MIR ROR 9.26.2018
WHO'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN? | 3
GENDER EQUITY IN EQUESTRIAN SPORTS | 4-5
TRIP LEADERS: WILDERNESS WISDOM | 6 JEE SEOB JUNG/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
2 //MIRR OR
Editors’ Note
Leadership on Campus STORY
MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
Hierarchy. Our lives, and society, are often structured around hierarchies. Some of the hierarchies around us are benign. We organize students into underclassmen and upperclassmen we rank the various food options around us (which we cover in this issue). Clubs usually consist of some members who make “big decisions” and others who do not. These hierachies invade all areas of our lives: socioeconomic status, gender, race, class, sexuality. In today’s issue of the Mirror, we explore some of the ways hierarchy comes into play at Dartmouth. We recognize that we cannot cover every single topic on the matter, for there are whole books written about hierarchy and how it manifests in different ways in our society, but we hope this issue stirs up some discussion on the topic.
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9.26.18 VOL. CLXXV NO. 69 MIRROR EDITORS MARIE-CAPUCINE PINEAUVALENCIENNE CAROLYN ZHOU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZACHARY BENJAMIN PUBLISHER HANTING GUO EXECUTIVE EDITORS AMANDA ZHOU
By Tina Lin
Leadership is a broad term, but situations and circumstances that it’s something that many people they face. Many do not realize the strive toward. Often times, the type multitude of tasks that a leader has of leadership that people gravitate to handle until they are placed in the toward is the kind that comes with position and have to deal with minor a title, and we are often misled things, such as general logistics and to think that the only significant communications, as well as major leaders are those who head an things, such as fundraising and organization analytics. o r h a v e a “I learned to With regards to formal title to his position in their name. communicate with DXR, Yu said I n r e a l i t y, others and be able that by forming leadership relationships to grapple with a encompasses with the club’s mu ch m o re multitude of opinions, members to t h a n t h a t . reconcile different ensure that Leadership it caters to r e q u i r e s opinions.” everyone’s p e r s o n a l i t y, interests, he has the ability become more -DAVID WONG ’19 to interact social. Through with others, these challenges, compassion he has come to and the motivation to serve. It is appreciate existing structures and something that can help a person the hard work behind the scenes grow. necessary to build them. So, what drives someone to Wong also experienced growth become a leader? through his positions of leadership. Nathan Yu ’19, founder and “I learned to communicate president of with others D a r t m o u t h “The best leaders and be able to Mixed Reality grapple with Club, or DXR, know which skills a multitude wanted to share are needed in any of opinions, his passion for reconcile given situation, with virtual reality different and augmented good leadership skills opinions,” r e a l i t y w i t h meaning, for instance, Wong said. others. He sought He also t o p r o v i d e a knowing that a grouup referenced welcoming social needs someone to how he learned environment work with listen or if they need a to for individuals others and to lear n more spokesperson.” guide them about the realtoward a life applications c o m m o n of the technology, -ROBIN FRYE, PROGRAM vision. t r y o u t s o m e OFFICER AT THE Both virtual reality leaders have ROCKEFELLER CENTER FOR learned skills g ames and to i n t e r a c t w i t h PUBLIC POLICY and qualities others who share that could the same interest. not be taught David Wong through purely ’19 is a member academics. of the 2019 T h e s e delegation of positions of Palaeopitus leadership on S e n i o r S o c i e t y, fo r m e r c o - campus present students with realpresident for Colleges Against life situations and the skills gleaned Cancer, development editor for the from those can be translated into Dartmouth Law Journal and chair the work life. of public relations for the Student What characteristics are crucial Center for Research, Writing and to being a leader? Robin Frye, who Information Technology. He was manages the Management and driven to these positions for two Leadership Development Program reasons. One was that he could for the Rockefeller Center, give an follow through with what he had explanation. promised to do and the other was “Leadership is so nuanced and that he desired to be challenged and individual that there can be so to improve his leadership abilities. many opinions about what makes After becoming a leader, people a good leader,” Frye said. “The grow, change and learn from the best leaders know which skills are
