The Dartmouth 9/20/18

VOL. CLXXV NO. 65

PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH 70 LOW 55

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

College sees straw shortage

College signs brief to support holisti admissions

B y Debora HYEMIN HAN The Dartmouth Staff

OPINION

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MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

The campus has run into a straw shortage, a phenomenon that has been reflected across the nation.

B y LILY JOHNSON The Dartmouth Staff

Across the nation, the use of paper straws as an alternative to plastic straws has risen exponentially as cities including Seattle, San Francisco and Miami Beach have moved to decrease or

limit plastic straws’ use. This has led to a shortage felt on the Dartmouth campus since the College began using paper straws in May. According to Dartmouth Dining Services associate d i r e c t o r D o n Re e d , Dartmouth Dining Services is running low on its supply

of paper straws. He said that the College’s distributor, Imperial Dade, moved back the estimated date for the next delivery of paper straws to the first week of October from the original delivery date in the first week of September.

SEE STRAWS PAGE 5

Palacios appointed as new NAP director B y MICHAELA ARTAVIA-HIGH The Dartmouth

Though she was one of only a few Pueblo students at Stanford University, Sarah Palacios found a welcoming and supportive Native community. Now as the newly appointed director for the College’s Native American Program, she hopes to bring the same sense of community to Dartmouth.

As the College’s new Native A m e r i c a n P ro g r a m d i r e c t o r,

Dartmouth aligned itself with the Ivy League and nine other private universities in the growing legal battle between Students for Fair Admission and Harvard University, co-filing an amicus brief over the summer reaffir ming the need to maintain considerations of race in admissions.

SFFA launched the federal lawsuit against Harvard in 2014, alleging t h at H a r va rd h a s a n unconstitutional racial quota that caps its number of admitted Asian students, as well as a racial balancing policy that was outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court in previous litig ation.

Among the recourse for relief requested by the organization, in addition to Harvard-specific actions, is a declaratory

judgment stating that any use of race or ethnicity in the educational setting violates the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The amicus brief, filed on July 30, reaffirms the need to consider race in order to construct a d iver s e s tud en t bo dy.

The brief argues that it would be an “intrusion” to mandate a specific method of selection or prohibit consideration of race in the admissions process because holistic evaluations of applicants, including consideration of race, allows the schools to asses “how each individual student can contribute to the diversity of the student body.” It also relies on legal precedents that affirm universities’ use of race in holistic admissions processes.

SEE LAWSUIT PAGE 3

CAMPUS CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION

Palacios said she wants to continue to develop Dartmouth’s Native American Program, identifying strengths and addressing gaps in the program’s offerings following discussions with students, professors, staff and alumni. “[I want to] make sure that students from the many diverse backgrounds of our Native and indigenous communities recognize that this is a place that can be SEE NAP DIRECTOR PAGE 2

MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

The College sees continued construction on buildings around campus.

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THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

DAily debriefing Last week, Planned Parenthood announced that Leana Wen will be the organization’s next president following Cecile Richards.

Wen will assume the position on Nov. 12, and she will be the second doctor to serve as Planned Parenthood’s president since the organization was founded in 1916. Wen has worked as an emergency room physician and as the Baltimore health commissioner. While in medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, she served as a Planned Parenthood volunteer in St. Louis. Wen immigrated to the United States from China as a child after the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Her family was granted political asylum in the U.S., and she said that she and her family relied on Planned Parenthood and Medicaid for healthcare.

Following her sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford and her legal team have been given a deadline, Friday at 10 a.m., to respond to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley’s request to have her speak about the allegations to the committee. If Ford does not accept the request, the hearing for the case, which is currently scheduled for this upcoming Monday, will likely be canceled. Ford has asked for an investigation by the FBI prior to an investigation led by the Senate, which has resulted in pushback by Grassley. Kavanaugh has denied the accusations.

Starting Oct. 1, the possession of bump stocks will be illegal in Vermont as a result of Act 94, which was signed by Vermont governor Phil Scott last spring. In preparation for this event, the Vermont state police are currently collecting bump stocks from citizens. The police are not making any record of the specific individuals turning in these devices. Punishment for possession after Oct. 1 includes up to one year in prison and fines totaling $1,000. Other states, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, have implemented similar laws, but have faced difficulty in enforcing the bump stock ban as few individuals have turned in their devices. Also included in Act 94 are more controversial provisions such as a ban on high-capacity magazines, a higher minimum age to purchase a gun and tightened background checks.

-COMPILED BY EILEEN BRADY, GIGI GRIGORIAN AND LEX KANG

CORRECTIONS We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com for corrections.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

Palacios to direct NAP at Dartmouth FROM NAP DIRECTOR PAGE 1

people,” Palacios said. their community — that is their Palacios is the first Native community,” Palacios said. “This is American Program director since a community that is here to support Susan Taffe Reed was removed indigenous and Native students.” from the position in October 2015 Palacios’ experiences inform due to controversy surrounding her her passion for her work, she said, Native heritage. including her childhood in New Taffe Reed currently works as Mexico with a large family. an assistant dean of undergraduate “I came from a place where I students. At the time of her had 50 first cousins appointment, around me at any she was the p o i n t i n t i m e, ” “We wanted a president of P a l a c i o s s a i d . director that was the Eastern “When I came to D e l aw a re really going to college I struggled Nation, which with being away focus on student is a non-profit from family — with needs and take [the o r g a n i z a t i o n , being away from but not a that community. Native American federally or It wasn’t until I Program] to state recognized connected with the tribe. another level.”

