VOL. CLXXIII NO.118
SUNNY HIGH 68 LOW 45
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Cohen discusses his new book Joyce takes over as the new director of Greek life By DANIELA AMAS The Dartmouth
To finish his doctorate in education leadership at Clemson University this past June, Brian Joyce, the new director of the Office of Greek Life, authored a dissertation that examined how membership in traditionally white fraternities can shift notions of identity in minority students. This research has crystallized into Joyce’s aim to make the Greek system at Dartmouth more inclusive for those who have been marginalized. Joyce was appointed to his position this May, replacing Wes Schaub, who left the position in October 2015. Eric Ramsey, who served as the interim director, said
OPINION
HUEBNER: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ’20S PAGE 6
OPINION
REAVES: PULLING THE THREAD PAGE 7
OPINION
ZHU: THE MODERN DISCUSSION
SEE JOYCE PAGE 2
PETER CHARALAMBOUS/THE DARTMOUTH
Michael Cohen delivers a lecture on his new book in the Rockefeller Center.
By PETER CHARALAMBOUS The Dartmouth
In his lecture yesterday evening at the Rockefeller Center, journalist Michael Cohen connected the political activity of Nelson A. Rockefeller ‘30 to today’s polarized presidential election. The Boston Globe contributor discussed his new book, “American Maelstrom: The 1968 Election and the Politics of Division,” which concerns the career and legacy
of Rockefeller, who served as the Vice President under former Presdient Gerald Ford. Cohen, a columnist for the Boston Globe and World Politics Review, also wrote “Live from the Campaign Trail: The Greatest Presidential Campaign Speeches of the 20th Century and How They Shaped Modern America.” His new book examines the work of Rockefeller, who is considered one of the last great Republican moderates.
“Nelson Rockefeller would rather be Nelson Rockefeller than be the president of the United States,” Cohen said, quoting his new book, as he began to speak to about 50 people in the Rockefeller Center. He noted that Rockefeller’s sense of self was apparent throughout his career, from his moderate “doer” attitude while governor of New York SEE COHEN PAGE 2
Town of Hanover gets #Readyfor100
By DEBORAH HYEMIN HAN The Dartmouth
The Sierra Club Upper Valley Group has a big goal for the town of Hanover and Dartmouth: to source 100 percent of their energy of all three sectors — heat, transportation and electricity — from sustainable sources.
This August, the Town of Hanover’s Select Board adopted the Sierra Club’s #Readyfor100 campaign, a movement for 100 cities to transition towards 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2050. According to Peter KulSEE HANOVER PAGE 5
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ARTS
ALUMNA Q&A: KATHERINE STEBBINS ’04 PAGE 8 FOLLOW US ON
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Q&A with government professor Russell Muirhead By ALEXANDRA STEINBERG The Dartmouth
Growing up in “the shadow” of Manchester’s industrial mills, government professor and political theorist Russell Muirhead first learned about work, alongside the ethics of work. Muirhead went on to pursue an A.B. in government from Harvard University, as well as a second bachelor’s degree in philosophy,
politics and economics from Balliol College at Oxford University. In 1987, he was named a Rhodes Scholar. In 1996, after completing a Ph.D. in government from Harvard, Muirhead then taught at multiple institutions including Williams College, Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin before coming to Dartmouth in 2009. Since joining the ColSEE MUIRHEAD PAGE 3
COURTESY OF RUSSELL MUIRHEAD
Russell Muirhead is a contributor to the Political Economy Project.
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
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Cohen discusses VP Rockefeller’s legacy
hen argued, the American political dialogue changed for the worse. to his passion at the 1964 Republi- Effects of this are seen in both the can convention. At that convention, Republican loss by 5 million votes in Rockefeller criticized the party for the 2012 presidential election and in abandoning its principles and was the current presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. booed off the stage as a result. In 1968, Rockefeller’s policies as “The failure of Nelson Rockefeller the “standard bearer for the moder- explains our current polarization in ate wing of the Republican Party” this country,” Cohen said. “We have began to play a major role in the a very polarized electorate, maybe party’s ideological shift, according more polarized than any other electorate in Amerito Cohen. Stuck can history. Part between Rock- “Nelson Rockefeller of the reason for efeller’s moderathat is that the tion and Ron- would rather be Nelparties are so ald Reag an’s son Rockefeller than unique brand be the president of the homogenous in their ideological of conservatism, dispositions.” Nixon crafted United States” At the a new conserend of his talk, vative RepubCohen opened lican platform -MICHAEL COHEN the floor to questhat allowed for t i o n s, w h i ch him, despite his organizer and unpopularity, to Ro c k e f e l l e r capture the priCenter program mary and subofficer Joanne sequent election. Rockefeller’s moderate stance on Needham said helps create more certain issues became a figment of the robust conversation after lectures. Republican party’s past, increasing Students and visitors on campus political polarization that still haunts posed questions to Cohen on topics the American election cycle today, ranging from money in politics to the future of the Republican party. Cohen said. “The great tragedy of Rockefeller Attendee Gabriel Jenkinson ‘20 said is not just the moderate wing disap- that the lecture made him realize peared, it is that the conservative that the lack of moderate candidates wing took over to the point when the is not new, but has been happening Republican party no longer had two gradually over time. ideologically opposed wings,” Cohen Following the questioning, attendees were invited to a dinner and said. From this point in history, Co- conversation with Cohen. FROM COHEN PAGE 1
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
Joyce to focus on diversity, inclusion FROM JOYCE PAGE 1
Joyce’s strong Greek background helped push him to the top of the candidate list. As Director of Student Activities and Greek Life at Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Joyce was responsible for overseeing Greek councils, meeting with chapter presidents and the general day-to-day operation of Greek organizations. Before Wofford, he was the assistant director of Student Activities at the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition, Joyce remains an active member of the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha, which he joined as an undergraduate at Eastern Kentucky University. Joyce’s long-term plan is to identify and address the issues surrounding Greek life in the Dartmouth community because he wants Greek life to remain a presence on campus. “I’m proud to be a member of the Greek community here at
Dartmouth. I think we’re doing great things, and I look forward to improving us moving forward,” Joyce said. Joyce’s hiring in May concluded the search for a new director that commenced in December. Ramsey, who led the search committee, determined which qualities to look for in a candidate largely by soliciting feedback from the student leaders of Greek councils and houses. Throughout this process, students voiced their desire for someone who would not only lead their Greek careers on campus, but also help them navigate college as a whole, Ramsey said. Another contributing factor to Joyce’s appointment was his focus on inclusivity, Ramsey said. In his interview for the position, Joyce stated his commitment to all fraternities and sororities, including genderinclusive houses, Panhellenic houses, Interfraternity Council houses and the multi-cultural houses.
