The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CLI | Issue 13
January 31, 2019
Institution Jones to speak at Commencement JYA-ers critiques face room Title IX S troubles Jessica Moss
Assistant News Editor
ocial advocacy, political awareness and activism thread students of Vassar’s Class of 2019 together, connecting them and characterizing their time at VasLucy Leonard sar as they prepare for life outside Copy Staffer of its hallowed gates. The Comn late December, Education Sec- mencement Ceremony will serve retary Betsy DeVos sent a 161- as a moment for students to reflect page document to every college upon their college experiences, inand university that receives federal spiring them as they are thrust into funding. The document contains their futures. Possessing similar the Department of Education’s qualities to the graduating class, proposed changes to Title IX, a political commentator, author and law that forbids discrimination on social justice leader Van Jones will Courtesy of Center for American Progress via Flickr the basis of sex. Each institute of deliver this year’s Commencement higher learning—whether a public address. Van Jones is slated to speak at Vassar’s 155th Commencement school funded by the government Jones is an active CNN political Ceremony. Jones is a CNN political commentator, activist and author. or a private school that receives contributor, the host of “The Van Pell and professorial grants—must Jones Show” on CNN and the au- istration in 2009 (Van Jones). dance of awards he has received, send back its opinion on the pro- thor of three books on The New Today, Jones serves on the Board some of which are spotlighted on posed changes by Jan. 30. The De- York Times Best Sellers list. A for Dream Corps, a platform he his website. These include the partment of Education will review social and environmental justice founded in 2015 that unites com- World Economic Forum’s “Young these suggestions before putting leader, Jones has founded and led peting communities to overcome Global Leader” designation; Rollthe revised law into effect. The Ella Baker Center for Human social challenges by reforming the ing Stone’s 2012 “12 Leaders Who Upon learning of the deadline, Rights, Color of Change, Rebuild criminal justice system, increasing- Get Things Done”; TIME’s 2009 members of the Student Title IX The Dream think tank, The Dream ing opportunity in the tech sector, “100 Most Influential People in Advisory committee began taking Corps and Magic Labs Media (Van building an inclusive green econo- The World”; and the Root’s 2014 action as early as Jan. 2. Under the Jones, “About Van Jones”). He was my and reducing intolerance (“Our “The Root 100” (Van Jones). guidance of Director of Equal Op- the main advocate for the Green Mission,” The Dream Corps). Vassar’s 155th Commencement portunity & Affirmative Action and Jobs Act signed by George W. Bush Jones’ accomplishments as a Ceremony will take place on SunTitle IX Officer Dr. Rachel Perei- in 2007, and he worked as the green political leader and social entre- day, May 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the outSee TITLE IX on page 4 jobs advisor for the Obama admin- preneur are reflected in the abun- door amphitheater.
I
Talya Phelps
Contributing Editor
A
lex Azuelos ’20 saw the warning signs right away when he went to retrieve his key to Raymond 518 from the Residential Operations Center. He related, “I told the guy my name and everything, and he’s looking through the keys, and his face looked a little concerned...he said, ‘So I don’t mean to alarm you,’ so I’m like, ‘Okay, this is going to be bad.’” Azuelos, who was returning from his semester abroad in Paris, learned that there was a chance the previous occupant had not moved out; indeed, when he arrived at the room, it was clearly occupied. In response, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Housing Rich Horowitz reassigned Azuelos to Raymond 411, an empty double, but with a catch: He was to refrain from unpacking, with the expectation that he could move into 518 See DOUBLE-BOOKED on page 5
Student showcases Southern Spain Gillian Redstone Abby Tarwater/The Miscellany News The Palmer Gallery’s “Flip Side” debuted with an opening reception on Jan. 24., displaying some unexpected talent in the Vassar community.
Abby Tarwater
Assistant Arts Editor
F
or those who are not professional artists, the busyness of everyday life often leaves little time for creative endeavors. The Palmer Gallery’s second Flip Side exhibition, which commenced with an opening reception on Thursday, Jan. 24 from 5-7 p.m., provided an opportunity for
Inside this issue
14
Government shutdown exacerbates OPINIONS abuse of U.S. prisoners
members of the Vassar community to display their artistic abilities. The 10 featured artists hold varied positions on campus, including administrative assistants, faculty family members and web designers. Associate Director of the Palmer Gallery Monica Church articulated the purpose of the event See FLIP SIDE on page 7
17 HUMOR
hat comes to mind when you think of visiting Spain? Probably tapas, flamenco, sangria and the cities most well known to tourists: central Madrid and to the north, Barcelona. But oft-forgotten by one-time travelers are the wonders of Southern Spain— the towering Moorish castles of Granada, the architectural treasures of Cordoba and the blended cultures of Seville. These cities may be further south and require more time staring out the train window, but they are worth every minute. Granada is 260 miles due south of Madrid in the region of Andalusia, but visitors can also fly into Malaga airport nearby. Upon entering the city, I remember feeling overwhelmed, but in the best way. Driving down the tiny, cobblestoned streets in a stick-shift in search of the hotel was quite the experience, but even more exciting adventures awaited. The undisputed crown jewel of Granada is the Alhambra, the Moor’s last stronghold in Spain before the Inquisition in 1478. I definitely recommend (as with the majority of sites in Spain and
Vassar becomes giant puddle, campus now in muddle
Europe in general) that visitors book a tour or reserve tickets of some kind in advance. The site, although massive, is the one that everyone comes to see, and it can become crowded very quickly. Despite the logistics and crowds of tourists, the Alhambra is truly magical. The detail in the palace is mind-boggling—nearly every wall, floor and ceiling is
covered in beautiful Arabic calligraphy relief, colorful tile work or geometric designs. The gardens are lined with cypress trees, and the courtyards are full of perfectly trimmed hedges and serene fountains that create a scene rightfully fit for royalty. Also be sure to look out for the different views of the entire city and of the palace See SPAIN on page 10
Gillian Redstone/The Miscellany News
Palmer features community artists
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Copy Staffer
Featured above is the architectural detail of Spain’s Great Mosque of Cordoba, renowned for these seemingly infinite striped arches.
19 SPORTS
Team cohesion reigns supreme as women’s basketball wins fourteen
The Miscellany News
Page 2
January 31, 2019
JYA Reflections
Editor-in-Chief Leah Cates
“While abroad I learned that growth can be really hard in the moment, but it’s so worth it after - I’m really grateful for my JYA experience.” - Mary Retta (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Senior Editors
Sasha Gopalakrishnan Mack Liederman
Contributing Editors
Talya Phelps Noah Purdy Charlotte Varcoe-Wolfson Laila Volpe
“One word: Châtelet.” - Joey LaCascia (Paris, France) “Good weather, great wine.” - Jonathan Hazin (Madrid, Spain)
“Cold, dark and lots of meatballs. Overall, definitely worth it.” - Jaewon Kang (Stockholm, Sweden)
“Abroad isn’t a magical Cloud Nine. Life continues, just in a new, different, beautiful backdrop. I’m happy these friends came with the beautiful scenery, and I look forward to seeing them in many other places in the future.” - Noelle Morris (Bologna, Italy)
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January
Thursday
Weekender_ 1
February
Friday
Freehand: Drawings by Inez Nathaniel-Walker
Modfest: Opening Night in the Loeb
5:30 p.m. | TH 102-Auditorium | The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
6:30 p.m. | The Loeb | Music Dept.
Modfest: Screening of Baby Driver 7:00 p.m. | Rosenwald Film Theater | Music Dept.
7:30 p.m. | Villard Room | Environmental Studies Program
Escape the Mug: Crimes Against the Humanities 8:00 p.m. | The Mug | Big Night In
Saturday
Students of Sobriety Group 9:30 a.m. | RH 211 | AA Pougkeepsie
Modfest: Viewpoints: Gesture, Music, & Performance 11:00 a.m. | EH AULA | Music Dept.
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February
Modfest: Cabaret “In Motion” Pictures 3:00 p.m. | Skinner Hall | Music Dept.
Paper Critique 9:00 p.m. | Rose Parlor | The Miscellany News
Breaking into Social Entrepreneurship, NonProfits, and Start-Ups (Alumnae/i Panels & Reception) 12:00 p.m. | NE 105-Lecture/ Seminar Room | CDO
Third Honorary Adene and Richard Wilson Concert 8:00 p.m. | SH Martel Recital Hall | Music Dept.
Modfest: Polar Bear/Walking 8:00 p.m. | Bridge Indoor Cafe | Music Dept.
Escape the Mug: Crimes Against the Humanities 8:00 p.m. | The Mug | Big Night In
Sunday
Courtesy of Vassar College via Flickr
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Come dance with your friends or come make new ones at the Winter Contra Dance on Friday, February 29th! No dancing experience necessary.
Environmental Studies Contra Dance with the Walker Family Band
2
February
This weekend is jam-packed with Modfest events, all of which are free and open to the public. The Cabaret will feature songs from “talkies.”
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Frankie Knuckles Steven Park Hannah Gaven Myles Olmsted Rose Parker Teddy Chmyz
Assistant News Jessica Moss Assistant Arts Holly Shulman Abby Tarwater Assistant Design Lilly Tipton Assistant Social Media Patrick Tanella Assistant Online Chris Allen
“Studying in Copenhagen gave me the opportunity to experience learning beyond the classroom and discover my passion for early childhood education, which I hope to continue after Vassar.” - Sami Hodes (Copenhagen, Denmark)
“Immersing myself in French culture through memes (also croissants).” - Allegra DeNooyer (Paris, France)
The Miscellany News
Features Opinions Humor and Satire Sports Design Copy
Reporters Duncan Aronson Ariana Gravinese Aena Khan Columnists Catherine Bither Jimmy Christon Christian Flemm Jesser Horowitz Dean Kopitsky Izzy Migani Emmett O’Malley Sylvan Perlmutter Taylor Stewart Blair Webber Copy Anna Blake Natalie Bober Samantha Cavagnolo Madeline Seibel Dean Amanda Herring Phoebe Jacoby Anastasia Koutavas Lucy Leonard Francesca Lucchetti Caitlin Patterson Gillian Redstone Mina Turunc Photo Yijia Hu Cartoonist Frank
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.
NEWS
January 31, 2019
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Vassar Voices connects attendees through narratives Sophie McGrath Guest Reporter
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Vassar Voices, sponsored by EPI, worked to foster communal conversation and feature underrepresented individuals through personal narrative and roundtable conversation.
tee and Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta. According to the indictment report, Stone and two associates served as middlemen between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to obtain material stolen by the Russian government attempting to influence the 2016 Presidential Election. The indictment report spells out Stone’s false and misleading testimonies in 2017 regarding contact he allegedly had with WikiLeaks in August 2016 and the extent of his contact with the organization. Republicans at various levels attempted to distance the President from the Russia investigation by emphasizing the focus on Stone’s false statements to Congress. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders responded to the news on Friday morning, stating, “The president did nothing wrong … There was no collusion” (NPR, “Roger Stone Indictment Raises More Big Questions About Russia, Trump 2016 Campaign,” 01.26.2019). Last week, the police arrested four young men in Greece, NY accused of attempting to bomb the Muslim enclave of Islamberg near the Catskill Mountains. The settlement was founded around 1980, mostly by Black Muslim converts from New York City, but conspiracy theorists and Islamophobic groups have propagated a negative portrayal of the area as a den of Jihadists and extremism. These false messages of hate on the internet motivated the arrested individuals to stockpile bombs and firearms with the intention of harming Islamberg. The community has long forged relationships with local law enforcement, state officials and neighboring towns, but it finds itself vulnerable in the age of technology. Major William F. McEvory, the regional State Police commander, corroborated, “They are law-abiding … positive, solid members of the community.” Hussein Adams, one such member whose family has resided in Islamberg for three gener-
ations, further commented,“These kids in Greece, they’ve never been to Islamberg … They go on the internet and they’re fed all this fake news and all this misinformation, and they come up with a plan” (The New York Times, “They Created a Muslim Enclave in Upstate N.Y. Then Came the Online Conspiracies,” 01.28.2019). Around the World … Officials from the United States and the Taliban agreed to a framework for a deal in which insurgents relinquish the usage of Afghan territories and may serve as a precursor to the total pullout of American troops from Afghanistan, according to Chief Negotiator and U.S. Envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. The Special Representative also stated that concessions from the Taliban would require a ceasefire agreement and direct talks with the Afghan government, with whom the Taliban have long been at odds. In an interview with The New York Times, Khalilzad stated, “We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement … The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals.” The United States, in response to Sept. 11, 2001, first entered Afghanistan to curb Al Qaeda and prevent further attacks against Americans. This is the largest tangible progress made in nine years of negotiations for a peace deal with the Taliban, who are currently conferring with their leadership about holding direct talks with the Afghan government for a cease-fire (The New York Times, “U.S. and Taliban Agree in Principle to Peace Framework, Envoy Says,” 01.28.2019). Nearly two years after Brits voted to leave the European Union, Brexit is now fast approaching. There are only two weeks to go before UK Prime Minister Theresa May
up
l Roun a c i d lit Ae n a K h a n
In Our Headlines … The longest government shutdown in the history of the United States ended after a 35day stalemate between President Trump, House Republicans and Democrats, over the former’s insistence on $5.7 billion for a wall along the southern border. Trump announced a deal on Friday, Jan. 25 in the Rose Garden; it passed in both Congressional chambers that night. The wall, which came to symbolize Trump’s demonization of immigrants, was a central campaign promise upon which he has thus far failed to deliver. Simultaneously, Congressional Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi have never been more popular following the blue wave in the House of Representatives this past election season. The partial shutdown deprived nearly a million government workers of pay, thousands of welfare and healthcare and a nation of entities such as Homeland Security and the Departments of Treasury and State. Additionally, experts estimate that the shutdown cost the American economy nearly $11 billion—$3 billion of which will never be recovered (The Washington Post, “Trump signs bill to open the government, ending the longest shutdown in history,” 01.25.2019). A grand jury under the office of special counsel Robert Mueller indicted former Trump campaign official Roger Stone this past Friday, Jan. 25, in connection with the WikiLeaks publication of emails stolen from the Democratic National Commit-
ed that the willingness to listen to and share personal narratives created a constructive, comfortable environment for discussion. “I would definitely come again,” Kapur said. “Everyone came in with the same mindset and [understood] how the intention was positive and the intention was to learn from each other.” Au noted that the roundtable format allowed listeners to experience and comment on unfamiliar situations: “I think [Vassar Voices] was effective,” he said. “This is a very discussion-based roundtable situation.” Knuckles expressed similar satisfaction, saying, “Based on the Q&A following
my talk, people really plugged into what I said, and it got their wheels turning.” Vassar College prides itself and its community on being a congenial and accepting campus. Vassar Voices acted as a bridge to close gaps between and draw inspiration from the people that fill it. Kapur commented on how the event doubled as a learning atmosphere of greater acceptance and opportunity: “Take the time to get to know new people, and make sure you’re surrounding yourself not only with people who have things in common with you— that’s how you can grow and learn from each other.”
Courtesy of Eegaged Plural Initiative
tories are a medium for human connection, fostering empathy through sharing experiences with others. On Friday, Jan. 25, Vassar students, faculty and community members gathered in the Villard Room to share and hear stories in search of such connections. Seeking to highlight underrepresented voices through sharing personal narratives, Vassar Voices—an event sponsored by Vassar’s Engaged Pluralism Initiative (EPI)—created a platform for inclusive conversation among storytellers and roundtable participants. “The stories being told are not about these major life-changing events, but about the everyday, and the little things that people can relate to,” Head Coordinator of Vassar Voices Antonella DeCicci ’20 said. “The idea is to create a space where we can really lean into those little moments that are normally not valued in academic spaces like this.” The Vassar Voices committee, comprised of DeCicci, Ananya Suresh ’21, Shreya Suresh ’21, Bryan Fotino ’20 and Irfan Badruddin ’20, spent months organizing and planning for the storytelling initiative. “[Vassar Voices] actually started as a House Team thing—it was an idea for an event that was thrown out during a House Team meeting that never came to fruition, and when the World Café happened last May, I brought it here,” DeCicci said. Matthew Au ’19, one of many storytellers at the event, discussed his Dragon Boat racing experiences. As a U.S. National team member for the niche sport, Au dis-
cussed his trip to Georgia this past year to compete in the Dragon Boat World Championships. Au’s narrative focused on his passion for Dragon Boat racing and how, despite its relative obscurity in the United States, the sport has been part of his identity in expressing his unique interests and Chinese culture. “I like sharing my story, and I think it’s a unique experience that some people can draw inspiration from,” Au said. “I think I chose this story because it was important to me as a person [and] it really helped shape the person I am today.” To encourage even greater opportunity for integration and connection amongst participants, each narrative was randomized so attendees were going in blind. Sophia Kapur ’22, who attended Au’s roundtable, spoke of this randomization. According to Kapur, “We didn’t know what story we were going to hear. I thought it was representative of life—you never know who you’re going to meet or whose path you’ll cross with.” Sharing a personal story of gender presentation and experiences of microaggressions at Vassar and elsewhere, Frankie Knuckles ‘21 [Full disclosure: Knuckles is Features Editor for the Miscellany News] said, “I chose this story because I thought it would showcase a phenomenon that most people don’t know much about, and so would be a learning experience. I hoped to give my audience a window into my life experience, which I think is the function of personal storytelling.” Speakers and attendees contemplated the platform’s effectiveness. Kapur indicat-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
forges a deal—approved by both EU officials and Parliament—that will prevent the U.K. from leaving the EU on March 29 without a transition period or plan. May has survived two no-confidence votes within the past several months. The first was called by her Conservative colleagues at the end of last year, while the second one was recently called by opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn following the disastrous defeat of her Brexit package in Parliament. The British economy loses money every day due to foreign investors’ fear of Brexit’s ramifications. The EU is urging May to use the “Irish Backstop,” which ensures there will no longer be a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic following Brexit, as a measure of securing a deal in Parliament. There is also a low likelihood of extending Article 50, which is what triggered the March 29 deadline two years ago upon activation, as EU leaders were concerned that Brexit distracted from other political issues (BBC, “Brexit: High risk of UK crashing out - EU negotiator,” 01.28.2019). Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduró began a second term on Jan. 10, as per the results of an internationally denounced election. The nation faces a political crisis as Juan Guaidó, the leader of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president, swore an oath and was soon thereafter recognized as the legitimate leader of Venezuela by the United States. In response, Maduro ordered the arrest of Guaidó and the expulsion of American diplomats. The Lima Group will meet on Feb. 4 in Ottawa to discuss steps to support Guaidó and remove Maduro, and the U.S. envoy to Venezuela is meeting with federal officials to ease tensions. Meanwhile, the Bolivar’s value continues to devalue, dozens are dead and hundreds have been arrested in protests against Maduro (Al Jazeera, “Venezuela in Crisis: All the latest updates,” 01.28.2019).
