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The Miscellany News

Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

Volume CL | Issue 1

September 7, 2017

Brews pour New VSA President discusses Lorde: best out week his hopes and goals for the year artist of a generation one wins Kelly Pushie

Patrick Tanella

Guest Reporter

Arts Editor

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Melodrama

Lorde Republic Records

Courtesy of Anish Kanoria

ourney championships, big goals, and first-place finishes. This past weekend, Vassar athletics opened their fall sports season on a high note.

The field hockey team clinched the Betty Richey tournament title for the fourth straight season this past weekend. The Brewers secured first place with a 1-0 win over Marywood University on Friday and a 3-1 win over SUNY Geneso on Saturday. Guided by their strong junior class, Coach Michael Warari’s field hockey squad is returning an incredible amount of talent for the upcoming season. Meagan Caveny, who led the team in points last year, returns as a junior captain, along with fellow junior captains Monica Feeley and Alyssa More. As a first-time captain, More is excited for the season.

“The team is looking strong this year,” More said. “We have an energy and fire that is extremely exciting to be a part of.”

The men’s soccer team returns to the pitch following an incredible 2016 season. Last year, the Brewers knocked Skidmore in the Liberty League championship with a picture-perfect penalty kick from junior Alex Gonzales as time expired. The first-place finish in See PREVIEW on page 18

Anish Kanoria ’18 was elected as VSA VP last April, but took on the role of president when his predecessor, Miranda Amey ’19, stepped down in August. Kanoria said the change was a shock, but that he’s excited for the year ahead.

Laurel Hennen Vigil

role and what he hopes the VSA will achieve this year.

News Editor

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n Aug. 19, 2017, the 2017-18 Vassar Student Association (VSA) President Miranda Amey ’19 announced that she would be stepping down from the position, as she won’t be on campus this fall, and that the elected Vice President, Anish Kanoria ’18, would be taking over as VSA President. The Miscellany News recently spoke with Kanoria about his new

The Miscellany News: When you ran to be VSA Vice President last spring, you had no idea you would be serving as President most of your term. What was it like realizing you would be stepping into this role?

Anish Kanoria: Miranda told [the

VSA she would be stepping down] as soon as she found out, which was very commendable on her part. She kept us in the loop. It’s always a mix of emotions—there was a lot of anxiety, shock, but also enthusiasm. I was initially shocked that Miranda wasn’t going to be President because she was elected to that position. But I’m now excited and grateful for the opportunity. I’m especially grateful for the Executive Board See PRESIDENT on page 3

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n “The Louvre,” Lorde chants “Can you hear the violence?” If one was not paying attention, it almost sounds like “Can you hear the violets?” This might sound insignificant, but Lorde has a capacity for storytelling like no other artist before her. A simple change in enunciation can result in a complete shift in meaning–one that produces a profound feeling in the listener.

Lorde’s storytelling ability is unmatched, as she does not conform to the typical pop sounds of today. Rather, Lorde writes about her unique experiences while successfully tying in relatable struggles for most teenagers growing up in 2017. On her sophomore album “Melodrama,” Lorde continues to establish herself as a voice for disSee LORDE on page 15

Student looks back on summer ART 105/106, rooted counseling work with campers in past, looks to future Christine Lederer

Noah Purdy

Guest Columnist

Senior Editor

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In honor of the first issue since summer break, we want to showcase some of the student body’s summer breaks.

Ranging from working as a camp counselor to apprenticing at a tattoo shop, these four varied narratives provide insight into different Vassar students’ interests and summer experiences.

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Courtesy of Anja

his summer I worked at Camp Wediko in Windsor, NH. It was a therapeutic camp and challenging to say the least. As a psychology major, I was enthusiastic about the idea that Wediko offered a typical camp experience for kids with behavioral and emotional challenges who would normally not be able to attend camp. It was a 45-day program and was founded on immersion therapy, so for 45 days we did everything that the kids did, serving as a support system throughout the entire day.

Each day consisted of a variety of activities, such as mountain biking or swimming, group therapy and a special evening activity such as a movie night.

I was put with the oldest girl group, which ranged from 15 to 17 years old.

Working with them was truly one of the most exhausting, yet rewarding, experiences I’ve had. We had a oneto-one staff ratio so we could give each girl the attention she deserved

With fall already in the air, four VC students look back on the diverse summer activities they took part in and the insights they gained along the way. but did not usually receive. Throughout the day we worked with each girl, developing coping skills to manage their anxieties or triggers, and we did daily checklists geared to help them with the specific issues they came to camp to work on. For me, one of the most worthwhile aspects of this job was being able to see the tangible progress each girl made throughout

Inside this issue

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NEWS

Poughkeepsie transportation prompts political stagnation

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the summer.

For example, one girl started out the summer not being able to go to a single activity without needing to take space because of being overwhelmed. By the end of the summer, she was one of the most steadfast participants and worked immensely hard each day at developing coping skills See SUMMER on page 6

An open letter to President Bradley from OPINIONS The Miscellany News

utumn is a time of great flux.

Change is in the air as the sweet summer descends into the wily wintertime, and the earth prepares to put on its yearly show. To the panoply of Hudson Valley foliage is added a diverse new crop of students, and the mosaic of our campus takes on fresh color and breadth. Spring may be known for rebirth, but fall holds sway over the visual delights.

There is thus no better season than our current one in which to immerse oneself in the very human undertaking of making permanent and material the fleeting notion that is beauty. Now nearly 90 years old, ART 105: Introduction to the History of Art & Architecture is proudly still on offer for the Fall 2017 semester.

“Darkness at noon,” as the course is fondly called for its thrice-weekly midday lectures, remains a cornerstone of Vassar’s liberal arts curriculum. However, just as paintings can be rehung or sculptures freshened up from years of wear, ART 105 is forever subject to change; its roots may be in the past, but its vision is unfailingly trained on the present and future.

“It’s not the same course—by a long shot—as it was [90 years ago], and it’s not even the same course as it was 10 years ago, or even two years ago,” said Professor of Art Susan D. Kuretsky,

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who is now in her final year of teaching at Vassar, in her introductory lecture for ART 105. “Today’s students are taking something that’s really shifting, because the field of art history is developing, and student needs have also shifted considerably.”

Last year, the great split was made between ART 105 and its companion ART 106, and now both exist as semester-long courses that can be taken together or separately, in any order.

Relying on a list of carefully chosen monuments, 105 winds its way from the ancient world into the medieval, through East Asia (by way of the newly hired Assistant Professor of Art Jin Xu) and onto the renaissances in Italian and Northern Europe.

In the spring, 106 carries the narrative forward, tackling art of the late Renaissance all the way to the modern day. Along the way, the brilliant faculty lecturers explore the unique interdisciplinary nature of their field, connecting art to social history, economics, religion, science, technology, literature, geography, philosophy and beyond.

This year, further reformatting has taken place in both courses, with shorter and more frequent papers, no slide ID memorization and only one exam: the final. The added focus away from testing and more toward writing is intentional, giving way to bigger-picture thinking that guides students new to See ART 105 on page 14

The Burgundy and Grey expand on SPORTS “Why we play”

The Miscellany News

Page 2

September 7, 2017

Welcome back, Vassar!

Editor-in-Chief

Courtesy of Vassar College

Courtesy of Vassar College

Courtesy of Vassar College

Courtesy of Vassar College

September

Weekender_ 8

Thursday

September

Century Text: Meditations.

An Installation by Xuewu Zheng

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Friday

September

Volleyball (W) Invitational

9:00am | Joss Tennis Courts| Athletics

Volleyball (W) Invitational

Tatlock Lecture: “A Scissor, a Shoe, the Sidewalk’s Slant: Disability and the Unlikely Origins of Everyday Things”

Saturday

Tennis (M) vs. Union College

9:15am | Athletics and Fitness Center | Athletics

11:00am | College Center Palmer Gallery | Campus Activities

Cross Country (M/W) vs.Ron Stontisch Invite

4:00pm | Athletics and Fitness Center | Athletics

10:00am | Outdoor Space Cross Country | Athletics

Volleyball (W) Invitational 10:00am | Athletics and Fitness Center | Athletics

A Capella Preview Concert

Soccer (W) vs. Mount Saint Mary

Courtesy of Vassar

Get ready to hear some of the best voices on campus this Thursday!

Courtesy of Vassar College

5:30pm | Taylor Hall 203 | Urban Studies Dept.

8:00pm | Villard Room | Vassar Students.

Courtesy of Vassar College

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Courtesy of Vassar College

Courtesy of Vassar College

The Miscellany News

Women’s volleyball is back in season so get ready to cheer some of our most talented athletes in the upcoming game season!

11:00am | Gordon Competition Field | Athletics

Soccer (W) Bard vs. Elmira College 2:00pm | Gordon Competition Field | Athletics

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September

Charlotte Varcoe-Wolfson

Senior Editor Noah Purdy

Contributing Editors Sarah Dolan Eilis Donahue Rhys Johnson Anika Lanser

News Laurel Hennen Vigil Humor and Satire Leah Cates Yesenia Garcia Arts Matt Stein Patrick Tanella Sports Mack Liederman Robert Pinataro Design Yoav Yaron Online Jackson Ingram Copy Tanya Kotru Gode Sumiko Neary Assistant Features Laila Volpe Assistant Arts Sasha Gopalakrishnan Assistant Copy Claire Baker Assistant Social Media Hannah Nice Web Master & Technical Advisor George Witteman Reporters Dylan Smith Kaitlin Prado Andrea Yang Columnists Jimmy Christon Jesser Horowitz Steven Park Sylvan Perlmutter Drew Solender Design Maya Sterling Copy Adele Birkenes James Bonanno Gabriela Calderon Jillian Frechette Jessica Roden

Sunday

Soccer (W) Bard vs. Mount Saint Mary 11:00am | Gordon Competition Field | Athletics

Soccer (W) vs. Elmira College 2:00pm | Gordon Competition Field | Athletics

Serenading

2:00pm | Outdoor Space Residential Quad | VSA Traditions

Jewish Studies Film and Music

7:00pm | Villard Room | Jewish Studies Program

Paper Critique

9:00pm | Rose Parlor | The Miscellany News

John Pizzarelli Trio - Jazz Concert

8:00pm | Skinner Recital Hall | Music Dept.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

CORRECTION POLICY The Miscellany News will only accept corrections for any misquotes, misrepresentations or factual errors for an article within the semester it is printed.

The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented within its Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board.

September 7, 2017

NEWS

Page 3

Anish Kanoria talks VSA, Vassar Refugee Solidarity PRESIDENT continued from page 1

and for the Senate, both of which have been so supportive and understanding of the whole situation and have offered any help that has been required. It’s going to be a fantastic year, I have no doubt about that.

The Misc: The VSA’s going to be holding a special election to fill the Vice President position. Can you tell us more about that?

AK: The timing is going to be the same as firstyear elections, just for logistical reasons, because CIS needs to handle all the software. Filing will open with first-year elections and will close with first-year elections. Of course, first-years are not eligible to run for VP, but they will get a vote. Any sophomore, junior or senior can run. Once CIS confirms when they’ll have the software up and running, we’ll have the elections. [Editor’s note: Since this interview, the VSA announced that filing for both first-year elections and the special election for Vice President will be open from Sept.

5 to Sept. 10, with voting from Sept. 15 to Sept. 17 and results announced on Sept. 17].

Courtersy of Joshua Sherman

The Misc: And you’re currently acting as Interim Vice President?

AK: Yes, I’m doing two jobs at the moment.

The Misc: When you won the Vice Presidency in April, you told The Misc that your goal was to increase the transparency and accountability of the VSA, specifically by posting VSA attendance records, creating a database of meetings and demands met and sending out a VSA review survey to students twice a semester. Are these still things that you hope to work on, or do you plan to pass those tasks on to the new Vice President?

AK: We’re going to work on it together, as the VSA. During Senate training, those were some of the core goals that people had, without me prompting anyone, so that’s a shared ideal. Some of the ideas that I had were specific to the role of a VP, but I’m still going to carry that over into my new role as President. In terms of increasing transparency, one of the things we’re discussing in the Senate is a form sent out in my weekly emails for students to voice concerns, comments, anything they want VSA to discuss, anything they just want to comment on, any feedback, anything at all. We’re also making a giant poster of all Senate members, with our pictures, positions, pronouns and emails that’s going to hang over the College Center, so that people know who we are, because we’re their government, and we should be present, and people should know who their representatives are. I’m also starting a spotlight in my weekly emails, which will have information about one Senate member each week. These are all small steps, which I believe are essential to achieve a larger vision, but in terms of larger things, we are working with senior administrators to make information about the College more accessible—things like who are our trustees (which is in a website that no one goes to), or who are our biggest donors and how is that money used? Basic stuff that every student at Vassar should know. What’s happening with Bon Appétit? Lots. You know, what’s the point in keeping information?

The Misc: What else do you hope to accomplish during your time as President?

AK: Many things. There are a few major ideas, or themes.

One, and I cannot stress this enough, is transparency and accountability, and those two tie in together in terms of Senate keeping each other accountable, students keeping us accountable, us keeping student organizations accountable and the same thing with administrators. That ties in with the transparency we discussed earlier.

This is also all with a lens of serving and representing those with marginalized identities on this campus because this Senate and this Executive Board, we were all elected for a very specific purpose. It’s not isolated; most of the people involved in this year’s VSA are currently involved in organizations geared towards social justice or have been involved in the past. That’s the sort of bridge that we need to build to make government and the institutional access that we have serve the needs of those who have historically not been served and who we say we represent. That’s a key part of this

New VSA President Anish Kanoria ’18 is also co-founder and student leader of Vassar Refugee Solidarity. Along with many other local colleges, the org is part of the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance, which helped to resettle a Congolese family in the Hudson Valley last winter. year’s agenda.

Another thing that ties into that is bridging gaps in our community on campus, [for example], between athletes and non-athletes. We want to change the culture of isolation between some communities and some other communities. That’s not specifically geared towards identity, [but for all groups].

We’re also working with the administration to rethink health on campus so that people don’t have to jump through hoops to get care.

We just had a lovely meeting with Professor Candice Lowe Swift about the Engaged Pluralism Initiative, so we’re going to be working very closely with her and the initiative at large.

Institutional memory is also very big on this year’s agenda.

The Misc: How did you get involved in the VSA? What other positions have you held?

AK: I got involved my first year, when I was Cushing Freshman Representative on House Team and on the Student Life Committee. My sophomore year, I was Cushing House President, on VSA Council and, of course, on House Team.

My third year, I was abroad in the fall, and in the spring I was the 2018 Senator for Strategic Affairs, and this year I’m President. So I’ve been around, which is good and bad, yet to be determined.

The Misc: I’d like to ask a few questions not related to the VSA to help readers who don’t know you personally get a better sense of who you are. Can you tell me about where you grew up?

AK: I grew up in Kolkata, India. I’m an international student here. It’s a pretty big city, about 13 or 14 million people. It’s a nice city, very slow, very different from the rest of the country. I have a joint family, live with 10 people in our apartment.

Fun fact: I’m also the first international student to be VSA President.

The Misc: Going back to VSA for a minute, do you think being the first international student to hold this role will allow you to bring a different perspective to the position?

AK: I hope so. I can’t separate my identity from the job I do, so that is the hope. I hope to pop the “Vassar Bubble” in many different ways. Not only in terms of thinking, “Yeah, this is America, but there’s also a whole world out there,” but there’s a community right outside Vassar that we should be more a part of and should be engaging more with.

The Misc: Back to you, how did you decide to come to Vassar?

AK: I applied to only liberal arts colleges in America (besides Berkeley). My thinking was that if I’m coming to America, what is unique about its education system that I can’t find anywhere else in the world? Universities exist everywhere, good colleges exist everywhere, but liberal arts colleges are still something that, in this form, are unique to this country, by and large. Also Vassar’s quirkiness and reputation for unpredictability.

The Misc: What are you studying?

AK: I’m a political science and economics double-major with a correlate in mathematics. It’s mostly geared towards poly-sci, but I’m too far into econ and math not to do it.

The Misc: Do you hope to go into politics?

AK: No. I don’t know what my dream occupation would be, but something related to a think tank or a policy forum would be fun.

The Misc: Outside of school and the VSA, how do you spend your time?

AK: I do only three things in my life: I do VSA, I do classes and I do Vassar Refugee Solidarity. I’m the co-founder and student leader of the org. It’s not actually an org; it’s an initiative. I would say that there are three major components.

One is the local component, in which we formed the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance. The name is in question, but the goal of the alliance is to assist people who are forcibly displaced. Not only undocumented migrants, but we also worked with Church World Services to open a resettlement office in Poughkeepsie. We received one family through that office. Then Trump got elected and shit went down, so we don’t know what the status of the office is right now, but it’s still open [at the moment], and we hope more people will be able to join our community. For context, the alliance is very broad-based and consists of every institution of higher education in the Mid-Hudson Valley, except West Point, because they officially can’t join it. We have faith-based organizations, like Vassar Temple, the Mid-Hudson Islamic Association, a bunch of interfaith councils, and then we have social service agencies like Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, Hudson River Housing, so on and so forth. It’s an amazing opportunity for students to interact with people outside of Vassar.

That’s one component.

Another component is the Consortium on

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Forced Migration, Displacement and Education.

It comprises Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, Bard and Bennington Colleges, and it’s geared toward curriculum development. We got a one-year planning grant last year to have a planning phase, and this fall, we’re going to be applying for a four-year implementation grant. The goal of the Consortium is to develop a radical curriculum, so that involves not only talks about forced migration and displacement, but also integrates some sort of action.

For us, for example, it would entail working with the local community or working with our digital initiatives, which I’ll talk about in a minute. It also involves rethinking what we teach and how we teach, taking more of a spatial and temporal look at the subject.

The third component is the digital initiatives.

We’re trying to establish transnational classrooms.

These would be classes taught by Vassar professors that would have Vassar students and also students somewhere else in the world with a forcibly displaced background, taking classes together.

We had also established an English-language exchange, in which Vassar students converse with someone somewhere else in the world in English, to just talk. There’s also this initiative called Conversations Unbound that grew out of the Refugee Solidarity initiative, whichis now filing for nonprofit status. They’ve established a program in which students taking Arabic or Spanish classes in colleges and universities are assigned homework to practice those skills with a refugee or someone with a forcibly displaced background, and the tutor gets paid for their time. It was piloted at Vassar is now growing to other colleges in the U.S. The Misc: Is there anything else our readers should know about the VSA? AK: The VSA is here for you. We are your government, so please consider us and interact with us in that manner, and we’ll do that same. We’re all on the same side.

