The Dartmouth 2/20/19

MIR ROR 2.20.19

THE ELUSIVE FOCO PLAYLIST: AN INVESTIGATION | 4

BREAKING BAD (HABITS) |5

THE PUSH AND PULL OF WEBSTER AVENUE | 6 SUNNY TANG/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

2 //MIRR OR

Editors’ Note

Stu(dying): Study Spots 101 STORY

MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

It’s Week Eight, and by now, most of us have settled into a routine ... only for it to all end in a couple of weeks, when we reset with another term. Routines can be habits that we force ourselves to follow, in hopes of being the best versions of ourselves. Carolyn purposefully signed up for an 8:45 a.m. gym class this term, knowing her first class would otherwise start at 2:10 p.m. She also started listening to podcasts while walking around campus rather than blasting electronic music (while the latter is a fitting soundtrack to her life it doesn’t necessarily keep her up to date on the world’s happenings). This term, Nikhita has taken up a habit of waking up earlier than five minutes before her first class starts, with King Arthur Flour pastries being her lure to go do work in the library in the mornings. She has also started frequenting the gym more often as a way to blow off some steam, because sometimes winter term just becomes too much. At the same time, however, old habits die hard. Routines can also be actions that we guiltily follow, but do nothing to change. Carolyn admits to having recently been hooked onto caffeine, and Nikhita woefully regrets her nail-biting ways. What are the routines that we follow on campus? Is reading the Mirror every Wednesday part of yours?

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2.20.19 VOL. CLXXV NO. 138 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 Katie Cline

If you know me or have read anything I’ve written for The Dartmouth, you know that I am a true academic. Therefore, I am clearly incredibly qualified give you definitive summaries of all of Dartmouth’s study spaces. Strap in folks.

Actually, let me back up for a second. Study spaces by no means are limited to the (sometimes dreary) walls of our beloved library. Coffee shops, dining halls, dorm rooms and even designated common rooms all serve as impromptu or “chill” work areas. Don’t get me wrong: I love Baker-Berry as much as any other initiated member of the Dartmouth cult. However, I can also acknowledge that seven hours into a cram-session-turnedall-nighter, my brain starts to mush, indicating that it might be time for a change in scenery.

Below, I have outlined the basics of Dartmouth’s study locations in listicle form à la Buzzfeed, just like God intended: First-Floor Berry FFB was probably the first acronym I learned at Dartmouth. At first, I was incredulous that it was a real thing and not just my newly made friends trying to make a fool out of me. This appears at the top of my list just because everyone has studied here at some point during their time at Dartmouth. Mmm, on second thought, maybe study is a bit of a strong word. Everyone has sat on FFB before. A King Arthur Flour break that transforms into a catch up with a familiar face is how most people get trapped in the not-working-not-relaxing purgatory that is this supposedly academic space.

Blobby Alas, the second acronym I learned at Dartmouth. I’m still 90 percent sure this one is a joke, but its name is honestly not entirely inaccurate.

The Blob (as I am petitioning to call it) itself is quite nebulous in purpose.

Though the couches and chairs are subpar, it has windows, so that gets points in my book. All said and done, I’ve come to the conclusion that Blobby is for uncomfy chats only, preferably ones that you plan to end in 10 minutes max.

King Arthur Flour Study at your own risk. Your DBA will suffer. Trust me, I study here.

Stacks Going here is a mistake. It is cold.

I don’t get cold easily, but it’s cold.

I also don’t believe in ghosts, but there is a 10/10 chace that ALL

of Stacks (looking at you, Lower Annex B) is haunted.

poster, is that a reference to Animal House? Very original.

Sherman Art Library Not to be rogue here, but Sharman Art Library is pretty cool. I’m definitely not artsy enough to be here, but no one has kicked me out yet … so I’ll take the win.

One Wheelock This place has free coffee and tea.

As a potential study spot, it seems very attractive. But yesterday, I was studying in there and someone randomly started to do a mic check for an upcoming event — incredibly irritating that someone would dare try to use that space for its intended purpose. I left 2 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

Sherman Stacks This is the only exception to what I said about the Stacks. These Stacks are not haunted. They still are ominous, though.

Lower Level Berry If you don’t know where this is, good. You have been spared an unpleasant, out-of-body experience.

If Hell exists on Earth, then this is it. I did work down there once.

I emerged four hours later, saw sunlight and almost cried. I had never been so productive in my life. I think it’s because my soul got trapped down there. Send help.

Sanborn Library I only watch movies here. Like, actually. The only work I do in Sanborn is stuff that I could probably do more comfortably in my bed. I completely recognize my weak attempt to trick myself into thinking that I’ve been productive by doing the least work possible in what is technically a library. (Do not be fooled. This is not a library, just a fake mini Hogwarts.)

