The Miscellany News | Nov. 11, 2010

The Miscellany News Since 1866 | miscellanynews.com

November 11, 2010

Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY

Volume CXLIV | Issue 8

CCP passes Resources new course inventory repeat rule updated Caitlin Clevenger News Editor

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Madeline Zappala/The Miscellany News

The $1.2 million National Science Foundation Grant will provide two scholarship programs to science majors at Vassar College who are interested in pursuing careers in secondary education, specifically in underserved neighborhoods.

College receives $1.2 mil. grant Grant to fund science education program Aashim Usgaonkar News Editor

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assar received $1.2 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in a grant aimed at increasing the quality of education by encouraging current Vassar students to consider teaching careers in the sciences at the K-12 level. The $1.2 million received from the NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program—awarded to Vassar on Sept.

3—will be used to provide financial aid to 14 selected students who, as a prerequisite, must “show an interest in education and a commitment to teaching as a career,” according to Professor of Physics and Member of Vassar’s Academic Team for the Noyce Program Cindy Schwarz.

Students who are selected for the program must commit to two years of teaching in a “high-need school district,” defined by the NSF as an area

that has “a high percentage of individuals from families with incomes below the poverty line, a high percentage of secondary school teachers not teaching in the content area See GRANTS on page 3

he Committee on Curricular Policy (CCP) passed a motion for the creation of a “course repeat policy” which would allow students who earn a D or D+ grade in a course during their first three semesters of college to take the course again. Vassar’s current policy only allows students to repeat courses in which they have received an F. The policy is now under review by the faculty.

CCP proposed a similar policy in April, which would allow students in any class to submit a petition to the Committee on Leaves and Privileges to be allowed to retake a course in which they received a D or D+. The proposed policy was tabled by the faculty; CCP has now endorsed a revised policy that does not include a petitioning process and is restricted to students in their first three semesters. According to an e-mailed statement by Dean of the Faculty Jonathan Chenette, “The question of how the policy would apply to transfer students is unresolved.”

Whether students who enter Vassar after already completing a semester or more of college will have a full three semesters to take advantage of the course repeat See POLICY on page 3

Results shared in conference held on Nov. 6 Edith Iyer-Hernandez Guest Reporter

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cientists, city council members, students and concerned citizens came together on Saturday, Nov. 6 for the Conference on the Dutchess County Natural Resource Inventory (NRI). Since 2008, qualified individuals have put many unpaid hours into researching in order to update this document, whose predecessor was released in 1985 and has not been updated since.

The NRI was developed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County’s (CCEDC) Environment and Energy Program, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council (EMC), Dutchess County Office of Computer Information Systems (OCIS) and the Vassar See RESOURCES on page 3

Vassar hosts Gillespie Forum on journalism Angela Aiuto

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ournalism College Dean of the University of Maryland and former President and CEO of National Public Radio Kevin Klose visited campus on Tuesday, Nov. 9 as a keynote speaker for the panel discussion “Technology and the Future of Journalism.” Other panelists included

Executive Editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal Stuart Shinske, former publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal Richard Wager, and Editor-in-Chief of PoliticsDaily.com Melinda Henneberger.

The panel was presented by the Gillespie Forum, a Hudson Valleybased organization that seeks to See FORUM on page 4

Courtesy of indieshuffle.com

Senior Editor

Yeasayer, pictured above, will be performing this Friday, Nov. 12, in the Chapel for Vassar College Entertainment’s annual fall concert. The concert will also feature acts by Young Dominique, French Horn Rebellion and Ken Seeno.

Madeline Zappala/The Miscellany News

Panelists discussed the effects of technological advances on the delivery and consumption of information in the Villard Room on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Inside this issue

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FEATURES

Campus children call Vassar dorms home

15 ARTS

ViCE prepares for Yeasayer Erik Lorenzsonn Arts Editor

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or the majority of campus, the much-anticipated Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE) fall concert will begin when the Chapel doors open tomorrow night at 7 p.m. But for some individuals, such as ViCE Music Director Alejandro Calcaño ’11, the event could possibly kick off at dawn.

“In the contract, it says that they can come as early as 6 a.m., and I’ll

A behind-thescenes look at student theater

need to go do a meet-and-greet,” said Calcaño, talking about the iminent arrival of the Brooklyn experimental band Yeasayer, who will headline Friday’s concert. “I’ll have to get up at 5:30 if that’s the case.

Hopefully it won’t be.”

Meeting and greeting with the performers is just one facet of an intensive process that goes on during the 24 hours pre-concert. Decorating, equipment set-up, soundchecks and accommodating the artists in

18 SPORTS

the green room is just a fraction of the duties ViCE has to take care of whenever a major act visits town, whether it be Yeasayer, the Flaming Lips or Grizzly Bear. “For this concert, it’s going to be intense,” said Calcaño. “We’re going have to four bands, which all need us to load in and set up equipment.”

These four bands include Yeasayer and three opening acts: Young Dominique, French Horn Rebellion See ViCE on page 16

Quidditch on the way to World Cup

The Miscellany News

Page 2

November 11, 2010

Editor in Chief Molly Turpin Senior Editors Angela Aiuto Matthew Brock

Contributing Editor Lillian Reuman Lila Teeters

Carlos Hernandez/The Miscellany News

Photo of the Week:

A member of the Vassar College varsity women’s swim team does laps in the pool at the Walker Field House.

Miscellany News Staff Editorial

Issues of transparency surface in Council Editorials add rather than detract from dialogue D

uring the election cycle for the 25th Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council, many candidates campaigned to increase transparency of the Council. When these candidates were ultimately elected into office, transparency became a centerpiece for the new Council’s platform. But as recent events have shown, the VSA has only minimally increased transparency.

At the Nov. 7 VSA Council meeting, some Council members raised questions about and spoke out against Main House President Boyd Gardner’s ’12 decision to editorialize in The Miscellany News on the VSA’s recent decision to give the Moderate, Independent, Conservative Alliance (MICA) $800 to publish a pilot copy of a political journal entitled The Chronicle. In his editorial entitled “VSA’s Chronicle decision too rash, must take care” (11.4.10), Gardner argued that the Council had inadequately evaluated MICA’s request for the funds. The Council, Gardner stated, needed to spend more time discussing and soliciting additional information before coming to a decision. Gardner’s discussion of Council issues in The Miscellany News follows in a long tradition of previous council members’ propensity to editorialize upon current points of discussion.

During open discussion at this past Sunday’s meeting, members of the VSA Council questioned the appropriateness of Gardner’s column since he actively questioned the Council’s procedures without first bringing his concerns to the VSA Executive Board or to the Council during the relevant discussion. Some members objected to Gardner’s public airing of Council’s internal workings and differences between its members. The Editorial Board at The Miscellany News strongly opposes this initial reaction to Gardner’s decision. While we by no means aim to obstruct dialogue between student representatives, and we recognize

that there are appropriate venues for private discourse between Council members outside of the weekly meeting, the events of a Sunday night meeting are not internal and should not be treated as such. The debates of the weekly VSA Council meeting, by virtue of the open invitation to the student body and our presence on the sidelines, are public domain.

In this vein, the Editorial Board neither endorses nor denounces Gardner’s opinion. Instead, we fully support and affirm the right to publish in our Opinions pages columns regarding Council issues, and we encourage other Council members to do so as well. As Vassar College’s student-run publication, we pride ourselves on being a forum for campus debate and accountability, and this should not be a threat to any group or individual on campus.

By decrying Gardner’s actions, some Council members not only attempted to censor student opinion but also undermined their own goal to bring greater transparency to their governance. By writing a column, Gardner was addressing an issue of Council transparency and directly increasing Council’s transparency by bringing this event to a larger audience. A greater number of columns on Council topics would only increase the context and balance of the discussion in the eyes of the student body.

Members of the VSA do not have to agree with what Gardner wrote, but they should follow Gardner’s example by finding outlets, including but also extending beyond The Miscellany News, to highlight issues that garner many different reactions. This can only lead to more fruitful conversations that engage larger segments of the Vassar population and lend more transparency to Council’s decision-making process. We, like some other members of Council, applaud Gardner for facilitating dialogue that pushes the VSA to its greater goal of increasing accountability.

This event throws into sharp relief the Council’s need to recommit itself to transparency. In its “Guiding Principles & Priorities,” issued on Sept. 5, 2010, the current VSA Executive Board recognized that “frequent and consistent input is vital to successfully advocating on behalf of Vassar’s student body.” To maintain this sentiment, the VSA leadership instituted a number of new media outlets for increasing transparency thereby promoting “frequent and consistent input.” These sources, such as the “VSA Today” blog and a remodeled website, have fallen short of their promise, though. The blog is infrequently updated and therefore unable to maintain the flow of information for which the VSA initially advocated. And while vsa.vassar.edu is an excellent, up-to-date resource, it is not conducive to public discussion or questioning. The VSA Council needs to re-evaluate its progress towards greater transparency and retune the mechanisms through which it aims to achieve the same. It should, like Gardner did, proactively engage in discussions of VSA procedure outside of Council’s weekly meetings.

Lastly, The Miscellany News would like to stress to Council members that internal dissent is a strength, not a weakness. While Council members ultimately came to this conclusion by the end of Sunday’s meeting, this should have been acknowledged at the very beginning so as to prevent the tense environment that ensued. We support the VSA Council in its continued effort to bring clarity to internal operations, but its goal can only be achieved by encouraging members to express their own opinions and the opinions of their constituencies openly and not by discouraging it.

-The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of at least two thirds of the 18-member Miscellany News Editorial Board.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

News Caitlin Clevenger Aashim Usgaonkar Features Mitchell Gilburne Opinions Joshua Rosen Juan Thompson Humor & Satire Alanna Okun Arts Erik Lorenzsonn Sports Andy Marmer Design Eric Estes Copy Gretchen Maslin Photography Juliana Halpert Online Carrie Hojnicki Social Media Marie Dugo Assistant Features Matthew Bock Danielle Gensburg Assistant Arts Rachael Borné Assistant Copy Sammy Creath Stephen Loder Assistant Photo Madeline Zappala Crossword Editor Jonathan Garfinkel Reporters Vee Benard Daniel Bukowski Corey Cohn Shruti Manian Kristine Olson Connor O’Neill Chelsea PetersonSalahuddin Wilson Platt Joseph Rearick Dave Rosenkranz Columnists Michael Mestitz Andy Sussman Nik Trkulja Photographers Katie de Heras Carlos Hernandez Eric Schuman LETTERS POLICY

The Miscellany News is Vassar College’s weekly open forum for discussion of campus, local and national issues, and welcomes letters and opinions submissions from all readers. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 450 words, and they usually respond to a particular item or debate from the previous week’s issue.

Opinions articles are longer pieces, up to 800 words, and take the form of a longer column. No letter or opinions article may be printed anonymously. If you are interested in contributing, e-mail misc@vassar.edu.

ADVERTISING POLICY

The Miscellany News (1) reserves the right to reject or edit any advertising copy at any time; (2) will not accept advertisements that promote discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex or sexual orientation, nor will it accept advertisements of a political nature or advertisements that promote products or services illegal in the State of New York: (3) will print every advertisement with the word “advertisement” above it; (4) shall not be liable for failure to print, publish or circulate all or any portion of any issue if such a failure is the result of circumstances beyond the paper’s control.

The Editorial Board holds weekly meetings every Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Rose Parlor. All members of the Vassar community interested in joining the newspaper’s staff or in a critique of the current issue are welcome. The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented in the Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board. The Miscellany News is published weekly by the students of Vassar College. The Miscellany News office is located in College Center Room 303, Vassar College.

November 11, 2010

NEWS

Page 3

NRI informs land-use decisions in Dutchess

He sees you when you’re sleeping...

On Nov. 3 a student in Lathrop House reported that someone had entered her room and stolen an iPod, valued at $250, while she slept. Another student in Lathrop reported a large sum of cash missing from a dorm room on Nov. 8.

-Caitlin Clevenger, News Editor

Fourth Floor Main Safety and Security officers on the fourth floor of Main House discovered and shut down an unauthorized party after hearing loud music at 12:40 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

-CC Courtesy of Emily Vail

RESOURCES continued from page 1 College Environmental Research Institute; these institutions also co-sponsored the conference.

A NRI is a compilation of extensive research done on all aspects of an area’s natural resources.

This one specifically includes nine chapters, each about a different subject and put together by a team of researchers and writers with experience in a particular area of study. Each chapter includes comprehensive graphs and data as well as conclusions and advice for how to use this information.

According to Emily Vail ’09, the Collins Research Fellow at the Vassar Environmental Research Institute, who has been working with the CCEDC since May and putting the conference itself together, “Natural Resource Inventories are extremely useful for conservation-based planning. Our intended audience includes elected and appointed officials (town boards, conservation advisory councils, planning boards), educators (who can use NRI materials in place-based education), and the general public. We hope that people will learn about what information the NRI includes and how it can be used by each of these groups.”

The conference itself followed the format of the document, and the researchers and experts gave brief presentations outlining the chapters.

The first chapter outlines Dutchess County’s physical features, what the NRI is, how it is set up and how to read it. The document then goes on to describe climate change and air quality in Dutchess County, geology, topography, agriculture and surface and ground water quality. The report concludes with a discussion on biological resources and biodiversity, describing the ecological habitats in the county, trends over time, and threats to biodiversity. The NRI is designed to help inform land-use decisions and guide the development of policies to conserve natural resources in Dutchess County.

After the NRI’s creators presented the document, they held a question-and-answer session.

One man, Tom Angell, from the planning board of the town of Stanford, was concerned with the way the data would affect the process of land development. He asked how he could influence a landowner looking to build or develop on his own land to take environmental factors into

News Briefs

Scientists, activists, professors, city council members, students and others gather in the Villard Room for a conference which detailed the findings of the recently updated Natural Resource Inventory. account. “Do you force,” he asked, “the person coming to you, who may be a smaller scale developer, to hire a high priced consultant?”

Those involved in the creation of the document believe that it would make a situation such as the one Angell lays out easier to handle.

Mark Doyle, who worked on the chapter about implications for local decision making, said that “this document is freely available… Land owners truly can get this kind of viable assistance in planning.”

The last two chapters were presented afterwards. The eighth chapter is about how the experts collaborated to map the geography of the area and the differences between this NRI and the previous. The ninth chapter includes a case study on how the town of Amenia that decided to create a NRI and incorporate it into their zoning ordinance for 2007 and conclusions of this case study. Before the keynote address, teachers from Dutchess County gave a presentation on how the NRI has benefited local education.

The conference ended with a speech by Harvey Flad, Professor Emeritus at Vassar College about the history and development of Dutchess County’s awareness of and research about natural resources, greenspaces and conservation.

He discussed how the local policies evolved into including aesthetics as well as geology and economics. County Commissioner of Planning and Development Kealy Salomon ended the conference by saying, “This is the end of the formal conference but this is just the beginning.” She explained that they are looking at how human activity interacts with landscapes and natural resources, that they are wondering “where we are in the process.” From here, the information will be freely accessible online at Dutchess County’s website, where there will also be a comment box for the committee who collaborated on the project to gain insight on how people receive the document and the committee will sit down and discuss the further development of the NRI.

A bicycle made for one A specialized racing bicycle valued at $1,500 was reported missing from outside of the College Center on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 5. The bicycle’s cable lock had been cut.

-CC

Lost… and found A student reported a laptop missing from the basement of Thompson Memorial Library on Nov. 7. The laptop was later recovered.

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It’s not easy being green Vassar College has received an overall grade of B+ on the 2011 College Sustainability Report Card, an initiative by the Sustainable Endowments Institute that provides environmental sustainability profiles for colleges in the United States and Canada. Vassar earned an A in six out of the nine areas in its report card, including “Climate Change & Energy,” “Food & Recycling” and “Student Involvement,” but earned C grades in “Green Buildings” and “Endowment Transparency.” Vassar also earned a B+ on the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card.

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Policy will be evaluated by Grant incentivizes careers faculty at their next meeting in high school education POLICY continued from page 1 policy will be determined in the faculty meeting.

The policy is targeted at a small group of motivated students; only 0.4 percent of grades earned at Vassar are a D or D+, or about 80 grades each year. Most students who receive these grades would elect not to retake the course, based on the current use of the policy that allows students to retake the courses they fail. About 70 of the 500 students who received an F between the 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 academic years chose to retake the course. Since a D is considered a passing grade and sufficient to complete most distribution requirements or course prerequisites and since the D or D+ grade would remain on the student’s transcript and be calculated into his or her GPA, students are unlikely to take advantage of the policy unless they are highly motivated to gain a strong understanding of the subject.

Chenette points out that, “While a D is a passing grade, it reflects a shaky understanding of the subject. Many of us would prefer that students address this weakness if they aspire to move on to more advanced studies in the same area.”

The faculty, which will meet on this proposal twice, voting at the second meeting, is divided on the merits of the policy. Chenette wrote that “those favoring this policy hope that students will be motivated and able to strengthen their understanding of a subject before moving on to more advanced work.” These faculty members believe that the proposal will “open greater opportunities for students to fulfill their academic aspirations.”

However, some faculty members have concerns that the policy goes “too far in protecting students from the consequences of their academic miscues,” says Chenette. The College already provides academic support programs that students receiving poor grades can take advantage of, and this addi-

tion brings up questions about whether increased support would prevent students from learning to meet the College’s academic expectations on their own. According to Chenette, faculty members are also concerned that the policy “might be responding to the increasing diversity of our student body in a way that assumes a greater likelihood of weak academic performance on average among more recent classes, with their greater socioeconomic and ethnic diversity.”

In an article on CCP’s first proposal in the 4.28.10 issue of The Miscellany News (“CCP proposes new policy on academic forgiveness”), Dean of Freshmen Benjamin Lotto is quoted as saying that that policy was inspired by the increasing diversity of incoming classes, emphasizing “that diversity includes diversity of preparation.”

Though there are concerns that allowing students to retake courses in which they have received passing grades constitutes a lowering of Vassar’s academic standards, Lotto has prepared a list of peer institutions with similar policies already in place. Colgate University, Colby College, Wellesley College and Bowdoin College are among the 11 colleges he has contacted that allow all students to repeat courses in which they have received a D, without having to gain special permission. Meanwhile, Amherst College and Mt. Holyoke College use Vassar’s current policy; students may not retake courses they have passed.

The faculty met for a primary reading of the proposed policy on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and will meet again and to vote on the policy on Dec. 15.

Vassar Student Association (VSA) Vice President for Academics Laura Riker has constructed a survey to gauge student opinion of the course repeat policy, and the VSA will “issue a statement on this policy from the student body to the faculty” before the final vote, according to an e-mail from Riker.

GRANTS continued from page 1 in which the teachers were trained to teach or a high teacher turnover rate.”

This grant opens two programs to students, enrollment in which is dependent on class year, reports Associate Professor of Education and Member of Vassar’s Academic Team for the Noyce Program Christopher Bjork.

The first program, Noyce Internships, will provide $4,000 a year in scholarship awards to freshmen and sophomores who are not yet sure whether they want to make a commitment to teaching as a career. Students can use this opportunity to work on “internships and research opportunities to see if teaching is a good fit for them,” said Bjork.

The second program, The Vassar Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, will provide scholarship funding to juniors and seniors to the tune of $20,000 for each year, with an additional $10,000 for certification fees post graduation.

“It is a five-year grant,” reports Professor of Mathematics and Noyce Project Director Charles Steinhorn, continuing to say that the bulk of the money received will “go directly to the students who will be selected as Noyce scholars.” The rest will go towards incidental expenditures, said Schwarz.

While students can choose any highneed school district to teach in and are not restricted to the Poughkeepsie area, Vassar has taken this opportunity to integrate its programs with the neighboring community. Vassar’s Noyce team is “partnering with two local high-need school districts, specifically Poughkeepsie City and Hyde Park,” wrote Steinhorn in an e-mailed statement.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Poughkeepsie High School Physics Teacher Gwen Saylor will also be a part of Vassar’s Noyce team and will train the 14 students in teaching science-oriented subjects to K-12 students.

For either program, interested students must apply through the Office of Fellowships website and provide both access to transcripts and letters of recommendation. Described as “very competitive” by Schwarz, admission into the program will ultimately be decided by a committee consisting of Steinhorn, Schwarz, Bjork, Associate Professor of Biology and Member of Vassar’s Academic Team for the Noyce Program William Straus and members of the science faculty. Certain education courses and an academic leaning towards the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields will be required, said Schwarz.

Bjork outlined the Noyce team’s threepronged approach for this program while describing its ultimate goal.

The first prong is to “raise awareness of teaching as a viable option to STEM majors,” followed by providing those that have developed an interest in teaching “with experiences that will expose students to innovative and effective instructional approaches.” The third prong speaks to Vassar’s commitment to making sure that the Noyce scholars are well guided during their post-graduation employment: “We will provide induction support to Noyce graduates through a group of elucidation programs at liberal arts colleges called the Consortium for Excellence in Teacher See NOYCE on page 4

Page 4

NEWS

November 11, 2010

Forum addresses technology and news Noyce grant to take form of scholarships FORUM continued from page 1 educate the local community on important and topical issues. Assistant Professor of Communications Gerry McNulty of Marist College moderated a discussion that included a give and take between the panelists before concluding with a question and answer session with the audience.