needed in any given situation, with good leadership skills meaning, for instance, knowing that a group needs someone to listen or if they need a spokesperson.” For Dartmouth students, who often pile so much on their plates each term, Frye mentioned a particular challenge. “It’s important to have integrity and doing what you say you’re going to do and being thoughtful when committing to doing something,” she said. Frye also explains what exactly makes up the idea of leadership. “Leadership is broken down into: self-awareness, situational awareness and technical competence,” said Frye. Selfawareness is being conscious of different personality types to know what people are already good at and what to improve on. Situational awareness is being aware of others and how they operate in order to determine effectiveness. Lastly, technical competence involves negotiation, business writing and public speaking. While Fr ye discussed the technicalities of being a leader, including aspects such as the toolset needed to combat potential problems that arise, Yu elaborated on the emotional qualities a leader should have. Yu sums up the key characteristics into three words: passion, empathy and optimism. A leader must be passionate about whatever she leads and have an overwhelming desire to share her passion with others. She is also able to foster a strong sense of community and make the most informed decisions for everyone. Above all, the best leaders exude optimism and positivity at all times, becoming the key differentiator between organizations that fail to survive and organizations that thrive. Leaders take all shapes and forms, and it is very difficult to narrow down the characteristics that a leader should have. Different people have different ways of dealing with situations and have different ways of thinking and interacting with others. However, it is important to be able to understand what type of a leader one is, and to understand what types of personalities the members of the team have, so that it is easier to optimize plans of action. While leadership is typically regarded as a specifi c position, leadership can be anywhere and everywhere. Yu sums this up very nicely by quoting his favorite role model, author Simon Sinek. “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.”
MIRROR //3
Who’s at the Bottom of the Food Chain? Dining on Campus STORY
By Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza
Dartmouth Dining Services is known to students for holding a monopoly over dining options on campus. However, DDS is not alone — it faces tough competition from alternative options, such as King Arthur Flour Café on campus and Domino’s Pizza in town. How do these places stand on the list? These (subjective) rankings are based on food quality, overall service, and friendliness of staff. 1. Collis Café: Located in the Collis Center and home to the eye-catching white and red paper straws first introduced in the spring. While students soon realized the straws were not designed to stand the lifetime of a made-to-order Collis fruit smoothie, Collis is still loved by freshmen and upperclassmen alike for its food variety. Several students interviewed consider Collis to be one of the best dining halls on campus. Benjamin Citow ’22 says he enjoys Collis pasta, stir-fry and sushi. However, students did not fail to point out the long lines at Collis. Nalini Ramanathan ’19 said that adding another dining hall similar to Collis somewhere else on campus with ready-to-go food might help reduce the lines. Sometimes it can take close to half an hour to get through the pasta or stir-fry lines during peak times. 2. King Arthur Flour Café: KAF, located next to the lobby of Baker-Berry, features high-quality food at high prices. Getting lunch at KAF every day is the easiest way for students to spend more Dining Dollars than what their meal plan allows. The line is usually out the door, and it is not uncommon to wait more than 20 minutes to get a pre-made sandwich or a more elaborate drink order. Freshman are the most restricted from going to KAF during their freshman fall because of their dining plan, which features $250 in Dining Dollars. KAF seems to be more popular with older students, who can buy meal plans with more Dining Dollars. Most of the people interviewed ranked KAF close to the top, such as Tracy Mutoni ’20 and Ramanathan. On the other hand, Citow says he has never been to KAF. 3. The Courtyard Café: Located in the Hopkins Center for the Arts and referred to by students as “The Hop,” is best known for its grilled food and overpriced fruit cups. One of my favorite features of the Hop is the television that displays students’ comments and
the Hop’s light-hearted responses. Last fall, students were surprised to see the Hop, popular for its fries, burgers and other sandwiches, try to push for healthier options. It did this by adding an employee-served salad bar, encouraging students to replace their regular beef patties with patties partially made with mushroom and removing the popular “Bob” wraps from its menu. However, Dining Services received so much backlash against the decision to remove the “Bob” wraps and other items from the menu that they decided to bring some of the options back. 4. Class of 1953 Commons: Formerly known as Thayer Hall and known by many students as “Foco.” Many students eat at ’53 Commons their freshman fall. This is often the result of the mandatory dining plan required for all freshman in their first term. For example, Mutoni explained how being on the Smart Choice 20 meal plan her freshman year forced her to mostly go to ’53 Commons. But that it is no longer the case. She still goes to ’53 Commons, but mostly because the setting is ideal for group dinners. “I go to the Hop and Foco when I am meeting a lot of friends,” she said. Unlike any of the other dining halls on campus, ’53 Commons features all-you-can-eat dining for one set price, their famous freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and multiple dining areas. Luis Rodriguez ’20 pointed out that if he had to choose one place to eat for the rest of his time at Dartmouth, he would choose ‘53 Commons because of the food variety.
