The Miscellany News May 4, 2017
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CXLIX | Issue 22
VSA debt raises tough questions about budget oversight Laurel Hennen Vigil News Editor
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part of the cost of attendance at Vassar and make up the VSA budget. Much of this money is allocated for campus events and about 180 student organizations, commonly known as orgs. The VSA budgeted $917,000 for the 2016-17 school year, but because of a fundamental flaw in the way this budget was calculated, the actual revenue collected was much less than expected. This is due to the fact that there are two groups of students who don’t actually pay the student activities fee. The first group includes students who transfer, drop out or decide not to attend during the summer before their first year, whose money is refunded if they withdraw early enough. The second group is made up of students studying abroad who don’t pay this fee for the semester or year they are away See FINANCE on page 3
Michael Chung/The Miscellany News
hahid Naeem had a bad feeling. The third year political science major, who has served as the Vassar Student Association (VSA) 2016-17 Chair of Finance, had a gnawing suspicion all year that the VSA budget didn’t quite add up. “Something didn’t seem right to me,” he said. So a few weeks ago, Naeem sat down with VSA advisor and Associate Director of Campus Activities Michelle Ransom to run the numbers and try to figure out exactly what was going on. It turned out that his hunch was correct. Something was, indeed, very wrong: The VSA had a deficit of at least $150,000. “When I walked out of this meeting, I came to terms with the fact that none of these numbers [that had been both-
ering me] were mistakes,” Naeem recalled, adding, “I just felt really tired.” For her part, Ransom wasn’t shocked. “I’ve worked here for 24 years, so not much surprises me,” she said. The situation, which Naeem described as a “perfect storm,” required immediate action. On April 4, he announced that until further notice, all VSA Special Purpose Funds would be frozen. The exact reasons for the six-figure budget discrepancy are manifold and are still being worked out. The precise amount of debt is not yet known. What is known, however, is that one of the largest contributing factors to the deficit was the disparity between the amount of student activities fees the VSA expected to collect and the amount that actually came in. Student activities fees—which are currently $350 a year, per student—are
Members of the VSA Finance Committee discuss their 2017-18 budget. The VSA Senate voted to accept the significantly reduced budget on April 30.
Gender binary proves Devised piece envisions utopia toxic in everyday life “I Sasha Gopalakrishnan Assistant Arts Editor
Maddy Ouellette TBD
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t’s Christmas, the only holiday when my mother’s family gets together–despite the fact that most of us aren’t even remotely Christian. My older sibling, my younger sister and I sit in my grandmother’s kitchen, enjoying her Southern hospitality in her home in upstate New York. It’s the first time
we’ve seen each other in months. “The girls are in the kitchen,” I hear my aunt tell her sister, and I exchange a weary look with my older sibling. I am once again reminded just how harmful holidays can be. For roughly 18 and a half years of my life I identified as a woman. When I was 16 or 17 my older sibling came out See GENDER on page 6
t used to be warm here before we had fun,” echoed the narrator, or rather time traveler, at the conclusion of “Victory Over the Sun,” a devised play directed by Hallie Ayres ’18, held from April 27 to 29 in the Mug. With tin foil covering one wall, a stack of clattering industrial paraphernalia blocking another and fairy lights casually hanging from the ceiling, the Mug had been transformed into a fu-
turistic dungeon. Complemented by lights that formed swirling geometric patterns on the stage and trance-like music with odd beats permeating the space, the set created a nebulously psychedelic experience. This Unbound production was an experimental show based on a 1913 Russian opera of the same name. Written just a few years prior to the Russian Revolution, the original piece illustrated a mounting dissent toward government regimes. The plot revolved
around Futurists who envisioned that the eradication of rationality would lead to the creation of a much-desired utopia. The sun was viewed as a symbol of logic and rationality that therefore needed to be destroyed. However, the futurists realized that, despite their success in this venture, they had failed to achieve a utopian state. This eventually lead to an intense sense of disillusionment. See PLAY on page 14
