Molly Davidson '09 and Jenna Manula '09 are two senior mentors in Link-Up, the network for Dartmouth women that connects freshmen and upperclassmen. They are both members of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where Molly is the new member educator and Jenna is the public relations chair. Molly and Jenna share their opinions on the freshmen class and let us in on the conventional wisdom they usually reserve for their mentees.
What exactly is Link-Up?
Jenna: Link-Up is an organization for Dartmouth women in which older women get to mentor younger women. I would say that we have maybe 130 "families" this year. Every senior is matched with a freshman, and then juniors and sophomores fill up the extra space in the family. Families grab meals together, go apple picking, things like that. It's a great network to help the freshmen adjust to college life.
Molly: Frances Vernon '10 developed the concept when she was a freshman, and she's just taken off with it. Last year was the first year that they paired up the freshmen and seniors.
J: I think it's a pretty amazing program because as freshmen girls, it's hard to meet older women on campus. With Link-Up, you have at least three extra upperclassmen that you can go to if you have any questions, need any help, or just want to chill out. I think it's great. I wish we'd had it when we were freshmen.
Why did you want to join as seniors?
M: For me it was about giving back. I know how dicey the waters are as a freshman girl, how scary it is without links to lots of other people --
J: And not only that, but you just don't have close friendships yet, or know who you can trust. Also, I just like getting to know new people.
Do you feel like you're in competition with the freshmen girls for the same guys?
M: No, not really. By now, we've sort of accepted the fact that we're all essentially the same age. I've never felt awkward about dating the same boys or trying to make out with the same boys that an 18-year-old freshman is.
J: If he's cute, he's cute.
What are your opinions of the '12 girls as a whole?
J: I like the freshmen girls, I really do. I don't discriminate.
M: I don't have an outstanding perception of anything good or bad or otherwise about the freshmen though.
J: Which is good because it means they aren't annoying me! Actually, you know that Katy Perry song "I Kissed a Girl"?
M: Yeah.
J: Well A) I love that song, but B) I was in a basement and these girls came in, they had to be '12s because I didn't know them, and that song came on and the girls started making out with each other! And you could tell they were doing it to get some cute guys' attention. I wanted to be like, "You don't have to do that. You don't."
Were the girls in your class like that as freshmen?
M: Definitely. [Laughs]
J: We had quite a few --
M: Quite a few sloppy freshmen girls. Who have grown out of it and grown into lovely women. Now we're the ones thinking, "That's sort of embarrassing." Those are the types of things that Link-Up is meant to help with. Not only to stop her from committing social suicide, but just like, help her out a little.
How do you feel about seniors hooking up with freshmen?
J: I personally think there's a huge difference between a senior and a freshman. Whether it's a girl or a boy, there's a huge power dynamic, which isn't necessarily the best thing to get involved with. But if you're both mature about it and both clearly like each other, then why not?
M: Watch out little boys!
J: I personally, for some reason, have a phobia towards kissing younger boys. [Laughs] But I mean, I'm willing to get over that phobia if something comes along...
M: I think the difference is that with a freshman girl hooking up with an older boy, it's an ego boost for her. But if you're a senior girl hooking up with a younger boy, you have to have the confidence already. People see you as having a more bloated ego, so you've got to be the one that's like "I'm fine with this. If people are going to judge me, screw them."
What are some things you think all freshmen girls should know?
J: Senior girls don't hate you cause you're a freshman girl. You're in the basement? You're the shit -- come hang out!
M: Be aware at Chi Gam dance parties.
J: Why? I still love them!
M: You can love them, you just have to be a little bit less than blacked out there. Have fun but be aware. And beware of being the last girl in any basement.
J: Going to the Hop on weekend mornings is more facetime than going out at night.
M: Don't use Blitzmail when everyone on the campus has pinkeye. Don't use frat bathrooms, ever. Watch when people are pouring your drinks. You know, just stuff your mommy would say?
What would you tell freshmen boys?
J: Your time's comin', baby.
M: Hang out with your boy friends, find out if you want to rush, which house you want to rush. Know what it feels like to be a freshman boy, and try to be someone who reaches out to freshmen boys when you're a senior boy.
J: Start a Link-Up for boys!
