Latino Community Gathering

There was such a vibrant energy at the Latino Community Gathering. It was held in the McLane lounge found in the newly built first year residence hall. The space was perfect: lots of light, comfy couches, tables, chairs and enough space in between. Uriel Barrera-Vasquez, ’98 alum, Rosa Orellana, professor in the Math department, and over 60 students, both current and prospective, filled up the lounge within the first fifteen minutes. Students mingled over delicious soups, sandwiches, and cookies for about twenty minutes before Jesse Canedo, and ’08 from Texas, and I started the panel of speakers. Six Dartmouth students introduced themselves and shared their experience of being Latino on this campus. Among them were leaders in the Latino organizations on campus including La Alianza Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, and Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority (the two Latino Greek organizations on campus) as well as students who are involved in wide range of other activities, from athletics to theater to community service. The common theme in everyone’s speech was: Be whoever you want to be at Dartmouth and know that the Latino community is there for as much or as little support as you need or want. It was beautiful!

After the student speakers finished most people walked over to LALACS, the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies house. LALACS is a warm and colorfully decorated residential space where any student can sponsor programming, study or just hang out. SLU (Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority) sponsored a very successful ice cream social. Alex Hernandez-Siegal, Assistant Dean of Student Life & Advisor to Latino/a Students, attended and socialized with the students. Everyone seemed to be having a lovely time. I mean, you can’t go wrong when you’re enjoying yummy ice cream with sprinkles and listening/dancing to the reggaeton, salsa, and bachata in the background.

Asian and Asian American Community dinner

Commonground was PACKED for the Asian-American community dinner!

The room was full of round tables, and I must say, my table was the best. We chatted for about a half hour, and I might have laughed continuously for five minutes. Nora Yasumura helped to plan this event; she is part of the OPAL (Office of Pluralism and Leadership) staff as an assistant dean of student life. As student advisor to Asian and Asian-American students, she mentors students, is responsible for some amazing multiculturalism education in the Diversity Peer Program and aroudn campus, and oversees around 30 asian and asian-american affiliated groups at Dartmouth, from Aaspire, an Asian/Asian-American women's discussion group, to Milan to Chinese dance troupe to Inter-Community Council to Pan-Asian council.

Nora is fabulous, but it was a largely student effort that brought all the people (prospies, current students, administrators, faculty, community members) to commonground today. A formal welcome, a slideshow, and a delicious dinner were on the program; but the individual conversations we had made for a great event. Also, the fortune in my cookie had the word "Dimension" in it. I think it's a sign that Dartmouth is for me...

Black Community dinner and reception

This reception and dinner was hosted in Cutter-Shabazz, an affinity house where upperclass students can reside. Shabazz is home to the Afro-American society, is affiliated with the African and African-American studies academic department, and enriches the campus with programs, discussions, and social gatherings.

The Black community reception was a huge success, as a room full of 11's were joined by other students and members of the Dartmouth community, staff, and faculty. Everyone got to introduce themselves, and got loud applause when they announced they'd definitely be attending Dartmouth ever since they came for Dimensions. Being from the same place as another person in the room was also met with huge cheers. The ladies of Logos (a few members of our large gospel choir) serenaded the group, and then we heard from an informal panel of current students about the strong sense of place they've found at Dartmouth, and how much they've enjoyed their time here so far.

It was really fun to chat with all the 11s, especially over dinner, about how surprised they were at how different Dartmouth was from what they've been told, and how excited they are to start the next four years in Hanover this fall!

It doesn't matter where you grew up; you can definitely find a home here.

Dartmouth NOW panel!

What is it like to be a student at Dartmouth right NOW? What are students thinking about, and taking advantage of?

Four marvelous students gave very brief summaries of the breadth of their experiences here at Dartmouth. From a varsity, medal-winning skiier, to a senior heading to medical school, these four are certainly making the most of their time here. (Even if that means sleeping only a few hours a night).

"Having it all" to them has meant stepping out of their comfort zone, integrating the many communities they are a part of here, and finding (and taking leadership roles in) those few organizations that truly mean the most to them, whether that is Star mentoring program, Casque and Gauntlet senior society, or the Native American community. The campus is full of fabulous kids like these, who live in the room next to me, or discuss in round circles in my classes. Questions from audience members included "Are the winters really cold here?" to "Are the grades curved at Dartmouth?" and I kept thinking: Ask them things like "what is the meaning of life?" When you challenge Dartmouth students, they respond tenfold.

Pre-Health Panel

The Pre-Health Panel held in Alumni Hall, was very popular. Many prospective students are interested in getting into the sciences when they get to college and Lee Witters, the Pre-Med Advisor, Career Services advisors, and current students were there to share their impressions about the Dartmouth Pre-Med track. It was important to note that Dartmouth does not have a Pre-Medical major. Mita and Ian, two of the students on the panel, both emphasized how much they value the opportunity to try different courses and pursue off-campus projects, whether it is community service based or academically based. Mita spent a term studying sociology, anthropology, government and economics courses at the University of Copenhagen. Sounds cool!

Dimensions - Day 2 Events

• Arts Panel
  
• Pre-Med Panel


• Dartmouth NOW Panel


• FaculTEA


• Latino Community Gathering
  
• Asian American Community Dinner and Reception


• Black Community Dinner and Reception


• Class of 2011 Welcome


• After Dark Tour: Legends, Tales and Lore of Dartmouth College
  
• Dessert with '10s

Fact or Fiction? Co-ed, Fraternity, and Sorority Life at Dartmouth

I wish you all were here to have heard this panel! 5 students (09's, 08's, and 07's) in Greek letter houses ranging from national to local sororities, coed fraternities to strong multicultural brotherhoods, spoke honestly and openly about their experiences with this scene at Dartmouth. All agreed that they never thought they would join a house before they saw that the co-eds fraternities and sororities at Dartmouth, (like many things here), were very different from those at other schools. First off, you can't join until your sophomore year, so you have your whole first year to make friends and find your niche. Additionally, all events are inclusive and open to the entire campus, so you can fully participate without being a member. Good things they found in their houses included community service opportunities, a "home" to go back to after returning from off terms, and a social space that was their own. But the biggest piece I took away, from listening to their stories and responses, was this overwhelming sense of community they drew from their brothers and sisters. At Dartmouth, you will find that community is available anywhere and everywhere, and students supporting students is something we are most proud of. The kids on the panel were really cool, and reallllly funny. Even as a senior, I am constantly impressed by the grace and amazingness of our student body. (And, as I hear, you all are part of the BEST CLASS EVER!)
Missing you here in Hanover...
Amanda