Misc.10.29.2020

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The Miscellany News October 29, 2020

miscellanynews.org

Vassar College’s student newspaper of record since 1866 Volume 154 | Issue 9

Admin and professors temper grading policy Alex Wilson Reporter

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his past March, the decision to close campus due to the spread of COVID-19 prompted a speedy foray into online learning, and with it a frenzied introduction to the many pitfalls of the virtual classroom. While many students, including those catalyzed by Nobody Fails VC—a student group pushing for a campus-wide nofail policy—pressed the administration to craft accommodating grading policies, administrators and individual faculty members implemented varying ranges of accomodations. Last semester, in the words of Registrar Colleen Mallet, was an upheaval. Thus, students were allowed to exercise the Non-Recorded Option (NRO), which reverts a student’s grade in a course to pass/fail if the grade falls below a threshold of the student’s choice. NROs from the semester would not count towards the maximum of four that students are allowed. Students could also withdraw from all their courses (taking a leave of absence) up until the last day of classes. For this year, administrators faced the challenge of adjusting to the new normal. This shift included crafting grading policies re-

flective of both newfound stability and the pervasive uncertainty of a pandemic-stricken world. Mallet believes that, compared to last semester, everybody was going into things a little more prepared. “So we would return to normal grading…while still realizing that there are a lot of challenges this semester,” she explained. So what exactly has changed? Students can still withdraw from all courses until the last day of classes or withdraw from individual courses until the last day of exams. Students are not required to maintain 3.5 units after their withdrawal. Courses can also be NROed up until the last day of classes (the NRO deadline used to be the end of the first six weeks). Now, however, NROs will again count toward the maximum of four over the course of a student’s time at Vassar. And while a decision has yet to be made by the Committee on Curricular Policies, Mallet cautions not to count on a note on our transcripts similar to that from last semester, which explained that “unusual” grading and enrollment patterns reflect the conditions of a global health emergency. One of the biggest policy changes, however, has taken place within the Economics Department—generally known around See GRADES on page 3

Above, Dutchess residents and Vassar students line up to vote at the Boardman Road Branch Library. Lucille Brewster.

Dutchess residents vote early Lucille Brewster

Assistant News Editor

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ven on a rainy Monday afternoon, a long line of voters wove around the Boardman Road Branch Library, the Dutchess County early voting site Vassar is shuttling students to this week. Voters waited about two hours to cast their ballots. Huddled in raincoats and sweaters, the energy among voters was palpable. Sydney Boyum ’24 shared that this was the first election he was

eligible to vote in since turning 18. “I am fired up.” he said. “I was frustrated last election when I was too young to vote, so I am excited to now.” Boyum expressed his intent to vote for Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Leanna Tang ’21, also voting in-person on Monday, was also ineligible to vote in 2016 and is excited to vote for the Biden-Harris ticket. Both Boyum and Tang explained that they chose to vote

in person instead of by mail because they wanted to confirm their ballots would be counted, as they were hesitant about sending in absentee ballots close to election day. Dutchess county residents voting on Monday expressed their feelings about the gravity of the presidential election this year. Michelle Brenner, a voter from Poughkeepsie supporting the Biden-Harris ticket, shared, “These are very troubled times. I never thought we’d be where See VOTING on page 9

Inside this issue

10 HUMOR

This week’s horoscopes have a slightly spooky bent.

12

OPINIONS

A columnist critiques Amy Coney Barrett’s judicial philosophy.

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NEWS

Check out our guide to who’s who on the local ballot.

Theater troupes struggle

Decades-long Plant of the Week exhibition continues Monika Sweeney Reporter

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Helen Johnson Columnist

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tudent theater is an integral part of campus life at Vassar. The sheer number of orgs that produce theater—seven—means that in some semesters, there is a show going up almost every weekend. The student theater world is a vibrant and busy community, and it is difficult to go through four years at Vassar without encountering it in some capacity. Founded in 1865, just four years after the founding of the college, The Philaletheis Society is the oldest student theater group on campus and the oldest campus organization. In addition to The Philaletheis Society (often shortened to Philaletheis or just Phil), there are six other student theater orgs on campus. Future Waitstaff of America (FWA), Merely Players and Unbound are the other producing orgs, meaning they produce the shows proposed by individual students and hold auditions open to the student body. Idlewild Theatre Ensemble, Shakespeare Troupe and Woodshed Theatre Ensemble are the See Theater on page 9

Plant biology laboratory technician Taylor Conte has selected a new plant to display in the Bridge building each week since her arrival to Vassar last fall, continuing a long-running tradition. Monika Sweeney/The Miscellany News.

hether you are cutting through the Bridge to get to Central Receiving, stopping there to grab a cup of coffee or planning to peer off the balcony and watch students do tricks on their skateboards, you should take some time to stop and smell the roses. Since her arrival at Vassar as the plant biology laboratory technician and greenhouse and phytotron manager for the Biology Department, Taylor Conte has meticulously set up a Plant of the Week exhibition each week since her arrival at Vassar last fall. “I love that [the project] strips away the intrinsic appropriation that once was heavily associated with plant collecting,” said Conte. She continued, “It showcases how valuable each individual species is to the world around it.” Students have begun to take notice. Allison Deutsch ’23 said, “It can be so hard to find little things to make us smile during this really stressful semester, but Plant of the Week is such a lovely way to remember the little and glorious things along the way.” Kyra HoffSee Plant on page 8


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