Barnard Bulletin April 2016 by Barnard Bulletin

April 2016

Rebecca Deczynski '16 & Sarah Schreiber '16 Editors-in-Chief

Jordana Roat '16 Creative Director Rachel dunphy '16 Managing Editor FEATURES EDITOR Emma Yee Yick '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR CLAUDIA LEVEY '19 SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR LETTY DILEO '18 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS BRIGIT FLOM '18 EMILY WONG '18 EVENTS DIRECTOR JUDY LIU '19 ALUMNAE RELATIONS DIRECTOR DEMME DURRETT '19

POLITICS & OPINION EDITOR Sheli Frank '16 ASSOCIATE EDITOR JESSICA TSCHIDA '18 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR aiko suyemoto '16 NEW YORK CITY LIVING EDITOR Ariana Busby '18 ASSOCIATE EDITOR KATHERINE LEAK '19

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR SHARON WU '18 PHOTOSHOOT DIRECTOR CARINA HARDY '18 ART EDITORS SOFIA DAVIS '16 COPY EDITORS Danielle Owen '17 Alexandra Peebles '18

HEALTH & STYLE EDITOR Amanda Breen '17 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Imani Randolph '18 ONLINE EDITOR ALI MCQUEEN '18

Thank you to the ruth bayard smith '72 memorial fund for its support of the bulletin BARNARD BULLETIN 3009 Broadway New York, NY 10027 TheBarnardBulletin..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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A Letter from the Editors

o let’s just get it out there. April, the penultimate month of the spring semester, is the academic calendar’s biggest tease. We can see the semester waving a white flag, surrendering to the ease of summer. And just like you, we’re tired and thrilled at the same time. This is (almost) the end. It may be our second to last issue, and this may be our second to last chance to address you as co-editors-in-chief of The Bulletin, but we’ll save all the sentimentality and aching nostalgia for May. But hey let’s focus on the bright stuff. In this issue, you’ll find much to sink your teeth into, even as you’re busy tackling final papers and last-minute internship applications. Our centerpiece addresses a problem that most, if not all, of us have been faced with: people telling women to smile. Whether you are a longtime sufferer of restingbitchface, or you just don’t need strangers on the street when you’ve had an awful day, this article and photo project shows that the politics of facial positions are not something to grin about. But inside this magazine, you’ll also find plenty to cheer about. In Health & Style, we’re dissecting the choker trend because, as Taylor Swift says, chokers may very well be the new flower crowns. In New York City Living, we’re taking a first-person dive into the ins and outs of dating off-campus. And in between, we have plenty of stories that are sure to take your mind off, for a moment, your impending due dates. Let’s face it: with warmer weather and the promise of a break from problem sets and oral presentations, we’re feeling too #blessed to be stressed. See you soon, May flowers, Rebecca & Sarah

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3 // Letter from the Editors 5 // Behind the Scenes 6 & 7 // Trending & Playlist

Health & Style 8 // Closet Classics 9 // Treat Yo Self 10 // Makeup off 11 // Pump up the volume 12 // hot and cold: transitional spring style 13 // Cutting it close

Features 14 // agents of change 16 // Centerpiece: stop telling women to smile 20 // In her words: Adoption 22 // Overheard at barnard 24 // characters at the beach 25 // no lawn, no problem 26 // race 101

Politics & Opinion 28 // Feminixed 29 // Backwards/forwards: Obama in cuba 30 // tampons, taxed

Arts & Entertainment 32 // Hollywood in black and white 34 // best finales ever

New York City Living 35 // Barnard in the outer boroughs 36 // There are other fish in the city 38 // metamorphizing metropolis 39v // new york city records

ehind he cenes

if you enjoyed our centerpiece and cover shoot, visit thebarnardbulletin.com on may 1 to see the finished photo project & behind the scenes

Generation G Lipstain Glossier, how we love you.

Urban Decay Original Eye Shadow Primer Potion Avoid 3pm racoon eyes with this foolproof primer that keeps eye makeup fresh all day.

Quirk Coffee

Call Your Girlfriend The podcast of cool ladies talking to cool ladies.

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

Buy it for the aesthetic, drink it for the caffeine.

Modern Babo Shoe Leave it to Everlane to create the coolest slip-on.

Ban.do Sweatshirt The softest sweatshirt to wear while watching Broad City.

Future People

atlas hands thomas jack

Alabama shakes

2. Uber Everywhere

down marian hill

Madeintyo

Dangerous woman

famous kanye west

ariana grande

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H&S

Closet Classics I

t is a universally acknowledged truth that a woman in possession of a closet and /or a Pinterest board must be in want of more clothes. But with your yetto-be-determined summer plans looming and your closet bursting, you may be thinking that now is the time to give that shopping habit a rest. While it never hurts to save, you may find that it pays to invest in some tried and true basics now and reap the rewards when you don’t have to replace them every six months.

1. Sweatpants It’s been a long day of cramming for midterms or running around the city, and now all you want to do is get home, change out of your “I’m an adult!” clothes, and watch Netflix until your brain melts when - oh no!Your Hollister sweatpants from eighth grade have officially become more pill than pant. It’s time to invest in a pair of sweats that will make you look chic and put together for all your 2 a.m. MoWil runs: Outdoor Voices’ Running Woman sweats ($95), available in fun shades like Sapphire and Merlot. Ridiculously soft and reliably cozy,

I guarantee that these sweats will boost your mood every time you put them on.

2. Structured Tote So, you have a backpack, a “going out” bag, and a $15 tote from The Strand-what more do you need? Kate Spade’s Cedar Street Medium Harmony tote ($298) is an essential addition to any city girl’s repertoire. With a sturdy build and a zippered closure, not to mention stylish simplicity, the Cedar Street is the perfect bag for any internship; fill it with your laptop, charger, important business documents, etc., and you’ll still have room for some snacks. Speaking of snacks, the professionalism this bag oozes will temper any judging glances you get as you shove an entire tray of Ferris biscuits into its multiple compartments.

3. Socks According to an #aesthetic quote on Tumblr (actually according to John Wildsmith), “You are either in your bed or your shoes, so it pays to invest in both.” While this is a nice sentiment, I think that John is forgetting how often there is something between our shoes and our feet. Socks can truly make or break a shoe experience (@drmartens), so why spend everyday in mild foot pain when you could be in foot heaven? They key to heaven (sorry God, the secret’s out!) is Uniqlo’s Heattech socks. At two for $12.90, they are relatively reasonable and come in colors from pink to blue polka dot and include knee-high and over-the-knee styles.

4. Light sweatshirt Let me introduce you to Marine Layer’s THE BULLETIN -

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Longsleeve Crewneck Sweatshirt ($78). It’s not just any sweatshirt, it’s a classy sweatshirt; it’s the kind of the thing you could wear to a Silicon Valley party or what Taylor Swift probably throws on after a long day of frolicking on the beach in the Seychelles, or whatever. But seriously, this is a sweatshirt lightweight enough that you can stuff it into your tiny fashion backpack at Coachella and cute enough that you don’t have to repeat “beauty is pain” to yourself because it’s 50 degrees and you refused to bring a jacket because “it ruins your aesthetic.”

5. Underwear I’m wearing underwear, you’re wearing underwear, we’re all wearing underwear, yet it is the universally unacknowledged closet staple. Until now. If you’re going to be wearing something every day (or most days--you do you, girl!), you may as well invest in something that is comfortable and makes you feel gorgeous. Enter DKNY’s ‘Fusion’, available in brief and thong styles. Cotton-lined in the important areas, but nylon everywhere else, the ‘Fusion’ are sleek, line-free, and confidenceboosting enough to wear to an und e r we a r party!

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

by Eleanor Murguia

Treat Yo Self by Caroline Andrews

s finals loom in the horizon and the busy bustle of Barnard can occasionally get us worn out, sometimes sugar therapy is the best bet to perk up after a long week. But when Trader Joe’s cookie butter and ice cream out of the tub no longer fits the bill, it is time to broaden your dessert experience with some new spots around the city:

Milano’s Illustrations by Winnie Wang

bakery: This close to campus spot is known for tasty salads and sandwiches, but also has a great bakery spread for when you need a study break with a sweet side. This spot has classic Italian treats like cannoli, a wide variety of little pickme-up cookies, and more decadent chocolate cakes and pastries for those days when you really need to splurge. Milano’s also has a wide variety of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to make your everyday grocery run a little more enticing. This grocery store’s sweet spot can run a little higher than the average Mo Willie’s or Appletree run, but with desserts that rival a restaurant’s with the added bonus of being consumable in the comfort of your dorm with the sweet hum of Netflix in the background, this is an

affordable way to have a delectable night in.

