The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CL | Issue 14
February 22, 2018
Burlesque empowers VC calls for Asian American Dept. student performers Mary Retta
GUEST REPORTER
Olivia Feltus
GUEST REPORTER
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“I
have never seen myself represented in my education. Ever,” said Megan Wang ’20. “When will I get to see myself, Vassar?” Wang is one of the organizing members of the movement to improve and expand the Asian American Studies Program at Vassar. Asian American Studies is currently only a correlate, and is understaffed, underfunded and lacking in courses. Although students have been appealing to the administration to obtain more courses and professors in Asian American Studies for years, the fight has been ultimately unsuccessful, as Vassar claims that the College does not have enough money to hire more See STUDIES on page 3
Courtesy of Megan Wang
urlesque, as an art, is a sensual and liberating form of self-expression and exploration. Involving a synchronized mind-body effort to find complete comfort with one’s sexuality in a world where it’s considered taboo, Burlesque is an incredibly empowering performing art. Whether presented solo or in a group, it is a bold act that involves subverting hegemonic structures that police one’s performativity of gender and sexuality. For students to take part in this beautifully rebellious theater tradition, dating back to the early twentieth century, is wholly awe-inspiring. On Feb. 9 and 10 in the Shiva, Vassar Burlesque, established in Fall 2016, put on its second annual show. Vassar Burlesque members are typically known by their stage names, and for the purposes of preserving their privacy, that’s how this article shall refer to them. New member Froot Tart ’21, explained how, when he first arrived, he was delighted to hear that there was a Burlesque group on campus. “I was extremely excited because I am a big fan of Burlesque and just the whole idea of
it,” stated Froot Tart. Enumerating several famous Burlesque artists who have inspired him, he continued, “I love Josephine Baker and what she stood for in the ’20s and am also a fan of Dita von Teese, but who isn’t?” As someone who had not staged an undressing before Burlesque, Froot Tart is convinced that he became more comfortable in his body after he joined. He elaborated, “That [kind of performance] would not be ‘allowed’ because I’m not really buff or really fit and it’s just nice to have an org where we are honest with our bodies and, even though I’m still working through issues, I feel confident with myself now.” Burlesque actively talks about body positivity and self-consciousness. Publicity Coordinator, Head of Special Events and the show’s Master of Ceremonies Mads Ouellette ’19 elucidated, “We don’t just focus on doing shows, we also have meetings every week and talk about a huge variety of topics: anything from intimacy to sexuality to how we feel about our bodies.” Performer Mopy Dick ’18 felt similarly: “Some of our meetings have covered heavy topics such as intimacy and body positivity and so it’s been importSee BURLESQUE on page 14
Megan Wang ’20, one of the students working to advocate for a more robust Asian American Studies department, illustrated the above images.
Zlotnick reflects on professorship Imogen Wade
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
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assar is small enough for students to recognize the faces they see around campus. However, even in an institution as small as Vassar, it is impossible for students to know every professor by name. By casting a spotlight on some of the teaching staff, The Miscellany News hopes to make students feel more connected to the
faculty and more aware of some of the classes offered at Vassar. This week, I interviewed Professor Susan Zlotnick via email. I was interested to find out more about her interests, classes and career path. Hopefully you will be inspired to take a class with her! The Miscellany News: What classes do you teach at Vassar? What do they involve? Susan Zlotnick: I teach in English
and Women’s Studies, and I participate in the Victorian Studies Program. I ordinarily teach courses in 19th-century British literature, with an emphasis on the novel—that includes 200-level courses on the 19-century British novel as well as (this semester) a course on Jane Austen. I also teach a 300-level seminar on the Gothic Novel and another on The Brontë Sisters... In See PROFESSOR on page 6
Academia, spirituality intersect Stats illuminate men’s basketball season Jimmy Christon REPORTER
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Reed Dolan
SPORTS STATISTICIAN
T Courtesy of Pexels
here is one question that I am plagued by continually as a religion studies student: “Wait, but you’re not religious?” This statement houses an odd bundle of implications. Foremost among these implications is the idea that religion and spiritual studies are somehow foreign to academic settings––or foreign to students in general. Religion studies isn’t the study of something locked away behind shrouds of expertise and knowledge, it’s the study of what many people simply live through. An event happening on campus aims to blur this boundary between capital-R “Religious” living and living in general. It isn’t enough to just be a person anymore, nor even just a student, but we also have to be students of something. I think that this type of labeling is extremely hurtful to communities such as Vassar, as they set up antagonistic relationships between sects of campus as well as setting up religion as something that only provides negatives for the world at large. People in general aren’t exactly allowed to go throughout their days without attaching themselves to a label at one point or another. The event happening on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., “The Art of Living,” aims to illu-
On Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., “The Art of Living: Practices for Flourishing in a Fractured World,” a lecture by Stephanie Paulsell, will take place in the Villard Room. minate how the act of living has many facets to it. It will be kicked off with a talk given by Harvard Divinity Professor Stephanie Paulsell, followed by a workshop of practices performed by faculty members from Vassar and beyond. While it does not have any religious affiliation, this event does aim to display how our very own community members strive to live around a center. This center comes in the form of the idea of “practice.” As event organizer Elizabeth Aeschlimann describes it,
“Everything that we do, from eating, to studying, to talking with friends, is an opportunity to practice.” This event aims to showcase how these practices can manifest within one’s life, and how community members employ this idea of practice. Professor Paulsell’s focus is the intersection between academic work and the lives we live; between intellectual work and spiritual practice, and between study and practices. Professor Paulstell See RELIGION on page 15
he regular season of the men’s basketball team concluded last Sunday, Feb. 17, following a major victory on the road against Ithaca college, 66-54. The win meant that the team avenged their close loss to Ithaca at home in December, and, more important, it ensured that the team would be heading to the Liberty League playoffs as the sixth seed. Ultimately, the game capped off a regular season that was marked by an equal share of impressive conference victories and close losses. After suffering a few early conference losses and a difficult out-of-conference schedule during the first half of the season, it was clear that VC’s road to a playoff bid would require a turnaround of sorts down the latter half of conference play. And while the team dropped its first seven games before the winter break, things changed when games picked up again in late December. After losing their first game back, the team won four out of the next five and never looked back after that
stretch. For any team, a winless eight-game stretch to start the season would make earning a playoff bid seem unlikely. But it was Vassar’s play in pivotal league games that would allow them to grab the final playoff spot. Ultimately, they won the games that mattered the most. Throughout the second half of the season, it became apparent that there would be multiple teams vying for the final two spots of the six-team league playoffs. Matchups against Skidmore, RPI, Clarkson and Bard would become increasingly crucial games with playoff implications. This is when the team played their best basketball. Vassar went an impressive 7-1, sweeping the season series against RPI, Skidmore and Bard. The only loss of these games was a close 7-point contest on the road against Clarkson. Vassar also posted a plus/minus differential of +27 in these contests (+3.375 per game). The team was unequivocally led by senior Captain Jesse Browne, Vassar men’s most recent 1,000-point scorer. At an average of 15.6 points per game, See BASKETBALL on page 18
Inside this issue
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Lunar New Year celebrations unite cultures FEATURES and nations
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Protecting bees from danger would OPINIONS be a gamechanger
16 ARTS
Seuss has sinister side, must not be glorified
The Miscellany News
Page 2
February 22, 2018
Editors-in-Chief Emma Jones Elena Schultz
Senior Editor Talya Phelps
Contributing Editors Eilís Donohue Rhys Johnson
Courtesy of Wenjie Xie
Wenjie Xie ’19 writes about her experience in London, England: “It wasn’t until about two weeks in when I was walking through the Portobello Market with a friend and finding stores along the street that reminded me of night markets at home that I really felt assured. As I looked at all the brightly lit stalls, vendors, and stores, I finally felt certain that my experiences were going to be unforgettable and that whatever happened, it was all going to be worth it.” Read more about Wenjie’s adventures, and those of other JYA-ers, at farandaway.miscellanynews.org!
The Miscellany News 22
February
Thursday
Weekender_ 23
February
Friday
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February
Saturday
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February
Sunday
Tennis (M) Individuals
No Such Convention 2018
No Such Convention 2018
No Such Convention 2018
Late Night at the Lehman Loeb
Whatever the Weather
Tennis (M) vs. Clark University
Vassar College & Community Wind Ensemble
Lacrosse (W) vs. Drew University
Paper Critique
10:00 a.m. | Walker Field House Bay 2 | Athletics
5:00 p.m. | Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Atrium | The Loeb Art Center
Critics, Coteries, and PreRaphaelite Celebrity - a book talk 5:30 p.m. | Library Class of ‘51 Reading Room | Victorian Studies Program
How Stories Provide Safe Spaces in a Constantly Shifting World
6:00 p.m. | Old Bookstore Lower Level | Creative Arts Across Disciplines
The Art of Living: Practices for Flourishing in a Fractured World
7:00 p.m. | Villard Room | Religious and Spiritual Life Office
StuMu No Drums Showcase 8:00 p.m. | The Mug | Vassar Students Musicians Union
5:00 p.m. | The College Center | No Such Organization
8:00 p.m. | The Shiva | The Barefoot Monkeys
High School Musical Movie Night and Sing Along
9:00 p.m. | The Mug | Big Night In
10:00 a.m. | The College Center | No Such Organization
12:00 p.m. | Walker Field House Bays | Athletics
12:00 p.m. | Prentiss Sports Complex Weinberg Turf Field | Athletics
10:00 a.m. | The College Center | No Such Organization
3:00 p.m. | Skinner Recital Hall | Music Dept.
9:00 p.m. | Rose Parlor | The Miscellany News
Senior Recital, Zachary Brashear, tenor
News Laurel Hennen Vigil Opinions Steven Park Humor and Satire Leah Cates Yesenia Garcia Arts Sasha Gopalakrishnan Sports Mack Liederman Photography Sumiko Neary Social Media Kimberly Nguyen Assistant News Clark Xu Assistant Features Imogen Wade Andrea Yang Assistant Arts Izzy Braham Matt Stein Assistant Online Jackson Ingram Abby Lass Assistant Design Rose Parker Assistant Copy Claire Baker Jessica Moss Web Master & George Witteman Technical Advisor
Reporters Youngju Chang Kelly Pushie Marusa Rus Columnists Jimmy Christon Jesser Horowitz Sylvan Perlmutter Blair Webber Design Maya Sterling Scarlett Neuberger Copy Isabel Bielat Natalie Bober James Bonanno Teddy Chmyz Jillian Frechette Abigail Knuckles Anna Wiley
1:30 p.m. | Skinner Recital Hall | Music Dept.
Basketball (W) Liberty League Championships
2:00 p.m. | Athletics and Fitness Center 102-Fit Center Gymnasium | Athletics
Lacrosse (M) vs. Drew University
3:30 p.m. | Prentiss Sports Complex Weinberg Turf Field | Athletics
Basketball (M) Liberty League Championships
4:00 p.m. | Athletics and Fitness Center 102-Fit Center Gymnasium | Athletics
Faculty and Guest Recital: Canti Sacri e Profani: Monody, Madrigals & Motets 8:00 p.m. | Skinner Recital Hall | Music Dept.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
CORRECTION POLICY The Miscellany News will only accept corrections for any misquotes, misrepresentations or factual errors for an article within the semester it is printed. The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented within its Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board.
February 22, 2018
NEWS
Alumnae/i panel speaks on science careers Pazit Schrecker GUEST REPORTER
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s part of “Senior Week at the CDO,” Vassar’s Career Development Office hosted an alumnae/i panel centered on careers in scientific research of Feb. 17. The panel featured five Vassar alumnae/i working in chemical, research and pharmaceutical fields. After brief introductions, Associate Director of Alumnae/i Outreach and Partnerships Jannette Swanson posed a series of questions to the panel. The first involved their time at Vassar, and the panelists explained events throughout their college experience that shaped their career paths. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Brandon Davis ’11 went into the pharmaceutical industry. Though he no longer uses much of what he learned in his psychology classes, he does apply what he learned to reading psychology articles and analyzing papers. Still, he chose psychology because he wanted to help people and do meaningful work, and feels that his current job allows him to do this. As a recent graduate and neuroscience major, Ziwen Wang ’17 described being drawn to research after an intensive Vassar course in which her professor worked with each student individually to demonstrate the scientific procedures. She completed her thesis project with Professor Hadley Bergstrom and, after a lot of troubleshooting, they kept having to rebuild. In all of those experiences, she explained to the attendees, people kept telling her that this was different from real research. She applied for her current position as a research assistant at Columbia University to find out how. When she graduated, Emily Feuss ’12 wasn’t completely sure what she wanted to do with her chemistry degree. Now a color matcher for Benjamin Moore Paints, she said that she needed to
step away from academics to figure out what she wanted. Swanson then offered the panelists the opportunity to describe the implications, both positive and negative, that come with the decision to go to graduate school and conduct research instead of entering into the workforce. Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Dr. Joanna Hansen ’01 began by discussing the downsides of having a PhD and being a postdoctoral researcher. When she was an undergraduate student at Vassar, Dr. Hansen said she felt as if she needed a PhD and post-doc. After years of hard work, she found having a PhD and being a post-doc to be limiting in some ways because of the required pay for a PhD that does not exist for master’s candidates. She explained that many of the people she has worked with only have a master’s degree and stated, “It’s easier to get a master’s-level job in pharmaceuticals than a PhD level.” Senior Research Chemist at Albany Molecular Research Dr. Charles Heap ’91 described the industry side of his job. One of the biggest differences between academia and industry work, he said, is that there are always deadlines in industry. Heap stated, “In industry they want to see progress every week or every few weeks.” As a scientist working in an industrial sector, he explained, one of the most important things is to demonstrate your value to your managers, who will often hold degrees in economics rather than in a scientific field. Swanson then asked what she described as one of her favorite panel questions, about the upsides and downsides of the panelists’ jobs, asking, “What makes you tick and what ticks you off?” Feuss began, explaining that her job as a color-matcher allows her to have a 40-hour work week and that, unlike many of those with PhDs,
she doesn’t have to think about work at home. A downside, she explained, is the fact that working with color and paint in general is quite driven by marketing. She noted that the difficulties that arise in explaining issues in color marketing concepts that revolve around science to people who don’t have academic experience in the sciences. Despite working in different fields, the other panelists mentioned that they struggle with this issue as well. Dr. Hansen also described the difficult transition from her position as a benchwork scientist to a more administrative job full of meetings and presentations rather than the experimentation she had enjoyed in school and during her post-doc. After Davis and Wang echoed the drawbacks of such administrative duties, Wang wrapped up her response on a more positive note, stating about her research work, “[It] allows me to explore an area that is different from what I did at Vassar.” Before opening up to questions from current students, the panelists offered advice on how to get involved in their fields. Davis spoke to the importance of research experience, and added that leadership positions of any kind help a resume stand out. He also offered himself as a resource, telling students, “Don’t be afraid to reach out to us; we’re always happy to get on the phone for three minutes, to look at a cover letter.” Dr. Hansen attested to the importance of a post-doc fellowship, and brought up an interview experience in which it was recommended that she get one. Dr. Heap described his field as less demanding of a postdoc, and admitted, “If I was to do it all over again, I would leave it at a Master’s. PhD limits you.” Wang told students not to overlook the importance of communication when entering a STEM field, and stated, “A scientist does not live in a vacuum.” Following the Q&A session, Swanson opened the floor to questions from the audience.
Students push for Asian American Studies STUDIES continued from page 1 professors to teach the specialized classes students desire. However, a dedicated group of Vassar students has decided to take their education into their own hands. The Vassar Asian American Studies Working Group, comprised of about 30 students, is split into various subcommittees, including Alumni Outreach, Institutional Memory and a Visual Media Campaign. Each group tackles a particular portion of the work that they hope will lead to garnering allies and resources. Jenny Luo ’20 said of her experience as part of the Topics and Syllabi Committee, “We’ve been searching through the Asian and Asian American programs at other schools to help us establish what we would like Vassar to have [and] contacting the heads of the department to learn more about programs we hope to emulate and are hoping to hear some feedback.” Janrey Serapio ’20, part of the Alumni Outreach Committee, explained, “[The Alumni Outreach Committee has been] creating content to send out to alumni that highlights our activism and keeps them aware about our mission.” Assistant Professor of Sociology and Science, Technology and Society Long Bui enthusiastically supports these efforts. A former Asian American Studies major himself, Bui understands the desire for representation in academia. “Asian American Studies spoke to me because there were all these faculty who not only looked like me, but they also taught me things that were ‘taboo’ or they couldn’t teach in other places,” he recalled. Bui noted that he is one of the only professors at Vassar versed in Asian American Studies. Bui admits that he feels pulled in many directions: while he would love to teach more on the lives and experiences of Asian Americans, he also is obligated to teach the classes within his own departments. “I would love to teach a class on Asian American history; it’s very important to know why we are even here.
