The Dartmouth 1/9/19

MIR ROR 1.09.19

THE CLASS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING | 4

A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION |5

MAKE MONEY MOVES |7 BELLA JACOBY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

2 //MIRR OR

Editors’ Note

New Year, New Me? STORY

MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

The wildly popular Netflix series on the ways technology can warp our lives, Black Mirror, came out with a new episode, “Bandersnatch,” over winter break. The format of the episode is quite novel: it is somewhat like a choose-your-own-adventure book, except in television form.

The episode starts out quite benignly, with the viewer choosing which cereal the main character eats for breakfast, but quickly devolves into more difficult and crazy decisions — we won’t spoil it for you here.

Life is very much like a choose-your-own adventure — except in this one, we can’t just rewind to the beginning of the episode and start over when we make the wrong decision. This week’s issue of the Mirror is about decisions — the 35,000 we make every day: some of them are important, some of them not so important. You’ve decided to pick up this issue of the Mirror (or click on our social media post — hello, online readers!), but it might not be immediately clear how this decision might manifest in your life, if at all.

Perhaps you’ll open your laptop and begin watching Bandersnatch. Or read on.

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1.9.19 VOL. CLXXV NO. 109 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 Novi Zhukovsky

New Year’s Eve. Thousands brave chance of success. things that I aspire to, in a more general the frigid temperatures of Times Square “People are probably more likely sense. I don’t like calling those things to remain in place for 12 hours and to stick to their goals if they make resolutions because that makes it easier wait for the famous Waterford crystal clear guidelines of how they are going to break, but by calling it an aspiration, ball to drop. Others swill champagne at to achieve that goal,” she explained. it’s more of a fluid thing that I can work glitzy parties or dine out in expensive “In general, smaller steps are easier to on throughout the year, making it more restaurants to ring in the New Year. integrate into your daily habits so that it likely for me to be successful.”

Of course, there are those who scoff at becomes a life-long change. Ultimately, Additionally, Doerr believes that New Year’s excess and sleep peacefully if you are really motivated to make a writing down the resolutions and posting through the midnight countdown. But big change, I think that some people them somewhere visible will help ensure after the hangovers pass, and the glitter can manage it. But personally, I think that she sticks to them. She also finds has been swept away, the majority of I would have trouble making a major that keeping a resolution list is a good us look hopefully to our New Year’s lifestyle change.” way to reflect back on the year and apply resolutions to Izzy Calihan ’22 lessons of the past to the next one and help reverse the has not set any New fine-tune her expectations. damage of the “If you are being Year’s resolutions “Some of my resolutions I will night — and unrealistic and trying for 2019. In fact, definitely be upset if I don’t keep,” she possibly bring she views the said. “But there are some that I know us closer to to change yourself whole resolutions are a little unrealistic. As long as I can that “new me” in a massive way craze with some keep a few of them, particularly the ones lurking just a few skepticism. that are the most important to me, I’ll on New Year’s Day, unlikely steps “I don’t feel super be pleased.” away in January. that’s probably not strongly about New While Maddie generally views T h e s e sustainable.”

Year’s resolutions,” New Year’s resolutions positively, she resolutions she said. “I think acknowledged, paradoxically, that they range from that some people can be a way of procrastinating. If you’re eating healthier -GRACE CALIHAN ’22 find them helpful going to stop biting your nails on Jan. 1, to increasing and productive, and why not start on Dec. 12? She argued gym attendance that’s great, but for that although Jan. 1 is a good turning to being more me, it seems like an point, there are other times throughout positive — aspirations to “better arbitrary time to change yourself.” the year that can mark change. These ourselves” in the coming year. But Similar to Rubin, Calihan believes include birthdays, first days of school are these resolutions serious, or just that the key to keeping resolutions may or starting a new job. arbitrary and unrealistic goals created be to break them down into simple, Rubin sees a similar flaw in New by businesses to increase revenues for tangible actions.

Year’s resolutions, but also believes that the long winter? And even if people “If you are being unrealistic and having a specific day to mark change is decide to make resolutions, what are trying to change yourself in a massive helpful. the chances they will actually stick to way on New Year’s Day, that’s probably “It is useful for some people to have them? not sustainable,” she said. “But if you a set date in which they commit to Grace Rubin ’22 boasts a successful want to make a small change and New change,” she said. “Overall I think that week-long streak. This year, she resolved Year’s is a catalyst for you to set out on New Year’s resolutions are probably to moisturize her skin every morning. that goal, I do believe that people can more positive than negative.”

Although her moisturizing in the past be successful in making small changes So, whether you have an elaborate, has been spotty due to self-described in themselves.”

