February 16, 2012 by The Scripps Voice

2 • News The Scripps Voice Editors-in-Chief Vritti Goel Lauren Prince Adviser Sam Haynes Design Editors Nancy Herrera Liz Lyon Charlotte Rosenfield Senior Copy Editor Tori Mirsadjadi Copy Editors Megan Petersen Kate Pluth Section Heads Alissa Fang Taylor Healy Michelle Nagler Web Assistant Meredith Kertzman Business Manager Ina Herlihy

Ben Stein: Where Humor Meets Economics

By Lauren Prince ‘14 & Ellie Rudee ‘14 Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

When Ben Stein entered Denison Library on Thursday, he was greeted by an eager group of Scripps students. After walking around the room and personally shaking each student’s hand, he sat down, pulled out a phone and silenced it. Then, he reached into his pocket again and pulled out a second phone. He started sharing that he has more than one phone because he likes to take videos on his phone but they can’t be transferred from the phones, so he just keeps buying more. The students started laughing. He then reached into his jacket again (a different pocket) and took a third phone… and then a fourth. Stein, with a relentless sense of humor and the ability to talk for hours on end, came to Scripps College on Feb. 9 as part of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Public Affairs Program speaker series. Although known famously as the boring economics teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Stein was a speechwriter for Nixon and Ford, a lawyer, professor and a columnist. Stein mentioned his frustration that he spent 10 minutes shooting for Ferris Bueller and it changed his life. All his hard work researching financial fraud has become invisible because that movie role outshines his other achievements. Stein also took questions, and was asked about welfare, education and immigration. Stein argues welfare is good for health benefits, but not for unemployment. Stein created the first universal health care package with Nixon, and believes that all Americans should have access to health care, but he also believes that in the employment sector, the welfare system fosters idleness and is not an adequate use of government resources and funding. Stein’s views on education were

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT HUTAFF

Ben Stein shakes Ambika Bist’s (‘15) hand inside Denison Library. particularly controversial, both in the discussion and again in the lecture, because he believes that the amount of money spent on a student doesn’t correlate with a student’s performance. He believes that students in underprivileged neighborhoods can go to college if they want to, but concedes that it might require more work for those students to suceed than it would for a wealthier student. Stein believes there is no one solution to the immigration problem. However, he does not think the proper thing to do is to send the immigrants back to their respective countries. Stein said that the country needs both the low and high skilled immigrant workers in the United States. “America can still absorb more people,” he said. Stein also commented that he’s frustrated that “law is being used to bring people down, not allow them the rights they deserve.” When asked about his thoughts on the current GOP candidates, Stein said he likes Santorum for President, but would be okay with Romney. He also noted that the Republican Party is ready for a female leader, and that he originally wanted Michele Bachmann

to be president. Students’ reactions to Stein’s visit were mixed. Overall, students liked him as a person and were grateful for his enthusiasm while meeting all the students at the dinner and discussion. Students disliked that his lecture was apolitical. Students who spoke with him one-on-one gleaned that he equates intelligence with knowledge about history, economics and law. “I found parts of his speech to be problematic, but as a person he was funny and endearing,” said Emily O’Brien (‘12). One of Stein’s takeaway points during the lecture was the importance of work. He said that we have a shortage of labor along with a labor force that doesn’t want to work. However, to Stein, work connects individuals to reality and provides meaning and experience in one’s life. Stein’s advice for students includes making connections and determining what one believes through experience rather than through the media. Stein is also big on humor: “If you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re missing the funniest joke there is.”

Transfer Students Join Scripps Community

By Megan Petersen ‘15 Copy Editor

Printer Gardena Valley Press Comments and letters can be sent to Scripps College The Scripps Voice, 1030 Columbia Ave, Box 892, Claremont, CA, 91711. You can also email The Scripps Voice at scrippsvoice@gmail.com or visit our website at voice. scrippscollege.edu. If you want to contribute to The Scripps Voice send your articles or photos to editor.scrippsvoice@gmail. com. The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.

Scripps College welcomed eight new transfer students this spring. The admissions office received 20 transfer applications this semester, of which 13 were admitted, and nine enrolled. According to Scripps Admissions Office Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator Kristina Brooks, one student deferred for personal reasons. Last fall, Scripps was unable to admit any transfer applicants due to a lack of space, Brooks said in her Feb. 9 e-mail on the matter. “In the fall [of 2011], we had 144 applications and could not admit any, so we were very happy to admit a number of highly qualified students this spring.” First-year transfer Kaitlin Morris is very happy to be here, too. “It’s been so much easier to make friends than I thought,” she said. “No one’s been sassy to me because I’m a transfer.” Morris’s older sister Emily is a junior at Scripps, which has also made Kaitlin’s transition easier, because Emily has helped introduce her to friends.

Kaitlin was wait-listed when she applied to Scripps her senior year of high school. She started last fall at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., but wasn’t happy with social life there. Kaitlin said the transfer application to Scripps was easier, but asking Occidental professors to write recommendations for her made for some awkward conversations. Kaitlin, who is originally from Newport Beach, Calif., was waived out of Core I, is in Core II right now, and will take Core III next fall. She is also currently taking Writing 50. She’s considering a minor-major or dual major combination of economics and European studies. Transfer Team Leader Nadia Danilovich (’12) said that she feels that the transfer students are adjusting well. “Nobody’s come to me saying that they haven’t made friends yet,” said Danilovich. Two more peer mentors, both juniors and previous peer mentors, were added to accommodate the transfers, and Danilovich has added two transfers to

her existing peer mentor group. She said that one of her biggest jobs as a peer mentor to transfer students is to make sure they’re making friends and signing up for activities. This spring, the admissions office received fewer applications than normal, while more students were admitted than the average. Brooks said Scripps receives an average of 25 completed transfer applications in the spring, and about nine applicants are admitted, making for a 39 percent acceptance rate. The average yield of those admitted, said Brooks, is six. Brooks said transfer students’ college grades are weighed more heavily than their high school grades during consideration. “We also consider what they will contribute to the campus community.” All new transfers are first years or sophomores. Danilovich said that all but three of the eight transfers are living on campus. Two have an apartment at Brighton Park north of the colleges, but pay Scripps room and board, and one found her own housing.

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

News • 3 MONEY WISE WOMEN MENTORS Q&A Considering and Financing Graduate School

By Ina Herlihy ’14 Business Manager

Q: What are some tips for those considering graduate school? A: Interview at least three respected people in your field. Also,

Q: What are loan options? A: Loans are based on need, and must be repaid. Federal loans include

interview people who dropped out of the degree program. Some people enroll in a PhD program but graduate with a master’s degree instead. Consider how attending graduate school will benefit your career. Skills and experience may matter more than the certification or higher degree. Estimate how much you expect to earn once you complete your education Make sure that the money you spend on your education is invested wisely. Don’t seek a credential when the up-front cost is more than a year’s starting salary in the field. Consider working first.

the Stafford Loan and Federal Perkins Loan. Both are eligible for consolidation, meaning that they can combine to one big loan with one monthly payment.Private loans from banks can be more expensive, coming with a higher interest rate.

Q: What are reasons to go to graduate or professional school? A: It opens up career opportunities. Some careers require further

Q: What is an example of the debt-to-income ratio? A: You earn $5,000 each month in gross income, and a yearly bonus nets

education. You may want to enhance your education and pursue research opportunities. You may have a higher potential for future promotion.

Q: What are reasons NOT to go to graduate school? A: Graduate school enables the “professional student” mindset. Do not continue your education just to avoid entering the real world. It may be stressful and take anywhere between two to seven years. This is a time when many consider marrying, purchasing a house and deciding when/ if to have children. Attending graduate school can increase personal debt and defer the time that you begin to make an income to pay for these future costs. There is no guarantee of a higher salary, and the return on investment may be slow.

Q: What is the difference between an academic and a professional graduate degree? A: Academic graduate programs may offer positions as a teaching or research assistant. However, many do not have a job waiting after graduation. Graduates may encounter a difficult time finding jobs outside of teaching or research, and many of these jobs are very competitive. Although professional graduate students may have to take on massive amounts of debt via student loans, they generally earn more after graduation.

