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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-

15 ARTS

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

The Miscellany News

Page 2

December 3, 2015

Editors-in-Chief Palak Patel Noble Ingram

Senior Editors Anika Lanser Rhys Johnson

News Features Opinions Humor & Satire Arts Sports Photography Design Online

Jeremy Middleman Julia Cunningham Emily Sayer Zander Bashaw Connor McIlwain Yifan Wang Zach Rippe Sam Pianello Sarah Dolan Elizabeth Dean

Crossword Editors Alycia Beattie York Chen Collin KnoppSchwyn Assistant News Eilis Donohue Assistant Design Charlotte VarcoeWolfson Assistant Copy Jackson Ingram Assistant Social Media Hannah Nice Web Master Andy Carrera courtesy of James Falino

James Falino ’17 took this sunrise photo when he arrived in La Paz, Bolivia as a part of his Study Abroad program. To read more about James’ travels and JYA experiences, visit farandaway.miscellanynews.org!

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December

Thursday

Bechtel Lecture

5:00pm| CCMPR | Education Dept.

The Separation Film Screening 7:30pm| Taylor 203 | ViCE

Park Closes After Dusk 8:00pm | Shiva | Unbound

Love and Information

8:00pm| Martel Theater | Drama Dept.

Landlady/Off Drugs/Stitched in Blue 9:30pm| Mug | ViCE Jazz

Cut-Throat Premiere

10:00pm| Taylor 203 | VCTV

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December

Friday

Women of Color Coalition Dinner 6:00pm | CCMPR | LGBTQ Programs

FlyPeople’s Works in Progress Show

7:00pm | Kenyon Fergusson Dance Theater | FlyPeople

Park Closes After Dusk 8:00pm | Shiva | Unbound

Love and Information

8:00pm| Martel Theater | Drama Dept.

99 Nights

8:00pm| Aula

Vassar Jazz Concert

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December

Saturday

Swinter Fair

1:00pm| Villard Room | Noyes House

Vassar College Madrigal Singers

December

Sunday

VSA Council

7:00pm | Main MPR | VSA

Lessons and Carols

7:00pm| Chapel | RSL Office

3:00pm| Skinner Recital Hall | Music Dept.

AirCapella Winter Concert

Basketball (M) vs. Hamilton

Paper Critique

4:00pm| AFC Gym | VC Athletics

Park Closes After Dusk

9:00pm| Rocky 200 | AirCapella

9:00pm | Rose Parlor | The Misc

Come tell us all about our typos!

8:00pm | Shiva | Unbound

Love and Information

8:00pm| Martel Theater | Drama Dept.

The Nightmare Before Finals

8:00pm| Skinner | Music Dept.

8:00pm| Sanders Auditorium| Barefoot Monkeys

The Nightmare Before Finals

Last Five Years

8:00pm| Sanders Auditorium| Barefoot Monkeys

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8:00pm| Kenyon Ckub Room | FWA

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Reporters Amreen Bhasin Ashley Hoyle Sieu Nguyen Sabrina Oh Derek Sonntag Matt Stein Winnie Yeates Columnists Nick Barone Jimmy Christon Penina Remler Sarah Sandler Josh Sherman Patrick Tanella Design Christa Haryanto Klara Kaufman Scarlett Neuberger Talya Phelps Samana Shrestha Copy Laura Wigginton Noah Purdy Claire Baker Steven Park Rebecca Weir Sophie Slater Sophie Deixel Jessica Roden CORRECTION POLICY The Miscellany News will only corrections for any misquotes, resentations or factual errors for ticle within the semester it is

accept misrepan arprinted.

December 3, 2015

NEWS

Page 3

Animal rights conference calls for intersectional activism Eilis Donohue

Assistant News Editor

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courtesy of Vassar Animal Rights Coalition

assar has a long history of student activism, a history perpetuated by organizations like the Vassar Animal Rights Coalition (VARC). By bringing prominent activists to speak on campus and by mobilizing student protests, VARC enjoyed relative successes in bringing non-human animal justice to the broader campus consciousness in the 1980s and early 2000s. The group is now reaching out once again beyond Vassar to gain support and insight from fellow animal rights activists around the world.

The third annual Students for Critical Animal Studies Conference was held on Nov. 20-21. This year’s organizer, Kaden Maguire ’16, explained, “The idea is to make it so that students have the opportunity to present work that they’re doing in their studies rather than professors or professional activists presenting work that they are doing as their career. Because they have the experience, it tends to allow them to dominate.”

The first SCAS conference was organized by Rockwell Schwartz ’15 in 2013, in conjunction with leader of the Institute for Critical Animal Studies Anthony Nocella. “The ICAS is an organization dedicated to an academic examination of the issue of the non-human animal, and it is intended to look at this issue in a way that other academic disciplines haven’t exactly given it the attention it needed in the past, in a similar vein as critical race studies,” explained Maguire. “The goal is to ideally have conferences and bring people together through academia to discuss all of the different intersections of the non-human animal in our social and cultural contexts.”

The conference began with a discussion of the event’s origins, the history of animal rights activism at Vassar and current issues on VARC’s radar, such as the semi-regular deer cull on the Vassar Farm. They also traded ideas about improving student activist tactics. The discussion concluded that Vassar organizations struggle with mobilization due to the lack of a strong activist culture on campus. The group also agreed that spurring activism on campus is difficult not only because stu-

dents are busy with classes and extracurriculars, but also because they may be wary of backlash from the administration, which Schwartz experienced when organizing the first conference.

The next day students got a chance to implement their ideas on effective activism, during a demonstration at BurgerFi restaurant. According to Schwartz, the students were inside the restaurant for a matter of seconds before police were called. She asserted that although they would have had to leave when asked, the group had a right to protest in the restaurant. VARC members also protested there last year, criticizing the restaurant’s claim that they are environmentally friendly. Schwartz explained, “BurgerFi is a restaurant that has tried to market its product as progressive, but they don’t want their customers to think about the environmental issues.”

Saturday’s panels featured talks by Vassar students Alessandra Seiter ’16 and Maguire, as well as several outside speakers, each speaking about their area of expertise in relation to CAS. In line with the conference’s aim to elevate animal studies to the level of other academic subjects, Brooklyn artist and graduate student at CUNY Jan Descartes spoke about the use of animals in art. In her talk titled “Pleasure in Domination: The Role of Artist/Viewer in Jannis Kounellis’ ‘Untitled (12 Horses),’” she discussed several controversial art pieces featuring the death or harm of animals.

“Historically, art is built on the backs of animals,” she began. “Animal byproducts are used for various parts of the art-making process.”

Descartes also addressed the fragility of the line between effective and offensive activism.

“Animal rights activists entered the exhibit [‘Untitled’] on the penultimate day, with signs reading, ‘It’s not art, it’s animal abuse,’ and ‘End modern slavery.’ While animal rights activists were doing something, it’s problematic and inappropriate to use language such as slavery, [which] suggests a lack of intersectionality on behalf of the protesters,” she acknowledged. “It does no good to use polarizing language that only serves to fracture the distance between animal rights campaigners and their focus.”

On Nov. 21, students demonstrated outside BurgerFi against questionable food collection practices as part of this year’s Critical Animal Studies Conference against animal injustice.

PhD student of Sociology at the University of Basel Livia Boscardin also addressed the issue of effective, appropriate activism in her talk entitled, “The political ecology of meat: Topical facts and startling aspects of the animal-industrial complex.” She remarked, “Sure, it’s really nice to stay in our small, vegan-cupcakes wonderland...but there is a global reality of exploitation of human and non-human animals.” To her, activists should be less concerned with details like how many people they have turned vegan, and more invested in the intersectionality of systematic animal oppression with other issues like workers’ rights, racism and classism. She said, “Be less arrogant, be more self-reflective and listen and learn from other people, and also help them in their causes.”

While the main focus of the conference was on methods of promoting and protecting the rights of non-human animals, the presenters and attend-

ees did not ignore the connections between the imprisonment of animals for human use and the incarceration of humans in jails. The conference was rounded out by a workshop about writing letters to prisoners, especially marginalized persons who do not get much media attention. Organizations such as the Anarchist Black Cross Federation, dedicated to support of political prisoners and prisoners of war, and Black and Pink, which supports LGBTQ prisoners and fights the prison-industrial complex, have letter-writing programs and resources to promote solidarity with prisoners. VARC’s description on the VSA website affirms, “We understand speciesism as a social justice issue, and as such strive to align our efforts with other movements working toward a more just world, while respecting the uniqueness of all forms of systemic violence and the struggles against them.”

$100,000 grant launches Farm Project expansion plans Derek Sonntag Reporter

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ovember has been a very fortunate month for the local Poughkeepsie Farm Project.

During the last month, the local nonprofit organization received two large grants from other organizations to expand their programming and charitable programs within the Poughkeepsie area.

In 1999, the Poughkeepsie Farm Project was founded as a mere three acres of farmland leased from Vassar College. 16 years later, the project has expanded to 12 acres and is now managed by more than 475 workers. Since the project’s founding, one of its key missions has been to improve agricultural education within Poughkeepsie. Their website elaborates, “Whether in the field, cafeteria, or classroom, participants gain hands-on farming, gardening and cooking experiences and learn about sus-

tainable agriculture, seed-saving, and healthy eating” (Poughkeepsie Farm Project, http:// www.farmproject.org/education/, 11.28.15).

The Project has attracted the attention of multiple organizations including Helping Hand, a partnership program between United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region and the Poughkeepsie Journal. This grant was given to the Poughkeepsie Farm Project to fund its Food Share Program, which provides food to families who cannot afford full-priced items. Families that participate in this program receive weekly shares of produce grown on the farm to help feed their families. The Helping Hand grant will allow the program to give more back to the community. Education Director at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project Jamie Levato explained, “The Helping Hand grant specifically helps us provide an additional share of produce to families that are a part of our Food Share

Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal

The Poughkeepsie Farm Project, operating out of the Vassar College Farm, recently received a $100,000 grant from the USDA, which they plan to use to increase their educational outreach.

Program who have children or senior citizens in their households.” The remaining families are covered by the program itself.

Another grant was awarded in the same month, this time from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Poughkeepsie Farm Project received a grant of $100,000 to go towards its Farm-to-School Program, the project’s educational outreach into the Poughkeepsie community, to both students in local school districts as well as adults.

Some Vassar students work at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project as interns, including eight who work for Education Department programs such as Farm-to-School, a program that provides locally-produced farm-fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables to schools. One intern is Isabel Morrison ’19, who expressed her excitement about Farm-to-School’s progress so far this year. As part of its program, the project invites many students to the farm, where they host hands-on activities with the kids, such as teaching them parts of plants, how to grow their own food, what foods are especially nutritious and how to cook really great dishes with them. “This fall we really focused on reaching out to elementary schoolers,” Morrison remarked. “It’s always such an exciting process.

Kids are so happy to be there. It is always so surprising when you talk to a kid and they say, ‘Oh, I love vegetables!’”

Ellie Marble ’16 is another education intern at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. She referred to school-centered efforts to bringing produce for students to try and engage them in cooking activities. “In October we saw every second grade class in Poughkeepsie,” she stated. “The kids love it when the interns come to their schools and are always excited to try their foods, which proves how profound the program has become.”

Farm-to-School is perhaps one of the most important programs carried out by the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Levato explained, “One of our main goals is to improve the health of our community. One of the ways we do that is by getting people excited with eating healthi-

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

er.” Before the program was established in 2013, Levato worked with professors to carry out a small experiment to test whether this type of program could improve the eating habits of people in Poughkeepsie. At schools, they gave kids a cup with a serving of kale, and they were asked to return the cups after they left the cafeteria, whether they finished or not. The cups were weighed before and after they were given to the kids. “Of kids that participated in our program, 63 percent finished their serving of kale...and kids who participated in our program ate five times as much kale by weight than kids who did not participate,” Levato found.

After Farm-to-School was initiated, its effects were profound. The idea behind the project is to introduce these foods to both adults and youth in a fun and hands-on way. When parents realize that they like the foods and that their kids are willing to eat it, people slowly start eating healthier by simply realizing that they like the food. This is how the Poughkeepsie Farm Project has begun to shift food culture in the community.

Vassar students have long been interns at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, and these are only some of the ways these interns have reached out into the Poughkeepsie community. “Our interns go into the schools and they are treated like celebrities,” Levato described.

“We couldn’t run our programs without our interns.”

Both interns expressed their love for their job. Marble was so influenced by her work there that she plans to write her senior thesis on her job. “Honestly, I love it. I wish I had found out about the job earlier...It is something I really, really enjoy,” she said.

“It’s such a happy place to be and it is really rewarding,” Morrison exclaimed. “It has such a positive influence on the Poughkeepsie community because there is such a big socio-economic disparity and they are doing everything they can to make it better...When you reach out to children and teach them about the world and how they can make it better, you are really impacting the future.”

NEWS

Page 4 Outside the Bubble

—Hannah Mittman, Guest Reporter Turkish Plane Shot Down Over Syrian Border On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Turkey-Syrian border. One of the two pilots was killed once the aircraft hit the ground and the second was rescued. Many believe that the aircraft had crossed into Turkish airspace and ignored several warnings. According to a U.S. official, the aircraft was in Turkish airspace for 30 seconds–Turkey sent 10 warnings in five minutes that they were nearing their airspace (CNN “Putin calls jet’s downing ‘stab in the back,’” 11.24.15).

Despite the repeated claims that warnings were given to the Russian aircraft before it was shot down, rescued pilot Konstantin Murakhtin stated that there were no warnings given on radio or visually (“Turkey won’t apologize for downing Russian warplane, Erdogan says”, CNN, 11.26.15). In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that it had informed the United States of the aircraft’s flight path, so it should not have been surprising to see a Russian aircraft in the area at the time.

While the Turkish military has released audio to prove its claims of having given fair warning, the Russian Defense Ministry argued that it was faked. This has escalated tensions between the two nations, as they already had different standings on Syria’s political conflict. Turkey supports the rebels opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Russia. Turkey also has strong ties to a Turkmen minority group residing in northern Syria, where the aircraft was shot down (“Turkey downs Russian warplane claiming airspace breach”, USA Today, 11.24.15). While Turkey reacted strongly to having a warplane near this minority group, Russia claims that that aircraft was on an anti-terrorism mission.

Turkey called an emergency NATO meeting following the incident, during which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for de-escalation and for NATO allies to stand in solidarity with Turkey (New York Times, “NATO-Russian tensions rise after turkey downs jet,” 11.24.15).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told CNN, “I think if there is a party that needs to apologize, it is not us. Those who violated our airspace are the ones who need to apologize” (CNN, “Turkey won’t apologize for downing Russian warplane, Erdogan says,” 11.26.15).

—Shelia Hu, Guest Reporter

Students draw from Pomona diversity talks Jeremy Middleman

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News Editor

ew issues are more important to today’s college and university administrations than allaying growing racial tensions. Vassar College’s own administration took an active position to reconcile racial differences by sending three male Black and Latino Vassar students to Pomona College in California for the 15th Annual Black and Latino Males Conference on Nov. 20-22. Together with Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life and Diversity Edward Pittman ’82, students Kyle Tam ’16, Matt Ford ’17 and Cristian Ventura ’17 discussed themes of race, class and sexuality with more than 150 other Black and Latino students, faculty and administrators.

The conference, sponsored by the Consortium on High Achievement and Success (CHAS) was attended by students from 26 liberal arts colleges and small universities.

Students participated in an array of activities from discussions of coalition politics, masculinity and sexuality, environmental justice and queering racial masculinity to several sessions on making successful applications for graduate and professional schools.

In response to the current social climate across the country, the conference opportuned politically-minded students a place of growth through dialogue. Students were encouraged to transform campus climates from spaces of racism and homophobia fragmenting communities to places of acceptance and inclusion of all voices.

Pittman is a founding member, former president and current steering board member of the CHAS, which was originally founded in 2000. Currently hosted by Trinity College, the consortium includes many of Vassar’s peer colleges and universities, and strives to remove institutional barriers to the high achievement of students of color. The organization also works with presidents, faculty and administrators to develop the inclusivity and equity of their institutions for the benefit of all students.

Vassar hosted the conference in 2004 and 2013, and will host the third annual Women of Color Conference on March 4-6.

According to the CHAS website, “The purpose of this annual student conference is to provide a safe space for Black and Latino males

to network, learn leadership skills and constructively discuss issues they face as underrepresented students in highly selective liberal arts institutions.” One of the goals of the conference is to foster students with a record of high academic achievement towards improving their ability as campus leaders and continuing their successes. “Students who attend this conference become campus leaders and continue their record of high academic achievement,” Ford remarked.

Ford said the purpose of the conference was to help students learn to navigate and confront white supremacy on college campuses. Ford suggested that the conference specifically improved and enhanced attending students’ understandings and perceptions of the structures blocking students of color from higher education. “I got a lot of warmth and communal respect out of it,” said Ford.

Ford went on to comment, “It was really centered on self-love and self-growth and activism and how we can do our own activism and how we can do our own activism and keep ourselves healthy.”

Pittman had a similar take on the goals of the conference. He stressed the importance of the conference in terms of providing a conducive learning environment where students can grow and learn about their communities.

He wrote in an emailed statement, “Ensuring that men of color and, particularly, Black and Latino men, have supportive spaces to engage complex and layered identities is critical to not only their success—but for leadership in their home communities and the colleges they attend. And certainly, promoting academic success and graduate school opportunities is also central to CHAS.” Pittman discussed why he felt that this conference was so important and what he hoped students would get out of the conference. He said, “My hope was that Kyle, Cristian and Matt would find individual and collective connections to what was important for them and, especially, during the height of campus protests across the country, it’s important to connect with other men of color.”

Another goal of the conference may have been to improve strained communications between Vassar administration and the students.

Pittman spoke to this point, addressing what the College hopes students will bring back from the conference to contribute to an ongoing campus discourse. “I believe there is much more that Vassar can do in terms of gender, masculinity and sexuality on campus and it’s even more imperative in contexts for men of color. I’m excited to see what will emerge,” he said. courtesy of Consortium on High Achievement and Success

Paris Conference To Address Climate Change The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) is currently ongoing in Le Bourget, Paris, France between Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. The goal of the Conference has been to stop climate change by decreasing emissions.

This year it is anticipated that by the end of the conference there will be a new international accord on climate change to keep global warming below 2°C. If the conference is successful, it will be the first time that almost every country will enact new laws to fight climate change.

“To reach this target, experts estimate that global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be reduced by 40 to 70 percent by 2050 and that carbon neutrality (zero emissions) needs to be reached by the end of the century at the latest” (COP21, “Why 2°C?”, COP21).

During the weekend before the conference, more than half a million protesters around the world marched to further bolster the importance of the conference and urge the world leaders to draft a climate change accord.

One such crowd gathered in Hyde Park in London, where about 50,000 people held up signs with slogans like “There is no planet B” (i24news, “Hollande says ‘future of life’ at stake at climate conference,” 11.30.15).

“Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, because it concerns the future of the planet, the future of life,” French President François Hollande said in his opening speech at the conference.

Many believe that this meeting is the last chance to prevent the worst repercussions of climate change. “According to the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], global warming of more than 2°C would have serious consequences, such as an increase in the number of extreme climate events” (COP21). This may prove to be a difficult task, since the agreement must be unanimous to take effect (“Obama and World Leaders Open Paris Climate Talks, Seeking a Deal”, NYTimes).

All past conferences have failed to make the desired impact, mostly because of the divisions between poor and rich countries. Developing countries have posited that because industrialized countries polluted for a longer period of time, they should shoulder more of the burden, a point echoed by President Obama (BBC, “COP21: Paris conference could be climate turning point, says Obama,” 11.30.15). “I’ve come here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest economy and the second-largest emitter,” Obama said, “to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it.”

December 3, 2015

On Nov. 20-22, Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life and Diversity Ed Pittman went with three Vassar students to Pomona College to discuss issues facing Black and Latino Males.

Vigil lends silent solidarity to trans issues REMEMBRANCE continued from page 1

add emphasis and allow reflection.”

Transgender violence is an issue of importance for many in the Vassar community. Questions such as “How should the campus move forward?” and “What kinds of changes are needed to mitigate violence at Vassar?” come to the surface and resonate among Vassar students, yet often these thoughts dissipate into time unanswered.

