March 8, 2017
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motley forced to remove “inciting” messages By Anna Liss-Roy ‘20 Staff Writer
O
n the evening of Friday February 10, managers at The Motley observed as several Scripps students entered the coffeehouse and left written messages on the chalk board, including “F**k white people,” “F**k Zionism,” “F**k fascism,” “F**k liberalism,” and “Death to Amerikkka.” These messages were written minutes after a Motley-hosted poetry slam for Black History Month called “Brown Noise,” though the messages and event were said to be unrelated. By Sunday evening, Motley managers had received a request from Scripps administration demanding that the messages be removed. The Motley staff that witnessed the incident left the messages untouched. By Saturday morning, a photograph of the board had been sent in the group chat with all ten managers. The Motley staff made the joint decision not to remove the messages. “The general motto for the board is ‘don’t erase anyone else’s thoughts,’” said Motley Networking Manager Layne Wells ‘19. “If you have any sort of response to it, write a comment next to it. But erasing things is literally erasing history. The voices that are being recognized on the wall right there are voices that don’t tend to be heard in this space. And so, if anything, we were celebrating the fact that there were these thoughts being showcased there.” Immediately after the Motley’s decision to leave the messages on the board, students began to register complaints. T hroughout Sa t u rd ay, re s p o n s e s appeared surrounding the writings on the chalkboard. One student transcribed a quote by Audre Lorde; soon after, an article titled “Appropriating Audre” was posted on a Scripps-only Facebook page. Several students reportedly approached baristas, asking why the messages were still being displayed. The email from Scripps administration on Sunday evening demanded the removal of the writings on the basis that the statements “use obscenities and violate the College’s Principles of Community.” The email specified the “Death to Amerikkka” statement as one
Inside This Issue:
Motley Coffeehouse managers took a stand against administrative censorship. Photo courtesy of The Golden Antlers.
that “could have the purpose or effect of inciting violence.” “I can tell you, personally, as someone who’s contributed to the board, that the ‘F**k’ word has been written on the board before,” said Wells. In the email, Scripps administrators wrote, “The College is not taking the position that students may not intellectually subscribe to these statements or make them in an appropriate setting. The College has determined that they may not be written on Scripps College property within a business establishment operated on campus.” In response, the Motley staff promptly erased the writings and printed the email from the administration, which was taped on the board for public display. Though abiding by the administration’s demands for removal, the Motley staff expressed disapproval in an official statement that was taped to the board alongside the email. In the message, Motley staff wrote, “We call into question the swiftness with which Scripps College responds to speech that challenges systematically privileged identities, and we challenge the community to think critically about what speech makes them feel uncomfortable versus unsafe.” Some Scripps students were disappointed by what appeared to be The Motley’s stance of solidarity with the writings. “[These messages] create an unnecessary divide,” said one Scripps
Page 3 - EPA
A history of the endangered environmental agency
student. “They’re real emotions, but I think it’s fostering an unhealthy culture that doesn’t need to be in a campus coffee shop.” Another student commented, “I don’t think it’s fair that they’re choosing who can feel unsafe and who can feel uncomfortable. I agree that [The Motley] shouldn’t be catering to white people, but I think that when multiple people voice their concerns, then it is The Motley’s responsibility to create an open dialogue on how to best move forward so that everyone who sees the writing has a better understanding of why it’s there.” This Scripps student continued, “To provide the most power to what was written, I believe that space for open dialogue to promote a better understanding of the emotion and context of the writing would have been a proper reaction.” Knowledge of the incident became more widespread when, on February 15, The Claremont Independent published an article about the incident with the headline, “Scripps Students: ‘Death to Amerikkka,’ ‘F**k White People’ is ‘Valued Speech.’” In the article, the writer alluded to controversy from last November that unfolded after the decision to temporarily designate the sitting room of The Motley as a safe space for students of color during the turmoil on campus in response to racist comments made by a Claremont McKenna dean who later resigned.
Page 5 - “Women’s” March on Washington
Does feminist activism include trans identities?