Another cool one would be Asian American pop culture, because Asian Americans don’t get to see themselves in pop culture.” Acting Director of the Asian American Studies Program Fubing Su also noted his hopes and concerns for the future of Asian American Studies at Vassar. Su noted that while there is currently an Asian American Studies correlate at Vassar, not many students choose to pursue it for a number of reasons. “There are not a lot of courses available, and a lot of courses are not specifically related to [the] Asian diaspora,” he explained. “Depending on who’s on leave, some courses might not be offered.” Su said that while he would love for the Asian American Studies correlate to expand into something larger and more sustainable, he does not see this happening in the near future. “As a program, we would love the College to make an effort,” he said. “But if students want to make a separate department, they must have more faculty. At this moment, I’m not really sure if that’s financially realistic for the college.” President Bradley backs up this statement. While she said she is open to expanding the Asian American Studies correlate, she also commented, “This takes much planning and consensus building with faculty leadership to be successful.” She added, “Having a more comprehensive Asian [American] Studies Department requires additional faculty resources and a clear vision of the curriculum that has broad support from the faculty and adequate resources to support it.” Wang is unfazed by the administration’s financial concerns. “It’s ridiculous,” she said. “There are a lot of people saying there is not enough money going around, but there is money ... Charles Kim [’92] said he gives a great deal of money to the annual fund but if he knew that the institution claims they do not have enough money to provide us with an education we desire, he would donate more directly.” She added that the demands of the Asian American Studies Working Group are not
unreasonable. “What we are asking for is not radical,” she said. “All we want, at this point, [are] two courses taught by a person of color who knows what they are talking about.” Spencer DiPasquale McGrath ’21 spoke to his reasons for joining the movement, explaining, “Historically, Asian Americans have experienced a lack of representation in many aspects of life in a way that is often not discussed. I think that students deserve to know about Asian American history in our country to dismantle the consistent association of Asian Americans with ‘foreignness.’” “I’m excited about this campaign because I think it’s an opportunity for Vassar to achieve concrete academic change and begin to address the need for an inclusive education,” added Tamika Whitenack ’21. “Improving our Asian Studies [program] can benefit everybody in the Vassar community, and we want everybody to be involved—students and faculty from all backgrounds, alumni, administrators.” The Asian American Studies Working Group is determined as ever and is only growing in numbers. A large group of students met with President Bradley on Feb. 18 to discuss their plans to expand and improve the Asian Studies program and plans on meeting with the Committee on Curricular Policy in the upcoming week. Professor Bui enthusiastically supports these plans, adding, “There is no school that has these courses without student activism.” Wang added that there are many ways for other members of the Vassar community to get involved in the movement. “The Asian American Studies Working Group meets every Friday in the Jetson Lounge at 5:30,” she said. “We would appreciate any and all help.” To follow the group’s proceedings as its members fight for more representation in courses, students can find the Vassar Asian American Studies Working Group on Facebook. To help out with the cause, email mwang[at]vassar.edu.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
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News Briefs U.S. won’t contribute to Iraq rebuilding A three-day donors’ conference was held in Kuwait this week under the sponsorship of the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank. The objective was to raise 80 billion euros needed for the medium-term reconstruction of Iraq, mostly concentrated in the areas that had been occupied by ISIS from 2014 until its defeat late last year. During the conflict against ISIS, a large part of central and northern Iraq has been destroyed over the past two years. One of the most severely affected areas is Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq. In western Mosul alone, it is necessary to build 40,000 new residential buildings (Reuters, “Allies promise Iraq $30 billion, falling short of Baghdad’s appeal,” 02.14.2018). The situation is similar in at least six other Iraqi cities in the area, where a complete rebuilding of public infrastructure will be required (Reuters, “Allies promise Iraq $30 billion, falling short of Baghdad’s appeal,” 02.14.2018). “We finished one battle but we are engaged now with a war for reconstruction,” said Head of the Reconstruction Fund Mustafa al-Hiti at the opening of the long-awaited conference in Kuwait. Iraq requested 20 billion euros for the short-term emergency reconstruction projects and 60 billion euros for medium-term efforts. Despite a military victory over the Islamic State, there is still a major humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. Of the five million people who lost their homes during the time of the Islamic State’s rule, 2.6 million still cannot return home (The New York Times, “$88.2B Price Tag for Rebuilding Iraq After Islamic State War,” 02.12.2018). Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq Katharina Ritz has expressed concern that the money will not be able to solve all of Iraq’s problems, pointing out the possibility of the rise of new instabilities. Iraq needs more than just cash, she said; it needs a return to the rule of law and a clear answer for families whose members disappeared during the war against ISIS (ABCNews, “$88.2B price tag for rebuilding Iraq after Islamic State war,” 02.12.2018). Although the United States has been one of the of the most important actors in the conflict and has contributed to some of the devastation in Iraq, the U.S. government will not officially contribute to Iraq’s reconstruction. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that since 2001, the U.S. has already wasted $7 trillion in the Middle East and that it is time to invest in our own country. The Washington Post and the Associated Press said that Trump’s estimate of $7 trillion is too high (The Washington Post, “Trump claims the U.S. has spent $7 trillion in the Middle East. It hasn’t,” 02.12.2018). However, the U.S. will still help with reconstruction through private corporations attending the conference. Out of 2000 corporations present, 150 are American (Reuters, “U.S. urges help for Iraq, extends $3 billion credit line,” 02.13.2018). United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq and Deputy Head of the UN Mission Lise Grande said that a possible failure of the donor conference could lead to new instability. She elaborated, “If the international community doesn’t help the government of Iraq to stabilize these areas [devastated by the war] the gains against Daesh could be at risk” (Reuters, “Iraq says reconstruction after war on Islamic State to cost $88 billion,” 02.12.2018). —Marusa Rus, Reporter
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NEWS
February 22, 2018
VSA seeks new vision after series of resignations Clark Xu and Youngju Chang
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR AND REPORTER
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Courtesy of Hannah Benton
ight members of the Vassar Student Association (VSA) resigned from their positions since the end of last semester. Prominent reasons for these resignations have been general dissatisfaction with VSA structure and the heavy workload linked to participation in student government. Following these resignations, the VSA looked to appoint successors to the open offices. The VSA accepted resignations from former Vice President Cody Harmon ’19, former Senator of Activities Cyrus Cohen ’18, former Chair of Planning Maimuna Touray ’20, former Senator for Student Affairs Robin Corleto ’19, former Senator for Student Affairs Hien Nguyen ’20, former Senator for Strategic Planning Micah Fedenko ’20, former Co-Chair of Equity and Inclusion Sharika Hasan ’19 and former Co-Chair of Residential Affairs Ifeacho Awachie ’20. As planned in advance, Former Senator of Student Affairs Derek Sonntag ’19 vacated his office to embark on a semester abroad. Chair of the Board of Elections and Appointments Nora Eigenbrodt ’18 described, “Last Sunday, we successfully appointed Ashley Hoyle as VSA Vice President and Alissa Bringas as 2018 Senator for Activities.” Seven offices remain to be filled as the VSA Senate continues to interview and appoint candidates each Sunday. Eigenbrodt continued, “It has been a bit of a challenge to find candidates for these positions. This late in the year, I think that a lot of people are already committed to many activities and organizations and aren’t interested in taking on a position on the VSA, which is a significant time commitment.” The developments hit hard for other members of the VSA and college administrators committed to supporting student government at Vassar. Dean of the College Christopher Roellke reflected, “We are sorry to see that a number of VSA members chose to resign from their student leadership roles. The VSA is a vital component of our model of shared governance. Throughout its 150year history, the VSA has been a critical voice for students and for the broader community.” In shared governance, student leaders and college administrators provide each other insight on the best interests of the campus community. President Elizabeth Bradley indicated, “As the new president, I cannot say enough about how important the VSA is to me. I have and continue to rely on the VSA to help me in making decisions large and small.” Relating these developments to other student leaders at Vassar, VSA President Anish Kanoria ’18 noted, “The students who resigned were all incredibly hard workers with a passion for what they believed in. Their energy had an impact on everyone around them.” Harmon found that the VSA’s public commitment to equity, transparency and accountability was not evident in the daily operations of the organization. Pointing to various transparency issues in finance, he explained, “The Executive Board has access to certain things that they didn’t share with fellow senators who were also supposed to share with constituents, other students. There were some internal struggles about who should have this information, why you should have it, what can and cannot be shared ... From joint committee meetings to shared governance meetings, they said you can’t share this information with people. Why? There was no answer. You just can’t share it.” Some feel that information about the allocation of the VSA Student Activities Fund taken from the tuition of each student on campus remains highly opaque. Its annual budget of nearly $1 million supports more than 120 student organizations. Roellke suggested, “A particular area of concern has been the turnover experienced in finance-related positions. I believe this is still an area that needs further development as the amount of fiscal responsibility that the VSA
Ashley Hoyle ’18 and Alissa Bringas ’18 were recently appointed as VSA Vice President and 2018 Senator for Activities, respectively, after the previous Vice President and Senator resigned. Seven other positions in the VSA Senate are in the process of being filled. assumes is significant. The finance and administration office has been working with the VSA to lend assistance and to also consider ways in which the College can assist with audits, budget transfers and the like.” Since the restructuring of the VSA two years ago, the college administration has made several provisions for supporting the work of student leaders, including the creation of an advisor role to the VSA currently filled by Director of Student Activities Michelle Ransom. In light of the continued pattern of resignations at the beginning of the second semester, Roellke said, “In my view, continuing this restructuring work is important—particularly those efforts that foster collaboration between the VSA and the College’s administration and support offices.” Besides transparency and accountability, some former members believe that VSA structure contributes to a busy schedule that consumes much of their time. Cohen recounted their experience in VSA, saying, “It was Finance Committee, which was two to three hours per week; Programming Committee, which was one hour a week; Senior Class Council, which was one hour a week; the regular VSA meetings, which were like two to three hours a week; and then additional work outside … so it inevitably probably falls somewhere between six to eight, nine hours a week.” Cohen also reported that time commitments for VSA Executive Board members and other student leaders could be much higher. While members devoted time and effort to making improvements, many eventually saw themselves repeating the routines of previous iterations of the VSA. Cohen argued, “It was just increasingly apparent how it was still business as usual. We were doing the same things that VSA years past have done, both bad and good. We were making the same mistakes; we were doing the same kind of advocacy work. But it wasn’t as radical as I think a lot of us wanted it to be. And we were seeing the ways in which we were inactive.” Nguyen also explained that, in his experience, serious dedication to the VSA did not bring noticeable change. Nguyen pointed out, “VSA has had such a tremendous strain on my time and personal well-being with so very little reward in terms of achievements or accomplishments in terms of what I wanted to accomplish and what the VSA want to accomplish.” According to some former members of the VSA, ineffective communication within the VSA is one reason that dedication does not translate to progress. Cohen explained that VSA members needed to collaborate to advance their projects. But, in practice, the many committees limited contact with each other. Cohen said, “A lot of us felt that we’re all just putting in a lot of effort while being isolated … There [are] a lot of discussions and decisions that are being made behind
closed doors, in a lot of these committees [that are] separate from everyone together. I think that was frustrating for many people.” Sonntag agreed that the major problem within the VSA is miscommunication. Sonntag declared, “The VSA body as a whole lacks the cohesion and communication it needs to function at its best.” Last October’s controversial lecture by Cornell Professor of Law William Jacobson was for Sonntag an example of the VSA’s explicit failure to effectively communicate. Arguing that more efficient contact within the VSA would have prevented the confusion and hostility evoked by the event, Sonntag continued, “The day when advertising for the event had begun, I had reached out to other members on a response to the situation, which went nowhere. I know many members wanted to show more caution with a response, but I still think that we needed to respond immediately, and if we had, we would not be where we are right now.” Sonntag emphasized that communication can be enhanced through frequent engagement with the VSA Senate and noted, “The most important thing is to communicate with your constituents and to communicate with the other members of the VSA.” He also underscored the urgency of restructuring the Finance Committee, arguing that too few committee members are working on a disproportionately large amount of work. Sonntag believes that the VSA needs to restructure the Finance Committee, or it will continue to replicate its mistakes. He said, “I ask that, whatever happens from here on out in the VSA this semester, Senate must reform the Finance Committee.” Another crucial factor that discouraged some of the former VSA members is the VSA’s bureaucratic system. Cohen explained, “Even if everyone in the room is committed to [a] non-hierarchical style of communication, or [to] collaborating, it is inherently hierarchical because of how it’s structured.” Nguyen added, “The VSA structurally does not work. Not even just because of the over-stressing of its students but because of the fact that it mimics the bureaucracy that exists outside of this Vassar bubble. Vassar’s culture surround[ing] the VSA [and the] administration needs to change.” Some former members of the VSA stress that bureaucratic issues are compounded when working with college administration. Cohen described frustrating experiences in which the VSA failed to make progress during meetings with administrators. They said, “It’s also feeling like, well, when [administrators] do show up and they do have these conversations, they aren’t being entirely truthful, or they aren’t necessarily trying to engage or think critically about their own offices, how they can improve, how they can be working better for students, then it just really even more taxing because it feels like it’s kind of going no-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
where.” In terms of the institutional organization of the VSA, Nguyen pointed out that being a student representative among faculty and administrators can often put too much of a burden on students. Nguyen explained, “I, for one, was too often confused at meetings with faculty and [administrators]. I don’t know the big and small detailed history of this institution and its surroundings and I do not get paid to spend even more time researching it.” Speaking to work-life balance, Cohen and Nguyen strongly asserted the importance of having time to care for oneself. Cohen explained, “The primary reason was just feeling quite burnt out after last semester, and all of the stresses that came up from it, both from VSA, my frustration with VSA, my frustrations with the school, and kind of the larger administrative forces that were sort of getting in the way of a lot of the work that we were doing.” Cohen concluded by advising future VSA members to prioritize their own health and wellness. Nguyen corroborated, “My advice [to new appointees] is to make time for yourself, and understand that even when you feel insignificant, you’re not and it’s not your fault. Give yourself space and time to learn about the institution if possible and seek to empower other people’s voices too.” Taking account of transparency, communication, bureaucracy and time commitment, student leaders have called for more critical thought about the organization of the VSA. Kanoria reflected, “It is clear to me that there is a lot of soul searching required on many levels in this institution. It is my hope that we don’t shy away from it.” He continued, “For the long-term of the VSA, I think future student leaders of the VSA should ask themselves and get clarity on certain fundamental questions like ‘What is it that the VSA does?’ ‘What are its core functions?’ ‘Where does its power lie?’ ‘How can it best advocate for students and how can the structures we have support or hinder that advocacy?’ Any future structure of the VSA should, in my opinion, reflect some understanding of these questions.” He believes that a careful consideration of these questions will help to break the pattern of resignation and dissatisfaction with student government in future years. Eigenbrodt remains optimistic about filling the remaining seven offices through appointment. She elaborated, “We were hoping to have more positions appointed by [Feb. 18]’s Senate meeting but unfortunately, there were numerous issues where some of our candidates had to reschedule interviews. Hopefully we will be able to fill a good number of these positions by this coming Sunday, [Feb. 25].” Filling the offices represents a top priority of the VSA Senate in the coming weeks. Student leaders remain committed to fully representing their constituents in a broad range of issues related to the governance of the college. Speaking to his plans for activism after his term in the VSA, Cohen noted, “I hope in my last semester of Vassar [I] will be able to still do work, and still kind of carry the same intentionality that I brought into VSA. Trying to make this school better, more welcoming, I could bring that into other activist work that I do in other organizations, in different capacities.” Bradley encouraged, “My advice would be to listen to everyone, keep an open mind, and remember you represent the whole student body.” Other former members declined comment or were unavailable for interview. Thinking back to his candidacy for and service in the VSA, Harmon concluded, “I ran because I thought—I still think—that student government should always reflect students, should always reflect what students want, what students need, [and the fact that] students care about current students.”
NEWS
February 22, 2018
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Updates from the VSA Consensus Agenda – Passed Finance allocations —3169/3269 from Speakers to Feminist Alliance for Transformative Justice: A Teach-In with the LIES Collective. —1500/2398.48 from Capital to Vassar Filmmakers for film equipment —500/500 from Discretionary to VC++ for Snacks for IgniteCS series
Programming Committee —The New York City shuttle will be either this coming weekend or the next, depending on weather and conflicting events.
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Health and Wellness Committee —Last semester, the committee began constructing a database containing information and student feedback about mental health providers in the Poughkeepsie area. The committee is continuing work on the database this semester. Chair of Health and Wellness Tanyx Madrigal ’18 has been in communication with President Bradley about possible collaboration. —Health and Wellness is still in the early stages of planning a campus wellness day; more
M arusa Rus In this week’s headlines… Wednesday marked another mass shooting in a United States school, this time in Parkland, Florida. The shooter has been identified as 19-year-old Nicolas Cruz, a former student who was expelled for disciplinary reasons. The shooting left 17 people dead and many more injured. This has been at least the fourth school shooting this year, and falls under one of the top 10 deadliest shootings in modern U.S. history. President Trump has addressed the nation in response to the shooting, focusing his remarks on mental health and omitting any mention of gun regulation (CNN, “In shooting’s wake, Trump urges children to seek help if they feel ‘lost, alone, confused or even scared,” 02.15.2018). This week has seen two immigration bills come and go. The first, a bipartisan plan, failed to secure the requisite 60 votes in the Senate after the White House lobbied against it. The second bill was a White House-backed proposal to provide $25 billion for border security in exchange for the possibility of citizenship for two million Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The Senate voted this down by an even larger margin. The Trump administration’s proposal would increase federal deportation powers and heavily cut family-based legal migration. The deadline to help DREAMers is less than three weeks away, since Trump has slated DACA to expire on March 5 (CNN, “Bipartisan DACA, border security deal fails in Senate, putting immigration
Committee on Equity and Inclusion —Equity and Inclusion has been collaborating with Health and Wellness on a POC health day, still in the early stages of planning. —Results of the What Happens Here survey will be presented some time in March. The exact date is not yet known. —Last Friday, Equity and Inclusion collaborating with Campus Life and Diversity to send students to a screening of the movie “Black Panther,” which was followed by a conversation amongst participants about Black representation in the media.
Courtesy of Pixabay
Bylaw Amendments —The VSA Senate adopted two amendments to the VSA Bylaws. The first consolidates the Town Houses, Terrace Appartments, South Commons and Town Student Treasurer positions into one Apartment Areas Treasurer position. The second puts into effect the changes in student representation to the College’s sustainability joint committee mentioned last week.
details will come as plans are fleshed out.
Finance Committee —Chair Robyn Lin ’18 met with College Finance and Administration about Workday and the organization of budget numbers. Committee on Residential Affairs —Residential Affairs has been discussing the limited availability of food at certain times of day on campus, particularly in the Deece between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Chair Takunda Maisva ’19 has been talking with administration about this gap in service and the ability of the Deece to be used by student orgs for meetings and events.
The Programming Committee is organizing another shuttle from Vassar to New York City. The shuttle will be this weekend or the next, depending on weather and conflicting events.
Organizations Committee —Organizations reviewed nine pre-org applications. Pre-org applications are open until Sunday Feb. 25.
