The Miscellany News
Volume CXLVII | Issue 4
October 3, 2013
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.com
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
VSA acts on Senior Warner runs for office Conference problems of W joins female exclusion minorities Eloy Bleifuss Prados
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Cassady Bergevin/The Miscellany News
ast Thursday, Sept. 26, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) formed the Vassar Student Association Review Committee (VSARC). The committee, primarily composed of elected students but open to any interested students, was charged with organizing a comprehensive review process through which it hopes to achieve better understanding of issues regarding fairness and representation of the VSA. Ben Morse ’14, Terrace Apartment (TA) Treasurer, was a leading voice in the newly formed VSARC and spoke to the ways in which the committee hoped to operate. “This committee is reviewing the way that the VSA is structured… and seeing how the different branches interact with each other and who they’re trying to represent,” Morse explained. “For example, if you’re sitting on the Committee for Inclusion and Excellence, are you able to represent your constituents as well as you could, or are we missing something?” Morse continued, grounding the idea of the committee in specific terms. “We know that people who sit on Joint Committees don’t have email lists, so it’s hard for them to reach out and talk to their constituents. Maybe that’s not the best way for them to be set up,” he said. President of Raymond House and VSA Council Member Ramy Abbady ’16 echoed See VSARC on page 4
hat does it take to pop the Vassar bubble? How about running for elected office? Seth Warner ’14 is campaigning to be Legislator for Dutchess County’s Sixth District, which includes parts of Vassar. Democratic nominee Warner is up against three-term incumbent Republican Angela Flesland in the Nov. 5 elections. Warner, a political science major, described his decision to
for County Legislator typically sees a low turnout of under 2,000. Warner’s opponent Angela Flesland won her seat in 2007 by only a little over 70 votes. “Given the low turnout, it’s a toss-up. And I like those odds,” said Adam Eichen ‘15, a campaign organizer for Warner. Alexis Grems ’14, another campaign organizer, said the their goal is to get 200 students registered and to the polls on election day to vote for Warner. See WARNER on page 8
seek office as one of giving back to the community that had supported him during his education. Said Warner, “I realized Poughkeepsie had invested in me, and if I were going to be honest I ought to invest something back into Poughkeepsie. I ought to do something to do the best I could and running for office makes sense.” The race will be close, and Warner believes he he has a shot at winning. A local election like the one
Maxelle Neufville ’14, Kristopher Yim ’14, Mai Bresnahan ’14 and Chloe Tonsall ’14 discuss local issues with candidate for Sixth District of Dutchess County Legislator Seth Warner ’14. The election will be in November.
Nikki Lohr
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ast Friday, Sept. 27, six students left the Vassar and journeyed to Worchester, Mass. where they attended a Women of Color Conference. The three-day event, titled “Sisterhood: Who Am I? Who Are We Together?” was comprised of workshops with topics ranging from stereotypes of black women in reality T.V. to the experience of attending predominantly white colleges. The weekend boasted several lectures by speakers like Rev. Sarai Rivera, the only councilwoman of color in Worcester and Lisa Wong, the first Asian-American mayor of Fitchburg, Mass. The conference took place at the College of the Holy Cross and was sponsored by CHAS Consortium on High Achievement and Success). CHAS promotes success among college students of color through programs and events like the Women of Color Conference. Begun in 2000, CHAS is now has a presence in 26 liberal arts schools across the country. Partner schools include Pomona College on the West Coast, Oberlin College in Ohio, and, of course, Vassar College right here in Poughkeepsie. The CHAS “Black and Latino Males Conference” will be held this year at Vassar from November 15 to 17. But last weekend’s event was CHAS’s first conference See WOC on page 7
Men’s soccer takes aim even higher Famed British chorus to serenade Skinner T Jonathan Safir Guest RepoRteR
he Vassar College men’s Soccer team has set the bar high in past years, and the program has not had a losing season since 2006. Notably, and more recently, the Brewers are coming off of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances via the automatic bid in 2011 and an at-large bid in 2012. When a team is 9-4-3 in Liberty League play for the past two years—which includes a conference tournament title and a regular season title—expectations will be high.
Returning Second-Team All-Liberty League performer and senior captain Evan Seltzer admitted to internalizing this expectation. He expects, “[this year’s team] out-perform last years.” Seltzer also believes his team will “advance further in the NCAA’s despite losing some key seniors to graduation.” Senior captain and goalkeeper Ryan Grimme expressed similar sentiments about what he expects out of this season. He said in an emailed statement, “I have the highest expectations of all four of my years here at Vassar.”
The team have not gone unscathed during non-conference play. However, captains Grimme, Seltzer and senior Juliano Pereira all believe that early struggles will help in the long run. Pereira admitted that “[The team] would like our record to be a bit better at this point in the season given the competitiveness of qualification for the NCAA tournament. That being said, our team is fully prepared and excited for Liberty League play. We feel that given the strength of our league, we have an opportunity See SOCCER on page 18
courtesy of Stile Antico
Alec Feretti/The Miscellany News
Junior Zack Nasipak of men’s Soccer in action against Skidmore College this past Saturday on September 28. Nasipak, a defender on the team, is in his third year. Men’s soccer seeks to live up to high expectations this season, standing at 5-3-2
Inside this issue
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The best option for filling open OPINIONS Davison seat
15 ARTS
Krawiec never content with own vocal prowess
Renowned British vocal ensemble Stile Antico will perform “Treasures of the Renaissance” in Skinner Hall of Music at 3 p.m. as part of their U.S. tour. their six-concert tour in the United Margaret Yap States this month. It will feature RepoRteR Stile Antico’s 12 singers, with one replacement to its usual bass line. ailing from Britain, the GramThe term “stile antico” literally my nominated, highly acmeans “old style,” referring to the claimed vocal ensemble Stile Antiseventeenth-century approach of co will take the Skinner Music Hall Renaissance church composition. stage on Sunday October 6. Indeed, the group focuses on works The singers will perform a conthat are even in rhythm and strictly cert titled “Treasures of the Renaissance” at 3 p.m. as a part of See CHORUS on page 16
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19 SPORTS
Start of NBA season can’t come soon enough