NEWS
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January 31, 2019
Forum drafts response to proposed Title IX changes TITLE IX continued
from page 1 ra, the committee spent their winter break condensing the 161-page document into a 12-question survey to inform Vassar students of the changes and learn their thoughts on the matter. To expand upon these questions students’ answers, the committee hosted a 90-minute panel on Wed., Jan. 23. Fourteen people, students and faculty alike, attended the panel, along with seven members of the Student Title IX Advisory committee. “I came after seeing emails and Facebook posts from other students. I didn’t know about these issues before seeing them,” said attendee David Sparks ’19. Attendee Lucy Rosenthal ’19 came pursuing a further understanding of the legal technicalities. “It’s important to hear informed people explain administrative jargon in a way I can understand,” she explained. Although the panel intended to address all 12 questions of the survey and have multiple committee members speak, frequent audience participation and in-depth discussion resulted in Gabrielle Costner ’21 alone addressing only the first three. She and Pereira served as the panel’s principal speakers, beginning with a brief history of Title IX. Congress introduced the law as part of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and dealt primarily with providing equal athletic opportunities for male and female students. Since then, Congress has continued to renew the law, and in 1991, Title IX was altered to require institutions to address sexual misconduct. The level of responsibility that Title IX assigned to schools has changed from administration to administration. Early on, Pereira established that Vassar’s response would confront all changes, even those that would not impact Vassar itself. Therefore, the panel considered modifications that could hinder students’ safety at other schools, even if Vassar students were not affected. “Everybody should have equal opportunity to access education, and feeling
safe is incredibly important,” said Costner. The majority of DeVos’ changes make the bare minimum of investigation an option for schools. Since schools have the choice to set higher standards for themselves, not every institution will be directly affected. “The changes that don’t affect Vassar involve lowering the floor, as opposed to raising the ceiling,” stated Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention director and Sexual Assault Response Team advocate Nicole Wong. Question 1 discussed the change from a 60-day to a “reasonably prompt” deadline to wrap up a sexual assault investigation . Although Vassar has no plans to change its 60-day deadline, panelists and attendees expressed concerns about colleges that would take advantage of this ambiguous language. Pereira cited the charges against Michigan State physician Larry Nassar as an example; Michigan State received complaints for years but completed the investigation far from promptly. Question 3 also did not apply directly to Vassar, concerning a new choice between the type of evidence used in cases. Under the Obama administration, Title IX cases had to charge students as guilty if there was a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning an at least a 51 percent certainty of guilt. Now, schools may instead choose to use “clear and convincing evidence,” a higher standard recognized in courts of law. Vassar does not plan to switch to clear and convincing, although an audience member at the panel noted that faculty cases at Vassar use that standard. Many of Vassar’s “higher ceiling” practices come from New York State Law 129-B, known as “Enough is Enough.” 129-B mirrors Obama administration policies, and even though DeVos’ changes offer more options to schools, Vassar cannot adopt these changes under New York State law. However, Question 2 covered several required changes for Vassar. Right now, the complainant and the respondent can cross-examine each other at Vassar, but
questions and answers are written down and checked for relevance in advance of the hearing. DeVos’ reforms call for a live hearing, in which the complainant and the respondent may have to cross-examine each other in person through an adjudicator. This adjudicator does not have to filter irrelevant questions. “Having it done verbally is really scary,” reflected Costner, “and if there are verbal hearings, people are going to be less likely to go forward.” Additionally, the change to a live hearing does not take privately-disclosed evidence into account. Under current policy, if a student privately told a Title IX officer that they were using drugs the night they were assaulted, that student would not have to repeat that information at the hearing for it to still be considered. Under the proposed changes, Title IX officers will not be considering information not giv-
“DeVos’ changes embrace a common theme: making college Title IX cases similar to courts of law.” en at the live hearing in rendering a verdict. The panel did not have time to cover one of the most controversial changes: if the law went into effect, schools would only have responsibility for sexual assaults that happen either on-campus or during a school-sponsored activity. More than 75 percent of American college students live off-campus. “The change is definitely a concern,” Wong admitted. She stressed how the lack of off-campus responsibility may limit Title IX’s ability to issue formal charges in these cases. Still, Wong concluded, “Title IX has made a commitment to make sure all of our students are still protected.” DeVos’ changes embrace a common
theme: making college Title IX cases similar to courts of law. Unspecified deadlines, higher standards of evidence and traditional cross-examination laws are all used in the American judicial system. “The guidelines may be adopting some of the elements from the court system into the college process, without recognizing the value of why those two processes are different,” said Wong. “A system that exists out of society can be better for a lot of students.” Criminal investigations can take years, while Title IX cases can reprimand an assailant within months. Panelists and the audience noted the importance of confronting these matters in the era of #MeToo. Victims of sexual assault are more comfortable speaking out than ever before, and a legal change regarding assault reporting on campuses has the potential to curtail this shift. In recent years, the Vassar-based magazine “Boilerplate” published three anonymous accounts of sexual assault that never reached the Title IX office. When the #MeToo movement took off in 2017, Pereira received a report from an alumnus detailing an incident that happened in 1970. Although the deadline for college responses has passed, the Department of Education’s changes are not yet definitive, as the department has said it will review the suggestions of schools around the nation before taking the law to President Trump. Pereira and the Student Title IX advisory committee will spend the next few days drafting Vassar’s final response. “I’m anticipating a few all-nighters ahead,” Pereira noted. Audience member and intern Sara Ehnstrom ’22 spoke on her support for the committee, explaining, “I really believe in both helping people and making sure I help people the correct way, and this is an org that seems to do that.” The Student Title IX Advisory committee, through facilitating campus-wide involvement in drafting Vassar’s response, has advocated for rights of college students at the federal level.
Breakfast celebrates service, commemorates Dr. King Jessica Moss
Assistant News Editor
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contributions to campus, piloting of new projects and demonstrated commitment to serve beyond their job descriptions. “We picked three historical figures...who supported and molded Dr. King’s vision,” said Dixon on the nomination process. “The idea was that nominators would nominate individuals on campus whose contributions or efforts were reflected in the stories of [Stanley Levison, Ella Baker and Bayard Rustin,] who surrounded Dr. King.”
By recognizing those whose work has been underappreciated and honoring historical service to humanity, the MLK Breakfast rewarded those who were not seeking praise: altruistic individuals who were simply invested in the betterment of their community. As Mills concluded in his remarks, “Let us all use this day, this moment to commit or recommit ourselves to something much bigger than ourselves” (Quincy Mills, “MLK”).
Courtesy of the President’s Office
e call this history to mind...because King’s witness still calls each of us to turn inward, to look inside ourselves, name our spiritual poverty in an age of uneven abundance, build up our capacity to love, and join the movement of imagining a world otherwise,” said Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practice Reverend Samuel Speers on the importance of remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in his invocation. Celebrating Dr. King, the impact of those who worked with him and members of the Vassar community whose outstanding service has been underappreciated, Vassar hosted a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Breakfast for Vassar community members on Monday, Jan. 21 in the Aula. By opening the Breakfast with these questions on how to properly commemorate King’s life, ministry and struggle for justice, Speers’ invocation reflected the event’s goal of honoring those who have worked to improve their respective communities. According to Special Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees Wesley Dixon, a key organizer for the event, the MLK Breakfast recognized Vassar community members for the “invisible work” they do on MLK day, as King’s success was scaffolded by those who worked with him. “We thought
it might be inspiring to view MLK Day not just as being about an individual, but also about the community of people around him who made his work possible,” said Dixon in an emailed statement. Following Speers’ opening, Associate Professor of History and Director of Africana Studies Quincy Mills remarked on service and humanity in King’s life. “[King] believed that people genuinely like to do good deeds, but they also like to be praised for it,” he wrote in his remark notes (Quincy Mills, “Martin Luther King, Jr.,” 01.20.2019). King called this desire for recognition the drum major instinct. Mills discussed how King connected this instinct to consumer culture and race prejudice—two expressions of the inclination to assert superiority. For King, service was a solution to the ills of the drum major instinct. King once said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” Aligning with this view of greatness, Mills lauded lesser-known individuals who supported and molded King’s vision, including Bayard Rustin, Stanley Levison and Ella Baker, saying, “[They] were exemplary people who embodied that selflessness to serve without attention” (Quincy Mills, “MLK”). The Vassar community members recognized at the MLK Breakfast similarly served without need for acknowledgement. Staff, faculty and administrators nominated the event’s honorees for their
Pictured above, Associate Professor of History and Director of Africana Studies Quincy Mills delivers remarks on MLK’s legacy to Vassar community members over breakfast.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
January 31, 2019
NEWS
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Double-booked dorm rooms render returners nomadic DOUBLE-BOOKED continued from page 1 after its last owner cleared out. Azuelos had ranked Raymond close to last on his housing application, and now he was being asked to live in a temporary situation there with no explanation as to why he could not keep the double-turned-single, or “dingle.” “I feel like that would be fair,” he said. “I was promised a room, and they didn’t give it to me, and now I’m getting punished for it by having to live out of my suitcase in this dingle.” Azuelos was not the only returner to discover that their new home was already occupied. As Joshua Samolchuk ’20 wrapped up his semester abroad, he and a friend applied to live in a two-room double in Josselyn House; instead, Samolchuk was assigned to a TA. When he reached out to his friends and future housemates, however, he learned that someone was living in his room. Horowitz presented Samolchuk with a few choices, including a partially occupied suite or a Noyes single, of which he selected the latter. “The single is fine,” said Samolchuk, who had ranked Noyes eighth on his application. “Part of me was extra upset because...someone told me that if you’re on house team, you’ll get preference for being reassigned to that house after JYA, and I was on Joss house team last year.” He was further frustrated by the late timing, noting, “[I]t made me feel like...he’s throwing me wherever there’s room, and it’s going to be the worst room on campus that no one else wanted.” Behind the scenes, Horowitz had been playing a daunting game of housing Tetris. This spring, Res Life had 159 applications from returners, with about 50 of those already assigned before January. Horowitz stressed the difficulty of accurately tracking room availability: Many students expect-
News Briefs Supreme Court Approves Ban On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the Supreme Court approved President Trump’s military transgender ban, thus reversing the Obama administration’s move to allow transgender people to serve in the US military. This decision was voted in with a five to four majority in the Supreme Court, with the four liberal judges voting against it (The New York Times, “Supreme Court Revives Transgender Ban for Service,” 01.22.2019). The policy bars transgender individuals who have had or require gender transition medical care from serving in the military. It stipulates that transgender individuals can serve in the military, but only if they do so in their sex assigned at birth (BBC, “US Supreme Court allows Trump Military Transgender Ban,” 01.22.2019). President Trump announced his plans to enact this ban in a 2017 tweet: “The United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” he said. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail” (CNN, “Supreme Court Allows Military Transgender Ban to go into Effect,” 01.22.2019). While the Supreme Court’s decision does not require that the military enforce this ban, the decision does give the military the opportunity to discriminate against transgender individuals (BBC, “US Supreme Court allows Trump Military Transgender Ban,” 01.22.2019). After the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Pentagon released a statement in response.
ing to complete their coursework in December do not find out until mid-January whether they have passed their classes and thus whether or not they will need spring housing. What’s more, some JYA plans shift until the last minute. Addressing the seemingly pervasive problem of double-booking, Horowitz said, “It’s a very rare occurrence. Part of the reason it’s happening this year... is we’re running low on spaces.” The campus is currently at 97 to 98 percent capacity; minus first-year spaces, the number sits at 98 percent. One contributing factor to overcrowding is a lower number of students living off campus—84 this semester, down from numbers in the 90s and 100s. Horowitz attributes this to dining changes: The dropoff corresponds with the 2017–2018 implementation of mandatory meal plans for all class years, even seniors, who might previously have been tempted to both live and dine off campus. Moreover, several spaces have been taken off the market, including nearly 30 rooms in Main with inadequate egress. Some such issues remain undiscovered until January, when Horowitz, the sole administrator directly responsible for housing assignments, physically checks as many rooms as possible. He shared, “Jewett 809, we thought we could use, but when I went there and checked it out, it’s missing a wall, and there’s water pouring into this big bin. So we cannot use it.” The returner placement process is inherently time-consuming because Horowitz performs it completely by hand—the effects of which returners saw this semester when he repeatedly pushed back the date for placements until Jan. 15, just a week before move-in. Horowitz eschews computer algorithms for spring placement because he feels they would ignore qualitative aspects, such as past house-team leadership. The
house-specific model is another complicating factor: Horowitz observed, “The Vassar experience is tailored to foster a relationship between the houses, between the house fellows in the houses, between the advisors in the houses, between the people that live in that house,” and noted that if Res Life de-prioritized house allegiance, a computer-run approach would be easier to implement. This semester, 74 percent of returners got their number-one room choice; 86 percent received their first or second choice; and 91 percent their first, second or third. Yet with no plans afoot (to Horowitz’s knowledge) to mitigate the lack of space, some students will continue to be disappointed—for example, the between six and 10 placed in what would be considered random single-equivalent spaces in partially occupied suites and TH or TA apartments. As Horowitz put it, “There’s no way for me to get an A+.” Not all housing hurdles end on a low note. Returning from his semester abroad, Mack Liederman ’20 [Disclaimer: Liederman is a senior editor for The Miscellany News] was originally placed in Lathrop 135, but once he arrived, he learned that he was in a hallway reserved for language fellows, and his room was slated for a Russian post-grad moving in later that week. Horowitz was able to offer Liederman a double in Davison House and freeze the second bed as a courtesy for the inconvenience. Indeed, Liederman was vexed by the last-minute move: “I didn’t love lugging all my stuff in the dark across the quad to Davi on my first night...it wasn’t really a pleasant introduction back to school.” Horowitz was equally confounded, commenting, “For me not to be told that a language fellow was coming in is something that’s never happened before...it just kind of fell through the cracks.” Nonetheless, Liederman was ultimately satisfied. He relat-
ed, “I’m very grateful to Res Life for sorting that out for me and giving me a comfortable situation. It took a little bit longer and was harder than I thought it would be, but I appreciate their patience.” In fact, Liederman’s room was one of only three spaces this year that were approved to have a bed frozen. Both of the others were five-person THs that unexpectedly had to accommodate four TA residents after flooding incidents. Adele MacEwen ’20 also ended up pleased with her placement, but she found the road there to be chaotic. MacEwen, who was hoping to move out of Noyes for her third year but was placed in a double there, explained via email: “I found there were two first-years that live in the double I was assigned … After some brief chaos Rich assigned me to a single that had just opened in Lathrop.” Addressing the aggravation associated with not being guaranteed her own room, she said, “I also felt like JYA had put me at a disadvantage, which was frustrating. It was odd to have no issues getting a single as a sophomore and then have trouble as a junior.” Doubtless, Vassar’s residential situation is constantly shifting from day to day and year to year, albeit in many ways for the worse— the number of room vacancies has dropped from 166 in Fall 2009 to approximately 66 today. Yet housing remains a matter not only of logistics but also of students’ fundamental well-being. Laura Zapien ’20, a returner who requested a Main suite and ended up in a Noyes single, commented via email: “Overall I ended up having a decent room, so I don’t have much to complain about. However, I feel bad for those students who were placed in terrible rooms last minute. Being able to return to your own room where you feel comfortable is so important for one own’s mental health in college. Everyone needs a room they can call home.”