Max Brenner:

For when a night in in the last way you’d want to connect with a chocolatey friend, Max Brenner’s Union Square location is the perfect place for a hot night out with some sprinkles and warm chocolatey filling. This full-service restaurant has a focus on all things chocolate, and is an incredibly popular sight for chocolate loving tourists and locals of all ages. I headed to Max Brenner (strictly for research purposes, obviously) and left full to the brim of pasta, frozen lemonade, dark hot chocolate, and the highly intimidating “Max’s Famous Chocolate Mess Party for Two.” This final part of the mean consists of a six-inch round chocolate cake covered in vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, caramel, and about every other sweet treat that could fit in the deep cake pan. While this amount of sweet is not for the faint of heart, it is the perfect taste for when your everyday treat experience just won’t cut it. Max Brenner’s popularity can have its downside: we arrived at 9PM on a weeknight and luckily had a reservation to avoid the 45 minute wait-time, and THE BULLETIN -

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their larger desserts run for about $15 a piece. But with a little preparation, and some saved up chocolate fund, Max Brenner is the perfect night out with your best sweet-tooth friend.

Popbar:

When the spring starts to heat up, nothing can be more satisfying that a tangy popsicle with some close friends. Popbar is a West Village spot with gourmet popsicles that range from frozen Green Tea Gelato to a crisp Blood Orange sorbet, this spot has the perfect pop for any mood. Also, with affordable prices from $4 to $7 a pop, Popbar acts as a fun day out of the MoHi bubble without breaking the bank.

Momofuku Milk Bar: As I picked my

friends’ brains for fun places to grab a sweet treat in the city, the number one place that came up time and time again was Milk Bar, and this place is popular for a reason. With a variety of locations around the city, and prices running from $2.25 to $6 for all things sugar from their famous cake truffles, to milkshakes or cookies, Milk Bar has a lot to offer to a Barnard bear looking to satisfy a sweet tooth craving.

Makeup Off!

effective replacement, especially if they cleanse and moisturize at the same time. There are many wipes on the market, and some trial and error can help you find the perfect cleansing wipes. Without further ado, here are some of the best! Pond’s Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes are a new take on the classic Pond’s cold cream. They effectively cleanse, yet leave the skin soft, supple, and imbued with Vitamin E. The soft cotton doesn’t tug on the skin, instead gently exfoliating with its textured pattern. These Pond’s wipes are hypoallergenic and suitable for any skin type. Yes to Coconut Cleansing Wipes smell heavenly while leaving skin fresh and clean. These cloths are drenched with coconut water and kukui nut extract, moisturizing while providing a whiff of that tropical island smell. These wipes are super hydrating, leaving no trace of tightness behind. They are cruelty-free, and don’t contain parabens, SLS, or petroleum derivatives. Korres Greek Yogurt Cleansing & THE BULLETIN -

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Makeup Wipes are perfect for all skin types. Each textured cotton wipe is formulated with nourishing Greek yogurt. These clean well, yet nourish the skin with milk proteins, vitamins, and minerals for soft, healthy skin. They’re also infused with a calming duo of chamomile and calendula oil for stressed skin (which tends to be symptomatic of living in this city). It also contains macadamia oil and jojoba oil, which are deeply penetrating oils that keep skin moisturized. These wipes are packed with nutrients and are perfect for busy long days. They are phthalate-, sulfate-, and paraben-free! Koh Gen Do’s Cleansing Spa Water Cloths are 3x10 sheets of cotton soaked with a powerful cleansing elixir. They effectively remove even the toughest waterproof mascara and moisturize the skin with six essential herbs: rosemary leaf, sage leaf, lavender, artemsia princeps leaf, perilla ocymoides leaf, and ginger root. These luxurious wipes replenish with a spa-grade serum as they cleanse. These wipes from Koh Gen Do are perfect for soothing sensitive skin. At the end of the day, these wipes are fast, convenient, and get the job done. Placing makeup wipes on your bedside table is a great way to encourage removing makeup before bed. Then you can hop into bed after a long day with clean, happy skin.

Illustration by Shaina Twardus

ne of the golden commandments of the makeup world is to remove all makeup before going to bed. But let’s be honest, sometimes it can be a struggle to take it off, especially after a long day. It can be hard to get to the bathroom when you’re exhausted, and it’s even more difficult to fight laziness to get there. Luckily, lack of running water doesn’t mean you you can skip removing a foundation-caked face. Makeup wipes are convenient and portable; they can even be kept near your bedside for quick and easy makeup removal! Though disposable makeup wipes are convenient, they are often drying and acerbic. Sometimes you’d also have to use more than one wipe. Even then, sometimes they also may not thoroughly remove all the makeup from your face. They also aren’t the most cost-effective or environmentally friendly choice. So, they probably aren’t the best for daily use. Washing your face afterwards with your cleanser of choice is ideal, especially if you had a heavy face of makeup on. It’s best to double cleanse, a practice that involves cleansing with an oil to remove your makeup and following with a face wash. Like attracts like, and the oil pulls any sebum and impurities sitting on the skin. The face wash is then able to perform at its best with cleaner skin. Though this cleansing routine is ideal for happy skin, sometimes it simply isn’t possible. Makeup wipes are simple and easy to use. Makeup wipes can be an

by Aimee Li

Pump Up the Volume

by Sarah Hassan

he only thing better than your post-workout feeling of accomplishment is an upbeat playlist that pushes you to break a sweat and have fun doing it.These three playlists are a mix of the top charts, new and old. Feel the music, forget your pain and self-doubt, and keep yourself on track.

SoloCycle

This playlist is perfect for high intensity interval training (HIIT) and cardio. Whether you’re switching between jumping squats and lunges or rocking the stationary bike, these upbeat EDM and pop bangers will pump you up and take your body to the next level as your muscles fight to keep up with the beat of the songs. All the motivation you need lies in the tempo of these songs. Even as you get to the end of the workout, your tired body will want to move to their beats. 1. Takes My Body Higher (feat.Lincoln Jesser) – Shoffy, Lincoln Jesser 2. Comme Un Enfant – Yelle, Freaks Radio Mix 3. Bad (Radio Edit)– David Guetta, Showtek, Vassy 4. Don’t Let Me Down – Daya, The Chainsmokers 5. Sorry – Justin Bieber, J Balvin (Latino Remix) 6. Spoon Me – Elliphant, Skrillex 7. Light It Up – Major Lazer, Nyla, Fuse Odg 8. 212 – Azealia Banks, Lazy Jay 9. Bonbon – Era Istrefi 10. #thatPower (Radio Edit) – Justin Bieber, Will.I.Am 11. How Many – W&W 12. Hello Friday – Flo Rida, Jason Derulo 13. Say Something – Karen Harding, Zac Samuel Remix

Twerk It Out

If you absolutely despise crossfit or running, working out can be dreadful. However, if you make one of the aims of your exercise locating new muscles and figuring out how to move one butt cheek at a time like Rihanna, working out can be a welcome and fun challenge. Don’t be afraid to push yourself outside of your comfort zone by physically challenging yourself to twerk. Unless you were genetically blessed with great glutes, it will most likely be awkward at first, but fun nevertheless if you’re listening to these sick beats. 1. Saved (feat. E-40) – Ty Dolla $ign, E-40 2. Lolly – Maejor Ali, Juicy J, Justin Bieber 3. 7/11 – Beyoncé 4. Throw Sum Mo – Rae Sremmurd, Nicki Minaj,Young Thug 5. Gas Pedal – Sage The Gemini 6. HeadBand(feat. 2 Chainz) – B.o.B 7. Yoga – Janelle Monàe, Jidenna 8. Pop That – French Montana, Rick Ross, Drake, Lil Wayne 9. DJ Turn It Up – Yellow Claw 10. Work – Rihanna, Drake 11. Low Life – Future 12. Hula Hoops - OMI

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Rock Those Weights

Start off with some light cardio to alternative rock and move onto your lifting and toning exercises as you listen to today’s alternative-pop hits. This versatile playlist can be used for a hot yoga session, a calm jog in the park, or weight-lifting. Regardless of how you exercise, let your imagination take you from the beach to night club as you workout to this playlist. It is a journey from motivated and hopeful to satisfied and ecstatic. 1. Someday – The Strokes 2. The Sound – The 1975 3. Golden Skans – Myths Of The Near Future 4. Cake by The Ocean – DNCE 5. Disparate Youth – Santigold 6. Open Heart (feat. Lissie) – Morgan Page, Lissie 7. Sun Models (feat. Madelyn Grant) – ODESZA 8. Lush Life – Zara Larsson 9. Heads Will Roll (Radio Edit) – Yeah, Yeah,Yeahs, A-Trak Remix 10. Gold – Kiiara 11. Cheap Thrills – Sia 12. Love Myself - Hailee Steinfeld

The 3 Best Transitional Style Pieces pring is a d e c i s i ve ly strange time of year; one day you’re sunning yourself in 75 degree sunshine, and the next, it’s cold and grey. As such, you need your wardrobe to be as flexible as your mindset.

