Grad News Forum

With spring fast approaching, the snow stomp has begun to give way to the mud shake. Several weeks ago, however, a group of twenty intrepid and snow-loving graduate students made the trip to Smugglers’ Notch Resort for the first annual Graduate Student Winter Weekend. The group contained students from nearly every graduate program on campus, and so the diversity of conversations and interests made the weekend all the more promising.

The event, marvelously coordinated by James Peck, a student in the program in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Marcus Welker, a student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program, took place from March 1-3. The participants, energized by anticipated snowfall for the weekend, carpooled from Hanover to “Smuggs” on the Friday evening—welcomed by three cozy and comfortable condominiums. As among the first to arrive, my group unloaded the groceries and got started on a delicious dinner that set the tone for the rest of the weekend!

Not simply a skiers’ or snowboarders’ trip, Smugglers’ Notch also offered access to tubing, snowshoeing, ice-skating, and cross-country skiing. Located in Cambridge, Vermont, Smuggs made good on its promise of snow from the first night. Light dustings turned into heavy flakes overnight, and by the time everyone had arrived and settled in on the first night, it was clear a good snowfall was underway.

Everyone was up early on Saturday morning, buzzing with excitement at the fresh powder that clung to the mountainsides. Despite the cloudy conditions on the hill, the terrain was well-groomed and provided hours of fun for the first of many “sessions.” Some were on the mountain all day, some finished at lunch, but everyone took advantage of the new snow.

Later that evening, there was a pizza party and birthday celebration held at one of the lodges in the Smugglers’ Resort Village. Welker’s birthday was celebrated with a combination chocolate and vanilla cake. All the while, the snow kept falling.

On Sunday, everyone was, once again, on the mountain early. With the low-lying clouds of Saturday long gone, conditions were perfect. Cautious estimates claim that around eight inches of snow fell during the duration of the trip.

People made their own way back to Hanover throughout the course of Sunday, but most tried to stay as long as they could to enjoy the snow and the activities. The first Dartmouth Graduate Winter Weekend can be qualified as a fantastic success. Here’s to many more in the future!

by Laurie Laker

photos by Lisa Jackson

The Hanover Inn at Dartmouth, known as “Dartmouth’s front door,” will complete the last phase of its renovation next week with the opening of the Inn’s new restaurant, PINE.

“We are delighted to open the doors to PINE, which will offer the Dartmouth and Upper Valley communities a diverse menu featuring local American cuisine and showcasing farm-to-table concepts with the freshest local ingredients,” says Joe Mellia, general manager of the Inn.

PINE, which opens March 18, 2013, will initially serve dinner only. It will eventually serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as Sunday brunch. Lunch will be offered starting April 15. The restaurant can accommodate 122 guests, and will feature meats and produce from Upper Valley farms. PINE will be overseen by chef-restaurateur Michael Schlow and award-winning chef Justin Dain.

For the full article go to Dartmouth Now.

photo by Eli Burakian ’00

On March 1^st, the Graduate Student Council (GSC) Web Team released a brand new GSC website. But releasing the new site, even with content originating from the original GSC site, was not an overnight assignment. In fact, the Web Team began developing the project way back in October of 2012.

The website project was divided into three steps, or “milestones.” The first was philosophy. Nothing is worse than a website that is poorly planned, where each page seems to be living in its own universe of color and structure. In order to really nail down a clear design philosophy, the Web Team did a group activity called “Sails and Anchors.” The idea is simple: one considers a collection of one’s favorite and most-detested websites, and makes a list of concepts/features that make those sites so great or poor. Features (or rather, “blights”) that detract from a site are called “anchors,” and those which make a site wonderful are “sails.”

“Sails and Anchors” board created by the Web Team as it brainstormed concepts for the new GSC site. Anchors are at the bottom, and sails are on top.

Key themes emerged from the collection of thoughts; the team now had a lucid sense of features we desired in the new site, and those we wished to avoid at all costs.

The next milestone was creation: that is, finding a site theme that satisfied the most sails and the least anchors from the first milestone. Fortunately the underlying web engine for the new site, called WordPress, has a plethora of themes created by contributors worldwide that can be used for free. The team ultimately chose the “Graphene” theme—what you see on the site today—as it satisfied three of our key sails: a high degree of backend customization, a spacious “well-furnished room” appearance, and a home-page “slideshow” where upcoming events can be showcased.

The last milestone was implementation: it was time to port over all content from the existing GSC site, revise it according to the design principles of the new site, and ensure that all the nitty-gritty things like links and attachments were working as they should. We also parsed through each section of the site and looked for where content or organisation could be simplified. After all, a simple site is pleasing to the user, and the least schizophrenic to manage in the back office.

