Worried about Hanover and Social Life...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I love Dartmouth. I applied ED, but was deferred, so I'm kind of waiting around for a bit right now. My only hesitation about it, however, is the isolation. I may be wrong, but I get the impression that the weekends consist of frat parties and beer-drinking. While I don't necessarily have a problem with that, I imagine it gets old and must be quite shallow. </p>

<p>Also, I'm concerned about any sort of off-campus activities. Hanover is a cute town, but there must be very little to do. Unless the on-campus activities are thoroughly varied and exciting, I might not want to spend for years in a bubble, especially having just spent my past four years in a boarding school bubble and hating it. Since I was accepted into UChicago, I've been thinking more and more about how cool living in the middle of a huge city would be. </p>

<p>So I want you guys to answer honestly:
1) Is there more to do than drink on the weekends?
2) Do you ever feel that Dartmouth is in a bubble?
3) Do you have a problem with the bubble, or does it have its upsides?</p>

2

<p>1) Yes
2) Yes
3) No</p>

<p>You have to visit and experience it for yourself. Different people like different things.</p>

3

<p>Question 1, as phrased, is what oftentimes allows for potentially misleading answers. Sure there is more to do. But is that the main activity? I’d say yes. Are the frats the only scene? I’d say no. But it is equally true that the frats are the dominant scene and drinking to excess is the dominant activity. It is not uncommon to see ambulances arrive on campus to take kids to the hospital to treat alcohol poisoning. The isolation of the school, the relative lack of other late night activities (besides frats and drinking) and the impotence of the administration all combine to perpetuate this. When the college president spends a considerable amount of time addressing the problems of excessive drinking and sexual assault in his welcoming remarks to the parents of the class of 2014 you gotta know there is a dark side to Dartmouth.</p>

4

<p>What do you mean by “sexual assault”? Are frats in general unsafe/sketchy?</p>

5

<p>I wouldn’t make that connection. Denigration of women and sexual assault are not very rare occurrances, as one would hope they would be. This isn’t a secret. Which is presumably why President Kim devoted quite a bit of time discussing that (and binge drinking) when addressing the parents of the 14s last September.</p>

6

<p>S at Dartmouth joined a frat, almost at our insistence. I’m as surprised as most that we influenced this choice, but S spent his first year unconnected. His frat has provided good friendship, a welcoming house for watching TV and hanging out, and interesting activities. Drinking has been a very small part of his experience.</p>

<p>Prior to rush he spent a good deal of time with my H’s frat - national, not H’s chapter. Turned out the brothers were more involved in activities that S and we feel are not best for him. He ended up accepting a bid from another frat that he knew little about except that they seemed more aligned with his values (I know, frats - values, right). S spends weekend evenings upstairs with quite of few of the brothers who don’t take a big interest in the activities that go on in their basement. Based on what S says, I have the impression that the basement is taken over primarily by non-frat members, fully subsidized by the frat, simply because it’s expected and the prevalent culture.</p>

<p>I’d like to see the administration limit the amount of a social organization’s budget that can be spent on alcohol, maybe in proportion to the number of students who can legally drink. It really is unfair to charge social and house dues to non-legal drinkers that fund drinking activities and the space to hold those activities. I know books can be cooked, but it would be a start. </p>

<p>S would like more music brought to campus. The Hop does sponsor events, but they are limited and don’t always appeal to a wide group. I’m not sure what other type of events a college student might find socially enriching in a small town, which “is what it is.”</p>

7

<p>I think the default for a lot of kids is to go to the frats and drink. But by no means is it the only thing to do. I’ve spent four-plus years here (I’m an engineer) and have spent time at frats but haven’t drank. There’s a TON to do here, and more people than you think aren’t involved in greek life at all. Fun isn’t about locations and places, it’s about the people around you. Find people you enjoy spending time with, and everything will go great.</p>

<p>The issue of sexual assault is a tricky one. It’s not sexual assault in the usually assumed sense, rather, the issue (generally) comes when both parties have had something to drink and consent cannot legally be given (for the most part). Are there more serious instances? I’m sure there are. But generally, no. Is it really different than any other school? I tend to doubt it. Is it reported at a higher rate? Possibly. </p>