Leather Jackets

As much as everyone enjoys being swaddled in furs and chunky knits, it is time to shelve those toasty pieces until next winter. Nonetheless, spring weather does not permit heading outside without some form of outerwear. Leather jackets are perfect medium, not only are they warm and weatherproof, but they are easy to dress up or down. For chillier days, it is common to pair one with a simple sweaters and skinny jeans, but do not be afraid to use your jacket as a neutral garment to balance statement pieces. Try layering your jacket on top of a patterned maxi dress to play up the versatility of your wardrobe. Alternatively, for a night out, since New York evenings are still viciously cool, top off an all black outfit with a leather jacket, allowing any ribbing, metal buckles or zippers to truly pop.

Button-down Shirts

Focus on finding a couple slick buttondowns (abundant in thrift stores) that you can work into your wardrobe. Further, a crisp white one is essential to your style arsenal; incorporating this top into a slouchy outfit, even one as simple as leggings and sneakers, can make you look ten times more put-together. When the weather is cooler, pair a button-down of these with boyfriend jeans or a highwaisted denim miniskirt and thin tights. As it gets warmer, wear a shirt as a light jacket over a tank top or sundress — they’ll keep you cool while spicing up a simple outfit.

High-waisted Jeans

High-rise denim is extremely versatile, complimenting warm- and cool-weathered looks equally well. Stores like Top-

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shop and Urban Outfitters have a large selection, however, you can just as easily (and much more cheaply) find an old Levi’s pair with a quick trip to Goodwill. With a wide range of washes and blends, you can find the perfect fit for your style. Note that vintage jeans are often constructed of thicker denim, which can be perfect for battling wet and windy spring days, especially when paired with a cozy long-sleeve, ribbed tee. But if it is hot, pair them with a crochet knit crop top or a loose shirt tied above the waist.

hen styling yourself for Spring weather, it is essential to find clothes that can adapt to a spectrum of conditions. There is no need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for this season - just get creative and rework the pieces you already have. Try layering a summer dress with a turtleneck and embracing heeled sandals and socks (Birkenstocks and socks, however, is a bit of a stretch…). A quick inspection of your wardrobe, will prove that you have the styling resources at your fingertips to look great as summer nears.

Photography by Sharon Wu

by Eleanor Bailey

Cutting it Close by Imani Randolph

hokers have been wrapped around every it-girl’s neck as of late. For example, just a quick scroll down the Instagram accounts of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner will prove the verity of this trend. Nonetheless, you do not need to be a supermodel to successfully incorporate this accessory into your look. Since chokers come in such a spectrum of styles, you are bound to find one that fits your aesthetic. Here are the five best ways to adorn your neck:

ertheless, in order to pull the printed silk scarf into our time, one should not simply knot it around the neck. The best way to style this piece is to tuck the ends in so the scarf is looped completely around your neck, no exposed ends. Since silk scarfs normally come in very vibrant patterns,

Bow-tie Choker This choker works best with very delicate looks, like sundresses or detailed tank tops. The bow-tie choker is normally made of a thin strand of leather, which can be pricey or difficult to find. However, this is an easy DIY accessory: go to a craft store and buy a small roll of faux suede lace, cut a long enough strand, then wrap it twice around your neck and tie a bow. Black is the most typical choice for the bow-tie, but feel free to try out pastels and neutrals to compliment your spring wardrobe.

90s Looped Elastic Choker

Illustration by Shiraz Belblidia

This flexible little necklace has been around the block a few times, which is why it is the perfect starting point for someone who is a bit hesitant about this trend. The looped elastic choker will not dominate your neck since it is so thin, plus it pairs wonderfully with very simple outfits, (we’re talking t-shirt and jeans simple). However, if you want to amp up the angsty, 90s vibes, find a vintage rockband tee, (one with distressing and bleach if you are really gonna go for it), and wear it with ripped jeans and your favorite old kicks.

Printed Silk Scarf Okay this accessory may seem a bit dated-you do not want to end up looking like a 50s starlet out for a leisurely drive in her convertible. Actually, maybe you do. Nev-

be toned down when used in a daytime look: try it with an ironic graphic tee or crop, (a nod to Shop Jeen). However, if you are feeling bold, this choker makes for a badass nighttime ensemble, especially if you are wearing some leather.

Wide-band Choker let it hold the attention; this necktie really pops when paired with a crisp white blouse.

O-ring Choker Warning: this necklace is not for the faint of heart, it sends major bdsm vibes, but we won’t judge if you don’t. The o-ring choker looks a lot like a collar, but it can THE BULLETIN -

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This style most commonly made out of a thick ribbon, fastenable with a clasp, or a stretchy fabric, so it can be pulled over the head. Wide-band chokers are designed to cover the majority of your neck, so feel free to wear them with tops that show some skin. That being said, the ribbon or fabric can look very glamorous with a deep v midi dress, slicked back hair, and a smoky eye.

features

Agents of Change

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by Emily Supple

Illustration by Letty DiLeo

e as college students are constantly on the prowl for new ways to make money. Therefore, why not join Barnard Bartending or Babysitting? Starting fall semester, freshmen can enroll in a five-week intensive course in order to become certified as a Barnard Bartender or join the Barnard Babysitting Agency where they can access a network of families searching for babysitters. Both of these opportunities, in addition to a plethora of other on-campus jobs ranging from a teacher’s assistant at Tompkins Hall Nursery School to working in Well-Women, provide consistent and reliable work. Additionally, these are memorable experiences that make the Barnard college journey even more wellrounded and give students economic incentives to venture off campus and make some money. Both agencies are student run and continue to employ numerous Barnard women. Not only is it a rarity for people under 21 to work with alcohol, but Barnard supports and even provides a space for students to learn the art of mixology and the skills of professional party service and formal serving techniques. This, in addition to everything else that is unique to Barnard, contributes to making our school even more special. Louisa Mascuch, BC ’19, described the experience of becoming a bartender as gratifying because, “I know that I was studying to learn a skill that I can use for the rest of my life. That being said, I’ve never had to study that hard to pass a test in my life.” The Barnard Babysitting orga-

nization is able to serve families all over Manhattan because of the efficiency and professionalism of the program. The organization functions similarly to other online child care babysitting networks by connecting families and students through an online data base where students must take it upon themselves to contact families and provide references. This process not only encourages student professionalism, but also promotes taking initiatiave as students must contact employers in order to secure jobs which is good practice for entering the workforce. Sarah Lubin, BC ’19, feels that as representatives of Barnard, babysitters are held to high expectations. “This affiliation with Barnard adds to the accountability babysitters already feel for the children they are supervising and contributes professional experience as well,” said Lubin. Even though both of these programs supplement academic work, they are no joke. Students who participate in the bartending program are required to attend classes every Wednesday night and must pass a rigorous and holistic exam that includes written and performance sections. Additionally, those that use the babysitting network are held to high standards of work ethic and must attend an orientation to the program and sign a contract agreeing to uphold all requirements as mandated by the organization. For instance, Mascuch said, “While the instructional part of the class was only an hour a week for 5 weeks, I ignored my schoolwork and spent an entire weekend in the library to study for the test.” THE BULLETIN -

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Despite the seriousness of the programs, those that participate consider their involvement to be one of the most fulfilling as well as lucrative aspects of their college experience. Xonatia Lee, BC ’19, holds a consistent babysitting position where she looks after two kids for 9 hours a week. In addition to the good pay, Lee has cultivated meaningful relationships with the children and genuinely looks forward to spending time with them. Lee said, “we have a really close bond. Even one of the kids and I have a secret code of eye winks and hand motions to communicate. Being with them is one of the best experiences so far of my freshmen year.” Thus, the general advice from those already a part of the programs is that if you want to make money, gain some useful skills, and have a good time, then seriously consider making the commitment. But at the same time, remembering to treat them as serious obligations where you will be held accountable by your supervisor is also key. We are all Barnard women, and working hard is nothing new, thus no one should feel discouraged to seek more information about the programs. Finally, when you arrive back to campus after your summer adventures, keep an eye out for posters, emails, and Facebook events promoting first time participation in these agencies. Plus, think about all of the things you could do in New York City with a little extra cash in your pocket. It is undoubtedly a win-win situation.