Q: What makes financial aid different at the graduate level than at the undergraduate level? A: At the graduate level, financial aid is more merit based than need based. Aid is often granted by academic departments rather than by the Financial Aid Office.

Q: What is a debt-to-income ratio? A: Divide your monthly minimum debt payments (including mortgage or rent) by your monthly gross income. You should only borrow what you can afford.

you $500 a month. Your total monthly income is $5,500. You pay $200 a month in student loans, $500 in rent, $150 on a car payment and $150 on your credit cards and other expenses. Your total monthly debt payments are $1,000. $1,000 (debt) divided by $5,500 (income) = a ratio of 18.2 percent.

Q: What are sources of funds? A: Graduate assistantships and research/grant positions. The government, corporations and private organizations all sponsor scholarships and grants. Many companies offer employer education programs. It is important to ask about this benefit when accepting a job offer. Even though you may not be considering attending graduate school now, you may later. Ask your family about financing your degree.

Q: What are tips for applying for financial aid? A: Pay all your ongoing bills on time. Avoid delinquency or default. Apply for every financial aid program, scholarship and grant available to you. You have nothing to lose by submitting many applications. Begin the financial aid process early. Some funds are awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Have more questions? Please email us at MWWM@scrippscollege.edu

Andrea’s Voice: Look Carefully, Judge Kindly By Charlotte Rosenfield ‘15 Design Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF “ANDREA’S VOICE”

Andrea’s poems, artwork and thoughts were integrated into the serious discussion about dealing with eating disorders

It’s hard to deny the profound impact the Smeltzer family has had on the students of Pitzer, especially as the Smeltzer parents embraced and chatted with dozens of students before giving their presentation for the Andrea’s Voice Foundation last Wednesday. Co-founders of the Andrea’s Voice Foundation Tom and Doris Smeltzer came to speak to the students of Claremont about Andrea Smeltzer, the Smeltzers’ youngest daughter and a former Pitzer student. While at Pitzer, Andrea was awarded the prestigious Fletcher Jones Scholarship, worked as a dorm hall Resident Assistant and Mentor, majored in International Business and Politics, and “looked forward to saving the world,” Doris said. During her first year at Pitzer, Andrea developed bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging in order to lose, or simply maintain, weight. Doris explained that while they noticed many of Andrea’s first signs, which included a confession to purging over the phone, “We had no idea how serious Andrea’s case was.” On June 16, 1999, Andrea’s heart stopped and she passed away in her sleep from an electrolyte imbalance caused by her bulimia. Since Andrea’s death, Tom and Doris have created various educational eating disorder prevention presentations, presenting at hundreds of universities, conferences and organizations nationwide and internationally. In early 2006, Tom and Doris founded the non-profit Andrea’s Voice Foundation to continue their outreach and to provide the organizational support of their mission. The Smeltzers’ presentation, along with

educating the entire audience on the risk factors and symptoms of eating disorders, specifically outlined a clear spectrum of eating disorder severity. According to the Smeltzers’ presentation, “The continuum model asks not whether or not a person has a disease, but rather how much of it they have. Researchers present evidence that people who diet at a ‘normal’ level may become more severe dieters, who often progress to having partial symptoms. And a number of those diagnosed as partial go on to develop full-blown eating disorders.” Andrea made the progression from casual dieter to physically and emotionally “ill” in less than six months. It’s difficult to imagine what Andrea must have felt throughout her struggle now that she is gone. Fortunately, during the last years of her life, Andrea wrote poems, journals and letters, preserving in her words a way for all of us to understand Andrea’s perspective on herself. Tom Smeltzer read some of Andrea’s words during the presentation. Through this recital of Tom’s daughter’s words, the audience heard her “voice.” We learned that Andrea “really wanted some one to want [her]” and felt that she needed “to be more disciplined about exercise.” By allowing Andrea’s words to explain herself and her struggle, Tom and Doris underscored the mental state of someone with an eating disorder, highlighting the severity of the symptoms their presentation had identified. In her own words, and as Andrea’s life has ultimately made clear, “The journey is never so clear as the destination, and the telling is more confusing still.”

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

4 • Opinions & Editorials Is the Sky the Limit? By Emily Jovais ‘13

Confident and Courageous, but Hopeful? By Leah Rosenbaum ‘12

Guest Writer

The holidays are a time when extended family and friends get together to reconnect and catch up—How is the new house? How does Jack feel about the addition of Thomas to the family? After chatting about my semester abroad in Argentina, the most frequent question I received this December was no longer “How are you liking college?” Instead, the question most frequently asked of me had made the unsettling transition to “What do you want to do after college?” As an upperclassman, I have of course given this question much thought through my searching and applying for summer internships. I mull over the numerous internships and jobs I have had—I know what I liked and I know what I didn’t like. I have experience working at a nonprofit, a small five person start-up, and I even dabbled in environmental research. While I have worked or interned every summer beginning my senior year in high school, there are still numerous fields that I have yet to experience. My frustration becomes: without experiencing certain careers even at a distance, how do I know if I will like them? Will large business settings such as that of a consulting firm inspire me or will I find them unfulfilling? Since I was unable to answer my own questions with confidence, I decided to apply for jobs all over the map; from business to nonprofit to government, the sky was the limit. My first rejection letter got me thinking about the predicament in which most of my peers and I find ourselves. When my dad was in college, he majored in chemistry at a public university and he now works in computer science. We are always told that our college majors don’t have to be related to the careers we pursue and more often than not, they are completely unrelated—as is the case with my dad. However, in this economy where jobs are scarce and more competitive than ever, could my dad come out of college today with a chemistry degree and no previous internship experience in computer technology and get a job in this field? If the answer is no, have the doors to other careers outside of which we have studied or worked already been closed? I should qualify that my dad didn’t jump straight to the top of the technology field, or anywhere close for that matter. He started in a basement at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, entering patient data written on index cards into first-generation computers. Slowly but surely, my dad worked his way up the ladder, learning along the way. I still firmly believe I am correct in saying that most job training happens on-site and that very few college degrees provide this kind of training. However, with most industries long past the development stages, how many basements are left out there? Can we truly start from the bottom and work our way up? Today, this process seems to start much higher up than the basement, with the highly competitive “ideal internship” being your ticket into your desired field. It seems that instead of the many rung ladder that my dad experienced, the 21st-century ladder now has only two or three steps, the first one starting halfway up. In many fields today, one is expected to walk through the doors—at 20 years old, mind you—with specific experience and varying technical skills, along with many other qualifications. By no means do I wish to discredit a liberal arts education. I believe that the critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary perspective acquired at a place like Scripps are incredibly valuable. The liberal arts vs. non-liberal arts discussion is not the point of this article, and neither is finding a high-income job, since I know this alone does not lead to happiness. My concern is that, if students don’t have the chance to explore different careers before choosing one, many graduates may be left unsatisfied and unhappy with their choices. I hope that we are given opportunities to dive into new fields, because experience provides us with the only means by which to learn what we are good at, what inspires us and—most importantly—what fulfills us. My advice to my peers? Keep trying. Refuse to be pigeonholed. With the skills we acquire here, I am confident that each and every one of us can thrive in any—and every— career we choose.

