The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
April 12, 2018
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CL | Issue 18
Phocus encourages Alums discuss journalism careers campus involvement Isabel Braham
ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR
Andrea Yang
FEATURES EDITOR
A
s Vassar’s one and only student photography organization, Phocus holds a wide array of events and activities—peer critiques, workshops, movie screenings, exhibitions—for photo enthusiasts in the Vassar community. The org also runs a fully equipped darkroom in Main that offers students the opportunity to realize their artistic dreams.
Campus liaison and organisational officer Eilif Rønning ’20 described his first encounter with the org: “I joined Phocus at the start of my first year at Vassar and I found it a really welcoming and calming space. We meet on Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Rocky 304 and we turn off the lights and sit in the dark looking at photos for an hour. It’s a non-judgmental space and really relaxed and open.” See PHOCUS on page 10
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n a quiet Thursday night in the Villard room, Vassar was graced with the presence of two feminist forces of nature. Extraordinarily creative and remarkably funny, Vassar alumnae Alanna Okun ’12 and Kelly Stout ’10 sat down on April 5 to talk about everything from Okun’s new book to their careers as writers and editors to how Vassar helped shaped their interest in journalism. But first, who are these strong, independent ladies? Okun is a Senior
Editor at Racked, a website centered on shopping culture. Before Racked, she worked at BuzzFeed, Brooklyn Magazine, Apartment Therapy and The Hairpin. She recently came out with her first book, “The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater,” a collection of personal essays about how knitting and crafting has helped her deal with her anxiety. Stout is the Features Editor at Jezebel, a popular blog that centers the voices of women and other marginalized genders and discusses topics including politics, fashion and celebrity gossip. Stout has also
worked for Gawker and has written for the Shouts and Murmurs section of the New Yorker, where she began her career in journalism. Helen D. Lockwood Professor of English Amitava Kumar, who had the chance to develop relationships with the two while they were at Vassar, praised the two via email, writing, “Kelly is a humorist of high caliber, such fine excess. And in Alanna’s writing I’m rediscovering a beautiful ease of expression, weaving stuff from life with a light touch.” See ALUMS on page 6
Student org plans Red Sand Gala Pazit Schrecker GUEST REPORTER
I Courtesy of Liza Ayres
The photo above is part of a student work exhibit currently on view in the Crafted Kup. Phocus collaborates with the local cafe semiregularly to provide a space for display outside the Vassar bubble.
n countries across the globe, slavery and the slave trade have been banned for over a century, and in some places, for more than two. However, while slavery was abolished in, among other places, France in 1848, the United States in 1865 and Brazil in 1888, more than 40 million people remain enslaved in the world today, with their forced labor producing $150 million in annual profits. Each year, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are sold across international borders (Red Sand Project,
“Stats”). In response to these staggering statistics, activist and artist Molly Gochman created the Red Sand Project, which functions as a combination of art and advocacy as participants pour red sand in cracks in the sidewalks. On April 27 from 5 to 8 p.m., the Vassar student organization known as the Underground will hold a gala in the Aula to raise awareness of the ongoing and critical issue of human trafficking worldwide. Tickets to the gala will be available for purchase in the College Center from Monday, April 23 until
Thursday, April 26, as well as at the door on the night of the gala. Along with a catered dinner from Twisted Soul, the event will feature talks from three anti-human trafficking activists. Founder of Give Way to Freedom Courtney Albert will explain the fundamentals of human trafficking, aiming to help expand knowledge of the subject. Give Way to Freedom, which began creating initiatives in 2010, is a community-based organization with offices in Vermont and New York. According to its website, “Give Way to Freedom’s See RED SAND on page 4
Soccer Mommy comes ‘Clean’ in debut Women’s lax splits O weekend Fiona Nematbakhsh GUEST COLUMNIST
ARTS
consistent arrangement of instruments, “Cool,” the second track off the album, comes in decidedly more uptempo with a single quick guitar strum before breaking into a more full-bodied piece. “Cool” addresses a common teenage narrative of wanting to be someone you’re not, of wanting—as Allison puts it—“to See CLEAN on page 7
Up-and-coming indie rock artist Sophie Allison, also known as Soccer Mommy, recently made her studio debut with “Clean.” The artist’s trajectory screams progress with her swift rise from bedroom pop to an official label release.
Inside this issue
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aura, as she understands she has been left behind by the other person in the relationship but still wants and waits for them. Allison also hints at her lofi, bedroom pop roots by inserting a demo take near the end of the song that has the fuzzy, unfinished quality that characterizes so much of her early work. While “Still Clean” keeps a steady pace and features a
Courtesy of bandcamp
pen and honest, Sophie Allison, who records as Soccer Mommy, makes her studio debut on “Clean” with a chronicle of teenage life through the perspective of someone seemingly older and wiser. Allison, at 20 years old, confronts love and adolescence head-on, with meditative lyrics that make her experiences feel universal. “Clean” is the culmination of a quick and unexpected rise to popularity from bedroom pop— which is when musicians record at home rather than at a traditional studio—to a label release. Soccer Mommy started as a one-women project based out of Allison’s Nashville bedroom and publicized through Bandcamp releases. Her ability to articulate specific frustrations about the realities of growing up gives her music a relatable quality that propelled it into popularity before she even signed with Fat Possum Records. She has released one prior work with Fat Possum, titled “Collection,” which functions mainly as a reworking of her previous releases from Bandcamp. “Clean” marks a change from her previous releases— it is her studio debut, made after she dropped out of New York University as a junior to pursue music full
time. The intention and skill born of this change can be seen throughout “Clean,” with lyrics that pierce the audience and arrangements that evoke nuanced emotions. “Clean” opens with “Still Clean,” a hazy track that retells the disappointment of a failed relationship. Here, Allison uses sparse lyrics and layered guitars to create an aching
Future Waitstaff perform; unique show breaks with norm
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FEATURES
A cake to whip up for your muchfêted pup
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Teddy Chmyz
ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR
I
t was a tale of two games for Brewers women’s lacrosse this past weekend, as they split their home doubleheader, defeating RIT 19-13 on Friday, April 6, before falling to University of Rochester a day later in a much lower-scoring match-up, 9-7. These matches brought their record in the Liberty League to 2-2, and 3-6 overall. In their victory on Friday, April 6, the Brewers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, which led to a season high of 18 goals scored, eight more than the team average for the year. This offensive explosion started early in the game, with six goals coming in just the first 10 minutes of play. This high scoring rate can be attributed to unselfish offensive team play from the Brewers, as five of the six points were assisted. The Brewers were unable to find this same offensive rhythm against Rochester, scoring only seven goals for the whole game, only one of which was assisted. The team did manage 32 shots, See LACROSSE on page 19
Supporting local theaters key for OPINIONS industry longevity
The Miscellany News
Page 2
April 12, 2018
Editors-in-Chief Emma Jones Elena Schultz
Senior Editor Talya Phelps
Contributing Editors Eilís Donohue Rhys Johnson
Courtesy of Laila Volpe
Pictured here is a very bready brunch enjoyed by Laila Volpe ’19, who is currently studying abroad in Paris. Musing on French culinary customs, she writes, “When you order bread in a Paris boulangerie there are so many more options than you would expect. First of all, you can get a baguette, but then there’s the choice between traditional and classic, and you can even specify how cooked you want it. There’s a demi-baguette, which is just half a baguette, but if you order it, you get judged, and it’s even more expensive than a regular baguette in some places. Then there’s a whole loaf of bread, which, as a category, has at least 10 different varieties, and you can decide whether you want it sliced or not.” To read more about Laila’s adventures, plus those of her fellow JYA-ers, visit farandaway.miscellanynews.org!
The Miscellany News 12 April
Thursday
Visions of Hope & Healing (Family Services CVSS & SAVP) 3:00 p.m. | The Environmental Cooperative Barn MultiPurpose Room | SAVP (Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention)
Intensive Student Workshop 3:00 p.m. | CC Old Bookstore Lower Level | Urban Studies Program
Late Night at the Lehman Loeb: “Warhol x5” Symposium Keynote Address by Blake Gopnik
Weekender_ 13 April
14
Friday
April
International Dance Festival
Vassar Golf (W) Tournament
7:00 p.m. | College Center Villard Room | International Services and Special Projects
8:00 a.m. | Casperkill Golf Course | Athletics
WVKR Record Fair
A Map of Virtue
10:00 a.m. | College Center North & South Atrium | WVKR Radio (91.3 FM)
7:00 p.m. | The Shiva | Philaletheis
The White Moth - A Devised Piece by Senior Project Members 8:00 p.m. | Hallie Flanagan Davis Powerhouse Theater Black Box Theater | Drama Dept.
April
Assistant News Clark Xu Assistant Arts Isabel Braham Matt Stein Assistant Online Jackson Ingram Abby Lass Assistant Copy Claire Baker Jessica Moss Teddy Chmyz Web Master & George Witteman Technical Advisor Reporters Youngju Chang Kelly Pushie Marusa Rus Aidan Zola Columnists Catherine Bither Jimmy Christon Olivia Feltus Hannah Gaven Jesser Horowitz Sylvan Perlmutter Blair Webber Design Maya Sterling Scarlett Neuberger Copy Isabel Bielat Natalie Bober James Bonanno Jillian Frechette Abigail Knuckles Anna Wiley
Sunday
Vassar Golf (W) Tournament 8:00 a.m. | Casperkill Golf Course | Athletics
(essay)e 7:00 p.m. | CC Old Bookstore Lower Level | Drama Dept.
Paper Critique 9:00 p.m. | Rose Parlor | The Miscellany News
1:00 p.m. | Prentiss Sports Complex Gordon Competition Field | Athletics
1:00 p.m. | Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Atrium | The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Harry Lennix
A Map of Virtue
2:30 p.m. | Vogelstein Center Martel Theater | Drama Dept.
7:00 p.m. | The Shiva | Philaletheis
Renowned actor Harry Lennix will give a lecture titled “Art and Spirituality” this Saturday at 2:30pm in the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film’s Martel Theater.
Senior Recital: Sarah Dolan, soprano & Victoria Abut, mezzo-soprano
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
8:00 p.m. | Hallie Flanagan Davis Powerhouse Theater Black Box Theater | Drama Dept.
Lacrosse (M) vs. Clarkson University
15
Slow Art Day
5:00 p.m. | Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Atrium | The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
The White Moth - A Devised Piece by Senior Project Members
Saturday
News Laurel Hennen Vigil Features Imogen Wade Andrea Yang Opinions Steven Park Humor and Satire Leah Cates Yesenia Garcia Arts Sasha Gopalakrishnan Sports Mack Liederman Design Rose Parker Social Media Kimberly Nguyen
4:00 p.m. | Skinner Hall Martel Recital Hall | Music Dept.
A Map of Virtue 7:00 p.m. | The Shiva | Philaletheis
The White Moth - A Devised Piece by Senior Project Members 8:00 p.m. | Hallie Flanagan Davis Powerhouse Theater Black Box Theater | Drama Dept.
“Slow Art Day” is happening this Saturday at the Lehman Loeb. Take the opportunity to slow down and appreciate all that our wonderful art museum has to offer.
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.
April , 2018
NEWS
Page 3
VSA candidates prep for election with Q&A Gulbransen discusses I Indian art Clark Xu
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Candidate for Chair of Finance Mendel Jimenez ’20 argued, “For too long the VSA and the student body have settled for a blind status quo about VSA Finance. Not enough students know the answers to basic questions about VSA Finance and the student activities fee, like how it’s allocated, who allocates it and when those decisions are made.” Top priorities for Jimenez include increasing accessibility of financial processes that can be overly bureaucratic and improving the budgeting software. Jimenez hopes to address these issues by publishing a list of contacts in the Finance Committee that students can work with, and by pushing for software upgrades from the college administration. Jimenez concluded, “Every single student on campus contributes to the student activities fee, and the Finance Committee makes decisions through two briefly summarized approaches: fiscal responsibility and the guiding principles of the VSA. I strongly believe that we need to have more conversations about staying true to our guiding principles yet at the same time funding diverse opinions and viewpoints on campus.” The VSA Spring Elections have also been a time of change for those working behind the scenes to implement the process. Chair of the Board of Elections and Appointments (BoEA) Nora Eigenbrodt ’18 reflected, “One of the most fulfilling aspects of the process for me is meeting motivated and inspiring candidates. It’s so exciting, whether in an
Courtesy of Tamar Ballard and Jesser Horowitz
n preparation for the voting period in the student government elections this week, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) held the Executive Board Q&A on April 5 in Rockefeller Hall. The Q&A began with questions for VSA Presidential Candidates Tamar Ballard ’19 and Jesser Horowitz ’19. Candidates for the other positions ran unopposed or, in the races for Chair of Finance Chair of Equity and Inclusion, only one of the two candidates was able to attend the Q&A in person. The VSA came under close scrutiny earlier in the semester after eight members resigned, with some members citing objections of transparency and accessibility issues. Addressing doubts that current students may have about the VSA’s ability to represent student voices, Ballard reflected, “There have been times where the VSA has been a source of extreme emotional and mental pain for a lot of students.” Ballard continued, “I do hope that the next few years can work as a period to fix the relationship that the VSA and students have with each other, because the VSA can’t function without that relationship.” Another challenge for the VSA has been its collaboration with the College administration in discussions ranging from finance to academics to residential life. Horowitz remarked, “I believe the first step to making meaningful change at Vassar College is realizing that, as students on this campus, we have incredible power, and that we have the right to demand that the administration respect and [be] conscious of our voices. We become powerless only at the moment that we believe we are powerless.” President Elizabeth Bradley emphasized the importance of sincerity on both sides and commented in an interview, “Vassar can thrive best if students and administrators have authentic and strong relationships, each playing different roles and facing different constraints. Understanding each other and sharing goals for Vassar given its resources can help us work effectively to achieve those goals together.” Cultivating resources and support for marginalized students is a common thread in the policy positions taken by candidates for other offices on the VSA Executive Board. Many candidates express commitment to better representation for underrepresented voices in their plans to lead student government next year. Candidate for Chair of Academics May Venkat-Ramani ’20 outlined, “I want students to be supported and find the most beneficial and safe solutions during tough times.” One of these resources is the Student Support Network (SSN), comprised of the Dean of Students, Dean of Studies, Director of Counseling and Director of Residential Life, which evaluates confidential reports by any member of the campus community of students in crisis or distress. She elaborated, “Students have the right to understand the protocol that is followed when an SSN form is submitted.” Based on the experiences of students with the Dean of Studies Office, Venkat-Ramani continued, “I would also seek to open up dialogue about the administration’s emphasis on leaves of absence as the most productive way to deal with physical, mental and emotional challenges.” Dean of Studies Benjamin Lotto reflected, “I am surprised and concerned that students ‘believe that there is an overemphasis on leaves of absence’ in response to challenges faced by students. The Dean of Studies and others work regularly with many students at Vassar who face these challenges without ever mentioning or discussing a leave.” Lotto noted that a leave is an optional choice for a student who needs a break in their education to handle personal emergencies or concerns. Speaking to the dissemination of information on SSN, Lotto offered, “The Dean of Students, who chairs SSN, sends out an email to all students every year with information on the work of SSN. We receive reports from all members of the Vassar community and beyond expressing concern about
students. SSN then discusses each case and determines a thoughtful and coordinated response.” At the level of student groups, Candidate for Chair of Organizations Dea Oviedo Vazquez ’20 suggested, “Many identity organizations on campus do a lot of the work of educating the student body on issues pertaining to race, class and gender...I think it is unfair to delegate all of the labor of educating us to identity orgs while also failing to acknowledge that they might need a different type of structural support than other organizations.” A recent step in this direction has been the Centering the Voices of Student-Athletes of Color events hosted by the ALANA Center and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Other projects of note include the Engaged Pluralism Initiative, Student/Labor Dialogue, the Transitions Research Team, the Asian American Studies Working Group and student support for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. As another area of concern, Oviedo Vazquez noted that several orgs in the past year neglected sexual assault and violence prevention training, which is mandated for org leaders. The gap to be bridged between bringing students from all backgrounds to a liberal arts campus and developing a safe environment for these students continues to pose a challenge for student leaders. Candidate for Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Eloudia Odamy ’21 said, “It is one thing to have diversity, but it is another to make sure that
Tamar Ballard ’19 (left) and Jesser Horowitz ’19 (right) are the candidates for 2018–19 VSA President. Voting opened Tuesday, April 10 and will close at noon on Thursday, April 12. all students feel included.” Odamy argued that Vassar’s social justice perspectives can at times be limited to a few commonly discussed issues. Expressing the belief that Vassar can be a welcoming community, Odamy described, “At Vassar, I feel like you can almost approach anyone and strike up a conversation ... Vassar has a strength when it comes to forming friendships and coming together in times of crisis.” For Odamy, moving forward demands a balanced evaluation of positive practices and past mistakes on campus. Candidate for Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Alice Marbach ‘21 similarly reflected on her place of origin and agreed, “At home in England I encountered much less discussion of issues of inclusion and minority issues. I love that the Vassar community has much more dialogue on these subjects, because I think that’s the first step to solving issues of inclusion.” Marbach continued, “I think diversity and inclusion come down to being able to find groups that you identify with, but also to have kind and accepting relationships with other groups. That’s why I think that promoting inter-group events on campus would help support new students find their place, but also be open-minded about others.” Taking note of the wide range of student groups and individual student identities, Bradley said, “Students running for VSA positions might think about how hard it is to represent the full student body when we have such a wonderfully diverse set of students at Vassar. I imagine it is a very complicated, sometimes difficult, but also fulfilling role.”
election or an appointment, to see someone with innovative ideas and talents.” Considering upcoming amendments to VSA structure, Eigenbrodt reported, “BoEA has worked with VSA’s Operations Committee on a couple different updates to the VSA Bylaws this year, and it’s an ongoing effort to target problems we see, like positions which historically don’t get applicants, and to figure out how to address them.” One such change has been merging the Terrace Apartments, Town Houses and South Commons Treasurer positions into the single position of Apartment Area Treasurer. Eigenbrodt also seeks to improve institutional memory by writing documentation for future BoEA committee members on the elections and appointments process this year. Candidate for VSA Vice President Rori Chuck ’19 reiterated the focus on representation shared by the candidates for the VSA Executive Board, saying, “I think a good amount of administration and student leaders don’t understand the actual stakes when it comes to the secrecy around their decisions. The sincerity and integrity of our community and our relationships with one another are at stake. Our ability to honestly say that Vassar is a place for everyone is at stake.” Acknowledging that ingrained habits and turnover in the student body can present significant obstacles to lasting institutional change, Chuck highlighted the possibility of progress and concluded, “I believe the successes are in making even the tiniest changes to the things that we previously believed to be immovable.”