Nichols discussed why they thought vigils, and specifically this vigil, are necessary for the community. “It’s very important to take time out of your day to memorialize something,” they said.

The vigil served to bring students together for support, but it was also intended to bring about reflections on the victims of transgender violence each year. “The purpose of the vigil was to remember the trans lives lost this year due to transphobia,” Rodriguez stated. “It was also meant to bring awareness to the amount of transphobia still present in our country. It also gave a platform to trans people and allowed for their stories to be recognized and brought to light.”

While the vigil offered students the chance to unite in solidarity and reflect on those lost this year, the statistics of the number of transgender deaths are an under-representation of the frequency at which transgender murder occurs.

Director of the Women’s Center and the LGBTQ Center Judy Jarvis noted the limits of the statistics due to the nature in which they are reported in an emailed statement. “The list is never even complete, given how many murders of trans people are not reported as hate crimes or not reported at all,” she said.

Nichols pointed to another reason that there are fewer reported deaths than the actual number. “There have been countless trans people who have been murdered,” they explained, “and the news reports report them as the gender that they were assigned at birth, it reports their given

name at birth and there is no indication that they were trans even though transphobic and transmisogynistic violence may have been the very reason for their murder or their death.”

Trans Black Women may have been a focus of these vigils for many reasons. One central influencer is the fact that Hester herself was black.

However Nichols recognized other nuances in this intersecitonalty as well. As they explained, “There is intersectionality between their gender and race; both are contributing factors to racist violence. The violence against them particularly is magnified and heightened by their identity as a trans person or specifically as a trans woman,” they said. They continued, “If we don’t specifically center and memorialize trans women of color, then their murders and suicides will continue unchecked because we won’t even be attempting to remember them to bring awareness to the fact that they’re being killed.”

While most programming at Vassar is targeted towards fostering fun among students, the vigil gave administrators and faculty an opportunity to derive comfort from community. Josselyn and Davison House Adviser Capria Berry explained why she came to the event. “I came to the event to support our students. I wanted to show up to let students know I care about this community and all of the lived experiences students come to campus with. I hoped to gain a moment to be in community with other Vassar folks and remember those transgender lives lost and ones who are struggling,” she said.

Although the Transgender Day of Remembrance is fundamentally designed to memorialize transgender victims of violence, Nichols suggested that the concentrated hatred against black trans women is more extreme. “There is a lot of anti-black violence, there is a lot of racist violence, but the violence against them particularly is magnified and heightened by their identity as a trans

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

person or specifically as a trans woman.” They also drew attention to the need for greater public attention to these issues, “If we don’t acknowledge these problems or these trends then we can’t address them. If we don’t specifically center and memorialize trans women of color then their murders and suicides will continue unchecked because we won’t even be attempting to remember them to bring awareness to the fact that they’re being killed.”

To many, this position of recognition of transgender issues is essential in the effort to move towards a more accepting community. LGBTQ center intern Ally Fernandez ’18 elaborated on what it means for her to support the transgender cause, stating, “I recognize my place as an ally.”

She continued, “It was important to me because allyship is this constant thing; you can’t just say ‘I support transgender people’ and then not do anything, and especially holding the position that I do at the LGBTQ Center, it’s important for me to set an example of what an ally looks like, regardless of the identities that I personally hold or the politics that I have.”

For all students feeling targeted by violence because of gender orientation, there are available resources for getting help. “Students who experience transphobia or any kind of gender-based harassment or violence should certainly reach out to me so I can work to figure out how to be the best advocate for them–often there are very different steps and needs depending on the situation and the students’ preferences for how to resolve it,” said Jarvis. “Alternatively or in addition, students can submit a bias incident report or reach out to Kelly Grab in the Title IX Office, given that gender identity and discrimination are covered in our school’s nondiscrimination policy so we can work to hold people accountable for individual incidents of transphobia and/or verbal or physical violence towards trans students.”

December 3, 2015

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Transitions, Questbridge come together for Turkey Day Kayla Gonzalez Guest Reporter

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he turkey was ready, along with the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. An arrangement of pies sat patiently on the next table. Cups were full of apple cider and plates were ready to be topped with food. Though the weather outside was beyond chilly, inside everyone was gathered on couches, meeting new people and exchanging stories.

It’s easy to imagine this Thanksgiving scene taking place at Grandma and Grandpa’s place, but on this occasion, those relatives were nowhere to be found. This was the Transitions and Questbridge Thanksgiving dinner in Jewett House.

Transitions and Questbridge are two programs on campus geared towards helping low-income, first-generation students find a place for themselves on campus. They also serve to provide a family experience for these students.

Being away from home continuously proves to be a challenge for college students of any year and any background. Transitions intern and former Questbridge secretary Maya Enriquez ’17

described this experience for first-year students as a culture shock, explaining, “You’re thrown into the college scene, and although it’s really liberating, it’s also disorienting and lonely.”

She pointed out that being away from home during the holidays is another challenge in and of itself. “As a kid,” she remarked, “you sit back and enjoy Thanksgiving. But when you’re on campus, you’re on your own to [figure] things out.”

Students who stay on campus during this time of year have to watch their peers board the shuttles home and listen to professors wish the class a nice break with family. Questbridge Representative and Transitions student Lisset Magdaleno ’19 described the experience, saying, “At times it’s sad that there’s nowhere off campus to go home to, but I chose to come here knowing that I’d be faced with this feeling.”

Transitions student Jasmine Rodriguez ’19 also felt the weight of the empty campus. She explained, “It feels so weird at night to walk around to your dorm and not see any lights on.

You can definitely feel the emptiness.”

However, as Magdaleno explained, these students came prepared to face this experience.

courtesy of Vassar Residential Life

On Thursday, Nov. 26 students from the Transitions and Questbridge programs gathered in Jewett ˙House for a Thanksgiving dinner, creating a family spirit through common experiences.

Rodriguez reflected, “I thought I would be more sad during this time, but my parents raised me to be independent and strong. Plus, I’m not alone here because I have my Transitions family with me.”

This year was the first time that Questbridge and Transitions teamed up to provide a family dinner for their students. Last year, Enriquez cooked for the Questbridge dinner. As she explained, “That was the first time I’d cooked a turkey for anyone, and only 11 people showed up. While it was fun, it was also disappointing, and it didn’t make sense to me and Questbridge and Transitions would do separate events.”

This year’s dinner, however, turned out to be a complete success. Enriquez excitedly recalled, “There was a point when everything was up in the air and I didn’t know if the dinner would happen this year. When it did happen, it made me so happy to know that we were providing a space to get the community together.”

She continued, “I got to see new people talking to each other and everybody was sharing stories and bonding. It made me feel really good to see that.”

Food is the most important part of Thanksgiving, and several students reflected on how this meal offered them a sense of home. “It made me so happy to actually have turkey and mashed potatoes just like back home,” said Rodriguez.

For Magdaleno, this dinner was a new experience. As she explained, “Back home, we always cooked Mexican food for Thanksgiving dinner, so this was my first holiday that involved the American dinner.”

Rodriguez also reflected on home holiday experiences, “I really miss the conversations with my family. I would eat with my brother and listen as my aunts’ laughter filled the room.”

Not being able to spend the holiday at home transformed the way these students thought about family. For Enriquez, this time of the year is always a reminder of what matters. She stated, “This is a time to take a break and bring the family together. Being here made me appreciate

the moments that I am home and when I don’t have to figure everything out on my own.”

Magdaleno, too, expressed these sentiments, reflecting, “I was actually just thinking about how last Thanksgiving I didn’t know where I’d end up. And now that I ended up so far away from home, it’s made me appreciate my family more during this time that everybody expects you to be with them.”

For Rodriguez, this time of year made her appreciate her new family on campus. She shared, “It’s nice to know that I’ll always have my main family, but at the same time I have a family at Vassar.”

She continued to explain the impact that Enriquez, who was her Transitions intern, has had on her time here on campus, “Maya has been like a little mom to me. My parents even know her and sent her a little gift for Thanksgiving,” she said.

Programs like Transitions and Questbridge continue to play an instrumental role in the comfort students feel on campus. Transitions has made the biggest difference in Rodriguez’s first semester. While talking about her first experiences with the Transitions summer program, she stated, “I cried on the first and last day of that week because there was such a family dynamic and it felt so nice. We were all shy and scared and from similar backgrounds, and I felt so supported.”

Magdaleno also feels the support of these programs, “Questbridge is such a great resource for me, and it’s nice to know that they’re willing to do so much to make sure I don’t feel alone during the holidays.”

During this time of gratitude and family, Magdaleno, Rodriguez and Enriquez were able to make a home for themselves and find plenty of things to be thankful for. As Rodriguez stated, “Transitions has helped me so much, but what I’m most thankful for this weekend is the retreat meal swipe plan.” Magdaleno shared this feeling, “During this time, I’m thankful for a lot, but I’m especially thankful for two things: this family on campus and the meal swipe plan.”

Bechtel lecture honors spirit of children’s literature Aditi Chandna Reporter

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longed to my grandfather and used it to compose most of my stories,” said Currie.

The Bechtel lecture not only discussed the nature of the publishing business for children’s books and young adult novels, but also gave insight into how Currie’s personal preferences for child literature have impacted his work. He was quick to preview the topics and nature of his lecture before fully diving in to his personal experiences. “The lecture will discuss several things. I’ll talk some about children’s books that I loved as a boy and that have been influential in my own life as well as on my writing,” he said in his introduction.

He also illuminated the various ways children’s books affect the kids of today through his experiences with the children he teaches and his own kids.

Currie mentioned the ways he uses young adult novels and children’s books in his per-

sonal and professional interactions with children. “I’ll also highlight some books I’ve read with children as an elementary teacher and as a father and describe how I’ve used them,” he went on to say.

His own career as a writer and editor has flourished in children’s literature, and he talks about many experiences that he has had in the publishing world. “Finally, I’ll discuss my own career as a writer and share some of my experiences in the world of publishing for children and young adults,” he explained right off the bat.

Currie’s lecture will present an unconventional path not often seen when possible writing careers are considered. His focus on writing, education and publishing will give the audience new information about different ways they can pursue a career in writing or in publishing.

courtesty of the Education Deapartment

hildren’s literature has gained much attention in recent years and much of that is thanks to the hard work of Louise Hunting Seaman Bechtel, a Vassar alum who graduated in 1915. Bechtel is known for creating the first children’s book department in an American publishing house. Her hard work created a legacy that continues in the Bechtel lecture 100 years later.

The Bechtel lecture, sponsored by the education department, will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3 in the College Center. This year, local teacher and Poughkeepsie resident Stephen Currie was invited to speak.

Currie is a published author and editor of children’s books and young adult novels, which is especially apt considering Bechtel’s legacy in the field of children’s literature.

The lecture was organized by the Administrative Assistant of the Education Department Dayle Rebelein. She commented, “Stephen Currie grew up surrounded by children’s books in Chicago, where he composed stories, plays and puppet shows on his grandfather’s World War II-era typewriter. He now lives in Poughkeepsie, but his interest in writing, reading and teaching with children’s literature continues.”

This year is particularly special in that it celebrates the 100th anniversary of Bechtel’s graduation from Vassar in 1915. Upon graduation, Bechtel went on to teach young children at Miss Glendinning’s School in New Haven, Conn.

She later worked at the Macmillan Publishing Company in various departments, where she started the first children’s book department in an American publishing house. During the next 15 years of her tenure at Macmillan, her work for Macmillan expanded to include sales trips across the United States of America, wide lecturing and writing about children’s literature, including speaking at Vassar.

Bechtel viewed book publishing as a profession, rather than as a trade. Her well-known book catalogs were full of photographs, color

illustrations and quotations about her authors.

Even after she was no longer active as a publisher, Bechtel continued her commitment to the field of children’s literature as a member of the committee for the first Children’s Book Week and as a Fellow of the Pierpoint Morgan Library; she also served on a number of juries of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Similarly to Bechtel, Currie’s passion for his work is strong, but is also expansive over a wide variety of topics. “These days, I write some fiction, but most of my publications have been nonfiction. Though I’m scarcely a household name, there’s a decent chance you’ve used at least one of my books for research purposes somewhere between, say, fifth and 10th grade,” Currie said.

Rebelein explained, “He has written dozens of books for children and young adults on topics ranging from goblins to the whaling industry and from math puzzles to potatoes. He has also published fiction, much of it ghostwritten under various pseudonyms.”

She continued, “In addition, his writing credits include teachers’ guides, textbooks and other educational materials, and he has taught at levels ranging from kindergarten to college.”

His books, both fiction and nonfiction, are used in various middle school and high school classrooms for research purposes and cover a wide variety of topics.

Although Currie’s work is broad and multifaceted in nature, it is difficult to compare between the different categories his novels fall into. “Not sure I could tell you which books are the most popular; I did write one on goblins that seemed to interest quite a few people who found out about it,” he said.

Currie himself is full of stories about how exactly he got involved in writing children’s books and young adult novels. “I’ve always been interested in writing. As a boy, I used to compose looooong stories—the longer the better, apparently. Most of them had too many characters, and the plots generally didn’t go anywhere, but I enjoyed writing them anyway!

I had an old manual typewriter that had be-

The Bechtel prize is awarded for excellent writing in the area of creative writing education and literary studies. On Thursday, Dec. 3, Stephen Currie gave the annual Bechtel lecture.

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December 3, 2015

NYC a change of location for VC holiday enthusiasts Sarah Sandler Columnist

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Park City has quick to-go spots for a wide range of popular restaurants including Umami Burger, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Num Pang Sandwich Shop. There are also other spots all over the city where you can pick up gifts, sample food or just appreciate the many authentic goods vendors have to offer.

Downstairs in Brookfield Place is a new French food market called Le District. Go all out on a sit-down meal or just pick up a coffee and croissant to enjoy on the go. Brookfield Place is decorated beautifully for the holidays so if it’s not too chilly, take your treats out by the Hudson waterfront and take in some of the city’s rare natural beauty. And just in case you’re wondering...Santa will be at Brookfield Place from Dec. 4 to 24 all day long.

For New Year’s, Times Square may seem

like the most exciting place to celebrate, but take it outside to Coney Island instead. Every year, on New Year’s Day, no matter what the weather, hordes of people run into the Atlantic Ocean for an exhilarating swim. The Coney Island Polar Bear’s Club organizes the swim and they raise money for Camp Sunshine, a summer camp program for families dealing with life-threatening childhood diseases.

If you’re staying on campus over winter break or if you’ll be spending time in the Hudson Valley, you don’t need to travel as far as New York City to find fun things to do. In Kingston, NY, there will be special trains recreating the movie, “The Polar Express,” complete with a sing along and hot chocolate. It may be great for kids, but that doesn’t mean Vassar students can’t enjoy it too.

courtesy of Sarah Sandler

he Hudson Valley is a great area to spend the holidays, but there is something extra special about New York City during the month of December. Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central are both easy and relatively quick train or car trips from Vassar, making NYC the perfect, and possible, destination for festive fun.

The places to visit and sites to see are endless, but there are a few spots you simply cannot miss. One would be, of course, Rockefeller Center. Yes, your shoulders might rub against more than one oblivious tourist, but the bustling center is the quintessential NYC holiday destination.

Whether you want to experiment with ice skating or just admire the nearly 100-foot Christmas tree, this Midtown spot is a mustsee. If you need to fit in some present shopping, Rockefeller Center is also home to a ton of places to find that perfect something for Mom or Dad. When you need to warm up your toes after all your Olympic-quality skating, grab hot chocolate and a sweet treat from nearby Magnolia Bakery or Bouchon Bakery.

Rockefeller Center may be the most popular destination to see a Christmas tree, but don’t forget to pay Bryant Park a visit too. A bit farther south than Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park is also home to its own beautifully decorated tree. Once you’ve trudged through enough pine needles, explore the Winter Village featuring shops that sell jewelry, décor, food and more, another perfect place stock up on last-minute gifts.

Union Square and Chelsea Market have similar holiday shopping markets if you want to go even farther downtown. And if you are looking for an ice skating rink with enough space for a pirouette, avoid the overcrowded Rockefeller Center and head back to Bryant Park. Its much less-frequented rink holds fewer potential skaters and less witnesses in case you’re not quite the skating talent you thought you were.

Some of the most magical parts of NYC

during the holidays are the elaborately decorated department store windows. Swing by Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s to get in the holiday spirit without having to spend any money at all. Macy’s even projects a holiday light show onto the broad side of their building that serves as a preview for the story they tell with their store windows.

If outdoor entertainment isn’t your thing and you happen to be in NYC during winter break, try to score tickets to watch a Knicks or Rangers game. In terms of performances, the holidays are a great time to see some of the plays and musicals NYC has to offer.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a classic show where you can see the famous Rockettes dance. If that’s not your style, everyone’s favorite Christmas movie, “Elf,” is now a musical on Broadway. What would be a better way to get in the holiday spirit? If you don’t mind seats far way from the stage, there is still time to find amazing deals online and enjoy an entertaining holiday show. You may also be able to snag tickets to see Billy Joel perform live.

After you have walked, and ice skated, your way through the premier holiday destinations, treat yourself to a warm snack. New York City has some of the best food in the country and its restaurants go big for the holidays when it comes to festive cheer. Some of the best decorated restaurants include Lafayette in the East Village, Rosemary’s and Corner Bistro in Greenwich Village, and Keens Steakhouse near Madison Square Garden.

While these restaurants might be fun, they can cost you more than one pretty penny. A cheaper way to enjoy some of the amazing food the city has to offer lies with its many amazing food markets.

Chelsea Market is a downtown spot where you can pick up small treats ranging from doughnuts to soup to cheese to tea. The company Urbanspace hosts several holiday markets in Union Square, Columbus Circle and the Garment District.

Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place in Battery

Getting off campus this holiday season should include trips to classic tourist areas of New York City and around the Hudson Valley as they decorate and host festivities to celebrate.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

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December 3, 2015

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Noyes House Team fights winter blues with event series Matt Stein

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Reporter

courtesy of Noyes House

ith the seasons changing and fewer hours of daylight, it is quite typical for students to feel a bit down. While this can be casually tossed aside as side effects of summer ending or finals approaching, it could also be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you’re uncertain what that is or only vaguely know about it, Noyes House Team is putting on an event this Saturday that hopes to provide a fun break from the end-of-the-semester stress as well as promote greater awareness of SAD at Vassar.

In association with Metcalf and ViCE, the Swinter Fair, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Villard Room. Filled with fun summer events like sand art, sno-cones, a little mermaid photo-op and even a mechanical bull shark, other features include a performance by the Axies and a table run by Metcalf that will provide information on SAD. In addition, Noyes House will be putting on Bioluminescence Mug Night on Friday, Dec. 4 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. with glow paint, black lights and an under-the-sea theme. To promote their events, Noyes House Team and VCTV collaborated to create a short video featuring members of their house team in summer garb dancing to a song from “Phineas and Ferb.”

President of Noyes House Ashley Hoyle ’18 [Full Disclosure: Ashley Hoyle is a sports reporter for The Miscellany News] explained how this event came to be, saying, “Noyes House Team was brainstorming about what to do for our all-campus event this fall (which wasn’t the wedding, contrary to popular belief) and something that we decided was very important to us as a group was that our programming was intentional. We wanted to make sure that our event dealt with an important cause— of which there are many on our campus.”

“Working with Residential Life, one of the issues we deal with and think about most is mental health at Vassar, and with the semester coming to a close we know for many students winter can bring on Seasonal Affective Disor-

der, that became our focus point,” Hoyle continued. “We then decided we wanted to collaborate with Metcalf on this event, to make sure we could offer some helpful and informative programming at our event. So the process has been doing a lot of brainstorming amongst ourselves and with Metcalf and ViCE about what would actually be happening at the fair, signing a lot of contracts with services that will be fun for students and dealing with all the regular campus programming processes­—of which there are many.”

SAD, also known as “winter blues” or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder that causes people to experience depressive symptoms during specific times of the year. While summer can cause some to feel greater anxiety, SAD in the winter can lead to lethargy and prolonged feelings of sadness, among other symptoms. SAD also can be associated with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. The exact cause of SAD isn’t explicitly known, but it is usually situational or physiological, possibly due to a lack of serotonin tied to reduced sun exposure.