“The paramount obligation of a college is to develop in its students the ability to think clearly and independently, and the ability to live confidently, courageously, and hopefully.” -Ellen Browning Scripps Upon reflecting, I can say that my time at Scripps has encouraged me to “think clearly and independently,” to live “confidently, courageously.” What I’m not sure I have gained from my time at Scripps is hope, to me the most critical word in our founder’s well-known quotation. Why is it that Scripps has not made me feel especially hopeful? I’m about to venture out into the real world, and most of the things I’ve been taught about that world are not hopeful. At Scripps and the other Claremont schools, I’ve learned about ongoing, systematic oppression. I’ve learned about ingrained racism, sexism, classism, ethnocentrism and many other -isms. And I’ve learned about all different kinds of privilege (now a dirty word) and how I, simply as a college student, benefit from them. From Core I to my race/ethnic and women’s studies requirements to an anthropology class I happened to audit, I felt overwhelmed by all the nested layers of inequity apparently inherent in our (Capitalist) society. The problems were seemingly endless, and I was discouraged. Upon matriculation, I considered an anthropology or sociology major, thinking that I liked learning about people and how we function in groups. After a few semesters in college, I decided to pursue a math major; it is challenging, it is satisfying, and it is pretty hard to politicize. And the thing is, if there had been some speck of a solution among all those problems, some example of someone doing something to overcome all those -isms, I might have turned my hopelessness into motivation to work for change. Given a few examples of someone successfully addressing these issues, I might have had hope that investing my energy in these areas would yield valuable results. Instead, any potential solutions I asked

about were themselves “unpacked” and discovered to further “problematize” the situation. Programs like Teach for America to aid understaffed school systems? Imperialist. Charter or voucher schools as an affordable alternative to public education? They further entrench selectivity and competition, accepting only talented students or those with involved parents. And while some of these criticisms may be valid, the prevailing attitude was not to seek a solution but to attack any attempt at a solution and reveal its inherent problems. Revealing problems is not a solution. Of course, a comprehensive understanding of the forces involved in any situation can help to form a sustainable, amicable solution. And I’m in no way asking institutions to sugarcoat the serious, pressing issues facing many people today. But because those issues are so serious and pressing, I cannot understand why we would not jump on those programs that do work and study them in an effort to produce similar successes. These problems will not be solved by simply dissecting the myriad layers of interactions underlying them. And they certainly will not be solved by teaching a curriculum that so discourages students as to turn them off to the subjects entirely. Fortunately, I am not completely without hope. Through sources outside of the Claremont schools, I have learned about programs that work. I have learned about organizations successfully addressing the achievement gap and issues related to teen pregnancy. How nice it would have been, though, to have learned of those organizations in the context of an academic discussion, to share them with others and talk about them…It would have been nice to associate those classes I took not only with a sense of seriousness but also with a sense of example, a sense of trial rather than just error and, most importantly, with a sense of hope.

February 16, 2012 • The Scripps Voice •Volume XV •Issue Seven

Opinions & Editorials • 5

Scripps College Problem #29 By Earnest Eleanor Staff Satirist

As we near completion of the first month of our spring semester, professors seem to be under the impression that it is now acceptable to pile on the readings, essays and projects. Fortunately, last week Claremont was forgiving enough give us a few days of sunshine amid an intolerable workload. Unfortunately, our sunshine-filled days seem to have subsided. Hence my surprise when my leisurely stroll to the gym on Friday was met with a shining sun and plenty of people enjoying the sparkling, tiled beauty of the fieldhouse’s pool from their lounge chairs. I promised myself a trip to the pool (with my reading, of course) after a quick workout. An hour and half later, giving off the pungent tropical fumes of Banana Boat sunscreen (safety first!), I was shocked to discover that the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon. I hurried down the stairs inside the gym and then up the stairs to the pool—I don’t understand why the field house doesn’t just

let us go straight out to the pool without the vertical maze of steps—and saw my worst fears confirmed. The only spots left were on the lawn under some trees…I would be confined to the shadowy areas. What good is the pool if you can’t get some sunshine? As I spread my towel on the lawn, I prayed that none of the dew from the grass would soak through. The shadows lengthened as I re-read some Hobbes (a section of reading I’d already been assigned three times since coming to Scripps). Since my dreams of perfect sunsoaked hours by the pool had been dashed, I decided to give an actual dip in the pool a try. Much to my chagrin, I found that the slight warmth found in the water and sunshine gave way to trembling and shivers with the slightest breeze. The water was warm, yes, but it didn’t give me that toasty sun-baked feeling I had craved. It was almost as if the pool was there to cool me off, rather than keep me warm. I regretted the entire trip.

Shivering, I contemplated for the thousandth time the fatal flaw of the Sallie Tiernan Fieldhouse. No Jacuzzi. We have a beautiful gym: new machines, weight room, free classes, resort style pool… need I go on? But let’s be real. How does Scripps expect us to relax our fatigued muscles without a spa? Why should I even try to enjoy that ludicrously expensive pool if I’m just going to be cold once I get out? For now, I guess I’ll have to endure. I cling to my modest hope that, instead of allotting more money toward a new dorm or toward subsidizing our diplomas’ hefty pricetags, our wonderful education provider will channel funds toward a more pressing campus issue: a much-needed revamping of the pool area. If you’re going to tease us with a resort-style pool, Scripps, you need to give us the full resort. Jacuzzi included. It’s a tough life at Scripps, it really is.

The Playful Plateful By Kate Pluth Copy Editor

Union on Yale fills a niche that no other Claremont restaurant does. It tries to embody the latest and greatest of urban, trendy dining, where other local haunts stick to more traditional cuisines or American standards. Unfortunately, though, I have to emphasize the word “tries.” Union on Yale opened on Dec. 12 and is the newest addition to the many parent-worthy restaurants that Claremont boasts. John Solana, proprietor of the Back Abbey (the beloved gastropub also in the Village), shares ownership of the business with his friend and bible-study partner, Mark Perone. Union on Yale’s philosophy is to gather “in union with others.” The menu includes a range of mediumsized plates intended for sharing and tasting a little bit of everything. A bocce ball court is nestled in the outdoor patio, which also encourages camaraderie. This is actually a great

aspect of the spot; just ask a host, sign a liability waiver, and you can play bocce ball to your heart’s content. Fo’ free. Upon entering the place last weekend with some friends, I felt a little overwhelmed by the decor. Seats from an airport terminal, cubist paintings, ‘70s light fixtures, circular boat window, ‘50s vacationstyle bar… No ounce of cohesion. Reading the menu, however, delighted. Someone obviously put thought and care into crafting the each dish. The execution of the dishes was never 100 percent spoton, though. The baby beet salad was wonderfully composed, but I wish they’d used the classic goat cheese pairing as opposed to burrata. I applaud the saucier for the decadent “citrus gastrique” that smothered my crispy pork belly and vegetable hash; that stuff tasted like nuanced drips of heaven. But the braised pork belly

itself was so crispy that I had some difficulty cutting and chewing it. There is one saving grace for Union: the wood-fired pizza. We ordered and devoured their pizza bianca—topped with fresh mozzarella, fontina and black truffle cheese—and every time another pizza passed our table, we drooled like Pavlovian dogs. The crusts are crispy, thin-but-not-toothin, and achieve the perfect amount of char from their wood fire stove. Their toppings are tasteful and fresh, ranging from the timeless margherita to pine nuts, arugula and speck. For the 21-and-over crowd, I have good news and bad news. The good news: the rosemary lemon drop is wonderful, they use Ketel One and other high quality spirits for their well drinks and they don’t water down the drinks. Like our waiter said, “Keep it good, keep it pure.” The bad news: for an establishment that is trying to join the current revival of cocktail culture,

they need a better mixologist. Their fresh apple cocktail is one step above an appletini, and the balance was off on a number of their other cocktails. At least they have a decent beer list, featuring a number of Belgian brews à la Union’s older sibling, the Back Abbey. Bottom line: Plan on spending at least one balmy evening this spring, eating a slice of pizza on their patio while and enjoying some healthy bocce competition. Beyond that, you’re better off heading elsewhere.

