Table of Contents
SOUND BITES
36 Avenging Angel
With his latest venture, tech startup veteran Naval Ravikant ’95 hopes to reshape the very industry that once burned him. BY ERIC SMILLIE ’02
40 Seuss on the Loose
Where else but at the Seussian-named Battle of the Bulge would the future children’s author find himself accidentally lost behind German lines? An improbable tale of the places one can go. BY RICK BEYER ’78
44 Game Changer
Innovative digital humanities professor and game designer Mary Flanagan takes the art of play—and social change—to a whole new level. BY JENNIFER WULFF ’96
DEPARTMENTS
10 YOUR TURN
Readers react.
Notebook
16 CAMPUS
News and notes from around the Green
26 PERSONAL HISTORY
How one student coped as a “stealth dyslexic.” BY SUZANNE SPENCER RENDAHL ’93
28 HISTORY
The annual Homecoming bonfire has come a long way since its crude origins in 1888. BY SEAN PLOTTNER
30 CLASSROOM
Students shoot a documentary with film professor Jeffrey Ruoff. BY JUDITH HERTOG
33 SPORTS
Six Dartmouth “rabbits” set the pace for what was originally deemed a record-breaking run at Alumni Gym nearly 80 years ago. BY PETE WEBSTER ’71
Pursuits
51 VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS
Former “football brat” John Idzik ’82 grows into his role as New York Jets GM. Also: Alice Gomstyn ’03, Jamie Berk ’11, Mostafa Heddaya ’11, Lynn Rainville ’93, Collin O’Mara ’01 and Rich Bloch ’65
56 ALUMNI BOOKS
Class Notes
60 THE CLASSES
92 CLUBS
92 DEATHS
96 CONTINUING ED
Employment counselor Jill Rizika ’82 on the need to hire “ex-offenders.” BY LISA FURLONG
ON THE COVER: Naval Ravikant
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Dartmouth Alumni Magazine (Vol.109, No.2) (ISSN 2150-671X) is published bimonthly six times a year. Subscription price: $26.00 per year. Printed in the U.S.A. by The Lane Press Inc., 1000 Hinesburg Road, South Burlington, VT 05403. Periodical postage paid in Hanover, N.H., and additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2014 Dartmouth College. Dartmouth Alumni Magazine is owned and published by Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 and is produced in cooperation with the Dartmouth Class Secretaries Association. The purposes of the Magazine are to report news of the College and its alumni, provide a medium for the exchange of views concerning College affairs, and in other ways provide editorial content that relates to the shared and diverse experiences and interests of Dartmouth alumni. This publication is guided by Dartmouth’s principles of freedom of expression and accepted standards of good taste. Opinions expressed are those of the signed contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors or the official position of Dartmouth College.
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“We can use the power of games to reinvigo- rate…our larger social institutions.” —mary flanagan
“When you have a camera, you have a perfect excuse to ask questions.” —Jeffrey ruoff
“Living your life through a screen may be easy, but it’s not very satisfying.” —nicholas carr ’81
“Our national incarceration rate doesn’t make sense.” —Jill riZiKa ’82