Psychologist and Metcalf Counseling Service Representative for Swinter, Jennica Karpinski, PsyD, detailed the treatment methods of SAD, elaborating, “Treatment for SAD is similar to treatment for depression in that an increase of activity, social connection and optimistic thinking will be helpful. In addition, the use of a sun lamp has been shown to be very helpful for SAD. Those with SAD can sit in front of the lamp for 15-30 minutes per day during darker months. This helps simulate sunshine and thus reduces severity of SAD symptoms.”

All over the world, mental health is a topic that is still private in many ways, which prevents those who do suffer from receiving the proper diagnosis and functions. By creating a space of acceptance and awareness, events like Swinter can help destigmatize the preconceived notions that surround mental health disorders such as SAD. And the creativity that Noyes House Team has put into arranging this event, originally developed by Noyes Vice

On Dec. 4-5, Noyes House Team will throw an event with a distinct purpose: to raise awareness for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and provide students with information about treatment.

President Aiden Lewy ’18, to simultaneously educate and delight makes it so effective in what it aims to achieve.

Describing how Swinter educates while providing fun for all, Noyes House Secretary Liza Ayres ’18 commented, “Our goal was to plan a creative all-campus event that has never happened before. Swinter is the perfect event to acknowledge a serious topic in a fun way. The fair will include beach balls, sand art, coloring pages, fake snow balls, a photo booth, Swedish fish, photos with a mermaid, a sno-cone machine, sushi, a mechanical bull shaped like a shark and much, much more. Because of our collaboration with Metcalf, there will be a sun light to help boost happiness during the darkest months of the year. Metcalf will also provide information about SAD, which is valuable during the winter.”

If anyone does feel that they are experienc-

ing any symptoms related to SAD or general depression, they are encouraged to visit Metcalf, as well as attend Swinter, where a variety of services are available to help treat the disorder.

“There’s a lot of novelty to Swinter, and I hope we can all engage in some somewhat childish summertime glee together. It will be a great way to destress and blow off steam. An event like this, in my mind, can also help bring some unity to our community and hopefully attendees will come out of our event with a greater sense of solidarity with their students, classmates, and friends who struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Hoyle said. “A tremendous number of Vassar students are impacted by issues of mental health, which is why I am so proud of Noyes for using our all-campus event to recognize, validate, and hope to help with those problems.”

VCTV episodes explore international student experiences

courtesy of Josh Pratt

LIT continued from page 1 Hoyle is a staff reporter for The Miscellany News], who joined the team as director of pre-production over the summer said, “As an international student here, Pratt has a really unique perspective and unfortunately, one that isn’t usually tapped into or highlighted.”

International students often find themselves feeling unintentionally marginalized. Host of LIT Simeon Busano ’16, explained, “I do think we have a bit of a different time here. For many of us, who we are, or who we believed ourselves to be gets fundamentally challenged once we get to Vassar.”

He added, “We have histories of race and gender and class and things we never much thought about before Vassar that come to define our identities here. It’s different.”

LIT was created to bring those differences to light. Hoyle said, “Josh came up with this idea to try and bring international students’ voices to the forefront of the discourse at Vassar and to help make their voices heard. ‘Lost in Translation’ will hopefully bring some more cohesion to our community, across distinctions of ‘domestic’ and ‘international.’”

Pratt expanded, “I began to comprehend how complicated cultural translation can be, and how often we don’t see its affects; two people coming from different perspectives can walk away from the same conversation with dramatically different perceptions of what was said.”

Even as someone who has lived in London his entire life with an American mother, Pratt still ran into complications once in America. He said, “For example, from my British perspective I would often assume Americans are really happy, because Americans are a lot more expressive than Brits.

In England if someone asked me how I was doing I would reply, ‘Alright,’ which in mild-mannered British culture would mean ‘good.’ And if I said I was doing ‘good’ with an enthusiastic smile, then my British conversation partner would probably assume I was having the greatest day of my life.

So when I came to America and my American friends said they were ‘having a great day’ with an enthusiastic smile, I thought, ‘wow, their day must

Oftentimes, many international students on campus feel alienated due to subtle differences in experience. VCTV will attempt to combat this trend with a series titled “Lost in Translation.” be going unbelievably well.’”

LIT hopes to bridge those cultural gaps by sharing the different perspectives of international students with the rest of campus. Hoyle said, “I am in love with ‘Lost in Translation’ as an idea because it really widens the spectrum of people at Vassar who are touched by VCTV. It is expanding not only the number and type of people who participate behind the scenes on projects like this, but also who will watch our productions!”

The first-hand experiences of international students in two very different cultures provides the perfect bridge. Pratt said, “What I’ve learnt from my time living and studying in America is that everyone has different worlds and perspectives to share, whether they live 10 or 10,000 miles from Vassar. I myself feel so grateful for the opportunity to live in a foreign country, as it has allowed me to be exposed to new perspectives that exist outside

the limits of the English perspective.”

LIT consists of interviews from 25 students focusing on the humorous side of cultural translation. Co-creator and creative executive Dushyant Naresh ’17 said the interviews were designed to promote each person’s individual story while uncovering some of the humorous themes consistent across the experiences of international students.

Naresh said of the interview process, “Josh and I worked together to form questions that would make the students talk about their experiences without being too upfront about it–it was a tough balance to create questions that were funny and lighthearted while also addressing many of the issues internationals face.”

Though Naresh described strategic creation of questions, Busano added that no topic was off-limits. “We talk about everything, from the food to general cultural differences.” Busano went on to

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

describe himself, “I’m from everywhere. I’m a man of the world.” As such, he delved into his take on the hook-up culture at Vassar.

“In fact, there’s a funny bit of me screaming about being frustrated with the hook-up culture,” he said. “It’s frustrating when you’re young and horny and want to be valued for the entirety of who you are.”

Hoyle explained that enthusiasm like Busano’s was not uncommon. “There was a huge amount of enthusiasm and excitement from the international students who participated in our project. I think and hope that they really enjoyed getting to talk about their lives and stories and also being part of a real television production!”

Being an international student isn’t just about adjusting to American culture; there is also a need for adjustment to Vassar. “Sometimes I feel that we here at Vassar have a deficit of diversity with respect to opinions. It’s as though there is dominant opinion, or ideology and we’re all expected to conform to it or we pay the social price for being mavericks,” Busano said.

He added that the diversity within the international student community at Vassar has helped him adjust to the differences. “That’s why I enjoy the internationals so much,” he said. “We’re a collection of mavericks, and I feel that without this community I wouldn’t have had the freedom to really decide what I think, what I value, what I believe to be right, and I wouldn’t have had the space to grow to be who I needed to become.”

Pratt agreed that international students’ unique perspectives are something that everyone can benefit from. “Through my American and international friends I have been exposed to worlds that were previously beyond my imagination; as a result my world has got bigger. I wanted to make a show that would expose people to different perspectives and thus that would make their worlds bigger. We have an international community that comes from many different countries. They have experiences that may be unimaginable to people who haven’t lived in those countries. I wanted to give those perspectives a platform to be shared on.”

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November 12, 2015

VC chefs, volunteers unite for annual Thanksgiving meal SOUP KITCHEN continued from page 1

Thanksgiving Day at the Lunch Box, the volunteers delivered another 400 Thanksgiving dinners to people at home who weren’t able to make it to the communal meal because of disability or other needs. Vassar volunteers also delivered fresh apple pies to the Beulah Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie that afternoon.

Pie on Thanksgiving is accompanied by a number of other charities at Beulah Church, which is located just a couple blocks away from the Lunch Box. As the weather begins to turn, the Church sponsors a coat and clothing drive, as well as a weekly soup kitchen on Saturdays.

Prominent local figure and community activist Earline Patrice originally started the Thanksgiving Dinner that Hickey now funds every year. Patrice, who asked the Hickeys to take on the project because she felt too old to maintain it, was a community leader wellknown for her public Christmas parties and Easter Dinners in addition to the Thanksgiving one.

As a community activist, Patrice participated in the march on Washington for civil rights and worked in Poughkeepsie to provide housing to the needy, register voters and keep the streets clean. It is her legacy that the current Thanksgiving meal Vassar helps with has to thank.

Over this year’s holiday, the kitchen at the ACDC was bustling with activity to provide food for the Eileen Hickey Thanksgiving Dinner. But, the rest of campus remained relatively quiet, as most students returned home leaving our campus sidewalks, MPRs and parlors deserted.

In the early days of the college, however, the campus would have been filled with the same resonant sounds as there were in the Family Partnership Center last Thursday. “As the students only had a day off for Thanksgiving, very few chose to leave campus.” the Vassar Online Encyclopedia notes. On that one day, campus abounded with huge Thanksgiving meals in the dormitories.

Last Thursday, volunteers prepared the ex-

pected array of delicious dishes, including mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, corn, stuffing, roasted turkeys, beets and pie at the ACDC. But, on a Thursday in 1872, Vassar’s Thanksgiving menu looked a bit different.

Meat jellies, gherkins, boiled salmons and mock turtle soup were served along with the traditional roasted turkey meal. For dessert, instead of pie there was ice cream and cake followed by a reading of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” a brief dance and a student-run one-act play.

Although much has changed since students ate Thanksgiving dinner on campus, this relatively new tradition definitely had a positive impact on the lives on many less fortunate members of the Poughkeepsie community. Perhaps the Eileen Hickey Thanksgiving Dinner presents a new possibility for embracing the

goals of togetherness and community that our modern interpretation of Thanksgiving puts forth. Now that Thanksgiving dinners for students are cooked in smaller quantities and in individual dorm kitchens, the ACDC is physically available to participate in community events like the Hickey Thanksgiving Dinner.

When we look back at those old meals, it’s tempting to wonder what their favorite dish was. Or to ask whether most students even ate the turkey. Perhaps it’s best to imagine that some traditions don’t evolve over time. Perhaps like for many of us, there wasn’t single favorite food on Thanksgiving.

When asked what everyone’s favorite dish was over at the Family Partnership Dinner this Thanksgiving, Harms replied,“Everyone’s favorite dish? Hey, it’s a turkey dinner. It’s all good.”

courtesy of Karl Rabe

event at the Family Partnership Dinner provides year after year. Harms, reflecting on this year’s dinner, said, “It is always great to see so many people from the college and members of the greater Poughkeepsie community working together to prepare the meal. I always walk away with that spirit of cooperation in my mind.”

With 40 volunteers led by Conlin, Harms and a few others prep and cook the food from Sysco. Once the soups are boiled, onions are chopped and turkeys roasted and ready for eating, everyone travels together to the Lunch Box at the Family Partnership Center in downtown Poughkeepsie to deliver the food.

The Family Partnership Center has focused on four main goals since 2007: housing, health, jobs and youth. As the New York Family Services website explains, “The Partnership Center is a catalyst to forge community partnerships through collaboration and advocacy in health services, cultural and educational opportunities to improve the lives of individuals and families.” This falls directly in line with the goals of the Eileen Hickey Thanksgiving Dinner, making it the perfect location for hosting the community feast.

Harms said of his participation in the meal, “I’m lucky. I have kids and I have grandkids.

I’m able to share dinner with them later on Thanksgiving day, but this has become a way to celebrate for me, to recognize my good fortune by taking my kitchen skills and helping folks get a good dinner on an important day.”

This is one very special meal of many given out every year for the Lunch Box, which operates as a local soup kitchen year round, often serving 200 people a day. The organization, which had its start in 1982, served 110,000 meals in 2013 with a staff of 10 full-time employees.

Meals are provided five days a week, with an extra lunch on Sunday. The rest of the workers are volunteers from the greater Poughkeepsie community.

In addition to the 600 meals served on

Per yearly tradition, Poughkeepsie and Vassar volunteers worked together in the ACDC to cook Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for the Family Partnership Center.

Avoid holiday food coma with leftover turkey recipes Penina Remler Columnist

T

hanksgiving is a blessing and a sin. On the one hand, this annual holiday reunites families and friends over fantastic food and flavors, but on the contrary, it also has a tendency to terminate the meal in a post Thanksgiving food coma.

Between appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts, the Calorie Control Council claims that the average person will consume 4,500 calories during their Thanksgiving meal. For some, 4,500 calories is enough food for an entire weekend, but somehow the majority of us temporarily omit this observation in an effort to make the most out of this annual holiday.

The holiday revolves around indulging and yet the only thing one can usually stomach after a Thanksgiving meal is regret. However, this is only the first step to recovery. After accepting the facts of the feast, one must prepare to face the overflow of leftovers that are likely crowding your fridge.

Below find some remedies that happen to recipes that will not only ease all the bloating and exhaustion, but also distract us so that we can anticipate the holiday all over again next year.

Lunch: Thanksgiving Leftover Grilled Cheese

Turkey can feel tied to Thanksgiving, but luckily—frittatas are not. Start your day with a substantial and satisfying breakfast classic that utilizes all of the holiday’s major components (turkey, brussel sprouts, green beans and more) in a entirely different fashion. Plus, a little leftover cranberry sauce can’t hurt.

Snack: Turkey Paitan Ramen with Crispy Turkey and Soft-Cooked Egg

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 slices of bread 1/2 pound mixed Thanksgiving leftovers turkey stuffing vegetables 1 to 2 slices of preferred cheese 1/4 cup of leftover gravy

Test your test buds as you transform your annual Thanksgiving dish into a dynamic, renowned Asian recipe. This paitan-style ramen is not only creamy and filling, but also utilizes the most of your leftover turkey. The turkey bones will provide for a stellar broth .Let the broth reach a boil all while you prepare the ramen noodles separately to combine and ultimately top off with a traditional soft cooked egg and shallots.

Ingredients: 2 lbs Turkey drumsticks and/or thighs 16 Garlic cloves 1 3-inch knob Ginger 2 Leeks, whole 1 Onion, large skin on 24 Scallions 6 Eggs 6 servings Ramen-style noodles

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Ever consider converting your Thanksgiving turkey into an exotic enchilada? Probably not, but if you happen to still have some leftover turkey in the fridge, it is certainly worth a shot. With a little bit of help from Mexican mole sauce and turkey as the perfect filling and source of protein, this recipe tastes more like a fiesta than a Thanksgiving festivity.

Ingredients: Soft Corn tortillas 1 1/2 ounces of shredded turkey meat (per tortilla) 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil Kosher salt 1/4 cup homemade (or store made) Mexican mole poblano sauce Crema and Crumbled Cotija Cheese Sliced white onions Fresh cilantro and lime

courtesy of Serious Eats

courtesy of Serious Eats

Ingredients: 8 eggs Kosher Salt/ Fresh Pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 shallot (thinly sliced) 1 jalapeño (deseeded and diced) 2 cups shredded brussel sprouts 1 cup green beans 3/4 pound of roasted, shredded turkey 1/2 cup of fresh parsley

Grilled Cheese is always a good idea— especially when it combines so many Thanksgiving favorites. Maintain the classic golden brown crust and melted cheese, but this time, take an extra step and add in leftover turkey and stuffing within your bread for an extra kick. Moreover, if you’re still feeling festive, swap your traditional tomato soup with some gravy.

courtesy of Serious Eats

courtesy of Serious Eats

Breakfast: Leftover Turkey Frittata

Dinner: Turkey Enchiladas

November 12, 2015

OPINIONS

Page 9

The Miscellany News Staff Editorial

Health services lack access, especially when classes end M

ost students have experienced the insufficiency of Vassar’s health services, in particular, mental health services.

Almost two years ago in February 2014, the VSA council called for Metcalf to open a post-doctoral fellow position in order to expand the limited staff and to meet increasing demand for counseling services (The Miscellany News.“VSA addresses increased need for counseling services.” 2.5.14).

Last December, a group called Vassar Students for Mental Health garnered over 1,000 signatures on their online petition calling for improvements to Metcalf. In response, the VSA drafted a letter of endorsement, emphasizing the need for better staffing in counseling service (The Miscellany News.

“Over 1,000 sign petition to improve mental health services.” 12.3.14). Despite such consistent efforts pushing for better mental health services, we at the Miscellany News believe that Metcalf remains inadequate, especially at the end of the semester, when there is a higher need for counseling services and medical support.

As the face of all mental health services on campus, Metcalf has failed to establish a strong relationship with students. Many students pass by the red-brick building between Swift Hall and the Old Observatory without knowing its purpose. Knowing the purpose of the building is almost entirely linked to previous experiences with Metcalf. For students seeking assistance for the first time, it can be confusing and troublesome to find sufficient guidance.

One of the reasons for Metcalf ’s lack of visibility is that the Administration hasn’t done enough to expand the outreach and impact of mental health services on campus.

While it has 13 group counseling offerings,

Metcalf only sends out one email at the beginning of each semester with information about these support and therapy groups.

Consequently, many students are either unaware of these options or unsure about how to participate in them. During finals, Metcalf organizes many stress buster events, which could be better publicized for more students to take advantage of them.

Additionally, the hours of Metcalf are not sufficient. Open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., it offers counseling and other services only during the academic year. More importantly, it ceases to book appointments during the study break before finals, when students are in more need of their services.

Although there’s the option of a counselor-on-call for evenings and weekends during the academic year, Metcalf leaves too many students without the support they need.

Baldwin House has similar problems.

Home to most medical services, Baldwin has hours limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. This is hardly an optimal schedule for unwell students unable or unwilling go to a hospital.

During the night, there is a nurse on-call, but their ability to do full diagnostics and majors tests is minimal.

The limited number of counselors and staff at Metcalf must also be addressed.

With the recent number of hires, Metcalf has been improving and is now able to arrange appointments within one to two days.

However, it still remains markedly understaffed. Many report that campus counselors only see students a few times before they refer students to off-campus services.

Being sent off-campus not only means extra costs for transportation, but also more confusion in terms of understanding insurance

coverage and finding a suitable counselor or therapist.

Going off campus can be frustrating, especially for people with no means to get to and from appointments. Taxis and other forms of public transportation are neither easily affordable nor reliable in Poughkeepsie.

Recently, the VSA Student Life committee crafted an initiative that seeks to address this gap in accessibility. The committee has sent a transportation letter initiative to various senior level administrators, calling for transportation for students who seek off-campus counseling, off-campus prescription medications and trans­ portation to and from the hospital. While we at the Miscellany News applaud this step forward, we think that more can be done to develop exchange to and from campus.

Moreover, off-campus services often result in confusions and difficulties about finding the right resources and assistance.

Some off-campus counselors that students are referred to failed to respond to student needs. The only guidance Metcalf provides for students to find a suitable off-campus counselor is a two-page handout with general, vague information that’s rarely helpful.

The problem people most frequently encounter is probably insurance issues, both for mental health and other medical services. The manner in which Vassar provides its student’s health insurance is unacceptable. The “Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan” provided by Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk is too difficult to navigate. There should be institutional support available for students that are experiencing mental health crises. Students also should not have to worry about money and

filling out forms when they come into the insurance office.

College is hard enough without having to figure out what is covered by insurance.

This added stress is not alleviated by Vassar health professionals. Their lack of knowledge about coverage and deductibles leaves an absence of someone on campus who can help students navigate coverage.

Lack of transparency of the plan appears to be a theme with this student insurance.

The alleged release of confidential STI test results to parents is just one example. An STI test administered by Baldwin is sent to a lab that bills the student’s account, unbeknownst to the student. This allows the parents to see that their child had the test performed.

Considering other places nearby that offer free STI testing such as the Dutchess County Health Department and Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, students should not have to worry about their parents finding out about their private lives.

Baldwin needs to disclose what charges they make to students accounts resulting from these tests. In addition, the campus should provide free STI testing regardless of insurance as part of the Vassar’s mission to make college life more accessible.

We at the Miscellany News consider mental health and health services a basic student necessity. While we recognize the previous efforts by the VSA and college administrations to improve the quality of medical services on campus, there is still more for the college to do to radically transform student quality of life.

—The Staff Editorial represents the opinions of at least 2/3 of our Editorial Board.

Extremist right-wing rhetoric encourages acts of violence Nicholas Barone Columnist

O

n Nov. 27, Robert Lewis Dear allegedly shot and killed three people and injured nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. The individuals murdered included a police officer, a U.S. Army veteran and a mother of two.