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV •Issue Seven

The Breakdown: Overall: 3.5 stars Price range for food: approx $20 per person for a full meal Price range for drinks: $7-10 each Highlights: Wood-fired pizza, bocce ball

6 • Features

Features • 7

SecretS

e g e l l o C s p p i r c S f O

The Secret Life of Scientists: Claremont By Nancy Herrera ‘15 Edition Design Editor Scott Williams His Science: Chemistry His Secret: Early Modern Historian

You’re Doing it Wrong

By Megan Petersen ‘15 Copy Editor

On the first day of Professor Scott Williams’ chemistry lab, students are given three cups. One is filled with liquid nitrogen, the other with dry ice and the last with water. The instructions: figure out something about the materials. Students futz with the substances until they reach an epiphany: if they mix the substances, their relative temperatures can be determined. It is through this type of interrogative, hands-on experiment that Professor Williams demonstrates his pedagogical perspective. “Right now,” said Williams, “we teach science in a linear and top-down way. But that’s not how we do science. The purpose of lab is to use tools and observation to figure out the natural world. We interrogate nature to find out what it’s trying to do.” Williams’ perspective on science stems from his extensive studies of history. He is especially interested in the scientific revolution and its social and cultural impacts. During this time period, according to Williams, the world was changing from being rigid to becoming the fast-paced and constantly changing world we know today. Europe became the dominant center of new scientific knowledge, which in turn facilitated the continent’s development as an imperial power. Said Williams, “Knowledge, which once revolved around the wisdom of thinkers such as Euclid and Aristotle, was questioned and made fundamentally wrong.” Professor Scott Williams guiding his Fresmen Seminar Williams integrates his knowledge of the scientific revolution into his Freshmen Seminar: The Effecting of All students in a discusion about the roles of experts and Things Possible. In this seminar, Williams asks profound amateurs in the refutation of ideas. questions of his students, such as: What do we leave to the individual? How about society? What should be the ideal amount of human rights? By framing the questions in PHOTO BY NANCY HERRERA terms of major revolutions that happened in the 18th and 19th centuries, Professor Williams creates a platform where students are more comfortable answering the questions; they can analyze these eternal questions more deeply because they can distance themselves from the era. Studying history has allowed Williams to change his approach when it comes to research and teaching. He is involved in the Interactive Online Network of Inorganic Chemists (IONiC), an online community dedicated to the improvement of chemistry education. This community has taught Williams that a teacher is meant to be a “trainer of students in skeptical chemistry.” To Williams, IONiC is only the first step toward what he predicts will be the second scientific revolution. “Science is going to become a global endeavor and will be propelled by the Internet, especially with Web 2.0 and its capacity for social computing,” said Williams. “With all of these countries that are now powerful, such as India and China, we are going to have a much larger network of scientists. I have reason to believe that by working together, we are going to overcome the major problems that we are facing, like climate change.” Ultimately, Williams’ ability to look at the past as a historian and to the future as a scientist has made him optimistic: “I used to be cynical and pessimistic about the future, but through my studies, I’ve realized that this sentiment was unwarranted. Now, I have much more faith in the power of human ingenuity.”

Guess what, Scripps! We’ve been going about everything the wrong way. You see, when I arrived at Scripps last fall, something caught my attention almost immediately. “Incipit vita nova.” The first time I heard this phrase uttered at Scripps, I twitched a little. I tried to brush it off and refocus on whoever was speaking and whatever they were saying. With each occurrence though, any time anyone said “Incipit vita nova,” I had to suppress a cringe as tension and angst rose inside of me. Within a few weeks, I couldn’t COURTESY OF ANDREAGTRRZ.COM The college’s motto can be found on the metal work of Honnold Gate take it anymore, and I had to vent to a friend. Everyone pronounces it wrong! I took Latin in high school. We read, translated and chanted at nerdy Latin conventions the classical Latin pronunciations taught in high schools: “C”s are hard, “V”s are pronounced like “W”s, “I”s are like “EE”s and “AE”s are like “I”s. Everything makes sense. At Scripps, what I was always taught should be “inkipit wita nowa” became “insipit” or “inchipit” and “vitta” and…others. Also, “alumnae,” the plural of “alumna,” is pronounced “alumnaye” (“aye” like a pirate). And “alumni,” the plural of “alumnus,” is pronounced “alumnee.” Everyone does it backwards. Though I know the conventional Latin pronunciation of these words, if I were to pronounce “alumnae” the Latin way, the way I was taught, people would probably think I was the ignorant one. They would assume that I didn’t realize that the graduates of a women’s college are generally the female “alumnae” rather than the male-inclusive “alumni.” It was all quite distressing. It became a thing I’d jokingly complain about among friends. Sometimes people would offer an explanation: “I think that’s church Latin, so it still counts.” The Romans came first. The church Latin is a derivative, not the real thing. So there, I’d think grumpily. Still, I’d never correct people outright—that would be really rude, right?—but it still made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time. Eventually I brought it up for the sake of comic relief at a (very late) newspaper layout night, and it was decided that I should write an article about it. I’m getting to the part where I tell you how we’re going about this the wrong way, now. Bear with me. I decided to e-mail someone who really knows Latin to see what he would say about it. I e-mailed Classics Professor David Roselli to pick his brain a little bit. After telling me that my high school Latin teacher didn’t steer me wrong, he pointed out that there were variations in pronunciation across Italy and the entire Roman Empire, and mentioned that church Latin was something to note too. He also asked if a “standard” in Latin is like the “standard” of the English language. Okay, but there still is a standard English and a standard Latin, and we should follow them, right? But then I started thinking about a couple things. First, how pompous do I sound right now? (Don’t answer that.) Second, why am I doing this? The space in the paper that I’m taking up with this whiny and subjective article could be used much more productively with something else. So I guess what I’m trying to say, Scripps, is that we (as human beings, not just as Scripps students) do this way too much. We stress about the stupid little things in our life and let them drive us nuts. Don’t tell me you don’t, because we all have those things. One friend of mine hates the word “secrete,” and gets all wound up when someone uses it. A family member cannot even bear the thought of corn on the cob—he just hates it. It’s the things like drumming fingers on a table, or pen-clicking, or bad comma use or whatever. We all have those tiny annoyances that make us crazy. So here’s my challenge to you: take a week to isolate that little thing in your life that’s bugging you way too much. Then try to eradicate it. Not the thing that’s bugging you, but the bugging. There are bigger problems in the world. Let’s get out there and find ourselves some of those instead. l ge’s sea Scripps Colle

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV •Issue Seven

8 • Features

A L o vely Cro s s w ord By Tori Mirsadjadi ’12 Senior Copy Editor

ACROSS 1. applause unit 5. fool 9. might help you keep your bamboo growth in check? 11. first name of poet Maria Rilke 14. might be shot with an arrow? 15. type of nothings? 17. type of top (see page 11) 19. exclamation frequently made by Cathy 21. an old horse or an old spouse? 22. not him 23. how to describe someone with a walker 25. horses that may frighten at night? 27. squid’s defense 28. ___ Hill 30. Spanish for bread 31. opposite of don’ts 33. follows la 35. Apple product to stick on your eyeball 37. Pixar movie with balloons, talking dogs, a big bird, an old man and a boy scout 38. where 28-across is located (abbrev.) 39. “That __ __ fetch!” 41. someone to write to, in love and squalor? 43. not Ma 44. genre of John Green’s bestselling novel, The Fault in Our Stars (abbrev.) 46. a needle pulling thread 47. baseball ref 48. “I love __,” greeting card in (500) Days of Summer 50. syllable to follow sha? 52. more efficient than yogurt for colon-cleansing 54. personal web address (abbrev.) 56. masculine Spanish pro-

noun 58. you’re making these if you ask for your milkshake “shaken, not stirred” or say you have a “license to thrill” 61. __ and behold 62. where you’ll end up if you go west 64. you might need one after an encounter with a guillotine 66. what you’re looking at when you see a wildebeest? (not the 39th vice president) 67. _____-Whorf hypothesis 69. operatic song 70. if wine is not sweet, it __ ___ 72. federal agency lousy with narcs (abbrev.) 73. it releases an egg every other month 74. ___ Quixote 75. the loneliest number? DOWN 1. opposite of release 2. mathematical function used to determine to which power e might be raised in order to get a given number (abbrev.) 3. reason many watch the Super Bowl (abbrev.) 4. the most pathetic of chess pieces? 5. remnant 6. makes a humble meal 7. 3.1415 etc. 8. _____ if you dare 9. these addicts famously, and ironically, begin their group meetings by sharing their names 10. jape 12. type of seals in seal court? 13. nurse (abbrev.) 14. opposite of lo (as in prefix for -fi) 16. ___ me (note on a tiny

1 9

39 45

22 25

35 41

47 52

43 48

cake) 18. base unit of mass (abbrev.) 20. tends to accompany kith 22. ___ Solo 23. to make one 24. two words describing what happens in the mortifying moments when a monarch loses her composure? 25. what you are, when you bring objects together? 26. chowder and bisque 27. no apostrophe for this possessive! 29. what the ball might be, upon an English football whistle? 30. fluid in your lungs 32. Cielo Mio ___ & Salon 34. Spanish my 36. dystopic novel by Yevgeny Zamyatin

11 15

40. Nazi officer 42. Margaret Thatcher (abbrev.) 45. __ Education 48. not down 49. antogonist to “she said” 51. silly 53. initials of the man behind “Bennie and the Jets” 54. possible response to “how do you control your unwanted hair growth? 55. they precede tomorrows 57. lower appendages 59. Portuguese, British, Irish, Kiwi or Australian slang interjection 60. “that’s disgusting” 61. dragon’s dwelling 63. infuriating question in Dude, Where’s My Car, “___ then?” 65. strech of time

68. type of project or rock 71. Spanish “I” 73. preposition that denotes being above and supported

Answers to Last Week’s Puzzle Y I

C E

W A N

N I

G E

V E

N F

A D L

A A N

O T E

R L

D A

W A E

D L B R

W A B

C S

M I

O Y

K I

S B

R I

Scripps College Family Weekend Monday F r i d a y Saturday S u n d a y Time

2:00-5:00 p.m.