President —President Anish Kanoria ’18 encouraged all students to fill out the survey regarding Dean of the College Chris Roellke. —The Board of Trustees will meet this week-
bill’s future in doubt,” 02.15.2018). Former Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates is finalizing his plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller’s office, indicating he is willing to cooperate in the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Gates would be the third person to cooperate with Mueller’s investigation, after former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. His cooperation would not only greatly advance the investigation itself but would also put pressure on the other defendant in the case, Paul Manafort (CNN, “Exclusive: A top Trump campaign adviser close to plea deal with Mueller,” 02.17.2018). On Friday, Feb. 16, Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian organizations for involvement in tampering with the election. These represent the first charges in Mueller’s investigation (CNN, “Mueller indicts 13 Russian nationals over 2016 election interference,” 02.17.2018). On Tuesday, Feb. 13, U.S. intelligence chiefs warned that Russia will certainly try to influence the 2018 midterm elections, and many lawmakers have expressed fears that the U.S. electoral system is just as unprepared as it was two years ago. On Tuesday, intelligence officers stated that Moscow has already started its online strategy by using fake accounts on social media with the objective of increasing political and social divisions in the U.S. However, the Trump administration still insists that they did not collude with Russia (The New York Times, “Russia Sees Midterm Elections as Chance to Sow Fresh Discord, Intelligence Chiefs Warn,” 02.13.2018). The long-awaited inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that consumer prices rose by 0.5 percent, which is more than economists forecasted. Many hoped that investors would be calmed by this report, since the
Vice President —Newly-appointed Vice President Ashley Hoyle ’18 has been familiarizing herself with the current state of procedures in use by the VSA as part of a review of the past semester.
turmoil in stock markets last week was partly a response to fears that the central bank would increase interest rates due to inflation. However, investors remain worried, and the surprisingly high inflation rates in the report only add to their uncertainty about the direction of central bank policy (The Economist, “The markets still have plenty to fret about,” 02.15.2018). The International Energy Agency reported on Tuesday, Feb. 13, that the U.S. could soon overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world’s largest oil producer. The Agency called the increase of the pace of the output of American shale fields “extraordinary” (The Financial Times, “U.S. on track to become world’s largest oil producer,” 02.13.2018). Around the world… Former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma stepped down on Tuesday, Feb. 13, the day before a no-confidence vote in parliament. This presented the end of his nine-year rule, which was plagued by years of corruption-related scandals. Only hours after Zuma stepped down, Cyril Ramaphosa was confirmed as the new president. He was a trade union leader during the apartheid and played an important role as a chief negotiator for Nelson Mandela (CNN, “Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed as South Africa’s President after Zuma quits,” 02.15.2018). Following a yearlong investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli police announced on Tuesday, Feb. 13, that Netanyahu should be charged with bribery and fraud. He is accused of accepting almost $300,000 in gifts in exchange for favors. The evidence will be presented to the attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, who has to decide whether to press charges. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing (The New York Times, “Corruption Charges Suggested for Netanyahu,” 02.13.2018). Peru has uninvited Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from a regional summit meet-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
end; the President invited any students with concerns to be voiced to the trustees to express them to him in advance of the meeting. —As part of the VSA 150th anniversary, the VSA, the office of President Bradley and the Engaged Pluralism Initiative have collaborated to organize a panel of professors on what it means to be a global campus. The tentative date for the panel is Wednesday, March 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Villard Room. All students, faculty and community members are invited. — Julian Corbett, General VSA Intern
ing due to concerns over Venezuela’s plans to hold an early presidential election. The election has been announced for April 22, without reaching an agreement with opposition party over how to ensure a free and fair vote. Additionally, Venezuela’s neighboring country Colombia announced that it will tighten its border security in response to thousands of Venezuelans fleeing the economic and political crisis (The New York Times, “Peru Withdraws Venezuela’s Invitation to Regional Meeting,” 02.13.2018). Keeping up with 2020 hopefuls... Governor of Ohio John Kasich is considering different ways to challenge President Trump in 2020. Kasich will reportedly either run as a Republican in the primaries or as an Independent in the general election (CNN, “#2020Vision: Warren talks ‘Pocahontas’ while Booker, Gillibrand swear off corporate cash,” 02.16.2018). Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a possible Democratic frontrunner in 2020, has issued a response to President Trump’s use of the nickname “Pocahontas.” She insisted that she has Native American heritage at the National Congress of American Indians on Wednesday, Feb. 14 (CNN, “#2020Vision: Warren talks ‘Pocahontas’ while Booker, Gillibrand swear off corporate cash,” 02.16.2018). Two Democratic Senators, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), announced their intentions not to accept donations from corporate political action committees. Their decisions came as a result of fear of being closely associated with corporate America. Gillibrand tweeted on Tuesday, Feb. 13, “I will no longer accept donations from corporate PACs ... I hope you’ll join me in doing everything we can to fight to reform our broken campaign finance system.” Booker quickly followed suit (CNN, “#2020Vision: Warren talks ‘Pocahontas’ while Booker, Gillibrand swear off corporate cash,” 02.16.2018).
FEATURES
Page 6
February 22, 2018
Zlotnick ruminates on community, friendships at Vassar PROFESSOR continued from page 1
Courtesy of Susan Zlotnick
Women’s Studies, I taught a seminar on Women and Class last term, and I’ve taught Women’s Studies 130 (Intro) in the past. In almost all the courses I teach, the focus is on careful reading and writing. But I am a feminist literary critic, so my classes also have a focus on gender, and one can’t teach courses on 19th-century Britain without taking class into account and without addressing the fact that Britain was an imperial power. The Misc: What did you train in? Did you study other disciplines? Zlotnick: I double majored in English and History as an undergraduate, and my research has always been interdisciplinary. Victorianists on the whole tend to be interdisciplinary because 19th-century British literature, particularly the novel, directly engages with the tectonic social and technological changes that were occurring during the period. The Misc: How long have you taught at Vassar? Zlotnick: I came in 1989. The Misc: What drew you to Vassar? Do you consider it a home? Zlotnick: I liked the fact that it had been a women’s college. During my campus visit, I remember feeling very much that I was in an environment originally built for women. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to consider one’s workplace a home. But I am very happy to be part of the Vassar community, and I have made a great many friends here over the years. Those friendships are sustaining. The Misc: Is Vassar unique? How would you describe it to someone who knew nothing
Professor Susan Zlotnick reclining with Jane Austen’s “Persuasion,” which she is teaching this semester. Zlotnick is re-reading “Sense and Sensibility” and reacquanting herself with the 1995 film. about it? Zlotnick: Vassar is what Raymond Williams, the Marxist literary critic, would call a “knowable community.” There’s essentially something pre-modern about Vassar, in that most interactions are still face-to-face, and we (faculty, staff, students) actually know each other by name. I also think that what sets Vassar apart from a lot of other institutions in higher education is the enormous respect the faculty have for the students here. My colleagues are dedicated teachers, and I am continually inspired by them. I’m also always
unpleasantly surprised at conferences when faculty from large universities make uncharitable remarks about their undergraduates. The Misc: What are your main academic interests, passions and research topics? Zlotnick: My main academic interest is 19th-century British literature, with a focus on the novel. My first book was on the literature of the industrial revolution, but I’ve written about a whole range of topics, from curry recipes in Victorian cookbooks to the poor law reforms. My current book project is on middle-class identity in the mid-Victorian period
(roughly the 1860s): the book takes the Victorian notion of gentility seriously by framing gentility as a kind of habitus, a term borrowed from the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu that indicates class-based dispositions internalized in childhood. Ultimately, the book project connects gentility (and the obsessive self-scrutiny it engenders) to the form of the 19th-century British novel. In other words, I’m looking at the way in which class shaped certain formal aspects of the Victorian novel. The Misc: What are you reading at the moment? Zlotnick: I’m re-reading “Sense and Sensibility” because it’s what I’m teaching at the moment. I also have Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Eligible” next to my bed, waiting for me. Sittenfeld went to Vassar, and she came here to do a reading several years ago. “Eligible” is a modern retelling of “Pride and Prejudice” and it received good reviews. I’m going all in with Austen this semester. The Misc: Can you name a text you wish all college students would read? Zlotnick: “Middlemarch.” Read it now and again when you are 40. It’s the best portrait of a bad marriage in the English canon. The Misc: Do you have any projects or new classes on the horizon? Zlotnick: I’m very excited about next fall: Lydia Murdoch (in History) and I are scheduled to teach a brand new Victorian Studies course: “Revolutions, Evolutions and the Global Nineteenth Century.” It’s going to draw on faculty expertise from across the curriculum and focus on the nineteenth century from a global (rather than British) perspective.
Senior reflects on thesis, campus, past four years at Vassar Frank Najarro
GUEST COLUMNIST
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makes in Guatemala. Why am I here? Well, for this. And so much more. I’ve enjoyed being able to be a part of the Vassar community, including the difficult parts that made it almost unbearable. Now, as I enter the last 98 days before graduating, I want to appreciate all of the small things that make
life here bearable, rich and yet simple enough to where I can come home and enjoy the smell of my illegal, scented candle. So for those leaving with me, I can’t wait to see the ways the world will open up for us. And for those of you staying, pause, look up and enjoy the weather, even when it’s raining.
Courtesy of Frank Najarro
ost days I ask myself, “Why am I here?” At this moment exactly a year ago, I was petting koala bears and feeding kangaroos in Australia. But just like my year abroad, my final year at Vassar is also coming to an end and the emotions, ideas and trepidations that come with it are as complex as my thesis. Never did I imagine myself writing as much as I do now; I have to average around two pages a day in order to meet all of my deadlines, but my scheduling abilities are much better than my ability to put plans into action. From watching YouTube videos to reading way too much of my research books instead of writing, everything happens in a kind of slow motion, one which sluggishly has you blink, then open your eyes once again to find it’s 1 a.m. Whoops. So much for those two pages. But I know they will get done. My thesis is the culmination of work I’ve done over the past two years abroad and here at Vassar: Exploring conservation in Singapore, Australia, and Guatemala. This topic has taken me into some obscure places of literature and introduced me to language and words I never would have thought to put together, but that’s one of the many reasons I love anthropology and why my thesis is of so much personal importance to me. I try to do any readings I can in the morning, as that is when I am the most awake and can really chew on the concepts I am going to be discussing. At noon every day I alternate between a modern dance class, a strength class and a pilates class. It keeps me active when all I do all day is sit and read or attempt to write. After a hearty, warm lunch, I try to read or write, but usually I’m the most distracted at this hour, hence I’m writing this article at 4 p.m. on a Monday. Whoops. But don’t get me wrong, letting the mind wan-
der is as important as being focused on the task at hand. I don’t really engage with Facebook anymore, but Snapchat, Podcasts and napping are great ways to pass the time, or writing this article I suppose. (Shout out to the Myths and Legends Podcast that my only other fellow South Dakotan left at Vassar recommended. We listened to this and only this on the 28-hour drive back home that we did together at the end of our sophomore year. Thanks Sunny.) Dinner is my favorite time of day at Vassar College. It’s the meal where I get to spend time with my now four, previously five, amazing housemates (Megan DeKoning ’18, Lilly Wang ’18, Ari Bell ’18 and our sorely missed Orianna (Oreo) Catton ’18). It’s the meal where I get to cook and see the joy that my cooking brings to them. It’s the meal I always have planned and, even if I don’t, something always happens. It’s the meal when I can sit down and catch up with people and not be too distracted by classes, my thesis or other pressing issues. It’s a time to breathe and enjoy great food with even better company. Growing up, this meal has always been lunch for my family, but everyone is always busy around lunch time here in the U.S. In Guatemala it all builds up for the noon meal, then picks back up at around 5 p.m. But the tradition from my home country stays and travels with me wherever I go; at least one meal a day where you can share some time with someone else and be content. Don’t let me paint a flat picture, though; all family and friend meals are affairs of juicy gossip and deliciously rich stories, so there’s bound to be some drama. From who left the pot full of dumpling water on the stove and didn’t wash the dishes to our shared lack of romantic love, we bond over the smallest and largest things, including black sesame balls that Lilly makes for me that remind me of a candy my great-aunt
Najarro and friends DeKoning and Bell, minus their two other housemates, who were both busy clearing dumpling water out of the sink while this photograph was being taken.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
February 22, 2018
FEATURES
Page 7
Red lanterns, packets enrich Lunar New Year celebration Katherine Ni
GUEST REPORTER
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hile Valentine’s Day swept Vassar’s students up in celebrations of love and friendship last week, the Asian community on campus was busy planning events for the Lunar New Year while giving and receiving classic rose bouquets. Observed by Vietnam, Korea, China and many other East and Southeast Asian nations, the holiday, which officially fell on Feb. 16 this year, is one of the largest celebration of the year. To commemorate the beginning of the zodiac Year of the Dog, students planned a weekend full of festivities and fun. The celebration kicked off with the Chinese Students’ Community (CSC)’s Lunar New Year event on Thursday night. Traditionally, the Lu-
nar New Year’s Eve is the time for families to join together after a hard year of work for a feast. On this night, students gathered in the ALANA center to cook and eat traditional foods and gather as a community. As a rerun of chun jie wan hui (China Central Television New Year’s Gala: something similar to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve) played on the TV in the background, students huddled around tables to make dumplings. Others chatted while waiting in line for food. CSC Vice President Yunhao Cai ’19 shared, “We ordered Formosa food, but the highlight was indeed the handmade dumplings. It is a tradition for family members to get together and make dumplings during Spring Festival.” “Because we are all away from home, it was
Courtesy of Jacy Sun
Members of the Chinese Students’ Community dressed in their lucky color, red, to celebrate. Together they welcomed the Year of the Dog and won an adorable dog plushie as a lottery prize.
really nice that CSC organized this event,” said Maggie Chen ’20, an international student from China. “We had a chance to catch up with each other and spend the New Year together,” Cai agreed. “By holding this event, as well as other culture-related events throughout the year, we want to create an environment for students who are away from home to bond and share some common feelings about their memories of home.” There was a large assortment of dishes available and the dumpling assembly line was churning out piece after piece ready to be cooked up for consumption. “The food was delicious!” said Chen. “We had tang yuan (glutinous rice dumplings in sweet soup), shui zhu yu (Sichuan fish stew), Mapo tofu and an assortment of stir-fried vegetables. It was really cute that everyone had a chance to make dumplings together and they turned out great.” CSC also organized activities for students to do to feel more at home. Walking in the door, there was immediately a table of red envelopes with Rabbit candies inside. “Everyone received a red packet with a slip of paper inside. At the end of the event, there was a lottery for a few dog plushies. Unfortunately, I didn’t win one,” Chen laughed. Even after dinner, several students stayed behind to continue watching the TV program, chatting, snacking on sunflower seeds and playing Mahjong. Two days later, the celebration continued with the Asian Students’ Alliance (ASA)’s Lunar New Year Dinner. As a larger organization with a larger event, ASA held the dinner in the Villard Room, which was packed full of large round
tables and food. The dinner, planned by ASA in collaboration with CSC and Southeast Asian Students’ Alliance (SEASA), boasted a variety of foods, along with performances and activities such as a dog-themed photo booth. “There was Thai tea, scallion pancakes, chicken, fish-balls, fried rice and more—I think some of the food was even handmade,” Linh Phuong ’20 noted. Highlights from the event included a vocal performance, with piano accompaniment, of Ngô Thuy Miên’s Vietnamese love song “Niem Khúc Cuoi” by Phuong and Khánh Ly Nguyen ’19 [Full Disclosure: Nguyen is Social Media Editor of The Miscellany News] and Joshua Kim ’20’s vocal performance of two songs, one in Korean and one in Chinese. Attendees of ASA and CSC’s dinners applauded the events. Tanya Kotru Gode ’20, an international student from New Delhi, India, remarked, “I don’t celebrate Lunar New Year in my country, but it was great to see the level of celebration we had at Vassar, and to see Vassar students acknowledged this festival that’s big for many Asian countries!” “Personally I felt the event helped foster a sense of community and brought people closer,” Phuong stated. “It’s amazing to have a space where we can celebrate our rich and diverse cultures and introduce them to other students. It’s my second Lunar New Year away from home and this event makes me feel less homesick.” Chen agreed. “My family, including my aunts and uncles and grandparents, sent me pictures of all of the food they were eating for Lunar New Year’s Eve,” she said. “I felt like I was missing out on a great meal. It made me a little sad to go to the Deece. But being able to celebrate at school definitely eased my pain.”
Colonialism, creativity and curry: D.I.Y. mulligatawny soup Shreya Suresh GUEST REPORTER
A
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Courtesy of anjuli_ayer on Flickr
few months ago, my mother was preparing dinner for my sister and me. She finished cooking and set the table up to display the delicacies she had just made. “Some mulligatawny soup with steamed rice and a side of sautéed vegetables,” she said with a fake British accent as she tried to make us excited for the meal. My sister snorted back: “That is just milagu rasam, rice and kai (vegetable side in my mother tongue), Amma!” “What even is mulligatawny soup?” I asked her. “Wait. You girls don’t know what mulligatawny soup is?!” my mother exclaimed, and we spent the rest of night listening to the history of mulligatawny soup, a culinary symbol of British-Indian cultural hybridity. Rasam is a quintessential Tamilian food that I have grown up eating. It is a very thin, watery “soup” that is eaten along with rice. It is comfort food for many people and has cured more than ten colds for me! Milagu rasam is a type of rasam. Milagu in Tamil is pepper, which is the main ingredient for this dish. During the British Raj in India, the soldiers in Madras (now Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, the birthplace of both these dishes) would have Milagu rasam at the end of their meals for digestive purposes. Then the cooks decided to use this as a sort of stock. They added some meat, tomatoes, rice and other ingredients to make a soup for the British in Madras, who loved this new adaptation. What the cooks did was take an unfamiliar Indian dish and add a few ingredients to make it more suitable to the British palate, to make it into the familiar “soup” that the British were so used to eating. Mulligatawny soup is now one of the most
famous Indian dishes served in the U.K. In this article I will give you a rough guide on how to make it. However, the dish can be adapted and changed to suit your personal tastes. The recipe I am giving here is just one of several variations. It serves six people. Method: 1. Sauté onions, celery, carrot and butter in a large soup pot. Do not overcook the onions because they will give the soup a burnt taste. 2. Add flour and curry, and cook for five more minutes. 3. Add chicken stock, mix well, and bring to a boil. Simmer for about half an hour. You may want to cover the pan when doing this. 4. Add apple, rice, chicken, salt, pepper and thyme. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until rice is done. 5. When serving, add hot cream. Since turmeric is harder to obtain, it is substituted with curry powder, which is extremely popular in the U.K. Some variations of mulligatawny soup use ingredients like flour and halfand-half. These additions help thicken the original recipe to cater to the texture the British are familiar with. Mulligatawny soup is an example of how two cultures merged to form something new, a culturally hybrid cuisine. It illustrates how the colonials improvised on a local dish to find a balance between the two vastly different cultures. The influence of Indian food on British cuisine is undisputed; the British invented chicken tikka masala, after all, and in 2001 their foreign secretary called it “a true British national dish.” I can see the lasting impact of colonialism in the food that is consumed in modern-day Britain. Alongside toad-in-the-hole, spotted dick and bangers and mash, Indian-inspired dishes are cooked up in kitchens across Britain. If anything, it shows that the British aren’t as averse to flavor as I used to think!