Klose led the panel with an opening statement that defined the nature of the obstacles currently facing the field of journalism. “[This] is not an age that is disrupting journalism, it’s an age of digital revolution,” he said, emphasizing that this digital revolution has affected all areas of society, not simply the field of journalism. “And [it] has brought to everyone who has one of these,” he continued, holding up his smart phone, “phenomenal powers to participate—both as witness and as distributor—and also [the] power to convene.”

Klose was optimistic despite these radical changes, noting that the field has weathered similar transitions in the past. “If we look back in our own history, we will see that journalism from the beginning in our country…is competing with change,” he argued.

“It changed from penny sheets, it changed from screeds, and it changed from Thomas Paine.”

Klose emphasized that these changes were no different from those currently facing the field of journalism. “This is what we’re facing today,” he claimed. “Our older forms of journalism are going to be challenged, but the new forms are going to grow.”

In a similar vein, some panelists contended that while the channels via which the news is delivered may change, the main principles underpinning the field of journalism would not be compromised. “Digital journalism is

really not about anything, I think, but information,” argued Shinske, who pointed to the Poughkeepsie Journal’s 225-year-old history as evidence of the constancy of this principle. “Through all those decades, through those centuries, information was king.” However, Shinske also stressed the importance of adapting to technological change: “But you have to understand the delivery methods, effectiveness, who wants what and how.”

Henneberger, who drew from her experience both as a print journalist and as the editor of an online news website, took a decidedly less optimistic view of journalism’s ability to adapt to new technologies. “There are all these challenges that come up every single day that we never really thought about when we were print only,” said Henneberger.

She stressed that the biggest effect of this new technology is the speed with which news is delivered and consumed. “When you’re moving that quickly, the first casualty is context,” she said. “If you’re going to wait 20 minutes to even put it in some kind of perspective, you will not get the traffic, you will lose out.”

Wager echoed Henneberger’s concerns about the quality of news that is being produced as news organizations adjust to technological change, juxtaposing the increased flow of information made possible by the Internet and social media with the small staffs that, after a series of staff cuts, now compose many newsrooms. “I wonder what’s going to happen because of the overflow of material coming in,” he said. “This ability to gather the information and shove it in, then who edits it? Who takes care of it? No one, in many cases, so it gets slammed into the paper in a hurry.”

According to both Henneberger and Wa-

ger, this lack of quality manifests itself not just in how stories are covered, but also in which stories get coverage at all. “[It seems] that the people putting out that news and the people consuming it have the attention span of a gnat,” Wager opined. “We’ve become an extension of the entertainment industry.”

Henneberger agreed, but argued that the decision of what stories get printed is one that belongs to the consumer, not the news organization. “You shape coverage every day with your clicks,” she explained. “If you really want better coverage, you can vote with your clicks.”

Just as panelists differed on whether and how technological change would affect the quality of journalism, there was also debate with regard to whether a business model could be developed to sustain news organizations through such changes. Shinske detailed several business models currently being pioneered by various news organizations, and particularly noted the potential for mobile-based media profits. Wager, however, remained unsure as to whether the industry would be able to survive the shift intact. “I’m not writing the industry off, obviously, he said, citing his lengthy career in journalism.

“But I don’t see a model, I don’t see anything along these lines that says, ‘This is where we’re going, and this is how we’re going to get there.’

In his remarks that concluded the event, however, Klose remained optimistic while acknowledging this uncertainty. “I think the sequence we’re in is a very complicated place; it’s not clear…[that] we’re going to find our way to a future that will nurture a democracy,” he admitted. “But it will come because this society is not going to give up holding a mirror to itself.”

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MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

NOYCE continued from page 3 Education (CETE),” said Bjork. This induction will take the form of constant communication between Vassar’s Noyce graduates and CETE, which will offer graduates access to a network of teachers in urban areas of the northeast for guidance and mentoring through their years of teaching.

In addition to the Noyce grant, Vassar also received two others totaling $1.6 million from the NSF that will go directly towards developing scientific capital for the College. Part of this money will be directed towards an electrical revamp of Olmsted Hall, and another part of the sum will be spent in the acquisition of a quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer, a device used in studying the molecular make up of complex substances “We know we have some awesome students,” said Schwarz, adding, “and teaching in high school isn’t necessarily the first thing they think of, which is why I think that it’s great that we’re making it affordable for teaching to become a viable option for interested students.” Schwarz added that she felt the program “was a great way of encouraging students to improve science education for generations to come.”

“We agreed that there’s a large potential amongst Vassar students to become great [mathematics] and science teachers. We felt that students weren’t paying much attention to teaching as a career when, really, it could be an ideal one for them. So, we wanted to find a way to encourage people about teaching, and then if they do choose to become educators, we wanted to give them the support to become leaders in this field,” concluded Bjork.

November 11, 2010

FEATURES

Page 5

Global perspectives enrich, diversify Vassar community Mary Huber

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Guest Reporter

Courtesy of Abigail Baird

he phrase “American Identity” is not easily defined as it refers to over two centuries of immigration and integration (to varying degrees) of cultures from around the globe. While many Vassar students toy with the implications of American identity within the confines of the classroom, few are forced to deal with such questions in their daily lives. While for many, the college experience, whether shared by their parents or not, is defined or at least partially defined by the tropes represented in film, television, literature and cultural common knowledge, others must navigate the waters of the American College experience, without these cushions preparing their parents for the obstacles and opportunities that lie ahead. Although these students and their families may technically hold American citizenship, this does not mean that this distinction comes with the cultural context that characterizes the “typical” Vassar experience. Students whose parents were not raised in an American, let alone Western industrialized, context are the lens through which their families are able to engage with the realm of higher education in America. Such students gain insight from their familial background while existing in a cultural limbo.

Where Vassar students’ families come from and why they immigrated to America varies widely. Shuchorita Bose ’11 has parents that hail from West Bengal, India. Their reasons for emigrating were straightforward enough.

“My parents came here for grad school; I don’t think they were planning on staying,” she said, pausing to think it over, “No, there’s no way in hell they were planning on staying.” It seems that quite a few of their parents never intended to stay in the United States. “My dad originally came to the United States for a capoeira [a Brazilian martial arts form] show; he was going to give demonstrations and workshops and things like that. Then he ended up liking it so much he went back to Brazil and got his stuff together so he could move here,” said Juliano Pereira ’14, “I don’t think he originally planned to stay here that long, but then my mom got pregnant...” At the other end of the spectrum, some students have parents who were essentially forced to leave their home country. Pavel Shchyhelski ’14 was born in Belarus, a former Soviet bloc country whose president, Alexander Lukashenko, has been tagged “Europe’s last dictator” for remaining in power since 1994 through various fraudulent elections. “My mom was ‘on the list,’” he noted, half-jokingly. His family, he explained, left the country when the secret police began to threaten his mother for things she said in

opposition to the government while working for the police. “I was eight, so I was just like ‘Cool! Cartoons!’ I didn’t really know much about America or pop culture at the time, other than it was awesome.”

Few of the people interviewed would deny that having parents from a different culture can cause tension at home. “There’s a good deal of clashing—there are quite a few instances, especially in high school dealing with relationships and how house rules don’t really apply,” Bose admitted, adding, “It’s not like Bend It Like Beckham...I mean, they’re understanding. They’re parents and they care, but it does cause some problems.” She also remembered visiting India for a family wedding noticing, “They were all Indian and I was...not quite along the same wave length.” Pereira didn’t think his parents were any stricter than most Americans, but he did note that, “There’s just weird stuff, like [my dad] didn’t understand Halloween or Thanksgiving, and they celebrate Christmas differently [in Brazil] than they do here. I would try to explain it to him, but if someone doesn’t grow up in a culture, it’s hard for them to understand.”

Despite the difficulties some first generation Americans face, most believe that growing up within two cultures has benefited them far more. “I feel like I have a more universal worldview, like it’s not just American or nationalistic,” claimed Shchyhelski, “I can think of how America’s actions affect the world and not just the people who live here.” Pereira concurred, saying, “My dad can point out a lot of things that the United States lacks. There are a lot of people who can point out what’s wrong with a country, but I feel like because he’s lived in another country and knows what its like to be different, he knows how to actually change things.” All those interviewed shared an appreciation of both their families’ cultures and America’s. “You shouldn’t ignore whatever second culture you’ve got, but it shouldn’t be all you have. It’s not good to be all one or the other. You need to take advantage of everything you have.” said Bose, emphasizing the need to embrace all of one’s cultural heritage. “I think it makes me more humble, you know, like when I hear how my dad and his brothers built their house with their bare hands, it made me appreciate the privileges we have here,” Pereira remarked, “I don’t think it’s been any harder for me; if anything it’s been easier.” Maybe that’s not a statement that would apply to all first generation Americans, but it does demonstrate that many of them see their heritage as an advantage, that the ability to be fully immersed in two cultures is worth whatever obstacles they might encounter.

Associate Professor of Psychology Abigail Baird’s children play on the central table in Noyes House’s Jetson Lounge, where their mother currently resides and serves as House Fellow.

Our pint-sized peers: the children of Vassar College Jill Scharr

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Guest Editor

he campus community is often considered in terms of four groups: students, faculty, staff and administrators. But there’s a fifth group—a group that isn’t employed by or enrolled at the College, yet they have their own V-Cards nevertheless: the small but significant population of children living on campus.

Most of them are the children of House Fellows. They live in the dorms alongside students, go to the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC), attend study breaks (when it’s not past their bedtime) and love playing on the Residential Quad in warm weather.

And though they are a small group, they’ve made an impact on their dorm communities.

Nate, Grant and Layli White, ages eight, five, and two, children of Cushing House Fellows Assistant Professor of Religion, Christopher, and Tracey White, bring their Legos to study breaks. Niambe Mills, age three, daughter of Josselyn House Fellows Assistant Professor of History, Quincy, and Gail Mills, calls the students “the guys” and has no problem starting a conversation with a group of them.

There are fewer older children on campus, at least this year; they tend to participate less

in residential life. “When we have events at our house, we get to know students pretty well and have become acquainted with a few of them. Otherwise...we just don’t cross paths in a conversational atmosphere very often,” wrote Emma Roellke in an e-mailed statement, age 16, daughter of Dean of the College Chris Roellke, who lives in Pratt House.

Noyes House Fellow and Assistant Professor of Psychology, Abigail Baird, mother of two-year-old twins Griffin and Phoebe explains the benefits of children in residential facilities, noting, “I’ve had a number of students who’ve asked to come over and play with [the twins] because they’re homesick.”

The College offers programs for campus children as well. Two weekends ago was Halloween Trick-or-Treating through Main for professors’ young children. Other parents listed the rides at Founder’s Day, the Chemistry Department’s magic show, and “I Won’t Grow Up Day” hosted by Together Opposing Neglect and Child Abuse (TONCA) as muchappreciated child-friendly programming.

Children also participate often in dormspecific programming. “We did apple picking with Main,” said Main House Fellow and Assistant Professor of English, Molly See CHILDREN on page 6

Life behind glass blocks, life inside Mudd Chemistry Danielle Bukowski

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Reporter

ife as a chemistry major at Vassar College unsurprisingly involves hard work, a balance of liberal arts and a lot of labs. Although most Vassar students can point to the Mudd Chemistry Building as the hub of all things chemical, few are aware of the lives, hardships, and rewards of those who choose to spend their time at Vassar within the geometric confines of the distinct hall of glass blocks. “Since I’m working on my senior thesis, I typically get up early and go to lab, experiment in the mornings, help a class in the afternoon, and then go back to lab,” said chemistry major Jack Bulat ’11. There are currently 17 declared chemistry majors at Vassar and numerous chemistry minors. Some majors have minors in the liberal arts, while other intrepid individuals choose to double major within another focus of interest be it yet another hard science or a more liberal pursuit.

As is the case with many majors, performance in the introductory level courses determines whether or not a student will continue on to the major. Quite a few freshmen who take introductory chemistry learn that laboratory work is not for them and pursue other majors,

typically a different science. “Chemistry is not an easy major,” Bulat commented. “There are courses that will kill you, your GPA, your faith in science even.”

But Vassar students know that it is never hard to get help. Professors are approachable and eager to assist students in whatever they may be having trouble with. The Chemistry Department is small, and since Vassar has no graduate students the professors are focused on helping undergrads succeed. “Thanks to the size of the department, freshmen have no trouble approaching their professors in their first year about research opportunities,” said Heili Lowman ’12, also a chemistry major, in an e-mailed statement.

There are dozens of universities across the United States renowned for their research capabilities, yet chemistry students at Vassar chose to attend a small school with a penchant for the academic philosophies that govern a liberal arts education. “[At Vassar], there isn’t this competition for attention prevalent among larger institutions. You can really get connected to your professors, and they will speak on your behalf,” Bulat stated. The decision to study a hard science at a liberal arts school comes down to the wonderful research oppor-

tunities for underclassmen and the individual time professors are able to give each student.

Chemistry majors are in the unique position of having the resources of a research university and the ability to take classes in the liberal arts. Upon graduating, they will have a broader knowledge of the world than their larger university peers.”

One normally expects chemistry majors to be focused solely on getting into medical school.

Many students do pursue medical school after graduation, but others go to graduate school to gain more research experience.

Taking primarily hard science classes does not mean students can’t pursue other interests.

Lowman stated that “I don’t feel pressured to take only science courses. I’ve declared a double major with French, and [the chemistry professors] were extremely accommodating in letting me change a few of my classes around in order to go JYA. They understand the concept of a well-rounded student, encouraging my studies in Italian, religion, and composition.

Lowman also mentioned that “just as with every other Vassar student, there is no ‘typical’ chem major.” She explains that chemistry majors are involved in a myriad of extracurricular activities and have intellectual interests outside

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

of Mudd Chemistry Building’s research rooms.

Bulat however defines a thread common to all who choose to fill their diploma with beakers and bunsen burners, stating, “To be a chemistry major, you definitely have to like science.

Majors are somewhat dorky; you have to not be afraid to talk of ‘out-there’ topics. And you definitely need to be willing to work hard.”

To students at Vassar who have never stepped foot into a laboratory and dare not take any more than their one required Quantitative Analysis course, pursuing a major involving deep scientific study can sound daunting. But Bulat thinks that “the dichotomy of liberal arts/ hard science should kind of go.” noting that the studies of chemistry majors are as encapsulated by the tenants of the liberal arts as any of the esoteric pursuits offered within Vassar’s course catalogue. Chemistry majors agree that any major at Vassar puts in the time and effort to their field of study, and their interests are just as varied. And surely some hard science majors would find the task of spending hours shifting through old texts on Queen Elizabeth just as proponderous and gloomy. Chemistry majors are focused, science-loving individuals who all came to Vassar for the excellent professors, research facilities, and intellectual environment.

FEATURES

Page 6

The way we play: a look at dorm gaming Matthew Bock

Assistant Features Editor

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merica’s gaming culture has found a home here at Vassar. For some students, gaming has become a habit that is taking the place of other pursuits, while for others it is the perfect interactive medium for forging bonds of friendship.

Ben Scaglione ’11, a Greek and Roman studies major and varsity athlete, left his Xbox at home for the semester, but his roommates have brought their own consoles, and now Scaglione is having a hard time resisting the call to game.

Scaglione is just one of the many students on campus who are spending their free time playing video games like Halo in their dorms and houses.

Although the majority of these students are playing on occasion, some are playing more frequently than not, a habit that is potentially intruding upon other pursuits.

Alexander Brody ’12, who recently purchased an Xbox 360, commented on the downside of having a game system in college. “Buying an Xbox at school was probably one of the worst academic decisions I have ever made. My roommates have recently been sucked in to Halo and I’d say the system gets around two to three hours of use a day. I guess it facilitates some form of socialization,” he remarked jokingly, “but mostly I regret ever deciding that an Xbox would be a good investment. At this point it’s far too late for me and I would probably sooner give up a kidney than my Xbox, and there has been a dramatic decline in my school performance beginning two semesters ago when I unknowingly made the fateful decision to ruin my life.”

Others have a different take on college gaming; Matthew Cember ’14, an avid gamer and member of No Such Organization (NSO), remarked in an e-mailed statement, “I think the gaming culture at Vassar is generally a positive influence. When I came here a few months ago, I met a lot of my friends by playing GameCube [with them]. Casual gaming really lends itself to social interaction, even though gamers are sometimes seen as self-secluding. I started spending time with the people I play games with and that opened the door to finding out what else we have in common.”

Cember, together with Zhihao Li ’14, co-founded NSO’s Smashfest, an event that takes place every Thursday evening from 8 to 11 in the faculty commons in which students play Super Smash Brothers Melee competitively. Cember noted that an increasing number of students have been attending; what began as just one television and one gaming system has increased to three televisions and three GameCubes in just a few weeks.

NSO President Carolyn Grabill ’11 remarked, “Smashfest is actually the first video gamerelated weekly event we’ve had in some time.”

She stressed, however, that this was not because of a lack of interest on behalf of the organization. “Gaming is in fact one of the things we’re about, the video game room and tournaments at NonCon, our annual convention in February, are some of the most popular events.”

Colleen Cohen, professor of anthropology and women’s studies, who has taught the Video Games course in the multidisciplinary Media Studies Department, commented on the popularity of gaming. “I think there’s something really compelling about interactivity—about being able to move the plot along,” she said. “And I think that this generation was just raised with computers and interactive devices, so playing games just makes a lot of sense.”

Cohen estimates that around two-thirds of the students who have taken her course are diehard gamers. When asked about her own take on gaming culture, she pointed both to the ways in which video games can foster imagination and spirit as well as help reinforce racial and gender stereotypes (Lara Croft, the sexualized heroine of Tomb Raider, is one such example).

As technology becomes further integrated into daily existence as well as education, the subcultural status of the video game is breaking into the mainstream. Whether by iPhone, website, on console proper the digital revolution is here, so grab your controller and enjoy the ride!

November 11, 2010

CDO provides resources, consultation Vee Benard Reporter

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he modern-day college student is, without question, busy. Pressured to stay on top of academics, athletics, clubs and other obligations, it is a wonder the average student finds time to eat and sleep, let alone socialize.

In the process of meeting such a sweeping array of commitments, however, many undergraduates lose sight of the reason they are in college to begin with: to obtain specific and valuable preparation for life after graduation.

According to Director of Vassar’s Career Development Office (CDO) Mary Raymond, deciding upon a career path is a long-term, ongoing process that should optimally begin during a student’s college years. And although the thought of majors, resumes, applications and interviews might seem daunting at first, the people at the CDO are here to help.

Located in the Southern wing of Main Building, the CDO boasts an impressive array of resources, from the CDO library to mock interviews to resume-crafting workshops. Raymond, who has been at the helm of the CDO for five years, leads a team of friendly, knowledgeable advisers, who are experts at helping students decide how best to relate their college careers to the professional world.

“The basis of our work here [at the CDO] is in showing students how to maximize their possibilities,” explained Raymond. “We’re here to help students understand the skills they can develop with a Vassar education and how those skills can apply to the career path they wish to pursue.”

Though Raymond admitted that the sooner students begin to consider real-world applications for their academic pursuits, the more time they have to experiment and build up their resumes, she stressed that it’s never too soon or too late to start exploring options.

Students should feel comfortable using the CDO as a resource through which they can get the feedback and assistance they need in preparing for post-graduate ventures, regardless of their grade level.

According to Raymond, the CDO’s concept of career and life planning as a “process” rather than an “end” is one of the factors that sets it apart from similar offices at other institutions. Breaking from the commonly held

opinion that a student should pick a field of interest early on and stick to it, Vassar’s CDO adopts the standpoint that it is beneficial, and indeed, natural, for students to experiment in as many fields as they want to.

“It’s about finding your own concept of what’s good for you,” said Raymond. “There are no rules for having a successful and happy life; it’s less important to focus on the requirements for your declared triple major than it is to take the time to enjoy yourself and try new things.” Thus Vassar students pursue a variety of experiential opportunities in hopes of finding themselves nestled cozily into their perfect profession.

Despite the emphasis on a “trial-and-error” approach, the CDO is also equipped to help those who already have a firm grasp on future pursuits. In addition to alumnae/i outreach, recruiting opportunities, and graduate school application help, the CDO offers Immersion Programs: organized group trips that provide participants with behind-the-scenes looks at the professional world. Predominantly for underclassmen, the Immersion Programs allow students, who must apply to participate, to leave campus to explore various industries of popular interest.

“The Immersion Programs,” Raymond stated proudly, “take people directly to industries they might want to work in, from finance and banking to film and entertainment to [last year’s trip to] Washington, D.C. for Public Policy. They provide a hands-on, indepth experience that students would not be able to get otherwise.”

In addition to these workshops and special programs, the CDO also helps students find international business opportunities for both JYA and post-graduate employment. Though Raymond explained (with a hint of relief) that the CDO does not help students apply for passports and visas, a procedure relegated to the Office of International Study, the CDO does help students both find and apply for overseas work opportunities.

Of the CDO’s many resources, Raymond cited VNET, Vassar’s online alumnae/i network, as being one of the most essential. An online database onto which students can both post resumes and respond to job listings, VNET is a forum that allows students to see what previous graduates have done with their majors.

According to Raymond, Vassar’s strong reputation, particularly among institutions

of similar caliber, gives Vassar students another leg up when it comes to finding career and graduate school opportunities. The CDO holds consortia in collaboration with a number of other liberal arts colleges in the area, which allow students to access the alumnae/i networks of all participating schools. The Fall Recruiting Consortium recently held in New York City featured representatives from Vassar, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Swarthmore, Sarah Lawrence, and Wesleyan. According to Raymond, Vassar was the most successful school at the event, securing interviews for about 20 of its students.