Thayer or any of the science buildings Ew. Starbucks I’m just impressed you managed to get all the way there. I know that it’s an actual two-minute walk from the library to any part of Main Street, but still, wow. To be fair, the distance totally gets scaled for the size of Dartmouth, so congrats on the absolute marathon you undertook just to study.

And lastly, a few honorable mentions: Collis Porch Ugh, I miss fresh air. I haven’t seen the outdoors in months. What is Vitamin D deficiency?

Any of the other levels of Berry Have not been here since “Come here if you like tfreshman winter. being on the receiving Do not plan on going back. end of 20 turning

Novack Café This is where I thrive. Come f i n d m e i n heads and accusatory Jones Media Novack at 2 glares when you walk Center a . m . S t a l e, Please reference in, and, I don’t know, u n s ati s f y i n g above. On an f o o d a n d breathe???” incredibly serious caffeine. Like note, though, that any other song that plays college student with little to no when Jones is about to close is respect for their organs, what more absolutely slaps. If you know what can I ask for? The lighting feels like that song is or where I can find the a hospital or a gas station in the full-length version, blitz me. middle of the night. What a vibe.

Study Rooms Tower Room These should be used for group Come here if you like being on projects only. Otherwise, being in the receiving end of 20 turning one by yourself is just sad. I speak heads and accusatory glares when from experience, as I’m currently you walk in, and, I don’t know, writing this solo in the fishbowl room breathe??? on FFB. Please stop staring me down as you walk down the stairs, thanks.

Your Dorm Room If I didn’t love distracting others So there you have it: my official so much, I might study in my room guide to study spaces at Dartmouth. more often. Alas, there is no better Always remember that where you way to procrastinate than to drag study definitely has implications unwilling participants into your about who you are as a human. bulls—. The twinkle lights are chill Consider this the new Enneagram though. And wow, nice College test.

MIRROR //3

Keeping Up With Yuna Kim: Morning Rituals STORY

By Yuna Kim

If you know me at all, you might know that my favorite time of day is right when I wake up in the morning — something that not a lot of people, especially college students, would agree with me on. For me, there’s something so exciting and refreshing about the early morning: the crisp morning air, a warm, invigorating shower and the prospect of a yummy breakfast ahead. Hopefully, as I take you through a typical morning of mine — a Monday versus a Saturday, because they’re … well, pretty different — you’ll find a tip or two that’ll bring a little more sparkle and joy to your mornings here at Dartmouth.

Monday 7:15 a.m.

Snooze.

7:20 a.m.

Snooze.

7:25 a.m.

Actually wake up and get out of bed!

I typically set three alarms with fiveminute intervals between, aiming to wake up by the second or third one.

I’d say I’m usually up on weekdays by 8:00 a.m. at the latest. The first thing I do is open the window by my bed and breathe in some fresh morning air; it sounds cheesy, but it’s seriously my favorite feeling in the morning.

7:30 a.m.

Brew some hot tea (mint, matcha and chai are my favorites) and hop in the shower while the water for my tea boils.

8:00 a.m.

Reluctantly get out of the shower, blow dry my hair, put some Aveeno lotion all over my body, do my

daily morning skincare routine (we love Korean skincare!) and put in my contacts. I do all of this while sipping on my tea and watching some “Gossip Girl”: a true guilty pleasure.

9:00-9:30 a.m.

Head to Collis and grab my favorite breakfast: two eggs, over-medium, with corn salsa, spinach, mushrooms and lots of Tabasco hot sauce.

Would absolutely recommend.

Collis is also pretty empty during this 30-minute chunk of time, making this my go-to spot in the mornings.

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Enjoy my breakfast with a steaming cup of black coffee and more “Gossip Girl”, because why not?

11:00 a.m.

Try to get some homework/ reading/project work done, because as we all know, the grind is real. At this hour, the morning is effectively coming to an end. Depending on the day, I’ll usually head to lunch with friends or off to class.

Saturday

BELLA JACOBY/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Ah, Saturday. Everyone’s favorite day of the week. Saturday mornings are typically what I’d classify as “lazy” mornings, although I still make a pretty diligent effort to get myself out of my room and maximize the amount of light or sunlight I get that day — big California mood. Also, minor disclaimer: the hour during which I get up on Saturdays is quite subject to change (plus or minus a few hours, I’d say), depending on how late my Friday night was. You know how it is.

9:00 a.m.

Snooze.

9:05 a.m.

Snooze.

9:10 a.m.

Convince myself to get out of bed.

Do my usual: fresh air, tea, shower, etc., etc.

9:30 a.m.

On Saturdays, I’ll usually eat breakfast that I’ve prepared for myself the night before. My favorites are matcha overnight oats with almond butter and

chocolate chips or vanilla almond chia pudding. Both delicious, both perfect with a nice cup of coffee, and both super quick and easy to make!

10:00-11:00 a.m.

Relax … watch some Netflix, put on a face mask, drink more tea, go all out in treating yourself.

11:00 a.m.