Ingredients ½ 1/2 cup chopped onion ½ 2 stalks celery, chopped; 1 carrot, diced ¼ 1/4 cup butter ¼ 1/2 cup heavy cream, heated ½ 3/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ 3/2 teaspoons curry powder ¼ 4 cups chicken broth ½ 1/2 apple, cored and chopped ¼ 1/4 cup white rice ¼ 1 pinch dried thyme ¼ Chicken breast, cut into cubes ¼ Salt, ground black pepper to taste
FEATURES
Page 8
February 22, 2018
“The Olympian” by Eden Forbes
submit to misc@vassar.edu
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MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
2017
February 22, 2018
OPINIONS
Page 9
The Miscellany news Staff Editorial
Media consumption fraught in era of instant information On the afternoon of Feb. 14, a 19-year-old former student of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, shocked the nation by massacring 17 students and staff members, which was the largest death toll in a mass shooting since 2012. Most of us first learned about it through breaking news notifications on our phones or by stumbling across an article on social media. For some unlucky ones, it was a phone call or a text from a loved one involved or close to one of the victims. For many, it was a horrific tragedy that we read about and then closed the browser or put away as if nothing had happened, and continued about our day. As per usual, calls for action echoed from both sides of the aisle, citing diverse causes and solutions to an all-too-familiar cycle of violence within the United States. While the communities who have been directly affected by this and other such acts of terror are and should always be at the heart of our deliberation, it is worth considering how the increasing frequency and magnitude of such events have affected those of us more removed from the immediate tragedy. A year of Donald Trump’s presidency has laid bare how divided our country truly is, and we see this in our everyday lives, in our institutions of government and in the American media. In the era of “fake news,” most critical consumers of media cull their information from a bloated and establishment-friendly news industry that continues to be polluted by partisanship and sensationalism. Although there is reason to believe that millennials are indeed more informed and engaged than older generations generally care to acknowledge, for many of us, the toxic mixture of existential tragedy and the never-ending
news cycle of appalling events like these has proven exhausting (PBS, “Millennials are more informed than you think,” 09.25.2015). For many more still, it has had a noticeably chilling effect on our engagement with current events. It is difficult to criticize those individuals who have chosen to disengage, too, for who can blame them for feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned by the news as it is commonly consumed today? The ubiquity of the smartphone means there is no longer any excuse to not be informed when the news is right at your fingertips. This, in turn, creates immense pressure to stay informed. As the world changes in the blink of an eye, we push ourselves to keep up with it. To the extent that many millennials have the time and energy to stay informed about national issues, we take in news largely in the form of electronic headlines and instant updates. Yet these tidbits, while often important, rarely tell the whole story. In fact, in the Trump era, our whole news industry has embraced a revitalized sensationalistic approach, and consumers are left to reconstruct the unfiltered truth on their own, if indeed they can. Furthermore, our priorities, political leanings and personal beliefs have become the primary means of wading through an increasingly exhausting waves of information. Millennials, for all our foibles, understand how to filter out information we don’t want. Unsurprisingly, we tailor our sources to our specific beliefs and interests. If for whatever reason we do not want updates from Fox News or CNN, we simply choose not to receive their updates, counting ourselves none the poorer. By nature, the broad range of news organizations across the American politi-
cal and cultural spectrum and how we choose to navigate them help to underscore of our individual differences rather than our collective similarities, and this phenomenon contributes to the growing sense of miscommunication and division pervading popular political discourse. Meanwhile, media outlets increasingly resort to sensationalism in the competition for our attention. When every headline contains “breaking news,” the term takes on a markedly confusing and arbitrary meaning. Almost everyone has been baited by a dazzling and promising headline only to click on it and be disappointed by the content—or lack thereof. Our selective filtering of information has made this competition easier for the media, whose headlines target specific audiences. This approach has made it difficult to discern what is actually important. Too much weight is often given to relatively unimportant topics, which in turn trivializes news consumption, for if practically every story is deemed of critical importance, how can we possibly expect to–and be expected to–stay updated? In some instances, our ability to stay updated and act immediately can save lives. During the Parkland shooting, victims sent videos, tweets and texts out in real time, alerting the world of the dire situation unfolding before them (WCTV, “Parkland shooting unfolded on social media,” 2.15.2018). In this case, social media became an important tool to alert law enforcement in a safer and more detailed manner than calling 911. Social media has also become a powerful way to immediately mobilize the masses. As students emerged from the shooting angry and frustrated by current gun laws, they immediately took to social media to stage walk-outs
and demonstrations. Moreover, there have been many effective social media campaigns, such as #metoo and #notmypresident, demonstrating the power of technological connections on the collective psyche of the Internet generation. While staying informed is crucial, it is also important to take care of one’s physical and mental health. When the headlines and the bombardment of anxiety-inducing information become too much to handle, the need to take a step back and take a break from the world for a moment is understandable. However, in doing so, it is also important to recognize the intrinsic privilege of being able to step away from these tragedies, and to remain conscious that not everyone can afford to disassociate from current events, or even turn off their phone and go off the grid for a while. Not only are the people involved in the tragedy forced to remain within it, but people who have experienced similar tragedies may be reminded of that as these events transport them back to their own experiences as well. For most of us, the solution to managing the anxiety in addition to our own well-being is finding a balance, whatever that might be. Nonetheless, as we continue to search for that balance, we must not do so in silence. In an increasingly distant and detached world, it is essential that we remember the benefits of openness and solidarity. Checking in on friends and loved ones can often be the first step toward rebuilding trust between communities, and honest conversation can be remarkably cathartic. —The Staff Editorial expresses the opinion of at least 2/3 of The Miscellany News Editorial Board.
Pesticide regulations may prevent honey bee extinction Catherine Bither GUEST COLUMNIST
T
o you, bees may be pests and annoyances. Their round insect bodies, extending antennae and deep, reflective eyes may even inspire fear in you. However, don’t be afraid (unless you have an allergy)! There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees, all helping to pollinate our world and produce a great deal of the food we eat every day. Without bees, the environment would cease to exist as it does today! And, unfortunately, wild and domestic honey bees are close to extinction. Chances are, everything you know about bee extinction may have come from “Black Mirror.” I, too, did not know much about bee extinction until a bee died right in front of my eyes. Camping in the coastal California redwoods, I was reading at a picnic table, aided by the light of a candle, when a honey bee, equally as attracted to the light as I was, flew right into the flame. Its burning body convulsed in the hot wax and I frantically tried to save it, but there was nothing I could do. Feeling guilty that I had just contributed to the impending bee extinction, I researched everything I could do to help bee populations. First, it is important to realize that honey bees do not just produce honey for the consumption of humans. Honey bees have complex life cycles and have been working to pollinate the world for millions of years. Humans only started taking advantage of the production of this sweet syrup a few thousand years ago. Wild honey bees are the ultimate symbiotic beings. Needing pollen in order to produce their own food, bees are constantly flitting and flapping around to cross-pollinate flowers, which allows fruits and vegetables to grow in addition to
contributing to the genetic diversity of flowers. This benefits not only veggie-loving humans but also other herbivores by producing a stable food source. Honey produced by bees attracts not only Pooh-esque bears, but also bats, birds, raccoons, skunks, opossums and other insects. Honey bees are both producers and indicators of current environmental conditions. “Since 1962,” according to scientists Giorgio Celli and Bettina Maccagnani, “the bee has been increasingly employed to monitor environmental pollution by heavy metals in territorial and urban surveys, pesticides in rural areas and also radionuclide presence in the environment” (Bulletin of Insectology, “Honey Bees as Bioindicators of Environmental Pollution,” 2003). Because of their abundance and their interactions with their local environments, bees are perfect for evaluating the general health of ecosystems. Mass death of bees or harmful chemical residue in honey, pollen and larvae indicates that toxic chemicals exist in the environment (Bulletin of Insectology). Though tragic for the bees and their colonies, this information can help maintain the lives of bees as well as the health of the entire ecosystem. Largely due to the pesticides used by commercial farmers, modern mass bee death began shortly following World War II. Ever since, pesticide use has become more and more common, especially given the industrialization and commercialization of farming in America. While beneficial for keeping insects from eating crops, pesticides are extremely harmful to life on Earth. The most common and effective pesticide, neonicotinoid, has a tragic effect on insects. When bees are exposed to neonicotinoid, they go into shock and forget where they are and how
to get back to their hive and colony. Eventually, the bees become paralyzed and die. Neonicotinoids also have harmful effects on other animal, human bodies and the environment. Studies have found sizeable portions of neonicotinoids in the environment and have examined the adverse effects of the pesticides on mammals, including humans (Environmental Health Perspectives, “Effects of Neonicotinoid Pesticide Exposure on Human Health: A Systematic Review,” 07.06.2016). Though little is known about the actual, long-term effects of neonicotinoids in our bodies, several fatalities following neonicotinoid exposure have been reported, along with numerous reports of developmental and neurological damage. Despite the meager amount of research on pesticides’ adverse effects on human health, there is little regulation surrounding pesticide use. The mass death of bees indicates that pesticides are harmful to the environment, yet the scale of harm is not yet known. There is a great need for better pesticide regulation. In 2008, the United Nations Environment Programme declared that it would “implement a new initiative to better protect bees, bats, birds and others that are essential to global crop production and biodiversity,” yet pesticide regulation has remained largely unchanged (UN News, “Humans Must Change Behaviour to Save Bees, Vital for Food Production,” 03.10.2011). You may be thinking: Well, I’m not a beekeeper or a commercial farmer or a legislator. What can I do to help bees? This is what I was thinking for all those months ago following the death of my bee friend. As I prepared its funeral and grave, I wondered: What can I do, as a student, to save the bees? The answer is certainly not simple, but there are actions that you can take
to help protect bees and moreover the world as we know it! Firstly, you can buy organic produce. Fruits and vegetables that were produced without pesticides are better for the environment, especially for our comrades the bees. In addition, they are better for your health! Though they are a bit more expensive, the extra dollar contributes to the welfare of bees and the farmers who produce the crops. Farmers working on small, certified organic farms are likely to be paid a better salary, have better working conditions and be less exposed to harmful chemicals. You can also buy local and humane honey. The purchase of honey that comes from hives on small farms around you supports local businesses, where the bees are probably treated more nicely as well. Small-scale and wild honey production mirror natural processes more accurately and thus is more healthy for the hive. Also, have a home garden! Especially in urban areas, bees have relatively few plants to pollinate and consequently have little access to food. Your window-box garden will help feed local bees, increase the biodiversity of plants and look beautiful. Most importantly, urge local lawmakers to create legislation aiding the pollinators that keep our world buzzing. The European Food Safety Authority found and demonstrated that farming without pesticides “is entirely feasible, economically profitable, and environmentally safe” (Greenpeace, “What We Can Do to Protect Bees and Other Pollinators,” 03.20.2013). If more farmers in the U.S. adopted non-pesticide farming techniques, production would not decrease, fruits and veggies would be healthier and the environment would ultimately benefit more.
The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented within its Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
OPINIONS
Page 10
February 22, 2018
Effective gun control efforts require greater partisan unity Sylvan Perlmutter COLUMNIST
I
n June 2017, U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was shot along with three others while practicing for the annual congressional baseball game. As a result, Scalise was in critical condition, and his survival was initially in doubt. Thankfully, after multiple surgeries, he was restored to health and was able to resume his duties in Congress. But even after being directly impacted by the inadequacy of current American gun laws, Scalise, a Republican with an A+ rating from the NRA, did not moderate his views on gun control and continues to believe that the second amendment grants unlimited protection to gun ownership (Vogue, “Despite Being Gunned Down at Baseball Practice and Saved by a Lesbian Cop, Rep. Steve Scalise Is Still Pro-Gun and Anti-LGBTQ ,” 10.09.2017). One would think that such trauma would have induced even the slightest change in his views on gun control. What explains such intransigence? It certainly cannot be the desire for continued NRA campaign contributions. The instinct for self-preservation surely outweighs political self-interest. The only viable conclusion is that Scalise and the other Republicans who share his views genuinely believe in Second Amendment fundamentalism. This argument contradicts a current narrative from gun-control advocates, which states that Republican politicians are beholden to the NRA because of its campaign donations and will continue to follow its every whim to keep the money flowing. An analysis that focuses on lobbying and special interests is de rigueur in
the wake of the Occupy Wallstreet movement and the Sanders campaign, but in this case, it does not quite stick.
“The only viable conclusion is that Scalise and the other Republicans who share his views genuinely believe in Second Amendment fundamentalism.” The NRA’s monetary contributions are relatively insubstantial when compared to other funding sources for Republicans. For example, in the 2016 campaign cycle, Scalise only received $4,950 dollars from the NRA (OpenSecrets, “Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2016 Cycle”) out of $3,565,927 raised in total (OpenSecrets, “Rep. Steve Scalise - Louisiana District 01”). It is more proper to view NRA donations as symbolic gestures of support than crude purchases of loyalty. The true power of the NRA, as pointed out by Mike Morrison in the conservative online magazine The Federalist, flows from its highly organized 5,000,000 dues-paying members (The Federalist, “If You Want Gun Control, Stop Calling the NRA a ‘Terrorist Organization,’” 02.19.2018). These members can be mobilized to bombard congressional offices with calls and take up all room for discourse. Over the decades, this has resulted in the enshrining of a
rigid interpretation of the Second Amendment as a fundamental tenet of Conservative civic religion. In assembling its membership, unlike those who advocate for gun control, the NRA has had the advantage of a ready-made constituency— people who own guns (I know, a genius observation). It can draw people in on the basis of owning the same object and engaging in the same hobbies such as hunting, going to a shooting range or simply collecting guns. Contrariwise, it would be exceedingly difficult to create an organization with millions of dues-paying members based on NOT owning an object or on owning fewer of it. The NRA was able to take its membership and turn it into a finely tuned partisan machine through appeals to constitutional originalism, America’s frontier self-conception and racial dog whistling. When Grant Stinchfield, the host of NRA’s online NRATV, wrote “Blame minorities killing each other not law abiding conservatives. Let’s look harder at broken families not gun laws,” he was employing the age-old tactic of pinning systemic problems on people of color (Twitter, stinchfield1776, 10.08.2015). Gun control advocates need some way to overcome this asymmetry in level of organization, cultural force and sheer numbers. The brave students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have provided one possible path by working with Women’s March organizers to plan the National School Walkout and the March for Our Lives (Vox, “Students are Rising Up Against Gun Violence in the Aftermath of the Florida Shooting,” 02.20.2018). By binding gun control more tightly to other left-wing caus-
es, gun control advocates will be able to mobilize more people to call their legislators or give the issue of gun control more weight when they vote in primaries or general elections. Perhaps only such a partisan-slanted approach can make sure that the pressure for gun policy reform will not be shunted by opportunists into policies that harm people of color and the mentally ill to create the illusion of progress. Nevertheless, advocating a partisan approach runs into some problems.
“By binding gun control more tightly to other left-wing causes, gun control advocates will be able to mobilize more people...” While it can be argued that taking an uncompromising stance on an issue like healthcare could be the best policy, it might be better to tread more carefully when the aim is to make millions of people accept restrictions on their death sticks. What is the furthest that gun control can go while keeping a social turbulence at a minimum? Questions such as this will hang over us for the foreseeable future, and there are no easy answers. But at least as we figure out the way forward, we can learn a lesson from the NRA and remember to approach gun control as a broadbased culture war and not simply as a matter of elite corruption.