Vassar’s CDO has a warm relationship with those of its fellow schools, many of which consider our CDO to be one of the best equipped in the area.

“I have come to deeply appreciate the high quality of the services and commitment that the Vassar staff has to ensuring that all students have access to resources that will help them navigate the often bumpy terrain of making the transition from college to the world of work,” said Director of the Smith College CDO Stacie Hagenbaugh, in an emailed statement.

Hagenbaugh, who described working with our CDO as “a distinct pleasure,” explained that despite the current state of the economy, students should not lose faith in the efforts of the CDO and its staff.

“I am keenly aware that the economy and seemingly endless headlines reporting high unemployment rates are unnerving to students,” wrote Hagenbaugh, “but I am very confident that students who partner with Vassar’s CDO and the resources they offer, coupled with a diligent, committed effort to the process of a robust job search, can and will be successful in finding employment after college.”

It seems, therefore, that regardless of outside factors such as the job and money markets, students should prioritize on exploring the areas of academic and extracurricular focus that call out to them the most. As long as students feel strongly about their pursuits, the CDO is willing and able to make the necessary connections to turn someone’s “passion” into their “livelihood.”

“We don’t pretend to have all the answers,” Raymond concluded, “but we are committed to helping our students find what they love.

Every day brings us closer to a process, and we always learn new things.”

Campus kids never short of playmates CHILDREN continued from page 5 McGlennen, mother of two-and-a-half-yearold Ellia Bailey. “That’s something we would have done with Ellia anyway, and now we got to go with a whole crew of people.”

Even when events were not specifically intended for small children, the Vassar community proves itself able to accommodate them. “[My daughter Phoebe] loves to tumble,” said Baird, “and one of my students is in the Barefoot Monkeys. I asked if she could play on their mats sometime…and this kid was like, ‘Actually, kids come and play with us anyway when we’re practicing on the Quad in the spring,’ and to just come any time.”

Nafisa, nine, and Sadia, six, daughters of Lathrop House Fellows Ismail and Anfatu Rashid, like going to Main Building and to the gym to “run around” and play basketball. Ellia has already learned how to throw a Frisbee from watching students in front of the library, says McGlennen.

“It’s so great to have so many things available to us just a few steps away from our house,” wrote Emma Roellke in an e-mailed statement.

“We go to the gym a lot of weekends to play basketball, swim or use the machines in the workout room. The library has been incredibly helpful for many of my research projects, including my junior thesis which requires a lot of scholarly sources.” She and her siblings, Julia, 13, and Liv, 6, also attend concerts in Skinner and art exhibits in the Palmer Gallery or the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.

Though the Roellke brood has been to ACDC only twice this year, the younger chil-

dren seem to like going to ACDC. There, the kids often eat and play with each other and run around the tables. They’re also big fans of the food. One word: “Hamburgers!” crowed Nate White, which his two-year-old sister Layli echoed with an approving, “Deece!”

Other unique benefits of child rearing within the Vassar community manifest in the alieviation of anxiety on the part of professor-parents.

“It’s safe raising [kids] here,” said Gunnar Dannell. “You don’t have to worry if you let them out of sight for a couple of seconds…especially when you’re at ACDC because more people know [Torsten] than he knows them, so even if they don’t know me by name they know, ‘Oh, that’s one of the House Fellows’ kids.’”

Some parents praise the educational benefits of raising a child on a college campus.

Anifat Ismail, a House Fellow in Lathrop says, “They’re able to focus more on their education…They’ll come home and pretend that they’re college students themselves, doing their homework.” “[Niambe]’s around a bunch of students and faculty and staff who talk to her not as a baby or a three-year-old but talk to her as a person,” said Quincy Mills. “Her vocabulary is amazing.”

For other parents, the community aspects are most important. Everyone agrees that the surplus of eager and willing babysitters is a definite plus.

Added Baird, “My colleagues in the [Psychology] Department and the administration in general I feel is very supportive, not just of my having kids but of my choice to be a

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

single mom. When I’ve had to miss things because they’ve been sick people have been understanding…I don’t feel that anyone’s obligated to accommodate my choice. I’m very lucky that my college does.”

The parents speak glowingly of the benefits of raising children on a college campus, but there are of course some downsides as well. For one, “they do get all your colds,” Baird joked.

But parents also have greater worries. “It’s not nice when I’m walking with my daughter and there’s beer cans around,” said Quincy Mills. “Students don’t think about that all the time, and so I have to continuously remind them that we have a three-year-old who lives in this house and she’s just as much a part of the community as they are.”

“It worries me sometimes,” Anifat Rashid agreed. “A few times there was a party on campus and it was night time, and a few students were drunk and an ambulance came [and they asked,] ‘Mommy why’s there an ambulance outside?’”

“There’s stuff that gets inappropriate for kids when they get to be a bit older,” said Christopher White. “When they’re younger they don’t notice the profane signs on the doors and the swearing, but as they get a little older it gets a little harder.”

And then there are the more amusing downsides. Said Dannell, “We are on a meal plan, and when we go to the Retreat, [Torsten] thinks that the Retreat is his extended refrigerator. He just picks things up there.”

Dannell laughed. “He doesn’t get the concept that you have to pay for it.”

FEATURES

November 11, 2010

Find your perfect study niche

Page 7

Behind the counters: ACDC menu planning Danielle Gensburg

Assistant Features Editor

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Juliana Halpert/The Miscellany News

A lounge in Mudd Chemistry Building, featured above, provides a secluded space to study in the evening, despite its generally busy nature during the day. Mudd is just one of the locations on campus that serves as an unconventional study space.

Jamie Turak

Guest Reporter

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he pièce de résistance of any visit to Vassar campus is inarguably the Frederick Thompson Memorial Library; prospective students and parents alike meet the monolithic structure with hopeful visions of late night study sessions and 4.o grade point averages.

While Vassar’s primary repository of knowledge is a great place to start your cram session, it is worth noting that Vassar’s campus is dotted with varied niches of solitude to suit the study habits of even the most particular student.

sadly oblivious to its accommodations. Those who hear it mentioned in passing consider it almost enigmatic; doubtful of its accessibility and weary of its contents. While it may contain puzzling scripts and scrolls the world has never seen, it does offer a variety of comfortable places to study. It’s located on the south side of the Thompson Memorial Library and doesn’t require intimidating authorized access. It has some of the most relaxing rooms and chairs on campus. Catch its courtyard on a nice day for some leisurely reading, right underneath the stone gargoyles that guarantee your safety.

Lathrop Basement

With some of the most reliable vending machines on campus (the V-Card machines here never reject swipes), the Lathrop basement is excellent for some simultaneous studying and snacking so long as minor dust and overused furniture aren’t bothersome. The couches down in Lathrop’s basement are warmly accepting of all people, and a table or two, depending on the day, accompany the couches for excellent paper sprawling. An old television set sits nearby but doesn’t distract because I’m pretty sure it’s broken. There’s something about this basement’s decaying-yethomey look that makes Lathrop’s underground great for spontaneous studying.

Vogelstein Third Floor

Secluded couches on the third floor of the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film mirror the building’s upscale appearance, which makes you almost excited about doing work.

After exiting the elevator, make a left and then a right to find a cluster of various colored couches at the end of the hallway. Students can even be picky and sit on their favorite color while catching up on some overdue reading. The couches’ remote location is free of most noise and student traffic during the day.

Vassar Art Library (no you don’t have to be an artist)

For students who have never taken an art class, the Vassar Art Library is largely unappreciated. Those who are unaware of its existence are

Physics Library

The Physics Department hosts this charming study that provides students with a flattering view of Benjamin Franklin’s copper rump right through the window. Some of its cozy amenities include public laptops, an antique-looking chessboard with no missing pieces and most importantly, reading chairs and numerous tables. The study is a miniature library of sorts, and even has its own book return dropoff box. A handicap-accessible door on the side of the building closest to the Biology Department unlocks any time of the day with a swipe.

Chemistry Lounge

Up a flight of stairs upon entering the Mudd Chemistry Building leads you right to the lounge directly ahead. Squishy couches scatter the lounge as well as sizable tables. Often chemistry students float around the often-busy building, but later in the night after most labs are out, the place is usually vacant.

cio’s pizza, but are potential havens for the solo student as well.

Coffee Shop Revival

Remember those lazy coffee shop afternoons before matriculating into Vassar, reading while sipping casually on a warm latte with the steam prickling your nose? Though days like those are increasingly harder to come by, mostly because of Vassar students’ budgetary preference toward on-campus dining choices, it’s entirely feasible to resurrect the elder coffee shop days again.

For a relaxing change of scenery, wander down to The Crafted Kup on Raymond Avenue. It’s a cozy little coffee shop that hosts a raised level dotted with tables and reading chairs. The coffee is tasty; a step up from the Retreat’s version, and the shop also sells an array of baked goods and pastries. The invisible fence between on- and off-campus life is often restrictive, but is not impassable.

Vassar Music Library

Skinner Hall, that medieval, towering, castle-like building on the way to Shipping and Receiving, is home to one of the best study spots on campus. Its music library right inside neighbors the rest of the Music Department, and hosts an exhibition of various musical relics on the top floor. Its atmosphere is serene despite the musical undertones.

The library’s very own reading room is intended for reading other than just note-infested stanzas and other musical notation. Don’t hesitate to bring an instrument for a necessary study break if you’re a musical person—the surrounding lesson rooms around can be closed shut from outside listeners.

Alone At Last

The locked doors that read “study room #” in various parts of the Thompson Memorial Library are not mere teases of illusory space.

They do in fact open. These seemingly impenetrable doors that are “always” locked conceal large tables and numerous chairs from public view. Just notify the help desk of your need to be locked away from the outside commotion and they’ll give you a key. The rooms are intended for group studying and a Ba-

While disabling the Internet and embracing a friendless state of solitude (scary, right?) make for more productive studying, distracting environments certainly do not. The next time you find yourself in the library enjoying table conversation gaily, take a second to confront that blank Microsoft Word document on the screen in front of you. For those motivated enough to conquer the blankness of that bright screen, it’s never a bad idea to explore.

very day, students head over to the All Campus Dining Center (ACDC), swipe their V-Cards, walk through the entranceway and are immediately hit with a myriad of smells, noises, colors, and, most importantly, food stations. From the grill to the international station, the ACDC aims to offer students a menu that meets their needs and encompasses a variety of choices.

Regardless of a student’s appreciation and evaluation of the services rendered at ACDC, the staff persevere in their efforts to meet the demands of flavor, nutrition, variety, and cost that define the effectiveness of any catering service.

According to Vassar Head Chef Mike Conlin, “The menus are written at the end of the school year, around June or July. The individuals involved are myself, ACDC Director Diane Dalton, and Production Manager Brandon Walker.

Everybody comes up with different ideas, and there’s a lot of time and thought that goes into it,” .

After formulating their ideas and writing down recipes, the staff utilizes an online database called “Prima Recipes.” This database, which not only contains recipes for appetizers, meats, pastas, deserts, salads, cookies and chocolate, is able to sort recipes by ingredients and cuisines.

Additionally, “Prima Recipes” offers resources on a variety of topics, from healthy cooking to international dishes. Conlin said, “We come up with the menu ideas ourselves and find the recipes on Prima. There’s always room for change though, we can alter a few recipes to make them fit what we need.”

According to Conlin, students’ commentaries are greatly taken into consideration. Every week, staff members at the ACDC read through students’ comment cards, discuss possible changes, and respond to them: “We take students’ commentary very seriously. We respond to general concerns and address the needs of students who are looking for something special,” said Conlin.

Director of Operations Laura Leone commented further on behalf of the necessity of student commentary: “The ideal dining situation is one in which every student feels welcomed and comfortable enough to tell us what they need.”

Leone, who is the dining representative on the Vassar Food Committee, a student-run organization composed of elected candidates from each dorm who elicit and discuss student commentary regarding dining at Vassar, expressed the strong feedback among by students, the trends observed, and the constant changes initiated.

According to last year’s Food Committee President Rachel Schorr ’12, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) defines the Food Committee as follows: “The Food Committee meets to discuss different aspects of campus dining. As topics arise, the Food Committee makes suggestions for improvements that can be made in those areas.” She added, “The recent topics we’ve discussed include pricing of food, quality of ACDC food, and increasing healthy eating options at Vassar.”

According to Conlin, “A lot of thought goes into the menu, not just in terms of meal variety. The meals need to be visually pleasing as well.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

You know, we won’t serve brown meat with a brown vegetable. There needs to be color variety.”

Schorr described the ins and outs of committee discussion: “A lot of our time is devoted to alerting [Leone] to the problems that we notice with campus dining, usually little details like salt levels in soup, availability of certain foods, specific commentary, etc…” she explained.

The committee also vocalizes specific well-received dish requests by students, monitors campus dining daily, and is currently working on certain long term goals. With regards to these goals, Schorr said, “I met last month with Triple J vending which handles about 90 percent of campus vending machines and we are working on getting more swipe machines and instituting a ‘fit pick’ program that will highlight healthy options in the vending machines.”

Other initiatives include instituting healthier snack foods, such as natural soda and frozen vegetarian options, as well as promoting sustainability and the use of local food at the ACDC: “We’re focusing our attention on general campus dining advertising, such as signs that say, ‘We serve cage free eggs,’ in order to raise awareness about local vegetable purchases at the ACDC,” Schorr said in an e-mailed statement.

According to Schorr, the Food Committee is also interested in adding more meal plan options, switching the coffee at Java City to a locally roasted coffee company called “Winchell Mountain Coffee,” and brainstorming ideas for how to make dorm kitchens cleaner and more comfortable. Schorr expressed satisfaction at the small changes that have already been made: “I’d like to think that we have made some progress. Since last year there are new coffee brewers in ACDC, more vegan options, more fruit, more nutritional education, seltzer dispensers on either side of the dining hall, more fish in the menu, etc…”

One of the most remarkable undertakings of the ACDC, something the dining center has done throughout the ages, is what Conlin referred to as the Monotony Calendar. The Monotony Calendar, similar to the menu, is also created at the end of each year and includes a variety of unusual and interesting events.

This year alone, the ACDC has been host to a dinner honoring Chelsea Clinton’s Rhinebeck wedding, a student pasta cookoff and will soon be host to a Thanksgiving-themed dinner. Conlin, reminiscing about past ACDC events, said, “We’ve also held Austin Powers dinners. We hosted a Titanic-themed dinner called ‘The Last Meal.’”

Members of the ACDC Dining Staff and Food Committee work to be as helpful and responsive to student commentary as possible, providing students with a myriad of options to express themselves such as the well known comment cards, lesser known option of emailing their concerns to comments@@vassar.edu and speaking to student representatives and dining managers. It is through these official channels that student feedback is guaranteed to be taken into consideration. According to Leone, the overall vision of the ACDC is to be “a place where students feel comfortable and welcomed. If Vassar is your home, the ACDC is the kitchen.”

OPINIONS

Page 8

November 11, 2010

MICA’s Chronicle a place for marginalized viewpoints Steve Keller

Guest Columnist

V

assar has a reputation for being a politically radical, but also apathetic school. The “conventional wisdom” here is that many Vassar students do not take a deep interest in politics and/or have a very radical ideology. These notions are fundamentally untrue, but the reality of life at Vassar College is that political discourse tends towards a liberal echo chamber that leaves many out and doesn’t help anyone grow—including liberals.

This semester, the Moderate, Independent and Conservative Alliance (MICA) is embarking on a project to dispel these, and other notions. We are creating a journal of opinion that will center on moderate, independent and conservative voices, but not be limited to those voices. However, I was dismayed to read Boyd Gardner’s piece in The Miscellany News (11.03.10) last week that disingenuously represented MICA’s fund application, The Chronicle, and the VSA’s authorization process. VSA fund applications should not be taken lightly, but neither should reports from the CIE, or our observations of campus.

Readers of my previous columns in this paper will know that I’m a Democrat. I like to think of myself as a liberal in the real world, but a moderate at Vassar. And I like talking to people that I disagree with, but it was not always that way. From the beginning of my time here, MICA had always been friendly to me, but I was never friendly to it. I had frequently seen them tabling in the College Center and I would never hesitate to make snarky, self-righteous comments

to them. Despite their being willing to politely engage me in conversation, I wouldn’t have it.

They repeatedly invited me to their meetings, but I wasn’t interested. What place would a Democrat like me have at a MICA meeting?

It was not until early May 2009 when I first came to a MICA meeting. I knew the organization was meeting in the parlor of Josselyn House, and I happened to be in Josselyn during their meeting time. So I went in, looking for a rumble with Republicans, and perhaps to take some of their pizza and soda. But when I came out, I was impressed. Here were not ideologues. Here were reasoned, rational thinkers with whom you could have a conversation. They were willing to talk with me even though I was only willing to make snarky comments at their expense.

I was intrigued, and started coming to meetings. Over the next year I got to know MICA for what it is: A place where ideology is not a litmus test for political engagement, but a place where we can think independently and speak openly.

I found that MICA was one of the only forums where I was not judged for my moderate sensibilities. My political views haven’t changed since then. I’m still a moderate Democrat. I still believe government is the solution to most of our problems. But what I believe is also the solution to most of our problems is discussing them openly with cool heads and a will to compromise and reason.

This is exactly what The Chronicle is trying to engender. Our goal is to create more open political dialogue at Vassar College. We will try to achieve this goal by addressing what the CIE

called the “dominant, assumed, and controlling liberal secular viewpoint on campus”—something that MICA has recognized for a long time.

We will provide a space for disaffected moderates and conservatives to express their opinions.

But we will also provide a space for independents who don’t want to be, as the CIE report says, “‘fixed’ into a static, limited and limiting identity in the campus imagination.”

Gardner may think that we misused the CIE report for “savvy politics.” But this is a real issue at Vassar, and it is the issue within the report that speaks to MICA’s mission.

Gardner writes, “The tense interaction of political ideologies at Vassar is caused by the antipathy that colors American political discourse, not by a lack of understanding.” He’s right. Our college’s political discourse does reflect that antipathy in the public sphere. But that antipathy comes from a lack of understanding. It comes from each side believing the other is trying to take away their freedoms, their rights or their voice. Surely there are those who would seek to do this. But MICA does not believe this is the majority—the unproductive ranting comes from the fringes.

Gardner may also think that the VSA glossed over serious discussion of The Chronicle. For those who were not at the VSA meeting, it might seem that I stopped into Council, read a line from the CIE report, and Council voted on our funding application after only a few minutes of discussion. That is not the case. MICA has been in intensive developmental discussion with the VSA Executive Board, as well as the Finance

Committee. Additionally, at the Council meeting MICA was subject to an hour of questioning over this $800 in funding; as Vice President for Activities Tanay Tatum pointed out, discussions over similarly-sized fund applications are hardly discussed for so long or with such intensity.

Gardner does not think that MICA’s current leadership will publish objectionable material, but he does not have any guarantee that future management will have the same judgment—the implication here being that since MICA was deauthorized in the past for printing racially offensive material, it is an organization that needs to suffer more scrutiny than, for example, The Miscellany News. Never mind that the Imperialist debacle occurred long before our time. Never mind that The Miscellany News has been also been reprimanded in the past for offensive racial comments . Never mind that The Miscellany News published an advertisement from a Holocaust-denying group in 1994. I bring up these examples not to attack The Miscellany News, but to illustrate how we give organizations another chance despite the failings of their long-ago predecessors.

MICA believes we students are qualified to interpret collegiate documents sent to our inboxes. MICA believes students are where the change the CIE report calls for is going to begin.

MICA believes that if we can, in some small way, broaden political discourse, then The Chronicle is well worth an $800 trial run.

—Steve Keller ’11 is a political science major and vice-president of MICA.

GOP hypocritical, plan to blame Democrats for own mistakes Joseph Hoffheimer

I

Guest Columnist

n last week’s midterm elections, the Republicans took over the House and won several Senate seats after campaigning on deficit reduction, tax cuts and opposition to both “bailouts” and the “government takeover” of health care.

After watching victory speech after victory speech, I could not help but draw one conclusion: The Republicans had been allowed to run against themselves.

If you don’t believe me, just take the words directly from the leaders of the GOP. Although both John Boehner, the likely candidate for Speaker of the House, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talked about the voters’ disgust with “bailouts,” both Boehner and McConnell supported and voted for them in 2008. Ironically, voters angry with “Wall Street” disproportionately voted Republican and, even though Democrats had passed some of the strongest financial reform in decades, these voters preferred a party led by Boehner, a man who once passed out checks from tobacco lobbyists on the House floor.

Additionally, while both leaders talked about a need to rein in deficits and spending, both also supported the disastrous Bush tax cuts and the invasion of Iraq. Although these expenditures make up much of our bloated deficit, the Republican leadership and its Tea Party base had no solution other than to take defense cuts off the table and call for the renewal of Bush’s tax cuts, which have only redistributed more money to the extremely wealthy.

More recently, “small government” Tea Party candidates such as Senator-elect Rand Paul, who does not consider the Bush tax cuts a “cost to the government” and Senator Jim DeMint have had trouble naming one concrete item they would

cut. Tellingly, in an election night interview, prominent Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn could not name a specific thing to cut either other than the need for an “adult conversation” on Social Security and Medicare, both common targets on the Republican hit list.

Overall, few Republicans seem to know what cuts, often involving popular programs, could balance the costs of the Bush tax cuts. In a common Republican pattern, likely future House Majority Leader Eric Cantor had a strategy: “Blame Obama” for any deficits under Republican House leadership, even though the national debt has resulted almost entirely from Republican policies.