The website has been well received. Former GSC President Wesley Whittaker noted: “The new site has much improved access, I really like it. The student organization section is a lot easier to navigate—this will make participation so much easier for both incoming students and those who have been around for longer.” He continued “I also like how, under the event section, there’s the links to facebook and doodles so that everything’s in one place and there’s a connected social media stream.”

The process of designing a website is never complete: there are still a few stray links, and a couple fonts that could use some polishing up. As well, the space for additional creativity, such as new extensions or enhancements to an existing site, is endless.

Stay tuned as the GSC Web Team works on new refinements and features for the site in the coming months. In the meantime, we hope our hard work through the past several months has resulted in a powerful new website that you enjoy using.

The website address is: http://sites.dartmouth.edu/gsc/

Web Team Members: Amanda Balboni, Julia Bradley-Cook, Rishika De, Lisa Jackson, Marie Onakomaiya, Justin Richardson, Nicholas Tito, Christine Urbanowicz

by Nicholas Tito, GSC Web Team Leader

Jeffrey Robinson, a fifth-year graduate student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program in the Department of Biological Sciences, is the founder and chairperson of the Dartmouth Graduate Outing Club (DGOC). DGOC organizes events throughout the academic year, including hikes, ski trips, canoe trips, and camping. Recently, Robinson organized a leadership series to promote the essentials of outdoor leadership so that other grad leaders would benefit from this perspective.

The leadership series ran from October 2012 through January 2013. Robinson planned several incrementally more complex sessions, beginning with short sessions on the basics of wilderness safety, clothing and equipment, group dynamics and risk management, and logistical organization for trips. Classroom knowledge was then put to practical use in an ascent of Mount Lafayette in November, during which participants practiced managing group safety in icy and snowy mountain conditions. The final event was a wilderness survival overnight to the Class of ’66 Lodge in January, where students learned how to start fires and build shelters in snowy and wet conditions, along with some basic avalanche safety. Participants in the course were considered officially qualified as graduate student outdoor leaders.

I met with Robinson for a question and answer session to learn more about his experiences as a leader and how these experiences have shaped his life.

Gilbert Rahme (GR): When and how did you get trained as a leader?

Jeffrey Robinson (JR): It takes a lot of experience to be a good leader. I was active in the Boy Scouts. Our troop focused on outdoor skills and fieldcraft, and I found that I excelled at this. In the Scouts, leadership is something that you learn by watching as a younger scout, and then start to put into practice as you advance in rank. I learned the fundamental skills in the Scouts, and I put them into a lot of informal practice post college by encouraging friends to go hiking, camping, backpacking, and rock climbing. In 2004, I took the National Outdoor Leadership School’s (NOLS) Pacific Northwest Mountaineering Course.  I learned technical mountain skills and wilderness expedition planning, group dynamics, and risk management. In particular, the NOLS course instilled a lot of confidence in my outdoor leadership capabilities and was a real turning point in my life; this experience was a major motivator for my decision to go for a PhD. Last, I volunteer with the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, a local wilderness search and rescue group. These guys are real professional wilderness rescuers and working with them has been the final step as far as taking my outdoor leadership knowledge to the level where I felt comfortable teaching others.

GR: What encouraged you to start the DGOC?

JR: A few different things. I went to a policy fellowship info session led by alumnus, David Lukofsky, who received his PhD from Thayer in 2009. Lukofsky mentioned that it is great professional experience to do some kind of community organizing activity or project, which got me thinking about what I could contribute. I had also been attending some Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) trips my first summer here. I met some exceptional individuals and made friends with some of the undergrad leaders, but I was always a little sad that grad students did not have some DOC equivalent. On a trailwork trip, Lauren Lesser ’10 suggested I start a graduate version of the DOC. I got some interested grad students together, and we became a recognized Graduate Student Council (GSC) organization. We also had some meetings with the Outdoor Programs Office and Graduate Studies Office to talk safety protocols. Dartmouth is small enough that, with a little effort, you can make a difference in the community.

GR: What do you think it takes to be a leader?

JR: Real leadership takes faith, vision, determination, and flexibility. Otherwise leadership will break down in times of hardship and difficulty. I admit feeling a little uncomfortable pronouncing on leadership when I still struggle in many areas not relating to outdoor leadership. Objective self-appraisal is very important; most of us prefer not to admit our weaknesses, especially to ourselves, but recognizing them is the only way to overcome them.

GR: You have graduation on the horizon. What advice do you want to give to future graduate student leaders at Dartmouth?

JR: People should find something they are good at and that they like to do. Remember that being successful at anything worthwhile does not happen overnight: it requires multiple iterations of planning, executing, evaluating, and trying again. Set short, intermediate, and long-term goals, and periodically re-evaluate them.

GR: Where do you see yourself in the future and how has being a graduate student leader helped you realize your future goals?