Native community The search for at Stanford that I a new program discovered what I -LIZ AGOSTO ’01, director started was lacking — what in October I needed to be able SENIOR ASSOCIATE 2017, when to thrive there as a DEAN OF STUDENT senior associate student.” dean of student AFFAIRS As the new Native affairs Liz American Program Agosto ’01 director, Palacios assembled a said she hopes to committee to create a welcoming select a new community “so that director. The search committee was Native students have the ability to composed of students, professors, be themselves.” Speaking to her staff and alumni involved in the own college experience, she noted Native American Program. the importance of feeling at home “[We were] really looking for a in a Native community. professional that was committed to “There is something wonderful Native American education and in having a place where you go the Native American community,” and you don’t have to explain Agosto said. “We wanted a director that you’re native — where you that was really going to focus on don’t have to be the voice for student needs and take [the Native an incredibly diverse group of American Program] to another

level.”

The committee conducted several rounds of interviews to narrow the search pool. The remaining candidates were then hosted at the College for a final round, where they met with current students in the Native American Program and presented their vision for the program.

Following these interviews, Palacios was selected as the new director. “ W h en s h e met wi th th e students, they really connected with her,” Agosto said, adding that Palacios will work with students to foster a strong community on campus.

According to Agosto, Palacios is “really able to articulate the needs of the Native student population.”

S h e a d d e d t h at Pa l a c i o s ’ selection was due to her strong capabilities as a leader and experience in organizing an office, including budgeting and community outreach with alumni and professors.

T he Native Americans at Dartmouth executive board also issued a positive statement about Palacios’s appointment.

“As the Native Americans at Dartmouth Executive Board, we are excited to welcome Sarah Palacios into our Dartmouth community,” the board wrote. “We are delighted for the opportunity to collaborate as a board with the Native American Program as well as other Indigenous communities, organizations, and departments on and off campus for the betterment of the Native Students at this institution.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

Amicus brief reaffirms support for consideration of race in admissions at Dartmouth, Brown University and Yale University. There have A c c o r d i n g t o C o l l e g e been several legal complaints of spokesperson Diana Lawrence, alleged discrimination against Dartmouth decided to file the Asian-American students in college brief to support Harvard’s holistic admissions, dating back to 2006, admissions philosophy and the legal when Asian-American students framework that allows race to be a filed a complaint against Princeton factor in such a review. Dartmouth University. and the other institutions worked President of SFFA Edward with an outside law firm, Jenner Blum declined to comment on the and Block, implications of to draft and the institutions’ r e v i s e t h e “What is bothersome a m i c u s b r i e f, brief — and is that no institutions and wrote in an Dartmouth’s email that SFFA or scholars are dealing decision to was “unsure for s i g n w a s with the status quo now” about made after about these [academic whether it would consultation directly expand w i t h i n achievement] gaps the current Dartmouth’s between racial groups.” lawsuit to the “leadership rest of the Ivy team,” which League and i n c l u d e s -SWAN LEE, ASIAN o t h e r p r i vat e C o l l e g e AMERICAN COALITION FOR universities.

President However, Blum Phil Hanlon, EDUCATION FOUNDER reaffirmed that p r o v o s t S F FA w a n t s David Kotz to end the ’86 and vice consideration of provost for race in college enrollment admissions. and dean of A s i a n admissions A m e r i c a n and financial C o a l i t i o n fo r aid Lee Education coC o f f i n , founder Swan according to Lee said that L a w r e n c e ’s the S F FA email statement. case highlights the fact that no In filing the brief, Dartmouth institutions are dealing with the did not endorse or comment on gaps between racial groups that Harvard’s internal admissions affirmative action was initially practices, Lawrence wrote in an implemented to address. She email. added that she does not believe In 2016, Dartmouth was the the Supreme Court justices ever recipient of a complaint lodged by wanted affirmative action to be the Asian-American Coalition for permanent because it is actually Education with the Departments of against the constitutional principle Justice and Education, stating that of equal protection. while the population of college-age “What is bothersome is that Asian-Americans has grown in the no institutions or scholars are past 20 years, their representation dealing with the status quo about has either leveled off or declined these [academic achievement] FROM LAWSUIT PAGE 1

gaps between racial groups,” Lee said. “They’re not adequately addressing those problems and trying to fix them. They’re not discussing how to g radually transition America from racist admissions to one that’s more fair and does not need to use racial identity.”

Julie Kalish, lecturer in the Institute for Writing and Rhetoric who focuses on the Supreme Court and constitutional law, said that the legal argument for the case is sound. However, she said the case could also be used as a vehicle to get rid of all race-conscious affirmative action across the board.

Blum’s involvement has politicized the discussion, Kalish added.

“I think that his involvement doesn’t change anything about the legal arguments, but there’s no question in my mind that his involvement affects the way people understand the case and affects the extent to which people are or are not willing to sympathize with and hear the arguments of [SFFA], which is a real shame,” Kalish said.

