Barnard Bulletin October 2014 by Barnard Bulletin

October 2014

Hannah Miller '15

Rebecca Deczynski '16 Editors-in-Chief Mora Grehl '15 Layout Director

Rhea Schmid '15 Art Director Rachel Dunphy '16 Managing Editor

SOCIAL MEDIA Natalia Quintero Ochoa '15

SOCIAL MEDIA INTERNS Erica Harrevald '18 Tanya Lalwani '18 Elena Valenzuela-Stookey'18 COPY EDITORS Isabelle Rabin '17 Katherine Aliano Ruiz '18 Briana Bursten '18 Leah Jacobson '18 Danielle Owen '18 Morgan Wu '18 Lauren Zhang '18

FEATURES Anna Weill '16 POLITICS & OPINION Victoria Papalian '15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Melanie Shapiro '15 NEW YORK CITY LIVING Amanda Breen '17 HEALTH & STYLE Sarah Schreiber '16

DESIGN COORDINATOR Jordana Roat '16

SENIOR DESIGNER Divya Sundaram '17 LAYOUT ASSISTANTS Sofia Davis '16 Leah Jacobson '16 Signe Schloss '16 Ilana Sandberg '17 Kirsten Cabacungan '18 Carina Hardy '18 Joyce Kwan '18 Tanya Lalwani '18 Natalie O'Dell '18

BARNARD BULLETIN 3009 Broadway New York, NY 10027 bulletinedboard@gmail.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/barnardbulletin FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: twitter.com/barnardbulletin Follow us on instagram: instagram.com/barnard_bulletin

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2 - OCTOBER 2014

A Letter from the Editors At 125 years, Barnard is still looking pretty bold and beautiful. With a fresh coat of paint on the gates and a new seal that even The New York Times has taken notice of, our college on a hilltop is aging quite gracefully. And now that campus is strewn with first years, transfers, and returning students alike, we know that the Quasquicentennial is going to be the best year yet.

As Barnard has changed, so has its oldest publication. Originally a newspaper headed by famous alumnae such as Margaret Mead, BC’ 23 and Jeannette Walls, BC’ 84, The Bulletin is now a monthly magazine that covers everything from the latest on education reform to the portrayal of tattoos in fashion. Barnard students are known for their diverse opinions and willingness to defend their values and our magazine serves as a platform for their unwavering voices.

For this issue, we have decided to return to our roots and put Barnard in the spotlight. As you read through the magazine, you will discover the history of Midnight Breakfast and learn Debora Spar’s own thoughts on the place our college holds in the world today. Whether you’re new to campus or returning for your final year, we hope that this issue will show you a new side to this institution we all love so much. Don’t be shy in opening the pages; we’re all majoring in unafraid after all. Here’s to another 125 years! Hannah and Rebecca

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Arts & Entertainment

Contents

Fall TV We’ll Be Watching

Leaked: Art or Assault

Gallery Gallivanting: The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec

Culture Close to Campus

The Bulletin Guide to Student Theater

Behind the Scenes

3 5

Trending

Health & Style Fall into Fashion

Rethink Ink

Fun Classes to Take in NYC

Kylie, Kiss Me

12 13

Bites Beyond the Bubble

Celebrity Spotting Light it Up: Celebrating Deepavali Must-See Museums

41 42 43

Letter from the Editors

Red is the Warmest (and Sexiest!) Color Fast Food Finding Your Beauty Jesus Features 125 Things to Do Before You Graduate

14 15 16

Letter to My First Year Self

Classes You Must Take Before you Graduate

The Origin of Midnight Breakfast

Accessing the Archives

Gilmore Girl

Centerpiece

Bold, Beautiful, Barnard: 125 Years

New York City Living

Our Favorite Places on Campus

Writing Barnard

Politics and Opinion The Top Five Worse Problems Facing the World Today

Edifying Education in America

Is Ice Really Nice?

She Said/She Said

Activism on Campus

White House Dream Team

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ehind he cenes

Maddie Molot Carina Hardy Rhea Schmid, Mora Grehl, Jordana Roat

Frends x Baublebar Headphones Your new stylish study buddy.

Trader Joes Maple Leaf Cookies It’s that time of year.

Barnard Sweatshirt Because we know how to show our school spirit

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Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

in style.

iPhone 6 Like the 5S, but better.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar TONYMOLY Red Appletox

All day color AND cruelty-free.

Honey Cream An apple-scented moisturizer that’s perfect for autumn.

Goddess

New Dorp, New York SBTRKT ft. EZRA KOENIG

Banks

6. Tongues

Don't

Joywave

Ed Sheeran

Let Me Down Easy

Ghost

Paolo Nutini

Ella Henderson

Whoa Whoa Whoa

CHOCOLATE

Watsky

THE 1975

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Fallin g

I nt

ust as leaves turn colorful and a crisp chill replaces the opaque haze of summer, fashion trends morph along with the rest of NewYork City in the changing seasons. Here are some of the hottest fall trends taken straight from fashion week and adapted to the streets of the UpperWest Side.

It’s time to put away the stilettos and try a fresher, more comfortable option. This fall, keep an eye out for pumped-up kicks designed by Nike and New Balance.You can spice things up with funky fluorescent high-tops or perforated leather slip-ons, worn with your favorite distressed boyfriend jeans and a loose white t-shirt. Alternatively, you can opt for a pair of classic white sneakers to add contrast to a little black dress.

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Photography by Briana Draguca

We all have sweatpants hidden at the bottom of our closets that scream to be worn on those unbearably cold fall mornings. But this season, we’re embracing comfort and warmth without the rolled-out-of-bed look. Enter fitted “not-so-bummy” sweatpants. These stylish and streamlined bottoms paired with a sheer blouse and high-heeled booties make for a look that is anything but pajama-oriented.

to Fas uca

g by Briana Dra

hion

Don’t bid your trendiest summer bag farewell just yet. The convenient and spacious bucket bag is huge for the fall and you’re going to want to take it everywhere you go. Wear a neutral toned snakeskin bucket bag – cognac, taupe, and grey are all great choices – with slick black pants and a leather jacket, or pair a boho-inspired fringe bucket bag with a floral kimono and dark jeggings. Whether you chose to casually sling this bag from your shoulder or to hold it loosely in one hand, these carry-all bags will effortlessly complete any fall look.

Every fall, knits get bigger and bigger. The chunky cardigan and oversized pullover are making a comeback this autumn and can be styled simply (think soft, muted, and neutral) or intricately (think jewel tones, patterns, and embellishments). But big knits don’t stop there; even cable-knit tights can be worn underneath a silk t-shirt dress.

These are not a five-year-old’s ponchos. Cozy and sleek, we’re talking cover-ups of wool and cashmere that demand to be worn over thoughtful layers along with riding boots and elegant felt fedoras. This essential flowy piece will envelope and protect you from the autumn wind.

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Rethink Ink Charlotte Spritz

itting around the table last Thanksgiving, I asked my grandmother what she thought of me getting a tattoo. She replied ever-so-lovingly in the way that only grandmothers can– “What the hell would you want to go and do that for?” Tattoos aren’t just for sailors and bearded, plaid-donning hipsters anymore. They’ve s p r e a d into many outlets of our culture and have been propelled into the high fashion world in the past few years. Perhaps it’s the juxtaposi-

tion of “chic” and “edgy” that designers like Valentino Garavani are latching onto–his 2013 editorial depicted men’s tattooed arms holding bags and heels. Or maybe it’s the constant search for the “new thing” that had Marc Jacobs using the heavily tattooed Miley Cyrus as the face of his 2 0 1 3 ad campaign. Is high fashion playTHE BULLETIN -

ing a role in breaking the mold of the tattoo taboo? “I think tattoos are always going to be taboo, but the tattoos that are trending currently are an inevitable result of something being made taboo. There has to be a subsection of stigmatized culture that every person can access,” says Maya Stackhouse, BC’17, who describes her many tattoos as “bold” and “part of her lifestyle.” Bridgit Flom, BC’18, recently got her first tattoo and says, “[Tattoos in fashion] are going to be around for as long as the current icons of the fashion world are relevant because tattoos a r e permanent.” The idea of permanence is something that greets the fashion industry like Anna Wintour greets Kim Kardashian. Each season is about the “new thing”– rehashing the same looks f r o m last year is looked down upon. So what happens when models and actresses do something that is, by nature, permanent? Will these models’ tattoos ever lose the spotlight? “It’s interesting in the way that you can’t just participate while it’s cool. Tattoos are going to be a trend that sticks with a generation for the entirety of its lifespan,” says Flom. Perhaps one of 2014’s most notorious “cool girls” is 22-year-old model Cara Delevingne, whose tattoos, located on various parts of her body, range in size and theme–she recently tattooed the word “bacon” onto the sole of her foot. Her Insta-

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gram account, which has 6.8 million followers, is filled with pictures of the model at high-profile events and fashion shows and often shows off her ink. Her fan base is predominantly female, and Delevingne is regularly tagged in the “woman crush wednesday” hashtag. “Seeing tattoos in magazines and on television probably affects young adults considerably because celebrities and models are leaders when it comes to

"Tattoos are going to be a trend that sticks with a generation for the entirety of its lifespan," says Flom fashion and trends,” says Flom. “If someone idolizes a celebrity or a model and they see that that person has a tattoo, they’ll most likely think, ‘Hey they’re cool and they have a tattoo so maybe tattoos are cool.’” But does seeing “cool girls” with ink inspire us to incorporate permanent body art into our everyday lives? Stackhouse offers some insight into runway ink versus tattoo art and the disparities between the two. “While I appreciate that tattoos are making appearances in fashion and popular culture, Cara Delevingne having a tattoo has

little to do with me getting a tattoo,” says Stackhouse. “I think there are two types of people that get tattoos. The ones who get one or two tiny, trendy ‘tats’ when they’re 18 or feeling impulsive. And then there are those who choose tattoos as a representation of a lifestyle. I do not think the models and celebrities with tattoos in popular culture qualify as lifestyle choices.They fall more into the first category in my opinion. Then again, I wouldn’t want someone making the same judgment on my tattoos.” While runway ink and lifestyle body art might be different, perhaps the infiltration of tattoos into the high fashion scene is a way to bridge the gap between classic and edgy and help redefine longstanding beauty idealizations. In 2014, the “classic look” to which women tend to conform is evolving. Regardless of the longevity of tattoos or the intention in the fashion world, they

seem to be propagating the message that celebrating bodies with ink is beautiful and there is no one way to be fashionable or classic. Gone is the outdated beauty myth that having “pure” unmarked skin is the only road to being beautiful. If I get a tattoo, my grandmother might not understand, but younger generations of women will–and that’s what matters.

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Kylie, Kiss Me K

by Sofia Karliner

\OLH -HQQHU·V OLSV DUH WKH WDON RI WKH WRZQ 7KH \RXQJHVW .DUGDVKLDQ·V DUWIXO VPRRFK KDV EDIÁHG ZRPHQ QDWLRQZLGH DQG KDV UHVXOWHG LQ KHU joining sisters Kim and Kendall at the top of the social radar.Whether or not her newly acquired pucker is the result of collagen is up for debate, but it seems as though she simply has a superb makeup artist. So, what’s her secret? With the help of Allie Connel from xovain.com, a fewYoutube tutorials, and my own experience, I settled on the best surgery-free method to obtain Kylie’s kiss.

