The Miscellany News
Volume CXLVIII | Issue 12
February 11, 2016
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Political orgs conflict in ideology Phocas ’91 works to build smarter cities Y Julia Cunningham
Assistant Features Editor
Sarah Sandler Columnist
P
rofessor of History James Merrell let me in on a not-so-guilty pleasure this week: “One of the many joys of working with Vassar students is that you know they’re going to go on from your classroom into every field you can imagine, and some you can’t. Rob Phocas, class of ‘91, is a prime example of them.” Phocas was a history major at Vassar and this past Tuesday, he returned to campus to give a presen-
tation called “Where do we go from here: Building Smart Cities.” The lecture was co-sponsored by the History and Environmental Studies (ENVS) Departments. Phocas is the prime example of someone learning from history to create the future. As the Energy and Sustainability Manager for the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, Phocas is in charge of developing and implementing the City’s federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program (EECBG). See PHOCAS on page 7
Rolison exposes city debt in new budget Shelia Hu
Guest Reporter
M courtesy of VCLU
ou may not need to wait until September to watch the liberals and conservatives go head to head over issues like gun control, immigration or energy policy. Thursday, Feb. 11, the Vassar College Libertarian Union (VCLU) and the Vassar Democrats will meet in Rocky to discuss those issues in an hour-long debate. In any debate, equality is crucial. VCLU Treasurer Pieter Block ’18 who coordinated the event said “Especially in this election year, we think that it’s important that students have two fair perspectives, at least.” With the debate, the two orgs will have a chance to present their respective views. “Obviously our parties are more complex than ‘right and left,’ but hopefully we’ll get into some dialogue about important issues that people care about,” Block said. Communications Director for the Vassar Dems, Conor Flanagan ’17, mentioned that the Vassar Dems were excited for some stimulating conversation. “We’re looking forward to the discussion and we think it’s going to be a good, substantive event,” he said. The debate will follow a strict schedule with three topics, each taking about twenty minutes with two debators on either side. As the larger club, the Dems will have different representatives for each topic, See DEBATE on page 6
The members of the VCLU featured above will be debating with the Vassar Democrats on political topics like gun control, energy policy, and immigration.
ayor of Poughkeepsie Rob Rolison was unaware of what he would find when he began the process of determining his budget. After several months of work, his administration announced that the City of Poughkeepsie is in serious financial trouble. The debt totals more than $7.8 million, not including the $11 million from the general-use fund deficit, a back-up fund for rainy days. Since winning the mayoral race in early November, Rolison has worked
on determining how and where the government will allocate funds for the next year. “We need to fully understand the financial picture of the city, and I think right now we don’t know that and I’m concerned about that,” Rolison said. “We have not been given a very accurate financial picture, because we’re still trying to get the budget in a form that has detail to it” (Poughkeepsie Journal, “City of Poughkeepsie owes $7.8 million and counting,” 02.03.16). After conducting an investigation to deSee DEBT on page 3
Aument an asset to Empress Of dazzles in the Shiva Vassar Athletics W Sophia Steinert-Evoy Guest Reporter
Zach Rippe
Sports Editor
V
Inside this issue
6
New shop promises vaping isn’t just FEATURES blowing smoke
12 HUMOR
hen Empress Of released her first studio album in September 2015, president of No-ViCE Zack Wilks ’17 turned up his efforts to get her to Vassar. “I told ViCE, ‘She’s gonna blow up, we gotta book her,’” said Wilks. He had been following her career ever since she got signed to
She has worked with artists from Devonté Hynes of Blood Orange to Florence and the Machine. Empress Of is a solo project of singer-songwriter Lorely Rodriguez. The New York-based musician first gained popularity after posting a series of anonymous one-minute videos to YouTube in 2012. Rodriguez has since See NO-VICE on page 16
courtesy of Philip Cosores/Consequence of Sound
assar sports would not be what they are today without the behind-the-scenes work of the Athletic Communications Department. Headed by Director Jamie Chagnon, the department works to tell the stories of over 500 varsity student athletes on Vassar’s campus and enhance their overall experience. Chagnon explained, “The primary responsibility of Athletics Communications [is] to disseminate information to members of both the print and electronic media as well institutions that Vassar competes against. Among Athletics Communications’ many varied duties are press/media relations, editorial releases and feature stories, game and special event programs, newsletters, statistical maintenance and record keeping, web-content management and collaborative work with Vassar’s Office of Communications.” Vassar Athletics covers a vast range of teams and conferences at the Division III level as a member of the Liberty League, United Volleyball Conference and Seven Sisters. The department is always going through growth and development. The latest being the hiring of Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Tiana Aument. Aument is a recent graduate of the University of
South Florida in Tampa, Fla. and has worked closely with various forms of sports media throughout her time in college. She will replace Keith Sneddon, who left the department in November to pursue a Division I communications opportunity at the University of Maryland. Athletic Director Michelle Walsh commented on Sneddon’s time at Vassar, stating, “He made many valuable contributions to the department and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.” Although she only finished school this past December, Aument already has a wealth of experience. She served as a staff writer for the USF Oracle, covering basketball, baseball, football, soccer and volleyball. Aument also contributed to the local Tampa Tribune and 24/7 sports publications. A mass communications major, she worked at Bulls Radio, training volunteers on technical aspects of the production process and would produce up to four sporting events a week. She also helped broadcast and record studio shows and sport updates. She was also a student representative on the Diversity committee from Oct. 14 until her graduation. Aument began her work this past January and looks to contribute to See AUMENT on page 18
Terrible Records, a Brooklyn-based record label also representing acts such as Le1f and Solange, both of whom have performed at Vassar in recent years. In the months since the release of “Me,” Empress Of has indeed “blown up.” Her single “How Do You Do It” has over 2.5 million listens on Spotify and she’s going on a European tour later this month.
Empress Of performed last Friday in the Shiva for ViCE’s Winter Concert. The show brings back a tradition that was put on a three-year hiatus. It drew large crowds and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from concertgoers.
With V-Day draw, ResLife promises everyone a date
18 SPORTS
Squash rickochets off of opposition, ends season proud