The other thing is that the VSA has been operating smoothly and effectively. We’ve had time to prepare and we’ve been working our asses off over the summer, so there’s no reason to worry about anything. Just be excited.

[For students looking to] get involved in the VSA, it’s a very important year for the College, because President Bradley just came in. She has a whole new vision and a whole new approach to administration. This opportunity only comes once in 10 years or once in 20 years. That’s how long presidents stay.

This year is an opportunity you will not find for the rest of your Vassar life, in terms of impacting things right when they’re starting. President Bradley’s tenure is starting, the Engaged Pluralism Initiative is starting, a whole bunch of administrators are being hired and the VSA has input on that, and a lot of offices are getting reorganized. This is also the second year of the VSA’s existence in its new structure, so there’s a whole bunch of new stuff that provides enormous potential for people to be involved and to impact our community.

The Misc: Do you have any advice for other students who are interested in joining the VSA? AK: Yes, do it! I cannot emphasize that enough.

It’s important, and as we keep stressing, the VSA has a seat at the table where no other student does. I, for example, am the student observer to the Board of Trustees, so I am the only student there. That’s just one example of access that the VSA has that other students might not. Another example is all the joint committees, like the Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid, where faculty, administration and students are all on the committee together, making decisions or recommending policy. The Executive Board meets regularly with senior administrators.

Also, we’re genuinely nice people. I don’t say that enough, but this year’s Senate is fantastic. It’s a great group of people with immense passion, energy and vision and a desire to implement real change on this campus. Anyone who is remotely interested in making new friends and also doing important stuff, VSA is the place for you.

We have lots of open positions. First-years, please run for all the positions you have access to.

You also don’t need to be elected to be involved.

All our committees, except Finance, are open.

Even Finance, you can apply to be on it. So all you need to do is show up if you want to be involved in the VSA, that’s it. It’s easy, and it’s rewarding.

NEWS

Page 4

September 7, 2017

Get to know new Reslife Assistant Director Lizzie Jáuregui Dylan Smith

portance and value of a liberal arts education.

One lesson I didn’t realize I learned was about my college transition. I really want students to recognize, especially in their first year here, that everyone is going through a difficult transition.

Going to college is hard! I remember my first year and how incredibly lonely and overwhelming it was. There is so much to learn in college, but eventually I found my place. I had to remember I was not alone, and that a lot of other students were feeling the same way I was.

Reporter

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his summer, Vassar welcomed a new Assistant Director of Residential Life and House Advisor for Cushing and the Apartments, Lizzie Jáuregui. The Miscellany News recently caught up with Jáuregui over email to get to know her.

The Miscellany News: Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Lizzie Jáuregui: My name is Lizzie, and I am the new House Advisor and Assistant Director for Reslife! I have been at Vassar for a whole two months and have been loving it so far. Reslife and Cushing’s House Team has been wonderful, and I am so glad I am a part of the Vassar community.

The Misc: How did you perceive Vassar before coming here? How has that perception changed?

Courtesy of Lizzie Jáuregui

The Misc: Where are you from?

LJ: I am from Union City, New Jersey—right outside New York City.

The Misc: How does the Hudson Valley compare to places you’ve lived before?

LJ: I love it so far! I was in graduate school at Ohio University, which is an hour and a half south of Columbus. I had to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Target though, so I really love that I am not far from shopping malls and my family here in the Hudson Valley.

The Misc: What do you like to do outside of work?

LJ: Outside of work, I am really into makeup—I am working on setting up my spare room into an entire beauty room set-up. I love to read, watch reality TV and dance salsa. I’m Cuban-American, so salsa really is in my blood.

The Misc: What kinds of things are you passionate about?

New Assisant Director of Residential Life and House Advisor for Cushing and the Apartments Lizzie Jáuregui (bottom left) with a group of students. Jáuregui started at Vassar over the summer.

LJ: I am incredibly passionate about social justice education. A lot of my research and work in graduate school focused on body image— specifically Fat Activism and the Body Positive movement. I love talking about the way we talk about bodies and what we could do to make the world a more just place.

The Misc: What did you do before coming to Vassar?

LJ: I was a Graduate Resident Director for a traditional, first-year residence hall. I also graduated with my masters of education in College Student Personnel in late April.

The Misc: What have your first few weeks at Vassar been like?

LJ: It has been a whirlwind! I have met so many incredible students and my colleagues in Reslife have been great. I love the atmosphere when all of the students are back. It was super creepy to be in Cushing all by myself before everyone got here.

The Misc: What lessons from your own college experience do you bring to Vassar?

LJ: I went to Wesleyan, which has the same feel as Vassar. It really taught me about the im-

LJ: I perceived Vassar to be an incredibly intellectual place, and that perception has not changed. Students here are smart, passionate, and really care about each other. I can see it in my student leaders on Cushing House Team, who go above and beyond their expectations to serve and support their peers. I am lucky I get to be a part of that.

The Misc: What changes would you like to see Vassar strive for during your time here?

LJ: Honestly, I don’t know about changes just yet. I have only been here for a little over two months, which I do not think is enough time to make any suggestions!

The Misc: What’s your favorite part about Vassar?

LJ: The students. Definitely the students.

The Misc: What’s your favorite part about Cushing?

LJ: The spirit of Cushing is like no other. So much energy and passion! Plus, who doesn’t love a purple dinosaur? (#cushcrew4ever)

News Briefs Poughkeepsie at Risk of Federal Bus Fine

Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Facing a $1.6 million penalty by the Federal Transportation Administration for failure to keep buses in operation, the Poughkeepsie Common Council voted 4-3 on Aug. 28 to transfer Poughkeepsie’s ownership of six hybrid-fuel buses to Dutchess County. Advocates for the resolution suggest that the decommissioned vehicles will help reduce the $13 million debt currently held by the City of Poughkeepsie.

The ballot in favor of the resolution fell short by one vote of the majority required to pass. A separate resolution to sell the buses in an openbid action also failed to pass on Aug. 29. If the City of Poughkeepsie does not decide on an alternative course of action, it will incur a federal fine that it does not have the resources to pay. Finance Commissioner Marc Nelson predicted that in the absence of any policy change the city will need to raise taxes by 7.15 percent or begin layoffs in October (The Poughkeepsie Journal, “Resolution to transfer city bus assets fails; $1.6M still owed,” 08.29.2017).

Dutchess County began to service the city bus routes in early July, but the Common Council voted against two earlier resolutions by Mayor Rob Rolison to contribute city funds and assets to the county operation. As a result, the city government entered political gridlock when Rolison twice vetoed the Common Council’s decision and resubmitted similar resolutions (Hudson Valley News Network, “Poughkeepsie Bus Battle Ends,” 08.28.2017).

Throughout the summer, the six buses were parked in a garage and remained inactive, violating the federal mandate to put infrastructure assets to use. Provisory clauses in federal transportation funding allow for $1.6 million to be recalled in the case that Poughkeepsie chooses to hold unused resources. Despite this risk, D-Ward 1 council member Chris Petsas voted against the resolution to transfer with the argument that holding onto the buses would help the city negotiate with the county for higher-quality bus service to local neighborhoods.

A key concern for Petsas was service for less af-

Investors Services reclassified Poughkeepsie’s city bond prediction from negative to stable for the first time since 2010. Rolison has identified the city’s credit rating as an administration priority and will continue to target policies that strengthen investor confidence. (The Poughkeepsie Journal, “Poughkeepsie city administrator resigns,” 08.08.2017).

Poughkeepsie is facing a $1.6M fine for failure to keep buses in operation. Despite this, the city voted not to transfer bus ownership to the county. fluent and more diverse suburbs to the north of the city that tend to rely more heavily on public transportation (The Poughkeepsie Journal, “Common Council resolution would let city of Poughkeepsie sell bus assets,” 09.02.2017).

The ongoing controversy over the future of the Poughkeepsie buses is part of a larger debate about the city debt. Based on a 2016 fiscal analysis by Capital Market Advisors, combining city bus service with the county bus service represented one of 42 possible policies that would help reduce overall debt in the city’s finances. In a separate government study, Poughkeepsie was rated in 2014 to be under moderate fiscal stress along with 10 other cities out of 1043 in the United States (City of Poughkeepsie, “Bus Consolidation, Cost/Benefit Review,” 02.21.2017).

On the other hand, former Poughkeepsie Administrator Deborah McDonnell reported an annual budget surplus in 2016 and predicted a budget surplus for 2017. Similarly, Moody’s

-Clark Xu, Guest Reporter Trump administration to end DACA On Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, President Trump and Attorney General Sessions announced that the Trump administration planned to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program beginning March 5, 2018.

DACA, implemented by President Obama in June 2012, allows undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors to apply for a two-year renewable permit that would grant them a temporary work permit and prevent deportation (The Washington Post, “Trump administration announces end of immigration protection program for ‘dreamers’” 09.05.2017).

Since the program began, approximately 800,000 people have received deferred-action permits. The recipients of deferred action, colloquially called “DREAMers,” were often eligible for driver’s licenses and in-state tuition at public universities in some states. DACA has allowed many immigrants who grew up in the United States to remain in the communities they call home and contribute to American society without fear of deportation.

President Trump has not taken any legislative action at this point, but he has called on Congress to vote to strike down DACA within the next six months. Rather than acting immediately to end DACA, President Trump has given Congress a six-month window during which they can vote to preserve DACA. Alternately, they can come up with other safety nets for undocumented immigrants or reintroduce legislation such as the Development, Relief,

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which provides a path to citizenship for immigrants who came to the United States as children. President Trump has yet to explain what would happen if Congress failed to vote on this issue before March 5 (The New York Times, “The End of DACA: What We Know and Don’t Know,” 09.05.2017).

Both Trump and Sessions cited concerns about providing jobs to American citizens as their primary motivation for ending DACA. In statements employing rhetoric typical of anti-immigrant activists, Trump and Sessions explained that they hoped to end DACA so that unemployed Americans would have more access to employment opportunities. The Trump administration feels that Americans are denied jobs because immigrants with work permits are receiving those positions (The New York Times, “Trump Moves to End DACA and Calls On Congress To Act,” 09.05.2017).

Obama, who pioneered DACA and ensured that it was implemented during his presidency, responded to the Trump administration with anger and sorrow. Although Obama has maintained a relatively minor social media presence, he posted a lengthy statement to his Facebook page condemning the administration’s actions as “wrong,” “cruel” and “contrary to our spirit” as a country (Facebook, Barack Obama, posted 09.05.2017).

Because of the unclear future of DACA, the Department of Homeland Security has stopped accepting new applications for DACA status, but clarified that those looking to renew their two-year work permit and deportation protection can apply to do so before October 5.

Those with active DACA status may remain in the United States until it expires. However, if Congress votes to repeal DACA, undocumented immigrants without active deportation protection could be subject to deportation beginning on March 6, 2018 (The New York Times, “The End of DACA: What We Know and Don’t Know,” 09.05.2017).

-Sarah Dolan, Contributing Editor

NEWS

September 7, 2017

Page 5

Updates from the VSA

2. Admendments to the VSA Bylaws The VSA Senate passed amendments to the following bylaws at their meeting on Monday, Sept. 4.

Amendment 1: An Amendment Concerning the Co-Chairs of Board of Students Affairs SECTION 1: Let Article VIII, Section 3, Part B of the VSA Constitution be amended to read as follows: B. The Board shall be chaired by either or both the elected Co-Chair of Equity and Inclusion or Chair of Academics.

Amendment 2: An Amendment Concerning House FirstYear Representatives, 2017

SECTION 1: Let Article VI, Section 4, Part E of the VSA Bylaws be amended to read as follows: E. The First-Year Representative shall represent the interests of their first-year class in their House to their House Team, shall sit on at least one VSA committee, and shall sit on the First Year Programs Committee.

Amendment 3 An Amendment Concerning the Student Status of VSA Senate Candidates “SECTION 1: Let Article XI, Section 6, Clause A of the VSA Bylaws be amended to read as follows: A. To be eligible for and hold any office in the VSA, a candidate person must be a full-time student at Vassar College.”

3. VSA Committee meeting times (All meetings take place in the VSA office, located on the second floor of the College Center) Equity and Inclusion: Fridays 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Orgs: Fridays 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Planning: Fridays 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Operations: Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Finance: Wednesdays 3 p.m. onwards Health and Wellness: Mondays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ​Programming: to be decided

Courtesy of Vassar College

1. Election Timeline, Fall 2017

Filing opens: Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 12 p.m.

Filing closes: Sunday, Sept. 10, at 12 p.m.

Mandatory candidate’s meeting: Sunday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., Location to be determined

Campaigning Begins: Immediately after Candidate’s Meeting

Campaigning Ends: Friday, Sept. 15, at 12 p.m.

Voting: Friday, Sept. 15, 12 p.m. to Sunday, Sept. 17, 12 p.m.

Results Announced: Sunday, Sept. 17, 9 p.m., Old Bookstore (subject to change)

Members of the 2017-18 VSA Senate welcomed the Class of 2021 with colorful handmade signs outside Vassar’s Main Gate on move-in day on Monday, Aug. 21.

Board of Residential Affairs: to be decided ​VSA Senate: Sundays 7 p.m. onwards (New England 105)

4. Executive Board Office Hours Anish Kanoria (President and Interim Vice President): Mondays 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. More office hours to be announced soon.

Tamar Ballard (Chair of Equity and Inclusion): Mondays 1 to 3:30 p.m., Thursdays 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 4 to 5 p.m.

Robyn Lin (Chair of Finance): Mondays 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Pat DeYoung (Chair of Organizations): Mondays 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Takunda Maisva (Chair of Residential Affairs): To be decided Joaquim Gonçalves (Chair of Academics): To be decided

-Anish Kanoria, VSA President and Interim Vice President

ADVERTISEMENT

The Vassar Haiti Project will have its 17th annual art sale Sept. 15-17 at Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.

The sale features art and handcrafts from Haiti.

Fair prices for crafts start at $5, and paintings at $50.

Admission is free.

Proceeds support a medical clinic, education, reforestation, water access and purification and other programs in Chermaitre, a mountain village in Haiti.

The event will be held in the College Center multi-purpose room on the second floor of the Main Building.

Hours: Friday 12pm to 7pm Saturday 10am to 5pm Live Auction 2:30pm Sunday

10am to 2pm

Information: www.thehaitiproject.org or call 845.797.2123 MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

FEATURES

Page 6

September 7, 2017

Camp offers EMT program preps pre-health student support with fun in the sun SUMMER continued from page 1

Courtesy of Victorien Jakobsen

to keep her grounded throughout the activities.

The work with the girls was definitely painful and frustrating at points, but it was just as much enlightening and empowering.

Additionally, the opportunity to learn from my fellow staff, some of whom had masters and doctorates, and to see their clinical approach to each situation was invaluable. I’m incredibly grateful for my experience at Wediko this summer and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the field of psychology or social work.

Victorien Jakobsen ’19 stands in front of an course and the medicinal skills she learned Victorien Jakobsen Courtesy of Christine Lederer

After a full day of activities, the counselors and their students enjoy the outdoors at Wediko camp, overlooking the water at sunset..

Gudest Columnist

I

spent my summer taking an emergency medical technician course at St. John’s University.

It consisted of two and a half months of learning the essentials of how to respond to a medical or trauma-related emergency. While parts of the class were lecture based, others were designed to teach us physical skills, such as how to splint someone’s arm or correctly apply bandages.

Whether or not I decide to work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) after the class, I appreciated the opportunity to learn skills that might come in handy.

The thought of taking an EMT course hadn’t

EMT truck as she reflects on her at St. John’s University that day.

occurred to me until I decided to switch my course of study to add pre-health after almost two years of attending Vassar as a declared psychology major. I had discovered that a medical position exists called a physician assistant (PA) and, after doing some research, it seemed like something I could see myself pursuing as a career one day. With a year of prior medical experience under my belt, I could apply to PA school; after just two years of study, I would get to start working at a hospital and personally helping real patients.

When considering the many ways to gather experience in the medical field before further education, the idea of being an EMT sounded

the most enticing to me, albeit a little frightening. I didn’t know if I would want to work as an EMT afterwards, but I hoped I would be able to learn more about the primary medical care field either way.

When I found out my course required 24 hours of riding along in an ambulance that responds to 911 calls, I got nervous and began to wonder if I might have made a mistake in signing myself up for the course. I thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for this sort of thing. I’m a shy person and uncomfortable with new experiences, and the thought of responding to an emergency made my stomach do flips.

Despite my hesitations, I stuck with the class and before long, I found myself sitting in the back of an ambulance for the first time in my life. The two certified EMTs on the team were up front, driving us to a car accident on the expressway. I was going over what I needed to do when we arrived—bring the supply bag and AED—over and over in my head as my heart raced. Luckily, the injuries ended up being very minor, and we transported the person to the hospital to receive medical attention.

That day I realized first-hand that learning about being an EMT in class was very different from actually experiencing it. There is nothing like the rush of being in the back of an ambulance driving with lights and sirens and wondering what you are going to find when you arrive.

I now have an even greater degree of respect for EMTs and anyone who works in the medical field or spends their time helping other people.

I aspire to one day help others in a similar way, and am looking forward to volunteering on Vassar’s EMS team this coming year as well. I am very grateful I had the opportunity to take an EMT course over my summer break. I would highly recommend it to others who are considering a career in medicine, or who think they might be interested in learning these kinds of skills. Even if you doubt your ability to succeed in a high-stress environment, you might surprise yourself.

NYC program encourages young POC in healthcare Jackson Christie Guest Columnist

I

Courtesy of Jackson Christie

t is no secret that people of color are a serious minority in the world of healthcare work.

My ultimate dream profession has always been to work as a heart doctor—and to successfully complete all the necessary steps that would get me there, med school and all. As an African-American, I realize not too many people in the field I aspire to look like me, but I know today more and more programs are popping up to try and change that. For the last couple months of summer, I was fortunate enough to take part in one of the best of these programs around.

The Mentoring in Medicine’s Emergency Department Clinical Exposure, Research and Mentoring Program (EDCERMP), is centered in locations around New York City. EDCERMP is minority- and low-income-based, and takes initiative to engage young people of color interested in the medical field in activities and opportunities that would better prepare them for future studies, make them more competitive for med school and provide experience behind the scenes on hospital turf.

As stated on the Mentoring in Medicine website, “College and post-baccalaureate students join a community of compassionate health care providers as they volunteer, shadow, research and learn from professionals in one of the busiest urban Emergency Departments in the country.”