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 839 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XX | Issue Six
The article in the Claremont Independent, which made national headlines, inspired people with no ties to the Consortium or to Scripps itself to leave reviews on The Motley’s Facebook page containing hostile messages, including accusations of racism against white people. These comments eventually led to The Motley’s decision to change its Facebook status from “restaurant” to “personal blog,” which removed the ability for online users to leave reviews. There has been ample discussion surrounding the immediacy of Scripps’ response to the writings on the board. “This is a really volatile time for things to be happening,” said Wells. “You’ve got students who are stressed, prospective students walking around, and Scripps is trying its best to look like the best college in the entire world. But it’s not. And we can’t pretend like it is.” “I wish that there could’ve been a discussion but, very literally, erasing that board erased that chance of having that” Wells said. “And so it’s hard now to have that talk because the physical proof is almost no longer there.” New writing has gradually appeared on the board. And yet, though weeks have passed, the faded outlines of the five messages remain partly visible, despite attempts at removal. “It’s this underlying thing and it’s begging to not be forgotten,” Wells said. “And we really can’t let it.”
Page 8 - Moonlight
Read the latest review of the “Best Picture” winner
2 • News
in loving memory
tatissa zunguzē Scripps College ‘18
The Scripps community has been shaken by the tragic loss of Tatissa Zunguzē. Tatissa was a beloved mentor, a radical leader and a true friend to many. She will be deeply missed. Students are encouraged to find support and community during this difficult time. Leslie Schnyder, Dean of Students: (909) 621-8277 LSchnyde@scrippscollege.edu Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services: (909) 621-8202 Emergency lines: RA on call (professional staff available): (909) 708-7603 and (909) 708-7604 Campus Safety: (909) 607-2000 Monsour After Hours Emergency: (909) 621-8202 [press 1 for the on-call therapist] 8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
News • 3
The Scripps Voice Staff
sustainable Scripps
Ways to Celebrate Spring and the Earth this April Mia Farago-Iwamasa ‘18 Staff Writer
Places to Go on Campus
Margret Fowler Garden When it gets hot around campus, this oasis stays 5-10 degrees cooler and is a great place to study or just hang out. While you’re there, look for the orange trees near the back and have a local, organically grown snack.
Editors-in-Chief Rachel Miller-Haughton Elena Pinsker
Fruit Picker See some local, organically grown fruit on campus but think it’s too high to reach? You’re in luck because the Field House has a fruit picker that will reach the tops of those orange trees.
New Hall As our first residence hall to use solar power and innovative design to keep outdoor hallways and courtyards cool, it is a great place to have a group study session or just enjoy the beautiful architecture. You can also learn about the building’s energy and water consumption via the Lucid platform in the kitchen.
Advisor Sam Haynes Design Editors Mel Gilcrest Meghan Joyce Copy Editors Sophie Fahey Anyi Wong-Lifton
Hang out on the lawns Another place to enjoy the sunshine is on Scripps’ beautiful lawns. Our grass is Bermuda, which only requires a fraction of the water other grass types use. While you are out there, please use the new outdoor recycling bins with blue lids. Courtyards with fountains Need to cool off? Go to any courtyard with a fountain. The water helps cool the air and is recycled so the fountains have a low water impact too.
Sallie Tiernan Field House Pool There’s no better way to welcome the warm weather than hanging out by the pool. The Field house pool uses an environmentally friendly filtering system and is covered at night to keep it warm. The Field House has also recently added more lawn chairs and less lawn to lower their water impact and accommodate more people.
The Motley Looking for a refreshing drink (or some caffeine to get you through those midterms and final projects)? Look no further than the Motley. This spring be earth conscious and order your drink with alternative milk like coconut, almond, or soy. Cow milk is very water, energy, and land intensive and produces a lot of pollutants.
Green Bike Program Want to go to the Village farmer’s market on Sunday morning or explore the neighborhood or just enjoy the 7 campuses? Borrow a bike and travel quickly without polluting the environment.
The Student Garden This organic fruit, vegetable, and herb garden is located behind Browning on the north side (near Harvey Mudd College). This garden is run by students for students and also hosts our residence hall composting program.
