Hi, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. My favorite places on campus include Sanborn (for writing), the river (for paddling), and the Green (for everything else). I'm excited to share a bit about my favorite place with all of you!
I took this class as part of Dartmouth's first year writing requirement. We read a pro cyclist's life narrative, discussed research papers on controversial topics in sports, and wrote our own papers on a contentious sports technology of our choice. I really enjoyed this course's emphasis on discussion, and the small class size!
This was my first class in the classics department, which was super exciting as a classical studies major! We learned about the ancient Olympics and the connections between athletics and other aspects of ancient Greek society. I loved the final project in this class, which involved creating an argument about how the ancient pentathlon was scored!
To conclude my language requirement, I took Latin 3! This class was super exciting because we began to read ancient texts and poetry. We also took a class trip to the Rauner Special Collections library so we could physically handle and read some manuscripts. And as an added bonus, Latin counts as a prerequisite for my classical studies major!
As a part of my language study abroad in Italy, I also took a class on Italian history and culture! We went on field trips to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, participated in walking tours of Rome, and watched a lot of great cinema in this class! I loved it so much that I decided to minor in Italian.
This class, in addition to being a pre-requisite for my major, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology through hands-on projects and lectures that felt like TED Talks.
My favorite course on my Italian LSA+ in Rome is focused on Italian literature, which we are studying in a reverse-chronological order! It has been incredibly fun to see different topics and styles evolve over time and to learn from the works of the best writers.
I’m absolutely loving this hands-on introduction to paleography, and the fact that my class meets at Rauner every day! I can’t wait to hear from our guest lecturers, too, and I’ll be sure to share those experiences on the blog. All in all, Latin 10 was a great way to get back into the language after a term away in Rome.
This past fall, I gave you a tour of my dorm. But that got me thinking back to my senior year, when I was searching People, Places, Pines for any and all information about Dartmouth dorms. I wanted to learn anything that could give me a clearer picture of my future home. If you're anything like I was, you probably feel the same way! So, to give back to all the curious souls out there, I figured I'd take you on a tour of the rest of my residence hall!
Common Spaces
I'll start with my most-used and most-appreciated feature: shared spaces! Fahey Hall and McLane Hall are connected by their common spaces, each with its own unique vibe. The ground floor and first-floor lounges are more social, featuring large couches, TVs, and even a piano. These spaces are commonly used for large gatherings (think birthday parties and West House events). As you go further upstairs, the spaces become more suited for studying, with whiteboards, long tables, and big windows that let in natural light. My favorite common spaces are the smaller rooms at the end of each floor's hall that offer a quiet and cozy spot for reading a book or playing a board game with friends.
The ground floor common room!
Kitchens
If you're someone who enjoys cooking (or just making popcorn), you'll be happy to know that there's a kitchen on each floor of the Fahey-McLane complex. The kitchens have a full-size fridge, stove, oven, and plenty of counter space. They're a great spot to make a weekend breakfast or bake a batch of cookies with friends. Just remember to clean up after yourself—no one likes a messy kitchen!
Bathrooms
Ah, communal bathrooms—stalls and shared sinks…Wait! What? To my (pleasant) surprise, Fahey and McLane both have several single-use bathrooms on each floor. Every bathroom is private, and they come in two types: toilet and sink, or shower and sink. They're all cleaned regularly by the custodial staff and provide all the space you could want. Having this level of privacy is definitely a game-changer!
Laundry Room
Laundry isn't the most exciting topic, but it's important! Our laundry room is in the basement, with several washers and dryers that students can use free of charge. There's a large folding table on the back wall, although I will admit it tends to fill up throughout the term. Pro tip: Don't forget to set a timer, or, better yet, use the Dartmouth "Laundry Connect" website to check the status of your laundry in real-time!
West House Offices
Since Fahey-McLane belongs to West House and is situated in the center of campus, it's home to the West House offices. This is where you'll find Pamela Duffy, our West House administrator, and where you can stop by to grab a snack or learn more about West House events. The house system at Dartmouth is designed to build community, and I'd consider this the heart of West House!
I hope this gave you a better idea of what dorm life is like (at least in my experience) here at Dartmouth. Although each residence hall on campus is unique, this is a pretty typical living situation for students in their second year and beyond!
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
As a practicing Christian, my faith has always been the foundation of my life. Coming into college, I didn't want to lose that essential part of my identity. I wanted to deepen it. That's when I found Cru — and it changed everything.
Dartmouth works to provide a variety of accommodations that suit each person's individual needs. Curious as to how housing accommodations work, whether they be for medical or religious reasons? Read on.
