VOL. CLXXVI NO. 120
MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH 37 LOW 12
OPINION
HOLZER: YANG IS ONTO SOMETHING PAGE 6
TUNICK CEDAR: CULTURE MATTERS PAGE 7
TOWLE: WE DID START THE FIRE PAGE 7
ARTS
2020 GRAMMY AWARDS PROMISE PREDICTABLE WINS, GOOD PERFORMERS PAGE 8
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COPYRIGHT © 2020 THE DARTMOUTH, INC.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Snackpass app builds State, College testing community a growing profile on members to combat risk of TB Dartmouth’s campus
B y COALTER PALMER The Dartmouth
Since its introduction on campus in April, the food-ordering application Snackpass has continued to gain popularity in Hanover through its promotions as well as unorthodox advertising tactics that have included offering free gear, sponsoring student ambassadors, and throwing events such as a rave and “darty.” The company secured $21 million in Series A funding
to grow the organization to over 100 college campuses in the next two years, though the company cur rently only has a presence on 11 campuses. Integral to this growth is the app’s food promotions. For example, today the app is offering 750 pad thai entrees — roughly valued at $9,400 — for free. Snackpass’ advertising strategy also plays a major role in their on-campus presence. SEE SNACKPASS PAGE 5
Q&A with econ prof David Blanchflower B y ALLIE KENT The Dartmouth
While the pursuit of happiness is often thought to be an ambiguous, subjective entity, economics professor David Blanchflower believes that happiness is quantifiable. In a study recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Blanchflower details the existence of a happiness curve that forms a U-shape, with peaks early and late in life, with a major dip
around middle age. Most significantly, Blanchflower’s research proves that this trend is consistent everywhere in populations all around the world. Blanchflower recorded the happiness of people in 132 countries — including 95 developing and 37 developed nations — and saw that this pattern held true despite differences in socioeconomic levels and life expectancy. His research concluded that SEE BLANCHFLOWER PAGE 2
JASON ROMERO/THE DARTMOUTH
Dick’s House is working with the state health department to test community members.
B y ALEKA KROITZSH The Dartmouth
S i n c e t h e Ja n . 1 5 announcement that a Dartmouth community member has contracted an active case of tuberculosis, the College has begun testing individuals who have the highest risk of having contracted the disease. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has been working with Dick’s House to identify those who have shared airspace with the individual who has the active case of TB, according to New Hampshire deputy state epidemiologist Elizabeth Talbot. The potential risk is determined by the intersection
of various factors, Talbot said. These include the patient’s condition, the “environment where the air was shared” — meaning whether it was a large open space or a small bedroom — how much time an individual spent around the infection and the immune systems of those who have been exposed. Talbot said that the state is currently, and will continue to, contact those at risk in order of priority. “Every student identified at risk will be contacted directly by phone and directed to have screening and likely a blood test done at the Dick’s House,” Talbot said. She added that staff will also be contacted but will likely get tested at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center or by their own
primary care provider. Talbot added that if there are “conversions” — meaning individuals go from uninfected to an infected state — within the initial group that has been identified to be at-risk, the state will expand the group of people that are invited in for additional testing. “If those who appear to be at highest risk of transmission have no infections among them, there is no reason to go further,” Talbot said. “This gives us valuable information that risk is low.” Talbot said that it usually takes eight weeks for the persons exposed to infection to test positive. The current testing is also SEE TUBERCULOSIS PAGE 3