So, the question becomes, how did endemic problems arising from eight years of Republican rule and a failed administration become solely the Democrats’ responsibility in only two years?

While I agree that Democrats could have done more to solve our economic problems, their failure (with the help of the media) to control the message allowed the Republicans to turn the discourse against the government at a time when the Democratic majority instituted modest political change on behalf of the American people.

When we talk about controlling the message, we should return first to the “bailouts.” While the jury remains out on their success and issues of possible corruption remain, the “bailouts” did represent a bipartisan approach to saving our economy from collapse. Both parties’ leadership supported them, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program loans actually made a deficit-reducing profit. Despite the complication of “bailouts” and nuanced results difficult for some to comprehend, the Republicans should not have been able to freely run against or exploit them to the level they did.

More importantly, after the “bailouts,” the Democrats, not Republicans, supported comprehensive financial reform. While I would agree with departing Senator Russ Feingold that the reform did not go far enough and had too much corporate influence in its formulation, it still represented one of few recent attempts we have seen at financial regulation. However, I never heard a single explanation of what financial reform actually accomplished and, even if the results proved modest, the Democrats could have still found a few points to campaign against a party that has done nothing to improve the economy or regulate the forces behind its destruction.

Of course, the most polarizing legislation that also led to several Republican victories calling for its repeal was health care reform. Health care, although over-compromised and potentially pursued at the expense of more immediate economic legislation, also had a number of benefits the Democrats could have sold. By international standards, the bill was centrist to conservative, and it reduced the deficit, allowed parents to keep children on their insurance for longer and banned discrimination against preexisting conditions. Although many Americans somehow opposed the bill for various reasons, the Democrats had no excuse for losing the entire message to Astroturf “populist” movements organized against their own economic interests.

While Obama’s initial approach to compromise may have sounded noble, these Republicans, who run against their own past mistakes and blame them on Democrats, cannot work with the Democratic Party. Obama proved himself as a fighter during the campaign, and many of his supporters—who, according to the latest Gallup poll, are outnumbering his detractors— still count on him to pull through again. After

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all, it takes a special politician to give a brilliant unscripted speech on race delivered in the wake of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright controversy or cause McCain’s campaign to implode after a perfectly timed “lipstick on a pig” comment.

President Obama, an unfair victim of enormous—and, frankly, sometimes impossible to overcome—obstruction and scrutiny from the GOP on every fictitious controversy from “death panels” to “Black Panthers intimidating voters,” must now get back in the game. In a year when “all politics is national,” Bill Clinton has relentlessly campaigned for a party that just two years ago won states he never could, but where has Obama been? Where is 2008 middle class fighter Joe Biden? Is he in Dick Cheney’s bunker?

The 2010 elections had a lower turnout than the last midterms, which likely explains the loss of almost every 2006 Democratic pickup. 60 percent of Americans either opposed or thought health care reform did not go far enough, and the message of what did work got completely lost in the process. Wall Street reform, which addressed an area that ironically led to Republican votes, met a similar fate.

Now, as we play this “new” game of Republican “fiscal responsibility,” Democrats, please do not lose this one. Even if it takes a lame duck session forcing Republicans to actually read the phone book to filibuster, you need to control the message and not renew the Bush tax cuts while cutting programs that actually help hardworking people. Otherwise, even more of your base will disappear in 2012, while the Republicans will continue to run against their own problems but blame them on you.

—Joe Hoffheimer ’11 is an urban studies major with a concentration in political science and is treasurer of the Vassar College Democrats.

OPINIONS

November 11, 2010

Page 9

Kamala Harris best candidate for CA Attorney General Hannah Blume

“T

Guest Columnist

hey call her the female Obama,” Gwen Ifill told David Letterman on The Late Show last January during a plug for her new book on emerging black leaders. Her tight grin widened as she promptly added, “I mean, people aren’t very imaginative about these things anymore.” Six months later, far from the glitz of national television cameras, a modest crowd of no more than a couple-hundred gathered at the Delancey Street Foundation—a non-profit committed to encouraging re-entry of ex-convicts— to celebrate “female Obama,” Kamala Harris’ victory in the Democratic primary to become California’s next Attorney General. Their smiles reminded me of Gwen Ifill’s—bursting with pride in knowing that San Francisco’s dynamite District Attorney Kamala Harris cannot be contained by her Obama-like description. To her earliest supporters, Kamala Harris offered so much more than an interesting pedigree—with a South Asian mother and Jamaican-American father—and an irresistible charm. They understood that Kamala Harris promised more than just hope; she would deliver justice. After a grueling campaign, Kamala remains in a dead heat with her opponent, tough guy Steve Cooley, L.A. District Attorney. It could be weeks until all provisional ballots are counted and officials announce the next Attorney General of California. If elected, Harris will be the first woman to hold the post. She will be one of seven women to currently hold the title of State Attorney General, one of three women of color to ever be a State Attorney General and the first South Asian Attorney General in the Country. Most impor-

tantly, Harris’ election in California will start the desperately needed reform of our nation’s failing criminal justice system. Harris, a child of the Civil Rights Movement, never forgot her roots.

She is the daughter of Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, a first-generation Indian breast cancer specialist and Jamaican-American Donald Harris, a professor of economics at Stanford University.

“I grew up with folks who were full-time shouting and marching about this thing called justice.” Harris warmly remembers marching too, “in a stroller, but marching nonetheless.”

Harris’ unmatched passion is no doubt a result of her upbringing. She is not a politician, but an activist and advocate. Harris remains unphased by the approving roar of her crowd at her promise to lock up predatory lenders, take on big Texas oil companies and defend each citizen’s right to affordable healthcare. Her jaw remains clenched, head still and eyes slim, as if anxious to get out and do the work. But Harris was primarily raised by her mother, a staunch feminist and a key influence on her daughter’s philosophy as an advocate for the vulnerable. “Like so many of our mothers, my mother gave what she had in abundance. And in particular, she gave us love, she gave us education, she gave us inspiration and she gave us hope.” Harris’ goal seems to be to do exactly that—protecting the most vulnerable with everything that her own mother gave to her. As a young prosecutor, she was known to visit rape victims in the hospital. Noticing the drab conditions in the rooms, she rounded up a small group of female volunteers to fix the place up.

“I said, ‘Let’s get some art in here. Let’s paint.’”

Our criminal justice system, which devalues

Three-year path harmful to college experience John Kenney

T

Guest Columnist

here is some debate in the United Kingdom over whether the traditional three-year university program in the U.K. should be scrapped in favor of an American-style four-year program.

On our end of the pond, however, we are debating whether we should move to a three-year program. One supporter of such a move, Robert Zemsky, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, argues that a three-year curriculum represents meaningful education reform. Zemsky believes that the current college curriculum is outdated and that the liberal arts education should be made to have more of a focus on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies. For example if a degree took only three years to complete, students would take a “History through Literature” class to fulfill English and history requirements, rather than taking courses in both areas to earn the credits.

A shift in curriculum can save money and provide innovations to a curriculum that advocates, such as Zemsky, feel is stagnated. But the plan is filled with flaws and should not be implemented.

Before I elaborate on why the threeyear degree is not the wonderful idea some think it to be, let me clarify what such a program would look like. Certain universities, such as the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, already offer certain degrees for students that can be earned in three years. However those degrees are merely an option that students can elect to take. The three-year degree is not the norm, as most students continue to choose the four-year degree plan. The proposal of a three-year path would, according to supporters, be a much more efficient system than the four-year degrees that are the most common undergraduate degree programs today. The flaw in this way of thinking is not the idea of offering students the choice of three years. I see nothing wrong with allowing students who wish to complete their education as quickly as possible being given the

option to do so. The problem is in making it the standard form of education. So much would be lost in transforming the four-year experience into one that takes only three years. On the academic side of things, it does not take a wild imagination to see that the three-year program could cause the higher education experience to become something much more factorylike. In cutting a whole year of the curriculum, the focus would become mainly on the end result, rather than an exploration of the wide array of courses offered by universities. Through removing that element of exploration and discovery, the three-year degree also raises a more troubling concern. This concern is that students, having less time before graduating, may be forced into picking majors that may not be suited for them, based on the fact that they were not given adequate time to explore their interests. This concern is especially relevant when one considers that many current universities do not require their students to decide on a major until the end of their second year.

Beyond the concern of what damage the three-year degree could do to academics, there are also the concerns of how it might damage other aspects of what the college experience is supposed to be. The current college system does not solely rest on providing students with a ticket for a career.

Liberal arts colleges, Vassar being a great example, encourage exploration. The fouryear path also provides a way for students to discover who they really are as people.

It is hard to imagine that in decreasing the time it takes to complete college, this experience of development would not somehow be hindered.

I do not take issue with college programs being offered with three-year options. However, I do take issue with the idea of reshaping the entire system into one that takes only three years. For whatever benefits may be reaped, it seems that such a move would open a Pandora’s box which would far outweigh the benefits.

—John Kenney ’14 is a student at Vassar College

the most powerless individuals, needs to draw a lesson from Harris’ empathy and value for people. Harris herself drew from the architects of the Civil Rights Movement. “More than anything, I believe the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, first among them, Dr. [Martin Luther] King, were innovators…It is their innovation that changed our nation and the world.”

Harris considers herself, first and foremost, an innovator: “It is time that we understand that to be true to innovation means to put aside what has been an obsolete system that has been focused on and invested in the status quo.” Harris is fundamentally changing the discussion about our criminal justice system, breaking the model of either getting tough or soft on crime. She ruthlessly repeats her mantra: We need to get smart on crime. “The bulk of what we are dealing with is recidivist in nature. There’s a revolving door and we’ve got to get smarter around cycling people out.” As San Francisco District Attorney, she had an innovative approach to gang violence.

Being smart on crime means, “understanding [prosecuting] gang violence must be a priority, but so too and equally important will be early intervention.”

“I have seen in my city a large number of elementary students who are literally missing 60 to 80 days of a 180 day school year. As far as I’m concerned, a child going without an education is tantamount to a crime…because invariably, that kid will be the high school drop out, who will be the crime victim and the perpetrator.” Harris prosecuted parents who let their kids drop school. Truancy dropped 30 percent. That’s smart. Harris used a sizable chunk of her budget to fund Back on Track, a program seeking to

stop the revolving door of drug users and dealers. Any first-time drug offender under the age of 30 can enroll in the program. After pleading guilty, the offender must enroll in “bootcamp” where they undergo drug testing, perform community service, attend English classes, pay child support and earn a GED during the span of a year. The program provides participants with childcare and temporary housing.

Once the offender completes the program, their felony conviction is dropped. It has been unimaginably successful. Over four-and-a-half years, the re-offense rate of drug offenders between the ages of 18 to 30 in Harris’ district dropped from 54 percent to less than 10 percent.

The program is now being replicated across the country and our criminal justice system is thirsty for more like it.

As much as Harris loves California, it is just the beginning. California shaped who she became: “We live in a state, yeah, where a young girl raised in the tradition of the civil rights movement can become the first African-American Woman District Attorney in the state of California.” Harris sees California as shaping the rest of our nation: “[California is that place] that will always be the source of innovation and the place that shows how things can get done.”

On some level, Harris may see her state as an allegory for herself: “California creates leadership. [We are] dedicated to our history while being empowered to know our destiny.” Win or lose this election, Harris is just getting started in her pursuit of justice. Kamala Harris is coming, whether we are ready or not.

—Hannah Blume ’13 is a student at Vassar College.

Stewart’s rally an unfair attack on liberal commentators Juan Thompson Opinions Editor

U

sually, I’m a big fan of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Their irreverent political and social commentary appeals to my sense of humor and my liberal politics. I usually sit in front my MacBook watching the episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report online, but following the “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” I found myself shaking my head in disagreement instead of rolling on the floor in laughter.

The point of Stewart’s march was to give a voice to a “million moderates” and the “70-80 percent of Americans who try to solve the country’s problems rationally and be heard above the more vocal and highly visual 15-20 percent who control the conversation,” as Stewart claims. Stewart didn’t get quite a million; over 200,000 attended the rally, dwarfing the attendance at Glenn Beck’s conservative gathering in September. But what the 200,000 people got was a smug, self-righteous display by Stewart and Colbert. What they got and what those of us watching at home saw were two comedians preaching about the need to restore sanity as they paraded around in costumes that lent the air of a Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis variety show from years past.

I agree with Stewart when he contends that our national dialogue is small-minded, detrimental and counterproductive. But I disagree with Stewart when he attempts to make the left and the right out to be the same. It is a horrible false equivalency. At the rally he showed a video montage of cable news personalities to support his contention that cable news is a monstrous entity, and in that montage we saw clips of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Keith Olbermann, as if what Beck does corresponds with what Olbermann does. There seems to be this need in society to counter the craziness of the right with left wing craziness but it just isn’t so. People forget the situation that made Keith Olbermann the most famous liberal commentator. It was the summer of 2006 and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had questioned the patriotism of Americans opposed to the Iraq War in front of an audience of veterans. Olbermann went on television and, using his bully pulpit, leveled an eloquent 20 minute diatribe against Rumsfeld and the Bush administration.

He did this at a time when the cowards, who sat in the newsrooms of Washington D.C. and New York, were still refusing to aggressively confront the lies, incompetence and misinformation that had thrust

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this nation into war. Olbermann and his MSNBC colleague Chris Matthews belong to a small minority of the media that was willing to stand up against the Bush administration. And today they continue to be a valuable counterbalance to Fox News and the rest of the right wing corporate media. For this they deserve gratitude, not scorn from the host of The Daily Show.

Stewart, leading up to the rally, also said that he was sick of the extremists on both sides. He’s sick of those on the left who believe that Bush was behind Sept. 11 and those on the right who call Obama a socialist. Such a remark is ridiculous. Those people who credit Bush with Sept. 11 are kooks on the fringe and are shunned by most liberals. But those on the right who call our president an evil, racist, Kenyan, socialist can be found in the halls of Congress and getting a platform to spew their garbage on Fox News Channel. Jon Stewart’s politics are obviously left of center but he strikes me as one of those liberals who wants to go along to get along. He talks about moderates but he fails to realize there are few moderates on the other side.

We liberals shouldn’t apologize for our values and we shouldn’t equate ourselves with right-wingers.

We’re not out kicking our political opponents in the head, as happened in Kentucky last month.

And questioning the religion or citizenship of those with whom we disagree isn’t a cause célèbre on the liberal side, as it is with conservatives.

I applaud Stewart for his idealistic dream of reasoned public dialogue. Yet it is hard to talk to someone when he or she is calling you communist or accusing you of wanting to destroy America. It’s an ideological war out there and I want to be on the side that supports helping American families who are struggling during these tough times. The side that embraces diversity, effective environmental policies and a national security strategy that keeps us safe while keeping us true to our most cherished principles. Stewart did have one memorable line from his rally when he remarked, “These are tough times but these aren’t the end times.” I know these aren’t the end times, and liberal politicians who are working to solve the nation’s problems know these aren’t the end times. The only people who are lamenting about the downfall of America are the supposed conservative moderates that Stewart is seeking out.

—Juan Thompson ’13 is Opinions editor of The Miscellany News

OPINIONS

Page 10

November 11, 2010

Violent video games analogous to real world brutality Emil Ostrovski Guest Columnist

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iscussion is underway by Supreme Court Justices in the case Schwarzenegger v.

Entertainment Merchants Association. The case concerns a California law that imposes a fine on any store that sells violent video games to people under 18. The law defines violent video games as games “in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering or sexually assaulting an image of a human being,” that pursue “deviant or morbid interests” and have no “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.” Our Supreme Court justices are, according to a recent New York Times article entitled “Justices Debate Video Game Ban” (11.02.10), regarding this issue from the perspective of whether the making or playing of violent video games is protected under freedom of speech and expression. I can’t help but feel they’re approaching the case from the wrong direction.

The Justices’ lack of experience with video games is evident in the comparisons they draw to movies, books and even fairy tales. Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, made this clever little pun: “Some of the Grimm’s fairy tales are quite grim. Are you going to ban them, too?”

They make the mistake of calling video game violence simply a “depiction” of violence, which is not accurate.

A book can depict violence. A movie, too, can depict violence. A video game does not

simply depict violence, because the word “depict” implies that the person engaging in this entertainment product is not an active participant, but rather a third person “viewer” or “observer.” However, as any player knows, the violence in a video game is brought about through the active participation of the player.

When a character in a video game dies, he does so not of his own accord, but because you, the player, aimed a virtual nine-millimeter at his virtual head with the analog stick, and then pressed the right trigger to blow his virtual brains out. What I’d like to ask is this: Is it possible we should consider banning violent video games—in this specific case to minors, but the implications of this question are more far-reaching than that—because we feel the player himself is committing, in some sense, a wrong?

The act of violence is not real in the same sense that an act of violence in a novel is not real. But violence in a novel occurs, regardless of whether or not you actually read it. Violence in a movie occurs, regardless of whether you actually watch it. You, as an individual, are not a necessary element for the bringing about of the violent act. But a video game is interactive. A video game needs constant input from the player. Otherwise, nothing will happen.

You can raise an objection here by saying, well, an entertainment experience implies progress from the beginning of said experience to the end. Violence in a movie,

for example, doesn’t really happen until you put the movie in, click play, and allow the movie to roll, from start to finish. If pressing buttons constitutes complicity in fictional crime, then surely, in an admittedly loose and indirect way, your pressing “play” makes you complicit in the death of every single character that dies in the last three minutes of your DVD version of The Departed. The only difference, you could argue, between a video game and a movie is that in the case of the video game, the progression of the experience demands pressing buttons regularly. If you do not press the buttons, the experience cannot progress, cannot go from natural start to natural conclusion.

Now, it’s true that in watching a movie, you are a willing participant in the sense that you can stop the story any time you want or choose to not start it at all. But stopping or not starting the story only stops you from knowing what happens. Video games, however, are not set in stone like movies and books. Yes, the general framework is the same for all players.

But how we work our way through this framework is different. Here’s a simple example of this: There is an enemy soldier in our way, at location X in the game. You opt to throw a grenade, and kill him this way. I opt to shoot him in the head with a pistol. Someone else kills him with a rifle butt. Still someone else shoots him in the groin, and laughs.

What I’m trying to say here is that while most games demand the player commit virtual

violence—usually killing—via button presses, the specific ways in which this violence is brought about is usually at the player’s discretion. This level of freedom and participation is not present in other mediums, and I would argue that it makes the player into something more than just an “observer” of “depicted violence,” but rather also an actor who brings about virtual violence.

The question we come to then is: Can committing virtual violence be wrong? Before you answer, consider a game that hypothetically allows you to rape, murder, torture, molest children or perform other despicable acts. Basically, consider a game that allows a player to commit the most morally abhorrent acts that you can think of. Now ask yourself, even though these morally abhorrent acts are virtual, is the player committing a wrong in performing them?

While I’m not completely decided myself, I do want to suggest that there is a reason why most of us would probably feel disgusted by the prospect of, say, a rape-simulator game, and that it has to do with the fact that games, in depicting violence, are representing real world violence, and the reason for our uneasiness is that the interactive nature of the gaming medium demands the participation of the player in these representations of real world violence.

—Emil Ostrovski ’12 is a philosophy major at Vassar College.

Economic factors reason enough for pot legalization Zach Zeilman

Guest Columnist

O

n Nov. 2, 2010, Proposition 19, or the “Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act,” was a ballot initiative in the state of California.

This act proposed that individuals that are age 21 or older may possess and cultivate a limited amount of marijuana for personal use and would allow state and local governments to authorize, regulate and tax commercial activity under certain conditions, though these activities would still be illegal under federal law. The election results, however, show that about 54 percent of voters in California voted “No” on the proposition, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Most opponents to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use claim that people under the influence of the drug will endanger public safety—particularly due to drugged driving—that the bill will jeopardize state funding and contracts, and of course, that legalization would lead to the moral corruption of children.

However, the bill states that sales to persons under 21 are illegal, as are possession on school grounds, use in public settings, or smoking while minors are present. Although the latter may be especially difficult to regulate, it would still be regulated more so than alcohol, which is considerably more dangerous.

Plus, maintaining or increasing strict criminal penalties for selling to minors, driving under the influence and other dangerous activities involving marijuana should be more effective at reducing harm to the population as a whole than completely banning the drug. That way they can focus on protecting the persons under 21, who can easily find marijuana to begin with, since it is illegal—dealers will sell to those under 21, while regulated stores could not do so.

Although cannabis is already used “medicinally” all over the state, opponents also cite the herb’s dire health consequences—from drugged driving accidents to mental illness and addiction. This is argued despite the facts that the effects of marijuana are minimal compared to other drugs, such as alcohol. But opponents of marijuana still portray it as causing a burden to society.

Now, I would not be personally affected by this law, had it passed, but with regard to the State of California, there are a number of reasons why the legalization of cannabis would be appropriate. First and foremost, there is a growing number of supporters for the movement, whether or not they use the drug, and their voices must be recognized once they become majority. In fact, sup-

port has grown and opposition has dropped nearly 10 percent since 2006, and over 1.95 million Californians have admitted to using marijuana in the past month, according to a 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services survey. But convincing people to change their moral codes has proven quite challenging when a heavy smear campaign, backed by even the Obama administration, according to the Los Angeles Times, is appearing everywhere.