After being detained by police officials, Dear went on a rambling diatribe against the government and abortion, while muttering, “No more baby parts,” a supposed reference to the highly edited and surreptitiously recorded undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress in early 2015.

The allegations that Planned Parenthood illegally sold fetal organs have been debunked by multiple state government investigations as well as the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee. However, police officials still haven’t released a motive for the act of violence.

Planned Parenthood and its primarily liberal supporters were quick to denounce the act, which has been appropriately described as domestic terrorism by many pundits and organizations. Planned Parenthood itself tweeted, “The increase in hateful rhetoric & smear campaigns against abortion providers & patients creates an environment that breeds acts of violence.”

Former Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all released statements reiterating their support for Planned Parenthood and their advocacy for women’s health and reproductive rights. Sanders tweeted, “I strongly support Planned Parenthood and the work it’s doing. I hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.” President Barack Obama offered condolences and reiterated his positional frustration regarding American gun control reform.

Most of the right, on the other hand, was silent for nearly two whole days before acknowledging the brutal attack. It is important to note that rhetoric towards Planned Parenthood has

been bitter, accusatory and aggressive, particularly in the wake of the 2015 undercover video controversy.

CBS News reported that “The women’s health organization has [been] featured prominently as a target of the anti–abortion movement in recent months. Congressional conservatives made several attempts to defund Planned Parenthood earlier this year after undercover videos sparked outrage over the clinic’s health care practices,” (CBS News, “Presidential candidates react to Planned Parenthood Shooting,” 11.29.15).

Conservatives were quick to criticize liberals’ reactions as premature given the lack of information available regarding the shooter’s intent (a somewhat valid assertion, though inherently problematic given the Republican Party’s history of reacting blindly to tragedies).

However, many Republican presidential candidates were very slow to react to the tragedy,

“It is important to note that rhetoric towards Planned Parenthood has been bitter, accusatory and aggressive.” unlike their Democratic counterparts.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a self–proclaimed enemy of Planned Parenthood who has described the organization as a “criminal enterprise,” was the first to respond to the tragedy by tweeting, “Praying for the loved ones of those killed, those injured & first responders who bravely got the situation under control in Colorado Springs.” As The New Yorker points out, however, this statement does not really specify whom he is offering condolences to (The New Yorker, “The Planned Parenthood Shooting and Republican Candidates’ Responses,” 11.29.15).

Cruz later generated controversy by suggesting that the shooter may have been a “transgen-

dered leftist activist” based on the findings of conservative blogger Jim Hoft, who purportedly discovered that the alleged shooter was registered to vote as a woman.

However, no relatives or officials have commented on Dear’s gender identity and there is no indication that Dear is a trans woman. Additionally, Cruz’s use of the word “transgendered” is widely considered offensive by the LGBTQ community and only further shows the callousness and superficiality of Cruz’s comments.

Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush offered an apolitical response of, “There is no acceptable explanation for this violence, and I will continue to pray for those who have been impacted.” Bush does not hold anyone accountable and does not offer any words of reform or change (though, this is better than the incendiary rhetoric of his colleagues).

Donald Trump told Chuck Todd of “Meet the Press” that the shooting represented a discontentment and anxiety regarding Planned Parenthood and the anger generated from the video; however, he avoided saying that the strong, bitter language of other Republicans caused the shooting, saying instead that the shooter has not yet made a “statement.”

The common thread between these three Republican candidates is a lack of accountability for their words and accusations regarding the abortion debate over the last year, especially since September.

Planned Parenthood has been maligned and attacked on the political front relentlessly, despite investigations revealing that the arguments made in the undercover videotapes of Planned Parenthood officials were false and unfounded.

It is not ridiculous and misguided to argue a link between extreme conservative rhetoric regarding abortion and the attack. Bryn Greenwood tweeted about a series of her experiences working at Planned Parenthood facility in Kansas where the building and its staff were regularly confronted with arson, verbal threats from protesters, small explosives and even gunfire.

Greenwood details, “We received hundreds

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

of phone calls, threatening to torch our clinic and kill the ‘murdering whores’ who worked there.” She noted that her facility did not even perform abortions and yet was met with relentless harassment from the pro–life campaign.

In the same series of tweets, Greenwood related her experience working with Dr. George Tiller, a doctor working at an abortion clinic who was shot in 1993 through both arms, only

“It is not ridiculous and misguided to argue a link between extreme conservative rhetoric... and the attack. to go to work the next day.

“Dr. Tiller kept coming to work after he was shot, because he was a caring man who knew how important his work was,” Greenwood described. In 2009, Tiller was murdered in his own church by a pro–life activist.

She finished her series of tweets by calling attention to acts of terrorism against clinics across the nation and abortions that are still performed in Dr. Tiller’s old clinic, “because that’s how you respond to terrorism. We can’t let them win.”

Greenwood’s tweets instill a reminder within the current discussion regarding the Colorado Springs shooting that harassment and violence against Planned Parenthood and women’s health clinics isn’t a new phenomenon. They also serve to refute many conservatives’ statements saying that the rhetoric surrounding the pro–life movement does not have the unintended effect of violence against such institutions.

Cruz, Trump and other Republicans must shift their dialogue on the abortion debate to one that does not breed violence and anger in order to open up the possibilities for actual progress.

—Nicholas Barone ’19 is a student at Vassar College.

OPINIONS

Page 10

November 12, 2015

Barnard housing policy prioritizes finances over students Steven Park

Guest Columnist

A

few weeks ago, I was attending one of the Vassar Student Association meetings when I came across an interesting piece of information. VSA President Ramy Abbady ’16 was giving an update on the latest Seven Sisters Conference, a yearly assemblage of the student executives from Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Wellesley College and Vassar College (Radcliffe College had merged with Harvard in 1999). Among the topics discussed at this conference, one of the most controversial centered on Barnard’s winter housing crisis.

To provide context, the relationship between students and administration at Barnard has been more than sour for several years, especially regarding winter housing.

Per usual, many Barnard students return home for winter break to celebrate the holidays with their families while international students and others in complicated housing situations reside on campus either due to travel distance or financial reasons.

The haggling process to demonstrate need is unreasonably difficult, and staying for the break’s duration costs $400. In the past, the school’s policies mandated that students staying on campus could still stay in their own dorms, since most of the dorms would’ve remained open throughout the winter (Columbia Spectator, “Want to stay in Barnard housing over break? Get out your wallet,” 12.10.12).

Well, not anymore. In an effort to save money, the Barnard administration has implemented a series of changes to the winter housing system that have made an already difficult process even more frustrating.

In an email to the student body earlier in the spring, Barnard Dean of the College Avis Hinkson announced that all but one of the dorms would effectively be shut down over winter break since “it makes sense, for safety and well-being, to have the small population

of students who are on campus during that time reside in one location,” (Columbia Spectator, “Barnard Housing changes: less winter break housing and sliding cancellation fees,” 03.05.14).

While seeming sensible at first, this decision was incredibly one–sided. In the email, Hinkson causally mentioned that students who do not live in that one dorm, Plimpton Hall, must “secure permission to use the room of a Plimpton resident.”

This means that even after successfully demonstrating need to the administration, students from the 11 other residence halls must go through a more difficult process of competing for a room in order to actually stay on campus.

“If you don’t have a friend in Plimpton, you’re basically screwed,” states one Barnard junior (Columbia Spectator, “Barnard announces changes to winter break housing policy,” 03.06.14).

At first, I must admit, I didn’t see the gravity of the situation. Surely, there can’t be that many people staying over winter break, I thought to myself. The Dean herself said that there were only a “small population of students” staying over break, after all.

Well, that can’t possibly be true, because the administration further cut down on the number of students eligible to stay to make up for the lack of rooms in Plimpton. At the start of the fall semester, the Barnard administration announced its decision to deny winter–break housing to everyone except students who possess “mission critical” roles (Columbia Spectator, “Barnard students express frustration over further restrictions to winter break housing policy,” 09.20.15).

“Mission critical,” in this case, translates to varsity athletes competing for the school and students who will give admissions tour guides during winter break. Bravo, Barnard, bravo.

According to the college profile, approximately 10 percent of the student body, including 15 percent of the class of 2019, are

considered international students (Peterson’s, “Barnard College (International Students)”).

That’s about 250 students that Barnard College decided to completely ignore, not to mention the students who are living on welfare, students who have been kicked out of their family for issues of sexuality and gender identity, students who come from abusive households and students who are literally homeless.

Naturally, the entire student body at Barnard was outraged at these coldhearted changes and demanded that the administration reverse them. The administration’s response? “Students could certainly look into house-sitting...I also know of another student who was a nanny over the holiday last year,” stated Dean Hinkson.

During the Seven Sisters Conference, all the other student executives expressed their support for the Barnard students in their endeavor.

Additionally, the VSA agreed to form a coalition with the Barnard student government to provide as much help as possible, from assisting with policy recommendations to reaching out to Vassar alumni to host students.

Just two weeks after news of this issue spread at the conference, Barnard reinstated winter break housing for students with demonstrable “financial or personal” need and invited low-income students to stay on campus free of charge. It seems to me that the administration finally listened when it realized that its precious image was in danger of tarnish.

While people may view this outcome as a situation where justice was served, I see it more as a worrisome indication that colleges are becoming more and more profit–oriented rather than focused on their students. It’s no surprise to me that college is a huge, lucrative venture equivalent to multi–billion corporations.

Just look at the rising tuition costs. But what happened at Barnard wasn’t just carelessness, it was absolute blindness. The administration clearly wasn’t thinking about the students’ “safety and well-being” when it decided to

close all but one dorm over winter break.

It was so incredibly obvious that the college was looking for ways to easily save money at the expense of the people it was supposed to aid. All that talk about student safety was just a shameless excuse to justify its money–driven decisions. All this wouldn’t bother me so much if it wasn’t so blatantly obvious.

I don’t consider myself a naive person. Colleges need to make money, and this obsession with increasing profits is a predictable result of a capitalist system. And honestly, that’s the harsh reality.

But really, Barnard, did you actually think you could get away with admitting more international students into your college, who must pay more money because they’re ineligible for U.S. government aid, just to leave them homeless over the freezing winter? That’s not a problem with greed, that’s a problem with gross overconfidence. That’s the same level of manipulation you would see out of “The Jungle,” for heaven’s sake.

“I feel like the administration isn’t exactly in touch with the needs of the students...Honestly, knowing Barnard, I’m really not surprised that they would do something like this,” stated one Barnard junior.

In that case, for this Thanksgiving season, I’m very thankful to be at Vassar. At this point, I think it is essential for students to make it clear to college administrations that we’re not just brainless idiots who they can scam effortlessly.

We can, and we will, fight. Maybe then we won’t see such disgusting overconfidence from colleges in the future.

Note: If you readers are interested, search #homelessness and #WhatHasChanged on the Columbia Class Confessions website (to clarify, Barnard and Columbia are closely interconnected) to hear some of the Barnard students’ voices.

—Steven Park ’19 is a student at Vassar College.

Obamacare leads to rise in treatment for cervical cancer Emma Jones

C

Guest Columnist

ancer is not often associated with young adults. Twenty–somethings are assumed to be at the peak of physical health, immune to the diseases and ailments that we expect to come with age.

Young women in particular, however, are more susceptible to certain cancers, especially cervical cancer, than we would like to believe.

The American Cancer Society recently conducted a study linking a rise in early detection of cervical cancer in young women to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. This development indicates a rise in fertility rates and a decrease in mortality.

Since the increased use of the Pap test, which first became common about 30 years ago, the cervical cancer death rate has decreased by approximately 50 percent, a statistic that only shows the progress science has made in female healthcare.

A cervical cancer screening is typically

“The American Cancer Society recently conducted a study linking a rise in early detection...to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.” part of a Pap test. The screening can detect potentially harmful changes in the cervix before cancer develops, allowing for treatment in the disease’s earliest stage.

In addition to the Pap test, HPV testing can be used to detect the presence of cancerous or pre–cancerous lesions. Ideally, women should have both tests performed on a regular basis.

Cervical cancer, unlike most types of cancer, commonly affects young women. Although women of all ages can be diagnosed with cervical cancer, older women are statistically more likely to have testing done regularly, and therefore treat the disease in its early stages, which involves less complex procedures.

Without health insurance, however, many young women are unable to afford regular Pap tests, and therefore are often unaware of the existence of cancerous cells in the uterus.

The Affordable Care Act, implemented on March 23, 2010, allows children to be covered by their parents’ health insurance until age 26.

Approximately four million young adults have gained insurance benefits through Obamacare, which has been associated with a variety of improved health outcomes for both men and women.

This aspect of Obamacare is especially crucial for young women; there has been a substantial increase in the number of women under 26 who have received a diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer since 2010, while the number of young women diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer has dropped proportionately.

Under Obamacare, routine Pap tests are covered by most health insurance plans, ensuring that the majority of women in the United States are able to get tested at the recommended frequency.

Early detection of cervical cancer is linked to a higher survival rate, and in the case of survival, women are much more likely to retain their fertility during treatment when the disease is treated early on.

In its early stages, cervical cancer can be treated with relatively small surgeries that leave the uterus intact. Treatment of advanced cancer, however, often means undergoing a hysterectomy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, procedures that more often than not lead to infertility.

Women should ideally begin cervical

cancer screenings at age 21, and Obamacare makes this an option for more women.

When the spread of cancerous cells in the uterus is detected early on, women have more choices in terms of treatment, and have a better option overall of long–term healthcare.

Although there is no way to definitively prove that the Affordable Care Act is a direct cause of the increase in early detection of cervical cancer, there is undeniably a correlation. A long–term study is necessary to determine what this means for cancer care and outcomes.

The American Cancer Society, however, has confirmed that the past few years have seen upward trends in early detection. Researchers compared cancer diagnoses of women between the ages of 21 and 25 to those of women ages 26 to 34, both before and after

“Although there is no way to definitively prove that the Affordable Care Act is a direct cause... there is undeniably a correlation. the enactment of Obamacare, and found that diagnosis rates rose significantly in the 21–25 age range, but remained steady in the 26–34 group.

Across all ages, the proportion of late– stage cervical cancer to early–stage cervical cancer in American women has shifted in a positive direction.

Between 2007 and 2009, early–stage tumors accounted for 68 percent of all cervical cancers. By 2011, this percentage grew to 84. Over the same time span, the percentage of women eligible for less aggressive treatments rose from 26 to 39.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Those with insurance are, as would be expected, more likely to take advantage of preventative health services beyond cervical cancer screenings.

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, Americans under 26 have increasingly utilized a variety of medical resources. More young people have begun to take advantage of mental health services, which were previously unattainable to much of the population.

A greater proportion of young women are able to afford effective methods of birth control and have more options at their disposal.

The studies conducted by the American Cancer Society do not account for factors such as race, though. In the United States, Latina women are most likely to develop cervical cancer, followed by black women, then Pacific Islanders and Asian women, then white women. It has yet to be determined whether the Affordable Care Act has an effect on this ratio.

The studies also do not acknowledge other outside components that have contributed to a steady increase in early cervical cancer diagnoses over the past few decades.

While Obamacare has certainly had a positive effect, it is not clear at this point how much credit it should receive.

Although a greater variety of health services are now available to women, efforts to extend their accessibility are futile without public awareness of their presence and purpose.

Public consciousness of cervical cancer and the cruciality of testing for it regularly beginning at a relatively young age is still limited.

Despite the discrepancies in recent information surrounding the effect of the Affordable Care Act on cervical cancer diagnosis, there is no doubt that, in the short run at least, the legislation is beneficial to young adults, and particularly young women.

—Emma Jones ’19 is a student at Vassar College.

November 12, 2015

OPINIONS

Shootings necessitate greater gun control Madeleine Cavanagh Guest Columnist

R

ecently, America has struggled through too many instances of politically–motivated mass shootings, violence that would, if perpetrated by a Muslim person, be defined as terrorism.

This summer, Charleston, S.C. mourned the losses of nine people, killed in a historically black church by a young white supremacist who had access to a gun. More recently, in Roseburg, Ore., students at Umpqua Community College began to rebuild their community after having lost nine of their own to an on–campus shooter. And now, in Colorado Springs, three people have been killed and 11 injured in a horrific turn of events at a local Planned Parenthood clinic.

The suspect of the recent attack, Robert Lewis Dear, a 57–year–old local man, allegedly opened fire in the facility, injuring 11 people and killing two civilians as well as a University of Colorado-Colorado Springs police officer.

The tragedy has sparked dialogue on the role that violence and extremism play in American culture.

There has been talk of gun control, mental health awareness and, at least in left-leaning circles, the importance of access to safe abortions free of fear. But we’ve heard all of this before, and little has been done from a structural standpoint to reduce the instances of gun violence in this country.

It is important to recognize the complex role that politics plays in tragedies like these. Some argue that we ought not to politicize tragedies.

That out of respect for the dead and their loved ones, we ought to stay silent. But given the disproportionate amount of gun violence in the United States, particularly in comparison to other Western nations, it is clear that politics are at the root of the problem. Without discussions of the deeper causes of what are clearly not freak instances, but rather patterns of violence, these patterns are likely to prevent future acts of terror within this country.

After instances like Colorado Springs, discussion of heightened gun control legislation inevitably takes place. But time and time again, the federal government has failed to act in any meaningful way towards implementing these crucial changes. On Saturday, Nov. 28 following the Colorado Springs shooting, Obama spoke out in favor of fixing this system. He stated, “If we truly care about this, if we’re going to offer up our thoughts and prayers again, for God knows how many times, with a truly clean conscience, then we have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them.”

He’s right—the ease with which dangerous weapons can be accessed in this country is unbelievable. But this conversation happened after Charleston. And after Roseburg. And after Sandy Hook. Only when this conversation brings substantive, legislative change will we see any reduction in the number of preventable instances of mass violence in this country.

Statistics have proven that gun control is effective. A study conducted by Adam Lankford, an associate professor at the University of Alabama Department of Criminal Justice, found that countries with higher levels of gun ownership also had more mass shootings per capita.

Currently, according to the Small Arms Survey 2011, a Geneva–based research project that collects information on small arms, the U.S. ranks first internationally in gun ownership per capita.

Other countries, like Australia, have struggled with gun violence historically and have managed to substantially reduce the instances of gun violence by strengthening gun control legislation. In 1996, after a man named Martin Bryant killed 35 people in a café in Port Arthur, Tasmania, with two semi–automatic weapons, then–Prime Minister Howard wrote, “The fundamental problem was the ready availability of high–powered weapons, which enabled people to convert their murderous impulses into mass

killing.” He enacted a set of reforms entitled the National Firearms Agreement, which required gun owners not only to register their guns, but also to demonstrate a genuine need beyond self defense for owning a weapon. As a result of the Agreement, gun violence plummeted. At this point, we recognize that there is a problem, and have seen that there is a solution that has decreased rates of gun violence in countries comparable to the U.S. Now is the time to fight for increased legislation.

The next thing that needs to be addressed is the toxic, divisive cultural and political framework that allows these events to take place and complicates the aftermath. Recent years have seen the rise of extreme right–leaning politics.

Politics, like the recent attack on Planned Parenthood, legitimize actors who perpetrate acts of terror and further characterize these criminals as anomalies, as opposed to the direct result of a culture that promotes hate, ignorance and intolerance. The first step is to stop vilifying access to safe abortions in politics and government. It’s time that, as a culture, America begins prioritizing the lives of pregnant women.

There is a long way to go before the United States comes close to solving its problem with gun violence and gun culture, and change isn’t going to take place overnight. But that doesn’t mean that in the meantime we should stop talking.

In the wake of Colorado Springs, we should continue to say the same things we said after Charleston, and Roseburg, and Sandy Hook and the countless other instances in which human life was unnecessarily lost. Let’s fight for the restrictions on gun ownership that have been proven effective time and time again. One day, the discussion will prompt the change required to overcome this deeply entrenched culture of violence.

M

Guest Columnist

y father once told me that the great thing about America is that I have the right to go to any street corner and shout anything I want, and you in turn have the right to hate me for it. In many ways, this makes America unique.

Much of the western world has anti–hate speech laws. In Germany, for instance, an 87– year–old woman was sentenced to ten months in prison for denying the Holocaust (The Telegraph, “German ‘Nazi grandma’ sentenced to 10 months in prison for holocaust denial,” 11.13.15).