2:30-3:30 p.m.

3:00-3:45 p.m.

4:00-5:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

Time

Event

Registration and Information Table (Lobby, Garrison Theater, 231 East 10th Street between Dartmouth and Columbia) Financial Aid Information Session Tour of Medieval Rôle in the Contemporary Artist Book Exhibition Lois Langland Alumnain-Residence Presentation Without a Box Performance

8:30 a.m.-

Event

Registration and Informa3:00 p.m. tion Table 8:30-10:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast 9:30-10:30 a.m. Scripps College Campus Tour (Note: In the case of rain, the tour will be canceled.) 11:00 a.m.President’s Welcome 12:00 p.m. (Garrison Theatre) 1:00 p.m.“Clay’s Tectonic Shift: 5:00 p.m. John Mason, Ken Price

and Peter Voulkos, 19561968” (Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery)

1:00-2:15 p.m. Adventures in Learning: Scripps Women Around the World 2:15-3:30 p.m. Master Class with Mary Hatcher-Skeers 2:00-4:00 p.m. Clay Days and Tea 4:00-5:00 p.m. Master Class with Kerry Odell 5:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

Ellen Browning Scripps

Time

9:00 a.m.12:00 p.m.

Event

Late registration

8:30-10:00 a.m. Claremont Village walk and visit to the Farmer’s Market (Note: In the case of rain, the tour will be canceled.) 10:30-11:30 a.m. Scripps College updates and discussion with Dean of Students Rebecca Lee and Dean of Faculty Amy Marcus-Newhall

Time

8:00 a.m.-

Attend class with your family

8:00 a.m.-

Administrative openoffice hours

10:00 a.m.-

Career Planning & Resources open house

11:00 a.m.-

Tour of the Rare Book Room

11:00 a.m.

Tour of Scripps’ Print Room and Textile/Conservation Room

5:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:30-2:00 p.m. Internships: “Test Driving” A Career Field 2:00-3:00 p.m. Master Class with Thierry Boucquey

Event

1:00 -2:00 p.m. Tour of the W.M. Keck Science Center

3:00-4:30 p.m. Faculty concert 4:30-5:30 p.m. Post-concert reception

Society Reception 5C Sing-Off

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice• Volume XV• Issue Seven

Arts & Entertainment • 9

Let’s Get Naked Hello sexy readers! With Valentine’s Day safely behind us, I’m happy to note that your sexy questions continue to be charmingly pragmatic. I’m a sucker for people who aren’t afraid to get explicit. Dear readers, your candid bedroom questions positively make me swoon. Should you kiss her when she’s done going down on you or make her gargle mouthwash first? -Mr. Clean Hundreds of tiny singing fish agree: kiss da girl. Seriously, though. If you’re okay with the idea of your partner ingesting your genital juices, then you should be okay with ingesting genital juices yourself. Mostly, this means that you should be up for returning the favor. Don’t get blown if you don’t want to eat out, and vice versa. But that doesn’t really answer your question. The idea of ingesting your own genital juices is a different matter altogether from the idea of going down on someone else. And I take it that’s why you want to have your partner gargle mouthwash—so you don’t have to (horror of

horrors!) taste yourself. Fair enough. If you don’t want to kiss right after cunnilingus or fellatio has been performed on you, then understand that you shouldn’t expect a kiss right after you yourself have performed cunnilingus or fellatio. You and your partner should communicate with one another. Establish what both of you are comfortable doing so neither of you feels jilted after providing the other person with genitally-derived pleasure. Speaking of communication, keep those questions a-comin’! Your Slutty Health Expert will be here all semester, ready to answer whatever queries you might have. If you’re out of queries, I can continue the public service of my column (you’re welcome) by offering my unsolicited opinions on sexual matters. I WILL LOVE YOU TIL THE END OF DAYS (PROBABLY THIS DECEMBER, THEN) -SHE

If you have any questions, write SHE: Scripps Box #797 (no stamp required for intercampus mail!) or E-mail SHE : editor.scrippsvoice@gmail.com (Make the subject “SEXXX” or something. SHE will promise to ignore the email address from which your sexy emails are sent and assume everyone’s writing on behalf of sexually-awkward friends.)

Attention Scripps seniors Take a good, hard look at your bookshelf, because it’s time to

APPLY FOR THE SLOCUM AWARD t?

t is i Wha

Established in 1936 to promote an enthusiasm for collecting books by M.S. Slocum of Pasadena, Calif., the Slocum Award is given each spring to the Scripps senior who, “during her years at college, has formed the most meaningful collection of books in the field or fields of her interest.” Past titles of collections in the competition include “A Collection of Sequels Written to the Novels of Jane Austen,” “A Panorama of Hispania and Its Culture,” and “Swedish Children’s Books.” Clearly, the range of themes is highly varied and particular to the senior’s passions.

? Prize The

All participants in the competition will have their collection on display in Denison Library during the spring, and the winner of the award receives a cash prize.

es?

dlin Dea

A short entry form is due to Denison Library by Feb. 24, to be followed later in the semester with an annotated bibliography and essay.

FMI

Visit Denison Library or contact Librarian Judy Harvey Sahak at judy.sahak@scrippscollege.edu.

(Re) Meet the Motley: 2012 Julia Hughes ‘13

Contributing Writer With the start of 2012, we at the Motley feel that it is a good time to reintroduce ourselves to the greater Scripps community! There have been a lot of changes and transformations in the past few semesters, which have developed from a period of deliberate self-reflection. The Motley community has closely examined its policies and practices to ensure that they align with our larger ideologies. The first step in this process was to reevaluate our mission statement. This was not an attempt to completely alter the Motley from the coffee shop we all know and love; rather, it was a motion to refine our impact on our internal and external communities. After a series of meetings that concentrated on this specific goal, the manager team of Spring 2011 wrote the following: The Motley’s Mission is: • To be a socially responsible business that explores diverse feminist critiques. • To connect the Claremont Colleges with local and global communities by perpetuating sustainable supply chains. • To foster independent thinking and purposeful change. With this as our foundation, we have moved forward to adjust the different aspects of our business to reflect these particular intentions. Listed below are some additions and alterations made in this process: Products:

Coffee of the Month: One of our efforts to provide our customers with more options while also educating about the vast range of options in the coffee industry. The Motley purchases only fair and direct trade coffee so as to actively engage in supporting producers, raising awareness, and campaigning for changes in the practices of conventional international trade. You might have noticed this semester that some of our prices are different. In the past, we have priced our products in accordance with our competition’s prices, like Starbucks and Honnold Café. This year, we’ve decided to re-price according to the actual value of each product that we buy. If you have any questions about our prices, please contact our Products Manager, Kelsey Poppe (’12) at products.motley@gmail.com. Sponsorships: Each semester we grant financial sponsorships to students from the 5Cs who need money for their thesis, internships, special projects or something related to their work or our community here on the campuses. We offer sponsorships that fall into two categories: Individual/ Thesis and Community/Group. Over the past year, you might have noticed that we’ve updated the Motley space in many ways, ranging from new couches and chairs to a new espresso machine! Because of these larger purchases, our sponsorship budget this semester is smaller than it usually is.

