Volume XIX - Issue 6

4 February, 2016

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Angela davis speaks at scripps

By Sasha Rivera ‘19 Staff Writer

M

any students at Scripps College are familiar with renowned activist Angela Davis, as her book “Are Prisons Obsolete?” was one of the required readings for Core I. On Thursday, Jan. 28, members of the Claremont Consortium and the Claremont community were able to meet the author in person through the Scripps Presents conversation series, where she was interviewed at Garrison Theater by the KPCC radio station reporter Annie Gilbertson.

Davis is an American political activist, author, and scholar. She became a prominent figure in her radical activism during the 1960s as a leader of the Communist Party USA; she also was heavily involved with the Civil Rights Movement and had close ties with the Black Panther Party. One of her main causes is abolition of the prison-industrial complex, for which she founded the organization, Critical Resistance. Davis also made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List as a result of the 1970 armed take-over of a Marin County courtroom, for which she was arrested, charged, tried for and acquitted of conspiracy. She is currently a retired professor from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Angela Davis and Annie Gilbertson at Garrison Theater. Photo courtsey of Daily Bulletin.

One of the first questions Davis answered was about the parallels between college students’ activism today and student activism when Davis was in college. The renowned activist explained that it is quite similar because students today are grandchildren of the activists from her youth. She explained that the parents of current students had not been involved with activism as strongly because her generation, the

grandparents, had imposed too much pressure on them.

“We have this amazing energy on campuses all over the country…I kept believing there would be this radical eruption on campuses,” Davis said, describing how she had waited for many years to see the type of activism now coming from colleges finally surface.

When asked about when she was fired from UCLA before she even began

teaching, Davis clarified that she was hired because she was trained in Marxism and its theories. It was known that she was a member of the Communist Party, but no complaints had surfaced until Ronald Reagan became governor of California. After a judge ruled that she could not be fired simply for political affiliations, Davis taught for a year until she was fired again for “unprofessorial behavior,” or her activism on behalf of political prisoners.

When asked about how she became Communist, Davis replied that she went to a liberal, slightly integrated high school in New York where female students were actually allowed to wear pants, which was unheard of at the time.

One of her teachers was a Marxist and she read The Communist Manifesto in class. From then on, Davis became involved with communist activism organizations.

Davis also discussed her inspiration to become an activist for social change. Early on, Davis said, her mother encouraged her to be a part of making change, and she would often share money with other children at school who couldn’t afford meals.

“I grew up with a sense of empathy… empathy encourages people who want to change the world,” Davis said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

ceramics annual at williamson gallery The Scripps College Ceramic Annual opened on Jan. 23, 2016 at the Williamson Gallery. The theme of this exhibition is comparing the processes of “sight” for 2-D drawings and “touch” for 3-D ceramic forms. The show runs through April 3. During exhibitions, the gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 pm.

Inside This Issue:

Photos by Alyssa Alfonso ‘19.

Page 2 - David Cross

The comedian and actor’s dark night of stand-up comedy

Page 3 - LA Gas Leak

Remembering the disaster, and what we can learn from it

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

Page 9 - Breastfeeding

Read about the stigma and sexualization of breastfeeding

2 • News

david cross: making america

g r e at

By Maureen Cowhey ‘19 Staff Writer

C r o s s p l a y e d To b i a s F u n k e o n s h o w A r r e s t e d Development. Photos courtesy of Fox.

C

laremont whipped out the jean shortshorts and lined up at Bridges Auditorium in anticipation of Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee David Cross on Wednesday, January 27. The nearly sold out show on Cross’s “Make America Great Again!” tour brought both students and the general public together for a night of laughs.

Cross, most known for his HBO series “Mr. Show”and his role as Tobias Fünke in the comedy series “Arrested Development,” is touring for the first time in six years. Pomona College was the second stop on his highly anticipated worldwide tour with 51 shows nationwide.

After taking time off from his standup, Cross announced his latest comedy tour on the Daily Show and on his Facebook page. Cross wrote, “I was very busy writing for The View, but now that the kids are off to college, my wife’s regiment has been transferred to McMurdo Station in the South Pole, and I’m near completion on Fallout 4, it’s time to start up the bus and bring my patented, fart-inducing laugh winces to a town near you.”

