Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
Spare Rib at Dartmouth is more than just a magazine, it is also a community, which means that beyond publishing our zine, we also organize political and social events for Spare Rib members and the Dartmouth community beyond. Here is what we have been up to this term!
We kicked off the term with an exciting event in collaboration with the Wanderground Lesbian Archive/Library. This organization focuses on collecting, preserving, and making accessible a wealth of publications, artifacts, and personal memorabilia from New England's lesbian community, covering the years 1950 to 2000. Thanks to theWomen's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department, we were able to bring this event to life. We were thrilled to host Wanderground's chief archivist and librarians for a special exhibit on our campus. The evening featured a casual dinner and an engaging talk, which drew WGSS majors, interested faculty, and Spare Rib members. The collection was not only impressive but also deeply meaningful, especially seeing lesbian faculty members connect with the historical items.
Our second big event of the term was tabling and hosting a topical tea time meeting for Dimensions 2024, which is a day-long activity and tour for admitted students to sample life at Dartmouth. For the first day of Dimensions on April 15, we tabled for the activities fair, showcasing the mini zines lovingly prepared by our members, some showcasing previous articles, and some acting as guides to Hanover. In the evening, we held a "Topical Tea Time" discussion. The session was centered around Robin Kelley's article "Black Study, Black Struggle," which addresses the crucial role of activism by people of color in academic environments. Our conversation naturally aligned with this topic, exploring its relevance within the Dartmouth context. It was an enriching evening that provided an opportunity to impart our knowledge of Dartmouth to prospective students.
The next event I am looking forward to is tabling for Dartmouth Pride, which we celebrate in the middle of spring term due to the usual pride month, June, being too busy on campus due to graduation (you can read more about Dartmouth Pride here). Another event I am excited about is the second day of Dimensions on April 29. Spare Rib will once again table at the activities fair, and host an event in the evening. This time will be opening up our termly tradition, professor lecture, to admitted students. Professor Sarah Chant will be presenting a mini-lecture on anti-LGBTQ legislation in the U.S. South. Finally, we will have an Open Mic Night at the Hood Museum's Gilded exhibit.
This term is a very exciting time to be in Spare Rib. Stay tuned for more events to come!
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!