Lt. Col. Carla Gleason, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said: “As always, we treat all transgender persons with respect and dignity. [The Department of Defense’s] proposed policy is NOT a ban on service by transgender persons. It is critical that DoD be permitted to implement personnel policies that it determines are necessary to ensure the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world. DoD’s proposed policy is based on professional military judgment and will ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remain the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world” (CNN, “Supreme Court Allows Military Transgender Ban to go into Effect,” 01.22.2019). White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated, “[The treatment cost] erodes military readiness and unit cohesion.” However, a study into the financial effects of transgender military members revealed that the financial burden of gender transition medical treatment is minimal, as it would only cost between 2.4 and 8.4 million (CNN, “Trump to reinstate US military ban on transgender people,” 07.22.2017). This cost, in comparison to other military costs, is less than one-tenth of the price for a new fighter jet, and five times less than what the military spends annually to provide Viagra (Washington Post, “The military spends five times as much on Viagra as it would on transgender troops’ medical care,” 07.26.2017). Several advocates, politicians and organizations have spoken out against Trump’s ban. As Senior Staff Attorney for the HIV and LGBT project with American Civil Liberties Union Joshua Block said, “This has been studied extensively, and the consensus
is clear: There are no cost or military readiness drawbacks associated with allowing trans people to fight for their country. The President is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of military personnel who have put their lives on the line for their country” (CNN, “Trump to Reinstate US Military Ban on Transgender People,” 07.22.2017).
as work there (Wall Street Journal, “New Caravan Grows as Mexico Eases Passage,” 01.22.2019). The new policy surrounding the humanitarian visas allows people to get a visa in as few as five days, as opposed to the previous timeframe of one month, which has encouraged migration to Mexico. This new policy is in an attempt to make immigration more humane. Since its implementation, more than 12,000 potential migrants have applied for the humanitarian visa. One such migrant, Susy Polanco, a Nicaraguan woman who migrated to Mexico with her seven family members, said, “We heard about the opportunity for visas and decided this was our chance … There is too much repression now in Nicaragua” (LA Times, “Thousands of migrants at Mexico’s southern border seeking new humanitarian visas,” 01.24.2019). Mexico is also motivated to encourage workers’ movement due to a a need to fill jobs (New York Times, “Mexico Moves to Encourage Caravan Migrants to Stay and Work,” 01.25.2019). The Mexican president has further encouraged migration to Mexico for work opportunities by promising to create jobs in southern Mexico and Central America, raising the minimum wage by 16 percent and formulating plans to enact a $30 billion dollar plan for regional development (New York Times, “Mexico Moves to Encourage Caravan Migrants to Stay and Work,” 01.25.19). As a result of these opportunities, some people prefer to stay and work in Mexico, whereas others hope to continue on to the United States (CBS, “Migrant caravan grows as Mexico fast-tracks humanitarian visas,” 01.23.2019). - Olivia Watson, Guest Reporter
Mexico Eases Entry Process A new migrant caravan is heading toward the U.S. border. This caravan is expected to increase in size, as thousands of people are already waiting at Mexico’s southern border (CBS, “Migrant caravan grows as Mexico fast-tracks humanitarian visas,” 01.23.2019). Although the majority of the people in the caravan hope to enter the United States, the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obradors, has made it easier for migrants to obtain work permits and visas, thus encouraging them to stay in Mexico. This pro-immigrant policy lies in stark contrast to President Trump’s anti-immigration policies (New York Times, “Mexico Moves to Encourage Caravan Migrants to Stay and Work,” 01.25.2019). The Mexican government has eased the entry process to protect the human rights of immigrants. According to a Mexican senior immigration official, “The principles guiding the government are respect for migrants’ human rights and not to confront them violently,” (Wall Street Journal, “New Caravan Grows as Mexico Eases Passage,” 01.22.2019). These humanitarian visas make it possible for the migrants to travel through Mexico without fear of deportation, as well
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January 31, 2019
Weezer’s ‘Teal Album’ adds to inconsistent discography Jimmy Christon Columnist
Teal Album
Weezer Atlantic and Crush
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a TLC cover by this slice of aged provolone of a band would ever work is if it were half in jest. We all groaned when we heard that Weezer covered TLC, but Weezer knew what they were doing, and it’s entertaining. It’s in these senses that I think I like “Teal Album” the most. I’m not really going to sit here and say that Weezer outdid Michael Jackson. But I am going to tell you that it is very enjoyable to compare the two versions to each other. It’s also just a good song performed by good musicians. But with tracks like “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Africa” and “Sweet Dreams,” I absolutely think that Weezer outdid the original.
What Weezer bring to the table here is the ability to imbibe these old classics with a sort of life and energy that makes me excited to go back and rediscover these songs. They make this a very enjoyable process. When it comes to the songs I wasn’t really a fan of at first (“Take On Me,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Mr. Blue Sky”), Weezer has really gone the extra mile to reinvigorate some older hits, although part of me wonders how much of this is a result of the original songwriting. Like, I’m totally expecting their next album to suck. The singles they’ve released for it don’t sound that great. But this album, this album rocks.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
eezer released a cover album a handful of days ago. In my opinion, it’s surprisingly good. Then again, I also believe Weezer’s “Africa” is far better than Toto’s. That being said, this album is fantastic. Weezer is the most inconsistent band of all time. They released one classic album as their debut, and it is rightfully famous. The “Blue Album” is filled to the brim with hit after hit: “Buddy Holly,” “Holiday,” “The Sweater Song” and the indelible “Say It Ain’t So.” This album is a classic. It’s an album you can put on and everyone, for better or worse, will know the tunes. They followed this up with “Pinkerton,” an album I’ve never really cared for. Weezer has always played with the aesthetic of sad, lonely, nerdy white dude, and “Pinkerton” goes too far into the self-pity mode for my tastes. On “Blue Album” (and on the new “Teal Album”), I think this persona is used perfectly. It’s charming to hear Rivers Cuomo sing about Buddy Holly, or cover “Take On Me.” It’s fun to hear a band sing about a prized sweater. Weezer is most effective when they are earnest. After “Blue Album,” Weezer released a metric fuckton of bad music. I don’t like, ”Pinkerton,” but I get why people do. It’s a fine album. But albums like “Ratitude”
or the “Red Album” are just awful. I really would have left Weezer by the wayside if it weren’t for the classic they released in 2016: their triumphant “White Album.” This album soars. It shouldn’t work. It’s a concept album about a nerdy white boy falling in love with an older Vietnamese girl in Los Angeles. The girl gets weirded out by his obsessive behavior and dumps the kid. And the album is the musical odyssey through all the emotions that this insecure boy is feeling. It’s not a serious work, but it has heart. As a pop album filled to the brim with insecurities, it’s a paradox. But that appears to be Weezer’s bread and butter. This album is the most enjoyable listen of their career. So how did they follow it up? A bad album. “Pacific Daydream” was abysmal, and I’m still not over it. But after that. they released a surprise cover of Toto’s “Africa,” which was outstanding, and the album from which it comes is equally fantastic. This cover album hits all the marks for what a cover album should do. The songs they picked to adopt are light-hearted and fun. The aesthetic of the album cover is great. I love the Miami Vice costumes, and how it ties into some of the tracks––particularly all of the rad guitar riffs that find their way into tracks like “Billie Jean” and “Sweet Dreams.” Most importantly, I love that this album isn’t too serious about itself. This is the Weezer that come to the party to have fun and, thankfully, left their self-pity at the door. The only way to cover “Take On Me” is to do it while having fun, and that is something Weezer is very good at. The only way
Weezer released their 12th studio record, “The Teal Album,” on Jan. 24, 2019. The work is comprised entirely of cover songs, including “Africa” and “Sweet Dreams.”
‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ experiments with new literary form Madeline Seibel Dean Copy Staffer
Lincoln in the Bardo
George Saunders Penguin Random House
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efore getting into whether “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders was good or bad—meaning whether or not it accomplished what it set out to do—it’s first necessary to explain what the book is trying to be. I think the title causes a lot of people assume it’s a biography, but it’s actually a novel, and a very experimental one at that. The entire book is told in quotes accompanied by a citation on the next line. There are some chapters that incorporate quotes from various historical sources, including fictional and nonfictional biographies. For
the most part though, the quotes come from the characters. The non-historical chapters read like a screenplay, except the characters’ names are printed after their lines instead of before them. The other difference is that the characters are narrating the scene rather than just speaking, so some of the quotes have dialogue. The subject of the book is probably easiest to explain through the title, “Lincoln in the Bardo.” Lincoln, in this case, is not the president, but his son William, who died tragically at the age of 12 in 1862. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, “Family: William Wallace Lincoln (1850-1862),” 2019). The bardo is the space in-between reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism (Lion’s Roar, “The Four Essential Points of Letting Go in the Bardo,” 07.15.2017). However, the book is set in the context of Christian America, so it seems like the spirits are waiting to go to heaven or hell rather
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons George Saunders’ novel “Lincoln in the Bardo” centers around the spirit of Abraham Lincoln’s son, William, who tragically passed at 12 years of age, as well as other spirits.
than to be reincarnated. The book is about a combination of those elements: the spirit of the deceased Willie Lincoln, waiting patiently to hear his fate. Will it be heaven or hell? While Willie Lincoln is the central character, much of the book focuses on a Greek chorus of three fictional spirits: Hans Vollman, the Reverend Everly Thomas and Roger Belvins III. They recount previous adventures in the bardo, meeting other spirits along the way, some of whom also narrate little passages. This construction gives Saunders an opportunity to show off his different writing styles. Occasionally, these voices are strong and distinctive, but the quote format often limits Saunders. While this technique does give the author a chance to show off different writing styles and voices, they are restricted by the length of the passages—the longest continuous quote is probably no more than a page, while most others are a paragraph or less. This means that much of the variance in voices comes from rather minor differences in spelling, capitalization or grammar, such as the few characters whose lines are written in shorthand. This style can make the book harder to read and more confusing without really accomplishing the goal of character differentiation. The novel focuses on grief and loss, especially surrounding the death of Willie Lincoln. The process of moving on after the death of a loved one is paralleled with the process the spirits go through as they progress from one world to the next. This heavy subject matter is frequently treated well, but on other occasions, the metaphor can feel a little overstated. For example, many of the ghosts are unaware that they are dead. The reader can infer this phenomenon from the unusual lan-
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guage the ghosts use, including calling coffins “sick-boxes.” Given the other antiquated and unusual language Saunders employs, this doesn’t seem too strange, which could confuse the reader regarding a fairly important part of the plot. It is an interesting idea to have a book told in a chorus of voices instead of just one or two, but it took me a while to get used to the format. After I did adjust, it started to seem really effective, and there were a few scenes that I thought flourished in that format. This set the book apart from similar novels on the subject. The other format element that hinders the novel is that it has to walk a line between its historical and fantastical elements. I cannot say that this is done well. For a book that takes place in a very specific setting—February 1862, Oak Creek Cemetery—the time doesn’t seem to matter much. There are a few passing mentions to the Civil War, which, at that point, had just started. Unlike other historical fiction, the book doesn’t focus too much on how people lived during that time, even though its chorus format would have been ripe for that. Similarly, for a work of Civil War-era historical fiction, questions of race are almost completely absent from the narrative. While it is not the ideal book for history nerds, “Lincoln in the Bardo” does well in other arenas, given the grand task at hand. Although it took a while to adjust, the style of narration creates some interesting and unique moments. Most of the time, the themes are well-developed and treated with the subtlety they deserve. Certainly, the intersections of grief, loss, ghosts and history are compelling crossroads to explore, and “Lincoln in the Bardo” explores them in a distinctive way.
January 31, 2019
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Netflix film reveals rock legend’s poetic authenticity Dean Kopitsky Columnist
Springsteen on Broadway
Bruce Springsteen Aurora Productions
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s it possible to fall asleep forearm-deep in a Pringles can at a Bruce Springsteen concert? Every weekday from October 2017 to December of this past year, Springsteen performed in what was probably the smallest venue he had played since the ’70s, when he played at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. In December, Netflix made the concert available for streaming. Springsteen’s songs lived in the pop charts due to their infectious intensity, but the marrow of his work is in the lyrics. The stories he narrated, and in which he starred, were a tabulation of teenage longing—tales that began with emptiness and climaxed in halogen bursts of solace. He touched on open highways, Vietnam vets, the unlucky and downtrodden and boardwalk midnights spent searching for girls named Wendy and Mary. He confronted feelings of dreariness and loneliness, endearing himself to generations of fans that see him as their rock and roll medium—or therapist. On Broadway, fans would receive an intimate and vulnerable peek of Bruce, not The Boss. But the hungry teens and board-walkers who anointed him so would not be in attendance. Instead, the audience would be those affluent enough to afford
the thousand-dollar-plus tickets. The only people who could get close to Springsteen were the very fortunate. It raises the question: can you be esoteric, yet market yourself as approachable and pull off the trick? It seems only Bruce Springsteen can do that. Releasing the film on Netflix would ensure “Springsteen on Broadway” would be accessible to the masses, and the film’s soundtrack debuted slightly earlier. I assumed the movie would prove to viewers that the veteran rocker could still be as magnetic and authentic as ever. In fact, it seems to be the sole focus. The ethos of the show is immediate. There’s blackness, then applause, then a shot cropped close enough to see the yellow of his teeth and the glint of his golden earring. From there, the show takes off on a retrospective tear. Springsteen straddles the moniker of reclusive writer and ass-shaking crowd pleaser. In the tightly zoomed opening monologue, he affirms the need for “a development of and devotion to an esthetic philosophy...balls.” Poetry. If the snug black shirt and blue jeans he wears mean anything, his stick-to-it-iveness to his sex appeal has become its own sort of affable appeal. The naked stage and acoustic guitar have “I’m vulnerable” written all over them. He begins “Growin Up,” a bright arpeggio that bounces between two chords, a pleasing palate for a coming-of-age soliloquy. In between verses, though, he speaks. For anyone familiar with his music, meaning you own a radio or have at-
tended an American sporting event, you know Springsteen’s style is deeply narrative driven. In the early ‘70s, Springsteen brought Americana: straightforward rock and Dylan-like songwriting to a scene that was becoming stylized and manufactured. His stories redirected rock to its equitable roots. He makes up stories, but he’s authentic, right? “I come from a boardwalk town, where everything is…” Where everything is what? Is magical, is tough? Lathered in the heat of New Jersey nights? No, it’s time for honesty: “…everything is tinted with just a little bit of fraud, so am I.” I couldn’t be upset at his closed performance anymore because he gave up his hand. He’s a fraud, he says. “I never saw the inside of a factory, I never worked nine to five, I never had a five-day job a week until right now.” The concept of Bruce Springsteen on Broadway has an oxymoronic tinge to it. For whom is the performance, the album and the Netflix film? Is it for me, the next generation of fan? My parents, the originals? Is it for Broadway buffs or rock gurus? Or is it just an entertainment bone, simply something for binge seekers to stream next? But it doesn’t matter, because by inundating it to all corners of multimedia, the ability and need to possess an audience dissolves. No specific type of person purchases Netflix or Spotify. Those are not niche services; they are practically facts of life. A solo Broadway performance by The Boss is a tremendous and rare occurrence. But by lumping it in with every other movie, documentary and TV show on Netflix,
it becomes something to which the audience is entitled, rather than something exceptional, and “Springsteen On Broadway” is muffled by the superfluous archives of Netflix. At a flat, monthly rate, neither Netflix nor I really care if I watch “Springsteen on Broadway” or rewatch “The Office.” But our culture demands Springsteen on Broadway and then on Netflix and then on Spotify; it’s our way of calling BS on false scarcity. “On Broadway” doesn’t feel like a goodbye. It doesn’t feel like a new chapter. It feels like an extension of our times. We have near universal access to content from three seconds ago to centuries ago. Celebrities podcast, presidents tweet and we can stream everything. Why shouldn’t we have unmitigated, 4k access to a solo Bruce Springsteen performance? It doesn’t seem like spiritual fulfillment, it seems like a logical conclusion. One of the final songs of the performance is “Dancing in the Dark,” from the album, “Born in the USA.” “Born” is a critical indictment of American policy and culture. But in the ’80s, it mutated into a patriotic anthem. When they were presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan played it at campaign rallies. Crowds cheered to the lyrics “They put a rifle in my hand / Sent me off to a foreign land / To go and kill the yellow man.” Of course, candidates know the lyrics are cynical, but they hope no one notices. They played the song for the lines, “Born in the U.S.A., Born in the U.S.A., I was Born in the U.S.A.” In other words, the illusion drowns out what is real, what matters.
‘Flip Side’ exhibit unites Vassar affiliates through artwork FLIP SIDE continued
Courtesy of Abby Tarwater
from page 1 and the meaning behind the title: “The idea was to feature people who work on campus, whether they’re faculty, staff or administration, who have a studio practice or have an art practice that people may not know about,” Church said. “So, the reason the title is the ‘Flip Side’ is that you see this person as a dean or a faculty member, and you may not know that they paint or take photographs.” Church stated that the first Flip Side, which took place in 2013 and featured five artists, proved immensely successful, and inspired her to expand the exhibit. This time, the gallery displayed the work of ten local artists: Chad E. Fust, Karen Gallagher, Pamela Hall, Emilie Houssart, Stephen Kenney, Amy D. Laughlin, George Laws, Jeff Macaluso, Chris Silverman and Angela Smith. Church found the second iteration to be similarly worthwhile: “I’m really thrilled about the turnout and the quality of the work, and it was wonderful to work with everybody. It was really a great experience to be able to do this.” One of the featured community members is Academic Computing Consultant Amy D. Laughlin. A lifelong artist, Laughlin displayed her portraits “Daredevil,” “Couple with Hats” and “Amelia With a Tie.” She explained her experience and influences: “I have a background in photography and video but I’ve alway enjoyed drawing and painting. Lately I’m devoting most of my time to painting,” she stated. “I have always been interested in the idea of gender as performance, specifically as it relates female masculinity and other non-binary presentations of gender. When I’m working on a portrait, I’m really thinking about it through that lens. I’m inspired
“Flip Side,” which will remain on display until March 6, features the works of 10 Vassar community artists, whose creations include painting, sculpture and drone photography. by so many artists and writers, such as Catherine Opie, Claude Cahun, Sadie Benning, Judith Butler, Jack Halberstam, to name a few.” Laughlin was grateful for the opportunity: “I had a wonderful experience participating in Flip Side. Monica Church deserves all the credit. It was so great to work with her. The hard work and dedication she puts into running the Palmer Gallery really brings out the best in artists that show work there.” She also expressed that Flip Side allowed her to further involve herself in Vassar life. “I think it’s really valuable to learn about other mem-
bers of the Vassar community who are engaged in art making,” she stated. “We tend to see our co-workers in terms of their positions here and it’s important to remember people have this whole other side to their lives with an entirely different set of interests and talents.” Former Main Building House Fellow Stephen Kenney produced three works for the exhibit: “Circle of Curvature for y=3,” “Nine-Point Circle with Integer Cordinates” and “Acute and Obtuse Triangles with a Common Nine-Point Circle.” A retired high school math teacher, Kenney began drawing as a way to elucidate
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abstract theorems and make them more appealing. His work is created by first drawing the theorems, then using colored pencils to bring out the patterns—a process that Kenney found to be rewarding, but not exactly art. Kenney explained that participating in the exhibit helped him recognize his own artistry. He explained, “I realized that a lot of people can do art. They say ‘Oh, I’m not an artist,’ like I did. Doing this stuff, I never considered it art…I just wanted to do it; I never labeled it. In fact, the voice in me would sometimes ridicule me — ‘Here you are, you’re 68 years old and you’re coloring.’ There was part of me that thought that this wasn’t practical.” Similarly, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of First Year Students Pamela Hall viewed the event as an opportunity to practice her art pragmatically. She stated, “I was an art major in college, years ago … I still love art, but I don’t really have time for it.” Flip Side allowed Hall to practice her stifled interest in art, as she revisited and updated two of her old works for the exhibit: “Untitled” and “Family Portrait.” She also found that Flip Side allowed her to better connect to her co-workers: “Vassar’s such a big community, and we all know each other from office to office, but we don’t really know each other as well on a personal level.” The exhibit will be on display through March 6. Church reflected on the future of Flip Side, stating, “We plan to do them every five years, but it’s ideally a way to get people to come into our gallery to reinforce our sense of community here—to show that people are very multidimensional; they may have a side that you don’t know anything about.”
