October 6, 2011 by The Scripps Voice

Volume XV, Issue One

October 6, 2011

The Scripps Voice Inside...

A Milestone for Ellen Browning Scripps By Megan Petersen ‘15 Copy Editor

Get Naked with The Scripps Voice’s new sex column page 4

Read about the U.S. News & World Report ratings controversy

page 6

One of the most influential women of the 19th and 20th centuries has a big birthday coming up. Ellen Browning Scripps, newspaper woman, philanthropist and founder of Scripps College, turns 175 on Oct. 18. “175 years young,” said Carolyn Robles, associate director of the office of communication and marketing. Robles said that Ellen’s birthday has been celebrated by alumnae for a while, but that the school wanted to do something special for this milestone. Wednesday Tea will honor Ellen on her birthday week. The Oct. 19 tea will include special Victorian treats and a raffle of T-shirts with the 1926 Time magazine cover featuring Ellen. Local alumnae have been invited to join current students for tea. For the month of October, the Scripps College homepage and alumnae relations page will be including a link to a page dedicated to Ellen. From this page, visitors can write posthumous birthday messages for the College’s founder. The Scripps community has also been invited to vote on their favorite Ellen quotation. The winning quotation will be featured on the T-shirts raffled off at Tea. Ellen was born in London on Oct. 18 1836. Her family came to the United States and settled in Rushville, Ill. in 1844. Ellen, who graduated from Knox College in 1859, was the only one among her many siblings to attend college. Ellen taught for several years after college, before leaving teaching to join her brother James, who was starting a newspaper in Detroit, Mich. James’s vi-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCRIPPS COLLEGE

Ellen Browning Scripps would be turning 175 on October 18. This photo was on the cover of Time Magazine in 1926 when Scripps College was founded.

sion, said Judy Harvey Sahak ‘64, Swan Librarian of Denison Library, was to “spread news and learning to the working class.” Another brother, Edward Wyllis or E.W., founded a newspaper in Cincinnati, Ohio. While Ellen edited and wrote for James’s newspaper, she was invested in both James’s and E.W.’s newspapers. Her investments in her brothers’ newspapers garnered Ellen the fortune which enabled her to leave her mark on numerous institutions. The list of institutions Ellen supported during her life is as diverse as it is extensive, including the San Diego Zoo, the National History Museum, Scripps Clinic and Metabolic continued on page 2

Waste Transfer Center in Pomona Prompts Protest By Nikki Broderick ‘14 Staff Writer

Writing Center moved to a smaller space in the Humanities Building page 2

Check out our 90-Clue crossword puzzle (Difficult) page 5

On Sept. 28, citizens of Pomona gathered at City Hall in protest. The source of tension was a waste transfer center to be built on the 1300 block of East Ninth Street, a block which encompasses one of Pomona’s most impoverished areas. Waste transfer stations are where trash from surrounding areas gets taken from garbage trucks and loaded into different trucks before being driven out to landfills. The proposed Pomona Valley Waste Transfer Station would sit on a 10.5-acre lot in South Pomona. Although two residences are within a quarter-mile of the site, the area is zoned for industrialization. Residents of Pomona object to the new waste transfer station because they argue it will produce odor pollution from the trash, ozone-layer-destroying nitrogen

oxide and air pollution from the increased amount of trucks driving to and from the transfer station. The proposed waste transfer station would also be within a one mile radius of nine Pomona-area schools, the closest of which is Washington Elementary, a mere half mile from the proposed site. The Pomona Valley Waste Transfer Station would be built by Grand Central Recycling & Transfer Station, Inc., more commonly known as Valley Vista Services. The company, owned by Mayor of the City of Industry David Perez, has served the San Gabriel Valley for 50 years. Valley Vista Services boasts on its website that it is a family-owned business. There is also a Valley Vista waste transfer station in the City of Industry. “Committed to building power for sustainable social and economic change,” the organization One LA has played a large role in driving community activists and rallying residents to protest the

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proposed waste transfer station. According to Veronica McKelvey, a representative of One LA, the demonstrations against the proposed waste transfer station started around seven to eight months ago. McKelvey, a third grade teacher at Washington Elementary and a graduate of Pomona College, said, “Residents of Pomona deserve a clean, healthy environment,” adding that South Pomona residents shouldn’t be taken advantage of by the wealthy. At the Sept. 28 demonstration at City Hall, protesters of the transfer station held signs that read “Don’t Trash Pomona!” “People’s Health Trumps Corporate Wealth” and “Mis Vecinos No Son Basura!” There was a chant of “Don’t trash Pomona!” The rally began at 6:30 p.m. and was followed by a city council meeting of the Planning Commission of Pomona. continued on page 11

News • 3 Seniors v. The Real World: Another Successful Run for Life After Scripps Ariel Bloomer ’12 Staff Writer While students across the 5Cs braved zombie hoards with only their nerf guns for protection, Scripps students—most of whom were seniors—were arming themselves against the onslaught of “the real world.” Life After Scripps, an annual programming series of the Career Planning & Resources (CP&R) office, gave students the chance to prepare themselves for the post-grad gauntlet. CP&R added the incentives of Yogurtland coupons and raffle entries for students who attended several events and got their attendance documented in their “passports.” “Ask Away: The Art of Negotiation” was presented by Sara Laschever, co-author of Ask for It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want, and Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation-- and Possible Strategies for Change. Career consultant Emily Chesbrough (’12) called “Ask Away” her favorite event of the week, because it addressed “an area that women are least prepared to face in the job search process.” Laschever broke the news to a room of Scripps and CGU students, including a few men, that the real world doesn’t work as we’re accustomed to in academia, with hard work being recognized and rewarded with A’s. Rewards like salary, raises and career opportunities themselves have to be sought and asked for—something women often fail to do. This talk came highly recommended by alumna Ashley Peters (’08). Abigail Jones (’12) echoed Peters’s sentiments, saying “It completely changed the way I think about how I operate.” The Employer Panel brought representatives from Wells Fargo, mOcean and Nordstrom to the Hampton Room to answer students’ questions. They told students what stands out resumes, what they look for in interviews and what really irks them (for Samantha Jones at Wells Fargo, a typo will send a resume straight to the trash bin). The panel also gave students a forum to ask some of those burning questions,

photo courtesy of Career Planning & Resources

Life After Scripps’s Speed Networking Dinner was a “no-pressure way to practice meeting new people.”

such as “What are you looking for when you ask ‘do you have any questions?’” and “Do you really read my cover letter?” (For Brian Viscusi from Nordstrom, the answer to the latter question was rarely, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still write a good one.) “Interviewing Tips & Secrets” ran in two sessions, one led by Teach For America recruiter Madeline Robertson-Salt, who led students in a group brainstorm on how to overcome the awkward pauses of phone interviews, anticipate interview questions and formulate the strong, example-backed answers expected by interviewers using the behavioral methodology. Students then practiced the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Results) to answer stumpers like “Tell me about a time when you were wrong.” The Speed Networking Dinner was so popular that it had a waitlist. “I thought the speed networking dinner was a great event. Even if students weren’t interested in the fields represented, it is still a fun, no-pressure way to practice meeting new people and telling them about yourself,” said Career Consultant Felicia Palmer (’12). Although students learned a

valuable lesson in networking, the frenetic atmosphere was daunting for some. Said Heidi Hong (’12), “I enjoyed talking to a variety of interesting people at different points in their careers. But the time limits and number of people present made the experience socially overwhelming.” Other events of the week coached students on personal finance, resume writing, personal statement polishing, the job search (international and domestic) and grad school applications. Valinda Lee’s “OMG! I’M A SENIOR” workshop calmed the frayed nerves from seniors facing the inevitable barrage of questions about what they are going to do after Scripps. With so much information to absorb, this week can be just as traumatic as it is helpful for seniors who suddenly realize that Life After Scripps is a week which directly addresses them. Through all the information, though, four themes tied all the week’s events together: network (join Linkedin!), be confident, ask for what you want and don’t give up. After this year’s Life After Scripps week, expectations for CP&R will continue to be high in anticipation of next year’s lineup.