We are expected to spend a certain minimum number of hours on each type of activity within a given timeframe to guarantee we make the most of the program. For example, I’ve started, and am currently working on, my 100 hours of required in-hospital volunteering. The Mentoring in Medicine volunteers—or “Lynne’s kids” as the hospital staff affectionately called us, after Dr. Lynne Holden, the president and chief executive officer of the program—has a strong positive reputation at Montefiore hospitals in urban areas as helpful, intellectual and passionate youth, so volunteering there is really a position to be proud of—even if we’re just doing the grunt work.

I worked in Montefiore’s Emergency Depart-

ment in the Bronx, smack-dab in the middle of the urban city center, where the only population more diverse than the staff was the patients.

On arrival, you receive a packet of information, a thorough tour of the place, scrubs and a nametag, and then they let you loose to make yourself useful.

Our most common task was cleaning and making stretchers; although it is bland and labor-intensive work, it is not without reward.

The hospital literally cannot function without stretchers at the ready, since first responders and emergency personnel have no time to prepare a stretcher when they are tending a patient in critical condition. Having a volunteer whose job includes the preparation of such equipment is invaluable to other hospital staff; our work greases the wheels of the entire healthcare center. All the staff knows this—everyone from nurse practitioners to surgeons has walked through the halls and thanked me sincerely at one point or another when they see me bedding my hundredth stretcher.

We also get ample opportunity to work inside the Emergency Department itself, interacting directly with patients. That’s where the real action happens: Nurses, doctors, surgeons and loved ones are constantly bustling around spaces such as the triage center, psych corner and designated areas for short-term and long-term patients.

Things volunteers can do are limited, namely giving out blankets, pillows and, with permission, food and water, but it’s no small job in the patient’s eyes. I’ve been called everything from “a godsend” to “better than a nurse” by patients simply for giving them a pillow. We get to see firsthand how much patients appreciate person-to-person sincerity, and how important familiarity is in the healthcare field. Anyone who has spent time in an emergency room knows how long the hours get, and how irritable people become (and even if you haven’t, you learn soon enough). The professionals have such hectic and unpredictable schedules that too often they can forget about the simplest things a patient really needs: a smile. A word of comfort. A sandwich. Just taking a couple moments out of

Jackson Christie ’19 reflects on his experience as a volunteer at the Montefiore Emergency Department in the Bronx, satisfied with the joy he brought the patients. your own busy day to make a patient feel cared for and relaxed.

After an eight- to 12-hour standing shift, much of which we spent performing repetitive tasks like cleaning beds, it was easy to lose sight of our purpose. Sometimes we questioned why we were spending our summer volunteering there, or how the staff could work such long and highstress hours. But then we’d see a patient being wheeled away to their room—or, in the best cases, walking out the front door—and they’d recognize us and thank us. Sometimes the doctor that saved their life wouldn’t necessarily get a thanks, but they knew my face, since it was

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

the one they saw so often. They remembered that we volunteers were concerned about their well-being and cared for them in small and simple ways, and it stood out the entire time of their stay in the ED. Those little thank yous from patients on the way out or from doctors and nurses on the way in made the backache and frustrations all worthwhile; it reminded me that in the end, whatever role you play or profession you pursue within the field of medicine, healthcare is about helping people who need it, at whatever cost. Gaining the experience of providing that important service has given me memories I won’t forget, and I plan on making many more.

September 7, 2017

FEATURES

Page 7

Art student creates designs that make you (th)ink Anja Zhou

Guest Columnist

T

Courtesy of Anja Zhou

Courtesy of Anja Zhou

his summer, I apprenticed at a tattoo shop.

I am a studio art major, so I figured it’d be good experience, plus I’ve always been into tattoos; there’s something deeply satisfying about it. I looked around for a bit and decided on this small but friendly studio to study at. I liked that everyone at the shop smokes and that my teacher thinks it’s cool to vape. Sometimes someone would bring their dog, and so far we had five huskies who chilled with us. I was especially lucky to have a driven teacher who talked about his vision and about my design style. I just feel really grateful to have the chance to start doing my thing and to be able to do something this cool so young.

Now I can both be a tattoo artist and an art student, which is amazing because I can express myself in yet another medium while still growing as an artist. Also, working at a tattoo shop counts as field work so I get half a credit and cheaper car rides. It’s like the Art Department is saying, “This kid is being really cool and we reward artists for being cool so here take this credit.” So if you want a tattoo you can email me (xuzhou[a]vassar.edu).

Courtesy of Anja Zhou

Courtesy of Anja Zhou

Make no mousse-take, this chocolate dessert takes the cake Anja Zhou

Guest Columnist

I

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Courtesy of Giansmith

f you’ve ever been in a food emergency, by which I mean needed to make delicious food last minute, I have the recipe for you!

When I was in AP French a long, long time ago, we were assigned the daunting task of baking or cooking French food for our final project. The talk of the town, or rather of a bunch of 18-year-old kids, was of which food to prepare.

Some students decided to make macarons, a feat that I knew I would never be able to pull off; they are notoriously tricky. Others thought of cakes or brownies decorated in red, white and blue stripes, mimicking the French flag, or covered in the black-and-white stripes of a mime with a baguette attached. Still others decided to buy something from the local Trader Joe’s and present it as their own, but I wanted to try my hand at baking like a veritable French chef.

After much agonizing, I settled on a chocolate mousse, partially because I love chocolate. The larger, and albeit weirder, reason is a memory of mine from childhood. My family took a brief trip to Alaska when I was about six years old and, besides almost falling into a glacier, the only memory I have is of a chocolate mousse in the shape of a moose.

I don’t know why that image stuck with me through all throughout elementary, middle and high school, but it was burnt into my six-yearold mind for life. However, before serving as a strange anecdote, this vivid memory came to my aid in this baking crisis. Not being a cook, I scoured all the recipes in my mother’s cookbooks and chose a simple one with a great photo that called for a surprisingly large number of bowls.

Set a pan half-filled with water over a low fire on the stove and bring to the water to a boil.

Melt the chocolate in a bowl that is placed in the pan over the simmering water. After it has melted, set the bowl aside to cool down. Separate the egg yolks from the whites (this was surprisingly fun) and whisk the yolks together with the bourbon, sugar and water in another bowl over the simmering water for about three

minutes until the mixture is thick. Remove this bowl from the water, and place the one with the yolks in a bowl of ice water. Beat the yolks until the mixture is cool and thick, and then remove it; gently pour in the chocolate and mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, mix the egg whites with salt until it becomes frothy. Whip in the sugar until the mixture is shiny, but not thick, and then add the vanilla. Slowly add the egg whites to the chocolate; pause after adding a third of the whites and mix, then add the rest of the bowl’s contents and mix again. Pour the mixture into six to eight bowls, and refrigerate them for at least four hours until the mousse is firm.

Finally, present to your French class and hope to bask in the glow of the teacher’s praise.

When I arrived to class I displayed my creation along with everyone else’s on the table.

Everyone’s culinary experiment had turned out beautifully, and we enjoyed eating our way through the scrumptious, though admittedly high-calorie, feast. Our teacher put on some French music and tried some of every students’ final project as well, commenting on each of them and determining our grades. I was a little apprehensive; I hadn’t tried any of my chocolate mousse before I turned it in, which, as any MasterChef viewer would know, is a rookie mistake. “I haven’t tasted it yet,” I warned. I watched as she took a bite and smiled. “This is delicious!” she announced. I tried some myself and had to concur.

The moral of the story is that you can always rely on a good chocolate mousse to save your French grade or to help you out in almost any situation. Parents on you about getting a job?

Make some mousse. Trying to get on a professor’s good side? Make some mousse. Want to break the ice with someone down the hall?

Make some mousse.

Finally, I have to wonder whether the true winner of this story was our teacher, who got to eat a bunch of free dessert under the guise of a French final. We may never know, but either way I think we can agree that she is living life right.

Ingredients 6 ounces (170g) bittersweet chocolate 6 ounces (170g) unsalted butter 4 large eggs, separated 2/3 cup (170g) plus 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons (30ml) bourbon 1 tablespoon (15ml) water pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

FEATURES

Page 8

September 7, 2017

Org of the Week: Student journal offers creative outlet Andrea Yang

Guest Reporter

T

he Vassar Student Review (VSR) has long stood at the center of the College’s renowned literary community, a testament to the Vassar student body’s creative pastimes and the willingness of students to contribute to its rich literary tradition. Whether in prose or in verse, all students—and their pens—are welcome.

VSR publishes its magazine biannually, both in print and online, showcasing literary and artistic works by Vassar students. The magazine covers a wide range of artist media and serves the diverse interests of Vassar students.

Creative writers, poets, photographers, painters and sculptors all are welcome to present their original works. The organization meets every Wednesday evening, usually in one of the Main parlors, to discuss the pieces that are submitted in the given week.

Managing Editor Tatum Phillips ’20 elaborated on what these meetings typically look like. “We take the time to go through each piece of work thoroughly, voicing our reactions, likes/dislikes, general thoughts on the work before deciding whether we think it should be accepted into the [R]eview,” Phillips explained. “Something I love about VSR is that you don’t have to be an expert on writing or art to join. Anyone who is interested in peer-review is welcomed and appreciated.”

Phillips also acknowledged the importance of VSR in ways of fostering conversation, saying, “The idea of peer-review interests me because I love to see how people in my generation think. I may love a poem about the Fall and the passing of time but the person next to me may find it clichéd and uninspired. As a group we all offer different perspectives on the work and are not afraid to hold back our opinions. When critiquing a piece of work in meetings it’s not about judging the author’s

work based on subject matter or how well they write but rather if we can relate to their work, if it stands out or is unique in any way. Also, we consider its value to the magazine as a whole and how it will fit with the other submitted work.”

Copy editor Victorien Jakobsen ’19 discussed in an emailed statement the unique opportunities that VSR presents to writers and artists. “As someone who enjoys writing and making art, I know that submitting and sharing work can be stressful and nerve-wracking, but being able to see it in print is extremely gratifying. In attending the meetings and reviewing the work, I get to take part in that process and recognize the effort fellow students put in, which is very rewarding. I’m always proud of what they are able to create and I hope they’re proud, too.”

In addition to the publications, the Student Review regularly teams up with the Vassar Review, Vassar’s nationally distributed literary magazine, to host an annual competition in which two students who have submitted pieces win the opportunity to publish their writing.By including contributions from outside writers, this competition broadens the scope of the Vassar literary community. The competition culminates with a release party at the end of the school year when published writers are invited to a reading of their work. For the past two years, this has taken place around Sunset Lake, where everyone can gather under the trees and enjoy the scenery. As Jakobsen recalled, “It’s a beautiful and serene experience to sit in the spring weather and listen to poetry and prose while admiring the view.”

Members of the VSR’s executive board are often writers or artists themselves who contribute regularly to the magazine. Art Editor and co-winner of last year’s competition Sam Panken ’19 spoke of her involvement with VSR: “Having been an active participant and

“Royal Rumble”

editor of a similar art and literary zine in high school, I immediately applied to be on exec as a Layout Editor my first semester ... We submit our work to the VSR and go through the same anonymous peer-review process as any other candidate for publication. I feel lucky to submit my writing to a group of peers who share my intention to showcase student work in the Vassar community.”

Editor-in-Chief Jordann Schnarr ’18 explained in an emailed statement what she loves most about VSR: “I write poetry so I’m always looking for spaces that allow me to come together with other creative minds, receive feedback on my work, and offer the same for other writers [and] artists.

“Literary magazines are a great opportunity for that sort of collaboration,” Schnarr continued. “You end up with a lot of people with a passion for creative works—not necessarily for producing that work, but for experiencing and reviewing and ultimately showcasing it— getting together in a room and talking about art. It’s a very constructive environment.”

As the layout editor of VSR for the past two years, Schnarr has a lot of hands-on experience with its content. She shared, “You can’t put together a magazine without getting to know each piece intimately; you have to think so much about how to best showcase each one on the page and in the context of the whole magazine. By the time everything was put together I had a much better appreciation of the scope and depth of artistic talent we have at Vassar.”

One of the most unique aspects of VSR is its anonymous review process. The identity of an author is withheld when the journal reviewers share feedback and vote to decide whether the piece will be included. Students are also welcome to revise their work and submit again. In this way, VSR stresses the process of creation rather than the immediate result.

Jakobsen commented on the benefits of anonymity: “It encourages more people to submit their work, as they have the knowledge that reviewers will be unbiased. The fact that VSR is peer-reviewed further emphasizes how much the magazine centers on Vassar students. Everyone is invited to submit and also review the submissions of others if they so choose, which means that reviewers are fellow students and are not put on a pedestal.”

Panken attested to the VSR’s ability to promote literature and creation: “There’s something really special about being actively aware of the creative output of your immediate community and choosing to constructively contribute to the formation and presentation of that highly personal product. Each submission is approached with an inquisitive eye rather than a judgmental one–a philosophy that’s essential to a peer-review process, especially one that approaches creative work.”

Schnarr also noted the drawback of anonymity and ways to fix it: “I believe [it] makes the prospect of submitting a piece a lot less intimidating. Unfortunately this serves to distance the creators from the meetings where their work is reviewed. We’re working toward finding ways of providing more constructive feedback for the authors and artists while retaining anonymity for the selection process.

Ideally this means that comments from the meeting will be made available to anyone who submits their piece, regardless of whether that piece is accepted.”

VSR encourages submissions of work in any creative form that can be feasibly printed. If you are interested, the Review encourages you to email vassarstudentreview[a]gmail.com.

Panken summarized VSR’s accessibility, stating, “[It] is a space for student work–as long it can be reproduced on a page, and it’s selected by our board for publication, we will do our best to make it happen.”

The Miscellany Crossword

by Benjamin Costa

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Teal or turquoise 5. Portion out 9. Bogged down 14. Bacardi, Captain Morgan and Tanduay 15. Zoinks, for Holmes 16. Native American Plains nation 17. Earl Grey, black, chamomile 18. Out of the game (abbr.)

19. White wine mustard 20. Amethyst, amber, or aquamarine stones 23. Second-generation Japanese immigrant 24. Cure or mend 25. McCartney’s title 28. Male sex hormone 31. Chinese philosophical doctrine 34. Blood vessel 35. Aerospace agency (abbr.)

36. Cixi’s title 38. Goose formation 41. A speck of dust 42. Isurus sharks 43. Pig pen 44. Dying before 49. It had (abbr.)

50. Agricultural building 51. Not Ionic or Corinthian 54. Largest living lizard 57. Cheesy chip 60. ‘Half’ affix 61. Chimney or vent 62. Inuit boat 63. Panache or flair 64. Lots and lots 65. Reaches across 66. Serenaded 67. Drunkards

11. Liberal education field 2. Elizabeth’s title 3. ‘Meaty’ flavor 4. Help with 5. Indian climbing plants 6. S-shaped 7. Grasp at 8. Ripples 9. Self-contained unit 10. Egyptian magic goddess 11. British rule of India 12. Self-worth 13. A bear’s lair 21. A pet anger 22. Cereal grain 25. Bar or liquid cleaners 26. Textbook sidebar 27. Prepared 29. Ye olde ‘it is’ (abbr.)

30. DNA messenger 31. Musical speeds 32. Close to death 33. Chose 37. Royal color 38. Anatomical duct 39. Hydroplaning 40. None among thieves 42. Activist Nelson 45. A Kindle’s contents 46. Oval-shaped linkage 47. Wears away 48. Stitches on 52. Snow-block house 53. Dracula’s title 54. Temujin’s title 55. Persian gulf country 56. Pleiosaur’s loch 57. NvNvNvNvNv, to a Greek 58. Speaker 59. Spy agency

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

September 7, 2017

OPINIONS

Page 9

The Miscellany News Staff Editorial

Dear Pres. Bradley: Students require admin transparency Dear President Bradley,

W

elcome to Vassar College and Poughkeepsie! We are glad you are here, and we are sure you will love the splendor of our campus and the vibrancy of our community as much as we do. With the fall season approaching, enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the changing foliage, a staple of the Hudson Valley.

We at The Miscellany News are very excited by the enthusiasm you have expressed for your new position. We are particularly thrilled by the fact that, even as you begin to find your way around the campus, you have so far demonstrated a commitment to go out of your way to interact with students in person, be it in your office hours each week, at the ACDC or through social media. Most recently, we enjoyed meeting you at the Fall Activities Fair and seeing both your tangible ardor for our myriad student organizations as well as your eagerness to learn more about their places and roles on campus.

In these initial weeks, you have shown interest in the concerns of the student body, such as in your e-mails concerning the violence in Charlottesville and, more recently, your response to the Trump administration’s phasing out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Seeing our own administration address these very real issues as they affect our community here and now is both necessary and refreshing, and we hope that you will continue to acknowledge events that impact the student body—whether they occur on campus or across the nation—with the same tact and sensitivity you have shown thus far. We appreciated that you specifically condemned the actions of hate groups who participated in the riots and affirmed your commitment to supporting students, as the willingness to do so in earnest by those who hold institutional power is a crucial step toward effecting change on campus and

otherwise.

That being said, we hope that you follow through with policies and plans that put these words into action. In the past, students and faculty have expressed dissatisfaction with previous presidents. While we understand that President Catharine Bond Hill assumed her position in a particularly difficult economic period and that Interim President Jon Chenette was only serving in a provisional role, we felt that their administrations often lacked transparency and favored the Board of Trustees, which did not always serve the best interests of the students and faculty.

Witwhin the classroom, students have felt a lack of standardized support across the departments in accepting procedures that reflect their interests. Content and trigger warnings, preferred pronouns and chosen names are issues that are deeply important to the student body, which have far too often been both misunderstood and overlooked by many professors. It is not acceptable for student interests to fall on deaf ears any longer in this respect, nor should the classes in which they choose to study force them to tolerate deadnaming, failures by professors to ask for and remember preferred pronouns or a lack of appropriate respect for the necessity of content and trigger warnings. For the comfort and safety of students, we believe that the administration must communicate these pressing matters to faculty and provide better support to students.

Academically, professors have expressed noteworthy animosity toward the lack of attention given by previous administrations towards the intellectual growth and development of the Vassar community. During her tenure, President Hill’s increase in administrative spending and the reduction of the budget of classroom spending were criticized among some Vassar faculty (Boilerplate Magazine, “When the Vas-

sar Bubble Pops, What Then?”). We hope that their concerns will be taken into account and that underserved departments can expand their faculty and receive more resources.

