Hi all! Welcome to my blog! My name is Robin. I am a freshman studying Economics and Computer Science. Outside of class I'm a guitarist, amateur rock climber, and seasoned billiard player–if you're on campus, there's a good chance you can find me in the basement of Collis playing pool with friends. I'm still new around here and have lots to learn and will share my journey in this blog. So if you're a prospie, parent, or Dartmouth enthusiast, you've come to the right place!
Student Assembly is Dartmouth's student government and represents the interests of all undergraduate students. This year, I am the Secretary of the organization, which means I get to do the fun, busy, behind-the-scenes work that goes into implementing projects on campus. Aside from fun projects, Student Assembly gets to work with Dartmouth's administration when making policy affecting all of campus. The Assembly has done a lot over the years, but here are some of our major past and on-going projects.
1.Take a Faculty Member to Lunch Program
In college, one of the most important things you can do is to get to know a professor. This can be difficult in a classroom setting, and even in office hours. Realizing this was a problem, the Student Assembly created a program for students to invite one professor to lunch each term. The voucher gives $25 per person, and allows for up to three students and one professor to enjoy a meal at Pine and Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, two nearby restaurants. I took advantage of this opportunity myself, and got to eat lunch with my Math 3 group and our professor at Pine (and btw, the food is delicious).
2.Dartmouth Coach Voucher Program
Recently, the Student Assembly has piloted a program through which students in need of financial assistance get vouchers for the Dartmouth Coach — the bus service that takes students from campus to Boston Logan Airport. Tickets for this service, although reasonably priced, can take a toll on students' wallets as they travel home at the end of each term. The program is still fairly new and is being developed in coordination with Dartmouth's administration. Yet, it has already eased the financial need of many students throughout campus.
3. Syllabi Database
Student Assembly is currently working on establishing a database containing syllabi of classes from all departments, so students are able to make more educated decisions when crafting their schedule for upcoming terms. The project was introduced this year and is an on-going process as we work with individual academic centers to figure out the best way to give access to students.
4. Book Sustainability
College textbooks are expensive. Plus, they are huge, bulky, and an inefficient use of paper. The Student Assembly, working alongside the Sustainability Department, is working to establish a library system with relevant textbooks, so there is no need for students to purchase new books each term.
These are only a few of Student Assembly's projects. We deal with new issues every term and work with everyone at Dartmouth to make campus a better place. And, of course, we also take very cool group pictures.
I've been reflecting on the lovely past four years of my life, and I came up with this list of seven things to help you succeed and thrive at Dartmouth.
After talking with our new improv president for a while, we decided that we would do a Zoom show. Not only does performing allow me to share my comedy with my friends, it is just, in general, a great time!
It took a couple weeks, but then I arrived at the (rather obvious) conclusion that school shouldn't preclude my making pancakes or doing chores or watching Frozen II. Zoom does not render Dartmouth some unsympathetic entity.
Like many of my classmates, Dartmouth is the first private school I've ever gone to. Coming from a small Southern town, the vast majority of people I know don't travel more than a few hours away for college.