Beyond the Quadrangle Lauren Prince Editor-In-Chief

Instead of bringing the same news to you that you can read about every day, we thought we’d share with you snapshots of out-of-the-ordinary, weird, cool and just plain wacky stories you wouldn’t necessarily read otherwise. Between 400 and 700 protesters were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge on Oct. 1, after police had issued multiple requests to stay on the pedestrian walkway and not obstruct the street. Accusations of unnecessary police violence have been leveled, and many from the National Lawyers Guild have offered legal assistance on behalf of the protesters. – npr.org

The letter “T” is disappearing from signs and buildings all over the Georgia Tech campus this year. This longstanding college prank is costing the school more than $100,000 in repairs. Georgia Tech is starting an amnesty policy; by promising not to punish students, they hope to retrieve their T’s. – sfgate.com

To help pay for their wedding, a desperate couple in North Sewickley, Pennsylvania, stole copper wire from 18 utility poles. They owed $1000 on their venue reservation, and had had the reservation closed on them. The couple ended up getting $18 for the copper. It cost $400 to repair the poles. – sfgate.com

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

The Dead Sea Scrolls have gone digital. Google and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem worked together to launch a website allowing people to view the scrolls in detail. Not only can visitors see the scrolls, they can also translate the Hebrew text into English. If you wish to see the digitized Dead Sea Scrolls, please go to http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/

– npr.org

8 • Features

Abbas’s Statehood Bid: An Attem pt to Dodge Peace Negotiations Ellie Rudee ‘14

Contributing Writer, Fellow for Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) In the past couple of weeks, the media has inundated the public with speeches, articles and news coverage of the Palestinian Unilateral Declaration of Independence. However, the information presented lacks a number of crucial details—namely, Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas’s violation of signed agreements with Israel, past refusal to negotiate and blatant anti-Semitism and homophobia. On Sept. 20, PA President Abbas asked United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to introduce a Palestinian request for statehood recognition to the United Nations Security Council. This unilateral action violated six of the PLO’s signed agreements with Israel, forbidding any such unilateral actions and requests to outside parties. Article XV of the Declaration of Principles, Article XXI of the Interim Agreement, the Trilateral Statement, President Bush’s Roadmap and the Middle East Quartet all required negotiations rather than unilateral actions. The Palestinian appeal for statehood to the United Nations represented a violation of international agreements with Israel, the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, the Russian Federation and Norway. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and President Obama’s calls for peace negotiations last May, Abbas refuses to peacefully negotiate and instead breaches international law with unilateral actions. Despite this, Israel has made generous proposals, each of which the Palestinian government rejected, refusing comprehensive peace plans in 1947, 1978, 2000 and 2008. In 1947 the United Nations Resolution 181 called for the creation of a Jewish and Arab state, but all Arab countries opposed the resolution, refusing to recognize Israel’s right to exist. In the 1978 Camp David Accords, Egyptian President SaLeah Soffer ’14 dat begged the PLO and its Chairman Yasser Arafat to accept Contributing Writer the negotiations with Israel. Arafat not only refused, but the PLO then murdered West Bank Palestinians who supported This fall marks the revival of the 5C club, Claremont Students for Israel the peace negotiation. (CSI). For the past two years, CSI has been an outgrowth of the Hillel of the In 2000 President Clinton hosted peace talks between PA Claremont Colleges. But CSI no longer holds any affiliation to Hillel; Ellie President Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. AraRudee and I have reformatted the club to be completely autonomous. fat refused generous compromises and responded with the In addition to being secular, CSI is also bipartisan. But, more importantly, Second Intifada, a new terror campaign against Israeli civilthe club supports democracy and peace in an increasingly volatile Middle ians. East. Lastly, the 2008 peace plan included annexation of Israeli Despite its frequent misrepresentation in media, Israel is one of the most settlements to Israel in return for equivalent Israeli territory to tolerant countries in the world. Though Israel is legally a Jewish state, it the Palestinians, withdrawal of numerous Israeli settlements, grants complete religious freedom and gives full rights and citizenship to and a division of Jerusalem. Abbas rejected the proposal. Arab-Israelis, as evidenced by the numerous Arab-Israelis serving in Israel’s Palestinians are understandably frustrated with the lack of parliament. In addition, Israel was founded with equal rights for women. negotiation in the region, but they should focus their ire on Although many of Israel’s neighboring countries have yet to accept women’s their own leaders rather than on Israel. suffrage, a female was elected Prime Minster of Israel in 1969. Israel recogDisregarding the rifts in Palestinian leadership (Hamas, nizes foreign same-sex marriages and gives homosexual couples the same the PA and the PLO do not work as a cohesive government), tax breaks and legal adoption rights that heterosexual couples enjoy, a level none of the leaders share the democratic tolerance of the Isof parity for same-sex couples which the United States has yet to achieve. raeli government. For example, the PLO’s ambassador to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was only recently repealed in the United States, but Unites States announced on Sept. 13 that the future state for the LGBTQ community has been able to serve openly in the Israeli military which Palestinians seek approval from the United Nations for almost 20 years. would be free of Jews. This state would be the first since Nazi Israel is also one of the most innovative countries in the world. Inventions Germany to officially prohibit Jews. originating in Israel include instant messenger, cell phone technologies, most Meanwhile, Israel’s population includes over 1.3 million computer chips and the first completely electric car. Israel is also the site of Muslim Israeli citizens, as well as Arab-Israeli Parliamentarthe invention of the device—featured on Glee!—which enables paraplegics ians. Although the Palestinian ambassador refuses to say if to walk. The head bandage which saved the life of U.S. Congresswoman homosexuality would be tolerated, many gays and lesbians Gabrielle Giffords (‘93) was also a medical innovation from Israel. seek refuge in Israel because of anti-gay persecution in the CSI will be advocating for Israel on the campuses, publicizing reasons to West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza strip. support Israel and foster a stronger U.S.–Israel relationship. Advocacy will include social events, film screenings and speakers. Also planned is a visit Last April, Muhammad Rateb al-Nabulsi, an academic with current district representative David Dreier (CMC ‘75) to discuss the who writes and teaches about the education of children and maintenance of the current U.S.-Israel relationship. fundamentals of Islamic religion at multiple Islamic universiUpcoming events will be discussed and planned in detail at CSI meetings. ties, said on Hamas’s Al-Aksa television station, “HomosexuThe meetings also include debates around current political issues surroundality involves a filthy place, and does not generate offspring. ing Israel and the Arab World. Respectful debate is the goal, so all opinions Homosexuality leads to the destruction of the homosexual. are welcome. That is why, brothers, homosexuality carries the death penCSI’s first event, “LESS HAMAS MORE HUMMUS!” will feature alty.” Hamas cofounder Mahmoud Zahar said, “You in the Hamas media and raise awareness of bias in the media against Israel. Free West do not live like human beings. You do not even live like hummus and “LESS HAMAS MORE HUMMUS!” T-shirts will be availanimals. You accept homosexuality. And now you criticize able in Vita Nova 100 on Oct. 20 starting at 7 p.m. us.” The Palestinians deserve their own state, but we must exOn behalf of Claremont Students for Israel, I would like to invite you amine what kind of a state it would be. Until Palestinian to our club meetings and events! If you are interested in joining, or leadership is ready to follow international law, compromise think your club may want to do a joint event with CSI, please contact through peace talks, and denounce violence, anti-Semitism, me at LSoffer3902@scrippscollege.edu. and homophobia, recognizing a Palestinian state is neither an intelligent nor a just solution.