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January 31, 2019
The Coen brothers saddle up with ‘Buster Scruggs’ Sydney Salk
Guest Columnist The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Coen Brothers Annapurna Pictures
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he Coen brothers are not afraid of death—at least not in their films. It is a tricky topic that can be handled in a variety of ways, almost all of which they have tried in the 17 films that they have created together. But what “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” (2018) accomplishes differently is that it uses its anthology structure to tackle the topic from myriad angles, all while set in their beloved myth of the cowboy’s West, where death can occur at any foul turn. The film is artfully produced, with its color-washed cinematography, nostalgic score and trademark witty dialogue. In a way, it is the most Coens-y film the Coens have ever made. But as fans of their films can come to expect, they are still bringing something new to the table. Buster Scruggs works as a six-part anthology film, with each short story covering a different aspect of the Western mythos. They are tied together by a book that serves as their framing device (much like an early Disney cartoon), and although this concept adds to the mythos of the stories, the transition sequences are a bit long, since they offer no substance other than to keep the motif. The titular story is first and is the most effective of the six. The comic musical stars Tim Blake Nelson as Buster Scruggs,
a cheery outlaw of many monikers, whose trigger finger itches at any minor scuffle. The contrast of high fantasy with gut-churning gore is one thing that the Coens do well, and here they present it with glee. Although the Coens often fill their works with wacky side characters who have to battle each other for screen time, the focus stays on Buster Scruggs, whose personality makes him an undeniable star. Scruggs deserves a spot in the pantheon of Coen’s greats—right up there with Barton Fink and The Dude. The film also succeeds in its catchy original songs, which Nelson sings with great abandon, showing off his warbling chops. “Buster Scruggs” is the lightest story of the group; as the film moves along the stories grow increasingly darker in scope. This happens gradually, though, as the second story “Near Algodones” is still a comedy, just without the singing of the first. James Franco stars as yet another outlaw on the run who often finds himself in life or death predicaments. This is one of the weaker narratives of the bunch, not because it’s bad, but more because it’s forgettable in comparison to the strength that some of the others exhibit. The third story, “Meal Ticket,” crosses the aforementioned threshold into drama without too much shock, allowing the viewer to realize the true intentions of the anthology to follow. Liam Neeson stars as a low-level impresario who brings a paraplegic orator from town to town, hoping to make a meager living by exploiting his talents as entertainment. The standout actor of the piece is Harry Melling (best known
as Dudley from Harry Potter) who imbues his character—simply credited as the Artist—with immense sorrow, despite not saying much other than what he orates. With the end of this story, it is clear that the Coens intended this anthology to be one with themes that go much deeper than that of the setting. Now, at the halfway point, the fourth story, “All Gold’s Canyon,” is a refreshing change of scenery, as the dusty, barren landscape is traded in for greener pastures. Famed musician Tom Waits stars as a grizzled prospector whose hunt for gold leads him to a secluded glade that he believes is his saving grace. The cinematography in this story is exceptionally well done, as the canyon visually sparkles in the sunlight through lush colors. The one damaging point is the bit too obviously CGI-ed wildlife, which, although majestic, possesses a visibly fake quality that distracts from the camera work. Fifth is “The Gal Who Got Rattled,” the only female-led piece of the bunch, which stars Zoe Kazan as a woman who finds herself on the Oregon trail without much of a plan for when she gets there. This piece is the longest in the group, which the viewer may feel at times, but it’s one of the anthology’s best. The slow trip across the plains is drawn out for a reason, as it allows us to truly understand the characters and their intentions. Kazan does some of the best acting work of the entire film, as her Alice Longabaugh is emotional yet composed throughout the difficult journey, especially in her relationship with one of the wagon train’s leaders. The final story, “The Mortal Remains,” follows a group of
strangers sharing a stagecoach to a mysterious destination. This story sticks out from the bunch as being a bit less within the Western genre than the rest (no more cowboys here, just a mere fur trapper), but the character work is interesting as the figures’ personalities butt heads. The story works as a fitting closer to the sextet as its final ruminations linger once the book has been shut. “The Battle of Buster Scruggs,” like most anthologies, is a mixed bag. There are some real gold nuggets hidden in this land, but some searching is required to find them– just as the masterful writing is standard throughout, but some of the charms can get lost in the Western dust. What shines through shines so brilliantly–some career-highlight performances are crafted and beautiful scenery makes its way across your laptop screen. Well, that’s the biggest issue with the film; it was released primarily through Netflix. This is a piece that would work better on the big screen, as the sprawling plains and wagon trains deserve to be stretched out beyond sight, but instead feel cramped within the confines of your personal device. Yes, there are positives to the Netflix release, as it allows wider access to the film. However, the Coens, whose following is big enough that even a passing fan would shell out the admission to a theater, shouldn’t have to go this route. The display of Old West charm and tragedy in “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” may not be the most present in the Coens’ work, but its central themes and filmmaking gravitas makes it a worthy addition to their pantheon.
Female nudity in art offends, excites throughout history Taylor Stewart Columnist
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culptures of Aphrodite of Knidos now stand gracefully and innocuously in places like the Vatican and the Louvre. The statues are modeled off Aphrodites on Roman coins, which are themselves reproductions of the original. In the 6th century B.C.E., gymnasia, where men exercised in the nude, cropped up throughout Greece. The Panhellenic sanctuaries at Olympia, Delphi, Nemea and Isthmia became centers of athletic competition between citystates. The society highly revered athletes. Statues and poems were dedicated to victors. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Athletics in Ancient Greece,” 10.2002). Correspondingly at this time, Greek vase painters started to distinguish between nude and clothed figures and associated nudity with heroism and divinity (Ancient
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Praxiteles’ famous and controversial “Aphrodite of Knidos,” which is considered to be the first life-sized female nude sculpture, has inspired legions of imitators.
World Magazine, “‘Heroic’ nudity?: Naked men in ancient Greek art,” 01.30.2018). Male subjects dominated heroic nudity— marble men with perfect, lithe, semi-divine bodies. Though they were idealized forms, male heroic nudes maintained their dignity and a modest air: sculptors made genitalia small on purpose, for a well-endowed man was a barbaric one. Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, explained “Greek nudity is a sign…of moral virtue among the social elite of male citizens” (Daily Mail, “Why are Greek statues always NAKED?,” 03.25.2015). Around 330 BCE, Praxiteles of Athens boldly made the Knidian Aphrodite, the first life-size nude sculpture of the female form. Praxiteles’ sculptures are pretty, and have been recognized as such since ancient times. The writer Diodorus sang his praises in the 1st century B.C.E.: “He informed his marble figures with the passions of the soul.” Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and philosopher, considered the Knidian the best statue in the world (Encyclopædia Britannica, “Praxiteles,” 02.09.2018). Still, public female nudity was unheard of in Greece. His Aphrodite didn’t resemble the females of ancient Near Eastern art either, whose sculptors emphasized their fertility using imagery, including bulging breasts and bellies, and large pubic areas. Her proportions were, for the times, perfect: less exaggerated as she modestly covered her body with one hand. She was seductive, but Praxiteles suggests an eroticism rather than making her body more bulbous and her pose more open, or covering her up totally like earlier Greek artists. Western depictions of nude women since have maintained a similar tone, creating images that are suggestive, seductive and not overtly sexual, while remain-
ing packed with erotic possibility. Subjects may face the spectator or expose their chest or butt but, meekly, refuse to meet their eyes. Around a year ago, Mateo Rueda, a parttime teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Hyrum, UT, was fired for showing his fifthand sixth-graders nude art. Rueda used Phaidon’s postcard set “The Art Box” to teach color theory. Some of the kids got upset over the nude paintings in the collection. Take François Boucher’s “Odalisque,” which depicts a woman, supposedly the painter’s own madame, reclining on her stomach, bottom up. She is placid and smiles serenely. Her torso is covered with a sheet. Like many rococo works, “Odalisque” is a little raunchy but lightheartedly, prettily so. (“Odalisque,” like the Knidian Aphrodite, is in the Louvre.) After taking away the pictures, Rueda told the class, “Art can be uncomfortable sometimes, but there should be no shame about nude artwork that is inherently beautiful and is seen in museums worldwide.” (It’s Nice That, “School teacher fired for showing nude paintings in an art lesson,” 01.05.2018). Parents complained to the Cache County School District. One called the sheriff and accused the teacher of showing pornographic material. No one filed charges, but the school fired him over the uproar. Lincoln Elementary principal Jeni Buist destroyed the postcard collection and apologized (People, “Utah Art Teacher Fired for Unintentionally Sharing Classical Nude Paintings Speaks Out,” 01.04.2018). For decades now, artists have drawn naked people and genitalia, and even gone nude themselves without charges of pornography. Except in very conservative circles–Hyrum is predominantly Mormon—nudes are generally not deemed too explicit to be valuable, even if they’re female. Perhaps parents were
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
agitated over Mr. Rueda’s approach because pictures like “Odalisque” are so realistic; students stared at a round, exhaustive rendering of Boucher’s wife’s bottom. When the Gagosian Gallery in London received Takashi Murakami’s giant gold penis statue and larger-than-life sculptures of hentai girls, viewers nodded thoughtfully and called the exhibition satire rather than porn. Still, we cannot place the nude male figure and the nude female on the same timeline. They have received different treatment from Western artists since their birth, and this disparity remains in the mainstream art world and in viewers’ psyches. Would parents have reacted this way over a postcard of Michelangelo’s “David,” or “Perseus with the Head of Medusa,” or yet another naked marble man in a history museum? While classical artists deified or heroized the naked male body, which is now a mark of high art and an integral part of any art history course, the naked woman has always been exceedingly human—the mothers and fertility figures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Western coquettes. Their nudity feels more salacious and, in turn, more censor-able. When Yoko Ono performed her “Cut Piece” at Carnegie Hall, in which she sat motionless and invited spectators to cut away her clothes, one of them snipped at her blouse and bra, wearing a leery smile. While Murakami’s nudity has always been cartoonish, Ono’s was even more realistic—and more sexual to audience members—than the Boucher, though the piece wasn’t supposed to be (Ono said it was about “giving and taking” and stemmed from Buddhist influences). Likewise, Mr. Rueda was only trying to teach color theory. What is so threatening about a real naked woman? Why is Aphrodite more pornographic than David or Perseus?
January 31, 2019
Campus Canvas
ARTS A weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists
Page 9 submit to misc@vassar.edu
Excuse me, What is your favorite bathroom on campus? “Second floor Main across from the Rose Parlor. Nice and private.” — Emily Lesorogol ’22
“Library second floor. They are so cute. They should be gender neutral though.” — Nerissa Tunnessen ’22
“First floor New England.” — Sloane Burling ’22
“All of the Strong bathrooms.” — Hannah Littman ’22
“Third floor Jewett.” — Rahul Makwana ’20
Mahalia Iwugo Urban Studies Major Class of 2021 “A theme I consistently explore in my art is escape. The making of art itself becomes a method of escape, and in that process I seek new ways of understanding my feelings. At the time I drew the black and white line drawing, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of containment that felt physical in the way it seemed to control me. In the landscape painting I explored the scene of an internal state of conflict, seeking escape through envisioning my emotions in a different context than I am familiar with. The last two watercolor paintings are depicting an attempt to escape my physical surroundings into mental worlds by way of daydreams, books, or the process of the images creation.”
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
“The one near the registrar with the blue tile.” — Adriana Ochoa ’20
Hannah Gaven, Humor & Satire Hannah Benton, Photography
FEATURES
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Quite Frankly Frankie Knuckles
Features Editor Quality Advice-Giver
Hey Frankie, Just kidding. No one asked me a question this week, so I’m just going to shout into the abyss and hope it shouts back. Sincerely,
Dear Everyone,
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Frankie P.S. If you have a hard time with any of your spilled ink, send your problems and questions to me, and we’ll print some ink in the Misc to answer them. All submissions retain anonymity (even I don’t know who’s written to me) and will be answered thoughtfully. Bottom line: Ask me questions! Go here to do that: http://bit.ly/2RFnXfk
Above: Detail of the Alhambra palace in Granada. This wall is just one example of the opulent, detailed ornamentation of this major Spanish tourist attraction.
Above: Seville Cathedral is illuminated in stunning relief against the dark night sky. The famed building reflects Seville’s history of both Islam and Christianity.
Gillian Redstone/The Miscellany News
Best Wishes,
SPAIN continued from page 1 itself. Remember to bring a fully charged phone—there are countless photo opportunities here. The rest of the city can easily fit within a day’s exploration, and the best way to do so is by simply walking around. Take the street that looks the most quaint, pop into a little store to get a feel for the local culture and check out museums that you won’t find in tourist pamphlets. However, a couple of not-to-miss attractions include the Plaza de San Nicolas, which offers stunning views of the Alhambra at any hour (be careful at sunset, it gets busy), and the Granada Cathedral. And of course, don’t forget to eat plenty of tapas after a long day of exploring. On my particular trip, we chose not to spend much time in Cordoba, but stopping to see the Great Mosque, one of the best examples of Moorish architecture, makes the trip worth it. The Mosque’s famous striped arches seem to go on forever, and the newer Christian architecture creates an incredible juxtaposition. Peer through a glass floor near the entrance to see the mosaics of an earlier church, which display how the site has been a place of worship for centuries. Cordoba is located in between Granada and Seville, so traveling to the latter city is wonderfully convenient. The city, 330 miles southwest of Madrid, is an absolute marvel. The medieval city receives a brilliant pop of color from the ever-present orange trees. Its many historic sites, some of which are in the mudejar style, create an enchanting atmosphere. This style, simply put, is a combination of Islamic and Gothic elements. The best example of mudejar is the Royal Alcazar, a site recognizable as the filming location for the kingdom of Dorne in Game of Thrones. The extravagant palace was built for a Christian king, but the style is clearly influenced by Islamic art with swirling reliefs lining the walls, horseshoe arches and colorful tilework. The fountain-filled courtyards practically beg visitors to hop the rope and take a leisurely stroll. Being in the very structure made me feel like a queen. Another fantastic site in Seville is the city’s cathedral. Marketing itself as the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, the structure has towering columns, decorated organs and countless heavenly depictions. But what makes the building so fascinating is the bell tower which was originally a minaret: a tower used for the Muslim call to prayer. The repurposing of the tower, now attached to the cathedral, displays the lengthy history of the city to visitors. As mentioned with the Alhambra, it’s a good idea to reserve tickets for both of these attractions in advance. Otherwise, prepare to get in line early. Seville is also full of stylish people and unsurpassable shopping. But, more importantly, the food—be sure to taste traditional tapas dishes including croquettes, acorn-fed ham, oxtail stew and garlicky shrimp. Spain’s famous style of eating, drinking and socializing is especially ideal for anyone who struggles with choosing one dish from the menu. Indeed, Spain’s largest cities are home to the landmarks of Europe, from Prado to Sagrada Familia. However, taking a couple days to really understand a city, rather than quickly hopping from place to place, can allow for a more relaxed and immersive travel experience—and these Southern Spanish cities are worthy of a lifetime of exploration.
Gillian Redstone/The Miscellany News
uite frankly, we all know New Year’s resolutions are utter malarkey. But even so, I think most of us enjoy feeling like we get a fresh page every time the Earth laps an arbitrary point in its orbit, or on the day which the powers that be decided four years ago would be the optimal time to start a new semester. Whether or not you subscribe to these markers of temporality, the question remains: What ink are you going to smudge across this unit of time? Maybe you want to resolve to actually do all the assigned readings for your classes, or at least skim them. Perhaps you’re the type to initiate better health habits, like actually dragging your sorry husk of a body across our ice-encrusted campus to the gym on a regular basis, or eating a vegetable every now and again. Both admirable goals. Maybe you chronically overwork yourself, so you actually want to put in less effort this time. More power to you. No matter your goal, I want to use my platform here to impress one thing upon you all (and, of course, myself): telling yourself that this arbitrary date is when you’ll change everything about your life and get it together just sets you up for failure. None of us—or no one I’ve met, at least—can simply flip a switch and make everything match up with our idea of “good.” In fact, there’s no switch to flip. We’ve got dimmers, and they’re quite temperamental. If you slam the little piece in the middle up and down wildly like a toddler learning how electricity works for the first time, you’ll burn out the bulb altogether. Changing anything about yourself, whether it’s a habit or a mindset, takes more effort than just writing it down. When we resolve to make sweeping change and jump in head first, oftentimes we push ourselves to breaking points. By slowly, carefully bringing up the dimmer, we can keep ourselves healthy, and hopefully achieve our endgoals. No matter what your goals are for the semester, the year, your life, I hope you won’t be too hard on yourself. Subtle changes implemented over time will be more effective than sweeping reformations. In my humble opinion, a Rorschach test is way more visually appealing than a blank page.
