Misc 09.10.2020

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The Miscellany News miscellanynews.org

Vassar College’s student newspaper of record since 1866 Volume 154 | Issue 2

September 10, 2020

Poughkeepsie debates police review

Remote learning frustrates

Dean Kopitsky

Olivia Watson

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News Editor

Sports Editor

he killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor called the nation to action this summer. Demonstrators across the United States mobilized during a global pandemic in enormous numbers to protest the ongoing injustice of police violence. Poughkeepsie Common Council member Evan Menist said the protests awakened him to the reality of racial injustices he had been sheltered from as white man. “We’ve seen throughout the entire country there are systemic problems with the criminal justice system and as a representative here in the city of Poughkeepsie, I understand that I have a duty to represent the people of the second Ward and to seek to reform,” said Menist. See POLICE on page 3

Inside this issue

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A class convenes in Tent 4, located outside Blodgett Hall. Grace Rousell/The Miscellany News .

Classrooms undergo transformations Lucille Brewster Guest Reporter

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s September begins, students and faculty are partaking in all the usual back-to-school rituals: finalizing schedules, searching for the right classrooms in disorienting academic buildings and seeing familiar faces around campus. Yet the transition from summer break into fall semester looks very different this

Ben Scharf

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Teen romance “Chemical Hearts” knows it’s tropey and does not care.

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OPINIONS

Is remote learning a permanent fixture in education? One columnist considers its inherent inequalities.

14 SPORTS

Sticking to sports: How will the NFL respond to pandemics and protests?

on by quarantine, returning to Vassar is refreshing for many. “It feels great to be back on campus, almost exhilarating,” explained Professor of Religion Jonathon Kahn, who is teaching in an on-campus tent. “I know I was craving being together with others, and being able to do this in-class, under a tent, feels thrilling.” Sophia Gaffney ’22, who See Classrooms on page 4

STUdent MUsic scene adapts to pandemic Live Events Chairperson

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year, as students and professors log into Zoom or find their seats under outdoor classroom tents. While the spring semester was thrown completely off course by COVID-19, students and professors this fall are trying to rebuild a semblance of normality. With just three active cases on campus as of Sept. 6, many hope this risk is paying off. After the isolation brought

race Han ’21 spent her entire junior year abroad at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Upon returning to the United States, she made the difficult decision to spend yet another semester away from Vassar. This time, she would spend it about two hours away from campus. “My family and I had extensive conversations as to what this semester would look like for me and my younger brother, who is a rising sophomore at Vassar,” said Han. The family eventually decided that given the circumstances, it was safest for Han to study from their New York City home. According to Dean of the College Carlos Alamo-Pastrana, of the approximately 2,400 students enrolled this semester, 400 have chosen to study remotely. Vassar equipped classrooms with video See Remote on page 3

f you moved into a dorm this semester, you probably caught a glimpse of a guitar case or keyboard among the endless heaps of baggage and bedding. To what rooms are these instruments going? Who keeps them played and polished and, most importantly, might they be down to jam later? With students prohibited from meeting in dorm rooms

or MPRs to share interests and instruments, Vassar’s music scene might appear to have gone into hibernation, or disappeared completely—but the music hasn’t gone anywhere. Biking across campus, I often hear a violin wafting from the top of Jewett, or the sounds of speakers spread out along Sunset Lake, boasting the thoughtfully curated Spotify queues of new friend groups. Electric guitars sing down my

hallway, the volume tuned delicately so as not to wake sleepy neighbors. Despite the prevalence of artists and creatives of all media on campus, Vassar can be a tough place to assemble a band. Musicians may recall lugging gear down the precarious spiral staircase into the Mug, just to lug it back up again after their alltoo-short hour-long slot. Other groups may romanticize count-

less late nights spent sneaking into Skinner Hall after hours, the empty building set ablaze with raucous, high-energy rehearsals. It wasn’t until StuMu (Vassar Student Musicians’ Union) stepped in a few semesters ago that the possibility of group practice opened to all—not just Mug managers or nocturnal jazz students with key access. In the winter of 2018, StuMu opened up See StuMu on page 5

COVID-era work-study poses new challenges Alysa Chen Reporter

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lasses aren’t the only things going hybrid this semester. For those studying on campus or within New York State, Vassar employers have found ways to adapt and offer many of the same job opportunities during this transitory period. Despite Vassar Together’s guidelines for reduced indoor activity, most jobs on campus are returning to a degree of normalcy. For many in-person employees, such as library assistants, dining workers and lifeguards, job training now includes additional safety practices and measures to comply with the new standards of social distancing. Emma Iadanza ’22, who has worked as Special Collections Assistant at the Main Library for two years, said the job itself hasn’t really changed for her. She is still putting books back on

the shelves, fetching things for her boss, filling out call slips and making exhibition lists. While interactions with students, patrons and classes will not be the same anymore, Iadanza is still happy to be surrounded by books again. “There aren’t that many people down in the library basement or Special Collections on a regular day during a regular year, so I was never worried about too much contact or anything,” she said. “When patrons do start coming, we have a threeday period after being taken from the shelves that the books won’t be touched, so there’s no cross contamination. This means there will need to be a bit more foresight and planning on our part, but it shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a small price to pay for safety.” Hailey Osika ’23, who works as a circulation desk assistant at the library, interacts with

The organic chemistry lab (above) is operating under new safety guidelines this semester. Courtesy of Cassie Cauwels. visitors through the plexiglass surrounding her desk. “A lot of thought has been put into the protocol and there is very limited contact with patrons or even

other employees. I don’t think I am at more risk working at the library than I am going to class or being on campus in general,” she See Work Study on page 9


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