Despite his six-year absence from standup, Cross’ comfort and experience on stage was evident. Named one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Standup Comedians of All Time, his act took highly politicized topics such as gun violence, police violence and the presidential election and made social commentary that made the audience roar with laughter.

The “Make America Great Again!” tour is a jab at both Donald Trump’s campaign slogan as well as the current state of our country. Cross joked about serious topics including school shootings, religion and gay marriage. Rather than making light of weighty situations, his jokes pointed out the flaws in our society, hitting close to home in many instances. Saying things that only a comedian can, Cross’ standup was more than a Matthew McConaughey impersonation and some funny one-liners.

Cross also interacted with his audience, getting off the stage to talk to someone in the audience and poke fun at Pomona College. He noted the large space between the stage and the audience, claiming that he did not ask for it and that it felt ‘elitist.’ He also commented on the handicap section of the auditorium, saying how illogical it was to make a handicap person walk all the way to the front. He told the security guard that Pomona College should be able to afford wheelchairs in their auditorium. The crowd loved this adlib section, cheering at all the jokes at the college’s expense.

Cross was the first of many highly anticipated events at the Bridges Auditorium this semester.

Pomona College will also be hosting the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Southwest Quarterfinal on February 6, Michael J. Fox on February 12, Bryan Stevenson on March 29, and Shen Yun on April 8 and 9.

angela Davis

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The conversation turned to the topic of affirmative action and its effectiveness. Davis criticized the enrollment criteria for college campuses, and said that affirmative action was compensating for centuries of oppression and was only a small step that should have been taken years ago. She described affirmative action as “a little bit of action that is slightly affirmative.” Davis said that the education system overall had to be transformed, that “without education there can be no liberation…

Education should be a substantive right. Education should be free. It should not be a commodity.”

Davis then discussed the prison-industrial system, its abolition and the consequences of mass incarceration. Davis believes that imprisonment must be eradicated and that justice must be reimagined. She stated that mass incarceration and criminalization have not changed the rates of crimes like gender violence; rather, they have led to more prisoners who are victims of structural racism.

“If not prison, then what?” Gilbertson asked, mentioning prison realignment and California’s attempts in prison reform. Gilbertson repeatedly interrupted Davis mid-answer, which led to protest from audience members who demanded that the reporter let Davis speak. When Gilbertson’s interruptions ended, Davis criticized the reforms and prison realignment, claiming that jails are far worse than prisons. “One could open the gates of all the prisons in this country and our world would not be that different,” said Davis.

The final interview question for Davis was if she had any advice for the student activists at the Claremont Colleges. Davis replied, “Take advantage of the fact that you are in an institution like this. You will never again have the chance to devote your time to reading and critical thinking. This knowledge can be used to take up transformative action. Be active.”

After the interview portion of the evening, Davis took a few questions from the audience. The first asked about advice she had for young black artists and writers.

“Writers and artists are so important to revolution.

Without them there can be no fundamental radical change,” Davis replied.

The following audience member brought up last semester’s protests and solidarity march on the campuses; she asked how she could incorporate self-care while balancing academics and activism.

In her response, Davis stressed the importance of sometimes stepping back and shifting gears to focus on knowledge, rest, and reflection because “one can’t always be active at the same intensity.”

The last audience question focused on her involvement with and activism for Palestine. Davis recounted how during the time when she was imprisoned, she received a solidarity message from Palestinian prisoners. Then, she discussed the importance of the comradery between the Black Lives Matter movement and Palestine, as well as how Palestinians were some of the first to tweet messages of support for protesters in Ferguson.

Davis emphasized the importance of supporting Palestine and concluded, “International solidarity has to be key in the struggles against injustice.”

For more information on upcoming events as well as tickets please visit the Bridges Auditorium Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or call 909- 607-1139.

