Hello hello! I'm Sarah, a '29 from Burnsville, North Carolina (about an hour outside of Asheville, NC). I'm a Questbridge National Match Scholar here at Dartmouth passionate about disaster recovery, climate resiliency, policy, and anything in-between. On campus, I'm involved in Ledyard Canoe Club, World Affairs Council (WAC), Radio News (WebDCRNews), and programming through the Dickey Center, Office of Sustainability, the Center for Social Impact (DCSI), and more! Reach out with any questions!
I was drawn to INTS80.06 as it was taught by Ambassador Jeffery Delaurentis, a career ambassador to Cuba and to the UN Security Council. Throughout the course, we explored the history of the international liberal order that the US created after WWII and where that same international sphere is going today---and if US leadership is necessary or guaranteed.
PBPL5 is offered through the Rockefeller Center, or Rocky, and taught by Professor Nachlis. The class explores the relevant policy issues of today and serves as an introduction to policy-making and the PBPL minor offered through Rocky. I loved PBPL5 because it introduces the way policy is designed, implemented, analyzed, and sometimes fails to show real impact on our lives today.
Also shoutout WRIT5 Authenticity, Society, and Self with Prof Lewis!!!
What defines a disaster? Who gets to recover in a disaster, and who decides what that looks like? Who or what is responsible for recovery?
These are the questions we asked on the first day of class in Anthropology of Disaster, and my answers have changed many times throughout the course. This class was also a Social Impact Practicuum (SIP) through the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact (DCSI), which meant we were doing community-based project work in the community! We worked with partners across Vermont who experienced flooding in 2023 and remain vulnerable. I loved this class, the content, and the opportunity to get more actively engaged in the Upper Valley.
SummerWashington, DC
I spent my summer interning at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, DC. Interning at the GAO was such an awesome experience, and being in DC was awesome! Before this summer, I'd never really been in a city, and now I feel like a public transit expert. My internship was supported by Rocky and connections with Dartmouth Alumni.
When I opened my housing assignment in late summer, I think I may have cried. AtDartmouth Dimensions, I vividly remember my host telling me that the River Cluster was the worst first-year residence. While I didn't exactly know why, I decided I would prefer to be anywhere but French or Judge Hall—and that's exactly where I was going to live.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Sarah, that sounds like a pretty dramatic response to a housing assignment. And you would be correct. In retrospect, life in the River has been pretty incredible. So if you're in my position, drowning in all the bad news you've heard about the River Cluster, hang on for a bit. I firmly believe that life in the River will surprise you like it has consistently surprised me.
My dorm in Judge (with all the furniture the room comes with)! I had a single on the first floor, and many rooms look pretty similar to this. Sorry I didn't get a flick of it all decorated!
What is the River?
French Hall! French and Judge are (personally) these kind of weird triangle-shaped buildings, and they mirror each other pretty symmetrically (so this is basically what Judge looks like, but a few yards away).
The River Cluster is a cluster of two residence halls, French and Judge Hall, in West House. Residential Life at Dartmouth is divided into housing communities, which every student is assigned to their first year. While they're not exactly forever, most students stay within their housing communities while living on-campus. The River Cluster, often just called the River or the Rivers, is the first-year housing for West House.
Where is the River?
This is the campus map available online, and I've circled the River Cluster. As you can see, it's pretty far from the Green, foco (to the bottom left corner of the Green), and much of main campus, but it is really close to Ledyard, the Connecticut, as well as a little more nature than other parts of campus.
Perhaps the worst part about the River is its distance from the main campus. West House is, of course, on the west side of campus, and the River Cluster is, of course, closest to the Connecticut River. The good news is that the River is also the closest to the Engineering and Computer Science Center (ESCS),the Irving Institute, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Fern, one of many (best?) cafes on campus. It's a great place to live for STEM students, but it's also just nice to be nearby—I found myself going to the Cable Maker Space, sewing or crafting, often simply because it was so close.
This photo is mostly just a love letter to the seasons of New Hampshire. I think the River is a little more in nature than other parts of campus and, even with my window looking out to Tuck School of Business and a bike rack, I loved the view.
The distance from the main campus was definitely hard—especially when I found myself with classes in Anonymous Hall or Life Sciences Center (LSC). In the winter, this walk was particularly brutal, and most residents spend the entire day away from their dorm, camping out in the library in-between events. Even so, Dartmouth simply isn't a huge campus—even my furthest class was only 15 minutes from the River.
I also loved being by the Connecticut River. In the warmer seasons, I was only steps away from Ledyard Canoe Club, where I could go paddling, swimming, or simply hang out by the river. I loved going for walks and runs across Ledyard Bridge and around the river, walking to the Farmer's Market in Norwich, stargazing from the docks, or watching the sunset from Foley Park. I spent a lot of time by the Connecticut River and, looking back, it was worth every long, freezing 7:45 am walk to French Drill.
One of my many late night walks across Ledyard Bridge. I really loved being so close to the Connecticut!
Community in the River
The Judge Common Room. It may not look like much, and you can't sit down too hard on the couch, but so many memories were made here!
Hands down the best part of living in the River is the community. I can confidently say that it is a trauma bond. I think because we're so far from campus, everyone ends up together in the Common Room, and this quickly led to some of my favorite moments at Dartmouth. We had a lot of artists in my year, and we'd frequently have Judge Jam sessions, which have genuinely become the soundtrack to my first year at Dartmouth.
The Common Room was always lively, whether that was Survivor movie nights or endless birthday parties (I swear there was one every week). While you can certainly find community in every residence hall on campus, there's something a little special about the River community.
One of our many Judge Jam sessions. I don't think I can overstate how much fun I had at these.
My Life in the River
In the winter, a massive snow mountain built up outside Judge. Let's just say that it was moderately sled-able...
The housing amenities in the River are nothing crazy. A huge bonus is that there are no 1-room doubles in the River—only singles, 2 room-doubles, or 3-room doubles (see Judge/French floor plan). I think most can agree that the River Cluster isn't nice housing, but it's also not bad. The building isn't as new as "Hotel" Wheelock (Judge hall was built in 1962), and you do have communal bathrooms, but I suppose that's just part of college.
Don't get me wrong, I wore my Judge badge with pride—and mostly this looked like fighting with the Choatespeople about which cluster was worse. Many of my friends are in North Park or East Wheelock, and that long walk is not always fun, but rest assured, I got my steps in.
Living in the River is not always easy—there are times where my friends heard long rants or I ate out of the Fresh Zone just to avoid the walk to Foco. But there are also times I spent laughing so hard, I think it qualifies as an ab workout or getting to host movie nights for friends in my room (because I had a single). Many of my favorite moments in my first-year were at or because of the River Cluster, and I wouldn't trade that for the long walk anyday. And if you've been assigned to the River for your first year, I hope you don't despair! Instead, get ready for the best year ever—the River certainly has it all.
As soon as it was nice enough, I spent almost all of my study time in the Judge backyard. It was so nice to have an open but fairly empty place to hang outside---there's a gazebo and picnic table I love, too!
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Green Key weekend at Dartmouth was filled with concerts, free food, live music, reunions, and spontaneous moments with friends. Read on to hear why this weekend reminded me what makes spring term at Dartmouth feel so special.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