For me, a Saturday morning staple is definitely some hot yoga! As a loyal member of Mighty Yoga right here in Hanover (in the building behind Stinson’s), I make sure to take a class every Saturday morning if I can. It’s the perfect start to your day and helps you refocus and recalibrate after a (possibly) very ~fun~ night out.

So there you have it: my Dartmouth morning routines.

While not a lot of people I know are huge fans of the morning, I personally think that if you have things to look forward to right when you wake up, it’s very easy to make any morning very relaxing, restful and enjoyable.

4// MIRROR

The Elusive Foco Playlist: An Investigation STORY

By Maggie Doyle

It was a Sunday around 8 p.m., essentially, we don’t curate the playlist, genres, such as ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and and I was walking out of the Class it’s based on genres,” Nakhla said. She ’90s. Other stations include “Adult of 1953 Commons, the dining hall elaborated that Contemporary” , known to Dartmouth students as ’53 Commons’ "There was one song Ro c k , B l u e s , “Foco,” with a friend after a warm o d d l y “Hitline” — dinner. As we were about to step heterogenous that we blocked by which is essentially outside, she paused and exclaimed, mu s i c t a s t e Cyndi Lauper because today’s top hits “Oh my God, what?! They’re playing i s, i n f a c t , — and “Concrete it was playing a lot, ‘Colder Weather.’ Why is the Foco rooted in their Beats,” which is a playlist going to make me cry?” subscription and it doesn't actually hip-hop, rap and Though an emotional country to a number have any words. It was R&B station. song from 2010 should seem to be an of different Nakhla has a starting to grate on odd choice for dining hall background genres. predeter mined music, in ’53 Commons’ case, it’s “ W e people." music schedule hardly surprising. Aside from its subscribe to for the rest of world-famous cookies, the dining hall 10 genres, and the term, which is most known across campus for its we can rotate -JENNIFER NAKHLA, incorporates eclectic background music. t h e m . We GENERAL MANAGER OF different genres at “You know how every music c a n ch o o s e different times of service tries to make you a daily mix? b e t w e e n '53 COMMONS the day and year.

Foco does it better,” Anais Berumen channels, and For example, ’53 Swift ’22 said. The dining hall one of our Commons plays daringly mixes ’80s music with R&B, channels is dedicated to rotations,” the “Earthtones” station during finals early 2000s pop with country; its she said. season for a more relaxed vibe. She music taste crosscuts too many genres The pre-designed Mood Media also tries “not to play music that’s too to possibly genres cover a wide heavy in the morning” and tends to be a radio "You know how every range of musical stick to the ’70s or ’80s channels then. s t a t i o n , music service tries to inclinations. Some “People aren’t necessarily the most which has genres ’53 Commons awake at breakfast,” Nakhla said. led to the make you a daily mix? subscribes to are very At a typical ’53 Commons dinner, widespread Foco does it better." straightforward, such what you’re probably hearing is the supposition as “Nashville USA”, “Hitline” playlist, because they try to that ’53 the country station, play more upbeat music later in the C o m m o n s -ANAIS BERUMEN SWIFT while others are less day. must have '22 self-explanator y, However, most of the time, ’53 a playlist. like “Earthtones,” a Commons uses Mood Media’s It’s an station described as rotation channel. This feature plays a assumption “global acoustic.” genre for two or three hours at a time we take for granted, yet it is one that Dartmouth Dining Services also and then switches. Songs are shuffled remains engrained in the minds of subscribes to a number of era-based within each genre, and Mood Media all Dartmouth students. I’ve heard many references to the elusive “Foco playlist,” such as the guy in the omelet line behind me this weekend who yelled “Yo, the Foco playlist is poppin’ right now!” when “Fireflies” by Owl City came on.

Shockingly, according to Jon Plodzik, Director of Dartmouth Dining, the Foco playlist — a pillar of ’53 Commons’ appeal — is a sham.

“While I wish I was spinning the tunes, it is a service we use by Mood Music,” Plodzik said. (I have since discovered the service is actually called Mood Media.)

Foco uses the service’s “Mood Mix,” which allows businesses to “fine-tune their soundtrack.”

According to their website, Mood Media provides in-store music and integrated audio and video marketing solutions. They specialize in perfecting the atmosphere of a place, from music to scent.

Jennifer Nakhla, who manages customer service at ’53 Commons, directly oversees the music selection as the systems manager. She told me she was there when the dining hall’s music system was installed two years ago over spring break and confirmed that the playlist is a myth. “[Our music] is streamed —

assigns different songs to different thought box with the question, genres.

‘What’s your favorite music genre?’”