5-step plan to reverse your diet “laziness,” Grace has pledged to “take When asked and exercise out a little chunk of my day, a few whether she has regimen and minutes every morning, to moisturize made a resolution “I don’t like calling develop abs like my whole body.” She hopes that in herself, Calihan those things Zac Efron, or addition to benefitting her skin as a demured. simply want to resolutions because whole, her resolution will make her “Resolutions learn to play the happier during the winter months. can work for some that makes it easier to piano, only time Rubin believes that because her people. But I just break, but by calling will tell whether New Year’s resolution is tangible know I wouldn’t or not your and relatively small, it will be easy keep a New Year’s it an aspiration, it’s resolutions will to follow. And as she is looking to resolution. I just more of a fluid thing be kept. Maybe change a concrete part of herself, she don’t really have you’ll have a that I can work on knows exactly how to accomplish her the mental will or few cheat days throughought the resolution. Additionally, because her strength.” or skip a few aspiration produces immediate, physical Maddie Doerr year, making it more piano lessons. benefits, she projects that she will feel ’22, on the other But whether or motivated by her supple skin on a daily hand, is a big likely for me to be not you actually basis to keep up her new regimen. p ro p o n e n t o f successful.” form resolutions So far, all signs are good. But she resolutions. In fact, for Jan. 1, one doesn’t want to go out on a limb and this year, she broke thing is clear: predict success quite yet. “It’s only Jan down her goals into -MADDIE DOERR ’22 there’s no time 6,” she said, “but I hope I continue with two categories in like the present. it.” order to maximize If you practice In terms of larger, more demanding the chances of the piano for 10 resolutions, Rubin views these types of success. minutes every day, by the end of the goals as much less likely to be achieved.

“First, there are specific things that year, you might not wind up a piano She believes that they should be broken I want to accomplish,” she said. “And maestro, but you will definitely be better down into smaller actions so that they are those are goals that I know I probably (and more pleased with yourself) than less daunting — and have a reasonable can achieve. The other category are when you started.

MIRROR //3

I’ve Got 35,000 Decisions but Chem 6 Ain’t One STORY

By Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza

The butterfly effect is an idea to make. There is a term for this, originating from chaos theory. It decision fatigue. The idea is that the states that even the flapping of more decisions you make in a short a butterfly’s soft and small wings period of time, the less rational you can lead to the winds shifting and become. preventing a terrible storm from Then, after getting to class, happening in another continent. you start thinking about the many The effect does not simply describe other things you could be doing. weather patterns — it can reference Especially during a warm sunny any possible effects of small and day in the spring when you could seemingly non-trivial decisions. be sitting on the Green, the warm Does the idea of the butterfly effect weather headquarters for many apply to our daily lives and the Dartmouth students. Or perhaps you 35,000 remotely conscious decisions start to daydream and zone out for we make per a few minutes. day?

Or you spend If it does, “It would be extremely f i ve m i n u t e s then I’d like overwhelming to looking at the to believe the online shopping butterfly effect actively have to think decisions of the is always in my about every decision girl sitting in favor. When I front of you. you have to make. first heard this

T h e n huge number, There is a term for this, in a snap of a i t w a s h a r d decision fatigue. The second, your t o b e l i e v e . computer is on However, if we idea is that the more your desk. You think about the decisions you make in open up your various types and a short period of time, computer of decisions we surf through the make everyday, the less rational you web and look s p l i t i n t o become.” through some different tiers sports stats or of importance scroll through and effort, then hundreds of you might start different dresses to become less skeptical. or jeans in the time span of one class.

Perhaps this massive number Or maybe you start typing explains our short attention spans, furiously on your computer which especially when we have to choose makes your professor think you are whether to pay attention to all the taking notes, but instead you are notifications that hit our screens texting paragraphs to your friend on from dozens of different sources iMessage about what you are doing every few minutes. The Wall Street this weekend.

Journal even published an article, Your decision to multitask is great “The High Financial Price of Our until you realize you missed an entire Short Attention Spans,” about how five minutes of your professor’s the quality of our decisions depend lecture. Surprise, your countless on the time of day we make them decisions led you here. and how distracted we are. This After getting out of class, you face dilemma is probably compounded new crossroads. What should you eat when one is in college and there are for lunch today? Is it worth getting a seemingly unlimited things to choose drink and a salad from King Arthur from.

Flour Café, or should you go to Collis A typical day starts with many Café and then return to the library? of us waking up in the morning You have to decide whether it’s and hitting the snooze button at worth waiting in line for 20 minutes least once, and maybe a few other at KAF or walking a quarter mile to times, until the point where we ask Collis. To make a decision, you think ourselves whether it is even worth about many things: how cold does going to class. it look outside? How much time do Sometimes, I go through the effort you have between classes, and how of setting a timer for two minutes many of your friends are in the KAF instead of getting up. line?