Winter travel reveals that less is Moorish
Gillian Redstone/The Miscellany News
Frustrated Frank
January 31, 2019
Above: Perhaps familiar to Game of Thrones fans, The Royal Alcazar exhibits the blending of Islamic and Gothic architecture notable throughout Southern Spain.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
January 31, 2019
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Terminate your hibernation: Join one of these five orgs Aidan Zola Guest Reporter
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to some cool jams? The Korean Dance Crew (KoDC) is for you. The group was formed about two years ago with the intention of fostering an open and supportive community for students with a passion for K-Pop and dance. Welcoming any and all skill levels, the KoDC offers the perfect opportunity for anyone wishing to gain performance experience in a safe and encouraging space. The org’s openness is further demonstrated by the fact that they do not require auditions for new members. Dancer and choreographer Spencer McGrath ’21, remarked: “I’ve made some really great friends through the KoDC and also can still participate in dance without it being a huge commitment in my already chaotic schedule.” If you have been searching for an org to fill a few extra hours each week, KoDC could be a perfect fit. General body performances are held on Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. in Kenyon Hall Studio One or Two, and non-performance meetings take place in the hour following performances. 4. For a more hands-on creative experience, why not make your own creation with the Vassar Ceramics Club? Now is an particularly salient moment to jump on
Courtesy of Henry... via Flickr
ith the snow and slush smothering Poughkeepsie these days, it is easy to feel like you’re in an activity rut. During the winter, without the birds chirping and the sun shining over an idyllic quad, we probably all agree that Vassar’s campus can get a little dull. What better way could there be to beat the winter blues than to join a fresh, revitalizing student org to expand your horizons? With nearly 200 organizations from which to choose here at Vassar, there is bound to be something out there for you. Whether you want to create your very own ceramic bowl or spend the night dueling it out Dungeons & Dragons style, here are just five to get you started, in no particular order. 1. Looking for a way publish your art? Try joining Contrast, Vassar’s very own fashion magazine. In addition to publishing a new issue each semester, the “Contrast” team produces online social media and blog content. They also work to bring exciting speakers to campus, and even organize an annual fashion show. Editor-in-Chief Dana Chang ’19 commented on the rewarding nature of the org, saying, “My favorite part of ‘Contrast’ is the process of turning thoughts and ideas into a tangible piece of work as well as the visceral process of making it all happen.” Because the org is divided into five separate committees, students can get involved in a variety of ways. Areas of involvement include the blog, editorial, layout, photography and style sections. Each facet of the org welcomes new members and any new ideas they may bring to the table. Chang continued, “The collaborative nature of making a magazine coupled with the creative energy involved are all parts of ‘Contrast’ that I cherish and very much the reason I encourage students to join one (or all!) of our committees!” Email contrast. vsa@vassar.edu if you’re interested in getting updates from “Contrast.”
2. If games, comics and the like seem more like your thing, No Such Org may be right up your alley. By providing resources and support to students who run weekly, monthly, and annual events like Board Games Night and Magic: The Gathering Drafts, the NSO offers a great space to decompress after a long week of classes. What better way is there to stretch your creative muscles than assuming the persona of a dimenson-traveling wizard or role-playing as a bard? NSO Secretary Max DuBois ’20 described the group’s unique origins: “We found a yearbook from 2004 with something called the ‘Non-Human Organization (NHO),’ which we suspect the NSO started off as before its name was changed.” He continued, “We think it was created to give nerd culture at Vassar a means of organizing into fun and intentional groups, but we can’t be sure that the NHO wasn’t just a club for intergalactic aliens and other non-human students.” Whether you’re human or not, NSO welcomes you to join in on their fun. To be added to the org’s weekly mailing list, send a message to mdubois@vassar.edu. 3. Want to break a sweat while listening
Featured above is a pottery wheel similar to those in Vassar’s brand new ceramics studio. With a wheel, a potter can “throw” ceramic pieces such as mugs and bowls.
board with this org. Speaking on behalf of the club, Vice President and Secretary Calvin Scannell ’21 said in an emailed statement, “We are super excited about the expanded offerings for our clubs as well as a brand new space which we can call our own...The new space is in the basement of Noyes...and includes a kiln and three throwing wheels as well as space for hand building.” In the studio, “We will be able to hold more frequent meetings with far superior materials and equipment,” Scannell emphasized. The space is open to all skill levels, and more experienced members are available to teach fundamental techniques. Given these exciting new changes, the VCC plans to offer more frequent meetings to its members. While the org finishes its last touches on the new studio, there will be one final meeting on Saturday, Feb. 2 in the Main TV room in order to finish up the last of the synthetic polymer Sculpey clay. Students are encouraged to join and even take some of this old clay home. You might enjoy the sensory experience of making pottery, as well as the creativity involved. 5. Lastly, if the cold never bothered you anyway and you are looking to get outside more often even in our winter wonderland, try joining RunVassar. The org offers a beginner running plan, sends notifications for local races and organizes weekly group runs at varying distances. Regardless of pace or distance, RunVassar emphasizes that they will not leave anyone behind. The org creates a great space for students to de-stress and meet new people, all while exploring Vassar’s natural surroundings. To receive their weekly notifications, send a message to runvassar@gmail.com. And If none of these five lovely orgs strike your fancy, you could even get involved with The Miscellany News, Vassar’s paper of record since 1866. From ceramics, to photo shoots, to board game marathons, these five orgs are just the beginning of your search for an exciting Poughkeepsie winter. So, get out there and make those connections!
Education Fellows support, inspire East Coast students Duncan Aronson Reporter
[Full Disclosure: Aronson participated in this program as an Urban Education Fellow.]
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inter break is a time for students to distance themselves from school. How ironic is it that some would choose to spend their respective winter breaks involved in precisely the one institution in which they aren’t expected to partake— school? For some enthusiastic Vassar students, the answer is just “not ironic enough.” For a few frosty January weeks, they were placed by Education Professor Maria Hantzopoulos in schools throughout New York City, Boston and Philadelphia as Urban Education Fellows. Students observed the classrooms, assisted their mentor teachers and schools broadly and reflected on their experiences. These reflections occurred with educators, non-educators and other fellows from Vassar, Smith College, Hampshire College and University of Massachusetts Amherst. Some fellows focused on where the metaphorical rubber of abstract educational theory met the concrete road of the classroom. Junior Olivia Keane commented over email, “You might see a teacher use a method you learned about in class, or think about
whether the curriculum is constructivist [knowledge is co-constructed between the teachers and students], but all of this is happening in the context of a high energy and often chaotic classroom. You might find that your approach to teaching changes when the ‘students’ are real children in front of you instead of just an idea.” On the topic of chaotic classrooms, firstyear Daniel Perez explained over an afternoon meal in the Gordon Commons, “[You learn and] pay attention to all this theory, like Freire’s pedagogy and gender equality in the classroom, right? A lot of the time you get so lost in hands-on teaching that a lot of that goes out the window. In the moment of you helping a student, there’s not time to reflect on how to best accommodate all those best practices of those theories.” This is not to say that the fellows failed to find success amid the chaos. In the brief time the fellows had in their respective classrooms, they still managed to forge close connections with their elementary and middle school students. Keane described a particularly heartfelt exchange: “One student wrote in his goodbye letter that he didn’t want me to go because he felt like he could talk to me, and I wouldn’t judge him for needing help. I was happy to hear that our conversations had made him feel supported and that my words can make a difference.”
Describing a similar experience in her email, Grace Han ’21 remarked, “[My most memorable experience] has to be the collective time that I spent working with a student who is both dyslexic and dysgraphic... The abstract rewards that I think of when working with children became tangible to me when I was able to celebrate the small victories in the student’s ability to expand his vocabulary and to move up a reading level.”
“I was happy to hear that our conversations had made him feel supported and that my words can make a difference.” Victories did not come without challenges. In a remedial math class, Perez quickly realized that he had to choose his battles wisely: “I mainly focused on the kids…who expressed their own motivation to do better. I feel like I was able to help a lot more than the students who, even if I sat with them, wouldn’t even pick up their pencil or look at me like they were listening to what I was saying. But we don’t know exactly what’s
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
sort of issues they are dealing with.” Han appreciated the difficulty of teaching, reflecting, “I learned that teaching in the classroom isn’t really for me. This Fellowship took me out of my naive mindset of thinking that the only thing required of teaching was a deep love for children … I learned that there is so much more to teaching beyond that fundamental passion, such as classroom management, the extra effort and attention required to attend to students with IEPs [Individualized Education Program], and even managing and working with the parents of students.” Finally, Han added, “[T]here are so many other ways to pursue my interest in the study of education and my love for children—perhaps even by becoming a literacy specialist.” Both the successes and the difficulties of the fellowship created an eye-opening experience for these interviewees, who highly recommend it to Vassar students. Keane and Perez shared the sentiment that the fellowship fostered respect for the teaching profession, as well as reflection on how best to support teachers. Han expressed that her biggest obstacle in the fellowship—realizing that teaching was not for her—was also her biggest lesson. The fellowship exemplified the maxim that, cliche as it is, those who learn the most in the classroom are not the students, but the teachers.
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Misc Quiz by Frankie Knuckles and Duncan Aronson
submit to misc@vassar.edu
January 31, 2019
Word
What’s your worst study habit?
on the street
Which of these Vassar “Facts” are actually Vassar FAKES?
“I watch “Friends” while I study, and I don’t study at all.” — Molly Lynch ’21
“I watch Netflix while I study.” — Malka Fleischman ’22
1) Back in the day, putting the emblem of an acorn on one’s door was a sign to others that the room’s occupant was engaged in serious study, and not to disturb them. 2) “Womp-womp” is actually short for “North American Wombat,” resulting from a misidentification by an early ecology professor. 3) Before Ferry Haus, Blodgett Hall housed Vassar’s first housing co-op, nicknamed “The Greenwich Village on Hudson.” 4) Noyes was designed to amplify sound from concerts held on Noyes Circle, making it the ideal Founder’s Day venue.
“Reading on my bed. I fall asleep.” — Sydney Lee ’19
“I take knitting breaks.” — Lydia Bailey ’19
5) During the Red Scare, Ely Hall was a functioning bomb shelter.
Chris Cross
6) Before there was the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film, that space was filled by Avery Hall: Vassar’s Calisthenium and Riding Academy.
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OPINIONS
January 31, 2019
Page 13
Campus Climate What is not talked about enough at Vassar?
Bhargav Poudel ’21 “Marxism and Communism.”
Helen Johnson ’21 “There’s a whole lot of conversation about a whole bunch of social issues and how important they all are—and I’m totally on board with how important everything is—all the work that’s being done and...especially the work that still needs to be done in countless areas...[N]ot only are we fighting extreme racism, extreme sexism, extreme homophobia—all these things on the one side—but how super extremism on either side can also be harmful and alienate people who otherwise would also be participating. And I don’t mean on Vassar’s campus, but outside of Vassar’s campus where people aren’t exactly as involved in the things that we’re doing here. I think that how you can access people who aren’t immediately involved in all these fights is something that doesn’t get talked about enough.”
Jane Ahn ’22 “I don’t think the socioeconomic disparity between students is talked about enough. It’s very obvious; you can tell— well, not tell, but there are certain signs that show, ‘This person has a lot more money than this person.’ It does become an issue for a lot of lower income students...I don’t know how to explain it, but my one friend was saying how there’s a lot of people who (and I don’t mean to call out anyone specifically) but there are a lot of people who wear Canada Goose jackets. And that’s, like, really expensive. It gets kind of bad when those are the kids that hang out exclusively with each other. It becomes a very cliquey, social status thing. I think another thing that’s not really talked about in colleges is, like, the environment and how much food waste there is present...It is hard to eat, like, normally on a regular basis at college, and to take care of yourself. To eat a lot of instant microwave meals and also to leave food is not very good for the environment. I think those two things should be talked about more often.”
Sam Cibula ’20 “I mean, I would say the things that are not talked about enough are the kind of institutionalized classism and racism at the campus. This being an institution that was created to appeal to wealthy, white people historically, I don’t feel as though the institution has, as of yet, done enough to rectify that past and translate that into a more inclusive future and present.”
Lisa Smart ’22 “So, I work for the Office of Sustainability. And...I don’t know. We do stuff, but it’s like, I don’t really know how many people actually want to get involved. Vassar students are like, ‘Yeah, environment! Save the Earth!’ But I don’t really think people care that much. It’s like, ‘Let’s just say it.’ And also, the Office of Sustainability isn’t very visible in a lot of things that we do. That’s kind of our fault, but [there’s] also just not enough expressed interest from students.”
Vassar still refuses to pay students NY minimum wage Kimberly Nguyen Guest Columnist
L
ast semester, my boss sat me down and strongly cautioned me to keep an eye on my timecard, explaining that she had been forced to terminate two students for going over their work-study allotment. She said that Student Employment was cracking down and terminating student employees who go over their work-study allotment, even if only by a single dollar. Firing a student over such a small amount seems like an overreaction. Policies like these disproportionately hurt low-income students who rely on work-study wages to offset the indirect costs of attending college. But this policy is not the only one that deserves scrutiny. Vassar’s continued refusal to pay state minimum wage has immensely threatened disadvantaged students. On Dec. 31, 2018, the minimum wage in New York—barring New York City, Long Island and Westchester County—increased from $10.40 to $11.10 (New York State Department of Labor, “Minimum Wage”). In a previous article, I wrote about Vassar’s obligation to adjust its student wages when the New York Department of Labor raised the minimum wage to $10.40 in 2018 (The Miscellany News, “Vassar student wages fail to meet standards,” 02.14.2018). However, using a loophole in the minimum wage law that exempts non-profit educational institutions from paying students state minimum wage, Vassar continued to pay student workers at a rate of only $10 per hour (New State Department of Labor, “Division of Labor Standards Frequently Asked Questions”). This is technically legal, but neverthe-
less exploitative. Even now, the administration continues to deny students the state minimum wage. In addition, Student Employment caps the amount of workable hours for seniors to a maximum of 10 hours per week. Underclassmen encounter even lower caps. With roughly 13 weeks in a semester, excluding break, the total amount of money you can possibly earn if you manage to find a job by the first week only comes out to $1300, $200 short of the $1500 workstudy allotment. The only way to close this gap is to work past your weekly cap, which will result in an angry email from Student Employment. What the Student Employment office doesn’t understand is that working past the weekly cap gives students more flexibility to take time off work later on, whether to attend office hours held during work time, to rest while ill, to attend a lecture or even to study for an upcoming test. But Student Employment’s policy doesn’t make allowances for these circumstances. Even with generous financial aid packages, many low-income students often feel the sting of indirect college costs. On-campus jobs help support laundry money, printing money when your semester allotment runs out, textbooks, medicine for when that Vassar Plague hits and so much more. With the high cost of attendance combined with low wages and weekly hour caps, it might make more financial sense to attend school half-time and work part-time to support yourself, even if that means taking longer to graduate. Off-campus jobs usually don’t fire you for working past ten hours, and with the state minimum
wage increases, they’ll pay more than an on-campus job. However, Vassar enforces academic policies that makes it difficult for students to even consider this option. The most obvious obstacle preventing students from attending school half-time and working part-time is Vassar’s blatant refusal to actually define “half-time.” The U.S. Department of Education (DoE) does not regulate the number of credits/hours needed to constitute half-time, so it’s up to Vassar’s discretion. Therefore, since there is no such thing as half-time, the only enrollment options are full-time or part-time.
“Vassar is fully aware that its policy could hurt those who may not be able to afford enrolling full-time, yet it chooses to uphold the policy anyway.” The reason why this matters is because the DoE only grants in-school deferments on student loans payments if you’re enrolled at least half-time at a Title IV school like Vassar. Part-time students are ineligible for in-school deferments. So even if the Committee on Leaves and Privileges grants you your part-time status to work during that free time, you might receive a bill for your student loan or use the sixmonth grace period you might have wanted to save for post-graduation. Additionally, you don’t get another grace period for your school loans after graduation if you
use up yours before graduation. Worst of all, Vassar knows the consequences of this policy, because the DoE requires all Title IV colleges to report the enrollment status of each student specifically for this purpose. Vassar is fully aware that its policy could hurt those who may not be able to afford enrolling full-time, yet it chooses to uphold the policy anyway. Unfortunately, these regulations exist partly because Vassar is designed to attract a specific type of student: the type without any financial barriers who can matriculate full-time and graduate in four years. The Vassar Catalog upholds this mandate, stating, “[A]ll matriculated students are required to register full time (a minimum of 3.5 units) for eight semesters or until they complete the requirements for their degree” (Vassar College Catalogue, “Degree Requirements & Courses of Study”). Any deviations from full-time enrollment must be approved by the Committee on Leave and Privileges and can often carry unforeseen financial burdens. As Vassar continues to admit students need-blind, its policies must adapt to the needs of its changing student demographic. It is simply not enough to hand a low-income student a generous financial package and consider the work done. The administration clearly needs policy changes to help support them during their time at Vassar and to meet 100 percent of their demonstrated need holistically, rather than just in one area. Most importantly, these policy changes can begin with simple, commonsense improvements like paying students the state minimum wage and defining the number of credit hours for a half-time status.