stop telling women to smile by hadar tanne edited by sheli page frank photography by spencer cohen illustrations by ella viscardi art direction by carina hardy

arch 15th, 2016 saw Hillary Rodham Clinton sweep victories in North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and Florida in the democratic presidential primary. As Clinton was giving her victory speech, NBC’s Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough tweeted what seemed to him to be an innocent remark, but which countless women recognised as the sexism they face every day: “Smile.You just had a big night.” The tweet prompted immediate backlash, most notably from Full Frontal host Samantha Bee, who responded with an intentionally non-smiling selfie. The reaction from women across the country went beyond the immediate situation from which it arose, sparking a discussion about this condescending sexism. The gravity of Scarborough’s remark arises not just from that incident or its influence on the current presidential race. It’s about the sexism women face in everyday life, often in ways we ourselves dismiss because we have been sociologically programmed to bite our tongue. It is astounding how many things we consider normal, from being whistled at and catcalled, to being told that what we are wearing is inappropriate, to being told by complete strangers to smile. While Scarborough’s tweet caused widespread backlash, that’s not to say it’s the first time the issue has been raised. Tatyana Faxlalizadeh, a Brooklyn-based artist, mounted a street-art series in fall 2012 actually named “Stop Telling Women to Smile.” The series was meant to highlight street harassment, portraits of various women were underlied by captions directed at their harassers. The reason that everyday sexism ought to be taken seriously is its very ex-

istence — remnants from a time in which actual laws dictated women’s lives, actions and behaviors, constant reminders that women today are still not treated as fully equal. These attitudes then bleed into professional lives, whether through overlooking women for promotions because we are “overly emotional,” the culture of sexual harassment in the office, or the very idea that someone can tell a presidential candidate whether or not she should smile. Scarborough responded to the backlash by explaining on Twitter that he does not “look at HRC as a woman.” In claiming that he does not judge others based on their gender, Scarborough is ignoring the fact that telling a woman to smile is an inherently sexist behavior. Worse, though, Scarborough is then also ignoring the still prevalent sexism Clinton is facing because she is a woman. While he may not understand the significance of telling a female public figure that she should smile, women who have experienced it can recognize prejudice when they encounter it, whether against themselves or against a qualified presidential candidate. It reminds people that Clinton is a woman without actually using the word. Experiences like this find their place on “the everyday sexism project,” a platform on which every woman is welcome to record her own experiences with sexism, with the goal to reduce not only the occurrences but also the stereotype that comes with speaking out about discrimination and demeaning comments — labeling the woman in question as “overreacting,” “uptight,” or “doesn’t know how to take a joke.” Being told to smile seems innoc-

uous — what could be wrong with desiring to see another person happy? But the problem is multi-faceted. While people respond differently to similar situations, many women choose to react similarly to the all-too-often occurrence of being told to smile. A Barnard first-year who wishes to remain anonymous said that she would most likely grant the speaker a half-smile and disengage, a tactic used by women every day in order to minimise risk to themselves. This sentiment is shared by many who speak of their experience. They’d rather ignore or extricate themselves from the situation, for fear of drawing attention or “making a scene,” or worse — for fear of escalation and actual violence. While a woman as well-protected as Hillary Clinton probably doesn’t have to fear violence if she doesn’t comply with comments of the like of Scarborough, too many women do. These things aren’t going to change overnight, but we can’t ignore the influence every single occurrence has on reinforcing the status quo. As Hilary Lips wrote in her article, Women and Leadership: A Delicate Balancing Act, “Opinion leaders such as journalists can cultivate sensitivity to the possibility that they are setting different standards of likeability and other interpersonal qualities when they publicly critique male and female leaders.” Joe Scarborough may not have meant the comment to be of a sexist nature, but no woman leaves her house desiring to be told what to do, how to dress, or how to behave. By penning such a comment about a prominent female figure Scarborough only highlights how prevalent such discrimination is in our world today.

in her words:

ADO PTI ON

“ I

sit in a cab on the way to La Guardia. So far, the ride has been silent until the driver looks up and asks where I’m from. “Alabama.” Surprised, he clarifies, “No, where were you born?” I sigh, “China.” He smiles. This is only the latest of a common occurrence. Maybe it’s the interna-

by Virginia Gresham

tional and not just racial diversity of New York that makes people here curious and comfortable to address my race. Certainly in the South, only few and not well-mannered people might ask me to justify how I came to be Asian and in America. My adoption altered my life. Yet, there is no precise moment where this shift is pronounced. Never was there a time at which adoption became a part of my identity, in-

stead the concept was ever-present. Now, having lived in New York for almost two years, I find myself explaining that I’m adopted at least once a week. So, do I mind? Imagine. Something that I was rarely actively conscious of now became my biggest determinate. Almost every category and label to which I now identify, I recognize as an extension of my adop-

Photography by Katherine Hanson

tion. Had my life taken a different turn, I would not today be Jewish. Had I been adopted by anyone other than my two mothers, or not at all, I would not have the benefits and uncertainties of growing up in an all-female household. I might not be so strongly liberal, and maybe not in conservative Alabama. I might not be as fortunate and privileged as I am. As I am continually asked to assert my adoption as part of my identity, it increasingly shifts into focus in understanding myself. Some short time after September 11, 1996, my biological parents made a choice: delivering me to the stoop of an orphanage in Hengshan, China. This is the beginning of my story. While adoption is the buzzword that defines me, almost more definitive is the essential experience beforehand. In order to be adopted, you must first be born and then orphaned, either by death or choice. I had always been a quiet and accepting child. I rarely, if ever, cried for attention. On January 12, 1998, as I was placed into my parents’ arms amid the screams of twelve other babies, I stayed silent and quickly fell asleep. This stoicism, as was later explained to me, likely developed through my time in the orphanage. There, babies outnumbered caretakers and comforting every cry was impossible. Likely a combination of nature and nurture, this response of quiet acceptance carried forth as I began to understand fully what it meant to be adopted. As my history before the events of January 12 is unclear, when I was

young my parents framed my story amiably. I was told that for some reason my biological parents were unable to care for me, that my arrival at the orphanage was a matter of necessity but my adoption was destiny. That was enough for me. My parents, the two women whom I call Mom and Ema, are my parents without a doubt. I have no desire to meet or even discover my biological parents. In the most genial and, I promise, not at all resentful way, they are nothing to me. Almost like the occurrence of my adoption itself, my biological parents are such innate, constant parts of my life that they are nothing compared to the complexities and variances of my present. And yet, both my biological parents and the adoption itself are, in fact, everything. They form the basis of my life. For every human being, genetics set life in motion.Yet their influence pales in comparison to the individual agency and experience of life that follows. For me, my biological parents and my adoption are like the genetics of the life and the me that was born on January 12, 1998. They determine me. But they cannot begin to rival the full, dynamic me who extends beyond the labels of identities. Back to the question. I don’t and I do — that is, mind talking about my adoption. I don’t because I am proud to share the differences of my life. While maybe I once imagined a more ‘normal’ life, I have come to accept the diverse string of identities I THE BULLETIN -

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give myself: the adopted Chinese daughter of two Jewish women from Alabama. This acceptance is even truer than the toleration of my infancy or the disinterest of my youth. I am who I am. This is also exactly why I do mind talking about my adoption. My minority-for-many-reasons background, which I often joke granted me instant college acceptance, is who I am, but only the simplified version. The adoption identity and my other labels that follow, distill me into something legible and digestible. I could write endless pages about adoption, but not adoption as the buzzword or the label, rather, the nuanced presence of it in my life experience. It is a word that covers the experiences of thousands and in just as many contexts. And because it may connote and mean so much to so many, I cringe then hesitate to define myself or a whole process with a singular word. While my race may be fair game for conversation, adoption retains a shield of privacy. After its assertion as fact, how I feel about my adoption is considered intimate. Further conversation, to the outsider, seems inappropriate. This discomfort often hinders the progression toward any deeper, more complex understanding. Adoption becomes trapped in this one dimension. Thus, often, the conversation turns and the label is affixed when I speak only two words: “I’m adopted.”

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Ov e @ Brh

earar d d

arn

Illu by Val stra erie tion J by S aharis ofia Da vis

“W

hat is a Barnard affiliated Facebook page you know?” “Overheard @ Barnard?” I found myself answering at a Barnard-themed Family Feud game. To my surprise, I was right, the most popular answer was Overheard @ Barnard. Sitting on that stage with my friends during Spirit Week I began to wonder, how did I get this far? How did this page I made as a joke in a dorm room with my friend become one of the most popular pages at my college? I often find myself joking that this Facebook page is the only successful thing I’ve done in my first year at Barnard because my humor is self-deprecating, but when I look at the page through another lens, there is some merit as to why it is popular. I created the page as a joke. I had seen posts by my friend Briallyn Mansell who quoted her friends using the hashtag “#overheard@barnard” and been the subject of a few of them. I was talking about these posts with my best friend who goes to Yale who told me that they had an overheard group on their campus. I thought, “Why not?” and with that,the page was created. As it increased in popularity, I added my friend from Yale to the group so he could see it; a few weeks later he told me had left the group—he had not

been ready for the level of honesty coming from women. I am a fairly crude and honest person but he had always considered me to be the exception of female humor, it was not until he was in the group that he realized that all people share this kind of humor. The page has really allowed me to see what students at Barnard (anyone who has ever experienced some part of their life as a woman) can be like in a space where they won’t be judged for what they say. As a female-passing, nonbinary person, people assume very strict gender roles when it comes to my humor. Needless to say when the inevitable crude joke about sex comes out of my mouth, people are surprised. But in Overheard @Barnard students are free to just be themselves--to talk about sex in ways society does not usually allow us to,to joke about the constant battles with oppression students have on campus. Other colleges with overheard pages struggle with bullying; their pages are a forum for hate. Overheard @Barnard, on the other hand, is a unique reflection of its students. It is funny, witty, smart, angry, activist, and totally Barnard. So how did this meme of a Facebook page become so popular? It did so by providing a safe space where students can be themselves. Barnard students creTHE BULLETIN -

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ate spaces for themselves that are incredible. This is one of them. After the success of this page I created another page called “Barnard Pay It Forward”. This less popular, but equally important, group is for when you are on campus and you can’t really leave your dorm to do the things you need to do. Whether it be you are sick, physically or mentally disabled, or just busy, the group is a way for you to use your fellow peers as resource to run errands for you. It is completely done on a volunteer basis. The group is not nearly as popular but actually works because of the community that Barnard is. My first year at Barnard was hard for many reasons, a main one being my mental health. But, this page and its success showed me that not only am I actually still able to be part of the Barnard community, but that my contribution is actually appreciated. I am proud of this page, despite its ups and downs. It might seem small and silly but Overheard @ Barnard is a large part of my time here. I just spent about two hours trying to find a good appropriate quote for this article but everything I’ve come up with is just a little to misandric and a little too sexually explicit—but that just about sums this up.