Regarding the College’s joint amicus brief, Kalish said she believes that institutions should be able to have control over the composition of their incoming class, and agrees with Dartmouth’s decision to sign the brief. She said that it is possible for Dartmouth and the other institutions to file the brief without making any commentary about Harvard’s specific practices. All the brief asks, she said, is to not get rid of the legal framework that allows for holistic admissions.

SFFA motioned for summary judgment over the summer, but the case is set to go to court next month. Lawrence wrote that Dartmouth will be “actively” monitoring the progress of the litigation and considering whether “strategic participation at any future juncture” would advance Dartmouth’s institutional goals.

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DARTMOUTHEVENTS

THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS

HER SPELL ON THEM REMAINS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

CAROLINE COOK ’21

TODAY

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Watercolor Exhibit: “Mystical Moments,” sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth, 7 Lebanon Street, Suite 107

4:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Film Screening and Q&A: Nasty Women CT’s “Testimonials,” Q&A with Nasty Women CT founder Luciana McClure, 13 Carpenter Hall

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Seminar: “Family Detention: Harmful and Unnecessary,” with Dilley Pro Bono Project American Immigration Council advocacy coordinator Katy Murdza, Rockefeller Center 003

TOMORROW

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Charles C. Jones Seminar: “Biometrics Under Attack,” with Michigan State University professor Arun Ross, Spanos Auditorium, Cummings Hall, Thayer School of Engineering

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Film: “Woman Walks Ahead,” directed by Susanna White, Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Public Astronomical Observing, sponsored by the physics and astronomy department, Shattuck Observatory

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

PAGE 5

Dartmouth faces straw shortage following national trend Mayghan Simano, the manager of King Arthur Flour’s BakerCurrently, only one facility Berry Library location, said that in the U.S. manufactures paper the company had also considered straws. However, in response to switching to paper straws or strawincreased nationwide demand less lids, but with the increase in for paper straws, the facility has demand KAF has not been successful been acquired by in finding a supplier. a larger company, Simano added that H o f f m a s t e r, i n “We now only the campus straw order to increase give out straws shortage is not production. This currently affecting pressure on paper for every drink KAF, but during straw production since people were the first few weeks is why the College after Novack Café taking straws switched from began carrying u s i n g w r a p p e d without buying paper straws, KAF’s paper straws to something.” straw supply did unwrapped straws, see a significant since the supply decrease. simply ran out, -MAYGHAN SIMANO, “We noticed that Reed said. our straws were MANAGER OF KING “Unfortunately, going quicker, and being ahead of ARTHUR FLOUR’S we had to replace other places in the BAKER-BERRY them several times change to paper a day,” Simano said. straws wasn’t great, LIBRARY LOCATION “We now only give as we now face a out straws for every lack of supply on drink since people c a m p u s, ” Re e d were taking straws said. without buying something.”

To address the straw shortage, Students’ reactions to the DDS will be introducing new lids straw shortage have been divided, for beverages that eliminate the need especially around the function of for a straw and are recyclable, much paper straws compared to plastic like Starbucks has done recently. ones.

FROM STRAWS PAGE 1

Jessica Chen ’21 said she did not Collis Center, as the smoothie station the absence of straws. originally notice the straw shortage, has been running out of straws in “Straws are something we grew as she does not use straws on campus. the past week. Pike added that she up with and became accustomed Chen said she sees the College’s use wondered why the switch to paper to, so maybe without straws we will of paper straws as a positive change straws even happened, since the get accustomed to that too,” Chen but has heard of other students College still uses plastic cups and said. “This problem is mainly about complaining utensils. habit change — about using “The whole “I feel like “Unfortunately, people have to get paper straws.

I have to use used to something paper straw She added that three paper being ahead of different.” she appreciates movement is a straws to get other places in According to t h e u s e o f little bit bizarre through my Reed, since the the change to paper straws, smoothie,” switch to paper as it represents to me because Pike said. “I paper straws straws occurred, a step toward there are so don’t think wasn’t great, as the metal straws removing they work available for many instances we now face a single-use very well.” purchase at Collis p l a s t i c s o n of single-use Pike said lack of supply on Market have campus. she plans on already had to be plastics in our campus.”

“The whole purchasing reordered at least paper straw lives, but the a metal once, showing m o v e m e n t nation is so straw to use -DON REED, that students is a little bit instead of are tur ning to focused on bizarre to me th e p a p er DARTMOUTH DINING more sustainable because there straws.” straws. She SERVICES ASSOCIATE options for straws. are so many added that Reed added that DIRECTOR instances of she would the Office of s i n g l e - u s e -JESSICA CHEN ’21 also use the Sustainability plastics in our new strawgave members of lives, but the less lids and the Class of 2022 nation is so focused on straws,” Chen would prefer them to the paper a spork during their First-Year Trips said. straws. experience.

However, the shortage of paper While the straw shortage presents “The hope is that there will be less straws did not go unnoticed by challenges to students who share contamination with paper straws, Chelsea Pike ’21, who said that Pike’s opinions, Chen noted that as plastic straws aren’t recyclable,” she had noticed the shortage at the people will eventually get used to Reed said.