5Cs for Israel

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

10 Arts & Entertainment Scripps Style Makes a Comeback: Meridith Burchiel Ishmam Rahman ’14 Contributing Writer

Ishmam Rahman: How would you describe your personal style and things that you incorporate into it every day? Meridith Burchiel: I usually choose clothes that I think are pretty, interesting and comfortable. I love animals and animal prints so I have a lot of wildlife clothing and accessories. I wear colorful stuff sometimes, but it’s usually more neutral toned. I wear my calculator watch, earring, rings, and bracelets every day. Each of them has their own mini-story. IR: What sorts of stories? MB: All of [my accessories] are personal to me in some way. I wear a watch every day. This summer I broke my normal watch [during the first week at summer camp]. So I had to run to Buymart and buy myself a watch. [Calculator watches were] all they had. As for the bracelets, they each have a story. Two are from India and Turkey. One is an Adidas balance band. The one with the Jewish symbol for the Hand of Rebecca is from my mother, and the campers at my summer camp made the rest. The rabbi at camp made one for me too. One of my rings is a sunshine ring and the other one is from Israel. The one earring that I wear belongs to my mom; she wears the other one from the pair. She’s had them since she was in second grade. My mom tells me that a girl gave her the earrings but I’m pretty sure she and a bunch of other second graders stole them. IR: Where do you normally shop? MB: I buy most of my clothes from thrift stores like Goodwill and American Thrift. I also buy some things at Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, but I try to always keep it

affordable. I have a lot of altered clothes [from thrift stores]. I am a big advocate of clothing alteration. I normally cut high necklines off and I don’t think I own a pair of shorts that aren’t cutoffs. IR: What are you majoring in, and does that influence your personal style? MB: I’m majoring in studio art and minoring in Spanish. I don’t think [being an art major] influences my style. Art has always been a part of me. I have always been a lover of art so [my passion for art and my style have] pretty much developed together from very early on in my life. IR: What are your thoughts on fashion at Scripps? MB: Certain scenes and individuals at Scripps inspire me. [I’m inspired when I see

PHOTOS BY ISHMAM RAHMAN

people who] are confident in themselves. I would like to see people taking more risks with what they wear. I don’t like it when it’s just like, this is what the fashion industry is telling me to wear so I’m going to go buy it. People [should] feel comfortable in what they’re wearing. When people say, I could never pull that off, I feel like that’s not true. Anybody can pull something off if they are comfortable in it and genuinely like what they are wearing. Nobody should wear something just because it’s trendy. Wear clothes that make you feel pretty, confident and fun. If you’re in a bright fun mood, then wear something crazy and fun. Most people won’t remember exactly what you wore by tomorrow [anyway]. So just have fun with it!

On the “Freshman Fifteen” and Chocolate Chip Cookies Amy Cannistrato ’15 Contributing Writer

To preface this inaugural column, I apologize to all upperclassmen that will probably not find this article helpful. However, being a freshman, I feel that I should stick to what I know—right now, that’s the overwhelming experience of college eating. For starters, there is the experience of no longer eating home-cooked meals, which, if you had a mother like mine, meant eating organic and delicious food every night. There is also the opportunity to eat pizza and French fries at every meal and, of course, have dessert at least three times a day. Although these things may sound appealing, a common result of this new eating experience is gaining the dreaded “freshman fifteen.” We’ve all seen the FF in action; as high schoolers we witnessed recent graduates come back a little fuller, and despite fearing for our own waistline, we told ourselves we wouldn’t let it happen to us—or so we hoped. If you were like me, you may have even told yourself that you would lose 15 pounds the summer before college, so when you gained the FF you would be back to normal. It made perfect sense in my head. This plan, of course, failed; I knew I would just have to resort to good old-fashioned self-control. As a child, I was of the Augustus Gloop variety. I was roly and poly (or “plump,” as my little brother fondly categorized me) and my elementary school classmates never let me forget it. Subsequently, I drowned my sixth-grade sorrow with my two besties Ben and Jerry. However, seventh grade came with a new school and sports. I grew up and happily tucked away my chubby days into the back of my mind… except when my friends see old pictures (or that one awful time my boyfriend saw a few). Then, I play it off as if it’s just some family joke: “Amy used to be a chubster, HAHA.” These dreaded memories aside, I happily allowed FF to float out of my mind upon my arrival to Scripps. I walked into Malott the first day, delighted to see the salad bar with an array of toppings, the “Healthy U” station with brown rice and tofu, and the non-fat frozen yogurt to satisfy my sweet cravings. This was gonna be easy! I quickly realized, however, that my initial excitement was misguided. While there are plentiful healthy options, what I maybe forgot in those first few meals is that healthy can also translate to boring. I soon became bored of my usual grilled chicken on salad for lunch and pork with brown rice for dinner. The frozen yogurt no longer satisfied when there were steaming-hot chocolate chip cookies, their scent finding my nose all the way in the Bikini Room, whispering my name until I mindlessly walked to their tray and served myself one. Just one! I reasoned this would be the compromise. I even began to put the fro-yo on top of my cookie for a most delightful sundae. I eventually tried the “no-cookies diet,” which actually resulted in me eating cookies more frequently than before. Fail. I guess the only thing left to do now is to try finding some middle way. Eat the cookies, but try starting with just one a day. Have pizza and french fries for dinner, but only on the weekends. Hit up the field house for exercise, not just pool/tanning sessions. With the right attitude and semi-good habits, I’d like to believe the FF is avoidable. Just remember, you control the cookies; the cookies don’t control you.