<p>The issue of a bubble is one I think is highly silly. People who <em>want</em> to be in a bubble are in a bubble. People who want to be involved in things outside of Dartmouth are involved with things outside Hanover. Dartmouth is, like every school and opportunity in the world, what you make of it. It can be amazing, or it can be highly mediocre. </p>

<p>And as a side note, President Kim has a habit of saying things that will draw attention that are not necessarily backed by fact.</p>

8

<p>The best way to address question 2 is with this blitz from Cabin and Trail.</p>

<p>Welcome to CnT!</p>

<p>To Sign up for any trip, blitz the leader of that trip with your DA$H number or
saying you’d like to pay in cash. If the trip is free, just blitz the leader to
reserve a spot.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in becoming a DOC Member, please see Julie Bell in Robo.
You’ll get discounted trips and lots of other perks.</p>

<p><3 CnT</p>

<p>WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY</p>

<p>Event: Magical Mystery Dinertoure!
Time: back of Robo at 7:30, back by 9Ls
Cost: walk is free, bring small bills for yumyum
Description: We will be exploring the mythical, epic, and all-around amazing Lou’s Restaurant nestled in the lovely town of Hanover, NH. We’ll be taking a brisk walk in the snowy winter wonderland (bring skis if you wanna, I’m sure Caitlin will be down to ski with you) to the fortress of coffee and sweets where we will have our fill of out-of-this-world french toast and some pretty good pancakes. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to get a taste of what Hanover has to offer.
Blitz: dinersaur with questions or to sign up!</p>

<p>Event: CnT Feed!
Time: 6:30 pm
Cost: $4
Description / Difficulty level: Come to ‘The Rock’–16 Sargent St. ([Cabin</a> and Trail - Directions to The Rock](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~cabtrail/rock.shtml]Cabin”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/~cabtrail/rock.shtml)) --to eat breakfast for dinner with Cabin and Trail!
Blitz: Alan Keegan if you want to help cook.</p>

<p>FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY</p>

<p>What: Ski Moosilauke
Time 7:00pm Friday - 7:00pm Saturday
Cost:$10 for DOC, $12 otherwise (subject to change)
Description/Difficulty- We will be skinning and skiing Moosilauke after staying overnight in Great Bear. We are planning to do equipment rentals this week and will need you to sign up in time to go stop at the Occom Pond cabin for boot sizing. We should get back around dinner time on saturday. Skiing experience is required.</p>

<p>Old Speck Snowshoe Overnight
Time: 7:00pm Friday - 8:30pm Saturday
Cost: $12 for DOC members, $15 for non-members
Description: This overnight centers on a difficult snowshoe hike of the 3rd tallest mountain in Maine. The round trip will be 8 miles and grades will be steep. Your rewards for this endeavor are spectacular (weather permitting) 360 degree views and the chance to explore a mountain all but unknown in the Dartmouth world. Included is a night at the ridiculously plush Billings cabin, the electrified wonder of the DOC cabin system. Departure times on Friday evening are negotiable.
Blitz: wales with your dash number to sign up or ask questions</p>

<p>SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY</p>

<p>Event: Velvet Snowshoes
Time: 10am-2ish
Cost: $2 for DOC members, $4 for muggles
Description: We are going to start inside Robo and hike straight to the trailhead. There will be snowshoes, poles and gaitors provided. All levels of snowshoers are welcome but this is a very serious trip, we will not turn back until we reach the summit (except if we get tired/run out of snacks). With around 20 inches of snow on the way this trip should be AWESOME. Blitz Gerben with your DA$H to sign up.</p>

<p>FUTURE FUTURE FUTURE</p>

<p>WHAT: Winter Grant Weekend of Epic Formal Proportions.
WHEN: Feb. 25 - 27th
WHOA: dogsledding, xc-skiing, snowshoeing, hangin’ out in 27,000 acres of wilderness.
Mark your calendars!
HOW: blitz “spidey” if you’d like more info on the best trip ever in the history
of CnT.</p>