Volume XIX - Issue 2

1 October, 2015

thescrippsvoice.com

The Scripps Voice

since 1996

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letter from president bettison-varga

By Lori Bettison-Varga Eighth President of Scripps College

D

ear Scripps students, I am grateful to The Scripps Voice for giving me the opportunity to write a letter to you on the eve of my departure from Scripps College. My time at Scripps has been immensely rewarding, and my departure in no way diminishes my sense of loyalty to the College. But, I have told students to pursue your passions with gusto! If I give that advice, then I must follow it as well.

I have always saved notes received from students and colleagues, literally jamming them into various crevices in my desk drawers! As I cleaned out my desk this summer I had the pleasure of reliving some of my experiences with students who have been impacted by Scripps and who have, in turn, impacted the College and me personally -- opening my mind, challenging me to work for a better Scripps for the next generation of students.

At the top of the pile is a series of sticky notes with translated Arabic words – a monthly lesson during my first semester from a student who reached out to get to know the new person on campus. We have since forged a friendship that will be life long, as your friendships with staff, faculty, and fellow students will prove to be. I discovered pictures of RAs in thank you cards, peer mentors and SAS

President Lori Bettison-Varga. Photo courtsey of Scripps College.

notes, graduation notices, and postcards from students on study abroad – each a part of the Scripps quilt I carry with me on my journey. I found notes from recent graduates reflecting on their Scripps experience after a year or two away from campus, with appreciation and, as always, ideas for the College’s continued improvement.

I reread letters from alumnae (mostly, but not all, positive!), messages from staff and faculty members, a wish of support on a card from a trustee that was delivered with flowers…and many more examples

of thoughtful, heartfelt expressions from members of the community who share a deep and abiding love for Scripps.

I’m very grateful for this treasure trove of words that help me relive my years at the College. I think about the many letters I could write to all those who have influenced me during my time at Scripps – from students to faculty, staff to alumnae, friends to Board members, colleagues in the Consortium to community members. It takes so many people to make this College such a special community – imperfect, yes,

new first-year sas president

By Maureen Cowhey ‘19 and Layne Wells ‘19 Staff Writers

O

ver 150 Scripps first-years voted in the Scripps Association of Students presidential election on Thurs., Sept. 24. With five different candidates vying for over 50% of the vote, the election went into a runoff.

After the second round of voting, Vanessa Akinnibosun ‘19 emerged with the presidency. The five candidates campaigned the entire week up to the election through Facebook pages, posted flyers, and door-to-door promotions. All candidates also participated in a night of speeches before the polls opened. Presidential speeches took place in the Student Union and drew a considerable crowd of first-years and upperclassmen alike. Each candidate had two minutes to state their platform and to discuss their intentions for the position.

The event was followed by a gathering at the Motley that was planned by several of the candidates.

The candidates included Hannah Lewis from Seattle, WA, who emphasized integrating service into the community; Bridget Pranzatelli from Washington D.C., who focused on implementing student ideas through face-to-face communication; Claire Pukszta of Irvine,

Inside This Issue:

CA, who focused on passion and enthusiasm “to achieve sisterhood and camaraderie”; Callie Walsh from Chicago, IL, who promised to bring event planning and parties to the Scripps collective; and Vanessa ‘Nessa’ Akinnibosun, of Dallas, TX, who ran on the platform of promoting diversity and inclusivity to the Class of 2019 through her “friendly and approachable demeanor.”

Over half of the class of 2019 voted in the first round of online elections, for which the polls were open for 24 hours. When the votes were counted after this round, no candidate had earned the majority of the votes, necessitating a runoff between Akinnibosun and Pranzatelli.

The Scripps Voice met with Akinnibosun after her presidential win.

TSV: What will be your first order of business as president?

VA: My first order of business would definitely be memorizing the names of each of my classmates. I’m so good with knowing a person’s face before I can even recall their names. My goal is to change that...as soon as possible! So Facebook will be my friend this week.

TSV: What type of events will you be planning for the class of 2019?

Page 3 - TSV Vlog

Welcome back to The Scripps Voice’s YouTube channel.

but at its core, a community that seeks to help its students thrive, to find their voices and their agency as change makers, to support them as they pursue their passions.

Robert Louis Stevenson said “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

The College’s seal, La Semeuse, holds the image of the sower, sowing “the good seeds of thought, of action, of life.” These three seeds capture the hopes of a Scripps education, and the responsibility each of you has to plant those seeds with care - for your personal growth and the welfare of those close to you; for your community, wherever you may find yourself at each point in your life; for the world, because your actions have the power to make a difference.

What I have found in my time at Scripps, knowing current students and those of the recent past, is that we – all of us at Scripps – may place confidently and firmly in your hands our hope for the future.

As I move from higher education into the work of broader education for public good at the Museum, I wish you all well and thank you for the privilege of knowing you, working with you, and serving you as president of Scripps College.

LBV

VA: The type of events I plan on doing for the class of 2019 are ones that will be entertaining, relaxed, and filled with relationship building activities. Stay tuned!

TSV: How do you plan on changing or reforming the position as president?

VA: I plan to enhance this position by bringing a different perspective to SAS. I want to engage the students in activities that are fun but also educational.

TSV: How will you promote diversity and inclusivity?

VA: I want to to promote diversity and inclusivity by being very much involved in the Scripps community and helping create thought-provoking and meaningful dialogues that can lead to students to be uncomfortable, realize that they are uncomfortable, and use that as a stimulus to make a change. These two aspects are very important to me, and I hope, with my position, that I can make efforts to make them better.

TSV: How will student voices be heard in your presidency?

VA: Their voices will be heard through me- I’m representing them. Whatever concerns, ideas, etc. will be given to me will be expressed to the SAS board. My plan is to make myself accessible to all the first years as much as possible, whether it be through chatting on our way to lunch, phone calls, texts, emails, or what have you. That being said, I will not have usual office hours!

My fellow peers can come to my room anytime, and if I’m not there, call or text or email. I’m all theirs!

Page 8 - Bi Visibility

Uncover stereotypes and celebrate Bisexuality Visibility Week.

1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 839 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XIX | Issue Two

Page 10 - Period Piece Explore the art, stigma, and controversy of menstruation.

Photo credits from left: Scripps Voice Vlogs, Campus Pride, Kiran Gandhi

2 • News

OVERCROWDING

ON-CAMPUS : HOUSING SHORTAGE

By Sydney Sibelius ‘18 Staff Writer

L

iving on the campus of Scripps College has its perks. Students live in beautiful Spanish-style dorms with hidden courtyards and running fountains. Palm trees are abundant and tower over green lawns.

Walkways are lined with orange trees, and the rose garden is almost always in bloom. The campus is beautiful, class sizes are small and the professors are consistently ranked among the best, as is the food served at Malott Dining Hall.

Scripps enrolls around 950 students each year, and the College provides guaranteed housing for their students for all four years of their undergraduate studies. As a small liberal arts college, this is a draw for many prospective students and applicants. Scripps currently has nine dorms and one new dorm is under construction.

Despite the guarantee and the available dorms, the College has been experiencing problems with overcrowding of students in oncampus dorms. The majority of first years on campus are placed in forced

triples (rooms that were meant for two people but house three) and forced doubles (rooms that were meant to be singles but house two students). “[Many spaces on campus] were appropriated big enough to be doubles and triples in the past as the College grew,” Associate Dean of Students Sam Haynes said.

Scripps has filled these rooms to their maximum capacity, and also sends some upperclassmen to offcampus housing situations. Many students believe that Scripps is facing a housing shortage given all of the forced triples and doubles.

However, Hall Director Jill Langan has a different opinion. She says “we are currently not in a housing shortage, as all students have housing either on-campus or at a Scripps owned/rented property.”

“We have provided housing for Scripps students at Drinkward Hall at Harvey Mudd College, as well as offcampus housing at apartments, as well as off-campus houses,” Langan said. “We have been utilizing this model for the past five years, with Drinkward Hall replacing Smiley Hall

at Pomona this year.”

While Scripps provides housing on other campuses, there are still feelings of an on-campus housing shortage. Not all currently-enrolled students who wanted to live on campus were provided with housing in a Scripps dorm. Additionally, it is difficult to decide what qualifies a room as suitable; some students report being placed in rooms so small that they have to bunk their beds, or their beds and furniture are forced to block windows.

Scripps did provide housing in some form to every student that wanted it, but for many, room selection was reported to be a stressful process.

Those who received draw times towards the end of the process were left with few options. Many students were only able to select from offcampus apartments or Drinkward Hall, despite not wanting to live in these areas.

In hopes of removing forced triples and doubles and eliminating off-campus living, Scripps is in the process of building a new dormitory.

“NEW Hall will allow Scripps to house most of our students on

campus next year and [will] further allow for the undoubling and untripling of spaces on campus,” Haynes said.

In addition to providing more rooms for students on campus, Scripps is hoping to be able to house all students who want to be on-campus in dorms.

“We anticipate that the opening of NEW Hall will house upwards of 8090 students, allowing us to house most, if not all, of Scripps students on campus,” Langan said.

Although NEW Hall will hopefully alleviate Scripps’ condensed housing, the campus is facing overcrowding issues in many other areas. Malott Commons has seen an increase in the number of students trying to eat around lunch time. Students have been held waiting outside the dining hall to allow room for those inside and to not exceed fire standards, and it has been suggested the people eat outside of the 12:15 p.m. rush time.