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STAFF COLUMNIST RACHNA SHAH ‘21

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST EOWYN PAK ‘21

Penny For Your Thoughts

The Power of Anonymity

Take the penny out of circulation.

You’re walking to class and you see a penny on the sidewalk. Do you take a moment to pick it up or do you walk past it? According to an analysis by the New Yorker, if you spent more than 6.15 seconds to pick the penny up, you could have better used your time.

The penny first became legal tender in 1856 and was the first coin to commemorate a public figure — Abraham Lincoln — in 1909. Yet while pennies are a cornerstone of American life, recent evidence shows that phasing the penny out of circulation would result in economic and environmental gains, outweighing the penny’s current value.

Small denominations are going out of circulation, largely because of the growing difference between small coins’ face value and production costs. In 2016, it cost the U.S. Mint 1.5 cents to produce a penny, resulting in a loss of approximately 50 million dollars a year. This is because the price of zinc has tripled over the past 14 years. Even the nickel costs 6.3 cents to make. By comparison, the dime costs 3 cents to make and the quarter costs 8 cents.

In 2013, Canada took the penny out of circulation, primarily because inflation significantly reduced the purchasing power of the penny. The country will save 11 million dollars per year by getting rid of them. Australia removed the penny from circulation in 1992 due to the rising cost of copper required to mint the coins and the loss of purchasing power a penny had due to inflation. Italy has done the same this year. The politicians who proposed the measure argued that the utility of the penny had fallen — the coins were no longer accepted by parking meters or vending machines and were often left or abandoned.

Minting pennies also has significant environmental consequences. While mint facilities have been working to reduce their power consumption and direct emissions, the cost of getting copper and zinc out of the ground is high. In 2007, for every ton of copper produced, 2.45 tons of carbon dioxide were emitted. Additionally, when zinc is leached and purified, it releases sulfur dioxide, a chemical associated with respiratory illnesses.

In addition to environmental and financial

costs, taking pennies out of circulation would reduce the time consumers and retailers spend at the point of purchase. The use of pennies adds approximately two seconds to each transaction. If one assumes that the average American makes one cash transaction with pennies per day, they’ll waste 730 seconds per year. According to a Washington Post analysis from 2006, penny usage wastes around $1 billion in economic resources each year.

The U.S. has taken coins out of circulation before. In 1857, the half-cent coin was removed since the cost of making it exceeded its value.

In 1965, 90 percent-silver dimes, quarters and dollars were converted to “base metal clad versions.” These changes did not result in catastrophic consequences. Furthermore, the U.S. Army and Air Force banned pennies in 1980 in overseas military exchanges, as pennies were too heavy to transport.

The late Senator John McCain and Senator Mike Enzi reintroduced the COINS Act in 2017, suspending the minting of the penny alongside other currency modernization efforts. When a similar bill was proposed in 1989, an interest group, Americans for Common Cents, funded largely by Jarden Zinc Products, lobbied actively against it. Their argument was supported by an economist who argued that the legislation would act as a regressive rounding tax. In Canada, if an item costs $1.01, the retailer charges $1. But if the item costs $1.03 or $1.04, buyers are charged $1.05. However, recent studies have found evidence against this argument, showing that the effect of the “rounding tax” is negligible.

One argument against the elimination of pennies is that pennies are essential to various charities’ fundraising efforts. Many charities, such as UNICEF, ask people to donate pennies and use coin canisters to collect donations.

However, there has been a recent shift toward electronic payments that may eliminate the need for pennies for these charities.

Society is becoming less dependent on cash and more on mobile and electronic payments.

The penny’s lack of economic utility and the production process’ harm to the environment provide ample reason for removing the penny from circulation. As former U.S. Mint director, Philip Diehl, said, the penny is “beyond hope.”

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ISSUE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

THE DARTMOUTH OPINION

LAYOUT: Sonia Qin

SUBMISSIONS: We welcome letters and guest columns. All submissions must include the author’s name and affiliation with Dartmouth

College, and should not exceed 250 words for letters or 700 words for columns. The Dartmouth reserves the right to edit all material before publication. All material submitted becomes property of The Dartmouth. Please email submissions to editor@thedartmouth.com.

Why that anti-Trump op-ed had everyone talking, and for such a long time.

The anonymous “I am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” op-ed published in the New York Times is not powerful solely for its content. Half of its power can be attributed to its author’s anonymity. Before I argue on anonymity’s behalf, however, it is critical to acknowledge that the author is anonymous only to a certain degree. The New York Times wrote that the author is a senior official in the Trump administration, and I, for one, am inclined to believe them. Not only does the New York Times rarely ever publish op-eds with anonymous authors, but as CNN’s Chris Cuomo puts it, would the NYT really “risk their reputation on a kill shot like this if it was proven to be false?” Such a deed, according to Cuomo, would be considered a heavy “miscarriage of journalism.”

Psychology studies have shown that anonymity can make people unusually honest, which might imply that anonymity has allowed this author to reveal more than he or she normally would have in this article. But in addition to fostering more forthcoming inclinations, anonymity is powerful because of its single-handed ability to make anyone (within reason) a candidate of suspicion, met with unmatched paranoia.