Photos by Jessica Padover ‘18

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

Don’t Forget

The Scripps Voice Staff W

By Isobel Whitcomb ’17 Environmental Columnist

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 Business Manager Lily Comba Webmaster Jocelyn Gardner Columnists & Staff Writers Ali Bush Natalie Camrud Maureen Cowhey Madeleine Edwards Sophie Fahey Kandace Fung 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 Vloggers Abigail Metsch Caroline Nelson Lily Yang - Director

About the

hile the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak was first detected in Oct. 2015, it wasn’t until a video spread online in Dec. 2015 that the man-made disaster caught the public’s attention. The video, filmed in infrared, is completely silent. It is not only void of color and sound, but light and dark are eerily inverted in a negative image of Southern California’s landscape. A plume of black vapor billows high into the air, then moves silently down the rolling hills into the valley below. The infrared footage was not produced with the intention of frightening or angering people; however, the image of the black methane cloud moving slowly and silently across the hills still seems an ominous portent, reflecting the insidious nature of the LA gas leak.

Yet another month has passed since the video of the LA gas leak was published, and news outlets have begun to move on. However, methane continues to spew into the town of Porter Ranch and its surrounding areas at a rate of 1,300 metric tons per day. Although the Southern California Gas Company is attempting to plug the leak, progress is slow. Because several initial attempts were unsuccessful, the company has been forced to drill a second “relief” well that will eventually intersect with the gas pipe deep underground. Once this well is complete, heavy fluids and mud will be pumped into the earth to staunch the flow of gas. But as progress chugs along, more and more residents of nearby neighborhoods find themselves confronting health problems such as bloody noses, breathing difficulty, and headaches. So far, over 2,300 people have evacuated the area due to health difficulties. It is unclear how many will be returning.

One of the largest ramifications of the LA gas leak is the sense of distrust it has sewn not only in the many Porter Ranch residents

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have pointed out that there is a dearth of research on the potential health risks posed by many of the other chemicals found in natural gas.

One of the dangers of a gas leak that scientists have only recently begun to understand, however, is its potential to accelerate global warming. When natural gas is burned effectively, it is much cleaner than other fossil fuels, releasing less carbon dioxide and trapping less heat. However, as I mentioned in my article on fracking one year ago, methane (the major component of unburned natural gas) has recently been found to trap 80 times more heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. So when a gas leak occurs, it has the potential to completely offset any environmental benefits offered by natural gas. The Aliso Canyon gas leak alone releases on a daily basis the same amount of methane as 5 million cows.

This is significant enough damage to partially negate any progress California has made to reduce emissions over the past year, since Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency.

Disasters can have the effect of changing public perceptions.

Since the California drought began and Governor Brown declared a state of emergency, the state has made strides towards increasing water conservation and cutting fossil fuel emissions. This month, Governor Brown declared the Aliso Canyon gas leak yet another state of emergency. Perhaps this disaster will open the public’s eyes to a more nuanced understanding of natural gas. It has long been touted as a relatively innocent fossil fuel.

However, it has become clear that our understanding of its dangers are less than adequate.

: SELF-CARE

By the TFH Peer Health Educator Team

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

l.a.

Gas Leak

seeking to relocate permanently, but also throughout the rest of the country as people ask themselves “What is the likelihood of a another major gas leak?”

According to several environmental organizations investigating the incident, such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the question the public should be asking does not begin with an “if” but a “when.” The high profile leak in Aliso Canyon has revealed major problems with the natural gas industry, which many environmentalists have long considered the cleaner option when compared to oil and coal.

The problem with this industry is that it is largely unregulated.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, 400 underground methane storage areas in the U.S. are subject to little or no regulation.

The lack of regulation has led to unsafe infrastructure and shoddy, leaky pipes. 40% of natural gas pipes are over 50 years old, and of these pipes, many are made of a brittle cast iron which is notorious for breaking easily.

So what is so dangerous about a natural gas leak? One of the most widely understood risks of a methane leak is explosion.

Methane is highly flammable, and these incidents occur more widely than many would expect.

About every other day over the past decade, an exploding gas main has caused death, injury, or property damage. However, as we have seen in Porter Ranch, there are other dangers to leaking gas.

While methane is actually harmless to breathe, natural gas is injected with other chemicals, several of which are known carcinogens.

The most dangerous of these chemicals is benzene. While the Southern California Gas Company has deemed concentrations of benzene found in the area around Aliso Canyon safe, public health advocates such as Erin Brokovich

PEER HEALTH educator column

News • 3

Even Angela Davis recognized the importance of self-care in her talk last Thursday evening at Garrison Theater. She noted that there were exceptions when she exhausted her body beyond belief, but she found time to exercise and meditate throughout her incredibly active career and cited that as an important factor in the ability to sustain a movement. She argued that it is imperative for us, students, to take care of ourselves as we participate and lead to enact change in our community.

