The Dartmouth Independent
Ravi Patel

Ravi Patel

Business & Finance Reporter

Ravi Patel is a senior from Edison, New Jersey, majoring in Economics with consulting ambitions. He brings a practical, pragmatic approach to his coverage of business, finance, and economic issues affecting Dartmouth and the region. His writing is professional, efficient, and organized like a case study.

[email protected]

Covers: Business, Economics, Finance, Campus

Articles by Ravi Patel (14)

Flu activity hits “very high” level in New Hampshire as Dartmouth cases rise
Campus

Flu activity hits “very high” level in New Hampshire as Dartmouth cases rise

New Hampshire is seeing a sharp rise in influenza activity this winter, and Dartmouth is reporting a growing number of student cases, according to campus and public health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently classifying New Hampshire at a “very high” risk level for flu activity. The increase matters locally because a fast-moving respiratory season can disrupt classes and campus life while adding pressure to regional health care services. Dartmouth Health and Dick’s House have urged students to take precautions as influenza spreads across the state and Upper Valley. Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 15,

John McKnight named Dartmouth’s first dean of undergraduate student affairs
Campus

John McKnight named Dartmouth’s first dean of undergraduate student affairs

John McKnight will become Dartmouth’s inaugural dean of undergraduate student affairs in the College’s new School of Arts and Sciences on June 1, according to a campus-wide email sent by interim dean of arts and sciences Nina Pavcnik and interim dean of undergraduate student affairs Anne Hudak on Nov. 18, 2025. The appointment fills a key leadership role in the School of Arts and Sciences, a reorganization Dartmouth approved in 2024 that merged several undergraduate-facing divisions. McKnight will lead the Division of Undergraduate Student Affairs and oversee offices including Residential Life and Student Life, according to Dartmouth News. Dartmouth’s Board

State Regulators Approve New England Clean Energy Connect to Resume Construction
Campus

State Regulators Approve New England Clean Energy Connect to Resume Construction

After more than two years of legal delays and permit suspensions, state regulators on Thursday gave final approval for construction to resume on the controversial New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued a long-awaited order allowing Avangrid, the company behind the project, to proceed—marking a significant turn in the battle over the large-scale energy corridor. The 145-mile transmission line, designed to deliver hydroelectric power from Quebec to the New England power grid at Lewiston, was initially halted after Maine voters passed a 2021 referendum aimed at blocking the project. The state Supreme

Upper Valley Health Centers to Join Statewide Mental Health Flexibility Program
Campus

Upper Valley Health Centers to Join Statewide Mental Health Flexibility Program

Several community mental health centers serving the Upper Valley and surrounding regions will soon be included in a new payment model designed to offer more flexibility in treating patients with mental illness. Announced this month by the Vermont Department of Mental Health, the program will use a monthly payment structure rather than traditional billing, allowing providers greater freedom to use funds and tailor services to individual needs. Known as the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, the approach is part of a federally supported initiative already implemented in 13 other states. Vermont is among the first new states joining

Dartmouth Unveils Alumnae-Funded Residence Hall, Part of Major Housing Push
Campus

Dartmouth Unveils Alumnae-Funded Residence Hall, Part of Major Housing Push

On November 4, Dartmouth College announced the construction of Alumnae Hall, a new residence facility set to house 95 upperclass students and funded entirely by donations from women graduates. The project represents a key milestone in President Sian Leah Beilock’s campus housing initiative, which aims to build 1,000 new beds for students, faculty, and staff by 2033. Alumnae Hall will be located on West Wheelock Street, connecting directly to Shonda Rhimes Hall, and forming a new western entry point to campus. Alongside the residence hall, the College also plans to develop a four-acre Riverfront Park that will include walking paths,

ACLU Challenges Michael Addison’s Death Sentence Citing Racial Disparity
Tech

ACLU Challenges Michael Addison’s Death Sentence Citing Racial Disparity

Attorneys for Michael Addison, the only person on New Hampshire’s death row, submitted a new appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court on October 30 seeking to overturn his death sentence. The appeal is supported by a brief from the American Civil Liberties Union, which argues that Addison’s punishment was influenced by racial disparities and should be reconsidered in light of the state’s 2019 repeal of the death penalty. Addison, a Black man, was sentenced to death in 2008 for the 2006 shooting of Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs. Briggs had confronted Addison while responding to a domestic disturbance. Addison

Dartmouth Edges Princeton 20-17 to Stay Unbeaten at Home
Campus

Dartmouth Edges Princeton 20-17 to Stay Unbeaten at Home

Dartmouth extended its home win streak and remained in contention in the Ivy League with a 20-17 victory over Princeton on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Memorial Field. The win marked the Big Green’s third consecutive triumph over the Tigers and their fifth in the last six meetings. Dartmouth quarterback Grayson Saunier led the offense, completing 12 of 15 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown while also contributing 25 rushing yards and a rushing score. Running back D.J. Crowther added 96 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown. With the win, Dartmouth improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in