Although readers know the rank of this writer, they are still left with quite a few potential candidates, including, most notably in the media, Vice President Mike Pence. Some characteristics of the op-ed are idiosyncratic to Pence. For instance, the op-ed uses the term “lodestar,” a very unusual term. What even is a lodestar? I looked it up on Google and received an equally unusual definition: “a star that is used to guide the course of a ship, especially the Pole Star.” It can be used metaphorically for someone who serves as an inspiration or intellectual guide. It turns out that since 2001, Pence has used “lodestar” multiple times in both his writing and public statements, like at a speech delivered to the U.N. in Sept. 2017, at the Jack Kemp Leadership Award Dinner and during another speech in February of this year delivered in Tokyo alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to name a few.

In addition, computer analysis found that the syntax of the op-ed piece was unique. On average, each sentence of the op-ed consisted of 19.3 words, a short length for the typical government statement. By comparison, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders’s statement on Syria on Sept. 4th of this year averaged about 31 words per sentence, and Trump’s letter to the Senate on Aug. 28th averaged 30 words per sentence.

Interestingly, Mike Pence consistently uses short sentences. On his administration plan for space delivered on Aug. 23rd in Houston, he used 19.7 words per sentence. At the American Legion’s 100th national convention on Aug. 30th, he used 17.6 words per sentence. In his recent speech for the late Senator John McCain? 17.4 words per sentence. On top of all that, the op-ed uses the passive voice, which is rare for government statements — except, of course, for Pence’s. In an old column about why President Bill Clinton should be impeached, he somehow managed to use the passive voice six times in 916 words.

Of course, these theories about Mike Pence come with a great deal of skepticism. Though New York Times editor James Dao has confirmed

that the editors did not remove any stylistic clues to the writer’s identity, there are a number of caveats. The sample size for these observations was small, nor did they employ the scientific method to gather this evidence. It’s possible that the actual senior official may not have written the piece, and it was instead written by one of their staff. And then there’s the way Pence seems stares at Trump with stars in his eyes.

And yet the possibility that Pence wrote it is still out there. This kind of thrill from uncertainty is akin to wild conspiracy theories that may be logically bogus but keep people hooked nonetheless.

If the author had revealed themselves, I think the course of events afterwards would follow the same narrative of anti-Trump resistance — as in, the stories would fizzle out of the media almost immediately. We already have a list of known inside-dissenters.

For example, ex-Acting Attorney General Sally Yates refused to defend Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order banning immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, and ex-Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin criticized the “toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive environment” in Washington he deemed responsible for the government’s failure to achieve anything substantial for veterans’s needs. Both Yates and Shulkin were dismissed from Washington. Both wrote op-ed pieces for the New York Times. And both, while admirable for their resistance, were forgotten in days. Anonymity, on the other hand, made “I am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” viral.

Trump supporters call this op-ed writer a coward and resent them for undermining the power of the presidency. On the other end of the spectrum, the writer is criticized for initiating a “destructive brand of politics instead of taking a more effective stand by resigning,” as Aja Romano wrote for Vox Media. However, I think the author did their job effectively. Countless others have called Trump idiotic, impulsive, petty, ineffective and all things negative. Yet as blatant resistors, Trump just had them removed without a gray hair. Now, Trump is leading a paranoid witch hunt to have that op-ed writer identified and brought in for treason. The author succeeded in offering insight into the inner-workings of the administration that people were actually willing to listen and react to. This disruption may be what some might label as an indicative harbinger of change.

The fact that the Trump administration has reacted in the way it has gives reason for closer scrutiny. As Chris Cuomo puts it in an interview released shortly after the op-ed, “What the president has done in reaction to the last two days screams concern that he’s dealing with the truth. With him going on a hunt in the White House for who talked to Woodward, for him saying The New York Times has to turn over their source to the government as a matter of national security? Do you realize how crazy that notion is, to even suggest, let alone from a president?”

And all of this resulted from the absence of a few characters.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

PAGE 7

THE DARTMOUTH OPINION

STAFF COLUMNIST CLARA CHIN ‘19

STAFF COLUMNIST NICHOLAS BARTLETT ‘21

Muse-en-scène

Legitimacy Lost

While visual subversion is trending, emotional subversion is not.

Together, the pages I follow on Instagram side of Instagram, however, tends to be feed have two sides: emotional excess and anonymous. Wedged in-between Paper visual excess. Everyone follows different Magazine’s risqué shots of almost-nude content, whether it be food blogs, fitness models walking down the runway or pages or nature pictures, all of which carry Office Magazine’s shots from parties with their own trends. Because I tend to follow barely-there pixels covering chests that clothing labels, emotional meme pages, appear on the Instagram feed, there are photographers and magazines, my media woefully and intentionally pathetic memes intake is a narrative that seems to summarize by semi-anonymous content creators like @ the contrasts between inner and outer blacksheepmemes. Only going by her first feeling. The narrative of sexual liberation name, “Megha,” one of her memes reads, in popular personal pages and magazines “me forever shook to another dimension compared to the shame that seems to over how hung up I am over a dude I never pervade more emotional accounts suggests even dated” above a picture of Taylor Swift. that, in general, the sexually explicit is more Another meme by @sadpeoplememes socially acceptable than what I might call reads, “I keep setting myself up to fail and the emotionally explicit.