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Youngju Chang REPORTER
O
n Monday, April 9, Professor Krista Gulbransen gave a lecture on “Prayer, Performance, & Politics: Portraits of the Mughal Emperor Akbar Worshipping the Sun.” Gulbransen is an assistant professor of Art History and Visual Culture Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Whitman College. Gulbransen shared her specialized knowledge on how the portrait genre in 16thand 17th-century northern India related to history, religion and cultural exchange. Several students and professors were excited to attend the event. One of the attendees, Marcella Gallo ’18 commented, “I’m a religion major and interested in how rituals connect to divinity. In this event, I would like to learn more about how rituals have expressed a connection with God individually and collectively.” The primary subject of the discussion was Akbar, the greatest Mughal emperor of India. He reigned from 1556 to 1605 and expanded Mughal power over most of the Indian subcontinent by integrating different religions such as Hinduism, Parseeism, Christianity and Islam. During Akbar’s regime, a cultural fusion actively occurred and produced a distinctive style in the arts. Gulbransen discussed how this transition can be seen in portraits of Akbar and spiritual figures. Gulbransen noted that the first major change in paintings of Akbar’s time was that pictures became more realistic and detailed. She introduced two paintings, one from a previous era and the other from Akbar’s regime. Gulbransen pointed out that, in the first piece, figures are hardly distinguishable as specific people, since they are depicted in a simplistic manner. Instead, their names are written above their heads. However, the piece influenced by Akbar’s cultural fusion includes intricate details, such as wrinkles around the subject’s eyes. Another important development of art during Akbar’s era is the use of solar symbolism. Akbar chose reverence of the sun as a form of ceremonial expression in order to appeal to and integrate a spiritually diverse populace. Gulbransen explained that Akbar was a pioneer of connecting religion and art with the sun. The image of Akbar standing barefoot on a rectangular mat and praising the sun became a common motif repeated throughout the history of Indian art. Additionally, the sun and light were frequently depicted in paintings and artifacts. For example, Gulbransen introduced an ancient coin decorated with a divine light symbol and a portrait of Akbar. In the realm of painting, halos became common motifs. Gulbransen commented, “Incorporating philosophical principles and various theologies, Akbar established Din-i-Ilahi, or Divine Faith, in the 1570s and 1580s.” Akbar’s commission of multiple portraits of himself in the act of sun worship speaks to his personal investment in this performance of inclusivity and religious tolerance. Art forms in Akbar’s time also incorporated European culture in various ways. To begin with, one of the portraits from the Salim Album—a collection of art named for Akbar’s son—depicted a Jesuit priest with his traditional black hat and cloak. Ambassadors and governmental officials from European countries can also be found in the Indian paintings of the 16th century. The artists during Akbar’s regime often copied Catholic paintings for practice and adopted aspects of their style, such as structure and details. Attendee Haniya Habib ’18, reflected on what she took away from the event, saying, “There is not enough discussion about South Asian culture on campus. This lecture [was] a great opportunity to learn what I cannot gain at Vassar.”
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NEWS
April 12, 2018
Red Sand Project spreads awareness of human trafficking RED SAND continued from page 1
and Vassar’s Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention (SAVP) Office, which will organize activities. During the gala, Amnesty International will run a table where attendees can write letters in support of human trafficking abolitionists who have been
sidewalks around campus so that the next morning, the Vassar community will walk within an advocacy art project. Roebuck explained, “The purpose is to...raise awareness for the victims who have fallen through the cracks of society.”
Courtesy of the Underground
mission is to support and provide victim care services to the survivors of human trafficking, advocate for optimal comprehensive care for victims, and educate in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of human trafficking” (GiveWayToFreedom.org, “What We Do”). Among its many initiatives, Give Way to Freedom is currently working with healthcare providers to better understand the healthcare needs of human trafficking survivors as well as running the Rapid Response Report System in the United States to ensure adult victims of human trafficking can benefit from specifically tailored medical and emotional support as soon as they are identified by first responders. Also speaking at the event will be Gochman and Jasmine Marino-Fiandaca, a survivor of human trafficking. Co-President of the Underground Grace Roebuck ’20 said of the gala, “We really want it to be a space where students can come with a huge set of knowledge, a little set of knowledge, and work together to learn from the different speakers we have, especially Jasmine. I think she will be really impactful because she’s a survivor.” This is not Vassar’s first year of involvement with the Red Sand Project. Last year, students tabled at admitted students days and created an two-week-long exhibition that featured artwork created by Vassar students on the subject of human trafficking. It was held in the Collaboratory, a trailer outfitted for exhibitions and creative workshops, which was created by the Creative Arts Across Disciplines at Vassar (CAAD). This year, they organized the gala instead. Roebuck said, “When we were open for those two weeks, we had to have someone at the Collaboratory all the time and even though we got a decent amount of traffic over the whole two weeks, we thought that one condensed night would be best.” The Red Sand Gala will be hosted with help from Vassar’s chapter of Amnesty International
The Underground will host the Red Sand Gala, an event to raise awareness of human trafficking, on April 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets will be on sale from April 23 to April 26. jailed for their political actions. SAVP will run a training session focusing on sexual assault and violence protection work. To end the night, each participant will be given a cup of red sand to spill into the cracks in the
Other initiatives organized by the Underground include a lecture with Founder of human trafficking advocacy organization Free the Slaves Kevin Bales on January 30. Roebuck also described many upcoming plans, including Art for Abolitionists,
Iran is supporting the Assad regime in order to gain back an ally against its regional rivals, Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, on a larger scale, the rapid escalation of the Syrian war into a civil conflict has enabled Iran to come closer to reaching its historic goal, to extend the so-called Shiite crescent, which extends from Tehran through Baghdad and Damascus to the Mediterranean. This, of course, is possible only in the context of the weakening of the role of the United States in the region (DW, “Syria conflict: What do the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran want?,” 12.21.2017). Turkey has long been the main opponent of Assad and a supporter of at least three different
rebel groups. However, after the unsuccessful military coup in Turkey in July 2016, which was an attempt to remove Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan changed his position on Syria. It was the Russian intelligence community that warned Erdogan about the possible coup. Erdogan initially apologized to Russia for hijacking Russian aircrafts on the Syrian-Turkish border and visited President Putin days later in St. Petersburg. The first major Turkish operation in Syria was an attack on Syrian Kurds, who controlled a large part of Syrian territories. Iran, for example, still demands that Kurdish territories be returned to the control
which the group hopes to implement in the upcoming academic year. This initiative will feature pieces by Vassar students and community members on human trafficking that will be sold in a silent auction form. The Underground is also working to implement an anti-trafficking curriculum in Haiti in coordination with the Vassar Haiti Project. They are reaching out to Bales’s various contacts in Haiti to find an organization with which to partner in order to bring their curriculum to a secondary school and women’s cooperative. Closer to home, the members of the Underground are working with Mirage Theatre Company to produce “Broken Dolls,” a play about human trafficking, as well as planning socially conscious drama workshops and potentially a panel discussion. One of their largest goals is helping Vassar become slave-free, meaning that the school would divest from corporations that rely on slave labor and shift to more fair-trade brands. In regards to this, the students plan to focus on educating the Vassar student body. Roebuck said, “We’re trying to shift Vassar into a more socially conscious direction. We’re trying to educate students on what human trafficking is and how they can do small things to combat it that don’t really take much effort, time out of their day, or expenses. A lot of that comes with education.” On this last point, the group hopes to develop a packet on the basics of human trafficking to distribute to incoming firstyears at the start of the 2018-19 academic year. While the Underground organizes many initiatives, the theme of combining education with advocacy is present throughout, as is intended by the student organizers. In response to what he hopes people will take away from the gala, Co-President of the Underground Jaewon Kang ‘20 said, “I hope that [attendees will] find out that human trafficking is something that’s a very serious problem that’s still going on. And I hope...they truly understand that this is a problem that needs to be fixed.”
News Briefs of Damascus (Businessinsider, “Russia may be preparing a ‘long-term, game-changing move’ with Turkey,” 08.05.2016). Amidst this coalition-building, with the objective of distancing the United States diplomatically from Syria, President Trump announced the country’s withdrawal from Syria. The Pentagon pushed back strongly against the announcement, and while Trump walked back on his earlier announcement, his policy regarding Syria remains unclear. The rise of the new coalition may point to the decline of U.S. power in the region. —Marusa Rus, Reporter
Courtesy of the Kremlin
Putin, Erdogan and Rouhani talk Syria Last Wednesday, April 4, the Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents met in Ankara, the Turkish capital, for a high-level meeting in which they discussed the future of Syria. This was the second such meeting in recent months. The three leaders discussed ways in which to accelerate the stabilization of Syria and cement their influence in the country. They have announced cooperation on reconstruction and aid, with Russia and Turkey planning to build a hospital in the Syrian town of Tel Abyad. The three countries further highlighted their devotion to protecting Syria’s territorial integrity, although they plan to maintain military presence in Syria (Euronews, “Iran, Turkey and Russia meet for Syria summit,” 04.04.2018). The three countries are working together despite clashing views of the conflict in Syria. While Russia and Iran support the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey supports some rebel groups. Opposition to the United States’ foreign policy is the only common thread uniting the leaders (The Washington Post, “Iran, Russia and Turkey plan Syria’s future as Trump seeks an exit,” 04.04.2018). However, Moscow, Tehran and Ankara’s interests continue to diverge on the battlefield. By entering the Syrian civil war, Russia has managed to change the entire geopolitical situation. Assad’s regime rallied itself from almost losing the war to becoming the winner of one of the most bloody conflicts of our time, with its airstrikes on rebel targets in key urban areas. Russia’s backing of the regime is not due to any special sympathy for Assad’s military-intelligence-business oligarchy, but rather to a desire to consolidate its geo-strategic position regionally and globally (BBC, “Why does Russia support Syria and President Assad?,” 04.11.2017).
Iranian President Hassan Vladimir Putin (right) met
Rouhani (left), Turkish on Wednesday, April 4,
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital of Ankara
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
(center) and Russian President to discuss the Syrian civil war.
NEWS
April 12, 2018
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Updates from the VSA Consensus Agenda – Passed
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Finance allocations • 30,000/52,000 from Discretionary to Founder’s Day Music due to increased costs and lack of music choice. • 255.82/255.82 from Capital to WVKR for a listening station and the necessary equipment for the station. • 2320/2320 from Discretionary to Feminist Alliance to bring a speaker to campus on the condition of discussions with NAISA and confirmed location. • 1350/1750 from Community to VISA for a dance event. • 550/1080 from Speakers to VC Royalty to bring a drag performer for queer Villard night. • 1073/1073 from Speakers to Vassar Voices for Planned Parenthood for “Women of Color in the Reproductive Justice Movement: A Panel.” • 4525/8525 from Speakers to unFramed got Vassar Review Launch. • 720/750 from Capital to Barefoot Monkeys got hoops, torches, sleeves, leashes for fire shows. • 400/300 from Admin Fund to Women’s Center for “Masculinity: What Is It?” Event. • 99.99/99.99 from Capital to Home Brewed for electric keyboard. • 250/250 from Preorgs to Vassar Burlesque for security costs for Lady Gaga Mug Night.
M arusa Rus In this week’s headlines... Throughout the past week, President Trump has been occupied with the issue of the caravan of migrants coming to the United States from Central America. The caravan, consisting of around 1000 migrants, is organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras (People Without Borders), and it is in its fifth year of operation. It consists of people fleeing poverty and violence, mainly coming from Honduras. The caravan has been traveling through Mexico toward the United States, where the migrants wish to apply for asylum. There are also immigration rights groups working with the migrants, informing and preparing them for the process of applying for asylum. The response from Trump on the situation came in the form of tweets shortly after “Fox and Friends” ran the story. In his tweets, he referenced claims brought up in the segment as well as denouncing what he called the “Weak Laws” Border, threatening to exit NAFTA and accusing migrants of trying to take advantage of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). However, the migrants crossing Mexico cannot apply for DACA, since the program covers only those who came to the United States before 2012. Moreover, the program was canceled by Trump in September 2017. On Wednesday, April 4, Trump ordered the National Guard to deploy to America’s southern border (CNN, “Trump orders National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border,” 04.04.2018; CNN, “Immigrant ‘caravan’ heading to US-Mexico border
337.50 from Preorgs to Vassar Burlesque for security costs for Burlesque in Bloom. •
Org certifications • To new pre-org status: Healthcare Industry Club, Jiu Jitsu Club, Chess Club, Spoon U and Buddies. • To full org status: VC++, Burlesque, Smash Club, The Underground and CoOperative. Spring Elections • Voting in spring elections is now underway! Cast your ballot at vsavote. vassar.edu by noon on Thursday, April 12. Forum with Dean of Strategic Planning Marianne Begemann • The VSA held a forum with Dean Marianne Begemann at its last meeting. The primary topic of discussion was the Master Planning Committee’s plans to build an “inn and institute for the liberal arts.” • Funding would come from a dedicated donor source and is not meant to draw on other campus funds. • The proposed site is currently the green space next to Alumnae House, with the future location of the Arlington Farmers Market still being decided. • Senate members expressed concerns about the accessibility of the space to
sparks Trump’s concern,” 04.02.2018. The Economist, “Donald Trump takes a hard turn on immigration,” 04.05.2018). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has drastically lowered emission standards, and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is backing a single national standard for emissions. This has created a conflict with the state of California, where the rules on emissions are much stricter than in the rest of the country. Pruitt has also faced criticism for a number of ethical issues, especially his high bills on first-class travel and expensive office furniture as well as renting an apartment from the wife of a Washington lobbyist (CNN, “Trump meets with Pruitt amid mounting controversy,” 04.06.2018). In a shooting at the YouTube headquarters in California on April 3, three employees were wounded. The shooter, Nasim Aghdam, took her own life. She is suspected of holding a grudge against YouTube for filtering some of her videos (The Guardian, “YouTube shooting: apparent motive highlights tension with video ‘creators,’” 04.04.2018). In the escalating trade conflict with China, on April 4 the United States proposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese products that are imported into the country. After China responded by proposing tariffs on $50 billion of American products, Trump announced on April 5 that he is considering additional tariffs on $100 billion of Chinese imports to punish the country for retaliating (The New York Times, “Trump Doubles Down on Potential Trade War With China,” 04.05.2018). This past weekend, a suspected chemical attack killed at least 48 people in a rebel-held town in Douma, Syria. Trump condemned the attack and blamed it on the Syrian regime. In a tweet, he further criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting the regime. Trump also walked back his claims that he would withdraw American troops from Syria after pushback from the Pentagon (CNN, “Trump says US
students and the importance of maintenance to other buildings on campus (including Raymond House). Dean Begemann responded that the project is seen by the administration as an opportunity to pave the way for more comprehensive renovations to the rest of campus.
Amendments to VSA Bylaws and Constitution • Following the results of a straw poll held during Senate last month, the Operations Committee drafted a series of amendments to the VSA Bylaws and Constitution regarding meetings and procedures of the VSA Senate. • Changes include: formalization of the new meeting time (Sundays at noon), clarification of language regarding meeting place (now to be set by each new Senate), the abolition of the use of Robert’s Rules of Order and the new requirement that Operations Committee draft special rules of order each year, the institution of a formal check-in procedure for the beginning of each Senate meeting, the dissolution of the Judicial Board (which has been taken over by the Dean of Students’ office) and the new requirement that Executive Board meetings begin as open meetings (subject to closure at the discretion of Exec members) and that Exec mem-
‘cannot allow’ Syrian chemical weapons attacks,” 04.09.2018). Around the world… In France, the four largest railway unions went on strike from April 2 to April 5, protesting the labor reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, which would strip benefits from some state workers. This plunged France into a transportation chaos. Macron plans on opening up the train lines to competition while denying job security and early retirement from the workers. This is just one of many labor demonstrations in the past month, including protests by energy workers, Air France employees, garbage collectors and students (Bloomberg, “France Faces Transport Chaos as Unions Protest Macron Plans,” 04.02.2018). Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva will be jailed, while he appeals against a 12-year sentence for accepting a bribe from a construction company. Last Wednesday, Brazil’s supreme court rejected the plea by Silva’s lawyers that their client not be sent to prison until he had exhausted all possible appeals. The conviction makes it impossible for Silva to run again in the presidential elections in October, despite his lead in the polls. The decision by the court might be seen by Silva’s supporters as a political attack on the president and could delegitimize October’s elections (The Economist, “Brazil’s Lula and government by judges,” 04.05.2018). The agreement between Israel and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to relocate thousands of African migrants who came to Israel illegally and are seeking asylum has been canceled. The deal would resettle some in the West, while others would be able to stay in Israel. After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the deal with the UNHCR on Monday, April 2, he experienced backlash from his nationalist voter base on social media, as well as from right-wing politicians. On Tuesday, Netanyahu
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
bers provide a report concerning the business of their meetings to Senate. Letter regarding Jacob “JJ” Juviler ’21 • In response to concerns expressed by friends of JJ Juviler regarding the administration’s response to his passing and in collaboration with those students, Operations Committee drafted and VSA Senate endorsed a letter to President Bradley and Deans Roellke and Walen sharing these concerns and outlining a number of steps that the administration can take in response. • The VSA is also co-sponsoring a memorial to Juviler, including a tree and picnic bench to be dedicated in his honor. Finance Committee • All annual budgeting applications should have been turned in. Finance Committee will meet over the coming weekend to review applications and begin the process of drafting the annual budget for next year. President • No updates Executive Board • No updates —Julian Corbett, General VSA Intern
canceled the deal, saying, “We will continue to act with determination to explore all of the options at our disposal to remove the infiltrators” (Reuters, “Israel’s Netanyahu scraps African migrant relocation deal with U.N.,” 04.03.2018). Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Salman said on April 2, “I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land.” He added that the establishment of formal relations would be mutually beneficial. This change in rhetoric might be a result of the prince’s close relationship with the Trump administration, especially the President’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has been tasked with solving the Israeli-Palestine conflict (The New York Times, “Saudi Prince Says Israelis Have Right to ‘Their Own Land’,” 04.03.2018). Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi was re-elected to a second term with 97 percent of the vote, with some voters claiming that they were paid to cast their ballots. Sisi has been in power since Spring 2004, when he left his military career to run for office (CNN, “Egyptian President Sisi wins the second term with 97 percent of vote,” 04.02.2018). Keeping up with 2020 hopefuls… Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) told reporters on April 5 that if she wins re-election as a Massachusetts senator this fall, she plans on serving the full six-year term. This would prevent her from running for president in 2020 (CNN, “#2020Vision: Harris on corporate cash, Warren’s plan to serve six-year Senate term, Kander hires Iowa reporter,” 04.08.2018). Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) held a town hall event in Mississippi, during which he criticized the Democratic Party’s “business model” as well as saying that Democrats have lost a large number of legislature seats in the past years. According to Sanders, democratic failure has been widely overlooked due to Former President Obama’s charisma. This sparked controversy among many Democrats (CNN, “#2020 Vision”).