JR: I have considered science policy work with the government or in international development. I have also considered continuing in an academic setting because I really enjoy teaching at the college level and potentially would like to develop a research program. It would be great to combine biology (as well as earth and environmental sciences) and outdoor leadership into an integrated curriculum at an institute that has that sort of perspective.

Being a grad student outdoor leader has been among my most valuable experiences at Dartmouth. I have learned as much about myself as I have about working with other people. I look forward to applying those principles to my future career.

GR: Anything you want to add?

JR: Enjoy and value the outdoors for the challenges and benefits it can provide. When times have gotten hard, being outside has always provided perspective. Also, join the DGOC! It’s a great way to experience the outdoors around Hanover while hanging out with your friends. E-mail us at graduate.outing.club@Dartmouth.edu

Anyone is welcome to join!

by Gilbert Rahme

The Blizzard Ball annual winter semi-formal dance hosted by the Graduate Student Council (GSC) on Saturday, February 2, was far from cold.

The turnout was impressive. GSC Social Chairs and event organizers, Lisa Jackson and Gilbert Rahme, were pleased with the overall success of the event. “It was really exciting to see roughly 400 people attend! It’s always great to see graduate students from departments/programs all over campus come together to socialize, dance, and let loose for an evening,” they noted, adding “Hanover Inn did a terrific job in catering and managing our event, and DJ Nick Sal was spinning some mad jams for us. Major props to Nick Tito, the person who came up with the theme.”

Decorations included snow-white table cloths, an intricate snowflake archway, and silver and blue snowflake wall hangings.  The atmosphere was sophisticated, with servers walking around offering hors d’oeuvres to guests. The featured selection included pastry-wrapped brie, apple compote, bleu cheese stuffed cherry tomatoes, and a smoked salmon platter available all night.

A neat addition was a DIY photo booth at the entrance where attendees could pose with friends while wearing fun accessories and props. One of the most interesting aspects of the night was the range of fashions; some people went all out in suits, others dressed more casually in jeans, and one individual even wore what appeared to be a Civil War coat. The dance floor was full for the majority of the evening.

Jackson and Rahme were grateful to everyone who helped with the event, observing that “the success of big events like this is totally due to the many people who work so hard behind the scenes to set-up, decorate, and help oversee everything; big ‘thank yous’ go out to the many volunteers who helped make the Blizzard Ball a success! Overall, we hope everyone had a great time!”

The additional money saved from offering a cash bar (rather than complimentary drink tickets as with prior dances) will be used by the GSC to fund another event later in the year.

There was plenty of dancing and fun to be had, and at the end of the night, it seemed that everyone had a good time. Thank you to everyone who worked to organize the event!

by Britney Tappen

On Thursday, February 21, the Department of Chemistry hosted a graduate interdepartmental tea, with brownies that had the entire room smelling like chocolate.

The tea was the second in a series of events organized by the Graduate Student Council. The first tea event was held in January in the Mathematics Department. The goal is simple: monthly gatherings to facilitate networking and bring together Dartmouth’s graduate students from every field of study.

Members of the Department of Chemistry were warm hosts and added personal touches with little laboratory flask drawings on their welcome board. Students were fashionably late, but soon enough, Burke Hall’s Marx Lounge reached a near capacity crowd, with grad students from various departments attending. The teas, bottled beverages, fresh fruits, crackers and cheese, and cookies and brownies seemed nothing more than a catalyst for socializing, though I did hear the chocolate chip cookies were delicious.

“This time it was better advertised,” said GSC’s Academic Chair Richard Lopez, pleased to see attendees from beyond Burke’s walls. “I think there are people coming from five or six different departments here now.”

The date and whereabouts of the next interdepartmental tea are not yet decided upon, but the GSC plans on arranging one every month. Each tea will be held at and hosted by a different department, establishing a monthly occasion for graduate students to meet and mingle in a more cross-disciplinary setting. Check out the Gazetteer and the Graduate Studies’ Facebook page for updates on future events.

by Niusha Shodja

photos by Niusha Shodja

Few Dartmouth students will have escaped noticing we are in V-Week. From February 14^th to February 26^th, a slew of events have been organized drawing attention to ending violence against women and girls. This year’s focus, One Billion Rising, seeks to draw attention to the long overlooked issue of sexual abuse. The number one billion comes from the sobering statistic of the number of women, globally who have been or will be victims of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetimes. V-Week seeks to draw attention to the prevalence of these crimes and to provide support for organizations that help those affected. For the fourth year now, the Graduate Student Council (GSC) is a proud sponsor.

Photo by Rebel Roberts

The history of V-Week and V-Day goes back fifteen years. It was started by Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler as a way of using art to start conversations and raise awareness. The goal: to end violence against women and girls.  The movement is a grassroots one. It seeks to mobilize women of all classes and generations with the unified purpose of raising funds and drawing attention to violence against women and girls. The grassroots nature gives local networks control of ninety percent of funds raised. These funds will go to Wise, a nonprofit organization based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, that helps those affected by sexual and domestic violence in the Upper Valley. The other ten percent goes to a preselected international campaign. This year’s campaign is One Billion Rising, an internationally coordinated day of dancing, striking, and rising.

