Hello, and welcome to my neck of the woods! My name is Brendilou Armstrong, and I am a '26 hailing from the cornfields and grassy plains of Western Nebraska. This year, I plan to involve myself in The Dartmouth and WebDCR (Dartmouth College Radio). I couldn't be more excited to set out on this expedition through college alongside all of you. Thanks for visiting my page!
If you are interested in Victorian literature in any capacity, this is the class for you! It is a course taught by the WGSS (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) department and combines historical and political aspects into a literary seminar. The material is compelling and allows you to view female authors, including Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Gaskell, in a different perspective knowing the societal context of the time period and themes in their most popular works.
If poetic language and artistic writing styles are your forte, this is the perfect class for you! Taught by the English/Creative Writing department, Introduction to Poetry is an incredible foundation to storytelling, introducing students to poetry styles from prose to ekphrastic and written to slam. The approach to teaching the course revolved around the strategies of Robert Frost, where the Poetry Room in Sanborn Library held our class, and students' chairs were arranged in a circle rather than in rows of desks. CRWT 12 is one of the most unique and fascinating classes I have taken thus far, and as a result, has become my favorite class I have taken on campus.
Niche classes and concentrations define a Dartmouth education, and before this term, I never intended on taking an Asian art history course, let alone one with such a defined focus. Taught through both the Department of Art History and the Department of Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages by Columbia University guest lecturer Seher Agarwala, this course contextualizes sacred architectural structures of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic faiths. I left this course with a newfound interest in the artistic practices of East Asian cultures and an appreciation for their diverse historical backgrounds and religions.
For any Los Angeles natives or those generally wanting to delve into the history of southern California, this class is for you! Focusing mainly on the contributions of minorities to the area, this class provides insight on the seldom-discussed history of L.A. through the perspectives of non-white settlers from the 18th century to the present day. Through examining controversial films depicting L.A. (including La La Land and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood), I left this course with a deep understanding of the sacrifices made to construct contemporary Los Angeles.
An Interview with a Member of Student Band Read Receipts!
***This blog post is being published after Green Key***
With Green Key, Dartmouth's most anticipated spring music tradition, quickly approaching, student band Read Receipts prepares to perform as the opening act before musicians Young M.A. and Shaggy take the stage. After winning Battle of the Bands, an event hosted by the Dartmouth Programming Board that determines which student band performs as an opener for Green Key, in late April, the group has been eagerly practicing for an unforgettable night of music. Here's what guitarist Jackson Yassin '26 had to say about this surreal opportunity!
Q: Before we get into questions about Read Receipts, could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and what you're involved in on campus?
A: My name is Jackson Yassin. I'm a sophomore majoring in computer science and minoring in English. On campus I do a lot of music. I play in three student bands (Coast, Read Receipts, and Frank), and I also write.
Jackson '26
Q: How did you first get into playing music?
A: I first got into music in my school district's band program, and I ran with it ever since.
Q: How did you guys feel when you won Battle of the Bands in April, and what went into preparing for it?
A: We were honestly super surprised when we won BotB (Battle of the Bands). We weren't expecting it, so it didn't really feel real for the first few days after it. However, once we decided on a set list and a practice schedule, it definitely got real. Prepping has both been fun but also stressful. I think almost everyone really understands the stakes of this show so it's pushed a lot of us to practice hard. We've had a lot more practice than for a usual show, so hopefully it'll pay off.
Q: How are you guys getting ready for Green Key, and conversely, do you feel ready to take the stage in front of Dartmouth's student body?
A: Practicing this much has caused problems, though, as we're not always all on the same page. I think we'll be ready for Friday, but regardless of what happens, it'll be fun.
Q: What should prospective students know about the live music culture here, and what advice can you give them if they want to start their own band in college?
A: For prospective students, I would say live music here is definitely an active thing. Starting a band is really as easy as getting a few friends together and reaching out to people at fraternities or even local restaurants like Sawtooth in order to get a gig, and usually it'll work out. The one thing that disappoints me a bit is the lack of live, original music from students, but that's something I think bands in the future are definitely going to do more of.
Thanks for your insight, Jackson! If you're interested in playing in a student band in college, the amount of peer support and the variety of opportunities for performing is endless. There is no limit to the arts here on Dartmouth's campus, and its student bands are only one example of this fact. Be sure to check out Read Receipts on Instagram, and get excited for more Green Key posts from me and other fellow bloggers in the very near future!
What an incredible spring! This term was undoubtedly my favorite that I've experienced thus far, and as I wait to board a flight back to campus for a highly anticipated Sophomore Summer, I reflect on everything that allowed this spring term to bloom.
I lived on the same dorm floor as the GIS LLC (Living Learning Community) this year. I asked some of my floormates about their experience with it so that you can hopefully get a holistic sense of what GIS is like!
Dartmouth's most anticipated spring tradition is over, prompting an influx of Green Key posts from Dartmouth students online (including this one from myself)! Join me as I reflect on the most memorable parts of this weekend!
Eastern European Easter (loads of E's, I know), a mock wedding with the Dartmouth African Student Association, and of course, Green Key! What a busy week!
Green Key: A quintessential Dartmouth tradition along with Homecoming and Winter Carnival—and the one remaining tradition I had yet to experience as a freshman. Here are my impressions of my first Green Key weekend!