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April 12, 2018
FWA strives to create community in cast, audience Matt Stein
ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR
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tephen Schwartz’s 1970 musical “Godspell” is about the life of Jesus. Except it’s not. While the show is loosely based on the Gospel of Matthew, the show goes beyond those ecclesiastical themes, turning religious parables into a larger parable about the formation and dissolution of community. One can easily compare this show to Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” released the same year as “Godspell,” and see two vastly different musicals that might deal with the same subject but create vastly differing meanings. Future Waitstaff of America (FWA) will be presenting the musical “Godspell” in the Mug on April 13 at 8 p.m., April 14 at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and on April 15 at 3 p.m. Despite the theological basis of the production, Director Jennifer Jacobs ’20 believes there is more to the show than meets the eye: “People always think this is a musical about religion, and
it kind of is. But it’s the most non-religious religious musical.” Jacobs expanded: “It’s a lot about coming together despite differences. Everybody is on their own, but they’re still able to share their time and space together, which I think is a valuable skill. It’s about being able to look across differences and find a space that’s safe for all different kinds of people.” Highlighting the communal themes of the show, this production is set at a bar, taking advantage of one of the Mug’s previous incarnations. Of the two Broadway productions, the original iteration of the show was based on hippie culture and was notoriously campy, while the 2011 revival strove for an edgier tone. FWA’s production aims for a happy medium. For everyone involved, the main focus has been creating a united ensemble, both within the cast and with the audience during the performance. Music Director Daniel Slade Rosen ’19 spoke
Courtesy of Ben Gregory via Facebook
Future Waitstaff of America’s production of Stephen Schwartz’s 1970 musical “Godspell” will be performed in the Mug on April 13 at 8 p.m., April 14 at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. and April 15 at 3 p.m.
about the deep and unique feelings that a collective setting can evoke, which this production hopes to capture: “I love that sense of community when you go to a concert and suddenly everybody is singing the same lyrics, and everybody has their own individual meanings of the songs but they all somehow mean the same thing. There’s this balanced sense of community and individuality that’s coming together, at least for that moment, giving you purpose and a sense of something greater.” One of the distinct features of the musical is that all of the actors in the ensemble play characters that bear their real names, a tradition since the first production of the show. Zane Diamond ’20 plays Zane. Explaining the work that has gone into creating this character, he said, “That’s the thing about ‘Godspell.’ It’s an ensemble cast and you basically just play a version of yourself that is just a lot more extra. I’d say that the tones of the different songs really tell you a lot about the character as a person and there’s a very specific reason that each song is being sung by each person.” Jacobs agreed with Diamond and spoke about the difficulty this posed for the cast: “It’s hard to reconcile the words of the song, but also the different personalities of the characters, because of the fact that the people in my cast are not the people in the original, but I think everyone has sort of made it their own, and that was exactly what I was looking for.” Schwartz originally composed “Godspell” in 1970 while attending Carnegie Mellon University, with the book by John-Michael Tebelak and lyrics directly adapted from traditional hymns. The show premiered off Broadway the following year. An immense success, “Godspell” has been revived multiple times and was eventually made
into a film in 1973. The original Toronto cast featured many notable performers who would go on to mainstream success, including Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner and Martin Short. Schwartz has subsequently received praise for his work as composer for “Pippin” in 1972 and “Wicked” in 2003 and was lyricist for Disney’s “Pocahontas” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” as well as DreamWorks’s “The Prince of Egypt.” Rosen analyzed where “Godspell” fits thematically in Schwartz’s compendium of work: “I think there is so much in his shows about finding what morals are important to you, finding the people you can trust and also how to be a leader for yourself. In ‘Godspell,’ you have the lessons that you need to learn, and in ‘Pippin’ he’s going through all these different avenues in life and ‘Wicked’ takes it to the next step in a whole evaluation of morality. I think there is a through line.” Besides “Godspell,” FWA will be presenting “Ariadne,” a new musical written by Michael Oosterhout ’18, on April 12–14 in Rocky 200. Their other full-length production is “Little Women,” based on Louisa May Alcott’s 1869 novel, on April 19–21. The student theater org will also be continuing their Late Night series with “Late Night Legally Blonde” on April 28. Diamond related how the show’s communal themes can be particularly pertinent to Vassar students: “I hope the audience understands that there is a time limit to communities, in that people grow together and apart, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And sometimes a specific place and time and space were exactly what you needed, but anything more might not be good. I think it’s important to cherish the moments when you’re together as a community and to keep them in your memory but know that they don’t have to be the same ever again.”
Vassar, Misc alumnae discuss new novel by Okun ’12 ALUMS continued from page 1
them. Stout commented, “Helping a writer through the process of writing a long piece that takes weeks and months is really sustaining for me.” Stout’s job as a features editor means that she edits pieces that are part of continual reporting done on specific topics. The topics are varied and nuanced. For example, she recently edited a piece about the colonialist and appropriative consumerism of jewelry in New Mexico. Okun, who mostly edits first-person pieces for Racked, had a similar view to Stout: “I love helping other people tell their stories and have their voices heard.” Stout added more generally, “For me, I really hate it when people lie, so I love that the editing process is about the artfulness of triaging the truth. It’s about seeing the world in a way that is meaningful instead of in an artificial way.” The alumnae also talked about their time at Vassar and where their interests in writing and editing began. Stout commented, “I realized that writing was a career that people could have in high school. This sounds stupid, but I had this idea that books would just appear and that authors were otherworldly beings… But I had [writing] in the back of my mind. I knew it was career that is hard to make happen for yourself.” When she came to Vassar, Stout cultivated her passion for writing and editing through various English classes, her meaningful relationships with her professors, the tedious process of working on her thesis, and writing for the Misc. She recalls her bond with one professor in particular: “One of my most meaningful relationships I had at Vassar was with Professor Kumar. He challenged me to write with my head and taught me how to be a logical writer. He was also good at pointing out holes in my knowledge base…I remember him saying, ‘Don’t just write about yourself—go out into the world. The world is full. Figure out what literary theory is so you can deploy it in a meaning-
ful way.’” Stout emphasized that it was mostly the process of writing—the deep thinking and collaborative relationships involved—that drew her to the field. She added, “If I could combine the feeling of working on the Misc with the feeling of working on my thesis and the feeling of working with Professor Kumar, I would be the happiest woman in America… I feel that I have done that.” Similarly, Okun feels that the environment fostered by Vassar’s English Department along with the connections she made with her many English teachers, including Kumar, were some of the most informative aspects in her development as a writer. Particularly, she loved the way that English classes were incredibly collaborative and not high-strung. “Vassar is the best place for nurturing the secret best part of your-
self,” she said. “In the classroom, I never felt that I had to put on literary flourishes to prove myself. The department gave you this nurturing feeling that you can always do better, but also not worry so much.” Through it all, the two women were able to build careers in the fast-paced writing world with their own flairs while still maintaining a wonderful friendship. “Something that I think is so cool about her is that she made her career utterly hers,” Stout remarked on Okun. “Writing about yourself is one of the hardest things to do because it entails such high exposure. I occasionally write about myself, but I have nowhere near the comfort level in doing so as Alanna does. Her ability to write about herself and her family has added up to this capstone in this book and it’s so genuine.”
Courtesy of Amitava Kumar
Stout started the conversation with an insight about Okun, “You write a lot about small things. I know at the end of your time [at Vassar], you wanted to move on to big things, but this seems to be a collection about small things.” While Okun’s book on the surface extensively discusses knitting, the craft is really used as a means to unpack her personal world and inner turmoils. For instance, one chapter discusses Okun’s feelings about her sister’s bipolar disorder and her desire to fix something that cannot be fixed. In other words, the book uniquely interweaves crafting details with larger life conflicts. Okun commented on what the book meant to her: “It made all these things like anxiety and grief have a shape. It’s not a cure-all, it’s not a Gwyneth Paltrow holy secret, but it’s something that was helpful.” Nevertheless, the writing process wasn’t always easy. Okun found that she had a lot of anxiety about the permanence of the book. She commented, “I would wake up straight in the middle of the night and be like, ‘Am I sure of this?’” Okun also questioned her confidence in releasing something so personal and subtle in such a politically tumultuous time. “I had this moment in which I felt that I was writing this book about anxiety and grief and I felt like the conversation had changed and had become so much more gristlier,” she remarked. “But then I realized that I didn’t want to check a box; I wanted to write something that was true to myself.” That said, the author did find comfort in a practice she humorously called, “shutting the hell up and just sitting down and writing,” and when she met uncertainties or writing blocks, she used the calm, consistent practice of her knitting to break through them. In addition to discussing Okun’s book, the two women talked about their careers as editors and what makes editing meaningful to
Stout ’10 and Okun ’12 discussed Okun’s new book, their journalism careers and how Vassar impacted them. Okun’s book uses knitting and crafting to unpack her life’s larger issues.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
April 12, 2018
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London Stage actors perform Shakespearean classic Kelly Vinett
GUEST REPORTER
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rom the London Stage via the University of Notre Dame 2018 Residency Program, five actors took to the Martel Theater this week, performing William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” The production ran from April 5 to April 7. The event was sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and the Drama and Film Departments. The performance is part of the London Stage 2018 Spring Tour and is comprised of works by five British Shakespearean artists. Peter Holland, the McMeel Family Chair in Shakespeare Studies at the University of Notre Dame, states in the playbill, “Our company’s aim is to make his words exert their magic and their power in performance, but we do this in a vital, and perhaps unconventional way.” On a visual level, the stage lacks props and a formal set. The actors play multiple characters, which carries the potential for audience confusion; however, the actors pull it off effortlessly. One of the most innovative elements, which helped viewers understand the character-switch-
ing, were the costume changes. Instead of happening backstage, they took place in full view, increasing both efficiency and dramatic intrigue. Adding to this original flair, the cast even threw flour at the audience before intermission, presenting a creative take on the old theatrical tradition of the audience members showering the actors with flour as a sign of appreciation. Another original aspect about “The Taming of the Shrew” is that there was no official director. Instead, the actors collaborated as a directing body. Having the actors take part in the directing process allows for them to connect with Shakespeare’s work on a deeper level. The actors’ level of comfort with the complexities of the Shakespearean language is apparent given their ability to navigate even the most convoluted phrases with ease and poise. The company focuses on highlighting Shakesepare’s talent with words and they do this by employing a minimalist approach to theater. Audience member Miranda Cornell ’19 commented on the experience of watching this classic performed by a cast that had so much directorial input: “As a drama major in a department that em-
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Martel Theater brings five actors from the London Stage via the University of Notre Dame to Vassar’s campus, in order to perform the Shakespearean classic “The Taming of the Shrew.”
phasizes peer/colleague collaboration, it was really inspiring to see people working in similar ways that we’re taught to work in, especially from such a renowned place like London. While ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is a highly problematic play that just seems a bit outdated, the actors from the London Stage (particularly Evelyn Miller and Lizzy Hopley) clearly put a lot of thought into the message they were collectively putting on stage.” All five actors on stage play at least three characters. Kate, Baptista’s eldest daughter, and the “shrew” suggested by the title, is acted out by Lizzie Hopley, whose performance was commended by Cornell. Hopley also plays the roles of Biondello, Page, a Tapster and a Pedant. Chris Donnelly mainly portrays Baptista, the rich father of two daughters living in Padua. He also plays Grumio and Hortensio. Bianca is Kate’s younger, more beautiful and mild-mannered sister and is portrayed by Evelyn Miller, who also plays Tranio, Haberdasher, a Tailor and a Huntsman. When it comes to the sisters’ relationship with their father, Bianca is the clear favorite. Kate’s larger size, quick temper and scathing tongue contribute to her negative characterization as a shrew. Lucentio, played by Tom Kanji, is a rich young man who arrives in Padua with his two servants, Tranio and Biondello. He comes to Padua with academic intentions but quickly becomes infatuated by Bianca, the beauty. Here emerges the conflict: Beautiful Bianca has three suitors, whereas Kate, the shrew, has none. However, their father forbids Bianca to marry before Kate. A majority of the play depicts what happens when a young man arrives to Padua in pursuit of marriage with the one stipulation that his wife is rich. For him, it’s all about the amount of his wife’s dowry. As for Bianca and Kate, finding a husband is the goal as is typical of female charac-
ters in Shakespearean settings. Petruchio, the man who seeks to wed Kate, is played by Carl Prekopp. Once Kate and Petruchio get married, they flee to his country house, where he begins the process of “taming” his new wife by prohibiting her from eating or sleeping for several days. Petruchio justifies this torture by saying that his wife only deserves the best food and beds, which he cannot provide her with. After Kate has been “tamed,” the couple returns to Padua, where they reconvene with the family. At the banquet following Hortensio’s wedding, an interesting turn of events occurs between the sister-rivals. All of the characters are surprised to see Kate newly “tamed,” sitting calmly by her husband’s side without a trace of her usual snarky attitude. To Bianca and Baptista especially, this massive personality change comes as a complete shock. The husbands decide to put Kate’s newfound loyalty to the test, and the eventual outcome of the challenge they pose suggests that Petruchio was, indeed, the right man to tame the shrew. Kaitlin Prado ’19 delved into her perception of the complicated plot of the play: “I’ve always thought that there’s a lot about this Shakespeare comedy that ranges from anachronistic at best and quite tragic at worst.” However, recognizing the merit of the cast and crew, Prado continued, “The actors from the London Stage obviously paid close attention to every opportunity for comedy within the show with great effect, but they also took care in crafting some seriously grotesque moments between characters.” Overall, the London Stage performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” took a traditional play and infused modern elements of staging, concept and production design to appeal to a 21st-century audience. They truly brought Shakespeare’s quick-witted words to life.
Up-and-coming artist leaves mark on indie rock scene Clean
Soccer Mommy Fat Possum Records
flowers” is the first time we hear Allison speak authentically about what she wants and feels. It functions as the perfect resolution to the teenage messiness and too-cool facades heard throughout the album. Carried by a loud and open acoustic guitar like that of no other track on the album, Allison finally gives in to her tendencies and wants as the wildflowers “carried [her] home/[her] cooties too.” As a debut album, “Clean” works masterfully, featuring carefully thought out structure and strong lyricism. At times, the song structure
can be a bit straightforward and the topics are constrained to love and relationships, but Allison’s ability to put words to specific and widely shared frustrations carries her music beyond these limitations. Giving herself over so openly and honestly from the start through mature and poetic lyrics, Soccer Mommy’s trajectory is likely to be an exciting one for listeners to keep up with in the coming years. Equally reflective and vulnerable, “Clean” is the work of an artist just beginning to put her mark on the indie rock scene.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
CLEAN continued from page 1 be that cool.” Allison seemingly idealizes a girl that does not fall to the same pining tendencies that she expressed on “Still Clean”—while Allison is hung up on a former significant other from a long-over relationship, the girl she venerates on “Cool” “won’t ever love no boy.” This girl comes back on the third track, though, to demand autonomy from an obsessive and restricting partner. Allison hones her lyrical power on this song to condemn an emotionally abusive relationship, stating, “I’m not a prop for you to use/ When you’re feeling lonely and confused.” Allison also makes full use of the arrangement here, with guitar riffs calling back to her in corroboration of her testimony throughout the song. The pace of the album once agains slows down on “Flaw,” the most intimate song yet. Here, Allison addresses her own infidelity outright with small details that are nevertheless highly personal. Although she explicitly admits to the infidelity, she continues to displace the blame for it, saying she chooses to “Blame it all on [them]/‘Cause I don’t like the truth.” With these lines, she highlights how relationships can really bring out the complicated and contradictory nature of human beings. “Blossom” marks the halfway point of the album, with a renewed Allison focused on finding a reciprocal love on this stripped-down track. Almost the entirety of the song rests on her voice and the slow strums of an acoustic guitar, accented with a deep bass in the middle of the song. The simplicity forces the audience to focus on the lyrics and comprehend that this
is a pivotal point, the start of a bloom, on the journey of this album—Allison is now able to make peace with the type of unrequited love detailed on “Still Clean” and realize that she deserves something more. “Last Girl,” the next song, echoes the writing format of the former song: it is a song written in situ, while wracked with negative emotions, and it plays on the same idea of “Cool.” In “Last Girl,” Allison openly bears her insecurities as she wonders if she is not enough while comparing herself to her partner’s last girlfriend. Delightfully intimate, “Last Girl” manages to put universally understandable lyrics to the feeling of jealousy. The multiple layers of guitar and heavy drum backing on “Skin” pushes one of the more rockheavy pieces forward; the song captures a wash of negative emotions as this musical progression takes place. Here, Allison recalls being consumed by an obsessive crush while also trying to act cool and detached. This idea of simultaneously being too involved and too cool recurs throughout the album (“Cool,” “Last Girl”) and shows us the dangerous adolescent trend of trying to be something you’re not. “Scorpio Rising” brings this too-cool act to a climax as Allison finally admits to not being too cool to feel heartbroken; here, she drops the detached facade and allows herself to feel the true pain of the breakup. This pain is saturated by the lo-fi audio of the track; the fuzzy instruments and sound of a home recording give it a more relatable quality, which builds into a sonic climax, asking more from the listener than any other track on this album. She gives her listener a come-down in the following instrumental “Interlude.” Reflective and meditative, “Interlude” gives the listener a space to slow down and think back before the final track, “Wildflowers.” Following the realization of self in “Scorpio Rising,” “Wild-
For a debut album, “Clean” is extremely strong in its lyricism and contains a well thought-out structure. However, Soccer Mommy’s soulful and poetic music tends to be constrained to the theme of love.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
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April 12, 2018
‘Strong Girl Bong-soon’ combines humor and originality Olivia Feltus COLUMNIST
Strong Girl Bong-soon
Lee Hyung-min JTBC
Y
acters is a police officer, there has to be at least one murder/kidnapping case—one that becomes a recurring plot point. As the murder case progresses, Bong-soon demonstrates her super strength in exciting ways, all the while developing a hilarious, adorable romance. Luckily, the love triangle that seems apparent from the start does not last too long, and Bong-soon chooses her romantic partner early in the series. While a few of the cast members act as mere plot points for a few moments, most of them are recurring characters. The gangsters that Bong-soon beat up at the very beginning of the show never leave, and some end up playing a large role in other subplots as well. Everything gets tied together in the end.