You will need: A concealer stick A nude lip color lip liner A lipstick (one shade lighter than the liner) Make sure your lips are clean Q-tips and have no peeling skin or A blotting napkin residue. To make sure of this, I Smoothing lip balm (optional) like to thoroughly brush my lips (From top to bottom: Tru Blend Fix Stick, NYX Lip Liner in 810 Natural, Milani Lipstick in with my toothbrush as a nice 26 Nude Créme, Nakamichi Q-tips, The Body Shop Born Lippy Pomegranate Lip Balm) natural buffer.

Take your concealer and line the outside part of your lips. Take your lip liner and draw around the concealed parts, on the outside of your natural lip line. This line should create the illusion that your lips are larger than they actually are.

4 6

Fill in your lips with the liner. Take your lipstick and apply as you normally would.

Clean it up. Blot the lipstick. Take your Q-tips and accentuate your Cupid’s bow. I like to put a little concealer above my Cupid’s bow and below the bottom of my lower lip to add definition to my mouth.You can also put a little concealer on the center of your pucker where your lips part so that they appear fuller. Kylie likes her lips matte, so go for a matte lipstick if you like. I prefer adding some lip balm for a nice finishing sheen and you’re done! As for your eye makeup, err towards a simple and soft look that doesn’t detract from your new luscious lips. Pucker up!

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Photography courtesy of Sarah Schreiber

Red is the Warmest (and Sexiest!) Color by Anne Jacobs

Illustration by Sofia Davis

ed is the rarest natural hair color on the planet. Less than 2% of the world’s population is born redheaded. But the trait, in contrast to some lionized rarities, is subject to scrutiny and discrimination–which is undoubtedly influenced by the redhead’s portrayal in pop culture. In terms of hair stereotypification, the ginger’s brunette (smart) and blonde (sexy) counterparts are often cast as the desirable and successful protagonists. Redheads, on the other hand, are often relegated to the roles of goofy sidekicks (look no further than the clumsily adorable Weasley family). Comedians such as Conan O’Brien, Louis CK, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson rule Hollywood as fiery, avuncular figures but Hollywood lacks a younger generation of entertainers to perpetuate the redhead as a masculine, moral, role model-worthy figure. Having red hair even became dangerous in late 2013 when, following the release of a South Park episode that promoted kicking gingers, middle school kids in the U.S., UK, and Canada participated in “National Kick a Ginger Day” in which students with red hair were bullied and targeted with swift kicks to the shin. While there was public and media backlash criticizing the event, it was a testimony to the hardships gingers face. Enter photographer Thomas Knights. Hoping to both rebrand the gin-

“In terms of hair (sexy) counterparts nists. Redheads, on sidekicks (look no

ger male stereotype and raise money for anti-bullying charities, Knights rounded up 100 of the sexiest redheads he could find and launched the exhibit “Red Hot.” The show is a photographic spectacle that gives the redheaded male what he deserves, the sexy seal of approval. Each portrait features a different redhead posing in front of a bright blue backdrop. Barec hested, pale, and chiseled, the

men are also accompanied by an anecdote of what it is like to have red hair. Knights laments that “Guys with red hair don’t have the positive role models that girls do in our culture. A male with red hair is not seen as aspirational, culturally speaking, with very few leading men, heroes, action stars, or heartthrobs played by men with red hair in Hollywood or on our TV screens.” The artist has a point about this unique stigmatization. Cute, freckled girls with untamable nests of fiery curls such as Little Orphan Annie, Princess Merida, and even a young Lindsay Lohan have skipped their way into society’s heart while some redheaded women have even blazed paths to become fiery sex symbols-think Christina Hendricks, Emma Stone, Ginger Spice, and Jessica Rabbit. The goal of Knights’ “Red Hot” show sets out to change how we perceive red hair. His international exhibit has already attracted thousands of viewers and sparked conversations worldwide. Two of Knight’s ginger models, Tom Turpie and James Parr, were featured in a campaign for Mulberry starring fashion phenomenon Cara Delevingne. Take one look at any of these young men’s portraits, and you’ll wonder why we ever gave redheads a hard time.

stereotypification, the ginger’s brunette (smart) and blond are often cast as the desirable and successful protagothe other hand, are often relegated to the roles of goofy further than the clumsily adorable Weasley family).” THE BULLETIN -

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Fast Food By Samantha Meisels

alancing work, extracurriculars, and a New York City social life isn’t easy. There’s hardly any time to make a proper meal. Grabbing a protein bar or chowing down on sushi might be faster, but it’s certainly not healthier. Thankfully, there are recipes that can quickly be made without sacrificing nutrition. Here are three recipes with three ingredients that are fast, simple, and nutritionally substantial.

Maple and Mustard Glazed Salmon Quinoa with Cashews and Dried Cranberries

Ingredients: maple syrup, mustard, salmon fillets

Ingredients: quinoa, cashews, dried cranberries Cook the quinoa for about 10 minutes. Let it sit for five minutes before adding in chopped cashews and dried cranberries. Season with lemon, salt and oil. The combination of everything provides a balanced and energizing meal that will keep you full. Just the quinoa alone will fill you; it’s both a protein and carbohydrate. The cashews and dried cranberries enhance the flavor and consistency of the quinoa. Plus, cashews are an added bonus of protein and are also high in antioxidants.

Portobello Mushrooms with Zucchini and Feta Cheese Ingredients: portobello mushrooms, zucchini, feta cheese Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Brush one portobello cap with one teaspoon of olive oil. Shred a small zucchini and toss with 2 ounces (about 1/3 cup) of crumbled feta. Place the mixture inside the mushroom and bake until the mushroom is cooked through (this should take about 15 minutes). Feta cheese, packed with protein and calcium, is a great addition to your veggies. The tangy flavor of the feta pumps up the more bland zucchini and the mushrooms give the dish a great, almost meaty, texture. They also don’t crumble, so your meal won’t fall apart.

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Illustration by Letty DiLeo

Mix the syrup and mustard together and use it to coat the raw salmon. Broil the salmon for 10 minutes or until it’s cooked all the way through. It’s a light option with a twist. A flakey salmon coated in an unlikely fusion of mustard and maple syrup stimulates the tastes buds and saves you precious minutes.

Finding Your Beauty Jesus: The Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette by Elizabeth Lee

Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

he Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette, often described as the “universally flattering eyeshadow palette,” is one of those products that I return to over and over again. The palette includes ten beautiful shades that range from soft peach to warm burgundy. Each eyeshadow has unparalleled color payoff and a soft and blendable formula that lasts the whole day–even without eyelid primer. Due to natural oils on the lid, eyeshadows tend to crease and fade as the day goes on, but every shadow in The Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette lasts me from breakfast to bedtime, roughly 15 hours of wear per day.

With four matte and six shimmery shades, this neutral palette is perfect for completing your everyday eye makeup. I always reach for the softer, lighter shades when I’m in a rush and late for class, and the darker, smoldering shades for a Friday night out. With color names like “Unreal” (golden peach), “Unattainable” (gold-shimmered bronze), and “Untamed” (dark burgundy), the palette feels luxe and glamorous. When thinking about eyeshadow palettes, most people opt for Urban Decay’s Naked 3 Palette or the MAC Neutral Palette. However, these products can really break a girl’s bank, priced at $54 and THE BULLETIN -

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$100 respectively. The Lorac Palette is much cheaper than either of its popular counterparts, priced at a reasonable $40. That comes out to $4 for each shade. The Urban Decay and MAC palettes also lack variety. Half of the eye shadows in the Urban Decay palette are rose-toned, while almost all of the shades in the MAC palette are tan or brown. As noted before, the Lorac palette boasts diverse and durable shades that can be incorporated into any makeup kit and enhance any college wardrobe. I’m a huge fan of this stunning palette and you should be, too. The Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette is available for $40 at www.loraccosmetics.com

125 Things to Do Before you Graduate from Barnard

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63. Build a friendship with a professor. 64. Get on a first name basis with your advisor. 65. Change your major. 66. Change your major again. 67. Take a Women’s Studies class. 68. Friend Diana TheCenter on Facebook. 69. Get tagged by Diana TheCenter for leaving your ID there. 70. Intern in the city. 71. Join the Barnard Babysitting Agency. 72. Take the Barnard Bartending Class (and pass the exam). 73. Stock up on local produce (and baked goods) at the farmers’ market. 74. Get a Morningside Heights CSA share. 75. Get a milkshake at 2am at Tom’s. 76. Go to a halal cart for a midnight snack. 77. Snag a piece of Big Sub. 78. Celebrate Founders’ Day. 79. Host (or listen to) a WBAR station. 80.Go to the WBARBQ. 81. Find the perfect study nook on campus. 82. Go to a student theater production. 83. Work with a Writing Fellow. 84. Finish a whole Koronet’s slice. 85. Read Debora Spar’s Wonder Women book. 86. Use your student ID to get discounts. 87. Go to the Metropolitan Opera. 88. Get an on-campus job. 89. Eat an Insomnia cookie. 90. Order a late night grilled cheese from Feel Good. 91. Audition for Orchesis. 92. Get into an L-course off the waitlist. 93. Brag about how Barnard’s football team is undefeated since 1889. 94. Get student rush tickets for a Broadway show. 95. Mourn the loss of the swimming pool. 96. Go to Debora Spar’s office hours. 97. Get your resume revamped by Career Development. 98. Run on the track in LeFrak. 99. Buy a Spirit Week t-shirt. 100. Live in one of the 600s. 101. Talk to your personal librarian. 102. Have an awkward sign-in experience. 103. Go to a class event. 104. Crash a class event that isn’t for your class. 105. Upgrade your first year tote to a Senior Experience one. 106. Keeping thinking SX says “SEX” on your senior tote. 107. Join a club that’s not in your area of expertise. 108. Go ice skating in Bryant Park. 109. Adventure to all five boroughs of New York City (even Staten Island). 110.Go to a Bacchante concert. 111. Check out the Milbank greenhouse. 112. Go up on the Diana roof. 113. See a student improv show. 114. Get a deal on the Barnard Buy Sell Trade page on Facebook. 115. Attend a student reading. 116. Go to the Athena Film Festival. 117. Snag cheap movie tickets at the Barnard Store. 118. Buy books at Book Culture and return them when the cheaper ones arrive from Amazon. 119. Get your coffee from Joe or Oren’s. Swear your allegiance to either. 120. Read The Barnard Bulletin. 121. Fix a printer in the Quad computer labs by hitting it repeatedly. 122. Be constantly inspired by the students around you. 123. Have an amazing commencement speaker. 124. Write for The Barnard Bulletin.