CONTINUEd on PG 12

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

Volume XV, Issue Seven

February 16, 2012

The Scripps Voice Inside... WELCOME, PARENTS! By Hannah Long ‘15

With Annual Claremont Colleges’ Relay For Life event almost upon us, the CLORG is stepping up preparations page 11

Part of Pitzer’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week included the powerful story of “Andrea’s Voice” page 3

Contributing Writer This weekend, over 300 parents and relatives of Scripps students are arriving on campus for Parents’ Weekend. An annual tradition, this event gives families the opportunity to explore life at Scripps and learn more about what the College offers its students. Planning for Parents’ Weekend begins at the beginning of the school year, with Scripps staff members sending invitations, scheduling events, booking speakers and dealing with catering and other logistics. Lindsey Walton, who is in charge of planning the weekend, said, “It’s a huge job to prepare campus for this type of event. There is always a flurry of activity as the events draw closer.” The main goal for staff members, said Walton, is to “make parents feel welcome.” This welcome begins with a speech by President Lori Bettison-Varga on Saturday morning. From there, the weekend is packed with events like campus tours, faculty lectures and a discussion with the College’s deans. These events are planned,

said Walton, to show parents “as much of Scripps’ academics and student life as possible.” Each evening, parents have the opportunity to enjoy performances by various campus clubs, including a show by the 5C improv group Without a Box and a sing-off hosted by the a cappella groups of the Claremont Colleges. On Monday, students are invited to bring their parents to classes with them, giving parents a chance to meet some professors and get a feel for the College’s academic program. Said Moriah Lerner (’15), whose parents are coming for the weekend from Orange County, “My mom, an aerospace engineer, is so excited to come to Chemistry lecture with me.” Monday is also the perfect time for students to give their families a personalized tour of the campus. Students have a chance to show their parents their dorms, Malott and the other dining halls, Seal Court and the (currently pruned) rose garden. “I can’t wait to show my aunt and uncle [from Philadelphia] how pretty it is here,” said Sacha Langer (’15). “They’ve haven’t seen Scripps yet, and they really want to see all

my favorite parts of campus.” Parents’ Weekend provides families with an excellent opportunity to catch up and have a mini reunion. Many parents and other relatives come from the east coast, and Parents’ Weekend may be their first opportunity to see the campus where their young family member goes to school. Visiting siblings will also get a chance to learn more about college life. Lerner, whose sister is a freshman in high school, said, “I can’t wait to show my sister around the campus. She is so excited to learn more about what it is like to be in college, and I’m hoping that she’ll want to come to Scripps, too.” Walton said that the weekend is always a success, citing surveys given to parents in the past that have reflected “a joy from having experienced their daughter’s campus life.” Looking ahead to this weekend, Walton expressed her excitement: “I hope that parents are able to experience a bit of their daughter’s education and come away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the College and the community.”

turn to Page 8 for a list of Family Weekend Events to enjoy. on behalf of The Scripps Voice, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Going on a Goddess Treasure Hunt: Scripps Marks the Spot By Lauren Prince ‘14 Editor-in-Chief

Part I: Ringwald’s Tuesday Noon Academy Lecture, “Evolution of the Goddess from the Paleolithic to the Present”

Slocum Awards: Seniors, submit your personal library for the chance to be featured in Denison Library page 9

What do Incipit Vita Nova and Scientists Have in Common? Learn about the secrets of professors and the Scripps motto! page 6-7

in Crete, Athens, Ephesus, Rome, Pompeii, India and other exotic destinations. Ringwald will explore the motifs, symbols and values that shape women’s images and self-esteem as Lydia Ringwald (’70) returns to they are reflected in the image of campus on Feb. 21 for the Tuesday the goddess. She plans to discuss Noon Academy series. Ringwald how the shifting values expressed will be speaking about the “Evoluin the images of goddesses reflect tion of the Goddess,” spiritually “a morphing matrix of time, reand as an art form. vealing insights in a process of In an interview, Ringwald disdiscovery that encourages the decussed how her interdisciplinary velopment of potential for women studies at Scripps—where Ringtoday.” wald studied philosophy, history According to Ringwald, the and art history while majoring in “Evolution of the Goddess” precomparative literature—launched sentation will “explore the image her on a lifelong personal odyssey of women in our time, as we culexploring the goddess motif in varitivate virtues of strength, vision, ous cultures and civilizations. For PHOTO COURTESY OF LYDIA RINGWALD compassion and courage, and as Ringwald, that personal odyssey Lydia Ringwald ‘70 brings her knowledge of the Goddess and artistis we shape the values of the future. “ has entailed “linking pieces of an representations to the Hampton Room. Ringwald believes that the godever changing puzzle in the mordess in the modern world should phing image of the goddess image ages come from what Ringwald calls her “personal slide treasure chest of goddess represent the compassion, power and through time.” images.” This “treasure chest” includes courage to be a visual leader. Ringwald Ringwald’s powerpoint lecture in the images of the Minoan Snake Goddess, a does not believe that the modern goddess Hampton Room this Tuesday will presgolden Selket, Pre-Raphaelite paintings, has yet achieved its rightful place, and has ent artwork revealing characteristics of images of film femmes fatale of the 1920s taken it upon herself to create her own the goddess image in Mesopotamian, Caand 1930s, as well as photographs from goddesses. naanite, Egyptian, Minoan, Greco-Roman and Celtic/Nordic cultures. The im- Ringwald’s travel to archeological sites continued on page 10

1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont CA 91711 | Box 892 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com

10 • Arts & Entertainment

Goddess Treasure hunt, CONTINUED FROM PG 1 Part II: Ringwald’s Art

control of your own life,” she said. She is pro-active in her belief “that we must Ringwald is more than a lecturer; she is also an artist who has, in her own shape the future and create a spiritual platform for our values and beliefs now.” words, “manifested [her] spiritual vision in paintings, photography, mixed media works and sculpture in artworks.” Part III: Ringwald’s Thoughts on Scripps, 42 Years Later As an artist, Ringwald has made her own goddesses through different spiri“At Scripps, I was at the beginning of a quest, an intellectual odyssey explortual and physical mediums. Using varying background colors and several dif- ing ideas that I would work on for the rest of my life.” ferent frames, Ringwald has painted a piece she calls “The Spectrum of Light.” Reflecting further on her life after Scripps, Ringwald said, “In college you She believes that different colors provide a different levels and types of energy. gather all the information. Afterward, you discover more treasures of informaIn conveying this energy spectrum, Ringwald has created an organized meditation, and you are able to place more of the pieces of the amazing puzzle togethtion dedicated to it in terms of the goddess. er.” She said that she has “been on a treasure hunt” since she left Scripps, “travAnother of Ringeling throughout the wald’s art pieces related world and discoverto energy, entitled “Subing new informaatomic,” depicts a womtion about an evolvan engulfed in energy. It ing goddess image is meant to convey the through the matrix fact that we, as humans, of time.” are all made of energy. Ringwald believes But we also have and that “Scripps has a give away energy. certain mystique, Among Ringwald’s as a sacred place art is a piece she calls for women, a place her “most striking,” that specifically the votive sculpture nurtures women’s “Chakra Goddess.” An power.” Comment18-inch bronze figure, ing on why alumnae inlaid with gemstones in return to Scripps, each of the seven chakra Ringwald said that centers, the sculpture Scripps cultivates a Photos courtesy of lydia ringwald was designed with an “Lillith,” “Chakra Goddess” and “Eye Imagine” by Lydia Ringwald. feeling “that learnaccompanying empowerment meditation. The meditation for the “Chakra ing is a lifelong quest,” and that alumnae want to “participate, support and Goddess” invites the viewer to “absorb the energy of the seven colors of natural cultivate that culture of learning.” light and corresponding gemstones in an energizing ritual to enhance personal Ringwald’s lecture at Tuesday Noon Academy will shed light not just on her charisma,” Ringwald explained. exploration of goddess images and motifs, but will also offer insight into the life Ringwald’s artwork fills the voids that she believes to exist in the modern ide- of our current community of intellectually curious Scripps students. As Ringals of the goddess. Instead idly waiting for someone else to fill these voids, Ring- wald said of today’s Scripps women, Scripps graduates are “embarking on a wald took on the role. Ringwald lives by this philosophy of taking action. “Take journey of becoming and creating the future.”