Overall, though a romance-comedy, “Strong Girl Bong-soon” features an extremely strong lead with enough personality to fill up at least seven more romance-comedies. Everything about this show is high quality, from the first opening sequence (which I watched every episode) to the laugh-outloud scenes at the very end. The theme song that plays when Bong-soon is doing something particularly badass is extremely catchy and was not overused (I’m looking at you, every romance drama ever). Also, the most beautiful, touching thing I have seen on any form of television ever happened in this show—I shed a tear. Want to know what happened? Watch “Strong Girl Bong-soon.” You won’t be disappointed.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
ou are on the back seat of a bus that is about to crash. The bus skids and jerks around the road—everyone is screaming. You are sure that these are your last moments on Earth, but then the vehicle suddenly comes to a halt directly before plummeting off of a bridge. You look out the back windows, and on this sunny day you see a mysterious girl with a pink hoodie on, hair lightly blowing in the wind. Who is she? The answer lies in the 2017 Korean drama, “Strong Girl Bong-soon.” I first heard about “Strong Girl Bong-soon” while looking up the actress Bo-young Park after watching “Oh My Ghostess”—a romance/mystery/ cooking drama about the love triangle that unfolds between a chef, a chef’s assistant and a virgin ghost who thinks that she can only move on to the afterlife if she has sex with a man. Bo-young Park plays both the ghost and the chef’s assistant at once in a in a manner that is perfectly obvious. Amazed by that show, I looked more into her acting career and found “Strong Girl,” but put it on the back burner due to my general disinterest in superhero-type shows—that is, until my friend watched it for the same reason that I wanted to and recommended it to me...wow, was he right! There has always been something slightly off about “Do Bong-soon from Dobong-dong Dobong-gu,” played by Bo-young Park. Due to a trait passed down through the women in her family, she has inherited extreme physical strength with the caveat that if she uses it to hurt an innocent
person or for unjust reasons, it disappears. Due to this, along with a few other personal issues, the protagonist has always hidden her powers, hoping to make a video game character based on her real life and then hide in the shadows. Besides that, Bong-soon has lived a relatively normal life in her small, safe neighborhood. Her parents own a walnut bakery, and she’s always had a crush on the handsome local police officer Gook-doo, played by Ji Soo. One day, confronted by a group of gangsters, Bong-soon loses her temper and is unable to control her powers. She wins, of course, but the damage is done; Everyone involved in the fight sees her, including a group of kindergartners and Min-hyuk Ahn, played by Hyung-sik Park, who is a very rich, handsome CEO of a major company, Ainsoft. When taken to the police station and questioned by Gook-doo, Min-hyuk comes to her defense, denies that she had an outburst and then hires her to be his bodyguard. One of the funniest aspects of this laugh-outloud, hilarious show is Bong-soon’s daydreams. One daydream in particular involves one of the main characters doing some very unexpected things with a very unexpected person. Often involving a certain character (not saying who!) with a princelike appearance (sometimes literally a prince), Bong-soon’s worst, most extreme romance-nightmares are depicted throughout the show. In fact, caught up in the whirlwind that is Bong-soon’s life, I often would find myself sending my friends texts that would inevitably mean nothing to them, such as, “Oh my god, you won’t believe what kind of daydream Bong-soon had about the CEO!” I would just be completely unable to contain my excitement! Some real-life nightmares happen too; of course, what is a romance-comedy without a little murder mystery? Predictably, since one of the main char-
2017 Korean romance-comedy show “Strong Girl Bong-soon” fuses the superhero genre with perpetual laugh-out-loud moments. It stars Bo-young Park, Ji Soo and Hyung-sik Park.
Innovative spirit of ‘Isolation’ eclipsed by collaborators Jimmy Christon COLUMNIST
Isolation
Kali Uchis Interscope Records
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he worst part about Tyler, the Creator is that he can’t sing. Luckily for us, Kali Uchis can sing. Unfortunately for us, her music is vibey to a fault. In other words, Kali Uchis faces obstacles not only from being a new artist, but also from choosing to make music in a lane that is still very much in development. This is both great and trite. When “Isolation” is at its highest, I struggle to think of someone who can do Uchis’s style better. When “Isolation” is at its lowest, I just want
to skip the track—or worse, go listen to someone else. Kali Uchis has been in the music game for some time now, but she had yet to release her own music up until this album. I know this artist best from her work with Tyler, the Creator. She appeared all over his overblown and unfocused “Cherry Bomb”; most notably on its best track, “Fucking Young/Perfect.” Kali Uchis’s vocals are dreamy, withdrawn and smooth as vanilla. This song is excellent, despite its content-related shortcomings, and I’m happy to say it isn’t just a one-hit wonder. Kali Uchis and Tyler teamed up again on Tyler’s newest LP, “Flower Boy,” on the hit track “See You Again.” Again, Uchis comes through with a killer feature that continuously brings me back to the summer when I started listening to
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Kali Uchis has been in the music scene for a while now, and has finally come out with her first album, “Isolation.” However, featured artists on her album sometimes eclipsed her talents.
this track. In between these two Tyler features, Kali Uchis also appeared on Daniel Caesar’s most popular track, “Get You.” I have absolutely no qualms stating that Kali Uchis utterly stole the show on this track. Her vocals were commendable on the two Tyler tracks, but her performance on “Get You” was the one that really drew me to this new project. It was on this track that Kali Uchis demonstrated her ability to not only bring an overwhelming sense of emotive force to her vocals, but also exhibit emotion while holding both the beat and the listener’s attention. In today’s day and age, standing out is the most significant thing you can have going for you as an artist. However, a lot of this album feels like its fiddling with hot air. If I had to liken it to any of the three singles I had previously brought up, its most comparable to “Fucking Young/Perfect.” Kali Uchis’s debut album lacks the pop sensibilities of “See You Again” (for the most part), and it certainly doesn’t have the emotive weight of her feature on “Get You.” What this album does have is some very lush instrumentation and some vocals that match this extravagance. Kali Uchis’s performance on this record is soaked in syrup. She is drowsily laconic on “Flight 22,” a track with one of the slowest earworms I’ve ever heard. The track itself is very slow and lofty, and I love it. Like a “Pet Sounds”-esque Beach Boys track, “Flight 22” is simple, catchy, and it sticks with a shtick that it fulfills to completion. It’s a shame that few other tracks on this album reach the same heights. The following track, “Your Teeth In My Neck,” is at least as catchy as “Flight 22,” and with a bit more bump to its beat. However, it overstays its welcome, going on for just a tad bit too long. With a violent hook like this one, the lyrics lack the substance to hammer this track down in anyone’s memory. There is the awesome track “Nuestro Plane-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
ta,” featuring Reykon, which I do like a lot. Not only is this song buoyant like “Flight 22,” but its collaboration with Reykon is excellent, serving to complement rather than drown out Kali Uchis—something that is not the norm for this album. Rather, there are too many people featured on this album, and when every other song has a feature, it seems like it’s a slight on the producer’s part to have Kali Uchis’s solo on the cover. I get that pop music is a collaboration, but there were some moments where I felt like the features were just there to associate Kali Uchis with more acclaimed stars, and took away from showing listeners how much she can do on her own as an artist. Case in point of Kali Uchis’s performance being undercut is “Before the Storm,” featuring Tyler, the Creator and Booty Collins. Is there anyone out there that can honestly say that they like Kali Uchis’s vocals over this beat more than Tyler’s low and groovey featured verse? I think not. “Let’s produce a thriller, my chocolate to your vanilla” is a fantastic and memorable line, but it’s not coming from Kali Uchis. What’s worse is that it makes her performance come off as a little lackluster in comparison. However, sometimes Kali Uchis makes everyone look better even when she’s on her own. “Feel Like a Fool” is incredibly out of place, while “Dead To Me” is just awful. I hated this track. It sounds like an outtake from the Gorillaz’s last album, which was a downright unbearable. Kali Uchis’s vocals come off as uninspired, and the repetitive hook with the faux-techno/disco beat just didn’t do it for me. Thankfully, this track is an outlier. I’m not trying to drag Kali Uchis, but it’s hard to ignore the faults on this album. Although the other artists featured on the album compensate for some of Uchis’s weak points, I was hoping to see more development from Uchis herself. Still, it isn’t a complete loss. I’m left in the same spot I was in when I came into this album: I’m looking forward to what Kali Uchis does next.
ARTS
April 12, 2018
Campus Canvas
A weekly space highlighting the creative pursuits of student-artists
Page 9 submit to misc@vassar.edu
Excuse me, Do you believe in ghosts?
“Strongly.” — Bryan Smith ’21
“I feel their presence.” — Solenne Steelberg ’21
“I think so. My grandfather’s girlfriend is a medium.” — Maisha Lakri ’21
“Absolutely not.” — Diana Henry ’20
“No, I don’t believe in ghosts. I do believe in a force of nature, but not necessarily a ghost.” — Jungyun Han ’21
Kimberly Nguyen Class of 2019 English Major Kimberly Nguyen ’19 is a Vietnamese-American writer. Her two poetry collections, “I Am Made of War” and “flesh” are available on Amazon.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
“Yes. I think ghosts are transparent. We can’t see them, but they are definitely there. And they are not scary because most people are nice, so most ghosts are nice.” — Andrew Luo ’21 Leah Cates, Humor & Satire Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Hannah Benton, Photography
FEATURES
Page 10
April 12, 2018
Current Vassar Devil confesses love for a cappella group Michael Saracco
he Vassar Devils gained national and international attention after winning the Boston Sings A Cappella Festival in 2016. They also received multiple nominations for Contemporary Recorded A Cappella Awards for their debut
The Devils––known for their tight harmonies and impeccable dynamics––work year-round to produce quality music. With a jam-packed second semester of performances on and off campus, the Devils are preparing for continued success. Being a member of the Devils has made my
sons why the Devils have continued to succeed after a large number of members graduated last spring. When asked what the Devils mean to her, Carmichael replied: “I have never been more passionate about anything in my life. And it’s not really a cappella that I’m talking about; I am
first-year. Monroe commented, “Like most firstyears, coming into Vassar I was worried that I would not be able to find my place in the community or find people I could become close to. However, being in the Devils has put those fears to rest.” She added, “Music has been the most import-
iTunes album Coming Alive. While these accolades allowed the Devils to gain momentum as a premiere collegiate a cappella group, they’ve proven to have the ability to reach new heights beyond their success and continued to excel this year.
first year of college significantly better. The members of the group are supportive and genuine, and are 11 of the best people I have met. Lily Carmichael ’20 is our current musical and personal leader. Her musical prowess and personable nature are some of the primary rea-
passionate about this group, the people, the way we make music with each other, and our ability to connect with others through our music. Being in the Devils has changed my life. Because of them, I am a better musician, a better leader, a better person. This group is my family, and I am so unbelievably grateful to be a part of it.” To members of the org, the Devils are more than simply a collegiate a cappella group. From course selection to finding “the Mug” to helping me find the perfect groutfit for our performances, the Devils have been there for me in contexts beyond rehearsal. I am eternally grateful that I have the opportunity to be a part of this group and to make music with such quality individuals. I know that being a member of this group has allowed me to do more than simply improve my musicianship––it has enabled me to make long-term friends. Being a member of the Devils has provided me with experiences that I would not have gotten otherwise, and this has significantly deepened my love of music. I feel honored to have the opportunity to create music and spend time with other members of the group. The Devils have made my experience at Vassar significantly better. As soon as I was accepted into the org, I felt welcomed and supported by the other members. Fellow first-year Devil Susanna Monroe feels similarly about the group, as evidenced by her articulation of what the Devils mean to her as a
ant part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it means so much to me to be able to sing with others who value and love music as much as I do. Being in this loving and devoted community has made my first year of college so much better by helping me form meaningful friendships and build my confidence.” In the first half of the academic year, the Devils performed in a joint concert with the Nor’easters of Northeastern University and released a cover of Beyonce’s “Love On Top” on iTunes and Spotify, among various other gigs, such as a wedding, the second annual Dockappella Music Festival in New York City and a workshop series at a local high school. Clearly, we keep ourselves busy. This semester, the our schedule is even more jam-packed than first semester, with multiple performances every week and preparation for a new set that will be recorded and put on YouTube by the end of the academic year. This past weekend (April 7 and 8), we headed on a mini-tour to perform at the Acappellooza Festival in Connecticut and Massachusetts. More exciting things are ahead for us, too. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary with a special concert later this spring, and are in the process of recording our second professional studio album, which will be released on iTunes and Spotify in the near future. Visit our website, vassardevils.com, for updates and more.
GUEST REPORTER
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Courtesy of the Vassar Devils
As shown in the photo, the Vassar Devils is an inclusive student organization that not only nurtures the College’s musical talents but also fosters friendship and harmony.
Phocus records life, redefines nature, refreshes perceptions PHOCUS continued from page 1
phy] and there’s no art history class that talks about photography.” Among the many projects that Phocus pursues, the workshops are hosted according to the needs and demands of the students. The org recently had a zine-making workshop, introducing a cheap and accessible way to self-publish photography work. Phocus is currently working on its annual journal, FIX, which will come out at the end of April. The magazine functions as a platform to display student work. Rønning stated, “Our aim is to be as inclusive as possible, so almost everyone gets at least one and no more than three photos published. People are encouraged to submit any format taken with any device.” Collaborating with VCNature, an outreach campaign by the Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve, Phocus is about to launch a photo exhibit, titled “Earth to Vassar,” in the Old Bookstore on Earth Day, April 22. The purpose of this project is to invite community involvement and spread awareness of the various forms that the concept of nature can take. Rønning elaborated, “We encourage people to submit photos they’ve taken about what they think is nature. One of our goals in selecting the photos was to show a wide variety and to explore what we consider socio-nature. Is it just the beaver dam that we see in the preserve or people sitting on the quad together? Is it the mold that grows in the corner of the shower in Raymond? Where does nature end?” In the spirit of the photo show, Exec Board member Cassie Jain ’20 shared her own interpretation of nature: “I think nature is where you feel like you’re in fresh air; usually this means there’s some kind of foliage, animals and natural landscape, but it could be anywhere from the beach to Sunset Lake to a city park.” Rønning revealed that Phocus is already planning on inviting next year’s guest speakers.
He remarked on the hopes and goals of the org in this area: “We want to bring more photographers of color because photography is a white male-dominated industry and it’s important to amplify other voices. We, as an org and as individuals, want to engage more with the wider community. We also continue working towards making photography more accessible on campus, as it can be an expensive hobby.” What binds the org members together is their mutual recognition of the expressive power of photography. Baum noted, “What inspires me about photography is its capacity—as a platform through which to filter the world and our perceptions—to unify people. I believe photography has the potential to be a very empathetic art form. It illuminates the ways humans create and connect with one another and our environments. In a world increasingly inundated with quick documentation and apathy, I think it is valuable to slow down and see the world through another’s eyes.” Speaking of her own work, Baum believes that it’s important to capture a new perspective
in photos that reflect reality. She commented, “The photos I am most proud of creating have in common poetic moments of connection in a fast world; images that allow the viewer to see the world anew, if only for a moment.” Rønning’s interest in photography was initiated by a need to document life as he experiences it. He recounted, “I grew up having a very transient life, living in a lot of different places. I really fear of forgetting and photography originally started as a form of remembering. I wanted to take photos of everything and everyone around me. Instead of directing or manipulating the situation, I just like to capture things as they are.” Phocus provides resources for people who are interested in exploring different formats of shooting. Members receive not only access to photographic equipment but also a medium to showcase their work. Contact Phocus via email at phocus.vassar[at]gmail.com or visit the official website, phocusvassar.com, which posts upcoming projects, events, tutorials and student galleries.
Courtesy of Eilif Rønning
Rønning added,“[Phocus] gave me room to just exhale and appreciate nice images…I learned so much about photography since coming to Vassar solely because of the org. I learned to take better and different photos.” Moving to a leadership role this year, Rønning strives to ensure that Phocus is a safe space for artists to learn and grow. During the weekly meetings, students can receive constructive feedback on their works submitted anonymously. Rønning explained what goes into planning the prompts for each critique session: “We try to have broad categories so that people feel comfortable submitting whatever they want. Part of the theme that we pick for the week is to help people explore a specific type of photography or idea.” Exec Board member Ella Baum ’20 has been involved with Phocus since her first year at Vassar. She articulated her love for photography via email: “I have been fascinated by the medium of photography and its potential to influence the way we see the world, and each other, for years. I think photography is an incredibly rewarding art form as it allows one to share one’s own experience and is, simultaneously, conducive to evocative, deeply human storytelling and beautiful, aesthetic work. All of this contributed to my desire to join Phocus. My passion for this medium lends itself to my desire to work with other photographers, and learn from one another, and the constructive criticism such a community provides.” The org serves as an alternative setting for discovering and learning the art of photography. Rønning noted, “I really wanted to create more opportunities for people to not only learn but show what they are making because there are so many incredible artists on campus and in the community. However, there are only two classes in the Art Department [on photogra-
“The most fun thing I did recently is I made a zine about all the ATMs in New York from different angles with graffiti and stuff on them.” —Photo enthusiast Eilif Røønning ’20
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
FEATURES
April 12, 2018
Page 11
Prof Spotlight: Students motivate educators, posits Bjork Duncan Aronson GUEST REPORTER
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The Misc: We’ve all written it on college ap-
his week we interviewed Professor Christopher Bjork from the Education Department via email. With his long tenure at Vassar and his meta-knowledge of education, Bjork’s insights on Vassar as an educational institution
plications, now it’s time to turn the tables. Why
are invaluable.
sition to a tenure track line, so the college had to conduct a national search. I was planning to stay put, but applied to Vassar as a backup, in case I didn’t get the other job. When I was asked to come to Vassar to interview, I didn’t think I wanted to move, but over those two days, I was really impressed by Vassar. What ultimately led me to make the change was the students. It seemed like students who were taking education courses did so out of a deep commitment to education and to social change. They really impressed me. After struggling to make a decision, I decided that since I spend most of my time working with students, it made sense to [choose] Vassar.
The Miscellany News: How did you first become interested in education?
Courtesy of John Abbot
Bjork encourages his students to pursue their true passions in college, as he has been doing throughout his life. The key to becoming a wonderful professor is love and dedication for the subject one is teaching.
particular class.
Christopher Bjork: I thought about teaching ever since I was an elementary school student. After teaching in California and in Japan, I started looking for ways to combine my interests in education, teaching and Japanese culture. When I was working at an international school in Tokyo, an expert on the Japanese education system, Catherine Lewis, presented her research to the teachers at the school. As I listened to her talk about her work, I realized that going to graduate school to study comparative education would be a logical next step in my career. The next year I applied to doctoral programs in education and, soon after, started conducting research on education reform in Japan and Indonesia. The Misc: What kind of classes do you teach? Do you have a favorite one?
Bjork: The Education Department at Vassar is very small and we do a lot of different things. As a result, all of the members of the department teach a wide range of courses. I teach introductory courses in the social foundations of education, the senior seminar for education majors, a first year writing seminar and a course in comparative and international education. I also supervise student teachers and run the seminar for student teachers. It’s hard to pick a favorite course. So much depends on the students in a
Vassar?
Bjork: After finishing graduate school, I started teaching at another liberal arts college in the northeast. My job converted from a visiting po-
The Misc: How long have you been teaching at Vassar? How have things changed?
Bjork: I came to Vassar in the fall of 2002. The main difference I have observed has been the composition of the student body. After we moved to need blind admissions, we started to attract a more diverse group of students. That has made my job more exciting, given that the classes offered by my department tend to focus on the role that education plays in supporting and impeding social change. It’s interesting exploring those topics with people who have had such a wide range of experiences before coming to Vassar. The Misc: Do you have any ongoing research projects happening at the moment?