Business Manager Maureen Cowhey Webmaster Emma Wu Shortt
EVENT
TIME
HOST CAMPUS
LOCATION
April 6
Creative Liberties: Orozco’s Legacy in Cold War Mexico
7 PM
POMONA
Lincoln 1135
7
Scripps Sustainability Fair
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
SCRIPPS
Elm Tree Lawn
7
Spring Planting Workshop
4-7 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
8
Volunteer @ the Farm
10 AM - 12 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
8
Cooking Workshop
TBD
POMONA
Pomona Farm
9
Claremont Food Justice Series: Farm to Frank Claremont Food Justice Series: Meat Startup Panel
5 - 7 PM
POMONA
Frank Dining Hall
7 - 8 PM
CMC
Freeberg Forum, Kravis
4 - 5:30 PM
SCRIPPS
Motley Coffeehouse
11
Claremont Food Justice Series: Chai Decolonized Claremont Food Justice Series: Food as a Tool of Resistance
7 - 8 PM
TBD
TBD
11
Black, Gold and Green Speaker Series: Dr. Simona Bordoni (Caltech)
12 - 1 PM
HARVEY MUDD
SkyCube, Shanahan
12
Claremont Food Justice Series: The World that Food Made with Raj Patel
7 - 9 PM
POMONA
Rose Hills Theatre
13
Claremont Energy Vision
7 - 9 PM
HARVEY MUDD
Shanahan Auditorium
13
Claremont Food Justice Series: Regenerative Farming Workshop
4 - 5:30 PM
TBD
TBD
14
Claremont Food Justice Series: Hive Workshop on Fermentation
4 -5:30 PM
POMONA
The Hive
14
Claremont Food Justice Series: Farm Potluck
5 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
14
EcoHacks: 7C Sustainability-based Hackathon
10 PM - 12 PM (4/15)
HARVEY MUDD
Shanahan Center
15
Claremont Food Justice Series: Huerta del Valle Tour, Volunteer, and Lunch
11:30 AM - 4 PM
ALL
TBD
15
Volunteer @ the Farm
10 AM - 12 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
15
Tour: Bernard Field Station
TBD
ALL
Bernard Field Station
18
Painting Party
4 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
19
Panel: The Politicization of Science
7:30 - 9 PM
POMONA
Millikan Auditorium
21
Petition Signing
11 AM - 2 PM
POMONA
Frary Dining Hall
22
Claremont Earth Day Celebration
10 AM - 3 PM
ALL
Claremont Village, 2nd St
22
Farm Fest
3 PM - 7 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
22
March for Science- Los Angeles
9 AM - 4 PM
ALL
Pershing Square Park, LA
22
Outdoor Women’s Alliance - No Man’s Land Film Festival
5 - 9 PM
SCRIPPS
Balch Auditorium
23
OEC Mountain Cleanup Day
10 AM - 7 PM
POMONA
OEC
Comments and letters can be submitted by emailing scrippsvoice@gmail.com or by visiting our website at www. thescrippsvoice.com. Please review our guidelines online before submitting feedback.
25
Workshop Series:: Lessons from the 1990s on Environmental Justice
12 -1 PM
HARVEY MUDD
Aviation Room, Hoch
25
Design Thinking for Food & Sustainability
7 - 8:30 PM
ALL
The Hive
The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.
Columnists & Staff Writers Ali Bush Maureen Cowhey Erin Delany Emily Diamond Sophie Fahey Mia Farago-Iwamasa Erin Matheson Jo Nordhoff-Beard Rhiannon Schaub Isobel Whitcomb Lizzie Willsmore-Finkle Emma Wu Shortt Photographers Molly Ferguson Jessica Padover Layne Wells
DATE
April Sustainability Events at the 5Cs
10 11
26
Everyday Genius
7 - 8:30 PM
ALL
The Hive
26
Letter Writing Campaign
7:30 - 9 PM
POMONA
The Hive
28
Farm Stand
4 - 6 PM
POMONA
Smith Campus Center
29
Farm Tours- Alumni Weekend
4:45 - 6 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
29
Volunteer @ the Farm
10 AM - 12 PM
POMONA
Pomona Farm
29
People’s Climate March Los Angeles
11 AM - 3 PM
ALL
Banning Park, LA
6 April, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Seven
4 • News
Serena Williams my love affair with the best athlete bar none By Jo Nordhoff-Beard ‘19 Sports Columnist
ra give he t h ig m Biles Simone . w o n t h . ond hlete rig e is at their job 3, and the sec ld t a n a ic with 2 Amer anyon she he st living t her job than the Open Era ranked no. 1 recent e t a e r g tter a being ly the layer in most isputed Williams is be f any tennis p her sixth time an Open, her d n u is o ustrali illiams Serena t titles es, and in the erena W er money, but jor tournamen o. 1 seven tim gh the 2017 A hanges ome c r u h a n o jo r r a m o ld h f t r t run d to m se of s e mos ed wo uised t have le lifornia, becau , Serena’s s has th has been rank weeks. She cr a m h t a li is il n W e She lls, Ca in ten liams nsecutiv ll time. versies n in Indian We hat Venus Wil Serena in the o r t n o most a ion for 186 co g a set. c e t fact lot of as Op jeered it ather in the pos , never dropp e forefront of a the BNP Parib owd about the d booed and r coach and f son in w r in h he er major w has been at t ena competed nizers to the c st her, the cro tournament, event chairp ters e a e r in a h is n e h a t g s t e r S g r d o s a g e n n S 01, whe by the event mifinal match ded up winnin the stands a . Both William 0 2 In . t s tion rs. e se spor he en de to him in reated them munica r 14 yea a lay in th video t . After s miscom s unable to p Kim Clijsters s had been m way the fans ere again afte r overruled by review a th e rk st e sister, w nt final again at racist rema pology for the an competing s that were lat and