Then it’s time to shower, brush If you end up going to Collis and your teeth, brush your hair, pick out get some eggs, you have to decide your outfit, put on your outfit and how many you want, how you want put on your shoes. After writing this, them cooked and what toppings to I am just happy our brains are good add. at running things automatically.

And if you get a smoothie you I t w o u l d b e e x t r e m e l y have to decide the fruits you want, overwhelming to actively have to whether you want skim, whole or think about every decision you have some other milk, protein, kale,

honey or cinnamon. The options email, your GroupMe messages or are endless. friends’ Snapchat stories.

But if you go to KAF, you have Then, after a while it’s time for to choose from dozens of different dinner. The options are endless. combinations of drinks and pastries. Actually, not in Hanover, but you This is when knowing exactly can still choose from Collis, the what you want is helpful. There is Courtyard Café, Novack Café or no reason to deviate from your two the Class of 1953 Commons. eggs over easy with nothing on them. There you will be able to T i m e t o make even more return to the “It’s 2 a.m., but your decisions. Some of library. Are the most exciting notifications are still you feeling ones are deciding Fir st F loor calling for you. But which side you B e r r y o r you have to wake up want to sit on at Third Floor Foco or who you Berry? Which the next morning and are having dinner restroom do do it all over again, all with. yo u p r e f e r T h e p e r i o d 35,000 decisions, too.” between (or tolerate dinner more)? These and bedtime is are important full of possibilities. q u e s t i o n s What you decide to when you will be sitting in one spot do most likely depends on whether for hours. You have to factor in what it’s the first week of the term or your priorities are for the day. Do midterm season. This is perhaps one you want to catch up with friends of the most interesting periods in a on FFB or do you want to get things day for students to make decisions. done on a quieter level up?

After a long day, you have to The next decision will be choosing decide what time to go to bed. It’s the work you want to get done or 2 a.m., but your notifications are sitting on your computer or phone still calling for you. But you have to for an hour and looking through your wake up the next morning and do it

all over again, all 35,000 decisions, too. There is a reason why we do not consciously make all of these decisions a day. It would be draining, and you would have zero energy for anything else.

In the midst of so much, it only makes sense that among the 35,000 decisions we make in a day, it is almost guaranteed that irrational and sometimes regrettable decisions will be made.

Like shopping on Amazon for one thing and spending an hour reading reviews, looking at the comments section on YouTube, placing clothing on your wishlist that you could never wear in the dead of winter, taking three really hard classes your freshman fall, taking Computer Science 1 for fun or taking Chemistry 6 for your science distributive. Or sending a flitz freshman year to someone you have never met.

This time you made all of the right decisions and have made it all the way to the end of this article.

And whether the decision to snooze your alarm one more time tomorrow morning will change something major as the butterfly effect would suggest, it is something we cannot know. Don’t be overwhelmed.

4// MIRROR

The Class That Changes Everything STORY

By Sarah Alpert

When I first arrived at Dartmouth, I was the most undecided of all “undecided” majors. Freshman year, I spiraled through many options until I finally settled on English. Literature has always been my passion, and besides, I am clearly a humanities person.

Then, this past fall, I took Computer Science 1, “Introduction to Programing and Computation.”

Considered one of the hardest classes at Dartmouth (at least for beginners) and notoriously scary, Computer Science 1 would fulfill my dreaded lab credit. I was terrified of the course, until a few weeks into the term, when I realized that coding was the work I most enjoyed. I started doing all of my CS assignments early, working on labs from morning until evening on the same day that they were released. I was hooked on coding, and I suddenly found myself saying that I might minor, or even double major, in computer science.

A single class had completely altered my perceptions of myself, my interests and my abilities. It might have changed my life forever.

According to a Pulse survey, approximately one-third of Dartmouth students have changed their major at some point. For some students, myself included, one class is all it takes.

Tara Sweeney ’19 started college as a German and linguistics double major, but she was never truly excited about her plans for the future.

“At first I had been thinking I was

going to be a linguistics professor, but then I kind of realized that [linguistics] wasn’t what I saw myself doing,” Sweeney said. “So then I said I was going to go to law school, and I actually took the LSAT, got a good score on it [and] was really going to do that, even though in my heart I knew that’s not what I wanted.”

D u r i n g h e r s o p h o m o r e summer, Sweeney took Astronomy 1, “Exploration of the Solar System.” While she had friends taking astronomy simply to fulfill distributive requirements, Sweeney found herself captivated by the subject. She started reading chapters of the textbook just for fun, eager to learn about more advanced topics.