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.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
OPINIONS
Page 14
January 31, 2019
Media misrepresents how shutdown harms prisoners Catherine Bither Columnist
F
ollowing the recent government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history— thousands of federal employees went weeks without pay. For those struggling to survive paycheck-to-paycheck, the devastating shutdown caused many federal employees to take up second and even third jobs (The Marshall Project, “What Trump’s Government Shutdown Looks Like Inside Federal Prisons,” 01.07.2019). Understandably, members of the public and news agencies alike pressured public officials to end the shutdown, incited by stories of voluntary service by government workers attempting to continue partial government function. However, major news agencies covering the government shutdown have largely ignored its impact on incarcerated individuals or have vilified them in the rare instances that they were not rendered invisible. Stripped of liberty, humanity and agency, federal prisoners are dependent on a functioning government to receive food, toiletries, health services, rehabilitation and, in some cases, release. During the shutdown, the few stories covering the function of federal prisons centered around complaints about prisoners’ treatment in relation to unpaid employees. For example, traditionally during the holiday season, prisoners receive more elaborate meals, such as roast beef, chicken and steak. The Bureau of Prisons serve these meals to reduce feelings of resentment and suppress prison strikes. News agencies such as NBC News, USA Today and The Washington Post, however, shifted blame from government officials to prisoners for the above subpar treatment they received. The Washington Post put out a piece entitled “‘I been eatin’
like a boss’: Federal prisoners served steak by unpaid guards during shutdown” (01.07.2019) while USA Today published “Government shutdown: Federal inmates feast on Cornish hens, steak as prison guards labor without pay” (01.04.2019). NBC News published an article entitled, “Hard to Digest: Inmates eat holiday steak during shutdown while prison workers go unpaid,” which described prisoners mocking and aggravating prison guards who had bills to pay and children to feed (01.06.2019). The story quoted Sandy Parr, a food service foreman at Federal Medical Center in Rochester, MN, who lamented, “You’re giving a gift to somebody who committed a crime, but yet you won’t pay the people who are supervising them? It’s frustrating and maddening.”
“[M]erely 3 percent [of prisoners] are imprisoned for homicide, aggravated assault and kidnapping” Personally, I am frightened by these major news organizations’ lack of empathy for federal prisoners, nearly half of whom are incarcerated for drug offenses, while merely three percent are imprisoned for homicide, aggravated assault and kidnapping (Federal Bureau of Prisons, “BOP Statistics: Inmate Offenses,” 11.24.2018). Although government workers are entitled to complain about a situation which wreaks havoc upon their lives, these articles ignore the daily mistreatment that prisoners must endure while wildly exaggerating the types of positive treatment that prisoners receive.
The articles portrayed the foods as luxurious and high-quality, but Daniel McGowan, a former federal prisoner, asserted that the meal was still subpar by any standard. He described, “Twice a year — usually Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day — federal prisoners receive ‘special’ meals for the holidays. These meals are rare, highly anticipated, and a touch above the low-quality food prisoners get the rest of the year. While the article used ‘steak’ in the headline for impact ... [the meat was] not the corner delicatessen version but a grey, rubbery, low-cost version” (ACLU, “What the Government Shutdown Really Means for Prisoners,” 01.11.2019). Furthermore, the articles did not mention how the government shutdown has negatively affected detainees. When The Marshall Project, a non-profit journal focusing on criminal justice issues, asked the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) about the treatment of prisoners during the government shutdown, investigators received little information. The BOP stated that only employees charged with “the safety of human life or the protection of property” were allowed to keep working (The Marshall Project, “What the Government Shutdown Looks Like Inside Federal Prisons,” 01.07.2019). This means that the government furloughed employees they consider unnecessary, such as mental health specialists, who are perhaps the most essential employees in a prison. Prisoners who were fortunate enough to send letters and emails outside the prison walls described how the warden cancelled family visits—a particularly staggering blow during the holiday season (The Marshall Project, “I’m in Prison During the Government Shutdown. I Didn’t Get Holiday ‘Steak,’” 01.17.2019). Seth Piccolo, a prisoner at the Federal Correctional Institution in
Virginia, reported that the phones stopped working and prisoners could not make calls. Another prisoner reported that the prison was forced to stop ordering food and toiletries due to a lack of funds. McGowan asserted, “With budgets frozen, daily life in prison will become even more miserable. Delays in mail being delivered; unstocked commissaries; shuttered gyms; and no classes, visits, transfers, or library access take a toll on peoples’ well-being and the relative peace in the federal prison system. I recall during potential shutdowns in the 2000s that even toilet paper was being parceled out at the rate of one roll per week” (The Marshall Project, “I Didn’t Get Holiday ‘Steak’”). In addition to material deficiencies, terminally ill inmates waiting for “compassionate release” in order to die peacefully with their families were made to wait longer since no one was available to read their applications (The Marshall Project). This means that these prisoners will most likely die in prison before being reunited with their families. Even more shockingly, prisons also kept detainees past their release dates. While prisons violate the human rights of prisoners daily, government shutdowns exacerbate such atrocities. Unfortunately, instead of driving the public to think about how our criminal justice system works and exposing the ineffective and destructive nature of incarceration in America, news agencies villainize criminals who are already isolated and stigmatized in American society and politics, and who face the brunt of the shutdown. Instead of adhering to the carceral logics ingrained in American brains and hearts, times like these should challenge Americans to think differently about how we view prisoners and the systems that lead humans to incarceration.
Four myths on Venezuela’s political crisis debunked Sylvan Perlmutter Columnist
O
n Jan. 23, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Juan Guaidó declared the government of Nicolás Maduro illegitimate and himself as interim president of the South American nation. The Organization of American States (OAS), the United States, Israel, Canada, the European Union and ten Latin American states recognized Guaidó’s claim, while Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Iran, Russia, China and others stood by Maduro. Far from being a regional crisis, Venezuela’s political turmoil is becoming the site of a global power competition. The prospects of victory for the Venezuelan opposition are unclear at the moment. The military continues to stand by the government of Nicolás Maduro, granting him a monopoly over force in the country. However, there are reports that dissatisfaction is high in the lower and middle ranks (The Guardian, “Venezuela’s military envoy to US defects to opposition and calls for more to follow,” 01.26.2019). The gamble that the United States and its Latin American partners have taken on Guaidó could very well spiral into a long, bloody civil war and fuel the continued mass exodus of Venezuelans from their homeland. Other than discouraging any sort of military intervention, I do not feel confident enough to endorse any particular course of action for the United States to take toward Venezuela. Nevertheless, I feel that Vassar students must remain informed about such a
critical geopolitical issue. In light of this, I’ve decided to clear up four common misconceptions about Venezuela so engaged students at Vassar can be better equipped to ultimately come to their own conclusions. Misperception #1: Venezuela’s economic crisis is due to U.S. interference.
Venezuela is in the midst of a prolonged economic crisis with soaring hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods and collapsing rates of oil production. Venezuela’s oil production rate was already dropping in 2013 after years of mismanagement and lack of reinvestment by then President Hugo Chávez. During the same period, Venezuela’s economy became increasingly concentrated on oil production, leaving it especially vulnerable to crisis when oil prices dropped precipitously in 2014 (Foreign Policy, “How Venezuela Struck It Poor,” 07.16.2018). U.S. sanctions on Venezuela only began in 2015. This indicates that Venezuela needs more than just the end of U.S. sanctions to regain economic stability. A general reorientation of the Venezuelan government’s approach to the economy is in order. Misperception #2: The Venezuelan opposition and its allies are right wing.
Just because the Maduro government is on the hard left does not mean that the current opposition to it can be written off as right wing. Certainly, there is a strong right-wing contingent in the anti-Maduro camp—the United States, Colombia and Brazil are leading the charge against Maduro, all of them having far-right leaders. However, Guaidó’s party, Voluntad Popular (VP), is a social-democratic party and a member of the
Socialist International, and left-wing figures like Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet also support Guaidó’s bid. The Venezuelan opposition and its allies are a heterogeneous grouping.
some of the social programs from which the popular sectors have benefited under Chávez and Maduro (NACLA, “Venezuela at Another Crossroads,” 01.24.2019).
Misperception #3: Anti-Maduro does not mean
In an interview on “Meet the Press,” conservative Hugh Hewitt claimed that a war in Venezuela could “bring us together” (Twitter, @joshtpm, 01.27.2019). This is a ludicrous and dangerous sentiment. The military still backs Maduro, and an external invasion would unify previously dissatisfied factions in a struggle against imperialism (The Guardian, “Venezuelan president says invaders ‘would not make it out alive,’” 12.17.2018). Deputizing Latin American countries to carry out a regional military effort instead would also be inadvisable. The Colombian government does not wield full control over its border with Venezuela, which is used by revolutionary armed groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN). In addition, the Brazilian regions bordering Venezuela are underdeveloped and lack the infrastructure to support a major military effort. More likely than a swift military victory, Venezuela could devolve into the site of a protracted guerrilla war in the extensive tracks of rainforest in the country. The Venezuelan people have been living under unimaginable strain for far too long, and they deserve a better future. How the outside world can help deliver that future remains unclear, but at the very least, we can remain informed on the situation and maintain hope as it develops.
pro-opposition.
Maduro is deeply unpopular with many Venezuelans because of the corruption, authoritarianism and mismanagement that has defined his tenure. A recent poll found that 63 percent of respondents would support a negotiated settlement to remove Maduro from the presidency (The Conversation, “Venezuela power struggle plunges nation into turmoil: 3 essential reads,” 01.23.2019). In addition to presiding over Venezuela’s economic catastrophe, Maduro’s government disempowered the Venezuelan National Assembly and jailed political dissidents on suspect charges. In the latest rounds of protests that have rocked Venezuela, previously pro-government working-class districts have joined the demonstrators against Maduro, indicating that opposition to Maduro is growing increasingly widespread (The Washington Post, “Maduro foe’s next step awaited as power crisis deepens,” 01.24.2019). But just because demonstrators are against Maduro does not mean that they enthusiastically support Guaidó. The Venezuelan popular-sectors have good reason to be suspicious of an opposition movement that has not only acted undemocratically before—such as protesting the results of the fairly conducted 2006 elections—but also wants to roll back
Misperception #4: Military intervention would be effective and desirable.
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.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
OPINIONS
January 31, 2019
Page 15
If Not Now’s Birthright walkouts discourage dialogue Jesser Horowitz Columnist
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he Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism’s holiest city, exudes a power unlike anything I have ever experienced. Whether that originates from a truly spiritual source, an appreciation of the structure’s cultural importance or the excitement of the hundreds of people around me as I prayed before it—I am not sure. What I am sure of is that visiting Jerusalem was one of the most profoundly spiritual experiences of my life, one that will stay with me until the day that I die. It is one in which every Jewish person should have the opportunity to share. Birthright Israel, a non-for-profit Jewish organization started in 1999, provides free 10-day trips to Israel for young Jewish people from all around the world. Their goal is to lessen the divide between vastly disparate Jewish Diaspora and Israel. Since its founding, the organization has sent over half a million young adults from 66 countries to Israel. (Birthright Israel, “FAQ”). My particular trip, organized through Mayanot Israel, an organization that works closely with Chabad, provided us with a rounded view of the country that included visiting religious sites, interacting with the culture and exploring nature. We also engaged in frank discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. We met with a Palestinian man who described his treatment by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), as well as spoke with retired Colonel Miri Eisin, a former IDF spokesperson and political advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. As of late, Birthright Israel has come under fire by If Not Now (INN), a Jewish organization devoted to ending the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Unlike the explicitly anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace and Stu-
dents for Justice in Palestine or the in-name Zionist anti-occupation organization J-Street, INN avoids definitive stances on Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), Zionism or Palestinian statehood. Instead, INN operates as a big tent—it’s inclusive of anyone who opposes war and occupation (If Not Now, “Our Principles”). Recently, they have been gaining some support, in part because of their appealing “we’ll take everybody” approach to activism that lets the organization mitigate concerns of extremism among moderates while also allowing them to serve hardcore anti-Zionists. INN accuses Birthright Israel of deliberately hiding the occupation and erasing Palestinians in its presentation of Israel and the Jewish experience. They also take issue with its funding source, accusing it of largely being bankrolled by Sheldon Adelson, a conservative billionaire known for his support of Donald Trump and other right-wing causes (If Not Now, “When Did You Realize Birthright Was Not Just a Free Trip”). INN seems to have overlooked the fact that there are over 14,000 donors who support the program and that most of the money comes from a variety of Jewish agencies, not just from Sheldon Adelson (Birthright Israel, “Partners”). Adelson is little more than an especially generous contributor, and although he donates a lot of money, he is only one of many people who has given to the program. Some INN activists have gone so far as to stage walkouts in opposition to Birthright’s narrative about the occupation. Rebecca Oliver, who participated in one such walkout, said of the experience, “This is a real rare opportunity for us to listen and learn and take a stand against endless occupation and for freedom and equality” (The Times of Israel, “8 left-wing activists stage 2nd Birthright
walkout in less than a month,” 07.15.2018). The narrative was that these activists had stood up to the establishment norm that was hiding the Palestinian narrative and took matters into their own hands, risking their safety (and forfeiting their $260 deposits) in order to do so. This is a warped narrative. It does not at all match my own personal experiences with Birthright. During my visit, we engaged head-on with difficult conversations about the occupation. As I remember the difficult and uncomfortable questions that we posed to Israelis whom we met as well as the IDF soldiers who accompanied us on the trip, it is not only baffling but also insulting that these activists suggest that Birthright was merely trying to indoctrinate us. It seems to me that, had they been on my trip, they could only have reached that conclusion by refusing to actively engage with the material they were confronting. According to The Times of Israel, the activists on the second major walkout did not meet serious opposition from the staff or other participants, and the tour guide clearly explained to them the security concerns that prevented the entire group from traveling to East Jerusalem. They were even encouraged to seek out other narratives after the end of their Birthright experience, which they declined to do in favor of a walkout (The Times of Israel). Birthright students also challenged the narrative of those who left in another major walkout. They wrote, “The rhetoric flowing from select group members...quickly became unreasonably aggressive and directed at our tour guide, who never avoided the topic, silenced their speech, or seemed to take offense at their disregard for his perspective. He answered each question calmly, patiently, and to the best of his ability, providing an ex-
traordinarily neutral view of the conflict and acknowledging his bias as a former IDF soldier when necessary” (Haaretz, “IfNotNow Hijacked Our Birthright Trip,” 08.08.2018). The tour guide even scheduled a geopolitical discussion with a Middle Eastern history professor, specifically to challenge traditional views of Israel and the occupation. But because of the walkout, the students were never able to engage with this professor (Haaretz). The activists did not merely walk out of a free trip; they walked out of a valuable conversation. And in doing so, they deprived themselves of the opportunity to better understand the conflict. Therein lies the issue with If Not Now and their opposition to Birthright. These activists aren’t unhappy with Birthright because they silence left-leaning perspectives on the conflict—they’re unhappy that Birthright is not blindly validating the narrow-minded, pre-set worldview of a few uneducated activists. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that Birthright is perfect or that there are no possible ethical issues with the program. There is an ethical dilemma in our ability as Jews to return to the Jewish homeland while Palestinians or others with roots to this land are denied the same opportunity. However, the difference between INN and me is that I showed up for the conversation. When I brought up these issues—which I did on more than a few occasions—Birthright always addressed my concerns in an open and honest way. I didn’t always like the answer, but I was present to address it. I didn’t come to Birthright with an agenda and then walk out because the trip didn’t entirely validate my worldview. With a political climate surrounding Israel that is based on bitterness and division, I fail to see the logic in trying to shut down the conversation.
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HUMOR & SATIRE
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January 31, 2019
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fter the tumult of the fall semester, most students return to school with the lofty goal of getting enough sleep maybe at least once in their lives. But after reading one sponsored Buzzfeed article about the best bath bombs Lush has to offer, sophomore Livia Morris has taken her New Year’s resolutions to the next level. “My theme for this semester is radical, uncompromising, unflinching self-care. And I’m taking down anyone who tries to stand in my way,” Morris told the Misc. Morris’ attempts at self-care started mainstream enough as she purchased face masks, nice soaps and fuzzy socks. But Morris’ roommate, sophomore Sarah Ike, immediately noticed an issue with Morris’ new habits. “I can’t open the door to our room anymore. She has so many beauty products in there, and even if I could, I wouldn’t want to go in. You can smell the lotions and bubble baths and soaps from down the hallway. It’s unliveable. We haven’t even been back for a week, and there’s so many cosmetics that I can’t walk into the room. You can’t even be in the building without smelling the smell. I’ve been sleeping in that big corner booth in the Deece near Your Kitchen,” said Ike. Ike tried to address the problem with Morris before she was pushed from their dorm room for good. “Livia said she couldn’t talk about it because it stressed her out to talk about it, and feeling stress is against the philosophy of self-care,” reported Ike. Ike couldn’t see how this version of selfcare was truly helpful. Ike added, “I’m all for healthy boundaries and understanding
when you’re too emotionally heightened to engage productively in conversation, but she’s just wrong. Having difficult yet productive conversations counts as self-care. It’s just more long-term self-care. You have to stomach the moment in order to not let your problems fester. Also why did she buy so much bubble bath? There aren’t any baths on campus, and if there were, who’s gonna use them?” Morris’ new unilateral commitment to taking exceptionally frothy showers has had even more direct impacts than forcing her roommate to live in the dining hall. “Well, my boyfriend did try to break up with me,” Morris told the Misc. While her new personal pedicurist did her feet during her sociology lecture she added, “but I wouldn’t hear that kind of negativity because I’m not letting anything get in the way of caring for ME.” Despite an official breakup, her ex-boyfriend shared his perspective: “I mean, I actually get manicures every so often, but I don’t expect it to fix all my problems the way Livia does.” Her former partner continued, “I guess things started going south when she started covering herself in clay face masks for every second of the day—like honestly covering, head to toe, in probably an inch of fragrant clay goop. I’m not attracted to goop, but I’m not a shallow guy. I figured she’s going through something, and I can try to support her.” He sighed, “But I just had to break things off when my dog died, and she told me she wouldn’t listen to me talk about it because that made her really sad and feeling sad is not good self-care. Feelings are so important to feel and express. Pain is part of life. I just can’t be with someone who doesn’t listen.”
