1993

1993

When Natalie and I completed the last issue’s Class Notes, I think we both assumed that a once-in-a-100-year pandemic might be the heaviest of issues we’d tackle during our tenure. Little did we know. As I write this next one in late June (Natalie and I will be alternating issues generally going forward) the country is experiencing a Covid resurgence and historic civil protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

I’ll leave the correlations between them to the historians to sort out, but there is a clear, palpable sense of uncertainty and unrest in this country that we have to face. Both pandemics are complex and what that path forward looks like is unclear, so I find myself looking all around for the right pieces to inform how to engage most authentically and effectively. Every day is an evolution. We would love to know what others are doing, reading, watching, etc., during this time. Feel free to write Natalie or me directly at the addresses below or go to our Facebook page, “Dartmouth Class of 1993.”

I recently exchanged texts with Sophie (Cofman) Shabel (married to Alan Shabel ’92 with two kids) to find out what the life of an obstetriciangynecologist in the Bay Area is like during this time of Covid. “Our curve has been so flat that it’s been barely perceptible at work apart from the extra personal protective equipment, of course.” That curve may not stay as flat during this next stage as the cases in California seem to be spiking, but I will keep my fingers crossed that they are able to gain control again by the time you read this.

Also some news from John Sargent. John’s business, BroadReach is one of the only organizations that is scaling population-based Covid-19 solutions in middle east Africa. “In partnership with Microsoft, we have to date screened more than 2 million people for Covid-19, are helping governments manage the pandemic in their public health systems, and are working with Microsoft to spread their work to more countries.” I hope John keeps us posted on this important work.

Finally, I wanted to share the edifying words of College President Hanlon as, if your inbox is like mine, there’s a good chance you missed them the first time.

“The forces that seek to divide us, the voices that sow bigotry and hate, are strong and loud at this moment. Racism continues to be a stain on our nation. We are outraged by deplorable acts of violence against Black men and women, such as the recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. And by the less visible structural forms of racism that lead people of color to disproportionately shoulder the burdens of poverty and inequality as has been so strikingly evident in the higher incidence of illness, job loss, and death they are experiencing as a result of the pandemic....Let us redouble our efforts to build a world that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive, free from racism, bigotry, and hate. Let us give voice to the values that unite us rather than divide us. No threat is too grave if we face it together.”

Apologies for the back-to-back weighty Class Notes, looking forward to mixing in more news and bold-font names of our classmates going forward!

To that end and until next time, please send us your news: Dwight Fenton (dwight.e.fenton.93@dartmouth.edu) or Natalie Weidener Kupinsky (natalie.weidener.kupinsky.93@dartmouth.edu).

—Dwight Fenton, 200 E 72nd St., Apt. 20K, NY, NY 10021; dwight.e.fenton.93@dartmouth.edu;

Natalie Weidener Kupinsky, 9733 Beman Woods Way, Potomac, MD 20854; natalie.weidener. kupinsky.93@dartmouth.edu