Photo Illustration by Art Board

1. Take a selfie with Millie the Dancing Bear. 2. Try to catch a lift from the Barnard Shuttle. 3. Realize the Barnard Shuttle is out of order. 4. Go to ONE constellation event. 5. Wave your fake candle at Covocation. 6. Go to the wrong Lehman Library. 7. Overeat at Midnight Breakfast. 8. Triumphantly claim your free frappuccino after singing karaoke at Liz’s Place. 9. Go to an event for the free Barnard swag. 10. Eat at Hewitt on Caribbean night. 11. Spot DSpar eating at Absolute Bagels. Fangirl like crazy and tell everyone. 12. Learn (or at least attempt to learn) “College on the Hilltop.” 13. Have your spot in the library. 14. Go to the Brooks study lounge in your PJs. 15. Complain about the patriachy. 16. Tie every conversation back to the patriachy. 17. Crush the patriachy. 18. Perfect the art of the feminist rant. 19. Worship DSPAR. 20. Get locked out of your room. 21. Make NSOP friends. 22. Forget the names of 90% of the people you met during NSOP. 23. Eat pizza more than 3 times a week. 24. Take Reacting to the Past. 25. Go on a class field trip to the Met. 26. Dance at any and all campus BBQs. 27. Take Back the Night. 28. Sit under the magnolia tree. 29. Host a prospective student. 30. Brag about Barnard alumnae to your friends back home. 31. Try (and fail) to do your homework perched in the magnolia tree. 32. Tell someone it’s not a girl’s school, but a women’s college. 33. Read a book by Mary Gordon. 34. Have class outside. 35. Get lost in the tunnels. 36. Love the tunnels come February. 37. Make friends with Claudia at Liz’s Place. 38. Survive the Housing Games. 39. Raid the Quad vending machines. 40. Run out of points thanks to Diana Cafe pizza. 41. Wait in line for a package. 42. PDF a class. 43. Talk about the 10th way of knowing--coffee. 44. Talk about how the 9 Ways are better than the Core. 45. Curse the existance of the 8:40 class. 46. Read Installment. Miss it once you leave the Quad 47. Steal free condoms from the Well Woman office. 48. Steal free chocolate from the Well Woman office 49. Take Dance in New York City. 50. Get to know (one of) your class deans. 51. Take a dance class (even if you have two left feet). 52. Take African Dance. 53. Start explaining the tumultuous Barnard/Columbia relationship and stop because you realize it’s not worth it. 54. Contemplate heavily on the tumultuous Barnard/Columbia relationship. 55. Contempate heavily on your tumultuous relationship with a Columbia man (and stop because you realize he’s not worth it). 56. Take the subway to class (if you live on 110). 57. Brush your teeth in the library during finals. 58. Go to a frat party and realize that there’s nothing “fraternal” about it. 59. Believe that you can have it all! 60. And then realize that it’s okay if you don’t (have it all). 61. Have one of your Facebook profile pictures be of you sitting in the Magnolia tree. 62. Be on Faces of Barnard.

125. Major in Unafraid.

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Letter to my First Year Self By Laura Garrison It’s hard t o believe t hat I have less t han a year left at Barnard. As I sit here writing t his in my Sulz Tower single, it’s crazy t o t hink t hat in exactly one year’s t ime I won’t be worrying about classes, readings, or papers. It truly feels l ike t he past t hree years have f lown by. And despite t he uncertainty of t he future, I’m l ooking f orward t o it now more t han ever. When I f irst stepped f oot on Barnard’s campus as a f irst year, I was overwhelmed with change. Members of t he Class of 2018 are undoubtedly feeling t his r ight now. I was t here once t oo. If I c ould go back t o September 2011, I’d give my nervous self t hese pearls of wisdom I’ve gleaned over t he c ourse of my t ime at Barnard.

Be o pen t o new experiences. I know t hat t his one is easier said t han done, but bear with me. Beyond classes, college is truly about becoming t he person you never knew you wanted t o be. In retrospect, it’s incredible how much I’ve grown since my f irst year, especially c onsidering t he many ways I’m not t he person I expected t o be in c ollege. Use your t ime here t o meet new people, go t o different events, and discover new passions.

Get out of Morningside Heights. Y ou undoubtedly chose Barnard partially for its location in New Y ork C ity. As the semester progresses and l ife happens, you’ll f ind it gets steadily harder t o go south of 110th St. It’s easy t o get caught up in t he Barnard and Morningside Heights bubbles, but I encourage you t o l ook beyond our neighborhood and t he Upper West Side. In your f our years at Barnard, visit every borough – including Staten Island. Stroll t hrough t he streets of a new neighborhood every month. The Barnard experience is so much more t han w hat’s going on around campus.

Get into a c onversation, not an argument. O ne of t he goals of any college is t o challenge how students t hink about Photo Illustration by Art Board

the world around t hem. At some point in your c ollege career, you’ll encounter a person – be it a professor, student, or friend on Facebook – w ho doesn’t quite see t he world as you do. Rather t han attack t his person, start a meaningful dialogue and get a better understanding of w hy t his individual feels t he way he or she does. We are often t oo quick t o pick sides and call names, but I challenge you t o remain civil and t houghtful in your disagreements. O n t he f lip side, never be afraid t o speak your mind if you disagree.

Live with no regrets. There will be days when you get nothing done. Y our laundry list of tasks is as long as it was t hat morning, and all you have t o show f or t he day is a binge-watched season of w hatever your favorite television show may be. It is necessary t hat everyone takes a day here and t here t o do nothing. Sleep in. Watch a movie. V isit your friends and your family. G o t o a c oncert t he night before a midterm. If t hat’s w hat it takes t o keep you happy, t hen go f or it.

No matter w hat, it’s going t o work out in t he end. It always does. Y ou will f igure everything out when it needs to be f igured out. Y ou will f ind a major t hat sets your academic heart on f ire. Y ou will f ind an internship t hat makes you feel important and fulfilled. Don’t worry about t hese t hings now. Y ou probably have a paper or problem set t o do instead. THE BULLETIN -

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Classes You Must Take Before You Graduate By Nina Sabado

Opera with Professor Marilyn McCoy “I loved the class because it was fun, and low-stress. Professor McCoy has a love for the subject that not only is apparent in her teaching but also infectious to her students. It also had interesting information that can be used in a nonacademic setting.” – Shiraz Belblidia (Biochemistry Major), BC’16

Comparative Study of Constitutional Challenges

History of the City of New York with Professor Kenneth Jackson “This class is really essential; everyone must take it. Although Columbia advertises its location in New York as part of the education it provides, it’s much too easy to get stuck in the Columbia bubble. So the class forces you to get out and learn and appreciate the city for class. There’s a midnight bike tour of the city led by him for the class each year. It was featured in The New York Times.” – Jason Kruta (History Major), CC’12

Dance in New York City

with Professor Liz Ouyang “Liz Ouyang wants you to interact with these Supreme Court cases, never forgetting that these kinds of landmark decisions with language and outcomes that subjugated minorities are ever rarely ‘made in a vacuum’. She also brings a refreshing humanity to a class that would typically warrant pseudo-objectivity if taught by other academics. She is passionate about her work, inciting vivacious class discussions that provoke the same level of passion in students.” – Marian Guerra (Political Science Major), CC’14

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with Professor KatIe Glasner “I recommend Dance in New York City because Katie Glasner is amazing. It is all about the city and learning its history and culture through dance. A lot of students view the dance classes as dancer only, but honestly I was an outsider and they completely let me in and answered my non-dancer questions.” – Devorah Gordin (Religion Major), BC’14

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The Origin of Midnight Breakfast by Triana Kalmanoff

f the many things we love about Barnard, Midnight Breakfast holds a very special space in our hearts. It places the most important meal of the day at the moment we need it the most: right before finals. There’s nothing like a hot stack of pancakes and some crispy bacon to coax you out of a finals-induced stupor. But perhaps everyone’s favorite part of Midnight Breakfast is the incredible staff that serves it. With hundreds of students from both sides of the street, everyone is in attendance. The list of attendees includes the professors, deans, advisors, trustees, President Spar (notorious for her waffle station), and, of course, Millie the Dancing Bear. Lisa Lin, BC’ 98, organized Barnard’s very first Midnight Breakfast when she was a student. Now President of the Barnard Club of Northern California, Lin organizes a slew of events for current stu-

Photo courtesy of Lisa Lin BC’ 98

in 1998... Barnard was virtually devoid of traditions and school spirit. Lin wanted to change that, envisioning a Barnard with a stronger sense of community. dents, prospective students, and alumnae. The favorite is still Midnight Breakfast. The very first Midnight Breakfast was held during the spring finals period of 1998. At that time, Barnard was virtually devoid of traditions and school spirit. Lin wanted to change that, envisioning a Barnard with a stronger sense of community. She borrowed the idea from UCLA, the

university Lin initially attended before transferring to Barnard. “My friends thought I was crazy for trying to ‘make a tradition,’” she says. “My feeling was ‘Who’s going to remember when it started? If they like it, they like it!’ They eventually got behind me.” Though the Midnight Breakfast has been held in recent memory in LeFrak Gymnasium, the event first took place in the Quad. Lin was a First Year Focus RA at the time. Midnight Breakfast “was one of my programmatic activities… [we] weren’t sure who, if anyone, would come. I made flyers and posted them around campus and crossed my fingers.” It soon proved that Lin had nothing to worry about, as hundreds of students showed up. Lin was recently able to attend last spring’s Midnight Breakfast. “It was different simply because of the scale,” she says. “There is now an entire team that puts it on.” While in attendance, she helped to serve fruit salad to the students. Lin was able to come full circle, particiTHE BULLETIN -

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pating in the very tradition she helped create. “I was floored… I have never been so proud!” she said, “It was just such a sight – so many students from a mix of colleges, the energy, the faculty and staff. Simply amazing!” In an effort to spread love for both Midnight Breakfast and for Barnard, Lin organizes an annual Midnight Breakfast for alumnae and current students in California’s Bay Area. During this event, participants raise money for the Barnard scholarship fund. Participants at this annual event usually raise around $2,000. “Just like in 1998, I thought the Club needed a tradition or two,” Lin said, “Midnight Breakfast seemed like the perfect solution.” Isn’t breakfast always the perfect solution? What could be better than a Midnight Breakfast that helps students go to Barnard? Yet again, Lin proves that there are so many reasons why we love Midnight Breakfast, a tradition that will surely endure until Barnard’s next Quasquicentennial.