DIVYA KOPALLE/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
The Class of 1953 Commons is popular amongst students for its options and expansive seating arrangements.
the bottom of the list. Although Rodriguez also ranks Novack on the lower end, he expressed another side of the story. “If you are going by convenience, number one is Novack, always,” he said.
6. Snack Bars: A new addition to the Dartmouth community, these rooms are stocked full of candy, chips and more, with four different locations on campus. Students prefer these spots because of their proximity to popular study spots and the convenience. However, they do not offer a wide variety of dinner options. “Really the only options are ramen and Lunchables,” Rodriguez said. “Not really a good meal.” Ramanathan expressed her appreciation for the snacks bar convenience when she is far away from all of the “Really the only other dining options are ramen and facilities and looking for a Lunchables. Not really isquick snack.
5. Novack Café: Located in Baker L i b r a r y. Often used as a student’s last resort for a good meal.” a quick bite Honorable d u r i n g s t u dy mentions: m a r a t h o n s , -LUIS RODRIGUEZ ’20 Novack is open Domino’s 24 hours a day Pizza: Located during finals. Novack’s line goes in Hanover, but not really on much faster than KAF’s. However, campus or owned by DDS. unlike KAF, Novack is not known Although Domino’s is not on for its food quality. The benefits campus, it still deserves a mention of going to Novack lie in the for being the only food service that convenience of its location and its is open past 2 a.m. and delivers extended hours compared to KAF. right to your door. There are Patrons can get anything from probably more Domino’s cars iced cappuccinos to strawberry driving on campus past midnight gum and maybe some tunes than there are Safety and Security courtesy of the student workers at and Hanover police cars combined Novack. However, most students driving around at that time. still ranked Novack closer to Mutoni expressed that if Collis
Late Night was closed and she was hungry, she would just order Domino’s instead. More than a few students depend on Domino’s to sustain their late-night cravings when the vending machines are too far or there is no other option for a past-mindnight feast. Byrne Hall: Located at the Tuck School of Business, it serves everything from made-toorder Boar’s Head sandwiches to smoothies. Byrne is at the bottom
of the list because undergraduate students cannot use their Dining Dollar s there. T he space is mostly utilized by Tuck students. However, it outweighs most of the other food options because the dining hall combines some of the best features of the other dining halls into one. There is even a café, Joe’s Coffee, in the facility, featuring KAF pastries. Ramanathan is a former member of The Dartmouth Senior Staff.
4// MIRROR
Not A "Crazy Horse Girl": Gender Equ STORY
By Kaiji
animal, either riding sidesaddle him into trots and canters. A lot (both feet over one side of the of what horse training is about, horse), often with the guidance she said, is reassuring the animal, of a man, or not at all. With the letting it find comfort in the rider’s rise of the suffrage movement in guidance, and being patient when the mid-1800s, riding astride (legs the horse is figuring things out. straddling the horse) became more “I always want my horses to acceptable. Another major push be relaxed so I like to start with in women’s involvement came in stretching their heads down so I 1952, when women were allowed get on and they think, ‘Oh, I’m to compete in the equestrian events relaxed now because Jaime’s with at the Olympics (although it took me,’” she said. 12 years before a On the horse’s woman actually part, lowering "A huge amount of represented her his head, which c oun tr y i n t h e how I know who means coming games). Since then, I am is through into closer the equestrian contact with world has seen a riding. Stuff like, the bit in his surge in women’s 'Oh, crazy horse girl' mouth, was also participation, curve. ... I brush it off, but a“learning and with it, a It’s not feminization of it is offensive. It's re a l l y n at u r a l the sport. for a horse to kind of dismissing When asked move t oward s why she thinks something that has p re s s u re, a n d horses are more been very formative some of dressage often associated [a specific form for me. Or making with women, Eeg of riding that said that working something negative involves the horse with the animals when it's really only and rider moving requires a large in a routine] is degree of empathy ever been a positive getting them to a n d e m o t i o n a l in my life ." move away from intelligence, both some kinds of of which are not pressure and to c o n v e