Hi there! I'm Brendilou, a '26 from Western Nebraska. As an English major interested in journalism, I'm passionate about writing to educate—to explore differing perspectives, to emphasize the mundane. Through this blog, however, I write to introduce you all to my perspective, my mundane, at the college that's stolen my heart. Welcome to my neck of the woods.
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.
If the history behind 1960s politics, fashion, art, music, and society interests you in any capacity, this class is the perfect fit for you! Taught through Dartmouth’s Humanities Department, this course covers the late 1950s through the early 1970s, focusing on the era's transformative nature while immersing students in the time period through samples of art and music. What an incredible introduction to an incredibly important decade!
Of the creative writing courses I have taken thus far, none have aligned with my desired career path as well as CRWT 11: Intro to Creative Nonfiction. If you are a prospective journalist, essayist, or fellow Joan Didion devotee, this class was made for you! Although Dartmouth does not have a designated journalism department, the class effectively delves into the art of it while maintaining a creative foundation. With a flexible schedule of fun, thought-provoking writing assignments and weekly peer editing workshops, CRWT 11 immensely refined my writing skills.
If you’re interested in audio storytelling, take CRWT 40.15, Tell Me A Story: Introduction to Nonfiction Radio and Podcasting! Lecturer and producer at Pushkin Industries Sophie Crane uses a hands-on approach for teaching students how to record, edit, and produce their own podcasts. By the end of the term, I had gained extensive experience with Adobe Audition and industry-standard equipment. This is, by far, my favorite class I’ve taken at Dartmouth!
After taking the intro class in the fall, CRWT 21: Intermediate Creative Nonfiction was the next step in refining my journalism skills. Taught by Professor Jeffrey Sharlet, this class, dubbed “The Reporters,” emphasized storytelling in the Upper Valley. Similar to CRWT 11, the class was structured around peer editing workshops and discussions rather than lectures. To conclude the term, students submitted their final pieces to an online publication created exclusively for this class. I look forward to taking the advanced workshop in the fall!
I draft this post on a hard plastic bench in Boston the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend. I'm returning to campus from a trip to Hyannis, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The atrium of South Station Bus Terminal is particularly lively with mosquito-buzz conversations and post-holiday travel delirium. I consider this liminal space the delta of East Coast public transport for Dartmouth students without a car, like myself—despite Dartmouth being on the periphery of the broader Northeast region.
As a rural student, I had no exposure to bus, train, or subway systems before coming to college. Navigating public transportation, in general, was unfamiliar and daunting. However, Dartmouth's access to major transportation hubs across New England eased the learning curve.
The trick to traversing the area without a car? The Dartmouth Coach: the most practical starting point for students to get from Hanover to the rest of the East Coast. Departing from Rauner Special Collections Library every hour, the Coach travels to two major cities: Boston and New York City. The Coach to Boston follows a route that stops at South Station and Logan Airport, while the Coach to New York City arrives in Midtown Manhattan.
The rides are straightforward and reliable, with durations ranging from three hours to five hours, depending on the target location. Because of its convenience and added amenities—comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and overhead screens for movies—the Dartmouth Coach has become the go-to option for students planning a quick day trip or weekend getaway from campus.
Dartmouth Coach tickets are relatively affordable and vary based on destination (e.g. South Station tickets are $35 one-way, while New York City tickets are $95 one-way). And although the Coach isn't free for Dartmouth students, the Financial Aid Office provides one complimentary one-way Coach ride for low-income students at the end of each term.
The view on Interstate 93 South, the main highway the Dartmouth Coach takes from Hanover to Boston.
On any given day during an interim period, you'll find me on the Coach from Hanover to South Station. From there, I've learned how to navigate the Commuter Rail to Cape Cod, the Amtrak to Providence, and the Red Line to Somerville—all with the first step being a trip on the Dartmouth Coach.