“Genres shuffle themselves, Students can put in slips of paper and then I can shuffle the genres,” with their preferred genres, and Nakhla said. This feature allows ’53 Commons does take that into for a wide variety of tastes to be account in both the music schedule incorporated, while also ensuring and choosing what Mood Media that the Dartmouth Dining Services genres to subscribe to. Nakhla says workers aren’t repeatedly subjected she often receives song requests from to the same students who don’t songs, hour understand the "Every couple terms after hour, day streaming service. in and day I run the thought box However, she does out. try to incorporate with the question, As a user more ’80s, rap, 'What's your favorite of Mood R&B and hip-hop M e d i a ’ s music genre?'" music based on services, student feedback.

Dartmouth A s mu c h a s Dining does -JENNIFER NAKHLA, Dartmouth h a v e t h e GENERAL MANAGER OF students would power to block love to follow ’53 certain songs. '53 COMMONS Commons on Nakhla said Spotify, it doesn’t the stations seem our dreams are all radio will come true edit appropriate, but she’s used the anytime soon. blocking feature for other reasons. “[The streaming service] does “There was one song that we what we need it to,” Nakhla said. blocked by Cyndi Lauper because “There’s not control to select a song it was playing a lot, and it doesn’t but is that something we need?” She actually have any words,” Nakhla elaborated that they’ve been satisfied said. “It was starting to grate on with Mood Media and that the people.” music isn’t designed to be the main Unfortunately, because they use a attraction, but simply an ambiance streaming service, ’53 Commons can’t measure. “It’s noise cancelling … actually take song recommendations. you may think it’s adding noise, but However, Nakhla does like to take when you’re having a conversation, student perspective into account. it dies down the overall noise in the “Every couple terms I run the room,” Nakhla said.

ARYA KADAKIA/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

Class of '53 Commons, known as "Foco," is known for its all-you-can-eat buffet, its "light" and "dark" sides, and of course, its eclectic mix of music.

MIRROR //5

Breaking Bad (Habits) STORY

By Alexa DiCostanzo

How long does it take to break a ’19 admitted to what she called hyper bad habit? According to the European honesty. “If something’s actually Journal of Social Psychology, it takes bothering me, I will always say it,” 66 days for the mind and body to she said. “It’s a bad habit because I accustom to meaningful, lasting can’t filter what I’m feeling.” change. Sixty-six days?! That’s an “I’m sure a lot of people would say entire term at school here. We didn’t that is a good habit,” I told her. shoot out the womb addicted to our “Well, yeah. Not saying what cell phones or playing pong. So what I really felt — that used to be my gives? bad habit,” Levine said. “[Now] Most of our habits aren’t bad at all. I’m compensating for the fact that In fact, they are essential to our ability I used to be scared to be honest and to function normally. We take the confrontative.” She thought for a same route to moment. “A lot of class each day, habits I have now for example, "Not saying what are [reactions] to w i t h o u t I really felt — that previous habits thinking much I had of being about i t . used to be my bad too meek, too Habits, once habit. Now I'm vulnerable, too engrained, scared.” She compesating for the save us massive laughed and then c o g n i t i v e fact that I used to be added, “I have effort, which scared to be honest a habit now of frees up our genuinely trying and confrontative.

A brainpower to to make people focus on more lot of habits I have uncomfortable.” important I asked her for an now are reactions to th in gs, li k e example. the new and previous habits I had “Sometimes unexpected. of being too meek, when I pass people Without our [on the street] who habits, we’d too vulnerable, too seem to have an waste a n scared." attitude of ‘I’m absurd amount better than others,’ of time each I’ll start really day deciding -EMILY LEVINE '19 obviously and where to sit. disgustingly wipe T h e my nose with my downside to the hand, or make it body’s propensity to form habits is that look like I’m picking my nose,” she once patterns become routine, they are said. This new habit, she explained, much more difficult to change. Our was replacement for an old one: the habits have a way of slipping beneath tendency to focus too much on the our consciousness, fading into the opinions of others. background of the given. Even when The idea of replacing a bad habit some habits no longer benefit us — with a good one corresponds to similar drinking too much soda or speaking advice offered by Alex Eldredge loudly in public, for instance — it’s ’19. With bad habits, she explained, hard to step back and think about “you don’t want to think in terms of them critically. And even when we do restriction — in terms of what you’re admit a need to change, oftentimes it getting rid of — but [in terms of] what feels like the short-term gratification you’re replacing.” It’s all about positive outweighs the long-term benefits. (“I reinforcement, in other words. “If ate three corn dogs at Late Night you replace a bad habit with a good last night,” a friend told me recently, habit, you’ll find there’s not enough offering a Snapchat photo as proof. space for the bad habit any more. You “Two in one hand, one in the other. kind of edge it out,” she said. To take a I always do stuff like this. I regretted page from Levine’s book: if you catch it SO much this morning.”) yourself worrying what others think, Dartmouth students share a lot of replace it with a habit to prove each the same bad habits, and most are not time you don’t care at all. embarrassed to admit that they haven’t Eldredge’s wisdom stems from her changed them. Connor O’Leary own new personal experiment. “This ’19 is one such student. “I’ve never term, I started making my bed every triumphed over anything,” O’Leary morning — which is something I’ve joked. “My bad habit is that bite my never done, embarrassingly. But it’s my nails, but I still do that.” priority. I don’t care if I’m running late.