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

Sports & Activities • 11

Gayle Greene: Preparing Minds Through Creative Writing A Question and Answer By Kaela Nurmi ‘15 News Section Head

Kaela Nurmi: Why did you choose teaching? Gayle Greene: I went to New York looking for the “real world” and didn’t much like what I found. I worked in publishing, on Madison Avenue—think “Mad Men”—and it was clearly not for me. I was not sure at that point that I wanted to go through a PhD program, but working in an office was a very deadening experience. It was clarifying, though; I needed time away from school to know I wanted to be back in school. When I got my first job teaching, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I put myself through grad school teaching. KN: What has kept you here at Scripps? GG: I hadn’t given a thought to teaching at a women’s college; it actually made me a little nervous. But after about a week here, I thought, “this works.” I really like it, and I would never want to teach at a UC school —many of my friends do, and it is a factory system: huge classes, you can’t get to know students the way you can at Scripps and as a faculty member, you’re slotted to a narrow field of specialization and supposed to teach and publish mainly in that field, whereas at Scripps you get to range widely. The interdisciplinary Core program encourages that. KN: What do you teach? GG: My main point of entry was Shakespeare. I’m lucky to have chosen Shakespeare—he’s one of the few writers you can never tire of. I teach contemporary women writers, and was writing about Doris Lessing and Margaret Atwood and others while working up courses on them. Lately I’ve branched out to creative nonfiction; my books have taken me

in that direction. I teach a Core II course, “Sleep: Nature, Nurture, Mystery” and a Humanities upper division course, “The Poetry and Science of Sleep.” These were spin-offs of my latest book, and are laying the groundwork for a new one. KN: Is there a class you have always wanted to teach or see yourself teaching in the future? GG: I’m happy with the creative non-fiction class. You never know what’s going to happen. The Core course on sleep is relatively new, and for the time being that’s used up my energy for developing new courses; it’s a challenge, teaching the science. KN: What do you love about teaching? GG: It keeps me on my toes. Dealing with young people keeps me young. Scripps is like a family that never grows old; individual students may leave, but new ones come and those students stay the same age. Teaching and writing are really closely related. [Scripps has enabled my] writing and teaching [to] work together. I can try out ideas for my books on classes and if people look confused, I know the ideas need working on. It is a reality check. The students have definitely changed. Everybody’s so much busier, crazy busy, though I’m not one to talk. I could write a book on that. I did write an article...[in the] Huffington Post. KN: What books have you written? GG: I started in lit[erary] crit[icism]. Some my books were Changing the Story and The Woman’s Part. My book Insomniac took me into the field of sleep. It

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAYLE GREENE

ended up much more scientific than I had intended, because I had planned on it being a memoir. For The Woman who Knew too Much: Alice Stewart and the Secrets of Radiation, I worked with Stewart for five years. She discovered in 1956 that x-raying a pregnant woman doubles the risk of childhood cancer. Nobody in the 1950s wanted to hear that; it meant that a fraction of a radiation dose “known” to be safe could [actually] be lethal. [Stewart’s] work has become newly relevant with Fukushima, with people wondering what effect those radioactive emissions will have. KN: You mentioned your book Insomniac. How did you get interested in insomnia? GG: I’ve always had trouble getting to sleep. My next book is going to be about sleep as well. I’m fascinated by the subject. It’s undiscovered country: why

we sleep, how we sleep, where dreams come from. Sleep is fundamental to everything. Sleep is our creativity. KN: What is something you think students should know? GG: What I mainly try to communicate in my literature courses is a love and enthusiasm for literature—I’d like others to derive the kind of pleasure and sustenance from literature that I have. I’m old-fashioned: I believe in great books.

Gayle Greene will be giving a lecture “Sir Richard Doll and Dr. Alice Stewart: Gender, Politics, and the Road to Fukushima” in the Malott Commons Hampton Room on October 10 at 7 p.m.

WASTE TRANSFER CENTER CONTINUED FROM PG 1 An Environmental Impact Report prepared by Applied Planning Inc. for company President Ross Geller stated that in areas one-quarter of a mile from the transfer station the risk of cancer from nitrogen oxide exceeded the established threshold of 10 persons per million people. The report also stated that there were “clearly a number of adverse impacts.” Among these adverse impacts is a residence located at 1450 9th Street, which would face over quadruple the established safety threshold, with the risk of cancer at just over 45 people per million. The report concluded that, overall, the environmental impacts of the transfer station would be significant to Pomona. The trash taken to the transfer station would

include that from cities in a 15 mile radius of Pomona. Although this radius includes Claremont, the adverse effects wouldn’t affect citizens of Pomona’s more affluent neighbors. The waste transfer site has become a social justice issue for protesters. Many of the residents concerned are poorer than residents of neighboring cities, and include many for whom Spanish is their primary language. Many protesters believe that Pomona has been unfairly targeted due to their residents’ background, which is primarily low-income and Hispanic. Trash from Scripps will never have to sit in a waste-transfer station in Claremont, some argue, because of Claremont’s demographics: according to the 2010 Census, 70.6 percent of Claremont’s population is racially “white.”

Pomona’s white population is only 7.3 percent. Many would make this discrepancy the grounds for a case of environmental injustice based on race. As McKelvey said, “There are social justice values at the Claremont Colleges. Where are they when we need them?” When the Sept. 28 meeting concluded at 11 p.m., the Pomona City Council had yet to hear from any residents. Speeches from residents were postponed until Oct. 12, when another City Council meeting is planned. Members of One LA and residents of Pomona will continue to protest the waste transfer station until the City Council reaches a decision, and will appeal if the transfer station is approved. “This is only the beginning,” said McKelvey.

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

12 •Sports & Activities Fighting the Zombie Apocalypse: HvZ is back in Claremont Sarah Chung ‘15 Contributing Writer

Students across the Consortium busted out their Nerf guns and sock balls last week for five days of eating and trying not to get eaten. Every semester, the Claremont Colleges take part in a game of moderated tag called Humans vs. Zombies. This game has been a growing tradition among hundreds of colleges across the US since 2005. More people participate in Claremont each semester, and the game has become more and more sophisticated. People have gotten creative by modifying Nerf guns and planning out day-to-day routes. The game is quite simple. Each “zombie” wears a yellow bandana around her or his head and each human wears a yellow bandana around her or his arm. The humans have Nerf guns and sock balls to defend themselves while the zombies chase them and attempt to “eat” the humans. If a human hits a zombie with either a Nerf bullet or a sock ball, the human is safe from that zombie for 15 minutes. If a human is tagged by a zombie, she or he must switch the bandana position and become a zombie. Zombies who “eat” enough people can gain special powers, such as getting pool noodles to extend their zombie reach or having to be hit twice to be stunned. Often, the growing zombie horde

becomes too great for the dwindling human race, and no survivor is left behind. The Scripps campus was a haven for humans seeking refuge from the zombies, since the game isn’t allowed at Scripps. Classrooms, bathrooms and students’ own dorm rooms are also safe zones for humans to run to. It’s no easy task being a human. As Brandon Kim (PZ ‘15) said, “It’s hard for me to do my homework. I’m always googling ‘Best ways to avoid zombies’ and it gets really stressful.” Many students, though, feel the game’s positives outweigh its negatives. “Yeah, it does make you a little nervous,” said Mikayla Raymond (‘15), “but you meet so many people through the game! You immediately bond with fellow humans while running from zombies and doing night missions.” Ally Kerley (‘15) said that “carrying a Nerf gun everywhere just makes me feel badass!” For those who missed the game this semester, have no fear! Mark out those sneaky routes to your classrooms and modify those Nerf guns, because the zombies will be back for more next semester.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER COTNER