“A lot of students are bringing these issues [of inclusivity] up to me,” Joyce said. “They want to address these areas of exclusion. I think this is an ideal time for us to advance discussions about how we can be an inclusive community.” Joyce said he wants to be an advocate for students. In addition to increasing inclusivity in the Greek system, Joyce aims to make Greek membership more affordable, educate both affiliated and non-affiliated students about sexual assault and speak with students regularly. He does this in part by maintaining a relationship with student representatives, such as chair of the Greek Leadership Council Austin Welch ’17, with whom he speaks weekly. Joyce and Welch have similar goals — both said they are committed to combatting sexual assault, improving the affordability of Greek membership and encouraging dialogue between Greek members, the office and Greek student leadership.
ROOM FOR DEBATE
CORRECTIONS We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com. PRIYA RAMAIAH/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF
Students gathered in One Wheelock on Monday night to watch Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off.
Folks to leave NH Hospital in Jan. By SEAMUS WALSH The Dartmouth
Geisel School of Medicine psychiatry professor David Folks, who has also served as the Chief Medical Officer of New Hampshire Hospital — the state-run psychiatric hospital — for the past eight years, will step down from both posts in January. Folks will assume the role of Chief Medical Officer at Pine Rest, a mental health system associated with Michigan State University, where he will also teach psychiatry. Looking back on his tenure, Folks said he is most proud of the hospital’s improvement in evidence-based care
for people with severe and persistent medical needs, the enhancement of services for adolescents and older adults and the development of new ways for treating people dealing with both addiction and other mental illnesses. In 2008, Folks moved to New Hampshire to balance a full-time job at the hospital with a teaching position at Dartmouth. The New Hampshire Hospital takes on patients with mental health issues that other hospitals in the area consider “too hot to handle,” he said. The greatest lesson Folks learned while in New Hampshire was the importance of patient care.
“People here involved in the mental health field in New Hampshire and Dartmouth really care about the people they take care of,” Folks said. “Compassion and quality of care here is second to none.” The challenge surrounding mental health, Folks said, is the recogniztion that mental health is tied to general health. There must be mental health services that are accessible, available, affordable and accountable for everyone, he added. “Of course that takes resources, but you also have to have champions in the community that understand the value of taking care of people’s mental wellbeing.”
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
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Muirhead talks ‘Harry Potter’ politics FROM MUIRHEAD PAGE 1
lege’s faculty, Muirhead has produced multiple papers on topics including political parties, meaningful work in politics and finding the center on the political spectrum. This term, Muirhead is teaching government courses on political ideas, American political thought and ethics. The Dartmouth sat down with Muirhead to discuss political theories, “Harry Potter” and the current election cycle. As a political theorist, why do you believe political theory is relevant to this election and to today’s society, and why should students care? RM: Well, politics is about power — it’s about getting power and keeping power. It turns out that there is no way to get power and there’s no way to keep power without giving some account that explains why you should have it. That account is a kind of argument, an argument about political ideas, so there is no politics without political theory. Political theory is at the very core of getting power, keeping power, using power well. Whether you should care about it or not, I can’t say, maybe you’re interested in chemistry instead of politics, or music instead of politics, and I wouldn’t necessarily say that every single student has to care about political theory because there are lots of things that are interesting in this college, and there’s lots of interesting things to study, and you only have 35 classes to choose out of the 1700 or 1800 that are offered. You came to Dartmouth in 2009 as the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics. What brought you here? RM: The skiing was probably the biggest thing. I’m addicted to skiing. I like to go skiing every day, and I found that more difficult in Austin, Texas than it has proved to be in Hanover. What have you enjoyed most about your time here thus far, aside from skiing? RM: I think I’ve probably enjoyed working with some friends of mine in the economics department on the Political Economy Project, of all the things I’ve done. If you could design a new class to teach in the next few terms, what topics would it cover, and why do you think it would be an important class to teach? RM: I have designed a new class in the last couple years called the “Morality of Capitalism,” and I suppose it’d be fun to develop that class and co-teach it with an economist […] Another class that I could imagine putting together that I’ve played with a little bit, but I’m not sure I ever will, would be called “The Political Theory of ‘Harry Potter’” because you are the “Harry
Potter” generation, and there is a political theory in “Harry Potter.” The problem is I just don’t see how we’d read all of the “Harry Potter” books in one term as we would need to in order to have that class. It would be thousands of pages of “Harry Potter.” I’ve never thought of the political theory in the books. RM: Well, there is a regime, there’s a polity and there’s a political organization to the magic community. There’s a Ministry of Magic, which is absolutely central to the story, and there’s another leadership position, which is also quite influential — the head of Hogwarts and Dumbledore. And at times, Dumbledore is competing with the Ministry in order to have power over the future of the regime. There are all sorts of questions of justice that arise in the relationship between Muggles and magic people and between magic people and the elves, which is the question that stirs Hermione, in particular. So there’s a lot of politics in “Harry Potter.” In fact, I think “Harry Potter” has, more than any other purpose, a political purpose, a political and a moral purpose. It’s meant to make you think certain things about morality and politics, and the entertainment, I think, is just the thing that persuades you to submit yourself to the teaching. And what would you say the core lesson is? RM: Well, I’m going to leave that open for now, that’s why we have to have the class.