challeng e ll h a g m t a m e e c t n a b ena s said ers a tourn puted eo replay sys gainst hen Ser William ms sist any dis o hold a Serena t d ie r t Richard sue the Willia nt until 2015, w finals, amid m e Hawkeye vid e way ich she r is e h ls in wh dented, and th se to shrug it a did not d the tournam S Open quar te e creation of t n ifi m U e th choo en se t and prece boycott s in the 2004 what lead to 9 US Op a call was un nt. She did not akes her spor n for 0 0 2 s s e a lo h Her assio she t e in t g eve . Such fact, w her serv urnament win en in a spor tin how seriously nd unbridled p fter the P and W TA. n a o y lt la u p a a e ld re to T s tf e, ices. in the A the wor ve ever or a foo or y and ch serv tic cho ere n a system o was called f Clijsters’ vict f emotion I ha ration showed ation, top not r tennis m o r w r She als t, which led to est displays o ction of frust erce determin Serena has fo o in awe of he , both of them ad the r 5 fi a h in u 1 ls s e r o a a p 0 r e e p match as one of the d her intense elf. I admire h ion for my job leticism, I am cause in fall 2 t tennis. Drak ed the w e s h sh rs an la reacted d keep going, believed in he e as much pas h Serena’s at ower couple b ence and skil had accompli the it p v a n e in off a to ha ch sh prom vorite Seren t not in ssed w how mu nis. My goal is s being impre Drake is my fa f pop culture tline Bling, and urnaments bu them to a o d to or so ten As well a Williams an world in term e world with H major tennis hes in life is f is n e h e t e w h r t h t e t in f S tes of ng ll o , on top st popular so of winning a ne of my grea passion t a h O m w . r mo la a e s e e Serena e calendar y love together. as showed m e is my favorit h h r e e S sam s . v h t e n m r find fo Serena Willia nd swag mea ale athlete of t bes rk , a fem hard wo lete, the best d arguably the of ath t, an layer momen ale tennis p m fe . all time
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8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
5 • Features
“WOMEN’S” MARCH ON WASHINGTON:
THE
excluding trans and nonbinary experiences By Emma Wu Shortt ‘20 Staff Writer
A
s protests and marches erupted the weekend after the inauguration you could feel the heat of the movement, whether or not you chose to attend. For some, this heat felt like empowerment, unity, and inspiration, but for others, it felt like yet another space that was exclusive and unwelcoming. The latter was the experience for many trans and non-binary students who felt that the “Women’s March on Washington” events were exclusive and erasing of their experiences and of their identities. Even the title of the march seemed to draw sharp gender boundaries that did not encompass all gender identities oppressed by the Trump administration and its sympathizers. Mel Gilcrest, a student and activist at Scripps College who identifies as non-binary and attended thte march, felt “a level of discomfort even in attending a protest billed as a national/global uprising of women.” Mel elaborated on this, writing, “Part of me worried that the predominantly cis female space wasn’t really meant for me. I was especially anxious about my inability to assert my own identity in that space.” Gwendolyn Wells, a trans non-binary student in the LA area, also attended the march and shared the same discomfort. Gwendolyn wrote, “I didn’t feel safe or welcome in the space. There was very little representation of anyone like me; I think there was one trans speaker and they only spoke to binary trans people.” This exclusion took physical form in the popular “pussy hats” that frequented the marching crowds, as well as in the protest signs that used images of uteri and vulvas to make statements of female power. These symbolic gestures, although seemingly well-intentioned, indicated that femininity or womanhood is synonymous with having vaginas and female reproductive systems. Logan Marks, a former Claremont student who identifies as trans, wrote an article titled, “Why I didn’t attend the Women’s March”. In his article he wrote, “Phrases such as “pussy power” and “the future is female”
grossly ignore and exclude those without vaginas who identify as women...It is possible to promote female reproductive health and women in general without these phrases, and without emphasizing female genitalia as a caveat for being a woman.” Gwendolyn spoke to this same symbolism , saying, “The pussy slogans were pretty gross because they’re perpetuating the same shit that I blame for getting me in this mess? Don’t want to speak to everyone’s experience but I blame the biological symbolic component to ‘feminism’/femininity as being responsible for a large component of my gender dysphoria.” A d d i t i o n a l l y, this problematic biological symbolism did not end with the marches but continued onto every social media feed that weekend. March attendees wanted their audiences to know that they were present at the march to raise awareness, and perhaps to show off their “trendy feminism” or to feel good about their “contribution” to the movement. Unfortunately, many of these pictures included the aforementioned images of uteri and vulvas as well as exclusively gendered slogans (e.g. “The Future is Female”). These social media photos perpetuate the exclusion of trans and nonbinary people in women’s spaces, as well as invalidate their identities. I sincerely hope that the pushback against these images and phrases creates a dialogue that shifts the “Women’s March” movement towards a more intersectional standpoint. After all, the lack of intersectionality or even acknowledgement of the POC and queer
