The Miscellany News
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Clark Xu
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Loeb exhibit revives French fashions Andrea Yang
& Francophone Studies (FFS) Susan Hiner with the assistance of Emily Chancey ’18, the exhibit showcases a diverse range of media such as prints, drawings and photographs in various styles. The artworks transport one to another era and offer insight into the life of French people from different status and social backgrounds. Hiner revealed the secrets behind the making of “Accessorizing Paris” and acknowledged that it has been See FASHION on page 6
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
Exhibition “Accessorizing Paris: Fashion and Art in the Nineteenth Century” is currently on view through March in the Focus Gallery at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. Juxtaposed with Chinese landscapes in the neighboring room, “Accessorizing Paris” provides a snapshot of the French fashion culture and allows viewers a glimpse of the past. Organized by Professor of French
Stroker defies ableist limitations Matt Stein
ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR
When Ali Stroker was growing up, she had a dream of being on Broadway. Already a challenging feat, Stroker’s goal seemed even further away since she was confined to a wheelchair, having been paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident when she was two years old. Nevertheless, in 2015, Stroker became the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway, originating the role of Anna in Deaf West’s revival of “Spring Awakening,” achieving her dreams and defying the odds. On Sunday Feb. 11, actress Ali Stroker will be headlining the 16th annual Modfest at 3 p.m. in the Martel Theater. Stroker will give a performance followed by a discussion with Professor of English Leslie Dunn and recent graduate Christian Lewis ’17. Tickets are available through the Vassar Box Office. Co-directed by Christine Howlett and Tom Pacio, Modfest’s theme this year is “Adapting.” Howlett is Associate Professor and Chair of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Pacio is Interdisciplinary Arts Coordinator of Creative Arts Across Disciplines. Pacio explained why Stroker’s artistry and advocacy made her the perfect fit to headline this year’s Modfest: “Ali is a very successful performer and activist, as her bio will show. Her message, ‘Make Your Limitations Your Opportunities,’ seemed a perfect fit for the Adapting theme
Courtesy of Brigitte Jouxtel via Vassar College
to Vassar last year (Harvard Business School Faculty and Research, “Lauren A. Taylor”). Bradley and Taylor’s research identified a larger ratio of spending on professional healthcare to total health spending in the United States than in any other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country. Stated in dollar terms, the differences between the U.S. and other OECD countries are quite drastic. Bradley clarified, “In the U.S., for every $1 spent on healthcare, about $0.90 is spent on social services. In the rest See BRADLEY on page 4
In the meditative evening glow of the Class of ’51 Reading Room, President of the College Elizabeth Bradley addressed a lecture about her book “The American Healthcare Paradox: Why Spending More is Getting Us Less” to the campus community on Monday, Feb. 5. The book, which was co-authored with Lauren A. Taylor, was published in 2013. Taylor is currently a doctoral student at Harvard Business School, and previously studied public health at Yale University, where Bradley taught for many years before coming
Volume CL | Issue 12
February 8, 2018
Bradley speaks on healthcare reform
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Broadway actress Ali Stroker, renowned for her fearless defiance of ableism within the world of theater, will perform at Vassar on Feb. 11. for 2018. My hope is that different people will connect to different parts of her story and journey. Some of it is very clearly related to the theme, while other aspects may be more personal to each audience member who attends. I think that is part of the magic of live performance—each person ‘adapts’ what they see and hear to their own experiences and points of view to make it personal.” Stroker has defied the assumptions of someone living with a disability. In 2009, she became the first actress in
a wheelchair to earn a degree in Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and in 2012, Stroker was a contestant on “The Glee Project,” finishing the show as a runner-up and making an appearance on “Glee.” In 2014, Stroker appeared on the MTV comedy series “Faking It.” She has given solo performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and New York’s Town Hall and made concert appearances at Lincoln Center. See STROKER on page 14
Queer love poignantly represented Doctor guilty of assault Sasha Gopalakrishnan ARTS EDITOR
