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.
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!
A Winterstellar Extravaganza: The Joys of Winter Carnival
Each winter term, an annual three-day weekend celebration of the Upper Valley's beauty and charm is hosted on Dartmouth's campus, an iconic, long-lasting tradition called Winter Carnival! In honor of my first Winter Carnival experience on campus and Dartmouth's 114th year celebrating this event, I wanted to document its kick-off and the variety of activities students can participate in during this popular time of year.
With this year's Winter Carnival theme being "WINTERSTELLAR: A Carnival in the Cosmos," it is only fair to say that it took flight on the night of Friday, February 9th, with public areas on campus (including the Class of 1953 Commons and Collis Center for Student Involvement) being decked out in out-of-this-world space-themed decor. Alongside a plethora of activities like a figure skating exhibition at Thompson Area (Dartmouth's ice rink), tours of Shattuck Observatory, and intergalactic trivia planned for the first night, one of the more interesting activities was the Winter Carnival Launch Party at Collis Center. Here, live music by a student band, Exit 13, acted as a precursor to an interesting presentation by a NASA astronaut, Jay Buckey. I was enthralled in his stories of space exhibitions, and taking pictures with a friend at the photo booth afterwards served as the cherry on top of an exciting opening night.
Jay Buckey during his presentation at Collis Center for Student Involvement.
Each year, members of the freshman class comprises the Winter Carnival Council, where the general theme, t-shirt/poster/sticker design, and activities to be added to the schedule are decided on. Kudos to the Class of 2027, because the days following the initial kick-off party were packed full of exciting activities for students to participate in on and around campus. From the popular team-based ice sculpting contest to ski team races at the Dartmouth Skiway, there was not a dull moment on campus between Friday night and Sunday evening.
My friend and I at the photo booth following Jay Buckey's presentation!
With the end of Dartmouth's 2024 Winter Carnival approaching, I am grateful to have finally experienced and participated in such a timeless tradition, and I can't wait to see what the incoming Class of 2028 has in store for it next year!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
Homecoming—a time when current students and alumni gather to relive cherished memories and exhibit large amounts of school spirit. Find out how I spent my second Homecoming Weekend at Dartmouth!