“I have seen that the Malott Commons is doing their best to encourage faculty and staff to take earlier or later lunches to curb the amount of people in the dining hall at Scripps,” Langan said.

SCRIPPS CONTINUES SEARCH FOR new PRESIDENT

By Maureen Cowhey ‘19 Staff Writer

A

s Scripps College President Lori BettisonVarga moves on to a position at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the search for the College’s ninth president is underway. The Presidential Search Committee will work closely with the search firm Storbeck/ Pimentel & Associates to recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees by Spring 2016.

The Search Committee consists of thirteen members of the Scripps community, co-chaired

by Bob Sacks and Betsy Weinberg Smith. Sacks, a parent of a 2014 Scripps alumna, has been a trustee since 2014. Weinberg, a graduate of the Class of 1974, has served as a trustee since 1995 and as vice chair of the Board of Trustees since 2009. Sacks and Smith work as the liaisons, among other duties, between the Scripps community and the search firm Storbeck/Pimentel.

The executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel specializes in higher education executive recruitment, according to their website. They have conducted around 2,000 executive searches in the past two decades for higher education establishments and non-profit clients. Named partner Shelly Storbeck is also particularly familiar with the Claremont community, having conducted searches for other Claremont institutions such as Pomona College, Pitzer College, and Harvey Mudd College.

The Search Committee is currently looking for community feedback through input forums, online surveys, online comment forms, and recommendations in order to recruit a candidate that will best serve the specific needs of the College. Students, faculty, staff, alumna, trustees, and parents are encouraged to visit www. scrippscollege.edu/presidential-search.com to provide feedback in order to solicit a suitable candidate.

According to Sacks and Smith, the recruitment process is expected to ramp up next month, after a position description has been crafted. Sacks and Smith stated that “the search committee will personally interview a small group of the strongest candidates, and ultimately, recommend

Photo courtesy of Scripps College President Lori Bettison-Varga will leave Scripps College in October to join the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Search Committee looks to recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees by Spring of this academic year.

a single candidate to the Board to appoint.”

The entire process will be conducted as a “closed search” in order to maintain the confidentiality of the candidates. According to the co-chairs, this approach was adopted based off of expert advice and in line with the way most top-tier institutions operate. In order to obtain the most qualified candidates, Scripps must ensure these candidates complete privacy throughout the process. Ultimately, the only candidate that will be named outside of the Search Committee and Board will be the next president.

While similar premier colleges like Wellesley are also searching for new presidents, the Search Committee is confident that Scripps College’s strong reputation, dynamic and accomplished students and faculty, increasing demand and participation in the Claremont Consortium will attract top candidates. While other colleges also find themselves in this transitional state, the

committee believes that it will not hinder Scripps’ ability to obtain a president. However, Storbeck/ Pimentel will still use recommendations and community input to solicit persons they believe to be the best fit.

Shelly and her colleagues conducted extensive interviews with different areas of the community as well as meeting with the Board of Trustees and the Search Committee on Sept. 24 and 25.

They encourage the community to submit their input and recommendations as soon as possible in order to begin recruiting. Despite the closed search, the Committee will continue to give updates on the milestones reached in the search process.

Email questions, comments, and input to presidentialsearchcommittee@scrippscollege. edu.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

News • 3

The Scripps Voice Staff

Scripps HOSTS OLIVE OIL HARVEST

Editors-in-Chief Lucy Altman-Newell Elena Pinsker Advisor Sam Haynes Design Editors Monica Acosta Abigail Gilcrest Jenny Lee Copy Editors Rachel Miller-Haughton Ashley Minnis-Lemley

Photo by Tyra Abraham ‘18 Students, faculty staff, and community members gathered this past Sunday to celebrate this year’s Olive Oil Harvest.

By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Staff Writer

Business Manager Lily Comba

F

Webmaster Jocelyn Gardner Columnists & Staff Writers Ali Bush Natalie Camrud Maureen Cowhey Madeleine Edwards Sophie Fahey Kandace Fung Sara Jane Gage Taylor Galla Jocelyn Gardner Diva Gattani Evelyn Gonzalez Joelle Leib Kaya Mark Jay Marks Erin Matheson Natasha Pinon Grace Richey Sasha Rivera Sydney Sibelius Talia Speaker Isobel Whitcomb

or the past three years, Scripps has held an Olive Oil Harvest during the Fall as part of “The Olive Oil Project.” This year’s harvest was held on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Scripps’ Olive Oil Project webpage (http://www.scrippscollege.edu/ sustainability/olive-oil) explains, “The Olive Oil Project is the culmination of faculty, student, and staff efforts to turn Scripps’ edible landscape into a virtual classroom for hands-on learning and embrace an ethic of sustainability.”

The idea for the harvest came from Professor Nancy Neiman Auerbach’s Core II course, “The Politics and Culture of Food.” In the class, students decided to find out whether they could produce olive oil from the olive trees around the campus.

Scripps’s first olive harvest was held on Nov. 9, 2012. Students, faculty, staff and community members harvested olives from the olive trees bordering the north and south walkways of the Humanities Building. Over 700 8-oz bottles were

produced from that harvest day.

These olive trees have always been a part of the Scripps campus.

In the 1930s, what is now Elm Tree Lawn and the Humanities Building was a flower cutting garden and olive grove. Trees were removed as the college expanded. In the 1960s, Scripps students protested the removal of the olive trees, resulting in the replanting of 60 of the trees around the walkways near the Humanities building.

Crystal Weintrub, Sustainable Entrepreneurship Coordinator, explained: “[The olives have] to be pressed in 24 hours, then it has to be tested in order to be considered extra virgin olive oil. After that it has to settle for a short amount of time in a large tank, and all the little pieces of fruit settle to the bottom so it becomes really clear and then whatever settle at the bottom is taken out. It’s kind of a simple process, but they’re very strict about testing it. Extra virgin olive oil is the finest of all the olive oils. It has to be cold pressed so the machine doesn’t heat up or change the chemistry of the oil. And

THE SCRIPPS VOICE RE-INTRODUCES VLOGS

By Lily Yang ‘18 Vlogger Director

Vloggers Abigail Metsch Lily Yang - Director

W

Photographers Tyra Abraham Jessica Eu Suzette Guzman Anita Ho Annalise Ko Jessica Padover Layne Wells Nicole Zwiener

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.

The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.

so even though it’s really simple— there’s no additives or industrial process that it goes through. A mechanical cold press basically juices the olives, so it’s very clean, which it’s why it’s so good for you.

A lot of the community come out, alumni, parents, people that work here. Students help, they help you check in or taking pre-orders. They play a very important role in helping everything go smoothly. It’s good to have a lot of student volunteers.”

Last year, Scripps College Olive Oil won a Silver Medal in the “delicate” category of the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. In 2013, Scripps’ olive oil earned a “Best of Show” award in its category. The competition started back in 2002, and Scripps competes against countries from the Northern Hemisphere.

Olive Oil from this year’s harvest should be available for purchase for $45 at the Scripps Student Store and the Huntley Bookstore in late Oct. It can also be preordered for $40 now. All profits from the olive oil go towards sustainable initiatives at Scripps.

ith a new year comes new opportunities.

This year, The Scripps Voice (TSV) is bringing back The Scripps Voice vlogs, blogs in video form, that document Scripps campus life and promote student wellness and community. Every two weeks, a range of two to four videos will be uploaded to both TSV’s YouTube channel (http://tinyurl.com/ scrippvoicevlog) and website (thescrippsvoice.com).

Videos will cover a variety of subjects related, but not limited, to building connections at Scripps, exploring resources on campus, discussing current events, featuring clubs/organizations, reviewing TV shows/ movies, and discovering academic courses/majors/ internships. Much of our videos will be interview-based for the purpose of collecting people’s opinions and experiences. We hope that as the year continues, we can start asking for video requests and collaborate with different clubs/organizations/resources on campus to create more educational-based videos. Another goal is to establish a series of playlists on the current youtube channel that target specific types of videos.

For example, playlists would be academic life, campus

resources/clubs, student life and experiences, and TV/ movie reviews.

We currently have three videos up on the YouTube channel and website (thescrippsvoice.com), so go check it out! The first video is a “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Scripps” video where our vloggers researched and collected stories or “hidden gems” about our college. The second video is about the relationships that different sets of roommates have. Roomies were asked to answer some questions about why they chose to room together, what makes it work, and their experiences with/opinions about living with another individual. For the final video, one of our vloggers is doing a review on the TV series Bojack Horseman. She will be reviewing the content of the show, its societal implications, and her recommendations of the show.

As the TSV vlog is a new part of The Scripps Voice, it would be awesome to have more students join the team!

This experience is especially great for those interested in media, film, cinematography, or advertisement. In addition, if you have video ideas/suggestions or would like to partake in any of the videos, feel free to email us at vlog.scrippsvoice@gmail.com. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome and appreciated.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

4 • News

IDEA

By Denise Nelson Nash & Jennifer Lee VP of the College/Secretary of the Board of Trustees & Guest Contributor

L

ast year, in keeping with Scripps C o l l e g e ’s o n g o i n g f o c u s o n strengthening a campus-wide culture of inclusion, the President’s Office introduced the I.D.E.A Initiative, a comprehensive plan to align resources, programs, and events to advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and access throughout the Scripps community. Denise Nelson Nash, Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, facilitated this work on behalf of the College by convening student, faculty, and staff leaders to develop an action plan, by coordinating high-level discussions among the Board of Trustees, and by supporting a yearlong community engagement program with the Sustained Dialogues Campus Network (SDCN) and Public Conversations Project (PCP).