n t i o n a l l y -JAIME EEG '18 other forms of valued as pressure and m a s c u l i n e so for him, the ANNIE VILLANUEVA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF characteristics. reins can also be The Dartmouth Equestrian team officially became a women's varisty team in 2015 (photo from 2011). “I would think stabilizing,” Eeg some of it has to said. “He has Jaime Eeg ’18 is no stranger to you’re seen as gay, maybe. And that we see similar patterns. In 2012, do with having to be empathetic learned that he can use the reins to the term “crazy horse girl.” It’s the [perception] is super problematic,” more than 90 percent of horse and emotionally attuned to ride,” stabilize, but a lot of it is teaching name that people sling at her when Eeg said. owners in the United States she said. “Which tons of men him that I will be gentle. I’m not she talks about horses — the ones Annie Furman ’19, who is the were women and in the United are awesome at, but riding is less going to yank on his mouth. And on the horse farm she was raised current captain of the Dartmouth Kingdom, the Women’s Sport and about control” — a trait more he can reach for the contact and on, and her very own that she Dressage Club, also observed this Fitness Foundation reported that traditionally paired I’ll be there to support him when keeps at a barn trend as she was one in every with masculinity. he gets it. It’s a long process of nearby. Eeg was growing up. nine people "I would think Eeg tries to get guess and check.” "Historically in my riding before “Historically in participating out to Brookside Farm For both Furman and Eeg, some of it has to she could even experience, just my experience, just in equestrian in Wilder, Vermont, there are positives in having so walk. As she involved with s p o r t i s a do with having where she keeps her many women involved in the being involved with being grew up on the horses since I was man. to empathetic horse as many times sport. Furman said that female backs of horses, horses since I was in in third grade, is Horses as possible each week. equestrians role models make the s h e n o t i c e d third grade, is that that there aren’t h a v e and emotionally She graduated from sport more accessible. that her fellow really that many traditionally attuned to ride. Dartmouth this past “It wouldn’t have negatively there aren't really riders were men who seem s e r v e d a s spring and is sticking affected my experience if there Which tons of men always girls, and that many men who to be involved at symbols of around as a special were more men, but I think while the boys a more amateur masculinity are awesome at, collections fellow at growing up, if you’re working with seem to be involved would respect level,” she said. in t h e i r but riding is less Rauner Library for women who work with horses, her for being at a more amateur The prevalence a s s o c i at i o n the next year. When you’re working with women able to handle level." of women in Eeg’s with military about control." I watched Eeg work who are really self-assured in a 1,500-pound an d F u r m an’s c o n q u e s t , with her hor se, an themselves, who know what they’re animal, the riding experiences ag riculture 8-year-old gray named doing,” Eeg said. -JAIME EEG '18 interest would -ANNIE FURMAN '19 e x t e n d b e y o n d and virility. Lumi, it wasn’t hard Pluses aside, the “crazy horse stop there. ch i l d h o o d . T h e U p u n t i l to see what she meant girl” comments do hit a nerve with “Crazy hor se D a r t m o u t h the early when it comes to being Eeg. boy” was never D r e s s a g e C l u b, t w e n t i e t h emotionally aware “A huge amount of how I know much of a thing. of which Eeg was c e n t u r y , when riding. She rode who I am is through riding. Stuff “When I was also a part until e q u e s t r i a n Lumi around the ring like ‘Oh, crazy horse girl’... I brush little, I had guy friends that thought an injury in 2016, is almost sports were dominated by men; — a large wooden building with a it off, but it is offensive,” Eeg said. it was so cool that I rode, but were exclusively made up of women, while men actively rode horses, loosely packed dirt floor — guiding “It’s kind of dismissing something like, ‘I couldn’t be seen doing that,’ despite it being for mally co- women — for the most part — him around in circles and leading that has been very formative for because if you’re a guy that rides, educational. Beyond Dartmouth, were simply passengers on the
uity in Equestrian Sports
MIRROR //5
ing Janice Chen
ANNIE VILLANUEVA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
The existence of women's teams without an accompanying men's team partially comes from Title IX, which requires schools to equitably distribute resources by gender (photo from 2011).
