Hello, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. On campus, I enjoy writing sports for The Dartmouth, going on as many DOC trips as I can, and hanging out with my friends. I also love Woccoming, doing the daily NYT mini crossword, and paddling!
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 both my major and my spring study abroad, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology in a chronological sequence, and I feel so much more prepared for my trip to Greece after completing this class.
Last week as a part of my Dartmouth F.I.R.E. Italian study abroad program in Rome, I had the opportunity to participate in an anti-mafia Libera camp in Crotone, Calabria. Libera, a renowned organization in Italy, works tirelessly to combat the influence of the mafia. This camp was a part of Libera's initiative "E!State Liberi!," which organizes week-long summer camps across Italy aimed at promoting social justice and fighting corruption.
Libera was founded by the activist priest Don Luigi Ciotti in 1995 and has been engaging in the legal defense, protection, and assistance of mafia victims ever since. The organization also provides education about mafias and reutilizes confiscated assets and properties; their extensive summer camps are held in over 50 locations throughout Italy, and offer thousands of young volunteers from around the world the opportunity to actively participate in the fight against mafias each summer.
Our camp was located in Crotone, a beautiful non-touristy town in southern Italy. Immediately after our propeller plane landed at the tiny airport in Crotone, our group was struck by how different it was from Rome. Although the coastal town was beautiful, it is scarred by the pervasive influence of organized crime. The property where we stayed had been abandoned, and now repurposed to serve as a center for victims of domestic violence. This transformation was our first introduction to the concept that positive change can emerge from adversity.
The week's activities were varied, but always engaging. We participated in workshops, listened to testimonies from the families of mafia victims, and engaged with the local community. My favorite workshop involved an activity in which we were asked to draw our different social circles, describe them with one adjective, and define our role within them. I like this activity because it prompted me to consider how I interact with the people around me and how I would like to improve those relationships and interactions in the future.
Another activity that I found extremely interesting was a visit to a therapeutic community for recovering addicts in Calabria. We spent the day getting to know some of the residents, participating in their activities, and shared a meal with them. I liked this activity because it helped me to understand the importance of social rehabilitation. I also learned more about the interconnectedness of social justice and community support systems, and how both concepts are related to organized crime.
An essential aspect of the program's itinerary was free-time during the afternoon. My fellow students and I used this time to nap, go to the beach, and explore Crotone on our own. I especially enjoyed the beach, because I got to teach two of my friends how to swim! We also went swimming on our last night in Crotone, and it was a wonderful opportunity to silently reflect while stargazing and floating in the warm Mediterranean water.
Noah preparing breakfast!
Asfand, Witt, and Matt on our last night in Crotone.
Throughout the week, we were encouraged to use Italian to communicate with each other and the people we were meeting. This immersion was challenging but incredibly rewarding. Another challenge was collective life at camp, from shared meal preparation to chores to living in a room with seven other girls. Ultimately, these experiences helped me grow and form deeper connections with my study abroad cohort—I am grateful I had the opportunity to participate in this Libera camp, but I'm also excited to get back to Roma!
SIP, or Social Impact Practicum, is a type of course that is offered at Dartmouth that centers around engaging with local community partners. I have taken two of these courses now and have found them to be enriching an interesting.
When asked about my favorite term at Dartmouth, I'll enthusiastically answer, "Sophomore Summer!" Whether it's the enhanced beauty or community on campus, one aspect stands out as the highlight of my term: the start of summer dance ensembles!
Coming back to Dartmouth for my senior year, I have been loving pursuing my major. However, what I love about the liberal arts education is that you can take classes for interest far beyond any classes in your major.