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The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented within its Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
February 22, 2018
OPINIONS
Page 11
Outdated smoke detectors incite fire alarms Steven Park
OPINIONS EDITOR
L
et’s face it: Vassar College has a fire alarm problem. For a typical resident on campus, it isn’t exactly a rare experience to be sleeping in your room one moment and then be standing outside the dorm building in your pajamas the next because the fire alarms have gone off. But the drowsy students aren’t the only people who are greatly inconvenienced by these frequent false alarms. Everytime the lights flash and the sirens shriek in a dorm building, the good people at the Arlington Fire District (AFD) have to rush onto campus in their fire engines to respond to the alarm. According to a recent investigation by The Miscellany News last fall, the AFD responded to a total of 126 campus fire calls in the 2016-17 school year (The Miscellany News, “Vassar Puts Strain on Arlington Fire District Budget,” 11.15.2017). That investigation also found that Vassar College had nearly three times the number of calls in 2016 compared to peer colleges like Middlebury and Colgate, as well as the highest cost per call of around $2,871. Add this to the fact that the Vassar administration pays only $40,000 to the AFD each year despite draining an estimated $1 million of their funds, and we have here a rather shameful problem. Needless to say, something has to change. While many students may blame the poor decisions of their fellow residents, a common source of complaints is the smoke detectors and how they are either faulty or too sensitive. But how valid is this claim? Most of us don’t really know how they work, much less how to accurately pinpoint what’s exactly wrong about them, so it may be a good idea to learn more about these fire-protection devices. The first thing to remember about smoke detectors is that they really do make a difference in saving lives. According to a 2015 report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires in homes with no smoke alarms caused an average of 940 deaths per year from 2009 to 2013 (NFPA, “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires,” 09.2015). However, the data showed that homes with at least one smoke detector had a 40 percent lower death rate from fires than homes that didn’t have any. In addition, the likelihood of a smoke detector suddenly malfunctioning is pretty slim. While the report mentions that 21 percent of deaths were caused by fires in homes where the smoke detectors were present but failed to operate, the primary reasons behind these failures were either improper care or residents intentionally disabling them to stop nuisance alarms (NFPA). As much as we hate our smoke detectors for making us stand outside in the freezing cold, we definitely need them. With that being said, smoke detectors are far from perfect. In fact, some experts argue that their flaws have cost many people their lives. This is because in many cases, by the time the smoke detector activates, it’s too late—the smoke and flames have already spread everywhere. But how could that be possible? According to Joseph Fleming, a deputy fire chief with the Boston Fire Department, the fault lies with ionization smoke detectors. As it turns out, there are two main types of smoke detectors. The most common type is the ionization smoke detector, which relies on an ionization chamber and a small amount of a radioactive element called Americium-241 (Mental Floss, “How Do Smoke Alarms Work?” 01.08.2013). Essentially, this radioactive material emits alpha particles that ionize (or remove an electron from) the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the air within the ionization chamber. As a result, a small current is created inside the smoke detector. However, when smoke enters this chamber, the smoke particles disturb the current and the alarm is triggered. It may surprise people that these everyday smoke detectors contain a radioactive element, but they pose few, if any, health hazards. A 2001 report by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated that this miniscule amount of Americium-241 gives off a radiation dose of less than 0.002 millirems
each year (U.S.NRC, “Backgrounder on Smoke Detectors,” 05.22.2017). That’s less than the background radiation you get from walking around in the East Coast for about twelve hours. But the problem with ionization smoke detectors doesn’t have to do with their radiation dose. Rather, Fleming argues that ionization smoke detectors have difficulty responding quickly to smoke caused by smoldering fires. “There are tons of studies that conclude that an ionization smoke detector will not give you enough time to get out of the house in a smoldering fire. I believe that somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 people have died unnecessarily over the past 20 years because they didn’t have adequate information about their smoke detectors,” states Fleming (City Limits, “Push to Address Possible Danger in Smoke Detectors,” 03.27.2013). According to Fleming, ionization smoke detectors are excellent at detecting smoke caused by very hot, fast-moving fires. While that is helpful, most of these fast-moving fires occur when people are awake and can quickly put out the fire or escape the building. These are the types of fires that often occur in cooking accidents, in which the smoke detector is treated like a nuisance rather than a life-saving device. In contrast, ionization smoke detectors are slower to detect smoke from smoldering fires, which begin quietly and often suffocate their victims first. Often caused by unattended cigarettes and faulty wiring, these types of fires are extremely common at night when residents are sleeping and depend on their smoke detectors to wake them up (Freakonomics, “How Many Lives Do Smoke Alarms Really Save?” 02.06.2012). As a result, Fleming urges everyone to use photoelectric smoke detectors instead. Unlike ionization smoke detectors, photoelectric smoke detectors use a T-shaped chamber where an LED sends a beam of light across the top (Mental Floss). When smoke enters the photoelectric smoke detector, the light hits the smoke particles and scatters, striking the photocell at the base of the T-shaped chamber. Once a certain amount of light hits this photocell, the alarm is set off. According to studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a photoelectric smoke detector senses smoldering fires on average 30 minutes faster than an ionization smoke detector does, giving occupants much more time to escape (NIST, “Statement for the Record,” 08.06.2007). However, each type of smoke detector has its own strengths and weaknesses. While photoelectric detectors react faster to smoldering fires than ionization detectors, they have more difficulty responding to the fast-moving fires that ionization detectors deal with easily. This is because photoelectric detectors are not very sensitive—there has to be a lot of smoke, enough to block out the light, to activate them (HowStuffWorks, “How Smoke Detectors Work,” 04.01.2000). While photoelectric detectors have their disadvantages, the flaws of these two types of smoke detectors are not on the same scale. As stated earlier, ionization detectors respond 30 minutes slower to the deadly smoldering flames than do photoelectric detectors. In contrast, photoelectric detectors are only 50 seconds slower than ionization detectors when it comes to sensing fast-moving flames (NIST). But to be fair, fast-moving fires do spread much quicker than smoldering fires, so those extra 50 seconds are still valuable. Nevertheless, many experts have been pushing for legislative change to require the use of photoelectric smoke detectors instead of ionization smoke detectors. Because photoelectric detectors are more expensive than ionization detectors ($26 compared to $13) and most state laws remain silent on which one to use, the majority of buildings only use ionization detectors. Yet, studies have shown that smoldering fires account for 54 percent of deaths while fast-moving fires account for only 16 percent (WAHI Spring Conference, “Ionization vs. Photoelectric Smoke Alarms,” 03.14.2015).
Photoelectric smoke detectors also have an additional major advantage over traditional ionization detectors: They are less likely to cause nuisance calls. In fact, a 2000 study conducted in Alaska found that homes with ionization detectors had more than eight times the rate of false alarms than those with photoelectric detectors (PubMed, “Ionization and Photoelectric Smoke Alarms in Rural Alaskan Homes,” 08.2000). As it turns out, it doesn’t take much to trigger a nuisance alarm from an ionization detector. Anything from burnt toast to shower steam to even high humidity can set these smoke alarms off (WHYY, “Extreme Humidity Can Set Off Smoke Alarms,” 07.05.2013). This high sensitivity is not only a source of annoyance but also an actual health hazard: Six people died in the 1990 Boston fire because the residents turned off their ionization smoke detectors after they became sick of the nuisance alarms going off every time they cooked (City Limits). “We know that the photoelectrics are better at alerting people to the fires that are killing more people. A lot of people die from smoke inhalation and not raging fires. The traditional smoke alarms go off frequently when people are cooking or showering and they disable them and forget to reconnect them,” argued former New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (City Limits). Given the evidence stacked against ionization smoke detectors, it’s no surprise that substantial progress is being made in legally requiring the use of photoelectric smoke detectors. After the 2005 apartment fire in Barre, Vermont, the Barre Fire Department conducted a series of experiments testing both photoelectric and ionization detectors and found that some ionization detectors take longer than an hour to go off in the presence of smoldering flames (NBC News, “What You Need to Know About Smoke Alarms,” 11.18.2010). Soon afterwards, Vermont lawmakers passed a law that required all new homes to have photoelectric smoke detectors installed. In Massachusetts, new or renovated homes and apartments must install photoelectric smoke detectors instead of ionization detectors. Two cities in California, Albany and Palo Alto, have done the same as well. “If we could wave a magic wand right now and get rid of all the ionization smoke alarms and replace them instantly with photoelectric smoke alarms, we would cut out fire deaths in this country by more than 50 percent,” stated Albany’s fire chief, Marc McGinn (NBC News). So what type of smoke detectors does Vassar use? According to Vassar’s Director of Environmental, Health and Safety James Kelly, the campus uses a mix of both photoelectric detectors and ionization detectors. Indeed, the NFPA recommends both types to be used so that they can cover for each other’s weaknesses (NFPA, “Ionization vs Photoelectric,” 02.26.2014). Unfortunately, since all the smoke detectors are connected to a central fire alarm system, if one smoke detector goes off, the whole system goes off. But is having both truly ideal? This topic is still hotly debated, but the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the world’s largest firefighter union, made its stance clear all the way back in 2008: All homes should ONLY use photoelectric smoke detectors (IAFF, “Official Position on Smoke Alarms,” 08.2008). Why? Because not only are the benefits of ionization detectors over photoelectric detectors considered “marginal,” but the high frequency of nuisance alarms caused by ionization detectors will also continue to encourage bad fire alarm habits like removing the batteries. For now, it seems nothing much can be done about the smoke detectors at Vassar. After all, the safety of the students takes greater priority over their inconvenience. But if the college really does care about the community of Poughkeepsie, then the administration should take a more active role in not putting so much financial strain on the Arlington Fire Department. The firefighters there deserve that much, at the very least.
Word on the street Name your firstborn child
“Either Luca, Chiara or Billie” –Leah Dillingham ’20
“Easy...Diana Margret” –Abrianna Harris ’21
“Beyoncé” –Dasanae Davis ’20
“Lonzo” –Theo Kilbridge ’20
“Brooke” –Omri Bareket ’19
“Gideon” –Olivia Fiol ’20
Leah Cates, Humor & Satire Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Hannah Benton, Photography
The Miscellany News is not responsible for the views presented within its Opinions pages. The weekly staff editorial is the only article which reflects the opinion of the Editorial Board.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
HUMOR & SATIRE
Page 12
February 22, 2018
Breaking News From the desk of Leah Cates and Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Editors Deece declares today National Mayonnaise Day, will serve mayo casserole topped with whipped mayonnaise Exclusive look at student’s acclaimed Skrillex fanfic Izzy Migani
PULITZER PRIZE RECIPIENT
D
Courtesy of Samana Shrestha
id you ever write fanfiction about celebrities you were obsessed with? Remember when you felt like you could realistically date Liam Payne? I do. During my middle school fanfic phase, Skrillex was my celebrity crush. I have no explanation as to how or why this happened; maybe it had something to do with my emo phase. For your reading pleasure, I have included an excerpt of my favorite chapter, full of romance, mystery and intrigue. The characters are: Hy Moon—Skrillex’s steampunk alter ego in the steampunk version of England. (I thought steampunk was cool.); Jasper—one of my love interests. Super mean. Has a mechanical eye, don’t ask. Doesn’t like Hy; Izzie—me. Has a crush on Hy. Jasper’s best friend. Somehow doesn’t realize Jasper is super mean. Now that you’re familiar with the complex and professionally developed nature of the characters, I grant you the honor of reading my brilliant work. Jasper picked up roses. No good. Lilies? Nope... He was pondering a tulip’s worth when the florist approached. She smiled. “I’d recommend these. An orchid or two is the way to a girl’s heart.” Jasper glanced down, glancing back at the florist with an apprehensive glare. “I’ll take a dozen.” Jasper reached for his wallet. The poor girl was taken aback. “Sir, these are quite pricey, I don’t…” Jasper sighed. “I’ll take a dozen. I don’t have time for unnecessary banter.” The girl gasped. “Wait, are you Jasper Lee? Of Lee and Sons? Oh it’s such an honor to mee-” “Yes. Miss, I’ll just take the flowers and go. Charge it to my account, I must leave.” He snatched the bouquet from the woman’s hands and marched out the door. With a new purpose, he sped down the road to Izzie’s. Later, Izzie heard a sharp rap on the door. She sighed. “It’s open, Jasper.” Jasper laughed as he pushed open the door. “You knew it was me?”
“Of course. Only you have a large enough head to knock once. Use the doorbell, why don’t you? Also, what are you trying so desperately to hide there?” Jasper brought the bouquet over to the kitchen and set the flowers in a nearby vase. “Well, you’ve been working so hard lately. I thought you deserved it.” Izzie was in shock. Usually, Jasper only thought about himself. She smiled. “So beautiful, I love orchids. I’ve only ever seen them at my parents’ funeral.” Jasper beamed with pride, his chest puffed out like a lion. “Let your hair down more often, you could look almost as pretty as the orchid.” “Jasper, you sly fox,” she replied. He took a seat at the table. where a small folder caught his eye. “Are these lyrics?” Adjusting his mechanical eye, Jasper read the proposed song: “And when it’s all over, we can be together / Venture to the world inside / I could see in deeper / I could see in clearer / I’ll never be afraid to die, again / I’ll always be there for you”—Hy. “What’re you reading, Jasper?” Izzie asked. He crinkled the paper. “Just a receipt, dear.” He couldn’t let her see this. Never. Hy visited his closest friend at her mansion. He called: “Izzie?” No answer. “Izzie, you there?” he repeated. He stopped short at the sight of a purple blazer left on a coat hook. “Expensive imported silk, probably,” he mused. His face fell as he realized Jasper had been here. Hy walked over to Izzie and tapped her shoulder. She jerked her head upwards, smashing Hy’s chin. “Blimey! You made me bite my tongue!” Hy clutched his mouth. Izzie frantically apologized. “Such an idiot, you know that?” he smiled and made his way towards the sitting room. “It’s funny,” Izzie called, “Jasper said the same thing not four hours ago.” Hy’s smile froze. “Izzie, did you check the table? I had a surprise for you.” She turned, perplexed. “Yes. All I found was an empty folder.” Hy glanced towards the trash, where the crumpled song was sitting. “Jasper…” he thought.
Jasper, a smooth-talking, super mean sly fox, is not concerned with trivial matters like money because he has a lot of money, and he knows precisely what he wants to do with that money: buy tulips for Izzie, the author and protagonist. To learn more about this riveting romance, check out the article!
Flu season got you down? Try our reusable, old-fashioned ice packs!
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MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
February 22, 2018
HUMOR & SATIRE
Page 13
A humble request: ‘Can you help me with this essay?’ Blair Webber
WRITING CENTER’S NO. 1 FOE
I
Courtesy of Flickr
t’s only a few weeks until spring break, spelling a drastic increase in midterms and papers for most students. Due to my superior organizational skills, I have pretty much all my assignments done already, but I also have so many commitments I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m so busy! Even though I have everything done, I have no time! While I am entirely capable of completing my work, I need a little bit of help with one essay. I was hoping to crowdsource the proofreading and editing process. Here’s my first body paragraph so far: “Kate’s character, as written by Shakespeare, exhibits no indication of being in on the game with Petruchio. Shakespeare lived a long time ago, indicating that perhaps he was writing at a time when stage directions were limited, so it makes sense that there is no physical indications for her to wink or behave in another way indicating she is more in charge of Petruchio than he is. Furthermore, there are no spoken lines that indicate that she is tricking anyone and really isn’t any less ‘tame.’ There simply is no evidence in the text to indicate that interpretation should receive validity from readers, performers, directors or audience members.” I’m not completely happy with this paragraph. First, I couldn’t include any textual evidence, partly because I didn’t read the play, but mostly because modern readers have imposed that interpretation on the text. Hopefully you’ve read the play, so maybe you know a quote to support this. I also couldn’t come up with a word better than indication, so if you think of a better word, I could alternate between the two and sound less redundant.
I’m also having trouble connecting this to my thesis. I haven’t written one. I like to write all the body paragraphs first and then figure something out, so please keep that in mind as you read another body paragraph I’ve completed: “Urbanization means cities increasing in size. Once this happened, suburbanization happened, where all the people moved out to the suburbs in their cars. It’s hard to understand trends in urban renewal without considering Haussmann’s renovation of Paris, where he widened the streets. Even though cars weren’t invented yet, Haussmann’s innovation allowed for more carts in the streets, which are kind of like cars with a ‘t’ and without engines, unless you count a horse. That’s how come Haussmann did such a good job making Paris more accessible for everyone and anyone.” What do you think? Again, if you could come up with a thesis, that would help pull the whole thing together. I’m not really sure, I’m not that great at essays. Oh, while you’re thinking about a thesis, it would be super helpful to also have an introductory paragraph and a conclusion. The assignment says the conclusion should connect the argument of the essay to one of the broader themes discussed in class, so you might want to get on my Moodle and see if the syllabus names any of those broader themes so you can do a good job connecting my essay to the broader themes of the class. It would suck for you to spend all this time on my essay and for me to get a C for not following instructions. I have one more body paragraph. It’s actually more of an idea for a body paragraph. Actually, it’s kind of a rough outline of something that might be an idea for a body paragraph. Could you look it over, come up with a topic sentence, find evidence
After toiling furiously for hours and hours on end, Blair has written approximately two meager lines of his ten-page paper that is due tomorrow. Please help him in any way you can. and then explain the evidence? Here it is: “Darkness. Then……...light. Earth? WO-man. Whoa, man.” Is it a little derivative? Also, what does “derivative” mean? I may need to explain it to my friend who’s helping me with my calculus problem sets. I’ve also been thinking about submitting this outline-sort-of-paragraph to WordSmiths; do you
HOROSCOPES
know if it counts as poetry? Also, do you know if they have an open mic coming up? And do you know if anyone in that org is also in Intro to Creative Writing this semester? I need help with a sonnet, so if you could look into that, I need a list of names ASAP. Also if you could narrow down the list of names into a top five list, then pick from that list, contact that person and tell them I need a sonnet, that would be great. You’re the best! I gotta go take a nap. Good luck with my essay!
Hannah Gaven
AMATEUR ASTROLOGIST
ARIES
March 21 | April 19
TAURUS
April 20 | May 20
GEMINI
May 21 | June 20
CANCER
June 21 | July 22
LEO
July 23 | August 22
VIRGO
August 23 | September 22
Remember not to take your friends for granted. Tell them that their Vassar Dad hat is totally tubular and make sure to thank them when they help you sit on the toilet after a painful workout. One way to really show your appreciation is to sing them a medley of children’s songs. Making friends can be really hard. One surefire way to make friends is to go into for a fist bump, but instead grab their hand. Or perhaps you could join a sports team because they will be forced to spend multiple hours a day with you, both during the week and on the weekends. I assume that when people ask, “How are you?” they really do want to know how you are. But can you explain all your feelings with one word, like “good”? No! Instead, explain the pain you feel in your bruised toe and show it to them for effect. Your friends will be so happy you’re opening up to them. You and your friends might be experiencing some distance. In an effort to bridge that gap, I suggest that you walk into their rooms at night and cuddle them to sleep. The fight about who gets to be the smaller spoon will get you talking again, guarunteed. So you recently met someone super great! However, you suspect that they want to be more than friends, and you want to just be friends. Having that talk might be kind of awkward, so instead pretend to start dating the ghost of Matthew Vassar. They won’t be interested in dating you anymore after that. Are your Friday and Saturday nights getting boring? I thought so. You should convince your friends that what you really need is a sing-along Disney movie marathon. I suggest starting with “High School Musical” and end your evening with an interpretive dance rendition of “Let it Go.”