While it may seem odd, the lack of anti–hate speech legislation is one of the things I love most about this country.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe we should be celebratory of hatred. I have just as much of a right to despise the Westboro Baptist Church as they have a right to exist in America. But democracies work when its citizens are exposed to all ideologies and have a choice of rejecting some and accepting others.

The maintenance of a democratic state requires the free and uninhibited exchange of ideas. Aside from threats of violence and harassment, it’s not the place of the government to determine what kind of speech is acceptable in the public square.

That’s why I was especially concerned when, a few weeks ago, the Pew Research Center published a poll in which 40 percent of millennials stated that they think the government should be able to prevent people from saying things that are offensive to minorities (Pew Research Center, “40% of Millennials OK with limiting speech offensive to minorities,” 11.20.15). Not hate speech, but offensive statements.

To be completely fair, 58 percent of millennials said that they don’t believe that the government should be censoring offensive language.

But that’s 42 percent too low, especially since the freedom of speech and expression are so crucial to the maintenance of a demo-

cratic state.

My first concern is that this shows a complete misunderstanding of the First Amendment. Former Congressman Ron Paul has often said that we don’t have freedom of speech so that we can talk about the weather, we have it so that we can talk about controversial things.

Freedom is about tolerating speech we disagree with, even speech we find morally abhorrent, in order to form a constructive dialogue.

There are also concerns regarding the implementation of such a policy. Would ‘offensiveness’ be based on what people think is offensive, or would the government determine an objective measure of offensiveness?

Would this be based off the rhetoric employed, or could the government decide that certain positions are inherently offensive?

Which groups can people legally offend?

Would only historically marginalized groups be protected from offensive content?

How would the government determine this?

Would the government be censoring newspapers?

Would that mean that all newspapers would have to be approved by the government or would it be treated like any other crime and handled after the fact by a prosecutor? Would the government be regulating social media to suppress “hurtful” language?

Government censorship of offensive speech would require the creation of a bureaucracy that could easily expand to silence dissent.

It’s especially concerning that merely seven years after President Bush my generation is so trusting of the government.

When granting the government any power, you have to take as a given that the people you support aren’t going to be in office forever. Eventually someone will take office who is corrupt or incompetent.

Now imagine that power is to censor speech.

If we give President Obama this authority, we’ll have to also give his successor that power. That successor could be Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton. That successor could also be Ted Cruz.

Word on the street What’s the new turkey?

“All that’s coming to my mind is salami.”

— Katie Fallon ’18

“Turducken” — Meghan Willcoxon ’18

­—Madeleine Cavanagh ’18 is a student at Vassar College.

Threat to free speech proves alarming Jesse Horowitz

Page 11

If you replaced the “government” with “Ted Cruz,” what percentage of millennials do you think would come out in favor of censorship?

I’m sure that by this point there are some readers that are extremely upset at me because I’m a white, cisgender, heterosexual male who just doesn’t get it. What am I, a [insert word ending with -ist or -phobe here]?

How dare I criticize reactions to offensive speech when I have never been in a situation where I’ve had to confront hateful rhetoric that targeted a group that I belong to?

Except that’s not true.

I am autistic. I was diagnosed when I was about two years old. This is not something I hide from people because I feel like it’s a part of who I am. It’s something I strongly identify with and, while it doesn’t dominate my life, it’s an important part my existence.

Up until about a year ago if you typed “people with autism should” into Google, you’d find that the top three searches were “be killed,” “die” and “be exterminated.”

If you research autism now you’ll find eugenics organizations masquerading as charities that call us “burdens,” stories about children who are murdered by their parents and I’m sure a slew of microaggressions.

I don’t think that it should be illegal to say hateful things about autistic people. I think doing so makes you an asshole. You have a right to be an asshole. You don’t have the right to be an asshole and then get upset when everyone starts calling you an asshole.

That’s an important distinction. The First Amendment isn’t about blindly accepting that every opinion that anyone has ever held has to be treated as morally equal to yours.

I don’t think that my belief that marriage should be between any two individuals is equal to the belief that marriage is between a man and woman of the same race, except legally.

They have the right to have their opinions. I have the right to hate them for it. ­—Jesse Horowitz ’19 is a student at Vassar College.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

“I hate Thanksgiving.”

— Nancy Chen ’18

“A literal tofurkey.”

— Lily Kitfield ’18

“Mashed potatoes because I’m a vegetarian.”

— Emily Drossell ’19

“The margarita Retreatza.” ­­— Kayla Miron ’18

Zander Bashaw, Humor & Satire Editor Sam Pianello, Photo Editor

OPINIONS

Page 12

November 12, 2015

Internet anonymity allows for prevalence of hate-speech Elizabeth Dean Online Editor

I

like to think of myself as pretty internet-savvy—I’m the online editor here at the Misc, and I’ve run several blogs before in my life. I’ve wasted hours of my life in the depths of both Tumblr and Reddit. However, since I’ve been in charge of moderating comments for the Miscellany News’ online content, I’ve been inducted into a new world of online bullshit, featuring comments that reveal unsettling nadirs of human behavior.

Thus, I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of internet denizens with whom I have never before identified­—naive new internet users and obnoxious columnists who use “millennial” like it’s an insult.

What is wrong with people on the internet?

How does a slim mask of anonymity bring out such vitriol, such hate directed at writers and other commenters, such shameful depths of human behavior in the online discussion on articles as trivial as Financial Times’ “Emoji, Brexit, ad blocker and my notable words of 2015” and Buzzfeed’s “33 Genius Elf On The Shelf Ideas” (seriously, look up the nasty Buzzfeed Elf on the Shelf comments, featuring cursing, all-caps, and personal attacks)?

On the one hand, angry responses to content online can be a legitimate form of protesting unjust ideologies, or a warranted response to long-lasting cultural trauma. On the other hand, the type of nastiness that is most common online grows out of trivial disagreements and clashing egos—again, see the Buzzfeed “Elf on the Shelf” Debacle of 2015.

I was specifically spurred to write this piece based on the online response to a recent Miscellany News column, a one–off opinion piece by a guest columnist in the sports section focusing one fan’s response to rape allegation against Blackhawk team member Patrick Kane. The

“Billie Holidays”

outcry in the comments section of the Miscellany News website was unusually large in number and ripe with nastiness.

Many commenters wrote long contributions in which they argue against the points made in the piece; although most of their comments are invalidated by the fact that they have no grasp at all on the difference between investigative journalism and an op–ed, they engaged with the information in the piece in a discursive way.

However, as moderator, I had the responsibility of deciding which of the other, less constructive comments that I could, in good conscience, allow on the site. The Miscellany does not allow obscene language in its comments section, and I also follow a “Yik Yak”-style policy where I remove comments that personally target an individual (including the writer) in an obscene, unnecessarily personal or violent way. I had to delete dozens of comments under this rubric.

Highlights of abusive behavior in deleted comments featured digs about the female–identified author’s supposed romantic history, gender–based slurs, ableist insults and accusations about her mental health, condescending and unasked–for “career advice” and general rude name–calling.

I was also shocked at the reminder that people exist who are both young enough to know how to comment on a Wordpress site, and misogynistic enough to comment on how the author’s gender makes her unintelligent. Hear that phone ringing, commenter? It’s 1924. They want their sexist attitude back.

I was reeling after reading all of these meanspirited personal attacks which shifted the commenter’s disagreement with the article to an aggressive and wildly inappropriate attack on the author herself.

I really shouldn’t have been surprised: recent research into online harassment from the Pew Research Center revealed that while men

were slightly more likely to be insulted online, women were far more likely to be harassed in threatening or “severe” ways that threatened their safety or mental health. Like many sectors of our society, the internet provides another platform in which women are targeted, harassed and abused disproportionately because of their gender. It seems almost obvious, then, that a female–identified author online would face attacks and harassment tied specifically to her gender, body or sexuality.

However, the vitriol was only keyed down slightly between often–ungendered anonymous commenters in the section. So to return to my original quest, what is wrong with people on the internet such that they are able to make the choice to type and submit these comments that target another person?

After doing some research into computer– mediated communication, it seems like the issue is that commenters don’t see the author that they target as, in fact, another person. According to the New Yorker report on this issue, psychologists have determined that a level of disinhibition arises from the anonymity of online comments that is related to how the mediation of the computer between commentator and other participants dehumanizes others in the commenter’s mind: that is, the distance created by the internet can make people feel like they don’t have treat others like human beings (The New Yorker, “The Psychology of Online Comments,” 10.23.13).

Personally, I think that this mediation leads not only to dehumanization but also a conflation between the anger a commenter feels about a relatively trivial idea they disagree with and unnecessary anger directed at the author who expressed this idea.

If you imagine yourself in their place, it almost seems possible. Picture this: you’re scrolling through articles online, when you see one

that pisses you off. It’s not that it’s racist, or transphobic or actually damaging to society in any way, it’s just wrong. Maybe it insults your favorite movie, criticizes a sports star you love or just looks at an important social justice issue differently than you do.

Of course you need to get involved in the comments, so you can educate the author and other readers about the right version of this idea. You type out a comment where you say your ideas, just like the author said their ideas.

Good job, you! You’re contributing to discourse!

But then you feel your comment is ignored, or that the wrongness of the article is just too outrageous, and you end your comment with an expression of disgust or frustration—”I’m surrounded by idiots!” you exclaim, or, “How could this dumb author think [idea]!”—and all the sudden, you’re in dehumanization territory.

Chances are, you didn’t mean any harm, but you also failed to think critically about your impact on others and you’ve just let a little bit of negativity seep out into the internet.

In the end, this common experience of alienation through computer mediated conversation is no excuse for the type of personal attacks that occur online, including on the Miscellany’s own pages. However, I think most of us (including myself) have been guilty of that slippage of negativity online.

I think we all need to make an extra, concerted effort to exercise our empathy when posting online. Although there will still be negative people out there making life difficult for moderators like me, I feel that is essential that we each try to take stock of how our words would affect another human being before we trash an author, insult another commenter—or even, God forbid, inflict our nasty comments on the website’s moderator.

—Elizabeth Dean ’17 is an English major.

The Miscellany Crossword

by Alycia Beattie, York Chen, and Collin Knopp-Schwyn Email coknoppschwyn@vassar.edu to contribute!

ACROSS

1 Kamakawiwo’ole’s instrument 4 Gym routines 8 525,600 minutes 12 Page-filler 13 Prefix with plasm 14 Soup pot 15 Director who plays “Funny Games” (like dreidel)?

18 Jump performed by 53-Across 19 Liquid Kool-Aid powder alternative 20 Word with grape or great 21 Devastating win 23 Seasonal German bread with dried fruit (and marzipan sometimes!)

27 Snowboarder’s hangtime 28 Attractive 29 Lets it all out 31 Again, to a Dickensian street urchin 33 2011 macaw film 34 Mindfreak who shows Jimmy Stewart an alternate future?

38 Runway org.?

39 Moves like a tide 40 Top-tier 41 Like pirating 44-Across 44 What you wouldn’t pirate, if the FBI’s warnings are to be believed 45 Overwhelm in war

Answers to last week’s puzzle Gracias

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46 French coffeemakers 50 Big doofy antelope 51 Not a friend 52 Ireland in Ireland 53 Skater celebrating in red, green, and black?

58 Vandal’s button on Wikipedia 59 Low-cal 60 “Beware the ___ of March!”

61 Prying, like your parents vis-a-vis your sexuality 62 Singe in those tasty grill-marks 63 Tripping hazard

30 Hard exams, for some 31 Stroll, perhaps around Arlington 32 It’s a gift for some 35 Common waterbirds 36 The narthex is typically at its west end 37 Like manna from heaven 38 Tiny white lie 42 Four score 43 Hackman or Autry 44 Barrymore or Carey

DOWN

1 Possibly peptic open sore 2 Tasty cabbage kin 3 Flight touchdown time 4 Holy Grail, for one5 Nymph who could only repeat the last words said 6 “Punch-Drunk Love” dir.

7 Brief sonata, favored by Muzio Clementi 8 Bumpkins 9 Big deer 10 Style, in Franglais 11 Rapper Digga 12 Stix of sugar 15 The interrupted Goode homolosine projection is one 16 President of Abu Dhabi 17 “Once ___ a time...”

22 Alger accused of being a Soviet spy 23 Holey cheese 24 Classic Italian actress Sophia 25 Protagonist of a Jean-Jacques Rousseau “Treatise on Education” and shared first name of Durkheim and Zola 26 New prefix 29 “Banana for ___” (old memes die hard)

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

46 Fire stirrer 47 Assessed, with “up” 48 Ages 49 Type of big change 51 Greek salad ingredient 53 “12 Angry ___” 54 Esperanto offshoot language 55 Trans- compounds isomerize to this 56 495 from New York City 57 Cause suffering

November 12, 2015

HUMOR & SATIRE

Page 13

Breaking News From the desk of Zander Bashaw, Humor & Satire Editor Google engineers program dangerous overconfidence into self-driving cars to better emulate human drivers I am number 2: student meets namesake Do’s and dont’s of preparing I for your finals James Pedersen

Lurking in Target

t all started with a mixup at the mail room.

After getting that obligatory email, I picked up the envelope and walked away. Ripping the edge open, I pulled out its contents. A gray knit women’s infinity scarf and a holiday card signed “Daddy.”

This, I think, is a good point to mention that I don’t wear women’s clothing or refer to my father as “Daddy.” With this in mind, perhaps it’s understandable that my reaction was confusion. “What is wrong with him?” I thought, wondering what precisely had possessed my father. I worried for his sanity and imagined him in a daze, wandering the streets of the American South, totally unhinged.

I worried, because my dad is essentially a walking conference call. I’ve never seen him untuck his shirt. He was born an Armani suit that just sprouted a head, his head. To paint my family portrait, all you’d have to do is line up a bunch of tennis rackets and lean them casually against a net. We’re far too uptight for names like “daddy”.

Then I read the package label. The last name was correct: P-E-D-E-R-S-E-N (pronounced with a hard “d”). Peeling back the white mail room sticker, I saw that my first name and box number had been incorrectly printed in a script that I couldn’t recognize. I was truly confused, but then it occurred to me that perhaps, just maybe, the name on the label was correct and that the mail room sticker was a mistake. In that moment, I felt as though I had discovered

proof of alien life. The reason for my confusion was my firm belief in two almost contradictory things: first, that my surname is totally normal (i.e. not rare or peculiar) and second, that no one on the earth outside of my small family had it. I was wrong on both counts.

The label read, “Thedita Pedersen” and so I looked her up on Facebook. I knew she was real when the Vassar Gmail auto-filled in the rest of her name. Once again, I felt like I was making first contact with a different species. I greeted her (much more politely than “GREETINGS EARTHLING”) and apologized profusely for opening her mail. She was cool about it and was, in fact, just as surprised as I had been. I sent the package back to the mail room and figured that would be the end of it. I ran into her at Target less than 24 hours later.

“Thedita?” I said, stepping out in front of her to grab her attention.

“Yes?” She said, glancing around for the nearest exit or possibly blunt object.

“I’m James Pedersen, I opened your-” “Oh hi!” She said pleasantly enough, still not quite certain of my murderer or non-murderer status. We chatted for a while and she pronounced her surname, incorrectly (to be fair, she maintains that I say it wrong). We chatted for a bit and she went on her way, lugging her two stuffed Target bags towards the exit. Once again, I felt alone in the universe.

Since my doppelganger moment, I have learned that there are just over 20,000 people in this country with our surname and spelling. To give a better sense of what that number means,

there were more people at Demi Lovato’s last concert than share our last name. It seemed like a tragedy to me that all these Pedersens have hurtling through the universe, and we have just missed each other.

I decided on a whim, to further the awkardness and interview her for this piece. With the interaction at Target, the incident in the mailroom, and now the interview, we were as uncomfortable as Cappy’s emails.

She confessed that, “every time someone says my name, they say it ‘Peddersin.’ I’m always like no, it’s ‘Peedersin.’” When she met me, she noted, with something just south of bitterness: “This is the guy that always gets his name said right.”

The bitterness that name pronunciations can bring about was soon replaced with genuine spookiness. Both Thedita and I grew up abroad, are the third of four children, and don’t wear that scarf she received in the mail. Her father is a JAG lawyer, a lawyer that works within and for the US military. His constant deployment and redeployment every few years meant that she spent her life going from school to school in places like Belgium, Germany, Alaska and South Korea. Now, she says, in the least Sarah Palin way possible, that she can see the Atlantic Ocean from her house in Rhode Island.

“I’ve already accepted I’m a weird person,” Thedita explained. I couldn’t dispute this, but I could definitely identify. After all, I’m the guy who approaches strangers in Target, and opens other people’s mail. Maybe weirdness is intrinsic to the Pedersen name.

Quoth stressed students: “Nevermore” Talya Phelps

Edgar’s Understudy

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a lengthy Econ chapter that was quite devoid of charm— In my lib chair swiftly slipping, dreaming of a class for skipping, Suddenly there came a blaring of the library’s alarm “’Tis some sleepy fool,” I muttered, “who has set off the alarm,

They deserve to come to harm.”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December And my cocoa bought hot from the Bean had long ago grown cold The all-night section grumbled as we sleepily all stumbled To escape the awful shrieking—our bones ached like we were old Like a gang of zombie convicts who would never be paroled

For to Vass our souls were sold.

Gone my soul was to Ask Banner and my academic planner And to Moodle I had sworn my heart to keep forevermore Rapidly my heart was beating—I was nervous for my meeting With my nutty old professor, whom I actually adore To convince him to forget about my latest sad quiz score

A pathetic 64.

Presently we found the student, who, with actions so imprudent, Had triggered the infernal bell that shocked me from my trance But of course it was a fresher who, beneath the Vassar pressure, Had forgot to swipe his card as out the door he swiftly danced, His finished essay clutched in hand, straight through the door he danced,

Without a single backward glance.

Caroling a call from home.

Rapidly I sought to rushing my dear mother, who was gushing All about her current getaway to Californian shores As I pictured her reclining on the beach I started pining For a climate more amenable to venturing outdoors Saying my goodbyes, I shuffled, shivering, toward the library doors

And bumped into sophomores.

I paled at the realization: ‘twas a night for recreation!

The group of sophs that stumbled past was quite thoroughly trashed Angrily I decried Friday, which I’d designated my day To catch up on work so on the morrow I could, unabashed Switch out coffee cup for shot glass till my friends and I were smashed

In despair, my teeth I gnashed.

Now my sorry ass, not quitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On this creaky wicker chair inside this room that I deplore; And my eyes are ever-blearing as I’m at my textbook peering, And the lamp-light, far from cheering, throws my shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!

Samana Shrestha/The Miscellany News

All at once, I felt like eating, so with notions of Retreating, Blearily I packed my books and stumbled hungrily towards Main But of course I had forgotten that my scheme was misbegotten No home fries till the morning—how completely inhumane!

No Twisted Soul, no Crafted Kup, not even cheap chow mein Hopes of snacks were all in vain.

Back toward the lib now turning, empty stomach loudly churning, Soon again I heard a ringing and I couldn’t help but groan “Surely,” I could not cease pledging, “’tis the bell once more alleging That a hapless 2019 grad has left the midnight zone—” Then I reached into my pocket and plucked out my buzzing phone

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Kayla Lightner

Academic Hermit Crab

D

o: give yourself a head start on all your exams and papers. Your future self would thank you if that were at all possible.

Don’t: procrastinate. The night before your research paper is due is not the time to finally look at the prompt. I know what you’re thinking; one page is about 700 words. If I type 50 words a minute, I’ll be done with this eightpaged paper in about 2 hours. Mavis Beacon knew this day would come! But, no matter how thoroughly mama Mavis trained you in the art of speed–typing, we both know damn well that no amount of coffee or tears will save you.

Do: Get *some* sleep. No paper is worth becoming perpetually nocturnal.

Don’t: let sleep deprivation turn your brain into mush. There is a point where you’re just too tired to produce quality work. Through your sleep–deprived eyes, that paper looks like a Monet. But to the well–rested, it looks more like a knock–off Jackson Pollock.

Do: allow yourself breaks. In the middle of the finals grind, it’s okay to take a quick nap, have a chat with the Matthew Vassar statue, or just streak across campus screeching.