This past year, the entire first-year class and 57 student leaders were engaged in SDCN-led workshops and trainings, respectively. Sara Bryk ‘18, a participant

initiative fosters

CULTURE OF INCLUSION

in the inclusivity leadership workshop, recalls, “Attending the moderator training last year was an eye-opening experience to me. I have never before been in a space where people were so willing to share experiences that really mattered with people that they barely knew. I’ve been hooked ever since!” Following the training, four student moderators led dialogue groups to explore issues of loneliness, class, race, religion, and beliefs on campus. Rachel Berner-Hays ‘17, one of the inaugural moderators of the program, says, “Sustained Dialogues has been a great opportunity for me to become better equipped to both participate in and facilitate dialogues focusing on issues of identity and lived experiences. It has made me more aware of my own identities and given me tools to engage with people in the hopes of making this a better place for people who have all different identities.”

In addition to engaging students with Sustained Dialogues, over 100 faculty and staff participated in difficult dialogue workshops over the summer; 40 faculty heard from ten recent alumnae across the 7Cs about classroom experiences in collaboration with a 7C Working Group; and nationally recognized thought leaders came to campus to share their experiences and expertise on a variety

AFTER HOURS SEMESTER SCHEDULE

DIY TABLES: Thursday, October 1 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

7C ARTS ALLIANCE + KSPC: Thursday, October 8 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

“R.S.V.P. LOS ANGELES” ARTIST AYDINANETH ORTIZ: Thursday, October 15 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Thursday, October 22 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

“R.S.V.P. LOS ANGELES: THE PROJECT SERIES @ POMONA” BOOK REALEASE PARTY Thursday, October 29 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Thursday, November 5 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

“OROZCO’S EXHIBITION HISTORY” LECTURE, DAFNE CRUZ PORCHINI: Thursday, November 12 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Thursday, November 19 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Thursday, December 3 | 5:00 – 11:00 PM

of topics ranging from Islamophobia to white privilege.

“

Attending the moderator training last year was an eye-opening experience to me. I have never before been in a space where people were so willing to share experiences that really mattered with people that they barely knew.

”

The President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity (PACDI), led

by Co-chairs Piya Chatterjee and Denise Nelson Nash, approved over $10,000 in funding for students and staff members to engage in projects that aligned with the IDEA Initiative. Four students and one staff member attended SDCN’s national conference at the University of Alabama, eight students attended

AAfter R Thours.

By Grace Richey ‘19 Staff Writer

E

mily Petillon, SC ‘19, works until 11 p.m. every Thursday night at Pomona College Museum of Art. While her hours may seem unusual, she is a museum attendant for Art After Hours, a weekly event that showcases Los Angeles-based artists.

The current show, R.S.V.P Los Angeles, is a “milestone exhibition” in celebration of their 50th Project Series, and features local artists, including Pomona ‘00 alumnus Michael Parker.

“

I like the work where

she’s burning the incense because as I’m working long hours here, I get this

almost Zen feeling. It makes me feel at peace. It looks like she’s putting all her concentration into that one task, and I imagine that it must smell amazing.

”

“It’s really interesting because these are currently practicing artists [from] the Los Angeles [area] where the ‘art scene’ is more populated and condensed,” museum coordinator Justine Bae said. “It’s great to have them out here in east, east Los Angeles County for students and community members to see.”

Current installations range in medium from photography to ceramics and collage. Petillon’s favorite piece is a video by Wakana Kimura, who methodically burns tiny holes into a hanging piece of wax paper with an incense wand.

INCITE!’s Color of Violence Conference in Chicago, and two students and two staff members attended a SDCN conference in Washington, D.C. In addition to individual support for conference fees, PACDI also approved funding for a member of AASU’s senior thesis, the Indigenous Student Alliance, and the Intercollegiate Department of Africana Studies’ New Visual Afrofuturisms and Speculative Migrations conference.

This important community-building work continues in 2015-2016 as the College advances the values set forth in the College’s mission statement, diversity and inclusivity principles of community, and the strategic plan for diversity and inclusivity. The focus will be on in-house capacity building as more community members participate in workshops and trainings on how to successfully navigate difficult dialogues and topics. Already, the Class of 2019 has participated in a SDCN workshop during Orientation and 39 students have registered for three new dialogue groups. PACDI is also looking for opportunities to expand funding opportunities so that more students can be supported in their endeavors.

“I like the work where she’s burning the incense because as I’m working long hours here, I get this almost Zen feeling. It makes me feel at peace. It looks like she’s putting all her concentration into that one task, and I image that it must smell amazing,” said Petillon.

Another of the pieces in the R.S.V.P. Los Angeles exhibition is a projection by Naotaka Hiro, where the unseen artist wraps what appears to be intestines around several tiers of a black cake. Once the intestines circumscribe the base of each tier, the recording cuts to a shot of glitter being poured over the cake.

“It’s interesting because he is talking about parts of the body that aren’t glorified, like in the way that the ‘eyes are the window to the soul,’ but he’s looking at excrement.

And as this meditative music plays on track at the same time, it draws you in and there’s this sort of sensory that you get from the visuals,” Bae, the principal organizer of Art After Hours, said.

As with the Hiro piece, Bae believes that many people misunderstand contemporary art as they attempt to find the “purpose.” She explains, “It’s not this concrete ‘it means this, it means that’ controversy, but one thing that a lot of people will sense is this connection to the body. […]

When you’re talking about the body, you’re talking about the self, and so it becomes a form of identity through your physicality.”

“More than what [a piece] means, it’s just about what it makes you think and feel. What does it connect to? What does it pull out of you?” said Bae. In the courtyard outside the Pomona Museum College of Art, Aft After Hours hosts different activities and performances by local musicians each week in collaboration with KSPC. Crafts include DIY terrariums and coloring pages for adults.

The R.S.V.P. Los Angeles series also collaborates with campus groups to put on additional events on other nights of the week. At 7 p.m. on Oct. 8, the Scripps Student Art Collective will host the 7C Art Alliance event, a fondue mixer open to all students.

On Oct. 29, Art After Hours will have their showcase event, the “The R.S.V.P Los Angeles” Book Release Party.

Many of the artists are scheduled to appear. Art After Hours-- and most other R.S.V.P. Los Angeles events-- are free to the public and typically run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“It’s fun being around [the show] more than going through it once because you get to experience different moods, different takes, you see things that you didn’t see before. It’s pretty interesting,” information security officer Mary Roy said.

Art After Hours strives to create an art community within the colleges. “AAH is a venue, a platform, an event, a space for students from the 7Cs to come and pitch ideas,” Bae said. _____________ Bae encourages anyone interested in their events to ‘Like’ their Facebook page. General questions can be directed to museuminfo@pomona.edu. Students interested in becoming involved with planning events can contact Bae at justine.bae@pomona.edu, or visit her during Art After Hours.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

Sports • 5

ATHLETE PROFILE: Valerie Daifotis

By Sydney Sibelius ‘18 Staff Writer

T

hree years ago, students from the 5Cs came together to create a club field hockey team. As a traditionally East Coast sport, field hockey has not yet gained much popularity in California. However, enough student interest at the 5Cs led to the creation of a team, which is now in a collegiate league.

Valerie Daifotis ‘19 is from New Canaan, CT and grew up with a family of field hockey players. Following in the footsteps of her sisters led her to be interested in playing in college, and as a first year, she joined the 5C Club Field Hockey team.

TSV: Tell me about your history with field hockey.

VD: I had to play a sport when I started high school, which was 7th grade, and my sisters had all played field hockey, so I knew I was going to try it. I ended up loving it. I actually started playing goalie, which was fun at first, but I did not want to stick with it. I wanted to be out on the field.

After the first season, I moved on to defense and I loved it. I played in 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grades. I was on the junior school team, and then JV in 9th and 10th, and I was captain in 10th. That summer I had surgery and couldn’t play in the fall of my junior year, so then I was kind of worried about getting back into it the fall of my senior year with everything going on and having missed a season. So I

took that season off and knew that I wanted to play in college. Not super intensely, but I wanted to see if I could find a club team.

TSV: Tell me about the team here.

VD: The club team here only practices twice a week, which is good for my schedule here. We have games against other club teams, mostly the UC schools, and we alternate home and away. There is no coach, so it’s a student-run practice. It will be kind of nice and a little more casual. I know some people probably want the strictness of a more intense team, but from the practices I’ve been to, we know how to play, and a player can run the practice and it works just fine. It’s 5C and coed, though there is only one boy. That’s kind of expected, though; I don’t know any boys that play. It’s pretty small-- I think last year they might have only had 11 players, and field hockey is really big on the East Coast. Naturally it’s kind of unknown here. I think from who I’ve met, there are some West Coast players, but a lot of them are people out here who played in high school on the East Coast.

TSV: What’s your favorite thing about the sport?

VD: I think this goes for a lot of sports, but just being part of a team.

It’s a little cliche, but when I went to the first practice after not having played for two years, I really missed it. You feel really powerful when you’re on a field together. I really like

HUMANS

vs

Photo by Sydney Sibelius ‘18 First-year Valerie Daifotis, a Connecticut native, will play for the 5C Club Field Hockey Team.

having a stick and a ball and being able to hit something.