“Phrases such as “pussy power” and “the future is female” grossly ignore and exclude those without vaginas who identify as women...” -Logan Marks
contributions to the feminist movement is glaring. The question arises, why did it take so long to get this many people involved and on the streets protesting? And even more disturbingly, why now, “when people of color and trans people have been literally dying for years, when it has been clear for ages that Tr*mp will continue to let these people die and actually hasten their deaths...” (Mel Gilcrest). Furthermore, in the words of Mel, “It’s nice that white cis people are finally showing up, but are they going to show up for anyone else? Or will they continue not giving a shit about marginalized people until that institutional violence directly affects them?” Now is the part where you come in, dear reader, assuming that you fall into the white cis category. Say you did attend the march, as Logan puts it, “...just because you did attend the Women’s March, that doesn’t make you a trans-exclusionary feminist or a white feminist. It just means that you need to think critically about how you are acting and what you really stand for.” Let those words sink in for a second. Just because you are white and cis does NOT mean that your politics are inherently flawed or that you aren’t welcome in protest spaces. Being a white cis activist simply means that you especially, need to critically address your own implicit biases and your own political actions. As Gwendolyn says, “It’s all a process, and people NEED to recognize what their brand of feminism is ignoring. They need to ask questions, find out the variety of what exists out there, and FIGHT FOR THOSE PEOPLE.” Because after all, as we’ve observed in the “Women’s March on Washington” and beyond, it is YOUR voice that will be heard and credited. So make sure that your words do not exclude or invalidate anyone else’s experience, but rather raise those queer and POC voices up so high that people have no choice but to listen.
“It’s nice that white cis people are finally showing up, but are they going to show up for anyone else? Or will they continue not giving a shit about marginalized people until that institutional violence directly affects them?”
-Mel Gilcrest
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
SPOTLIGHT
6
7
S AY N O T O S O D E X O Dear Readers of the Scripps Voice,
directly profits off of private prisons, the simple fact is that our Institution also profits off these unethical practices. From cheaply purchasing beds made in prisons to cutting corners with regards to the operation of our dinWe, members of the Drop ing hall, Scripps and Sodexo Sodexo Campaign, are writare partners in saving green ing directly to you to explain with no regard to the human what we stand for and the cost. This conflicts with evways in which you are all diery ideological stance the rectly affected. institution proclaims to deThe students of Scripps fend. have long fought for the poliSodexo is invested in pricies of this institution to vate prisons in Europe and more closely align with the Chile; it is the source of convalues it touts, specifically tinuous health concerns for with regards to its role in those who eat the food it c r e a t i n g a m o r e j u s t s o c i e t y. provides; and it is an antagoAs holders of a contract with nistic presence in the lives Sodexo, a corporation that of our dining and residence
hall workers. None of this is new information, and various peer institutions have chosen to divest from Sodexo over the course of the past 15 year (including Pomona College). Scripps is in an especially unique situation due to the fact that our dining hall and facilities staff are employed by Scripps and are in no way tied to our contract with Sodexo; to divest from Sodexo should be a simple move towards the “ethical spending practices” we hope to implement, and in no way should make vulnerable any members of the S c r i p p s c o m m u n i t y. T h r o u g h a series of targeted actions (rather than a sustained boycott of the dining hall, which
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
puts our workers at risk), we ask Scripps to terminate its contract with Sodexo in favor of services run in-house. We urge you all to learn more about the ways in which Sodexo operates at our institution during open meetings on Wednesday evenings at 6pm in the Student Union, and how we can send the school - and Sodexo - a message they can’t ignore.