In looking at your page on the Dartmouth government department’s website, amid your expertise in various forms of politics and government, you also listed auto repair as a specialty. Can you elaborate on your experience with this and why you thought it important to list? RM: Well, I think it’s kind of funny that everyone has a specialty and I don’t really even agree with the subsub-sub specialties that dominate the
academy. So really I think it should just be enough to say, “I teach politics,” but we have to say specialties so I’m mocking it a little bit. But, on the other hand, I do like working on cars and I think it’s a kind of welcome counter-point between the kind of work that I do with books and writing and teaching. Are there any intersections between politics and auto repair? RM: I think there are many metaphorical connections one might make between a well-tuned engine and a well-ordered state. What do you think about the campaigning process for the presidential election thus far? What can we learn from this election? RM: Well, the campaign no doubt has been riveting, and in some sense that’s good, but part of the reason it’s been riveting is because the norms of civility that ordinarily make campaign speech somewhat boring have been completely and so straight-forwardly violated by Trump, in particular. And that, I think, as most people do, is a cause of real worry. People have learned from this campaign that it’s not unusual to hear a candidate allude to or celebrate violence, to hear a candidate suggest that American citizens who have a particular religious identity might leave the country and find themselves not be allowed back in. To talk about this kind of discrimination or violence so openly is a new thing and perhaps a profoundly corrosive thing. There are many more things that are maybe less auspicious that the campaign also suggests. One is that conservatism might be dead as a public philosophy. Donald Trump is not a conservative. He has some conservative positions, he has some liberal positions and he also has some positions that are neither liberal nor conservative. For a long time people have been saying in this country that what we need is the revival of centrism and in a way I think Donald Trump is showing the Republican party what centrism might look like.
COURTESY OF RUSSELL MUIRHEAD
Russell Muirhead’s expertise includes political thought and theory.
THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS
PAGE 4
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
DARTMOUTHEVENTS TODAY 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Conversation on Gender Identity and Diversity Issues with Robyn Ochs, Haldeman 41 (Kreindler Conference Hall)
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Engineering Career Fair at Thayer, featuring almost 50 companies, Thayer School GlycoFi Atrium and Great Hall
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
“Women in Policymaking: One Leader’s Perspective,” former President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga, Alumni Hall, Hopkins Center
TOMORROW
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
“Enemies of Gratitude,” lecture on psychological processes affecting gratitude, professor Thomas Gilovich, Cornell University, Moore 202
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
“Don’t Think Twice” (2016), directed by Mike Birbiglia, Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
“Bone Hill: The Concert,” acoustic song cycle by Martha Redbone, Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center RELEASE DATE– Thursday, September 29, 2016
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 “La Vie en Rose” singer 5 Ashtray array 10 Interest greatly 14 “There __ joy in Mudville ... ” 15 Livid 16 Cambodian currency 17 Lump 18 Hasbro soldier 19 Raison d’__ 20 Lake Michigan port 22 Dietary need 24 TriBeCa neighbor 26 Backspaced over 27 1974 hit with a Spanish title meaning “You are” 31 Jedi Council VIP 33 VCR successor 34 Brief meeting? 36 Army rank above maj. 41 Told ... and a hint to this puzzle’s six sets of circles 44 Ivy League sch. 45 “Rebel Without a Cause” star James 46 Where a retriever may be retrieved: Abbr. 47 Blacken 49 Prepare 51 Kansas motto word 55 Omit 57 “Moby-Dick” crew 59 Made possible 64 Italian air 65 Cumberland Gap explorer 67 Hall of Fame linebacker Junior 68 Copper that’s mostly zinc 69 Corned beef __ 70 Not fem. 71 __-Ball 72 Construction rod 73 Long haul DOWN 1 Draft item often traded 2 Vacation destination 3 Erelong
52 Toondom ogre 35 Scandinavian 4 Snap, 53 “Common literary work commercially Sense” writer 5 Michigan Stadium 37 Try out 54 Give a big lift 38 Toy gun ammo nickname, with 56 Uganda neighbor 39 Almost never “The” 58 40-decibel unit 40 Six-part 6 Heep of trouble? 60 Realty ad abbr. undergrad exam 7 __ Mahal 61 “I am a very 42 Money 8 Camaro roof foolish fond old 43 Tech graduate option man” speaker 48 Abet, in a way 9 What 15-Across 50 Grime-fighting org. 62 Comfort people do 63 “Fore!” 51 Spy plane 10 Former Fox 66 Sun or moon acronym News anchor Van Susteren 11 Ceremonies ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 12 Where eagles hatch 13 Some of this and some of that 21 JFK-to-Heathrow flier, once 23 Dental care name 25 Seafood found in beds 27 Website for handmade art 28 Electrolux spokeswoman Kelly 29 Pernicious 30 Something underfoot 32 DOL division 09/29/16 xwordeditor@aol.com
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09/29/16
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
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Hanover commits to 100 percent sustainability FROM HANOVER PAGE 1