me. Or making something negative with Title IX, which requires the when it’s really only ever been a gender-equitable distribution of positive in my life.” resources and opportunities in Eeg, who served all educational as the vice president "You may have p ro g r a m s a n d of Ledyard Canoe activities funded men's and Club her senior by the federal year, believes that women's lacrosse, government. In her approach to and technically the the same year, leadership has the Dartmouth s t e m m e d f r o m name is the same, women’s rugby w o r k i n g w i t h but the sport and team was also horses. elevated to the way they're “I like to think var sity status, that I am a good operated are totally thereby affording leader and that different. The men more women the I’m good at making opportunity to decisions on behalf need helmets, compete at a o f p e o p l e, b u t they need gloves, higher level. only after taking Senior associate they have different athletics into account what director they want,” she types of needs." Kristene Kelly said. “A lot of my emphasized that e m p a t hy c o m e s the division of from working with -KRISTENE KELLY, resources is made horses, and that’s SENIOR ASSOCIATE in proportion to my favorite part of the numbers and ATHLETICS DIRECTOR who I am, that I am needs of each empathetic.” gender. The Dartmouth “ Yo u may varsity equestrian have men’s team is not coa n d w o m e n ’s educational. l a c r o s s e, a n d Historically, more women have technically the name is the same, been on the roster but the team but the sport and the way they’re officially became a women’s team operated are totally different,” in 2015. Some of this has to do Kelly said. “T he men need
helmets, they need gloves, they have different types of needs. The women’s game doesn’t require that. If you look at our equipment budget, the men would probably have more and that’s only because their game requires more.” Title IX compliance at Dartmouth has much to do with how the various fundraising accounts are managed. While most colleges maintain separate pools of money for each gender, Dartmouth’s athletic program fuses the accounts together, creating a fund that can be drawn on by both genders. The merging of accounts increases financial support for women’s teams, which generally bring in fewer donations. Kelly added that this way of distributing funds have created a heightened awareness of how resources might be utilized and divided most efficiently. Outside of resource distribution, the world of athletics still runs into the issue of stereotypes that box both women — and altogether exclude those who fall outside the gender binary — into limited expressions of gender identity. The “crazy horse girl” trope is no exception; women may have shattered the glass ceiling in the arena, but only to find another waiting.
ANNIE VILLANUEVA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Historically, the team has been majority-female (photo from 2011).
6 //MIR ROR
Trip Leaders: Wilderness Wisdom STORY
By Alice Zhang
Ninety percent of Dartmouth students begin their four years bundled with a group of their soon-to-be classmates, camping in the woods, hiking amidst pleasant conversations, trying their hand at canoeing or making pizza at the Organic Farm. During Dartmouth Outing Club First-Year Trips, students engage in their first interactions and form their first relationships of their time at Dartmouth. To make this all possible, hundreds of Dartmouth students served as volunteers to help incoming students acclimate to Dartmouth’s culture. They interacted with the trippees, raiding them with pastries from King Arthur Flour and pranking them with Robert Frost’s ashes. However, the group that perhaps had the greatest influence on the trippees were their trip leaders. Trip leaders have a particularly important job in shaping the incoming class’s initial perception of Dartmouth. The knowledge that they pass on to their trippees during First-Year Trips is the first advice new students hear about life at Dartmouth.
Shira Hornstein ’21 recalls a concerns. valuable lesson she learned while “Knowing that image going into on her trip. Dartmouth, for some reason, was “Something really helpful that my trip for me even if “They’re really trying leader told me on it didn’t cross trips was [about] to have us have my mind,” the whole Duck a sense of home Hornstein Syndrome,” said, “But here, that we know Hornstein said. sometimes I I t ’ s a automatically. Some would feel like syndrome that the only people may not make I’m many of us have one working heard of going friends as well as really hard into Dartmouth. others, so I think it’s — how come A b o v e w a t e r, everyone else the duck looks really good to have has so much calm as it glides that group coming in.” time?” across the lake, A s but it’s another s h e l ed h er story underneath -MATHEW FRATES ’22 Horseback the water as the Riding trip duck paddles t h i s y e a r, furiously to keep Hornstein it afloat. It serves made it a point as a metaphor for to explain to the Dartmouth her trippees student. On the surface, it may about the Duck Syndrome. seem like everything is going “Dartmouth is an environment perfectly for everyone around, where there’s this feeling where but look a little closer, and it is everyone fails, and it’s okay for clear that everyone is dealing their people to fail, but at the same own struggles, insecurities and time, it feels like nobody fails