I n s o l i d a r i t y, The Drop Sodexo Campaign
8 • Features
film
review ********** By Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist
M
oonlight” (2016) is, yes a story about rough neighborhoods, drug addiction, and family instability, but it’s much more than that. A major contender for the Oscar’s Best Picture, this film is an intimate journey through a young man’s life as he struggles to understand himself and his place in his community. Describing the film as a young gay, black man’s journey into adulthood almost isn’t enough. Based on a play by Tyrell McCraney, Barry Jenkins adaptation is structured almost as Chiron’s inner monologue as he navigates his rough South Florida neighborhood and his sexuality. It is a film of small, intimate moments that add up to Chiron’s understanding of his world, the people around him, and himself. Taking a cue from Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” (2014), the film is not so much driven by plot as it is by a string of emotional experiences. The film is divided into three acts which depict Chiron’s experiences as a small boy nicknamed Little (Alex Hibbert), a pensive outcast teenager (Ashton Sanders), and a young man turned tough (Trevante Rhodes). Right from the beginning of the film we are faced not only with Jenkins’s innovative camera skills, but with Chiron’s place in his community. We first see Chiron on the run, as he seems to be for most of his adolescence, from a group of boys attempting to beat him up. Surrounded by boys who casually mention their sexual adventures and create meticulously constructed facades of masculinity, Chiron is more thoughtful about the man he wants to be, but he is confused by his attraction to other men. What should a man be? Violent? Stoic? Kind? We see all of these ideas of masculinity played out around him, but he learns the most about masculinity from Juan (Mahershala Ali), the noble local drug dealer and Chiron’s surrogate father figure who teaches Chiron not only about generosity and acceptance, but also the hard truth about his mother (Naomi Harris). A major conflict that lingers through the movie is Chiron’s mother’s fall into a desperate crack addiction. Watching Chiron learn about this at the age of 9, is a shocking and disturbing scene to a privileged viewer. But this is far from the end of Chiron’s troubles. His relationship with his classmate Kevin dominates the second half of the movie. While the boys share moments of vulnerability, embarrassment, and betrayal, they are separated but brought back together again in adulthood. In the end, nothing is exactly resolved, but we are left with a feeling that Chiron will be alright. He
Photo courtesy of IMDb.
now understands himself, and that’s what matters. The film’s cinematography transports you to the humid South Florida that Chiron wanders through in angst and loneliness. With neon lighting and lush scenery, James Laxton director of cinematography brings breathtaking beauty to communities that have historically been deemed “poor” and “dirty.” He lights his characters with bold colors to make them shine and radiate, proving that black bodies matter and are beautiful. “Moonlight” tackles issues that are so important and relevant today, such as deconstructing masculinity and giving a voice to those who are so often silenced. The film does so by balancing universal human experiences of joy and loneliness with scenes that are specific to black folks. Even the most privileged audiences can relate to the peaceful loneliness of Chiron sitting on a beach at night, but audiences are then faced with tough scenes that are not often told through mainstream media, such as when Juan describes the hatred
of the word “faggot” to a 9-year-old Chiron, something only queer people may encounter in their lives. Jenkins has this great talent of gracefully making this poor, black, gay man, into a relatable human, whose story is worth telling. He doesn’t tokenize the characters, dwell on their poverty, or elevate them to heroic standards. He contradicts this notion that only foreign indie film directors can capture such melancholy beauty with such little dialogue. He tells this human story with compassion and truth. Although nearly every scene seems to have the emotional intensity that most films often fail to even capture in one scene, the most moving scene may be Chiron’s first swim. With waves washing over the camera lens and Juan and Chiron roaring with laughter, Jenkins captures the child-like joy these characters rarely face in everyday life. As Juan holds Chiron in the water, the scene is Chiron’s baptism into self-love and understanding. Ultimately, “Moonlight” gracefully paints a picture of a human experience that has been silenced and made invisible, and elevates this experience to high art.