backi, Hanover’s director of public works, the town had been discussing a drastic move towards sustainability for many years, but was never able to commit to a plan. He noted the town was previously limited because discussion always occurred in “a vacuum” at the local level; when they began to engage in the national conversation the Sierra Club initiated, motivations and passions for the switch increased dramatically. Kulbacki said that Hanover, which has the potential to successfully achieve this goal, has huge hurdles ahead, the biggest being the cost of maintaining or even obtaining the utilities that will create sustainable energy. But on both on the state level and individual level, he not the disparity between sustainable practice and economics as the main reason people are hesitant to make a switch towards greener practices in their everyday lives. The town is trying to work around issues like this by incentivizing people to practice sustainable habits without having to sacrifice monetarily. For example, Kulbacki said that since New Hampshire has a highly deregulated government structure, energy is obtained in two separate processes: the first is generation and the second is delivery. The delivery of energy is provided by local organizations, whereas generated electricity can be obtained from providers registered in the state. The town hopes to promote the perception that there is something to be gained by green practices, rather than something to be given up. Neale Lunderville, the general manager of Burlington electric department, attests to the necessity of instituting a united effort in achieving 100 percent renewable energy. “Make sure people have the collective political will to make this happen. If you do that, you can make it happen without making it unaffordable,” he said. Burlington, Vermont, only 70 miles from Hanover, was the first city to achieve the 100 percent status in the U.S. in 2014. Burlington joined the initiative after citizens fervently requested more environmentally-friendly energy sources and has been engaged in the sustainability discussion for over a decade. By having a balanced portfolio, striking effective deals with providers, contracting energy rather than necessarily buying all the machinery and practicing the selling and rebuying of energy credits, Burlington has been able to avoid raising its rates for its citizens since 2009 despite its transition to sustainable energy. He disputes the conventional wisdom that renewable energy necessitates higher rates; by being “dogged,” he said Burlington was able to achieve their goal.
Rosi Kerr ’97, director of the Office of Sustainability, agrees with the need to first create a communal drive within the population to achieve this “ambitious and audacious goal.” Accordingly, the College’s active participation in this project will be integral in achieving the 100 percent status. Dartmouth, an entity that shares close ties to Hanover in both infrastructure and community, sends members regularly to Hanover’s Sustainability meetings and has already taken part in Hanover’s goal to become an EPA Green Power Community by purchasing 10 percent of its electricity consumption in renewable energy credits, Kerr said. College President Phil Hanlon also assigned a sustainability task force this April that will come out with an action plan on Earth Day 2017. Kerr anticipates that the College’s role in the #Readyfor100 campaign will be dictated by the recommendations from this group, particularly in terms of energy, waste, water, transportation, food and infrastructure. The issue that accounts for the majority of Dartmouth’s greenhouse emissions is heating and coooling. Currently, Dartmouth maintains heating and cooling systems completely through grid electricity, using around 3.7 million gallons of #6 fuel oil. Dartmouth’s role, however, goes beyond structural changes. Kerr echoed Kulbacki in saying that there needs to be advanacement in technology to make sustainability more feasible. “As an institution of higher learning, part of what we’re doing is generating the research that will support that energy future,” she said. This energy future is more than a strategic transition to renewable energy in order to combat the volatility of the fossil fuel market: it’s a change in the attitude towards a truly sustainable future. “It’s ‘How do you make yourself more resilient?’ That’s been a lot of the discussion we’ve been having because that’s really what we’re all about. It’s not just about cutting our emissions and going to all renewable. It’s making sure that we can actually be around for another 250 years beyond that,” Kulbacki said. The conversation that Sierra Club started is still in it’s early stages; only a little over a quarter of the Sierra Club’s goal has been met as the year ends, as many cities have yet to make the leap to sustainability. To that end, Kerr expressed gratitude in Hanover’s special interest in green practices and dedication to such a difficult project. “We’re really lucky to live in a town with such passionate people who care about the future of the planet and the future of our communities so much, and are excited about tackling something as big and complicated as climate change here in our own hometown,” she said.
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST JOSEPH REGAN ‘19
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST JULIA HUEBNER ‘20
Saving an Endangered Demos
The Responsibility of ‘20s
Turning fear into hope, hope into pragmatism.
’20s have an obligation to pay it forward to prospective students.
