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The Miscellany News

Volume CXLVIII | Issue 19

April 21, 2016

Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

VSA backs Headliner EMPD to kick off Throwback Jam statement “T of inclusion Alan Hagins

Assistant Features Editor

Eilis Donohue News Editor

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courtesy of Joseph Weiman

eeking to affirm the College’s commitment to building and maintaining a diverse community, the VSA passed a new diversity statement at the council meeting on April 13. The hope is that by next academic year the statement will be approved by all necessary bodies–the VSA, faculty, administration and the Board of Trustees. After approval from all parties, it will be put in place as Vassar’s public declaration of its commitment to fostering and supporting a diverse community. A subcommittee of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CIE), led by subcommittee Chair and Professor of Physics David Bradley, has been drafting a diversity statement for the past two years. The statement is to accompany the College’s mission statement in online and print locations. The process began by examining diversity statements from peer institutions. The subcommittee then presented an early draft to the VSA executive board, and later to the entire school in March. They welcomed feedback via a phone hotline and an online forum. The most recent draft has incorporated as many of those comments as possible. If the current trajectory continues, See DIVERSITY on page 3

hey are straight out of the golden age of hip hop, New York City, you know, real oldies,” co-president of Hip Hop 101 Elijah McDonnaugh ’16 said, talking about this year’s headliner for Throwback Jam. The yearly event brings Vassar and the Poughkeepsie community together to celebrate the roots of hip hop. The headliner McDonnaugh mentioned, EPMD (an acronym for “Erick and Parrish Making Dollars”), is on tour for the 20th anniversary of their best-selling album, “Strictly Business,” and will collaborate not just with rapper Kari Faux, but also with live-graffiti artists, a B-boy group followed by student performers, two DJ sets and Vassar’s own MC and grill-chef, TC Weaver this Saturday for a six-hour hip hop extravaganza on the residential quad. In years past, the organization has brought artists like Talib Kwali, Raw See JAMS on page 7

EMPD will headline the annual Throwback Jam, hosted by Hip Hop 101. The event will connect Vassar students and the surrounding community in a celebration of hip hop. Throwback Jam will happen Saturday, April 23 on the Quad.

Students find comfort among the familiar Kaitlynn Vo and Alan Hagins

Reporter amd Assistant Features Editor

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ontested as it might be, it’s inevitable for university students nationwide to have a hankering for home. At some point or another, in that interstitial space occurring before true comfort on campus and complete cognizance of social, academic and personal independence, students undeniably hope for the comforts of home-cooked meals, mu-

sic and culture. That’s why the Office of International Services (OIS) is sponsoring the event, Around the World Asia (ATW: Asia), a single stop in a series of featured regions of the world. It can be hard to be away from the familiar and immersed in something that’s not, no matter how much we remind ourselves of the virtues of free play and discovery. Of all the demographics represented on cam-

pus, the one for which this assertion might most acutely resonate is probably the international students, who are usually the most geographically and culturally dislocated from their homes. Fortunately, the Office of International Services has plenty of practice with the wide-eyed, wonder-filled class of new students. For faculty and students involved in the organization alike, this whole predicament

Alumna returns for cafe concert

Women Ruggers win Beast of East

Noah Purdy

Guest Reporter

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Annie Hsu Reporter

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courtesy of Phoebe Legere

ow many people can say they know a composer, steward of the environment, musician, poet, playwright, lecturer, champion for underserved children, artist and inventor, and oh, yes, they are all one person? That’s Phoebe Legere,” wrote her best friend and business partner Susan Rakowski ’76. She encapsulated the self-styled “transmedia” artist Phoebe Legere ’77/’81, who returned near her alma mater on Saturday, April 16, 2016, to play a show with her Bon Appétit Band at the Rosendale Cafe in Rosendale, NY. Among her many talents and accomplishments, Legere plays seven instruments, has sung at Lincoln Center, wrote three musicals (with a fourth one on the way), conducted the New York Film Orchestra and opened for David Bowie and sang with Joni Mitchell. She rode through the Rockies on Beat journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s motorcycle, sang with a village shaman atop a sacred Buddhist mountain on a National Geographic expedition in Tibet, helped invent both an eagle-topped and pedal-powered six-person bicycle made of reclaimed metal called the Shamancycle and shoes for disabled children that play music called Sneakers of SamoSee CONCERT on page 16

On April 16, 2016 Phoebe Legere ’77/’81 gave a concert in a Rosendale, NY cafe. Legere is a multimedia artist currently performing with her Bon Appétit Band.

Inside this issue

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FOOD

Choose between a deece stir fry or hummus dip

15 ARTS

Hark! Shakespeare comes to campus in festival form

makes sense and they have worked to provide a home away from home with ATW: Asia, an event which offers cultural cuisine and conversation for Vassar students. Students must align to strict study schedules and are only encouraged to depart campus during breaks. This requires immense travel coordination between planes, cars, trains, the gambit, as well as an endSee ASIA on page 6

ugby is a sport that celebrates differences–in size, speed, strength–and gives everyone a place where they can give their all. Rugby brings out strength in people that they never knew they had. Whatever ‘strength’ means or looks like to you, that’s beautiful.” -Junior Elizabeth Bennet This past weekend the Vassar men’s and women’s rugby teams traveled to Middletown, RI to compete in the Beast of the East Tournament. The women came back with an incredible win as the champions of the Division II bracket. Both brackets consisted of 18 different schools from throughout the Northeast. The spring season holds a more developmental focus in that it is a time to start preparing for the competition in the fall. This results in giving some newer members more playing time while letting seniors take a step back and get some much needed rest. Coach Tony Brown had confidence in his teams going into the tournament, fully expecting the women to win their division. Senior women’s captain Darienne Jones explained, “Our team has grown in size and spirit this year. Physicality is a crucial component of the game but it manifests itself mentally

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even more so. This year my team really stepped up and I expect that sentiment to last.” Additionally Coach Brown added, “The incredible squad spirit is wonderful to see but what makes me most proud is that the teams play with such great pride and represent the college well. Both the men and women play fair and even when things don’t go their way they respond well and are a credit to Vassar College.” A small hiccup came when senior captain Cierra Thomas broke her fibula in the quarterfinals against Springfield, however the team was quick to fill in the gap and go on winning. “My left fibula is broken along with a torn deltoid ligament. I’ll probably need surgery and I’m definitely out for the rest of the season, but it was a good one. I’m proud of myself and what I accomplished. I don’t have any regrets,” recounted Thomas. “When [Cierra] left the field, we all resolved to win the rest of the tournament for her. I love that. I love how much we care about one another,” said senior co-captain Taylor Nunley. An advantage the Brewers have is the strategy that comes with experienced Coach Brown. “On the field we are extremely organized and do not play blindly. This is what helps keep See RUGBY on page 18

Track and Field returns to Silfen SPORTS Invitational


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