Don’t: break longer than you work. If you have only been studying for five minutes, you are not entitled to watch Netflix for three hours. House Of Cards will not actually help you write your poli–sci paper.

Do: go to library. This tip doesn’t apply to the few freaks of nature who can work in their room without somehow getting distracted or falling victim to your bed’s unspoken “Netflix and chill” request. But for the rest of you mere mortals, the library is the place to be during finals week if you want to get anything done.

Don’t: camp out in the library for all of finals week. You know who these people are.

You leave the library in the wee hours of the night, they’re there. You come back at the ass crack of dawn, they’re still there—in the same position, wearing the same clothes, smelling slightly of urine. And then there are those who take “camping out” quite literally. I’m sure your fellow students won’t appreciate having to climb over your sleeping bag, tent and camp stove just to get to a book. The 24–hour section isn’t going anywhere. Go back and cope with finals like the rest of us—by crying quietly to yourself in the shower.

Do: go to study groups. As an anti–social hermit crab who likes working alone, I have to say study groups can be extremely helpful. Everyone can quiz each other, compare notes or just find solidarity in the fact you all have no idea what the fuck is going on.

Don’t: mooch, leech or resemble any other type of parasite. Seriously, don’t be that kid who’s made zero effort in class and only comes to the study group because they didn’t take notes the entire semester. That’s like drowning and trying to clamber into someone else’s life boat after you’ve already refused a life jacket.

Do: know that you’re going to be okay. You might wear pajama pants for the entire week.

You may create your own set of expletives because existing ones do not capture the sheer magnitude of your anguish. But in the end, know that we’ll get through this.

ARTS

Page 14

November 12, 2015

Murphy examines architecture’s role as social catalyst Yifan Wang Arts Editor

O

Sam Pianello/The Miscellany News

n top of a hill in Butaro District of Northern Rwanda, a pubic hospital opened in 2012.

The building is mostly white and taupe with a modern look. Its external walls are made of local volcanic rocks, hauled up by local community laborers. This approach of adopting local materials and employing residents reduced the facility’s price to roughly two–thirds of what a comparable hospital would typically cost in Rwanda, saving 2 million dollars in construction fees while providing over 4,000 jobs. Inside the construction, wards also take a non– conventional structure. Two lines of beds are arranged in the middle of the room, allowing patients to look at outside views while lying in bed, a design that not only reduces infection but also improves ventilation.

This project is one of the works by MASS Design Group, a nonprofit architecture firm that leverages buildings, as well as the design and construction process, as mechanisms for social change. The CEO and co–founder of the firm Michael Murphy visited Vassar and gave a lecture entitled “Catalytic Architecture” this past Tuesday, Dec 1.

In the dark lecture room of Taylor 203, Murphy traced his journey and exploration. “The central question is what is the value of architecture? What can buildings do?” Murphy proposed.

Rejecting the idea that architecture is an object and the architect is an autonomous maker solely responsible for the object, Murphy argued that buildings are processes: not a noun but a verb.

According to him, architecture plays an integral part in people’s daily life and well–being, no matter socially, culturally, politically or medically. One of the events that led him to this understanding was his father’s illness.

When Murphy was an undergraduate student abroad, he learned that his father had cancer and wouldn’t live long. Hoping to do something meaningful during this time, Murphy decided to continue the house–restoring project his father undertook before. As Murphy worked on the house, his father went into remission and started

Michael Murphy is the co-founder and executive director of MASS Design Group. This Tuesday, Murphy spoke at Vassar about his understanding of architecture as a mechanism for social change. working with him, for a much longer time than expected by doctors. Murphy said, “My father told me that the house saved his life.”

Realizing the essential role of architecture and built spaces in everyone’s life and the way they affect people’s health, Murphy co-founded MASS Design Group and further pursued this ideal and approach to architecture. Together with other partners, MASS has undertaken projects of clinic and medical centers, primary schools, libraries and memorial sites in both developed urban spaces and rural environments.

Currently, Murphy is working on several projects here in Poughkeepsie. Growing up in the town of Poughkeepsie himself, the architect is cooperating with local non-profit organizations such as Hudson River Housing and Family Partnership Center.

“We’re working in the city center, encouraging various members of community to invest in the

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city. Not just to revitalize, but to foster inclusive growth, improve social justice as well as equity...

We’re trying to redesign Poughkeepsie in an inclusive and visionary way.,” said Murphy. The architect also shared his initiative of establishing a Hudson Valley Community Design and Entrepreneurship Center at the lecture.

The lecture drew a large audience of students, faculty and local residents alike. Urban Studies major Eli Ness ’17 saw it as an opportunity to better understand architecture. “I feel like there’s a gap between Urban Studies and architecture. We don’t get as much exposure to topics about architecture and design in the department. So I’d like to learn more about it.” A studio art major hoping to become an architect, Antoine Robinson ’18 was attracted to the idea of using architecture as a means of social change.

Associate Professor of Art and Urban Studies Tobias Armborst helped bring Murphy to Vassar.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

He recounted, “I met Michael Murphy a couple of years ago when we were together on a panel.

Working on somewhat related topics with our respective practices our paths crossed occasionally. Recently a mutual friend alerted me to the fact that Mr. Murphy’s office is doing work in Poughkeepsie, and I thought it would be a good idea to bring him to the College to tell us about it!”

He continued, “Their office is part of a group of younger firms who are emphasizing the role of architecture for social change...They are taking quite a different approach to architecture: not only about form–making, but about what architecture can do to make people’s lives better, which has not been central to architectural discussions for the previous decades or so.”

For Murphy, “I think all architecture has impact. It just depends on if it’s positive or negative social impact. So I got involved in that by being introduced to a series of projects that have obviously shown positive social impact. For example design groups and NGOs working abroad in Haiti and Rwanda, buildings that make a big difference not only in terms of access to better medicine care but also bringing about dignity and vision.”

However, finding a viable business model to realize this ideal is not easy. “We are non-traditional because we are a non–profit group. So our business model is different. Typical practice models are relying on high network people to pay for projects since architecture is a very expensive trade. But we are thinking about using architecture to bring about positive social change. So we have to have a different configuration.”

During the lecture, Murphy played a video.

A woman worker who built the external walls of the Butaro District Hospital recounted her experiences working as a mason, an occupation considered unsuitable for women. However, the hospital project allowed her to work and support herself. She said at the end of the clip, “You can’t count the true value of dignity.”

Murphy concluded, “I think this really summarizes is what is possible with architecture. We can equate it for a cost per square foot. We have to think about potential gain and loss of dignity.”

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November 12, 2015

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Student artists scrutinize personal histories, self identities Matt Stein Reporter

W

courtesy of Vassar Media Relations

ithin our identities is a history. The places we come from, the beliefs we hold, the orientations we associate with and more are part of a journey, evolving through time to where we are today. Just as they form an outline of who we are, they also embody a history of how we embrace who we are. And there is no better way to capture such a wide topic as this than with art.

From Dec. 3 to Dec. 15, the James W. Palmer III ’90 Gallery in the College Center will be holding the Studio Art Department Exhibition “trace,” with an opening reception on Dec. 8 from 5–6 p.m. The exhibit features works by visiting student Tilhenn Klapper, Angela Brown ’16. Tomas Guarnizo ’16, Dylan Fruh ’17, Isabel Larrow ’16, Antoine Robinson ’18, Jay Kepes ’17 and Emily Hallewell ’17.

In a general statement from the artists, they stated the guiding principle of the show: “We will uncover the trace of a former existence, confront the actions of that existence, unmask the model it instills, reconsider the organic, re–trace the line of sight, and map anew.”

Different forms of art will be on display, including photographs, video, oil paintings and sculptures, some pieces combining the styles.

Brown will be exhibiting a piece entitled “re-distribute, re-present (as Ana Mendieta did foretell),” which includes photographs, videos and objects in its composition.

One of Klapper’s pieces, “Seeing myself looking at my–self looking at my self seeing,” is an installation piece that involves a video projected onto a painting, a mask dangling between both, all at once part of an archeology of the self, where the artist is all at once the archaeologist, the mask–artifact and the creator of the mask-artifact.

“The concept of “trace” is in continual dialogue with that of time. The idea is that the past is always present when we encounter the present. Past, present and future collide

and cast shadows upon one another,” Klapper said.

Originally, the Studio Art Department presented an exhibition every fall called “Summer Work” for majors and non–majors to exhibit the art they created over summer break.

But, because it would generally take place at the start of fall semester just as students were adjusting to classes, the exhibition was difficult to organize and coordinate. And so this year the department decided to rename, rebrand and reinvigorate their event.

Describing the process for how the redesign of the exhibition was initiated, Associate Director of the Palmer Gallery Monica Church commented, “Working with Art Studio faculty member Laura Newman and [Assistant Dean for Campus Activities] Terry Quinn...I reimagined this exhibition.”

Church continued, “We changed the timing—the end rather than the beginning of the semester and chose to work with a group of serious art students who may or may not be art majors. I met with the students to discuss the process of exhibiting at the Palmer Gallery and what would be expected of them.

They collectively came up with the name and theme of the exhibition, the announcement design, provided images for campus communications etc. just as any other artist or group of artists would.”

The artwork that these students created was not originally made for this exhibit, but rather the connecting theme of the word “trace” fit accordingly to both their work and vision: to identify, critique and redefine the elements within one’s existence.

With the word ‘trace’ holding many meanings, each artist has set out to capture the different side of that idea in a way that feels meaningful to them. While Brown’s work traces the role of the female body in the past and present, Hallewell’s piece traces the restraint a hard outer shell can have on feeling a sense of freedom.

Student art that focuses on exploring identities and their historical contexts will be on display next week in the Palmer Gallery, Both art and non-art majors have contributed works to the exhibit.

Clarifying the name of the exhibition, Brown explained, “Tilhenn and I sat down and thought about the work of the students included in the show. We thought about the conversations that we’ve been having about all of this work together. And we tried to find a word with a shifting definition that could draw people in to look at our work with a lens that also shifted.”

She continued, “So, for example, a ‘trace’ as a noun is a remnant left behind. It is proof that something occurred, that something or someone was there. Then, ‘to trace’ is to copy, to follow, to track. For me, art breathes in the gray area between these two definitions. It is a self–assertion into a system that has laid down so many patterns to follow.”

As college can be a time where one ex-

plores who they are and what they want to be, this exhibition tackles that concept through the exploration of the artists’ own identities.

Many are determining what kinds of artist they want to be as they find their voices through the work they create.

Just as vague as the word “trace” is, “artist” can mean many different things too. These artists experiment with different elements in their pieces, finding what captures their message the best.

Regarding the impact she hopes this exhibition will hold, Brown said, “I hope this show tells students they can create something big in a place that can feel so small. Our voices often get so boxed in. It’s really important to find avenues that allow you to individualize yourself.”

Devised theater investigates complexity of human relations Sabrina Oh Reporter

U

nbound, Vassar College’s experimental theater group will present “Park Closes After Dusk,” a student–devised production this upcoming weekend, through Dec. 3 to 5. The director of this theater piece, John Rezes ’18 saw the creative philosophy of Unbound in line with his vision for this work. He wrote in an emailed statement, “I decided to propose this through Unbound because I wanted to put ‘Park Closes After Dusk’ into action, and Unbound’s ideas of experimental theatre really matched with my personal beliefs with this project.”

In “Park Closes After Dusk,” a playground offers both a retrospective and introspective lens into the lives of two high school students complexly linked together by a mutual friend.

At the playground, they share their stories and secrets. The encounters develop into a raw concurrence. Rezes elaborated on the theme

of this narrative. “The storyline focuses on two individuals entering a playground from both of their childhoods, neither having met the other. They are both in limbo concerning the well–being of a mutual third character whose fate is out of their hands. It focuses on relationships and the harsh themes of childhood that many people forget exist,” he explained.

Narrative supervisor of the production Lena Redford ’18 pointed to the subtlety of the story. “Two of these characters do not know each other, but are both in love with the same person in different and complicated ways. It’s a complex situation with nuanced characters that John has spent months creating.”

As with all creative processes, Rezes struggled with his work. He did not think that his characters had enough authenticity and independence. “‘Park Closes After Dusk’ is a dramatic plot that I created over the last few years. While much of my efforts to write the

Katie de Heras/The Miscellany News

“Park Closes After Dusk” is a devised theater piece. With the narratives of two characters, whose lives are simultaneously separate and intrinsically connected, it speaks about human relationships.

play in its entirety seemed fruitful, I kept finding myself in a place of discontentment. The plot and characters were mine, but I wanted true voices,” Rezes explained.

Rezes’ solution was ambiguity and openness. These features served as vehicles to overcome obstacles and oddly gave structure to Rezes’ skeleton script. Redford elaborated on this special form of script, “As narrative supervisor, I helped the cast of ‘Park Closes After Dusk’ develop their script. It was a really interesting process. It is devised theatre so we were not working with a previously established play. Working within the ‘skeleton script’ that John developed, we crafted scenarios in which three characters: Fourteen, Eighteen and Third interact and evolve.”

She continued, “The skeleton script is intentionally vague so the situation and characters can be inhabited by different actors and writers to create an entirely different play in the future.”

Possibly in an attempt to underscore the universality of the play’s thematic ideas, the characters lack defining traits. Rezes wrote, “Earlier this semester I decided to write a skeleton script. In this piece, I keep the overarching narrative of my characters’ lives intact, while allowing other writers/actors the chance to devise dialogue and backstories that are more true. The skeleton removes gender identity, sexuality and other defining qualities from the characters, allowing for completely neutral casting and devising.”

Aside from the technical features of the script, the writing process proved to be multidimensional and colorful in experience.

Redford recounted, “It was interesting working inside a world someone else had created, breathing life into characters we did not yet know. But boy did we get to know them! The writing process was time-consuming and hilarious and unproductive and productive and frustrating and satisfying.”

After establishing a narrative foundation, Unbound moved onto the casting process.

Rezes wrote, “After the casting process, it turns out that the show is made up of three

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

female-identifying actors/characters.”

“This play, the one Miranda, Arden and Sarah perform, follows three females and exhibits the ways in which these young women treat themselves and each other,” elaborated Redford.

“This production was devised and is performed by Arden Shwayder ’16, Sarah Horowitz ’17, and Miranda Cornell ’19. The devising process was overseen by our narrative supervisor Lena Redford ’18. The concept design for the show was headed by Whitney Brady ’18,” wrote Rezes.

Moreover, the devising process was also an enriching learning experience for many members of the production. The assistant stage director of the piece Charlotte Varcoe-Wolfson ’19 said, “I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to participate in student theater as a first semester freshman. I’ve learned a lot about stage maneuvering and tonight I learned how to work the sound board!”

By and large, Rezes hopes to peel away at the oversimplification of being a human.

Through a microscopic look into the fibers of human emotions and relationships, he seeks to evoke a self–realization. Rezes explained, “We hope that the student body will see a play that explores the complexity of what it means to be human. There is no such thing as a true antagonist in this world, and this piece tries to expand on that idea.”

Rezes continued, “Addy, Washington is beautiful in the autumn; we guarantee swings, leaves, Taylor Swift, Harry Potter references and a love triangle that defies genre.”

Prospective spectators and Unbound members alike have high hopes for this one– hour bildungsroman, redolent of childhood, shrouded in visceral elements and bound together by complex relationships.

Redford concluded, “The script is both highly emotional and hilarious. I was only a part of the writing process, but with the astounding technical work of talented thespians like Whitney and Daisy and John, I can only imagine how intriguing it will be to watch as a full production.”

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December 3, 2015

Fresh, exciting addition to storied boxing saga in Creed Jimmy Christon Columnist

Creed Ryan Coogler Warner Bros

“C

reed” is an amazing movie. It left me close to tears at some parts, put me at the edge of my seat in others and sent chills down my spine throughout the movie. “Creed” is not a cash–grab in an attempt to milk the “Rocky” franchise for one more film. Rather, it is director Ryan Coogler’s passion project that cleverly builds upon events and characters from the previous “Rocky” movies to deliver one hell of a film.

“Creed” follows the trials and tribulations of Adonis Johnson, played by Michael B. Jordan, an ambitious young boxer who abandons his job to pursue his dream of becoming the next biggest boxer. In pursuing this dream, Adonis goes to Rocky Balboa for training. What makes their relationship special and what ties “Creed” into the other “Rocky” movies, is that Adonis is the son of Rocky’s former rival/friend Apollo Creed.

The plot itself is pretty simple, but that simplici-

ty allows for a focus on the characters.

The screenplay, written by Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington, is tightly written and intelligent in its portrayal of the movie’s characters, especially in the depiction of what drives Adonis to be so devoted to boxing. Any script that can make people feel genuine sympathy for as ridiculous a character as Rocky “the man who fought the Soviet Union” Balboa in his seventh appearance in a film series deserves a special award.

The focus of the script is placed on the characters that inhabit the film, and the movie is all the better for it.

The actors behind these characters meet their written roles pound–for–pound with their own prowess. Jordan exudes the braggadocious confidence he’s been practicing since his time on “Friday Night Lights,” but is able to turn on a dime and deliver scenes with emotional depth that will surprise anyone who didn’t see Jordan in director Ryan Coogler’s previous film “Fruitvale Station.” Sylvester Stallone also deserves credit for some truly standout performances that prove that he still has the acting chops that put him on the map in the first “Rocky” movie. Tessa Thompson, who plays Bianca, holds her own against the heavyweights that are Stallone and Jordan, but it’s clear where the movie’s focus lies.

The duo is a true powerhouse combo. The

scenes that were the most emotionally resonant where those between the two. From training montages to quick words exchanged in between boxing rounds, Jordan and Stallone develop a relationship throughout the film that is both realistic and heartwarming.

While on the topic of performances, Jordan should get some type of award for his physicality alone. I’m not just saying this as some sort of boyish appreciation of “look this guy’s really buff,” but with a movie so focused on training to be the next big boxer, Jordan really makes the viewer believe that he could step in the ring and hold his own against some real–world heavyweights. This is no more evident than in the movie’s first big, exhilarating fight scene.

No spoilers, but the way the scene is shot really lends itself to showing just how much Jordan puts into his performance, and I can’t see anyone else doing a better job.

In terms of cinematic quality, “Creed” is of the highest caliber, with plentiful and well–thought out training montages. Director Ryan Coogler really nails the pacing of the movie, weaving in multiple plot elements to form a cohesive story that never falters in terms of pace. “Creed” is peppered with shots that will take your breath away.

The movie’s soundtrack also deserves praise.

Composer Ludwig Goransson crafts a musical score that seamlessly blends hip–hop, traditional orchestration and the classic “Rocky” theme into an absolute knockout. The score captures adrenaline with pounding drums in the fight scenes and laments with a piano in the slower scenes in such a way that adds an unquantifiable value to the scenes.

What sets “Creed” apart from other Oscar– worthy movies is that “Creed” focuses on its main character. You might just be watching a story of an ambitious boxer, but after following Adonis on so much of his journey, it’s hard not to feel connected. This connection is only strengthened when Adonis’ motivation is revealed that changes the viewer’s perception of Adonis and his actions.

It’s hard to find a genuine fault with this movie without sounding nit–picky; the movie has an expertly–crafted balance of character, plot, action and thematic depth. The film builds upon the previous “Rocky” series in a way that greatly benefits the movie. Everything from narrative depth to the choreography of the fight scenes are created with a deft hand. In summary: “Creed” is one of the best movies to come out this year and is an absolute knockout in every sense of the term. Hopefully, it will get some recognition come Oscar season.

Bieber’s new album release Ryn Weaver expresses love, misses originality, subtlety personality onstage, offstage Jillian Elkin

Guest Columnist

Purpose Justin Bieber Def Jam Records

T

here are some celebrities whose lives we follow through all the ups and downs.

They grow up as we do. One of these stars is Justin Bieber. His maturation from adolescence to young adulthood occurred alongside my own—though I didn’t have a massive fan base and exorbitant amounts of money. While I never particularly loved or hated his music, I still automatically felt interested and invested in Bieber’s comeback album. Like many Americans, I love a good comeback even more than I love to watch a downward spiral.

