The Miscellany News
Volume CXLVIII | Issue 14
February 25, 2016
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Equestrian club takes stereotypes by the reins Secret vote to decide A fate of BDS Maria Bell Reporter
Jeremy Middleman News Editor
courtesy of Robin Piatt Stegman
lready you might be thinking, “Vassar has an equestrian team? Since when?” You wouldn’t be alone. The equestrian team has a quiet presence on campus, often slipping under the radar, perhaps because it predominantly takes place in Millbrook, a scenic 30-minute drive down winding tree-lined roads to where MLC farm is located. Each week, groups of four or five students pile into a Vassar van to go to their hour-long lesson with Coach Michelle Clopp. This semester, 12 students are taking weekly riding lessons, and five regularly compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The Vassar equestrian team was around long before Vassar became co-ed. In its earliest stages, the staSee EQUESTRIAN on page 6
A member of the little-known equestrian team rides in competition gear. The equestrian team has had difficulties in the past gaining funding, but with consistent demand from Vassar hopefuls, it looks to maintain its foothold..
Photos capture truth of refugee experience Emily Chancey Guest Reporter
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pproximately 60 million refugees survive around the world today in the largest international refugee crisis since World War II. Yet, prominent American voices have recently begun to rouse fears and to problematize United States acceptance of refugees at a time when they most need safety and despite
an American tradition of welcoming persecuted people. In an effort to act as global citizens, Vassar students with Professor of History and Chair of the department Maria Höhn, introduced the Vassar College: Solidarity with Refugees initiative and a six-week course on the 21st Century Worldwide Refugee Crisis. To explore the ways in which Vassar students can help to alleviate the
Records shattered at UNYSCSAs Olivia O’Loughlin Guest Reporter
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Inside this issue
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BurgerFi open mic draws out FEATURES community
14 ARTS
and comes from wanting to learn, to grow and to change the world; a goal of activism she insists is necessary for all of us. As she drew from her understanding of Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of beloved community in conceptualizing her project, Rehder said in an emailed statement, “I found the notion of a beloved community that See REHDER on page 7
he upcoming VSA vote on the highly-controversial Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Resolution will soon shape how Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank will be observed by Vassar’s student body. On Feb. 22, the VSA voted on how the ballots would be cast for the March 6 vote determining the adoption of Students for Justice in Palestine’s (SJP) BDS proposal. They decided by a vote of 16 to three with three abstentions to have an anonymous vote. To pass, the anonymous vote required 2/3 of the council’s vote, as it required the suspension of a current VSA bylaw. “It’s been expressed by members of council and members of the student community and members of the United States that there’s a perception that voting for either side on the BDS resolution could have implications on one’s life outside of the context of Vassar College and the BDS resolution,” said VP for Student Life Chris Brown ’16. Other VSA Council members made similar comments during meetings on Feb. 14 and Feb. 21, including VP for Finance Kaden Maguire and the Presidents of Class of 2018 and 2019 Presidents Rebecca Pober ‘18 and Miranda Amey ’19. VSA members See VSA on page 4
CAAD hosts soundscape artist Noah Purdy
Guest Reporter
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he Greeks built monuments and sculpted figures that displayed the divine order of the universe. Persian carpets aim to bring nature indoors, capturing spiritual paradise for earthly consumption. And Monet depicted the ephemeral in a new, quick style, enforcing a novel way of looking at both art and nature. In many ways, art and nature have always been intertwined. Composer, sound artist and former Professor of Music at Vassar Annea Lockwood carries on this long tradition of eliciting emotion through art. Over her long career, Lockwood has experimented with many instruments, such as the piano, drums, didgeridoo and conch shells. She composed music to accompany readings of poems written by Guantánamo detainees and gained notoriety for setting out-of-use pianos on fire. Lockwood has always tried to challenge established notions of what constitutes art and music. As Vassar Professor of Music Richard Wilson puts it, “[Lockwood’s works] stand at the very edge of what would traditionally be called music.” Lockwood will present “environmental sound,” in the form of an installation at the Aula. The event was organized by Creative Arts Across Disciplines (CAAD) as part of its 20152016 theme of “Sound and Silence.” Lockwood’s installation is intended See LOCKWOOD on page 16
ViCE Jazz bringing talented modern artist to Mug
courtesy of NewMusicBox
oth the women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams finished strong seasons this Saturday at the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association, or UNYSCSA, Championships in Ithaca, N.Y. At the championships, Vassar competed against 16 teams, including nine from the Liberty League. After four days of competition, the men’s team finished in eighth place out of 15 teams overall, while the women’s team placed sixth out of 16 teams. The Vassar women’s sixth place ranking is the Brewers’ best finish to date in the UNYSCSA Championships. In fact, the men’s team had at least one man score in the top 24 in each of the individual events for all four days of competition. While the same cannot be said for the women’s team, the team had women place in the top 24 for many events, and even had more than one woman score within the top 24 in particular events. Sophomore Luke Morrison stated, “We had an awesome meet as both a men and women’s team with a ton of new school records and lifetime bests.” Individually, the swimmers excelled, with a majority of the team members achieving new personal bests and surpassing Vassar’s previous school records. In just four days, the men’s swimming and diving team
achieved 34 lifetime bests, 44 season bests, and broke eight of Vassar’s records. Freshman Alex May finished his first season as a Brewer very strong, breaking two school records. May beat two records in the 1000yard Free and the 1650-yard Free, both of which had been previously held by graduate Ben Chung since 1999. Junior Anthony Walker broke his own 2015 record for the 100 Fly, finishing in 51.45 seconds. Sophomore Jonah Strand also swam incredibly, breaking three different school records. Strand first beat Jack Smart’s 2010 record for 200-yard IM when he finished in just 1:56.67 minutes. Not showing any fatigue on day three, Strand then shattered both the 50yard and 100-yard Breast records by at least one second in each race. Junior Chris Cerutti also bested the six-year-old 200-yard Back record that was held by Nick Veazie, when Cerutti finished the race in 1:58.45 minutes. Together, senior Isaiah Hale, junior Anthony Walker, freshmen Ian LaBash and Alex May beat the 800yard Free relay by an astonishing four seconds when they finished in 7:12.94 minutes. The women’s team also performed phenomenally, achieving 33 lifetime bests, 47 season bests, and setting See SWIM on page 18
crisis, Professor Höhn asked documentary photographer and activist Kristin Rehder to Vassar as a model of an individual making a difference, in particular through the arts. Rehder presented her most recent project examining the concepts of community and acceptance of resettled refugees in Lancaster, Pa. to the class and its guests. Rehder’s photographic-activist work is personal
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Annea Lockwood will present her latest work on campus in a CAAD-sponsored lecture. Her installation uses sound to explore the Housatonic River and more.
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NHL, media support abusers SPORTS over victims