TSV: What are you most excited for with the team this year?

VD: Getting to know the players from other schools, and hopefully we can do some kind of team bonding to encourage the off-thefield connection. If you’re better friends with the players, it makes for more of a cohesive playing team.

I’m looking forward to just playing in general. I didn’t realize that I would have this option of playing on a club team here, and I’m happy it exists.

TSV: What is something unique to

ZOMBIES

Photo by Anita Ho ‘19 Humans versus Zombies, commonly known throughout the 5Cs as HvZ, will take place Oct. 6 through Oct. 10.

By Kandace Fung ‘19 Staff Writer

I

t’s almost that time: Oct. 6 through Oct. 10 marks the 2015 fall semester game of Humans versus Zombies (HvZ)! Happening once each semester, HvZ includes over 500 players from all 5Cs, making it one of the major substance-free activities hosted at the Claremont Colleges.

This game of tag starts off with a larger faction of humans and a smaller faction of zombies.

The zombies try to tag the humans to gain more zombies, while the humans protect themselves with either darts from a foam blaster or a rolledup sock ball. In addition to foam blasters and socks, there are certain props labeled “Claremont HvZ Game Prop. Please do not disturb.” to be used for some of the missions. As the game progresses with specific missions and projects, the zombie will faction increases, intensifying the game. Players in the game are identified with a lime-green bandana: humans wear it around their

arms above their elbows while zombies wear it around their heads (while active) or around their necks (while inactive – stunned).

Of course, like every game, HvZ has rules. The primary rule is DBAJ: “Don’t be a Jerk.” Respect others, be polite, and play fairly! Physical/mental/ sexual assault also falls under the DBAJ category.

The mod team, picked through an application process, will remove plays that violate that or any other rule during the game as they see fit, either for a duration of the game or for the entire game.

Non-players are not allowed to take part in the game in any form – they may not be used as shields, be attacked, gather darts, open doors, or be inquired about player whereabouts. Likewise, stunned players must follow the non-player rules.

When zombies are hit by a dart, sock, or disc anywhere but the face, they become stunned for ten minutes, and are therefore prohibited to block, help, or do anything that will aid their zombie faction or hurt the humans. Re-stuns on an inactive zombie will either set the zombie’s

field hockey that spectators might not know about?

VD: You might notice, especially at lower levels, that there is a lot of stop-and-go. You’ll get called if your foot touches the ball or if you block someone with your back. You have to make it fair for each player to be able to get the ball. There is a lot of turnaround. You’ll think when you’re watching, “why can’t they just play and get the ball up the field?”

Also, the skirts are cute, but not necessarily unique to field hockey.

But the stop-and-go nature of it is weird to people watching.

WHO WILL WIN? stun timer to 3 minutes or remain the same time(whichever is longest). If a zombie is caught cheating on their stun timer, the first violation will result in a ban from a mission; the second violation will result in a ban from the game. When asked how much time is left on the stun timer, the zombie must reply truthfully to the human.

Humans become zombies when they are tagged by a zombie with one hand only. After the human is tagged, they become stunned for ten minutes (three minutes if during a night mission) before activating as a zombie. In addition, after humans are tagged, they must give their feed card to the zombie(s) that tagged them, who will enter it into the feed page. All humans are issued a fiveletter feed code on their card and must keep it on them at all times; however, if they lose or forget it, the mods can assist them obtain their codes.

During the game, a day and night mission will be sent out via email (day mission emails sent out at 9:00 a.m., night mission emails sent out at 4:00 p.m.) to both humans and zombies each day. Some missions will have additional rules (explained in the email) and the results of the mission can sometimes turn around the entire game with changes in the plot and difficulty!

Students at the 5Cs can sign up for this Fall’s HvZ game from Sept. 28 through Oct. 5 at all of the dining halls during lunch. Volunteers for the sign-up tables are welcome!

For more information, like the HvZ Facebook page (Facebook.com/hvzclaremont), and/or contact mod@claremonthvz.org.

For more specific information about the game such as play zones, safe zones, human classes, blaster modifications, global ceasefires, mission upgrades, and more, check out the website: www.claremonthvz.com.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

SPOTL

6 PITZER

313 YALE AVE

Some argue The Grove House provides the best eatery on campus for breakfast and lunch. All ingredients are locally-grown, staffed by Pitzer students, and the bread is made in house.

The Grove House is open all day for student use, while the kitchen has limited hours for serving sandwiches and salads. The Grove House is located on the north edge of Pitzer College in front of the clock tower. Mon-Fri breakfast served at 8am, lunch served at 12:30pm.

Yale and Bonita i espresso drinks, an outside seatin coffee-date spot 10am-9pm. Sun

Grove house HARVEY MUDD

Shanahan roof garden

The rooftop of Harvey Mudd’s Shanahan Center is home to group study space, beautiful views and a great place for a to-go-box dinner. Filled with drought-resistant succulents, citrus trees, wooden floors and white boards, the roof of the Shanahan Center is a perfect hideout. Ascend the lit stairs on the west side of the Shanahan Center, located on the north side of Mudd. Open 24/7.

TOCAJA AT THE OTHER 5CS

POMONA

The Wash

435 W. FOOTHI

The Spo

is the place for ju and vegetable jui Located right nex Sun 8am-6pm.

224 YALE AVE

DEELUX

secondhand flan shopping and co 9:00pm and Sun

Southeast of Frank dining hall and behind Studio Art Hall, the Pomona Wash contains Pomona’s Organic Farm. The Wash provides a less-developed outdoor area of walking paths and gardens.

Check out the outdoor amphitheater and Pomona Farm cooking workshops. Open Sunrise to Sunset.

JUST OFFCAMPUS

If you want to get away from Scripps but don’t feel like a walk to The Claremont Village, here are some hidden gems on the 5Cs to explore.

By Madeleine Edwards ‘18

SARLO

MT. BALDY, CLAREMO

MOUNT BA

hiking trails for students frequent hiker of Baldy, re summit is cool— it’s stre tree line it feels like a diff there’s also a creek up th there are good parts for s

111 RAGING WATERS

RAGING WA

open in the area, Raging ter slides, thrill rides, and more water-fun at a lowe where visitors can swim

8916 E. FOOTHILL BLV

KLATCH CO

Coffeehouse is just a sho coffee roasters that prov a funky coffeehouse on E an off-campus study spa very local vibe. All the ba ing. Also, I really like their 9pm. Wed-Fri 6:30am-10

GETTIN

The Student Activities and Residential Lif outings for students throughout the year, such as the r on their Facebook page or emails about what’s coming through SARLO and gain access to Scripps rental vehi SARLO is located next to Frankel-Routt Hall and SCOR

TIERNAN BIKE RENTALS

For use ar Bike Shop rents bikes for a 24-hour period to Scripps s House for information about where to get a bike. Perfe campus Pomona.

01 October, 2015 • The Scripps

LIGHT

7 211 W. 1ST ST

A CAFE

Located near the intersection of in The Village, Tocaja’s menu includes artisan teas, boba and thick toast. With a rustic atmosphere and ng area, the recently-opened Tocaja is the perfect new or off-campus study space. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm. Sat 9:30am-3pm.

PETISCO’S

Located on 1st street, Petisco’s is easy to miss. On the menu are fusion tacos combining Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican cuisine to create some local favorites like the K-Town, a taco with short rib, toasted sesame seeds, Shishito peppers and fresno chilies. A place for lunch in the village or to hang out on a warm night, Petisco’s hosts an outdoor seating area with a bonfire pit. Mon Closed.

Tue-Thurs 11am-9pm. Fri-Sat 11am-10pm. Sun 11am-3pm.

ILL BLVD

ot

109 YALE AVE

Not in The Village, but equally close, The Spot uice and sandwiches. With an extensive menu of fruit ices, The Spot offers healthy lunch and snack options. xt to Trader Joe’s. Mon-Fri 6am-8pm, Sat 7am-8pm.

TAKE A SHORT WALK

X

A village staple, Deelux is the spot to buy some nnel or consign old treasures. Deelux provides thrift ostume apparel. The shop is open Mon-Sat 11:00amnday 12:00pm-6:00pm.

CK CAFE

CK Cafe hides behind Espiau’s in The Village. Given its covert location, CK Cafe remains elusive to many.

The Cafe offers a huge selection of tea, hookah and exceptional character. Enter through the back alley off of Yale. MonThurs 2pm-midnight, Fri-Sat noon-midnight, Sun 12pm-10pm.

ONT

NORTHERN END OF MILLS AVE

Mt. Baldy, north of Claremont, is host to to explore on a weekend. Lindsey Aronson ‘18, a ecommends the trail to the summit.“The trail to the enuous but I really like it because once you break the ferent universe than “the inland empire.” It’s pretty, here that is really nice; I hiked along it recently and swimming and hanging out.”

The Claremont Loop starts at the north end of Mills Ave, where the road dead ends into the foothills. A 5-mile loop up the hills and back provides great outdoor exercise and views south. It is a moderate hike, perfect to do with friends. Do be wary of tarantulas, rattlesnakes and mountain lions, especially at dusk.

Don’t forget to bring water, as the trail is exposed and gets hot.

ALDY

S DR, SAN DIMAS

ATERS

One of the last water parks remaining Waters is open on the weekends and is home to wad wave pools. Mon-Fri closed. Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. For er cost, check out the nearby Bonnelli Regional Park in the Puddingstone Reservoir, fish, or hike.