Another significant issue concerning the Vassar community is the College’s sustainability and whether we are doing enough in this regard. In Sept. 2016, President Hill introduced the Vassar Climate Action Plan, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2030 through the reduction of emissions. In addition to adhering to these efforts already in existence, we hope that you expand environmental initiatives and keep environmental consciousness at the forefront of your future endeavors.

During the past year, there have been concerns about Vassar’s budget and worries that the school could revert back to need-aware admissions at some point in the future. Though we are confident that you understand the importance of need-blind admissions, we would like to reiterate just how vital they are to our community—particularly for first-generation college students—and how imperative transparency surrounding this issue is.

Vassar, like most colleges and universities, was created for wealthy, white students. Now, 63 percent of the Class of 2021 receive needbased aid (Vassar College, “Class of 2021 Statistics”) and Vassar is ranked second in the nation for best financial aid (Princeton Review, “Best Financial Aid,” 2017). However, in many ways, Vassar’s original elitist paradigm remains entrenched in this institution. Even with 100 percent of need met, there is more that must be done to make Vassar a more equitable space.

If we do away with need-blind admissions, this will never be achieved.

Another space on campus in desperate need of transparency is the Title IX Office and the College’s policies on sexual assault. Many students have been hurt by a lack of available infor-

mation about these policies and the inadequate approach that the administration has taken investigating incidents and supporting survivors of sexual assault. We firmly believe that the College needs to do better in this regard.

We would particularly like to see Vassar implement Callisto, a survivor-centered sexual assault reporting program that has proven effective at other colleges and universities.

Though past administrators have been open to trying the program, they suggested that the VSA should pay for half of the program’s firstyear operation costs of $18,000 (The Miscellany News, “Sexual assault survivors must have full admin support,” 05.03.2017). We feel that the College should cover the full cost, as it is irresponsible and unreasonable to ask students to pay for their own protection against sexual assault.

For the sake of openness and accountability, we would like to see you put forth to the entire Vassar community a yearly list of initiatives and goals. This list would be reviewed at the end of each year by faculty and students alike, allowing our community to stay informed of what has been achieved in the past months and what remains to be done in the future.

We at The Miscellany News look forward to working with you in the future as a student organization, a platform for student voices and members of the student body. We hope that the relationship between the President’s Office and The Miscellany News during your tenure (and beyond) is one defined by honesty, transparency and cooperation.

Sincerely, The Editorial Board of The Miscellany News —The Staff Editorial expresses the opinion of at least 2/3 of The Miscellany News Editorial Board.

Greater awareness of data-driven advertising necessary Griffin Berlstein Guest Columnist

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t any given time, all of us are being watched. It may not feel that way, and if you spent time looking over your shoulder and checking down every path, you would not find anyone following. Instead of being tailed by surveillance agents, we are persistently tracked by our technology, both in action and inaction, and without our direct involvement.

This surveillance is not directly malicious, or at least it is not supposed to be. Your phone needs to know where you are—within 2000 feet—so that any messages or calls you receive can be properly delivered. The addition of a GPS—accurate to 16 or 17 feet—to cell phones is meant as an additional service. But these services are not without trade-offs. Our information and our privacy are forms of capital that are often traded away, perhaps without appropriate consideration. It is important to understand the value of our data and, to that end, it is necessary to know how data are used.

Take Facebook, Twitter and Gmail, for instance. What do each of these have in common?

These are free services operated by large companies with significant overhead costs needed to keep the systems running. These services make money by selling ads that are then displayed to the users. When users click on an ad, a small fee is given to the company, Facebook for instance. In other words: if the service is free, then you are the product.

This in and of itself is not particularly revolutionary; after all, ads have been broadcast on the radio, displayed on the television and printed in magazines for ages. However, online ad delivery is different both in scope and personalization.

Ads can be delivered to a far wider audience online than they ever could in other media; as of second quarter 2017, Facebook has two billion active monthly users, over a quarter of the world’s population.

But the true revolution in advertising is not in reach, rather precision. With radio, for instance, a single ad for diapers was played to all listeners.

This advertisement was only relevant to parents who happen to be listening, for all others it was

wasted time and thus wasted resources for the company. This imprecision was coupled with a lack of data on listener engagement. At best, a company could see that sales might have gone up after airing a radio ad, but precise diagnostic information was lacking. The best targeting advertisers could manage would be based on expected audience, like advertising toys during cartoons likely to attract a young audience.

Online engagement with ads can immediately and accurately be quantified—either a user clicks the ad or they do not. Not only this, but ad engagement can be measured on a user-by-user basis. This might not seem like a significant step, but it makes all the difference because advertisers can then employ machine-learning algorithms to iteratively determine what each person responds to most and display ads that are likely to get the highest engagement.

This process is refined by the addition of specific personal information, which can be used to identify other targets for advertisements, such as a user’s friends. This allows for targeted ads to be sent to individuals who rarely engage because interests are often shared within interpersonal networks.

These strategies are often referred to as “data driven” or “big data” due to the typically large databases employed. But, despite the seemingly miraculous results, big-data techniques are far from magic; rather, they are an expansion of existing methods to draw upon a larger and larger amount of information. Modern targeted advertising is what advertisers have been doing forever, but now they can market directly to the individual.

We have all probably experienced targeted advertising at least once. When the ads are obviously wrong—like offering home construction consultation to college students—it can be humorous, but more often than not these systems are fairly accurate and rather quickly self-correct. In the course of regular use, companies can accurately determine our interests with little more than how much we react to ads and what information we offer. This can be unsettling and companies know that, so we can never be certain if incorrect ads are actual errors or deliber-

ate diversions.

Our personal information gives potential advertisers ripe targets to increase profit margins, so companies whose services we use have immense incentives to collect as much information as possible, even if it is not used. This is why phone apps often demand more information than it makes any sense for them to have.

(Why does my alarm app need access to my identity?) Well, it turns out that our data can be sold just as easily as it can be used and many apps do this, even when they ostensibly are respecting the use for privacy. For instance, AccuWeather, a forecasting service, was recently caught selling user location data in violation of their statements to the contrary.

“...our data can be sold just as easily as it can be used and many apps do this, even when they ostensibly are respecting the use for privacy.”

Data are often collected widely without direct regard for content. As Bruce Schneier notes in “Data and Goliath,” it is generally easier to track everyone and keep all the data than it is to specifically track individuals or only keep relevant data. With advances in computing, storage costs have plummeted making massive data trawling far more viable. In 2014, the NSA opened a new datacenter in Utah for just this reason. Companies and agencies can be far more effective simply by gathering as much information as they can about as many people as they can, only searching through it for specifics when necessary.

To get a sense of how this works, consider your email inbox. If you are anything like me, you probably do not delete many emails, not because there are too few emails, but because there are too many. It would be exhausting to try to delete every irrelevant email while only

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

keeping the important ones. Some practice the “inbox zero” technique for email management, but for most of us, it is just easier to keep everything and find specific emails by starring them or using the search function.

Data stick around, and in our data, we are immortalized. It is likely that many companies have a data file on you specifically, created from various trails of data left online—these files do exist, and a few people have successfully sued to see them. I can already name one database you are already a part of: AskBanner.

By default, the student directory displays a considerable quantity of information, including room number, any phone numbers and hometown. But, unlike most databases, you have some control over what AskBanner shows and, if nothing else, you should take the time to make sure it shares only what you are comfortable with it sharing.

None of this is to encourage paranoia, simply awareness. Your data are valuable—they are an incarnation of you—and should only be handed out with understanding. Regardless of our efforts, data are going to be collected about us, so it behooves us to make sure we understand the trades being made for the services we use.

By signing up for services like Gmail or Facebook, we agree, both implicitly and explicitly, to hand over our data for whatever purposes the service providers deem necessary, which normally means we are implicitly consenting to targeted advertising or to having our information sold.

Whether or not this is problematic is down to the individual to decide—perhaps targeted advertising is a useful way to find important and helpful products, or perhaps it is deeply unsettling. Regardless, it is important to be aware of what information you are giving away and to make sure that you want to be doing that.

Big data techniques are not going away, so it is up to us to understand how our data are being used and to make sure that their use is appropriate—at present there is little regulation. You may be more than your data, but your data can paint a striking portrait. Who are you comfortable showing it to?

OPINIONS

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September 7, 2017

Left ignores bigotry, anti-Semitism within movement Jesser Horowitz Columnist

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t should not come as a surprise that the left has an issue with anti-Semitism among its ranks, and considering the extent to which I’ve written about this issue leading up to this point, it may come as a surprise that I’m continuing along this path instead of moving forward with my life. After all, what more is there to say?

But considering the events of the past summer, the anti-Semitic attacks in the wake of violent, supremicist riots Charlottesville and the progressive left’s failure to adequately address it, I must begrudgingly agree to once again write the same article I’ve written repeatedly in past years.

Although I wish the left didn’t need repeated reminders that anti-Semitism is bad and should be addressed, I suppose I should appreciate that their failure to understand this keeps me with topics to write about.

Perhaps the reason for this, especially at Vassar, is that the left is enamored with the concept of self-critique without any interest in following through with it.

The American left separates itself into different groups, and instead of critiquing its own factions, it criticizes others while believing the same thing.

The left believes that the solution to every problem is pure leftism and that any issue the left has is a symptom of impure leftism. Fingers are pointed.

The Libertarian Left and the Authoritarian Left are at each other’s throats. Everyone attacks centrists.

Yet, as a proud Jew myself, I feel considerably safer around a moderate or mainstream liberal than I do around a hard leftist. This is because anti-Semitism appears to run rampant among those on the left who are most concerned with social justice causes. This is true both at Vassar and in the real world.

In all fairness, not every progressive has ignored Jewish voices. Major figures in the Democratic Party made statements condemning anti-Semitism in the wake of Charlottesville. Some social justice activists like Kat Blaque have made active efforts to combat anti-Semitism and make progressive

causes more accessible for Jewish people. Yet there is a disturbing trend, seen particularly in progressive blogs and websites, away from such inclusivity that must be addressed.

For those of you who do not know, Everyday Feminism, a social justice website, posts articles on a variety of progressive issues ranging from white privilege, to rape culture, to gentrification and so on. In many ways, Everyday Feminism is a progressive’s utopia and conservative’s nightmare.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing; I am a progressive myself, and I agree with progressives on most social issues.

Moreover, I can get behind a website that values social justice, empowers marginalized voices and informs its audience on issues that they may not know anything about. While I am not a regular reader of the website, I suppose that would be its appeal. And while it is not a cultural force by any means, it does have well over 500,000 followers on Facebook, so at the very least it can be described as having an audience.

It is therefore concerning that, merely one day after the Charlottesville riots, the website posted an anonymous article titled “Forget Gal Gadot: Here Are 5 Palestinian Wonder Women You Need to Know About” (they later changed this title, eliminating “Forget Gal Gadot”). The article immediately begins by identifying Gadot, who is an Israeli Jew, as a white soldier who served in the Israeli Defense Forces (which actually is required by Israeli law). It claims that “Zionism and feminism are contradictory” before celebrating Rasmea Odeh, a convicted terrorist who participated in bombings that killed two Jewish students in 1969. The article sends a clear message to Jewish progressives: you are not welcome here.

As with most horrible things, it was met with a fair degree of backlash. This led to the editor and author adding a note to clarify that this isn’t anti-Semitism. They write “[W]e...believe that our society needs to address and end anti-semitism and protect Jewish lives, just not through the occupation of Palestine...at the cost of Palestinian lives.” They further clarify that “many folks believe

being anti-Zionist and pro-Palestine is also being anti-Semitic” and that they “deeply apologize for the oversight in the timing of this piece during a moment of heightened sensitivity around anti-Semitism for Jewish folk.” They then proceed to stand their ground on everything the article puts forth, declaring that “Zionism and feminism are just not compatible,” endorsing the #BlackLivesMatter platform that ludicrously suggests that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians and erasing Judaism from Zionism entirely. The note ultimately comes across more as an acknowledgement that some people were wrongly offended than a genuine apology for doing something wrong, a response Everday Feminism would call out if seen anywhere else.

Over a week later, Everyday Feminism republished an article by Jonah S. Boyarin. The article, “Jewish Fear, Love & Solidarity in the Wake of Neo-Nazism,” appears at first to be a genuine effort at raising Jewish voices and acknowledging pervasive anti-Semitism in the wake of Charlottesville. Yet Everyday Feminism could not promote a Jewish voice on anti-Semitism without using that voice to attack the Jewish people. Even this account couldn’t avoid accusing Jews of turning every criticism of Israel in an anti-Semitic attack.

It demonstrates that Everyday Feminism did not understand that they had done something wrong, only that they were being attacked. I for one am sick of my voice being devalued for calling out anti-Semitic nonsense. However, I suppose it could have been worse. After all, at least Everyday Feminism understood that people were upset with them, and at least gave the appearance of trying to correct it.

Enter The Love Life of an Asian Guy, a progressive blog focused on social justice issues with more than 200,000 followers on Facebook. Less than one week after Charlottesville, the blog’s author went on an anti-Semitic tirade on Facebook in response to being asked to speak up in defense of Jewish people. His response was to claim that Jewish activists never “show up on behalf of their people to stand in solidarity with POC,” and that Jewish or-

ganizations never speak out against racism. (This statement ignores the Anti-Defamation League’s advocacy against Islamophobia, a long history of Jewish activists on the front lines of various social justice movements and less popular Jewish organizations that are entirely focused on appearing anti-racist, such as J-Street or Jewish Voice for Peace). He conflates Judaism with whiteness and Jewish people with power in a way that would be deemed inappropriate if it had been applied to any other segment of society.

Moreover, the article implies that every Jewish person is responsible for condemning everything any Jewish person does on a consistant basis. When conservatives make the same kind of demands of muslims, the left justly condemns it as being unreasonable and islamophobic. And I believe they are right in doing so; it is not the responsibility of a Muslim to constantly monitor other Muslims so that they can publicly condemn everything they do. Why, then, is that concept so difficult when applied to Jewish people? Yet, unlike Everyday Feminism, the blog never apologized and deleted critical comments. Again, this is the type of behavior for which this blogger would and has called others out. A response such as this in regards to accusations of any other form of prejudice would be deemed unacceptable. Yet within the social justice movement, an allowance is made in which those who are applauded as warriors against racism are forgiven for prejudice against the Jewish people.

These dynamics are seen here at Vassar as well.

My freshman year, the debate over the BDS movement led to rampant anti-Semitism that the Vassar Student Association failed to adequately address, in which Jewish students felt unsafe being on campus. This year, in the wake of Charlottesville, it will likely be brought back. The left is not the least bit interested in fighting anti-Semitism. The left wants to call out other people’s anti-Semitism to make their own movement look better while ignoring their own bigotry. And although I acknowledge that the right is just as guilty, they at least do not have the gall to do so under guise of inclusivity.

Political movements should grow from internal criticism Drew Solender Columnist

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ast year, I wrote a column in The Miscellany News entitled “Politicization of the VSA must be questioned in election,” which stoked significant discontent from some students. For those who haven’t read it, the title is misleading (I didn’t write it) because the article did not oppose politicization of the VSA—I recognize that the VSA is an inherently political body. It did, however, reject the stranglehold of a single ideology, progressivism, over a body politic that doesn’t uniformly agree with it. The wild idea that people should be free to believe what they believe and speak their beliefs without fear of persecution didn’t play well with the progressives who dominate Vassar’s political culture.

Yet, as I begin this year with the intention of continuing to write for The Miscellany News, I feel it would be helpful, if not necessary, to clarify my purpose for writing. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a conservative. Nor am I a fascist, a libertarian or even a moderate, as I have previously believed and stated. I am a liberal. My opposition to Vassar progressives is not rooted in ideology but rather in politics. What I see in the progressive movement is a group with laudable goals that seems dead set on never seeing those goals achieved. I hope to push the left to achieve electoral success and build a stronger political movement.

It is understandable that given the calamitous nature of the current administration, political columnists are expected to write about the Trump menace week after week. After all, that’s what CNN and The New York Times usually do. Yet, even if every student at Vassar read one of my columns talking about how bad, despotic or idiotic Trump is, what impact would it have?

The vast majority of them would probably just agree, learn nothing new and have their beliefs affirmed. Without contrarian journalism, ideas would go unchallenged, hypocrisy would go unchecked and flaws within the political sphere would continue to be exacerbated, decreasing the quality of our public discourse. I don’t want to simply yell into an echo chamber. Furthermore, based upon reactions to my writing,

it seems that my most impactful articles were not the ones I wrote about Trump, but rather the ones that flew in the face of the prevailing ideology of Vassar’s political crowd. I choose to at least try to have an impact not only on the overall discourse of Vassar, but on its many staunch political activists both on the left and the right. The only way to do this is to challenge their firmly held beliefs. This accomplishes two things.

Firstly, an ideology is only strengthened when subject to scrutiny. Take, for example, Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Many saw her platform and the DNC platform as unempathetic and outdated. Many political scientists, however, believe it was strengthened by the tough ideological challenge that Bernie Sanders mounted against the Democratic establishment and the political status quo. Even Democratic insider David Axelrod argued that Sanders’s impact is “reflected in her messaging and very specific policies” (“How Bernie Sanders changed Hillary Clinton,” Politico, 05.03.16). In general, the more compassionate shift in her views on healthcare, the minimum wage and income inequality can be attributed to Sanders’s powerful grassroots campaign, according to Lee Miringoff, the director of Marist polling, who said that these positions “probably moved [their] way up into higher in her stump speech because of what Sanders was saying” (Politico).

Sanders had this massive impact because he, more than any other Democratic politician, had the courage to look at the status quo on the left, which he saw as flawed, and vocally challenge it.

When his ideas ultimately resonated, they had a significant impact. Now most people would consider a policy position such as single-payer healthcare mainstream just two years after it would have been dismissed as fringe. Critique of the left has the potential to spur better fortunes for Democrats, bring the nuances and complexities of politics to the front of the left’s discourse and help guide activists spawned by the 2016 election to become more effective political actors. Political engagement is the key to maintaining a working democracy. Yet, as condescending as it sounds, these efforts have been

as much a hindrance as a help. All too often, the left has descended into shutting down certain speech and political discourse in the center and on the right and using violence as a political tool. Just as constructive criticism is an opportunity, so too is listening to the other side.