Bjork: Yes, I’m currently working on a cou-
ple of projects. For the last three or four years I have been collaborating with Bill Hoynes in the Sociology Department on a study of the youth sports industry. We have been following a handful of travel sports teams and their families, trying to learn what motivates them to spend so much time and money on athletics. Working with Bill—and a team of Vassar student research assistants—has been a lot of fun. I am also part of a team of researchers from Indonesia, Germany and the Netherlands, that is studying the behavior of teachers in Indonesia. We are trying to come up with strategies that can be used to raise the quality of teaching in Indonesian public schools. One of my favorite things about that work is that I have had the opportunity to work with a group of Indonesian researchers to conduct qualitative analyses of education policies. I’m hoping that in the near future, the number of Indonesian researchers capable of studying their own education system will increase to the point that foreign consultants like me will no longer be needed. The Misc: If you could give students one piece of advice, what would it be?
Bjork: Don’t worry so much about picking a major that seems like it will get you a high paying job, and definitely don’t double major for that reason. During your short time at Vassar, take courses that you find exciting and challenging. I am constantly impressed by the important work people do after they graduate from Vassar, regardless of the major stamped on their diplomas. If you learn to express your thoughts clearly, collaborate with different kinds of people and solve real life problems, you will be prepared to do just about anything.
A different kind of birthday cake—Peanut Butter Pup recipe Aidan Zola COLUNMIST
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Courtesy of Aidan Zola
he first time I ever saw my dog Gus, he was snoring peacefully in my mom’s lap. He only weighed about eight pounds and his little head fit perfectly in the crook of her arm. While his brothers and sisters trundled around adventurously, pawing the occasional dead leaf or speck of dirt, he was content with napping. I fell in love with him. Almost a decade later, Gus is still a huge part of my life. He’s been my pillow, and he recently earned his therapy license so he can comfort even more people! In May, he’ll be turning eight, and I want to help him ring in his senior status and celebrate his achievements in the best way possible: making a birthday cake. I know that making a cake for a dog is a bit ridiculous, but I think most of us can admit that we spoil our pets at one point or another. So, if you’ve got a couple of overripe bananas on hand and you’re not embarrassed to throw a birthday party for your dog, why not put together this Peanut Butter Pup recipe? First, figure out how much your dog can have of this cake since it’s not exactly a one-toone match for the average Milk-Bone. If you’ve got a pooch as big as Gus, for example, you can probably get away with making this entire recipe and have no issue. However, if your fullgrown dog weighs less than 10 pounds, you may want to consider scaling down to cupcake size. Start with a cup of whole-wheat flour (if your dog is a health nut just like you, maybe try a grain-free substitute like chickpea or coconut flour). Next, add one teaspoon of baking soda. After you’ve combined the dry ingredients, it’s time to crack open what your dog has been waiting for: the peanut butter. In a separate bowl, mix together a quarter cup of the nut butter with a quarter cup of vegetable oil. For some texture, add a cup of shredded carrots—
not to mention that this is the only way most dogs will happily eat their vegetables. For the rest of the wet ingredients, beat in a third cup of honey, one egg and one teaspoon vanilla. Make sure to combine the dry and wet mixtures, and pour the batter into an appropriately sized pan. Bake in a 350-degree oven for around 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. While it’s baking, prepare the frosting. In a medium-sized bowl, whip together eight ounces of cream cheese, one or two ripe mashed bananas and one teaspoon of cinnamon. At this point, if your dog hasn’t come to investigate for floor crumbs or peanut butter, they’ll probably come to at least poke a snout around the corner. After all, it’s not every day that your pet gets to lick the frosting spoon. Once the cake is done baking, let it stand in the pan for about five minutes and then pop it onto a cooling rack. If you’re really going all out and having the neighbors over for the party, you can start decorating now while you wait for the cake to cool down! Not saying I’ve ever bought party hats specifically made for dogs (I have), or draped streamers around for Gus’s big day (I have), but you can definitely get creative with this part. Your dog will at least be interested in the colorful trinkets and banners. When you decide the cake has cooled enough, you can either cut it into funky shapes or leave it as is—your dog won’t care either way! Spread the frosting evenly with a flatedged spatula, and add whatever toppings your pet loves best. Finally, gather the guests and birthday pup around, and watch your masterpiece disappear. After many years of hearing us sing “Happy Birthday,” Gus knows to come running whenever he even thinks he hears the melody. Once your dog gets a taste of this treat, they’ll probably feel the same way!
Pictured here is the writer’s dog Gus, looking wistful at the prospect of tasting another homemade cake for his birthday. He happens to share our passion for peanut butter.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
Ingredients Cake: 1 cup of whole-wheat flour 1 tsp of baking soda 1 cup of shredded carrots 1/4 cup of peanut butter 1/4 cup of vegetable oil 1/3 cup of honey 1 egg 1 tsp of vanilla Frosting: 8 oz of cream cheese 1-2 ripe bananas, mashed 1 tsp of cinnamon
FEATURES
Page 12
“Goals”
April 12, 2018
by Paul Cannata
submit to misc@vassar.edu
Altered Egos
Ben Costa
ACROSS 1. Clothed and armored 5. A not-plucked note 9. Razor theorist 14. Brain portion 15. Chocolate factory author 16. 'I plead', to a Roman 17. Saudi citizen 18. British author Blyton 19. Utah lilies 20. Shape with four right angles 22. Dead-set foe “Secret Identities” 23. Fried and filled Jewish pastry by 24. Took the Taconic 26. Female gametes 47. Staid and serious ACROSS 48. “How far out?” 1. Clothed and armored 29. Make connections 49. Never-tiring muscle 5. A not-plucked note 33. Foiling progress 52. Calvin’s spacefaring double 9. Razor theorist 57. Poe-t 14. Brain portion 38. Kind of 60. Even more cringey 15. Chocolate factory author 39. Length times width, for 20 63. Geisel’s nom-de-plume 16. ‘I plead’, to a Roman 64. A cat’s lives or tails 17. Saudi citizen across. 65. Covered in grease 18. British author Blyton 40. Infer or develop 66. Pivotal Western philosopher 19. Utah lilies 67. intimidating Branching diagram 20. Shape with four right angles 42. An book 68. Burrowing blemish 22. Dead-set foe 43. Spidery wormy 69. Nationor west of Oman 23. Fried and filled Jewish pastry 70. Snowy conveyance 24. Took the Taconic 45. Dug into 71. White-hot diva 26. Female gametes 47. Staid and serious 29. Make connections DOWN 33. Foiling progress 48. "How far out?" 1. Superman’s secret name 38. Kind of 2. ‘El Cid’s Sophia muscle 39. Length times width, for 20 across. 49. Never-tiring 3. Bead counters 40. Infer or develop 52. Calvin's spacefaring double 4. Things owed 42. An intimidating book 5. A bear’s lair 43. Spidery or wormy 57. Poe-t 6. Dialed someone up 45. Dug into 60. Even more cringey 7. Young’un 8. Further nom-de-plume back 63. Geisel's Answers to last week’s puzzle 9. “The name’s Bond. Sometimes.” 64. A10.cat's lives or tails Add battlements to 11. Lock up Nicholas 65. Covered in grease 12. Unit of matter 66. Pivotal Western 13. Wander on over philosopher 21. What you say when you ‘57 down’ 67. Branching diagram land 68. Burrowing 25. Find northblemish with a compass 27. Austrian capital 69. Nation west of Oman 28. Conjunction junction 70. Snowy 30. Goneconveyance missing 31. Domesticated 71. White-hot diva 32. Sized up
33. Back-chat 34. Barbershop quartet, one short 35. Lung-top sound 36. "Come as soon as possible!" 37. Digestive tract 41. Time to come on 44. Transcendentalist writer 46. Space agency 50. Screaming screeds 51. Pirouette 53. Major ball room customers 54. A dim bulb 55. A pleasant guy 56. Oil boiler 55. A pleasant guy 57. sight of 56.Catch Oil boiler 57. Catch sight of 58. Removal mark 58. Removal mark 59. Pacific colony 59.US US Pacific colony 61. Patella joint 61. Patella joint 62. A dandelion or kudzu vine 62. A dandelion or kudzu vine
3. Bead counters 4. Things owed 5. A bear's lair 6. Dialed someone up 7. Young'un 8. Further back 9. "The name's Bond. Sometimes." 10. Add battlements to 11. Lock up Nicholas 12. Unit of matter 13. Wander on over 21. What you say when you '57 Benjamin down' land Costa 25. Find north with a compass 41. Time to come on 27. 44. Austrian capital writer Transcendentalist 46. Space agency 28. Conjunction junction 50. Screaming screeds 30. 51. Gone missing Pirouette 53. Major ballroom renters 31. 54. Domesticated A dim bulb 32. Sized up
The Miscellany Crossword
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MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
2017
April 12, 2018
OPINIONS
Page 13
The Miscellany news Staff Editorial
Money in science necessitates consumer consciousness In times of uncertainty, we all want to have something to hold onto—a lens through which to understand the world, a set of concrete facts to justify our beliefs and actions. For many of us, that something is science. Yet the implied
clinical hub of the trial, is biased: The University has faced criticism for accepting $3.3 million in 2015 from a foundation funded by distillers, as well as receiving $150,000 from Anheuser-Busch after a professor collaborated with the compa-
funded by the food industry have been shown to be much more likely to reach conclusions that are favorable to the industry (Vox, “Food companies distort nutrition science. Here’s how to stop them,” 04.21.2016).
the losing end when they become a target audience for products that are significantly harmful to one’s health. Evidence has been found that tobacco companies often intentionally cater to retail outlets such as convenience stores, grocery
promise of veracity conjured up by the image of workers in lab coats ought not to be taken for granted. Even ostensibly accurate scientific studies are too often skewed by those funding the research and those who present the results. In today’s society, therefore, the responsibility unfortunately falls to us to examine the information on which we base our decisions. In one recent example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) came under fire for its ties to the alcohol industry, which may have resulted in biased studies that implicitly promote moderate drinking (Ars Technica, “‘I don’t f—ing care’: In wooing $67M from big alcohol, NIH nixed critical study,” 04.03.2018). Hints of misconduct emerged in July 2017, when The New York Times reported on the Moderate Alcohol and Cardiovascular Health Trial (MACH), which was slated to examine the potential benefits of drinking. Of the $100 million allocated for the study, a whopping $67.7 million came from five of the world’s largest purveyors of alcoholic beverages via donations to a foundation that raises money for the National Institutes of Health. Moreover, at least five researchers on the study—as well as Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) George F. Koob—have conflicts of interest in the form of past financial involvement with the alcohol industry. Even Harvard University, the
ny to promote the health benefits of beer (The New York Times, “Is Alcohol Good for You? An Industry-Backed Study Seeks Answers,” 07.03.2017). In March 2018, The New York Times reached the damning conclusion that the NIAA heavily courted the alcohol industry to obtain funding for the study, even sending scientists to meet with industry executives and suggesting that the results would support the idea of moderate drinking as healthy (The New York Times, “Federal Agency Courted Alcohol Industry to Fund Study on Benefits of Moderate Drinking,” 03.17.2018). As of March 20, the NIH is investigating whether soliciting donations from alcohol companies constituted a violation of federal policy by health officials (The New York Times, “N.I.H. to Investigate Outreach to Alcohol Companies,” 03.20.2018). Such strategic wielding of financial power is nothing new. In 2012, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report detailing the extent of corporations’ roles in policy-making and scientific processes, pointing out that corporations exert their influence in a variety of ways, including suppressing research, manipulating study designs and selectively publishing results (Union of Concerned Scientists, “How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public’s Expense (2012),” 02.2012). Nor is it limited to the contentious realm of the alcohol business: Studies
In general, popular narratives that are accepted as scientific fact, which often go unquestioned despite their dubious accuracy, begin at the top with corporate rhetoric and marketing campaigns and trickle down into our daily lives and perspectives. For example, just 10 companies control almost every food and beverage brand in the world (Business Insider, “These 10 companies control everything you buy,” 09.28.2016). It becomes clear that our media diets, as well as eating habits, are moderated by a handful of powerful executives. In an ideal world, publications would purvey information accessibly and accurately, not to mention in a manner geared toward the health and well-being of the consumer, but in reality, they often fall short. The ones who pay the price are often consumers themselves. Deceived by the strategic misinformation circulated by big businesses, consumers often end up paying higher prices for products that may have significant negative impacts on their health or may not perform their advertised function. 5-hour Energy, an energy drink that claimed to be more effective than coffee in generating long-lasting energy and alertness, is a case in point: “[The company] spent more time trying to justify the science behind their ads after-the-fact than they did before marketing the products” (NBC26, “5-Hour Energy forced to pay $4.3 million after court case,” 02.08.2017). Similarly, consumers often find themselves at
stores and other tobacco vendors which are set up near schools, in the hopes of attracting young smokers. It’s been found that, especially in countries where it’s legal for tobacco to be sold to high school–aged children, “[Exposure is] linked with an increased likelihood of children and adolescents trying smoking and becoming smokers in the future” (Truth Initiative, “After-school smoke? The problem with tobacco retailers near schools,” 02.09.2017). The false advertising and arguably unethical marketing strategies that large corporations engage in can often go undetected. As college students, high levels of consumption, particularly of substances with ambiguous health effects such as alcohol and coffee, are normalized as part of our lifestyle. More responsibility needs to be taken by those who create these narratives and those who are complicit in disseminating them to the larger public, even as they are conscious of the possible harms of doing so. While consumers shouldn’t have to bear the burden of being taken advantage of by capitalistic structures, it might be pertinent for us all to try and be more critical consumers of both information and material products, in the interest of protecting our rights. –– The Staff Editorial expresses the opinion of at least 2/3 of The Miscellany News Editorial Board.
Europe’s anti-refugee policies will not sway far-right voters Sylvan Perlmutter COLUMNIST
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ungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s right-wing coalition won a commanding majority in elections on April 8, 2018, and is set to achieve a super-majority in Parliament. The past eight years of Orbán’s tenure as prime minister have seen the hollowing out of a once promising democracy in a region plagued by the legacy of the Eastern Bloc. Crony capitalism displaces legitimate enterprise, and all of the major media outlets are de facto controlled by the government. The various parties in the political opposition could not marshal equivalent campaign funds and media attention, and they have suffered from an inability to organize into a cohesive political unit (The Budapest Beacon, “Democratic Opposition Failure to Coordinate Candidates Contributed to Fidesz Supermajority,” 04.09.2018). Despite his illiberal tendencies, Orbán did not need to fudge election results like his ideological counterpart and ally Vladimir Putin, whose government may have falsified up to 10 million ballots in the March 2018 presidential elections (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, “Seeing ‘Churov’s Saw’: Russian Researcher Says Putin May Have Received 10 Million Fraudulent Votes,” 03.20.2018). Orbán and his nationalist Fidesz party simply crowded out all other messages than their own. The core component of his message was that only his leadership and policies could prevent hordes of Muslim refugees from overrunning Hungary and destroying its White Christian purity. In 2015, his government built a fence along the southern border of Hungary to impede the flow of refugees (The Guardian, “Migrants on Hungary’s Border Fence: ‘This Wall, We Will Not Accept It,’” 06.22.2015). Remind you of anyone? Fear-mongering of this type, mixed with an-
ti-Semitic conspiracies centered around George Soros, won him the votes of a large rural constituency that was willing to overlook the deteriorating condition of healthcare, education and public institutions for the sake of Orbán’s crusade. As if to illustrate this point, an independent Hungarian media source quoted a man who lost his grandson because an ambulance did not arrive in time to save his life. Yet, he would still vote for Orbán, he said, because keeping the country safe from migrants is the only issue that matters (Politico, “Populist Playbook: 5 Lessons from Hungary for Trump’s Reelection,” 04.09.2018). Ironically, Hungary has almost no refugees. Many refugees have traveled through Hungary towards the more open and prosperous countries of Western Europe, but very few have stayed. The refugees who chose to remain number in the dozens and live in either Budapest or Szeged, the two largest cities in the country. These cities voted overwhelmingly against the incumbent right-wing government. There are deep parallels between the anti-refugee politics of Hungary and that of other European countries and the United States. Breitbart described Obama as having no intention of stopping the flood of Syrian refugees into the U.S. and emphasized that less than one percent of these Syrian refugees are Christian (Breitbart, “Obama Administration Floods Country with 769 Syrian Refugees in First Week of September,” 09.09.2016). During Obama’s tenure, 31 states challenged Syrian refugee resettlement efforts, and anti-refugee and Islamophobic bias in these states undoubtedly influenced the fact that the vast majority of them voted for Donald Trump. However, according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), scant amounts of refugees were resettled in any of these states (MPI, “Syrian Refugees in the United States,”
01.12.2017). Likewise, in eastern Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won sizeable percentages of votes from engaging in virulent anti-refugee rhetoric, even though eastern Germany has seen far smaller percentages of refugees resettled than western Germany (Deutsche Welle, “AfD Populists Milk Anti-Refugee Anger in German Region with Few Asylum Seekers,” 08.16.2017). The AfD calls for the deportation of refugees back to their countries of origin regardless of safety risks and an end to the right for asylum (Deutsche Welle, “Germany’s Populist AfD Party Seeks to Reboot Migrant Fears,” 08.21.2017).
“[I]t is futile to try to compromise with rightwing xenophobes and lower refugee intake. ” The cases of Hungary, the United States and Germany make clear that actual numbers of refugees do not factor into the politics of the farright. Therefore, it is futile to try to compromise with right-wing xenophobes and lower-refugee intake. It would be a vain attempt to appease an unappeasable sector of the population. Unfortunately, this is precisely what President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany have done. After the AfD took 12.6 percent of the German vote and put a dent in Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDP), she agreed to cap the number of refugees Germany accepts to 200,000 a year to appease the CDP’s more right-leaning Bavarian sister party—the Christian Social Union. Nevertheless, in a further rebuke to Merkel, the Christian Social Union invited Viktor Orbán to Bavaria to explicate on the benefits of his dra-
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
conian refugee policy (Deutsche Welle, “Hungary’s Viktor Orban Pays Controversial Visit to CSU Party Conference,” 01.05.2018). During his election campaign, Macron distinguished himself from the National Front’s Marine Le Pen by promising to improve France’s asylum policy. The government had drawn criticism for providing insufficient shelter to refugees. This has led to the creation of unsafe and unsanitary makeshift camps by refugees who cannot find room at asylum centers (Al Jazeera, “Police Evict Refugees from Makeshift Paris Camp,” 05.09.2017). Now, in a bid to placate anti-refugee sentiment, Macron is seeking to tighten restrictions on immigration and outsource part of asylum processing to Libya, a failed state racked by a civil war (The Independent, “Emmanuel Macron’s Africa Refugee Plan Condemned as ‘Racist and Inhumane,’” 08.30.2017). In Macron’s new plan, the maximum time for consideration of an asylum request will go down to six months from a year, which will make it more difficult for asylum seekers to prepare their cases and appeal negative judgments (The Guardian, “Emmanuel Macron Unveils Plans to Crack Down on Immigration,” 02.21.2018). Such bureaucratic changes may be positively received by pro-Macron technocrats, but they lack the bombastic politics of gesture that grabs the attention of the anti-refugee right. European leaders must cease squandering their political capital on restricting refugees and decisively change the subject to how to equitably distribute the continuing flow of refugees across Europe in a manner that does not place an undue financial strain on any one nation. Any nation that is unwilling to accept its quota of refugees should have to pay for the resettlement of refugees elsewhere and then some. Brussels has many levers at its disposal to bring countries into compliance.