Nail-biting doesn’t hurt anyone, but I will make the damn bed,” she said. negative thought patterns do. Some “To be successful in a implementing bad habits legitimate or necessitate our a new habit, you have to make it your conscious effort to repattern ways of absolute number one priority.” thinking. When asked about her own At Dartmouth, cell-phone social predispositions, Emily Levine addiction was another hang-up

for most students. When I asked phone in his dorm during the day, and Warren Coleman ’22 which habit checks notifications at 4 p.m. before he felt most ashamed of, he didn’t he leaves again in the evening. hesitate in his answer: his cellphone “It gives me more time to interact,” usage. Most of us can probably relate Nyabuto explained. “Now if I’m at to that — who wants to wait in a an event and it’s boring, I just talk to 35-minute-long Hop line without at people.” least one mind-numbing distraction?

For those of us born after 1995, But Felix Nyabuto this is a wild ’21 had a different "I was like, what? I'm concept. I have take. After using an witnessed that spending a quarter of app that recorded M i l l e n n i a l s, how many hours my day on my phone? wh i l e i n a a day he spent That's 25 percent of waiting room on his iPhone, with strangers, he discovered he my life! And there tend to turn had racked up a was no happiness that to their staggering six to phones rather seven hours a day came out of that." than interact staring into a tiny with each screen. other. Adults -FELIX NYABUTO '21 “I was like, f ro m o l d e r what? I’m spending generations, a quarter of my on the other day on my phone? hand, smile, That’s 25 percent of my life!” he said. introduce themselves and start “And there was no happiness that conversation more frequently than came out of that.” Now he leaves his their younger counterparts.

“I thought, I’m gonna stop recording s—t, and just look at it. And just share it, and just experience it,” Nyabuto explained. To live a mostly phoneless life: it’s an interesting thought. If we couldn’t send texts or Snaps, we’d probably get out of our houses and heads a lot more. It would get too lonely otherwise.

Forcing ourselves to break from routine is difficult. This becomes doubly true when that habit is instantly gratifying. Objectively, pushing off writing that paper until the day it’s due is not the greatest move. Yet when someone asks us if we’re going out the night before, an “I don’t know” often turns into “I guess I could, just for like 30 minutes — an hour, tops.”

Maybe we tolerate bad habits until we acknowledge the long term as more important than the present. Ideally, our bad habits do not end as much as they evolve into something better.

Rewiring neural pathways cemented by years of repetition is no easy feat.

Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, 66 days doesn’t seem so long at all.

6 //MIR ROR

The Push and Pull of Webster Avenue STORY

By Elliott Zornitsky

The scene at play is familiar: people return back to their you and your friends approach dorms at 2 a.m., she reflected on Webster Avenue, shivering in a the pattern of activity at play: thin fracket, wondering where beginning your night with either a you’ll hide said fracket and pregame or tails, and then moving casually planning the order in from one fraternity to the next to which you’ll visit the various play pong or dance. fraternities. An underlying hum Fraternities are the social of music reverberates from the institutions that make Dartmouth various house basements into the unique, or at the very least, distinct night, and as you get closer, the from the other Ivy League schools. familiar smell of Keystone Light A crucial aspect of the Dartmouth curls under your nose. Perhaps experience is based on carving you find yourself standing on the a path that either embraces steps to Alpha Chi Alpha or Chi the fraternities or searches for Gamma Epsilon, hoping to play alternative social spaces. Of some pong or slap cup, or maybe course, by alternative social spaces you’re pushing your way through I do not solely mean the Cube the crowd to get into Beta Alpha or the stretched fabric structure Omega, eager to dance away by the gym that is affectionately the inhibitions called the Onion. created by B e n n y “Going out means a stressful Adapon ’19 has i n s t i t u t i o n . doing the circuit: not been to a frat Regardless in over going to tails, going basement of what you three years, but seek, nightlife to formals, going to admitted that at Dartmouth frats. That’s what I as a freshman, has become he tried to do invariably tied thought about for the “Dartmouth to the Greek most of my time t h i n g , ” system.