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
Features • 9
ANYA COOPER Part One: The Wave A
nya . . .” The name whispered through her thoughts. “Anya . . .” The sound came again, more strained, as her body reflexively tightened in preparation for the final utterance. “Anya!” Gramps’ deep baritone arched through Anya’s dreams like a shock wave, jolting her from her slumber as, panting, she reemerged from the nightmare. Tentatively, Anya reached a hand up to touch her face, feeling the hot sticky sweat coat her fingers, and felt the familiar knot of anxiety settle in her stomach. Shivering, she stretched across the bedcovers towards the small table lamp on the dresser, flicking the switch to flood the room with bright white light. Anya wearily climbed out of bed, tucking her trusted teddy bear, Cuddles, under the covers, before clambering across the cold tile floor the hallway leading to her small bathroom. As she turned on the water, the knot in her stomach began to build, engulfing her chest and forcing its way into her throat until finally she had to squeeze her eyes shut against the terrible tightness in her body. Anya crouched on the shower floor, feeling the warm water pelt her body with comforting redundancy, as the world morphed, the shower floor replaced by rai-soaked sand, the water becoming angry raindrops. The beach was deserted, but just past the coastline a small rowboat bobbed on the waves, the tiny figures scrambling to hold themselves aboard in the torrential storm. Anya shivered, partially as a shield against the wind but more so in preparation of what would come next, and how the helpless feelings which overtook her merely increased with each flashback. Shoving a tangled curl from out of her eyes, Anya’s gaze was drawn to a figure close to shore, where she could barely make out Gramps’ salt and pepper mop of curls. She felt her legs move of their own volition, blood pumping in her ears as she sprinted to the water’s edge. “Anya!” Gramps cried out, frantically paddling for the beach. “Anya, get back!” Despite his athletic physique, hardened from years of working on cars and fighter jets, the waves dragged him down, trapping him in a watery vortex. “Gramps! Gramps hold on, I’ll find a boat!” Anya felt herself scream the words as she had a million times before, as she sprinted across the beach to a small, rickety row boat not yet launched. Gripping the oars tightly, she tried to convince herself that if she could just save him this time, the nightmares would go away, that even if he were still dead in real life, this horrible nightmare would at least be over. But Gramps was too far away, his body a mere speck now in the distance, his voice still calling her name, over and over, “Anya . . . Anya . . . Anya . . .” Suddenly, the beach scene faded away and Anya was back on the shower floor, shaking, and gripping tile like it was her life force. Shuddering, she took in deep breaths, forcing the knot back down her throat, her entire
A Serial Story by Elizabeth Willsmore body clenched with the effort, until it shrunk back to its manageable lump in her lower abdomen. Gasping, Anya lay down briefly on the bottom of the shower, gulping in air until she unsteadily forced her way back to her feet, turning the water off as she stood. Briiiiiiiinnnggggggg The sudden jingle of her cell phone snapped Anya from her exhausted daze. Briiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg “Who the hell could be trying to reach me at this hour?” she muttered under her breath, wrapping a worn blue towel about herself and trudging into the bedroom. She picked up the phone and glanced at the time. 4:30 AM, it read in big block letters. Anya clicked the green “receive” button in annoyance, before answering with a disgruntled “Hello?” “Hi there,” a silky feminine voice answered. “I’m trying to reach Anya Cooper, is this her?” “Yes, this is she,” Anya replied, not evening attempting to disguise the anger in her voice. “Oh lovely! This is Susie Shipton, I work for Clark Industries, and we’d love to contract you for our latest project.” Anya blinked for a few seconds, trying to wrap her mind around why the hell someone would have the nerve to call about a job she hadn’t even interviewed for at 4:30 am. Taking a deep breath, she replied “I think you’ve got the wrong person, I didn’t apply for anything at Clark and regardless it’s incredibly rude to call someone at 4 am.” “You are Charlie Cooper’s granddaughter, are you not?” This time the woman’s voice changed, getting lower, gruffer, and with a slightly threatening edge to it. “Well that’s just none of your busin-“ “And forgive me if I’ve got this wrong, but you are the engineer who designed the Sea Wall, which, if I’m not mistaken, collapsed and killed your grandfather in the ensuing flood?” At the last sentence, Anya froze, the flashback still so palpable she could almost taste the salt of the roiling waves. She’d never admitted it out loud, but hearing this strange woman confirm what Anya knew everyone, including herself, was thinking made her stomach drop like a huge boulder. “How do you know about that?” she whispered, anger and fear hanging on every syllable. “I thought so,” the woman replied confidently, her voice changing back to its silky high pitch. “Well then, Anya, I look forward to seeing you this morning at 9 am at our Seattle office, on the corner of Pike and 6th. Have a great day now, bye-bye.” “But I didn’t make an appointment!” Anya’s reply was cut off as the woman hung up, leaving her standing there, hair dripping slowly onto the carpet, holding her cell phone and wondering whether or not she should show up.