Accessing the Archives

by Jessica Tschida

“It is, admittedly, a little difficult to imagine the entirety and complexity of an archive collection tucked away in a campus corner and managed by a twowoman team. But all it takes is one visit to begin to understand otherwise.” to broader issues of Feminism; Women’s, Sexuality, and Gender Studies, Dance, and the history of education of women and female-identified individuals in the United States.” The 3,000 foot room is not just for recording history and inspiring research. Barnard students continue to visit with hopes ranging from finding inspiration for design projects to tracking down tidbits of information related to the grandmother they desire to learn more about. Professors have sought out the archives with hopes of supplementing their curricula. Most recently, the filmmakers behind the Barnard PBS documentary worked alongside the archives in their production. O’Neill offers a glimpse into the room that has served and continues to serve so many purposes. The temperature drops as the door swings open and boxes upon boxes are revealed within metal shelves. Each box contains different stories inside awaiting rediscovery. In less than five minutes, O’Neill was able to pull out boxes that house the story of Jeannette Mirsky, a Barnard alumna who published a book in 1934 discrediting a man’s claim

that he had been the one to discover the North Pole. Next she unveiled information regarding the 1992 Supreme Court case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Finally, she showed me the Overbury Collection of rare books and correspondence which features authors like Jane Austen and Frances Hodgson Burnett, and she even conjured up an original letter written by Abigail Adams. With so many incredible pieces already in existence, it seems impossible to imagine that the collection is still growing, yet O’Neill smiles as she shares that during the next few years, there are many more interesting artifacts coming to the archives. A new change is on the horizon; beginning this October, the archives will appear in a digital collection. The archives are a dreamlike place. As this year marks Barnard’s 125th anniversary, now is the best time to stop by and experience the archives first-hand. 019 Lehman Hall is not merely a room for a drab lecture about the history of the college. It’s a place full of stories that allow us remember Barnard’s past and celebrate its present. In the words of O’Neill,“This is your collection.”

Photographs courtesy of the Barnard Archives

ime travel is as simple as entering Barnard Library and going down a flight of stairs. In a small alcove of the Lehman Hall basement, one can experience the Barnard Archives, or as Associate Director Shannon O’Neill refers to them, “The Treasure Room.” With a mission to document the history of the college and provide source material to its constituents, the archives are overflowing with institutional memory that can easily make one feel as if he or she has stepped into a completely different time within a matter of seconds. It is, admittedly, a little difficult to imagine the entirety and complexity of an archive collection tucked away in a campus corner and managed by a twowoman team. But all it takes is one visit to begin to understand otherwise. Spurred by the realization that Barnard did not have a collection of its own history unlike some of its fellow sister schools, the archives were born in a library closet on Barnard’s 75th anniversary in 1964. Now the archives are housed in a temperaturecontrolled room located in 019 Lehman Hall under Barnard Library. This room was built in the early 2000s. According to their website, the archives not only act as a repository for the college’s history from 1889 all the way to 2014, but also seek “materials related

Barnard’s Gilmore Girl by Erica Harreveld

O Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

n August 25th, Lauren Graham returned to Barnard College to join the prestigious Alumnae Book Club and welcome the incoming class of first-years with a discussion of her debut novel, Someday, Someday, Maybe. The book documents the life of Franny Banks, a struggling actress, as she approaches the end of a three-year deadline in which she must make it as an actress, or give up her dream. Many of the events Franny experiences in the novel are based upon

Graham’s personal experiences from when she was an aspiring actress. The actress gave a speech to the incoming students at the Alumnae Book Club event that mainly included entertaining stories from her time at Barnard. The first-year students seemed to find her immense struggle of trying to stalk boys in a world without cell phones very entertaining. She told stories of frat parties and failed pick-up lines, proving to be both relatable and genuine. Graham also gave some sound advice to the firstyear class, like not to pick a dorm room by the elevator, to take the easiest schedule possible, and to revel in the city’s grandeur. During the event, Graham shared that she was a second year transfer student from the NYU Acting Program. She said that she chose to transfer to Barnard because she was looking for a more academic environment, and she didn’t feel that rolling around on the ground and trying to be a flower in theater class was fulfilling that need. Graham received a B.A. in English from Barnard, then went on to receive her THE BULLETIN -

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M.F.A. in acting from Southern Methodist University. Following her time in school, Graham returned to New York City and worked as a waitress and SAT tutor for The Princeton Review, while picking up sporadic commercial work and guest star roles. Graham rose to prominence with her role as Lorelai Gilmore in the critically acclaimed TV show Gilmore Girls. Graham is currently starring in the NBC series Parenthood and is working with Ellen DeGeneres’ production company on a television series based on Someday, Some-

day, Maybe.

While answering questions from the audience, Graham revealed that she has never truly felt that she “made it” as an actress, but being asked to be a part of the Alumnae Book Club was a rare moment in which she felt she had made some sort of impact. Graham stayed after the event to sign books and take pictures with students for hours, all while remaining witty and genuinely kind. For the incoming class of first years, especially those who are fans of Graham, it was a very surreal moment to be welcomed into college by a woman we grew up watching as our TV mom, and inspiring to see such a successful and influential alumna.

Bo ld

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Y 5 t 2 1 u : a d r e a n B r a B

By Danielle Owen Photographed by: Maddie Molot Model: Carina Hardy

hroughout the next several months, the college will celebrate its 125th birthday with a series of special events and gatherings. From Founder’s Day to the Athena Film Festival, the 40th Annual Scholar and Feminist Conference to the Annual Global Symposium to be held in NYC, this year is a special moment in the still-unfolding story of Barnard College. The festivities kicked off at a college-wide convocation ceremony held on September 9th — and the event was a joyous mix of reverence towards the past and optimism for the future. The keynote address, delivered by renowned writer Anna Quindlen, BC’ 73, was celebratory and rousing. Her remarks at the outset of her speech about the sentence “it’s a girl” being one of the “very best sentences in the English language” delighted students, glad to be part of an institution that does not view their gender as a flaw. The ceremony was a mixture of past and present in more ways than one. During its 125th anniversary, the students of Barnard College will partake in a grand celebration of the bold “Barnard woman,” but they will also grapple with the complexities, contradictions, and diversity embedded in the term.

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125 years ago, Frederick A.P. Barnard’s vision for providing women with an education equal to that of their male counterparts became a reality. Although the reluctance of Columbia University trustees ensured that Columbia College would not become co-ed, a separate “syllabus” was created for female students. In the October of 1889, 14 women comprised the first student body of Barnard College, each one taking classes in Latin, Greek, and math. Barnard justified the creation of a women’s college, saying that “down to the present century, women have been almost universally dwarfed in their intellectual growth, and pressed down beneath the normal mental stature for which nature intended them, by the denial of educational opportunities which men have so abundantly enjoyed.” Today, some may question why an institution like Barnard continues to exist. As Barnard President Debora Spar aptly pointed out, “The role of women in society, although it’s evolved dramatically in 125 years, still has not evolved to the point of true equality. Until we reach that point, there will always be a place for women’s colleges.” Barnard’s role in the world today is difficult to explain. As President Spar said in her speech at convocation: “We are not a bumper sticker kind of place; as a college, we defy easy explanations of just what, precisely, we are.” Much like its home in New York City, Barnard is a place teeming with ideas and viewpoints. A liberal arts college partnered with one of the largest research universities in the world, a women’s college where students can take co-ed classes

across the street, Barnard’s gates enclose a wealth of contradictions. Barnard is the place where Sheryl Sandberg first inspired students entering the workforce to “lean in,” giving them necessary and crucial advice about leadership, confidence, and womanhood; Barnard is also the place where one may be asked to read the revolutionary work of feminist activist Bell Hooks, who describes Sandberg as a “corporate faux-feminist.” Instances like these are the reasons why Barnard is the only place where students are not fazed when their professors promise an A only if you dare to disagree with them. In a world that quiets women, shushes their voices, and tells them to accept their current status in society simply because it’s better than it once was, Barnard is more necessary now than it ever has been. We should celebrate the chance to belong to an institution filled to the brim with complexity and controversy, and grateful that we’ve been allowed to be unafraid in tackling issues and dismantling them while learning and discussing and protesting and marching down Broadway. Looking towards the future, it is clear that Barnard’s relationship with Columbia University will happily continue. “Barnard and Columbia will always have a special relationship — not to brag, it’s just a structural fact,” President Spar said. “There’s no relationship like ours anywhere else, so it will also be a complicated relationship as well.” Many students hope that Barnard will move into the future by accepting the challenge to accommodate a student body whose experiences of the world and of the college differ due to class, race, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, etc. President Spar said that the administration is “actively working on” the critical issue of admitting transgender women to the College. Just as it would encourage its students to be, Barnard itself should be “unafraid” – a word that brings Quindlen to mind – to accept this challenge, as well as others that will arise in the future, with its arms wide open.

Our Favorite Places on Campus

by Debbie Mausner

Diana 2nd Floor: Many of our students feel that they need to be focused and stimulated while studying. The second floor of Diana Center, right next to the cafeteria, is a great spot for anyone looking for some inspiration.” Stephanie Rothermel, BC’ 18, said, “I like that you can see the whole student body from the windows. Watching everyone from above, the sense of community is very obvious.”

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Liz’s Place: Barnard is filled with fantastic study spots. Sarah Esser, BC’ 15, says “I love Liz’s Place after midnight. The music is good, and it’s never crowded, so it’s the best time to do weird things like dance and not study.” Located on the first floor of Diana, Liz’s is the best place to grab coffee or a quick snack on the go. Between classes, you are guaranteed to see a long line of eager coffee-lovers out the door.

o take a closer look at these special spots on campus, or use them as inspiration for finding your own haven here. In a place as welcoming as Barnard, the possibilities are endless.

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Photography by Natalie O’Dell

arnard is one of the only colleges in New York City that combines the intimate enclosure of a beautiful, community–oriented campus with the outer world of an expansive city. While other local colleges may claim the city itself as their stomping grounds, we are lucky to also have a distinguished place to call home. Within the vibrant, bustling neighborhood of Morningside Heights, Barnard’s campus contains a sense of peaceful tranquility. Lehman Lawn and the quad are always filled with students hanging out, studying together, or participating in group activities and events, but sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. Here are the favorite places of Commuter Lounge: four Barnard women. The Barnard campus makes everyone feel comfortably at home, even those who are nonresidents. Jing Luo, BC’ 17, enjoys access to the Truisms Bench: commuter lounge on the first floor of Diana. “I Kate Stephanus, BC’ 17, said, “My favorite spot on campus is problike to study here because I can find fellow comably the marble bench right across from Barnard Hall. It’s a lovely muters and take naps. Also, you can see the gorplace to hang out, do work, read a book – whatever you want, geous street view of Broadway.” As a commuter really. It’s secluded enough to have some space, but you’re still myself, I am endlessly grateful for savory naps on around the people passing by. Not to mention it’s beautiful, and the the lounge’s cozy couches with fuzzy blankets. In quotes are hilarious.” The bench was donated to Barnard as a work addition, the commuter lounge is a great place of art, but simultaneously serves as a quiet, relaxing spot. to study and concentrate, as you feel high above street level and away from the noise. It is secluded in a nook to the far left of the school store on the first floor of Diana, so commuters are granted an exclusive common space.

WR TING BARNARD B By Isabelle Boundy

arnard is famous for its wealth of alumnae authors. From Pulitzer Prize winners to inhabitants of The New York Times bestseller lists, it’s difficult to know where to get started. Here are some essential reads for all Barnard women, and women in general.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

By Zora Neale Hurston, BC' 28

Within the Barnard community, Hurston is perhaps most well known as Barnard’s first African American graduate. Hurston entered Barnard as a transfer student in 1925 and was the college’s sole black student. During her time at Barnard, Hurston found herself at the center of the Harlem Renaissance. She received her BA in Anthropology and went on to receive her masters from Columbia. She traveled extensively in the Caribbean and South America, working alongside fellow Barnard alumna, Margaret Mead, BC’ 23. While doing fieldwork in Haiti, Hurston wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God, which is considered to be her masterwork. The novel follows Janie Crawford through her various romantic relationships as she struggles to find herself and eventually triumph over the men who try to take her voice away. Not only is the novel beautifully written—the opening paragraphs are breathtaking—it is also a pivotal work in the feminist movement.

