Spring 2022

Letter from the Editor

As we publish this current edition of Clamantis, conflicts are occurring in Ukraine, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Levant amongst other places; Yemen, Venezuela and various African countries are dealing with humanitarian crises; and the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Uyghurs in China and the Armenian people are standing strong as genocidal actions are being taken against them by oppressor states.

In spite of all this, the resiliency of the human spirit emerges to reveal a sense of beauty within the torrent of chaos. We begin to see the results of the sturdy chords of human compassion that help lift one another up rather than knock us down; when we start celebrating our differences and start thinking in terms of “we” rather than “you against me.” These are tenets that we should be vigilant in abiding by. Social movements such as #MeToo and Black Lives Matter and humanitarian efforts to help Ukraine and other war-torn countries are just some examples of why solidarity matters; it gives a voice to those who don’t have one and it gives credence to the problems that people are forced to endure. Additionally, venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Peabody Conservatory are organizing benefit concerts for Ukraine and artists the world over are using their art as both a means of expression and as a form of social activism; Afghani organization ArtLords is a prominent example of this as their aim is to use art as a means to foster peace in their country. It is because of this innate sense of human connection and acceptance that we can express ourselves artistically.

In these trying times it is through art that we begin to recover and weather through the deluge of uncertainty that lies ahead. Art is the beacon that guides us through the murkiness of anguish and despair; allowing us to see the hope that lies ahead. This issue of Clamantis does not have a thematic through line, as we wanted to give our contributors a chance to express themselves unapologetically and openly. While there isn’t an “official theme,” we noticed commonalities between some of the pieces.

Jim Washington and Lilabeth Martchenke eloquently write about the impact that family can have on one's life. Kathy Fortin and Matthew L. Garrell document how writing has influenced their lives; though one is a MALS alumnae and the other is a current MALS student, there is no denying the universality of writing and its effect on our lives. George Byford and Al Salehi give us detailed accounts of the atrocities that war can have on the human psyche: George via prose and Al via a series of poems about the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Moving to the homefront, Christopher Helali, Jasmine Shirey and Jack Wickens show us three different perspectives on the American way of life using three different mediums—an interview, a research paper and a poem. We also received a plethora of work that addresses a theme of minority representation. Tim Fish, Pierce Ellinwood, Adriana Mazzora, Alberto Ruiz LaDarius Dennison, Eric Fantauzzi and Michael Wiener submitted works in the fields of poetry, research, art and screenwriting respectively, each piece delving into an aspect of what it means to be properly acknowledged as a minority.

As Dartmouth is in the Upper Valley, nature will always be an important facet in the life of a Dartmouth student. As such, the quintet of Erin Bennett, Emmett Frank, Jian Liang, Sarayah Villasenor and Shuwen He give us five different, yet equally captivating accounts of how nature has played a role in their lives. Continuing on the tangent of nature, both P.F. White and Ed Ting show us the possibilities of what lies ahead in the Great Beyond—Space—P.F. through a fiction piece and Ed through his breathtaking astrophotography. Vivian Rachelle writes poignantly about the effect that “hurt” can have on the human spirit. Finally, two of our alumni, Michael Beahan and Andras Gerevich wax poetic about Cuban coffee and the painter Francis Bacon, respectively.

We hope that after reading this edition of the journal you feel a sense of renewed hope about the world in spite of all its flaws. This edition was an experiment in both solidarity and inclusivity and we hope that it can be a catalyst for something bigger within both the Guarini School and the greater Dartmouth community. All of us are truly grateful to the contributors, the editors for their diligence, all those without whom this wouldn’t be possible, and of course, you, the readers. We hope that you enjoy reading this edition of the journal as much as we enjoyed working on it.

The Clamantis Board
Loey, Emmett, Matt and Eric
May, 2022