In Sept. 480 BC, Greek citizens took a cousin, the populist, it is best to examine its stand for democracy. Under the leadership character and rhetoric. Clues to an aspiring of Themistocles, an Athenian statesman and politician’s true identity always seem to lie in general, an armada of hundreds of Athenian what the person seeking power appeals to. Is it warships and other pledged forces fought in the fear, racism and exceptionalism to the exclusion straits of Salamis, the narrow waters just south of reason and truth? Do they not only bellow of Athens. That day, the Greeks saved Western forth these messages, but also seem to believe civilization in one of the seminal battles of the them themselves? Do they treat facts and logic Greco-Persian wars. as things to be discarded if and when it is necesIn the face of overwhelming numerical sary? Do their policies promise to satisfy present superiority, Themistocles lured the Persians wants and desires without any thought for the into the straits and, still outnumbered three future? If all, or even some, of these are the to one, somehow vanquished them. How a case, then the person in question is very likely fleet of Persian ships, experienced at combat a demagogue, undeserving of your precious across the southern Mediterranean Sea, were vote. defeated is still not entirely understood. Yet So when you vote in November, consider the fact remains that the Greeks won and the whether the person you cast your vote for would tide of the war finally turned. After Salamis, honor the ideals of democracy or profane the Persians were doomed them. Ask yourself if their in Greece without a fleet policy is considered careto provide them food. It “When you vote in fully regardless of what the was only a matter of time November, consider majority clamors for now, before they would have to because the majority often whether the person leave. does not have the foresight Themistocles’ victory you cast your vote it should. saved the Athenian experiSalamis happened in for would honor the ment in democracy and 480 BC. Without Theit has endured in varying ideals of democracy, or mistocles, who is now permutations for over two remembered as a hero but profane them.” millennia. The words for faced bitter opposition at “citizen” and “freedom” the time, Salamis would were spoken by Greeks have been lost by a much first. Such words didn’t exist in any of the smaller fleet. Yet instead of dying disunited, tongues spoken in the vast Persian Empire or Themistocles persuaded the Greeks to find anywhere else in the world in 480 B.C. Such their strength in unity, just as any democratic words have always needed constant defend- state should. ing and redefinition. Similarly, another word November is less than two months away. of Greek origin is currently being redefined: The time draws nigh when we must make the demagogue. sort of final decisions Greeks made long ago. A demagogue overwhelms a citizenry’s Our enemies are numerous and take many reason with fear-mongering rhetoric. Our forms. The arguments we’ve become inured to leaders, no matter how august or intelligent, hearing, as I’m sure Themistocles had when he cannot vote themselves in. It is up to the public took the floor of the Athenian Assembly, are to decide. Therefore, the public must not let against pragmatism and for reactive measures fear overwhelm its reason. Fear should be a that gratify our desire to see action taken now. valuable tool for the voter to identify what is- Like the Greeks before us, we too have our sues are the most troubling, but it should not choices: hope or resigned fear. be the sole force behind their vote. Democratic The Greeks cast their votes with an emotion states need reason, are founded upon reason Themistocles stirred within them. Do we have and easily consume themselves if unreasonable the same strength, even without anything close people are elected. to a Themistocles in this election, to exercise To identify a demagogue from its close the same good judgment? I sure hope so.
I recently came across my list of reasons mouth students, my classmates and I have of why I chose Dartmouth. Before enroll- spent a good amount of time talking about ing in Dartmouth’s Class of 2020, I had privilege. In our current political climate, scribbled out a few bullet points on April “privilege” is a buzzword easily used but 24 while I was visiting seldom acted on. At campus independently Dartmouth, students of Dimensions. Two “My favorite point differ in race, gender, days later, on a rival on that crumpled class, ability and countcollege’s campus, I comless other hats, but the piece of paper? ‘2. mitted to Dartmouth. one privilege we all Before finding my They [students] share is our label as list, I had forgotten Dartmouth students. talked to me in the exactly why I enrolled From this objectively here, assuming that I bathroom.’” privileged position, it’s had written something unethical not to help the about our cultish alumni next person in line. network, undergraduate focus and stellar Thus, taking a few minutes out of my outdoor programs. day to entertain potential ’21s shouldn’t My favorite point on that crumpled piece make me a good person or a particularly of paper? “2. They [students] talked to welcoming Dartmouth student. On the me in the bathroom.” contrary, I’d expect that behavior from They also chatted with me at the tables every one of my classmates. I don’t care if in the Class of 1953 Commons, in dorm you’re an athlete with an absurd practice hallways, at late-night Collis, on the Green schedule or a pre-health student taking two and during class. I won’t lab classes per term: failforget when the friends ure to reach out displays “As a prospie, I was that I stayed with invited a lack of empathy and me to a birthday dinner more impressed that a lack of understandat the Jewel of India random students ing of our Dartmouth and when education privilege. professor Donna Coch remembered my Obviously, this asked for my opinion name than by doesn’t mean that you of her class. Unlike at should sugarcoat your other colleges, people Dartmouth’s studentexperience. On the did not expect me to faculty ratio.” contrary, if prospies matriculate. ask what you don’t I chose Dartmouth like about Dartmouth, because the people, the answer honestly. No ’19s in particular, pulled me into their college is perfect and Dartmouth is far community; I wasn’t willing to leave that from it. Students serious about the Colcommunity when I boarded the Dartmouth lege are looking for vulnerability and a Coach a day later. Even now, ’19s I met holistic picture — not another sales pitch last year stop me on the Green to talk or or an “impressive” statistic. As a prospie, I schedule meals at King Arthur Flour with was more impressed that random students me. They are not just polite; they are remembered my name than by Dartmouth’s genuine. student-faculty ratio. Last weekend, the tables turned for me. Additionally, students don’t have to conI was the Dartmouth nect with prospies in the student who answered Your 15 minutes same way. If your dayquestions, grabbed dintime schedule is lighter, ner and shepherded could result in a take a prospie to lunch. prospective students, different life choice If you both share the also known as prospies, same academic interfor a 17-year-old, around campus. I chatest, take them to class. ted about my intended just as someone’s 15 If you know a prospie area of study (perpetupersonally, host them minutes might have ally undeclared) and in your dorm. If you my experience thus far tipped the scales can’t meet in person, (days of comfort with offer your contact info in favor of the Big a healthy sprinkle of and follow through. risk). Although Decision Green for you.” The medium doesn’t Day feels like a different matter; the sentiment world, many of us firstdoes. Your 15 minutes years were also college hopping just five could result in a different life choice for a months ago. We all remember the stress of 17-year-old, just as someone’s 15 minutes uncertainty, travel logistics and managing might have tipped the scales in favor of adults’ expectations. Regardless of our the Big Green for you. titles and leadership positions on campus, I hope to convince just one prospie to it’s vital to tap into that empathy — a trait choose Dartmouth for the same reasons rarely discussed and easily glossed over. that I did. Think about why you came here. During our two short weeks as Dart- How will you convey that to future ’21s?
