The Miscellany News
Volume CXLVII | Issue 14
February 19, 2015
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Movement Activist panel confronts VC race issues resists A test culture Rhys Johnson News Editor
Bethan Johnson
Contributing Editor
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Sam Pianello/The Miscellany News
e are now currently in the biggest revolt against highstakes testing in US history,” Seattle’s Garfield High School history teacher, author of “More than a Score: The New Uprising Against High-Stakes Testing” Jesse Hagopian told Vassar students and Poughkeepsie community members on Thursday, Feb. 12. Hagopian was also a participant in the 2013 educational protests in which teachers refused to administer the mandatory state MAP exam. In his lecture and by his accounts of his participation in education activism, Hagopian challenged students and Poughkeepsie community members to see high-stakes testing as a method of de-funding public education and depriving young students of fair and equal learning opportunities, particularly those from impoverished and underprivileged social and ethnic backgrounds. The veteran teacher and union representative for the teachers at Garfield High School focused on his experiences working alongside students and teachers to prevent the students from forced high-stakes testing, which took the form of the MAP test. The MAP, or Measure of Academic Progress, is a computerized examination that assesses and tracks students’ understanding of mathematics and reading comprehension starting in primary school. It is one form of highstakes testing in a group that includes the SAT and the ACT among others. See SUPE on page 3
A panel of social activists representing students, faculty and alumnae/i hosted an open dialogue surrounding issues of diversity and inclusion between the Vassar community and the College, as well as within the movement itself.
The War on Drugs: Are there any winners? Claire Standaert Reporter
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now was falling heavily on Nov. 26 and everyone, including myself, was ready to get on the train and go home for Thanksgiving. Soon the doors opened with a loud swoosh. I sat down next to a boy listening to his iPod. After some time, he turned to me and asked how old I was. 18, I answered. When I asked him the same, he gave a much more complicated answer, revealing that he was 17 and had just gotten out of prison that day. At that point, I felt comfortable enough to ask the question that was burning in the back of my mind.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why were you in prison?” “Well, long story short, I could make 200 a week as a busboy, which I did for awhile, or sell drugs and make that much in a day. I’ve gotta support me and my mom. So I made the choice.”
injustice and systems of oppression that exist in the war on drugs. The war on drugs in the U.S. has recently become the object of intense debate and discussion locally and nationally, with opinions over whether it does more harm than good starkly contrasting on opposite ends of the spectrum. Lee spoke to me about one side of the spectrum. “The Drug Policy Alliance is a national organization and its prominent work is in ending the war on drugs. With that, we are especially trying to move the policy from the criminal justice system and move it more closer to a public health view.”
Flawed numbers It was 2 p.m. on a Friday and Melody Lee was expecting my call. The phone rang three times and was promptly answered. Lee, a policy coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance’s (DPA) New York policy office, spoke about the problems of racial
Kling blends activism with humor Emma Rosenthal Arts Editor
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Erik Quinson
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Rebecca Kling brings an educational and humorous edge to transgender activism. She will be hosted by multiple departments to create a far-reaching performance
Inside this issue
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Cauliflower pizza makes for a FEATURES sweet surprise
14 ARTS
London Actors bring Macbeth to Vasssar campus
According to the DPA’s statistics, the number of people arrested in 2013 on nonviolent drug charges was 1.5 million. Lee suggests these numbers are the result of a flawed system. “Where we are currently, we see that with the war on drugs in place, drug use has not gone down, it is actually more pure and accessible now than before the war on drugs was instituted. In fact, what we are seeing is it has fueled mass incarceration.” Not only is mass incarceration for petty crimes an issue, but racial discrimination continues to plague See PRISON on page 8
Athletes: more than just haircuts Assistant Sports Editor
courtesy of Rebecca Kling
onversations surrounding issues of gender and sexuality might not be the easiest to have. Humor, though, often works as a filter through which these topics can be made more accessible. Rebecca Kling, a transgender artist, brings humor and education into her multifaceted performances and will be performing her piece, “Uncovering the Mirrors” at Vassar in the Rocky 200 Auditorium. With support from the Women’s Studies Program, the Campus Life LGBTQ Center, the Dean of the Faculty, the Africana Studies Program, the American Studies Program, the Drama Department and the English Department, three Vassar faculty members set in motion the plans to host Kling on Feb. 25. Director of the Women’s Studies Program and Associate Professor of English, Leslie Dunn was one of the instrumental faculty members to organize this event and wrote in an emailed statement about Kling’s upcoming performance. “Rebecca is coming to Vassar as part of a ‘The Glittery Armario,’ a series of performances by queer and trans [people] of color artists, organized by Elias Krell and Judy Jarvis. It was Eli’s See KLING on page 16
midst the troubled relationship between students and the College’s current leadership surrounding issues of diversity and inclusivity, Professor of English, writer and social activist Kiese Laymon hosted an event in Rockefeller Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The gathering was meant to serve as an open conversation between activist voices on campus and students about intersectional justice and the Administration’s failure to make observable progress towards solving such problems. The conversation began with short speeches from the speakers on the panel, which included Laymon, student Storm Vonhundley ’17, alumna Rachel Gilmer ’10 and Professor of Political Science and Co-Founder of the African American Policy Forum Luke Harris. Although he was unable to attend See PANEL on page 4
ports teams are some of the most closely knit groups in Vassar’s community. From the cross country’s loud library table to swimming’s decision to dye their hair before states, Vassar’s teams are there for one another, regardless of how ridiculous or obnoxious they may appear. The process of training for a sport is hard, physically and mentally. The risk of failure at a game, meet or race is something that weighs on the mind of any athlete; a loss on the weekend can set the tone for the rest of the week. On the other hand, a win can make you see the world through rose-tinted glasses. Sophomore and one of the captains of the volleyball team Trey Cimorelli wrote in an emailed response, “It’s easy to come together and enjoy spending time together as a team when things are going well. It’s harder when things aren’t going well. That’s
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what helps build the relationships on the team the most.” Senior captain of the cross-country team Andrew Terenzi reflected, “During really hard work outs, which can last a long time, we tend to pack up and have to work hard to stay together, and when everyone’s working so hard it’s a real bonding experience.” The commitment that teammates show to one another is absolutely essential. Terenzi’s comment about working hard covers the aspect of communal spirit. What he doesn’t mention is the competitive nature that is instilled when one has to keep up with his teammates. Senior volleyball player Taylor Mosley wrote in an emailed response, “Sometimes practice can be intense because we are constantly competing with and against each other.” Mosley fills in what Terenzi left out. Teammates are consistently challenging each See BONDING on page 18
Men’s Tennis swings into their SPORTS spring season