The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CL | Issue 3
September 21, 2017
Students, staff rally for better ACDC working conditions Clark Xu
Assistant News Editor
A
ter Vice President Cathy Bradford elaborated, “I worked here for 21 years. Throughout these years, we had experience with different issues, but this year we have experienced serious job security threats.” The friction between SEIU and Bon Appétit has ranged from union bargaining and contract negotiation to labor-management relations and the work environment. Bradford continued, “Bon Appétit here does not listen to us or respect us. It’s either their way or no way. We have had meetings over and over, week after week, with administrators, but nobody seems to be getting or listening to our main concerns.” Dean of the College Christopher Roellke reflected, “We have been working diligently on these issues and will conSee RALLY on page 3
Courtesy of Laura Zapien
midst rising concerns about the health and safety of Vassar’s dining service workers, a coalition between Student/Labor Dialogue (SLD) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) pressed for change on Friday, Sept. 15, in a rally at the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC) that occupied the building and presented worker demands to management. SLD and SEIU called for Vassar College and Bon Appétit administrators to reply to demands for safe working conditions, organized schedules, transparent hiring and respect for workers before Friday, Sept. 22. An SLD member who wished to remain anonymous elaborated on the
org’s involvement, saying, “SLD is about students building relationships of trust with workers over long periods of time. We try to show them that we care and are here to listen and advocate as students for their concerns.” The controversy developed out of the transition in dining service providers from Aramark to Bon Appétit at the beginning of the school year. As President of the College Elizabeth Bradley explained, “This is an ambitious transformation of our dining services, one we think will give us healthier and more exciting dining options, as well as create a new gathering space for our community. Because of the magnitude of the change, we knew there would be some challenges at the beginning.” At the ACDC rally, local SEIU chap-
Students and workers gathered in the ACDC on Friday, Sept. 15, to protest unsafe working conditions and understaffing at the Deece.
Tennis finds success in Harmon voted in as Scramble, takes three VSA Vice President Kelly Pushie
Guest Reporter
he Vassar Women’s tennis team hosted three opponents this past weekend on the Josselyn tennis courts in the Vassar Scramble. The Brewers matched up against Connecticut College, New York University and New Paltz on Saturday and Sunday. Despite having several players out of play due to illness, including seniors Dasha Ivenitsky and Kate Christensen, as well as sophomore Ashley
Dylan Smith Reporter
S
unday, Sept. 17, marked the end of the Vassar Student Association’s (VSA) annual fall elections, which appoint first-year representatives to different positions within the student association. 20 positions within the VSA were filled, including the VSA Vice President position. Cody Harmon ’19 was elected as VSA Vice President, his election coinciding with the other first-year positions announced this past Sunday night.
As per usual in fall VSA elections, three VSA Senate positions, two Committee positions, nine House Team positions and four judicial board positions were up for grabs. More unusual, however, was the recent resignation of VSA President Miranda Amey ’19, prompting current VSA President Anish Kanoria ’18, to step into the role, leaving his former Vice President seat vacant. Thus, in addition to the regularly scheduled fall election cycle, the VSA conducted a See ELECTIONS on page 4
Courtesy of Olivia Feltus
T
Fair and first-year Frances Cornwall,, the Brewers put together a great weekend. “I think we did really well as a team of staying focused and playing hard even though we were battling some injuries and sicknesses,” sophomore Tara Edwards mentioned in an interview with Vassar Athletics communications after her match. Sophomore Vista Grinde attributes the team’s success over the weekend to their hard work during practice. See SCRAMBLE on page 18
Cody Harmon ’19 was elected as the new VSA Vice President last Sunday.
Circus troupe turns fire into art VC professor ‘psyched’ for sabbatical projects A Sasha Gopalakrishnan Assistant Arts Editor
Kaitlynn Vo
[Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.]
W
Every fall, Barefoot Monkeys puts on a performance for students and their visiting families. The show delights all, combining acrobatics, fire art and detailed choreograpnhy. It is an absolute must-see for every VC student.
Inside this issue
3
NEWS
long time? Randolph Cornelius: This January I
guest reporter
Courtesy of Hannah Benton
s we meander through the semester, the end of September is always marked by assignments picking up their pace, readings being left unfinished and an action-packed Families Weekend. However, the very thought of Families Weekend is incomplete without The Barefoot Monkeys’ annual Fire Show. On Saturday, Sept. 16, Vassar’s one and only circus arts troupe presented their highly anticipated fall performance. Known for their repertoire of skillful stunts and ingenious acrobatics, the Monkeys captivated the massive gathering of people on the residential quad as they spun, juggled and danced with a diverse range of props that were united in one common factor: they were all on fire. Choreographed to a selection of old rock songs, pop and dance music, with many of the lyrics being fire-themed, the Monkeys expertly navigated hoops, spun poi and twirled staffs that burned bright and dazzled onlookers. Whether they individually juggled props or playfully partnered up and swung actual balls of fire at each other, they did so with a baffling level of synchronization that never failed to blow the audience away. We gasped and cheered as the performers traced rings of fiery flames along the grass and spun burning hula-hoops around their waists. When asked about her favorite part See CIRCUS on page 14
Happy New Year! Jewish Life Director starts VC career
7
It’s no lie, you’ll want to try this Eastern black FEATURES walnut pie!
hile you see your professors multiple times per week, it is rare to get to know their background in depth. Professor of Psychology Dr. Randolph Cornelius, currently on sabbatical, devotes the majority of his research to the study of human emotions and emotional expression, and he is particularly interested in the social and communicative function of tears. His other favored research topics include close relationships, conceptions of emotion in American popular culture and scientists’ religious beliefs. Cornelius attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate studies and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for his master’s and doctoral degrees. Though his primary department is psychology, he also teaches in the American Studies and Environmental Studies Programs. More recently, he has crossed disciplines to teach dual-department classes with another professor in philosophy. The Miscellany News: How long have you been a professor at Vassar, and is this the first educational institution you’ve been established at for a
14 ARTS
will have been here for 36 years, and this is my first and only job outside of graduate school. When I came here, I was married to someone who had a post-doctorate in the Biology Department, and I had actually interviewed for a job the year before knowing that she was coming here. I ended up not getting that job because they hired someone else who left after a year. In December ’81, I was shopping at Adams and ran into the department chair, and he asked me if I was still looking for a job. I was, and told him so, so he asked if I would like to come and teach a few courses at Vassar in the spring; I said yes. That meant I had less than a month to prepare for these two classes I had to teach: Methods and Statistics. The next year I was hired again for a temporary position, and I taught more courses then as well. It was after this time that a tenure track position opened up, and I applied for and got it. Six years later, after I had become an assistant professor, I applied for a full professor tenure position and got that as well. It was a long process because after each of these steps you have to assemble all your materials before being evaluated, but I can’t imagine being at any other job. The Misc: What’s the most valuable See PSYCHOLOGY on page 6
Palmer exhibit by CAAD proves student art is rad