With a vehicle, Klatch ort drive from campus in Rancho Cucamonga. The vide all of the Motley’s beans, Klatch also provides E Foothill. Kimaya Gokhale ‘18 frequents Klatch for ace with few distractions, “I feel like that place has a aristas are really friendly and their scones are amazr mint teas and hot chocolates.” Mon-Tue 6:30am0pm. Sat 7am-10pm. Sun 7:30am-9pm.

NG THERE

fe Office (SARLO) organizes and facilitates recent L.A. County Fair excursion. Keep an eye g up. Students can also register to be drivers icles. Charge is only a $20 deposit plus gas!

RE. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

1500 N. COLLEGE AVE

THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Immediately north of campus near the foothills are the Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. Offering a discounted entrance fee to students, the gardens provide a serene off-campus place to enjoy California flora and fauna.

Rachel Geller ‘18 says, “I love the beauty and serenity I can find at the botanical gardens.

The gardens also feature plants from every region of California, so you can basically take a walking tour of the entire state!” Everyday 8am-5pm.

23 E. COLORADO BLVD, PASADENA

OLD PASADENA

LVD

OFFEEHOUSE

CLAREMONT LOOP

Just a 30 minute drive from Claremont on the 210-W can take students to lively Old Pasadena. A great neighborhood to explore with international cuisine, shopping, live music, and shows. Check out a play at the Pasadena Playhouse or a weekend concert at the Levitt Pavilion (named for a Scripps alumnae!).

FURTHER AFOOT

CLAREMONT RIDESHARE

If you’re in need of a ride to the airport or any location in the nearby area, request to join the Claremont Colleges Rideshare Facebook group to connect with other students driving around the city. Plan to pitch in gas money and make a new friend.

METROLINK

The Claremont Metrolink station is served by the San Bernardino Line and can take you straight into downtown Los Angeles in 1 hour for $14 roundtrip. One block from Union Station is historic Olvera Street, or transfer to a bus to explore Los Angeles. Find the station at 200 W. 1st St. in Claremont. Expect delays on your travels and plan ahead carefully as lines close early or run irregularly.

ZIPCAR

round campus or into The Village, the Scripps students. Check in at the front desk of the Field Zipcar is a national car sharing company that is present on the 5C’s. Register on Zipect for a trip to Trader Joe’s, The Village, or south car’s website then reserve and take a car from campus. A convenient way to make a quick Target or Montclair Plaza run! Expect annual fees and per trip fees. www.zipcar.com

Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

8 • Features

TRANGENDER POLITICS AT SCRIPPS

By Jay Marks ‘19 LGBTQ+ Columnist

A

s a queer student at the 5Cs, one of the first things I did was seek out a group for other students like me. I found such a group, titled Claremont Safe Space, created by a transgender man at Pitzer. Joining the group was at first disheartening, not because it wasn’t a safe and healthy environment, but because initially, none of the people who introduced themselves were nonbinary, or identifying outside of the binary of men and women. Eventually, someone introduced himself as nonbinary, but using he/him pronouns. However, the more interesting thing about this person was that he went to Scripps. When I asked him why, he told me that he had applied early decision, deciding to just not come out for the next four years, but then had changed his mind. This brought up an interesting concept for me, because I had, until recently, thought that Scripps was an all-women’s school. Further research into this topic led me to conduct two interviews, one with Laura Stratton, Director of Admission, and the other with Charlotte Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

The Scripps Voice: What are qualities that you look for in Scripps students?

Laura Stratton: The Scripps admission process is holistic and personal. We want to ensure that students entering Scripps can succeed in Scripps' rigorous academic environment, contribute to the intellectual community, engage in the residential experience, participate in activities that inspire them, and leave Scripps with the tools to lead productive and interesting lives. How we evaluate that is by looking at a student's academic record, multiple letters of recommendation, personal statement, standardized test scores, and (when available) interview comments and portfolios. We don't have a prescribed set of prerequisites, academic or otherwise. We do look

for students who have challenged themselves appropriately, are looking for an interdisciplinary, collaborative, intensive intellectual environment, and want to be a part of a small, residential college.

TSV: How does admissions take into account students who are trans women, trans men, or gender nonconforming?

LS: This is the first year of the [transgender] admission policy, so we will be addressing that this year. First, this is the first year that students who check legal sex 'male' will be able to add Scripps on the Common App. We still retain our identity as a women's college when students search for Scripps on the Common App, though. We have also added a question to our member screen on the Common Application, which reads: Scripps College is a women’s college and considers admission for any applicant (i) whose current birth certificate reflects their sex as female or (ii) who identifies as female. If you answered that the sex on your current birth certificate is male, do you identify as a female?

TSV: Do you feel that having students who do not identify as women (i.e. trans men, gender nonconforming students) takes away from the mission of this college?

Charlotte Johnson: Our mission as a women’s college remains unchanged and we continue to acknowledge that gender inequities still exist in society. We believe that we can be gender inclusive and embrace our mission as a premier women’s college.

TSV: If you could give advice to trans and/or gender nonconforming youth about acclimating to a culture that is geared towards women, what would you say?

CJ: I would tell them to be themselves. I would also assure them that we support the intellectual and personal growth of all Scripps students, regardless of their gender identity.

Johnson maintains that the concept and the mission of Scripps as a women’s college remains pure, despite the new policy.

“...this is the first year that students who check legal sex 'male' will be able to add Scripps on the Common App.” According to Stratton, under the new policy, a variety of students with different gender backgrounds may apply. This includes anyone whose legal sex is female, and those whose legal sex is male but identify as female (transgender women).

The second interview, with Charlotte Johnson, addressed more of the life of students at Scripps who are transgender and/or gender-nonconforming.

The responses I received from Johnson and Stratton are encouraging. Although I personally would not apply to Scripps because of my gender identity, the admissions board is inclusive of students who are legally female or who identify as such, which is a huge step in the right direction, and encouraging to transgender youth.

BISEXUAL VISIBILITY WEEK

By Sasha Rivera ‘19 Staff Writer

G

reed, promiscuity and confusion.

These are some of the things that first come to mind for some uninformed people when confronted with the topic of bisexuality. From Sept. 20 to Sept. 26, the internationally-recognized Bisexuality Visibility Week aims to break these negative and inaccurate stereotypes and to educate the public about this particular sexual orientation. The Queer Resource Center (QRC) at Pomona College held special events throughout the week, including a group dinner with Dr. Tania Israel, a professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. Dr. Israel also gave a TEDx talk on bisexuality, the video of which was featured at one of the event days for the QRC. Bisexuality is commonly perceived as a 50/50 attraction to men and women.

However, this definition is incorrect in that it upholds the gender binary and misconstrues the levels of attraction to various genders, which vary for each individual. Actually, bisexuality is the attraction to two or more genders. These attractions are not divided perfectly at all times. Rather, attractions may vary from time to time; a bisexual person could go through a period of being more attracted to feminine individuals, and then later experience a phase of attraction to masculine-presenting people. There is no set formula for bisexuality; what gender(s) a person is attracted to, and how strongly at a certain time, varies individual to individual.

A common issue bisexuals face is erasure by those within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. Bisexuals are often seen as confused and unable to decide whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. When a bisexual is in a relationship with someone of the same gender, they are automatically assumed

to be homosexual, and vice versa with someone of the opposite gender. These perceptions are often due to the apparent need for assumptions and labels within society, as well as ignorance to the fact that there are more sexual and romantic orientations than just gay and straight.

Another myth about bisexuality is that people who identify as bisexual are more promiscuous and more likely to cheat due to their attractions to multiple genders. However, sexual and romantic orientations have no correlation to promiscuity. How often one has sex or is unfaithful to a partner is based solely on the individual themselves, not on a community identity.

These are only some of the issues Dr. Israel addressed in her TEDx talk, which the QRC played on Tues, Sept.

22. In the video, Dr. Israel discussed the idea of bisexuality and her own identity, and then focused on the relation of bisexuality to nonbinary gender systems.

She discussed her own internal conflicts

of being bisexual and trying not to uphold the gender binary divisions of just man and woman. On Sept. 25, Dr. Israel spoke in person at the Kravis Center about bisexuality and the experiences of bisexual people to all Claremont College students, faculty, and staff who attended the event. She elaborated on many of the topics she did not have the chance to include in her TEDx talk, especially about the gender spectrums and the almost infinite possibilities for gender identity. This talk was followed by a dinner at the QRC, where students had the opportunity to ask questions and hold mutual discussions in a more intimate setting. Many shared their own experiences with their identities and answered questions about coming out, the relationship between attraction and gender, and how to make the Claremont Colleges more bisexual-friendly.

1 October, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

Features • 9

on arguments against trigger warnings of people with the same attributes, but when you pull one strawberry bean— ONE—

By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 unless you study a very large number of out of the bag. And it gets better. “The data Mental Health Columnist & Webmaster this population, you are not very likely to indicate that about half of rape survivors Content warning: PTSD, invalidation (especially of trigger warnings), sexual assault, exposure therapy, flooding.

W

hen I see articles like “Hazards Ahead: The Problem With Trigger Warnings, According to the Research” (link is below) in my Facebook newsfeed, I get really pissed off. If you’ve seen my other articles or heard me talk (ever), you’ll know how I feel about people invalidating mental health and trigger warnings. This article’s author, Richard J. McNally, takes some common, faulty views and “backs them up” with “research.” He begins the article with an explanation of the topic in general, then he discusses five studies on PTSD, using information gathered in said studies to make a case that trigger warnings do more harm than good. As a journalist, I also found this article problematic in approach and integrity, so I will now combine both standpoints and share with you the reasons I feel that it is dangerous and inappropriate.