OPINIONS
Page 14
April 12, 2018
Closing of small theaters endangers local communities Catherine Bither COLUMNIST
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emember the old days, when you couldn’t order artisan doughnuts and groceries to be delivered to your doorstep? When two-day shipping didn’t exist? Remember when, in order to see a movie, you trekked to either your near-
unique, architectural beauty in addition to classic or indie films. Most of these theaters pre-date our generation, serving as monuments to a more exciting period of cinematic history. Independent theaters are heterotopias wherein one can get lost and later emerge with new perspectives, opin-
ing the partnership, although MoviePass says it pays theaters full price for each ticket sold (The Verge, “Theater chains are terrified of MoviePass because of subscribers like me,” 12.15.2017). AMC maintains that MoviePass is gaining a consumer base in order to rebel against movie theaters in the future. The corporation fears that
and were friendly with the concessions stand workers and ticket sellers, but that night, when we came upon our favorite movie theater, we saw that it had closed for good. Now, it’s an evangelical church. Unfortunately, stories of the final closings of favorite small businesses are ubiquitous. In a world that values efficiency and money more than small business owners and consumer ex-
ions and ideas. However, movie theater owners are not the only people who have noticed the decline in movie-going. This trend has also caught the attention of those in the business of streaming entertainment. Co-founder of Netflix Mitch Lowe aims to shift the focus of movie entertainment from the home back to theaters (Time, “Netflix Co-Found-
MoviePass will devalue movie tickets entirely, which is the reason why AMC theaters have boycotted the service entirely. So far, however, there is no indication that this will happen. While MoviePass supports small theaters struggling to survive, it simultaneously devalues movie tickets and the movie experience. At some point, the omnipresent availability of movie tickets might degrade the uniqueness and significance of the movie theater experience entirely. The multifaceted challenges facing the movie theater industry make it hard for consumers to decide what to do. Though I know many people who have purchased and enjoy MoviePass, I cannot help but acknowledge the possible ulterior motives inherent in the business plan, whether they were intentionally created by MoviePass founders or are byproducts of the power MoviePass has amassed. Despite my doubts, however, MoviePass would allow the masses to frequent independent theaters and bolster support for small business. Instead of paying for a ticket every time you wanted to see a movie, you would only have to pay once a month. In turn, you would support the local theaters that so dearly need the help. Though this decision is both financial and personal, I believe that it is integral to art, society and community that consumers spend their money funding local businesses instead of corporations. The movie theater experience is one that transcends decades and oceans, one we can share with our parents and grandparents and many across the seas. So many of us know how it feels to walk into that dark room painted on one side with the glint of a large screen, the tension of expectancy mixed with the buttery scent of popcorn filling the air. Strangers are brought together by their common experience of this art, by its ideas and beauty, or by its pain. There is something unique about this experience that cannot be simulated by any movie streaming service: and by acting as conscious consumers, movie-goers can support not only growing artists but their local communities as well.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
est video store or the closest cinema? I often find myself reminiscing about these times. I remember how excited I was as a child to walk to the video rental store near my house. My parents would let me and my sister each pick out a movie and we would hurry home, anxious for movie night to commence. On special nights, my parents would treat us to a movie at our local independent theater. My sister and I would skip with excitement to the ticket office, guarding our small popcorn buckets fiercely. As time went on, my family, like many other families, went out to movies less and less. In the midst of a recession, movie-going was no longer economically viable. The concurrent emergence of on-demand entertainment services and deterioration of movie rental stores made it easier, and more financially reasonable, for families like mine to stay at home for movie night. As of 2012, 61 percent of Americans completely forgo the movie-theater experience, and these numbers are steadily dropping (Business Insider, “61% of Americans Don’t Go to the Movies Anymore,” 02.16.2012). Nowadays, depending on where in the country you are, you could pay as much as $12 or even $16 for movie tickets. For many people, this is a large investment, and many families, like mine, would rather pay $10.99 per month for unlimited movie access on Netflix than the same amount for one night of movie-watching. Though the well-being of powerful movie theater corporations such as Cineplex and AMC may not matter to you, it is important to note that independently owned movie theaters are being hit the hardest by this drop in movie-going. Independent theaters have had to drive their prices up the highest, reducing the number of movies being shown just to stay afloat. Like countless others, I too have witnessed the closing of several of my favorite independent theaters. One of these particularly traumatic experiences occurred a few years ago. Our favorite theater did not have a website and relied on its large signs to communicate movies and showtimes to passersby. The theater held a great many memories for
me. Crowded with squishy recliners, ottomans and fluffy sofas instead of typical movie-theater seats, this theater is where I saw my first “Harry Potter” movie, had my first middle school date and tried my first Milk Dud. My friends and I all had our favorite spots. We knew that the cola became flat after 7 p.m.
The Anthony Wayne theater in Wayne, PA, is one example of a small, local theater that struggles with falling attendance rates and risks being shut down after catering to movie-goers for 90 years. perience, corporations are only getting stronger, leaving small businesses struggling to stay open. However, supporting small, local businesses is essential to the survival of local communities. Independent theaters give less well-known filmmakers opportunities to expose their art to a wider audience. Films that would otherwise not be taken up by large, corporate theaters have a place in independent theaters, allowing filmmakers to address issues that are important to them without exposing themselves to as much financial risk. Thus, filmmakers are not required to market to the mainstream. They are given the freedom to create art that appeals to them and others like them. Although it is indeed much easier to have a few friends over, put some cookie dough in the oven and stream a movie, it is just not the same as getting all dolled up and spending a night on the town. Many independent theaters exhibit
Please, Tell Us More! Prof. Wendy Graham ENGLISH DEPT.
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Professors: What is a topic, idea, theory or breakthrough related to your field of study that you find absolutely fascinating or feel very passionate about? Explain why. moral ulcers laid bare by the scalpel of judicial cross examination.” By turns blistering and humiliating, Yates’s article was a media sensation in its own right, confirming once more that scandal promoted sales. Yet, the days of critical anonymity were numbered. This new segment is designed to be a space in which professors from any discipline are invited to talk about whatever topic related to their work that they find absolutely fascinating. If you are interested in contributing, please write a 200–300 word response to the question shown above and email your piece to Steven Park at euparkøø[at]øvassar.edu along with a picture of yourself or something relevant to your topic (examples include research projects, independent work or labs).
Courtesy of Wendy Graham
endy Graham, author of “Critics, Coteries, and Pre-Raphaelite Celebrity” (Columbia, 2017), explains her fascination with the Fleshly School controversy (1871-2), a highbrow debate leavened with tabloid quality scandal. Demonstrating the salience of negative publicity, Robert Buchanan unintentionally enlarged his adversaries’ fame by singling them out for censure in the press. Buchanan drew fire for pseudonymously attacking the Pre-Raphaelites in the Contemporary Review, which featured signed review-articles. Why spend time discussing the machinations of a “fourth-rate” Victorian poet? Infamous for having written “wicked insinuations” about the poet-painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Buchanan was consigned to a footnote in literary history, as the critic who harassed a genius. Yet, Buchanan was a period informant with skin in the game.
He rode my protagonists’ coattails by competing with and chastising them. He represented the anti-Pre-Raphaelite lobby, which kept tabs on their relations with the press. Buchanan’s critique of the fraternities for championship blazing a trail for Pre-Raphaelite luminaries was perfectly justified, even though his tactics were not above board. In 1877, Buchanan anonymously denounced fleshly trends at society journals and gossip mongering at the World. Scuttlebutt quickly disclosed Buchanan’s authorship. Stung by the attack, the editor of the World, Edmund Yates, unleashed a torrent of invective against Buchanan in a signed article, “A Scrofulous Scotch Poet.” Pictured as penniless and flea bitten, young Buchanan had begged Yates for work to keep starvation at bay. Berating Buchanan for disloyalty to a former benefactor, Yates reprised charges that Buchanan had pseudonymously “stabbed some great reputations in the back, and had his
er Mitch Lowe’s Crazy Plan,” 08.16.2017). To do this, he created MoviePass, a service that has partnered with movie theaters across the country to make the movie theater experience more accessible. A monthly subscription grants moviegoers the ability to see a movie every day for around $10 per month, a price comparable to that of Netflix. MoviePass is accepted at nearly any theater that accepts debit cards, allowing the service to partner with the biggest movie theater corporations in the nation in addition to a multitude of small theaters. There is still some debate surrounding the service. The company sold a large stake to a public data trading firm, Matheson Analytics, which has amassed criticism from consumers who do not want their movie tastes to be exploited for marketing. Furthermore, some believe that the revenue generated by small theaters is negligible follow-
Wendy Graham, author of the above book, discusses how the merits of signature figured prominently in the critical fracas erupting from the Fleshly School controversy (1871–1876).
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
April 12, 2018
OPINIONS
Women’s March must spurn anti-Semitism Jesser Horowitz COLUMNIST
I
n February 2018, social commentator Louis Farrakhan gave the keynote address for the Nation of Islam, a radical political and religious movement, at their national convention. As the leader of this organization, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has categorized as a hate group, Farrakhan claimed that Jewish people pose as natives in order to manipulate governments (Nation of Islam, “Saviors’ Day 2018 Keynote Address,” 02.23.2018). He said that Jesus “came to Jews in order to “end their civilization” and called Judaism a “dirty religion.” He accused the Jews of “turning men into women and women into men” and of using marijuana to feminize Black men (Nation of Islam). Attending this incoherent, anti-Semitic rant was none other than National Co-chair of the Women’s March Tamika D. Mallory. After the speech, she didn’t condemn Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism, nor did she acknowledge that anything Farrakhan had said was wrong. Instead, she stayed silent regarding Farrakhan’s bigotry, even posting about the event on social media (Refinery29, “Women’s March Leaders Have an Anti-Semitism Problem—Maybe It’s Time to Leave Them Behind,” 03.04.2018). This upset a lot of people. In the weeks that followed, she and other Women’s March leaders received a barrage of criticism. For me, it was a reminder of how social justice activists like to preach equality while intentionally ignoring anti-Semitism, even as the rate of hate crimes against Jews increases (Tablet, “FBI: Jews Subject to 54% of Religiously Motivated Hate Crimes in 2016, Despite Being Just 2% of U.S. Population,” 11.13.2017). To be fair to the Women’s March, they did provide a response. In a statement the organizers posted on Twitter, the organization affirmed their belief that they will not tolerate anti-Semitism, stating “Anti-Semitism…[is] and always will be indefensible” (Twitter, @womensmarch, 03.06.2018). The statement condemned Farrakhan’s beliefs as not aligned with the organization’s values. This may seem like a step in the right direction, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s too little too late. At no point in the statement did the organizers apologize for associating themselves with Farrakhan. At no point did the organizers acknowledge how much Jewish people felt betrayed as a result of their actions. At no point did the organizers even apologize for their actions. The statement didn’t demonstrate that the organizers cared about being anti-Semitic. Instead, they seemed more concerned about trying to avoid getting labeled as anti-Semitic than anything else. This was not the first time that the Women’s March organizers had faced accusations of anti-Semitism. The organization’s problematic history with the Jewish people begins with their mission statement. In it, the Women’s March asserts their commitment to fighting for the rights of “Black women, Native women, poor women, immigrant women, disabled women, Muslim women, lesbian queer and trans women”; notably absent are Jewish women (Women’s March, “Our Mission”). Failing to mention Jewish women makes the Women’s March less intersectional than it could be. It would have been a signal of good faith to demonstrate that their intersectionality was inclusive of Jewish people; unfortunately, they missed that opportunity. Mallory is not the only one of the organizers to have a problematic history with anti-Semitism. Linda Sarsour, one of the co-chairs of the Women’s March, has faced similar accusations. She is most well known for claiming that Zionism is inherently incompatible with feminism (The Nation, “Can You Be a Zionist Feminist?
Linda Sarsour Says No,” 3.13.2017). This is ludicrous. Zionism is nothing more than the belief that Israel has a right to exist; to say that those who believe that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination ought to be exiled from the feminist movement is problematic and offensive. In addition, Sarsour has put herself forward as an expert in anti-Semitism despite not being Jewish. Late last year, Sarsour participated in a panel on anti-Semitism at the New School, in which she explained how Jewish people can best combat anti-Semitism. This decision exposed her to massive backlash (Haaretz, “At anti-Semitism Panel, Linda Sarsour Asks, ‘I Am the Biggest Problem of the Jewish Community?’” 11.29.2017). This is not nearly as appalling, however, as her video on anti-Semitism that she made for Jewish Voice for Peace. In it, Sarsour lectures Jews, a group she does not belong to, about the ways they are wrong about anti-Semitism, something she has never experienced. She claims that anti-Semitism is not a systemic problem (Facebook, Jewish Voice for Peace). Let’s ignore for a moment that Jews were subject to 54 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States in 2016 (Tablet). Let’s ignore that, according to a major study by the Anti-Defamation League, only 33 percent of people in the world have both heard of the Holocaust and believe it has been accurately described by history (ADL Global 100: An Index of Anti-Semitism, 2014). Let’s ignore that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance noted that, between 2006 and 2016, the denial and trivialisation of the Holocaust has increased hand-in-hand with the glorification of the Nazi past (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, “Antisemitism: Overview of data available in the European Union 2006-2016,” 11.2017). Even if we ignored how dangerous and ludicrous it is to suggest that anti-Semitism is not systemic, these statements would be unacceptable. Sarsour is not Jewish, she is not an expert in anti-Semitism, and she has repeatedly made statements that have gotten her in trouble with Jewish people. She has no right to lecture me or anyone else about things she has never experienced. It is deplorable that she gets to continue to drown out Jewish voices under the guise of helping the Jewish people. At least Sarsour has never openly praised Farrakhan. For that, you’d have to look to Co-chair of the Women’s March Carmen Perez. In November of 2016, Perez shared a video featuring Farrakhan with the caption “Dropping knowledge at the State of the Black World Conference” (Instagram, 11.20.2016). She posted a now deleted photo of her holding hands with Farrakhan. She’s even went so far as actively defend him (Refinery29, “The Women’s March Wants to Change the World: Will We Let It?”, 1.18.2018). However, even Perez does not have the most problematic history with Farrakhan. Instead, that title goes to Mallory, who, even before her now infamous attendance at the Nation of Islam’s national conference, had tied herself very closely with both the organization and Farrakhan himself. In May of 2017, Mallory posted a picture on instagram with Farrakhan, writing, “Thank God this man is still alive...He is definitely the GOAT [greatest of all time]” (Instagram, @tamikadmallory, 5.11.2017). Mallory’s official response to the allegations against her didn’t help her case, as she went out of her way to tie herself to the Nation of Islam. She admits that she had been attending Nation of Islam conferences regularly for over 30 years (Newsone, “Tamika Mallory Speaks: ‘Wherever My People Are Is Where I Must Be,’” 03.07.2018). Even more disappointingly, Mallory’s statement at no point includes an apology. It at no point acknowledges the Nation of Islam’s histo-
ry of anti-Semitism, homophobia and violence. It at no point even admits that Farrakhan is an anti-Semite. This is not the most disappointing element of her reaction: that would be her tweets in between the story breaking and the official response, when she seemed to go on anti-Semitic rants lashing out at those criticizing her. She wrote, “If your leader does not have the same enemies as Jesus, they may not be THE leader!” She also tweeted, “My point...Jesus had a number of enemies as do all black leaders” (Refinery29, “Women’s March Organizers Accused of Anti-Semitism- Again, 03.03.2018). Who are the enemies of Jesus? According to what Farrakhan said at the very speech that Mallory attended, that enemy is the Jews, whose civilization Jesus had come to destroy. It’s possible that Mallory made this comparison by mistake. That she has doubled down on these comments speaks volumes regarding her character. The consistent theme of these tweets is anti-Semitism, a refusal to apologize, a refusal to call out Farrakhan as a bigot and bitterness toward anyone who dare criticize her. This demonstrates a lack of understanding as to why she should be held accountable to her actions. When Mallory helped organize the 2017 Women’s March, she became a social justice leader. In the past few months, she hasn’t acted like a leader. A leader has to carefully consider whom they associate with. A leader has to respectfully respond to criticism. A leader has to accept that everything they do has an impact on how their beliefs are perceived. Mallory has repeatedly associated herself with a hate group and with the infamous bigot at its center. She has repeatedly failed to be responsive to criticism. Most important, she has repeatedly failed to understand why what she does has an impact on how her beliefs, her movement and her ideology are perceived. I have seen arguments that people are being too harsh on Mallory. The Root published an article on the matter titled “A Word About Louis Farrakhan and Tamika Mallory.” It acknowledges the pain that Farrakhan has caused, but asks for sympathy for Mallory and an understanding of the conditions that allowed for the Nation of Islam to gain influence. In preparation for this article, I read that piece and watched Farrakhan’s speech at the event Mallory attended in its entirety. I understand his appeal: He’s an excellent public speaker, and there are moments in which I was genuinely moved by what he was saying. However, I resent the implication that I, as a Jew, have to be understanding towards people who are supportive of Farrakhan. I am under no obligation to support any movement, any organization or any individual who does not respect my fundamental humanity. Farrakhan has called Adolf Hitler a “very great man” (The New York Times, “Farrakhan Again Describes Hitler as a ‘Very Great Man,’” 07.17.1984). Farrakhan has said that Jesus came to earth on a mission to destroy Jewish civilization. I believe that the subtext of his statements is that he is calling for genocide against the Jewish people. Even if that is not his intent, his statements send a clear message that the world would be better off should the Jewish people stop existing. To say this is a call for genocide is not a far stretch. By not condemning him, Mallory reveals herself as indifferent to genocide. I am not obligated to support the Women’s March if its organizers do not support my basic humanity, and neither is anyone else. I do not know if Mallory, Perez or Sarsour are truly anti-Semites. However, I do know that they have repeatedly failed to prove themselves as allies to the Jewish people, and by not condemning Farrakhan, they have done their movement, their ideology and every Jewish person who trusted them a disservice. We are owed an apology.