Amanda Jacobs makes precarious plans for the the final HvZ mission on Sat. Oct. 1.

shall remain anonymous, even got a pedicure at a swanky salon in the new village (by the way, he loved it). Their mission: offer students, Mike Goldberg faculty, staff and parents the best quality around Founder of Professor Dibs Claremont for the smallest price tag, while still doing something positive for our 5C community. Goldberg and Taubman were quick to realize that Claremont had endless hidden stores and restaurants that would normally fly right under the average student’s radar. They discovered that Los Jarritos II has the best chicken tacos in town, the florist on Foothill Boulevard could make a quick delivery right before your big date and Razzle Dazzle Frozen Yogurt offers by far the best toppings in a 5-mile radius. They had no choice but to create a colorful and easy to navigate website exclusively for Claremont College students, their parents and community members. Goldberg and Taubman convinced the best of those stores and restaurants to offer insanely huge deals and discounts on ProfessorDibs.com. Why, you may ask. The two wanted to figure out a way to not only save students money, but also give back to the student organizations and groups that make the 5Cs the PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE GOLDBERG AND NOAH TAUBMAN Mike Goldberg (PZ ‘10) and Noah Taubman (PZ ‘10) are the faces behind ProfessorDibs.com. coolest schools south of Baldy. As Goldberg put it, “Once we graduated and entered the ‘real It’s true what you’ve been hearing around campus: there is a new world,’ we began to realize what a unique place the 5Cs really are. We professor in town, and he calls himself “Professor Dibs.” He’s cutthroat have the opportunity to build something that will allow students to not and innovative. But most importantly, he’s cheap. ProfessorDibs.com is only save money, but also individually make a huge impact right here in the newest place for 5C students to find deals like $4 movie tickets, 50 our community. We want to give students the platform to make change.” percent off frozen yogurt, luxurious massages, rock climbing and fine But how do great deals help the community? A portion of every “date night” dining all around Claremont. But what you don’t know coupon purchased on ProfessorDibs.com goes right back to a student about the man behind the tie is sure to amaze you. group or community organization working to make a positive impact in ProfessorDibs was created by two fun-loving Claremont College Claremont and other local communities. That means students, parents, alumni eager to serve the students of their alma mater. They wanted to faculty, staff and alumni can make change by simply saving money with make college life a little easier on the wallets of their former classmates, ProfessorDibs. It’s about making it easy (and affordable) to help your so they decided to go out and find the best deals in town. Disguising fellow classmates pursue their passions, whether it be vtutoring youth in their good deeds behind the pseudonym of ProfessorDibs, 2010 our neighborhoods, volunteering or singing. Claremont grads Mike Goldberg and Noah Taubman (pictured), ate at For more information or job opportunities, visit www.ProfessorDibs. every restaurant and stopped by every store. One of them, whose name com.

Make a Deal with Professor Dibs

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

2 • News Writing Center Searching for Space on the Scripps Campus Megan Petersen ’15 Copy Editor

The Writing Center at Scripps College has good news and bad news. The good news is that it has held more tutoring sessions—160 sessions since its opening on Sept. 5—than any year in recent memory. The bad news is that the Writing Center is currently housed in its smallest space in four years. The Writing Center used to be housed in Balch Hall before being moved to the FrankelRoutt annex. When the Student Union opened last October, the Student Activities and Residential Life Office (SARLO) moved to the Frankel-Routt annex and The Writing Center moved to the Humanities Building. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the Writing Center was able to use the classroom of Humanities 121 when classes weren’t in session. This year, the Writing Center mainly uses Humanities 230—formerly the slide library—and occasionally makes use of Humanities 121 during non-class hours when Humanities 230 gets too busy. Veteran tutor Natalie Butterfield (’12) explained the Writing Center’s predicament: One of the Writing Center’s two spaces—Humanities room 121—is on the first floor. Since this space is also used for holding classes in the Humanities Building, the downstairs classroom can only be used when class isn’t being held there. Most of the tutoring goes on upstairs in Humanities 230, which was originally designed to be offices and is divided into two rooms. The smaller room can fit one tutoring session comfortably, and the larger one can fit

two or three. Voices echo in both rooms, making it difficult for students to concentrate and hear their tutors if more than a few students show up at once. Staff meetings are impossible in this small space, since the Writing Center currently employs 12 student tutors. Room 230 is also too small for Writing Department faculty meetings. Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Writing Center Supervisor Glenn Simshaw said that sharing the larger space of the downstairs classroom is particularly disappointing. “We wanted to hold grammar workshops [and other events] during lunch, but class is being held there during that time.” Both Butterfield and Professor Simshaw acknowledged that space across campus has been stretched thin by recent increases in faculty and students. “I don’t feel like we’ve been singled out,” Butterfield said. But Butterfield still feels that the Writing Center ought to receive more attention. She said that, in her experience, Scripps professors—with the exception of most first year classes—rarely urge students to visit the Writing Center. Butterfield also said that she thinks the Writing Center ought to be a more integral part of the College. “I think [the move from Frankel-Routt to Humanities] says something about the priorities on campus.” Elisabeth Pfeiffer (’15) voiced similar sentiments. “It’s important to have activities, but I

SAS Column: On SOAR, Green Bikes and Scripps’s Alcohol Policy Francesca Simmons ’14 SAS Media Relations Chair

Hey, Scripps! SAS has been doing a lot this semester, and we’re excited to let you know just what we’ve been working on. One of the first programs SAS was involved with this semester was the inaugural Scripps Orientation Activity Retreat (SOAR) for the Class of 2015. SAS donated over $5,000 to the program, which gave first-years the opportunity to build community while exploring the greater Los Angeles area. SOAR was a great success, and SAS can’t wait to see how this amazing program evolves. In this past month SAS has launched two innovative programs: the SAS Green Bike Program and the Peer Advocate Program. Through the Green Bike Program, SAS teamed up with the Tiernan Field House in establishing the Scripps Bike Shop. The Bike Shop held a bike raffle this month, loaning 40 bikes to Scripps students for the Fall semester. Scripps students can bring their bikes to the Bike Shop during open hours for maintenance, and there are Work Study, NonWork Study and volunteer opportunities available. The Peer Advocate Program, headed by

Judicial and Academic Chair Leah Nunke (’12), aims to educate Scripps students about the judicial processes on campus; peer advocates are on campus to answer any SAS question students might have. The first BeHeard Forum is coming up soon! The forum will be on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. in the Student Union. The first BeHeard Forum will be about the College’s alcohol policy. Dean Lee and SAS representatives will be there to listen to your concerns, comments and suggestions about the new policy. A student-run task force will be created to overhaul the current policy, and changes are happening soon and fast. There will be refreshments (mocktails!) and Motley coupons, so come out and let your voice BeHeard! Finally, some of you may have heard the whispers around campus, and SAS is working with other leaders at Scripps to turn those whispers into conversations. SAS Multicultural Relations Chair Szeyin Lee (’14) has been working with SCORE leadership to facilitate a discussion between the students, staff and administration about diversity and sensitivity on campus. SAS and SCORE leaders hope that these discussions will develop and lead to actions that will make a tangible change on campus. Look out for these developments, and SAS will be sure to keep you updated!