As the semester starts up again, getting into a routine that includes self-care can be invaluable when midterms roll around. We know it is easier said than done, but try to find something that is restorative for you, and plan time to do it every week. If you have a planner, physically pencil in time for yourself. If it would help to have someone else remind you to take a time-out, try to plan a reoccurring date with a buddy.

The Peer Health Educators put our heads together to come up with some ideas for self-care based both on research and on our own experiences. Here is what we came up with: • Walk into the village for the Sunday farmer’s market.

• Take a FitScripps class.

• Walk far away (Frary, Frank, the Coop) for a meal.

• Go rock climbing with OWL. (They offer trips to Hanger 18 every Wednesday and Thursday evening) • Cook a meal in a res-hall kitchen.

• Oder a ukulele or a harmonica (small and cheap!) off of Amazon and teach yourself how to play it.

• Rent a bike from the Tiernan Field House and go exploring.

• Go for a walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

• Dance, dance, dance at Table Manners on Tuesday night in the basement of Smith Campus Center.

• Write snail mail or journal.

• Color in one of the Scripps coloring books from WOW! • Take a nap.

It may seem like a distraction from schoolwork or a waste of time, but taking care of yourself will inevitably make your time working more productive. It doesn’t need to be hours every day, but an hour or two every week can really help. Before the semester gets too hectic, take some time to find something that restores you, and make it a habit.

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

4 • Features

opinion poll

THOUGHTS ON 5C

PARTY SCENE?

By Taylor Galla ‘18 Opinion Poll Columnist

O

ne of the most divisive and frequetly-discussed issues on these five campuses is the party scene. Whether you attend or not, parties will inevitably come up in conversation or on Yik Yak, or you’ll be awoken by the rowdy people and trap music. Many people in colleges all over the country, and very much at the 5Cs, work for the freedom of the weekend, and parties serve as a way to unwind and let off steam from the stressful week. Parties also play a critical role in gaining important social skills and, developmentally, help young adults to figure out what they like and don’t like. Although when improperly approached, party culture can usher in unhealthy and potentially self-destructive habits, if one is prepared and knows oneself well enough, parties play an important role in a wellrounded college experience. With all of that being said, let’s hear what you all had to say about parties at the 5Cs this week.

In response to the question “How do you feel about the variety and number of 5C events?” eight people (around 28% of responders) said “I’m happy with the number and variety of them,” two people (around 7%) said “[T]here are not enough events for people who are substance-free,” three people (around 10%) said “[T]here are not enough events that are inclusive towards all identities,” six people (around 21%) said “[T]here are not enough events” and seven people (around 24%) said “[T] here are enough events, but for various reasons I do not feel comfortable at them.” There are not any particularly surprising or astounding numbers in these statistics, but I will touch on the most popular responses that are also the most notable.

Eight respondents expressed their contentment with the 5C party scene, which makes sense; as students in a consortium with many parties each and every weekend, we truly are spoiled in comparison to students at other schools. Talking to friends at other schools of equitable size, I have learned that their typical weekend is a small get-together in somebody’s room, with drinking confined to a small space and people turning in relatively early. A night in Claremont most often consists of multiple get-togethers, across many of the campuses and with countless faces to soak in. There are parties of many shapes and sizes, ranging from a squished and crowded dorm room in North Quad to a wild mosh pit in Dom’s to a trippy dance party on the porch of the Grove House. The wide array of parties caters to people of varying

interests and varying goals when they venture out into this landscape. Our schools do a pretty good job of providing us with plentiful weekend activities on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. However, there are drawbacks.

“

Parties exist as a

concentrated sample of the

larger student population and therefore would reinforce many of the exclusionary and

problematic attitudes that exist on these campuses.