Right-wing ideas are often silenced, dismissed, labeled and sometimes met with violence. Progressives fight to silence certain schools of thought and speech with the justification being that they harm marginalized communities. Simply put, this is a weak and counterproductive solution to both hate speech and the broader ideology of the right, which I believe is rooted in a politics that are antithetical to the important ideals of equality for all and social justice.

Yet, just because I disagree with that ideology does not mean I have a right to suppress it, nor should I. To suppress those ideas would be to concede that they have enough merit to persuade people. If they are truly as harmful and radical as those on the left portray them to be, then they should be allowed to defeat themselves in the arena of political thought.

Then, of course, there is the problem of the slippery slope or regulating offensive or hateful speech. As those who embrace identity politics argue, it takes experience to create true empathy and understanding in politics. So I’d like my readers to try and empathize with those they are trying to suppress.

Imagine what would happen if our government had the authority to regulate certain speech that some may find offensive and insulting. Imagine if Donald Trump, Mr. “Bigotry and hate on all sides,” ran a government that could fine or arrest people for something as broad as hate. I, for one, am very glad we don’t have such a law for the President to pervert.

Progressives at Vassar, it seems to me, don’t seem to have the same respect for the First Amendment that they once did. Shutting down the debate is fine as long as we are all clear that they won. Trust me, if I went to Liberty University or Southern Methodist University, I would be talking at conservatives in exactly the same way.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

It’s not about ideology; it’s about basic freedom of expression for all, as long as the expression doesn’t directly infringe upon someone else’s expression (the basic voicing of rightwing ideas does not meet that criteria). It’s about having a debate that is worth having, not one where one side overpowers, shames and labels the other. This goes for both white people towards black people and progressives towards the right, both of which are problems at Vassar.

Finally, I want to touch upon the violence that has become a tenet of left-wing movements. My opposition to political violence is aimed at all people and groups who commit such acts in the name of ideology, and my condemnation is equally harsh for all. Ideology is not a shield that insulates one from the law and absolves them of crime.

Whether you’re on the left or the right, you must understand that violence as a means of political protesting is not only wrong, it is stupid.

This violence is wrong because it is not morally justified. No ideology is inherently right or wrong, and no person is any more justified in throwing a punch, one that is not in self defense, than any other regardless of their beliefs.

It is also stupid, because whenever a left-wing protester throws a punch, they add fuel to the right wing fire that labels liberals thugs and criminals with no moral standards. Therefore, they are only hurting their movement, but also helping to grow the movement they seek to oppose. I will continue to challenge the prevailing attitudes of the left and Vassar students that I view as flawed.

I have far too many criticisms to put into a column of about 1500 words, and I want to take the time and have the space to expand upon them properly and explain my reasoning as clearly as possible.

I encourage those who disagree with me to voice their dissent, preferably in a constructive way that avoids easy labeling or name calling.

Most importantly, I hope some on the left will keep an open mind to ideas that may strengthen their movement, just as I know I will keep an open mind to ideas that will improve my content.

September 7, 2017

OPINIONS

Coffee in moderation beneficial to health Steven Park Columnist

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here is no doubt that America loves its coffee. According to a 2017 study by the National Coffee Association, 62 percent of Americans drink this caffeinated beverage on a daily basis (NCA, “Daily Coffee Consumption Up Sharply,” 03.25.2017), consuming close to 400 million cups per day (The Motley Fool, “11 Coffee Stats That Will Blow You Away,” 01.23.2017). That’s more than 140 billion cups of coffee per year.

On top of that, Americans have no intention of straying from this path. Studies have found that 31 percent of coffee drinkers consider brewing coffee to be the most important activity in the morning and 52 percent of drinkers stated they would rather skip the morning shower than their cup of joe (The Huffington Post, “America’s Coffee Obsession: Fun Facts That Prove We’re Hooked,” 11.02.2011). It’s safe to say neither Starbucks nor your local coffee shop will fall out of fashion anytime soon.

But while coffee’s immense popularity is unquestionable, can we say the same in regards to its health benefits? This has been a contentious issue for a long time, as countless studies over the past several years have either branded this beverage as a cure-all that increases lifespan or a deadly toxin that shortens it. Case in point: In 1981, Harvard published a study that connected coffee with high risk of pancreatic cancer, which sent the entire nation into a frenzy (The New York Times, “Sorting Out Coffee’s Contradictions,” 08.05.2008). Later, those same Harvard researchers concluded that smoking may have been the real culprit instead.

Like with dark chocolate and red wine, it’s incredibly difficult to pin down any definitive answer regarding coffee’s effects on the body because it’s by nature impossible to prove cause-and-effect in food studies. However, we should still be able to gather a general idea of its effects and whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

So what does science really say about the health effects of coffee? For the most part, it’s good news—or at the very least, coffee won’t kill you. There are numerous studies that suggest

that drinking coffee regularly offers a wide range of health benefits, such as lowering the risk of stroke and dementia (PopSugar, “Coffee Bad For You? Here Are the Facts, Straight From a Doctor,” 07.30.2017).

In fact, there doesn’t seem to be an end to the good news. A 2012 study indicates that the caffeine in coffee could decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes (The Atlantic, “The Case for Drinking as Much Coffee as You Like,” 11.30.2012). The study featured almost 80,000 women and more than 40,000 men and controlled for all major lifestyle and dietary risk factors. After more than 20 years, they discovered that coffee consumption was associated with an eight percent risk decrease in women and four percent risk decrease in men (The Atlantic).

The same could even be said for heart disease.

In a 2015 meta-analysis of studies investigating long-term coffee consumption, Harvard researchers found that people who drank about three to five cups of coffee a day had the lowest risk of heart disease among more than 1,270,000 participants (The New York Times, “More Consensus on Coffee’s Effect on Health Than You Might Think,” 06.11.2015). Not only that, but those who consumed five or more cups a day did not suffer any higher risk than those who didn’t drink coffee at all. This information lines up with what a team of cardiologists at the University of California, San Francisco, stated all the way back in 1994: “Contrary to common belief, [there is] little evidence that coffee and/or caffeine in typical dosages increases the risk of [heart attack], sudden death or arrhythmia” (PubMed, “Caffeine and Coffee: Effects on Health and Cardiovascular Disease, 10.1994).

On the other hand, studies investigating the supposed ill effects of drinking coffee have surprisingly come up short. To begin with, most of the negative connotations that surround coffee are mere myths. For instance, the old wives’ tale about how kids shouldn’t drink coffee because it stunts their growth is just not true. Years of studies have shown that there is no scientifically valid evidence that suggests that coffee affects a person’s height (The New York Times, “The Claim: Drinking Cof-

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fee Can Stunt a Child’s Growth,” 10.18.2005).

Likewise, the idea that drinking coffee will lead to lower bone density and greater risk of osteoporosis is also dubious. Scientists believe that this fear likely stemmed from early studies that linked caffeine with reduced bone mass (NYT, 10.18.2005).

However, those early studies were mostly conducted on elderly people whose diets already lacked milk and other sources of calcium. To top it all off, even fears of coffee increasing the risk of hypertension turned out to be unfounded thanks to a 2002 study by Johns Hopkins (NYT, 08.05.2008).

Exactly what is it in coffee that provides all these benefits? Most studies point to coffee’s high antioxidant content, which protect the body from free radicals that harm the body and factor into cancer development (PopSugar). In fact, according to the American Chemical Society, coffee is the leading source of antioxidants in American diets due to how often we drink it.

Does this mean that coffee is a miracle drink after all? It’s difficult not to come to that conclusion, especially since two new studies published this year concluded that those who drink coffee regularly tend to live longer than those who do not (TIME, “Coffee Drinkers Really Do Live Longer,” 07.10.2017). However, it’s best not to get carried away since, as stated earlier, food studies are notoriously inconsistent. These are all correlations, not causations. The caffeine in coffee is still a drug that has widespread effects that we’re not even close to uncovering. Coffee is still linked to insomnia, heartburn, addiction and digestion problems (PopSugar), as well as weight gain if consumed in excess (even without cream and sweeteners) (NY Daily News, “Too Much Coffee Can Make You Fat: Study,” 05.29.2013).

Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the International Food Information Council recommend that you don’t exceed 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, which is roughly equivalent to four regular cups of coffee or one Starbucks Venti (The Atlantic, “Drinking Four Cups of Coffee Is Probably Safe,” 04.26.2017). As always with food or drink, moderation is key.

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Word on the street What is your favorite part of the Deece?

“I love the booths because I like sliding in and out” — Elaina Peterkin ’18

“The decorative carrots” — Mel ’21

“The HD-TV vibes” — Sarah GarijoGarde ’20

“Dolmas at the salad bar because they remind me of home” — Yase Smallens ’20

“The pears. I haven’t had a pear at the Deece for too long” — Josh Ramirez ’20

“Probably the fact that it is open longer hours... It is nice for me to have that option.” ­­— Dylan Horowitz ’19

Leah Cates, Humor & Satire Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire

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HUMOR & SATIRE

Page 12

September 7, 2017

Breaking News From the desk of Leah Cates and Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Editors As novelty of new school year wears off, vacation countdown apps experience massive slowdowns.

Where the wild things are Thin dorm walls promote not: the brand-new Deece inadvertent eavesdropping Yesenia Garcia

Vermin Advocate

A

s I walked into the new Deece for the first time during house team training, I felt conflicted. Sure, I was happy about the extended hours of operation, the fresh produce and the stylish, yet functional, Scandinavian interior design—I mean who wouldn’t be? But as I sat down in a brand-spanking-new wooden booth, I couldn’t help but wonder...what was the fate of all the residents of the old Deece? You know who I’m talking about. You probably saw them scurrying around the old Deece at some point in your Vassar career. I am talking about the rodents, cockroaches and multitudes of insects that called the former Deece their home. Since the whole situation left me feeling very concerned, I decided to brainstorm some possibilities regarding the fate of our dearly beloved friends.

Perhaps the good ol’ Deece gang joined a circus troupe composed entirely of vermin and are now traveling the country performing incredible death-defying feats! They have had extensive training in the art of surviving dangerous situations and are now ready to show off their talents to the world. I’m sure the mice have practiced their tightrope walking skills by scurrying along the rafters of the old Deece and the cockroaches perfected their disappearing trick by retreating into the safety of the walls once they were spotted. We can only hope that they will remember us and the place that gave them their start once they achieve nationwide fame.

It is entirely possible that the former residents were tired of only catching glimpses of the campus whenever people opened the Deece doors and decided that they wanted to venture out and explore for themselves the wilderness that is Vassar College. I have a hunch that they joined the Class of 2021 and have matriculated as new students here. The prospect of a well-rounded liberal arts education is very alluring nowadays, so I can understand why they decided to embark on their academic endeavour at this point in their lives. Although they just started their Vassar careers, I am sure they are already tired of people asking them what they want to major in, so I will not speculate any further regarding this matter.

Enticed by all of the fascinating conversations

about JYA they overheard throughout the years, the residents of the Deece decided to go abroad for the semester. They are now exploring different drama programs throughout Europe during the day and are merrily frolicking through the streets at night. They are excited to Instagram how much fun they are having and have been heard enthusiastically declaring that they are never ever coming back to campus. However, we hope that when they do decide to come back to campus, they will enlighten us with all of the worldly knowledge they acquired while in Europe.

Let’s face it: the hustle and bustle of Poughkeepsie, NY can be unbearable at times. Sometimes the vibrant nightlife and all of the opportunities for adventure are just too much to handle. It is feasible that some of our critters have decided to give up the city life entirely and revert back to their old roots. In order to get back in touch with nature, they have decided to radically change their lifestyles. They now spend their days practicing meditation and repeating empowering mantras to themselves. Instead of relying on food that has fallen from the plate of an unsuspecting Deece patron, they have started a vegan co-op and are pursuing sustainable farming. This certainly seems like a noble endeavour, and I applaud them for their conscientiousness and commitment to clean living.

The most plausible possibility I can come up with is that our beloved vermin are taking some time off because they are preparing to file a lawsuit against our new caterer, Bon Appétit, for wrongfully evicting them from their home.

According to some Miscellany News reporters, the critters were never even asked if they wanted their home to be renovated. They are understandably outraged at this whole situation and demand to be compensated handsomely for their loss. When we reached out to interview them, they revealed that they will also be suing for the emotional distress they have undergone as a result of being displaced. Hopefully this case will be resolved quickly and will encourage the Vassar administration to be more transparent in their decisions.

Wherever they are, we here at The Miscellany News wish the old residents of the Deece the best of luck!

Maya Sterling

Sleepless In Poughkeepsie

I

forgot. And it really isn’t something hard to remember. I must have blocked it from memory; all the nights spent lying awake, all the mornings roused early.

Of everything I forgot from my first year at Vassar, it seems ridiculous that I forgot the most frustrating of them all. There were many minor things I forgot from last year as well. For example, that the Deece opens at 9 a.m. on weekends (if you want to listen to someone rant about something petty for hours, call me at 1-800-Deece-Complaints). And the names of half of the people I spoke to last year on a regular basis. The most frustrating thing I forgot wasn’t even that service requests take so long to get addressed (which I thought I would never forget since it took three weeks for my blinds to get replaced. I lived on the sunny side of the building). What I forgot was waiting for me like a familiar friend the first night I spent in my room. It is that dorm rooms have paper-thin walls.

You probably can relate to these experi-yoncés (Yes, these are experiences that are so significant, they stick in your mind like Beyoncé): For example, hearing roommates duke it out over Triscuits eaten without a roommate’s permission. Or lacrosse players blasting Rebecca Black’s “Friday.”

Or someone using the Nutribullet at 1:30 a.m. So relatable, right?!

I wish there were a polite way to tell someone that their K-pop dance rehearsal is not something that needs to happen in the room above me. Or to casually tell the musician around the corner that their bagpipes are not tuned properly. And I really don’t want to be the one to burst the bubble of the group in room 373 who thinks flip cup is a competitive sport.

There’s another part of thin walls that I forgot: Some walls that are thinner than others. These walls are so, so thin that you can actually see through them. These walls tend to be known by another name: windows.

These “walls” are even worse than the average plaster and insulation constructions. Not only can noise get through, but also visible light waves!

What this simply means is that people outside your room can see you.

Now, don’t misconstrue what I’m saying. I will

confess to my fair amount of eavesdropping, but sometimes people make stuff much too obvious.

I’m just here to let you know that when it’s dark outside, the light in your room becomes a spotlight that literally shouts “Look here! Someone in here is awake! Please silence your cell phones, your feature presentation will begin shortly!”

Most people are just watching YouTube videos for “only 5 minutes,” but there are a select few who, well...you know what people do when they are alone in their room. And also what they do with other people...

These daily experiences are what make dorm life so special. I can’t imagine a week going by without knowing way too much about my neighbors.

Of course, I am equally guilty. To those on the third floor, I apologize for that “Despacito” dance party I had by myself last weekend. I don’t care how overplayed it is, it’s still great.

To help out people like me, I have devised a toolkit to combat thin walls: 1. Further insulate your room. Unfortunately, the Deece doesn’t supply aluminum foil fit for stealing, but I’m sure you can find some nearby.

The more cushions the better, so I (do not) recommend pillaging your house parlor for some pillows (I’m on a house team; I can’t endorse these things).

2. Make more noise than your neighbor. There’s nothing better than a friendly noise fight. When your neighbor starts blasting Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” fight back with Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” If they come out the cut with the Spongebob theme song, then you should whip out James Taylor’s “How Sweet it Is.” No one will dare block that from playing.

3. Get headphones (especially the noise cancelling kind). This means you can make as much as noise as you want, and when people come banging on your door, you won’t hear them! It’s just so convenient to be unaware of the discomfort and frustration you are causing others! Amazing!

Please just heed what I’ve mentioned as a friendly PSA. I love this campus just as much as the next person, yet I would also love to sleep. We can all be our awesome selves without wanting to rip our hair out. All it takes is one easy motto: closed blinds, full mute, can’t lose. Friday Night Lights [OFF.]

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If you’d like to enliven us with your drollery, joviality, wit and/or cynicism, email lcates@vassar.edu and yeseniagarcia@vassar.edu.

That way, you’ll feel jolly because you’ll have published work, and we won’t be stuck staring at this boring rectangle.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

HUMOR & SATIRE

September 7, 2017

Page 13

Why summer road trips are anything but vacations Leah Cates

Wretched Road Trips Travel Agent

I

am writing this column from a dark, cramped, nauseating purgatory. It is 10:30 p.m., and my mother, father and I are in our tenth hour of driving through the American South in a rental car overloaded with bulging suitcases, bags of half-eaten food and empty, squashed water bottles.

Despite the 85-degree weather outside the car, I am currently experiencing a deep remorse about my ill-fated, though understandable, decision not to bring a fluffy sweatshirt and flannel sweatpants since my dad keeps the temperature around 50 degrees in order to remain awake while driving. Plus I can’t drive because apparently you have to be 25 to operate a rental car, and my parents have expressed their utter disinterest in committing a minor legal infraction.

They consider it a summer vacation. For me, it’s a twisted, masochistic brand of family overkill.

Road trips can be wholesome, relaxing bonding experiences. They can also be exhausting, will-sapping, fight-breeding pilgrimages to scattered tourist magnets through which the miserable road-trippers frantically rush so as to avoid a treacherous drive in the dark for their next four-hour stretch.

Of course I am fortunate to have a family and an opportunity to experience a part of the country that I have never before visited. But I find myself yearning for the glorious tranquility of my summer job. Plus, by day two, I am approaching these excursions as though I am a competitor in “Survivor,” except a million dollars probably won’t be awaiting me once we at long last pull into the Budget Car Rental parking lot. In that spirit, I present seven points to consider before you equate “road trip” with “va-

ARIES

cation.”

1. We spend a pitifully large amount of time unloading the car, checking into the hotel (four hotels in five nights, to be precise), setting up the room, packing back up the next morning and reloading the car. There’s no “What a beautiful view!” “I’m so relaxed,” “I could do this all day” and “What a fond family memory this will make!,” but an awful lot of “If you stack the suitcases that way, I won’t be able to see out the rear. Gotta reload them,” “Where’s the one with my clothes in it? Did we leave it behind in Atlanta?!”, “My toe!” and “My back!!”

2. We spend even more time driving. This has the potential to be an exciting and culturally enlightening experience. But America is becoming increasingly homogenized, and whether you’re in Georgia, Alabama or Arkansas, the highway signs are green with white lettering and the billboards for Bass Pro Shops, Marriotts, Paneras, Burger Kings and Cracker Barrels are identical.