LIBRA
September 23 | October 22
SCORPIO
October 23 | November 21
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 | December 21
CAPRICORN
December 22 | January 19
AQUARIUS
January 20 | February 18
PISCES
February 19 | March 20
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
You have known real suffering. It’s the feeling of waking up groggy and disoriented after a three-hour nap and just wanting to go back to bed. Whenever I try to take a short nap, I just keep taking multiple short naps in a row. To stop this bad habit, nap in a friend’s bed, so they can wake you up. I suspect you and your friends don’t do much. To remedy this, you should venture into the mysterious outdoors. And then go back inside because there are deer and bugs out there. Instead, experience a new world by making a blanket fort! I know there is something spontaneous that you want to do, but it might be kind of stupid. For example, you might want to drive to a concert in Atlanta, GA over study week. It would be a quick 30-hour drive there and back. 10/10 would recommend. Studying is for nerds! One way to ensure your friends never leave you is to spend every waking hour with them. Never leave them alone, including when they are in the shower. You can also try tying their shoelaces together so they won’t be able to run away. If that doesn’t work, just cut off their legs. The best way for you to make friends is by physically running into people at the Deece. Try it by the hoards of people waiting for water so someone might spill a drink on you and help you dry off! This is perfect because you’ll have instant physical bonding, and they’ll feel like they owe you something. You’ve settled into the same patterns with the same people and you need someone new to squad up with. Just so you know, I am in the friend market and have desirable qualities. For example, I am down to pee in urinals, I will play LEGOs with you and I will eat whatever snacks you make me.
ARTS
Page 14
February 22, 2018
Vassar Devils serenade campus with Valentinograms Matt Stein
ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR
E
Courtesy of Emily Overman
very Feb. 14, chocolate sales will increase, CVS lines will be filled with people buying last-minute gifts and the Vassar Devils will wake someone up at five in the morning to the traditional song “You are My Sunshine.” After tabling in the Retreat the week before, the Vassar Devils celebrated Valentine’s Day by travelling all over campus to deliver their annual Valentinograms. The a capella group, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, also recently received seven Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations for their 2017 debut album “Coming Alive,” including Best Mixed Collegiate Album and Best Pop Song for the track “Alive.” This year’s Valentinogram repertoire featured jazz standards like “Fly Me to the Moon” to contemporary numbers like The Rescues’ “My Heart With You.” The group offered to perform via Skype for those not on campus as well as for alumnae/i. Social Media Manager Jojo Schreeder ’20 spoke on how the group’s dynamic makes the Valentinograms so unique: “We work hard together to make beautiful music, and when we are able to share it and have an impact on people’s lives, that’s what it’s all about. That’s why Valentinograms are so great; we get to spread love with our voices!” Schreeder elaborated on how the group rehearsed for this year’s holiday: “This year we prepared four love songs. In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, we rehearse the shortcut of each song. Knowing that members of the group will be unavailable due to class throughout the day, we also rehearse each song with hypothetical, small groups. This helps us feel prepared when on the day, we end up performing ‘Love On Top’ with two altos and a tenor!”
The group also has a quirky tradition for the first-years to deliver Morning Sunshines from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. While slightly pricier than an ordinary Valentinogram—seven dollars as opposed to five—this option certainly makes a memorable gift. Music Director Lily Carmichael ’20 acknowledged how Morning Sunshines can be overwhelming for the group as well: “Morning Sunshines are a lot. Only a few members do them. I did them last year. Honestly, they’re fun. It’s a tradition for all the people doing the Morning Sunshines to wake up all the other members of the Devils with a song. It was really cute. I loved being woken up for it.” One such recipient of a Morning Sunshine, Yair Stein ’19, recounted his experience with this pseudo-wake-up call: “I was just asleep and suddenly I heard people breaking out into ‘You Are My Sunshine,’ and I was really confused, because I looked at the time and it wasn’t even 6 a.m., and I was just wondering why a group would hold rehearsal then. It took me a minute to realize that it was the Devils doing Valentinograms. They sounded lovely, and it was definitely not the worst song to be woken up by, but yeah, it was just very, very early.” After releasing their debut album “Coming Alive” in May 2017, the Vassar Devils received seven CARA nominations on Feb. 12. The album, which took over two years to arrange, record and produce, features original songs like “Nothing” by Hannah Tobias ’16 and Matt Goldstein ’17 as well as covers of popular songs like WALK THE MOON’s “Iscariot” and “Blood I Bled” by The Staves. The awards ceremony will be in Boston on April 8. The album also received a 4.75 out of 5 review from the Recorded A Capella Review Board. Carmichael explained the jubilation spread throughout the group as a result of these nominations: “It’s thrilling, unexpected, but really really
This Valentine’s Day, the Vassar Devils continued their annual tradition by travelling around campus all day performing a capella songs for unsuspecting victims of Valentinograms. exciting. We’re up there with pretty prestigious groups like the Nor’easters. So it’s really an honor.” Still reveling in the success of their first album, the Vassar Devils are already making plans for their sophomore effort, releasing a cover of Beyonce’s “Love On Top” on Spotify and other music platforms to coincide with Valentine’s Day. The recording is a collaboration with The Vocal Company, which helped produce “Coming Alive.” The Vassar Devils will also go on a mini-tour in April to Connecticut and Boston to perform with local a cappella groups and choirs. Schreeder described the energy the nominations have given the group to record another
album: “The CARA awards are completely overwhelming! As a newer member of the group that did not have any part in the album, it is very inspiring. It definitely is pushing the current members to find a balance between living up to our alumnae/i and creating our own path. That is why we have started the process for a second album; we are so excited to make our mark on this group!” And just as this incarnation of the Vassar Devils hopes to carve their legacy with an album, they hope to continue making Valentine’s Day at Vassar to be a day filled with serenades and harmonies abound, even if that means in the wee small hours of the morning.
The bold, the beautiful, the bodacious: Burlesque is back BURLESQUE continued from page 1 ant that this trust has been there. You get as much as you give and so it’s been very rewarding to be able to form these friendships and be able to openly talk about such difficult issues in such an open environment.” All of these points are key to the group’s mission statement, which concludes with “...we hope to sustain a progressive conversation surrounding consensual sex, sexual expression and body positivity.” The strong sense of enthusiasm and community transfer over well to the preparation for the performances. Dr. Ho ’21 explained, “One of our exec board literally made pretty much all of the costumes for one of the group routines. There were seven people in that show.” In terms of costuming, that was not the only example of extreme dedication presented by other members of the club. Froot Tart mentioned, “There was actually a point
in the show when I couldn’t get my costume right and I got help...so they saved my ass and I love everyone in the group. I don’t know how many times I can say that. Probably a lot.” Froot Tart further expressed his surprise when he got in: “Some of us were surprised to get into the org in general. We didn’t think of ourselves as Burlesque performers until we were in the group.” Dr. Ho, also a new member, conveyed similar sentiments: “I was very happy, flattered and confused.” New and old members both have an enthusiasm about membership. Ouellette mentioned: “I love every second I get to spend with the new members. They continue to amaze me with their talent and insight and love for the group.” The sense of community is not just visible in the show, but around campus and in meetings. Mopy Dick, in his first year of membership in the club, explained his favorite part of being in Burlesque:
Courtesy of Omri Bareket
Vassar Burlesque held its “Second Annual Burlesque Spectacular!” on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10 in the Shiva, with performers exploring their sensuality through this art form.
“It’s the sense of community and acceptance.” He further elaborated, “At every meeting, there’s always so much positivity and support from everyone. There’s this strong sense of trust that’s hard to achieve in a club.” Ouellette made similar points about Burlesque’s unique atmosphere: “Burlesque is an entirely different experience from other performances I’ve been in. It feels like more of a family or a community than a performance group.” Since the show itself takes an abundance of effort and planning, each member must take the group very seriously. Ouellette took us behind the scenes, illuminating the level of planning that was required: “A surprising amount of work goes into these shows. There are a lot of tiny moving parts that have to be accounted for and trying to organize and communicate with 30 performers is really hard. I’ve been really impressed by everyone though. The group this year has really been giving everything 110% effort and commitment.” Mopy Dick, as a solo performer in this year’s show, played the chords to “Wonderwall” on the ukulele completely nude as the audience sang along, some with distributed lyric sheets and others solely from memory. “I spent all of winter break practicing the song on ukulele,” stated Mopy Dick. Regarding his preparation, he continued, “It mainly involved getting the chords and the order of the song correctly. I originally planned on covering my genital region with the ukulele but gave up on that idea when I discovered how difficult a position it would’ve been to play. So I gave in, uncomfortably at first, to displaying it all.” When Mopy Dick was actually on stage performing, he strove for audience participation: “During the Friday night performance, one person was simply in a fit of laughter the whole time and another person took one of the fake candles from a table and began waving it like a lighter at a concert. That performance was a weird experience; it felt like everyone was participating in a joke they were in on. And so my expectations for Saturday
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
were very different when not as many people knew the lyrics to the song. Usually when you’re performing onstage, it’s one person feeling awkward in front of 150 people. This time, it felt like the other way around.” Burlesque encourages said participation. Ouellette made it a strong point that the audience should unreservedly express love and support to the performers: “CHEER. SCREAM. CLAP. Anything to show that you love what’s happening, that you support us.” This happened from the entrance of the first performer: soloist, president and co-founder of the club, Madeleine Briggs ’18. The routine started out with her suggestively sprawled across a couch, with attendants surrounding her. Within seconds, the audience’s reaction filled the room with cheering, screaming and clapping. Briggs greatly supported this connection between audience and performer, likening it to one of the things that makes Burlesque special: “What I think sets Burlesque apart from other modes of performance is that the performance of confidence and self-assuredness onstage by the performer is not only healing to the performer but is also mirrored by the viewer. Seeing someone feeling sexy and having fun gives the audience permission to feel sexy and have fun. In all of the performances I have seen and participated in, I have never witnessed the depth of this mirrored connection between audience and performer, especially a shared experience that can be so transformatively positive.” Briggs concluding the event wearing an extravagant pink-feathered costume—one that alluded to her performance last year, suggesting the start of a tradition. The repertoire of performances that left audiences reeling wrapped up with a heartwarming award ceremony on closing night, with multiple group members receiving beautiful arrangements of flowers from the rest of the team, as a marker of gratitude for all the hard work those members put into the show.
February 22, 2018
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Lecturer reconceptualizes ‘art of living’ as spiritual RELIGION continued from page 1
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
is currently researching the religious elements of the works of the great Virginia Woolf. Paulsell is also an ordained minister and a prolific writer. These labels should be an indication to Paulsell’s field of interest. When writing on Virginia Woolf, Paulsell finds devotion not to be a dogmatically defined field of practice, but is instead a devotion to the “unknowable more, to the ‘infinite possibilities . . . furled’ in human beings and in human experience.” Paulstell’s subject, Virginia Woolf, should give us all pause to consider just how loaded terms like “religion” and “devotion” are in today’s day and age. Woolf was a scathing critic of Christianity and described herself as an atheist. However, for ordained minister Paulsell to claim Woolf as devoted to her own religion isn’t an act of appropriation by Christians, but is an appreciation of just how universal the meanings behind religion really are. For the sake of consistency though, I must reiterate: this event is not a religious event. However, there is a sentiment strung throughout our lives and communities that is spoken of most succinctly in “religious” contexts. Or, put more anecdotally, we all have theological questions pecking at our brains––we’re just trained, as Americans, to be scared of applied philosophy. Put more simply, theological questions are not questions locked away behind confounding intellects: they are questions that are intrinsic to being human. Director of Spiritual and Religious Life Samuel Speers is another organizer for the event. When asked what this idea of “practices” meant and how it related to living on campus, Speers described practices as being a way of experiencing life more fully. He added that these practices are not a dogmatic act, but are personal acts that help one to
Consisting of a talk, followed by a workshop of practices led by a panel of Vassar faculty members, this event shall explore and reimagine literary and spiritual connotations of living. maintain a meaningful sense of experience. Referring to the latter part of this event, he mentioned, “These workshops, led by our own faculty, reveal a cohort of practitioners on campus with experience in simple daily practices they have found for experiencing time’s fullness beyond our constant sense of not having enough of it.” This workshop section of the event trades out Virginia Woolf for Harry Potter and community members from Vassar and beyond. The workshop that follows Paulsell’s lecture is a multi-part event that features a number of speakers. The workshop moves through five different thematic elements
that help to illuminate how to live more devotedly. The five themes are Moving, presented by Carolyn Palmer; Contemplation, presented by Paul Kane; Reading, presented by Vanessa Zoltan; Writing, presented by Akta Kaushal and Activism, presented by Shane Slattery-Quintanilla. Slattery-Quintanilla is a member of Nomadique, a cooperative committed to social justice, along with being a professor in the Film and Media Studies Departments. Writing about his workshop’s goals, he stated, “We will explore ways of fostering meaningful communities around shared political and artistic goals, and we will reflect on the ways these goals can meaningfully intersect.”
Professor of Political Science Akta Kaushal is conducting a workshop that seeks to address the ways in which sacred texts and speech affect our lives. Through writing exercises and dialogues, she hopes to address the ways we make sense of our lives through “scriptural” means, and how the idea of relating to a scripture is much more prevalent in our modern lives than we might think at first. Vanessa Zoltan, along with being an accomplished academic and Divinity School graduate, is a co-host of the podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.” Her workshop will perform a Jewish reading practice (Pardes) as a group on a sentence from the “Harry Potter” series and see what relevant material it contains. Paul Kane, who teaches in the English and Environmental Studies Departments, will be directing a workshop that will explore the “faculty of attention.” It will employ practices that attune one to their quiet inner spaces along with practices of physical and spatial centering. Finally, Carolyn Palmer is a developmental psychologist who teaches in the Psychological Sciences Department. Her workshop seeks to illuminate how habitual and non-habitual movements help to “unravel tensions and reclaim function.” While this event is called the “Art of Living,” the “Arts” element of the lecture goes deeper than simply a fancy title. There is a very concrete thread running through this event and that is the thread of literature. I would even go as far as to abstract this one step further and just label it as “language,” but that might stray too far from the arts. Whatever the case, there is a very tangible connection between the words that we use to make sense of our life, and the ways in which we live our lives informed by these words. This event hopes to illuminate this connection.
‘Lady Bird’ examines youth with unparalleled humor Izzy Braham
ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR Ladybird
Greta Gerwig A24 Films
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at the same time feeling that she doesn’t approve of your personality or priorities. Lady Bird’s relationship with her best friend also stood out. There were times when the two are seen laughing, while there are others in which Lady Bird mistreats her best friend. The ability that the friends have to pick back up where they left off, and at the end of the day, honor the love they have for each other, was heartwarming and illustrative of how comforting women’s friendships can be. Additionally, Lady Bird’s two romantic endeavors have a lot of relatable hilarity in them but also speak volumes about the awkwardness and cruelty of young relationships. Both boys are caricatures of their respective “types.” One is an impassioned theater type—cute and seemingly kind, but as we find out, not interested in girls. The other is
a typical sad boy who loves to smoke cigarettes, read about communism and play in his band and is too “chill” to be caught at any school event. Lady Bird proves to be on a different plane than both of them, as she is entirely more socially tuned in and mature—an insight that is all too true of the dynamic of young heterosexual relationships. While these relationships were funny because of how true to life they are, they also present the viewer with some unfortunate ways teenage boys treat teenage girls, which I thought was an important point to bring to light. All in all, “Lady Bird” was hilarious at times and heartbreaking at others. This type of unconventional female-centered experience, while seeming niche in nature, has insights about growing up that could be relatable not just to young girls, but also to many diverse crowds.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
ilarious, adorable, inspiring, creative, relatable, powerful. All of these qualities describe the wonderful new Greta Gerwig movie, “Lady Bird,” which features rising stars Saoirse Ronan, Beanie Feldstein and Timothée Chalamet. While the film has received several awards and has had a surprisingly high turnout at the box office for an indie movie, the best thing about it is that it explores, with unprecedented depth and humor, female relationships and what it’s like to grow up as a young, rebellious teenage girl. The movie is set in Sacramento, CA, where Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, played by Ronan, goes to an all-girls Catholic high school. The opening scene shows Lady Bird fighting with her mother in the car regarding college, a pertinent issue in the movie. Lady Bird wants to go to an offbeat liberal arts school, but her mother, after considering money and her daughter’s work ethic, thinks that a state school would be best. The fight escalates and while her mother is driving, Lady Bird opens the door and rolls out of the moving vehicle. Gerwig then abruptly and comedically cuts the the next scene of Lady Bird at school with a pink cast around her arm. The endearing nature of the opening scene foreshadows the equally entertaining quality that the rest of the movie takes. The film doesn’t follow a strict plot per se, but rather provides the viewer with multiple episodes in the life of young Lady Bird. It delves into her relationships with her parents—particularly focusing on her relationship with her mom—and depicts hilarious, relatable and cutting moments with her best friend. The
movie also focuses on Lady Bird’s school life. She stirs up drama by cheating on schoolwork and rebelling against all the ideas that are fed to her at Catholic school. The film also delves into the two relationships that Lady Bird is in over the course of the film and depicts how these romances both implode in the most typical ways. There are so many aspects of the movie that made it incredibly original and extremely heartfelt. To begin, Lady Bird as a character is very easy to connect with. Lady Bird has pink hair, refuses to go by her given name, yells at her mom, makes friends with the mean girls and comes to regret it, decides to act in a play during her senior year of high school, wants to go to a quirky liberal arts school, dates boys who care more about reading “Infinite Jest” than dating her, binge-eats food and candidly talks about sex with her best friend. The concepts of being frustrated with how you look and are, feeling utterly irritated by but simultaneously not good enough for your parents, having a hard time but having enough gumption to try new things anyway, and loving the female friends who are there for you are all central issues that Lady Bird deals with and are very applicable to the female high school experience in general. Another aspect of the film that brought a lot of depth to the storyline was Lady Bird’s relationships with the other women in her life. Her intense fights with her mother about everything from what to wear to where to go to college are countered with equally intense moments of her mother quietly expressing her love to her daughter or Lady Bird begging for forgiveness. One poignant scene when Lady Bird is trying on dresses really embodies her relationship with her mother. Lady Bird tells her mother, “I wish that you liked me.” Her mother responds with, “Of course I love you,” to which Lady Bird then asks, “But do you like me?” I found this scene insightful and relatable—pointing out that all-too-familiar conflicting feeling of knowing that your mother loves you, but
Greta Gerwig’s award-winning “Lady Bird” explores a teenage girl’s experience, delving into parental relationships, friendships and romance with an endearing unconventionality.