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ALISON GUH, Design Editor
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
PAGE 7
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST MICHAEL ZHU ‘20
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST ALEX REAVES ‘20
The Modern Discussion
Pulling the Thread
We need to be more open-minded when it comes to different opinions.
A personal exploration of mental illness and a call to end its stigma.
Imagine this scenario: one Sunday after- mention of an opposing opinion, we as noon, two friends are in the Collis Center members of society hinder the progress we discussing the controversial issue of police would make if we could candidly discuss brutality towards African Americans. One issues. We let our pure emotion blind us student thinks that the entire police system from the core of the issue, from the hidden needs to be revamped, while the other thinks truths. By constantly looking for people that the problem is exaggerated by the me- we agree with, we limit our exposure to dia and that there are larger, more intrinsic different perspectives. By being placed in issues at hand. When the latter states the a comfortable setting where there’s no dipoint that black-on-black violence takes versity of thought, we hold the lofty belief more lives than police brutality, the former that we’re always right and everybody else is shocked. How dare the friend state such is always wrong. a fact! Suddenly, the first student becomes In a perfect American society, people offended, targeted but most importantly should be able to discuss issues without indignant, not only because that student is being shunned if they disagree. We should uncomfortable with the opposing opinion, embrace differing opinions, welcome them but also because that student possesses a and respect them, because they are the different view. basis for a free and just society. And if It seems so often these days that issues we’re persuaded the other way, we should as sensitive as race relations and as con- be humble and almost thankful rather than troversial as police brutality and political hurt or spiteful. correctness are avoided because of how I’m not advocating political incorrectpolemical opinions have become. So many ness, and I’m definitely not asking for ofof us possess the unshakeable belief that our fensive words intended to do harm. Every opinions are the only ones that are right; honest, productive discussion is grounded when we face different opinions, we refuse in some form of respect, for both the opto even entertain the fact that we may be posing view and the person with whom you wrong. It’s the modern discussion: a close- disagree. It’s definitely possible to speak m i n d e d , d a n g e rcandidly about an ously unthoughtful issue while respectand fundamentally “In a perfect American ing the person you’re useless clash of un- society, people should debating. You don’t bending words and need to become a be able to discuss issues views. We need to be cold, unemotional more open-minded without being shunned speaker during diswhen it comes to cussions, but it’s imif they disagree. We discussing contrastportant to recognize ing opinions, more should embrace differing that allowing yourgracious when our self to be offended opinions, welcome views are disproved too easily does more and less prone to them and respect them, harm than good. being offended. Back when our because they are the In our society, country was formed, there’s this great basis for a free and just our founders made veil of self-enforced society.” an important distinccensorship. tion between private A lot of times, and public matters. people cannot say what they truly think There was a crucial difference between because it may be viewed as inherently being attacked over public policy and being offensive or otherwise wrong. We are afraid attacked personally, and they recognized of facing problems or having contrarian that the only reason why they should be opinions because anything we do can be offended was if someone attacked them seen as ignorant or perhaps even immoral. personally. There was no point in getting Is there no space for students to be a little offended over matters of substance. It was obnoxious, provocative or even a little bit unproductive and, honestly, useless. offensive? It seems like we’re moving closer Perhaps we should adopt this mode of and closer to a society of censure — to thinking. Perhaps progress will come easier a society of quelling opposing opinions, then. contrasting views and conflicting beliefs. Now imagine this scenario: two friends I have often been unable to express my are in Collis discussing the controversial opinion, especially if it’s unpopular, be- issue of police brutality towards African cause I’m afraid of the backlash. I’m afraid Americans on a Sunday afternoon. One that by expressing my beliefs, I’ll be labeled student thinks that the entire police system a bad person, an unintelligent student, an needs to be changed, while the other thinks uncaring individual. And because of that, that there are more important issues at I restrain myself, awkwardly nodding my hand. When the second student states the head in false agreement, developing fab- point that black-on-black violence takes ricated points when people look for my more lives than police brutality, the first is affirmation, forcing myself to lie to my intrigued. Perhaps he was wrong. Maybe intuition. there is more to explore. By constantly getting offended by any Wouldn’t that be the ideal discussion?