The participating in freshman year.” situation poses Greek life and an interesting what he supposed question: how -BENNY ADAPON ’19 the Dartmouth do Dartmouth experience students spend should be. their nights, and “Going out does nightlife even exist outside means doing the circuit: going the confines of Webster Avenue? to tails, going to formals, going Prior to interviewing any to frats,” he said. “That’s what current students, I suspected that I thought about for most of my the responses would be fairly time freshman year.” similar. Most Dartmouth students For Adapon, creating a life would describe their social life in outside of the Greek system initially relation to Greek spaces, and the proved to be alienating but ended only differences would lay in the up being overwhelmingly positive, frequency in which they went out especially because his actions help and the specific frats they chose to inspire underclassmen who feel go to. uneasy in Greek spaces to create The language that we use to some lasting nightlife memories describe and talk about nightlife is of their own. Adapon’s nights out foremost very telling, as it is almost center around the Hop Bar, Collis exclusively rooted in fraternities After Dark, coffee house concerts, and sororities. At Dartmouth, drinks at Molly’s and the Skinny going out is singularly associated Pancake, or when he wants to feel with either a fraternity or sorority. “cultured,” attending events at This innate connection that the Hood Museum or the Hop. students draw between going These spaces do more than place out and Greek spaces begins individuals outside of Webster freshman year and even extends Avenue: they offer a form of itself to those who choose not to escapism, and as Benny described, participate in the Greek system at curate an environment that feels all. like a city, momentarily lifting him Katie Orenstein ’22, who outside of Hanover. proudly prefers a bootlegged However, Adapon’s discovery Broadway musical (a crime she is of nightlife scenes seems to be willing to commit) to a fraternity rare among Dartmouth students. space, still knows the nightlife Orenstein frustratingly pointed a routine that defines many recurrent idea among Dartmouth Dartmouth students’ weekends. faculty and students alike about As she sat in a common room of the culture of drinking at the McLaughlin Cluster, watching Dartmouth in relation to going

out.

Anna Ellis ’19 tends to go out at “It is said that the drinking is least once a week and has a typical happening routine (one that because there “It is said that starts at Beta is nothing else the drinking is Alpha Omega going on,” she and ends at Theta happening because said.

Delta Chi), she The isolation there is nothing else still maintains of Dartmouth’s reservations about going on.” campus and the the rush process. cold weather “I started the appears to -KATIE ORENSTEIN ’22 rush process, perpetuate and I was super a particular intimidated by image of the fact that Dartmouth a five-minute as a school that is remote, self– conversation could determine containing and reliant on both whether or not other women drinking and, by extension, wanted to be connected with me fraternities to in a house,” provide that she said.

“It’s a lot of excitement.

She noted However, despite conversation, a lot that once in the confining of dancing, a lot of the Greek aspects of Webster s y s t e m , Avenue, it still being way more silly it does a offers moments of and free than I am n u m b e r exuberance and of positive during the week.” community to those things for who struggle to individuals accept all aspects -ANNA ELLIS ’19 who choose of the Greek to rush, but system. The ability she wasn’t to access fraternity willing to take and sorority spaces even when the plunge. So, what does draw unaffiliated plays a key part in Ellis to Greek life? this partial embrace. Even though “I think usually I’m looking for

a good night with friends,” she said. “It’s a lot of conversation, a lot of dancing, a lot of being way more silly and free than I am during the week.”

This sense of freedom and dissociation from the images we maintain during the school week is the prominent motivation behind most of our nighttime activities. Orenstein spoke to the gender–inclusive energy of places like Alpha Theta, and adamantly confessed that the best on-night she had, by a wide margin, was Lingerie at Tabard.

Lingerie’s purpose is to foster an environment in which those who wouldn’t normally feel comfortable at fraternities feel welcome. Accordingly, spaces exist on Webster Avenue itself that run counter to the Dartmouth’s typical nightlife routine, providing truly wild and thrilling experiences that do not fit neatly into the Dartmouth bubble.

All in all, from a restaurant in town to a fraternity on Webster Avenue, the physical location in which night life occurs varies by a considerable amount, but the purpose for going out is wholly consistent: finding a space to exhale and finding relief to soften the blows of some increasingly stressful weeks.

MIRROR //7

You Can Nap Here, Or There, or Anywhere STORY

By Nelly Mendoza-Mendoza

You can take naps anywhere, how he sees that time as wasted. from the Tower Room in Baker He called this a killer nap because Library on Sunday to your friends’ of how inefficient the use of time room while you are out on a is.

Saturday night. They can be long “It’s a whole hour and a half or short — and depending how that is wasted,” he described. you look at it, He did note helpful or that after the “I get really ti red and harmful. occasional allA q u i c k just crash and then for nighter he takes Google search like an hour or two, I a one-hour nap, will tell you meant to be can’t do anything.” all about the taken right after benefits of he is done with naps, from whatever ke pt -CHRISTINE DONG ’19 increased him up all night. a t h l e t i c Although naps performance to improved alertness. technically define a time when you Yes, naps can make you more fall asleep, it is not always that way. productive and alert. However, Consider the “I want to take a nap” there is always the possibility nap — you are tired of doing work, that you will sleep longer than so you put your head down, but planned. Not to you just cannot mention waking “It’s a whole hour and fall asleep. Your up feeling worse body seems to a half that is wasted.” than you started be confused as and losing out to what to do. on a few hours -WES KENDRICK ’19 Y o u of your day. can also take Maybe you a nap while can tell I am s t a n d i n g u p. not someone who takes naps on Perhaps this is better described a regular basis. I once bought an as zoning out, because you are app that was supposed to help me so tired it almost feels like you wake me up at the ideal time when are sleeping. Many of us might napping. It didn’t wake me up.