After taking Astronomy 1, Sweeney contemplated switching her major, but she thought it was too late; she was going to be abroad her junior fall and off in the winter.

Still, Sweeney couldn’t stop thinking about the universe.

“Whenever I talked to astronomy majors I knew, I was insanely jealous of them. I honestly found myself crying about it because [it’s] such a cool topic and what I wanted to study,” Sweeney said. “I came back my junior spring and it was really on my mind — by week 7, I [had] to do something about it.”

Now, Sweeney is committed to majoring in both linguistics and astronomy, which means she has to enroll in classes next year. This fall, she took prerequisite courses in math and physics, and she is taking her

second astronomy course this winter. subjects were difficult, but not very “It’s kind of weird to be putting in rewarding. the hard work now, and to face this “I think that the more challenging daunting task and not even be taking classes are, the more you have to the subject that I’m excited about,” think, ‘Do I really want to put in the Sweeney said. “But going through work for this? Do I actually enjoy that challenge is just a reminder of it?’” Gupta said. “[Linguistics] is how much I want it and how sure I hard, but I do really like it.” am.”

Both Sweeney and Gupta said that According to Sweeney, one class the subject itself was what made their can absolutely pivotal classes so change your life. “A lot of times, transformative.

“If I hadn’t G u p t a a l s o t a k e n t h a t exploring and taking e m p h a s i z e d class,” Sweeney classes that might be the importance e x p l a i n e d , o f t h e r i g h t “ I w o u l d n ’ t really hard but not people — both have realized work towards your professor and [astronomy] was major doesn’t make peers. She was my passion, and able to discover then I wouldn’t sense, from a gainsa sense of have made the losses perspective.” community in c h a n g e, a n d the linguistics I would have department that b e e n a s a d -MICAH TAYLOR '21 she never found lawyer. If you when she took think you might i n t r o d u c t o r y be interested in science classes. something, go

Micah for it, because you never know and Taylor ’21 also found a new it could be life-changing.” academic community when he took Sarah Gupta ’19 had a similar Engineering 12, “Design Thinking” experience, and she ag rees this past fall. Before taking that that a single class can open up class, Taylor thought he would end unexpected opportunities. Until she up working in government or some took Linguistics 1, “Introductory other “backup” job. Inspired by the Linguistics,” Gupta thought she structure of Engineering 12 and his wanted to be pre-med and major in enthusiastic classmates, Taylor now biology. She took math and science wants to pursue a creative career in classes in high school, but when she human-centered design. got to Dartmouth, she realized those “[Engineering 12] is a really well-

designed class,” Taylor said. “The assignments are all well thoughtout and really clear. You’re always working with changing groups, but everyone taking the class is in the class because they want to be in the class.”

Although Taylor knows that a single class can change your life, he also acknowledges that it can be hard to take classes outside your comfort zone.

“It’s easier to stick with a plan that you started in freshman year and finish that because it’s safe and because it will get you a job,” Taylor said. “A lot of times, exploring and taking classes that might be really hard but not work towards your major doesn’t make sense, from a gains-losses perspective.”

Taylor said that the way to find the best, most engaging classes is simply by talking to other students and alumni about their favorite courses at Dartmouth. He also recommends asking people about their favorite professors, since quality of teaching is ultimately the most important.

Sophomore year might seem too late to start a new major or minor, but Sweeney, Gupta, Taylor and I all stumbled upon new academic passions over a year into our time at Dartmouth. It sounds cheesy, but you never know what class will excite you, shift your D-Plan, even rewrite your future career. If a class description intrigues you, sign up — especially if it’s in an unknown department. It might just change everything.

BELLA JACOBY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

MIRROR //5

A Difficult Conversation STORY

By Cristian Cano

Where do you see yourself in Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical 50 states, but physician-assisted five years? Ten? Twenty? It’s not Center and a professor at Geisel, suicide is legal in a handful of an unusual question to hear, though spoke about how her patients states. It became legal for Vermont answering it is never easy. interact with an residents in But what if you knew you interdisciplinary "It’s very different 2013 with Act weren’t going to live that long? team of doctors t h a n a ny t h i n g a 39, the Vermont What if you knew your death was a n d n u r s e s , Patient Choice coming in a matter of months — or social workers, physician usually and Control at even sooner? chaplains, does.

W e ’ r e the End of Life End-of-life care is, generally creative writing Act; physicianspeaking, the care that someone s p e c i a l i s t s , usually doing the assisted suicide is receives after being diagnosed with artists and other opposite, giving folks still illegal in New a terminal illness, such as cancer volunteers, all of medications to not Hampshire. or Alzheimer’s disease. While some whom work to C r i s t i n e diseases may be treatable and even take care of “the end their lives."