When we are gone, the Womp Womps dominate campus. I heard they lit Noyes on fire just to fight back against the institution and the rambunctious students.
TikTok takes over tumultuous teenage life during unhealthy mental breakdown Follow her on TikTok @ Izzy Migani
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hat do normal people do when they have a mental breakdown? Perhaps they drink a cup of tea. Perhaps they write in their journal. Maybe they listen to some relaxing music or watch The Great British Baking Show. Maybe they talk to their friends or call a loved one. Now, it’s pretty safe to say, based on the existence of this article, that I do none of the above things. During my finals season and 104-degree-fever-fueled work spurt at the end of the semester, a mental breakdown was inevitable. As expected, my response was to create a TikTok in hopes that I would accidentally become famous, earn enough money to graduate early and live in that elusive section of Beverly Hills in which all the retired Vine stars seem to hide out. TikTok confuses me—yet it intrigues me at the same time. How does one become famous? It all seems extremely accidental. My personal favorite depicts a man in
a bathrobe crying on top of a refrigerator. It’s a six-second video clip possessing over 100,000 likes. Why? Why is that such a relatable mood? Why did it get so famous? The day of my mental breakdown was a strange one. I woke up, went to class, took a nap, made a split second decision to pierce my ear, then forgot the entire plan, bought shoes, cried, ate several bread slices and went to bed. Although I don’t remember when or how, I made a gem of a TikTok along the way. In hopes to become TikTok famous, my response was to record my mascara-smeared face jamming along to the first fifteen seconds of Mo Bamba (the Skrillex remix edition, of course. Have to keep it classy and edgy!). My jump-cuts and transitions were a little shaky, but allin-all, I thought it was pretty good. However, much to my dismay, TikTok fame has not yet been thrust upon me. What more must I do? I conducted ex-
tensive research on many famous TikTokers. I have several paths to choose from: a tall and sad white boy who wears beanies and looks like he hasn’t slept in five months, a retired Vine star that has somehow made the transition to TikTok semi-successfully, the grown adult who makes funny faces to make up for actual humor, an e-girl with bangs who draws hearts on her face with Kat Von D eyeliner, someone who squirts a spray bottle at the camera for the aesthetic or someone who does straight-faced Fortnite dances ironically. If TikToking my mental breakdown doesn’t blow up and make me at least six figures by February, I’ll have to find another way to TikTok fame. I originally planned to settle on being an e-girl, but I’ve tried bangs twice, and neither time has worked out for me—my face shape isn’t right, and I have an insane cowlick. Although I’ve been practicing my Fortnite dances religiously every day, I still can’t figure out how to ex-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
actly do the default dance, so, that option is out as well (I suck at doing the running man, and I have the rhythm of a chicken). I could always be one of those TikTokers that does the impressive edits, but I have neither the time nor the money nor the patience for one of those fancy ring lights or a semi-presentable finished product. So, for now, I am going to stick to the hope that someone finds my gem of a TikTok funny and that somehow, in the near future, it blows up and I can make a Patreon so that random strangers give me money. With said money, I can further my TikTok career and quit school and maybe finally find out where all those retired Vine and Musical.ly stars went after Vine and Musical.ly died. To my family and friends, don’t worry, I’ll still remember you when I’m so famous that I can finally afford those Louis Vuitton airpods that just came out or maybe buy that Supreme crowbar that I’ve been hearing so much about.
January 31, 2019
HUMOR & SATIRE
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Urgent flood update: Vassar considers allocating snorkels Isaac Gallogly
Hard-Hitting Journalist
Courtesy of Isaac Gallogly
POUGHKEEPSIE — Multiple sources have reported that Vassar College is, indeed, the latest victim of global climate change. Once a treasured campus, abounding with character and activity, Vassar has unfortunately transformed into a single, giant puddle. At this time, the cause of the flood is unknown, but members of the scientific community at Vassar are pointing to glacial melting as the culprit. In search of answers, I contacted the chief analyst at the National Association of Staged Aeronautics(NASA) who requested to remain anonymous during this time of questionable job security within the United States’ government. He could neither confirm nor deny these allegations but insinuated that the destruction of Vassar’s campus could be a sign of what’s to come. Arguably the most affected area of campus is none other than Joss Beach, whose character was once a source of pride for inhabitants of Josselyn House and all Vassar students alike. On any given day, students could be seen frolicking through the beautifully manicured grass or flying around on brooms—simply enjoying the fruits of life. At the moment, Joss Puddle (formerly Joss Beach) is nothing more than a pool of tears, a graveyard, a reminder of the destruction of climate change. And most of all, Vassar students are demanding answers for the loss of their beloved. In the
Pictured above is Vassar’s now swimming pool. Not only is it Olympic-sized, it doubles as a communal tub. I heard students use the new communal pool for nude bathing. words of me, the expert on all things puddles, government intervention is the only remedy. In the midst of the longest-lasting government shutdown in modern times, the fate of Vassar’s campus is unquestionably the most pressing matter. According to the Only White House Aide Who Has Yet To Be Fired, President Trump was reportedly briefed on the incident early Thursday morning. He was overheard denying the validity of climate change but nevertheless insisting that a wall be built along the eastern coast of the United States to prevent the beaches of the Atlantic from meeting the same fate as Vassar’s Joss Beach. Unfortunately, however, it remains un-
certain how the President plans to handle the current situation in Poughkeepsie. It is my understanding that the majority of Vassar students believe a fleet of government-issued rafts would help alleviate the burden that the puddlication has placed on travel. However, critics have suggested that a raft initiative would require the construction of canals. This would be far too expensive. Additionally, the Vassar Transportation Service has informed me that the campus is not yet equipped for raft traffic, stating that a number of modifications would need to be made to the campus, including—but not limited to—the following: five-signal traffic lights, drawbridges and the issuance of sailor’s hats to all students.
HOROSCOPES
The Institution of Aquatic Transportation also raises a number of questions. Will motor-powered boats be permitted? Will students be able to bring their own boats to school and, if so, will they have to be parked an ungodly distance from the main campus? If there are not enough rafts for all students, will snorkels be distributed? What’s the deal with speedos, and most importantly, can I Jet Ski in the residential quad? Before any progress can be made, these questions must be answered, and my hope is that it’s a yes to the Jet Ski thing. Beyond new travel habits, the puddlication will result in a number of changes around campus. Vassar’s swim team has reportedly moved all of its winter practices from the AFC to the new Joss Puddle, citing its superior depth and connection with nature. On top of that, the recently-assembled Puddlication Committee has reportedly begun serious discussions surrounding the addition of a Vassar water polo team now that there are two available pools on campus. Also worth noting, the dining service will begin serving freshly caught seafood in the Deece. The position of fisherfolk will be available as work study in the coming weeks. Also worth noting, Vassar-branded floaties are now available for purchase in the bookstore, but I am told that they are flying off the shelves. Happy “winter”!
Hannah Gaven
amateur astrologist
ARIES
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
Recently, I was introduced to a Squatty Potty, which is a little stool that helps you get out your stool. Now that I’m back at school and Squatty Potty-less, I feel like I’m going to get a hernia. Do yourself a favor and bring your textbooks to the toliet to use as a Squatty Potty. If you really want to know how much your friends care about you, host a Kahoot night. Create Kahoots with trivia from each year of your life. The friend that gets last place obviously doesn’t care about you enough, so kick them out of your life for good. The stars suggest that you should stop eating lactose. I’ve been trying to do that, but then I ate mac and cheese for dinner. Then I realized that I had yogurt for lunch. So I gave up and did the gallon milk challenge. If it’s a cheat day, grab the bull by the horns.
A new semester. A new you. But you don’t know the things you did. You’re lost. Feeling behind. Lost. Out of the groove. Tear. It’s cold. Tear. The only answer now is to drop out of school so you don’t have to see the face of the new semester. Go now, young one. Over break I went to the dentist with my mom. Dentists are really scary, so if you ever have to see one, make sure you take your mom. Otherwise you’ll find out that you have 27 cavities. Even after a year of writing horoscopes, I still don’t know all of the star signs. I am a fraud. I don’t even know what my rising and moon signs are! Be brave this week and admit when you are lying about your astrological knowledge. Or lie to people, and you’re a Leo rising and Gemini moon for all I care.
LIBRA
September 23 | October 22
SCORPIO
October 23 | November 21
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 | December 21
My mom hung up on me yesterday and I’m still not over it. She is supposed to be on my side always—but she wronged me. So, I’ve started plotting revenge. I can’t decide whether I want to break the Best Mom Ever mug or throw away the snacks she packed me. Remember to plot revenge this week. Exercise is important, so I’ve decided to start working out by wearing my backpack filled with all of my textbooks everywhere I go. Two of them are rentals though, so I have to be careful that I take them out before I go swimming. If you happen to find your pants wet in an incriminating place (perhaps it looks like you peed yourself), the only option is to smear dirt on your butt. People will be so focused on the possible poop stain on your pants that they won’t notice the pee. Thongs are incredibly uncomfortable. If
CAPRICORN you haven’t had the displeasure of wearing
December 22 | one, stop by my room, and I’ll loan one to January 19 you. I don’t know if they are universally
uncomfortable or if I’m just wearing them backwards.
AQUARIUS
January 20 | February 18
PISCES
February 19 | March 20
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Math, math the musical bath. The more you eat, the more you laugh. The more you laugh, the better you feel, So we have math at every meal!
You will follow your dreams. Specifically the one where a snake is chasing you through a pool and one of its three heads is barking. Avoid water. Seriously.
SPORTS
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January 31, 2019
TakeQuake Part Three: Paul George deserves NBA’s MVP Emmett O’Malley Columnist
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here was a time during my winter break when I thought to myself, “Emmett, it’d be great if you wrote a few columns before heading back to school so you could really work at a nice pace upon your return.” You know what I did instead? Not That. A whole lot of Not That. Some of the Not That was working on my thesis (full brag). Some of the Not That was hanging out at home, taking notes on movies that probably don’t deserve to have notes taken on them. Some of the Not That was hanging out with my gritty, small-town friends. But the most notable part of the Not That, for the purposes of this article, was when I went to the Trail Blazers versus Thunder game at the Rose Garden in Portland on Jan. 4 (An aside: the arena is technically called “Moda Center,” but that’s just corporate hogwash, for which I have no time—unless it’s a brand of clothing, a pop-music hit, the Oscars, every major sporting event, every fast-food chain or most other facets of my life). On that charming Oregon night, The Thunder beat the Blazers,111-109. I sat between my friend (Hussein) and my mom (Mom). My friend and I screamed, we booed, we chanted, we leaned into the animalistic underbelly of sports fandom. My mom was entertained too, perhaps more by us than by the game. It was a fantastic game. Outrageous fun. The story of the game was Paul George, and the story he authored was weaved between the punishing presence of Russell Westbrook, the dazzling wizardry of Damian Lillard and the defensive dexterity of Nerlens Noel. George’s story was one of subtle excellence. A story of under-the-radar impossibility. And it was a story that now must be placed within a larger narra-
tive: Paul George is one of five remaining MVP candidates, and he’s the best candidate among them (the other candidates: James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard). At this point in the season, I think that there are only two truly compelling arguments to be made for who is most deserving of the MVP. The first argument is centered around the fact that James Harden is on an offensive run right now that has been (statistically) equalled or bettered by just three players in NBA history: Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. In other words, Harden has gone full Andrew Laeddis, and his lighthouse is a second MVP trophy. Any defender who has tried to step in his way has been left shuttering on a very lonely island. Arguing George’s MVP case is more difficult than arguing Harden’s. That’s why I’m writing this article. Because I love (fake, inconsequential) challenges. Two seasons ago the Oklahoma City Thunder went 47-35. Russell Westbrook won MVP. He averaged 32-11-10 on 43/34/85 splits. He was the first player to average a triple double since Oscar Robertson. I was very late to the “Russ deserves the MVP” party, but at some point the statistics and the gravity of his nightly theatrics transcended any possible counterpoint. Watching Russ in 2016-2017 was like watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. spin donuts around Main Building in a 1999 Toyota Sienna; it was horrifying, it was exhilarating, it was stupid and it was still somehow undeniably impressive (Note: this is my first-ever NASCAR reference! I think I felt 1,000 brain cells die as I wrote it!). This season, per FiveThirtyEight, the Thunder are on pace to win 52 games. Russell Westbrook is shooting 41 percent from the field, 24 percent (!) from three and 65
percent (!) from the free-throw line. His supporting cast—sans George—is Steven “Drogo” Adams, Dennis “The Mediocre Menace” Schroder and a bunch of specialists (defensive, mostly). Simply put, it is a supporting cast that is fairly one-dimensional. It is a supporting cast that can play great defense, set good screens and make way for great players to do great things. But despite the fact that Westbrook is on pace to finish his third consecutive season averaging a triple double, he has not been great. In fact, by his lofty standards, he has not even been good. Ipso facto, the Thunder should not be good. And yet the Thunder are much, much better than they’ve been since Kevin Durant slithered to the Bay. With the possible exception of the Lakers (hello, Sir Anthony Davis), I think that the Thunder serve as the best possible challenger to the supremacy of the Golden State Warriors. I think that’s because of Paul George. George is averaging 27-8-4 on 45/40/83 splits. He leads the league in steals. He is tied for the league lead in deflections. He leads the league in loose balls recovered. He is second in the league in defensive win shares, according to the official NBA website, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo, on whom George dunked so hard the other night that a Division III referee tried calling a technical foul from his couch. But stats are not going to prove convincing in arguing for MV-PG. Because James Harden is running through NBA defenses like my junior year self ran through shortbread cookies in the Deece. To convince you that Paul George should be MVP, I’ll need to try something different... Here’s the TakeQuake: the way the NBA is presently constructed, and the way the Houston Rockets have decided to play basketball, James Harden should be doing
what he is doing. The entire league—its rules and its trends—is set on maximizing space and unleashing the true potential of iso-ball. The Rockets have exploited that tendency to an extent that is borderline upsetting; they’ve run more isolation sets for Harden than any other NBA team has run for their entire team (Rockets Wire, “Rockets’ James Harden Has Had More Iso Plays Than Any NBA Team This Season,” 01.16.2019). Harden is the godly exploiter of a faulty system. He is dominant now in a way I’m not sure he could be in a different era, and that’s as much a compliment to him as it is a qualification to his greatness. He has mastered a distinctly modern art. But how heavily should we reward a man who is gaming the system? How heavily should we reward a man who has been given every opportunity imaginable to accrue record-breaking numbers? There’s a political analogy to be made here, but I promised myself that I wouldn’t do that this week. What Paul George is doing is not supposed to happen. Aside from Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James, no player has duplicated his two-way excellence since Jordan. He is the Boston Dynamics version of a 3-and-D player. He is playing the most complete game in the NBA right now, and he’s doing it on a team that has no business being as good as it is. George, not Westbrook, is now the reason the Thunder are a formidable threat to win the Western Conference. The final word: Harden excels within a carefully structured, zeitgeist-defined system. Paul George can do what he’s doing anywhere. To paraphrase the great philosopher, LeBron James, I want the guy who fits-in, not the one who fits-outs. Am I convinced by my own argument? Not fully.
PSG, Newcastle display far ends of soccer club ownership
Courtesy of Antoine Dellenbach Brazilian starlet Neymar poses with PSG management after signing for the club. The Paris club paid Barcelona a record 222 million euros to complete the transfer. Desmond Curran Guest Columnist
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erhaps one of the least shocking discoveries of 2018 was that Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Manchester City F.C. had both routinely circumnavigated UEFA financial rules. The Qatari owner of PSG, Nasser
Ghanim Al-Khelaïfi, has invested incredible sums into the club—much more than allowed by UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. At its core, FFP was designed to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means so that they would not face trouble down the road (this happened to Leeds United, a former giant that nearly collapsed due to financial missteps). Conversely, FFP is also intended to prevent the wealthiest clubs from overwhelming the transfer market and pricing out smaller clubs, thus monopolizing talent for the highest bidder. In 2017, PSG set the world record for a transfer fee, paying Barcelona 222 million for the Brazilian player Neymar, more than double the previous record (105 million for Paul Pogba in 2016). The next year, PSG would spend another massive sum for Kylian Mbappe—180 million. Even for a club of its stature, it is hard to believe that within a span of two years, PSG could afford to drop 400 million cash, on top of its already ludicrously large payroll of around 150 million a year (after taxes!). FFP dictates that a club cannot spend too much beyond what it earns in revenue, which includes ticket sales, TV deals, competition rewards, uniform sales and sponsorship deals. According to Forbes, PSG’s revenue for 2018 was 486 million. Simply put, the math does not quite add up. To be able to afford deals such as the ones for Mbappe and Neymar, PSG has relied on direct investments from its owners, outside of the team’s actual revenue. This practice, of course, is not approved by UEFA and has
drastically inflated the value of player transfers across the world. And PSG is not alone. In England, Manchester City F.C.’s owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has invested significantly more in the club over a longer period of time. As a result, when clubs like PSG and Manchester City become interested in a player, smaller clubs find it increasingly difficult to hold onto their talent, which gets lured away by money. Even worse, they are unable to afford a competitive replacement due to inflated player values in the transfer market. As a result, the less affluent clubs have fallen behind. And by less affluent, I’m not only talking about much smaller clubs, such as Bournemouth—a minnow in the Premier League—but even a storied club like Newcastle. Newcastle’s owner, Mike Ashley, is the polar opposite of Mansour and Nasser. Ashley extracts wealth from Newcastle United and refuses to put money back into the club. As a result, Newcastle has not signed any new players in recent transfer windows. Ashley has not made the funds available. The team’s manager, Rafa Benitez, has threatened to resign at the end of the season due to Ashley’s unwillingness to splash any cash. Newcastle currently flounders just above the relegation zone (bottom three) of the Premier League, largely in part because the club hasn’t purchased adequate talent. The majority of the players on the team were signed when Newcastle was playing in the Championship, a level below the Premier League. In order to stay competitive, they
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
need Premier League-level players. Newcastle is no small club; in fact, it is actually one of the largest in England. Their revenue is large, their fan base is immense and dedicated, yet they do not spend on new signings. Perhaps part of Mike Ashley’s refusal to spend is the cost; remaining competitive in the Premier League is expensive. The price for a Premier League caliber player has increased—largely due to the dramatic rise of prices for the best players. If relegation is likely, is it worth buying new players for vast sums, only to then lose them? There are several instances of this happening—quality players on teams that are relegated often have stipulations in their contract that activate a release clause if their team is relegated, allowing the player to leave for another Premier League team. Is it possible that one end of the spectrum of ownership is actively pushing the other end further away? By skirting around FFP rules, Mansour and Nasser may have de-incentivized owners like Ashley at struggling clubs from fronting the investments necessary to keep their own teams up to par. I’m not saying that owners should be obligated to invest their own money similar to Mansour and Nasser, nor that these violations of FFP should be more strictly enforced (they are not). But perhaps the most significant and long-lasting effect of driving up transfer prices is that it enlarges the performance gap between wealthy clubs and the rest, not by monopolizing all the best talent, but by discouraging everyone else from even trying.