My most memorable nap was during my freshman year, when I took a nap with two of my close friends all squeezed into my twin bed in Russell Sage. I fell asleep first and then all of a sudden, my friends had also fallen asleep next to me.

It was a full-on siesta at 12 p.m. It was as if our brains had just been hypnotized into the same state.

Since then, I have only had the occasional nap that ends in me snoozing every one of my alarms, if I do set them. It usually happens if I am completely exhausted after a long day or after a big lunch or dinner.

However, some students are committed to taking naps, such as Christine Dong ’19, who takes naps daily because they increase her alertness.

“I get really tired and just crash and then for like an hour or two, I can’t do anything,” Dong said when asked what happens if she misses her nap.

Naps are almost like our natural refresh button, especially after long days or overwhelming ones.

For example, Wes Kendrick ’19 described how some students take a post language drill nap at 8:45 a.m. when they return to their rooms from class, their next class scheduled no earlier than 10 a.m.

However, Kendrick describes

have also experienced something been, for the most part, completely similar in class. The latter is the unplanned. Kendrick, however, most embarrassing, especially if mentioned how he has recently you are sitting on the front row spotted a student sleeping in the and the professor has a full view 1902 Room in Baker-Library, shoes of you nodding your head with a off and arms formed like a pillow, blank stare and dreamy eyes — or multiple times.

I tried to spot this person to worse, a full, head-on-desk nap.

Sometimes there is absolutely interview them but was unsuccessful. nothing you can do to stop that from I would have asked what led them happening, especially if it’s a 9 a.m. to choose the 1902 Room to nap in. Perhaps class or a two they would say hour class in the “Every time I nap, it’s the fact that afternoon.

I lucid dream. Not i t ’s o p e n 2 4 Naps in the library are not falling into deep sleep hours, the quiet ambiance or the ideal; however, physically hurts. I am large couches. sometimes The worse nap t h e r e i s n o physically asleep, but is the one that alternative than I am not fully there.” turns into a full to publicly try to night’s sleep. You bring yourself come home at 8 t o a h i g h e r -KANG-CHUN CHANG ’17 p.m. with plans to functioning continue working state — especially when writing a paper or to go out later in the night. But the night before it’s due or during then you find yourself on your bed finals. It usually helps to have comfortably laying down. You tell a friend with you to make sure yourself, “Fine, I’ll sleep for five you actually wake up after a few minutes,” but all of a sudden it is 11 p.m. You should have seen it minutes.

I’ve been able to nap in the coming, but sometimes you cannot library a few times, but only for stop it. A comfortable bed and like two minutes. These have room temperature are a deadly combination.

Kang-Chun Cheng ’17 only takes naps in extenuating circumstances.

Sometimes she promises to meet someone late in the night but is tired and wants to recharge. However, she usually avoids sleeping during the day because it ruins her sleep schedule.

“Every time I nap, I lucid dream,” Cheng said. “Not falling into deep sleep physically hurts. I am physically asleep, but I am not fully there.”

Her experience reminds me of the nap where you wake up in the middle of deep sleep as you were having a nightmare and now it transcends your waking life.

It’s a regrettable nap. Not really something you need in the middle of your day. These are some of the risks you are faced with, especially if you do not have a formula down for your perfect nap. Dong is the only person who I can say has a solid routine when it comes to taking naps.

After finishing this article, I will most likely have exhausted most of my mental energy for the day.

The idea of taking a perfect nap is tempting, but it usually does not go that way for me. I’ll just do something else to recalibrate. I’ll leave the nap for another time.

HEDER HAYAT/THE DARTMOUTH

8// MIRROR

The Art of the Drill STORY

By Zachary Gorman

While many universities require students to take classes in a second language, Dartmouth is unique with its use of language “drill” classes. These classes serve as a supplement to students’ normal language courses and are taught by a fellow Dartmouth student — a drill instructor — who is fluent in the language. Drill emphasizes repetition, with the instructor repeatedly cueing individual students to articulate sentences with slight changes each time.

Students must pay close attention to the repeated sentences in order to understand exactly what they will have to say when the instructor selects them to speak. One of the primary goals of drill is to acquaint students with conjugating verbs and forming complete sentences on the fly by repeating phrases.