PHOTO BY KATE PLUTH

think writing is important too.” Pfeiffer said that she managed to go to the Writing Center on a slower day and therefore had a great experience, but a friend who went in to see a tutor on one of the Writing Center’s busier days had to be told to come back later. This problem, Pfeiffer said, might be solved with more tutors, longer hours for students to get in to see the tutors and a space more conducive to writing. But for now, the Writing Center is still opening its doors for students. “This is still a valuable service no matter where we do it,” said Professor Simshaw. The Writing Center is located in Humanities 230 and is open Monday through Thursday from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

ELLEN BROWNING SCRIPPS CONTINUED FROM PG 1 Sahak said that Ellen didn’t see her generosity as a handout. “She believed she was investing in the betterment of humankind.” Toward the end of Ellen’s life there was a great push for the advancement of women across the country. Ellen was, of course, right at the forefront of this movement. “She really thought women were capable of saving the world,” said Sahak. Because Ellen was such a prominent figure in the advancement of women and women’s education, she was contacted when Pomona College decided it was time to realize James Blaisdell’s plan for a consortium in Claremont. In addition to contributing financial support for the foundation of a women’s college in the Claremont Consortium, Ellen was deeply involved in the formation of that institution. Ellen and her ideas were an integral part of the college for the first few decades. Ellen, who died on Aug. 3, 1932, has been increasingly recognized and celebrated in recent years. “She’s a role model to all the girls [at Scripps],” Sarah Han (‘15) said. “She inspires a spirit of independence and uniqueness.” If Ellen could see where her school is today, Robles said, “I think she would be proud.” Ellen’s birthday events are being coordinated through Communication and Marketing, the Alumnae Association, the Denison Library and the Office of the President.

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

4 • Opinions & Editorials

Scripps College Problem #253:

The Last Cookie on the Tray By Earnest Eleanor Staff Satirist

Last week, like any other Scrippsie, I walked into Malott Commons for dinner after a long day of classes, homework and studying. I put my bag down, found my friends, waited patiently in line for my plate (okay, two plates) of food and tried to untangle my brain after a couple of solid hours in the library. I enjoyed my meal (slightly less than I’d enjoyed last year’s meals at Malott) but I was really just biding my time for those fresh Scripps cookies. I know they’re not really homemade, but I pretend those Otis Spunkmeyer cookies are homemade too, and those don’t come out of an oven right in front of me. They taste better that way. I waited patiently in line, tapping my foot as the smell of fresh cookies tormented me from my abject position near the back of the line. I stood on my tiptoes to see to the front of the line, and caught a glimpse of that lovely tray of cookies…slowly disappearing. I watched in disbelief as other dining hall patrons took two, even three cookies! I was stuck in the back of the line…cookie-less. And devastated. I won’t lie: I got discouraged. I went back to my table, sat down with my friends and rallied my spirits as I waited for the line to die down a little. This was my tragic mistake. By the time I got back to the tray, I was greeted by a lone cookie. A rejected, slightly misshapen little fellow, but a Scripps cookie nonetheless. I took the sad little cookie and got some milk so I could savor my

victory. Upon my triumphant return to my table, I gave that freshly baked cookie a once-over. Yeah, I’ve waited all day for your deliciousness, Scripps Cookie. I’m coming for you. I bit into that cookie, expecting gooey chocolate heaven. Instead, my mouth met only bitter (okay, still sweet…) disappointment. That tragic mistake of waiting for the line to die down had caught up with me: I had waited too long. My freshly baked cookie had gone from gooey deliciousness to hard and crunchy disappointment in the 10 minutes I had left it waiting on that tray. I looked to my friend for comfort in my defeat, but she shook her head sadly. “That’s what happens when you take the last cookie on the tray,” she sagely intoned. I told myself not to let the less-than-gooey cookie ruin my evening. I tried to think of other devastating fates I could be facing. There were worse fates out there, certainly. But I couldn’t get the phantom of that gooey chocolate chip cookie out of my mind. How am I supposed to concentrate on my studies, let alone find the free time to worry about the transition to democracy in India from British Colonial rule, when all I can think about is how I missed out on enjoying my soft, fresh chocolate chip cookie at dinner? It’s a tough life at Scripps. It really is.

Let’s Get NAKED Scripps, it’s time we had The Talk. You’re 18 years old (or is it 85? I never can seem to keep straight whether I’m talking to first-years or to the college as an institution…). You’re a mature women’s college and I know you’ve done quite a bit of growing these past few years. Those new elm trees are still a bit awkward, I know. And I’m sure you’re not enjoying the cramps as students flow through your beautifully-manicured campus, with their cravings for Writing Centers and Student Unions making you feel like your insides are all moving around. Growing up is a process. It’s all part of being a vibrant young women’s college, I swear. You’ve even started recognizing your not-entirely-female student body as such, shifting your pronoun usage on official documents and diplomas. I’m proud of you, Scripps. You’ve shown great maturity, and I’m proud to have adopted you. We all are. Setting aside my conceit of addressing the college as a body, I’d like to address you, dear reader. Let’s face it: Scripps is obsessed with sex. Defining Scripps as a “women’s college” requires us to constantly confront what it means to be a woman. And what it means to be a woman attending college. And what it means to interact with fellow college students who may or may not also be attending a women’s college. It means, in short, that we are always thinking about sex. Sex in gender identities, sex in platonic interactions, sex in non-platonic interactions, sex in our more *ahem* private actions…

I’m no prude. And I don’t want you to be one either. Let’s talk about sex. Openly. (And by “openly” I mean, of course, using catchy pseudonyms so nobody gets embarrassed.) I’m sure you have some questions for me. Sexual questions. Sex is messy. Often literally. And it helps to have someone out there to write to, someone who’ll give you honest, factually-grounded advice. I am that someone. I, your Slutty Health Expert, am your sounding board for any sexual issues you’d like addressed. It’s my pleasure—nay, my duty—to address your sexual questions. Long distance relationship stressing you out? Sadly single? Happily hooking up? Feminist? Slut? Prude? Queefy? Just…sexually confused? Tell your Slutty Health Expert about it. I want to know what Scripps students want to know about sex. I want to know what the community at large wants to know from a sexuallyempowered Scripps woman. Gender or verb, when it comes to sex, your Slutty Health Expert is book-smart on both. (And somewhat street-smart. Believe it or not, the Slutty Health Expert is something of a slut. Hence the pseudonym.) From the bottom of my Slutty, Healthy, Sexy Scrippsie heart, welcome to my sex column. I LOVE YOU. -SHE