I end up in precarious situations and I’m Both online and in real life, one can also dumb and ugly.” Similar to Megha’s see the trend of visual subversion. This is semi-anonymity, she only goes by the name made clear by trends in New York Fashion “soph.” Another meme by @meme.queen.

Week, where overtly sexual pieces were satan reads, “When he chooses you, makes hashtagged, shared and covered by online you a priority, cares about your feelings, and media. Some of the various trending looks actually wants to be with you — It’s just include Christopher Kane’s SS19 pieces not realistic.” Run by two content creators, with text that reads “Sex in Nature” and this account is completely anonymous.

“Sexual Cannibalism.” The Ashish SS19 The above Instagram pages all have 20show was similarly sexual in 30,000 followers — a hefty nature, previewing glittery amount for someone who bikini pieces for the season “Physical nudity is not otherwise a celebrity. drop. Lou Dallas, Barragán is sexy, whereas Parallel to unabashed risqué and Pyer Moss are a few images, these memes are of many brands featuring emotional ‘nudity’ unabashed displays of micro-skirts, mesh dresses does not seem to emotional honesty. One and plunging necklines in would think that someone be.” various colors, shapes and gaining an internet following sizes. The prevalence of would gladly claim their the sexually risqué during fashion week is a fame and tell all of their friends, much like summation or reflection of the overall social influencers, skaters, and hypebeasts who are acceptance of bodies more generally. With otherwise non-celebrities. However, these social media trends like #FreeTheNipple meme-makers often post on their stories and Kanye West’s co-creative direction of about how they had to block their friends the first ever PornHub Awards, it is safe and exes out of embarrassment. to say that gratuitous sexuality is fairly While part of the intention of blocking acceptable in the mainstream. It exists both friends arises from the practical issue of in high and low culture, with few people shielding these friends from content that is batting an eyelash. Subversion by way of about them, it is also noteworthy to consider bodily exposure and wearing scantily clad how self-deprecation creates a shame that clothing is generally perceived as edgy and nudity does not. Physical nudity is sexy, boundary-pushing. whereas emotional “nudity” does not seem The popularity of sexual displays on to be. Instead of capturing moments of social media picked up speed when Jean- physical pride, these posts capture moments Paul Goude photographed Kim Kardashian of emotional vulnerability. in a skin-tight black dress holding a phallic Even celebrity Hope Sandoval of the bottle of champagne, with an accompanying band Mazzy Star projects a self-deprecation version showing much more nudity. on her Instagram that seems to be alienating.

Published in Paper Magazine, this created One of her first posts reads, “I’m a superstar the hashtag #BreakTheInternet. Yes, these in my own private movie.” She has under images were met with controversy, but the 2,000 followers, a small number for a singer name of the hashtag shows their success in headlining with popular Cardi B and Mac terms of creating hype. Viewers either love it, Demarco at Tropicália. In general, seeing or love to hate it. Either way, it creates talk, a scantily-clad person on social media is and both the photographer and his subject not likely to make someone think too hard are not afraid to own up to the content they beyond “Wow, I wish I looked like that.” On created. the other hand, dumping one’s insecurities The same, however, cannot be said for onto an Instagram post might cause gratuitous displays of emotion. Public uncomfortable self-reflection, forcing the personas on Instagram freely post risqué viewer to deal with their own ugly feelings. photos of themselves in efforts to break the These posts will not break the internet, but internet. They proudly attach these images could make one reflect upon one’s broken to their name or with their personal website heart — a type of nudity society does not in their Instagram bios. The emotional yet have the courage to embrace.

Standardized testing must remain an integral part of the admissions process.

Life isn’t fair; get used to it. My father’s favorite tidbit of “parental wisdom,” this brutal truth applies quite well to the realm of collegiate admissions. In fact, this sentiment colors how people gaze upon all of academia. It guides them to bemoan privilege, to champion the underdog, to seek true meritocracy. And yet here we stand, looming over an academic precipice which stands to plummet higher education downward and subvert the progress that has been made toward climbing Mt. Meritocracy. This generation stands privy to the death of standardized testing — the death of the great legitimizer.

Now, believe me when I say that I understand vehement hatred toward the ACT and SAT. Judging an individual’s intellectual self-worth based upon their performance on one little test rings as cruel as it does disingenuous. Yet for all its hypothetically hyperbolic misery, standardized testing is not the end-all-be-all. It in no way supplants one’s existing qualifications. Instead, it complements one’s existing academic portfolio — facilitating and not impeding social mobility.

This isn’t to say that I implore higher education to emphasize standardized testing further. The test should always remain the supplement, not the foundation. But the opposite side of the coin — de-emphasizing standardized testing — in no way serves as a better option. And unfortunately, this seems to be the path that academic institutions are taking. I understand the doubters of my pseudoslippery slope; I get it. For all we know, this initiative could be little more than a blip on the radar — certainly nothing worthy of sparking a nationwide trend. Yet it very well could be all that and more, especially as more prestigious institutions hop on the bandwagon. One such “bandwagoner,” the University of Chicago, announced this past year that it will no longer require its prospective students to submit standardized test-scores.