Some Dartmouth students find this repetition to have a positive impact on their understanding of the language they are studying. Henry ALISON ZENG/THE DARTMOUTH Phipps ’21, who is currently taking Dartmouth Hall, one of the first buildings of the College and an iconic Dartmouth symbol, is where many language classes are held. drill classes for Spanish 3, “Spanish has never instructed a 7:45 drill, believe that some alternative practice completed. Mahadeshwar thinks III,” believes that the drill format efficacy as a grammar tool. “[Repetition] does help, but believes that the time slot is very could serve as a useful supplement such activities could help to maintain helps him master the concepts at to the traditional drill format. students’ interest if used in a greater hand despite the difficulty of the it might contribute a little bit to difficult for people to adjust to. students being a little tired of it “I’ve never Azagidi believes that capacity. classes. by the end of the taught a 7:45 drill could be more “One [improvement] would be “I think it 50-minute session,” course and I’ve “[Repetition] does helpful if students just to include more activities for forces me to Mahadeshwar said. never signed up help, but it might were able to have students to do because it tends to think and it “[Drill] can be a little “But drill is really for one because conversations with each get very repetitive and boring by gives me the bit frustrating, to be contribute a little there to reinforce I p e r s o n a l l y other in the language, the end,” Mahadeshwar said. “I practice to honest.

I’m not really grammar concepts, cannot wake bit to students with the instructor think that some more activities, like for m these and that’s why I up that early to being a little tired correcting any mistakes mini-breaks or mini-competitions or phrases … I a fan of ... doing the think it’s really teach a course,” students make in their something just to keep the students think it can be exact same formula different from a Mahadeshwar of it by the end conversation. engaged would be more ideal for tough because classroom setting.” s a i d . “ S o I of the 50-minute “Rather than being encouraging more learning.” you have to be [repeatedly]. I don’t Phipps believes know that there forced to conjugate Despite his few reservations really focused think that it helps as that drill’s repetition would be a lot session.” some random phrase, regarding the repetitiveness and to … feel it, much as being able can set up situations of students who I think timing of otherwise it’s in which students also would have that drill drill sessions, brutal because to talk back and forth -YUVRAJ can be embarrassed issues with being would be “I know that I Mahadeshwar y o u k e e p in Spanish to another by their mistakes able to be awake MAHADESHWAR ’21 better if literally could says that he loves forgetting stuff in front of their and ready to we were the prog ram and you just person.” not think at 7:45 peers, leading to learn.” just able and believes end up feeling a lesser learning While Mahadeshwar says that to talk back and forth a.m., so to me it that, when it bad about -ALLISTER AZAGIDI ’21 experience. he appreciates that the 7:45 a.m. over various subjects seems strange is structured yourself,” “I tend to not get option is available for students and and just be forced i d e a l l y, d r i l l P h i p p s embarrassed that easily in front of instructors who cannot be present to do that and then that students c a n h av e a said. real impact However, some students feel that other people, so in that case, drill is for the other time slots, he thinks it have the instructor would be forced to on students drill becomes too repetitive and that well-suited for me, because if I mess would be worthwhile for language come in and correct participate so early learning a new other language exercises could have up in front of a group of students, I programs to look for another time every now and then,” language. a greater impact on learning. Allister don’t really care that much,” Phipps slot that could be more conducive Azagidi said. “I think when they aren’t that, overall, would “ I Azagidi ’21, who is also in Spanish said. “But I can imagine someone to learning. getting anything Phipps, who has taken a 7:45 a.m. improve everyone’s think [drill’s 3 drill, says that real conversations feeling pretty pressured to have their efficacy] really could be more effective in developing fellow students watch them forget drill class in the past, also believes pronunciation [and] out of it.” three words even though they were that this early time slot harms everyone’s ability to just depends on students’ language skills. students’ ability to effectively learn think better on the the structure of “[Drill] can be a little bit said eight times, 30 seconds ago.”

-HENRY PHIPPS ’21 Beyond the inherent repetitiveness from the drill system. ball.” the class itself frustrating, to be honest,” Azagidi “Some people get stuck at times Mahadeshwar says and that’s really said. “I’m not really a fan of … doing of drill, one common complaint is dependent on the exact same formula [repeatedly]. the timing of drill classes. Many drill that don’t work for their brains,” that the repetitiveness I don’t think that it helps as much classes are scheduled at 7:45 a.m. Phipps said. “I know that I literally of drill could be mitigated if some each instructor, but as long as as being able to talk back and forth three days each week in order to could not think at 7:45 a.m., so to me other interesting activities were the students are in a spot where avoid conflicting with students’ other it seems strange that students would integrated into drill’s curriculum. they’re ready to learn and the in Spanish to another person.”

Yuvraj Mahadeshwar ’21, who classes. If students have engagements be forced to participate so early when Drill instructors are allowed to instructor is there passionately has instructed Spanish drill over that conflict with the other drill time they aren’t getting anything out of lead a language-based game teaching, I think that it can provide or competition, but only after a lot of opportunities for students,” multiple terms, agrees that it may slots, they have no choice but to take it.”

Both Azagidi and Mahadeshwar each session’s material has been Mahadeshwar said. be too repetitive at times despite its the 7:45 drill. Mahadeshwar, who