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri, BC' 89

Lahiri was born in London to her Indian immigrant parents and grew up in Kingston, Rhode Island. In 1989, she received her BA in English from Barnard, and continued on to receive multiple degrees from Boston University. Lahiri’s debut short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, was released in 1999 and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as critics applauded her “uncommon elegance and poise.” Lahiri’s additional works include The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and most recently, The Lowland.

Interpreter of Maladies, Lahiri’s most highly lauded work, is a collection of nine short stories that allow readers to glimpse into the lives of Indians and Indian Americans who are caught between cultures. The collection illuminates brief and meaningful relationships between characters, as the title story tells of a tour guide and his romanticized and fictionalized relationship with a tourist whom he has just met. Lahiri’s clean prose takes the reader on a journey through the depths of loneliness and the subtleties of human interaction.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

by Ann Brashares, BC' 89

It is hard to believe that any young woman is unfamiliar with this series as it is, for teenaged girls, tantamount to a bible. Brashares grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs and received her BA in Philosophy from Barnard in 1989. In 2001, she published the first book in the Sisterhood series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In 2009, Brashares was awarded Barnard’s Millicent Carey McIntosh Award for Feminism for “bringing to life characters who gave a generation of teenage girls a model of friendship and mutual support that reflects feminism at its very best.” The Sisterhood series provides readers with a guide to first loves and first heartbreaks, personal tragedies and family struggles, self-discovery and, most obviously, friendship. It is rare that a book series can become such an iconic part of our culture and something with which so many people identify. In celebrating the college’s rich literary history, the Barnard Library features these authors and other graduates in its special alumnae section. Any of these books would provide the perfect study break and serve as a great inspiration to anyone looking to join these writers’ ranks.

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the world today by anne jacobs

wenty-four hour news channels teem with bad news and internet sites stream instant updates on any number of global tragedies or outcries. There’s no denying the world is a mess. But which mess should we try to clean up first?

Refugees and Mass Displacement

While the world’s no stranger to migration, the mass emigration going on today has reached a scale that indicates extreme danger or suffering in homelands and calls into question whether the international community should take some action to implement stability. The nine million Syrian refugees fleeing their bloody civil war is perhaps the most pertinent example of mass displacement. Various NGOs and the UN Refugee Agency are attempting to improve the refugee camps scattered around Northern Africa and integrate emigrants into new locations, but the situation still remains dire.

Contention in southeast asia

With all the economic growth and industry in Southeast Asia, there exists an equal amount of controversy. China is making moves to claim contested land in the South China Sea, the Thai military is escalating its human rights abuses, and the Philippines is being engulfed by typhoons and floods while being criticized

as an exporter of domestic servants. With so much human capital in these regions, a history of human rights violations, and a propensity of Western nations to avoid getting involved in Asia, this shaky situation could come very close to crashing down if there are no multilateral reforms in the near future.

3 ISIS The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS has made headlines in all of our news sources. It’s virtually impossible to not have caught a glimpse of this brutal terrorist organization that is presently responsible for over 5,000 civilian deaths, including the public execution of three journalists. ISIS, a former cell of Al-Qaeda, is a violently barbaric group that has swept across Iraq and parts of Syria, committing mass executions, driving countless families from their homes, raping and enslaving women, and capturing towns to institute Sharia law. Fortunately, there has been a somewhat significant amount of international cooperation and agreement on the ISIS issue. President Obama recently announced indefinite airstrikes in Syria and Iraq with the intention of “degradation and destruction,” and although Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime have denounced the notion of striking Syria as illegal, many Arab nations have voiced their support. THE BULLETIN -

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The incomes, opportunities, and standards of living of the rich and the poor are getting further and further apart. Global inequality is a problem not only because of its lopsided statistics, in which the 1 percent generates the majority of a country’s wealth while the bottom 99 percent struggles, but also because it bolsters a society in which upward mobility no longer exists. With the shadow this gap casts over the national progress of most economies, there is a need for effective legislative reform, particularly on the improvement of education.

Water crisis

The World Water Vision Report has stated “There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people and the environment suffer badly.” It is imperative that these shortcomings be improved before the water crisis becomes a water shortage. International cooperation over finite resources has been historically futile and with over 260 river basins that are shared by two or more countries, mostly without adequate legal or institutional arrangements, the fight for potable water could turn very ugly, very fast.

Graphics by Divya Sundaram

Top 5 problems facing

global inequality

Edifying Education in America by erica becker

Illustration by Ilana Schulder

merica’s educational system is in trouble, at least according to the many who look at international testing to determine its effectiveness. Every three years, approximately 34 countries take the Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluates the math, science, and reading skills of half a million fifteen-year-olds. In 2012, America was ranked 27th out of those 34 countries in mathematics, leading to calls for educational reform. Many believe that the best way to improve education in America is to begin with the educators themselves. Organizations like Teach for America recruit highachieving recent college graduates and young professionals to teach. By providing these recruits with five weeks of intensive training and then placing them in underserved rural and urban school districts for two years, TFA fills teaching positions that otherwise would be filled with long-term substitutes. TFA recruits often use teaching as a stepping stone before going on to graduate, business, or law school. Career teachers, on the other hand, are those with extensive training who plan to be lifelong teachers. With a salary that varies from $25,000 to $50,000 based on location, TFA pays its teachers less than the average starting salary of a career teacher, so instead of simply filling vacant positions, TFA offers school districts cheaper alternatives to career teachers. H o we v e r, these recruits need more than just five weeks of training to

be molded into highly trained educators. Finland, ranked twelfth overall by PISA in 2012, recruits highly educated individuals to the teaching field and allows these teachers to be more autonomous in determining what they teach, creating individually effective curriculum for each classroom. TFA cannot offer this autonomy because five weeks of training is not comparable to the training Finnish teachers undergo. The average college graduate does not have the skills or training to effectively determine curriculum for underserved and underperforming schools. America’s curriculum changes need to come from highly trained professionals who know the most effective techniques for their own classrooms—not just college students looking to take a gap year. Curriculum change is also essential in improving America’s educational system, and the United States has recently introduced Common Core, a set of nationally standardized requirements for high school graduation. Common Core has now been

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adopted by 45 states as well as the District of Columbia. These standards were developed using international data, such as PISA results, and aim to equip high school graduates with the skills they need to continue their education or enter the workforce, regardless of geographic location. Common Core lists milestones that students need to achieve before moving onto the next grade. These somewhat loose guidelines allow more autonomy on the state level in creating curriculum and the system is designed to give teachers more freedom in the classroom. Finland, on the other hand, only requires students to take one standardized test during their educational career, and the scores are not tied to funding for schools, as is the case in the United States. The United States needs national standards for graduation to ensure that graduates from Montana are as ready for college or the work force as graduates from Massachusetts, but the standards should rely less on standardized testing and more on the judgment of individual classroom teachers, and should be developmentally appropriate. Educational reform ultimately needs to focus on recruiting bright college graduates, as Teach for America does, and then actually provide them with the skills needed to develop curriculum that will be most effective in individual classrooms rather than linking performance on standardized tests to teacher salary and school funding.

Is Ice Really Nice? T

his summer, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge spread quicker than a forest fire on all forms of social media. Videos of friends performing the challenge clogged up everyone’s newsfeeds, with the intention of spreading awareness of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).This disease, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” is a neurodegenerative illness that affects motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. ALS leads to loss of control over the body’s muscles, and eventually paralysis and death. There is not yet a cure for this disease. The question now becomes whether or not this social media craze achieved its purpose. That is, did it really raise money for finding a cure for ALS? Or was it simply a social media craze used as a vanity project for anyone who wanted to cool down on a summer day while showing that they were hip enough to be challenged? I’ll start with the cons of the campaign. Many families with members who suffer from ALS or who have died from ALS believe it is just a way to avoid actually doing something to fight the dis-

ease. These families feel that there was a general misunderstanding in the Challenge’s rules. People thought that if they poured the ice bucket on their heads, they did not have to donate any money to the fund, and if they did not complete the challenge, they had to donate $100. The second half is true. But, most people neglected the rule which states that if you pour the ice bucket on your head, you only need to donate $10, as opposed to $100. These family members also felt that the Challenge suggested that having ALS can be compared to pouring an ice-cold bucket of water on your head, when in reality it is much more devastating. Additionally, there are many who felt that wasting water by pouring it on your head was offensive to people in drought stricken areas. When Matt Damon performed the Challenge, he used toilet water to circumvent this problem. Those against the Challenge also say the campaign is not worth the effort since it is not a consistent source of fundraising. But in my opinion, these cons are still not enough to outweigh the pros. This social media campaign raised over THE BULLETIN -

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$112 million for ALS and nothing can diminish this accomplishment. This fundraiser did not require months of planning, street permits for a 5k run, or a caterer for a fancy dinner. All it required was one Facebook account. Anyone who was nominated and poured ice water on their head subsequently nominated three or more of their friends, allowing the chain to continue and more money to be donated. If I pour a bucket of water on my head to raise awareness for ALS, I may choose to donate $25 to the ALS foundation, simply because I am now more aware of the cause. I am still making a difference. If I hadn’t been nominated for the challenge, I would not have been aware enough of this crippling disease to donate money. The more people who got involved, the more opportunities there were for donations. Perhaps it was unconventional, but it surpassed all expectations, raising over a hundred million dollars. The Challenge provided an opportunity to fundraise, build awareness, and educate the general population.

Photo Illustration by Art Board

by Nicky Bernstein

She Said/She Said

Are Pop Songs Skinny Shaming? YES

by Hannah Fischman

Photo Illustration by Art Board

f you were around at all this summer and listened to Top 40 stations, then you must have heard songs like “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor and “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj. If you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, these songs both have great beats and can seriously make you want to dance. However, these two songs are guilty of contributing to an alarming new trend: “skinny shaming.” Lyrics like “Because he don’t like ‘em bony, he want something he can grab,” in “Anaconda” and “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night,” in “All About That Bass” are making thinner girls feel bad about their bodies.Why should a girl of any size be shamed for the way she looks? Why should it be okay to condemn thinner women, but taboo to criticize curvier ladies? These lyrics represent a growing development in pop culture where it is tolerable, and even encouraged, to shame women who are thin. This rising trend is both insulting and demeaning towards thin women. It should be a major social faux pas to call someone out for being thin the same way it is to shame someone for being overweight. People think it is okay to “skinny shame” because they see it as more of a jab against society in general, which ranks thin women above overweight women. However, it insults and emotionally wounds individuals who are thin. It is never okay to make a woman feel insecure about her body, whether she is skinny or not. These songs are a bold attempt to promote female empowerment, but actually undermine it because they shame women for their physical appearance. We need to foster confidence in our music and media, not encourage insecurities.