Some view this as a victory. No longer will these tests pose such a threat to the poor-test-taker hoping to be a future academician; no longer will a single number — which proponents argue correlates with socioeconomic status — wound the underprivileged. At long last, they theorize, academia may judge individuals solely on their dedication and acumen.

However, humanity does not reside within the realm of theory — we dwell within the caustic apathy of reality. And realistically, all resumes are not born equal. Relativity rules the day. Each and every high school is different. Such is a glaring truism, yes, but an important one — especially so far as student credentials are concerned. In a burgeoning age of academic competition, what lies outside of the students’ control is what may make or break them. Private schools, those pristine chapels of academic rigor and preparation, tend to own pockets deeper than the Marianas Trench; the same goes for public schools within well-to-do neighborhoods or suburbs. They can afford the best professors, provide a multitude of AP and Honors courses, offer acclaimed extracurricular opportunities — all of which serve quite nicely as application fodder that provides a leg (or two) up on the competition.

In this way, underprivileged students are rendered inherently behind the ball in the process.

Perchance theirs is a school with nonexistent advanced coursework, or maybe the extent of their

club selection starts and ends with the yearbook.

These students exist — for no fault of their own — in a state of disadvantage when it comes to striving for greatness. They’ve no miraculous trophies to put on their resume; and even the lucid waters of Lake GPA grow murky in the wake of uncertainty on the part of universities over how to effectively gauge a fluid metric.

So how does that bright, young chap hope to prove it in this increasingly relativist academic landscape? The results of standardized testing are impervious to such doubts — and completely independent of social standing. Removing that opportunity to prove indubitably how one compares to students nationwide doesn’t help the underprivileged — it plops a greater impediment in the way of their social mobility.

Say what you will about the ACT and SAT. Yes, they correlate with wealth; money talks and B.S. walks, after all. And yes, it remains perfectly rational to lament that while some students hire professional tutors, others cannot even afford a calculator. But a swing of the pendulum in the opposite direction very seldom restores that ohso-tantalizing equilibrium.

A world that diminishes standardized testing is one in which the small-town prodigy finds it much more difficult to prove that they are more than simply the biggest fish to reside within an itty-bitty pond. These students did not choose to attend a school that struggles academically any more than their privileged peers chose to find themselves within esteemed institutions. Yet they’re punished for it all the same, even if they worked to achieve that GPA; even if their school offers little to no advanced coursework; even if the only extracurriculars available garner no national acclaim. They can only play with the hand dealt to them, and the system may very easily dismiss these cards. It deems them less valuable simply for their inherent lack of prestige — of privilege.

Standardized testing, however, helps to subvert this dismissal. A perfect ACT or SAT is perfect, regardless of whence one comes or the bounty embellishing one’s bank account. One cannot simply purchase (legally, anyways) their desired score. Socioeconomic status still correlates with test results, yes. But it’s just that: a correlation. Wealthy students are no more guaranteed a perfect score than their poor counterparts are a subpar one.

The path to “standardized glory” may be more difficult for the average Joe to discover, but it always remains wholly possible. And this possibility reigns as the holy grail of meritocracy, offering a chance at mobility in spite of mounting obstacles. For, in a way, these exams metamorphose into the zenith of opportunity, legitimizing achievements which would otherwise ring as hollow and cracked as the Liberty Bell. Because the test doesn’t make the student — it simply makes them impossible to relegate. Therein lies the beauty.

Devaluing standardized testing only facilitates an environment antithetical to the intent of such pursuits: one in which the criteria for the almighty verdict depend far more on social standing and arbitrary variance, not less — a scenario which puts an eraser to the underdog story, which dulls the scintillating glimmer of hope that any child — be they ghetto-born or mansion resident — can validate their many aptitudes and aspire to greatness. And it’s a shame.

PAGE 8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

THE DARTMOUTH ARTS

Artist-in-residence Lucy Mink exhibits work at Hopkins Center B y JORDAN MCDONALD The Dartmouth Staff

Painter Lucy Mink, whose exhibit opened on Tuesday, is this fall’s artistin-residence.

Known for her contemporary exploration and manipulation of the modernist style, Mink’s work has earned critical acclaim. Mink is the recipient of a 2012 grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York, and was awarded the 2007 Best of Show from the BAG Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Oakland, New Jersey, Mink now resides in Contoocook, New Hampshire.

Primarily using oil on canvas or linen, the works in exhibit at the Hopkins Center for the Arts were created in 2018, save for “Winner,” which was painted in 2016. Mink’s paintings, which are mostly abstract, are named using evocative statements, including, “So I turned myself to face me” or “Coming in last.” The combination of her titles with the vivid imagery of the paintings creates an almost contemplative atmosphere, as if the artist is coming to terms with certain thoughts through her work. With bold colors, ambiguous shapes, distinct titles and a unique artistic signature, Mink’s work is also distinct in

its imprint on the senses. Her complex style and technique have resulted in a truly transportive series of works, showcasing an element of her psyche as well as technique.

In her personal artist’s statement, Mink wrote, “I am consumed by combinations of color and form as a visual, abstract diary of my life, where time does not belong to me, but to others.

I am frequently organizing their things while they dance. I am in a situation.”

In the gallery book for Mink’s exhibit, artist Lisa Beckalso wrote about the sensory impact of Mink’s work and on how the viewer should engage with the pieces.

