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The Miscellany News

Volume CXLVIII | Issue 11

February 4, 2016

Since 1866 | miscellanynews.com

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

OITNB author Kerman brings levity to dark subject Kaitlynn Vo

Guest Reporter

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courtesy of Huffington Post

t’s a premise almost too fantastic to be factual: girl meets girl and enters into a romantic relationship, only to find out her partner is a heroin-dealing West African kingpin. Committed to their relationship, she launders money for the drug operation; five years later, indicted and charged for money laundering and drug trafficking, she pleads guilty; all that she’s left with is herself and her prison term. As incredible as it sounds, for fans of long-running Netflix show “Orange Is the New Black,” this description will seem all too familiar. The most-watched show on the video streaming platform, “Orange Is the New Black” presents itself as a comedic drama based on Piper Kerman’s memoir of the same name. While Kerman’s memoir is exceptional in itself, the reception of the

book’s television adaptation has received critical acclaim and reception that parallels and even surpasses its original. In its first season alone, the show was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards and ended up winning three: the awards for Outstanding Cast in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series. As its characters and plot progressed, so too did critical and public acceptance for the often controversial themes of the show and its characters. In fact, “Orange Is the New Black” is the sole series thus far to score nominations in both the comedy and drama categories of the Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to other accolades. And it isn’t just Hollywood that can’t get enough of the Kerman-inspired prison show. Vassar students See KERMAN on page 13

Celebrated author Piper Kerman will give her lecture on “Orange Is The New Black” this Monday. Her work aims to provide insight into the current prison system through the use of human narratives, including autobiography with humor.

Crafted Kup brews Maguire appointed VP for Finance enthusiastic response A Derek Sonntag Reporter

Kayla Gonzalez Reporter

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f you build it, they will come,” one Crafted Kup customer remarked to the coffee shop owner Tanner Townsend as he ordered his Mocha Coffeeshake. The customer was referring to the renovations that took place at the Crafted Kup

over winter break. These renovations included upgrading from 24 seats to 68, all of which were occupied on Sunday afternoon. “This has been in the works for about eight months,” shared Townsend when he took a moment to break away from the activity at See KUP on page 12

fter about a week of anarchy in the finance office of the VSA, Kaden Maguire ’16 assumed the post of Vice President for Finance. VSA President Ramy Abbady ’16 wrote in an emailed statement, “I’m excited to announce that Kaden Maguire has become the new VP for Finance. They are a senior STS major from Connecticut. Kaden has been in-

volved in VARC for four years and has previously served on Raymond House Team, QCVC’s executive board, and as the Ferry Representative to VSA Council. Congrats and welcome to Kaden!” Maguire was appointed by the Board of Elections and Appointments to fill the VSA position on Jan. 29. This decision was approved by the VSA Council two days later, where Maguire’s appointment was unanimously passed

Crossover novelist to stay at VC

Men’s Volleyball: hot start no fluke

Connor McIlwain Arts editor

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Winnie Yeates Reporter

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courtesy of Vassar College

rs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. Pity. A signature strike leveled the florist’s,” read one of Teju Cole’s tweets. The tweet was one of seven short stories on drones that he posted on Twitter. It wasn’t the first time he had used the medium to publish his writing and engage readers. He will give this year’s Writer-in-Residence reading on Feb. 8. Since 1979, the English Department has sponsored a writer-in-residence. Typically, this novelist or poet visits campus, hosts a reading, visits classes, holds workshops with students, and develops relationships with students in the Senior Composition Seminar. Oftentimes, these students receive advice on their senior theses and future endeavors. For Cole, this residency is the perfect opportunity to reach a modern audience. “A lot of the people I want to be read by, a lot of the people I want to speak to, are not people who have subscriptions to The New Yorker or The New York Times, so it’s important for me to speak to them in this way also,” he said in a 2014 interview with NPR. Three years earlier, he published his debut novel, “Open City” to widespread acclaim. Now he was telling a different story on Twitter. The story, “Hafiz,” was told through See TEJU COLE on page 17

Teju Cole will deliver this year’s writer-in-residence reading. His work on social media has sparked conversations on social issues and the future of literature.

Inside this issue

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Students fly to foreign lands for TRAVEL research, recreation

14 ARTS

MUSICAMBIA brings the arts behind bars

through the consensus agenda by council members. “I’m feeling happy that I am able to step into this position. It is really fun and interesting to get to see what all of the orgs are putting on,” Maguire said in an interview. “Most events that happen on campus that are run by students go through finance. It makes you feel really engaged with the student body.” See VSA on page 3

t may be winter, but the Vassar men’s volleyball team is red hot. Last year, the team finished with a formidable 18-13 record on the year, yet stumbled to a 3-5 record in the Liberty League. However, with another year of experience under their belts, the men were ready to take the leap in 2016. The Brewers’ preparation for their main season this spring began last October during what they call their “non-traditional” season. During this time the team had three practices a week for five weeks and participated in one tournament. Head Coach Robert Wolter explained, “During that time we focused a lot of our time on the basic fundamentals and our serving and passing game. We concluded the non-traditional season by hosting an eight-team tournament. The tournament consisted of two alumni teams, the Marist club team, Hunter College, Sage College, Lehman College and an adult USAV team.” The Brewers won the event, going 10-3 in total sets. Since the end of the team’s non-traditional season, the athletes have been hard at work for several weeks in preparation for their main season. They began their pre-sea-

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son training on January 11. Arriving at school two weeks early focused and determined, junior Christian Lizana further explained their intense pre-season schedule, “We train pretty much every day; either three practices a day or two practices and then a lift. Even though we are a spring sport, we are able to get to know everyone and play a little together throughout the fall, so in the spring we are able to get right to practicing hard because we are already familiar with everyone and their playing styles. Really just fitting about a month of practice into two weeks and getting ready for our first games.” In addition to putting time in on the court, the team participates in off-court activities together quite regularly. Coach Wolter explained, “Off the court the guys spend a lot of time together bonding and building relationships. They eat meals together and sometimes go bowling. We even drove to Albany, N.Y. for a team activity and took part in a Mystery Room. A Mystery Room is when you get locked in a room and you need to solve clues and riddles to figure out the combination to unlock the door. You have 45 minutes to solve the room. This was a great team building activity and the guys See VOLLEYBALL on page 18

Ski team prioritizes team bonding SPORTS over competition


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