3. We spend very little time at our actual destinations. The moment you stumble wearily out of the car is undeniably a relief. The human body is not intended to be crammed into a confined space for hours on end, and so stretching those spasming, aching hamstrings sure is a refreshing feeling. But after that, things go “South” as you scurry through the place you’ve driven hours to reach.

“Most people spend approximately two hours,” announced the affable woman at the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham. We allotted 45 minutes and skipped half the museum.

(Don’t worry, we spent a solid three hours at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.)

But in other cases, 45 minutes may be all you want. For example, at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Dixie Chicks exhibit, we overheard an imposing woman with a thick Southern accent

HOROSCOPES

March 21 | April 19

TAURUS

April 20 | May 20

GEMINI

May 21 | June 20

CANCER

June 21 | July 22

LEO

July 23 | August 22

VIRGO

August 23 | September 22

You are very passionate, Aries, so you have a LOT to say about the new Deece. If you’re an upperclassperson, it’s probably “Why does the omelette station close at 10 a.m.?!” or “Where the flippity flip are the eggs?!” If you’re an underclassperson, it’s probably “Mozz sticks at 1 a.m. is the best thing ever!!!”

As a Taurus, it’s been tough lately. Maybe because of the stars. BUT we Tauri are nothing if not stubborn. I refuse to let something bring me down this early in the semester. So if my fellow Taureans are feeling like this, surround yourselves with people who make you homemade bread and you’ll remember that Life Is Good™.

You’ve been feeling down. And we know why. It’s because Twitter killed Vine, and you’re grieving. It’s hard for Gems to accept change. Luckily, you can relive the good old days by watching Vine compilations on YouTube. We recommend Gavin and Nick Mastodon (a cute toddler and his hot uncle).

You’ve been wondering how you, as a small speck of dust in the universe, as a Cancer, can do your part and make the world a better place. Obtain a label maker, make a few labels that say “spoons,” and place them over the labels in the Deece for spoons that say “soup.”

We recommend that all the lions try something new this week. For instance, there’s this app called Daily Horoscope. You can find it on any App Store (it’s the red one). It’s scarily accurate in a seriously specific way. And it’s not just for the daily! Read it for your weekly, monthly, and yearly as well!

This is your season. So you’ve been rightfully centering yourself a lot lately. This week, find ways to care for yourself as well as your friends.

Buy a champagne fountain for your real friends.

You can grab one for under $30 on Amazon. It really brings the room, and people, together.

declare, “Look what happened to them. Why don’t more folks today get in trouble for talking down on our fine president?”

(If the early 2000s aren’t your era, check out: http://theboot.com/natalie-maines-dixie-chicks-controversy/).

4. To road trip is to play with death. Foreign regions often feature unfamiliar, and potentially car-totaling, traffic quirks. In Nashville, for instance, my father found himself in a left-turn lane that blocked the flow of oncoming traffic.

As cars barrelled toward us, my mother exclaimed, “We have had so many close calls!!”

She sounded surprised. She shouldn’t have been. As my grandmother warned my 16-yearold self, “A car is a death machine.” Driving is dangerous. It is more dangerous than such sensible means of long-distance transportation as trains and planes. Sure, it might be less expensive than several round-trip plane tickets, but plane tickets are typically less expensive than new cars. And caskets.

5. Even if you don’t perish in a fiery crash, you’re liable to vomit. For example, to turn left off certain roads in Nashville, you have to cross several lanes of traffic. But you have only 100 feet to do so. And if that doesn’t make you nauseated, then some other aspect of navigation in unfamiliar territory probably will. For example, pulling in and out of a stranger’s driveway to change direction after your GPS tells you to drive onto the on-ramp 10 feet after you’ve passed it, or nearly drifting off the highway on the wrong exit and then frantically swerving to get back on.

6. Indeed you might have to forcefully expulse your lunch, or at least empty your trash and bladders, and fill your tank. Enter the seedy gas station. We urinated while watching cockroaches circle our feet. We were greeted by the

intimidating glares of seven brawny men, standing by their motorcycles, in the dark of night in backwoods Arkansas. We were so eager to escape that we inadvertently attempted to pull away with the gasoline nozzle still inside the tank.

7. Packing a small group of people into a rolling efficiency apartment sans bathroom, bed and kitchen for 25 hours engenders annoyance, snide remarks and exasperation. If you spend enough time with virtually anyone, that person becomes irritating. And you’re utterly trapped until Siri asserts “You have reached your destination,” which offers only a few hours’ hiatus before you must resume the compulsory enmeshment. I love my parents, but a little less now than before we began the trip. Similarly, a relatively surefire means by which to break up with your best friend or significant other is to embark on a lengthy road trip.

But even when we’re hunched over the hood with two strangers at a gas station in rural Alabama trying to figure out where precisely to reinsert the oil gauge (yup, it was a rental and it was hard to find) or conversing with the cop who is giving my mother a citation for driving precisely eight mph over the speed limit, I find myself wildly amused—you don’t get stories like those from splashing around in chlorinated water with a jumbo swan floatie. Plus, assuming you’re not mutually disowning one another, returning your engagement rings or tossing your BFF bracelets in the recycling bin, you’ll probably have a proud, bonded sense of survived-it-togetherness at the end of the whole debacle.

P.S. We’re currently driving through rural Oklahoma. We heard a gunshot, and a “splat” on our car roof. Rest in peace, little birdie.I sure hope we have rental car insurance.

Theresa Law and Natasha Sanchez amateur astrologists

LIBRA

September 23 | October 22

SCORPIO

October 23 | November 21

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 | December 21

CAPRICORN

December 22 | January 19

AQUARIUS

January 20 | February 18

PISCES

February 19 | March 20

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Now is the time to confront all of the responsibilities you’ve been avoiding. Start by checking your mailbox because sometimes important things make their way in there like a notification that the registrar never received your AP credits and you’ll be reclassified as the Class of 2019. Or Burgerfi coupons.

Lock your doors, close your windows, and guard your personal belongings. For real, burglaries are a thing, and sheltered students who have a false sense of security are easy targets. Also, Scorpios have a knack for making a lot of enemies as they tend to fuck people over, so just look out in general.

You’ve been stretched a bit thin with your many responsibilities these past few weeks. We’re here to tell you that the load will not lighten up, so look to your friends for some much needed comfort. They will be happy to hear you rant, give you tasty snacks, and offer a bed to nap in.

You know that section on Snapchat, “Needs Love,” where all your summer camp co-counselors from two summers ago, high school lab partners, and problematic friends from study abroad end up? Send them more than love. Send them an edible arrangement: “High quality, artistically designed fresh fruit arrangements.”

You’ve been a great friend and housemate this past week, Aquarians. If you find yourself in the middle of a rift between friends, which you will, just be your regular supportive self. Take the time to listen to both sides, but also, take the time to take care of YOU. You’ll do great, sweetie. But you need to share your banana bread, Mark.

The next time you’re having a photoshoot in a rose garden, be aware that scratches from rose thorns are potentially deadly. Thorn scratches can be highly infectious due to the pesticides they’re sprayed with. Side effects include swelling, itching, and worry. Clean the cut right away. If you get a fever, call your OBGYN.

ARTS

Page 14

September 7, 2017

Cornerstone of Art Department redefined, still flourishing

Courtesy of Vassar Art Department

ART 105 continued from page 1 the discipline through its many pressing questions.

“I think that the presence of a monuments list and the emphasis on its memorization has sometimes given the false impression...that there is a canon,” explained Associate Professor of Art Yvonne Elet. “[What] we are trying to emphasize is the importance of monuments, not only in their original context but also going forward in time, by talking about what a monument is and who controls it,” she continued. “Certainly the news in recent years—whether ISIS or the Taliban blowing up ancient sites, museums or religious sculpture, or the removal of Confederate statues—tells you about the symbolic importance of monuments, how their meanings change with time and context, and the issues around who controls that kind of memory.”

These urgent matters, to be sure, require a strong foundational perspective. “The material that we present here is so varied that people often wonder, ‘What in the world is art anyway?’”

Kuretsky posited in her lecture as the first and, perhaps, most fundamental question in art history.

Such big questions and their answers, though, do not remain fixed or static. Humanity’s interpretations of different queries and of other people’s responses depend on a multiplicity of factors, which requires new and repeated approaches.

The museum, that grand institution of cultural remembrance, is one such “confrontation of metamorphoses,” as stated in the first assigned reading by French writer and former Minister of Culture André Malraux. ART 105/106 functions in a similar way with these confrontations. Memory is work, after all, and like any worthwhile craft requires careful persistence and adaptability.

As Professor of Art Molly Nesbit put it, “ART 105/106 gives us a way to weigh legacy with all of its conflicts ... The past is in the present in ways we cannot control.”

As ART 105/106 moves into the future, this nearly 90-year-old legendary course has embraced change, such as incorporating more technology and updating its format this semester.

As she continued, “Developing one’s ability to deal with the visual world—which doesn’t come to us in words—is a daily challenge.” Elet added, “One important and engaging aspect of art history, which goes back millennia, is the relation of word and image, a fundamental issue around which the course turns.”

Vassar—and we are lucky for this—is particularly well-suited for this kind of training. Our founder inculcated the importance of visual learning in his inclusion of an art gallery in the original plan for the College, and in doing so Vassar became the first U.S. university or college to do so. Originally located in Main Building, the gallery has transformed into our renowned Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.

Opened in 1993, the Loeb serves as an invaluable complement to a class all about created ob-

jects. In addition to the rotating lecturers’ presentations on their specialties during class, students meet with a regular conference instructor once a week in the Loeb. There, they discuss readings and look firsthand at artworks in the gallery, including the original collection of what were then up-to-the-minute contemporary paintings of the Hudson River School.

In this way, ART 105/106 is and always has been committed to the forefront of scholarly tools, such as the plaster casts of master sculptures sent over from Europe in the early days of the College.

The course has, similarly, withstood countless permutations of curricular redesign, enduring as a core introduction to visual learning and thought on a campus whose only remaining general requirements are verbal, numerical and linguistic in nature.

The gradual incorporation in recent years of cutting-edge digital technology mirrors the field of art history as a whole. The emphasis, however, is on presenting in new and dynamic ways a practice that necessitates slow looking, an increasingly important skill, paradoxically, in our fast-paced modern world.

In this spirit of technological embrace, ART 105 now has a public Moodle page that serves as its syllabus as well as an active presence on arguably our newest visual and curatorial medium, Instagram (art105live).

Regarding this year’s iteration of the course with a perspective to its storied past, Associate Professor of Art Andrew Tallon stated, “[T]he inspiration is a similar one, that to really learn about the world as a part of the liberal arts education at its best, you need to be able to see and think about what you see. That motive has not disappeared— it’s never going away.” As Elet elaborated, “In a way, it is recognizing the dynamism and expanse of the field more fully than the course has before.”

W. H. Auden wrote in his “Musée des Beaux Arts”: “About suffering they were never wrong, / The Old Masters: how well they understood / Its human position...” They were right about a lot of other things, too, as the course explores, and many more were masters who have before been overlooked.

“Art, after all, outlasts the lifespan of the people who created it,” Kuretsky asserted in her lecture.

“The works we study, therefore, also connect us with timeless realms beyond the ephemeral temporality and confusions of everyday life.”

Whether bathed in the orange glow of a Cairene sunset over the Giza pyramids or in the auburn poignancy of a Rothko composition, students in the noontime journey of ART 105/106 gain a feeling of immense universality in the diverse works they encounter. The modern starts to look a lot more like the past, and the past a lot more like the future.

“Do not—I repeat, do not—leave college without this course,” Kuretsky declared. “It will mean a lot to you in later life, as much as it does here.”

First-years introduced to comedy scene, left in good humor Sasha Gopalakrishnan Assistant Arts Editor

C

omedy on Vassar’s campus almost always leads one to think of the packed Sanders Auditorium, with students eagerly lining the stairs. Additionally, there is always a bunch of disillusioned kids who came five minutes early and still didn’t get space to sit. Shows by all eight of Vassar’s comedy groups are eagerly attended throughout the year, so one can imagine the rush for this past Saturday’s Annual Comedy Preview Show, which is the only time that the entire array of styles in Vassar’s comedy scene is synthesized in one show, as all the groups come together to perform in a single space.

On September 2, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., an overflowing Sanders Auditorium saw performances by sketch comedy groups No Offense, the LiMiT and Happily Ever Laughter (better known as HEL); Improv groups Vassar College Vassar Improv (VCVI) and Casual Improv; the

all-women/non-binary sketch and stand-up group Indecent Exposure; stand-up group Comedy Normative; and newly renamed improv and stand-up focused Nitrous Oxide.

As each troupe spent about 10 minutes on stage, they provided the audience—especially the first years—with a small taste of their group’s particular niche and the type of comedy they engage in. Vassar’s plentiful comedic opportunities for Improv, Sketch and stand-up came to light during the show. President of Casual Improv Matt Stein ’18 [Full Disclosure: Stein is the Co-Arts Editor for The Miscellany News] , explicated how he views this particular category of comedy: “Improv is life. It’s non-scripted and it’s what we do every day. Joining an improv group is essentially like taking a life class.”

Ranging from the self-deprecating and ironic humor of Comedy Normative member Austin Han ’19 to Indecent Exposure’s subtly mocking style to the pure silliness and spontaneity that is

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

feel excited about comedic performance opportunities at Vassar; we hope to inspire them. Or at the very least, we hope to get people excited about attending shows if they’re not performing in them.”

Sharing her own experiences, Candelaria expanded, “I’ve been in both No Offense and VCVI for all four years and I’ve realized that they’re my little nook at Vassar. It would be wonderful if incoming freshmen could find that reprieve in the comedy scene the way so many of us did.”

Explaining that rehearsals and shows are about constantly building off of each other’s energies and ideas, Candelaria emphasized that they just want people with a positive energy for the group to be able to play off of. “Many of us had no experience when we first tried out, but we learned from each other,” she added. “We don’t want people without experience to feel deterred from auditioning.”

While auditioning for comedy troupes may seem terrifying, there’s a reason that the performers made it look so easy to put themselves out there during the preview show. Despite being an assorted group of people with different senses of humor, their confidence seemed to sprout from a common, unifying source: they were all enjoying themselves immensely. As Lewy humorously mentioned in his interview, “We love to have fun on stage, and to make sure the audience has fun...but that’s secondary.”

Courtesy of Facebook

Courtesy of Facebook

On Sept. 2, Vassar’s many comedy groups presented a preview show for the first-year students, featuring sketch, improv and stand-up, before holding auditions the following day.

part and parcel of improv, the show had a bit of everything.

Indecent Exposure member Bianca Barragan ’19 performed her iconic Sharkboy and Lavagirl set (which I’ve personally seen three times now, and it’s hilarious as always). Following her, Nitrous Oxide asked the audience several arbitrary questions and then innovatively incorporated the myriad of out-of-context answers into their improv piece to create unwittingly brilliant jokes.

The LiMit did a hilarious sketch on smoking that escalated rapidly and left everyone in splits.

President of The LiMit Aiden Lewy ’18, in his fourth year as a member of the group, commented on the group’s style: “We focus on absurd or edgy comedy. I think what makes us special is that we aren’t afraid to really venture out of the box and experiment when it comes to questioning what is conventionally considered funny.”

Emphasizing that The LiMit, like through its unusual name stylization, strives to push the boundaries of the definition of comedy, Lewy continued, “We take risks; we like to be shocking. Comedy on this campus has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”

In tandem, HEL’s “Not So Puritans” sketch, previously filmed and played for us on screen, was a decidedly raunchy masterpiece that delved into the sexual fantasies of a nun and a priest, and left audience members cringing between uncontrollable bursts of laughter.

HEL President, Becca Slotkin ’18, elucidated the thought process behind many of HEL’s sketches: “We take our humor from things going on in the world. We try to look at global topics, historical trends or pop culture, and put a humoristic spin on it.” She further elaborated that the group likes to put on accessible sketches and videos for their audiences, which is partly why one of their sketches was a parody of Scooby-Doo. “For this preview show in particular, we hope that our content seems fun and relatable to the freshmen,” explained Slotkin.

No Offense Co-President and VCVI President Carinn Candelaria ’18 also expressed her sentiments regarding the impact she hopes the show will have on freshmen: “We want freshmen to

Comedy groups, one of the most popular outlets on this campus, are welcome to all students and are great environments for first-years looking to get involved on campus or to make people burst with laughter.

September 7, 2017

ARTS

Page 15

‘Melodrama’ explores house parties, complexities of love LORDE continued from page 1

Light,” the party is in full swing, but Lorde is already questioning what will happen when the lights turn back on and one must face reality again. “But what will we do when we’re sober?” serves as a bleak but daunting truth. “Midnight, we’re fading. ’Til daylight, we’re jaded. We know that it’s over. In the morning, you’ll be dancing with all the heartache.” The magic of the night, and perhaps even a particular person, is quick to fade once it ends.

“Perfect Places,” the final single and song on the album, breaks down the illusion that everyone is having a great time at the party. There is no such thing as a “Perfect Place,” but rather the imperfections of being a teenager and these house parties are what make life so special. An endless cycle of evenings and the harsh heat of the summer cannot stop teenage euphoria. “I

hate the headlines and the weather, I’m 19 and I’m on fire. But when we’re dancing I’m alright / It’s just another graceless night.” The final line of the song and the album, “What the fuck are perfect places anyway?” serves as a sound conclusion of this whirlwind narrative. Stop searching for perfect moments and live your life.

The tracks on “Melodrama” that meant the most to me weren’t necessarily the singles. “The Louvre” explores being lovestruck with a previous relationship. “Our thing progresses, I call and you come through. Blow all my friendships / To sit in hell with you. But we’re the greatest / They’ll hang us in the Louvre. Down the back, but who cares—still the Louvre.”

Falling in love produces this sense of euphoria, one that may also be present at these house parties. A love that is worthy of one of the most

Courtesy of Patrick Tanella

contented teens everywhere.

A four-year period between albums can feel like an eternity. Like the fans of Frank Ocean, an artist who is notorious for pushing back his music, fans of Lorde were eager for something more after her brilliant debut album “Pure Heroine” launched her to pop stardom in 2013. From the moment I heard “Royals,” I knew that she was not an artist I would ever forget.

As Lorde has described in interviews and during her live shows, “Melodrama” takes the listener through the highs and lows of a house party. It has a particular start and finish, and is meant to be listened to in order. Lorde dropped “Green Light,” the first promotional single for “Melodrama,” in March and it wholeheartedly diverged from the work she had put out into the world before.

