The Miscellany News
Since 1866 | miscellanynews.org
April 19, 2018
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Volume CL | Issue 19
Tamar Ballard elected as VSA President Loeb hosts AAAVC exhibition
Lax lacks decisive final push Courtesy of Tamar Ballard
Olivia Feltus REPORTER
G
ordon Parks: a Farm Security Administration and Life Magazine photographer. Jacob Lawrence: created the famous series, “Migration,” now exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. James Van Der Zee: an important Harlem Renaissance photographer who documented artists and game changers while becoming one himself. What do they all have in common? From now until August 19, along with many other famed African American artists, they have works on view at Vassar’s very own Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, as a part of “Triennial XII—Celebrating the Contributions of African American Alumnae/i, Students, Faculty, AdminSee AAAVC on page 6
On April 12, current VSA Chair of Equity and Inclusion Tamar Ballard ’19 was elected as the 2018– 19 VSA President. The new VSA Senate members will take over their roles in a few weeks, on May 6. Clark Xu
ASSITANT NEWS EDITOR
E
ach year, the student body expresses its voice in the choice of representatives for student government. The Board of Elections and Appointments (BoEA) announced on April 12 the election of Tamar Ballard ’19 as Vassar Student Association (VSA) President, Rori Chuck ’19 as VSA Vice President, Eloudia Odamy ’21 as VSA Chair of Equity
and Inclusion, Mendel Jiménez ’20 as VSA Chair of Finance, Jennifer Luo ’20 as VSA Chair of Residential Affairs, May Venkat-Ramani ’20 as VSA Chair of Academics and Dea Oviedo Vazquez ’20 as VSA Chair of Organizations. Many other candidates were also elected to other leadership positions in student government committees, residential house teams and as class year representatives. A primary area of focus for student
leaders over the next school year will be representing student voices in a way that best develops their sense of inclusion in the campus community. Ballard reflected, “I would hope that everyone I come in contact with understands that I not only care deeply about students feeling comfortable at Vassar, but that I’m dedicated and willing to get necessary work done and to offer my support wherever I can.” See VSA on page 3
Fiona MacLeod GUEST COLUMNIST
I
n a turnaround from last year’s senior day, which featured 10 graduating players, this year’s ceremony on Saturday, April 14, honored sole senior captain Alex Georgalas. Fighting against Clarkson University on the sunny afternoon, the Brewers were unable hold onto an early lead, falling 6-9. On and off of the field, Georgalas has been a consistent leader for his 33 younger teammates. After a serious knee injury and surgery during his high school career, he made an immediate impact at Vassar. Head coach Marc Graham said, “Alex spent countless hours on rehab to strengthen his knee, while also honing his skills at the face-off.” See LACROSSE on page 19
Imogen Wade GUEST REPORTER
H
ow was your spring break? It feels like a long time away from now, when we are embroiled in deadlines, and has taken on a rather mythic quality. Perhaps you visited your family; stayed holed up in your room, buried in a duvet, watching “Love Actually”; went on a holiday to far-flung
lands (or states); or stayed at Vassar, bemoaning the snow. However your spring break unfolded, whether you returned to Poughkeepsie renewed or despondent, I can say with near certainty that you did not find out that you were cursed. Not every Vassar student was as lucky as you, so don’t show off. One Vassar student in particular was given some troubling
Courtesy of Jorune Linkeviciute
A week after her experience in Phoenix, Linkeviciute stumbled across another psychic in LA. Eager to paper over her bad memories, she attempted to enter the establishment only to discover that it was closed.
Inside this issue
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Assistant Stage Manager reflects on day’s FEATURES hectic projects
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news: that her grandmother, somewhere in the capital of Lithuania, was practicing black magic and had placed a curse on her family’s entire female line. For your amusement at her expense, I thought it only right to uncover the story. Jorune Linkeviciute, an exchange student from Sciences Po in Paris, spent her vacation traveling through Arizona and California with her friend, Imogen Wade [Disclaimer: that friend is me]. I interviewed her one evening at the rather gloomy hour of 2 a.m. Enquiring as to the origin of the visit to the psychic, Linkeviciute was happy to inform me: “The idea to see the psychic came from a mutual deliberation with my dear friend Imogen, which was influenced by both a sense of boredom and eagerness to try out new things.” Keen to dispel any lingering illusions that she might be foolish, she assured me: “Yes, we did book beforehand. We called the number that was given to us on Google. We asked about the psychic’s availability as well as pricing. In fact, we specifically asked for the pricing of different services that she provided, and were told that a tarot card reading was 35 dollars. We also contacted other psychics, but the pricing of the original See PSYCHIC on page 11
Professor makes vow: Earth safe OPINIONS from robots (for now)
Courtesy of Katie Scibelli
Pseudo-psychic scams student
“The White Moth,” an original play conceptualized for a senior project, took place at the Powerhouse Theater on April 12, 13 and 14.
Surreal senior Drama project stuns audience Kelly Vinett REPORTER
W
hen do our dreams merge with reality? How many of our memories are ones we haven’t realized we’ve forgotten? On another note, what happens when your childhood plushy comes to life? At the Powerhouse Theater on April 12, 13 and 14, the senior Drama project “The White Moth,” written by Caleb Featherstone ’18, explored these questions. In addition to Featherstone, Rebecca Slotkin ’18 and Matt Stein ’18 [Full Disclosure: Stein is Assistant Arts Editor of The Miscellany News] were the collaborative project members and lead actors in the production. The play tells a story about two
18 SPORTS
best friends in college named Callie, played by Slotkin, and Benson, played by Featherstone. Benson’s mother was like a mother to Callie, but after she dies, Callie struggles to overcome her grief. Through a series of flashbacks and an alternate universe made up of dreams, Callie confronts her emotions, which stem from the trials and tribulations of growing up. “The White Moth” was co-directed by Assistant Professor of Drama Darrell James and Alexandra Hatch ’20. In regard to the novel aspects of her collaboration with James, Hatch elucidated, “This process was unique in many ways, such as having an almost entirely empty set, big goofy animal cosSee DRAMA on page 7
Pitcher, hitter astounds on Major Leagues’ mounds