Anya froze, the flashback still so palpable she could almost taste the salt of the roiling waves.
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
10 • Features
Michelle Wang ‘20 with Lizzie Willsmore-Finkel ‘20, Staff Writer
From: Cupertino, California What are you considering majoring in? Either biochemistry or chemistry. Technically I’m undeclared but those are what I’m interested in. Did you know you wanted to study chemistry before you came in or did it develop here? It was more of a high school thing prior to here. To begin with I wasn’t that good. I started in 10th grade and I was average or below average. Then in junior year I found myself taking AP, and I just found a really good support system of friends and teachers who believed in me. Who would you say is your role model or someone you aspire to be like? To be honest it’s hard for me to pinpoint a role model because I don’t know what I want to be yet. It’s not that there aren’t people I don’t look up to, it’s just I don’t know who I aspire to be because I don’t know what I want to do. What would you say were the easiest and hardest things to adjust to coming into your first year of college? The easiest thing to adjust to were the academics, and the hardest thing was emotionally adapting to college. What was the biggest difference going into your second semester versus your first? Well first of all I’m not overloading this semester
and I’m more relaxed. I kind of know the way things work now. Not much is different except I have more time, I have a routine, and I’m better at managing my time. Outside of school and academics, what do you do for fun? Sometimes I take walks, I sit in my room and relax, play videogames, Pokémon specifically, and sometimes I just chill or hang out with people. What’s your favorite TV show? I don’t watch much TV anymore since I stopped a few years ago, but the one I have been following is This Is Us. What’s your favorite book and why? Probably Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. It’s hard to pinpoint, but I guess I really liked the plot. It was a bit sad, but I found it really interesting, especially the arc of the protagonist, Charlie. If you could be a mythical creature, what would you be? A Pegasus because I like them, and they’re sparkly and pretty and nice. Oh, and they can fly. What’s your best piece of life advice? Keep your head up I’d honestly tell people yes, bad things will happen, but when you have a bad day, tell yourself that you’ve survived every single bad day you’ve encountered, there’s no reason not to survive this one.
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
Opinions • 11
Abby Sorkin ‘20 with Priya Canzius ‘20, Staff Writer
From: San Carlos, California What do you miss most about home? I’m from San Carlos, California. I think the thing I miss most about home is the fact that I could walk around the neighborhood and no matter what it was absolutely gorgeous. I was also incredibly close to a really fantastic bakery called Susie Cakes. What’s your major? I want to major in English with a focus in Creative Writing. Have you always been interested in that subject? Why or why not? For as long as I can remember, I have loved stories, so English and History have always been my favorite subjects and I discovered my passion for writing in 6th grade when I wrote and performed an original song in front of my classmates. What has been your favorite class at Scripps so far? My favorite class was my Age of Elizabeth and Shakespeare class with Professor Cody at CMC because it so perfectly blended my love of the Tudor Time Period, my love of Shakespeare and my love of English and history. What’s the best experience you’ve ever had? The best experience I’ve had so far was actually over winter break. I went to a convention for my favorite TV show, The 100, and I brought the cast poetry that I wrote about their characters. One of
the actors, after reading the poem, told me that I “nailed it and [that] this exactly what I have to think about every time I walk on set,” which is by far the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. Are you the same as you were in high school? Why or why not? I like to think I’m more confident than I was in high school, but otherwise I’m basically the same. Give a fun fact about yourself! I have a twin brother who goes to USC and one of my favorite authors recognized a poem that I had her sign at an event because she reblogged it on tumblr; that’s technically two fun facts. If you could change anything at Scripps (or in the world!) what would it be? In terms of the world, I think I’d make it so everyone has some sort of character that represents them in media, because I think just seeing more people would increase tolerance in the world. What is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is probably writing 20,000 words in under 2 months. Do you have a dream job? My dream job is to be the Executive Producer and Head Writer for my own TV Show. What’s your pet peeve? My pet peeve is people who think they know everything and force those opinions on other people.
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six
12 • Arts & Entertainment
Vita Nova Vistas
Photos by Jessica Padover ‘18 The historic Scripps College campus with its sprawling lawns surrounded by architectural masterpieces of stunning stuccoed walls, red tiled roofs, endless arches and fountains — not to mention the gorgeous landscaping — is the ultimate fodder for photography.
8 March, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Six