My problem with the article starts in the second paragraph at, “warn readers away from potentially disturbing content.” First, this is not what trigger warnings do. They are not “warning” readers to not read something, they are giving readers information so that they can make an informed decision about something that could devastatingly affect their mental health. Individual responses to triggers vary greatly, but often the physiological reactions are similar to other anxiety disorders-hypervigilance, flashbacks, dissociation, etc. Basically, the trigger signals that there is danger and a person goes into “fight or flight” mode.

McNally states that the trigger warning “originated in the feminist blogosphere in part to emphasize the frequency of sexual assault in America and the trauma that can come with it.” Okay. That might be a fact, but he uses it in a context of dismissal, implying, “Ugh, those political correctness fanatic feminists are at it again!” I think that is editorializing and not relevant in an article that is about how studies show that trigger warnings might be overblown (the studies that supposedly “show” this are problematic themselves, by the way. More on this later).

Using “discomfort” to trivialize the response a person can have to a trigger, McNally continues with, “But as the following studies show, these warnings may be counterproductive.” Now, I’m no expert, but in three years of statistics and analysis of articles relating to scientific study, I would be inclined to think that he is jumping to conclusions. Not just jumping to them, but hopping on a spaceship and flying 25 thousand mph to them, as we will see when I get to these studies. A few small studies may indicate a pattern in the individuals studied and may be applied to the population

get much more than a vague idea about your topic. Not enough to say that trigger warnings are definitively “counterproductive.”

Plus, giving someone a heads-up so they can be mentally ready for something that can hurt them does not halt recovery. It prevents derailment of recovery, and allows a person agency in their own recovery. A grand total of zero of these studies actually studied trigger warnings. McNally uses studies about PTSD to make statements about trigger warnings, when trigger warnings are about more than PTSD. He’s using these studies as “scientific” information to back up a predetermined, faulty view on trigger warnings that I’ve found a lot of the public shares.

McNally says that trigger warnings “underestimate the resilience of most trauma survivors.” No, they don’t. Unless they say, “Hey, weakling. You’re too weak to handle the content in this material, so you should just not look at it.” I see trigger warnings as informed consent— a way to help someone know what they’re getting into. I have never read a trigger warning that I felt was insulting. I can’t speak for everyone, of course.

But isn’t McNally saying, in effect, that being triggered means you aren’t resilient? If he’s talking about a kind of inherent psychological resistance, he needs to specify that. Otherwise, his implication is just plain wrong.

McNally uses statistics in a sneaky way to try to convince readers of the dangers of trigger warnings. By giving readers numbers, he’s waving “science” in their faces, hoping they won’t look past the percentages to see the actual meaning behind them. He tells us, “...only 9.2 percent of the subjects [who experienced trauma, which was 89.6 percent of them] developed PTSD.” Only 9.2 percent?

Only?!? That’s about 26,385,659 people in the United States, based on those percentages.

Does it really matter that it isn’t the majority?

He’s basically saying, “Well, it’s not even 10 percent, so trigger warnings are not worth the inconvenience of a minute of my precious time.” Yeah, equality, respect, and peace of mind are overrated. Sure.

Looking beyond McNally’s numbers, we can see that another study that he uses to support his claim has a sample size of 95 women. I’d have failed statistics if I thought that 95 was a big enough sample to make statements about the population, which is roughly 1,684,210 times greater. That’s like having a bag of 1.5 million jelly beans and assuming they’re all strawberry-flavored

In effect, those who oppose trigger warnings are also saying that they don’t care that trigger warnings prevent harm to marginalized people.

el niño and the drought

By Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Environmental Columnist

S

ince the beginning of 2015, meteorologists have been predicting a “massive” El Niño due to hit this winter. For native Southern Californians, this prediction may sound familiar; however, El Niño may be a brand new concept for those hailing from out of state. El Niño is a cyclical weather pattern that occurs every 4-8 years in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (the side of the Pacific nearest to the Americas). Originating off of the coast of Peru, it is triggered by a sudden change in the trade winds that normally blow in from the East. When these trade winds don’t blow in, the Eastern Pacific’s normally cool sea surface temperatures increase rapidly, causing adverse weather conditions throughout throughout the west coast of the Americas. These changes in weather patterns typically include drought in the Amazon and heavy rains throughout California.

Not all El Niños are equal in magnitude. In 1997, El Niño rocked weather patterns across the entire earth, causing massive drought and wildfires in Indonesia and bringing an Indonesian Monsoon to California. This winter’s El Niño is predicted to be of similar magnitude. It could bring the most rain that California has seen since at least 1997, if not the most rain ever recorded in the state. In

recover naturally from PTSD within three months of the assault.” Okay, but does that mean that we’re allowed to bombard these people with unlabeled triggers because ~maybe~ their traumatic experience was a long time ago? Again, as long as we aren’t mesmerized by “half of survivors recover,” we can see that he is unacceptably dismissing the other half and those whose trauma happened fewer than three months ago.

Note that PTSD rates are not going to be 100% accurate because they are based on whether people can get a diagnosis or not, and the people who experience the most trauma due to intersectional violence are also less likely (due to lack of economic means, lack of access to therapy, internalized stigma against therapy, etc.) to seek the professional help which would lead to a diagnosis. And not everyone who would benefit from trigger warnings has PTSD. McNally also made me really mad by citing exposure therapy. I’ve seen this “argument” employed frequently against trigger warnings. Exposure may be the most effective treatment statistically, but you do not have a right to force exposure on someone.

Exposure therapy is about starting with minor associations and proving them safe and slowly working up to bigger obstacles. For example, if you have a paralyzing phobia of heights, you may work from looking outside a second-story window, to images from higher up, to eventually standing at the top of a skyscraper and looking down. You don’t start their therapy on the observation deck of the Sears Tower (glass floors and 1,450 ft up). When you force exposure in that kind of intensity, it’s called “flooding” and it is actually extremely dangerous and can worsen the condition.

Similarly, some people overcome allergies over time, but if someone were to suddenly jump out of a tree and rub me with a cat, I’d probably not be able to breathe and my health would be in danger. Treat psychological phenomena the same way.

The language used in McNally’s argument also doesn’t prove his point that trigger warnings are detrimental to recovery.

“Prolonged exposure therapy” and “working with their therapists” indicate that long-term therapy is a good thing. So… does that mean triggers are a good thing? Maybe, if they involve knowing beforehand and going into therapy for a long time first. As I said earlier, triggers put people at the risk of flooding, which destroys recovery progress and often

the midst of the worst drought in California’s recorded history, it’s understandable that most Californians are excited about this prospect.

Months of heavy rain is a welcome change to endless sunshine and blistering heat. However, it’s important that we have a realistic idea about what this winter’s El Niño could mean. Will El Niño end our drought? The answer is almost certainly a “no.” So what does this year’s El Niño mean?

Experts agree that rain will provide a respite to the parched conditions that have prevailed in California for the past five years. However, Californians must remain cautious about their water consumption, even in the face of rain. This is largely because even experts don’t know exactly how El Niño will affect California. Our current lack of knowledge is due in part because El Niño’s effect depends largely on which part of the state it impacts.

While rainfall in Northern California could blanket the Sierra’s in snow and fill the drying reservoirs of the Central Valley, an El Niño that is restricted to Southern California would largely run straight into the ocean, bringing with it all our waste and pollutants.

Then there is La Niña, the lesser-known sister of El Niño, which often comes the following winter. In the year following El Niño, La Niña usually brings a reversal of the previous year’s extreme weather conditions. For California, this could mean an intensely dry year following this year’s El Niño. This was true for California in 19981999, following the heavy rainfall of the 1997 El Niño.

makes the case worse. I see absolutely no link between working with a trained professional over a long period of time and reading a detailed account of rape in a reading you thought was safe.

Before I conclude this article, I would like to explain why I believe trigger warnings are an intersectional social justice issue, and how it is in this context that I find Richard J. McNally’s article irresponsible.

You might notice that the article I’ve been critiquing here doesn’t mention the fact that people with gender identities other than cis female experience PTSD and sexual assault. Marginalized gender identities are statistically exposed to violence on a greater scale, and are more likely to be invalidated, bullied and oppressed by institutions of power. The likelihood of experiencing violence increases at the intersections of marginalized identities. For example, a trans person of color who is also disabled and has already experienced trauma is far more likely to experience it again, while a cis white male is in a place of privilege and therefore is less likely to experience trauma. (Note that this is not to say that he isn’t subject to violent or traumatic events. Something like a natural disaster does not discriminate, though the research in the McNally article speaks mostly about sexual assault, which does discriminate.) This briefly explains some of the differences in traumatic experiences that lead to uneven rates of PTSD. Not seeking help also has implications for recovery. The studies in the McNally article demonstrated that exposure therapy with a professional over a period of time is the most effective recovery method. It is also a very expensive recovery method. This leads to incomplete, delayed, or nonexistent recovery in those who can’t afford or are told they don’t need therapy. So, in effect, those who oppose trigger warnings are also saying that they don’t care that trigger warnings prevent harm to marginalized people.

To drive my point home, I want to apply arguments against trigger warnings to a situation to show how ridiculous they sound.