NYC festival fills niche in industry Men’s lacrosse off to conference playoffs T Patrick Tanella Arts Editor
Fiona MacLeod Reporter
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Courtesy of Forest Woodward
he thought that there weren’t any major music festivals in New York City in the early 2000s may be quite surprising to festival-goers.. With millions of people located in the city and the tri-state area surrounding it, one would think that this is the perfect place to showcase the most popular artists of the day and those who are currently emerging onto the music scene. Yet rain delays and political issues prevented any tri-state festival from flourishing. The Governors Ball Music Festival filled this niche in 2011, debuting as a one-day music and arts festival that celebrates the diversity of genres and styles of music that are produced today. This year’s festival, now in its seventh year, will be held in Randall’s Island Park from June 2 to 4. Rock, electronic, hip-hop, indie, Americana, pop and folk are just a few of the styles of music featured each year at Gov Ball. Produced by Founders Entertainment, which also debuted The Meadows Music & Arts Festival last year, Gov Ball has been met with critical and social acclaim from concert-goers. In addition to the featured artists, food trucks, Silent Disco and a motley of activities provide a break for those who aren’t willing to try to get barricade for their favorite artist, which entails waiting in the front of the stage for hours before the performer comes on. Festival-goers who are over the See GOV BALL on page 15
From June 2-4, Randall’s Island will be packed with passionate music fans attending Governor’s Ball Music Festival, which is now in its seventh year.
Inside this issue
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Wannabe Ahab & Deece patron tames white FEATURES waffle whale
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Thespian calls for focus on intersectionality OPINIONS in Drama Dept.
ven before the initiation of conference games, the 10 seniors of the Vassar men’s lacrosse team knew that this was their year. Despite never reaching playoffs in all of program history, the Brewers felt confident that this year they would finally secure a spot in the Liberty League semifinals. On Saturday April 29, they accomplished this feat with soaring colors, defeating the Dutchmen of Union College, and putting an end to Union’s season. Due to their astonishing 20-10 victory, the Brewers have locked down the No. 3 seed in the upcoming playoffs. Before the match, the graduating seniors, who make up one of the largest classes in program history, were honored for leading the team to its highest level of success ever. Offensive forces to be reckoned with, senior captain Sam Houston-Read and fellow attacker Chris Billups have been consistent in Brewer’s scoring efforts. This season, Houston-Read has so far earned a team-best 44 points, while Billups leads the team in goals with 25. Captain Liam Moriarty has stepped up to lead the Brewer midfield alongside two-year captain Brandon DeStasio. Thus far in the season, Moriarty has racked up the team’s second highest number of points, 39. DeStasio ranks fifth on the team in both goals and
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points with 17 and 22, respectively. However, most of the senior class is amassed on the defensive half of the field. Captain Matt Altman—alongside fellow defenders Gianni Gelormino, Austin Haymes, Brandon Klein, Steven Mages and Eric Prezioso—leads the underclassmen in protective efforts. Collectively, these solid players have racked up 126 ground balls and caused 72 turnovers this season. These experienced individuals have the ability to coach, adjust and inspire the underclassmen in an unprecendented manner. With a freshman class of 13, the seniors have been instrumental in molding them to the team dynamic and style of play. “All of the seniors have been coaches on and off the field this year,” first-year attacker Michael Mullen claimed. “They are more than willing to help others improve, and they have really helped me adapt to playing at the collegiate level.” The seniors have influenced more than just the freshman class, though. They have become the go-to men to hype up the team before intense competition, and have created an unbreakable bond between everyone on the team. “We aren’t just a team,” sophomore midfielder James Thomas vowed. “We are more than that; we play for each other every day. We are all in this ride together and that has truly bonded us as a whole. The See SEMI-FINALS on page 18
Director of Athletic Communications SPORTS raises expectations