Oscar Predictions 2012 Theresa Iker ‘14 Staff Writer

Best Picture What I think will win: The Artist This movie reeks of the Oscars: it’s literally about the golden age of Hollywood, it’s therefore nostalgic and it’s masterfully shot in black and white without being stale. The fact that the film is mostly silent but already has an impressive set of accolades and box office numbers shows that it is an artistic risk that deserves to be rewarded. What I hope will win: The Descendants Against my better judgment, I had a soft spot for this one. It made me cry five times in theaters (unprecedented) and managed to tie together crazy plot twists and a lot of highs and lows. Amazingly, the superb writing allowed me to enjoy Shailene Woodley’s acting (the lead in the abysmal Secret Life of the American Teenager, and, fun fact, Marissa Cooper’s original little sister in The O.C.) What will cause me to die of cardiac arrest if it wins: The Tree of Life Putting incomprehensible, muttered narration about absolutely nothing over random vignettes of Midwestern life and shots of the universe coming into being does not make art. I only managed to watch 20 minutes of this, and I always finish movies. I will legitimately be offended if something this pretentious wins. Actor in a Leading Role Who I think will win: George Clooney It’s Clooney’s year. And he was actually really good in The Descendants. And he’s just too likeable to deprive of an Oscar. End of story. Who I hope will win: George Clooney Also, I love him. Age is only a number. Who will cause me to die of cardiac arrest if he wins: Gary Oldman Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was abysmal and deliberately opaque. Having a British accent, delivering unintelligible lines and being Gary Oldman should not be the criteria for an Oscar.

Watch the Os c on Feb ars at 4 p.m. . 26, 20 12!

Actress in a Leading Role Who I think will win: Meryl Streep She’s gotten too many nominations to be deprived yet again, and she managed to both realistically and sympathetically portray Margaret Thatcher. I also secretly want her to be my mom. Who I hope will win: Viola Davis I have hopes for all the ladies of The Help, which I really thought was fabulous. Even in this cast, Davis stood out. Who will cause me to die of cardiac arrest if she wins: Rooney Mara I actually like all of the nominees in this category. But Rooney Mara has been striking me as a tad ungrateful in her recent interviews, so I kind of want her to lose and eat some much-needed humble pie.

Cinematography: What I think will win: War Horse Even though they struck me as funny, the shots of the horse looked nice in the trailers. What I hope will win: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo They did some pretty cool stuff with snowy, dark Sweden. What will cause me to die of cardiac arrest if it wins: The Tree of Life (Refer to my “Best Picture” explanation of why this film deserves no awards…)

Actor in a Supporting Role: I actually really don’t care about any of these nominees.

Directing: Midnight in Paris Everything about this movie was controlled and executed perfectly. Woody Allen, the man in charge, deserves a golden statue.

Actress in a Supporting Role: Who I think will win: Octavia Spencer She won the Golden Globe already, and she struck the perfect balance of hilarious and sympathetic in The Help. Who I hope will win: Jessica Chastain Clearly I have a bias for The Help. But Chastain really broke out this year with a bunch of great movies and I’d like to see her rewarded. Plus she’s just so cute! Who will cause me to die of cardiac arrest if she wins: Melissa McCarthy Don’t get me wrong, I love Bridesmaids (just ask my roommate, our quoting obsession is unhealthy). But no one’s performance was Oscarworthy, much less McCarthy’s. (I really hope none of the cast ever reads this, because I love them and really think we would be friends if we had more opportunities to hang out.)

More films that get my vote: Costume Design: Jane Eyre I am a sucker for any period piece, and this one’s an adaptation of a Brontë novel too boot.

Film Editing: The Descendants This movie flowed perfectly. All the cuts were just right. Makeup: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 The goblin makeup featurette on the Blu-ray disc gave me mad respect for the makeup artists. Writing (Original Screenplay): Midnight in Paris I’m not usually one for time travel storylines, but this was just so beautiful and nostalgic. Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Ides of March The story had both urgency and gravity while the dialogue remained fresh and relatable.

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

Student Life • 11 Students Get a Lift from Green Bike Program By Taylor Healy ‘15 Contributing Writer

Between hauling to Pomona for a 9 a.m. class and zipping up to Traders Joe’s, many students understand the pain of life without wheels on campus. Fortunately, the Scripps Green Bike Program now offers a cost-effective solution to this transportation debacle. On February 5, students gathered at the bike shop, located in the Tiernan parking structure, hoping to be called as one of the recipients of a free bike loan for the spring semester. Upon being called, winners were each matched with an appropriately-sized bike according and given the chance to test it out in the parking garage before taking the bike home. Most of the bikes provided by the program are recycled, left behind by previous students. Once maintenance turns them over to the organization, bike shop workers fix the bikes up so that they are raffle ready! Bikes are also independently donated by Jax Bicycle Center and Campus Security. The event was an overall success. Fifty-two Scripps students exited the raffle proud temporary owners of a recycled bike. Even the unfortunate few who left empty-handed were promised that they could each get a bike by volunteering for the program. The Green Bike Program has shown immense growth since its creation in 2010. Founder Kristen Piepgrass (’12) explained, Photos by Taylor Healy “one year ago, the bike shop consisted of myself and one other student in a small room in Asia Morris (‘12) and Jhenna Voorhis (‘12) call the bike raffle. the TFH basement, repairing the 20 day-bikes. We now have a staff of eight, a large space in

Photos by Taylor Healy and Michelle Nagler

Shana Levenson (‘15) poses by her bike. To the right, a row of bikes kept by the bike program. the parking structure provided by the field house, and a total of over 80 bikes.” The program is currently looking for more work-study students and volunteers. Previous experience in bike repair is not necessary, Piepgrass said. “The goal is to teach and empower as many Scripps women as possible to maintain their bicycles and to feel comfortable with mechanical equipment in general.” The Green Bike Program also has 30 bikes available for day loans and offers assistance in bike repair and maintenance to students throughout the year. The shop is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Thus far, the program has been successful in providing learning experience for student workers and more convenience for Scripps students overall. “We are very grateful for all of the help we’ve received, and above all, we are excited that there is now a welcoming and empowering space on campus for women to take care of their bikes.”

Colleges Join the Fight Against Cancer By Shailini Pandya ‘12 and Annsley McKinney ‘12 Contributing Writers

“In 2012, about 577,190 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day.” - cancer.org For the third consecutive year, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) will be hosting the biggest fundraising event for the American Cancer Society: Relay For Life. From 10:00 a.m. on April 27 to 10:00 a.m. on April 28, students, staff and faculty will gather at the Pomona Football Field to celebrate survivors, to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and to fight back against the disease. A 5C organization, CAC has spent the year preparing for the 24-hour walk-a-thon which symbolizes the continuous fight against the second leading cause of death in the United States. “I relay so that I can have the most impact possible to ensure that no one has to battle with or watch a loved one battle with cancer. I, like most people [who participate in Relay For Life ], have lost family members and watched other family members struggle with cancer,” Relay Production Chair Caitlin Highland (CMC ’14) said. “I want to help others who face the same thing.” Claremont’s Relay For Life has successfully raised over $56,000 for the American Cancer Society in past years. Donations from Relay For Life events around the world go toward cancer research, advocacy, education and services for individuals battling cancer. The American Cancer Society has funded 38 Nobel Prize winners and promotes a number of wellness groups, including Camps for Kids, which gives children diagnosed

with cancer a summer camp experience, and Road to Recovery, which provides patients with rides to their lifesaving treatments. This year, the Claremont Colleges have the opportunity work as a unified community to contribute to the American Cancer Society’s mission. Taking off from its promising first year, CAC has since expanded to about 40 committee members across the 5Cs. The organization is currently led by co-presidents Annsley McKinney (’12) and Shailini Pandya (’12). The Claremont Colleges’ sense of intercollegiate community is strengthened by student membership from all 5Cs. This year, CAC kicked off recruitment with their most successful campaign yet. Led by Re-