I spent most of my first week at Dart- making those already on the edge fall off. In mouth in the infirmary. None of my bones an ideal world, any student suffering from were broken and I wasn’t reeling from the psychological issues would get the help they flu, but I was still in a great deal of pain. need and realize that their life is worth living. Though most people couldn’t see it, if they But the circumstances today simply don’t looked close enough they could have noticed allow that to happen. cracks, little fractures revealing the sickness Mental illness is surrounded by a stigma within. that is almost impenetrable. It usually isn’t I’ve struggled with mental illness for sev- discussed and is instead swept under the eral years. It started when I was diagnosed rug and left to petrify. Worse yet, when it is with clinical depression at age 12. Anxiety discussed it is joked about. On more than followed shortly afterward. They were my one occasion, I have heard my peers mock secret shame, what everyone in my family Cornell University students’ propensity for knew but refused to talk suicide. Even one of my about. My mother even professors made what struggled to say the word “My first moments was meant to be a sup“anti-depressants,” as if at Dartmouth were posedly humorous crack it were an incantation about killing herself. horrendous, heavy that would curse us all. I cringe every I felt horribly guilty for with misery and time comments like these the burden I had created made. They are a alienation. A new life are and treated my illness as a painful accusation that I mere footnote in my life. was rushing towards am sick and different, a I probably would of freak who doesn’t me like a great flood, sort have continued ignoring belong. It’s already hard my mental health had I and I was afraid I enough to suffer from a not completely broken would drown.” mental illness; I don’t down my senior year of need the added ridicule. high school. My body The “othering” of felt so weighed down with stress that there those with psychological disorders isn’t were days I couldn’t get out of bed. Even limited to college campuses. Mentally ill simple tasks like getting food and using the people are often depicted as dangerous, bathroom suddenly became uphill battles. strange or just simply unfavorable in the I was barely functioning. Fortunately, I was media. This makes it harder for people to hospitalized and got the help I needed, and reach out for help. After all, nobody wants for a time I thought I was cured. the label “crazy” slapped on their forehead. Then I got to campus. My first moments My heart aches for all the students who at Dartmouth were horrendous, heavy with are suffering though their sickness alone, as misery and alienation. A new life was rush- if it’s a weight they must carry by themselves. ing towards me like a great flood, and I was We can only go so long until it becomes too afraid I would drown. I began to retreat inside much and we’re crushed. No one should be myself, barely speaking to anyone. Knots made to feel as if being ill is something they tied themselves in my stomach and I stopped chose and therefore deserve. eating. I would have panic attacks while lying Everyone, whether on campuses such as in bed, thinking my heart would beat itself Dartmouth’s or at work after graduation, to exhaustion and give out. I hacked away must realize how much offhand comments at myself with a razor blade, leaving white and misperceptions can “other” those with flesh exposed and blood mental illness and exacrunning down my leg. erbate the issue. Mental Downward I fell until I “In 2013, there were illness is not a joking was seriously consider- 11.1 suicides for matter, as many seem to ing killing myself with believe, but a real illness an overdose of pills. If every 100,000 young with real — and potenthis was life, was it worth adults. I’m willing tially fatal — effects on living? those who suffer from it. This may sound dra- to bet that mental I’m not ashamed to matic. But had my dean anguish played a part admit that I wrote this not taken me to Dick’s in Dick’s House. In a House, I would probably in their deaths.” moment of vulnerability, be lying in a morgue. I tried to overdose on I saw suicide as poison Prozac. The days that dangling in my throat from a string, and followed made me happy that I failed. One decided that if my illness was too much to careless instant could have cost me the rest bear, I’d cut it. That night the cord was close of my life. But mental illness does that: it to snapping, but I was saved in the nick of tricks us into thinking that death is the best time. choice. It isn’t, and without a strong support Others weren’t so lucky. In 2013, there system, I may not have realized that. were 11.1 suicides for every 100,000 young I’ve been fortunate enough to be suradults. I’m willing to bet that mental anguish rounded by people who care about me, and played a part in their deaths. At times, college I write this for those who aren’t so lucky and can be extremely stressful and frustrating, are still struggling to realize their worth.
THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
PAGE 8
Alumna Q&A: Costume designer Katherine Stebbins ’04 By AMY GUAN
The Dartmouth
Katherine Stebbins ’04 discovered her passion for costume design at Dartmouth after designing for two shows, eventually graduating with a major in philosophy and a minor in theater. After graduation, Stebbins received her MFA in costume design from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009. She worked as a costume designer in Chicago until 2011, where she worked with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the American Theater Company, among others. She now works in Boston. I see that you were a philosophy major at Dartmouth — when and how did you get into costume design? KS: I started doing costume design while I was there — I took a costume design class and a costume construction class, which were the only two classes offered in costuming at Dartmouth at the time. After that, I already had a couple of other basic theater classes under my belt and was pretty close to a minor, so I took one more class on theater production, where we did set painting and things like that. At that
point, I was really getting interested in costume design. I designed two shows while I was at Dartmouth, so when I left Dartmouth, I knew I wanted to go explore costume design further.