Characters At The Beach by Sydney Hotz in their laps and highlighters in hand, spring air makes that required reading less tortuous. Students have been waiting all year for the weather to warm up so they could escape their dorm rooms and Butler, and now that the time is finally here, they are definitely taking advantage of it!

2. The sunbathers

Whether the temperature is 45 degrees or 75 degrees you can count on the topless frat guys to be sprawled out on the lawn below the beach, soaking in some rays. While I’m not sure if their goal is to gain some melanin or some attention, they seem to be accomplishing both. Stay classy suntanners, don’t forget that SPF 30.

3. The gossipers

1. The studiers

In accordance with CU’s stress culture, it makes sense that a good portion of those sitting out on Low Beach are enjoying the sun and reading their textbooks. Binders

They pick a spot and settle in, ready to catch each other up on what they’ve been missing. The topics range from flirtations to classes to family and friends, but they never seem to be boring. You can tell a group of gossipers by their voice level: either whispering or laughing loudly.

4. The tourists

The most confusing group of Low Beach THE BULLETIN -

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goers. Usually in groups of 10+, usually each holding a camera and a CU campus map, and usually posing with or sitting on Alma. If you’re late for your afternoon class in Hamilton these are the people you have to strategically weave through on your way down the steps. The most confusing part: sometimes there are no college-aged children (or children at all).

5. The pensive

Seated on the high ledges of Low Library (although you never see how they get up there), they sit, chin in palm, contemplating the most complex mysteries of life. Are they sad? Are they happy? What lies inside the Ivy League mind? Perhaps, we will never know. All we know is that they truly like Low Beach.

Illustrations by Lexi Weber

pring has sprung, and the flowers aren’t the only things that are growing, so is the population of interesting people on the iconic Low Steps. Fondly known as Low Beach, when the weather is appropriate, and fit with it’s own Snapchat Geotag, every Barnard and Columbia student has sat here. But who are the classic Low Beach goers? Who are the groups of people who never leave Low Beach? We’ve done some investigation and have compiled a list of the 5 characters at the beach.

No Lawn, No Problem! by Juliana Kaplan

h, the beautiful glint of the tunnel in the spring sunshine. While the socalled tunnel, better described as an aluminum monster eating our lawn, isn’t going to vacate campus until 2018, students still want to study and hang out outside. If you want to soak in some rays while doing some bold beautiful studying, there are still plenty of spots to be found. Barnard has more green than just the steps to Milbank or the Quad. Here are a few of my favorites:

Milbank tables/benches

Photography by Sharon Wu

Ah, Milbank. So much prettier on the outside than on the inside. If you’ve ever wanted to study or enjoy some Liz’s Place coffee in an exotic 1920s garden that is conveniently placed in front of an ivy-covered building, Milbank has got you covered. The benches and tables are nestled enough in shrubbery that you get a real-enough outdoor experience, and it’s generally relatively quiet. This is a great outdoor spot to meet a pal for coffee before class. If you want to study at Milbank, keep in mind that there isn’t a huge amount of space to lay work out on. It’s generally better for a quick reading or some laptop work. Additionally, Barnard tours generally stop in front of Milbank, so be prepared for curious parents to stare at you as you work.

Broadway Malls at 122nd

Running from about 120th to 122nd, the Broadway malls are a hidden gem. While most crosswalks have some flowers or trees in the middle of Broadway, the crosswalk between 120th and 122nd has a small, vine-covered structure with benches underneath. Surrounded by trees and flowers, this little structure is a true urban oasis. Watch the city whiz by as you do your work. Play New York themed songs for the optimal experience. Moments from Joe’s and just down the street from Plimpton, this little spot is convenient to both Barnard and Columbia. However, as it is in the middle of the street, it can get noisy and smelly. Brave the elements of the city at your own risk.

Altschul deck

While the deck doesn’t have much furniture, it provides a stunning view of campus. Grab a Diana pizza and dine at one of their circular table while the THE BULLETIN -

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dulcet sounds of Barnard surround you. You can even peek into the Diana and wave at your friends. This is definitely a quieter spot, and one where many don’t choose to study or dine, so if you’re looking for some quiet time this is the way to go. While sheltered by Altschul, this spot receives a good amount of sun, and you can spread all of your notes around you if you have a big midterm coming up. If you choose to study here, be aware of tour groups. They also stop at Altschul, and you may have some anxious parents looking at all of your notes. Also, there’s minimal back support, so it may not be the best choice for a long-term study spot.

Grant’s Tomb

Located off Riverside Park, Grant’s Tomb has all of the makings of a DC-worthy national monument, but none of the crowd. Channel Blair Waldorf and sit on the steps with your flirty and fabulous friends. Wear a floppy hat and be a tourist in your own Riverside Park. You could even learn some history along the way. While the tomb has limited hours, open from 10-11 a.m., 12-1 p.m., 2-3 p.m., and 4-5 p.m., it’s gorgeous inside. You can claim it’s “for class.” Happy spring Barnard! Enjoy the nice weather!

by Briana Lee

ver the past few years, race-related issues have roiled college campuses across the country. Missouri University students were adamant about removing President Timothy Wolfe for mishandling race issues on campus and refusing to acknowledge the lack of diversity in the school’s faculty. Shortly after the Mizzou protests began, the campus at Yale University was rocked by a faculty member’s email encouraging tolerance of cultural Halloween costumes and an allegation that a frat party refused

entry to a woman because she wasn’t white. Both of these events ignited a string of protests among minority groups on college campuses across the country, highlighting simmering and clearly unresolved racial tensions. This past November, a professor at Kansas University, Professor Andrea Quenette, was asked about discrimination on KU’s campus. After observing that she had never experienced racism because she was a white woman, she said, “[I]t’s not like I see [expletive] spray painted on the THE BULLETIN -

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walls”. Her use of the n-word triggered an immediate backlash from a group of students. The university initially placed her on paid leave, but reinstated her after an investigation concluded that her use of the racial epithet did not violate university policies since she used it in an educational context. While acknowledging that “the word is offensive,” Professor Quenette maintained that “it was used in the context of retelling a factual event that occurred on another campus . . . [and] was not used in racial animus.”

Like members of any community, students of color want to be included, represented, and full partners in the life of the community. Collage by Sofia Davis

Professor Quenette may not have intended to do any harm, but she did. She used the n-word recklessly, without considering its potential impact on the group historically degraded, humiliated, and excluded by the word. And it is irrelevant that the word is used by many in the black community. Use of the n-word by members of the black community in no way justifies its use even for “educational purposes” by a white professor. Professor Quenette’s supporters attributed the students’ distress over

her comments to a history of being coddled. When people of color are underrepresented in a university community – whether in the student body, faculty or administration – and their viewpoint finds little expression in course syllabi, students of color can easily feel like outsiders who are only grudgingly, if at all, embraced by the larger community. And when white professors abuse their privilege and use racial slurs in their teaching, students of color may feel devalued and alienated from the larger institution. Like THE BULLETIN -

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members of any community, students of color want to be included, represented, and full partners in the life of the community. When students of color protest, they are not objecting to thoughtful discourse on issues relevant to their community. They’re simply seeking an acknowledgment that racism still permeates many college campuses in the United States and an action-oriented commitment to make college campuses more inclusive for everyone.

