comes and iced-over signs. with its perks, and it is time that I The whipping winds sent start discovering them. treetops flying, and the arid air stung my cracking lips. It is true Andrew Culver is a member of The that the winter months tests one’s Dartmouth staff.

COURTESY OF MATT GANNON

The Dartmouth Outing Club sponsors many winter activities and has a sub-club dedicated to winter sports.

COURTESY OF MATT GANNON

The three members of the Class of 2022 completed a Mount Moosilauke sunset hike a few weeks ago, which required them to hike in pitch-black darkness with headlamps.

6 //MIR ROR

Baby, It’s Cold Outside (and Inside) STORY

By Maggie Doyle

In need of a warm and cozy study spot? Or has your cup of hot King Arthur Flour got you craving a cooler space? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s a ranking of the study rooms on campus from hottest to coldest: 10. Greenhouse If you can brave the cold long enough to walk to the Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center, the Greenhouse is like a bubble of summer. The greenhouse is temperature-controlled, humid, and full of plants and sunlight. It’s the perfect break from chilly Hanover days, and you can study while you get your dose of summer. Its limited hours and seating are serious downsides, but the blast of summer might make it worth it.

9. Tower Room The Tower Room’s big leather chairs, dark wood and old books make it look as cozy as it feels. The Tower Room has audibly overactive radiators, which steam up the windows so you can look out over the snowy winter outside without feeling the cold that comes with it.

It’s actually so warm (and dark) that it may hinder your studying and lull

you into a cozy afternoon nap.

8. King Arthur Flour KAF is as far as possible from all doors, keeping it decently insulated from the chilly outside world. Their thermostat is a consistent 68 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the perfect place to enjoy a coffee, hot or iced, while you study. All in all, if you don’t mind the noise, KAF is kept at a lovely, medium-level temperature.

7. Berry All four floors of Berry are about the same temperature, so I’m grouping them into one ranking.

Honestly, KAF and Berry are probably the same temperature.

I only rank Berry higher because KAF has warm drinks. Berry’s temperature just isn’t one of its defining features, and you can successfully spend a few hours writing a paper without adding or subtracting layers.

6. Rauner Special Collections Library Rauner is slightly chilly, but it’s definitely not from outside air. It’s really more of a year round chilly

and probably has something to do with preserving the artifacts. If you wear a sweater, which you should definitely be doing anyway because it’s February and we live in New Hampshire, it’s still a good place to study for the few fleeting hours each day it’s open.

the tables are close enough to the doors that it feels like direct exposure, so the cold is really more of a disappated constant. If you’re a person who likes to study in Novack despite the florescent lighting and moderate noise level, just layer up and you’ll be fine.

5. Sanborn House Sanborn is hard to rank because different areas of Sanborn are different temperatures. The second floor is cool without being cold, and the first floor isn’t bad if you’re far from the door. However, Sanborn’s direct door to the tundra outside doesn’t automatically shut, so not only are students exposed to periodic gusts of New Hampshire winter, but occasional Sanborn amateurs don’t close the door behind them, lowering the entire library’s temperature by five degrees. Notably, the low temperatures on either floor are slightly alleviated by hot afternoon tea.

2. Baker Lobby Blobby is chilly, probably from the doors on every side and snow everyone drags in, but also not as chilly as it could be. Also, the busier the time of day, the colder Blobby is.

Honestly, if you want to be facetimey and study here, winter probably won’t stop you.

open windows that would make the room cold, but it is. The situation is slightly alleviated if you can study in a big comfy chair, but the desks are downright chilly. In all honesty, it’s still one of my favorite study spaces, but it does require layers and hot tea.

4. Periodical Room This one really surprises me because it really has no reason to be cold. There are no doors or

3. Novack Cafe Novack is located by a lot of frequently used doors, leaving a lasting chill. However, none of

ELLA HALL/THE DARTMOUTH

1. Stacks At least the Stacks don’t lie to you.

Seeing as they are as separated as possible from the outside world, they have no reason or right to be cold, but their steely decor foreshadows the tundra-like environment inside for passersby. The Stacks are the ideal place to study if you have a fever, want to flex your Canada Goose while you study, or really just have the granite of New Hampshire in your muscles and brain.

MIRROR //7

Time in the Eyes of Our Professors STORY

By Josephine Kim

As we get older, it seems we and everything — except her needs. are ruled by alarm clocks, bell Interestingly enough, sociology schedules and plans. Why do we professor Henry Clark has another submit to them? angle concerning such duties.