How do you begin the process of creating costume sets? Do you have a process you stick to? KS: I read the script, I read articles about the script, I read about the show, but I try not to see other versions of the show done before because I generally don’t want them to inform my design unless the director has a particular style or previous show they want to emulate. So you start there, script and research, but not just researching the play and its history. Why it’s being done now is also very important, and you always want to know why the director picked this play or why the theater picked this play and what they’re trying to show an audience. After this, you start getting more specific, and you look at the characters. You start specifically picking out details about the characters in the script, seeing what other characters say about the characters or what the script says in the description of the character...You want to get a lot of research and images together because
that is the best way to show other designers what you’re thinking and what visuals the script brought to mind for you. You bring these ideas to directors and other designers to start to find out what they like, what they respond to and what they don’t like The research process is probably the most important part of the design process, and it can take a very long time, or it goes very fast. Then you go on from there to the sketches of the characters, which can be broken down to picking poses for the characters. This can be just as important as the clothing they’re wearing because when the director looks at the full picture of the character, the attitude, not just the clothing, can make or break if they like what they’re seeing. I also do some color swatching, where I pick a color palette and show the director what I think would look great with the show. I assign colors to characters, and then the directors and other designers come back to critique and throw ideas around, so I make changes after. We’ll go back and forth like this for a while until they’re happy with the rendering. What is the most interesting production you’ve done? KS: Probably one of my shows in grad
school because in university scenes, the directors tend to experiment more. It’s very exciting when the director wants to do something that’s not usual, that people don’t expect to see. The most exciting one I can recall is a play by a Chinese writer Gao Xingjian called “The Other Shore.” We had a director from Hong Kong, and his process was different from anything any of us were used to. The actors had to completely rearrange their class schedules to work with this guy. The designing was very much done in rehearsal and things were changing all the time. It was very scary as a grad student because I had no idea what was going to happen, but it was a lot of fun and I absolutely loved how it turned out. After relocating to Boston in 2011, did you see a difference in how theaters in Boston and Chicago were run? KS: Yeah, very much so. Every city I’ve worked in has been a very different community. Chicago is a fabulous theater town. Chicago is very interested in people from Chicago theater in Chicago, so actors, designers from Chicago — they really want homegrown people, and they’ve got a great theater
community there that’s capable of fulfilling all of their theater needs. They have a very busy theater scene, and it’s not just the big theaters. They also have a lot of what they call storefront theaters, which are basically stages on storefronts, which are very small and do small shows with small budgets. A lot of people come out of college and start theater groups in Chicago, so there’s always new theater companies coming and going, which is very exciting. Boston, on the other hand, is a little more old school. Boston’s greatest cultural scene, in my opinion, is music, and they have many conservatories dedicated to music, which sort of carries over to a lot of opera. I’ve found that a designer’s most stable work in Boston is through universities, because a lot of colleges have theater programs but not fully staffed programs, so they hire outside designers and directors to come in. In Boston, I get a lot of work with college kids. I enjoyed those the most, because the college students were always really enthusiastic to be in those shows, especially when they got to work with professional designers. The scenes are very different, but they both have their pluses and minuses, so it’s been really fun getting to see how they work.
New Hood Downtown exhibit features art by Laetitia Soulier By ARUNAV JAIN The Dartmouth
Contemporary French artist Laetitia Soulier plays with geometric shapes, repeating patterns and human models to encourage viewers to take a second look at her art. Interested visitors are able to do just that at the place where her work has been displayed since Sept. 16: the Hood Downtown exhibition space. Located at 53 Main Street, the exhibition space aims to fill the shoes of the Hood Museum of Art, which will remain closed for expansion and renovation for the next two and half years. During this time period, Hood Downtown will display the work of ten contemporary artists from different corners of the world. Soulier’s exhibit, titled “The Fractal Architectures,” features images based on the mathematical concept of fractal geometry, in which a certain pattern is repeated at every scale. The artist places human models — often children — in meticulously-fashoned life-size models and takes a photograph to permanently capture her creations.
“I was interested in how photography plays with scale,” Soulier said. “It lets you take something very small or something very large and make a smaller print of it.” Despite their animated appearance, Soulier’s images are handcrafted from the large winding staircases in “The Matryoshka Dolls” to the minute bookshelves in “The Square Roots.” Not surprisingly, one image can take Soulier between three to nine months to create. Viewers at the exhibition space can watch the creation process of the tiny sculptures on one of the wall monitors. The exhibition also includes a sculpture and an installation that allow viewers to experience first-hand Soulier’s sets — environments that almost seem too perfect to exist. Soulier describes her work as a “conversation” between photography, sculpture and installation. However, the artist still interestingly refers to her works as “paintings.” Regardless of this complex diversity of media, her works are united in one aspect — they are all visually stunning and succeed in capturing
the eye. This aspect is in many ways connected to one of the focal aims of the Hood Downtown, under the guidance of Hood director John Stomberg. As curator of the exhibit, he purposefully selected artists whose art is both appealing and meaningful. The intention is to invite more people to the world of contemporary art; they may initially approach the work due to its attractive qualities, then realize the deeper theme once they’re actually standing in front of it. Kevin Ponce ’20 admitted that he was drawn to “The Matryoshka Dolls” due to the warmth of the red color and was surprised with the level of detail when he saw it up close. “It was modern but comfortable,” Ponce said. The structure and location of the exhibition building aids Stomberg in his goal to draw more people to contemporary art. Soulier’s artwork “The Square Roots” is right up against the front wall of the exhibit, exposing it to the people walking past on Main Street. Stomberg describes this as “throw[ing] the doors open to contemporary art.”
“There is a large audience for contemporary art in the Upper Valley, but the Hood Downtown is also for anybody who happens to walk by — it’s like a gift to the community,” Stomberg said. With this project, Stomberg, who specializes in contemporary American and European art, also plans to “demystify” contemporary art, specifically by debunking the general perception of it as something that has to be “off-putting and challenging.” He describes Soulier’s work as both visually and mentally captivating. “The more time you spend with her work, the more complex it becomes,” he said. Stomberg’s attempt to demystify is echoed in Soulier’s motivation behind her exhibit. With her images, she intends to “invite the viewer to pay attention — to dive deeper into any image.” Soulier describes her art as a process of “cultivating observation,” an idea she feels becomes all the more significant in the fast-paced world we live in. “There is something very important about shifting to that quality of
presence, of observation, where you are more contemplative,” Soulier said. Like she repeats patterns in her art, Soulier repeats the importance of slowing down to students who are beginning to immerse themselves in studio art. She cautions them against sticking to one medium at first. “Go in as many directions, creating a field of possibilities as expansive as possible,” she advises. An important idea she emphasizes is to be ‘more process-oriented than outcomeoriented.’” Soulier maintains that it’s integral for students to relax and not worry about the product, instead enjoying the work that leads up to it. When it comes to her own busy schedule, she keeps a balance. “I am not always creating,” Soulier said. “There is a moment when I’m just having dinner.” “The Fractal Architectures” will be displayed at Hood Downtown until Dec. 11. The space is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.