18 September 2014
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Women’s colleges Accepting Self-identified females By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Staff Writer
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ecently, both Mills College in Oakland, California and Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts changed their acceptance policies to allow applications from all selfidentified women. Scripps is currently working on clarifying its own admissions policy. In Fall 2013, a Gender Identity and Expression Committee was formed at Mills and their policy change was unanimously accepted in the spring. Mills then became the first singlesex college in the United States to begin to accept applications from all self-identified women. This new policy states that any student who self-identifies as female is now eligible for admission to the college. It allows students who are legally assigned to the female sex, but who identify as transgender or gender fluid to apply. Biologically-born men who identify as female or transgender are also able to apply. This policy
does not allow females who have undergone a legal change of sex to male prior to the time of application to apply. Last Tuesday, the president of Mount Holyoke College announced a similar new acceptance policy. While some believe that these new policies go against the traditional definition and values of a women’s college, both schools have had much prompting and support from their students in creating and implementing these new policies. Both colleges also hope that this leads to changes in policy in more women’s colleges in the United States. The Scripps College policy differs from these new policies in that Scripps admits only biologically-born females who identify as women. “Scripps’ current admissions policy mirrors that of most women’s colleges across the country,” Charlotte Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said.
Women’s colleges, including Mount Holyoke and Mills College, re-evaluate admission requirements. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia users John Phelan and Sanfranman59
“Specifically, Scripps admits biologically-born females who identify as women. I think that the policy codifies traditional notions of gender identity and I think that the issue of whether the policy should be modified, and related issues, are ripe for discussion among the Scripps community. President [Lori]
Bettison-Varga and her senior team are already discussing the issues and, very soon, we will extend those conversations to the entire Scripps community. It will be important to hear the various perspectives as we move forward.” “I appreciate the fact that those
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administration responds to questions about faculty changes By Kayon James ‘16 Staff Writer
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Departing faculty memeber, Chris Guzaitis, was crowned the 2011-12 professor of the year. Photo courtesy of Scripps College
Inside This Issue:
ince August 2013, Scripps students have been notified of eight staff departures via e-mail, the latest of which was two weeks prior to the commencement of the 2014-15 academic year: the resignation of Marla Love, who held several key positions on campus, including Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE). Due to the the relatively small size of the college’s community, each resignation has left both practical and sentimental ripples in its wake. Zandy Springs ‘15 says that she was “devastated” after the
Page 4 - News
The Motley is now open for the Fall semester!
departure of Chris Guzaitis, Assistant Professor of Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies (FGSS). “[Professor Guzaitis] gave her all to students,” Springs said. “She inspired you to give your all and brought to class an enthusiasm that was infectious.” The e-mail notice for Dean Marla Love’s resignation appeared to hold a similar sentiment; Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Charlotte Johnson opened the letter by stating “it is with mixed emotions that I write today.” Addressing stories that might be circulating Scripps College, President Lori Bettison-Varga says that the resignations are due to external circumstances rather than internal procedures.
Page 10 - Features
Read Film Columnist Elizabeth Lee’s take on “The Immigrant”
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 744 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XVIII | Issue One
“We have seen more faculty resignations lately, in part because institutions across the country have rebounded in their hiring [after the 2009 recession],” President Bettison-Varga stated via e-mail correspondence this Saturday. “There was a period of time (2009-2012) where I think there was greater stability, in general, across the country due to decreased faculty and staff openings.” In this sense, resignations at Scripps represent a season of renewed opportunities for professionals in academia. “Faculty and staff who have particular reasons to leave – promotional opportunities for their scholarship and/or family, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Page 12 - A&E
Get a taste of the different fashion styles around Scripps!