“You can get glimpses of an image, of an environment, but you have to put it together on your own to see how they connect,” she wrote.

Each term, a committee of nine studio art faculty members convene to nominate artists and decide who will be invited to campus for a ten-week stay.

Enrico Riley, studio art professor and chair of the department said that because it is common for professors to incorporate campus events and programs into their courses, many students in studio art classes this fall may be visiting the exhibit before the term ends.

“The purpose [of these residencies] is for edification,” Riley said. “It is for students to get exposed and to see in the flesh the varying kinds of art.”

Gerald Auten, studio art professor and director of exhibitions, also said it was important to have student exposure to the artists themselves as well as their work.

“When I teach, I always have my class visit the gallery with the resident,” he said. “These are world-class artists, so it is nice for the students to be able to ask really candid questions.”

Students’ access to residents is not limited to formal campus events. Each resident who stays on campus for the length of the ten week term receives an email address through which students can contact them directly, Auten said.

Auten and Riley both said they encouraged students from all departments, not just the studio art department, to reach out to the artistin-residence.

“I’d encourage anybody, even if they’re chemistry majors, to blitz the artist-in-residence and meet them,” Auten said. “Sometimes, those are really interesting meetings. Anything can happen.”

Mink’s exhibition will be on display in Jaffe-Friede Gallery until Nov. 13.

JORDAN MCDONALD/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

Viewers can see Mink’s exhibition at the Jaffe-Friede Gallery in the Hopkins Center.

Review: ‘Me Before You’ and ‘After You’ is reflective, emotional B y ileana sung The Dartmouth

“You can only actually help someone who wants to be helped.”

With this heartbreaking line that doesn’t easily leave the mind after the last page is turned, “Me Before You,” a novel by Jojo Moyes, and its sequel “After You” are books that make the reader reflect on their relationships and their values on life. While “Me Before You” makes one melancholy and stirs up various thoughts, “After You” provides hope and the subtle message that life goes on. The two books ultimately work together seamlessly to give a thought-provoking, emotional reading experience.

Louisa is a quirky girl living in a small town who loses her job and suddenly finds herself having to search for a new way to fend for herself. Will Traynor is an adventure loving, energetic and confident person who suddenly becomes paralyzed from an unfortunate accident. Their two worlds collide

when Louisa starts working for him as a caregiver. The two characters, very different in personality and in their emotional and physical states, start building a cautious relationship.

As their bond deepens, Louisa does her best to change Will’s outlook on his life that has taken an unwelcome, drastic turn. “After You” deals with her life after Will, the difficulty of moving on and the new relationships she builds with various unexpected people.

I remember first reading this book about two years ago, just before college, and being profoundly affected by the story, its characters and their different values and attitudes. I remember being very disappointed and saddened by Will, by how easily he gave up and by how selfish he seemed. Will was such a big influence on Louisa’s life, but Louisa didn’t affect him at all, I thought. Their relationship was unfair. What was the point of investing in something that would only end in hurt?

Being back on campus for fall —

the busiest, liveliest time of all, with multiple social events and the influx of the energetic class of 2022 — suddenly reminded me of Moyes’s books, and I found myself revisiting the small English town of Will and Louisa. I even gave the movie a try — which, needless to say, did not measure up to the book at all.

Moyes has a distinct writing style of her own; it is that style that adds to the profound tone and emotions of the story and brings it to life. Both books are set in the present tense, and her simple, casual sentences read more like a screenplay and a journal entry, allowing for readers to immerse themselves and feel the raw, sincere feelings of the characters. Moyes does a good job of portraying the big and small everyday struggles of the characters seemingly effortlessly, starting from Will’s struggle at the horse race to Louisa’s struggle with her previous relationship. Her writing turns the story into anything but casual.

I found myself becoming very emotionally attached and invested

in both characters, and was able to understand the thought processes of Will as well as Louisa, which eventually had me contemplate the value of life, relationships, and the importance of people around you.

It’s easy to feel like giving up, especially when one is feeling overwhelmed or jaded about new environments, new people and new situations. The books and their elaborate portrayals of both characters and their internal struggles, however, can be a powerful source of reflection and inspiration.

Will was a strong character who put up a good fight until the end, never faltering in his strong values and the way he wanted to live his life. He changed Louisa’s life in ways that no one else could have, which was how he left his mark behind. Louisa and her strength and kindness allowed Will to feel happiness in his last moments, and her long journey of recovery in “After You” shows that even when it feels like everything is falling apart, there is always a way back.

I would very enthusiastically recommend these books to anyone who is feeling the least bit down, having some fall blues or having doubts about how they should live their life or which path they should take. It is a wholly different, much more powerful experience than seeing the movie; not only does it provide thought-provoking conversation on the matter of euthanasia, it will also give the reader an opportunity to think deeply about their own values on life, lifestyle and the nature of relationships developed with the people around them — something that is definitely worth thinking about during fall term.

“He would be there, watching as my plane gathered speed and lifted into the great blue sky beyond. And with luck, he would be there, waiting, when I came home again.”

Everything can change, but life goes on. You just have to push yourself forward and make the most out of life however you can.

“Me Before You” and “After You” allows readers to realize that.