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Word on the street Tell us about an all-nighter that you’ve pulled. “I was in... Olmsted using a microscope for research. I went in at 7 a.m. one day and didn’t come out until 4 a.m. the next day. –Bibi Sulaman ’19 “At the end of my senior year of high school we had an all-night party for graduation, and we went to iHop in the morning.” –Kira Peterson ’20 “On Sunday night I was watching a French film and studying for French, and doing reading. ...I did it in WVKR with a friend, so that was fun.” –Karina Norton ’20
“I did a “Lord of the Rings” marathon at one point.” –Sam Kobrin ’19
“I’ve never done such a thing. I have to get at least one or two hours of sleep.” –Yunhao Cai ’19
“I’ve pulled so many I don’t even know which story to tell.” –Lorenzo Barrett ’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 16
April 12, 2018
Breaking News
From the desk of Leah Cates and Yesenia Garcia, Humor & Satire Editors
Running unopposed, VSA electoral candidates decide to hang ‘Opponents Wanted’ posters all over Deece Facebook-hating millenial makes people read her post Blair Webber
FB MANIFESTO VICTIM
B
Courtesy of Samana Shrestha
etween recent revelations about the website’s role in the 2016 election and general waning popularity among the youth, it’s no surprise that fewer and fewer people you know post on Facebook. Most people report being closely acquainted or even good friends with a few people who openly eschew Facebook, and exactly one person who rails against its evils given the chance. Today, that friend, sophomore Maya Fram, posted on Facebook. The Misc would like to announce that she would really appreciate it if you’d like her post. Junior Hayden Joseph alerted the Misc to the post, reporting that Fram was immensely proud. “Maya posted this whole diatribe on Facebook today, you better go like it. She’s been telling everyone she posted it and asking if they’d read it and about their opinions on it. It’s a good 2,000 words, I barely made it through the post before psych.” said Joseph. One of Fram’s classmates, Ada Hernandez, described the content of the post. “The first sentence is, ‘I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but this has been really bugging me lately.’ From there, I’m not sure how to describe it; it goes in a few different directions. It’s pretty vague, too. I think most of it is probably about climate change, but it could also be about the bathrooms on the second floor of Joss. She ends it with ‘#MeToo,’ but none of it seems to be about sexual assault, and the link she posted below it was a GoFundMe for a short animated film that looks like a SpongeBob rip-off. You’d better at least skim it before you bump into her. She’ll try to make you read it off her phone if you can’t remember at least one of the ten facts she included about the geology of Eastern Europe,” said Hernandez. Joseph, returning from psych class, bumped into Fram for a second time.
“She talked to me for 15 minutes about how important social networking is for community organizing and self-expression. Now I’m late for sociology. She’s by the Retreat, so I’d just try to avoid Main entirely if you can,” said Joseph. The Misc is pretty sure that if you walk all the way to Chicago, stick as close as you can to the front of the library, head out of Main Gate and walk all the way past Skinner through the Shakespeare Garden, you should be able to avoid her and still make it to your 1:30 p.m. in New England, but you have to leave now because it’s a long walk, and there’s no way of knowing where she’ll strike next. “She’s moved to the Deece,” Hernandez tweeted. “She’s standing on the salad bar reciting her post from memory.” Copies of what Fram refers to as her “manifesto” litter the paths from Kenyon to the Bridge. Students have been slipping on the pages. While it remains unclear how Fram has enough VCash to pay for all the copies, they continue to flood the campus. Operations staff have been shoveling the printouts to make the sidewalks accessible. The Misc believes the road behind Baldwin remains relatively clear of papers up until Sunset Lake. If you need to get to New England, that may be the clearest way at this point, but hordes of students have been spotted fleeing campus in order to avoid reading Fram’s post. It’s pretty crowded. You could forge your own path through the naturalized area between Baldwin and the Old Observatory, but you’d have to get pretty close to Main again, and word is that Fram has been kicked out of the Deece for not swiping her VCard properly. It might be best to just stay indoors. Maybe consider cowering under your bed for the next few hours. Or seconds. A response by Fram to a tweet from Hernandez reads, “Lol what post? I was just kidding XD.” Other sources say that Fram is back to telling people she’ll probably delete her Facebook page this week.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, sophomore Maya Fram was seen distributing copies of her Facebook manifesto with no regard for the wellbeing of students around her. Operations staff has been working tirelessly all day in an attempt to clean up the public safety hazard. Students have been advised to stay in their rooms until further notice.
Student grapples with conceptIvanna of time, awkwardly arrives early to everything Guerra, Early Bird
I
t is officially the time of the year where I get back to my dorm room after a long day of classes and sleep to forget about the day. The only problem I have with this arrangement is that I only have classes until 1 p.m. The fact that I think it is fine to have a full day of “Ivanna time” after doing the bare minimum proves that I have officially become a meme. Dear students, please do not follow my example. You see, it is perfectly okay to take some time for yourself, especially if you need to relieve some pressure, BUT IT IS NOT OKAY TO NAP FOR MAJORITY OF THE DAY (tag myself). Why? Well, because if you are anything like me, you do not relax after the relaxation time, you only mourn the time that was lost. Time is important, to me at least, because I am like the white rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland.” I find myself running all the time out of fear that I will be late! (Someone give me a pocket watch!) I even try to leave for
classes as early as possible to ensure that I get to them on time, but admittedly I take this too far. Don’t believe me? One day I got to a class 20 minutes too early because of the irrational fear that I might miss it. It was an auditorium class, and we already had assigned seating. However, I only remembered where I sat in relation to people that sat next to me, so when I walked into the classroom filled with rows of empty seats, I did not remember where my seat was without anyone there! I walked up and down the rows hoping to remember where I sat and, like Goldilocks, I sat in practically every chair to find the one that felt just right. Suddenly, the heat radiating from the tiny bulbs above each chair seemed to mock me, and the room got hotter as I tested each seat. (I was wearing a large coat and the heating was on.) As you might imagine, I panicked and gave up on trying to find my seat. I remained at the door looking lost, until someone I rec-
ognized walked in. I followed them, like in the cartoons, step by step, row by row, until they found their seat, and I was able to orient myself and safely find my own seat. This experience and many more have helped me realize that punctuality is not a virtue when I confuse punctuality with the irrational fear of arriving late. Google tells me that there is a name for this: allegrophobia. However, there’s nothing Allegro about being late, much less arriving too early just to awkwardly sit or engage in small talk with the people around you. You know that feeling if you have ever arrived at a birthday party precisely when the invitation told you to arrive. I was always that kid who arrived at parties too early and had to awkwardly sit in a couch with a cup of Hawaiian Punch on one hand and a frosted cookie on the other. Of course, the kid whose party it was felt thankful that someone arrived until their parents walked out of the room, since that meant they had to talk to me.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
But it’s fine. You see, I eventually got really good at small talk, and by the time the other guests arrived I took on the role of co-host with teeth covered in pink frosting and a red Hawaiian Punch mustache. Unless you really want to appear in the background of a lot of people’s birthday pictures, I do not recommend arriving too early to a birthday party. What I do recommend, however, is learning to spend your time wisely. Do arrive on time to things, because as much we may dislike it, our society runs on time. However, if you do find yourself in awkward silence with someone else suffering from a serious case of allegrophobia, make sure you engage with them. Complain about the weather or ask them to reveal their life story. I’m sure you arrived early enough to have time for a story. I can assure you that spending time with others is time well spent. And so is time alone, but not too much! (Read above!)
HUMOR & SATIRE
April 12, 2018
Page 17
Exclusive: Second installment of acclaimed Skrillex fanfic Izzy Migani
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
S
ince you all were so intrigued by my first installment of my Skrillex fanfiction, I thought I’d bless everyone with the second chapter. To set the scene: Skrillex and I are going to one of Hy’s “acclaimed concerts.” Jasper (a second love interest) is still a horrible person. Quinn (my best friend) is a poet, and I don’t remember why he’s mentioned here. For that, you can make up your own reason, and creativity is encouraged! Any objectionable grammar is compliments of my 13-year-old self. Chapter 2
stunning!” Izzie grinned, wiping the corners of her eyes. “Oh Jasper. It’s good to see you, really. I was so hoping I didn’t have to sit alone in there.” Jasper halted. “Dear, are you feeling alright? Your eyes...They are slightly swollen.” He reached for his coat, draping the deep green velvet around her shoulders. “Catching a cold won’t exactly help your recovery.” Offering his arm, the two made their way to the top balcony overlooking the stage. Jasper called over the waiter, demanding a salad with no more than two olives, which resulted in Jasper’s giggle when he thought they looked like eyes. Izzie looked over at Jasper. “Thank you,” she smiled. “Really, thank you. Things almost seem normal.” Jasper glanced down “normal, you say?” His hand reached for hers. She nodded “I miss home. I miss you and Quinn. Having you here, comforting me like a good brother would, it almost takes me back.” She could not be sure, but his body shuddered slightly before relaxing again. Jasper’s hand dropped as the curtains rose. Waving a baton, Hy began smashing buttons, cueing robots with violins, kettle drums, pianos, any instrument known to man intertwining expertly. The critics nodded. Nothing short of the best. Except, out of the corner of his eye, Hy saw her head swaying to the music, but not alone. A second head mimicked its movement; taller, darker. Their eyes locked, and Hy froze. Only for a moment, but enough for his heart to drop
through the floor. The music shuddered, the critics’ heads snapping up. Hy recovered, but the damage had been done. The audience applauded as per usual, but many had sat, dumbfounded. The great Hy moon, the perfectionist, had made a mistake. Hy quietly excused himself from any interviews, desperately searching for her.
Courtesy of Wikimedia
“Oh, Hy, you’ll do absolutely marvelous, I know it! Brighton hall will be even more so with you playing!” Hy turned from the car window. “Thank you, darling, but empty flattery will do no good to either you or me.” Hy patted her gloved hand. “Are you accusing me? Of empty flattery?” Her voice began to climb, “I’m just trying to make you less nervous!” Hy sighed. “Izzie, I am not nervous because of the crowd. I’ve played hundreds like this.” Izzie snatched her hand away, leaning against the old leather seats. “Why are you nervous, then? Ever since Quinn’s debut party you have been acting strange: distant and jittery.” Hy began to bite at his nails. She pressed onwards. “Well, what are you worried about? Is it because of all the important critics there? No, I know, it’s because of the stage! Yes, isn’t this the
one with the failing lights? I’ll have a quick word with the manager about that.” Hy slammed his palm on the car door. “Enough, girl! Quit your blabbering and hold your tongue! I’ve had enough of this nonsense, I don’t need any of your sympathy!” The car screeched to a halt in front of the glittering hall, less welcome as it had been before. Izzie sat in shock. Blinking twice, she managed a quiet apology before burying her face in a pale yellow shawl. Hy swallowed. Extracting himself from the awfully tight auto, he stalked up the grand steps. He didn’t mean to hurt her. After, the driver gasped at his own incompetence and hurried over to her door, bowing as he opened. “I am quite sorry, miss. You may deduct my intrusion on your personal business from my pay, I did not mean to overhear.” Izzie quickly wiped her cheeks, and blew into a handkerchief. Smiling, she took the driver’s hand. “It’s quite alright. I should probably pay you now, since I will most likely be returning alone.” Accepting her tip, the man sped off, leaving her alone under the flickering street lamp. Jasper pulled up in front of the large hall, wondering why he had even attended this performance in the first place. He did not particularly like Hy Moon, nor did he care for his music. He turned towards the girl in the silken peach gown, struggling to climb the marble steps. Jasper chuckled, “Need a hand, lady fair?” Lifting the train of the gown, he helped her over the final few steps. “Now I am glad I came, you look absolutely
The head violinist for Hy’s band prepares to walk onstage. Hy’s highly acclaimed music group has been nominated for over one Grammy and several Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
HOROSCOPES 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
Since Mercury is in retrograde, you may feel you’re missing out on something. No need to fear; there is nothing to miss out on, except the Vass Shakers Spring Showcase on Friday night at 7 p.m. If you don’t go to that, then I can guarantee you’ll be missing out on some pretty fantastic dancing, and me! You may have not been the most committed friend this week, Taurus. If you’re worried it will be the end of your friendship, I recommend hanging out with them constantly. Feed them, write love poems for them and watch them while they sleep.
Patriarchy is a scary beast. Take my sleep-talking words of wisdom and “sneeze at patriarchy.” Hopefully, my inspiring words will help you combat other plagues of the nation, like heteronormativity.
I feel it, you feel it, we all feel it. You’re stressed and are having nightmares about common fears, such as bugs, spiders and getting in a car wreck, which will cause a piece of windshield to slice your neck, resulting in your slowly bleeding out. If you don’t sleep, these nightmares can’t haunt you. This week had a special meaning for you, whether it was because you ran for a VSA position or just experienced the stress of voting. What if the candidate you voted for had a sex scandal? Next time, just close your eyes and choose randomly; that way you’re not held accountable for your actions. The stars foretell a horrifying tale: You will get out of the shower and see a cockroach between you and your towel. You’re stranded, naked, cold and scared for your life. There is no need to panic. Just get ahold of my roommate Josie (jschermerhorn[at]vassar.edu), and she will kill it for you!
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
Perhaps you are worried about being walked in on while doing the do……..Here are some tips to avoid this situation: 1) Lock the door; 2) Double check that the door is locked; 3) Keep the door locked even when someone knocks; and 4) Never open the door. You might be scared of running out of things to say. Whether it’s on a first date, while writing horoscopes or trying to tell someone you’re pooping when they knock on the stall door, it can be hard to respond appropriately. Make vomiting noises, and people will leave you alone. Do you fear the entire spectrum of human emotion? It’s okay to admit that you’re scared, Sagittarius. If you’re scared of using the toaster, just ask me for help. (I just learned how to use it last week!)
Are you terrified that there isn’t a word for queer memes? I know it’s something you worry about, Capricorn. There’s no need to fret. I have the answer: “queme.” It’s similar to the idea that a square is rectangle, but rectangles aren’t always squares, except all memes should be quemes. The start of spring will cause animals to come back out into the open, which may create a significant amount of struggle for you, Aquarius. Wompwomps are scary little creatures, so be careful walking alone on your way back from Late Night or the library. Perhaps you think that someone is following you. Every time you turn around you see a flash of movement. However, they only follow you in nice weather. Now you start to wonder, “Maybe I’m just being paranoid.” Well, you probably are because your stalker is your shadow.
SPORTS
Page 18
April 12, 2018
Thoughts from the Editor In NBA, the future is here Mack Liederman SPORTS EDITOR
I
t certainly was a play to remember. In what would be considered an unbelievable scenario at the beginning of the season, the redhot Philadelphia 76ers were at home battling the Cleveland Cavaliers for a playoff position. Up 20plus points in the first half, the largely unproven Sixers were making a statement. But what’s a Cavs game without a miraculous LeBron comeback? Deep into the second quarter, LeBron’s inevitable frustration was beginning to boil. Gearing up to take over the game, James grabbed a rebound and pushed out in transition. Philadelphia’s Dario Saric backpedaled on defense to find himself stranded on an island, with nothing left for him to do but make a business decision. No mere mortal can stop a human freight train. No one can jump with the King. NBA fans have seen this play countless times before. Fifteen years into the LeBron era, these are the type of heroic leaps that are the staple of highlight reels on a daily basis. With one aggressive step into the lane, James cocked it back and rose up...back rimming the dunk. After a rebound by 76ers veteran JJ Redick and a couple of nifty unselfish passes, the young Ben Simmons cut down the lane and caught the ball.
With one aggressive step into the lane, Simmons cocked it back and rose up...finishing the slam with authority. It was the signature LeBron dunk, a powerful one-handed tomahawk, completed with the staredown. In this moment, the rookie had defeated the world’s greatest at his own game. I am not usually one to get sappy, but there was something beautifully symbolic about this play. One quick sequence had offered a window into the NBA’s future. Ever since his emergence in 2003, LeBron has been the dominant figure, the undisputed best player, the guy who makes the league tick. However, this season marks the first time that fans can see beyond the horizon, and begin to imagine a new era without the King. Friday’s matchup between the Cavs and 76ers, complemented by Simmons’ transition dunk, was a first look at the eventual passing of the torch. “King James X Fresh Prince #FamilyTies,” tweeted LeBron after the game, alongside a series of photos of him and Simmons, staring eye-to-eye (Twitter, [at]kingjames, 04.07.2018). James, who prides himself on his image of selflessness, has basked in his position as a mentor and role model to the younger generation. The nod to Simmons is more than notable, an important endorsement that inducts him into an elite fraternity of future NBA
superstars. Most significantly, James finally sees himself in another player. As the caption suggests, a potential heir to the throne has been realized. This is in no way to suggest a direct comparison. Ben Simmons in the present stage of his evolution is not yet among the league’s best. Case in point, Friday’s game did result in the eventual LeBron comeback. Simmons carried his team to the close win, but he was clearly outplayed by James, who remains the most dominant player on the floor at every given moment. Indisputably, it is still LeBron’s NBA. However, Simmons’ potential is real, and the similarities are striking. Just like James, Simmons is an aggressive presence with special instincts. Just like a young James, Simmons enters the league as a limited shooter, building his game around pure strength and athleticism. He is one of the few who have successfully modeled their game after the greatest. “Potential” is the buzzword around Philadelphia basketball these days, and special attention has been paid to Simmons since his flashes of it on Friday. The latest cycle of pundit commentary has largely focused on Simmon’s claim to Rookie of the Year over Utah Jazz standout Donovan Mitchell. “Who would I pick? Me, 100 percent,” said Simmons when asked about the subject (ESPN,
“Ben Simmons confident he’s rookie of the year,” 4.08.2018). When asked a day later if any other rookies have caught his attention this year, Simmons simply answered, “None” (USA Today, “Ben Simmons on other rookies who have caught his attention,” 4.09.2018). The young player not only plays like James, but has also seemingly embraced the King’s signature confidence and candor off the court, combined with the endearing brevity of Coach Pop. Even just in his rhetoric and presentation, Simmons has all the makings of a future star. Star power is of the utmost importance in the modern NBA, in which an elite group lays claim to dominant roles. At the top, the field narrows even more, to the point where LeBron stands alone. Fifteen years and counting, it’s hard to imagine another player filling that role, but a few have made their names known. Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to be up next, given that his prime will correspond with James’ decline. After that, Simmons is the player to turn too. There will never be another LeBron James. Yet, as the King begins to show signs of his age, an abundance of young talent is preparing well to challenge the throne. In its next era, the NBA will remain in good hands.