and everyone’s really cool … and be able to say ‘hi’ to someone,” perfect,” she said. she said. Hornstein said that telling S e r e n a N a n j i - To t a n i ’ 2 1 her trippees about the social similarly led a Hiking 2 trip earlier environment of Dartmouth was this year. most important to her because she “Me and my trip leader were believes that for a lot of students, super relatable to the trippees,” the social scene at the College is a she said. “We didn’t really act like greater concern than academics, leading figures, we sort of acted like as she believes that most students one of them that just happened to come to Dartmouth expecting have a bit more training.” academics to be difficult. This aspect was very important Matthew Frates ’22 participated to Nanji-Totani. She wanted the on the horseback riding trip trippees to feel like her equals, that Hornstein led. Since he is a and like there was not a sense of veteran and a Posse Foundation hierarchy. Scholar, his experience coming “Me and my co-leader … were into Dartmouth was different than already very close, and we were most. just joking about each other and “I had already done a veteran’s making mean comments as a joke, orientation on campus, so I had and I just think that made [the already asked all my questions to trippees] really comfortable to do the other veterans above me,” he it with us as well,” she said. said. “But I think in terms of the Nanji-Totani enjoyed the banter other trippes, they had a lot of that resulted from the dynamic great questions [about] day to day they set in place. She says that life that you’re not going to ask on her trippees regularly “roasted” the tour, you’re not going to ask the her and her co-leader. staff when you get here. It’s good She describes the specific to have someone who’s been here actions she took on to make her to bounce ideas off of.” trippees feel like her equals. Frates said that the most “I just really was honest with inf luential pieces of advice my trippees,” she said. “I didn’t concer ned the “day to day” pretend that I knew everything. activities. He appreciated his trip If I didn’t know how much cheese leaders giving him and his fellow to put in the mac and cheese I trippees advice would ask them on the “tips and “I just really was … I feel like t r i c k s, h a c k s being relatable honest with my and stuff you to them is can’t look up trippees. I didn’t mu ch b e t t e r, online.” Some pretend that I knew because then of these tips they don’t get included how to everything.” this false idea order food, how that everyone the meal swipes at Dartmouth is - SERENA NANJI-TOTANI system works super outdoorsy and where to ’21 or super get the best food responsible.” on campus. NanjiS i n c e Totani fir mly coming back believes that the to Dartmouth, trip leaders are Fr a t e s h a s just students, noticed the effort that his trip and there shouldn’t be a feeling leaders have put into giving that the trip leaders are “better”. him and his trippees a sense of According to the Dartmouth community. Outdoors Club website, Trips “They’re really trying to have us aims to “facilitate meaningful have a sense of home here, that we interactions between first-years know someone automatically,” he and upperclassmen that will give said. “Some people may not make students confidence in forging their friends as well as others, so I think own paths and identities while at it’s really good to have that group Dartmouth.” For some trip leaders, coming in.” that meant telling their trippees Hornstein said that because this about the complexities of social life aspect of trips was particularly at Dartmouth, while for others it important to her last year when meant limiting or eliminating the she first came to Dartmouth, she social hierarchy within their own is making a special effort to allow trips. Whatever the case, it is clear her trippees to experience this that the trip leaders worked hard same aspect. to instill the mission of Trips into “For the fall, it’s really nice to their trippees’ experiences.
