In publishing news, I heard from Rebecca Sullivan about her recently published book called The Longest Distance. Rebecca calls it “a coming-of-age story about a high school runner dealing with the myriad challenges of being a female student athlete. I wrote it during two wonderful fellowships in Vermont and Washington.” Check it out on Amazon.


It may be difficult or even impossible to believe that this year marks the 20th anniversary of our Sophomore Summer, but believe it. Back in the summer of 1995 Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Batman Forever (the one with Val Kilmer) and Apollo 13 were playing in theaters and TLC’s Waterfalls and Seal’s Kiss from a Rose topped the music charts. And those of us browsing the web probably used Netscape.


I asked a random group of ’97s about their favorite memories from summer 1995 in Hanover. Here are some responses.


Meredith Epstein Goodman wrote: “My most vivid memory of the summer is of Tubestock—painting our tubes, holding onto others’ tubes and trying not to go too far in any direction down the river, furiously applying a ton of sunscreen as, if I remember correctly, it was quite sunny and hot, and marveling at the rafts that people built and wondering how they found the time and skill to do so. On a more serious note, I remember spending a lot of time in Kiewit as it was air conditioned! My third-floor, small room in Theta was most definitely not! Never again do I need convincing that heat rises.”


As a Texan raised on central air conditioning, I, too, remember the intense heat during the day, especially walking backwards as a tour guide and thinking that the College’s motto should be changed to vox clamantis in inferno. But I also fondly recall lounging in a kiddie pool from Kmart in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, and reading and writing papers for professor Mary Kelley’s wonderful class, “American Intellectual and Cultural History Since the Civil War.”


Zoe Langsten McKelvey wrote: “I really liked that time on campus. I remember getting back into jogging after my language study abroad in Italy (eating a lot), and the pleasure of jogging the loop. I think it began on Lyme Road and followed along Reservoir Road, Grasse Road and then back to campus on East Wheelock. I also recall jogging some nature trails with one of my house mates, Nicole Bruneau, who transferred the following year. Academically I loved professor Stephanie J. Hull for French 8. Her class convinced me to add French to my major, along with government. I also enjoyed working in Paddock Music Library for cold, hard cash.”


Patrick Hansen wrote: “Well, I was one of a (stubborn? ill-fated?) few who petitioned for ‘relief’ from the Sophomore Summer requirement. I had what at the time was a well-paying, seasonal job as a bartender on river boats in Boston. So instead of floating the Connecticut I was cruising the Charles. In hindsight would I do it that way again? Probably not. My best memories of Dartmouth have lasted much, much longer than my student loans.”


Don’t go chasing waterfalls, and enjoy the summer of 2015!


—Jason Casell, 10106 Balmforth Lane, Houston, TX 77096; jhcasell@gmail.com