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The Miscellany News

Volume CXLVIII | Issue 10

December 3, 2015

Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

Community honors Transgender Day of Remembrance Jeremy Middleman News Editor

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Jeremy Middleman/The Miscellany News

n solidarity with victims of transphobic violence around the world, Vassar students and staff raised their candles and stood in silence. The vigil, held on Nov. 20 and cosponsored by the student group TransMission, the LGBTQ Center and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, was a memorial inspired by the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day of national awareness to commemorate all transgender lives lost to violence this year. The day was initially created to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color who was killed on Nov. 28, 1998. She was stabbed at least 20 times in the chest in her apartment by an unknown assailant. Her murder–like most anti-transgender

murder cases–has yet to be solved. As part of the ceremony, JD Nichols ’17 read aloud the names of the trans black women who reportedly died this year. After each name, a bell was struck and allowed to reverberate until there was again silence. Following the reading, LGBTQ Center Student Intern Christopher Rodriguez ’19 issued a period of silent meditation to mourn the victims. Rodriguez explained the proceedings of the vigil, writing in an emailed statement, “The names were read to bring awareness to the fact that these are actual people being killed by transphobia. Adding a name to the body makes it more personal and it makes people reflect on the fact that these are human beings who were hurt. The bell was rung after each name in order to See REMEMBRANCE on page 4

On Nov. 20, community members gathered in front of the Chapel for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Attendees were asked to recognize and reflect on lives lost this year to incidents of transgender violence.

Series navigates, learns Meals and spirit served up warm from student stories O Alan Hagins Reporter

Julia Cunningham Features Editor

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hat would it be like to attend school across an ocean from your home? VCTV seeks to explore the answers to that question from the perspectives of international students from all over the world in its new web series, “Lost in Translation” (LIT), that will be released at the beginning of next semester as a series of five episodes, each five minutes long.

Creator and executive producer of LIT Josh Pratt ’16 explained, “I had the inspiration for the project on the back of my own realization that after three years of living in America, there was still so much of it I was yet to understand.” Pratt set out to interview international students like himself who were coming to some of the same realizations. Ashley Hoyle ’18 [full disclosure: See LIT on page 7

n an unusually quiet afternoon in the City of Poughkeepsie last Thursday, Nov. 27, the Family Partnership Center downtown was awash with noise. 600 people sat laughing, talking, and, most importantly, feasting on a Thanksgiving meal cooked right here at Vassar in the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC). The special meal has been sponsored by Dan Hickey for the past 25 years in loving memory of his wife, Eileen Hickey, who passed

away from cancer. Very soon after Hickey began sponsoring the yearly Thanksgiving meal, Executive Chef at Vassar Bruce Harms and Head Chef Michael Conlin became deeply involved in organizing it. Harms has been a volunteer and leader at the Eileen Hickey Thanksgiving Dinner for over 21 years. When asked why he has returned year after year to help he said, “I keep coming back because it’s a great way to celebrate a holiday that is all about gratitude.” Hickey reiterated the spirit of

thanks Harms expressed when he spoke of Vassar’s contribution. He said, “It’s a huge help to use Vassar’s great facility, and then we’re so lucky to have a professional chef to lead everything.” The preparations for the meal, which begin Wednesday, Nov. 26, can be a time for volunteers from the Vassar and Poughkeepsie communities to bond. The contemporary interpretation of the Thanksgiving holiday centers around bringing people together. For Harms, that’s exactly what the See SOUP KITCHEN on page 6

CutThroat wages theatrical war VC Rugby advances to DII Final Four W Connor Mcllwain Arts Editor

ith finals just around the corner, many students are pulling out all the stops when it comes to self–care. For some, this includes the guilty pleasure of reality television. But a new series, which premieres today, doesn’t require much guilt–or even a Netflix password.

“I wish I remembered where I came up with this idea,” said Ryan Eykholt ’17. Together with Sarah Zimmerman ’16, he created a parody reality television show, “CutThroat.” “I was thinking about theatre programs that have cut programs,” explained Eykholt. “So kind of exaggerating that we decided to make a show where there are 10 students

who start at this theater program at a university. One by one they get eliminated reality show style, and only one of them can graduate.” Eykholt took the premise of the show to Zimmerman who helped narrow down the focus and assemble a team of writers. “We got together with people I have met in the sketch and broader community. See CUTTHROAT on page 17

courtesy of Sarah Zimmerman

Ryan Eykholt ’17 and Sarah Zimmerman ’16 created a television series that parodies reality television. “CutThroat” deals with the difficulties of theater programs as characters are eliminated one-by-one from graduation eligibility.

Inside this issue

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NYC perfect for quick day FEATURES trip ideas

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Poe knew the troubles of HUMOR Vassar students

Amreen Bhasin Reporter

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ntil about a year and a half ago, Vassar College senior Min Chen knew nothing about the sport of rugby. On Saturday, she will be traveling with the Brewers down to Furman University in South Carolina to contend for a national title, as the Women’s Rugby Team makes their second final four appearance in just three years. The program as a whole has enjoyed incredible success under the helm of Head Coach Tony Brown and Assistant Mark Griffiths. Coach Brown has headed the team for 20 years, chalking up 19 winning women’s seasons and 15 winning men’s seasons. This is a program that knows how to produce winners. This year’s senior class is entering the weekend sporting an incredible 51–13–2 record over the last four years. Now, they turn their attention to one of the few accolades they’ve yet to receive: a national championship. Success and a winning attitude is nothing new for the Brewer women. In fact, many of them have been in the same position before. Two years ago, in the fall of 2013, while the current crop of seniors were sophomores, many having just picked up the sport, the team traveled to Au-

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burndale, Fla. for their Final Four semi-final matchup against Notre Dame. That game remained close until the last 15 minutes saw the Brewers almost grab the lead before a costly turnover near Notre Dame’s goal line led to two quick tries against and the Brewers faltered, losing 39–19. They came out the next day and defeated Kutztown University 24–15, finishing third overall in the nation. Just a year ago, Kutztown struck back, knocking off the Brewers in the final second of the quarterfinal game. Nine players on this year’s team experienced both heartbreaking losses and are now ready to chase the title that has eluded them. Junior flanker Nathalie Freeman was a first year on that 2013 team and is nothing but proud to be back here again. “I am so happy to be going back to the Final Four. Last year, losing in the last play of the round of eight was so heartbreaking, and it has been so incredible to watch the team bounce back from that loss and play so well this season. I’m so proud of every single one of our teammates and being able to go back to the final four and show the nation what Vassar women’s rugby is all about means the world to me.” For Chen, team support is what See RUGBY on page 18

Devised play explores teenage life and love


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