“I

Feminixed

wouldn’t consider myself a feminist. I’d never want someone to think I’m a feminist. There are so many parts of the whole feminist agenda that I don’t agree with,” she said. I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of my skull, in absolute awe of the girl sitting across the table from me. It’s 2016 and people are still scared to be called feminists? I was stunned into silence by her proclamation, and as I fumbled for words that could adequately counter her statement, she continued. “First of all I don’t hate men and I don’t think they’re evil. And I don’t think women are superior. I mean, I think women have come far enough already.” “Far enough already?” I thought, “Far enough?” My brain was listing off the dozens of statistics I’d read on the World Bank website a mile a minute, like how the infant mortality rate in low and middle income countries is still a full 5% higher for girls than for boys. Or that the percent of seats in national parliaments held by women has almost doubled in the past 18 years to reach a still dismal 22%. It seems pretty clear to me that women haven’t come “far enough.” I managed to mumble something about her needing to read the dictionary before standing up from the table and storming away. If I’d been more prepared for that conversation, I would have asked her how much she really knows about women’s rights in other countries. True, women in the US have pretty similar access to education as their male counterparts, but what about the developing world? Did she

by Claudia Levey

know that only about 63 percent of girls in low income countries complete primary school compared to over 90 percent in high income countries? Did that sound like “far enough” to her? If I’d been more prepared for that conversation, I would have referred her directly to the Oxford English Dictionary’s entry for feminist, which reads: “Feminist, n. An advocate or supporter of the rights and equality of women.” Where

in that definition is the mention of hating men? Or thinking that men or evil or inferior? There are people out there who advocate for changing the term from feminism to humanism, something that they believe suggests equality more than superiority of one gender over another. But what they don’t understand is that feminism in its true form is exactly what they say humanism is. The conversation I had with that girl that day felt eerily similar to one I’d had with the her a few days earlier, in which she tried to defend the All Lives Matter movement to me. I’d like to go back in time, and carefully THE BULLETIN -

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and calmly explain to her that advocating for the rights of one group does not mean all other groups are unimportant. In other words, Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean that other lives don’t, and feminism doesn’t mean that men are inferior. For example, a grand total of 46 out of the 860 Nobel Prize winners from 1901 to 2014 have been women. If I were to say, “Hey, I think women deserve more Nobel Prizes,” I’m not saying “Hey, those men didn’t deserve prizes for their achievements,” I’m just suggesting that maybe more women should have been nominated, or given a chance to be in the running. So when in the history of the English language did the word “feminist” get twisted to be this dirty word that people are scared to use? When did the connotation become less about equality, and more about superiority? The problem lies in the fact that some people in privileged positions care so much about treating all genders the same, they don’t realize that in order to get to a point where we are truly equal, some groups need a little boost. Don’t be afraid to be a feminist. Don’t be afraid to reclaim a term that vouches for equality, not for supremacy of one group or another. Don’t be afraid of the stereotypes that come with the name, and destroy the stigma by claiming feminism for what it really is: a badass ideology that people of any gender should support. *Statistics from the World Bank and the Nobel Foundation

Illustration by Charlotte Voelkel

P&O

backwards forwards Obama’s Visit to Cuba

backwards:

arack Obama is the first United States president to visit Cuba in 88 years. Whether or not that fact will have a long-term impact on CubanAmerican relations is unclear. The trip was a significant step forward in reestablishing diplomatic relations between the countries, but it remains to be seen how much progress has really been made. Obama visited Cuba for three days. According to USA Today’s precise itinerary of his visit, the President had one, roughly hour-long meeting with Raul Castro, an equally brief extended meeting with other American and Cuban officials, and met with dissidents and civil society leaders and the U.S. Embassy for roughly an hour the next day. The remainder of Obama’s time in Cuba was more symbolic: sight seeing with his family, attending a baseball game, visiting memorials and

by Sheli Frank

attending state dinners. All of this could have been a very diplomatic step towards renewed relations with Cuba, were it not for a speech Obama gave last December. According to CNN, Obama said in this speech he would only visit Cuba “if, in fact, I, with confidence, can say that we’re seeing some progress in the liberty and freedom and possibilities of ordinary Cubans...If we’re going backwards, then there’s not much reason for me to be there.” While Obama was in Cuba, dissident leader Antonio Rodiles told The Federalist, “dissidents were beaten, arrested, dragged through the streets, stripped naked, and threatened with the rape of their daughters.” Obama said nothing, and his visit became “a festival of repression.” As Cuba is clearly not showing progress in liberty and freedom, what message is Obama sending in his visit?

The rhetoric of Obama’s speeches in Cuba, in particular his many caveats that he is stating his opinion and cannot “force [Cuba] to agree” show a willingness on the part of America to compromise and re-establish relations with Cuba without requiring a change in the Castro regime’s human rights oversights. In short, Obama is holding out his hand to Castro and Cuba, showing a willingness to re-establish relations, but not insisting first on a change in Cuba’s severely oppressive politics. How significant Obama’s visit will be in future negotiations between Cuba and America remains to be seen, but the precedent he is setting is not one of change for Cuba, rather one of America’s tolerance of Cuba’s government’s atrocities in the name of renewed relations between states.

forwards:

here is no question that President Obama’s recent trip to Cuba was a monumental moment in history. Marking the first time in 88 years since an American president set foot on Cuban soil, the trip stands as a significant indication of the new direction of the AmericanCuban relationship. It confirms that President Obama’s and Cuban President Raul Castro’s 2014 diplomatic agreement to reopen ties between their countries remains relevant. But Obama’s trip was more than just a symbolic gesture. It was also a major step towards overcoming remaining obstacles that the U.S. and Cuba will have to face together. These obstacles include obtaining U.S. congressional approval for fully lifting a decades old economic embargo against Cuba, closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, and ensuring that Cuba

by Jessica Tschida will comply with human rights requirements. While it is clear that these major issues still remain in the way of full cooperation, Obama’s recent trip may have been just what was needed to make headway for resolve. The trip allowed Obama to discuss matters face-to-face with Castro, spur more public support, and even meet with Cuban dissenters. At the same time time, Obama’s visit also provided Castro with an opportunity to present his concerns about working with the U.S. on a highly publicized stage. President Obama commented ahead of the trip that these kinds of conversations are a crucial part of being able to move forward. “This a matter of us engaging directly with the Cuban people and being able to have candid, tough conversations. We will have more influence and have greater capacity to advocate on behalf of the values that we care about when THE BULLETIN -

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we’re actually talking to them,” he said. Even if discussion isn’t the only way that remaining issues need to be addressed, it is at least a good start and a faceto-face discussion that breaks a nearly 90 year old tradition of enmity might even be a great one. Additionally, when concerns and relations as great as these are at stake, it may be better to act sooner rather than later. Not taking enough action to foster the American-Cuban relationship could potentially put the two countries right back where they started. Any method that can counteract such a possibility should be taken seriously and weighed more heavily than concerns of prematurity. After all, doing something rather than nothing seems a better strategy when significant progress in the international system is at stake.

Tampons, Taxed

by Uma Gonchigar THE BULLETIN -

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“

Yet with recent legislation, governments are acknowledging that menstrual products are a necessity for half the population.

Y Illustration by Helen Guo

ou probably don’t think of tampons as luxury goods, but every day women pay sales tax on “nonessential” menstrual products. That could be about to change, as activists around the world challenge the tampon tax. The tampon tax debate in the U.S. centers on a sales tax on menstrual products in 40 of the 50 states. The tampon tax is not an additional tax on menstrual products but rather the classification of tampons and pads as taxable goods in most states. As women everywhere struggle with the financial, social, and physical costs of their periods, the sales tax on tampons and pads has gained international attention. In 2011, Kenya abolished the value-added tax (VAT) and import duty on menstrual products in order to raise women’s standard of living. Last year, Canada ended the goods and services tax on menstrual products. Recently, the E.U. decided to let the U.K. scrap the 5% VAT on menstrual products. Even President Obama weighed in. In a January interview, he said, “I have to tell you,

I have no idea why states would tax these as luxury items. I suspect it’s because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.” In most states, basic necessities are exempt from sales tax. But the exact definition of “basic necessities” is murky. New York state, for example, exempts milk, condoms, inhalers, and hearing aids from sales tax, but also candy sprinkles, newspapers, suntan oil, and dandruff shampoo. Meanwhile, school supplies, toothpaste, and bottled water are taxable. There are similar inconsistencies across other state tax codes. Yet with recent legislation, governments are acknowledging that menstrual products are a necessity for half the population. In January, California lawmakers introduced a bill that would end the tax. On March 15, the New York State Assembly passed legislation to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax. And on March 16, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously to eliminate the tampon tax.

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Despite this recent attention, the tampon tax isn’t a very high priority for most women. The tax has gone unnoticed for so long precisely because it’s so small. A more forceful debate related to menstrual products would question the staggering amount of money that women must spend to manage their periods. Pads and tampons are expensive, and manufacturers and retailers can charge more because women have few other options. Moreover, all of anti-tax activists’ hard work will be for nothing if retailers and manufacturers don’t maintain or lower the price of menstrual products. Last December, France cut the VAT on tampons and pads from 20% to 5.5%, yet prices have remained largely the same. That means that manufacturers and retailers have raised prices, most likely in the hopes of deceiving consumers unaware of the tax reduction. If states in the U.S. decide to remove the sales tax on menstrual products, they may need to intervene to ensure that companies don’t try to profit from the tax cut.