Write SHE: Scripps Box #797 (no stamp required for intercampus mail!) E-mail SHE: editor.scrippsvoice@gmail.com or scrippsvoice@gmail.com (SHE encourages you to make the subject “SEXXX” or something. SHE also promises to ignore the email address from which your sexy emails are sent and assume everyone’s writing on behalf of their sexuallyawkward friends)

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

Opinions & Editorials • 5

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87. Hamlet famously pondered whether or not he should continue to do this 89. punny response to service at 25-down 90. Douglas Adams imagined a restaurant at the end of it

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Across 5. George Washington Carver’s favorite type of butter? 6. fro-__ 8. preoccupation of Earnest Eleanor (see page 4) 15. Virginia Woolf essay “Thoughts __ Peace in an Air Raid” 16. author of “The Cask of Amontillado” 17. Oct. 19th’s will honor Ellen Browning Scripps (see page 1) 18. ____ Bell 20. something to do with bones of Englishmen? (Fe Fi Fo Fum) 21. “LESS HAMAS MORE ______” (see page 8) 23. starch-digesting enzyme 24. mushroom pileus, less technically 26. completely unlike an apple? 27. what you shoulda put on it if you liked it, according to Beyonce 28. surprisingly vegan sandwich cookies 29. Jay-Z and Kanye West implore you to Watch it 33. tofu alternative 36. Nazi officers 38.__ mein 39. flow’s antagonist? 40. growth on an old potato 41. early 2000s’ euphemism for side to enjoy with 4-down 46. “___ taught me,” Blame Game refrain

47. their logo may be familiar if you’re prone to computer-game-based procrastination 49. 20 is a healthy one 50. nasally English rockers behind “Champagne Supernova” 52. tuna is chicken of this 53. to put down 56. Old dog that needed to be shot 58. B-side on The Shins’ “Phantom Limb” single, “Nothing __ All” 59. French pineapple 61. with 6-down, emblem of wholeness 63. quantity of pancakes 64. a shark is a big one 65. soup server 66. types of EICs The Scripps Voice has had for the past few years 67. you might enjoy a hearty draught of it Wednesday nights, if you’re over 21 69. god of wine 71. Demetri Martin’s Parrier Award-winning one man show, “__ I…” 74. pie a this mode is creamier than plain pie 75. member of all-female, flower-loving colony 76. irrationally delicious-sounding number 77. “that ______ one,” creatively named smoothie from 25-down 82. origins of maple syrup 85. venison’s mommy? 86. your chances of justifying a 4-down in your healthy diet?

Down 1. New sitcom protagonist who sings too much (see page 9) 2. 1201 Foothill Blvd, place to get 63-across 3. proofreading mark for insertion 4. topping for Hypocrite 6. see 61-across 7. spherical gobbler pursued by ghosts 9. author of 60-down 10. Popeye’s favorite type of leaf ? 11. word-nerd’s go-to initialism 12. Freud’s phallic theories fit well in this Hall 13. southern Hawaiian name 14. juice in a Bloody Mary 18. SNL group that “Threw it on the Ground” 19. where to look for I-Place 22. 7-__ 25. brick-walled haven for the caffeinated 30. what Ryan started, in the second season of The Office 31. promised never to let go of Jack shortly before letting his corpse drift away 32. Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden won’t join fellow Europeans in using this 34. tool used to prepare soil for crop 35. if you stare long into one it’ll also stare into you, according to Nietzche 37. Duchess’s advice to Alice, “be what you ____ to be” 39. what “cheez” from a can is 42. brand of melty vegan cheese 43. The __________ of the Ring 44. French winter 45. hosted Sunday night’s bagel snack 48. goes with toast 51. student-run organic eatery at Pitzer 54. what a kidney is for blood 55. from the Nahuatl word for testicle 57. preternatural lover of Reese’s Pieces 60. Booker Prize winning debut novel, The God of _____ Things 62. Harry Potter is not _____, according to his friends in A Very Potter Musical 64. used to punch 66. corn on the ___ 68. it might be bald, golden or harpy 70. were you ever a blastocyst? 72. Scripps College term for freshmen: _____ years 73. gold _____ ribbon ice cream 78. punny word in 89-across, spelled less punnily 79. “___ them eat cake” 80. picnic invaders 81. Aladdin’s only friend 83. past tense version of penultimate word in this week’s theme 84. lemons and other acidic fruits have a low number on this scale of Hydrogen ion concentration 88. __ route, what Scripps is to CMC and Mudd’s dining halls

This could be You! Want to place an ad in our paper? Contact scrippsvoice@gmail.com for more information!

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

Arts & Entertainment • 9 Fall TV: Why We’re Watching, Why We’re Not Watching Kelsey Lubetich ’12

Charlotte Rosenfield ‘15

Contributing Writer

Design Editor

Charlie’s Angels

The New Girl

This reboot of the classic 1976-1981 series is more modern than the movies we all loved in our teens. (Incidentally, Drew Barrymore is one of the show’s producers.) It’s just like all the other Charlie’s Angels: beautiful women kicking butt and taking names. Why we’re watching: Since we’ve never seen the original series, whatever subtle nods to the past that the show is doing—or not doing even though they should be—are going straight over our heads. But it’s an enjoyable new spin on the franchise nevertheless. The Angels are fashionable women from different backgrounds, all struggling to do good in a world full of wrong. If you get tired of watching the Angels, try checking out Bosley. He is not an old man in this version. Also keep your eyes peeled for the character of Ray Goodson (Isaiah Mustafa, aka the Old Spice Man), the ex-fiance of Kate (Annie Ilonzeh). Hopefully he’ll stick around past the second episode. Charlie’s Angels airs on ABC, Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is down on her luck and has to find a new apartment after breaking up with her boyfriend. She moves in with three guys who try to help her with her dating problems and tone down her quirkiness so that she seems like a more normal person. Why we’re watching: The dialogue is funny, the guys seem likeable and we don’t know where the characters’ relationships are going yet. The only annoying aspect is that a girl like Deschanel would never have a problem trying to find a guy. Also, Jess sings. A lot. Still, we’re interested in seeing how things turn out. The New Girl airs on FOX, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

The Amazing Race

Survivor is back, with the recycled Redemption Island twist once again. For the 23rd season, two former contestants—Benjamin “Coach” Wade and Ozzy Lustin—return for their third goes in the Survivor tribe. Tribes have the same goals as always: work together and win challenges, or be voted out of the tribe. Why we’re watching: This season, like the many others before it, should be filled with social snafus. Both Coach and Ozzy have proffered their excuses for social game-play in the past, and we’re hoping they haven’t changed a bit. New players include Survivor fanatic John Cochran and the charming Christine Markoski, who made her first impression by calling the returning players “temporary.” And let’s not forget Brandon Hantz, nephew—and self-proclaimed opposite—of Survivor supervillain Russell Hantz. We should just give the $1 million to whoever decided to put all of these crazies on an island together. Survivor airs on CBS, Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

Pan Am

2 Broke Girls 2 Broke Girls is the story of… two broke girls (way to be creative with your show names, CBS) who are working as waitresses while saving money to start a cupcake business. Max (the fabulous Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) are from different worlds: Max is street-smart and has been taking care of herself her whole life while Caroline is a rich girl who has recently lost all of her money. Why we’re watching: The pilot episode had us laughing within the first few minutes with its snappy lines. Dennings is perfect for her smart workinggirl role. We don’t like the savings tally at the end of every episode, but hopefully the show can move past its cupcake shop dreams to become a humorous exploration of the relationship between these two women who have been thrown together and forced to make things work. 2 Broke Girls airs on CBS, Mondays at 8:30 p.m.