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by Karl-Mary Akre

he claim that Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” and Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” are indicative of a pop culture trend that “skinny shames” thinner women is an overreaction that unnecessarily departs from the purpose and potential power of the songs in question. Quality aside, these popular songs boast unapologetic declarations of confidence and sexuality to which all women, especially larger women, should be entitled. While it’s true that these songs contain lyrics addressing “skinny b*tches,” there is no attack on thin women specifically. For example, in “All About That Bass,” after Trainor sings “Go ahead and tell them skinny b*tches that,” she explicitly states the self-love message that the song clearly promotes: “No I’m just playing, I know you think you’re fat/ But I’m here to tell you/ Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.” One must be mindful in understanding how thin women are addressed in these songs as well as the larger context of society. In both songs, the “skinny b*tches” mentioned represent an idealized body type that most women do not fit into, including Trainor and Minaj. Thus, the attack isn’t directed towards skinny women but towards an ideal. Labeling these songs as “skinny-shaming” unnecessarily shifts attention from larger women who have recently gained some form of positive visibility and acceptability (in the context of those 5 minute songs) back to thinner women. This tendency to revert attention back to thin women is not only self-aggrandizing, but also suggestive of ignorance to the culture in which we live. It is also dubitable that “All About that Bass” and “Anaconda” will seriously negatively affect thinner women the way years and years of media piled upon culture piled upon societal expectations have negatively affected larger women. Overall, if these songs do signify a trend in popular culture, it is one where women of varying body types can feel entitled to celebrate their femininity, sexuality, and confidence.

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activism on campus S

o you’ve survived the first couple of weeks of school as a first year. Now that you’re really starting to get acclimated, it’s time to look out beyond the stacks of Butler Library and see what else there is to offer on campus. For those who are interested in political activism, for which Barnard and Columbia are well known, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. For someone who wants to join a political group, there are the Columbia University Democrats and the Columbia University College Republicans (CUCR). The CU Dems are one of the largest political activist groups on campus. The CU Dems have had a large influence on campus issues, and each year the group travels to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress. During fall break, which coincides with “Get Out the Vote” week, between 50 and 150 CU students travel to another state to help campaign for a local candidate. Students are educated on the issues and candidates and canvas the area all weekend. As Lucy Saldivar, BC’ 17, one of the lead activists in CU Dems, explains, “It’s a unique opportunity for first years to be together with people who have similar interests and are passionate about liberal and democratic issues.” If you want to get involved with CU Dems, contact dems@ columbia.edu or the membership direc-

tor, Partha Sharma, CC’ 17, at ps2788@ columbia.edu. If your politics are more right leaning, you may be interested in joining CUCR. According to James Boothe, CC’ 15, the club’s membership director, CUCR is an “organization that seeks to provide both a community and public voice for students of Columbia University and Barnard College who espouse elements of conservatism and republicanism within the American context.” Members hold a wide range of political views within the conservative spectrum.

According to Boothe, CUCR also hopes to “engage the larger Columbia community in civil yet rigorous dialogue through moderated debates, speaking events, and more unique events”. One of the group’s most popular events is the Columbus Day Barbeque, which includes discussions on ethics in the history of European colonialism. Boothe recommends that “both new and returning students should give CUCR a look because we are the single haven here at Columbia and Barnard for students who consider themselves to be THE BULLETIN -

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on the right of the political spectrum for literally any issue.” Anyone interested in the CUCR should contact gop@columbia.edu to join the listserv and get more information. If you’re looking for a type of activism that isn’t purely political, you may be interested in the Student Worker Solidarity group (SWS). Eric Wimer, CC’16, a top campus activist in the group, explained that SWS is “an ally for workers in their struggle for a living wage and basic rights and raises public attention through marches, protests, and appearances in the media when Columbia stoops to its dirty tactics in contract negotiations and cuts corners with worker safety.”The group’s goal is to understand campus politics and power balances and how they affect the campus’ workers. The group is a way for workers to bring their issues to the forefront when Columbia won’t acknowledge their attempts to initiate fair negotiations. In the past, SWS has helped negotiate dining workers’ wage rates and working conditions and also helped to move union meetings, which were previously located in far locations that required workers to pay bus fares they could not afford. They also meet with the workers to discuss their concerns and situations. In order to get involved, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ StudentWorkerSolidarity.

Photo Illustration by Art Board

by Gabriella Sobol

THE WHITE HOUSE DREAM TEAM

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By Eleanor Altholtz

he number of female role models and leaders to call Barnard College home over its 125 years is mind-boggling. And secretly, or not so secretly, many of us current Barnard women wish that the world was run exclusively by cool, independent, trail-blazing, inspired, and passionate women like those who have walked these hallowed halls. In light of the celebration of Barnard’s anniversary, I have taken the liberty of compiling a list of some of the most inspirational women, fictional and real, who, in my fantasy world, would hold top positions in the White House. In the position of Commander in Chief, I place Peggy Olsen, the radical female copywriter in the TV series Mad Men, who has what it takes to get to the top and also knows how to tell people what to do like no one else. The First Lady would definitely be

Beyoncé, the ultimate inspirational philanthropist and cultural icon. I don’t know if Beyoncé and Peggy would necessarily want to marry each other, but I think that they would actually see quite eye to eye on feminist issues. Secretary of State would have to be Shakira of course. I can think of no greater global icon for peaceful international relations. My favorite Disney princess, Mulan, would take the helm as Secretary of Defense, while the daring and clever Princess Leia of Star Wars would take over as Secretary of Homeland Security. As White House Chief of Staff, who other than Elizabeth Bennet, possibly Jane Austen’s greatest heroine, to keep everyone in line with her quick wit? She has especially fair values after overcoming her initial tendency towards prejudice.

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The White House also needs a Press Secretary, and there couldn’t be anyone more suited to that job than Jennifer Lawrence, who always manages to state blunt opinions that can be offensive in the most endearing way. My fantasy Attorney General would be Fern from one of my favorite children’s books, Charlotte’s Web, who knew, even at age nine, the true meaning of justice. Vice President without a doubt is Eleanor Roosevelt, probably the only woman who would be able to keep all of these fiery cabinet leaders in check. These are just a few of the magnificent women who would run things around here in my perfect world. Oh wait; I forgot the most important position: Secretary of Education. Well there’s no question there-DSpar takes the cake.

Fall TV We'll Be By Mary Rankin Watching

s the fall semester begins to set in for stressed-out students, study breaks are definitely in order. On top of Netflix and – not to discriminate – Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime, there’s another source of entertainment available for your viewing pleasure: network television. The upcoming fall season is shaping up to be an interesting one with regards to new programs premiering soon. Here is a shortlist of some of the most visible and noteworthy upcoming shows:

NCIS: New Orleans

Tuesdays at 9 PM on CBS NCIS is now coming to a new city: New Orleans. Characters for this adaptation were introduced in the most recent season of the original NCIS, and are now the focus of a spin-off. Starring Scott Bakula, NCIS: New Orleans brings everything you love about the preceding shows into a new, vibrant city with original crimes, detectives, and suspense.

How to Get Away with Murder Thursdays at 10 PM on ABC

This new show starring Viola Davis has been touted as America’s next obsession. A college class about criminal law, a mysterious and intriguing professor, and not so innocent characters with questionable motives – the show has the perfect formula for a gripping drama series.

Selfie

Tuesdays at 8 PM on ABC

One of many new comedies advertised throughout the summer, Selfie is a twenty-first century twist on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Starring Karen Gillan and John Cho, this show presents a message about modernity by focusing on Eliza, a woman addicted to social media, who realizes that she needs help navigating the world beyond the screen. Eliza enlists Henry to aid her with this task, and hilarity is sure to ensue as she works her way through “real life.”

Wednesdays at 10 PM on CBS

If creepy thrillers are more your style, tune in to this program starring Dylan McDermott,who also happens to be on the Board of Trustees at Barnard. Centered on detectives investigating stalking cases and the perpetrators and victims of these crimes, the show is sure to give you your fill of edge-of-your-seat intensity and chilling storylines.

Red Band Society Wednesdays at 9 PM on FOX This dramedy presents a break from the ubiquitous cop/lawyer show. The story centers on adolescents with life-threatening illnesses as their young lives unfold against the backdrop of a hospital, as opposed to a high school. Starring Octavia Spencer, the show has tear-inducing and heartwarming moments already built in.

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Photo Illustration by Signe Schloss

Stalker

Leaked: Art or Assault? by Katherine Aliano Ruiz

Photo Illustration by the Art Board

n August 31st, a 4chan user leaked a number of female celebrity nude photographs onto the Internet. Media outlets called it a scandal. The FBI and targeted celebrities called it theft, but one delusional man called it art. Shortly after the leak, a California-based artist XVALA announced that he planned to show the uncensored

stolen pictures in an exhibit called “No Delete” as part of his “Fear Google” campaign. The use and exploitation of female bodies to make artistic “statements” is not a new concept. XVALA’s exhibit asks whether the photographs, in a different context, could indeed be considered art. Both the Internet and the FBI answered this question with a highly justified “no.” The leak isn’t a scandal and most certainly isn’t art. It is an act of sexual assault. Framing the stolen photos as art would have appropriated the body of each individual woman involved to serve the “artist’s” purpose. XVALA attempted to take their images to proclaim that the nudes exemplify the danger of Google, which would have further removed power from a group of women who are the victims of sexual assault and claimed their violation for “art.” XVALA’s exhibit, had it come to fruition, would have been just as culpable as the 4chan and Reddit forums responsible for disseminating the stolen photographs. Furthermore, if re-appropriating their assault for his own profit wasn’t contemptible enough, XVALA exacerbated the situation by choosing an inflammatory, subversive theme for the exhibition. Hanging the enlarged pictures onto a wall below the title of “No Delete” and “Fear Google”, the “artwork” would have posited the THE BULLETIN -

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female celebrities as cautionary tales. Interestingly, XVALA wasn’t going to post the Anthony Weiner photos or Dylan Sprouse’s nudes. Rather, his focus was solely on female celebrities. XVALA’s choice implicitly places responsibility on individual women to act cautiously in a non-private digital world, rather than placing the blame on those who leak these images. The public has a responsibility to reject the leaker’s intent—which was no doubt to humiliate the celebrities and titillate users on 4chan—and take a stance against the sexualization of non-consenting individuals. We must reject the media’s label of “scandal” and deny the victim-blaming logic that they use. Instead, we must support the women who are victimized and penalize the leakers. XVALA has since backed down from his idea after an online petition against him garnered great support. He stated that “people were identifying with Jennifer Lawrence’s and Kate Upton’s victimization much more than I had anticipated.” The overwhelming support for the women may be a result of legal pressure, but it also arose in a climate of ever-growing discussions about sexual assault and consent. The conversations surrounding sexual violence should not and cannot end here.