“Green Light” does not follow the normal recipe for a pop masterpiece, with a piano instrumental crescendoing into an overwhelming beat. But isn’t that similar to the fluctuations of a house party? The music begins and the guests start vibing, until suddenly a beat drops and the world around them breaks into chaos.

It is not my favorite song on the album by any means, but “Green Light” provides an excellent introduction to a breathtaking album, and the world of “Melodrama.” The lyrics “Thought you said that you would always be in love, but you’re not in love no more” cling to you, carrying you through the rest of the album.

The following single, “Liability,” is a beautiful ballad that Lorde wrote for herself and for anyone that feels like they don’t belong or are a nuisance to others. Many teens, especially those in college, may be struggling to find a place in the world, and Lorde understands that. One feels like she is speaking directly to them in “Liability.” Her words aren’t hollow or contrived, but rather come from a place of understanding. It ends with the haunting lyrics, “They’re all gonna watch me disappear into the sun.”

On “Sober,” which is directly after “Green

With her sophomore album, Lorde has re-established herself as the queen of the alternative pop industry. Her writing ability is unmatched, and her lyrics could break even the coldest heart.

famous museums in the world may seem over the top, but an inundation of feelings always accompanies being in love. The lyrics “Broadcast the boom boom boom and make ’em all dance to it” are accompanied by a beautiful bass guitar that further induces a dreamlike state.

“In my head, I play a supercut of us.” In the opening lines of “Supercut,” my personal favorite song on the album, Lorde looks back on the positive aspects of a previous relationship while realizing most parts of it were idealized. She focuses on how a relationship should be rather than how it truly is, blinded by her imagination.

“Cause in my head (in my head, I do everything right). When you call (when you call, I’ll forgive and not fight). Because ours are the moments I play in the dark. We were wild and fluorescent, come home to my heart.”

Everyone plays short films in their head of the best parts of a relationship, whether it be romantic or just a friendship. You don’t think of all of the bad attributes when you are in a dreamlike state.

“Melodrama” is not a reiteration of the sounds of “Pure Heroine.” Rather, it continues to expand on Lorde’s profound storytelling ability. It is my favorite album of the year so far, and I hope that Lorde gets the recognition she deserves as an artist.

I had the opportunity to see her live for the first time at The Governors Ball Music Festival, and her performance was exquisite. The way she interacts with the crowd provides a special connection between a fan and an artist, a connection that I have never felt before. You feel as though she is speaking to you directly, whether it be in the lines of her song or from 200 hundred feet away as her legs dangle off the edge of the stage as she sings, “I’m a liability.”

Lorde is one of the best songwriters of our generation, as she is particularly capable in weaving her own personal stories into beautiful, unforgettable tracks that still are able to project universal themes of love, loneliness and heartbreak.

‘Before’ trilogy enhances the art of romantic storytelling Lucy Ellman Columnist The Before Trilogy

Richard Linklater Columbia Pictures

n the latest installment of Lucy-watchesthings-that-came-out-years-ago-that-no-longer-need-reviewing, I decided to check out The “Before” Trilogy. I know, “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight” all sound like the titles of 99-cent romance novels you can pick up at CVS along with eyedrops and a Claritin refill, but they’re actually really good.

Directed by Richard Linklater, The “Before” Trilogy follows the lives of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), who meet on a train headed to Paris in 1994. The films cover the intersection of their lives every nine years, each creating a little window into the evolution of Jesse and Celine over a nearly 20-year span as the world also changes around them.

Filmed every nine years, they are the tiniest epics you’ll ever watch, but they make up for it in its heartwarming sentimentality. The most recent installment, “Before Midnight,” was released in 2013, when the pair have just reached their forties.

I never thought much about Richard Linklater—the guy who directed “School of Rock,” the “Bad News Bears” reboot and, oh yeah, “Boyhood”—until I saw these films. There were parts of “Boyhood” I liked, but a lot that fell flat.

He seemed to be reaching towards something great, but never quite getting there. The “Before” Trilogy is that something.

All of the deep, meaningful conversations that failed to land in “Boyhood” work beautifully in The “Before” Trilogy. Each film involves lots of wandering around elegant European cities and talking romantically to one another, but the dialogue never delves into the pretentious nature of many romance films.

Conversations are entirely natural and deliv-

Courtesy of The Criterion Collection

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ered through exquisite performances by Hawke and Delpy, who carry the films as the series’ only consistent characters. Their chemistry together is some of the best I’ve ever seen onscreen. In a rare few moments when the conversations reach a standstill, Linklater lets the camera hold on their wordless interactions: listening to a Kath Bloom song in a listening booth in Vienna or walking up a creaky staircase in Paris. The tension is tangible and it’s absolutely riveting to watch.

The collaboration between filmmaker and actors is probably the secret behind these masterpieces of romantic cinema. Besides the first film, which had a basic outline of a screenplay going in, each film is co-written by Linklater, Hawke and Delpy. Their collaboration makes the dialogue soar, with each story flowing effortlessly into the next until you’re collapsed in puddle on the floor weeping inconsolably. Note: I was one of those weeping last weekend, and no I am not at all ashamed..

The second of the trilogy, “Before Sunset,” occurs almost in real time, with long takes that evoke theater rather than the choppiness of modern cinema. Even though each film is a snapshot of their much greater and more complicated lives, you understand and feel for these characters. Even though your collective time together only spans a few hours, you feel like you’ve known them your entire life and are deeply tied to every single action, every single heartbreak.

[SIDE NOTE: Like the “Before” films, my life has also intersected with Ethan Hawke in strange and mysterious ways. In 2013 I saw him play Macbeth at Lincoln Center. A few years later I ate lunch next to him in the Retreat. I don’t know what Ethan Hawke was doing at Vassar, but a few weeks later I saw him again on TV. At the Oscars. He had just been nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actor for “Boyhood.” I thought then that was the end of our lives intersecting but after watching these films I was wrong. If you’re reading this, Ethan, I think we’re meant to be. Feel free to email The Miscellany News for my contact info. I’m a big fan].

Perhaps the key to these films is their ability

While the first film came out in the ’90s, The “Before” Trilogy has remained relevant today and provides a glimpse of hope that romance is not dead—at least not in these heart-warming films. to transcend the overdone, schmaltzy stereotypes of the mainstream romantic movie genre.

In a world full of Nicholas Sparks-esque romances, these films are often so gooey and oversaturated with sentimentality that you leave the theater wanting to throw up rather than go looking for the love of your life.

The issue with romance movies nowadays is that they’re afraid to talk about anything other than romance. The best of romantic dramas are about more than just finding “the one.” They talk about life. Your times together as well as apart, and what that other person can do to make your lives together just a little bit better.

In the first film, Jesse and Celine are reaching the end of their (presumably only) night together, and Celine says, “If there’s any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something.”

These films aren’t looking to create some perfect love story—the films barely have a plot

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

to begin with—but rather to show what it means to really get to know someone, and the importance of that connection with others. It’s real, it’s gritty and it doesn’t hold back.

Maybe it’s because I’m about to go abroad and the thought of meeting a stranger on a train in some idyllic European city sounds kind of nice, but these movies are just really good. They’ve changed the way I think about meeting people, or telling stories in general.

In a world full of social networking apps and asking people on a date through a Facebook message, this gives me some semblance of hope that true romance is not yet dead. And if you need another recommendation, an anonymous source tells me, “When did Ethan Hawke become hot?? This movie [“Before Sunrise”].

That’s when.”

Go pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a box of tissues and get ready for the heterosexual tears to flow.

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September 7, 2017

New film shows Buffet as endearing, kind-hearted soul Isabel Braham Columnist Becoming Warren Buffett

Oakes, Kunhardt HBO

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Courtesy of CNBC

e’ve all heard a lot about some of the richest people in the world: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg. Many of us know the stories of how these billionaires persevered for their success, but also recognize their problematic missteps along the way.

Let me introduce to you another icon that challenges this flawed billionaire archetype: revered stock prodigy and business magnate from Omaha, NE, Warren Buffett. According to the new documentary made about his life, “Becoming Warren Buffett,” he may be stupidly rich, but unlike other billionaire legends, the documentary argues that Buffett is a morally infallible human being.

Warren Buffett was always someone I had heard of but didn’t know a lot about, so I decided to give this new documentary a try. Directed by Brian Oakes and Peter Kunhardt, “Becoming Warren Buffett” outlines Buffett’s whole life and career. It traces his early childhood and exposes his deep love for his wife Susan, while delving into his career success as an investor and discussing his gifts and blatant privileges. While the information in the movie is laid out in a plain manner, the final message of the movie is one of awe: Buffett is one of the most lovable, sensitive and effortlessly genius people the world has to offer, or at least that is what the makers of the documentary believe.

The documentary is simple and typical in its structure. Interviews with Buffett are interwoven with clips of him living his humble life, eating three-dollar McDonald’s breakfasts and discussing his love of reading. There are also ample interviews with Buffett’s friends and family, dramatic newspaper headlines and the quintessential senti-

mental music at the end.

The plain style of the documentary wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—I liked how it was easy to understand—but there were parts that came off a little too predictable. I especially found the ending, where the movie played pensive music and featured Warren Buffett saying inspiring things while panoramas of sunsets and fields flashed on the screen, to be sappy, even though I do admit that I teared up a little bit.

My main criticism of the documentary, though, lies in the fact that the movie didn’t have one negative thing to say about the multibillionaire. The film depicts Buffett as a saint—he is all at once an economic prodigy, a loyal husband, a mindful philanthropist and an overall kind-hearted soul.

With a humble Midwestern beginning, Buffet shows us how if you work hard enough at something you have an interest in, you can achieve the American Dream—and then help others when you’ve made it to the top. He is stunningly honest, incredibly wise. He gives away all his money to help the less fortunate. You think, “How sincere!

How sweet! Our hero!”

But to me, this is too suspicious. Every time someone praised him in the documentary, I couldn’t help but ponder whether the documentary was simply over-glorifying Buffett or if the man truly is God’s gift to humankind. Surely, he has to have some flaws, and perhaps if the movie portrayed some sort of complexity to his character, it would have been a little more interesting. In fact, the portrayal of Buffett in the movie reminded me of that one person we all know who you secretly despise because they are just too absurdly perfect.

With Buffett’s foolproof character, I wanted there to be some chaos or at least one scandal. The movie did try to have a moment of trouble when it talked about the Salomon Brothers crisis. In the late 1980s, an investment bank called the Salomon Brothers went under investigation for risky bond trading. The firm was destined to go bankrupt, but thanks to Warren Buffet, who invested millions of dollars into the company, the investment bank was able to stay afloat. Here is where the documentary

While billionaires are usually viewed as rich and selfish, but this doc argues that Warren Buffet does not fit the stereotype. He has given back to the world around him, and is quite endearing. played some intense music and flashed controversial newspaper headlines across the screen. But alas, the “scandal” doesn’t even reflect a personal struggle of Buffett’s, and as expected, he comes in, saves the day and appears even more honest and thoughtful than before. Buffett even says, and in an effortless tone that makes you wonder why someone wouldn’t have obviously invested all their money in a risky move to save a business, that “the company had 8,000 people that needed to be employed.” “Wow, what a kind guy,” you think.

The movie isn’t entirely ridiculous in equating Buffett with self-made perfection, however. There are a few moments that scrutinize Buffett’s obvious privilege that allowed him to get so far in his career. There are times when Buffet proclaims in innocent revelations that being a “male in the U.S.” gave him a huge advantage in life or that he

can’t understand why someone would be treated differently because of the color of their skin. Additionally, in interviews with Susan Buffett, Warren Buffett’s wife, she discusses how her husband transformed into a more philanthropic person and liberal-minded individual due to her influence. I think that his social awareness was important for the documentary to touch on because it showed the audience that Buffett’s success wasn’t solely based on his abilities, but also on his societal situation, bringing the billionaire back down to earth.

Perhaps I am being too skeptical of such a kind, practical person. Regardless of how much the movie glorifies him, Warren Buffett really is a remarkable individual. I would recommend it only if you are interested in learning more about this shy billionaire, and it left me questioning whether he is too endearing to be real!

‘Big Fish Theory’ establishes Staples as a notable artist James Christon Columnist Big Fish Theory

Vince Staples Def Jam Recordings

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And this example is just from the opener. “Big Fish Theory” is 36 minutes long and it is 36 minutes of intense, boundary-pushing hip-hop. In terms of beats, in terms of verses and in terms of production, this album does everything exceptionally.

Even the tracks that took me the longest to come around to—which include “Homage,” “Samo” and “Party People”—don’t stray from this level of quality at all. Rather, they just simply have the bad luck of being placed in the three-song bridge between the absolutely stellar “Yeah Right” and equally brilliant “BagBak.” It’s not a fault of the album, it’s just me being nitpicky on an excellent album.

This is one of those albums where I can confidently say the worst thing about it is that it ends.

And it ends quickly. 36 minutes may seem very short to any fan of Staples, but conciseness is a lost art among hip-hop today.

Staples could have easily made this a true novel

of an album like “Summertime ’06.” But the fact that he keeps the runtime short proves that it isn’t runtime that determines the size of the fish.

I do have two points I want to end on. The first is that this album isn’t just Staples’s undertaking: Kilo Kish is all over this album and absolutely helps craft it into the special project that it is. Kish performed at Vassar last year, which is something I find really special.

Another closing remark I have is that I just want more. I can’t wait to see where Staples goes from this album., as he has established himself as a truly formidable artist in a crowded industry filled with repeated sounds. I’m anxiously awaiting Staples’s next feature, EP or whatever content I can listen to next. With “Big Fish Theory” Staples solidifies his place in a comprehensive list of hip-hop artists that leave me craving more, a list which features the likes of such artists as Danny Brown, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Earl Sweatshirt. Good company to be in for sure.

Courtesy of Wikimedia

ince Staples is the funniest rapper in the game. No question about that. Not even a debate. Watch his Hot Ones interview, watch him discuss NBA players with Hannibal Buress or even his Snapchat stories. The man is hilarious. No modern musician is as successful as Vince Staples at being a comedian on the side.

While his comedic demeanor is endearing, Staples is a rapper first, and he is definitely one of the best out there right now. Recently, he found more mainstream success in the industry by being featured on Gorillaz’ “Ascension” from their new album “Humanz.”He also dropped one of the best hip-hop projects of the summer. “Big Fish Theory” is an ambitious, highly entertaining album.

This album is the follow-up to Staples’s commercial full-length debut “Summertime ’06.” “’06” is a double-album, which is to say it is a bloated album. But it still had enough high moments sparsed throughout the album to put Staples on the map. A good double-album in the hip-hop genre is a true Outkast within the genre.

Outkast set this grand standard, and Staples is continuing in the same vein. So, if anything, Staples’s biggest crime on this last album is his ambition.

Staples’s sin is carried over onto this album as well: “Big Fish Theory” is a short, energetic and wild hip-hop album that tries to blend electronic dance music with traditional hip-hop. I think that this ambition on Staples’s part pays off. “Big Fish Theory” scratched that boundary-pushing itch that Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” just couldn’t’ satisfy for me.

While “DAMN.” is one of the best albums of the year and shaped the hip-hop industry for the future, I believe that “Big Fish Theory” deserves just as much recognition. The biggest success of “Big

Fish Theory,” and the one that keeps drawing me back to it, is its tremendous energy.

This overabundance of energy was a huge surprise for me, and I don’t think I’m the only one to feel this surprise. Vince Staples used to excel on tracks that were slower than the average track.

There was a reason Earl Sweatshirt was the MC to put Staples on the map and not Tyler, the Creator.

Both Earl and Staples were more lyric- and delivery-focused than the songs itself. which is a style of hip-hop that both of these artists have grown past.

But now we have to throw this idea of Staples being a slow-paced rapper out the window. This isn’t to say that Staples traded in his thoughtful lyrics for lesser-quality content. What makes this album so excellent, in my opinion, is how Staples was able to keep the same level of technical fidelity while delivering tracks that are filled to the brim with energy.

The most concise example of this wild precision is on the penultimate track “BagBak.” This track has the clearest heavy electronic influence with its fast, repetitive hook and synthy beat. And Staples just brings his best to this track: His verses float where there’s space in the beat and crash down with power on the rhymes. This is all to say neither of the two parts of this song overshadow the other. The beat complements Staples and Staples complements the beat. I cannot imagine anyone else rapping over this beat.

Another great aspect of Staples’s delivery that I absolutely love on this album is how he emphasises the last three words of his lines. Instead of placing the emphasis of his bars on the rhyme, Staples emphasizes the stresses of syllables at the end of his lines. On it’s own, this doesn’t sound too impressive. But in reality, when Staples is able to accomplish this at a frantic pace, the achievement becomes that much more impressive.

The best place we can see this on the album is on the opener, “Crabs in a Bucket,” where Staples raps: “Prolly ’cause I’m feelin’ like the world gon’ crash / Read a hundred somethin’ on the E-class dash / If I’m feelin’ funny, guaranteed gon’ flash.”

Again, reading it is one thing. But actually hearing Staples rap verses like these over the eccentric beats on this album is a real treat.

With his newest album “Big Fish Theory,” which combines technical mastery with boundless energy, Vince Staples has become the artist to watch. The only problem? You’re left yearning for more.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

September 7, 2017

Campus Canvas

ARTS A weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists

Page 17 submit to misc@vassar.edu

Excuse me, What is your favorite insect that you have encountered at Vassar?

“Cockroaches that crawl up from under the floorboards in the Raymond basement. They’re big enough to be a pet.”

— Noah Pliss ’20

“I saw this creepy bug. I don’t know what it’s called. It was black and thin and long” — Karla Acosta ’19

“Silverfish that roam the walls like living art while you’re trying to sleep or study.”

— Daniel Doyon ’21

“A cockroach like that big in the shower” — Mackenzie Nielsen ’20

“A butterfly” — Lena Stevens ’21

Hi, my name is Gentry Laughlin ’19 (she, her, hers) and I am a Geography and French major here at Vassar. I started documenting my life through photography when I was a freshman in high school, and since then I have used it as my primary creative outlet and a form of self-reflection. As a geography major, I am particularly interested in how people as subjects interact within their environments. At the beginning of this past summer I was lucky enough to go on a research trip to Iceland through the Earth Science and Biology departments. While staying at a field station along a fjord on the eastern coast of the country, I was able to document my trip through the actions of students and locals working alongside unique and complex landscapes.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

“The crunchy, dead fly” — Jenny Luo ’20

Leah Cates, Humor & Satire Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire

SPORTS

Page 18

September 7, 2017

Fall sports start up strong, still undefeated in football PREVIEW continued from page 1

Why

we

Vassar is fortunate to have so many talented and dedicated student-athletes on campus. This year, The Miscellany News would like to highlight the voices and stories of these athletes. “Why We Play” will be a weekly installment in the Sports section where Vassar players will have the opportunity to speak about what their chosen sport means to them. To start us off, we are excited to have sophomore Will Dwyer write about the challenges and triumphs he has faced as a runner for Vassar’s cross country and track teams. hy do we play? That’s a good question, one I must have heard a few hundred times by now. Every time, people expect a complicated response, as if there were some sort of divine motivator that drives me out of bed every day to put my Mizunos on. Legitimately so, I suppose, since for so many of us running is just synonymous with side stitches and dry heaving.