Say someone throws a brick at your head out of nowhere (in my analogy, hurling a trigger at you with no warning). How would this person justify not warning you? “The real world doesn’t warn you about flying bricks!” “A brick will fly at you sooner or later,” “Don’t be so sensitive!” “Not throwing bricks at people limits my freedom of expression,” “Just don’t go outside if you don’t want to experience the brick!” According to McNally, you’d only be in “discomfort” after a brick hits you. I’ll let you judge this for yourself.

For further reading, I recommend this article: http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/07/ opposing-trigger-warnings/ The article I critique: http://www.psmag.com/health-and-

In recent decades, El Niño years have become increasingly common as part of a pattern of weather extremes that accompanies global warming. Their increasing frequency is most likely due to steadily rising average sea surface temperatures compounded with the sudden rise in sea surface temperatures that precedes El Niño. The fact that 1997 brought one of the heaviest rainfalls in California’s recorded history, and that this winter could once again top that record, is the flip side of the current drought conditions. From wildfires to heavy rainfalls, the landscape of the west is changing, and this is a fact that we must learn how to cope with. So, how can we learn from this year’s El Niño?

Hopefully, El Niño will spur Southern California towards change in its methods of harvesting rainwater.

One method of achieving this is through the restoration of its rivers, most of which are currently paved in concrete.

A concrete river can’t filter water or prevent runoff, but a restored river naturally provides a buffer against flooding, runoff, and erosion, making it easier to collect rainwater. The harvesting and conservation of rainwater is crucial if Southern California’s future looks anything like recent years-- characterized by persistent drought with infrequent but intense bouts of rain. California’s lawmakers have deliberated on such projects in recent years. Hopefully, El Niño will motivate them to take action.

What can we do as individuals? First of all, enjoy the rain. But remember that we are still in the midst of drought. So continue to conserve water, educate yourself on issues related to climate change, and advocate for further change.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

10 • Features

OPINION POLL: drought measures

By Taylor Galla ‘18 Opinion Poll Columnist

R

eturning to campus this year, I knew most things were going to be the same: the dorms have the same old and comfortable feel, the Motley has the same zestful energy, and Balch still stands elegant and proud. However, I knew one thing about campus was going to have changed: the landscaping.

One of the biggest mysteries of the summer was what the landscaping on campus was going to look like coming back, as late last year there was buzz about significant changes that were going to happen due to the extreme drought. This is one of the worst droughts on record and has been in a state of emergency since Jan. 2015. One of the most important and distinctive characteristics of Scripps is its beautiful campus, full of greenery and life that brightens the environment and contributes significantly to the pleasant campus culture. At least once each day last year I would be walking between classes and catch an incredible view of one of the lawns or a shadow of a tree and have a moment of appreciation for the place where I live. I, along with others, was worried that the changing environmental patterns of the past few years and the subsequent resource deficit was going to take that away.

Once I returned to campus, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the beautiful environment had not changed-the grass was a different shade of green and a couple lawns had been replaced with stones, but other than that I have not been visually missing anything. Due to how much the campus really matters in terms of Scripps’ campus environment, I wanted to ask the student body what their thoughts are on the recent changes. This is what I found.

My question for this issue’s poll was “What are your thoughts on the recent changes to campus in response to California’s severe drought?” The responses varied pretty significantly. With a total of 97 responses, the breakdown was as follows: 22 people (22.9%) chose “I am satisfied and I think they’re absolutely necessary,” 25 people (26%) chose “Although I acknowledge that the changes needed to happen, I am not as happy as I was about how it looks,” 3 people (3.1%) went with “I am disappointed in the amount of change

Photo courtesy of Scripps College News

and think we still need to do more in terms of landscaping and water usage for plants,” 34 people (35.4%) chose “I think beyond just changes in landscape Scripps needs to make substantial changes to its policies surrounding environmental conservation efforts,” and 12 people (12.5%) selected the “Other” option and gave their comments. While I appreciate each and every one of them, I do not have the space to discuss all of the comments-- however, most of them were recommendations (such as putting grey stones in place of dirt between GJW and Kimbo, reducing water levels in the toilets, and serving more environmentallyconscious food in Malott) for future improvements.

These responses did not surprise me, as I expected mixed feelings about the changes to campus. Although in the grand scheme of things very little is visually very different, it is difficult to adapt to environmental conditions that are largely out of our control, and to give up parts of campus that we all love. The grass is not as soft to lay on, there are not as many spots to lay out at the pool, and there are not as many sprawling lawns.

But on the other hand, there are some areas in California that are completely out of water, including Merced, CA, Hanford, CA and Modesto, CA, and we all must do our part. Due to mass production of waterintensive products like beef and almonds that are distributed all over the country, as well as the decreased levels of rain over the past four years, California is now experiencing an emergency-level drought.

It calls for sacrifices to be made, which is difficult for many. I think it’s important

that Scripps students are willing to engage the issue and acknowledge that the campus environment that we are used to having is no longer reasonable, given what the state is experiencing. Although being surrounded by plenty of greenery, a full-size swimming pool, and the koi pond in Seal Court can make it easy to forget that California is in trouble and that all the resources we’re used to having are still accessible, this is not the case.

What I am proud of is that despite the bummer of having to give up parts of campus that contribute to making it the exceptionally beautiful place that it is, many students are still willing to do more. Many care about the environment as well as this campus, and want to come up with innovative ideas in order

to find a solution for both. A big part of my attachment to this campus, as well as my identity as a Scripps student, is its beauty and the contrast between it and other campuses at the 5Cs. This is not to say that the other campuses are not beautiful, but there is something about the fact that Scripps’ campus almost feels like a garden-- full of growing life and beauty-- that separates it from the rest.

Since our surroundings influence how we live and learn, and Scripps’ campus has been given numerous awards by the City of Claremont for its beauty, the campus is quite imperative to students’ lives here. While some things are being challenged by the shrinking resources, there is a way to enjoy most of the perks of this campus that we are used to having while also being responsible citizens and adapting to the shifting environmental climate. We do not have to lose our oasis-like identity as a campus in order to become environmentally friendly, and I think others are motivated to further these efforts. To become involved with these efforts- check out the Scripps Garden Club, Scripps Water Task Force, Scripps Climate Justice- and many other environmental clubs where your ideas could be heard and acted upon!

Additionally, I want to wholeheartedly appreciate all the efforts and dedication that the entire Grounds staff put into the changes to campus this summer and throughout the beginning of this school year. The new additions look very good and were responsible responses to the drought-- Thank you!

Poll for NEXT ISSUE: How often do you feel victimized or targeted by Scripps stereotypes?

• • • • • • • • • • •

All the time- and I don’t appreciate it All the time- and I don’t mind it All the time-- and I embrace it Sometimes, not often- but it still bothers me when it does happen Sometimes, not often- and it doesn’t bother me Sometimes, not often- and I embrace it when it does happen Hardly at all- but I think that it is a problem and should be addressed Hardly at all- and I don’t see it as a problem Hardly at all- and I embrace it when it does happen Never Not sure what the Scripps stereotype is

Go to thescrippsvoice.com to share your response!

how (not) to talk about menstruation

By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 Feminism Columnist

T

he crimson curse. That time of the month. On the rag. The period. Aunt Flo and Uncle Red. There are a lot of euphemisms out there used to talk-- or, one could argue, to not talk-- about menstruation. Although for many, menstruation happens around once a month and is therefore very common, it is still a topic that contains a lot of stigma and elicits hushed tones and abashed voices-- an effort to hide something very normal and natural in many lives. Individuals who menstruate are taught that it is a specifically private thing and should not be discussed in the public sphere. The words that we use to discuss periods in society, such as “unsanitary,” “wasteful,” “painful,” “dirty” and many more also illustrates the ways in which society has socialized individuals into believing that conversations surrounding this topic should be swept under the rug. These negative connotations perpetuate the idea that menstruating is something abnormal. While it’s perfectly acceptable to want to keep certain parts about yourself private, it’s also important that those who wish to engage in these types of conversations can do so without reprimands or embarrassment. As a society, we need to work towards the social normalization of the period so that no one is made to feel the guilt and humiliation that is often associated with this process.

Last year, a group of anti-feminist users from the website 4chan tried to start the “free bleeding” movement on Twitter by creating fake accounts to persuade women that sanitary pads were oppressive in order to show how irrational they believed feminists were. Their aim was to get enough media coverage on this “trend” and “make shitty, hairy, feminazis mad, because [periods are] dirty and disgusting.” While it was a sad attempt at best, some users did bring up some well-founded concerns about periods such as being made to feel “embarrassed and ashamed during menstruation.” While the 4chan free blood movement might have been a hoax, there are plenty of individuals out there who have chosen to make a statement using their own menstrual blood in constructive ways. In April, Kiran Ghandi was looking forward to running the London marathon. When she discovered the night before that she had begun her period, Ghandi chose to not use a tampon and to free bleed during those 26.2 miles. She spoke about her experiences in a post for medium.com saying, “As I ran, I thought to myself about how women and men have both been effectively socialized to pretend periods don’t exist.

Because it is all kept quiet, women are socialized not to complain or talk about their own bodily functions, since no one can see it happening.” Buzzfeed also showcased the work of Jen Lewis, who used her period blood to create abstract paintings in fishtanks. Her goal for the project was to “normalize the menstruation process.”