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MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ embodies evolved sound, depth Fiona Nematbakhsh GUEST COLUMNIST
Little Dark Age
MGMT Columbia Records
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bilant, yet it continues in a staggered manner that builds through the album’s progression. This song seeks to reflect back on MGMT’s career and current positioning as a band. At one instance, it even takes a pointed aim at their second and third albums that failed to take off, stating, “the smart ones exit early.” The song, according to the band, takes on political undertones: band members stated in a Rolling Stone interview, “That’s pretty much directly about Donald Trump” (Rolling Stone, “MGMT’s Pop Adventure: How Duo Bounced Back 11 Years After Debut,” 01.25.2018). However, lines like “the joke’s worn thin, the king stepped in,” utilize coded language, thus causing the duo to miss their chance at taking a strong and acerbic stance against Trump. Sonically, the album cements MGMT as both an innovator and a brand. They have a sound uniquely their own, derived in part from their existence across genres—indie rock, psychedelic rock and electropop. This unique blend builds a peculiar soundscape style into the melody of their songs by foregrounding instrumentation and using vocals more as a powerful accent throughout the album. The auras built are subject to individual interpretation, but are undeniably there—for me personally, “Me and Michael” somehow prompts the feeling of swimming through goo. This disparity between dreamy music and intense, often darker, topics creates an optimistic and approachable tone throughout the album. MGMT tries to remind us to think of our dark stages as “little” and conquerable. While the auditory qualities and themes represent the emergence of a more mature MGMT, the songwriting has not improved as much. In dealing with the media saturated nature of their—and our—generation on “TSLAMP,” the singer touches on the larger issue at hand by saying, “Gods
descend to take me home, find me staring at my phone.” They choose to repeat the phrase, “Time spent looking at my phone,” in order to drive home the points that they are making, but in the process, they compromise on the depth of their lyricism. This sort of touch-and-go writing detracts from their presentation of larger ideas. MGMT has successfully brought forth an evolved and intentional sound—rather than engaging in experimentation for the sake of experimentation—while hanging onto the larger sonic and theoretical ideas that define them: unique, ambient production with a nostalgia for the now and for our youth as it escapes from in front of us. On the path of defining themselves, “Little Dark Age” has been MGMT’s best step so far.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
hile pop music at the top of the charts wants to take us back to the ’90s through new jack swing, MGMT is taking us back even further into the ’80s with synth-pop. After a debut album that unintentionally sprung itself into the mainstream, MGMT’s past two releases have been dogged by poor reception and overcalculated experimentation. This struggle to find their footing was due to a constant attempt to distance themselves from the dominant tropes related to pop music. MGMT’s most recent album “Little Dark Age,” released on Feb. 9, seems to be the first one to successfully back off from this approach and focus on a more genuine experimentation with sound that still holds an aesthetic unity. Although the album is not conceptually cohesive, its artistic harmony is born from a structure that emphasizes ascension out of the dark age— for themselves and for society at large—with a long swim to the surface. The opening notes on “She Works Out Too Much” almost feel like they throw you deep into what would normally be the middle of an album, despite simply being the first song. The first set of songs take the heaviest ’80s influence—“Me and Michael” features twinkling guitar and has the layered vocals of any old ’80s soundtrack, while “Little Dark Age” takes on an odd similarity to Giorgio Moroder’s galactic sound on “From Here to Eternity” with a darker and heavier tone. These topics also deal with heavier
personal subjects, from a failing relationship in “She Works Out Too Much” to depression in “Little Dark Age.” These themes expand into larger reflections on the self and relationships from “wondering where the hours went” while looking at the phone in the number “TSLAMP” to keeping the door for friends “always open” in the song “James.” “Days That Got Away” functions as a transition, and almost as an intermission, with its strong instrumentality and minimal vocals. This song, though, has a fast tempo that cooks away beneath the surface sounds, thus impeding on its transportive quality. This song would better punctuate the album as a whole if it were slowed down and forced its listener to do the same. However, the title of the song falls perfectly on brand with MGMT’s recurring theme of nostalgia for the now— for the moments we live in even as we realize that they are passing us by and won’t come back again. The final three songs falsely present a sunnier disposition—through lyrics or instrumentation—but these qualities camouflage the heavier, intimate issues that are more freely discussed in the opening songs of the album. “One Thing Left to Try” has a more cheery beat carrying it than previous songs, but openly discusses a struggle with suicidal thoughts. The final two songs use more coded language to discuss intimate issues, but highlight traditional instruments over a synth, unlike any other songs on the album. “When You’re Small” keeps the lyrics to literal meanings of “small” while simultaneously implying sentiments of feeling small. For MGMT, this could even relate to their smaller position within the record industry as a duo that has gone well off the public’s radar. Finally, this expansion from the self ends on “Hand It Over,” which rings rather homey and ju-
MGMT’s newest album, released Feb. 9, 2018, showcases a more mature experimental sound that still manages to maintain the nostalgic style of the group’s previous albums.
Controversial colonialist remnants taint childhood favorite Sasha Gopalakrishnan ARTS EDITOR
If I Ran the Zoo
Dr. Seuss Classic Seuss
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ern civilization, thus making it good for nothing but exploration and exploitation of the treasures found within them—the treasures that the savages living there don’t know how to use anyway. It’s true that this book was written in 1950, a time when colonial power, although waning, did still prevail in many parts of the world. However, regardless of Dr. Seuss’s context, it can’t be denied that his legacy has served to immortalize his books, no matter how problematic they may be. Thus, subliminal—or, in this case, outright—messages of Western superiority and conquest of the so-called “Other” are filtered into children’s imaginations even to this day. Yet, we brush this issue under the rug because it would be futile to defame a beloved icon whose colonial views don’t seem to hurt the interests of the middle-class white parents who make up the majority of his books’ buyers. Plus, nobody wants to admit how creepy “The Cat in the Hat” really is, but that’s a whole other article.
If you’re still not convinced—if you’re still trying to preserve the perfect image of the man who brought you “Green Eggs and Ham”—let me hit you with the big one. There comes a point when Seuss depicts a large animal that looks suspiciously like a camel, but is apparently called a “Mulligatawny,” being reined in by a man sitting on it. This man sports a turban and sword reminiscent of “Arabian Nights,” and just as the creeping racism starts to make your skin crawl, your eyes focus on the text: “This beast is the beast that the brave chieftains ride / When they want to go fast to find some place to hide / A Mulligatawny is fine for my zoo / And so is a chieftain. I’ll bring one back, too.” “And so is a chieftain. I’ll bring one back, too.” For his zoo. A chieftain for his zoo, an Arab for his zoo, an East Asian for his zoo. Guess what, I can make rhymes about slavery too! But maybe I’m being too harsh; in Seuss’s words, “And eight Persian princes will carry the basket / But what their names are, I don’t know. So don’t ask it.”
Courtesy of Obama White House Archives
ut if I ran the zoo,’ / Said young Gerald McGrew, / ‘I’d make a few changes / That’s just what I’d do...’ / The lions and tigers and that kind of stuff / They have up here are not quite good enough / You see things like these in just any old zoo / They’re awfully old-fashioned. I want something new!” prescribed Dr. Seuss, the iconic children’s book author who most of us grew up on, in his 1950s publication “If I Ran the Zoo.” At first glance, there’s nothing wrong with the story told in that stanza. As a child, it would’ve been hard to even conceptualize any issues with wanting our dream zoos to incorporate the incomprehensible, the exotic, the mystifying. After all, isn’t that what a zoo is meant to do? They are exhibits for people to gawk at, but what’s the fun in gawking at something you could see at, as Seuss puts it, “any old zoo”? Wouldn’t it make the most sense for one to scour the ends of the earth for the most far-flung, foreign species in order to entertain one’s zoo-goers; to give them their money’s worth? That’s what a colonizer would say, anyway. Or at least Dr. Seuss. In “If I Ran the Zoo,” Seuss combines his trademark surreal images with pithy poetic stanzas to create a piece of work that depicts and describes all the fantastical creatures that young Gerald McGrew wants in his zoo to set it apart from the rest. These creatures range from large to long, furry to freaky and hybrid to horrifying. They are creatures you would never find within the comfortable and conventional confines of the Western world; ones that only so-
called “exotic,” developing countries of the Global South could possess. As Seuss puts it in his charming (read: chauvinistic) way, “If you want to catch beasts you don’t see every day / You have to go places quite-out-of-the-way / You have to go places no others can get to / You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too.” The discourses in this book are rich with problematic, racist stereotypes that paint these countries as wildly different from Western centers of power, thus teaching young children that othering these countries is wholly acceptable and encouraged. Seuss casually throws in the line, “I’ll hunt in the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant / With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant,” pairing this blatantly racist sentiment with images of East Asian men wearing wooden Geta sandals and carrying a large caged animal on their heads, with a proud Gerald McGrew standing atop the cage. Apart from the grossly Orientalist exoticization present—from the stereotypical visuals to the wacky make-believe name of the mountains—the images and text reinforce the idea that East Asians are automatically subordinated to (the presumably white) McGrew by sheer fact of their race and nationality. Portraying developing countries as uncharted land, brimming with brutes who engage in strange habits and rituals, Seuss’s book is ripe with colonialist imagery that romanticizes the conquest of unknown animals and resources in far-out areas. And when I say conquest, I really do mean conquest: almost every page of the colorful picture book depicts a furry and frenzied fictitious animal being captured against its will by young Gerald McGrew, or as I’d like to call him, Child Colonizer. So, while it’s easy to simply see a bunch of funny-looking fauna on the surface, even the most perfunctory read unravels the true ideologies that inform Seuss’s writing: the viewpoint that the developing world doesn’t hold a candle to West-
Dr. Seuss’s book “If I Ran the Zoo” contains problematic imagery that romanticizes conquest, yet, as we see from Michelle Obama’s reading of one of his books, his legacy still persists.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
ARTS
February 22, 2018
Campus Canvas
A weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists
Page 17 submit to misc@vassar.edu
Excuse me, Describe yourself in three words
“Stressed, hungry and klutzy” — Lauren White ’20
“I’ve been told I’m determined, intelligent and hardworking” — Lia Bozzone ’20
“Tired, happy and motivated” — Jenny Kerbs ’20
“Savannah says I’m intelligent, hilarious, genuine and beautiful” — Sharika Hasan ’19
“Sharika says I’m confident, beautiful and trustworthy” — Savannah Smith ’19
“Fed up with thesis” — Matt Knigge ’18 Samantha Hodes Class of 2020 Sociology Major The medium for the bike tire is graphic pencil. The tree was co-created with a friend from home, William Walker, and done in sidewalk chalk. The rest are acrylic ink.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Leah Cates, Humor & Satire Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Hannah Benton, Photography
SPORTS
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February 22, 2018
Celebrated lacrosse coach emphasizes sisterhood, strength Kelly Pushie REPORTER
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f you watch any of the women’s lacrosse roster videos, in which the player states their name, position and reason for coming to Vassar, there are two common themes. The first—for the great academics. And the second—to play for Judy Finerghty. Finerghty has been the head women’s lacrosse coach at Vassar for 22 years. A four-time Liberty League Coach of the Year, Finerghty has over 150 victories under her belt. For 16 years of her tenure here at Vassar, Finerghty served as the head coach of the field hockey team as well. Finerghty was also a dual-sport athlete as an undergraduate at Guilford College in Maryland, where she played lacrosse and basketball. Finerghty has been indispensable in the Athletics Department during her time as a head coach. She has been here long enough to witness countless changes and improvements to the athletic culture at Vassar. When she first started working here, there were hardly any full-time coaches, and the head women’s lacrosse job was paired with the head field hockey job. However, the past two decades have proved to be extremely beneficial for athletics programs at Vassar. Finerghty applauded the work of Andy Jennings, who was the athletic director from 1990 to 2004. His push to improve the facilities, hire more full-time staff and add a greater variety of sports improved the overall varsity athletic culture. “We are definitely a much bigger and much more legitimate Division III program than we were when I first got here,” Finerghty said. “We really had no athletic tradition or very little athletic tradition and I think that’s changed or has been much improved at this point.” Finerghty coached both field hockey and la-
crosse for 16 years, and by the end, she was one of the few coaches left in Division III coaching two sports. Eventually, as the popularity of both sports blossomed, it would prove too difficult for Finerghty juggle all demands and recruit year-round. She had a tough decision to make. “When I decided to coach lacrosse over field hockey, it was a hard decision in some ways because I loved both sports,” Finerghty said. “I think the thing that really did it for me was the innovations in lacrosse, the technology. It was just a really exciting time to be a part of the sport.” Being a part of the growth of the sport was exciting for Finerghty. The game had changed tremendously since she started. “When I played in college and when I first got here we didn’t have sideline or endline boundaries on the field,” Finerghty said. “We didn’t have restraining lines, and now we have all kinds of lines, we have possession clocks and we have all kinds of stick technology that makes the skills that the players can perform so much better.” Finerghty’s love for lacrosse and her team translates directly into the high-energy, upbeat attitude she brings to every practice and game. Finerghty explained that she tries to make practices as enjoyable as possible: “I try to keep everybody up and make it fun and make everything team-oriented so that everybody feels connected to each other.” The way she carries herself in practice and the energy that she brings each and every day resonates with everyone she coaches. Sophomore midfielder Adele MacEwen commented on how Finerghty is able to make her and her teammates push themselves every practice and every game. “Judy radiates pure joy. You can be playing the best or the worst game of your life and she’s just happy to be with you,” MacEwen said. “When someone loves and appreciates you at your best and your worst it’s
pretty special and you want to fight your hardest for them.” Not only do current players find Finerghty’s coaching style inspiring, but alumnae also carry lessons from Finerghty with them to this day. Ashley Rey ’09, a captain of both field hockey and lacrosse, explained how lucky she was to have Finerghty as a coach for two seasons. When asked what it was like to play for Coach Finerghty, Rey put it simply: “Life-changing, inspiring, strengthening.” For Rey, Finerghty left a positive impression on her. “Playing for Judy taught me how to push myself to be my best—on and off the field—without taking the fun out of the sports,” Rey said. “Judy is the kind of leader you want guiding you through the tough and the good. Playing for her was pure joy, with a little soreness on the side.” Finerghty has been an incredibly successful coach at Vassar in every sense possible. She not only finds success in her ability to help the team win games, but also has fostered a close-knit and supportive atmosphere within her team. The motto of the women’s lacrosse team is “Always take care of your girl,” a philosophy that Finerghty preaches day in and day out, whether it is on or off the field. Although she is not sure where the motto came from, Finerghty is certain that it is the most important lesson that she wants her team to follow. “I think people play sports for more than just the satisfaction of going out and performing individually at their best,” Finerghty said. “They play sports because of the connections they make with other people.” Players don’t necessarily remember all the wins and the losses, but rather the broader experience: “What [my players] remember is the time they spent with their teammates and how important that was,” Finerghty expressed. “You can pass somebody a ball and if there’s no feeling between
those two people, then somebody just scores goals and somebody has the assist. When you combine what you’re doing with another person, that feeling gets so amplified.” The mutual connection between players is not only reflected on the field, but also within the network of alumnae. This motto of always watching out for your teammates, and also watching out for those who came before you and will come after you, is something that Finerghty’s players can carry with them beyond their years at Vassar. “That spider web of connections is so important. It just makes the whole experience richer, more rewarding and gives everybody a sense of belonging to the program. I feel that is absolutely indispensable and is probably the most important aspect of our program,” Finerghty noted. Finerghty’s players reveal that she has made a profound impact during her time as a head coach. The concept of creating a community and the philosophy of support and teamwork motto are ideas that Rey says she still thinks about to this day. “[Coach] taught me commitment, putting others before myself, and the beauty of ‘we.’ The number one emphasis was to ‘always take care of your girl,’ on and off the field, and to this day I try to live by that standard,” Rey noted. “I use what she taught me in my daily life, with friends, family and coworkers. I can honestly, and without hesitation, say that my time with Jude made me a better person.” What makes Coach Finerghty special is the lasting mark she leaves on everyone she crosses paths with. The lasting relationships she forms with her players explain why Finerghty will undoubtedly go down as one of the most loved and respected coaches in Vassar’s history. As Rey put it, “Jude isn’t just a sports coach but a life coach. Even now, off the team for almost 10 years, I consider her one of the most influential people in my life.”