Survivor: South Pacific

Host Phil Keoghan kicks off the 19th season of The Amazing Race in the foothills of Los Angeles, beginning the $1 million race around the world. Eleven teams will traverse countries across the globe, gathering clues and completing challenges. For each of the 12 legs of the race, the last team to check in will be eliminated. Why we’re watching: This season promises new challenges and adventures, as well as new destinations. Teams will explore places like Indonesia, Malawi, Belgium and Denmark. The fabulous lineup of teams doesn’t exactly hurt the show’s chances at another Emmy, either. Some of the teams to watch out for this season: father-and-son adventurers Laurence and Zac, Olympic snowboarders Tommy and Andy and ex-NFL star Marcus Pollard and his wife Amani. And who can forget to mention the team of former Survivor winners Jenna and Ethan? (Can you say CBS incest, anyone?) It’s going to be one interesting trip. The Amazing Race airs on CBS, Sundays at 8 p.m.

Interested in flight attendants of the ’60s? Then Pan Am is the show for you. The show explores the lives of the beautiful flight attendants (notably, Christina Ricci) for which Pan American Airlines was known. In so doing, the show delves into how they weren’t as perfect as they appeared. Why we’re not watching: The pilot episode did not catch our interest (though the pilot himself certainly caught our eyes…), and snagging viewers is what a pilot is all about. There are four main flight attendants on the show, but none of their stories made us care or feel the need to learn more. Also, we can only endure so many shots of badly CGed airplanes. Pan Am airs on ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m. Photos by (clockwise from top): sharetv.net, smallscreenscoop.com, aceshowbiz.com, tvshowsforall.com, thetvaddict.com, molempire.com

October 6, 2011• The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue One

6 • Features

Features • 7 HOW IMPORTANT IS

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After reading Lori Bettinson-Varga’s email regarding the U.S. News and World Report ranking for Scripps College, I As a student who just graduated from a “top ranking” high school, I am well aware of just how pervasive stellar was slightly upset. I thought I could express my disappointment in an article for The Scripps Voice that explained why college rankings play into 12th graders’ college decisions. Nowadays, instead of research, a generic number assigned college rankings matter and why the Scripps community should care. But after talking to Vice President of Enrollto a university seems to be rapidly becoming the biggest factor in college lists. Even worse, students have started to ment Victoria Romero, I realized how insignificant these rankings are. I even felt ashamed for buying into exactly what apply to these “top tier” colleges simply because they are “top tier.” magazines like U.S. News and World Report wanted me to buy into: the significance of a number. A few weeks ago, we received an email explaining our drop to 29th in the yearly U.S. News and World Rankings for According to Romero, whether or not students choose liberal arts colleges like best liberal arts colleges. While we definitely will be bitter about our lowered Scripps all depends on the fit of the school. “When students look at small liberal ranking, we should also remember that Scripps has continued to maintain its “There are two key elements that contributed to our arts colleges, the fit becomes really important. Rankings may be a starting point, but academic standing as well as its distinct culture and traditions. Prospective stuultimately when we ask applicants why they are applying to Scripps, no one answers dents who express interest through thorough research will realize that a single lower ranking. The first was our underperformance in with the ranking,” Romero said. number cannot determine their home for the next four years. predicted graduation rate for the Fall 2004 While the most-read issue of U.S. News and World Report is the “College Issue,” I usually follow any type of ranking with one cynical question: “On what the admissions team here at Scripps works hard to focus on aspects of Scripps that basis?” We should not blindly believe in a rank without clearly understanding cohort. [...] In addition, there was an error in our cannot be understood by the U.S. News and World Report profile—for example, the why it was given a particular standing. U.S. News and World Report claims that Common Data Set that was transmitted to U.S. traditions and sense of community that Scripps has to offer its students. their college rankings are heavily based on objective data such as graduation rate, “If we are doing our job right and how we message information to families, nothselectivity and courses offered. Yes, these factors should be highly weighted in News and World Report: the percentage of ing has changed,” said Romero. Scripps is still the same institution it was a year ago. any prospective applicant’s mind; however, such facts and figures tend to clog students of the Fall 2010 cohort who graduated in The ranking indicates that Scripps is a different place, but this is not true. our reasoning capabilities to the point where we forget to consider the college We all know students and families who base their college choice off rankings, but subjectively. the top 10% of their high school class, as reported are these the types of students we want here at Scripps? Students who care about a Each college caters to a different type of mentality, and prospective students by their high schools, is not 39% as listed, but is, in ranking that was calculated by a formula? No, and I don’t believe anyone at Scripps can never truly choose a college until they spend some time researching the life, would enjoy the company of these students either. culture and academic strengths of each school they apply to. Last year, after fact, 70%. Rankings are insignificant and do nothing to embody the values of a particular turning a blind eye to college rankings, I realized that there was no other school school. The ranking Scripps received this year should not negatively impact the - Lori Bettison-Varga, President that offered a Career Planning and Resource center that was quite as prominent number of applicants. If prospective students and families are not able to see the and available to students as our center at Scripps. No other college offered me wonderful opportunities that Scripps has to offer, if they only see its lowered rank an interdisciplinary science course like AISS. No other staff member rememthen it is simply their loss. bered me half a year after my interview like Admission Counselor Tina Brooks did. My praise continued well beyond this list and added to the comfort and support I found at Scripps each time I visited campus. I cannot fault the college ranking system for trying its best to present students with an unbiased ordering of the best schools in the U.S. However, the right approach to college rankings should be more specific to a student’s interests. There is no doubt that Scripps College caters to women with specific mentalities. While we are all unique, the reasons and ambitions that have guided us toward Scripps are very similar; this is what makes Scripps College a standout Washington Monthly (liberal arts colleges) USNWR (liberal arts colleges) Forbes (colleges) campus. Our drop in ranking may be difficult for us to comprehend, but let’s remember that the students who have 2010 174 23 118 done their thorough research and find themselves at home at Scripps College will be the ones who ultimately flourish in Scripps’s challenging yet nurturing atmosphere. As for high school seniors, it is critical that they understand the 2011 118 29 118 importance that fit and culture play into their college decisions before they find themselves trapped at a “top tier” college that may never feel like home.

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October 6, 2011 The Scripps Voice Volume XV Issue One