January 31, 2019
SPORTS
Page 19
With new faces, men’s volleyball sets sights on same success Daniel Bonfiglio Guest Reporter
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tudents are back on Vassar’s campus and volleyball is back in Kenyon Hall. The men’s volleyball team played their first home games of the season this weekend, winning against Rutgers-Newark in straight sets and against Emmanuel College by three sets to one. After dropping their season opener, the Brewers have now won three straight matches. However, considering the run of success the team has enjoyed over the last few years, this winning start won’t surprise volleyball followers. The 2018 iteration of the men’s team reached the NCAA tournament and won
the quarterfinal against the number-four ranked Kean University, but ultimately fell short against number-one ranked Springfield College in the semis. If you had to point to a reason for the 2018 team’s success, you would look no further than superstar Matthew Knigge. Knigge finished his senior season second in the nation in both blocks and kills per set, easily leading the Vassar team in those key statistics. He was also second on the team in aces. (He tacked on his 1,000th career kill last season as well.) By every measure, Knigge was a force with which to be reckoned, and belongs in the conversation for best athletes in Vassar College history. However, Knigge has now graduated, and is pursuing a professional career in Germany.
Courtesy of Joe Clifford Sophomore Ryan Duchemin goes in for the kill on Saturday, Jan. 26, against RutgersNewark. Vassar won in straight sets, with Duchemin leading the team with seven blocks.
So how will the loss of such a talented player impact the success of the team? Sophomore Ryan Duchemin contends the team will be forced to spread around the workload more evenly this year, saying, “Losing Matt definitely was tough since he was the best player in the country for arguably the last three years, but I think this year we may be more balanced as a result. With a few of us hitting well early, I think [junior Kevin Ros] can balance the team’s attacks more than last year, so teams aren’t just completely committing on stopping one player in Matt.” Ros, who was second in the team in kills behind Knigge last season, shared a similar sentiment: “We’ve been able to spread the offense out which has given the opportunity for more players to contribute. I think that as the season progresses, the gap will be made up by a little bit of everyone.” Getting significant contributions from new faces will also be key for Vassar this year, as the team’s usual starting lineup includes three first-years. Head Coach Richard Gary’s squad will be hoping that with this new balance opponents will find it more difficult to game plan against Vassar, improving the Brewers’ offense. With their strong start, the team could be on its way to making it back to the NCAA championships, with the national championship, of course, being their ultimate goal. Both Ros and Duchemin stressed the mental effort the team puts forth towards accomplishing its goals, pushed by Gary. “Coach has us meditate and visualize to stay calm and focus,” Duchemin said. During the preseason, the Brewers worked to make sure they will be ready when the time comes for them to take another shot at a deep postseason run. Ros reflected, “Our main goal is to win a national championship. During the preseason, we spent time scout-
ing ourselves, addressing weaknesses and visualizing playing at the final site.” With the turnover of talent, it remains to be seen if there will be some growing pains, or if the team will once again play to the high and consistent level that spurred the program’s rise to the top of the DIII ranks last season. In hoping to get to that level, the Brewers are focusing most heavily on their serving and blocking—vital skills that the program has always emphasized. “Both [skills] are critical in keeping teams out of system and letting our offense click. Time and time again, we see the best serving and blocking teams make deep postseason runs, so we’re working every day to improve these skills.” Duchemin seconded that statement, singling out blocking as a strong point for the Vassar team. “I think our greatest strength can be our team’s blocking. We’ve led the country the past two years, and I think that’s due to our approach and [the] mindset Coach Gary instills in us rather than a specific player.” If the men’s volleyball team is able to execute its gameplan, it may well be on its way to another deep foray toward the national championship. Having already visualized the moment, the team appears both mentally and physically prepared to mount its run back to the NCAA tournament and make an impact when it gets there. That is the standard the program has set for itself. Vassar will play against New York University in Springfield, MA, this Friday, Feb. 1, but the toughest challenge will be when they take on defending national champion Springfield College the next day. The next home game for the Brewers is next Wednesday, Feb. 6. As Vassar men’s volleyball sets out on another long season, although the roster is filled with new faces, the objective remains the same.
Women’s basketball extends winning streak to fourteen Kelly Pushie
Guest Reporter
S
ince Nov. 30, the Vassar women’s basketball team has faced off against 14 opponents. They’ve defeated each one. The Brewers’ 14-game winning streak has them at 17-2 overall on the season and in first place in the Liberty League with an impressive 11-1 record in conference. Coach Candace Signor-Brown’s team has performed stellarly thus far and shows no signs of slowing down. This past weekend, Jan. 25 and 26, the Brewers hosted Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University (SLU) in the AFC and posted two dominant wins, beating each Liberty League foe for the second time this season, keeping the winning streak alive. According to junior guard Jackie Cenan, the incredible amount of success this team has enjoyed can be attributed to two words: “Work Hard.” Short and sweet, this motto has given the players a common goal and has held each member of the team accountable and focused. This mentality has helped create a group that trusts one another and has chemistry. Cenan explained that the team has been working day in and day out to achieve their stated goals. “We push ourselves to improve everyday even if it’s just by one percent. This ‘give one percent more’ attitude has challenged us as individuals and as a team to improve our mental and physical game,” Cenan commented. “We try to show up to practice every day checked in and ready to reach our daily goals. We take every game we play seriously, because no [Liberty League] team is going to roll over and give us a win.”
This weekend’s games highlighted the team’s positive attitude, confidence and determination to keep their winning streak going. First up for the Brewers in their homestand was St. Lawrence. In their previous matchup, the Brewers only beat the Saints by nine points. However, this time around, the Brewers secured a comprehensive win by a 15-point margin, 60-45. The game started off close, with the lead shifting back and forth between Vassar and St. Lawrence, but early in the second quarter, the Brewers charged ahead and never looked back. Three juniors led the scoring for Vassar, with Cenan posting 17 points, junior forward Sophie Nick putting up 16 and junior guard Isa Peczuh with 14. Cenan, the team’s top point-getter at 15.9 a game, was crucial on the offensive end, especially in the games latter stages. The junior wing helped the Brewers secure the win, with 15 of her 17 points coming in the second half. Just 19 hours after the win against St. Lawrence, Coach Signor-Brown’s team once again took the court, this time against Clarkson. The second home game of the weekend played out in much the same fashion as the first, with the Brewers posting a convincing 77-48 win. It was a team effort for Vassar, with four players putting up double digit points. Cenan led the Brewers again with 14 points, and Nick was right behind with 13. First-year guard Dani Douglas provided a three-point threat off the bench, adding 13 points, and sophomore guard Ryan DeOrio tacked on 11. The Brewers started off the game slowly, as the Golden Knights rode hot three-point shooting to a 16-11 first quarter lead. How-
ever, the Brewers showed resilience in the second quarter, scoring an impressive 28 points and, by switching out their 2-3 zone, limiting Clarkson to only nine points. Vassar would continue to assert its dominance on the court, extending the lead to as many as 30 points. Peczuh, who has made over 45 percent of all Vassar threes this season, explained that against Clarkson the team did a great job of sticking to the game plan and executing on both the offensive and defensive end. “Each quarter, we brought more focus and energy than the previous quarter,” Peczuh said. However, starting the game off strong is a facet that Peczuh believes the team can work on. “To improve, it would be great for us to bring those great qualities from the tip,” she explained. As Cenan does, Peczuh attributes much of the team’s success this season to taking things one day at a time and concentrating less on who they are playing and more on internal improvement. “We have been really focused this season on doing our best each day to reach our larger goals,” Peczuh expressed. “As with every weekend, we won’t necessarily be focused on playing Union and Bard but more just getting better as a team. This means doing little things like getting to help side and secondary rotations and taking new reads in our offenses.” Nick reiterated this sentiment in explaining what has helped contribute to the team’s incredible 14-game winning streak. “A lot of our success this season has stemmed from the closeness of our team and our shared motivation to get better every day. We are prepared for each game and know that if we
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play Vassar basketball, we are hard to beat,” Nick commented. “Throughout the season we have gained confidence in each other and ourselves, which has helped us to win a lot of games.” Much of the team’s success this season can also be attributed to upperclassmen leadership. DeOrio commented on how the current juniors and seniors on the team— filling a void left by last spring’s graduation of key cogs Ariella Rosenthal, Samarah Cook and Kim Romanoff—have helped push the group to strive for its best self. “The upperclassman have been a huge guiding force on the team,” DeOrio explained. “They really set the tone and the energy on our team.” The sophomore guard also mentioned that the environment fostered by the upperclassmen allows everyone on the roster to contribute to the success of the team, be it in games or in practice. Peczuh also commented on the strong chemistry this season and how it has impacted the team’s play. “The team dynamic is really special this season. We are a really small group, so I think that keeps us really connected,” added Peczuh. “The trust we’ve built with each other makes us resilient on and off the court.” Wins against St. Lawrence and Clarkson have kept the Brewers’ momentum going as they head into road matchups against Bard and Union next weekend. While the team has a chance to stretch its winning streak to 16 games, that doesn’t seem to be what’s on the players’ minds. In relation to the group’s attitude going forward, Peczuh summarized,“We’re all just working hard, having fun and dreaming big.”
SPORTS
Page 20
Why
we
Courtesy of Nick Lee
Nick Lee
Guest Contributor
“H
it ten in a row,” my coach said to me. I was six years old. I don’t remember the coach’s name. I don’t even remember her face. But the goal she set for me—five forehands and five backhands in a row over the net—is an early tennis memory that remains ingrained in me. She told the women on the court to my right to watch me as she began to feed the ball, showing off her young player. And I didn’t mind in the slightest. I loved the attention, and I loved being recognized for my accomplishments. While I later boasted to my parents with my six-year-old arrogance about the number of shots I made in a row over the net and into the singles court, I did not recognize the valuable tennis and life lessons I had learned that day. It was the first time that I can recall being taught to set goals for myself and embrace a challenge. Growing up, in addition to tennis, I played basketball, baseball and soccer, and participated in martial arts. Among all these sports, I
of my game that I had worked on, and I won my first match. I was ecstatic. The drought of losses had ended. While I would go on to lose in the second round, I had proven to myself that I could play at a competitive level. Over the next few years, I continued to train and compete in regional tournaments. My results continued to improve. I began to win multiple rounds and advanced to the semifinals and finals of tournaments. In December 2010—as an eighth grader—I won my first regional tournament for my age group. I felt a mixture of happiness and relief. It had taken two years. The training and frustrating moments over that period of time had all been worth it. Through the end of middle school and throughout high school I carried on my tennis career. As I gained more experience, I also began to participate in sectional and national tournaments. Additionally, I played tennis in the spring for Mamaroneck High School. In the summer of 2013, going into my junior year, I was the number two seed in a sectional tournament in Rockland County, NJ. I recognized the name of the number one seed on the other side of the draw. It was the same person that had beaten me 6-0, 6-0 in that indelible match over four years ago. When we both made the finals of the tournament, I was excited for the opportunity to prove to myself that I deserved to be on the court with him. I was ready for the challenge, and I was convinced that I could beat him this time. The match proved to be grueling. Despite opportunities for me to win the first set, I could not close it out. I lost the first set 6-7 (5-7 in the tiebreaker). Although I was tired and frustrated, I knew that I was within striking distance. I shook off the first set and focused on coming out strong in the next one.
My opponent seemed unsettled by how quickly I managed to hit the reset button. I swiftly won the second set 6-2, which meant that the match was to be decided by a tiebreak to ten points. As I took a brief rest and hydrated, I told myself that I needed to come out strong if I wanted to win the match. The tiebreak was extremely close. I had been serving well throughout the match. When I was up 6-5, I hit an ace out wide on the ad side to give myself a more comfortable 7-5 lead. I eventually would pull out the match with a 10-7 win in the tiebreak, winning the tournament. As I approached the net and shook my opponent’s hand, I was overcome with joy. I knew that this win was special, and I knew that it was one that I would remember. This experience was one of many that taught me that losing matches is essential to growth as a tennis player. The losses help me better understand the parts of the game that I need to work on. I can use the losses as motivation to improve and win the next time the opportunity presents itself. Great gains can be made by simply taking little steps—be it learning how to hold the racket, or making a shot into the court. Then you make a few shots in a row, and then you make ten. Each new goal presents a new opportunity and a new obstacle to overcome. Each little step combined culminates in a huge leap forward. Over four years, a disappointing 6-0, 6-0 loss can transform into the drive to beat that same opponent when the next chance arises. The difficult parts of the journey make the positive outcomes all the more meaningful. Without the challenge of a tough opponent, what would be the point of competition? Competition was never meant to be easy.
Men’s Volleyball
Men’s Basketball
Vassar College 3, Emmanuel College 1
Vassar College 70, St. Lawrence 49
January 26, 2019
January 25, 2019
Vassar College
Emmanuel College #
17
4
Arnold
19 4-7
1
0
10
5
16
11
Hicks
24 4-14
4
1
9
4
0
7
21
Crawford
24 2-7
9
1
7
32 1-4
4
3
4
0
Miner
23 2-5
3
0
4
29 0-2
1
2
0
32 Naclerio
23 1-10
5
0
3
33 Bromfeld
24 7-9
10
1
16
12
23 1-3
0
2
4
0
4
16 1-3
1
1
5
10 Low
3
1-2
0
0
4
0
2
23 Tebay
8 0-0
4
1
3
22 Sargent
7
1-1
0
0
3
0
0
30 Palecki
14 0-2
3
1
2
24 Karera
16 0-2
0
1
2
11
Lee
3
0-0
1
0
0
5
12 1-7
1
0
2
21
Brownridge
2 0-0
1
0
0
42 Jeffrey
14 0-5
4
3
1
English
11
0
0
6
McDonagh
1
21
5
12
Kokoros
4
10
0
14
Silva
12 0
5
2
17
0
8
1
0
23
0
Usui
0
0
Olstad
0
0
# Player
M
9
10 Seff
33 6-11
4
1
1
3
34 Grinde
22 8-10
6
0
0
4
25 Gallivan
17 2-3
3
0
0
0
42 Dyslin
Carroll
5
0
1
0
2
18
Schueler
3
0
0
0
1
1
Behsman
0
0
0
0
6
4
Gottuso
0
3
0
1
8
Randall
1
1
A BA
1
Duchemin
8
0
4
0
5
7
Diehl
11
2
2
1
8
Ros
10 28
0
12
Waters
11
17
Kaplan
19
Hendrickson 8
6
Hoppenjans
10 11
0
60 53
Totals.......
Player
M
A B A DIG
K
29
1
2
3
25
25
25
DIG
17
28 25
2
1
2
3
4
27
12
1 9
1 7
Totals.......
4 2 5
Set:
St. Lawrence # Player
K
Player
Set:
Nick Lee, Men’s Tennis
play
always enjoyed tennis the most. This is not to say that there were never moments in which I thought I hated tennis; at times, I wanted to break all of my rackets and leave the sport behind. Yet something always brought me back to the game, and I would force myself to put down my head and give it another shot. At 12 years old, I decided to play tennis competitively. I was always a competitive person (at times too much so). The kids in my tennis class did not take the sport very seriously, which frustrated me. Due to my competitive nature, I wanted to train more intensely. So I began to participate in regional tournaments. At the time, I was unaware of how much of a physical and mental test it would be to push my game to the next level. I lost in the first round of my first three tournaments—all without winning a set. In my third match, I didn’t even win a game, losing 6-0, 6-0. I remember my opponent and his confident demeanor, which intimidated me right as we set foot onto the court. I felt lost and undeserving of being across the net from this player. Despite the three losses, including the one particularly embarrassing loss, I continued to train. I continued to motivate myself and tried to remain optimistic that my hard work would eventually pay off. I aspired to have the same confidence that my opponent who had beaten me 6-0, 6-0 had. Three months later, nearing the end of the summer, I competed in my fourth tournament. I had trained hard. I had learned from my defeats and aimed to utilize them to help me succeed. As I arrived at my fourth tournament, the nerves set in, and self-doubt crept into my mind. Yet I tried to remain optimistic as I stepped onto the court. Throughout the two sets, I was able to execute the parts
Vassar College #
January 31, 2019
18
Stevenson
Durham
Totals.......
FG REB A PTS
200 25-44 40 15 70
Half:
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1 32
2 38
Huntley
DeRegis
FG REB A PTS
Totals....... 200 17-66 32 9
Half:
1 21
49
2 28