Our culture’s preoccupation with the details of Bieber’s life (every explicit detail) stems from the sense of the authenticity and privateness of his press image. More beloved celebrities are adored for the actions that paparazzi capture and the crafted personas in interviews and on social media. But Bieber poorly toes the line between his true self and the image he wants to project.

Both Bieber and his persona are changing so constantly that it’s challenging to keep up with either one of them. Yet it is entertaining and personable nevertheless. I’m sympathetic to Bieber’s famous rich boy struggles and I encourage all to listen to Bieber’s latest album “Purpose” with open minds.

“Purpose” rose to the top of the charts and was well–received by critics when it dropped on Nov 13. The album has numerous elements working in its favor. Hit–making producers and songwriters including Blood Diamonds, Skrillex, Diplo, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran and Sarah Hudson. The work of great producers is clear on “Purpose.” The album is overall danceable and chock–full of fun, bouncy beats.

It’s consistent with its electro–dance sound and heavy use of synthesizers. But Bieber doesn’t elevate the album beyond its production. The songs all sound somewhat similar, flowing together into a mush. It feels like the equivalent of turning on a pop/Top 40 radio station. You can tune in and out of it easily. The songs have a generic feel and lose their originality when played one after the other.

Two of the album’s biggest hits (“What Do You Mean?” and “Where Are U Now”) still shine within the album and greatly benefit from the spacing between them. They sandwich a series of just good songs. Additionally, the time in between the songs lets the listener

forget how similar they are. A standout with its mix of EDM and horns, “Sorry” is one of the few songs that’s catchy enough to require multiples listens. The album generally doesn’t make use of Bieber’s voice. Anyone could sing the songs successfully, and the focus is on the rhythm anyway. On “Love Yourself,” however, Bieber’s vocals sound distinct and fantastic.

The song itself falls in between so-so and good, but it leaves space for Bieber’s vocals to shine unlike most of songs. The album itself is good, adequate. But that’s not enough considering the album’s competition and “Purpose”’s purpose.

Aside from producers and songwriters, Bieber collaborates with other high–profile artists: Big Sean, Travi$ Scott and Halsey. Travis Scott adds his vibe to “No Sense,” but Scott’s vocals are as covered up by production as Bieber’s. Big Sean’s contribution is reliably enjoyable in “No Pressure,” even though the song is still forgettable. The Halsey–featured song, “The Feeling,” is a grand disappointment for Halsey fans. The song, in production and lyrics, is unoriginal.

Also, the mix of Bieber and Halsey’s voices isn’t upsetting, but it isn’t a grand success. Together their voices sound...alright, good enough.

Redemption, apology, ode to Selena Gomez.

These seem to be the key goals of “Purpose.”

But the lyrics tend to be weak and inelegant.

(The lyrics of “Children,” a song for the children, are truly horrendous and don’t even make an attempt at poetry or emotional depth.) Bieber is unable to communicate the themes with any subtleness or emotional rawness.

Meanwhile, Selena Gomez’s album “Revival” came with little fanfare when it debuted in October. Both albums are comebacks for each artist, address their relationship, and are products of numerous high–profile collaborations.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez handled highly publicized personal turmoil and grew up under the spotlight. “Revival” was successful, but still highly underrated. “Revival” is flawed, but still exceeds “Purpose” in quality and success as an emotional, yet light–hearted comeback album. Gomez is more often known as Bieber’s ex-girlfriend than anything else. This would be unfortunate under any circumstances, but it is particularly harmful when “Purpose” and “Revival” are in competition on the charts and frequently in conversation with one another.

At the album’s conclusion, Bieber speaks a lengthy apology on “Purpose.” After 13 songs that were largely about nothing, his apology feels hokey and laughable. Bieber doesn’t really seem sorry so much as he is trying to reposition himself as a leading pop singer, which he does very well. “Purpose”’s songs are poised to slay on the radio or at a party, but the album itself gets repetitive and dull. Despite the hype and solid dance-y beats, “Purpose” falls flat.

Patrick Tanella Columnist

Misfit Toys Tour Ryn Weaver Brooklyn, NY

S

ince the best way to see any show is to be front row, I made sure to get in line early to secure my place at Warsaw. I joined a couple of others in line, who braced the cold to get up close to Ryn Weaver. Warsaw, also known as the Polish National Home, is located in Brooklyn and has a unique, spacious venue that comfortably fits close to 1,000 people. I attempted to see Weaver in July but my friend canceled two hours before the show and I was not prepared to head to Brooklyn alone. With my friend at my side, I was now ready to see one of my favorite artists live.

The first opening act of Weaver’s tour, ASTR, came on about 30 minutes after doors opened.

The New York-based duo, Zoe and Adam, hyped up the audience with their catchy beats and powerful vocals. Zoe engaged with the audience and made sure everyone was having a good time while she played her set, which took about 30 minutes and was comprised of six songs. Most of them were off their newest EP, “Homecoming.”

After listening to their set, I look forward to seeing them again.

The second act, HOLYCHILD, came on about 15 minutes later. Singer Liz Nistico and instrumentalist Louie Diller comprise the group. Their music, which they call brat pop, is a division of pop music that mocks the fakeness of Hollywood with memorable pop tunes. Diller provided the perfect backup for Nistico as he killed the drums and would occasionally wink at the audience.

Their set was fast-paced, absorbing the interest of the crowd. After the show, Nistico and Diller hung around backstage with some of their fans. They were engaged, remembered their fans’ names and made sure they met everyone there.

The set was amazing and I hope to see HOLYCHILD again.

The headliner of the show, Ryn Weaver, came on about three hours after doors opened. The audience burst out in cheers as the first notes to her opening song, “Runaway,” came on. Weaver strutted out in a white and red–striped shirt, mocking herself by saying she looked like Waldo later on in the show. After belting through “Runaway,” Weaver teased “Octahate,” her most popular song, with a 30–second a capella version before moving on to “Pierre.” After that, one of the instrumentalists was having difficulty with his sound system, so Weaver took some time to engage with the audience. The artist exclaimed that she was excited to be back in Brooklyn, where

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

she lived for several years. She also explained that she named the tour the “Misfit Toys Tour” after watching “The Island of Misfit Toys” as a child. Weaver has now embraced the weirdness she was once mocked for, which is indicated by her unapologetic spirit and her song lyrics..

One of the highlights and the album title, “The Fool,” had everyone singing as Weaver demonstrated her vocal ability by hitting some of the highest notes I had ever heard. She then slowed down with “Free” and “Traveling Song,” a memoir to her grandfather. He has always supported her and his recent passing was very hard on Weaver. The end of “Traveling Song” has a 30–second speak–sing a capella, which the audience sang softly with her. Once it was over, she thanked the crowd for singing those important lines with her.

Weaver began the conclusion of the concert with “Promises” and “Here is Home.” She thanked everyone for coming and reminisced about the fantastic year that her album has brought her. She described how “The Fool” is about anyone that falls for somebody they shouldn’t love and struggled with conflicting emotions. The highlight of the night was her performance of “Octahate,” her most popular and dynamic song. Weaver stormed around the stage and energized the audience, who were screaming along with her. The climax for the song shook the entire venue as the crowd jumped along with Weaver, leaving my ears ringing for a solid hour after the show.

She closed the show with “New Constellations.” The track summarizes the primary message of the album, which is to try to find your place in the world and to always look for more.

As the song concluded, Weaver thanked everyone, took a bow and then ran off the stage, leaving the crowd in a trance after an amazing show.

After the show, I was lucky enough to meet some of the performers. Weaver came out to the group of about 20 teenagers waiting. She apologized for being so sweaty and eagerly grabbed the tequila a fan gave her. I am an avid concert goer and after meeting many artists, I was used to their apathetic nature. They would give you a slight smile, you would take a picture and then be on your way. However, that was not the case with Weaver. She took her time with each fan, engaging with them by asking them questions about their lives, their favorite song and thanking them for coming to the show. She signed my phone and we took the most adorable polaroid imaginable.

As I bid her farewell, my heart was fluttering in disbelief. I was amazed that Ryn was as nice as I would have hoped she would be in person.

Weaver’s show was one of the best I have ever been to. She was engaging, present and occupied every inch of the stage. She is definitely not an artist to miss, and I encourage any fan to see her live.

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December 3, 2015

Page 17

Faux reality show details fight for degree Excuse me, What do you wish your name was?

CUTTHROAT continued from page 1 Just kind of got together a room to see what we can do with the idea. And it turned out really successfully,” explained Zimmerman.

The writers tapped into their own acting abilities. “We realized we’re all actors here; we can just all play the main parts. So then it just became like everyone in the writer’s room was the main characters.”

According to Eykholt, “It really helped the process because we all got to know our characters so well, and that helped us write our own characters but also write for each other.”

Understanding each of the characters was crucial for the actors since the majority of the acting itself was improvisational. “We didn’t really script anything,” said Zimmerman. “We outlined each episode, and for each shoot, we knew what needed to happen and then had the characters improv what they said. It makes for a hard editing process, but it’s worth it because you get a lot better stuff when you’re not like sitting on a computer trying to think of something funny.”

The result of this improv is a cast of quirky–to say the least–characters. “They are all bizarre,” said Eykholt. He plays Graham Shapiro, one of the students fighting for a degree from the fictional Northeastern Institute of Performance Studies.

“Graham Shapiro is an actor who specializes in experimental theater,” reads “CutThroat”’s website (http://www.cutthroatseries.com/). “He was raised by a twelve person lesbian dance troupe, who instilled a love of Brecht within his black, shriveled heart. If a work can be pushed to an extreme, he will take it there.”

At first, the show’s premise and its characters were meant to parody the competitive nature of the theater world. But as it took shape, the show moved beyond this focus. According to Zimmerman, “It’s hard to convey the tone of the show because, I thought it would be a lot like more directly making fun of theatre kids and that world but I feel like our show got a little off the

Campus Canvas

rails in a good way like we’re no longer relying on that. We just have this very weird sense of humor...the show, it’s very bizarre and kooky.”

Moving away from pure caricature, the show became part commentary on themes like hyper–competition and success in the arts world. “[The show looks at] this idea of competition and the competitive world and whether people can make it in the arts or entertainment or just in anything,” said Eykholt.

“CutThroat” explores these pressures, which resonate with the student experience, through comedy,” Eykholt continued.

“I mean there’s such a fear in high school and college students’ lives of what the future might hold ‘cause everyone’s telling us we won’t get jobs or anything like that.”

While the show parodied these themes, the production process gave cast members a very real look at what an arts career might entail. “It’s scary to actually think of like how am I going to make money,” explained Zimmerman. “But I feel like this helped me a lot. ‘CutThroat’ made me realize that it’s mainly just meeting people, collaborating with them, making stuff not for the sake of anything concrete but just for your own sake.”

With four episodes each about 20 minutes long, “CutThroat” required a team of people who knew the ins and outs of making a show come to life. And through various collaborations, it achieved its professional, TV-ready quality. VCTV handled the behind-the-scenes elements of the show.

VCTV Vice President Michael Iselin ’16 facilitated the partnership when Zimmerman presented the idea to him last year. “I was producing it,” explained Iselin. “That meant finding and reserving locations while helping with scheduling. I also was the VCTV liaison to find members who could help with the actual filming of the show.”

This team helped with many of the technical aspects of putting together a TV show.

Iselin explained, “Many members helped do sound or served as the camera person.

The current head of our post-production branch was heavily involved in the editing process. Vixy Youngblood [’16] worked with Sarah and Ryan to help sync sound, animate the logo and create the intro and she also helped with color correcting.”

For Zimmerman, the project was the perfect place to blend what she has learned at Vassar with others’ strengths. “I think of it as my thesis,” she said. “I’m bringing together everything I’ve learned here...We’ve drawn upon everyone we know to help us with the show, so it’s cool to see it all come together.”

She continued, “One of my good friends is doing the credits, and that’s what she really wants to do with her life...this is what she really enjoys doing and something I hate doing...So it’s cool to just source different things to different people who are interested in different things.”

While Eykholt considers the process of building a team and developing a show meaningful as well, he learned a valuable lesson from the characters themselves. Seeing the contestants try to speed through the process of getting their degree put things in perspective. He explained, “It’s such a rushed process for these characters [trying to] get a degree and then get into the world of theatre which is so not realistic and I find myself being like ‘I want to get this done now, I want to be finished’ and I know when we decided we were going to do this project over the course of two semesters it was daunting for me because it’s a big commitment I’m not patient at all but it paid off so much...[letting] it grow over time.”

This growth culminated in a series wrought with suspense, drama and of course, comedy. The first episode premieres today, and subsequent episodes will be released in the next few days. With finals, or what some may see as a burgeoning campus–wide competition, some honest and funny perspective may prove to be the best remedy. And although it is exaggerated, “CutThroat” could help keep things levelheaded.

A weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists

“Antony Manokhin” — Mark Lawson ’18

“Mark Lawson” — Antony Manokhin ’18

“Storm Hawk” — Arianna Hawk ’18

submit to misc@vassar.edu

“Elizabeth Botticelli” — Brittany Botticelli ’17

“Frankie Cumberbatch” — Maddie Meigs ’18

“Bevan Bevanson” — Bevan Whitehead ’19

This work is a sculpture piece made using wood and chopsticks. Still in progress, this piece is for an assignment of the sculpture class I am taking here at Vassar. The prompt asks us to use one kind of found materials for the entire piece. So I decided to use chopsticks and to organize them as if merging into a circle. The idea behind this design is to represent and recreate the intimate moments in my childhood when I shared meals with my family. Ultimately, I plan on using over a thousand chopsticks in total.

-Diana Guo ’18

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Zander Bashaw, Humor & Satire Editor Sam Pianello, Photo Editor

SPORTS

Page 18

December 3, 2015

Gap between athletes and non-athletes up for discussion Winnie Yeates Reporter

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Nick Litsky/The Miscellany News

n most college and university campuses, there is an inherent gap between varsity athletes and non-athletes. At bigger Division I and even some Division II school this gap is exacerbated because athletes receive preferential treatment. Athletes at Division I institutions often receive athletic scholarships, reside in dorms specifically for athletes, take lighter class loads and even receive free athletic gear and sponsorships as opposed to athletes at Division III institutions where student-athletes simply come to the school to play the sport they love in almost all cases at a less–intense level. Admissions at Division 1 institutions can also “lower the bar” in order to get certain star athletic recruits with perhaps unsatisfactory GPAs and below average standardized–testing scores. On the flip side, Division III athletes do not receive athletic scholarships, take lighter class loads, receive “free gear” or live in “athlete–only” dorms.

It is often rigorous academic institutions such as Vassar that tell their athletes that they are students before athletes and that academics take first priority above all else. Despite what should be a seemingly even playing field for both athletes and non–athletes at Vassar, there remains a rather large gap between the students and student–athletes.

This gap may partly be attributed to the unique social culture at Vassar, which does not have Greek life. As a result, many students would argue that athletic teams replace this lack of Greek life, as athletes tend to travel in packs and conform to the idea of “herd–mentality.”

They eat together, throw parties together and for many this rigid group environment may be intimidating. Senior non–athlete Daniel Gutowski explained how athletic teams often act as the makeshift fraternities and sororities on campus: “There is definitely a huge divide between athletes and non–athletes in the Vassar social scene.

Some of the teams are de facto frats/sororities that can be seen in a positive light (because they host parties and events) or in a negative light

(because they dominate and monopolize the social scene and nightlife). Because Vassar is such a small school, the extent to which sports teams control Vassar nightlife can be overwhelming.”

From the perspective of an athlete, however, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Sophomore tennis player Dasha Ivenitsky explained, “I think that many people feel that athletes don’t include people who don’t place a sport when it comes to parties and the social life on the weekends. But I don’t think this is fair because I have very rarely seen people get kicked out of parties and most of the time it is not due to if they are athletes or not.”

According to former athlete senior Shane Flattery, who agrees with the notion that athletes tend to associate with other athletes, explained that this “herd-mentality” is completely normal and reasonable, saying, “Human beings will naturally form relationships of convenience. Being an athlete, you are consistently involved in social events that center on the sports atmosphere.

Thus, your friends will be athletes if you are yourself an athlete. The same occurs with those in the arts department and other groups belonging to different sections of Vassar culture. To argue herd formation among athletes is wrong is simply denial of what is going on in every social circle at Vassar.”

Senior athlete Stoddard Meigs does not buy into this notion of a divide. “I don’t really perceive a stigma. In fact, athletes may talk more disparagingly about athletes than any other population at Vassar. As an athlete I have never felt that there was a stigma against me and most people thought that it was interesting that I played a sport. Often times my friends refer to me as ‘the one who does sports’ but that is the extent of my special treatment,” he explained.

Surprisingly, despite the Division III NCAA restrictions preventing athletes from being receiving special treatment, many non–athletes at Vassar have voiced concerns regarding perceived athlete advantage at Vassar. What many people do not often consider is the enormous amount of time athletics takes away from school,

The discussion of a gap between athletes and non-athletes is manifested in its own way here at Vassar. Ideas of preferential treatment and a herd-mentality contribute to the stigma on campus. and that athletes at Vassar are not granted special accommodations for their work like athletes at Division I institutions.

Senior non–athlete Emma Roellke expressed sympathy for athletes, “If anything, I think athletes have it harder than non–athletes here on campus. They put in crazy practice hours, travel for games, arrive to school early for pre–season and still manage to get their work done. I don’t think many people realize what goes into being a student–athlete here and the time and dedication it requires. There are no freebies–if you miss class for a game, you’re making it up somehow or you’re paying the price on the exam.”

Flattery spoke from experience, “As a former athlete, I can promise that this [notion that athletes receive preferential treatment] is absolutely incorrect. Being an athlete is a burden, because the only advantage you gain is the ability

to play the sport you love. This college does a good job of keeping equality among all students.”

Ivenitsky added to this, saying, “Anyone has the ability to talk to a professor about extending a deadline or taking a test a different day. [In] season, most athletes have very little time during the weekends and will have to talk to a professor about accommodating their schedules.”

Ultimately, the “gap” between athletes and non–athletes and the stigmas surrounding athletes are not unique to Vassar. However, Vassar has the reputation for being a very socially aware school, which can shed a different light on certain situations. Gutowski agreed, “I don’t think this stigma is unique to Vassar, but I believe that the stigma at Vassar takes on a certain flavor given the size of the school and the strong concern for social justice issues. I believe the See GAP on page 19

Brewers beat Bowdoin, head down to South Carolina RUGBY continued from page 1

offers a chance at this title. “Honestly, I think the national title would take its meaning for me in the team context. All of us are intimately familiar with the bruises, scratches and sweat...that we’ve taken and shed in our journey here. My teammates consistently awe me and the national title would serve to further bind us together as a team both on and off the field.”

Freeman remarked upon the differences between this year’s team as compared to the 2013–14 squad. “I think that our team this year is very different than our team was in 2013. When I played in the Final Four for the first time, I was a freshman and a rookie, and many of the rest of the starters were also freshmen and sophomores. This year the majority of us starters are seniors and juniors, so [we have a lot] more experience out on the field.”

This year, the women stand at 11–1 on the sea-

son. Their sole loss was to the New York Women’s Developmental XV, a women’s premier league team that actually featured two Vassar alums. The Brewers just dropped that match 22–24, after starting off slow and mounting a furious but impressive comeback that just fell short.

Despite the one setback, the Brewers managed to turn it into a positive learning experience. Following their sole loss, the Brewers have won six straight games. Their loss came just before beginning Tri-State Rugby Championships as well, historically some of their toughest matches. The women swept Molloy College, Marist College and Rutgers University, outscoring their opposition 261–10 over the three games.

Their closest game since their one loss came against Bowdoin in the Elite 8. The Polar Bears led 5–0 after the first 10 minutes but the Brewers maintained their style of play and kept pushing the Bowdoin team until Vassar managed to score

courtesy of Vassar Athletics

The women’s rugby team celebrates as they defeat Bowdoin 15-10 to advance to the Final Four of the National Tournament in South Carolina this weekend. The team has gone 11-1 so far.

an equalizer and then go up 10–5. The Brewers remained dominant and calm keeping the pressure on Bowdoin. The Brewers spent most of the rest of the game attacking while Bowdoin was on defense. The Polar Bears managed some strong play to start the second half, yet the Brewers never faltered and handled the attack before countering with another score 15–5. The Brewers’ defense was dominant and poised throughout, lending great support to the old adage, “Defense wins championships!”

