The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CLI | Issue 15
February 14, 2019
Courtesy of Jessica Moss/The Miscellany News
Controversial local jail faces lengthy delays Tiana Headley Guest Reporter
[Content Warning: This article makes mention of suicide.] n Jan. 20, 2013, a group of local activists and community members gathered in front of the Bardavon Theatre to protest the proposal to expand the Dutchess County Jail. Nearly six years later, a new law enforcement center
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for the county sheriff’s offices is complete, but the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center (DCJTC) is still years from completion. The DCJTC is the new jail under construction at the site of the original Dutchess County Jail site. It is also the second phase of the county’s $200 million jail expansion plan, with the new law enforceSee COUNTY JAIL on page 3
StuFel presents insider Dean of College search narrows view of rewarding role Pictured above is the Dean of the College office, currently occupied by Interim Dean of the College Carlos Alamo-Pastrana. Located in Main Building, the office provides space for students to consult the Dean.
Ariana Gravinese
Lucy Leonard Copy Staffer
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he Mission and Vision for the Dean of the College position is as follows: “The Dean of the College division educates and supports students in their intellectual, social, ethical and emotional development. In facilitating the academic and personal achievement of our students, we advance their goals both as individuals and as members
of a diverse and inclusive...liberal arts learning community” (Dean of the College, “Mission Statement”). The four candidates seeking to fill that role are Vassar’s Interim Dean of the College and Associate Professor of Sociology and Latin American and Latino/a Studies Carlos Alamo-Pastrana, Director of Marist College Honors Program and Associate Professor of Philosophy James Snyder, UC Irvine Asso-
ciate Vice Chancellor for Wellness, Health and Counseling Services Marcelle Hayashida and Rutgers University School Counseling Coordinator and Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology Caroline Clauss-Ehlers. Former Dean of the College Christopher Roellke, who declined to endorse a candidate, shared qualities he believes the Dean of the College should have. “I See DEAN OF COLLEGE on page 3
Reporter
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s Student Fellow applicants begin interviews and offers hit students’ inboxes, I wanted to use my personal experience with the program to showcase all the benefits that the job affords. Whenever anyone asks me about the position, their first question is “How hard is it?” By sharing my story, I hope to offer a little insight for all those who wonder
about what it is like to be a StuFel. Like most StuFels, I applied to hopefully provide my assigned first-years with a wonderful experience and a warm welcome to Vassar. While some students apply because they loved their StuFel and want to recreate the same experience they had with their fellow group, others apply in hopes of creating a better environment for the next class year See STUDENT FELLOW on page 11
27Brew2 raises over Lecturer demystifies silent film $290k for athletics Dean Kopitsky Columnist
Kelly Pushie
Guest Reporter
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Inside this issue
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Frankie the Features Editor crafts FEATURES Communist paper bouquets
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en Model pointed out, “1929 was a bad year to lose your job.” In ‘29, the stock market crashed, and millions lost their savings, possessions and professions. The U.S. economy recovered, but one job market never returned. In the era of silent films, theaters hired musicians to play live accompaniments. In 1927, the first “talkie” premier signaled the death knell for what many experts consider Hollywood’s most adventurous and pure era. Last Thursday, Feb. 7, Vassar students and some gleeful Poughkeepsians had the pleasure of welcoming Museum of Modern Art archivist and composer Ben Model to speak as a part of Modfest. Model has been in the silent film world since the 1970s when, as a middle school student, he discovered his passion for scoring film. When Model began, he had to save up to buy the thin 8mm tapes sold at his local store. It was either that, or have an in with a collector of old film. Through research for a paper, he discovered that legendary New York Times film and drama critic Walter Kerr lived in his town. It
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The lecture spanned the extent of the silent film era. In the early part of the 20th century, moviegoing was cheap. A ticket cost only a nickel (hence the term nickelodeon) and the upper class considered film impolite entertainment. Model explained that, “[If you were wealthy,] you wouldn’t be caught dead in a movie theatre.” Although frowned upon by the wealthy, silent films were popular among a different demographic: Female musicians, to whom the See SILENT FLIM on page 6
Curtesy of Karl Rabe
he Vassar athletics fundraiser took on a new name and a new goal this year, shattering expectations once again. The campaign, previously known as “27for270,” rallied all 27 Vassar athletics teams to secure 270 donors in 27 hours. Since the number of donors last year surpassed 270 within the first few hours of the fundraiser, this year, the goal was for there to be 2,700 donors. The “27Brew2” challenge, as this year’s version was called, grabbed the attention of family and friends of current student athletes, as well as a vast alumni network that contributed to the total number of donations, 5,960 in all. This staggering number of gifts totaled $290,793, bringing in about $100,000 more than it did last year. When asked what was different about the campaign this year and what contributed to such a remarkable increase in donations, Director of Athletics Michelle Walsh was at a loss for words. “I’m still trying to fig-
ure that out!” she admitted via email. “We were once again overwhelmed by the generosity from alumnae/i, parents, friends, family, and members of the Vassar community who supported our student-athletes.” Team videos promoting the fundraiser, creative graphics and personal pleas flooded social media, with each team trying to spread the word about 27Brew2 to compel as many people as possible to donate. The Athletics Department incentivized each team to lure donors, with an extra $5,000 going toward the team with the most donors, and another $5,000— generously donated by President Bradley and her husband—going to the team whose donor count improved most from last year’s challenge. The men’s lacrosse team secured the former of the two, raking in 1,076 donations. The men’s tennis team won the latter, improving their number of donors by 650 percent. However, not only the two winning teams See FUNDRAISER on page 18
was one of many lucky breaks, as Model puts it, he received in his career. He contacted Kerr, and a few days later, Model received an offer to explore his expansive film collection. Over the next two decades, Model would visit Kerr at his home to watch movies and discuss the craft. Model’s composition career began when he was a first-year in college. When the film needed scores, he took the initiative, and although he was a novice, “there was no better option,” he joked.
Last Thursday, archivist and composer Ben Model presented a lecture about the silent film era and how it remains relevant today.
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Writer drinks wine, bathes in the glory of singlehood on Valentine’s Day