Gallary Gallivating: The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec by Imani Randolph

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pon entering the Henri de to an aristocratic family, but managed an overtly sexual “gaze.” Lautrec’s art Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit at to become accepted by Paris’s increas- captivates the viewer due to its confithe Museum of Modern Art, ingly avant-garde art communities. dent presence, unusual for art depictone is greeted by a lithograph that de- Lautrec’s creations were a reflection ing women in this period. Women of mands attention. The lines are bold, of the growing influence of late-19th this period were given the freedom to and the subject’s back is to the viewer, century Parisian nightlife—the core be bright and eye-catching with their yet he maintains a haughty facial pro- of the belle epoque. The belle epoque presentation and actions. The famous file. He is clothed in a wide brimmed or “beautiful era” was a period in and provocative cancan dance was hat, an enormous invented during this cloak, and gloves, all time, which Lautrec of which are black. captured in his print And his bright red “Troupe de Mlle Egscarf radiates within lantine,” depicting the frame. The man women costumed in this piece, comin ruffled petticoats prising one of few with their legs kickmen shown in the ening in the air. While tire exhibit, is ArisLautrec produced tide Bruant, a French visual art that took cabaret singer and inspiration from the comedian, who was innovative perforno stranger to the mance scene, the perspotlight. Lautrec’s formance scene also particular skill is creprospered from Lauating a piece that ritrec’s art. His posters vals the alluring presand prints would be ence of the individual Looking solely at his prints, one immediately no- plastered throughout it depicts. the streets of Paris, makLooking solely tices the effortlessly simple, yet striking liveliness ing Lautrec one of the at his prints, one imme- Lautrec creates through use of vibrant color in first to have his artwork diately notices the effortavailable to the masses. contrast to neutral foundations. lessly simple, yet striking The Henri de Touliveliness Lautrec creates louse-Lautrec exhibition through use of vibrant color in con- France and Belgium characterized by is well worth the trip, both in aesthettrast to neutral foundations. What’s a vibrant art scene, discoveries within ic and context. With your CUID, this more, the experience is enriched the sciences, and a general communal exhibition is free of charge, so don’t when the viewer absorbs the infor- peace. Lautrec was fascinated by the hesitate to make your way over to the mation alongside his work. Walking social experience of performance art, MoMA. through the gallery space, the viewer and one can see this interest in the The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: is transported to a time when the vi- multitude of his lithographs starring Prints and Posters runs through March sual and performing arts flourished actresses, dancers, and singers of the 22, 2015. and played off one another. time; his female muses. Despite LauHenri de Toulouse-Lautrec trec’s perspective as a male artist, his was born in mid-19th century France work seems to be largely free from

Culture Close to Campus F

by Rosie Fatt

eeling adventurous but also like sticking around campus? Want to experience cultural attractions without the crowds and the hassle? Luckily, Morningside Heights and the surrounding area are packed with wonderful sites to visit. Starting at 125th St. and looping around Columbia, down to 107th St. and back to Barnard, this quick tour route is perfect for a Sunday afternoon. I recommend stopping at Hamilton Deli for a snack break on the way. Happy walking!

Studio Museum in Harlem:

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This compact museum is right in the heart of Harlem, just a few short blocks from campus. Duck in to find temporary exhibitions and rotating pieces from the permanent collection. The museum houses works in a mix of vibrant colors, particularly the multiple works of Stanley Whitney, along with somber political pieces in more muted tones. Through Oct. 29, the main show on view is “Charles Gaines: Gridwork 1974-1989,” a body of conceptual pieces of art addressing racial politics.a One of the largest pieces in the show, “Numbers and Trees,” is a series of large paintings of grid-like trees with intricate, extending branches of tiny numbered and colored boxes. The size and scope of the museum make it the perfect starting point for a walk to other nearby attractions or on its own as a quick bit of cultural engagement. The Studio Museum in Harlem 144W 125th St. Weekend Hours: Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-6 FREE with student ID

Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine: Seat of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is a cultural mainstay in Morningside Heights. Its quiet presence on Amsterdam also means that many students make the mistake of passing by without ever going inside. Upon entering the large hall, one is surrounded by stained glass throughout the nave and behind the altar.Walking down towards the altar, there are many special objects and memorials to view, such as the Firemen’s Memorial and themed bays on the sides honoring different professions. At the front of the church, the famed artist Keith Haring’s last work is displayed—a golden triptych altarpiece titled “The Life of Christ.” Take time to look through each corner of the church. On your way out, look up at the ornate bronze doors and wave to Jim, Harry, and Phil, the peacocks who wander the church grounds. Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th St. Weekend Hours: 9-5 daily Suggested Donation

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Nicholas Roerich Museum: Probably the place you’re least likely to have visited before (and definitely the oddest), the Nicholas Roerich Museum is housed in a sophisticated townhouse on the corner of Riverside Drive. The museum contains the paintings, artifacts, and books of Nicholas Roerich, a Russian born artist, author, and scholar. The lack of informational pamphlets and explanatory text near the artwork makes the task of understanding the artist and his art a challenge—albeit, a fun one.Walking into the museum feels like entering the decadent apartment of a wealthy and zany old traveler—if that sounds too strange for your taste, you can just head for a walk in the park. Nicholas Roerich Museum 319W 107th St. Weekend Hours: Saturday and Sunday 2-5 FREE

The Bulletin Guide to Student Theater 12 Angry Men When/Where: October 16-18, GlickerMilstein Theatre What: Based on the 1954 teleplay by Reginald Rose and the 1957 American film of the same name, 12 Angry Men originally followed a story set in 1950s New York City, when one juror out of twelve votes “not guilty” at the trial of a Puerto Rican youth accused of murder. Director Cristina Angeles, BC’ 16, says: “Our production is setting the play in 2014, so instead of having 12 white males make up the cast of the show, our cast and crew represents the diversity seen in New York City during the present day.”

The Importance of Being Earnest When/Where: October 23-25, Lerner Black Box What: Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy and social commentary follows the deceptive double lives of Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing and the people around them. This production is set in America in the 1950s, instead of the traditional Victorian England. Producer Daniel Garton, CC’ 16, says: “There are so many great things about the show that it’s hard to narrow down all of its wonderful aspects to just one statement about the whole project. It’s collaborative, it’s fun, and it’s a creative interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s classic that shows how timeless humor can be.”

The Drowsy Chaperone When/Where: November 20-21, Roone Arledge Auditorium What: A parody of 1920s American musical comedy, this show features a (find a

different phrase than “die-hard”) theater fan who invites the audience to listen to the soundtrack of his favorite musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. The host offers commentary as the show unfolds in his living room. Director Jason Eisner, CC’ 17, says: “In this revival of a Broadway contemporary classic, a cynical die-hard musical fan invites us into his apartment to listen to his favorite musical, the sidesplitting, rip-roaring, The Drowsy Chaperone. The show is a celebration of what musical theater means to us as a society and as individuals. Our show will mostly stay faithful to the original production while also emphasizing themes of mirror and vanity.These themes will be reflected in the set, staging, and choreography. The mirrors will stress one of the central themes of the show: that musicals have the power to bring light into our lives when we need it most. You’ll leave the theater with a tune in your head, a tear in your eye, and a huge smile across your face.”

Titus Andronicus When/Where: November 20-22, Glicker-Milstein Theatre What: One of the less frequently performed of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, Titus Andronicus tells the story of the Roman general Titus, entangled in a cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths, who has declared her unending hatred after his sacrifice of her eldest son. Director Becca Meyer, CC’ 15, explains: “Titus Andronicus is Shakespeare’s first tragedy, and also his bloodiest. It is certainly one of his lesser-known plays, perhaps because it was scorned for so long by Victorian sensibilities and only in the past half century or so has begun to be rehabilitated. This play also has a lot to contribute to the ongoing conversation about sexual THE BULLETIN -

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assault against women, as well as female objectification and lack of agency, which is one of the reasons why the KCST Advisory Board chose to take on this difficult piece of work.”

Merrily We Roll Along When: December 4-6, Glicker-Milstein Theatre What: One in a long line of musicals by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along documents composer-turnedproducer Franklin Shephard’s rise from rags to riches, starting from the height of his Hollywood fame and moving back in time. Director Devin Lloyd, CC’ 15, explains: “Merrily We Roll Along is Stephen Sondheim’s nostalgic musical comedy that explores the contradictions between dreams, friendships, and the paths we choose.The story takes us back in time from 1976 to 1957, following Frank, Charley, and their friend Mary Flynn through quarrels, divorce, a Broadway hit, and the struggles and ecstasies of beginning a career in New York City. Our production will bring out the wit of Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics with a small cast in a black box space.”

XMAS! When/Where: December 8, Roone Arledge Auditorium What: Now a university tradition, XMAS! is Columbia’s annual student-written, holiday-themed musical. Wildly popular since its inception, XMAS! drew over 800 spectators to its first show in 2006. Producers Emily Snedeker and Matt Seife, CC’ 16, say: “XMAS! is Columbia’s annual full-length, student-written, holiday themed musical. Now in its ninth year, XMAS! has become a Columbia tradition that celebrates the end of the semester with fun and cheer! XMAS! is for everyone.”

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These productions on campus simply can’t be missed this semester!

Fun Classes To Take In The CIty by Tanya Lalwani

Learn Na'avi

http://learnnavi.org

Feeling blue? Need something to distract yourself from the bustle of everyday life? Why not leave this planet all together and experience an ethereal world outside your own. Avatar, the 2009 film, was pretty damn innovative with its costumes, story, and setting. With this class, you can take a small step into that world by learning Na’avi, the native language of Pandora. And here’s the best part: it’s totally free online!

Recreational Tree Climbing Lessons

https://coursehorse.com/gardening-‐classes-‐nyc/ recreational-‐tree-‐climbing-‐workshop?filtered=1

Every once in a while you feel that uncontrollable desire to channel your primal instincts and climb a tree. Unfortunately, most of us lack the hand-eye coordination and Tarzan-esque experience necessary to advance past mediocrity in this pursuit. If you need to brush up, what better place than a park in New York City? Join other fellow arborists at the New York Botanical Garden in Brooklyn, and learn the intricacies of rope handling, grappling, and other basic climbing techniques.

https://coursehorse.com/sex-‐classes-‐nyc/how-‐to-‐ talk-‐dirty-‐without-‐cracking-‐up-‐?filtered=1

I may not be Sriracha, but I can surely spice up your life! Did that win you over? It always works. Not everyone can be as smooth as me however, and for those of you lacking my slick verbal prowess this class is vital. It’s a fun class to take with friends if you need a laugh, or even by yourself if you’re in serious need of some tips in the dirty talk department. Learn how to give all your conversations that raunchy spin they lack and practice your best sultry voice to do it. Only $24 and located not to far on 8th Ave in Midtown.

How to be a spy

h tt p://b ro o k ly n b r a i n ery.c o m/ courses/how-‐to-‐be-‐a-‐spy

We have all lived vicariously through 007, Mission Impossible, even Spy Kids. We’ve all coveted the glamorous lifestyle of explosive car chases, x-ray goggles, and coded conversations at cocktail parties. This class by Brooklyn Brainery gives you the once in a lifetime opportunity – unless you’ve got a summer job with the KGB – to get your facts aligned on everything spy-related, from tuxedos to tailgating. Learn the nittygritty of espionage from an expert in the matter, a former employee of the State Department, and special advisor on Russian security affairs. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s British.