Maloney is the curable, terminal diseases are whole person.” hospice medical typically those for which there are Kirkland also director for no cures, and decisions regarding explained how -CRISTINE MALONEY, Vi s i t i n g N u r s e end-of-life care prioritize making her team works HOSPICE MEDICAL and Hospice for the most of an individual’s time w i t h p at i e n t s ’ Ve r m o n t a n d DIRECTOR AT VISITING left. families and New Hampshire, Max Vergo, a palliative care loved ones as well. NURSE AND HOSPICE meaning that she doctor and assistant professor at Fo r e x a m p l e, FOR VERMONT AND sees patients in the Geisel School of Medicine, p a t i e n t s w i t h both states. She explained that end-of-life care terminal issues NEW HAMPSHIRE noted that, given is highly individualized, and not often experience the difference all treatments are appropriate for f e e l i n g l i k e a between the a patient’s wishes. For example, burden to their law between some patients prioritize extending families. In those Vermont and New their lifespans as much as possible, cases, patients Hampshire, she’s perhaps to be able to attend and their families go through always cognizant of which side of a special event like someone’s counseling to discuss those feelings the border she’s on when working graduation. But opting to live and identify ways to alleviate them. with patients. longer might come at the cost of “Taking care of somebody who Maloney noted that when a lesser quality is very sick is a discussing the option with patients of life, such as “Knowing that hard thing to in Vermont, she tried to understand being bound to do sometimes,” why they are considering it in a hospital bed. their time is limited Kirkland said. the first place. Many patients O t h e r anyway, they may “ M o s t f a m i l y are unfamiliar with the process, patients, members end up which requires two different h o w e v e r , choose a [different] reassuring the physicians — one consulting and would rather path. … At least person with [the] one prescribing — and a waiting prioritize illness that they period of at least two and a half they’ll have some different want to help, that weeks. Another misconception t r e a t m e n t s control over what the the patient is not is that patients receive a shot or that would being a burden, intravenons treatment to end their quality [of life] looks allow them but unless you life, when in reality, it’s a powder to maintain a like.” h a v e t h o s e that dissolves in water that patients certain quality conver sations, must be able to take by themselves. of life — say, it can be hard When asked about the emotional being able to -DR. MAX VERGO, t o i n f l u e n c e aspect of physician-assisted dying, walk freely or ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT people’s decision Maloney said that many of her live at home making.” discussions with patients revolve — even if that THE GEISEL SCHOOL OF A m o n g t h e around their desire to have control m e a n s t h e i r MEDICINE m a ny o p t i o n s over this aspect of their life, as death may t h a t p a t i e n t s well as the expected nervousness arrive sooner. sometimes have, about what dying is like. She “ F o r one of the most noted that family members, and some people, c o n t r o v e r s i a l even the doctors who prescribe [prioritizing i s p h y s i c i a n - the medicine, often feel intense living longer] feels like the quality assisted dying, also known as emotions too. would be so poor, it wouldn’t physician-assisted suicide. Ann “After a patient takes medication really be valuable time,” Vergo Bumpus, who taught the course like this, they die, but their said. “Knowing that their time is Philosophy 5, “Philosophy and caregivers or family members live limited anyway, they may choose a Medicine” last fall, explained with that experience, and so they [different] path. … At least they’ll how physician-assisted suicide is often have also had some strong have some control over what the different from euthanasia because opinions … or feel nervous or quality [of life] looks like.” patients take a drug that they know concerned about it as a family End-of-life decisions, while will cause their deaths, whereas member,” Maloney said. “I think incredibly individual, often involve euthanasia is when a physician the same is true for the [physicians]. an entire of team of medical administers the drug, usually via Most of them are doing this for the professionals. Kathryn Kirkland, an injection. first time, and it’s very different the director of palliative care at Euthanasia is illegal in all than anything a physician usually