Local Investors Purchase Ragged Mountain, Promise Continuity and Growth
Culture

Local Investors Purchase Ragged Mountain, Promise Continuity and Growth

Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, New Hampshire has been sold to a group of local investors who say they intend to preserve the ski area’s character while considering future opportunities for expansion. The new ownership group, SF Mountain Co., consists of six longtime friends, several of whom grew up skiing at the resort. “Ragged has always been more than a ski area — it’s been a community,” said Carl Rominger, a representative for SF Mountain Co., in a written statement. “We’re committed to building on what makes this place special — great skiing, great people and a genuine New Hampshire

Watts and Models: The Real Constraints on AI Infrastructure
Tech

Watts and Models: The Real Constraints on AI Infrastructure

The economics of artificial intelligence are shifting. Not because of breakthroughs in model architecture or regulatory headwinds, but due to a more fundamental constraint: energy. As electricity prices climb and grid capacity tightens, the operational viability of large-scale data centers, especially those powering generative AI, faces growing pressure. This is not a theoretical concern. It’s a material cost issue with implications for capital allocation, public perception, and long-term scalability. The numbers tell a clear story. According to recent data, data centers now consume approximately 4% of total electricity generated in the United States, up from less than 2% in 2018.

Ad Wars and Tariff Shocks: How a Reagan Clip Derailed U.S.-Canada Trade Talks
Tech

Ad Wars and Tariff Shocks: How a Reagan Clip Derailed U.S.-Canada Trade Talks

The latest rupture in U.S.-Canada relations unfolded not in a negotiation room, but on a television screen. A political advertisement aired in the United States, funded by Ontario’s provincial government, featured archival footage of President Ronald Reagan voicing support for free trade. The ad, intended to sway American public opinion against tariffs, triggered a swift and severe reaction from President Donald Trump, who announced the immediate termination of all trade negotiations with Canada. The move, delivered via a late-night post on Truth Social, was not only unexpected but emblematic of a broader shift in the administration’s approach to international commerce.

Compliance or Consequence: New Hampshire’s Crackdown Reshapes Campaign Strategy
Campus

Compliance or Consequence: New Hampshire’s Crackdown Reshapes Campaign Strategy

New Hampshire’s Attorney General recently issued cease-and-desist orders to multiple political action committees and campaign entities for alleged violations of state campaign finance law. The enforcement action, which targeted groups operating in the 2024 election cycle, reflects a broader effort by the state to tighten oversight of political spending and ensure compliance with disclosure requirements. While the legal specifics vary across cases, the underlying theme is consistent: political organizations must adhere to state-level transparency standards, regardless of their national affiliations or strategic objectives. At the core of the issue is New Hampshire’s statute requiring entities that spend over $500 to

Engineering Strategy: How Brindal Patel Built Influence Across U.S. Tech Infrastructure
Tech

Engineering Strategy: How Brindal Patel Built Influence Across U.S. Tech Infrastructure

Brindal Patel’s career trajectory offers a practical case study in how technical depth, platform scalability, and cross-sector adaptability can position an engineer at the center of U.S. tech innovation. His path from embedded systems to enterprise crypto infrastructure illustrates a framework that many engineering professionals and business strategists are now analyzing more closely. The key takeaway is not just about individual success, but about how Patel’s decisions reflect broader shifts in the technology ecosystem, particularly in how talent migrates across verticals and how infrastructure roles are increasingly driving strategic outcomes. Patel’s early work in embedded systems laid the foundation for

TikTok’s American Reboot: Power, Politics, and the Price of Influence
Tech

TikTok’s American Reboot: Power, Politics, and the Price of Influence

In a move that has stirred both political and economic circles, President Donald Trump has approved a sweeping deal that reshapes the future of TikTok in the United States. The executive order, signed late last month, greenlights a divestiture plan that transfers majority control of the app’s U.S. operations to a consortium of American investors. The implications of this maneuver extend far beyond the realm of social media, touching on national security, digital sovereignty, and the evolving dynamics of the creator economy. The deal, valued at approximately $14 billion, positions a new joint-venture entity to oversee TikTok’s U.S. business. ByteDance,

Meta’s $14 Billion Bet on Specialized Compute Signals a New Cloud Era
Tech

Meta’s $14 Billion Bet on Specialized Compute Signals a New Cloud Era

Meta’s $14 billion agreement with CoreWeave marks a decisive shift in how hyperscalers approach AI infrastructure. The deal, which positions CoreWeave as a primary compute provider for Meta’s expanding artificial intelligence operations, reflects a broader recalibration in cloud strategy, capital allocation, and vendor diversification. While the headline figure is eye-catching, the underlying dynamics reveal a more calculated move by Meta to secure long-term access to high-performance computing capacity without overextending its own capital expenditure. At its core, this transaction is a capacity hedge. Meta, like other large tech firms, faces mounting pressure to scale its AI models while managing infrastructure