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The Dartmouth
July 19, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Winter Wonder or a SAD place?

Picture Hanover in winter: Freshmen having a class snowball fight on the Green after the first snowfall. Sledding on the golf course at 2 a.m. with trays borrowed from DDS. Sitting around the fireplace in your dorm room chatting with friends. Unfortunately, not all memories associated with winter at Dartmouth are as positive as these. First-year students return for their second term and become disillusioned when they realize that this college is no longer the utopia it seemed in the fall. Seniors experience heightened anxiety after enduring a break filled with inquires about post-graduation plans. Crossing the Green, bundled-up students are too cold to acknowledge each other. Students in Hanover miss their friends who are on FSPs or working in warmer climates. Suddenly we feel all alone. Many of us respond by taking on an abundance of activities. At the same time, we feel overwhelmed by these obligations, but do not know how to alleviate our burdens. Combined with the dreariness of the winter season, these emotions can be overwhelming.

There are many ways that we can help ourselves and our friends. Make an effort to look up when you walk across the Green, even if it is cold. On a day-to-day basis express your feelings. By doing this you not only help yourself, but you also show other people who are suffering that they are not alone. In addition, it is important to realize that you and your friends have limitations. It's OK to say "no" to an activity in order to take some time for yourself and ensure your mental and emotional wellness. We frequently hear this message from authority figures, but it is also important that we tell it to each other. Wellness needs to be a priority in all of our lives -- make time for yourself. Talk to someone. Realize that you are not alone and others are also suffering. It is also important to be mindful of our friends during the Winter term. Often people refrain from disclosing their feelings of loneliness to even their closest friends. Do more than blitz someone -- pick up the phone and give your friend a call, take them out to dinner, or to a movie.

Dartmouth has more formal resources to help us deal with these challenging issues. Counselors and support groups are available through Health Services -- use them. Not only that, let your friends know that it's OK to use them. All too often, rumors about inconvenient hours and poor quality or inconsistent care keep students from Dick's House. Recognize that an institution's shortcomings are often dwelled upon, while its strengths are taken for granted. Many people have been helped by Dick's House's services, but you usually do not hear about them because health issues are personal matters.

For instance, people do not often share their feelings of depression for fear of being stigmatized. Many people view depression as a personal weakness, not recognizing the environmental factors that induce it or realizing how many people suffer from it at some level. The lack of winter sunlight in a northern town like Hanover contributes to high levels of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Depression can also stem from the pressures we put on ourselves as students. You probably know a few friends here who have suffered from some form of depression over their Dartmouth tenure. Now correlate that percentage of your friends to the entire student body and realize how many people are suffering.

Palaeopitus wants to begin a discussion about important issues on campus and will be running a biweekly article in The D addressing different topics. As a group of 20 seniors we wanted to begin our discussion with the topic of health services -- a vital yet under-addressed issue here on campus. We want you to know that you aren't alone when you feel down, that life at Dartmouth can be hard, and that most of all, there needs to be a greater emphasis on taking care of ourselves. What do you think about wellness at Dartmouth? What do you think about the services Dick's House provides? Do you feel they're adequate? Do you feel under-informed? Send us a letter or write to The D. The important thing is to start talking.