“Not only a symbol of stability, we are the ‘go to’ couple for both our families and our friends alike…But in 2008, as the only same-sex couple, we were the ones without the federal rights. Those who were on their second, third and fourth tries at lasting relationships had more rights and recognition than we did, and it all seemed so unfair,” reads the introduction of photographer B. Proud’s culmination of 10 years of work, “First Comes Love.” A riveting collection of photographs and stories of enduring LGBTQ+ relationships, the “First Comes Love” project, along
with being a published anthology, is a traveling exhibition that has now made it to Vassar. It is a project that aims to celebrate the trials and triumphs of these relationships, represent their beauty and complexity and, ultimately, showcase how the status of a relationship, LGBTQ+ or not, really has no bearing on what comes first—love. While 34 of B. Proud’s portraits will continue to be on display in the Palmer Gallery till Mar. 5, 2018, an opening reception, featuring an appearance and book signing by the artist herself, took place in the gallery on Feb. 1, 2018. With members from the Vassar community as well
as the larger Poughkeepsie community in attendance, the reception was an opportunity for viewers to engage with the artist herself, while simultaneously immersing themselves in stories that highlight the sheer multidimensionality of relationships. Representing love across boundaries of race, class, sexuality, age, access and more, the show had the overwhelming impact of depicting a breadth of human experience, as people delved into what it meant to be romantically involved with another person—what it meant to take on another’s good times and bad times as one’s own, to share moments and See LOVE on page 16
Sumiko Neary/The Miscellany News
“First Comes Love,” a travelling exhibition, is a project by photographer B. Proud that celebrates the endurance of long-term LGBTQ+relationships. The moving portraits are on display in the Palmer Gallery from Jan. 25 - Mar. 5.
Inside this issue
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Mock Trial takes journeys with aspiring FEATURES attorneys
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Columnist discovers the science OPINIONS behind lovers
Kelly Pushie
GUEST REPORTER
“I’ve just signed your death warrant.” These resonating words came from Judge Rosemarie Aquilina after a long week of testimony, as young women stood up on the podium and recounted chilling experiences of sexual assault from USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University sports physician Larry Nassar. Two weeks ago, Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison after pleading guilty guilty pleas to sexual assault over the past two decades (CNN, “Larry Nassar sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for decades of sexual abuse,” 1.24.2018). This week, Nassar was sentenced to another 40 to 125 years by a Michigan judge in a second trial (NBC News, “Larry Nassar gets another 40 to 125 years in sex abuse case,” 2.5.2018). Over the course of seven days in Nassar’s first trial, 156 young women lined up to deliver their victim impact statements. Their testimonies explained how they would go to Nassar to receive treatment for injuries. Nassar then sexually assaulted victims under the guise of a form of “treatment,” through fondling and digital penetration (Reuters, “Ex-USA Gymnastics doctor gets up to 125 more years in prison for abuse,” 2.6.2018). The court only expected to hear from 88 victims, but as the women began giving their statements, more women started to come forward (CNN, 2.5.2018).
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The 156 testimonies do not even cover all of the women Nassar abused. In total, Nassar has been convicted of sexually assaulting 265 women and young girls, and there could be countless more who have yet to come forward (NBC, 2.5.2018). One of the women who has stepped forward is Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. Weeks ago, Biles gave statements to media explaining Nassar’s abuse towards her and fellow teammates. However, Biles was not ready to attend Nassar’s sentencing, adding that it would be stressful for her, especially since she is still in Olympic training at this time. “If I went there I think it would take me back, and I’m trying to move forward,” said Biles (CNN, “Simone Biles: I wasn’t emotionally ready to face Larry Nassar again,” 2.1.2018). The first woman to speak at the trial, Kyle Stephens, explained the overwhelming impact sexual abuse can have on a person. “Sexual abuse is so much more than a disturbing physical act,” Stephens said. “It changes the trajectory of a victim’s life, and that is something that nobody has the right to do” (CNN, “Victims confront Larry Nassar in court: ‘Little girls don’t stay little forever,’ ” 1.16.2018). After hearing the victims, Nassar issued a statement of regret. “There are no words that can describe the depth and breadth of how sorry I am for what has occurred,” Nassar stated. “An See NASSAR on page 18
Multimedia exhibition has political ambition