@AboutTheSame I’m not discounting that some people prize them. You can order a commemorative program with full printing, its free. Isn’t that acceptable?
Oh, I have mine. D was a 13, so we got the “real thing.” No, “a commemorative program” is not acceptable in my book – any more than a facsimile of the ticket from a World Series game would be. We tucked one program away in my wife’s purse. The other has greasy fingerprints because of the sun screen we were constantly applying. [It was a typically HOT summer day in Hanover.] There are memories that an after-the-fact replica does not encompass. I like artifacts and relics and real photos. Ooh, let’s rent a robe and stage a graduation photo! Not the same thing. I realize that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I’m trying to make a point. Dartmouth has managed to provide a program with everyone’s name for years. Until now. Forgive me if I view this as just another example of the complete ineptitude and insensitivity of the current administration.
^^concur. And the argument that it might rain is beyond ridiculous. Dartmouth has been holding graduation services rain or shine for 200+ years. When my S graduated, it was inclement weather, and yes, they had to pick up their dry diploma from an inside building office immediately after the ceremony, but the programs still listed the graduates AND latin honors. What a nice surprise to us 'rents.
Just logging in after a while. I agree entirely, aboutthesame. It gives the audience something to do while the graduation’s going on, too–looking for names you recognize! Clearly this can get printed in time–overnight, if need be. And they don’t hand out actual diplomas during the ceremony, either!
Gotta fix these things.
I was up to Hanover this past weekend dropping off our son for Sophomore Summer. The campus looked beautiful–reunion weekend so lots of happy folks wandering around.
I have a question for the veteran parents. Do Dartmouth students actually buy/use storage trunks? I received a flyer from Campus Market and they show trunks in almost every photo.
D used big plastic tubs. Fit under the bed and very handy for summer storage.
@AboutTheSame Thanks! Plastic tubs sound good to me. I know so much of this stuff that is advertised isn’t really necessary! Do most rooms have a locked drawer where students keep valuables? D1 is a student at another university and they had such a thing. However, she told me last night that she never locked it. As parents, we can only try, LOL!
I’ll have to ask D if her desk or the wardrobe had a locking drawer. Those would be the only possibilities. It was hard enough persuading her and her to lock their door, and I never could get her to use the cable lock for her laptop. Then again, she never lost anything, and I think there was heavy (and reasonable) reliance on the honor code. She actually lost her wallet walking across the Green the first month she was there. Another student found it and called her so he could return it to her – intact. I suppose I should add, however, that I also recall reports of unattended laptops disappearing from Baker Library, but I think that might have been a repeat thief who was finally caught.
Storage for what? Son just used cardboard boxes for off-term storage. (obviously, no locks).
@bluebayou I was referencing a flyer that came from Campus Market (and designed to look like it was geared towards Dartmouth because Dartmouth was referenced in the website name.) In the flyer, all the pictures of bedding sets include storage trunks so I was curious.
S never had a storage trunk. AFAIK, there was no lockable drawer, either.
D thinks the desk drawers in the Choates might have locked, but she never used it – and she acknowledged that they almost never even locked their room. Sigh.
No locked drawers. I bought my DD a small lockbox for any valuables that she may want locked up. Plastic bins for everything else!
Thanks! It sounds like D2 made the right choice in choosing Dartmouth. She will probably be the kid who never locks up anything. Hopefully, she never has to learn the painful lesson of having things taken.
While Dartmouth is a bit sleepy and safer than any urban area, I would still recommend getting the student rental insurance just in case. https://www.nssi.com/ It’s only a couple hundred per year and he still buys it while in grad school. S had his bike taken a few times but it was covered by insurance. I would also recommend using the cheapest bike possible if a bike is to be used. It may sit outside in the winter. Have fun parents!
@“Magnum PI” Thanks for the reminder about the NSSI. D1 at another university has that policy. The facebook parents group from that university has many positive things to say about it. On another note, I hadn’t even considered sending my daughter with a bicycle. My husband has this grand idea that we should put D2 on a plane for her freshman trip and then we will take off on a 3-day drive to Hanover with her stuff. He tells me it will be great to drive through Canada on the way back…I’m still not sure I’m up for all that. IF we do it, then we could throw a bike in with the rest of her stuff!
There’s a bike sale at beginning of each year of ones left behind by seniors and refurbished over the summer by a coalition. Except for going down to the river or far afield into the hills, Hanover is pretty level and you don’t need anything special for getting around campus or going to the coop for groceries or even getting out to DHMC (although I’m not sure I’d be comfortable on that road and it does have hills).
I’m sure a bike comes in handy when you’re running late to class. Only speaking from experience. #notdartmouthspecific
Not in the snow @Magnum PI : I have this hilarious story of D trying to get from the Choates to the Inn to catch the bus to Logan and come home for Christmas her first year. Rolling suitcase doesn’t work so well in 6 inches of fresh snow overnight (damn! I had tried to persuade her to leave the day before), and she was frustrated & stuck with a busted suitcase when a car pulled over on North Main and a not-to-be-named English professor & husband got out and helped her. Is there any reason I love the College as much as anyone who went there? Yep.
@sdteak, I saw that flyer with the storage trunks too. My first thought was that any kid who shows up to school with one of those trunks would immediately be labelled by the other students as having a crazy mother. I promptly threw it in the trash before my son even saw it.