MIRROR //7
Club Vs. Varsity: A Tale of Two Leagues STORY
By Katherine Cline
A little over a year ago, I sport at Dartmouth? entered Dartmouth’s not-yetOf the roughly 4,410 freezing campus a bright-eyed and u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s o n bushy tailed NARP (Non-Athletic Dartmouth’s campus, for the Regular Person). I soon noticed 2016-17 academic year nearly half the omnipresence of varsity gear play a club or varsity sport. at Dartmouth: black backpacks with telltale stitched green player How many club and varsity numbers, Peak Performance shirts sports does Dartmouth have and Dartmouth green attire that compared to other schools? Heather Somers told me that punctuate the wardrobe of 913 students this year. Dartmouth has 33 club sports, a Last winter, I found the Boxing disproportionately large number Conditioning Club (shameless of clubs for a student body of this plug). As of this fall, I am one of size, but “not in the Ivy League four co-captains. Participating … they all have 20 to 50 club in a club sport has given me a sports.” new perspective on athletics at Brian Austin discussed the Dartmouth. However, I cannot average number of varsity sports claim to understand the immense teams at Dartmouth, 35, compared time commitment, effort and to other schools. passion that varsity athletes “It’s not even close to average if undertake. you look across To g a i n a “There are three the country … more complete but it is fairly main sources: money understanding representative o f t h e from the College, of the Ivy d i f f e r e n c e s endowments and gifts L e a g u e, ” between club Austin said. a n d v a r s i t y ... we generate more sports I spoke than half the money Where does to three people: f u n d i n g we need to run our H e a t h e r come from S o m e r s , department.” and how is it associate distributed? a t h l e t i c d i r e c t o r f o r - BRIAN AUSTIN, T he 2018-19 club sports and EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE Dartmouth intramurals, Club Sports Brian Austin, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR Manual breaks e x e c u t i v e VARSITY SPORTS down the associate $155,125 that athletic director makes up all for varsity club sports’ sports and Harry Sheehy, director budget. Nearly 70 percent of of athletics and recreation. Here that total is allocated towards are some of the questions I wanted travel costs. Remaining funds to answer: are split between the 33 clubs on Dartmouth’s campus. Depending How many students play a on sport, clubs are allocated a
set amount — $200 for single- athletes. gender and $300 for co-ed clubs with seperate scoring for men and What is the time commitment women — at the beginning of each for varsity and club sports? academic year. Travel costs are “There is a common Varsity sports also dependent a time thread: they love what have on what sport is commitment played. Rugby they’re doing. If you’re n e a r l y f i v e i s n a t i o n a l l y a varsity athlete, the times greater recognized and than club therefore has a amount of time it sports. l a r g e r bu d g e t takes, you really have “ N C A A than boxing rules say no to love what you’re which does not more than 20 doing.” travel at all. hours a week, Varsity sports - HARRY SHEEHY, in season. had$29,000,000 Riding on i n e x p e n s e s , DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS the bus to according to the AND RECREATION away games U. S. Department don’t count,” of Education. Austin said. “There are This three main commitment sources: money to their sport from the College, endowments does not preclude athletes from and gifts … we generate more than the academic obligations of any half the money we need to run our other student. department,” Austin said. Gifts “There is no such thing as an can be both team-specific and for excused absence … it is really the general department. Budget is up to the student to work out allocated depending on team size, an accommodation with the equipment needs and coaching. professor,” Austin said. Unlike club sports, there is no set Travel is completely coordinated amount, and like endowments, by the students planning club budget can change year to year. sport competitions. Sommers believes that club sports can Who buys the equipment? offer great “practical leadership Equipment used by club sports opportunities.” is primarily purchased by the “Whether dealing with individual club. However, there paperwork, budget management, are exceptions. scheduling with other teams “Clubs work their budgets to … conflict management … it’s meet their operating expenses … in amazing what these students can some cases we can help. Sometimes do,” Sommers said. those purchases are necessary … Sheehy expanded on the idea of and [they] can be very expensive,” club sports as a personal growth Sommers said. experience rather than just a Conver sely, var sity sports physical activity. provide almost all equipment for “Clubs can be lots of things to
lots of different people,” Sheehy said. “By definition they are student driven, student funded … club sports really provide an opportunity for leadership to flourish because the students are doing everything: scheduling, transportation.” T he more I explored the differences between varsity and club athletes, the more it became clear just how similar some are. Between nationally recognized clubs such as co-educational fencing, and clubs that have made the jump to being recognized as a varsity sport, like women’s rugby, clubs can go just as hard as their varsity counterparts. However, the majority of club sports do not. These differences are what make Dartmouth a wonderful and diverse community. Club sports are not a bush league version of varsity, but a completely different beast. The time a varsity athlete spends perfecting their kick, tackle, swing or catch is admirable. However, for some Dartmouth students who are not so inclined, club sports can offer the flexibility of a leisure activity rather than an obligation. Regardless of the time spent on the field, court, or yes even boxing bags, passion for sports runs through the veins of a majority of Dartmouth students. “There is a common thread: they love what they’re doing. If you’re a varsity athlete, the amount of time it takes, you really have to love what you’re doing,” Sheehy said. “People gravitate towards clubs because they love the activities they’re doing. Each situation, club and varsity, has a different feel. That’s a good thing. We don’t need our clubs to be acting like varsity teams, that’s not what students want.”
8// MIRROR
Pecking Order PHOTO
By: Divya Kopalle