The sustained level of competition and the great amount of success the women have managed to find would be remarkable in any sport, but it’s even more impressive when you consider the fact that the program does not recruit players as most other teams do and they consistently compete against and defeat more “elite” programs and institutions that are able to recruit and even offer scholarships to their players. The vast majority of the Vassar College team had never seen or experienced rugby in any way before being recruited to the team.

Freeman and Chen both explained how they became involved with the team. For Freeman, it was a big change during her freshman year but one she hasn’t looked back from after earning a starting spot her rookie year on that storied 2013–14 team. “I was recruited by the captain of the rugby team my freshman year when I was planning to run cross country and track. She convinced me to go to a rugby practice and after my first practice I knew that I should be playing rugby instead of running for Vassar. It has been such a nurturing and empowering experience for me and I’m so glad that I joined the team.”

Chen had a similar experience, crediting senior captain Taylor Nunley as well as Brown’s efforts as the reason she joined. “I guess you could say I was one of Tony’s successful gym recruits, I talked with him for a little bit while I was at the AFC and then also heard from a current player at the time (current co-captain Taylor Nunley), I gave the idea some thought and at the end of it all realized I knew nothing about rugby, [so I decided I] should at least give it a shot. I was already on campus for the summer so I was even

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

able to join in on some pre-season training.”

Of course, without hard work and commitment from the players themselves, the team wouldn’t be where they are today despite the strength of their coaching staff. Having made the Final Four with such a young team in 2013, the Brewers continued building on that momentum and skill. It’s remarkable that the Brewers have had only one losing season in Brown’s tenure at the school. That one year, 2009–10 saw the Brewers drop from being National Division I contenders to barely having enough players to field a team. The team was riddled with injuries and played shorthanded at times. And even then, the team went 6–9–1, starting many rookies against some of the nation’s best. It’s a testament to the strength of the overall program and character of the team as well as the fantastic coaching that three of the women that were rookies during arguably the team’s toughest season still hold three Vassar College records for most tries scored in a career. The next year, the team had eight returners and three upperclassmen rookies. That team went 14–4–1, taking the D2 Metropolitan New York Championship that fall and just missing out on a national qualifier after a 30–31 loss to BU. The resilience and strength showed by that year’s team has been echoed every year since, helping foster an incredibly strong program.

Freeman credits the team’s work ethic and targeted skills practice for their success this year. “I think that we have all been very dedicated this season and the team has been very good at attending practices and training sessions. We have also adopted a few new patterns of play and focused heavily on certain skills such as inside defense and rucking. This work during practice is really evident during games and I think it has helped us a lot.”

Chen praised the coaches for their roles in creating a winning program. “I think a lot of credit would need to go to Tony and Mark for their wonderful coaching. Most of us start out knowing nothing about rugby and somehow they’ve crafted us into the successful team we are,” she said.

SPORTS

December 3, 2015

Page 19

Just how good are these Unlikely Bronco hero ends Golden State Warriors? Pats schemes and dreams Anika Lanser Senior Editor

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ears from now, we could be bragging about how we witnessed the greatest team in NBA history play.

I’m not saying that’s true just yet, but I am saying that the Golden State Warriors are on their way to being in the running for the title of greatest NBA team ever. The Warriors are certainly the best team in the league currently. They work together astoundingly well and while it’s fairly easy to point to their star player (hey, Steph!), it’s also easy to list five or six other players that the Warriors count on for their success. These include Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, just to name a few.

Not only can we hopefully watch Golden State play their way to another championship title this year, we can already see them do exciting stuff right now.

The Warriors started off their season 15–0, which tied them with the 1948–49 Washington Capitals and the 1993–94 Houston Rockets for best NBA season start. They also broke the record for best start by a defending champion, shooting past the 1957–58 Boston Celtics (The New York Times, “Warriors Top Nuggets; 15-0 Start Ties Record,” 11.23.15).

After their game this past Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Warriors broke the record, advanced to a 16–game winning streak and beat the LA Lakers 111–77 (Northeast Public Radio, “Golden State Warriors Break Record for Best Start in NBA,” 11.25.15).

And not only is their record literally perfect, they have won all their games with relative ease. There have been a few close calls, like against the Clippers and the Nets, but nonetheless Golden State has stayed, well, golden. A team finding their groove this early and playing this well is certainly something to keep an eye on.

The Warriors’ goal has now shifted to beat-

ing a new record: longest winning streak, currently held by the 1971–72 Lakers at 33 games (Sports Illustrated, “Warriors’ Steph Curry on longest NBA winning streak: ‘we talk about 33,’” 11.26.15). A team with such lofty goals that has already broken records and won a championship certainly deserves to be in contention for the subjective title of best NBA team of all time. For some fans, they may already be dominating the conversation.

So who else is in the conversation to be considered the best NBA team ever? Most people agree that it is the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls. After Michael Jordan’s historic return from retirement and a 72–10 season, it will be difficult for another team to ever top the greatness of the Bulls.

Interestingly, Golden State’s average margin of victory this season is 15.3 points, topping the margin of the historic Bulls at 12.2 (The New York Times, “Golden State Warriors Close in on Longest Perfect Start,” 11.19.15).

As the Times points out though, there was a 50–point victory over the Grizzlies that could be skewing the data. Even so, take out the game against the Grizzlies and the average for the Warriors becomes the same as that of the ‘96 Bulls (The New York Times).

All statistics aside, the Warriors’ return as a strong team after winning a championship is an indication of greatness still to come. Basketball is not necessarily about breaking records; it is, after all, a team sport that relies on the cooperation of every player. The Warriors embody this in nearly every aspect, something that truly makes them special in an age of star players. Sorry LeBron.

So yeah, it will take a lot of wins this season and another championship title to fully launch the Warriors into the running for greatest NBA team. It may take a season of convincing to get there, but if last season and their current record (19–0) is any indication, I believe this season’s perfect start is just the beginning.

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Adam Joseph D’Agostino Sr. Guest Columnist

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ell folks, against all odds, the Carolina Panthers are the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL at 11–0. When we started talking about undefeated teams this year and who had the best chance to complete the perfect season, there were six teams: Denver, New England, Green Bay, Carolina, Cincinnati and Atlanta. Everybody expected teams like the Broncos, Patriots and Packers to have these kinds of records, blowing the opposition out of the water and not really playing important football until December and January when seeding really mattered. The other three? Yeah, no one saw these guys coming.

As it turns out, Atlanta was a weird fluke that has pretty much crashed and burned since that stretch. Cincinnati collapsed under the might of JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork, and...I guess Brian Hoyer. But Carolina keeps on marching on into the last month of the regular season and is five games away from being perfect going into the playoffs. This is probably one of the most exciting years in Panther history and it should be.

They are off to their best start in franchise history behind a rock–solid defense lead by Luke Kuechly and an MVP run by QB Cam Newton.

The best part of all this? The rest of the schedule seems to be pretty in their favor. A game against the Saints (4–7) takes them to the first of two match ups against the Falcons (6–5), after that its at the Giants (5–6) and then back to playing the Falcons, the season ends with a game at home against the Buccaneers (5–6). If three of your four opponents leaving with losing records isn’t mouth-watering enough, the one opponent with a winning record is on a four–game losing skid! They won’t celebrate yet, but the Panthers are starting to see the finish line.

Enough on Carolina though. Going into the week there was another undefeated juggernaut–arguably a better one–in Tom Brady and

Vassar students discuss stigmas, ‘herd-mentality’ GAP continued from page 18

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the Patriots. This team came into the week angry as they’ve been all season about Deflategate and the hoops they jumped through just to have Brady on the field all season, and they came up against a crippled Denver Broncos.

For the past several years, Denver has flown on the wings of Peyton Manning, a player reborn after several neck surgeries. It wasn’t until this year that the quarterback began to show his age, failing to play at the elite level he has delivered throughout his career. Thankfully, Denver has had a tough defense to make up for the failings at QB. However, after the great start, the team dropped two games it should’ve at least competed in. After the losses came the tough news for a franchise built around a great offensive play caller; the man needed a break.

The injuries had caught up.

Now, we aren’t saying Manning’s career is over–he’s come back before–but this was enough cause for concern with the Patriots coming to town. The Broncos had no choice but to hand the duties over to the underscore, Brock Osweiler. This was thrilling for the opposition, I mean Brady was so excited he took to Facebook to post a GIF of him riding a Bronco days before the game. The game all of America expected though wasn’t the one we got. The backup QB showed up to bring his team a win.

OK, it isn’t an elite stat line but throwing for 270 yards, 1TD, and a pick for a QBR of 72.5 in your second game as a starter in the snow against the best team in the league isn’t half bad. Hey, it was good enough to give them the lead late against the Pats, and it was enough to propel them to the win on the heels of CJ Anderson after a monstrous stand by the defense on the first overtime possession. Instead of the Patriots showing us again how they always get it done, we saw that they are vulnerable, the injuries have caught up to them and even new blood like Osweiler can compete against them.

This league is wide-open; that is, until you meet up with Carolina.

stigma exists because of prejudice on the part of both athletes and non–athletes. I do not think it pertains to all student–athletes.”

And when asked if this “stigma” is deserved, senior non-athlete Josue Lugardo responded, “Deserved? It’s more of a consequence really.

The few ‘frat-like’ sports teams’ behavior is going to naturally raise a few eyebrows and force people to form their own opinions on those teams and the people in them. I don’t think it’s right to judge any athlete based on the sport they do, or the team they’re on.” Gutowski agreed, “The stigma is usually applied broadly, when in reality, there are only a few athletes and sports teams that represent themselves and their teams poorly. At the end of the day, there are going to be narrow minded people among all circles, but I guess its the job of athletes and teams to be aware of how they are being perceived and to work towards bridging the gap (as it is the job of non-athletes)!” Additionally, senior former athlete Katie Eliot explained, “I think athletes are often viewed as part of a larger group, and sometimes held responsible for their teammates’ actions, or are assumed to have certain negative traits because one of their teammates has them. I also think that the bad things people do get more attention, and that non–athletes sometimes expect the worst from athletes.”

Meigs offered his perspective on how this stigma is formed and propagated, explaining, “Often times teams take up so much of student– athletes’ time that it is the only place they are able to meet people and make friends. Many students feel that if they leave their teams it will be impossible to make friends and therefore remain on sports teams purely for social reasons. Additionally, teammates and friends can feel hurt when their teammates quit teams or try to branch out, furthering the difficulties of athlete integration with the greater student body. 48–hour rules and other obligations that

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

student–athletes have make it hard for them to maintain regular social lives that can be flexible or interact with non–athletes, making it so that most times they are unable to spend time with people not on their team’s schedule and their free nights are invariably spent celebrating with their teammates. Athletes also feel the bond of these obligations and the bond of shared community in athletics. This causes teams to come together and exclude outsiders, furthering their isolation. If anything the stigma is a reverse stigma in which athletes do not consider the outside community as viable friends for various reasons previously stated. This may cause people to feel that they are not welcome and, sadly, react in kind.”

With respect to the issue some students offered advice to both non–athletes and athletes.

Roellke suggested, “The majority of people I know who speak negatively about athletes have never taken the time to get to know them. For athletes, try to emphasize inclusion and branch out of your team comfort zone. As a general rule of thumb, don’t make broad generalizations about people based on a single identity characteristic.” Lugardo, who also has many friends who are athletes, suggested an open–minded approach, “In comparison to my experience with athletes outside of Vassar, my experience with athletes has been pretty terrific. One thing I expected coming to Vassar was seeing all the sports team acting as a ‘frat’ and not really concerning themselves with anyone but themselves.

I learned very quickly freshman year that that was not the case with every team, or every member.” As for now, this stigma and gap has yet to be eliminated, so we can all just hope to cohabitate in peace. Flattery agreed, “These people are different, and though there are people who are happy to bridge the gap, generally I would say leave it alone and try to be civil. We are all smart here, and it tends to work out more than we may think.”

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Page 20

December 3, 2015

Brewer’s slow start not indicative of teamwork, potential Shira Idris

Guest Reporter

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similar in that she hopes to help her teammates grow and get better every day. She added, “The only way [we] would be able to win the Liberty League Championship is if we are all at our best, and I consider it my main responsibility to make sure that happens.”

The Brewers also set daily goals to help them achieve their seasonal and ultimate goals. “Some examples of daily goals include accepting your role and emptying the tank,” said O’Connell. Rosenthal added, “Day to day we have expectations that we hold each other accountable for because without the small steps we can’t reach the goal of making Liberty Leagues and hopefully winning it all.” Clearly, it takes small steps towards success and the combined effort of everyone involved, including the hard-working coaches, to reach that ultimate victory.

courtesy of Vassar Athletics

or a team that was the Liberty League champion just two years ago, last season proved disappointing, providing the Brewers with a taste of what could have been. The women’s basketball team was riddled with injuries and finished with an ultimately disappointing 12–13 record on the year. While the overall result was rough, there were some bright moments during the year as well. Sophomore Ariella Rosenthal stated, “We had a lot of potential last year but we peaked at the wrong time...playing our best the last four games of the season, and I think that is the biggest motivator for us.” Although the season didn’t end so well, the women’s team is looking at it in a positive light, with the disappointment of last year fueling their motivation of this year.

Senior captain Colleen O’Connell offered her reflections as well, explaining, “Last season was a big learning year for us. I thought we ended on a high note and we are looking to carry our success and lessons learned over into our game this season.” While the injuries of last year were ultimately a hindrance, they also allowed less experienced players to get more game time.

As soon as the season ended, the Brewers went straight to the gym, lifting at least three times a week this summer as a part of Coach Cam’s summer weightlifting and conditioning program. However, their training was not limited to these activities. Seniors Alex Moon and Rose Serafini also added that they did a lot of shooting and ball-handling and played pickup basketball to maintain and improve their skills.

The Brewers are hopeful for this season and excited to showcase their improvements.

Rosenthal said, “We have become a lot more fluid, we are our best when we run the ball and push in transition and we have been doing that a lot more this year.” O’Connell also added that they gained a lot of new talent with six freshmen. “We play with a sense of urgency and that we have a greater understanding of the work

and dedication that it will take to be at the top again,” she explained.

While the Brewers didn’t make it to the Liberty League Playoffs last year, they are determined to win the Liberty League title this year and make it to at least the second round of the NCAAs. To do this, they’ve set a range of goals, both small and large, individual and team. The Brewers have trained with a team–first mindset, always wanting to better the team atmosphere and work everyone into the offense. Rosenthal hoped to build this bond through hard work on the court. “[I aim] to help everyone else on the team get better by pushing them as hard as I can in practice, and to bring a level of competitiveness every day that makes everyone else want to get better, want to play and enjoy being there,” she stated. O’Connell’s goal is quite

Freshman guard Nicole Teta has helped contribute to the Brewers’ success this season. Teta scored a college career-high 11 points in 28 minutes during a 70-66 loss against SUNY Geneseo on Nov. 24.

VC battles foes, semester comes to a close Ashley Hoyle Reporter

Men’s Basketball

On Nov. 20, the Brewers hosted the Vassar Annual Tip Off Tournament. They saw Ohio Northern University and bested them by a score of 81–77. Five Vassar men posted double figures on the night to help lead the young squad to a well-deserved win. Leading scorer was freshman Paul Grinde with 20 points in the game. That win qualified the men for the championship match. Sophomore Jesse Brown also had an excellent performance, chalking up 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

The next day, the men fell to Rochester Institute of Technology. The Brewers never held the lead and dropped to 1–2 on their 2015/16 season.

Senior captain Erikson Wasyl led VC’s scoring with 19 points and Browne rounded out the scoring with 18 points.

On Nov. 24, the team took on Maritime College away in the Privateers’ Riesenberg Hall Gym. The Brewers delivered a 68–61 victory, putting three players above single digits, with Wasyl shooting 19 points, Brown with 15 and Grinde with 14. Junior Mickey Adams added 13 rebounds as well. Freshman Alex Seff saw his first collegiate play and nabbed four rebounds and two assists. Next up for the Brewers will be their game against Trinity College in non–conference play scheduled for Dec. 2 in Hartford, Conn.

Men’s Swimming

In a dual men’s swimming and diving meet on Nov. 21 against NYU, sophomore Jonah Strand posted two big wins, although the overall score ended 98–180 in the Violets’ favor. This puts the Brewers at 2–3 on their season so far. Strand swam a season–best in the 100 breaststroke

and in the 200 breast, which placed him first in both. Freshman in the burgundy and gray Alex May was Vassar’s top finisher in the 1000 free stroke and in the 500 free. Up next for men’s swim and dive is the Liberty League Championships Dec. 4 and 5 in Troy, N.Y. Women’s Swimming

Vassar women’s swimming also went toe to toe with the Violets of NYU on Saturday, Nov. 21. Junior Julia Cunningham put up two wins, one of which, in the 200 butterfly, made the NCAA B–Cut. Overall, however, the Brewers fell 122–173. Cunningham swam a season best in the 200 butterfly and in the 200 IM which got her a second place finish, she also took first place in the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Hayley Schultz came in a close second in the 200 breaststroke and was VC’s top finisher in the 100 breaststroke. Freshman Mia Moraru posted a Kresge pool record on the diving side.

Men’s Fencing

courtesy of Vassar Athletics

Sophomore Jonah Strand posted two big wins in the 100 and 200 meter breast stroke on November 21 against NYU. The swim and dive team has remained competitive this season with a record of 2-3.

On Nov. 22, the VC men’s fencing squad celebrated their four seniors on their Senior Day during the Matt Lampell Tournament hosted at Vassar. They dropped only 15 bouts on the day, taking their seventh straight title at the tournament. They took a win on the day against Cornell University, RPI, Drew University, University of Albany and RIT. The team honored seniors Justin Riley, Bo Peng, Zachary Wilson and Elam Coalson during their lopsided victory.

Women’s Fencing

The women’s fencing team also competed at the Matt Lampell Hudson River Invitational two weeks ago, posting a combined 161–28 record on the day, going 7–0 as a team on the afternoon. The team started the day with a 20–7 win over Drew University and subsequently defeated Queens College, Marist College, LIU, West Point, CCNY and Yeshiva University by scores of 24–3, 26–1, 24–3, 21–6, 20–7 and 26–1, respectively. The team also honored its four seniors Lily Elbaum, Rachel Messbauer, Amreen Bhasin and Maggie Shepherd.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Heading the Brewers are Coach Candice Brown and Coach Carolyn Crampton. The two have given their team tremendous support as they too work to help the Brewers achieve their goals. Rosenthal explained their methods, saying, “Each practice is scheduled down to the minute, our coaches know how to make us work in a short amount of time in order to get the results we need.” O’Connell added, “In our practices, the coaches emphasize attention to detail and staying intense throughout every drill in order to best prepare us for league play.”

Despite its competitive nature, the team dynamic is also quite encouraging and loving.

Rosenthal spoke to this, saying, “We are constantly pushing each other when we are on the floor and at times it can get very competitive but as soon as we step off the court we are all best friends again.” Moon continued, “The team is my second family...They push me to be better both on and off the court.” Both Moon and Rosenthal explained that they chose to play for Vassar because of the team atmosphere.

So far, the Brewers have had a rocky start with a record of 1–3, but they don’t start league play until January. In their season opener, the Brewers lost to Montclair State 67–40. In the VC Tip Off tournament on Nov. 20, Vassar had their first, and so far, only win of the season, beating Mt. Saint Vincent 62–56 and advancing to the championship game of the tournament.

In that game Vassar lost 57–52 to Haverford College, despite a late rally.

Last week they fell to SUNY Geneseo just 70–66 and their next game is a non–conference away game against Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. Moon explained, “We’ve been playing really good competition so that we can get all of our kinks out now and be ready for when league play starts. I’m confident things will start to gel soon.” Serafini also added, “I have a great feeling about this year.

We have four hungry seniors that want to set the standards and expectations. We expect to win.” Hopefully their hard work and undefeatable attitude will prevail.

Weekend Scoreboard MEN’S BASKETBALL VASSAR

VS

68

MARITIME

61

MEN’S SWIMMING VASSAR

VS

98

NYU

180

WOMEN’S SWIMMING VASSAR

122

VS

RUTGERS

173