”

Seven people, a sizable amount considering that the sample size was 29 students, said that there are enough of these parties but they do not feel comfortable at them. I can undersand these people, as situations can get pretty uncomfortable when you’re simultaneously touching ten different bodies and the music is pounding and you have to force your way through couples grinding in order to get to your best friend. Lighting is often dark, so your sight (in addition to your hearing) is diminished, and you’re surrounded by hundreds of strangers. This leads to situations ranging from mildly uncomfortable to abusive and dangerous— and whether these acts take place or not, the threat of them is enough to put anyone on edge.

I do not think the party conditions are to blame for this issue of endangered safety. Sexual assault is nobody’s fault besides the perpetrator, and with a revolution in how people view themselves and other human beings and boundaries in terms of space, this situation can begin to be remedied. This is just one of many paths that need to be taken, along with institutional support and community engagement with the problem, but it’s a start. Until then, it is a risk that many people take— heading into the mosh pit in hopes that people treat them with respect and common courtesy.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the responses in regards to parties not being inclusive and opportunistic enough for people of varying identities and for those who are substance-free.

The music and predominant crowd at many of the big parties exclusively appeals to the dominant

demographic, with trap music and remixes at the heart of every playlist. The music is just one of the concerns I have heard people voice in terms of the parties not being welcoming to everyone, as many other factors bleed over from the general campus environment. Parties exist as a concentrated sample of the larger student population and therefore would reinforce many of the exclusionary and problematic attitudes that exist on these campuses. This is definitely problematic, but again, I do not think it’s necessarily the party’s fault— it’s evocative of a much larger issue.

In terms of overall takeaways from this survey, there were not many responses. This may be due to the busy second week of classes, the time of day I shared it on Facebook, or other extraneous factors. Or, it may mean that students on this campus do not have many thoughts or problems with the party scene, as it is just one of many other things that make up our well-rounded lives as 5C students. It does not dominate, it is not miniscule in its influence. Hopefully for many it is part of a balanced and healthy life.

THE RESULTS: 28%

are happy with the number and variety of 5C events

24%

felt there were enough events, but for various reasons did not feel comfortable attending them

21%

thought there were not enough events

10%

felt there are not enough events that are inclusive towards all identities

7%

thought there were not enough events for people who are substance-free

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

Features • 5

ATHLETE PROFILE:

VAIVA PALUNAS

Photos courtesy of Vaiva Palunas ‘17

Palunas broke the 22-year old CMS women’s discus record with a mark of 43.42m (142-5) at the Rossi Relays hosted by CMS last year. She was also 10th in the nation going into Nationals for discus.

By Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Staff Writer

THE SCRIPPS VOICE: What sport do you play?

VAIVA PALUNAS: I am on the track team, and I do throwing events, so I do shot put, discus, and the hammer throw.

TSV: Which of those is your favorite event?

VP: I like all of them… generally if I am doing better at one I tend to like that one. The events all cater to different body types, so generally with my height and long limbs, discus is the best. Right now I’m really liking hammer also, and am getting some really awesome breakthroughs with that.

TSV: When did you start throwing?

VP: I started throwing my senior year of high school. All through high school I did cross country and I did track, but I was mainly a pole vaulter. I was recruited for pole vaulting, but my senior year, my high school got a throwing coach and so I was like “oh, I should try these things!” I ended up being really good at them and went to state my first year throwing shot.

TSV: Why did you choose throwing over cross country?

VP: I have a lot more fast-twitch muscle than slow twitch muscle. I never was super good at cross country because I don’t have endurance muscles. I’d much rather go to the weight room and lift heavy than run three miles.

TSV: What do you like about throwing?

VP: It’s so beautiful. I was a dancer for a long time. I did ballet and jazz and modern but I also got super into lifting in high school.

I wasn’t actively looking for this but I did find it in throwing-- a balance between technique and beautiful movement and power and strength. I think throwing is the perfect mesh of all that. It’s incredibly technical. You can change one part of your technique— like drop your hip a little bit more—and suddenly it feels amazing.

TSV: What’s different about throwing in college compared to high school?

VP: In high school I had a throws coach, but she wasn’t the best— whether it was experience or maybe our styles didn’t mesh, I don’t know.

But I didn’t pick up a lot of technique in high school, I was just muscling it around. But at CMS I have a fantastic coach. She’s worked really hard to develop me as far as I’ve come. Also in high school I was basically the only thrower besides two football guys who came twice a week to dick around. And now I have a really awesome team.