Secondly, although it is seriously debatable, legalization in California could potentially cut off a substantial amount of funding to the violent drug cartels in Mexico, according to a study conducted by the RAND Corporation . According to The Washington Post, these drug cartels currently generate about 60 percent of their revenue from the illegal U.S. marijuana market. So, in a way, it would be wrong not to pass the bill if it could prevent the mass murders and destruction that is being funded with our own money. Since that money is going to be spent anyway, it would be better to have it going back into our own economy where it is most needed and where fewer people are being killed.

Finally, taxing the sale and cultivation of cannabis would potentially generate billions of dollars in revenue—$1.4 billion a year at the fairly low tax rate of 10 percent—for a state whose debt numbers over $8 billion. The tobacco industry is a perfect example—everyone knows how high those taxes are, yet it is still a multi-billion dollar industry which is heavily regulated.

While there would still be a need for law enforcement, their expenses would be dramatically cut, saving the state an estimated $200 million a year from what would typically be spent on arrests, prosecutions and prisons. Instead, overcrowded prisons could be manageable again if law enforcement were allowed to focus on more serious crimes than the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. In fact, 40 percent of the prison population is in prison as a result of the prohibition of marijuana, according to the California chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws .

An additional benefit to legalization would be increased employment in the sector, including production, retail and spinoff industries, such as industrial hemp. Hemp, which used to be grown in the Imperial and Delta Valleys of California, could rival the cotton industry, which generates $3.4 billion per year, although cotton producers may push against the development of a hemp industry. Tourism, parapher-

nalia shops, coffee shops and other industries would also be booming, meaning even more revenue for the state. The whole cannabis industry could be comparable to California’s famed wine industry, which generates $51.8 billion in economic activity, according to The Wine Institute, the advocacy association for California wineries.

The billions of dollars from annual revenue of cannabis could then fund more important projects or infrastructure in California. Jobs, health care, parks, transportation and safety are all things that are severely lacking appropriate funds. Rather than looking for more stimulus money from the federal government, California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger could just take advantage of all the stimulus money

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

growing in his own backyard.

While there are many other social, political or health-related reasons for or against the legalization of cannabis, the economic factors should be the most salient and heavily weighed as of now during the state’s fiscal crisis, especially given the amount of popular support.

It seems almost unreasonable not to support the proposition. However, the fact that voters turned down the bill shows that people are unwilling to change their social standards in the face of powerful opponents during short economic changes, despite all of the long-term benefits.

—Zachary Zeilman ’12 is president of Vassar Business Club.

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November 11, 2010

OPINIONS

Page 11

Anti-protectionism key to U.S.-India relations Kar Kapoor

Guest Columnist

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resident of the United States Barack Obama has just returned from a trip to India. India has been on the president’s schedule for some time but the trip had been postponed multiple times, making it long overdue. Obama’s goal in India is to improve and solidify economic and trade relations between the two nations. This move comes days after his party suffered historic defeats in the midterm elections.

During Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington D.C. last year, President Obama declared the partnership with India as “one of the defining relationships of the 21st century.” He has repeatedly stated his respect for India’s rise as a global power, echoing former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was one of the first to famously state America’s readiness to assist the growth of India’s global economic expansion. The president is a smart man who realizes the benefits that will accompany a good relationship between American and India.

This trip presents an opportunity to expand economic ties between the two countries. With a middle-class population of over 300 million individuals, India is an enormous potential market for U.S. exports and private sector investment, because U.S. exports to India have exploded to $17 billion over the past seven years, and further expansion is attainable in the short-term.

Obama should build upon this growth by

encouraging India to relax foreign investment rules and continue various defense acquisition reforms.

In addition, the success of the landmark U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement, the major foundation of this new phase in U.S.India relations, remains in doubt because of recent actions by the Indian Parliament to stall passage. Failing to fully implemeant the agreement would cause grave damage to the relationship between the two countries because it would show India not to be a faithful partner.

The White House must also dispel fears of increased protectionism targeting Indian outsourcing companies. Earlier this year, the president gained no favor in India with his silence and eventual support of increased fees on temporary worker visa holders. While the move had little impact on the recent U.S. midterm elections, it created a firestorm in India, where it was seen as a direct attack on Indian technology service companies.

Americans can all agree on the need to explore all economic options to help bolster the American economy, but the president’s actions exemplified shortsighted diplomacy and poor economics.

Perhaps the greatest success story of U.S.Indian relations lies in defense cooperation.

Today, the United States holds more joint military exercises with India than any other nation, and the United States and India are pressing forward with initiatives aimed at improving interoperability. The growth of India’s military represents not only an in-

creased ability to respond to the changing balance of global power, but gives America the ability to respond quickly to regional issues throughout Asia. This was most clear during the response to the December 2004 devastating tsunami that struck Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives. Furthermore, as the United States faces growing geopolitical challenges in the Indian Ocean region, India’s rapidly improving navy will play an expanding and important role in protecting the shipping lanes that support the world economy. In fact, India is so important to American security that Obama proposed that India be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, in part to “check the influence of an increasingly assertive China,” according to The New York Times.

One trip isn’t the be-all or end-all but it does present a great opportunity for the president to enhance America’s role in economic matters, military affairs, and global politics. What he shouldn’t do is listen to the to ignorant Republican politicians in America who have criticized him for going to India in the first place. America has seen a rise in this sort of protectionist populism that will inevitably harm America’s interests. The president is doing the right thing by engaging other global characters and if he continues to do effectively America will reap the rewards in the long run.

Josh Rosen

T

hroughout British history, the Royal Navy has been the country’s best defense against tyrants and the best ally of its commerce, whether it was the Home Fleet preventing invasion of the British Isles by Adolf Hitler throughout World War II or opening Qing Dynasty-era China to British trade in 1842. In recent years, however, with growing budget deficits and domestic pressure to reduce them—while maintaining expensive domestic programs such as the National Health Service—the U.K.’s military has become subject to cuts. This past October, the Conservative Party—Britain’s center-right party— government of Britain under Prime Minister David Cameron has determined that the Royal Navy will decline from a size of 24 ships to 19 ships, and the other British military services, the Royal Air Force and the British Army, will experience similarly destructive reductions in size and funding, according to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. In many ways, this marks the decline of Britain as a nation to contend with on a military scale, and bodes poorly for the United States because the U.K. has been one of our most stalwart allies—for Britain to become a second-rate military power would hamper our ability to respond to global crises.

These defense cuts in the United Kingdom have prompted me to consider the implications of the Republican rise to power in the 2010 midterm elections for our national defense—and the Navy in particular. Now that the Republicans control the House and are a force to be reckoned with in the Senate, it seems likely that cuts in discretionary spending—those parts of the budget that are determined by Congress on an annual basis, such as defense spending and education aid—are all too likely. These cuts are possible because popular opposition to the burgeoning national debt—nearly $14 trillion—and this opposition contributed in large part to the rise of the GOP, whose candidates promised to work to reduce the debt.

Defense spending is a category that seems ripe for cuts. Even Senator-elect Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) called for cuts to the military budget, according to a Nov. 7, 2010 article in The New York Times. The defense industry, too, is concerned about the possibility of deficit hawks from the GOP pushing defense spending cuts. The president of the defense

lobbying firm American Defense International, Michael Herson, was quoted in The Wall Street Journal saying that, “I think the Republican leadership next year sees the appropriations committees’ job to cut spending. And I don’t think defense escapes those cuts” .

Defense is a large component of the federal budget. It makes up 23 percent of the president’s 2011 federal budget proposal, or $895 billion, an increase of $40 billion from the 2010 federal budget. Not only is defense spending a substantial portion of the budget, but, as mentioned previously, it seems easy to cut. Like the Royal Navy, the United States Navy now faces the specter of substantial budget cuts. Before I discuss the nature of the possible cuts—and who advocates them—I feel it is necessary to impress upon any and all Americans the need for a strong naval presence.

The world is dependent on the oceans.

Global trade is the very essence of modern societies the world over, and 90 percent of trade occurs by sea, according to “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower,” the guiding document for U.S maritime strategy, which was authored in 2007 by the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the highest ranking officers of their respective services. Today, asymmetric threats, namely piracy and terrorism, threaten global trade by the sea. To combat these nontraditional threats, the United States needs naval forces of unchallengeable strength with a global reach and presence.

And since 40 percent of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast, being able to project power to the coasts allows American forces to influence not only activities on the water, but on land as well, as a result of the long range of ship-launched precision-guided weapons. Piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, for example, has resulted in the hijacking of over 80 ships in 2010, according to the National Defense University, an academic institution funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. However, this is a reduction from much higher rates of hijacking before American involvement. Thanks to the ability of the U.S. Navy to project force far from American shores, global commerce—20 percent of which passes through the Gulf of Aden and past Somalia, according to data from the European Union Maritime Security Center—

“Anthony Parks ’10 because I love accoustics.”

Jon Berliner ’12

“Marguerite Moreau ’99.”

­ Kartik Kapoor ’13 is a political science — major at Vassar College.

U.S. should avoid cuts to naval forces Opinions Editor

Who is your Vassar alum role model?

can be protected, which prevents disruptions of trade that could prove catastrophic to international trade.

In addition to protecting trade, U.S. naval forces also provide a bulwark against hostile powers. During the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis in 1996, the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) conducted missile tests in the Strait of Taiwan to threaten the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan, and push it towards unification with mainland communist China. In response, the United States, which is the only ally of the small democratic ROC, deployed U.S. naval forces—including the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to demonstrate American willingness to defend Taiwan from PRC aggression. This defused the crisis, as the United States’ show of force caused the PRC to back down. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton astutely opined in 1993, that “when word of a crisis breaks out in Washington, it’s no accident that the first question that comes to everyone’s lips is: ‘Where’s the nearest carrier?’” As the Third Taiwan Straits crisis demonstrates, U.S. naval forces are quite helpful in staving off aggression from foreign powers.

Since global trade and the protection of American interests—and those of our allies—depends so much on the U.S. Navy and associated maritime forces, it would be ludicrous to cut our sea-going defense, even in a time of large deficits. Cutting our Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard would place the United States in jeopardy: Our trade could be threatened by non-state actors and our global presence would be reduced, allowing hostile states to threaten us and our allies.

If any policy action is to be taken, it should be to increase the size of the U.S. Navy: In 2009, the U.S. Navy was at its smallest size since the end of World War II, according to the Naval Historical Center, a division of the Department of the Navy. Increasing the size of the navy would help to maintain American naval dominance and ensure the protection of American trade. The United States— and the world at large—needs to be able to call on the U.S. Navy. In tough times, global trade needs to be secure, and the U.S. is in the best position of all to ensure free access to the sea.

—Joshua Rosen ’13 is Opinions editor of The Miscellany News.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Sam Scarritt-Selman ’12

“Edna St. Vincent Millay ’17.”

Brittany Hunt ’12

“Geraldine Laybourne ’69.”

Emily Bernstein ’13 —Joshua Rosen and Juan Thompson, Opinions Editors Juliana Halpert, Photography Editor

Via Barbara Monroe Linda Fairstein ’69. She’s the reason I went to law school.

November 9 at 3:36pm Brian Farkas John Mihaly ‘74 from Alumnae/i Affairs & Development is one of the kindest, most organized and most knowledgeable people at the College. He loves Vassar, and Vassar is so fortunate to have him, especially to lead the Sesquicentennial celebration!

November 9 at 4:32pm Ka-Msiyara Corbett Billie Gaines ’58!

November 9 at 11:11pm —Marie Dugo, Social Media Editor

OPINIONS

Page 12

Post-election thank yous and advice for future Meghan Levine

N

Guest Columnist

ow that the election is over, though there are still some ballots yet to be counted, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to the Vassar College students, faculty and administration for their support. I would like to recognize in particular the work of College President Catharine Bond Hill, the Office of the Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs, the Dean of the College Office, the Field Work Office, Dutchess County Citizens’ Action Network organizer and Professor Sarita Gregory, and Transportation Director Dennis Cody, in addition to the many other students and professors who worked tirelessly to ensure student voting rights on Election Day. Everything that was done to educate students, faculty, and administration and to prevent voter suppression on Nov. 2 would not have been possible without this assistance, no matter how big or how small. Though no specific turnout numbers have been released yet, I am proud to say that every College student whose name was in the poll book and came to vote on Election Day also successfully voted by machine in this year’s election, regardless of party or affiliation.

Despite this success, it is important that we continue these efforts year after year to ensure our voting student population is an educated one. Why are students so often targeted and victims of voter suppression? Because they don’t know their rights and are easily intimidated.

If we can eliminate these two factors, students will easily overcome any intimidation tactics they might face on Election Day. Voter intimidation and suppression tactics present a direct affront to the civil liberties this country was founded on, and one of the biggest things this College can do for its students is ensure the protection of their civil rights.

So again, thank you for the support. It shows the commitment we have as a community to the principles of democratic and civic engagement. Hopefully, in the future, students will no longer face barriers to voting; however, the best we can do in the meantime is to prepare students to know their rights and stand up for them. The actions undertaken this year by select students, faculty and administration have made a significant difference and are not forgotten. Thanks again for all of your hard work.

November 11, 2010

GOP victory restoration of people’s voice Paul Weinger

D

Guest Columnist

ear fellow Vassar students: I feel your displeasure. If you have not heard, our legislative and executive branches are no longer going to be run entirely by Democrats. On Nov. 2, America took a harsh blow. A government that had ran for two years so smoothly is about to stop. No longer can bills simply be passed by our Democratic leaders. No longer can Congress ignore the will of the people as it did when the Democrats pushed through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health care reform bill. No more can President of the United States Barack Obama universally guide our legislature.

No, those good old days are long gone.

Now, debates will actually have to occur in Congress—our leaders will be forced to consider what the American people want, and our ideological vision that we have tried so hard to impose on others is now in jeopardy. Even those annoying things called states that we once were able to ignore are going to fight us on our glorious vision. Do they not know that federalism impedes progress!?

But all is not lost my friends! I see hope in our future. As Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute David Boaz says, “the usual pattern is that after the election the voters and the activists go back to their

normal lives, [and] the organized interests redouble their efforts to influence policymakers.” If he is right, those nasty tea parties are a thing of the past. We can once again take part in fancy parties and enjoy the glory from those persistent rent-seekers. Once the drinks start flowing, you will see that at the end of the day, Republicans are just like us.

We should remember as well that it was a Republican-controlled Congress that began our vision in the first place. Under the administration of George W. Bush, spending soared to new and unheard of heights, the Troubled Asset Relief Program began as part of the bailout program, and bills were passed that limited liberty, namely the Patriot Act. As we have seen, Republicans love exercising power over others just like us! We simply need to find some common ground—and really, it is not that difficult. We can only hope that they, like us, will ignore Americans now that their office is secure.

And if you are still afraid, take solace in knowing that we still have our faithful Obama to get things done. Do not fret, regardless of what Obama told Americans to get elected, he is not afraid of executive power. Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, has reassured us that the Obama administration is “reviewing a list of presidential executive orders and di-

rectives to get the job done across a front of issues.” Let those greedy Republicans try to get in our way; we have the Oval Office. And that, my dearest of friends, is all we need. As former President of the United States Bill Clinton’s aid Paul Begala said many years ago, “Stroke of the pen. Law of the land. Kinda cool.” Cool indeed. And, if they criticize us, we can just say Bush did it first.

Do not mistake me, though; there is grave risk. There is a risk that Americans are actually fed up this time. If Americans do not stay quiet, we may be in for a tough time. Like you, I am afraid that some of these Republicans actually care about the Constitution and fiscal responsibility.

Have they not heard that the Constitution is dead, written by dead white men long gone? What if these Republican governors actually challenge the health care bill, and what, my fellow Democrats, would happen if the House backed them on it? But, hey, maybe gridlock is not so bad after all. I mean, if Congress cannot get the job done, someone has to, right?

So, my fellow Vassar students, I urge you to hope. There may be a tough road ahead, but if we garble loud enough, maybe we can resist this new change once and for all.

—Paul Weinger ’13 is the founder of Libertarians of Vassar (loV).

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—Meghan Levine ’12 is a political science major at Vassar College and co-president of the Vassar College Democrats.

Crossword by Jonathan Garfinkel, Crossword Editor ACROSS 1. Instruction from Lil’ John 7. HBO competitor, briefly 10. ___-magnon 13. Poe title character Lee 15. Grease 16. “She’s a witch! Burn ___! Burn ___!”

17. Put on a pedestal, british style 18. Interns’ tasks, perhaps 20. Big inits. in home security

21. Smiling Lisa, say 23. Zone 24. Chicago-Atlanta dir.

25. Snappy Adams?

26. Depend 27. Attila the Hun, “_______ of God” 29. Emily and Charlotte, to name two 33. Shakespearean output 38. Hiroshima bomber ______ Gay 39. Caesar or Brutus 40. Talk down to

Answers to last week’s puzzle

43. Mystify?

45. Road work alerter 47. “____ Actually” 51. Looney Tunes frequent faller 52. Eroded 55. Once again 56. Tac partner 57. Snooze 58. Shinier 61. Hawaiian strummer 65. Meaningless appeasement 66. Like “Shrek” or “Toy Story”, briefly 67. What one may do with a decision or a chair 68. Some cries 69. Navy SEAL’s overseer, briefly 70. Poughkeepsie’s tastiest, perhaps DOWN 1. Some swanky soirees 2. Children’s writer Blyton, and others 3. Certain bond 4. Gamer party type 5. ___-Wan Kenobi 6. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” director Craven

7. Norman, OK ballers 8. Guadalupe _______ (treaty site) 9. Not new 10. Task 11. When doubled, a Bowie song 12. Quai d’_____, Paris 14. Greek isle 19. Jolt 22. NCAA’s Buckeyes 25. One not coming back 27. Walking stick, biblically, say 28. Noted corporate practitioner of “creative” accounting 29. Egyptian protector god 30. Michael Steele’s org.

31. Tic-tac-toe win 32. org. AKA the Vietcong 34. When repeated, a food-gasm 35. Beatles’ label 36. Cartoon “devil” 37. PS3 maker, NYSE-ly 41. Pie ___ mode 42. Certain yoga practice 43. Some briefs, briefly 44. ___ Afar, Iraq 46. What one may feel

fly like, perhaps 47. Cowboy’s tool 48. Not quite muted 49. Quayle and Adams, slangily 50. Lady-sheep

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

52. Front or back 53. “Godfather” actress Shire 54. Man’s best (digital) friends?

59. KS and MO munici-

palities 60. Easily inflated item 62. Brethren 63. Nether-region malady, briefly 64. “HAHAHAHA!”

HUMOR & SATIRE

November 11, 2010

Page 13

OPINIONS

World Kindness Week ends suffering for a week Tom Renjillian Guest Columnist

P

oughkeepsie, N.Y.—World Peace eluded President of the United States Barack Hussein Obama throughout his failed presidency. Fortunately, the Vassar College Office of Health Education has finally found the longsought solution to this global crisis. In order to replace global suffering with Kindness, Nov. 8 through 14 has been declared “World Kindness Week.” As of press time, it has been a success.

Throughout the week, Vassar College students have been assigned to bring kindness to the world by completing actions on certain days, such as “giving a hug to a friend,” “taking a friend out to (vegan) ice cream,” and “saying something nice to everyone you meet” (i.e. “I can’t even tell your shirt is from the clearance rack at TJ Maxx!”).

President-elect Sarah Palin offered a statement commending the Vassar College Office of Health Education for their efforts to bring “kindness” to the “world” for a “week.” She stated, “Mama Grizzly bitin’ off heads. Lipstick. Obamacare! Earl Grey, please.”

The Vassar College Office of Health Education’s participation in World Kindness Week has also had global effects, especially in countries where Vassar students are studying and/ or imbibing large quantities of alcohol abroad.

Osama Bin Laden, former arch nemesis of the United States and by default Vassar College, also issued a statement. “On Tuesday,

Nov. 9 my roomie (Cavie) left me a kind note and then proceeded to spend quality time with me,” Bin Laden asserted. “This warmed my heart in a way that nothing has since the harsh summer months I recently spent in my Afghanistan cave.” Bin Laden announced that he would seek a truce with the world due to Vassar College’s kind actions.

Vassar College student and writer of this article, Thomas Renjilian, agreed with Bin Laden, saying, “I’m glad to see a solution to famine and war and unimaginable global inequality— especially one that requires such superficial participation on my part! Because I’ve been really busy studying for finals and shit.”

Renjilian added, “I always knew World Kindness was the answer.”

Echoing this sentiment, a Starving Child stated, “When I heard that one privileged asshole at a Northeastern private liberal arts college held the door open for another privileged asshole at a Northeastern private liberal arts college on Monday Nov. 8… my heart was warmed! My thirst was quenched! My rumbling tummy was sated once and for all! My smallpox miraculously disappeared!”

He then exclaimed, “Thank you Vassar Office of Health Education. The enduring wounds of colonialism and oppression have been healed forevermore!”

World Kindness is scheduled to continue through Sunday Nov. 14. Suffering will resume early Nov. 15.

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Who has 2 thumbs, doesn’t care about graduate school?

Alanna Okun

T

he other day, I was prancing merrily (read: slouching lumpenly) into the library when I was accosted by a blonde lady holding a clipboard. As anyone who has ever walked anyplace outdoors knows, individuals standing around with clipboards are not to be trusted. They usually want your money/email address/blood type so they can selfrighteously save some pandas/whales/the environment. Also they really, really care about micro-business.

This particular clipboard wielder, I quickly discovered, did not give a flying fuck about pandas*. She approached me like a lady-alligator approaches a gazelle, and said, “Excuse me. Are you thinking about grad school?”