During my second year of high “I think humans have an school, I scribbled this thought amazing capacity to turn work bubble on a slip of paper for a into play, and conversely, play into class exercise. Little did I know work,” he said. that my teacher would read it aloud Even when he is focused on a to prompt research project, t h e d a y ’ s “Boundaries have Clark often goes discussion. out during the really helped me Back then, winter months I h a d n o t develop a better sense to work the yet b e e n of my time and my snow and ice on introduced to his property as the ideas of freedom, and also my part of his daily Karl Marx or self-esteem.” routine. capitalism.

“Most people Nevertheless, I suppose would the discussion -JENNIFER SARGENT, think of it as q u i c k l y l e d PROFESSOR OF THE work,” he said. to a class “ [But] i t’s a INSTITUTE FOR WRITING argument for refreshing break “free time.” AND RHETORIC AND from the work I’m It seems, both doing inside.”

WOMEN’S, GENDER AND now and then, Over time, the these worries SEXUALITY STUDIES seasons change, do not only snow melts reside within and deadlines 16-year-olds; eventually expire instead, they have always been at Dartmouth. What do professors threaded with one of early man’s tend to do then? When chemistry most important obsessions — time. professor Jimmy Wu is not in This past week, I had the Burke Laboratory researching opportunity to ask a few Dartmouth or advising soon-to-be doctorate professors how they spend their students, he enjoys competing in “free time.” And as anticipated, I open water swimming meets. Last learned a great deal more.

Professor Jennifer Sargent of the Institute for Writing and Rhetoric and women’s, gender and sexuality studies department has a philosophy of time that comes from many years of being a full time litigator, district court judge, law and Dartmouth professor and mother of two children.

“I think of time as money,” she said. “I think of it as a commodity.

And it has value.”

While we all carve out our schedules in a particular fashion, the extent to which we actually follow them is bound to vary.

Sargent confirmed that upholding her scheduled personal time requires practice. However, she shares that when she does keep to her boundary-making strictly, she is rewarded with a number of positive developments.

“Boundaries have really helped me develop a better sense of my time and my freedom, and also my self-esteem,” she said. “It’s taught me that I have the right to care for myself in a way that no one else can interfere with. It’s empowering.”

Notably, Sargent does not like to do household chores, like laundry, during her personal time. Her stake is being “in service” to everyone

year, he swam both a three-mile and of a good thing — such as down four-mile race. This summer, he time — can sometimes be a bad hopes to complete longer distance thing. Whenever Clark notices competitions. one of his passions losing its Having many different hobbies spontaneous character, he will and interests is important to purposefully take a break from it, Wu, especially because his work or, at the very least, try to get a schedule is never fixed. The nature different perspective of it before of his chemistry research and lab returning to it. work requires him to be where his Similarly, during “chill time,” students are.

Sargent is careful not to engage When he is unable to train for her brain the same way she does swim meets, he looks to his other when she is working. Otherwise, i n t e re s t s, it becomes nearly s u c h a s “I think humans have impossible to playing the maintain personal mandolin, an amazing capacity mental health and to clear his to turn work into play, well-being. Because mind. she is interested about and conversely, play “ I crime, injustice, and p l a y e d into work.” disrespected societal v i o l i n groups, she finds growing certain genres of film -HENRY CLARK, up as a and documentaries kid, so the SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR to be draining. mandolin “I get a certain was a level of compassion natural fatigue from that, so I fit,” Wu said. “I just got into it tend to watch pretty vapid things,” after meeting [my wife].” she said. “Sometimes, I think I Wu’s wife is a talented musician would be embarrassing to admit who sings and plays several some of things that I watch, but I instruments, such as the guitar, do.” baritone, and banjo. After work, Although technology is more he enjoys coming home to musical convenient and useful than ever, bluegrass, Americana and folk mainstream media is often pitted “jam” sessions with her. as the negative influence that Sometimes, however, too much “eats away” at our brains and

morals. But, in the context of Sargent’s 60-80 hour work week, watching Netflix in your pajamas and consuming as much coffee, toast and jam as humanly possible seems very called for. Or, taking a break from writing a research book by watching 1984 and listening to its musical score countless times over sounds brilliant. There are moments when it should be refreshing to be say, as per Sargent, “I love to just be a vegetable.”

There are also moments when nurturing side projects outside of school work can be leisurely.

Just note, though, that it is important to have strategies. They will vary per individual, but have a strategy all the same, for “free” time never simply just “comes” anymore.

The alarm clock will prove it.

Work will appear to reproduce itself exponentially. And our time constraints will feel increasingly tightened in the context of our busy schedules. But, consider how those around you are experiencing time.

Are they intentionally blurring the line between work and play like Clark? Or are they keeping them distinct, more similar to Sargent’s strategy? Ultimately, the idea I picked up from listening to these professors is this: protect your time, so that you have the freedom to do something with it.

8// MIRROR

Snug as a Bug PHOTO

By Divya Kopalle