As Dartmouth students, we often become so entrenched in our ways that we forget to question the things around us. We function within institutions and participate in traditions, often without understanding their backgrounds. Occasionally, we may wonder about the absurdity of our ways, but we never bother to seek out answers. In doing so, we remain uneducated on a very deep and problematic level.
There is, however, some good news. 1) This is not another op-ed on political revisionism, and 2) I’m here to help.
In my experience, the typical Dartmouth student is inquisitive with a lazy streak. If you fit into this category, you have probably wondered about some of the following questions during your time on campus, but likely haven’t bothered to actually find out answers to them. Midterms may have you feeling bogged down in knowledge that you don’t actually need and will likely forget by next Tuesday. Fear not: Here are answers to all the things you really want to know about.
Why can’t the College own the Green?
Freshman year, students often hear that the way to avoid getting picked up by the Hanover Police is to be strategic about how you cross campus. Walk along the Green and never across it, upperclassmen say, because the property is owned by the town and therefore is fair game for getting arrested. The truth of the matter is that Dartmouth does in fact own the Green — but this doesn’t mean you should be caught stumbling across it at 3 a.m. According to Safety and Security director Harry Kinne, H-Po has jurisdiction everywhere in Hanover, including on campus.
Controversies about ownership of the Green have, however, occurred throughout the College’s history. Most regrettably, a June 1942 issue of The Dartmouth reported that a story was circulating about “a forgotten Indian from Oklahoma who went home after graduation, struck oil under his tepee and found himself with so much money that he bought the campus and set it aside as a reservation for dogs.” The article also states that there “seems to be some evidence to substantiate this theory,” though it fails to specify what this evidence may be.
And if you were wondering why we refer to the plot of land as “the Green,” the Board of Trustees’ meeting minutes from 1906 show that the title choice was in fact intentional. On March 17, a vote was passed to change the name from “Campus” to “College Green” on all official Dartmouth materials.
Wheredo therecipes forCollis baked goodscome from?
Collis baker Mary Ann Milanese is the source of all of the cafe’s muffins, scones, cookies and cakes. She has worked at the College for over 25 years, she said. Her inspiration comes from various sources, including the over 400 cookbooks she has at home, magazines, TV shows and others’ recommendations. In fact, sometimes students give their input.
“I always welcome requests from students,” Milanese said. “Usually it’s for things we already make that I’ve forgotten about, and I’ll get emails or comment cards asking for them. There are only a couple of things we make every week, like blueberry muffins and chocolate chip scones.”
While the classics often make an appearance, so do some of Milanese’s more unusual recipes. A few days ago, for example, a beet cake was available for purchase.
“That cake is actually an old recipe that came from a Jewish cookbook,” she said. “But beets seem to be more in the news lately because they’re so healthy, so I thought people might be more interested. The red velvet brownies have lots of beets in them, too — they work very nicely with chocolate and add some moisture.”
Milanese’s personal favorite recipe? Her Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles.
Why is Wheelock Books on stilts?
According to a store manager, the building is an “air rights” building, similar to what you would see in high-density urban areas. Because Hanover falls into this category.
Why can’t we swim in Occom Pond?
Occom is actually a man-made body of water created by the building of a dam in the late19th century. Simply put, we don’t swim in it because the water is kind of gross. In an October 2005 issue of Vox of Dartmouth, the faculty and staff newspaper, then-associate vice president of Facilities Operations and Management John Gratiot described the pond as “essentially a storm water runoff pond.” In the 1980s and ’90s, several academic articles were written discussing the serious accumulation of algae at Occom, and while the College has since made efforts to address the water quality, going for a dip would not be advisable.
What is the purpose of the Bema?
In 1882, then-College President Samuel Colcord Bartlett put the senior class to work to clear the area of land that has been used for a variety of purposes for well over a century. The Dartmouth reported in March of the same year, “The Seniors are making good headway toward the construction of an amphitheater in the Park for Class Day exercises. The Cliff that arises abruptly on the west side of the open space […] is being dug away, and a sort of Bema made.”
According to administrative documents found in the Rauner Special Collections Library, the project was part of a park improvement effort that Bartlett undertook, which included the construction of pathways, bridges and gazebos. Commencement was also held at the Bema from 1932 to 1953.
How does Dartmouth Dining Servicescompost and what does it do with leftover food?
In September 1995, the Hanover Planning Board approved the development of a compost facility that would accept food, yard and sewage waste. Three years prior, in June 1992, the Valley News reported that the College was ahead of the game, with a private compost pile at Fullington Farm being used to make fertilizer for athletic fields. According to the office of Facilities, Operations and Management, Dartmouth continues to compost about 263 tons of food waste each year, used for landscaping purposes around campus.
While salad ingredients seem to be highly appropriate for this purpose, what you may actually be wondering is what FoCo does with all its leftover cookies. According to DDS manager Matt Smith, “There are a lot fewer left over than you think because the bakers cook them in small batches during meals.” When there are leftovers at the end of the evening, one of the lucky last diners left at closing time is often offered the tray to take for the road.