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Formula One financing plays politics with parts Daniel Bonfiglio GUEST COLUMNIST
M
oney plays an integral role in every sport. Player salaries and facility maintenance impact how an individual franchise develops and performs, while television deals, sponsors and the media have an enormous influence on a sport overall. While finance plays a part in every sport, motorsports take the cake. Whether in regard to various strange customs and rules, or simply the monumental cost of participating, Formula One, Nascar and the like showcase the extent to which money can influence a sport. Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsports. It can claim the fastest cars, biggest fanbase, best drivers and greatest tracks around the world. However, if you were to make the claim that F1 showcases the best racing, many would disagree—and for good reason. Mercedes-Benz has had both their cars finish in first and second place since 2014. Before that, Red Bull won four consecutive titles, and you don’t have to go back much further to find Ferrari’s or McLaren’s decades of dominance. In short, you know who will win before each race, or at least who the main contenders will be. The same cannot be said for just about any other form of racing, or even any sport in the world. Why does this happen? It’s because of the business model, and the role of money. When a racing series is created, a decision must be made, not unlike the one American voters face when choosing between Republican and Democrat. One stands for personal freedoms, deregulation of business and free markets. The other represents equality among citizens and government regulation of business. The decision lies in your priorities. Formula 1 voted Republican. It decided a long time ago that its priorities were pushing the technology of the automobile as far as it could go to create the fastest machines in the world. Thus, F1 provides relatively little in the way of regulation on teams, which are free to develop the car as they see fit. The result is the greatest vehicles on the planet, and growing wealth inequality with domination by the wealthy factory teams. In today’s field, there are two kinds of teams: factory and customer. Factory teams have the backing of a corporation to fund their develop-
ment, and thus they have faster cars. Privately owned teams like Williams and Sauber compete for the sake of competing, without a shot at winning. They are customer teams, renting engines and chassis developed by the larger teams because they can’t afford to design one themselves. In fact, the cost of running a competitive F1 team is so high that every little bit of financial assistance can be a game-changer for a midfield team. Before the 2017 season, Williams gave their number-one driver Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes, because Mercedes offered to waive the charge Williams would otherwise pay to use the powerful Mercedes engine. The search for cash extends to the driver market, and has led to the unpopular emergence of pay drivers. This concept has been around in private sports car racing for a long time: A driver pays to drive the car, not the other way around. However, at the pinnacle of motorsports it is no surprise that they are unpopular. This year, Williams features rookie Sergey Sirotkin, who has never won a serious junior championship. While his resume is not poor, he is nowhere near the most qualified person to fill the seat, except in what his sponsor backers bring to the team. His teammate Lance Stroll is more qualified, but the 19-year-old’s billionaire father definitely does not hurt his chances. Marcus Ericsson was also chosen to continue at Sauber over his teammate Pascal Werline after being outperformed and not scoring a point in the last two years. Sauber knows that the money he will bring to development outweighs the benefit Werline will bring to the track. Nascar voted Democrat. The irony! For Pete’s sake, it is a stock series. Every car is virtually identical, and requires the same cost and upkeep. The result is close racing, and controlled prices for new teams to enter and perform. However, it lacks the excitement of innovation. Motorsports in its nature will always be expensive — you can’t just buy a bat and a ball and go play. You need a team with funding to run your car, and often that funding comes from you. So should we anguish over squandered potential when a Mercedes wins by a mile, or a racer like Werline loses his job? Or should we write it off as one of the necessities of progress in a “survival of the fittest” industry? I suppose the answer is marked on your ballot.
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
April 12, 2018
SPORTS
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Strong offense and slow Saturday mark weekend at home
Courtesy of Carlisle Stockton
Senior goalkeeper Emily Chancey (top) and first-year Alessandra Fable were key contributors for the women’s lacrosse team this past weekend. Vassar picked up a win against RIT.
LACROSSE continued from page 1 but 17 saves from Rochester goalkeeper Conley Ernst kept them from making the most of it. Some of the Brewer’s offensive woes against Rochester can be attributed to fatigue coming off the RIT game just the day before. Senior midfielder Olivia O’Loughlin explained, “I think they ended up getting the better of us because we had a really tough doubleheader weekend and we came out and really killed RIT yesterday, so it was hard to get that double game win. I think it was a combination of being tired and I think our shot placement could have been a little bit better, and because we were tired we were throwing away a few too many balls.” Despite these offensive struggles, a strong defensive performance and a career-high 15 saves by senior goalkeeper Emily Chancey managed to keep the Brewers close for much of the game, and with just 22 minutes left in the second half, a goal from O’Loughlin tied the score 4-4. However, this would be the last time Vassar equaled Rochester, as the Yellowjackets responded with five goals over the next 10 minutes to put the game out of reach. Senior attacker Storm Sideleau led a late comeback attempt, scoring three of her four goals in the last eight minutes, including two in only 40 seconds. Despite a valiant individual effort, it was too little too late. Said head coach Judy Finerghty: “Today was tough, we didn’t execute very well on the front end until the end of the game when it was a little too late, we had a really hard time scoring in the second half. We just need to execute a little bit better in certain parts of the game, particularly being a little more aggressive on offense.” While the Brewers were unable to take the second game of the doubleheader, their effort and energy across both games is a promising sign for
the rest of the season. O’Loughlin said, “I think we really came together as a team and learned how to play for a full 60 minutes, which is huge because that’s going to be a huge step going forward for the rest of the season.” According to Finerghty, the Brewers will work on their offense and finishing in order to be able to consistently put up high numbers as they did against RIT. “We just need to execute a little bit better in certain parts of the game, particularly being a little more aggressive on offense,” Finerghty said. “We obviously need to get more comfortable with our offenses and get everybody more aggressive, and just [improve] our shooting, we were shooting right at the goalie’s stick a bunch of times today and that didn’t help either.” Although Finerghty believes their offense still needs work, one aspect that she did appreciate about the team’s performance against Rochester was their effort. “I think the team played hard, it was good effort, it was good competition,” Finerghty said. “It’s a disappointing loss, but at the same time, the team played hard, and you can’t ask anything more than that.” Fable was in agreement that the team’s intensity and drive to win were present throughout the weekend, and she believes this is a sign of good things to come for the team. “I think our effort was there both games, and we definitely played our hearts out,” Fable said. “Our effort is always there, we always hustle after everything, and we definitely have the drive to win, so I think if that continues then there’s no way we’re gonna lose the next couple of games.” Fable’s statement will be put to the test on Saturday, April 14 on the road against William Smith College, who are currently ranked number 20 in all of Division III.
Men’s and women’s rugby seniors leave lasting impact Fiona MacLeod GUEST REPORTER
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the future, even past their own graduation. The rest of the senior players on the women’s rugby team, Fiona Brodie, Elaina Peterkin, Andrea Ramsay, Megan de Koning, Sarah Mawhinney, Kayla Lightner, Abby Alexander, Alicia Menard-Livingston and Amanda Saich, have all made outstanding contributions to the developing success of the team moving forward. In just the current season, these nine seniors have contributed to a vast majority of the points secured by the team this season. Within the class, the seniors have accumulated 84 tries and and 428 points. However, their admirable intangible qualities outweigh the scores that any player could ever earn.
“Every one of these players brings something to the table,” Brown contended. “Each of the graduating seniors have left a legacy for others to build upon. What they all bring to the squad collectively is a real joy and enthusiasm for playing.” Overall, the men and women of Vassar rugby all vow that playing the sport would not be possible without the level of trust and support that they feel for their fellow teammates. The senior men and women of Vassar rugby will all look to earn a victory in their final Beast of the East tournament, which is coming up with matches scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Courtesy of Carlisle Stockton
he pure physicality of rugby surely doesn’t make it a tremendously easy, or painless, sport to play. Still, the culture surrounding the men’s and women’s rugby teams here at Vassar, lead by their senior class, make it an experience worth investing in. Both teams boast nine experienced seniors, who helped lead their teams to impressive victories on both senior days this past weekend. The men collectively overpowered the Red Foxes of Marist College, 31-24, while the women beat their rival Great Danes from the University of Albany, 38-17. Although the Brewers play in part due to their love of the sport, being in the rugby family has meant so much more. This year’s nine senior men have played a significant role in fostering this notion of the players being a family, rather than just a team. Said head coach Anthony Brown: “Prior leaders from the team have dominated the program path, but our current seniors have been the mainstays of the rugby program. They continue the tradition of Vassar Rugby being much more than a sports team—it is a close-knit group that finds a common bond in learning this sport and competing against other schools.” Senior Brewers impressively add skill, passion and effort to the program. Referencing this point, Brown relayed, “Senior captain Joe Simon has exhibited not only a real enthusiasm and joy for the sport, but he is also one of the quickest players to have ever played rugby at Vassar in the past 22 years.” Simon is joined by Nick Olkovsky, Gary Garcia, George Sheppard, Nick Crooks, Caleb Zachary, Joshua Espada, Dale Lord and newcomer senior Rodyll Morris. So far this season, the senior class has collectively added 201 tries onto the team statistics, higher than every class that
came before them. The seniors on the women’s rugby team have been able to develop a similar environment of encouragement, support and leadership for their younger teammates. Having only played the sport for a year and a half at Vassar, junior Meredith Leder vouches that these qualities of the seniors have helped her to adjust to the team well. “They have always been really great at encouraging the underclassmen and rookies to play their best,” Leder noted. “I’m really going to miss them next year, but I think we are currently developing a good team. Hopefully, we’ll be able to live up to their legacy.” While the younger classes of women’s rugby are filled with talent and heart, the senior class leaves substantial shoes to fill. These nine players have not only greatly contributed to their team via their physical talents, but also through their dedication to advancing the program as a whole. Their efforts to improve the Vassar rugby program off the field have not gone unnoticed by shared head coach Anthony Brown. “One of our seniors, Claire Fondrie-Teitler, was a major force in organizing the rugby tour to Barcelona, Spain, one year ago,” he recalled. This international trip resonates with some of the team’s most important principles. Though training and matches were still scheduled, the primary focus of traveling was to facilitate team bonding after spending an extended winter break apart. Continuing his praise for the seniors away from the playing field, Brown added, “Michelle Urrutia has been very active with social media on behalf of the team. Her work in Athletics Communications has been truly prolific.” These efforts to strengthen the team’s presence on social media speaks to the players’ desire to see the program grow in size and skill in
Men’s rugby seniors, left to right: Joshua Espada, Kaden Grae, George Sheppard, Roydell Morris, Dale Lord, Caleb Zachary, Nick Olkovsky, Joe Simon, Gary Garcia and Nicolas Crooks (middle).
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
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Why
we
Desmond Curran GUEST COLUMNIST
This week marks a special edition of Why We Play, as junior soccer player Desmond Curran reflects upon his experience with soccer culture in Spain.
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10 15 16 18 20 24 35 37 38 44 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 11 12 13 19 21 22
it as a triumph for their values, their qualities and their home. In Madrid, however, where there are four professional teams, fans of each team share a home. Yet the two largest clubs, Real Madrid Club de Futbol and Club Atlético de Madrid have cultivated and developed an incredibly fierce rival-
government’s team, the shame of the country). Atlético fans are drawn to the club for its success on the field, but more importantly, for the stark contrast it offers against Real Madrid’s globalist approach. Another apt demonstration of this disparity
ry. Intra-city rivalries are nothing unique, but the complexity behind the animosity between the two Madrid giants has a long and nuanced history. The divide between Madridistas (Real Madrid fans) and Rojiblancos (Atlético Madrid fans) is complex, shaped by the differing histories of the clubs and of Madrid itself. Both clubs are currently among the best soccer teams in the world, but historically Real Madrid is not only larger than Atlético, but is also the largest, wealthiest and most successful soccer club in the world. Atlético’s success is also only recent: The past decade has likely been the best passage of time in the club’s history. Real Madrid, however, carries a certain amount of international glamour and swagger. Every day without a match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists who pass through on paid tours. There are official Real Madrid stores throughout the city—much to the excitement of the millions of tourists who visit Madrid annually. Returning to Real’s identity in Madrid, the Bernabeu itself is located in an affluent region of the city, Chamartin, surrounded by international businesses and banks. Their international profile was largely established in the 60s, when they were the team favored by the Spanish dictator Franco. Franco saw Real Madrid’s international success in European competition as a sort of icebreaker for diplomacy, to thaw the isolation of Spain after the second world war. Consequently, in Madrid, Real’s image is one framed in gold leaf and polished by international factors. On the other side, Atlético strives to display the heart of Madrid. As tourism has become one of the largest, if not the largest industry in Spain, many Spaniards feel as though they may be losing some of their national identity. In Madrid, however, Atlético pushes back. While a large and very accomplished club in its own right, Atlético is not as prolific as Real—but that may be partly by design. The old venue for Atlético, the Vicente Calderon, was located next to a brewery in the south of Madrid. Traditionally, Atlético has drawn its fans from the working class of Madrid. In response to Real’s role in Franco’s diplomacy, the fans would chant “el equipo del gobierno, la vergüenza del país” (the
between the dueling cultures of the clubs is their respective styles of soccer. Fans of Real Madrid expect a very specific style of play: flowing, rapid and potent attack. Both the affluent Madrid fans and international spectators watch Real to see incredible displays of talent, technique and flair, to have that jaw-dropping moment, to be left in silent awe. It is no coincidence, then, that players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (if you want a spectacle, watch a highlight compilation of his goals—he takes his shirt off frequently) have found their way to Madrid. Ronaldo’s recent goal against the Italian club Juventus is the perfect example of this: an acrobatic overhead chilena bicycle shot that thumped perfectly into the top corner, only for Juventus players to stand by helplessly and stare at each other. His performance even earned him the applause of the Juventus fans (this was in Italy, not Madrid), who were booing him only 60 minutes earlier. This is the Real Madrid way. Atlético once again provides the opposing number. Coached by Argentine Diego Simeone, Atlético has found success in a very industrial, gritty and defensive style of play. For some viewers, it may be stressful or boring to see the team sit back and prompt the opposing team to take the initiative to break them down. For Atlético fans, however, it fills them with pride. There is nothing better than seeing their team frustrate other elite European teams (particularly Real) with a physically defensive style, while at the same time achieving victory. Diego “El Cholo” Simeone, the intimidatingly passionate manager of Atlético, personifies this style: A former Atlético player himself, his personal style has been described as tenacious and combative, as if he were playing while holding a knife between his teeth. Returning to the topic of the fans, this past weekend I was fortunate to attend El Derbi between the Madrid teams. During the warm-ups, the Real players were greeted with enormous cheers and chants throughout, whereas Atlético players were met with deafening whistling and jeers. During the game, Simeone was the subject of a thunderous chant: “Simeone, Simeone, que amargado se te ve, mientras tu estas en el fútbol” (Simeone, Simeone,
Pictured here, Desmond Curran ’19 at the Atlético stadium. Curran is currently studying in Madrid with the Vassar-Wesleyan program. how bitter you look while you’re in the game). Simeone, in turn, could only smile. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, continuing a six-year winless streak for Real against Atlético at home in the Bernabeu. In the post-game interview, Simeone addressed reporters, saying, “We are up against two superpowers, like Madrid and Barcelona…What we have done in this decade is tremendous. Atlético fans should be proud of how their team is competing.” He’s right. Atlético may never reach the same heights as Real, but Atlético’s fans know that. The reasons that many fans, both Spanish and international, are drawn to Real is their extravagant success, the high-profile players and the high-flying style. Atlético and Simeone provide the antithesis to this: succeeding against their elite neighbors while being a club of notably less historical prominence. Frustrating the growing influence of international forces over the city of Madrid, and over Real Madrid, is a fantastic sentiment that many Madrid citizens desire to share, and as such desire to join El Cholo’s army in supporting Atlético.
Men’s Lacrosse
Women’s Lacrosse
Vassar College 8, Stockton University 9
Vassar College 7, Rochester University 9
April 7, 2018
April 7, 2018
Vassar College #
Desmond Curran
play
Courtesy of Desmond Curran
ne of the most remarkable things that I have encountered in Spain has been the complexity of factors contributing to the identities of professional soccer clubs and their fanbases. Among the three different levels of soccer in Spain, local amateurs, professional leagues and the national team, it is at the professional level where identities are not only shaped by traditional factors such as regional history, culture and socio-economic reasons, but also byzz each other. It is a profound experience to peer into the identities that Spanish soccer fans have erected around their preferred clubs and to begin to understand the bond between the clubs and their fans. The connections that fans develop with their professional clubs have their origins in the local levels of Spanish soccer. In Sunday league soccer, amateur teams throughout Madrid collectively mobilize, mostly haphazardly, in the early morning light to travel to their respective games. The average age of each player is early 20s, with some outliers. Most have played together at some point, but what seems to be a unifying force among them is their club. The clubs in these amateur leagues are usually organized by the barrio, or the neighborhood. At these games, however, there are fans. Not many, but on average a dozen show up—and are actively engaged with the game, cheering on the team they support (or harassing the other team, and even the referee). These fans are there to support the players who hail from the respective neighborhood supposedly represented by their club team. While these teams make no claims of representing their neighborhoods, the team name is usually that of the neighborhood itself, and the majority of their players are from the same neighborhood. There is no competition among neighborhoods to have the best soccer team—outside of the actual league competition, of course—but the ultra-competitive edge that many of these fans bring derives from a desire to see their side win. Professional clubs represent different cities, regions, cultures and histories (or sometimes politics, in the case of Football Club Barcelona and Catalonia). These differences create an interest among fans to see their team win—and they see
April 12, 2018
Player M. Lowery TK Murphy T. Meade S. Felps N. Diamond Z. Henig M. Boyd C. Erdman M. Mullen C. Vorel P. Sargeant L. Neville J. Thomas K. Cherry D. Adams P. Gibbons A. Georgalas N. Lyman P. Zimmerman E. Mikelinich C. Croghan E. Burns D. Stebel Totals.......
Stockton University
G
A
P
SH GB
#
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2 10 1 3 0 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 5 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4
1 2 4 8 14 21 25 40 77 88 0 5 12 13 19 20 22 24 27 30 55
8
4 12 32 39
Player
G
A
P
SH GB
C. Holleritter J. Ruiz M. Caposella J. Tiernan Z. Aho T. Gallo J. Liguori W. Kane L. Swedlund C. Wharton R. Bradley J. Hall J. Fisher S. Park E. Ellis A. Brigati M. Pukenas E. Anderson C. Shea G. Travis W. Pellicier
0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 3 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1
0 0 6 3 7 5 2 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 2 2 0 2
Totals.......
9
4
13 37 27
5 2 0 1 0 3 1 3 1 1 1 3 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 2
Vassar College # 2 3 7 9 11 14 15 18 20 24 25 31 4 5 6 16 21 22
Player
G
1 F. MacLeod 1 T. Waters 1 O. O’Loughlin 0 T. Newcomb 0 A. LaMere 0 A. MacEwen G. Goodwin-Boyd 0 0 A. Rivoir 0 J. Sledzik 0 S. Nemphos 0 A. Fable 0 E. Chancey S. Herrera-Ross 0 0 E. Hamburger 0 L. Wolk 4 S. Sideleau 0 H. Hallman 0 G. Patick
Totals.......
7
MISCELLANY NEWS | VASSAR COLLEGE
A
P
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
1
8
Rochester University
SH GB
7 5 3 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 8 0 2
1 2 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 4 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 0
32 19
# 2 3 4 6 9 12 17 19 22 23 28 29 1 5 8 13 15 16 20 24
Player
G
C. Berg S. Jahnige E. Botto M. Levy M. Panepento K. Woo B. Regan M. McKenna M. Mullholand P. Smith C. Ernst B. Taylor J. Macri H. Spann A. Olsen J. Seabury K. Davis K. Prosak K. Jones M. Kern Totals.......
9
0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
A
P
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 3 4 1 1 0 2 1 0 3 6 0 1 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
SH GB
10 32 19