I was floored. “N-not right away!” I ejaculated**, trying to make it seem like I had an intricately calibrated life plan that she was impinging all over. I adjusted my laptop case so she would see how studious I am.

She didn’t buy it. “Uh huh. Well, it doesn’t matter when you decide to go. Kaplan can send you information about all different kinds of…”

“No thanks!” I made a mad dash for the library (read: slouched marginally faster), where I proceeded to spend upwards of an hour perusing Facebook and Googling different types of cats. Adulthood is so not ready for me.

I didn’t realize grad school was a thing when I was applying to college. Like, I knew it existed, but only for lamez0rz who want to be lawyers or teachers or my dad. However, pretty much the second I stepped foot on campus for freshmen move-in, I was bombarded with questions about my plans for the future.

The All Campus Dining Center, my freshmen writing seminar, the handicap shower stall— everywhere I went seemed chock-full of kids who already had their double majors in econ and biochemistry and their plots to gain entrance to the Harvard Business School all mapped out. I couldn’t even decide between the pink or the white shower caddies at Target.

Vassar was the only college I applied to—I think there’s still a tragically blank Word document floating around on my computer entitled “Why Swarthmore.docx”—so I’m definitely not prepared for filling out the reams of paperwork required for admission to the planet Earth’s top academic institutions. Also, something tells me that the application for the English Literature Masters program at Ox-

Weekly Calendar: 11/11 - 11/17 Thursday, 11/11 3 p.m. Tea. In honor of 11/11: Vassar wishes! Rose Parlor.

Humor & Satire Editor

*That’s a gross assumption. She could be totally obsessed with pandas, for all I know.

She could be wearing a head-to-toe panda costume and gnawing bamboo as I type these words. Kaplan employees are nuanced individuals. **HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. ***If it did, though, I would totally submit this PhotoBooth picture I took of my arm one time I had a really weird rash. Shit looked like the Pleiades. ****Kidding, Vassar is tits.

by Alanna Okun, Humor & Satire Editor

Smith held 11 honorary degrees from various high-profile institutions. Fact: Increased the endowment by like 10 million percent (roughly). Fact: Total baller. Library.

2 p.m. Audio Workshop. Finally, you can make that mash-up

8 p.m. Women’s Chorus Concert. Various members of the choir will be concealing a wedding cake, a seven-month-old Malawi infant, a fifth of Jack Daniels, a particularly diminutive Soprano I, and a set of nunchucks under their voluminous gowns. See if you can guess which ones! Skinner.

Tuesday, 11/16

6 p.m. Silent Dinner. It’ll be just like that time you “acciden-

tally” made out with your roommate’s girlfriend but your fellow group had already made solid DC plans so you had to sit across from each other at dinner even though he wanted you dead. College Center MPR.

ford does not include a YourSpace section***.

Besides, what would I even go to grad school for? Do they offer a Masters in Stealing-Bananas-from-the-Dining-Center-ology? I could probably swing a Ph.D. in Always-Havingto-Pee Studies, with a focus in Especially-inthe-Middle-of-an-Improv-Show-istry. Beyond that, though, I don’t really “contribute” to “society” very much.

That said, there’s definitely something appealing about hiding out in school for a few more years after graduating from this godforsaken crack den****. Everyone, from the guy at the Krafted Cup who makes those little swirly designs in the latte foam to my GreatGrandma Mimi (age 96, just got her driver’s license renewed), is hell-bent on informing me that the state of the economy is too terrible to even think about finding a job right now. I know how to be a student; I’m good at reading books and writing papers and drunkenly yelling about the gender binary when I’m at parties. What I don’t know how to do is real life.

I still like to ask people what they want to be when they grow up. I don’t think it’s a dumb question; you get a lot of thoughtful answers, ranging from “professor” to “adjunct associate professor” to “prostitute.” For all but the most die-hard academics, grad school is just a necessary obstacle to clear before achieving that ideal career. I’m anxious to get my hands dirty—or as dirty as hands can reasonably get at a publishing company/literary magazine/ weekly alternative newspaper—and just make things happen for a while once I’m out of Vassar. So I’m torn, team. Do I suck it up and buy a book of GRE practice tests, joining the rest of my immediate world in the half-a-milliondollar slog towards Higher Education, or do I wait and fight it out in the job market come May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve? One thing’s for sure: no matter what I decide to do, I’m not going anywhere near blonde ladies armed with clipboards.

of “Cute Without the E” and “Teenage Dream” you’ve always imagined! After-Hours Study Space.

3 p.m. Tea. The ability to magically summon the shuttle with your

mind whenever you’re bored/cold/over it at the THs. Rose Parlor.

cultural Subsidies Gala we throw next semester! UpC.

10 p.m. Jazz Night. Not to be that guy, but has anyone noticed the conspicuous lack of jazz at, you know, Jazz Night this year? Maybe I’m just tin-eared thanks to all the Katy Perry that constitutes my daily life. The Mug.

Sunday, 11/14

Wednesday, 11/17

5 p.m. Catholic Mass. You guys, it would really be great if you

3 p.m. Tea. A VIP pass to cut the line for the Mug whenever

you want. Oh wait, I forgot that the Mug is a bottomless, hellish abyss of despair and suffering. Nevermind. Rose Parlor.

8 p.m. “Oleanna.” If you don’t attend this goddamned moth-

would schedule more programming for Sundays so I could stop making fun of religious services every single week.

God’s getting kind of pissed. Chapel.

erfucking shitshow of a cock-play, David Mamet will not be pleased. Shiva.

Monday, 11/15

9 p.m. “Do It in the Dark.” Get it?! Do you get it?! It’s like

sex. Aula.

Friday, 11/12 3 p.m. Tea. Eggs All Day Errday, for the rest of forever. Rose Parlor.

7 p.m. “Queer Soup.” Better be bisque. UpC.

Saturday, 11/13 11 a.m Virginia B. Smith Remembrance Gathering. Fact:

10 p.m. Harvest Ball. Almost as fun as the Government Agri-

3 p.m. Tea. Soundproof walls in all dorms. Nobody needs to know how much their next-door neighbor truly enjoys being tied to the bed with Cushing lanyards and spanked repeatedly. Rose Parlor.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

5 p.m. Kaleidoscope: an International Food Festival. Furreal this is actually my favorite event that happens at Vassar all year. Screw Founder’s Day and the ViCE spring concert, just toss me a dinner roll and a plate of tandoori chicken and I’m a happy camper. UpC.

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November 11, 2010

‘Dog Sees God’ explores Charlie Brown’s fifth panel Evan Lester

W

Guest Reporter

Juliana Halpert/The Miscellany News

hat happens to comic characters after their strip ends in the funnies section of the paper? What happens in that fifth square after the punch line is delivered in the fourth?

After 50 years of childhood, the “Peanuts” gang enters their fifth square of life in the upcoming Philaletheis Society’s production of “Dog Sees God.” Written by Burt V. Royal, “Dog Sees God” parodies Charles Schultz’s classic comic with a portrayal of its iconic characters entering adolescence. The play premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2004 and has gained notoriety for its story and the controversy surrounding lawsuits brought by Schultz’s estate. The show makes clear that it is not an authorized continuation of Schultz’s comic and it is apparent from the start that this show will not embody the same childhood naïveté and starry-eyed wonderment of the comic.

Joel Orloff ’14 plays C.B., the adolescent version of Charlie Brown. He summarizes the first scene of the show as a breakaway from traditional “Peanuts” conduct: “The impetus for the play is that my dog has died, and it’s really sad because my dog is Snoopy.” After developing rabies, Snoopy kills Woodstock and almost bites C.B. As a result, he is put down. This departure from classic “Peanuts” foreshadows the show’s exploration of adult themes completely independent from the original comic.

Dylan Evans ’12, the director, found relevancy between the production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “Dog Sees God” and the college audience.

“I watched ‘a Good Man Charlie Brown’ with my cast and afterwards we had a discussion about how sad it was to watch that show,” said Evans. “In the canon of our show these lovely little characters were just going down roads to

“Dog Sees God,” to be performed this weekend by the Philaletheis Society, envisions a dark future for teenaged Charlie Brown and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang, as they deal with drugs, death and complete misery.”

Alcohol, drugs, sexuality and death all plague the nascent teenage minds in the dark and humorous production. Orloff describes the framework for C.B.’s mind at the beginning of the play: “My character is thinking a lot about what death means, how to figure out death, more than he is trying to figure out why he alone is so affected by death. He sees his friends as callous people who don’t experience things quite as deeply as he does or don’t let on that they do.”

Evans envisions C.B.’s situation similarly.

“For C.B. most of it is a metaphysical question about the afterlife,” he explained. “He keeps coming back to this question about what happens to dogs when they die.”

Along with C.B., the other characters of the show have evolved into much darker versions of their “Peanuts” counterparts. Linus, now known as Vans, is a pothead; C.B.’s sister Sally has gone goth; the musically-inclined Schroeder is an outcast due to his father’s beatings; Marcie and Peppermint Patty have become party girls; and Lucy has been locked away for igniting a girl’s hair on fire.

Orloff explains that these traits are not without reason.

“What the play does to the ‘Peanuts’ characters is exemplary of what generally happens to our childhoods as we grow up,” he said. “They are not completely innocent and things aren’t as simple as they might have been. There’s a thread in the play for a search to regain innocence without seeming naïve.”

Molly Shoemaker ’12, the executive director of the Philaletheis Society, realized the entertainment value and relevancy of the play from the get-go.

“When we read the show it’s funny but it’s also really serious,” she said.

The show is also devastatingly relevant in light of recent events. During the play a gay character commits suicide after being admonished by his peers, which parallels a recent string of suicides of college students who were harassed due to their sexuality. Orloff recognizes the new relevancy and stakes of the show.

“It’s a really serious thing. We had one rehearsal where we brought up the fact that our play is connected to the terrible events that have just occurred. It really hit home with a lot of people that this is something serious we’re doing.”

When the “Peanuts” gang entered the fifth box, little did they know that they would be entering real life. More than just a commentary on the trials and tribulations of growing up, “Dog Sees God” has a greater message that speaks to the huge problems of hatred and prejudice that exist in society today. The issues at hand may be dicey, but they are relevant and necessary to confront head on. “Dog Sees God” is more than just a commentary on the problems facing today’s youth: It is a thought provoking show that might just start the conversation.

“Dog Sees God” can be seen in Rockefeller Hall room 200 on Nov. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

Exhibit highlights Church’s spontaneous photography Rachael Borné

F

Assistant Arts Editor

Courtesy of Monica Church

ascinating and beautiful images surround us everywhere we go: The real trick is taking the time to really see, acknowledge and even capture them. Artist Monica D. Church confronts this issue in her first solo photography exhibition, “Walk On By…” which includes a collection of images she took over the last two years as a woman walking her dog, as a pedestrian and as a person genuinely interested in the artistic intricacies of everyday life.

The exhibit opens in the Palmer Gallery today and will run until Dec. 17. Church will also be giving a talk on Nov. 30 at noon in the gallery.

Church is a noted Hudson Valley artist with an impressive repertoire of work done in painting, printmaking and, now, photography. For Church, what is perhaps most exciting about delving into the world of photographs is having the chance to work in the moment.

“You have the opportunity to acknowledge that instant, to take a photo and not just walk on by, because it’s there and it won’t be there the next day—the lights will change and the colors will change,” she explained.

The notion of choosing everyday moments to photograph gives perspective a huge amount of weight. If there are an unlimited number of photo opportunities available constantly, when does one decide to pull out a camera? Church describes her personal method: “I think for me, it’s when I see something that I think is interesting. I might think it’s ironic. I think it’s beautiful. I think, in a lot of ways, the photographs are painterly photographs,” she said.

Photography no doubt requires a keen eye, but what might be even more important to Church is mustering up the courage to actually take a picture.

“That’s been a big challenge for me. Being brave enough to photograph people and go into a public setting with a camera and not be so worried about being polite,” she said.

Unlike painting and sculpture, photographs represent reality in a completely literal way.

This is both exciting and a little nerve racking, simply because viewers get a closer look into the artist’s mind. Church explains, “People are really going to know what I’m thinking. You can still write your own story around the pho-

Monica D. Church’s photography, above, features images captured from everyday life. Church’s exhibit, “Walk On By...” will be on display in the Palmer Gallery from Thursday Nov. 11 until Dec. 17. Church will also deliver a lecture about her work on Nov. 30 at noon in the gallery. tos, but to me, they’re much more revealing.”

According to Teresa Quinn, director of the Palmer Gallery, “Monica has created a body of work with exceptional intensity that provides the viewer a glimpse into her world, into every day experiences and familiar scenes that it allows us to imagine.” Both Quinn and Church anticipate that viewers will experience a stronger connection with the work and with the artist, due to the true and straightforward nature of her media.

Though Walk On By… represents a different direction in Church’s work, her photographs definitely make reference to the issues she has tackled with painting, specifically color.

“In my images, I’m being very conscious of color, so the color interaction is sort of acting

in the same way it would in a painting,” she said. Church has been particularly inspired by Hans Hoffman, an artist known for his emphasis on the relationship of overlapping colors.

Church describes the parallel in her work: “I like the idea of looking through things, looking at layers of things.”

Showing her first solo photography exhibition in the Palmer Gallery is comforting for Church because she regards the space as somewhat of a “home base.”“I’ve had two other shows in the gallery,” she said, adding, “I think it’s a beautiful space, and I think the people around here will give me a lot of feedback about the work in a really nice way.”

The works featured in Walk On By… have also been featured in other exhibits around

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

the country. She served a one-year residency in Dublin, working with the famous Blue Leaf Gallery. Her photography was featured at the Dublin Art Fair ’08 and the 2008 Edinburgh Art Fair. Her work has also been highlighted in galleries from Miami to Chicago.

In addition to having had several shows in the Palmer Gallery, Church is also in charge of installations in the space. Being able to install one’s own work is a real luxury for an artist, however Church knows she will have to look the images of Walk On By… with fresh eyes during the process.

“My main goal is to be really objective with my own work. I’ll have to really think about the way someone else is going to feel about the photographs,” she said.

November 11, 2010

ARTS

Page 15

Woodshed’s ‘Oleanna’ riveting, relevant Emma Daniels Guest Reporter

I

Julia Sharpe-Levine

I Courtesy of Olivia Etzine

n the Future Waitstaff of America’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” last weekend, Jake Levitt ’12 aptly portrayed the musical’s lovable protagonist. This weekend the versatile actor will assume the role of a vastly different character: In Woodshed’s production of David Mamat’s groundbreaking work “Oleanna,” Levitt stars as a university professor faced with sexual harassment charges from a female student.

“Oleanna” is a two-character play, with Levitt portraying the university professor and Gabby Gottlieb ’12 as Carol, the professor’s female student. The play’s overt themes include sexual harassment and power, but it also addresses broader issues. According to director Olivia Etzine ’11, “[It’s] essentially a dangerous conversation. The whole play is two people talking, but throughout it the context and power dynamic changes.”

The play was written in 1992 by David Mamet, a playwright known best for writing “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Speed the Plow.”

He is known in particular for his meticulouslycrafted dialogue, dubbed “Mamet speak” and characterized by interruptions, trailing sentences and overlapping conversations.

Both in structure and content, the play is vastly different from any of the other plays put on so far this semester at Vassar. Gottlieb thinks that theatergoers will find the show distinct: “They will be impressed by the production because there aren’t a lot of plays like this going up around school,” she said.

It is not surprising that this play is to be put on by Woodshed, a collaborative theater ensemble known for its thought-provoking productions. Auditions are held once every year, and once a student is initiated, they are a member for the rest of their time at Vassar. This semester, the group is relatively small, with five members: Levitt, Gottlieb, Etzine, Chloe Boxer ’12 and Zach Herwitz ’13. In “Oleanna,” Levitt and Gottlieb are acting, Etzine is directing, Boxer is designing the costumes and Herwitz is doing the lighting and set design.

“It could be in a lot of ways a big mess, but

Woodshed’s production of David Mamat’s “Oleanna” will take place in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater this weekend. The play, with a two-person cast, will explore sexual harrassment and power. we all know each other so well that it makes it easier to work together,” said Etzine. Although “director” is her official title, Etzine emphasized that her role is different than that of most directors. She said, “I act as an outside eye and lead the process, but I don’t have the final say when it comes to major decisions.”

“Oleanna” was chosen by Woodshed for different reasons. “The play takes esoteric issues and makes them personal,” said Etzine.

“The play is topical on a national level,” said Gottlieb, expanding on Etzine’s statement.

“Even though the play is fantasy and not a realistic scenario, it is important for college students and professors to see. It’s not just about college, but also education, American ideals and how much pressure young people put on themselves.” She also commented that it is particularly relevant in regards to the Anita HillClarence Thomas scandal, where Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, accused the eventual Supreme Court Justice of sexual harassment. According to Hill, the then-Chair-

man of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made obscene comments to her when she served as his assistant. The case has recently reemerged in the media due to the fact that Thomas’ wife sought an apology from Hill last month. “[I] hope the play really helps people step outside the Vassar bubble,” said Gottlieb, referencing the parallel between “Oleanna” and the resurfacing Thomas-Hill debacle. Gottlieb and Etzine have high hopes for both student and faculty responses to the play. However, they acknowledge that with such a controversial piece, it’s hard to judge how the viewers will respond. “[We] can’t predict how the community will react to it, but I hope there are strong views and people will leave talking about what they’ve seen. There will definitely be people who hate it, but I’d rather people hate the bloody thing than feel like they should’ve slept for two hours instead,” said Etzine.

“Oleanna” will be performed from Nov. 11 to 13 in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater at 8 p.m.

Production design an art form in itself Shruti Manian

V

Reporter

assar’s lively student theater circuit is full of talented actors, enterprising directors and innovative writers. But this creative flare goes beyond just the stage and extends to behind the curtains.

Beyond the glare of the stage’s bright lights, there is always a team of gifted and diligent people who make up the backbone of every production. Involved in various technical aspects, they add the crucial touches of lighting, sound and other painstaking details, literally setting the stage for the actors.

An insightful understanding of the play’s central themes are essential to ensure that all the technical aspects of the play fall into place perfectly. “In my experience, tech requires a great deal of organized focus. You have to stay on the ball, or things don’t work,” said Rose Connelly ’13, who was the stage manager of “Dear Charlotte,” Philaletheis’s most recent production, which took place in the Jade Room in Taylor Hall.

A stage manager’s job can include a wide range of duties: From arranging rehearsals and giving stage cues to helping actors during rehearsals with prompts, a stage manager is in charge of ensuring that all the individual units of the production come together to form a cohesive story. “I was excited by the idea of helping put a creative vision together from a perspective I had never tried before,” explained Connelly. “It seemed like a process I wanted to be a part of.”

Connelly has also been in charge of lighting Future Waitstaff of America’s (FWA) shows last year and has dabbled in acting. As someone who has worked both on and off stage, she emphasizes the variation in perspective that both offer.

“It’s certainly a different feeling than acting, in that if tech is done right, sometimes some audiences won’t consciously notice

VCPunx holds true to hardcore

what it was that made the technical aspects serve the show,” saod Connelly. “For example, they’ll just think ‘That was really sad’ about a scene, as opposed to ‘Wow, that blue light really made the character seem lonely and the music came in right exactly at the right time, that made the scene seem really sad.’”

A lot of people involved in the production process are actors themselves, but others specialize in the purely technical aspects. Deborah Steinberg ’14, for instance, is an example of the latter. She was one of the set designers for FWA’s play “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which ran last weekend in Sanders Classroom 212.

“I hate being on stage; it’s the scariest thing that could ever happen to me,” said Steinberg.

“Designing sets is perfect because it combines the two things I love the most in the world: art and theater.”

A set designer is laden with the responsibility of ensuring that the director’s ideas manifest themselves in the form of a set that is both appealing while functional. Explained Steinberg, “Basically the director has an idea, and we need to actually physically build it with mostly just two things in mind—firstly that it won’t all fall down; secondly, that it’s semi-realistic.”

The process, like any creative one, is challenging and has its own glitches. Designers have space to add personal touches of creativity, while keeping in mind the director’s broader vision. Working in close contact with the director, they design a set that adds to the story being told, while having its own aesthetic charm.

“By the time I am a senior, I would love to work more closely with the director, while also adding my own creative input in the process,” said Steinberg.

Vassar’s sweeping campus provides a number of venues for staging theater productions.

Each of these venues has its own unique attributes that both add to the richness of the sets, as well as make the designer’s job all the more onerous.

“Here at Vassar, one of the biggest challenges we are faced with is making the set fit into the spaces that we are working with,” explained Steinberg. “And as a freshman, I am unfamiliar with these spaces, which makes my job more challenging, but also all the more fun.”

Apart from being a creative challenge, building a set is also a very meticulous and intense process. Unlike actors who rehearse over the course of a number of weeks, the set is designed within the week before a production is staged. Often designers have to work in a frenzy to ensure that the set is completed on time, while also making it look as attractive as it was intended.

“We work for almost six hours a day, a week before the show,” said Steinberg. “It’s definitely exhausting. But my favorite part is the one between when the design is done and the building actually begins, and you’re actually thinking whether you can really build what you’re looking at on paper.”

Though most of the production team remains largely unseen and unheard, their individual creative expressions are an integral part of what the audiences see on stage. They play an irreplaceable role in ensuring the success of any theater production. Without the allure of being in the limelight, most of the production team thinks of the work they do as its own reward.