does. We’re usually doing the medical field and may one day have opposite, giving folks medications end-of-life care conversations with to not end their lives." patients and families, Vergo spoke How does physician-assisted about how much of his teaching dying enter into the broader work involves perspective training. topic of suicide as a whole? The It’s essential for physicians to name of the process itself is understand how, given the same controversial. While the terms information, different people can “physician-assisted dying” and have different perspectives, and “physician-assisted suicide” seem none of them are wrong. He also interchangeable in acknowledged everyday discourse, “Calling it suicide t h at h av i n g Vergo expressed a t h e s e strong preference emphasizes the conversations toward the former. similarity, and the can be “ I n o u r similarity is just emotionally profession, [we taxing for don’t use] ‘suicide’ that, technically, the h e a l t h c a re because these are person takes their professionals rational decisions as well, and a that people make,” own life ... I’m not tried-and-true Vergo said. saying that suicide is “scaffold” to Bumpus spoke fall back on always irrational or about how some during these of the arguments always wrong, but conversations against physician- I think these cases can help. assisted dying Ve rg o include t h e are really special emphasized possibility that it end-of-life cases and that no one is leads to a rise in having ought to be looked at born s u i c i d e r at e s i n mastered young people and separately.” these skills, but terminally ill people, instead they acknowledging that are gained there is not yet good -ANN BUMPUS, gradually with evidence to prove PHILOSOPHY practice and o r d i s p rove t h e training.

PROFESSOR concern. She also “It’s touched upon the just like in use of the word sports,” Vergo “suicide” instead of s a i d . “ Yo u “dying.” don’t just become an awesome “Calling it suicide emphasizes soccer player on your own. You the similarity, and the similarity is usually have a team and then a just that, technically, the person coach that helps you figure out how takes their own life,” Bumpus said. you can take the next step in your “I think using the word suicide for skills. We do a lot of coaching.” both overstates the similarities. I’m Fo r s t u d e n t s w h o a r e n’t not saying that suicide is always necessarily interested in the irrational or always wrong, but I medical field, these topics can think these cases are really special still be important to think about, end-of-life cases and ought to be especially since many patients looked at separately.” in end-of-life care couldn’t have Another compelling concern anticipated their current situations. with physician-assisted suicide Kirkland, who has taken care of that Bumpus brought up was students who have gotten into car that vulnerable populations, crashes or skiing accidents, has including individuals without even seen friends enter positions good health insurance or a strong where they had to make important understanding of the medical decisions. While these topics aren’t system, may be pressured — always easy to talk about, having however subtly — to choose conversations early about what physician-assisted dying without you value most in life is a valuable exploring other options as much investment. as they would have otherwise.

“Even though students don’t While we, as a society, often believe really want to think about how that more options leads to more they’re mortal like everyone else, freedom, that’s not always the case, it is probably worthwhile to think and offering physician-assisted about who you would want making suicide could end with patients decisions for you if you couldn’t feeling obligated to take it. make them for yourself,” Kirkland So, what can students do? For said. “Having conversations with students who are interested in the families is important to do.”

6 //MIR ROR

A Rose by Any Other Name STORY

By Katie Cline

William Shakespeare wrote the Laura Jeanne. words spoken in Juliet’s impassioned Hollywood isn’t the only place monologue centuries ago. The where names appear to be fluid, if colloquial idiom, later popularized not ephemeral. College is a time as “A rose by any other name would for people to rebrand themselves as smell as sweet”, has permeated our they diverge from family, childhood conscious and lexicon. The quote friends and, ultimately, the prior appears to mock the absurdity versions of themselves. of names, or rather, mock our Why do people choose to change obsession their names? surrounding the “I decided, for the I s i t a b o u t sanctity of our recreation, names. Why do sake of convenience, rebirth or simply we care so much to change it to Hugo c o nve n i e n c e ? a b o u t w h a t legally so it would be I h a v e t w o we’re called? middle names Why would we easier to introduce that both start care enough to myself and go about with J. After change those one particularly in society.” names? u n p ro d u c t i ve A c t o r s study session r e b r a n d -HUGO NAM ’21 with friends, I themselves all was christened the time. Have JJ. Not the most you ever felt creative, I know. more deceived (In my defense, than when I didn’t make whatever late night host informs it up.) Some people know me the general public that your favorite exclusively as JJ, others refer to starlet, heartthrob or superstar has me as Katie. Even the name I’ve bamboozled you? Emma Stone is in gone by my whole life is just a fact an Emily, Brad Pitt is a William shortened version of my given and Reese Witherspoon is actually name, Katherine. I’ve always

been okay responding to whatever people call me. I don’t put any particular weight on my name.

(That being said, please don’t bring back JJ. It’s time for that one to die.)

The decision to claim one name over another is something that takes place before we are even born. Our parents pick our names, and we grow into them. (Trust me, no baby is born looking like an Ethel or a Herbert.) But what if as you grow into your name you find it lacking, inappropriate or cumbersome?

Have you ever been told, “You don’t look like a … ”? I have. It’s a weird feeling to defend your name. I don’t feel strongly enough to argue with someone over whether or not I “look like a Katie.” Some people do.

Hyung Ju Nam ’21 is attacking the herculean task of legally changing his name to Hugo.