Hollywood in Black & White by Hai Ge

“I

’m here at the Oscars, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards. If they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even be here right now.Y’all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris.” This is how Chris Rock began his show, criticizing the Academy’s all-white list of nominees. He again referred to the lack of black people’s Oscar recognition later in the show. But when it comes to other minority groups, it seems okay that they are not represented at the Oscars— and when they are, it’s in a stereotypical fashion. In fact, Chris Rock invited to the stage three Asian kids wearing suits and

carrying briefcases, portraying them as the Academy accountants, playing on the stereotype that Asian people are hardworking and good at math. Chris Rock’s protest about the lack of diversity at the Oscars seems to only concern black people. Hollywood is in black and white only. Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and all the other minority groups have been overlooked and unspoken for. According to the 2015 population census, Hispanics, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans make up more than one-fifth of the American popTHE BULLETIN -

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ulation, yet not a single individual from these minority groups was nominated at this year’s Academy Awards. In fact, rarely do they show up on screen at all. While black actors have started to gain a foothold in the film industry, other minority groups have not received equal consideration. The Civil Rights Movement also raised awareness of black culture and rights, but not necessarily those of other groups. This is why comedians make fun of non-black minority groups’ stereotypes, while they are sensitive enough to not do the same with black people. The deeper reasons behind this

A&E

Photo Illustration by Art Board

social phenomenon couldn’t be identified without a thorough social study. But we may learn bits of information from Hispanic writer Richard Rodriguez’s book Brown: The Last Discovery of America. In the book, he calls himself “the third man,” standing between “black” and “white”, being “logically grey” or “at least a blur”. Hispanic culture, according to Rodriguez, is oversimplified as another aspect of the population that carries certain stereotypes, while the individuals within the group are actually diverse. Such a situation is experienced by other non-black minority groups, such as Asian and Native

Americans. The conversation on diversity has been so heavily focused on the plight of African Americans that the other minority groups are underrepresented in the society. Their voices are not properly heard. When you search “white dominant film industry” in Google Scholar, you see articles such as “The black image in the white mind: Media and race in America,” “Black Film, White Money,” etc., but no one cares enough to mention “brown” or “yellow.” Conversations about diversity should therefore be extended beyond simTHE BULLETIN -

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ply black and white. What we fight against should be the idea of racism entirely, not discrimination against one certain group. It is not okay to be sensitive to one minority group, but to continue mocking other ones. Hopefully, in the future, we will not only see one black host among white nominees on an Oscar stage; instead, we will see black, white, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American nominees, and definitely no Asian kid accountants.

The Best Finales Ever hard, play hard, and sleep with the same 80-year old adult magazine mogul, Hugh Hefner (or Hef, as fans will fondly remember). The two-part finale is sudden but unsurprising as we watch the Bunnies pack up for life beyond the grotto. Bridget leaves first to work on a travel program, followed shortly by Kendra who departs to pursue a budding non-Hef relationship. Most painful of all, though, is Holly’s exit nine years after she first moved into the mansion. Although it’s been years since we last saw the iconic blondes together, they will never be forgotten.

The Inbetweeners (2008 - 2010), The Camping Trip Americans insist on avoiding British programs and prefer to wait for their stateside counterparts. As a result, many have missed out on the funniest television show of all time. Will, Neil, Jay, and Simon are your average teenage boys who go on average adventures that all end with horrific, hilarious consequences. In the finale, Simon finds out that his family is moving to Wales, so the boys go on a camping trip as a last hurrah. Dirty texts are sent, their car is pushed into a pond, and they eat undercooked sausages with disgusting results. Warning: Do not watch this show after a meal.

A Different World (1987 - 1993), When One Door Closes… Part 1 and The Girls Next Door (2005 - 2010), 2 Transitions, Part 1 and 2 Set at the fictional HBCU Hillman Col-

I will fight anyone who tries to tell me that reality television is not “real” television and anyone who tries to argue that this was not one of the best non-MTV reality shows. It follows the adventures of Kendra, Bridget, and Holly as they work

lege, this iconic show follows a group of college students navigating their lives and falling in and out of love along the way. This NBC sitcom is strong, funny, and emotional, and the finale is no different. Everybody graduates with the job of their THE BULLETIN -

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dreams, and all the couples end up together in the happiest ever afters. Best of all, Dwayne Wade and Whitley Gilbert find out that they are pregnant and prepare to move to Japan, and… just thinking about the goodbye makes me want to cry.

Parks and Recreation (2009-2015), One Last Ride It is no surprise that the happiest show on television also had the happiest season finale. Feminist icon and head of the Midwest branch of the National Parks service Leslie Knope gets her old Parks gang together for one last mission. The episode is cheesy in the best way because every time Leslie touches someone, you see a flashback. Everyone has a happy ending, even if it is not the ending they thought they’d have. The best part of the episode is the secret that has been bugging me for over a year now — who ends up being president, Ben or Leslie? (Direct all theories to my Facebook inbox. I genuinely want to know.)

The Office (2005-2013), Finale At first, it was very difficult for me to decide between Parks and 7KH 2IÀFH because on paper, they are the same show. However, the longer I thought about it, the more I realized that it was never really a competition. When the show went meta in its last season and became a show about a show, the finale arrived effortlessly. Slept-on couple Dwight and Angela get their romantic ending. Michael Scott quietly returns, prompting the tears of long-time Office buffs. And the best part of the finale is when Kelly and Ryan run away together. It’s a perfect and fulfilling ending. (That’s what she said.)

Illustration by Helen Guo

e may be in the new Golden Age of Television. Film has tended to only tell the stories of straight, white men, and, more often than not, the stories are dry. Television is the future, filled with rich and varied representations of black, middleclass families, transgender mothers, and computer hackers of Egyptian descent. However, when one reflects on diversity in television, TV has always been lit. Sadly, with every great series comes a necessary end. A final episode can define a television show’s legacy, and even if the finale isn’t perfect, it is an episode all the show’s devotees refer to forever more. To save you the effort of trying to remember all the shows you watched when you should have been studying for the SATs, here is Alicia Simba’s Definitive List of the Best Television Series Finales. Spoilers ahead!

by Alicia Simba

NYCL

Barnard in the Outer Boroughs by Laura Blaszczak

es, Queens is the place to be. An oasis where you can find your truly ethnic self, Queens encompasses a diverse population of homeowners, amiable and rowdy school kids, and fabric stores. Food and events abound. Neighborhood strolls are sure to quell your Upper West Side qualms about SweetGreen’s pretension and Hudson Parkway pollutions. Written by a Queens insider since birth (yours truly), YAS QUEENS gives you all the updates to spend a better weekend in the heart of NYC, Queens.

niently located next to the food/art kiosks and performance areas. Landscape architect Gilmore D. Clarke, who is also responsible for the plan of Riverside Park, was commissioned to design the Queens icon for the 1964 - 65 NY World’s Fair. In this inspiring centerpiece, you will find the continents in jubilee as jets of NYC’s cleanest water, as rated by the DEP, dance along the globe’s perimeter. If you’re

Queens International Night Market — Opening Night Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page

Mark your calendars for the one and only Queens International Night. The event kicks off at 6pm on April 23rd at the New York Hall of Science in vibrant Flushing Meadows Park. Beautiful arts and crafts will be displayed at the outdoor festival to guide your eyes from one booth to the next. Make sure to bring your camera and capture all the cultures thriving in New York City. This night will definitely keep you warm and fuzzy in your tummy and heart with food and music from Brazil, Indonesia, Morocco, Romania, and many other countries. Beforehand, you might want to check out the Unisphere at the park and the Queens Museum, conve-

feeling adventurous, bring roller blades, skateboards, scooters, or bikes to maximize ground coverage. Flushing Meadows Park is huge and very serene on wheels!

Socrates Sculpture Park

Opening May 8th, LANDMARK at Socrates Sculpture Park will present eight public art projects that transform the physical ground and turf of the park. The highly-anticipated projects symbolically refer to the park’s trailblazing achieveTHE BULLETIN -

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ments in urban design. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Socrates reflects on its evolution from illegal dumping and former landfill site to a welcoming community of artists and gardens. Transforming the urban landscape, the projects at LANDMARK invigorate the institution’s reputation as an innovative environmental steward. Meg Webster’s groundbreaking Concave Room for Bees highlights LANDMARK’s open letter to environmental awareness. The earthwork cuts into the ground in terraced rings that furnish Queens native plants and pollinators. Bees encourage the public to experience the earth in its fertile powers amidst the city. After the exhibition, the soil will be raked and dispersed over the landscape of the park in order to replenish nutrient rich topsoil at the site. It’s a great place to step out of the Columbia bubble and gauge a glimpse of a cross section of the city — literally. May 8th is Mother’s Day so bring your mom, too! Have a picnic, enjoy the views, and appreciate the art.You’re on your way to insane cultural insights and new perspectives of the city. And if you’re staying in the city for the summer, be sure to check out their annual event — Literary Geographies: A Celebration of Queens Writers.

by Aiko Suyemoto

Dating someone with an actual job often encourages deeper conversations because it forces you to talk about topics other than school.