As Connelly said, what she loves most about working off the stage is “seeing a play go from feeling like it’s all moving pieces to feeling like one kind of magical reality.” Their work has an impact that audiences seldom realize, filling in a number of creative blanks without which no play would be nearly as enjoyable or entertaining.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Guest Reporter

t may seem as though the whole campus is gearing up for the Yeasayer concert on Nov. 12. But another musical event taking place that night will offer up a very different musical experience. VCPunx is bringing four bands from the New York area for a show that will take place in College Center 323 at 9 p.m on Friday, Nov. 12.

Hannah Webster ’12, one of the co-presidents of VCPunx, says that the organization’s shows are very welcoming, despite what some may think. “I think that there are two different views about VCPunx on this campus. One, that our shows are dangerous and we are all big rabid metal heads who will give you a nosebleed just by looking at you, and two, that we are just a bunch of hipsters who think they know about punk music. I don’t think either of these things are true. Our shows are laid-back, DIY [Doit-Yourself] and extremely friendly, and our membership encompasses a wide variety of musical taste,” she said.

VCPunx, established two years ago, differs greatly from the other music booking organizations on campus, such as Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE), due to its commitment to introducing new kinds of music to the Vassar community.

“I respect what ViCE tries to bring to Vassar, but they do exclude a group of students who want something loud,” explained Webster. The newly formed Vassar Student Band Union (VSBU) is similar to VCPunx in the sense that they both support student bands and provide venues for them to perform. But whereas VSBU often highlights indie-rock and acoustic talent, VCPunx remains loyal to its representation of punk, metal and hardcore genres, which often means bringing off-campus acts.

Still, “[VSBU’s] existence does not mean that we want Vassar bands to stop playing at our shows, and anyone in a band at Vassar should feel free to contact me so that we can set something up,” said Webster.

Aside from the upcoming concert, VCPunx is hosting F*ckin’ A, a political collective that will discuss “Radical consent” and “Radical sexuality,” on Saturday, Nov. 13 in the College Center multi-purpose room from 1 to 3 p.m. F*ckin’ A is a group based in New York City that promotes sexual positivity and safety. For their workshop on Saturday, they will delve into topics such as contraception, sex toys, sexual identity, consent, anatomy and tips. VCPunx promises to provide “pizza, anarchists and a few uncomfortable moments.”

VCPunx’s concert tomorrow night will feature bands that are all varied yet united in their sound. The musical styles differ from band to band, but all four bands play music that “you can really jump around to,” according to Webster. Exocrind is a selfproclaimed “anarchist grindcore” band. Fiasco plays a mix of punk, noise, and “math rock,” a musical genre characterized by complex rhythms and heavy guitar. Unstoppable Death Machines plays “experimental noisy punk” and Betray’s music is “hardcore.” If you don’t know what most of these sound like, attending the show is a great way to experience music fairly underrepresented on Vassar’s campus.

Possibly the biggest act of the evening will be the Unstoppable Death Machines, a drummer-guitarist duo from Brooklyn composed of Billy and Mike, who only go by their first names. According to Billy in an interview with the Village Voice exactly one week ago for the popular culture magazine’s website, “The original, underlying concept of Unstoppable Death Machines was to be a space jam noise odyssey, infected with punk rock, rage, weed, beer, and more noise.”

Unlike the Yeasayer concert, the VCPunx show is free, though donations are appreciated.

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ViCE concert setup a roundthe-clock affair

Naturalist Walker has natural talent David Lopez

Guest Reporter

T

he first instrument a seven-year-old Laurel Walker ’11 strummed was the Appalachian dulcimer—“A funny instrument that you hold across your lap and strum,” she explains.

15 years later, Walker is now an accomplished musician on the fiddle, mandolin, harp and mandola, and is a talented singer to boot. But none of it would have been made possible without her parents and siblings.

“I sing because of my family,” said Walker.

“When we were all little my parents encouraged us to play music. That’s how I picked up music by ear.”

Ever since Walker was a little girl, the sounds of Irish-Scottish music flooded every room inside the Walker family house from old vinyl records her parents would play. She absorbed the music and sounds that eventually became an important part of her time at Vassar. “It’s funny—I am an earth science major, but I do a lot of singing,” said Walker. “In the day I do science and in the night I sing.”

Walker is a member of the Walker Family Band, which also includes her father and Professor of Earth Studies Jeff Walker. The group is a folk music mainstay on Vassar campus and in the Mid-Hudson Valley region, performing at Poughkeepsie concerts, local weddings, Girl Scout functions and various community events. The Mohonk Mountain House Resort in New Paltz, N.Y. regularly hires the Walker family on a regular basis. “The resort hires my family for a square dances several times a year,” said Walker. “The Walker family is always playing and dancing for people; just recently we performed for the polo team.”

Walker participates in the Vassar Mixed Choir and Vassar Camarata, and has an upcoming senior recital. The recital will be a fusion of American folk arrangements by Aaron Copland, English-Irish folk pieces by Benjamin Britten, German Romantic music by Schumann and some trademark Walker flair.

“The Schumann piano parts are amazing with the songs,” Walker explained. “He wrote the verses with the piano in mind. You feel like you are singing a duet with the piano.”

The recital will also include two German duets by Brahms that will feature Gretchen Eng ’12. For the finale, a special Italian trio will feature Walker’s brother Peter.

“I really love being able to perform with Peter because he inspired me to sing,” said Laurel Walker. Peter Walker, a recent Vassar graduate and music major, is now attending McGill University in Montreal and is studying opera

Katie De Heras/The Miscellany News

ViCE continued from page 1 and Ken Seeno. Each artist has its own unique set of equipment and needs. For example, Yeasayer is bringing an extensive set of stage props for portions of the concert.

The setup process for tomorrow’s concert will begin at 8:30 a.m., during which volunteers from the ViCE executive board, the organization’s general body and members of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Class Councils will meet to unload and set up studio equipment. The hardware is provided by Ballantine Communications and Staging, a Pleasant Valley-based company that has traditionally worked with ViCE on the technical set-up for concerts.

“Ballantine is great,” said Pam Vogel ’12, president of the Class of 2012 and member of ViCE’s general body. “They stay with us and show us which wire to set up with which socket.”

Besides the equipment and support Ballantine provides, the volunteers also need to set up the equipment, props, and decorations that the artists bring themselves that are unique to their performances. Some artists occasionally come with next to nothing, such as Kid Sister: The hiphop artist who performed last September made very few technical demands for her show, meaning that ViCE was left to make its own decisions regarding the aesthetic qualities of her performance space.

Throughout the process of setting up the stage, each group also needs to perform soundchecks to ensure that the equipment is set up correctly. When there are multiple performers, these soundchecks start with the headliner (in this case, Yeasayer) and then work their way backwards through the concert program. These tests can be short, but are more often than not long and arduous.

“Kid Sister actually took a really long time,” recalled Vogel. “We actually had to stand on the top of graduation hill and wave students away, because it said in her contract that no students could listen to her soundcheck.”

In addition to the set-up, volunteers do their best to accommodate the musicians. During soundchecks and before the performances, volunteers interact directly with the high-profile artists, ensuring that they know where they need to be and that their needs are met.

“Usually they are very understanding,” said Calcaño. “They understand that this is a college environment, and that this is different from other venues. They’re not divas.”

“They’re all really nice,” agreed Morrison. “Kid Sister was great, she had a dog named Betsy that ran around the whole time. Wayne Coyne even helped us set up and stuff.”

The green rooms are usually set up in New England building, where the bands enjoy food and comfort before their performances. Calcaño has observed that some bands retreat immediately into their green room after soundchecks, while others stick around to listen to the other groups and hang out with the students.

“Lots of the time, they want their privacy, and just hang out in the green room,” said Calcaño.

“Other times, they want to party with us. And we’re like, we’ll be breaking down for the next two hours after the show, maybe we can let you know of other parties?”

After the soundchecks are over, Calcaño meets with the fire marshall and security to make sure that there are no fire or safety hazards. For this concert in particular, ViCE expects students to be out of their seats and dancing by the front of the stage, adding an extra variable to take into account when it comes to fire and safety. This stands in contrast to the more casual concert environments with Grizzly Bear and Beirut. As Calcaño observed, “This will be a very different kind of concert.”

At 6:30 p.m. tomorrow night students begin lining up for one of the biggest events of the semester. As students will gather by the Chapel doors, ViCE’s intense preparation for the event, one that has lasted months, will be coming to a close as volunteers have a final gathering to go over their roles during the concert. But the group’s work will not end after Yeasayer departs.

They will be hard at work preparing for Spring’s event, and the next chapter in ViCE’s impressive history of campus entertainment.

November 11, 2010

Laurel Walker ’11, developed her musical talents while performing with her family in the Walker Family Band. She is also involved in the Vassar Mixed Choir and the Vassar Camerata. in graduate school. The piece they will sing is from the opera Cosi Fan Tutte and is called “Soave sia il vento.” The trio will be a musical treat, as their voices compliment one another nicely. “Our voices are very similar,” said Laurel Walker. “Peter has a deep bass voice and I am an alto. Together we have rich deep voices that lend themselves to each other well. I am very excited.”

Aside from rehearsing for her recital, Walker’s summer experience allowed her to work in a place where music and nature come together. “Last summer I went to Homer, Alaska and worked as a naturalist at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. I led tours and hikes and taught adults as well as children about the environment,” said Walker. Half the job was spent on a boat whale watching and fishing, the other half was spent hiking looking for moose, bears, flowers and all that Alaska has to offer. During her stay, Walker played the fiddle in a performance in a monthly concert series and was asked to join a local band. “It was hard to find the time because I lived in a cabin in Alaska with no piano! I had a tuning fork, so all was not lost,” explained Walker.

Upon her return from Alaska, Walker did intensive memorization of the music for her

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recital. As a skilled multi-tasker, Walker was able to practice for her recital, while still receiving enough credits to graduate early, and participating in all her Vassar and communitybased organizations.

“I began to know the pieces well enough that I was interpreting them rather than just reciting them. It’s a cool feeling, that change; when you are no longer reciting, but interpreting and expressing the music.”

While she prepares for her senior recital, Walker is only hoping people enjoy themselves when they see it. “I want to show I have progressed from when I first started,” she said. “I also want to share with people something before I leave Vassar. Since I was little my family and I sang for others. That’s what I do, I sing for people. It’s hard knowing that it is all ending, but it’s not; [it’s] just a different step in my life.”

As for the future, Walker has great prospects. She has been offered a job to go back in April to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. It is certainly not the end, only a key change for Walker.

Walker’s senior recital will be in Thekla Hall in Skinner Hall of Music on the fourth floor at 5 p.m. on Friday Nov. 12.

ARTS

November 11, 2010

Page 17

New Dylan bootlegs for diehards only The Witmark Demos Bob Dylan [Columbia]

Connor O’Neill Guest Columnist

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ast summer, police in Long Neck, N.J. picked up a suspicious looking man after receiving a call about someone snooping around the backs of houses. When an officer arrived and questioned the man, who was dressed in two raincoats and black sweatpants tucked into rain boots, he was unable to produce identification. He also claimed that he was Bob Dylan.

The dubious police officer escorted the man to his hotel where they found a large tour bus parked out front and an incredulous employee who confirmed that it was indeed Bob Dylan. The officer shrugged and sheepishly admitted that he had only seen pictures of the troubadour from years and years ago.

The police officer might have had better luck identifying Dylan as he appears on the cover of the most recent release from the seemingly timeless bard, The Witmark Demos, Bootleg Series Vol. 9. The songs too are familiar— they are the demos from his first recording sessions—though many feature an alternative singing style or strumming pattern. They are loitering versions of the songs, demos with their sweatpants tucked into the rain boots of the final cuts, and have a distinct, if sometimes odd feel.

The discussion about how commercially palatable these bootlegs are is moot: They are not for the faint of heart, or the casual listener. When The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 was released in 1991, the sprawling three disc tome spanning 30 years of Dylan’s career firmly separated the casual from the obsessed. The minute-and-a-half take of “Like a Rolling Stone” with a more chipper Dylan on the piano was either fascinating or shrug

inducing. But that was never the point—The Bootleg Series aren’t released for the casual listener. The subsequent issues have been smaller in scope, encapsulating smaller eras, as in Vol. 8, which catalogues his latter-day resurgence from 1989-2006, or the infamous Royal Albert Hall concert from 1966 (Vol. 6) which captures Dylan’s watershed switch to playing with electric instruments; a decision for which he was vilified. Vol. 9 is 47 songs over two discs, all featuring only Dylan at either the guitar or piano, sketching the songs that would rocket Dylan to the farthest reaches of the folk community.

Like all releases in the series, the Witmark Demos are as intriguing as you make them.

The novelty of Dylan doing “The Times They Are-a Changin’” on the piano might wear off after one listen, and so it is the more nuanced differences in the renditions of the classics that give this collection its mileage.

Take, for example, “Boots of Spanish Leather,” the heartbreaking epistolary song from the album The Times they are a Changin’. The demo that is included in this collection has the same lyrics, the same finger picked pattern—on paper it is same song. What makes it worth it and what rewards attentive ears is the subtle change in his voice. Perhaps it is supreme irony that an artist revolutionized pop music with such a nasally, gruff voice, but one can sense a more emotive push in his singing. He is not the restrained, reticent singer that he is on the album version. He is pushing the limits of his howl, providing an audible compliment to the tender lyrics.

Undoubtedly the one that made the record works better but the back story of the two together is fascinating. It gives listeners the opportunity to see the alternative, the implied debate as to how emotive to be, the work that he put into being so inscrutable.

Certainly not every song on the album offers such a back story. Switching to the piano for “Mr. Tambourine Man” hampers Dylan from reaching the zenith that he builds on the guitar on the official cut from Bringing

it All Back Home. One standout from the first disc, however, is “Farewell,” a plaintive goodbye that is the counterpart to “Boots of Spanish Leather” and, until this release, only appeared in the lyrics book of Dylan’s discography. Sharing the refrain “my own true love,” the singer promises to write letters to his beloved “who’s bound to stay behind.”

The song is not especially striking. There are no shimmering lines in “Farewell” that might top the “If I had the stars of the darkness night/and the diamonds from the deepest ocean/I’d forsake them all for your sweet kiss/For that’s all I’m a’wishin to be ownin’” from the original. So maybe the collection does privilege the collectors, the Dylanheads who ravenously feast on any new or bootlegged material, dissecting all the minutiae. And that is the most fascinating part of the series in general. It is not in a particular song but what the collection, and our consumption of it reveals about our desire to leave no stone unturned in the scrutiny of genius.

This is particular to Dylan, however, who just after 1964 had “abandoned” his folk tendencies and opted for electric guitars and organs. From that initial shift he has shook off any definition of his sound that sought to pin him down completely. These demos, and the larger interest in Dylan’s rare material is a way to give one era in his career a feeling of permanence, for him to linger in one style for longer.

A photograph from the first studio recording session he did for Witmark shows the young, floppy haired head of Dylan peeking up above the piano. His head is reflected in the shine of the instrument and he wears an affronted expression, staring directly into the camera, almost daring the photographer to shoot. This photograph, in a way, is the idea behind this compilation. We know the classics inside and out just as we know that shrewd face. But the reflection, though it is sometimes glossy, sometimes more faint, can be just as interesting.

Campus Canvas A bi-weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists

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Don Pasquale Bardavon Opera House Nov. 13, 1 p.m. $23 For opera aficionados, going to the Met in the city could be a little expensive and time-consuming.

While it may not be a perfect replacement, seeing the Met live in high definition in the Bardavon could be the next best thing; it has become a local tradition to host broadcasts of the famous show “Live at the Met” in the opera house. This week, Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, and John Del Carlo will star in the classic comic opera “Don Pasquale,” by Donazetti. The libretto tells a tale of love and class, set to one of the most renowned scores by the early 19th Century Italian composer.

First Annual Hudson Valley Cider Festival Stone Ridge Orchard, Stone Ridge, NY Nov. 12, 11 am - 5 pm $10 It matters not whether it is made from apple or pomegranate, or is served hot or cold; it will be there at the First Annual Hudson Valley Cider Festival. The Stone Ridge-based event will feature cider tastings, workshops, demonstrations of how to create hard cider, bread, wine and cheese and live music to boot. There will also be classes in cooking in a wood-fire Provencale oven. The cost of all this entertainment is ten dollars for all the food samples you can eat and all the cider you can drink, meaning that the trip down Route 213 may be well worth your time.

Jim Norton The Chance Nov. 19, 20 $30 Jim Norton is easily one of stand-up comedy’s biggest rising stars. His latest Comedy Central special “Monster Rain,” was a hit, and he has been making appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, along with the popular XM radio show Opie and Anthony.

But he might be most recognizable for his extensive cameo appearances. Norton can be seen in such blockbuster hits like Spider-Man, where he played one of spidey’s hecklers: “He stinks, and I don’t like him!” He has also starred in Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Courting Condi and most recently in Furry Vengeance. It’s probably best to get tickets early; this act has consistently been selling out.

Uncertain Spectator Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Rensselaer Nov. 18-23, Nov. 29-Dec. 24, Jan. 3-29 Free

It is a typical assignment for the 100-plus students enrolled in Drawing I: Create a double-self portrait with a mask or headdress in pencil. But for Imani Wong ’14, who authored the above image, her submission became near and dear to her heart.

Wong’s process of sketching her self-portrait was a difficult one. “You have to do it from a mirror,” said Wong. “The thing you’re drawing never stays still! And your perception of self gets in the way.”

Wong was influenced by her past experience in a totally different medium of art. “I come from a background in digital art, so I make line drawings and fill them in,” said Wong. This approach to drawing is evident in the hair of the two Wongs.

Overall, Wong is very satisfied with the piece. “I like the selfportrait without the mask,” said Wong. “The shading below the neck is great. But I hate the ears.”

—Erik Lorenzsonn, Arts Editor

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

The new EMPAC exhibition that opens next Thursday will highlight the work of 10 different contemporary artists, who have set up installations most unsettling. A living pulsates with warm, inviting light, but only until an observer comes too close. Street signs don’t help with directions, but instead prophesize doomsday. These installations are meant to instill a sense of dread in a world rife with political and economic turmoil. The exhibition plants the seeds for a discussion on the nature of existentialism, status quo, and the fear that is embedded in American Culture.

Take a trip to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to check out this unnerving gallery.

—Erik Lorenzsonn, Arts Editor

SPORTS

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November 11, 2010

Athletes Quidditch prepares for World Cup struggle with sensitivity Andy Sussman Columnist

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Dana Harris/The Miscellany News

veryone who knows anything about Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant considers him an elite basketball player and a humble and hard-working young man. By the age of 22, Durant has endeared himself to his teammates and fans alike with his mature attitude, avoiding the outward egotism that has propelled LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to greater wealth, but also greater unpopularity.

Combined with the fact that he led the United States basketball team to a World Championship this summer, it is quite obvious why Durant is admired as a true sportsman. However, there is one noticeable entity lacking from Durant’s sterling resume: a quote that anyone remembers.

In the 21st century, public relations are taught to young athletes just as much as the fundamentals for their respective sports. We live in an era of the 24-hour news cycle, where the media has more access but at the same time is more critical when someone says something considered in any way controversial. Recently, Durant made news for not saying anything: last month, he played a pick-up basketball game with President of the United States Barack Obama, bringing his grandmother and two of his teammates with him. However, we only learned of this transpiring several days ago because Durant did not want to make a big deal out of the event. An admirable attitude, certainly, but in the era of Twitter and Facebook, fans want to be a part of athletes’ inner circles and hear their true thoughts on everything, both on and off the court.

Perhaps that is why people have such a polarizing attitude toward the remarks that outspoken athletes such as Shaquille O’Neal, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens make. On the one hand, people love to see athletes say things that seem genuine rather than some answer fed to them from the team’s spokesman about “working hard” and ”just doing my best.” Of course, we are in the age of political correctness, so there is a limit to what the public will accept an athlete saying in public. Take Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder’s recent remarks after claiming the referees did not see several illegal hits on Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne.

Crowder called the refs “a little Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank.” When prompted as to what he meant by Anne Frank, Crowder responded, “Who was that? Is that the blind girl? Helen Keller… I don’t know who the fuck Anne Frank is. I’m mad right now. Fuck it. I’m not as swift as I usually am.”

Is this remark ignorant? Hell, this practically defines ignorance. Indeed, Crowder is the same person who said in 2007 that he didn’t know where London was on a map. However, it is, for better or for worse, unfiltered. Crowder had claimed that an opposing player spit on him, which left him visibly flustered. There was no public relations person to smooth out the rough edges of a prepared statement. Rather, an athlete spoke from his frustrated heart. For people to be horrified when an athlete curses or gets exposed for trash-talking an opponent, as Kevin Garnett was last week, is simply a shaming act by the media and the community alike. When someone says that every athlete should be like Kevin Durant, I can completely respect that, so long as that same person does not wish that Durant would just be more candid.

Let’s evaluate ourselves before doing the same of complete strangers. Life as a public figure is different from living out of the limelight, but people do not magically transform into politically correct creatures as the lines between public and private become progressively blurrier. The same media members who demand that athletes become outspoken commence the hand wringing of the same people when they inevitably say something that offends someone.

Maybe Charles Barkley was right when he infamously said, “I am not a role model.” In the meantime, enjoy watching Durant, listening to Crowder and not dissecting every word that an athlete says in his spare time.