Dartmouth’s role in V-Day goes back to 1999. Initially an undergraduate-led initiative, the movement quickly spread to the local community; it began involving staff, faculty, alumni, and of course, the graduate community.

Active and passionate people led the way to graduate involvement. Megan Fallon, the former assistant director of the Center for Gender & Student Engagement at Dartmouth and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) student, took a pivotal role. Fallon’s position and her dedication allowed her to be active in making V-Day and V-Week an important time at Dartmouth.

Katie Kinnaird, a math PhD candidate, has continued Fallon’s work. Kinnaird had taken part in the Vagina Monologues as an undergraduate and wanted an opportunity to continue her activism. V-Week provided this opportunity. Through her hard work, graduates and undergraduates have been able to come together to make a difference for women in the community and beyond.

“It was a great way to meet really passionate women, real unabashed feminists” says Kinnaird, “I will be sad to leave the community and hope that someone in the graduate school takes my place.”

Kinnaird swiftly took control of making v-pops. V-pops are vagina-shaped lollipops. Their purpose is twofold. Firstly, they act as a way in which woman can create a cultural shift in the way in which vaginas are viewed. Secondly, making and selling v-pops is a great way to raise money, allowing people to socialize in the process. In taking on the role of making v-pops, Kinnaird has carved out a unique space for the graduate community.

The graduate community also takes on the role of organizing the Venefit for V-Day. Hosted with a local business, this event raises money for V-Day. Anyone who wants more information about the Venefit, the V-Pop­ Parties, or wants to get involved, can email Kinnaird at: Katherine.M.Kinnaird.GR@dartmouth.edu. For the full schedule of events go to the V-Week Website.

Speaking of her activism, Kinnaird said “I hope to be involved when I’m in a retirement community in my nineties.” She continued, “what could be more fabulous?!”

by Dan Durcan

The Graduate Studies Office and I are seeking nominations for a Graduate Alumni Representative to sit on the Dartmouth Alumni Council. Nominees are expected to represent the interests of graduates of Dartmouth’s Graduate Programs, drawing on their own experience as grad students at Dartmouth to guide them in promoting the interests of the programs.

Nominees should be exemplary members of the graduate alumni community who have a real interest in developing and strengthening relationships between students past and present. Founded at the beginning of the 20^th century, the Alumni Council has long served as the major connector between the alumni community and Dartmouth. The council acts as an intermediary between the two institutions, keeping the alumni informed on the developments in Hanover and making sure that Dartmouth is aware of alumni sentiment. The council also nominates alumni candidates to the Board of Trustees and facilitates alumni service.

The newly appointed representative will replace councilmember Allan Weatherwax, ’95 A&S, joining councilmember Melody Brown Burkins in the graduate program delegation. Weatherwax earned a Ph.D. in physics from the College. Brown Burkins studied earth sciences, earning a masters and a Ph.D. Now, she’s the Senior Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives at the University of Vermont. In an interview with the Graduate Forum back in September, Burkins Brown said she was “impressed that the Dartmouth Alumni Council works so diligently to both connect alums back to campus and to truly represent the diversity, range, and breadth of Dartmouth’s alumni community.”

Nominations can be sent to Jane Seibel, Assistant Dean for Graduate Recruiting and Diversity. Please feel free to nominate any graduate alumnus – including yourself – who’s voice would be a positive addition to the conversation happening here at Dartmouth.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.

Sincerely,

F. Jon Kull

Dean of Graduate Studies

Dartmouth will present the 2013 Social Justice Awards, which honor Dartmouth community members who have contributed significantly to social justice, on February 1.

The awards ceremony serves as the culminating event for Dartmouth’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the Hayward Room at the Hanover Inn. The ceremony, free and open to the public, will feature a panel discussion with honorees followed by a reception.

President Carol L. Folt, Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity Evelynn Ellis, and Elise Smith ’13 will make remarks.

“These honorees embody the ideals and carry on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with their relentless pursuit of social justice,” says Gabrielle Lucke, director of diversity training and educational programs and chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration committee.

This year’s honorees are listed below. For more information on the Social Justice Awards, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration website.

For full article see the Dartmouth Now

This video highlights just a few of the academic achievements and social happenings from the fall term at Dartmouth Graduate Studies.

Special thanks to:

Ron Bucca, Idan Ginsburg, Sam Beal, Laura Levy, Gifford Wong, John Gartner, Julia Bradley-Cook, Lisa Jackson, Geneva Trotter, and Dean F. Jon Kull. Dartmouth Graduate Studies: Highlights of Fall Term