Breaking down Vassar men’s basketball by the numbers BASKETBALL continued from page 1
Browne stands at eighth in the Liberty League in field goal percentage and eighth in scoring, having contributed 21.9 percent of Vassar’s points on the year. Browne also had a major impact from behind the arch, posting an average of 2.5 three-pointers per game average, which ties him tied for fifth in the league. Also providing major on-court leadership this season was 6’10’’ big man Paul Grinde. At 7.9 rebounds per game, Grinde was fifth in the conference in rebounding and contributed 22.5 percent of the team’s total rebounds on the season. He also posted 14.4 points per game, putting him at 12th in the league. Along with strong showings by upperclassmen, the most exciting aspect of the season may have been the contributions of the rookie class. The group of first-years on the team included Lance Tebay, Zach Bromfeld, BJ White and Hugh Durham, and at one point or another each of these athletes showed just how high the potential of this team is in the future. On paper the group speaks for themselves. Zach Bromfeld finished fourth on the team in scoring at 8.1 points per game and second on the team in rebounding at 5.5 boards per game. Bromfeld also took home multiple Liberty League Rookie of the Week accolades to go along with his on-court contributions. Lance Tebay finished fifth on the team in scoring at 7.1 points per game, fourth on the team in rebounds with 4.2 per game, and knocked down an impressive 34 three pointers, placing him second on the team in total threepoint field goals. Combined, Bromfeld and Tebay started 36 games for Vassar (with Bromfeld getting 19 starts and Tebay getting 17), a number only matched in recent years by that of Grinde’s and Alex Seff’s rookie start totals. Despite suffering an injury that sidelined
him for the first part of the season, White added to the strong rookie class by making significant contributions off the bench. White finished with an average of 6.3 points per game and also had the highest shooting percentage from behind the arch among players with at least 15 three-point field goal attempts. In a similar vein to Browne’s leadership and Grinde’s physical presence beneath the boards, Vassar’s group of first-years goes beyond the stat line in many ways that provide a perfect example of why numbers alone can’t define a player. The three free-throws knocked down by White as time expired against Skidmore showed his ability to play under pressure in clutch situations. Despite suffering injury problems late in the season, Hugh Durham’s big game against Williams showed his potential to be a key role player in future seasons. Ultimately, while the absence of Browne and fellow senior Tony Coletti will certainly be felt both on and off the court in the following seasons, many key pieces will be returning next year, putting the team in a good position to repeat another playoff visit. The leadership role will certainly be filled well by Grinde and Seff, while the many returning underclassmen, such as Owen Murray (third on the team in both assists and rebounds), Josh Brownridge and the aforementioned group of first-years will provide the team with valuable depth. By the numbers, Vassar’s cumulative points per game by returning athletes not only matches but exceeds that of some of the conference’s other top teams. Going forward, the team will have a very solid foundation for not only continued league playoff appearances, but also deep playoff (and even NCAA tournament) runs.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
February 22, 2018
SPORTS
Page 19
Thoughts from the editor: the NBA’s greatest spectacle Mack Liederman SPORTS EDITOR
This past weekend, it was hard to miss the NBA. Whether you watched any of the events or not, circulating through Instagram and Twitter is an overwhelming barrage of improbable dunks, memes (thanks, Fergie) and celebrity photo ops. Recaps and storylines coming out of the event seem so endless that it is tough—even for a committed fan like me—to feel completely caught up. If there was one moment stood out, however, it came on Saturday night, from a babyfaced player with an inexplicable anger towards the rim. Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell, prepping for his final attempt in the Slam Dunk Contest, shed his bright orange uniform to reveal a throwback Toronto Raptors number 15 jersey, the one once donned by the legendary Vince Carter. Mitchell was gearing up to replicate one of the crowning dunks of the 2000 contest. With one quick motion, the young rookie approached the rim from the left, jumped off two feet, spun 360 degrees in the air and threw the ball down vigorously with his right hand. Meh. It was a great dunk by all measures, a spectacular athletic feat, but nothing we have not seen before. What made Carter’s dunk in 2000 so special is that with such ease and swagger, he jumped straight up into the air like a human pogo stick. For
a split second, Carter made us all collectively reconsider gravity — there could just be no way a man could jump vertically, spin in the air and then have his head above the rim. Woah. Mitchell’s dunk was just not that. Fellow participant Larry Nance, Jr., also tried his hand at replication, putting on an old Phoenix Suns uniform to perform his father’s famous cradle rock dunk. Once again, a great dunk, but not the same feel. There is a certain emptiness to the dunk contest these days. Retro is cool, but when it comes to jaw-dropping dunks, it is all about originality. We remember Michael Jordan’s free-throw line leap, Vince Carter’s athletic slams and Dwight Howard’s superman cape. But for the last 10 years of the contest, there has not been that iconic moment. Despite players getting increasingly more athletic, their dunks rarely take our breath away. It is almost like fans’ thresholds have gotten too high. The NBA knows this. And as a response, there has been a total rebranding of All-Star Weekend. It is much less about the actual contests and games and much more about the pageantry of it all. Go back and YouTube an old dunk contest, and what is clear is that everything used to be much more simple: one announcer, a clear scoring system and little hype. Last Saturday, the dunk contest was built up with a jarring amount of previews, graphics and commentators. There were lengthy
WWE-style introductions for not just the participants, but also the judges, many of whom were celebrities rather than legitimate dunk analysts (a real art, if you ask me). There were drawn-out breaks in between dunks, and endless angles of instant replay after each successful slam. It was an event saturated in flash and ceremony. Like it or not, it is undeniable that it is working. All-Star Weekend offers the NBA the rare opportunity to celebrate their players. Just like rockstars, players must build a persona to ascend into national popularity. For Mitchell, the dunk contest was the platform he needed to do just that. The Carter replica dunk was recounted endlessly, with Mitchell being heralded as the league’s next great dunker. Right before our eyes, “The Spider,” as Mitchell has been nicknamed, became a star. Mitchell was not the only breakout performer of the weekend. In the Rising Stars Challenge, relatively unknown rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic, a Serbian player with unlimited range and a silkysmooth style of play, took home the MVP award. In the 3-Point Contest, textbook shooter Devin Booker scored a record 28 points in one round. “It feels really good. I wanted to go out there and make a name for myself,” said Booker (Lexington Herald Leader, “Devin Booker after record-setting 3-point contest win,” 2.17.2018). And the business of the weekend for the NBA
was to make names for players like Booker. There was an extensive media day, the type of event usually reserved for the Finals and the Super Bowl. In photo ops, players were invited to choose their own clothing. Some rocked streetwear, some designer and others opted for athletic apparel. It was a nice touch, a simple way for fans to get to know the athletes on a more personal level. Forget London Fashion week—Staples Center hosted the premier social gathering on the weekend. Celebrity presence was noted and highlighted at every turn. Quavo dropped 19 points in the Celebrity game, Cardi B ate her popcorn with swagger, Lonzo Ball performed his mixtape, Jamie Foxx strangely stormed out of an interview and Kevin Hart got dunked over. It was a strong push by the NBA to make a testament for the popularity of the sport. The means for them to do so was by bombardment, to make as many headlines out of the weekend as possible. Fergie’s seductive national anthem stole the show, but it’s hard to believe that no league official was present for her practice run beforehand. Now is the most entertaining time to be an NBA fan. As an effective victory lap, the spectacle of All-Star Weekend has become the most encapsulating and compelling PR tool in pro sports. Case in point: did I even mention the actual All-Star game once in this article?
MLB offseason highlighted Ingraham’s comments put by timid, buyer-free market spotlight on athlete activism Jonathan Levi-Minzi GUEST COLUMNIST
T
he first few weeks of February are giddy ones for baseball fans. Deep in our North American winters, a call rings out—it’s preseason! Reliably, a handful of big names have changed uniforms, and preseason is our first chance to finally believe these transformations. Just look at Giancarlo Stanton in a Yankees uniform! This February feels a little bit different, though. The traditionally transaction-heavy period has passed, yet many top free agents remain unsigned. Yu Darvish is a 30-year-old, top-end pitcher. He received $126 million over six years, a relatively precipitous drop-off from past megalithic pitcher contracts. Just two years ago, a pitcher of far-less quality named Mike Leake received a five-year contract with an $80 million overall value. Darvish’s surprisingly low free-agency windfall aside, this ace starter couldn’t find a taker throughout the early winter. Clearly, something has changed. Two weeks ago, powerful MLB agent Brodie Van Wagener tweeted a letter of his own writing in which he accused owners of “coordinating” an effort to depress the market. Van Wagener’s letter came in the wake of increasing skepticism directed at MLB ownership. Earlier this off-season, a new Miami Marlins ownership group launched a proverbial fire sale of their entire team. The aforementioned Giancarlo Stanton, a generational power-hitter, was shipped to the Yankees for a slightly above-average middle infielder and a couple of middling prospects. Another early off-season development bringing increasing scrutiny to the owners was a $50 million bonus each, received as a result of the league’s behemoth sale of MLBAM’s BAMTech streaming technology (NBC Sports, “Each owner will get at least $50 million in early 2018 from the sale of BAMtech,” 12.15.2017). So why isn’t more money being invested? In this context, the popular explanation of this year’s slow free agent market has been next year— waiting for next season’s talented free agents to hit the market. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado headline the “class of 2019,” with the possible addition of Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw. This explanation really doesn’t hold outside of a hand-
ful of specific scenarios, though. Perhaps a few teams are opting to stow in their long-term plans a big contract for Bryce Harper instead of for J. D. Martinez, the headlining power bat of this year’s class (and a new member of the Red Sox, reportedly, as of minutes before yours truly was going to file!). The truth is that the market isn’t a reflection of a few team’s unwillingness to splash the big cash due to specific scenarios—it’s a reflection of a shared unwillingness across the league. Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci has written very convincingly that there are different forces at play in the free-agency shortage of bombast. He cites two central factors. First, front offices are no longer dealing in hyperbole with talented players on the market. Those coming onto the market at or approaching their 30s are not getting the same dollar figures as they used to, and home run totals are losing their purchasing power due to a large uptick in power hitting over the last five years. Uniting these two threads is the new overarching theme in MLB front offices and Verducci’s first factor: data analytics-based valuation (Sports Illustrated, “The Free Agent Market is Frozen Because The Players Bargained for Luxury, not Labor,” 02.02.18). Teams are taking on a mathematical approach and looking to optimize their winning potential, either in the short or the long term. Compounding with this development to produce the effect of low free agent offers is the nature of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and ownership. The soft-cap salary structure was “stiffened...by a luxury tax threshold that hasn’t come close to keeping up with growth in revenue and payrolls,” Verducci writes (Sports Illustrated). When teams go over the aforementioned threshold, they have to pay a tax to the league in the interest of competitive parity. The effort by typical big-spenders like the Yankees and the Dodgers to stay under this threshold has been notable. Though sympathy is always in short supply for millionaires, this new paradigm of performance valuation seems to represent a serious threat to players’ bottom lines, especially when combined with the payroll-depressing luxury tax. Since it is the players who “put on the show,” one wonders how long such a state of events can persist in such a financial behemoth of a sport.
Myles Olmsted GUEST COLUMNIST
L
ast Thursday, LeBron James and Kevin Durant shared their thoughts on the President and athletes’ roles in addressing political issues. “The number one job in America [belongs to] someone who doesn’t understand the people, and who really don’t give a fuck about the people,” James said. “With the President of the United States, it’s at a bad time.” “It’s all about leadership,” added Durant. And right now, “The country is not run by a great coach” (UNINTERRUPTED, “Kevin Durant x LeBron James x Cari Champion,” 02.15.2018). Fox News’ Laura Ingraham decided that she must respond to the NBA stars’ critiques. “Must they run their mouths like that?” she lamented to her viewers. “Look, there might be a cautionary lesson in LeBron for kids. This is what happens when you attempt to leave high school a year early to join the NBA. And it’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid a hundred million dollars a year to bounce a ball. So keep the political commentary to yourself, or as someone once said, ‘shut up and dribble’ ” (NPR, “Laura Ingraham Told LeBron James To Shut Up And Dribble,” 02.19.2018). Where to begin? Perhaps by stating that LeBron did in fact graduate from high school? Or by pointing out that Trump ran his entire campaign on the idea that he was rich and not involved with politics? Or by questioning the logic of a political commentator telling someone to keep political commentary to themselves? There are many angles from which to critique Ingraham’s statement, but I like the approach that Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long took. Long, who, as a white athlete, has been uniquely outspoken in his support of Colin Kaepernick and other players’ protests, took to his Twitter account, posting screengrabs of guests Fox News has invited on the show to give political commentary: Chuck Norris talking about climate change, Ted Nugent on Trump’s business councils, Kid Rock weighing in on President Obama. Look at this list. Google them if you have to. Why would any one of these men be a better figure for kids to listen to than LeBron? LeBron, that guy who has worked his way from financial
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
hardship to hundred million dollar basketball contracts, built his own business empire, maintained a squeaky-clean image and donated tens of millions to charitable causes. It is almost as if — dare I say it — LeBron is not being judged by the content of his character. The legacy of Black athletes protesting injustice and speaking out on political matters is a long one. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Muhammad Ali and recently Colin Kaepernick are the first examples that come to mind. And equally long is the legacy of racist and crusty calls for them to shut up. Ingraham predictably fits right into this history: she condescends to him, questioning his intelligence and his work ethic, outlining exactly what she sees as his appropriate societal place. President Trump has similarly bristled at instances of outspoken Black activism in the sports world. Throughout the past NFL season he railed against players protesting racial injustice. He had time to blast Stephen Curry when the Warriors point guard said he would not visit the White House. Trump and his press team also went all out in calling for ESPN’s Jemele Hill to be fired. What is the common denominator? The players seem to have it figured out. “To me,” admitted Durant in an interview with USA Today, ”it was racist” (USA Today, “Kevin Durant on Laura Ingraham’s commentary,” 02.16.2018). NBA players have a tremendous platform. Cameras are constantly pushed in their faces, they reach hundreds of millions on social media, they sell shoes, car insurance and everything in between. Players are role models. Don’t we want our role models exemplifying bravery, honesty, humanity, leadership and a sense of justice? Kudos to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who stood behind LeBron and KD. “Let me begin by saying I’m incredibly proud of our players for using the platform they have as players in the NBA and on social media to speak out on issues that are important to them,“ Silver said in his State of the League address (Lexington Herald Leader, “NBA commissioner implies that changes to ‘oneand-done’ rule could be a ways off,” 02.18.2018). But I’ll give the last word to LeBron. “I am more than an athlete,” read an image the King posted on Instagram. The caption spoke directly to Ingraham: “#wewillnotshutupanddribble.”
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February 22, 2018
Vassar athletes to lead charge into cold waters with Polar Plunge Sophia Tiajoloff
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
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Courtesy of Jamie Chagnon
Courtesy of Jamie Chagnon
his is the 20th annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics in Fishkill, NY. For the past two years, Vassar’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has teamed up with Bard College to help raise awareness and support Mid-Hudson Special Olympic athletes. As the Head of Community Outreach for SAAC, I look for ways to involve students in the greater community of Poughkeepsie. Every November, we host a Special Olympics Volleyball Tournament in the Bays, where student volunteers get to work at and referee matches. For the past three years, I have volunteered at the event, and I have always looked forward to talking to Special Olympic athletes. I have gotten the chance to listen to personal stories and learn about the positive impact that participating in athletics has had on many of them. Above all else athletes have told me that Special Olympics New York has provided them with a strong support system during difficult times in their lives. Special Olympics is particularly important to me because there have been times during my Vassar career where the college has felt like a bubble, but my work with Special Olympics has often kept me in touch with the community. This past year, SAAC has gone through a
transition, rewriting and redirecting the group’s initiatives to change the structure and goals of the committee. One of the initiatives that we discussed was working more with the Poughkeepsie community. As a result, we decided to team up with Bard once again to support Special Olympics! Last year, Bard and Vassar combined to raise $2,255, $377 of which came from Vassar participants. So far this year, we have raised $550 from 33 participants. All the proceeds go directly to Special Olympics New York, which reaches approximately 3,500 athletes in the Mid-Hudson area. The money helps provide year-round sports training, equipment and competition for various Olympic sports, serving both children and adults. Although I have never actually personally plunged, I have heard from fellow Vassar students that the experience is exhilarating. In addition to supporting a great cause, it is also an opportunity to get to meet new people! The plunge is taking place this Saturday and transportation to and from the Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Reservation will be provided. Buses leave at 12:00 p.m. from Main Circle, and the Plunge starts at 2 p.m. Registration goes from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in participating or donating, check out our team page online. Everyone is welcome to participate!
Courtesy of Jamie Chagnon
Courtesy of Cedar Hill Photography
Courtesy of Jamie Chagnon
Courtesy of Jamie Chagnon
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Basketball
Vassar College 53, St. Lawrence University 48
Vassar College 63, RIT 68
November 20, 2018
November 20, 2018
Vassar College #
Player
SLU
MIN TO AST STL PTS
#
Player
Vassar College
MIN TO AST STL PTS
#
Player
RIT
MIN TO AST STL PTS
#
Player
MIN TO AST STL PTS
5
M. Hynes
28 3
0
2 112
33
Z. Bromfeld
35 0
0
0 20
15
P. Troy
39 2
3
1
0 13
25
C. Waterson
29 2
4
1
12
2
J. Browne
35 2
1
0 13
30
R. Aguilera
27 3
1
0 16
0
0 12
14
K. Kohlasch
35 1
2
0
6
34
P. Grinde
35 1
1
0
11
5
A. Lewis
34 2
0
1
9
32 1
0
1
6
42
K. Frederick
35 4
2
1
6
11
B. J. White
29 4
0
1
11
10
W. Atkinson
23 0
4
2
6
N. Teta
20 2
3
2
5
32
K. Gallagher
27 4
1
0
6
23
L. Tebay
25 1
2
1
4
22
W. Smith
18 0
1
0
6
11
S. Cook
30 2
2
0
2
24
M. Gunn
16 3
3
0
2
5
O. Murray
19 1
1
1
4
12
M. Davis
24 0
1
1
4
23
K. Romanoff
23 0
2
2
2
44
A. Pugliese
19 1
0
1
2
10
A. Seff
17 1
0
0
0
23
J. Rosser
17 0
1
0
0
12
J. Cenan
11
1
0
0
0
31
J. Scudder
11 0
0
0
2
42
M. Dyslin
5
1
1
0
33
J. Schneider
9
0
0
0
0
21
J. Roellke
8
0
0
0
0
44
M. Anderson
7
1
1
1
0
14
M. Leong
4
0
0
0
0
20
C. Okehie
2
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
1
0
8
53
24 M. Sussman
28 1
2
2
20 I. Peczuh
6
1
0
31
A. Rosenthal
34 4
32
S. Nick
4
30 R. DeOrio
Totals.......
200 12 9
13
Totals.......
200 18 12 5
48
Totals.......
1
200 11 6
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
4
63
Totals.......
200 8 12 6
27
68