But the truth is no matter how many times I am asked, I am always left stumped and I wonder, Is there, in fact, a reason why I run?

Let’s be honest, you could spend hours pondering the reasons and motives behind any of your life decisions. But when something takes over your life, your thoughts and your dreams as much as running has for me, it becomes important to know and remember the reason how it all started.

I started track my junior year of high school, so in the running world, I am still sort of a baby.

Maybe a toddler by now. Anyway, old high school runner me was a baby, and like most babies, I didn’t spend too much time thinking

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a new program best with six wins in conference play, good for a second-place finish. Eight starters from the last season are back in play, including three of the top five point producers.

The women’s golf team returns to the course for what is shaping up to be another strong season. Returning for her senior year is Annie Hsu, along with sophomores Qiwen Tan and Andrea Han, who all found success on the course last year. The women finished fourth in the 2016 Liberty League championships, with Han posting the lowest score of 156 through two matches.

This past Saturday, in their first match of the new season, the Brewers topped Union 3-2. Hsu, Tan and Han all defeated their respective opponents.

The women’s golf team will travel to Canton, NY, for the St. Lawrence invitational next weekend.

After an appearance in the Liberty League championship last year, the women’s volleyball team is setting up for another successful season.

Coach Jonathan Penn’s team is welcoming back three players who played on the Liberty League first team:juniors Devan Gallagher and Annie MacMillan, as well as sophomore Jane McLeod.

In their opening weekend, the volleyball Brewers went 2-2. In their first match of the weekend, the team pulled through with a 3-2 win against Lebanon Valley College. The team then fell 0-3 to nationally ranked Juniata College but secured a 3-0 win the next day against the Coast Guard Academy. In their final match of the weekend the Brewers were defeated University of Rochester.

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The men’s cross country team is shaping up to have another ground-breaking season. The team is returning five incredibly fast and dedicated seniors, who will be complimented by an incoming group of eight first-years. Senior Michael Scarlett has been the leading runner for the Brewers the past two seasons and is expected to continue to push the team to new heights. Seniors Phillip Brown, Jared Freedman, Jessie Schatz and Anthony Manokin are also expected to be influenital this fall. In their first race of the 2017 season, the Brewers placed second out of four teams. Scarlett finished first for the third year in a row, shaving 10 seconds off his time from last year. Several Brewer runners beat their times from last season.

The women’s cross country team started off the 2017 season in impeccable fashion. The Brewers placed first in their season opener meet in a narrow victory over New York University. After having graduated several seniors who consistently led the pack, this year’s cross country team is lacking a regular first place finisher. However, this is expected to help the team push one another in practices and in races in a style that is different than in years past. Returning to the team for her senior season is Savannah Wiman, who is expected to fill a leadership role this year. Wiman finished fifth overall this past weekend and first for Vassar. Junior Christiana Prater-Lee, sophomore Erin Clark and senior Kate Voegtlin all contributed to Vassar’s first place finish in their season opener this past weekend against NYU.

Courtesy of Carlisle Stockton

the Liberty League propelled the Brewers to the NCAA tournament, where their season ended in a close game against Elizabethtown College.

With a unit of seven experienced seniors, as well as a competitive group of juniors and underclassmen, the Brewers have a strong foundation in place for another successful season. On the offensive end, sophomore Mattie Mrlik is slotted to be the team’s main option at forward. Last year, Mrlik led the team with 29 points as only a first-year. On the other side of the ball, juniors Tyler Gilmore and Tim Collins, along with senior Tanner Sands, are the backbone of a defense that posted eight shutouts last season. Although they are the reigning Liberty League champions, Senior Captain Hayden Van Brewer does not want to write it off as an easy season.

“We know that we’re going to have to work very hard to have a successful season and we are looking forward to the challenge,” Van Brewer noted. “We need players who want to step up and take responsibility”. The Brewers have already started their season out on the right foot, posting two dominating wins this past weekend against Western Connecticut State and Mount Saint Mary College.

The women’s soccer squad kicked off their 2017 campaign this past weekend with a 2-2 tie against Montclair State and a 0-2 loss against New York University. The Brewers are coming off of an incredibly successful 2016 season, in which they set

Vassar Field Hockey Junior Captain Meagan Caveny lays it all out on this long shot in the Betty Richey Tournament this past weekend.

Will Dwyer, Runner

about intrinsic motivation; all I wanted was to toddle—sorry, I should say, “run—around”.

Things changed when I got to college, however: 45-minute practices turned into two-hour grinds, long runs became longer runs and I discovered a whole new level of soreness in muscles I didn’t even know I had. On top of that, I also happened to have a coach that particularly liked to ask his runners the dreaded “Why?” during our season meetings. Uh-oh. Quick, come up with a smart, not too cheesy response!

And as I sat there anxiously searching for an answer, I realized that it was infinitely easier to come up with reasons why I don’t NOT run. In fact, I could come up with a dozen different ones off the top of my head. To give you a few examples: If I didn’t run I would probably have to restrict myself to two hamburgers instead of four, I wouldn’t get those sick free team shirts and I would probably have much smaller quads. And while I certainly wouldn’t blurt any of those answers out in a team meeting, I do still perceive them as welcomed, rather pleasant side-effects of running 60 miles a week. As for the reason why I run, well, that one took me much more time—and quite a bit of blood—to figure out.

I came in from high school with the confidence of having just run in a national championship and with a head full of dreams. And for a month, everything was going great! I exceeded my own expectations and even survived my first 8K. Then October came around, and with it came a feeling I would get to know all too well over the course of the school year: the dreaded

Courtesy of William Dwyer

Will Dwyer ’20 takes time to reflect after a run on his hometown track in Irvington, NY. After overcoming anemia in his freshmen season, he finished 3rd for Vassar this past weekend.

“Dead Legs”. You see, for us runners, few things are more important than being light on our feet.

Being bouncy, swift, having that pep in your step, is what makes the difference between a good runner and a beautiful runner. There were a few races during my last high school track season where I began to feel like I was venturing into beautiful runner territory. I was just beginning to scratch the surface. And then came my first college winter. With every passing week, every practice, my once smooth stride became heavier and heavier, uglier and uglier. One of my coaches liked to say it looked as if my legs were filled with lead. Little did he know, he was actually not too far from the truth. It was not from lead that I was suffering but from another metal, or rather, the lack thereof: iron.

It took six months from when I noticed these changes until I was finally diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. Though fairly common in runners, anemia can be a real buzzkill. What it basically means is a reduced ability for red blood cells to carry oxygen to muscles, which, if you’re an endurance athlete, means massive lactic acid production and a very unpleasant feeling of not being able to move. Being diagnosed with anemia is usually not welcomed as good news and yet, in the moment, all I felt was relief.

I felt relieved because for six months I had been looking for problems where there were none.

And believe me, I looked everywhere. I slept 10 hours a night, ate my greens at every meal and completely stopped going out. I ran more and I ran longer, I meditated to strengthen my mind and I started a diary for motivation. I tried everything. And nothing was working. Agh. Just thinking about it makes me feel ANGRY! I felt helpless. I wanted to quit. I thought about quitting, I really did.

There was this one day during the winter, after a treadmill workout that I wasn’t able to finish. I ran around the athletics complex for my cool-down, hot tears rushing down my wind-frozen cheeks. I wanted to scream but someone would have heard me and that would have been awkward. In the moment, all I wanted was to quit and never feel the pain again. The physical pain was one thing but the hardest blow was to my ego. I beat myself to the ground during that cool-down. I thought the problem was in my head, I thought I was just being weak.

I cursed myself for being so soft and ran an extra mile, maybe a little faster than I should have.

I did make one good decision that day, however. I sent an email to one of my high school coaches. I said it all, in that email. All the frustration, all the worthless sacrifices, packed in three little paragraphs, with a subject line that read “S.O.S.” I think in the moment I wanted him to reply and admire me for my tenacity, and tell me to keep working and that things would get

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

better soon. Yes, I wanted actual answers to my problem, but what I sought most desperately was praise for my wounded pride. What I did not expect was for him to tell me to stop running.

I will always remember his words. He told me frankly, that it looked like I could use a break so I could get back to the pure enjoyment of running. At the end of his response he said maybe I had let running take over my life and he asked me a simple question. Am I living to run or running to live? At first, his response stressed me out even more. Stop running? Impossible!!

But when my diagnosis came out a few weeks later and I had no choice but to stop running, I thought about the email again. I began to think maybe a break was not all that bad, but it honestly wasn’t until I started writing this piece.

After taking a month completely off from running, another six weeks with a very lightened load and without the stress of competition, I was finally able to take a big step back. I could see my first year of college not only as a year of struggles and frustration but also as a valuable lesson. I can see my senior year of high school not only as glory once past but as a reminder to run simple. And I can see my years of college ahead not with the fear of disappointment, but with confidence and excitement.

I also realized that without my daily run, something was missing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it left a gaping, insurmountable void in my life either, but around 3:30 p.m., when I would normally be at practice, I often caught myself feeling melancholic and longing for a nice trail run. I woke up in the morning in a worse mood than I used to and I went to sleep at night without the satisfaction of having completed a tough workout. I was more irritable, more stressed out, and a bit less me.

With this year behind me, everything seems so much simpler. Though I am somewhat saddened it took so much time and pain to figure it all out, I refuse to think of my freshman year as a waste in terms of running. For eight months I have run alongside talented and supportive teammates, under the watchful eye of coaches who never once gave up on me. And even on all those miles that I dragged myself looking like I was running underwater, I did so wearing the six letters and the colors of a school that I can now proudly call home.

So why am I always running, you ask? Because it makes me happy, dammit!

Will Dwyer opened up his sophomore season on a high note, finishing in 3rd place for Vassar at the Vassar College Season Starter this past weekend. If you are a student-athlete interested in writing a reflective piece on your sport, please feel free to email mliederman[a]@vassar.edu and rpinataro@[a]vassar.edu.

SPORTS

September 7, 2017

Page 19

Money Fight Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade ushers gets it right in new era in NBA, reflects new mindset on big night T Mack Liederman

analyze the uniquely ambiguous motives of the mega deal, the influences that made it happen, and what it means for the future of the league.

To begin to unpack the trade, let’s start with Kyrie Irving. Just by scratching the surface, it’s hard to believe why a player, possessing already one of the highest usage rates in the league, would want to leave a team destined for their 4th straight Finals appearance.

A deeper look shows that Kyrie is taking a calculated risk that bets on his long term future.

By stepping out of LeBron James’ shadow, Irving gains the chance to be the face of a franchise.

He leaves a declining team riddled by chemistry and management issues for a team with a warchest of assets and no place to go but up.

Irving preempts a potential LeBron departure, and dodges the unfortunate outcome where he is the last one to turn the lights out in Cleveland.

Irving hurts his brand in the present to protect it in the future.

Through the eyes of the Celtics, the trade is a divisive step in continuing their upward trajectory.

On the plus side, Boston picks up a franchise player that is destined for all-star consistency over the next decade, and avoids inking a monster contract for Isaiah Thomas, whose size might prevent him from ever turning the corner into superstardom.

In the same breath, the Celtics turn their back on the player who changed their franchise, and who also fully embodied and embraced their city.

To his credit, and also his fault, General Manager Danny Ainge cuts out his heart in order to build himself a better hand.

Considering his keen eye to see that last year’s Celtics, a ragtag group of misfits united only by great coaching, could never move past the meticulously constructed Warriors, Ainge was wise to the pull trigger. Ainge’s best hope

Sports Editor

Robert Pinataro Sports Editor

M

illions placed their bets, manypicked their sides, and everyone had Aug. 26 marked on their calendars. It was a battle like no other: champions of two vastly different sports battling it out to determine the world’s best fighter. Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr., left two years of retirement to defend his belt against young MMA champion Conor McGregor.

Mayweather went into the fight with a 49-0 record, while McGregor entered the fight 22-3.

Going into the fight, Mayweather was overwhelmingly the favorite. Although McGregor has a significantly less impressive record in a less renowned sport, it is important to note that his three losses came from submission. McGregor is undefeated standing up, and it is widely acknowledged that boxing is his best skill as a fighter. As the fight drew closer, the media went wild with the idea of this boxing vs. MMA superfight. The fight proved that great MMA fighters can hold their own against great boxers.

In the highly publicized hype prior to the fight, Mayweather acknowledged that his fans were unhappy with his most recent performance against Manny Pacquiao and publicly stated that he would be much more aggressive with McGregor. McGregor, in turn, reassured the media that he would stay true to form and be aggressive from the moment the first round began until the fight had ended.

The match was nothing short of incredible. As promised, McGregor came out of the gate hot.

Through the first five rounds, it was clear that McGregor was dominating Mayweather. Then, the tides began to turn in round six. This was the beginning of the end for McGregor. He became visually fatigued and was landing fewer punches, while Mayweather began landing some bigger punches. McGregor showed some resilience in rounds seven and eight, even though it appeared that Mayweather took those rounds. McGregor came out swinging in round nine, landing a hard body shot that hurt Mayweather badly.

Despite being hurt, Mayweather bounced back and dominated the round. McGregor was stumbling around, clearly not holding up well against the barrage of punches from Mayweather, who seemed to have recovered from the early body shot by the end of the round. Round 10, the final round, brought the fight to a close when Mayweather landed two hard right hands that put McGregor against the ropes. Mayweather took a step in to land another big punch, when the referee stepped in and ended the fight. Mayweather won by TKO, defending his belt and his sport of boxing. He improved his record to 50-0, passing Rocky Marciano’s record (49-0) and leaving an even greater legacy behind him.

For McGregor, this loss is not as big as it seems. MMA is by no means boxing, and in the eyes of fans around the world, he was supposed to lose this fight. The impact on the integrity of the sport of boxing would have been devastating if a mixed martial artist beat a boxer with one of the best records of all time. And let’s not forget, it would have been disastrous for Las Vegas. The odds were in favor of Mayweather, but so many bets had been placed on McGregor that the money lost by the casinos in Vegas would have been the newest installment of the financial crisis.

Fortunately, no harm to boxing (or monstrous payouts) came to be, as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., solidified his place among the boxing greats.

he culture of the NBA has changed drastically. And for top-level players navigating this new hyper-competitive landscape, nothing is more important than strategic positioning. To earn a shot at NBA stardom, players now have to best their rivals both on and off the court, both in season and off.

This cutthroat race to the top has led elite players to make bolder (and thus more intensely scrutinized) career moves. As much as all-star caliber players may try to soften these decisions to leave behind the city that adopted them, there is no doubt that free agency culture has finally outplaced team loyalty.

In what has been the exclamation point on the wildest offseason of all-time, the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade, purely based on its colossal shock value, best exemplifies the mindset of the new NBA. Never before have two players coming off seasons averaging 25-plus points per game been traded for each other. Never before have two teams both sitting side-by-side at the top of a division rivalry swapped their stars.

Ultimately, never before have players and general managers been this unafraid to risk it all to win it all.

Since the deal has been completed, most of the talk by pundits and around watercoolers has been dedicated to who won the trade.

This is the great debate that is entirely unprecedented in the NBA. Most trades are clearly one-sided and display obvious motives, with one team positioning themselves towards an immediate championship run, while the other dumps their unwanted contracts in preparation for the long-term future.

Although the rarity of this type of trade makes it very tempting to focus discussion on prematurely picking a side, it is much more valuable to

is that by the time the Warriors inevitably blow up (all empires inevitably fall), Boston will boast two superstars, and players like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would have developed into all-stars.

On the other hand, Boston’s new group of players might turn out to be ill-fitted. Kyrie Irving, a player who thrives off of isolation plays and ball dominance, might not buy into the detailed Brad Stevens offensive system.

A player like Gordon Hayward may be destined for decline, as he joins a team in which he is no longer the offensive focal point and must now work under the shadow of a perennial ball hog in Irving.

While Boston takes a gamble, Cleveland takes an even bigger risk.

Cleveland ditches their disgruntled superstar, fixing their team chemistry issues and replacing him with the next best point guard available. Although less talented, the Cavs stay relevant and come out more intact, making it that much harder for LeBron to leave town after next season.

The risk that Cleveland takes factors in when their talent pool is reevaluated. Isaiah Thomas is unlikely to put up the numbers he did last season, as his new role and small size might prevent him from thriving in Cleveland’s isolation offense.

The mega-deal holds new risks and rewards for both teams, created in one fell swoop. In a league where players are now unafraid to chase titles, general managers are forced to adjust and take their own calculated risks. Thus, the Cleveland-Boston trade finally breaks the ice on the mega-deal, moving blockbuster trades into the realm of reality.

As this new NBA continues to progress, expect to see more mega-trades off seasons to come.

In the meantime, expect to see a very intriguing Eastern Conference Finals.

Men’s Soccer

Vassar College 3, Mount Saint Mary 1 September 3, 2017

Vassar College POS GK D D M M D F M D D F S S S S S S

Player

Sh

Mount Saint Mary

SOG

G

A

POS

Player

Sh

SOG

GK M F M D F M M D D D S S S S S S S S

Myrtja Stark Dolan Ciani Fuge Watts Bacalhau Mesoraca Graham Caronia Whitford Rapp Marchese Lynch Sadofsky Antisell Beleno Iaria Marcantonio

0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals.......

6

3

1

0

GA

Saves

Marcelino Sands Gilmore Smith Stansell Olsson Novas Van Brewer Collins Lukasik Mrlik Lefeber Goldsmith Bow Yeaney Baliat Barrat Heitmann

0 1 4 1 3 2 0 6 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 2 0 1 1 0 5 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals.......

23

14

3

4

Goalie Marcelino Lefeber

Minutes 76:00 14:00

GA

Saves

1 0

1 1

Goalie Myrtja Rapp

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Minutes 45:00 45:00

1 2

G

A

5 6

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