Misc 4.25.19

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The Miscellany News

Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

Volume CLI | Issue 22

April 25, 2019

Tiana Headley Reporter

Ha Bui

Guest Reporter

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n Thursday afternoon, April 18, Vassar students and faculty members gathered in Rocky 200 to converse with Hiroshima survivor and Vassar Japanese Department founder Professor Tomiko Morimoto West and Cannon Hershey ’99. In the words of Chair of Chinese Department Peipei Qiu, “[The conversation] was a call for actions among students to find leadership in yourself,” and will be recorded as a landmark occasion for students and educators in Vassar for generations to come. Hershey opened the conversation with a recount of Hiroshima’s influence on his life and work. After detailing his encounters with survivors, he described how his experience left an imprint of unexpected “hope and resilience in the shadow of Hiroshima.” Hershey especially expressed his gratitude to hear the story of Koko Kondo, See SURVIVOR on page 3

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istorically, institutions of higher education were intended to educate the white, wealthy and male elite of colonial America. Heralded universities such as Harvard and William and Mary groomed the ministers, lawyers and politicians of the day, securing these individuals’ positions as the ruling class. Centuries later, the Seven Sister

Colleges, including Vassar, were founded to provide women with an education equivalent to that provided in the then men-only Ivy League. During the ’60s and ’70s, the United States witnessed a number of progressive movements in higher education. As colleges and universities incrementally opened their doors to those they historically excluded, many students, faculty See ETHNIC STUDIES on page 4

Yijia Hu/The Miscellany News

Forum envisions Lecturer recounts Ethnic Studies at Vassar Hiroshima

“I think, historically, there’s been some resistance,” Associate Professor of English Hiram Perez conceited. Forum participants agreed that implementing Critical Ethnic Studies would require cultural change.

Local ‘MasterChef Junior’ hopeful crafts cuisine Tamika Whitenack Guest Columnist

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part from its scenic highways and liberal arts colleges, the Hudson Valley has a new claim to fame as the home of Che Spiotta, a contestant on Season 7 of the popular Fox show “MasterChef Junior.” Thirteen-year-old Che hails from Boiceville, New York, just 45 miles northwest of Vassar College. Che’s cooking journey started at the young age of four. After being diagnosed with a gluten intoler-

ance, Che learned to cook from his family. In our phone interview, Che spoke openly about his gluten-free experience. “Eating the same thing all the time is kind of boring,” he confessed. But rather than limiting Che, the restrictions of a gluten-free diet prompted his entry into culinary adventures. Although being gluten free is often seen as a culinary disadvantage, Che feels it is beneficial to his cooking. He proudly asserted, “It really helps me be more creative.”

Che is incredibly positive about his gluten intolerance despite the challenges it poses. He admits it is difficult to accomodate for certain food items, such as bread, but Che has learned to take advantage of naturally gluten-free ingredients, sometimes elevating dishes that are traditionally sides into the the main course. Aside from being gluten free, Che’s food is also characterized by his Italian heritage. From an early age, Che learned recipes and

cooking styles from his father, including tomato sauce, polenta and his self-professed favorite: risotto. His formative experiences with food also draw from the agriculture of the Hudson Valley. Che and his mother, Elizabethanne, fondly recounted memories of apple and blueberry picking, gardening, canning vegetables and using local produce from a community-supported agriculture farm in New Paltz. From our conversation, it See MASTER CHEF on page 10

Alam captures humanity in turmoil Brewers burn Bombers in Senior Day triumph Taylor Stewart Columnist

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Inside this issue

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NEWS

deshi Journalist’s Dangerous Journey From Photographer to Prisoner,” 12.11.2018). On Thursday, April 4, Alam arrived in New York City to receive an Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography and address the attendees of the New York Portfolio Review. Just See ALAM on page 8

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

n his resolve and intensity of presence, with his furrowed brow and wide eyes, Shahidul Alam resembles a lot of his photography subjects, making it sometimes difficult to distinguish between photos of the artist and the photos he has taken. Alam graduated from the University of London with a Ph.D in Chemistry, but soon after, he bought a Nikon FM for a friend but ended up keeping it, launching a long and decorated career in photojournalism. This work led Alam to a life of activism. In 1984, he traveled to Bangladesh to campaign for the removal of General Hussain Muhammad Ershad from presidential office. As a part of this process, he founded the South Asian Media Institute, the Chobi Mela international photography festival and the Drik Picture Library, which is a multimedia organization and regional center for free speech and press freedom advocacy. He photographed protests against Ershad, who was charged with vote rigging, embezzlement of public funds and gold trafficking, among other offences (La Presse, 12.13.1990). Often, dissi-

dents were brutally repressed by the military cadre. Alam has received numerous awards, including the Shilpakala Padak, the highest artistic award in Bangladesh. For his activism, he was one of several journalists who were named Time’s Person of the Year in 2018 (Time, “‘Journalism Is Under Threat.’ Inside a Bangla-

A woman casting her first vote in Bangladesh, two men in the rubble left behind by an earthquake in Pakistan, Muslims fleeing ethic cleansing in Myanmar—the lens of Shahidul Alam has been there through it all.

Letter to the Editor: Professor contests Bradley’s plan for Inn/ Institute

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Gatekeeping admissions tests continue to OPINIONS prioritize men over women

Jonah Frere-Holmes Guest Reporter

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hen you hear about people’s plans for April 20, you usually hear versions of the same outline. Somebody either is or isn’t celebrating to the fullest, but their day will no doubt be shaped by the aura of the mythical holiday of 4/20. In other words, you probably don’t hear a lot about planning to knock off a nationally ranked opponent. Unbothered by the typical associations that accompany the date, Vassar women’s lacrosse team made plans for a less conventional 4/20 celebration this past weekend, beating 19thranked Ithaca on Senior Day in a 15–14 nailbiter. The win came just a day after a double-overtime 16–15 triumph over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), giving the Brewers their longest conference winning streak of the season and taking them to 4-4 in the Liberty League. Four Brewers recorded hat tricks, including sophomore midfielder Haydn Hallman, whose goal with 70 seconds remaining broke

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a 15–15 deadlock and won the day for Vassar. Ithaca’s women’s lacrosse program, which only entered the Liberty League last season, is already a powerhouse. Vassar senior midfielder Fiona MacLeod, responsible for one of Vassar’s four hat tricks, acknowledged the Bombers’ rapid rise, saying, “[Ithaca] definitely took the league by surprise with their level of skill.” The Brewers remained unfazed by the rankings, however, and were fueled by their marathon win over RPI the previous day. According to junior midfielder Tessa Waters, who also scored three times, the team stuck to a gameplan of “1) possession, 2) possession, and 3) possession.” Time of possession, measured most notably in soccer, is an unappreciated aspect of most team sports. As junior attacker Kelly Pushie pointed out, “If we possess the ball, they can’t score.” Not unlike a basketball team trying to keep their opponent from racking up fastbreak points, the Brewers worked the shot clock See LACROSSE on page 19

Theses turn to feces with fresh ideas: When I suck HUMOR in my stomach, where does it go?


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