Hi everyone! I'm Oscar, a '28 from Flushing, NYC. My academic interests are a mix of the arts (studio art, graphic design), the sciences (psychology, biology, sustainability), and maybe even anthropology? All of which I'm thinking of merging with a major in Cognitive Science with a focus area on Design. Outside the classroom, I'm passionate about giving back to my community, fiber arts, and em dashes. Welcome to my blog—I'm excited to explore Dartmouth together!
COSC 1 was the most challenging but rewarding class of this term. I had minimal coding experience prior to this class, but the course is manageable because of all the support available. COSC 1 is one of the largest classes offered at Dartmouth—a total of 200 students split in two sections—but there was always ample help from Professor Vasanta's classes and concept hours and the TA team's recitation and office hours. I enjoyed that assignments had creative flexibility—I recreated "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book cover, wrote an adventure story, and made games for assignments.
I had completed my language requirement by taking CHIN 4 in my last term, but I was interested in further pursuing Chinese through CHIN 22. CHIN 22 is very similar in structure to CHIN 4—small class size, vocabulary exams, and drill sessions. I was lucky to take CHIN 22 with the Beijing Normal University's exchange professor, Professor Yin, who often adds color to lessons by explaining cultural element of China. Some interesting topics we've discussed include the effects of China's One Child Policy, transportation regulations in Beijing, and the symbolism of snow in Chinese culture.
With the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI), why learn design when ChatGPT can create it for you? CSDA 21 (Computer Science/Digital Arts 21, previously known as COSC 21) argues for the importance of human agency in design (and why AI-generated designs are flawed). Using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, we explored a range of topics, including typography, poster design, generative AI, and motion graphics. Professor Mahoney is an incredibly supportive teacher with deep knowledge of the creative industry—make sure to go to office hours if you take the course! As CSDA 21 was my first digital arts class, I’m excited to explore the department more!
Recently, I interviewed my friend Amen, a fellow '28, from Virginia and Ethiopia. These past few months, she followed Abiy Tsom (Great Lent), an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian religious observance. During the 55 days of Abiy Tsom, followers fast during the day and follow a vegan or pescatarian diet. A vegan diet means abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products, while a pescatarian diet allows the inclusion of fish and seafood. Outside of Great Lent, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also follow a vegan/pescatarian fast for a number of other observances throughout the year, totaling over half a year of fasting!
Due to her need for a vegan diet, Amen's family worried that there would be no food options on campus. If you or your family are also worried about the plausibility of following a vegan diet at Dartmouth, here are Amen's thoughts on vegan offerings on campus:
Q: How has your experience been eating vegan on campus?
A: So far, it's been good! My mom was worried that Dartmouth wouldn't have vegan food and that I would be hungry. Vegan food isn't hard to find on campus because everything is labeled very clearly.
I also want to mention how important it is to let the people around you know that you have dietary restrictions. [The photo below] was taken during an event at the FGO(the First Generation Office) where we were making Rice Krispies, which usually contain gelatin. However, once Erica, the Assistant Director of the FGO, learned that I couldn't eat gelatin, she was kind enough to create a vegan-friendly recipe and ensured that plant-based options were available at all FGO events.
Our handmade Rice Krispies!
Q: It's great to hear about your experience so far! Have there been any challenges with being vegan on campus?
A: There are always vegan options, but the options don't change that much. I also don't love vegetables, so that limits what I eat even more.
I eat at FoCo most often (The Class of '53 Commons, our main dining hall) and usually get steamed veggies and bowls at "Farmstand," the salad station. "Herbivore," the vegetarian dining station, has the best rice at FoCo and one or two vegan dishes per meal. Herbivore will sometimes have vegan nuggets or tofu, and the soup station might have a soup with lentils or chickpeas.
The entrance to FoCo!
Q: Those are some good insights on FoCo. What are your thoughts on Dartmouth's other dining locations?
A: I'm usually at FoCo because it has the most vegan options. When I visit other dining locations, it can be challenging to find something vegan that's both filling and satisfying.
The Hop - make your own salad station, fish burger (watch out for cheese!)
A: I love making bowls at FoCo! Here's how to make my bowl:
Start with two scoops of rice at the "Herbivore" station.
Head to "Farmstand" for your favorite toppings. I usually add shredded lettuce, shredded carrots, tomato, corn, broccoli, vegan cheese, and croutons.
Top it all with vegan chipotle mayo. You'll have to ask the dining staff at Herbivore for it—it's a secret menu item!
Amen's favorite bowl topped with vegan chipotle mayo (this was taken after Lent)
For a snack, there's a small fridge with coconut non-dairy yogurt next to the soup station. And for desserts, A9, the allergen-free station, has vegan key lime cheesecake and raspberry oat bars. FoCo has the most plant-based options. Look out for the green "VG" symbol on food labels!
Allergen & menu symbols
Also, something I learned from FoCo's labeling system—Cocoa Puffs are vegan!
Q: Eating for the Earth, a plant-based student organization on campus, created a plant-based dining guide in 2022. Would something like this be helpful to you? Were you aware of it?
A: I've never heard of it, but it looks really helpful. Just looking through it, there are some interesting tips and hacks to get more variety in a vegan diet at Dartmouth. I didn't know there was a vegan sandwich rotation at Novack! The warnings for common misconceptions are also really helpful—I'll make sure to look into this more!
Note: The guide was created during the 2022-2023 academic year, and there have been slight changes to campus dining since, specifically with The Fern Cafe.
Q: Do you have any restaurant recommendations in the Hanover area?
A: I love the samosas from Jewel of India, they remind me of the Ethiopian sambusas I get back home. It is in the Hanover town area, right behindBVAC(The Black Family Visual Arts Center). They're very vegan-friendly, with a lot of vegan options on their menu. They're also very accommodating with substitutions.
Final Thoughts
It's exciting how Dartmouth brings together people from all different backgrounds. Through this conversation with Amen, I gained a deeper understanding of her faith, her favorite foods on campus, and valuable tips for navigating a vegan diet on campus. With her advice, I attempted a week of being vegetarian (should I try veganism in the future?), which you can read about here!
For any other resources on plant-based diets or other dietary restrictions, check out Dartmouth Dining.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