The Vassar College Quidditch team, the Broooers, rush onto the field during one of their practices on Josselyn House Beach. They will travel to New York City this weekend to compete as one of 46 teams for the International Quidditch Champions title at De Witt Clinton Park.

Wilson Platt

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Guest Reporter

erhaps unbeknownst to most of you Muggles sitting around campus, a national event looms on the horizon. On Nov. 13 and 14, 46 teams will come from across the country (and Canada) to nearby New York City, putting pride and bodily health on the line in the pursuit of the all important “International Quidditch Champions” title.

“Our age is the age in which Harry Potter came out… Quidditch allows us to live out a fantasy that was a big part of our lives growing up, and it also provides a community in which we can do so,” says Aaron Suzuka ’12, a chaser for Vassar’s team, the Butterbeer Broooers. Suzuka appeared in articles in both Time Magazine and ESPN The Magazine pertaining to quidditch as the sport has rapidly risen from joking club sport to an international non-profit organization that is attempting to get legitimacy as a varsity college sport.

The team started training in late August with the Vassar Adventures for New Students program and has since practiced every Sunday and Wednesday through sun, rain and mud. “This is the first year that there are seniors on the team [and] there’s a lot of dedication. There are a lot of former varsity athletes and even current ones who are on the team.” Over October break, the team traveled to Chestnut Hill College for the Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup, and battled it out with the likes of Villanova University, Pennsylvania State University in University Park,

University of Maryland at College Park and more. University of Maryland Captain Logan Anbinder summarized his team’s experience against the Broooers. “Playing Vassar was a great experience for our team. They were the first team we’d ever played that had attended a World Cup, and it was great to see how friendly they were to a newer team.” While the game against Maryland proved tough, Vassar prevailed by just ten points (the lowest possible margin of victory in quidditch).

In the championship game of the tournament, Villanova vanquished the Broooers, despite both seekers simultaneously catching the snitch. The tournament was a grueling double elimination tournament that ended up being five games in one day of competition.

“Yeah, that’s a lot. We would have maybe one or two [game breaks], but essentially we played from 12 to 5 [p.m.] straight,” he continued. Quidditch can be as physical and draining as any sport. Suzuka notes that following the Brotherly Love Cup, “I bruised my quad and couldn’t walk for a week.” Injuries are hardly uncommon either; last year at the World Cup one player left the field with a broken leg and others got concussions.

“There’s gonna be so much pain afterward,” Suzuka laughed in an interview. “In a good way I guess… After every Quidditch tournament I always have trouble moving for a couple days. I discover new muscles in my body because they suddenly hurt.”

But this weekend, regardless of possible injuries or brutal losses, they go to compete;

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this weekend, they go to win. Asked to describe the team’s style Suzuka explains, “We play a quick counter attack game. We’re a pretty technical team: a lot of passing, spread the field a lot… We generally have really good possession but we have to watch out for the quick snitch catch. Once we’re able to get control of the game we’re a pretty dominant force compared to a lot of other Quidditch teams.” Experience will certainly be on Vassar’s side this weekend: the Broooers competed in the inaugural World Cup in 2007, placing second. Two World Cups ago—when there were only 12 teams—Vassar placed second, and last year they finished eighth out of 21 teams. Since then, they’ve won both tournaments hosted at Vassar, and expectations this fall are especially high. “We’re looking to get to the finals. Middlebury has won every World Cup, so somebody has to dethrone them,” Suzuka muses for a second before stating with a smile, “And we’ll do it.”

The tournament takes place at De Witt Clinton Park, which stretches from 52nd-54th street between 11th and 12th avenues in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood with games going from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m on Sunday. Vassar will play Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against the University of Richmond, at 2:30 p.m. against the Harvard University Horntails and at 7:30 p.m. against America’s Finest Quidditch Club. The top 24 teams will advance in the tournament and play in a single elimination format on Sunday.

November 11, 2010

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Men’s basketball begins season, looks for fresh start Corey Cohn

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Reporter

Matt Foster/The Miscellany News

fter a trying season in 2009-10, both mentally and physically, the Vassar men’s basketball team is ready to start fresh. Led by third-year Head Coach Del Harris, the squad is looking to put past struggles behind them and move forward, with replenished energy and confidence fueling their strides.

In a year that saw several key players injured, a brutally tough schedule and a 23-game losing streak to end the season, some may think it would be hard to focus on the positives. But Coach Harris sees an opportunity to utilize the adversity his players faced. “Last year is in the past, but the learning experience is the biggest thing,” he says. “It’s all about sticking to [getting] better.”

One factor that may help the Brewers is the limited change in the roster. Only one senior graduated from last year’s team; however, there are six incoming freshmen to whom Coach Harris will look for contribution and depth.

Needless to say, the subpar season did not hinder recruitment in the slightest. “Vassar sells itself,” Harris remarks. “Students are excited to come here for the academics, the facilities, the location and the chance to compete in the Liberty League.”

The influx of freshmen helps promote the idea of this being a rebuilding year, but Coach Harris is hesitant to use that term. Just as important as incorporating the new members of the team will be making sure last year’s injured players are returning to full strength. Coach Harris is literally knocking on wood, saying that the recovery process has gone well.

Among the returning players who are expected to lead the team are senior Captains Tyler Maland and Chris Whitney. Junior Nick Justiz, who Coach Harris calls the team’s best on-ball defender, is also a captain this year.

Harris has high praise for every one of his players. He speaks enthusiastically about Caleb McGraw ’12, who earned Honorable Mention All-Liberty League last season as one of the league leaders in scoring with 16.8 points per game; Jon Herzog ’13, who scored 18 points in front of a packed house at William and Mary; and John Donnelly ’13, who “would

Nick Justiz ’12, a guard for the Vassar College basketball team, practices with his team in the Walker Field House. The Brewers will begin their season on Nov. 15 with a game against Endicott College. have made the All-Rookie team,” Coach Harris says, if the Liberty League instituted such an honor.

For all the players, though, with this year comes a new team approach. Coach Harris reports he has put increased emphasis on defense. As far as he is concerned, “offense is just how many points we win or lose by.” Last year, the team tried running with their opponents, with poor results. In this league, Harris says, “anyone can score; can you stop them is what makes the difference.” Time will tell if the new commitment to defense allows the Brewers to stop other teams, but Harris has a goal in mind

for each game: hold the opposition to 50 points.

Last season, opponents scored an average of 79.3 points per game, so there are high expectations for improvement.

As far as other expectations, Coach Harris is keeping things simple. First and foremost, he wants his team to continually focus on the present rather than the past. In practice, he says, he always encourages thinking about the next play—and that can just as effectively apply in the bigger picture to the next game. Harris notes that overall team morale is high and the losing streak, which the Brewers rode through the end of last season, is not on anyone’s mind.

“I tell everyone to stay positive,” he says. “We have a lot of really good character guys.”

Coach Harris respects more than his players’ character. Now that he has spent more than two years at Vassar, he has had time to reflect on his tenure here. He has had previous college coaching ventures, beginning at the University of Richmond and leading to the Virginia Military Institute and Morgan State University.

Harris identifies key differences in the attitudes of the players he coaches now. “In Division I, everyone thinks he’s going to the NBA,” he says. “Here, everyone really values being a student-athlete.” Harris shows high regard for the career goals his players have outside of basketball and the priority they put on what they came to Vassar for—a good education. He appreciates the balance they manage between sports and academics.

This season, the Brewers have a slightly easier schedule in store. Whereas last year, the team faced four of the top-25 teams in the country, there is only one scheduled for this year—Williams College, the defending national Division III runner-up. Coach Harris is quick to point out that every game is still a challenge, no matter what the ranking of the other team. He stresses that it’s a stepby-step process and warns his players about getting too ahead of themselves. Also, Coach Harris makes sure to mention how he values the experience the team had facing tougher competition last year, even if they struggled.

He says it provided “vision for where we want to be one day.”

As for what they want to be right now, Coach Harris again has a simple answer: better. “If we do what we’re supposed to, we’ll be better at the end,” he predicts. “Most importantly, we just have to stay healthy; if we can, we’ll have a shot.”

The Brewers will officially kick off the season Nov. 15 at Endicott College. Last year, Vassar earned their first victory of the year, 78-66 over Endicott. Although the Vassar season doesn’t begin until Monday Nov. 15, the team gets into action tomorrow, Nov. 12 when they take on the United States Military Academy at West Point Black Knights in an exhibition match-up in West Point, N.Y.

European fans struggle with hooliganism Volleyball concludes S 18-15 season Nik Trkulja Columnist

ports hooliganism is a plague endemic to European sport. Images of burning flares and thugs fighting on the streets have almost become a part of European pop culture. While Western countries like the U.K., France and Germany have cracked down on hooligans over the last decade, the situation has become increasingly worse in Eastern Europe. Today Poland, Greece and the ex-Yugoslavian countries have become a hotbed of hooliganism that is ruining much more than sport in the region.

Unfortunately, Serbia holds the dubious distinction of being at the forefront of modern hooliganism. Its different sports teams each have contingents of hooligan fans that are able to unleash carnage at almost any sporting event whether it be water polo, basketball or, of course, soccer. Nothing illustrates that fact better than the events that took place in Genoa, Italy on Oct. 12.

What was meant to be a tight-fought Euro 2012 soccer qualifier between the frontrunners in Qualifying Group C, Serbia and Italy, quickly turned into fiasco. After arriving at the stadium, some 2,000 or so Serbian fans began cutting the fence that separated the stands from the field, proceeding to light flares and scale the glass wall that acted as the field’s final line of defense. Unwilling to settle down, the fans began burning flags and tossing projectiles onto the field. Attempts by both local authorities and the Serbian players to remedy the situation did not help, leading to a delay of over 45 minutes.

Still unwilling to compromise, the contingent of “Ultra Boys” as they are called, the militant wing of Red Star Belgrade, one of Serbia’s largest clubs’ fan groups, continued to hurl pre-prepared projectiles onto the field. The target this time was Serbia’s own goalkeeper, or as they saw him, the “traitor,” who after having played

for Red Star had only just recently signed with the hated cross-town rival Partizan. In the midst of the madness, chanting began against Serbia’s Football Association’s (SFA) President Tomislav Karadži, in what was a clear attempt to undermine and humiliate the SFA on an international level.

The end result of this almost masochistic madness was the abrupt cancellation of the game in just the sixth minute. Italy was given a 3–0 win, and Serbia was put under investigation by European soccer’s governing body the Union of European Football Associations. Seeing as this was far from Serbia’s first offense, UEFA moved swiftly to bar all fans from the country’s future home games and to investigate whether further punishment was necessary. At present it seems extremely likely that Serbia will become the first country in recent history to be disqualified from European competition, receiving a ban from qualifying for Euro 2012.

UEFA and FIFA will now undoubtedly exert additional pressure on Serbia, and its neighbors, to weed out the issue of hooliganism, but unfortunately there is no simple fix. European teams represent much more than just athletic associations and representations of a fans’ city.

Teams are political and social powers, especially in the Balkans. They become a direct extension of a fan’s entire socio-political belief structure and in many ways act as a cushion to the world around. Fan associations provide cheap and easy entertainment, a mode for venting frustration and a security blanket. More importantly they also become a quick and easy way to associate with others, something especially powerful in war-torn, economically depressed regions. Once sizeable enough they become invaluable tools for both political players and criminals, both of whom fund their activities. But beyond funding, politcal players and criminals also indirectly motivate fan associa-

tions into action to fulfill any number of goals, whether it be to internationally embarrass the current administration, as was the case in Italy, or to assert right-wing intolerance and fear in violently breaking up gay pride demonstrations domestically.

To make matters worse hooligan “firms,” as they are known, have taken on an almost corporate approach. From selling merchandise to forming international alliances with other firms, hooligans are now directly profiting from their endeavors and exporting their belief systems. The results have been devastating. An example is Cyprus which is now dealing with a police force that is going on strike to protest against the underfunding of its efforts to police soccer games.

Where France, Germany and the U.K. dealt with their problems by increasing policing efforts at stadiums and extending prison terms, a solution in Eastern Europe will need to be much more all-encompassing. Anything short of a complete socio-political overhaul would not solve the issue both due to the political involvement in the problem and the social inclination of youths to join these institutions.

In the meantime though, the costs will continue to mount. Countries like Serbia will not only see themselves hemorrhaging money to clean up the situation, but also soft political power as other European countries begin to pressure the government for solutions. At the same time, regular citizens may be penalized as European countries debate whether to deny Serbs free travel in Europe, a privilege they only just received after well over two decades of waiting.

Whatever the outcome, the irony remains that in their attempts to support their own country, hooligans tend to not only shoot themselves in the foot but also worsen the situation for everyone around them.

MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE

Andy Marmer Sports Editor

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oncluding on a high note with a 3-0 win against Liberty League rival Union College, the Vassar women’s volleyball team finished their fall season with an overall winning record of 18-15 after a 2-2 record at the Liberty League Championships. Held at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., the tournament spanned two days and brought eager competition from all schools involved.

Although the Brewers won their first set against St. Lawrence on the opening day of play, they could not come away with the match win. After four sets, Vassar fell 3-1 despite junior Amy Bavosa’s 10 kills supplemented by libero Chelsea Mottern’s ’11 15 digs. Later on in the evening, the Brewers rectified the situation with a vengeance by defeating Skidmore in a five-set thriller. With 43 team digs and double-digit kills for four Brewers, Vassar undoubtedly controlled game play.

The fury spilled into Saturday as Vassar split its next two matches. Falling to Clarkson in three hardfought sets, Vassar kept the score close and nearly tied at all points throughout the battle but eventually dropped the third set after an 8-2 Clarkson run. Determined to finish victoriously, the Brewers swallowed the Union Dutchwomen 3-0 in the last game of the day. Based on stellar athleticism and impressive statistics, Bavosa was named to the First Team All-Liberty League, and sophomores Hilary Koenigs and Chloe McGuire received Second Team honors. Noted senior Julianna Simon in an e-mailed statement, “We beat Union and Skidmore, who is one of our biggest rivals, so we were still able to end our season on a good note.”

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November 11, 2010

Women’s soccer falls just short of championship win Andy Marmer Sports Editor

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Coutesy of Sports Information

fter 110 minutes of scoreless play, the Vassar women’s soccer team and their foes from William Smith College lined up for a five-person shootout to determine the 2010 Liberty League Champion.

Unfortunately for the Brewers, they were unable to overcome the no. 10 nationally ranked Herons, falling 4-3 in the shootout and finishing as the league runner-up.

While the Brewers were upset at coming so close but failing to capture the school’s first Liberty League Championship, they were still proud of their effort against William Smith.

“It hurts, but when I woke up [Sunday] morning I didn’t really feel like we’d lost. We’d held the 10th team in the country 0-0 for 110 minutes.

When it gets to penalty kicks…it’s arbitrary,” said senior co-Captain Allison McManis.

The game itself was a defensive struggle between the two schools.

The first half saw just five shots, total, with William Smith firing off four. In the second half, the intensity of the contest picked up as the Herons dominated the flow of the game. William Smith outshot the Brewers 11-0 in this half, but despite the relentless pressure, was never able to break through.

Alexandra Higgins ’13 keyed the Vassar defense registering six of her nine saves in the second half.

William Smith continued to control the game during overtime, rattling off four shots compared to just one by Vassar, but still the Brewer defense held strong and forced the shootout.

In the shootout, co-Captains Rachel Shea ’11 and Carolyn Demougeot ’11 converted the first two Vassar op-

Goalie Ali Higgins ’13, above, helped prevent the William Smith Herrons from scoring throughout the regular play time plus overtime, in the battle for the Liberty League Championship. Unfortunately, the Herrons won after several rounds of a shootout. portunities, while the Herons missed once, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead after two rounds. The next three rounds saw two Vassar misses, combined with three goals from William Smith, deciding the contest in favor of the Herons, 4-3 in the shootout.

Vassar advanced to the Championship game with a thrilling comefrom-behind victory over Hamilton College, 3-2, last Wednesday.

With just under a minute remaining in the first overtime period, Vassar earned a free kick in the Hamilton half of the field, not far from the midfield line. Vassar midfielder

Tessa Verbanic ’12 lofted the ball into the center of the box. As the Hamilton goalie came stampeding out of the net, attempting to clear the effort, Alix Zongrone ’12 charged in front and with a single touch of her foot, redirected the ball into the back of the net.

Zongrone’s goal came after two successful Vassar comebacks. Just over four minutes into the game, Hamilton notched the first blow, but Shea responded nearly 20 minutes later, tying the game on a free kick struck into the upper-left corner of the goal.

Just prior to halftime, Vassar once

again fell behind. Hamilton played a cross into the box, which eluded both Higgins and the Hamilton attackers.

The Brewers defense worked to clear the ball, but it instead wound up in the back of the net for an own-goal, giving Hamilton a 2-1 lead.

Once again, though, the Brewers fought back, and equalized just nine minutes into the second half.

Shea played the ball from 10 yards out of the box to Demougeot, who danced through three defenders to set herself up one-on-one with the Hamilton goalie. Demougeot calmly deposited the ball to the right of the

Rugby downed 31-30 in quarterfinals Mitchell Gilburne

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SCOREBOARD NOV 6 WOMEN’S SWIM-DIVE

Features Editor

SKIDMORE AT VASSAR Fardeen Chowdury/The Miscellany News

elegated to Division II, with only eight returning members and three nervous recruits from the Class of 2011, the Vassar College women’s rugby team was unsure whether or not they would be able to field a team. However, due to the leadership of Captains Julia Nissen ’11 and Keri Peacock ’11 along with an influx of unexpected rookie talent, the Brewers rucked, tackled and scored their way to the Metropolitan New York Division II title.

Nov. 6 marked the day of Northeast Rugby Union quarterfinal game against Boston University. The Brewers took an early 10 point lead, but the quick, aggressive tactics of Boston University’s Miranda Wakimoto bested Vassar’s defenses and narrowed the score to a respectable 10-7, bolstered by the first of Boston’s three conversions. Capitalizing on their small triumph, Boston pressed against the Brewers’ lines and completed the first half of the game with a second conversion, Emboldened by their slight lead, Boston capitalized on the opening timbre of the second half by swiftly raising the score to a daunting 24-10. However, the Brewers fought back. Working in elegant cohesion, the Vassar women proudly wore their gray and maroon as they charged across the field with relentless furor, scoring two more unconverted tries and bringing the score to a nail-biting 24-20 in favor of Boston. With the tempting scent of victory sweet on the breeze, the Brewers clawed towards Boston’s try zone. Their efforts were met with a successful ruck a mere three yards from the goal line that was—unfortunately for the Brewers—intercepted by a gifted sprinter from Boston University who loped across the field giving Boston a final converted try for their scorecard.

With the score at 31-20 in favor of the enemy, Vassar’s women’s rugby team found themselves separated from victory by a disheartening margin yet again. On the sidelines, a general tone of resignation began to permeate the crowd,

keeper, knotting the score at two.

The victory was an emotional one for the Brewers, noted Demougeot. “I’ve never played in any kind of a championship; any final match or anything like that. I don’t think I could have imagined that it would have felt that good.”

The championship appearance capped a four-year run for a group of seniors that graduate as the only class in program history to have four consecutive winning (above .500 winning percentage) seasons. Demougeot summarized, “[We had] very idealistic dreams of making [the Liberty League playoffs] that no one really believed [were] going to happen.

To come to our last year and it seems like anything is possible at this point.”

Demougeot, Higgins, Shea and Zongrone represented Vassar on the All-Tournament. Although more than just the Vassar players stood out in the tournament, the captains noted that 25-30 Vassar students traveled the nearly five hours to William Smith on a school-sponsored bus to cheer on the Brewers. McManis and Shea characterized the performance of the Vassar faithful as more boisterous than their counterparts from William Smith.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat in the championship game, the Brewers can take solace in knowing they accomplished their goal from the beginning of the season. Noted Demougeot in an e-mailed statement following the conclusion of the regular season, “This season was an absolute success up to this point. Sure we have lost games I think we should have won, but none of that matters because we met our goal in making the playoffs.”

Vassar women’s rugby, which recently elected to transfer from Division I to Division II, made it to the Northeast Rugby Union quarterfinals on Nov. 6 but was ultimately defeated by Boston University. but the Vassar women who poured every atom of their passion and determination into the final minutes of last Saturday’s game had other plans; they were not going to be fettered by unseemly odds. The Brewers plunged directly back into the game with renewed vigor. Bodies clashed and the distinct thumps of solid tackles rang like muted bells, and Vassar closed the gap to an astounding 31-30. The fans were shocked, and Boston’s sidelines collectively lifted their jaws from the beaten earth.

Vassar reneged on their opportunity to convert the try, opting instead to attempt one last emblazoned rush; however this decision, despite the unlikely angle of the forsaken conversion, proved to be the Brewers’ downfall.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game fell to the extremely relieved Boston University squad.

Despite The Brewers’ ultimate defeat, Peacock recalls the journey to the regional playoffs with pride. When pressed to provide the most triumphant moment of the season she struggles to narrow the focus of her approval, answering, “Pretty much every single game. When somebody had done something really well that they hadn’t done before I would get so excited, especially for the new girls. There were definitely a lot of smaller triumphs and then beating New Paltz for the title was a big triumph!”

Peacock believes that her team has taken huge and necessary strides in defining themselves as a presence to be reckoned with on the rugby landscape and is optimistic for their future. She concludes, “I am so excited for them because I know that the girls who are there now are going to be able to step up and fill any gaps by people who are graduating.”

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