Changing one’s name is not an easy task and takes time. However, as most of his friends already refer to him by a nickname, he felt it made more sense to make a complete change. “ H y u n g Ju w a s h a r d t o pronounce, so most of my friends had to resort to HJ,” Nam said.

BELLA JACOBY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

“After discussing this with my family, speakers tended to mispronounce I decided it could be offensive to her name. call someone by an abbreviated “When you pronounce [my name instead of their real name. name] in Korean, it sounds very Since it seemed really inconvenient short and brief,” Kim said. “I to go by Hyung Ju, I decided, for realized that two vowels connected the sake of in English sounds convenience, ve r y l o n g a n d to change it to “I had wanted to change drawn out.”

Hugo legally it for a while, but I didn’t E m i l y ’ s so it would experience with be easier to think it was realistic. The c h o s e n n a m e s i n t r o d u c e winter of my sophomore s t a r t e d e a rl i e r myself and most. She year, I decided it was a than go about in picked the name ‘Why can’t I?’ kind of Emily at 7-yearssociety.”

H u g o thing.” old, just after she makes the first began to learn compelling English.Though p o i n t t h a t -CHARLIE PLUMB ’20 two names have his name been present for was changed the majority of long before Emily’s life, she he picked a has not felt the new name need to pick one. for himself. Friends used the She notes that she recognizes how abbreviation out of convenience. two names can affect her behavior The new name quickly became and the contexts that necessitate ubiquitous in his day to day life. this high-level code switching.

Hugo’s decision to change his name “It really depends on where I hinged on the perception of “HJ”. am and who I’m trying to be,” Kim The nickname thrust upon him out said. “If I’m trying to be an Emily, of convenience is incongruent with then I’m a little more confident in how he wants to be perceived. what I’m saying [and] sardonic a Charlie Plumb ’20 has foregone lot of the time. The Korean Chae the legal avenue by allowing word- Yoon [tries] to go with the rules of-mouth to work in her favor. but is not completely different “I had wanted to change it for from Emily. There is no full-on a while, but I didn’t think it was transition.” realistic,” Plumb said. “The winter Ultimately, Emily ascribes a of my sophomore year, I decided it certain advantage to having two was a ‘Why can’t I?’ kind of thing.” names, not despite, but because of It was a similar schism between the dichotomy they provide. She has name and self, one that Nam also come to view the names as useful in noted, that motivated her to make their separate functionality rather the change. than dictators of her personhood.

“Charlie was the name I would “Name-wise, I like Chae Yoon have been given had I been better because it’s unique in born a guy. It’s Ko re a n , ” a family name.

Kim said. “I, I ’ v e a l w a y s “ T h e Ko re a n C h a e belatedly, think really liked it Yoon [tries] to go with E m i l y i s a n and thought ‘oh one. the rules but is not overused I wish I had But in terms of b e e n n a m e d completely different p e r s o n a l i t i e s that,’” Plumb from Emily. There is I’ve associated said. “I’m gay, with each name, and I’ve always no full-on transition.” I like the Emily been more side better.” comfortable Names -EMILY KIM ’21 and happier determine not being called just how we act t h at . I t w a s in the world, the right kind but also how it of gender reacts to us. To performance, whatever you want influence that interaction is difficult to call it, that I liked.” but necessary for some. Whether the Though some people change reason be convenience, difficulty or their names in totality, others, like simply preference, changing your Emily Kim ’21, switch between name is a decision entirely your given and chosen name depending own. According to Shakespeare, on context. An exchange student, you won’t smell any worse, so that’s she quickly found that English good.

MIRROR //7

Make Money Moves STORY

By Zachary Gorman

In an era filled with technological up.” for cryptocurrencies to exist. marvels and novelties, it can be One of the notable quirks of “[Some] people got into it at difficult to figure out which innovations the cryptocurrency first because it are fads and which will become market is its extreme a sort of “ D o n ’ t p r e t e n d was ubiquitous. While it is unclear whether volatility. Bienstock get-rich-quick cryptocurrencies will change the noticed that the club like you know just type scheme, but way everyone pays for goods and peaked in popularity people who because you made the services, the technology has certainly w h e n B i t c o i n stayed were the garnered significant attention. reached its highest some money on the people who are Cryptocurrencies, digital currencies market value. interested [ c r y p t o c u r r e n c y ] really such as Bitcoin that can be used to “ T h e r e in blockchain securely transfer money online, have definitely was a big t ra d e . We re a l l y t e c h n o l o g y, ” dedicated groups of enthusiasts and correlation, at least want to educate kids Bienstock said. investors who are interested in the at first, between the future of the technology — and, in attendance of the about the actual B l o c k c h a i n s many cases, making money off of it. club and the price of technology itself.” are a kind of In 2017, cryptocurrency enthusiasts Bitcoin,” Bienstock t e c h n o l o g y on campus created Dartmouth’s said. “In early 2018, t h a t a l l o w own Crypto Club, now known as there were tons of -PATRICK MAHER ’21 cryptocurrencies Blockchain at Dartmouth.