“I relay... to ensure that no one has to battle with or watch a loved one battle with cancer.”

three principles of Relay for Life and are honored with three ceremonies that punctuate the relay. Though the event acts as the primary fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the night of the relay engages with and inspires its participants so that the event becomes more than a simple fundraiser. On Feb. 21, CAC will be co-hosting a CMS versus Pomona-Pitzer basketball game to raise awareness about Relay. The game will be held at Ducey Gym, and the club will be signing up teams and will be selling pizza at the event. If you are interested in getting Mardi Gras beads in your team’s colors, remember to bring cash to donate to the cause. To show solidarity against cancer, CAC is encouraging all supporters to wear purple to the game. Because of Relay For Life, the Claremont community is able to unite once a year for a philanthropic effort. Said Hall, “Relay is more than an extracurricular to add to my resume. It’s an organization that I’m personally passionate about. My mom’s experience with cancer inspired me to give back, and Relay is the best way to do that.” If you are interested in getting involved the Claremont Colleges Against Cancer organization, please email claremontcollegesrfl@gmail.com. You can sign up a team or donate to the cause by visiting the Relay website at http://www.relayforlife.org/claremontcollegesca.

lay Chair Maddie Hall (CMC ’14) and Publicity Chair Yasamin Soltanianzadeh (’12), the “I Heart Boobs” T-shirt campaign raised awareness about breast cancer this fall. That the neon pink tanks continue to be worn around campus speaks to the success of the fall campaign. Co-Hosted by CAC: CMS v. P-P Basketball The entire CAC team gets students, faculty and Game staff involved in Relay For Life by encouraging When: Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. them to form teams. Teams, consisting of three to Where: Ducey Gym, CMC 15 participants, sign up online before the event at Bring cash or Claremont Cash to buy pizza, www.relayforlife.org/claremontcollegesca. Every team then fundraises before the event, both online Mardi Gras beads in your team colors and more! personally and through team fundraisers. WEAR PURPLE TO SUPPORT THE Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back are the FIGHT AGAINST CANCER!

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven

12 •Student Life Experiential Learning in Morocco By Stacey Wheeler ‘13 Staff Writer

I was already chewing the gamey meat when my host father told me, “This is a sheep’s head. We eat it maybe once a year.” I walk past the bloody sheep heads every day on my way to class, and I gagged as I tried to suppress the image of bloody heads that rose, still fresh in my memory. I swallowed and smiled weakly. My host father noticed that I didn’t touch any more of the meat, but it was no problem—more for the rest of the family! I had predicted that studying in Morocco would come with this type of culinary surprise. But I certainly didn’t predict all the surprises, including the weather. Morocco is cold. I live with a host family in the center of Rabat’s old Medina. The architecture here has survived from the Middle Ages, and if you’ve ever romanticized living in a castle, I’m warning you now: it’s not cozy. Each room is open to the air, and since the temperature regularly drops below 40 degrees at night, I sleep in five shirts with a minimum of four blankets. My host family is lower middle class by Moroccan standards, but even though I had prior warning, I was not prepared for my first tour of their home. The possessions in their living room—a TV, a shelf of photos and the odd knick knack, a Koran, some books and a bread basket—would easily fit into just one of my suitcases. Every piece of electronics I bring out inspires awe, and it is humbling to realize that my college tuition for one year could sustain this family for six times as long. My host father is unemployed, but he keeps active. One of his favorite activities is to discuss politics,

so every evening he breaks out a cigarette and we discuss—in broken French—everything from student protests in Morocco to the Republican primary. My host mother speaks mainly Moroccan dialect and Arabic, so dinner is always a confusing trilingual conversation that leaves me exhausted and ready to fall asleep to the comforting drama of Turkish soap operas. Most days, I have seven hours of class. In the mornings, I participate in a “Moroccan newsroom” where I, along with the 11 other journalism students, pitch story ideas, peeredit articles and discuss the news in Morocco. In the afternoons, we have lectures where we practice interviewing local professors and journalists, including Driss Ksikes, who was taken to court and almost jailed for publishing a joke about the king. The program is fast-paced, and practicing journalism as a student here is difficult. Morocco’s second language is French—not English— and the locals have an innate suspicion of journalists. But I chose to try SIT’s experiential learning approach because I hoped to see exciting things and become more independent, and Morocco has not disappointed. After only two weeks, I have watched police disband student protests and successfully navigated a computer crash. I’ve learned to barter in Moroccan dialect and eat with my hands. I’ve drunk my weight in mint tea and I’ve taken a two-hour shower in a local hammam. If I had to go home now, I would be satisfied. But my program director tells me I will be sad if I don’t wait for one more experience—a camel ride.

Empty Stands: Whose Fault is it? By Madi Shove ‘13 Contributing Writer

Ask any student at Scripps College if they play a sport and 95 percent of the time they will say no. That’s because there are fewer than 60 students who play a varsity sport at Scripps. Playing a varsity sport is in itself a bigger commitment than any class could possibly be, consisting of up to four hours of practice a day and eight hours on game days, including traveling across the country in the middle of finals week to play in the NCAA tournament, even studying for a midterm on a dark bus at midnight on the way back from a game. In short, it’s a major time commitment. So why don’t these athletes get a little more credit for everything they do? Many Scripps athletes look to blame the school for a lack of funding to the athletic department, but this belief in under funding is a common misperception. Mike Sutton, the CMS athletic director, said, “Scripps pays a fair amount based on the proportion of Scripps athletes that participate in a variety of sports.” Sutton explained that the payment plan adopted in the 1990’s is a fair formula and Scripps does adequately support their athletes with the proper funding.

What it eventually comes down to is a lack of support from the student body. Join in on a tour of the campus and a prospective athlete will notice that Scripps gives little support to its athletes. When one incoming student asked whether it was hard to play a sport at Scripps, the tour guide discouraged her from even trying to play a sport. Yes, being one of the 60 athletes on campus is hard, but what makes it harder for that student is the lack of encouragement the teams receive. Playing basketball in a gym packed with fans is unforgettable, and there is something unforgettable about playing soccer under the lights with peers and friends in the stands. Scripps athletes should be able to hear their peers cheering them on, yet most of the time Scripps students remain absent from the audience at athletic events. Unfortunately, a lack of Scripps students in the stands has become the norm. With the start of the spring season, the few Scripps athletes look forward to a show of support from their peers and hope that this coming season won’t have them face another season of empty stands.

Above: Courtyard of the Center for Cross-Culture Learning in Morocco, Stacey Wheeler (‘13) and her host mother and sister. Left: Tahti Market. Photos by Stacey Wheeler

Meet the Motley, CONTINUED FROM PG 9 This means we can’t allocate as much money as we’d like to for everyone. So if you would like to apply for a sponsorship, please do so as soon as possible, as we give our funds on a first-come, first-serve basis. HOW TO APPLY FOR A SPONSORSHIP: Go to the Motley’s website (www.motleycoffeehouse.com) in order to start your sponsorship application. Hover your mouse over the Sponsorship Program tab for a list of options to choose from (Community/ Group, Individual/Thesis, or Corn Mug). Choose the appropriate option and click the link on the page to the application. Fill out the application accordingly. Some important things to remember are to send your receipts to Scripps College Mailbox #1180 and fill out a W9 if applicable. Sponsorship funding is allocated on a rolling basis, so submit your applications before the April 6 deadline. If you have any questions about Motley sponsorships, please contact Melissa, our assistant head manager, at assistanthead.motley@ gmail.com. Sustainability: This Fall, the Motley began working with Scripps Maintenance to recycle cardboard separately from the rest of recyclable materials. Scripps Maintenance purchased a cardboard bundler, which bundles together large amounts of cardboard that Scripps can then sell to be recycled. The income from these sales will fund future sustainability projects at Scripps. Currently, cardboard form the dining hall is being bundled, but Scripps Maintenance hopes to expand the program to include all dorms, and then the Motley’s participation can serve as a bridge to acclimatize students to separating different forms of recyclables. Customers can help this effort by recycling their paper in the small white bin next to the rest of the waste bins in the Motley.

February 16, 2012 •The Scripps Voice •Volume XV • Issue Seven