Pole dancing lessons http://lafemmesuite.com/

We might not admit it, but this is something we have all wanted to do. Not only is it sexy and fun, pole dancing can also be empowering and an intense workout! Pole dancing can sculpt your body and tone all your muscle groups to perfection. Having personally signed up for this I cannot recommend it more as a way to release some stress while getting your freak on. It’s close by in East Harlem, cheap at only $35 for two people, and they also offer twerking lessons. THE BULLETIN -

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How to talk dirty

ubb l E

e s t i B B

d th n o y e

Sweet Chick 164 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn by Haley George

C Photo Illustration by Art Board

hicken and waffles is the essence of America wrapped up in a single plate. It’s a dish that dares to dream, that thinks bigger, that goes where none have ever gone before. Chicken and waffles is not just a meal. It’s a lifestyle. My first chicken and waffles experience came at Sweet Chick in Brooklyn. Since its opening in 2013, Sweet Chick has gained a reputation for its menu of simple Southern comfort food. Some items that grace the menu are classic, while others put a spin on traditional dishes, like their kale BLT salad. Sweet Chick is trendy yet casual, and the food is top notch. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the chicken and waffles – would the chicken be on top of the waffle? Would it be cooked into the waffle somehow? Despite its configuration, the idea of the meal sounded just unhealthy enough to

pique my interest, and I was definitely not disappointed. The people at Sweet Chick understand that deep-fried, under the right circumstances, is not a shortcut but an art. Their fried chicken is salty and crispy but not greasy. The waffles are perfectly fluffy, just like waffles are meant to be, and come sprinkled with a bit of powdered sugar. The chicken arrived on the side (mystery solved). The dish is served with maple syrup, which I recommend drizzling over the whole plate, chicken included. I stuck with the classic waffle, but Sweet Chick offers three other options: bacon and cheddar, rosemary and mushroom, and dried cherry. And vegetarians can substitute traditional fried chicken for vegetarian fried chicken. At $16, this order of chicken and waffles is on the pricey side, but when the check finally comes, you won’t feel even a hint of regret. Two of my fellow THE BULLETIN -

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diners ordered the macaroni and cheese for a modest $8, which I know was delicious because I helped them finish off both bowls. Another friend ordered the Sloppy Duck Sliders for $9, which she declared “real tender, fallin’-straight-off-the-boneand-into-the-depths-of-savory-sensation good duck.” For those particularly ambitious folks willing to make the trek to Brooklyn, Sweet Chick offers brunch every day starting at 11 a.m. There’s nothing like starting off your day with fried chicken or maybe a bowl of shrimp and grits. But the best time to enjoy chicken and waffles is in the wee hours. The night is not so young anymore, and here you are facing the eternal 2 a.m. dilemma: Sweet or salty? Breakfast or dinner? Now you don’t even have to choose.

Celebrity Spotting Jackie Xu

should act. Kate Gester, BC’ 16, attests that when she saw Michael Cera, “The sight of him was paralyzing: there he was, so famous and so cute, and I had no idea what to do about it. Going up to him and saying ‘I know who you are’ or something equally creepy did not seem like an option. So I did the next best creepy thing, I followed him at a distance as he walked around.” And as fate would have it, while Gester was taking a walk on that same night, who appeared but Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock. As described by Gester, “He was there, trying to hail a cab, but he wasn’t having much luck with it. He was in the middle of a busy crosswalk and he seemed a little drunk. I saw someone approach him and attempt to shake his hand, but he shrugged them off. Another passerby yelled ‘I love you, Jack Donaghy!’ He seemed flustered and frustrated and we didn’t want to stress him out by ogling him further.” Baldwin in real life, it seems, is almost a complete opposite of his domineering TV show character. For avid followers of the show, however, it may be increasingly difficult to separate Alec Baldwin the

man from the concept of his celebrity. As fellow residents of New York City it seems important to note that Baldwin’s fame doesn’t call for unrelenting conversations with fans or unsolicited proclamations of affection. Indeed, it seems that while standing back and ogling, or even following a celebrity around unseen, may feel devious and slightly creepy. Perhaps we owe it to the celebrities of New York to allow them the gift of anonymity for a short afternoon or evening. After all, if a celebrity looks harried and/or inebriated, as Alec Baldwin was, they probably don’t want to engage in small talk with a fawning stranger. My own sighting of Shia Labeouf was fleeting and unceremonious: as he stood getting sugar and cream for his coffee, he looked up and met my eyes for a second before hurrying out the door. Anonymity, though dreadful for most, may be a blessing to celebrities. If we are to share the city with them, perhaps we should choose to admire them from afar.

Photo Illustration by Art Board

arnard’s advantageous location in the city allows its students to be privy to all sorts of NYC wisdom.We learn to avoid Times Square at all costs, to steer clear of the empty subway car during rush hour, and to be brisk and decisive with our Chipotle orders. Nevertheless, there are often encounters during our stay in this bustling city that stray from the ordinary. Being the glamourous cultural epicenter that it is, New York is home to people whose lives are more public than private, and we’re prone to getting up close and personal with these creatures of lore. For years, Sarah Jessica Parker would stop by our very own Liz’s Place after dropping her children at Barnard’s Toddler Center, to the point where all the servers knew her order by heart. The sharp contrast b e tween seeing the celebrity on screen a n d seeing them doing something as mundane as taking out the trash can be jarring, and there are no guidelines on h o w o n e

Light It Up: Celebrating Deepavali

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hanks to the scented candle business and the jack-o’-lantern tradition, we often associate fall with the comfort of a warm glow. But it’s not just pumpkin votives, artificial or real, that illuminate the season. The ancient Hindu holiday Diwali – “the festival of lights” – also coincides with the autumn months. Diwali, more traditionally spelled Deepavali, takes its name from two Sanskrit words: dipa, which means “light” or “lamp,” and avali, which means “line,” “series,” or “row.” In New York, the holiday is commemorated annually with a wide-scale street festival in lower Manhattan’s historic South Street Seaport district. Founded 27 years ago by the New York chapter of the Association of Indians in America, the South Street festivities consist of live music and dance performances, food and clothing vendors, a holistic health fair, and a fireworks display. Though Deepavali falls at the end of October -- this year it lands on Oct. 23 -- according to Monty Lokesh Kataria, a program host and film critic for the cultural website UrbanAsian.com and the festival’s emcee, the celebration takes place the first Sunday of the month. “This is the biggest event the Association of Indians in

by Zoe Miller America hosts during the year,” said Sunil we don’t dance with those, it’s Garba.” Modi, president of NY’s AIA chapter. AcThough she said that Raas has cording to the NYPD’s records, out of less to do with Deepavali than it does with 85,000 attendees last year, a world re- Navratri -- a nine-night/ten-day-long cord-breaking 17,000 people simultane- Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of ously performed the traditional Bhangra the deity Durga -- both holidays focus on dance, which originates in India’s Punjab festive zeal. Columbia’s own Navratri celregion. ebration, an evening of dancing and Indian In the evening, collegiate troupes cuisine, will take place on Oct. 18 in Earl from around the region, including Co- Hall. lumbia’s own CU Raas and teams from “The emphasis is on being happy Stony Brook University, Adelphi Univer- and excited all the time, like your face is sity, City University of New York, and supposed to be smiling and celebratory, Drexel University, will participate in "Founded 27 years ago by the New a dance competition called Naach York chapter of the Association of (“dance” in Urdu) InIndians in America, the South Street ferno for a segment festivities consist of live music on the Indian TV network Life OK. The and dance performances, food and clip will also air in clothing vendors, a holistic health North America. fair, and a fireworks display." CU Raas, which has performed at venues in the area ranging from Rockland County’s Indian and I think that’s kind of why it [Raas] Independence Day celebration to a gala goes so well with the holiday,” says Bhagat. for the Hunger Project at Chelsea Piers, “The whole thing is about the triumph of registered for the festival when mem- good over evil and positive celebration of ber Kripa Bhagat, BC’ 15, learned about all these different deities.” the competition from her mother. BhaIt is no surprise, then, that the gat’s mother worked at the health best compliments the team receives are fair dental clinic last year, and about its dynamic stage presence. will be working at this year’s “There are so many people who event as well. come up to us and say, ‘You have so much “Raas is generally done energy,’ which is what we really pride with these wooden sticks ourselves on,” Bhagat says. “It’s really good that are about a foot long to hear.” For a chance to feel the joy and and maybe half an inch in energy of Navratri, make your way to a diameter and we dance with celebration yourself. It’s bound to be an those,” Bhagat says. “But then when unforgettable experience. THE BULLETIN -

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hile many Barnard students are aware that the Metropolitan Museum of Art can be accessed with a swift show of their school ID, it is a lesser-known secret that the same ID grants access to dozens of smaller museums scattered around the city. One of these great institutions is the Museum of the City of New York, only twenty minutes away from campus via the M4. An unassuming three story brick building sporting a neoclassical facade and tucked behind a pair of looming gates on Fifth Avenue and 103rd St., it represents the northern end of the museum mile. A step inside showcases a lobby with sleek furniture and a winding black staircase leads visitors to exhibits beyond the ground level. Modern and traditional elements are juxtaposed to create an elegant theme which radiates throughout the museum’s art and history. A first floor exhibit of Mac Conner illustrations transports the viewer to New York City in the 1950s. Conner’s admiration for fellow artist Norman Rockwell is apparent, particularly in his hand-painted illustrations for various publications. Snippets from advertising campaigns and magazine covers illustrated by Conner reveal a post-World War Two society, with racial and gender conflicts immortalized through his artistic interpretation. A new addition to the museum’s travelling art collection, the exhibition remains on display until mid-January.

Down the hall, you’ll find “City as Canvas,” a collection from artist Martin Wong. Several pieces stood out, among them a multicolored bust of Jesus with silver and black graffiti covering every inch of the figure. The pained expression of Jesus appears to symbolize the socioeconomic hardship that motivated so many of the 1970s graffiti artists. With recycled paint cans and quotes arguing whether graffiti is art or vandalism along the walls, this exhibit showcases the polarization that plagued the city at this time. “Activism in New York City,” a permanent exhibition on the second floor, takes a more historical spin. The physical nature of the exhibit allows visitors to walk through New York’s history, beginning at the front of the showroom with religious activism in 1664 and ending with current developments in the gay rights and climate change movements. Items like Civil Rights pins and a 1964 Freedom Diploma are on display and accompanied by written historical accounts. Another exhibit, “Gilded New York,” showcases the advancements in art and design made during a time of frivolity and maTHE BULLETIN -

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terialism. The walls are decorated with velvet, violet paisley wallpaper and the intricate chandeliers are marvelous, as are the carefully chosen Tiffany & Co. jewelry pieces and elaborate, archaic lace dresses. The three floors of rich experience that comprise the Museum of the City of New York are not overwhelming, but conquerable for both the newest city slicker or the native New Yorker. A look inside this brick building reveals an eclectic, dynamic city that is surely worth celebrating.