— and other people coming to Luke Bienstock ’20, the president meetings, more information — of the club, believes that this type of than I would have to be securely club could help Dartmouth be a leader ever expected, for shared between users online. in innovation for what used to be an This eliminates the need for third cryptocurrency “Because it’s such obscure currency parties who would traditionally be a n d r e l a t e d a new industry and a n d o b s c u r e necessary for such transfers. Though technology. blockchain technology is important for technology.”

“Schools like technology, this is Soon afterward, cryptocurrencies because it eliminates [the Massachusetts definitely a field however, most the role of banks in cryptocurrency Institute of cryptocurrencies transactions, it holds just as great Technology] and where at a school experienced an significance for other fields. Patrick [the California like Dartmouth, if extreme drop in Maher ’21, the acting president of Institute of value. For example, the club this term, believes that the Technology] … attention, time and the price of one healthcare industry is one place that definitely lead resources are put Bitcoin fell from blockchain technology could have a and dominate the roughly $17,000 massive impact. field,” Bienstock into it … can catch i n D e c e m b e r As an example, Maher pointed said. “But because up.”

2017 to $4,000 in to health records, which may be it’s such a new January 2019. In inconveniently located in different i n d u s t r y a n d Bienstock’s mind, databases and difficult to reach without technology, this is -LUKE BIENSTOCK ’20 this somewhat going through a bureaucratic process. definitely a field c h a n g e d t h e “With blockchain, you can place where at a school c o m p o s i t i o n everybody’s medical records on there,” like Dartmouth, if of the club — Maher said. “They’ll be secure and attention, time and and shifted the discussion toward no one can access them unless they’re resources are put into it … can catch blockchain, the technology that allows supposed to. It would make the whole

COURTESY OF BLOCKCHAIN AT DARTMOUTH

health system much more efficient with really analyze the big players in the lower costs, and ultimately [it will] crypto and blockchain space.” deliver better healthcare for patients.” The enthusiasm for blockchain In a general sense, most digital technology eventually led the club information that requires a secure to change its name to Blockchain at transfer could use blockchain Dartmouth. Maher and other members technology. Aaron Flores ’21, the have also pushed to move the club’s treasurer of the club, believes that attention away from cryptocurrency businesses will eventually realize this and toward applications of blockchain and use the technology to their benefit. in general.

“I think it’s going to be integrated “We get a lot of kids who into business in a trust sense,” Flores come in because they know about said. “So any business document that cryptocurrencies and the amount is going to be confidential is going to of money that people make on be on the blockchain just to make sure them,” Maher said. “But we instantly it’s actually legit. And I think anything shift the narrative to learn what to do with trust going into the blockchain actually is. Don’t pretend future is probably going to be on the like you know just because you made some money on the blockchain.” [cryptocurrency] While Bienstock “I think anything to trade.

We really doesn’t necessarily think blockchain do with trust going want to educate kids will change the into the about the actual technology itself.” world to the same degree Flores does, future is probably While Blockchain he does think the going to be on the at Dartmouth has technology will begun to focus less have a tremendous blockchain.” on cryptocurrency in specific, there impact on society, is no denying just as Cloud -AARON FLORES ’21 that the future of technology has.

M a h e r s ay s cryptocurrency is he was impressed still of interest to the members of w i t h C r y p t o the club. Though Club’s focus on blockchain technology even when the Bienstock and Maher are both cryptocurrency craze was in full swing. somewhat doubtful of the idea that Maher himself became interested in cryptocurrency will ever gain massive cryptocurrency around the “crypto popularity, Flores believes that it could boom” of 2017, and added cypto to still have a significant impact, as it is an the traditional list of things he had incredibly multifaceted technology that invested in, such as stocks, bonds has the potential to be slowly integrated and commodities. After doing some into our economy. research, he learned what blockchain “It’s following a very similar cycle technology really was and joined the that the Internet did,” Flores said.

“There was a huge bubble, then it then-Crypto Club to learn more.

“The guys were all really informative crashed, but the infrastructure was still about what it was, and they took it a there. And [the Internet] slowly started step further,” Maher said. “Rather being introduced, and now everybody than talking about the wild price uses it. I think [cryptocurrency] will movements of the time, they would follow something similar.”

8// MIRROR

Two Roads Diverged on a Snowy Campus PHOTO

By Divya Kopalle