Recently, The Huffington Post also presented the work of Carina Ubeda, an artist from Chile, who saved five years worth of menstrual cloths to create her own exhibit.

Each cloth was embroidered with words like “production” and was hung into an embroidery hoop next to rotting apples that she says were used to symbolize ovulation.

These acts of art, while shocking to some, can help to open up discussion and to create an environment that de-stigmatizes the human body.

While conversations like these are important in relieving some of the stigma that individuals face, movements that focus on menstruation are often thought of as particularly white feminist in the sense that these often do not become intersectional conversations and tend to equate being a woman with having a vagina and uterus. These criticisms are particularly necessary because they allow us to change the ways we talk about menstruation to become more inclusive and less transphobic or ableist. Vaginas and menstruation are not the end-all-be-all to the feminist movement, but it is helpful for those people who do experience the stigma from their period to have an outlet and space in order to combat negative and harmful comments and views.

By de-stigmatizing the period, we are making it easier for people to learn about their bodies and their health in a manner that creates visibility around the realities of their experiences.

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

love & mercy A

t first glance, “Love & Mercy” (2015) seems to be a biopic of the life of Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys, but the film is much more than that: it’s a story of genius, trauma, and music. In capturing the complexity of ups and downs in Wilson’s life, director Bill Polahd makes the bold choice of focusing in on two distinct time periods of Wilson’s life, which encompass the best and worst years of his career and were complicated by drugs and mental illness. While half of the scenes are sporadically set in the ‘60s during the making of the Beach Boys’ highly acclaimed album, “Pet Sounds,” the other half of the scenes are set in the ‘80s during Wilson’s mental breakdown, entanglement with his abusive therapist, Eugene Landy (Paul Giomatti), and eventual rescue by his second wife Melinda Ledbetter

By Ali Bush ‘19 Staff Writer

Paul Dano as young Brian Wilson.

Photo courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Opinions • 11 (Elizabeth Banks). The storyline beautifully bounces from one era to the next and back again, weaving two very different experiences in Wilson’s life into one cohesive picture and taking the viewer on an unexpected ride.

In abandoning orthodox, linear storytelling methods Polahd emphasizes the most important element of the film: Wilson’s music.

Both eras of Wilson’s life were extremely moving. With Paul Dano playing a young and ambitious Wilson, the scenes set in the ‘60s create a kaleidoscope of images ranging from LSD-induced dream sequences to intense studio sessions to traumatic anxiety attacks. These scenes truly are an homage to Wilson’s musical genius

The Beach Boys as portrayed in the film.

Photo courtesy of Forbes.

and the intense energy he put into the masterpiece that is “Pet Sounds.” Scenes in which Wilson is writing and orchestrating his music are magnificently directed and are truly the most powerful scenes in the movie. By dissecting the layers of songs and isolating the base lines and Wilson’s haunting vocal tracks to the songs we all know and love — such as “God only Knows” and “Good Vibrations” — even the most musically inept viewer becomes attuned to Wilson’s writing process and the genius behind his experimentation. We are given access to both the musical vision and troubling voices that collide in Wilson’s head, and Dano perfectly portrays Wilson as a gentle young man endowed by yet confused with this remarkable musical gift. As we see Wilson create his magnum opus, we also see him

Older Brian Wilson and his second wife, Melinda Ledbetter.

Portrayed by John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks.

Photo courtesy of Dailymotion.

kept from true happiness by his work’s bad reviews, his abusive father, and his anxiety .

Told through Wilson’s current wife’s point of view, the scenes set in the ‘80s focus less on Wilson’s music and more on Wilson’s attempted comeback album, mental illness, and relationship with his current wife, Melinda.

Despite looking distractingly nothing like Wilson or Dano, John Cusack gives a moving performance as an older Wilson hopelessly caught in the trap of his sleazy, manipulative therapist, Eugene Landy. These scenes provide the film with much more suspense and melodrama, while the scenes set in the ‘60s provide more of an introspective insight into Wilson’s music. Melinda and Brian’s relationship bring the entire movie together as she saves him from his over-prescribing therapist and truly cherishes him for his talent and soul.

Unlike other musical biopics which normally outline a musician’s rise to fame, fall, and then eventual comeback, this movie’s fluidity between two different time periods and stories flawlessly breaks down the linear methods of storytelling we are so used to. Similarly, creating scenes that contain only music and not dialogue may seem to be a difficult task, but through Dano’s acting and Polahd’s direction, these moments create a magical experience. The non-linear manner of “Love & Mercy” exposes how Wilson’s past and present are intertwined, and-- more importantly-- force the viewer to focus on the most important elements of the film: the music and the good vibrations.

W

hat happens to our clothes

By Natalie Camrud ‘17 & Diva Gattani ‘17 after we leave them at Fashion Columnists the doorstep of Goodwill or the

the

dirt about

donating clothes

Salvation Army? We usually walk away feeling good about ourselves. We’ve just done a good thing, right? Somebody in need will love and appreciate our used clothing, right? The ability to donate bags and bags of clothes eases our shopping guilt. I’ve had friends buy five new things at Forever 21 and then say “I’ll just donate five things and then it’ll be like I didn’t even buy this stuff!”

Unfortunately, most of our donated clothing does not always fall into the hands of someone in need like we imagine. So, what really happens after we’ve left our clothes behind?

In reality, only about ten per cent of clothing brought into donation centers is actually put out on the floor to be sold. Once the clothes that make the cut are on the floor, they are given a time frame, such as one month, in which they must be sold. If they are not sold by the end of the month, they are shipped with the nondesired clothing donations to textile recyclers, who decide whether the garments are “re-sellable.” The remaining clothes might get turned into insulation or carpet padding or industrial rags. Around 10.5 million tons of textile waste enters landfills every year.

The clothes deemed re-sellable get shipped in huge bales to other countries, such as Haiti, Ghana, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Sometimes textile recyclers will put unusable clothing in the middle and nicer clothing on the outside so that the purchaser cannot see the true condition of the used clothes they are buying. The second-hand textile trade is huge in Africa, and largely wipes out any local textile makers and artisans. This contributes to the unemployment of thousands of tailors and specialized workers, and hurts the area’s economy. Some African countries, like South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria, have tried to restrict or ban the flow of Western clothing imports in order to give their own industry a chance and to try to save traditional culture.

So, what’s the solution? What can you do to help? One thing is to buy only things you truly love and can never imagine getting rid of. And if you do decide to donate stuff, make sure it’s in good condition. Replace missing buttons and patch the holes, so it gives your clothes a better chance of actually getting sold. You can also repurpose your clothes. Use dye, bleach, studs, or scissors and you can make an entirely new item of clothing. Be creative with it! You’d be surprised at the amazing things you can make out of an old pair of jeans or a t-shirt. And if your clothes are too tattered or worn out, cut them up and use them for cleaning rags! There are plenty of easy things you can do. So next time, before you toss your clothes in a donation bin, think twice about the journey those clothes are about to take.

Sources: “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion,” by Elizabeth Cline www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/07/where-does-discarded-clothinggo/374613 shannonwhitehead.com/what-really-happens-to-your-donated-clothing

Photo courtesy of Goodwill

1 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two

12 • Arts & Entertainment THe COURTYARD Photos by Suzette Gusman ‘18

Scripps has many courtyards.Take a walk around and enjoy this one of many of the subtle beauties of the College!

Photo courtesy of Julia Pinedo ‘19

JULIA PINEDO ‘19 with Natasha Piñon ‘19, Staff Writer

From: Seattle, Washington THE SCRIPPS VOICE: What do you like about where you grew up?

JULIA PINEDO: I grew up in Seattle and it’s my favorite place in the world. I love the rain so much-- every time it rains, I’m so excited.

It makes the place so green and I love all the evergreen trees. It feels so desert-y out here in Southern California. Palm trees are not real trees, in my opinion-- I want more of the evergreens back. That’s my favorite thing about Seattle. It’s also a very open environment. There’re lots of different people there, lots of different cultures, a very cool music scene-- it’s just a fun place to be.

TSV: What did you have in mind when you woke up this morning?

JP: My friends slept over in my dorm last night so I was trying to be quiet so I didn’t wake them up because I was the one with the earliest class.

I was just thinking about getting done with my classes and then being able to come to Tiernan Field House [to work]. [I was also thinking about] the whole weekend because I love the weekend so much.

TSV: Who would play you in the movie of your life?

JP: Hopefully myself because I like to act.

TSV: What do you like so far about Scripps?

JP: It’s a really, really welcoming environment. So

far, everything has been fantastic and I haven’t even been homesick yet. I’m from Seattle so I’m not that far away and I do have some family nearby, but [...] this place already feels like my home.

TSV: What is your dream job?

JP: I would really like to work in [any facet of] the video game industry. I would love to write the scripts and storylines for the games. I’d like to do the actual programming. I’d like to be a voice actor. Literally any part-- I just love [video games] so much.

TSV: Do you have a favorite video game?

JP: I really love Dragon Age. That’s my favorite right now.

TSV: What trend do you intend to bring to Scripps?

JP: Something I would like to be a really big trend at Scripps is water conservation, but I’m probably not the right person to be bringing that trend here because I take long showers and I feel really guilty about it. I go outside and it’s so warm and I feel sweaty so I feel gross if I don’t shower and then I take long showers and then I feel guilty. But still, I hope the trend that comes to Scripps is water conservation. I’ll do my best on that as well.

For full profile, go to thescrippsvoice.com

01 October, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Two