Photo Illustration by Art Board

here are over eight million people in New York City, so, in theory, finding a significant other should be a piece of cake. In reality, however, getting a date outside of campus is no easy feat. In 2016, apps like Tinder and Bumble have made it easy to find an admirer in literally a matter of seconds. Even the infamous bar scene has been rendered nearly extinct by the countless dating sites out there. Yet there are some rare instances in which people date outside of college. I’ve met a few guys at CrossFit, which, believe it or not, is not only great for overall fitness, it’s also a great place to pick someone up. Because classes are relatively small, you end up talking to your classmates quite a bit, especially if the exercises are team-based. And given the guy-to-girl ratio, there’s a pretty good chance a guy will ask for your number at the end of a class one day. I’ve dated a few guys from the gym, all with varying results. The worst date was a guy who said he was 28 but turned out to be 37. I foolishly tried to ghost him until we saw each other in the same class again a week later. Poor judgement there.

Yet the other dates I’ve gone on with fellow CrossFitters have been successful overall. One was a Columbia Law student, while another was a cinematographer. Dating someone with an actual job often encourages deeper conversations because it forces you to talk about topics other than school. Instead of commiserating over the pile of homework you left for Sunday night, you can talk about life after college and all that it entails. Plus, I think dating someone a few years older is never a bad idea since women are the more mature sex (in my opinion). Elina Bystritskaya BC ‘16 has had more success than myself, as she met her boyfriend Max at ballroom dance classes at Manhattan Ballroom Dance. And in true Barnard fashion, she was the one who initiated the relationship. “The class was held in a round robin style, so each man danced with each woman several times,” she explains. “After our third time of practicing the new steps together, I brazenly said, ‘it seems like we’re on a good roll here. Do you have a partner?’ He was very taken aback by my boldness (and later confessed that my looks had something to do with it too) and only awkwardly laughed in response.” THE BULLETIN -

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Regardless of his initial reaction, the two started practicing together, and realized what a perfect match they were--both on and off the dance floor. Elina believes dating outside of college “makes the relationship more serious from the start.” It also clearly defines the terms of the relationship, whereas in college you have to navigate the gray zone of being friends with benefits, or something more. And Elina agrees that dating an older guy is definitely beneficial to the relationship. “Max is older than I am, so dating him allows me to have a much more mature relationship than one with a peer at college,” Elina says. “Max keeps me grounded and doesn’t let me forget that college is not indicative of the outside world”. Although a relationship outside of college can be difficult to initially find, it’s well worth the effort. Elina is a strong advocate, saying, “In general, I think dating off campus is the best thing you can do for yourself, as it provides for a more serious relationship and one that is clear about the terms of the relationship.”

metamor phizing

metro polis

t was recently announced that a former public bathroom, abandoned for sixty years, will soon become a cafe on the Lower East Side. First thoughts: WHY? It’s not currently determined who is crazy enough to want to run this cafe. It would cost $4 million to turn this space into a functional bathroom again, with no estimate of how much more it would cost to make it a sanitary kitchen ready to cook up the “healthful” menu choices required by the city. While this NYC spot is not yet transformed from toilet to cafe, we researched other local spots that have been repurposed in unconventional ways.

1962 Andy Warhol’s Fire Station Art Studio When the Hook and Ladder Company 13 moved in 1960, the firehouse needed a new owner, and Andy Warhol stepped in. He bought the entire firehouse and made some of his most famous works there, including his portraits of Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley. It’s unclear who now owns the property, but 159 E. 87th Street is not abandoned today.

Beaux Arts RKO Bushwick Theatre Now part of the Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology, the theater, once one

of the most popular spots of the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s, was closed in 1969. Opened in 1911, the Bushwick Theatre held live vaudeville shows best described as a mixture of a concert, a burlesque, and a freakshow, fit with expertly trained animals. In 1930, a movie screen was installed and the theater switched to showing only films, foregoing live shows completely. The space became a church in 1970 until it was abandoned and renovated in 2004. The outside architecture remains as it was, aside from the removal of a few of the cherubs and the theater marquee. The inside, however, has been completely redesigned, fit with modern science labs, photography studios, and technology classrooms.

The Lowline A somewhat reverse Highline, the Lowline would redesign the underground Williamsburg trolley terminal into a public park, fit with underground trees and green spaces, grown using “remote skylights.” These skylights are new technology that refocus solar light from street level down to two underground levels, all by natural processes. The creators say this will not only be a park, but a place for visitors to think about future advances in technologies. The team is currently in negotiations with the City and the MTA and expects the project to open in 2020.

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The Queensway The LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch has been abandoned for 50 years, and the borough of Queens has decided it is time to change this. The Queens team intends to make the remnants of this railroad a multi-faceted park and marketplace. The expansive railroad track will be split into five sections which will be designated for walkways and bikeways, educational and recreational activities for the nearby schools, environmentally friendly installations, and modern parks. Just a few of the many exciting plans for the space include forest trails, batting cages, rock climbing, and learning centers. There is no set date for the opening of the Queensway.

Freshkills Park With plans to be completed in the next 30 years, Freshkills Park will go from a massive landfill to a 47 acre park. Freshkills will be the largest park to be opened in New York City in 100 years and will be almost three times as large as Central Park. This portion of Staten Island was once a marsh but became a landfill in 1948 and was the largest landfill in the world by 1955. In just three decades, we will be able to sit on 2,200 acres of green grass that was once a landfill receiving 29,000 tons of trash per day. If NYC Parks can successfully complete this mission, the L.E.S. bathroom will have no problem becoming a cafe!

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

by Sydney Hotz

New York City Records by Katherine Leak

n honor of the January blizzard that almost broke records for the city, let us take time to appreciate the other ways in which the city has gone above and beyond over the years, securing its spot as one of the greatest cities in the world (but maybe we are just a little bit biased). These following “firsts” and records that the city holds, both internally and nationally, can often get lost among the city’s bigger accomplishments, but it is important to remember the little things that make this place so unique.

1. First teddy bear on sale in America: After seeing a cartoon that portrayed Teddy Roosevelt as a sensitive and caring man having mercy on a sickly bear while on a hunting trip, toy store owner Morris Michtom petitioned the President for the use of his nickname for a new toy. Dubbed “Teddy bears,” the stuffed animals were first sold in 1903 in Brooklyn.

2. First municipal agency in the city: Illustration by Helen Guo

Established in 1845 as part of a number of infrastructure improvements for the city, the New York City Police Department worked to assist and protect the city’s growing population, and it is now the world’s largest police service

3. First pizzeria in America: 7. Largest Jewish population Lombardi’s Pizzeria was officially licensed in a metro area: by the City of New York in 1905 after pizza was transformed from a European staple into an American phenomenon by a local Italian immigrant. This birthplace of New York style pizza is still open today at 32 Spring Street.

4. Largest mechanical book sorter in the world: Located in Long Island City, this book sorter for the New York Public Library started work in 2010 to expedite and simplify the book sorting process and give patrons quick access to materials. On a given day, the sorter can sort 47,000 materials in only 7 hours.

After a long history with the city, dating back to the era of Dutch New Amsterdam, 13% of the nation’s Jewish population now lives in New York City (about 1.1 million individuals). This is mostly due to a growing birth rate in the Orthodox community and a rise in non-observant Jews.

8. Tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere: At 1,776 feet tall, the Freedom Tower now holds this record after opening in late 2014 and is the sixth-tallest building in the world. It is part of the World Trade Complex, rebuilt to commemorate the losses of 9/11.

5. Most photographed building in the world: 9. Narrowest house in the After research was conducted by Corcity: nell University in 2011 through extensive analysis of Flickr photos, the researchers concluded that the title of most photographed building in the world goes to the Empire State Building. It is also America’s tallest LEED certified building.

At about 9 feet wide, 75 ½ Bedford Street wins this award and was recently sold for $3.25 million (famous former residents include Cary Grant and writer Ann McGovern).

6. Largest snowfall in a day 10. First pasteria and espresso bar in America: for the city: Opened in 1892 as a small neighborhood This record for the city was set just this year, when 26.8 inches of snow were recorded on January 23rd, 2016. But that number is just 0.1 (!) inches short of breaking another record: that of total storm snowfall (set in 2006).

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cafe in Little Italy, Ferrara earned praise for the freshness of its baked goods. Now in its fifth generation of ownership, it is located at 195 Grand Street.