TSV: What is the team culture?

VP: For throwers, we have a blast. We come to practice, we’re laughing, joking around. But we still get the work done. When we step in the ring, it’s on, but on the sidelines we joke around with each other. We’re all really good friends. We get meals [together] all the time, we hang out on the weekends.

TSV: What does a typical practice look like for

you?

VP: We generally have one practice [per day].

It’s about two hours long, we come and we warm up, get all loosened up. Then we go through progressions of technique. So we start with stand throws and go through variations going through to the full technique. We practice throwing one [event] for an hour, and then transition to throwing the other for another hour. Then if it’s a lifting day we’ll go lift afterwards. Then we eat a lot of food.

That’s the part I enjoy.

TSV: If you could do any other sport perfectly, what sport would you do?

VP: What I already do… (laughs) Probably horseback riding. I’ve been really obsessed with horses since I was a tiny person. I would go to this camp over the summers. One of my dreams is to raise a colt and be able to hop on bareback and gallop around.

TSV: Has riding horses influenced your decision to study veterinary medicine?

VP: Yes. Absolutely. I definitely want a career where I can be around horses.

TSV: When did you decide you wanted to go to vet school?

VP: I don’t even remember making that decision.

It’s just always been my path. I’ve had periods of doubt because I’ve never given myself another option. But you know, my life philosophy is that you just have to make those decisions and go with them. You’ve got to make the most of what you have.

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

SPOTL

6

voices of the Scripps Voice Staff Writer Layne Wells ’19 interviewed two transfer students about their experience and time here at Scripps, and learned about Scripps’ transfer admissions process from the Office The Scripps Voice: Being as personal as you’d like, what were some of your main reasons for transferring to Scripps when you did?

Transfer Student 1: What I wanted was a small, close-knit campus that I could fit into at a moment’s notice, while also having access to way more classes and activities than I did at my previous college.

Transfer Student 2: [...] Scripps upholds policies which support their students both in times of triumph and struggle.

The resources for students between Title IX, SCORE, etc. cannot be found anywhere else.

TSV: What expectation did you have for Scripps?

TS2: My expectations for Scripps paled in comparison to reality. It is difficult to articulate how grateful I am to transfer to Scripps. Sometimes, I feel bad for people who have only known Scripps because they can’t possibly understand how terrible everywhere else is by comparison. Some of the most shocking and wonderful surprises I have seen since coming here: Scripps students rock at group projects. We

take collabo-

ration to a different level. Maybe it’s something they

teach in Core I that I missed, but it’s amazing how well people delegate and accomplish.

Every class-introduction begins with “what is your name and your PGP if you feel like sharing [...]?” I had never heard of a PGP before coming to Scripps and once I figured out that it stood for “personal gender pronoun” I was utterly impressed. No one is snide or snarky or insensitive about it – that I have seen. People just answer it honestly and move on. Its simple, but

I think it is profoundly powerful.

People here don’t talk about drinking. It is refreshing to be in a place filled with teenagers whose conversations do not revolve around how drunk they get. It is even more impressive to be surrounded by people who talk about what they learned in class or what laws uphold the patriarchy or what they heard on NPR the other day. Where else does that happen?

The parties here are lame and

you don’t have to go to them!

o t e m o c l e W •

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T H r ei th m participated in o work n fr as counselor commendatio ch re su a , it es m eg b ll su co un to ifornia comm HTCC partner al r C fo te ts ca en u ev ed tional better s, includin which aim to cation option u ed e eg ll transfer fairs, co y ost-communit students on p students what transfer ces in a ly ct a ex t u o g to find ain differen We’re lookin me of the m so re a t a h ps. W attend Scrip , etc.? e ri meet the sam tes, deadlines s ra p ip ce n cr S ta ep to acc sfer r students. T choose to tran y as first-yea it n u m Students who m co e classroom who join th f the Scripps o r o g ri e dards as those th er ad ility to handle unity. Transf ab m f o m co ce r en u o id ev ute to ause of a ire to contrib at is often bec th t u b , onstrated des rm te y udent bod ntly term b the overall st r o s as cl vary significa r ea pt an of the first-y n able to acce ee b t o n e av h due to the size we at transfer mesters when ld also note th u o w been many se I . es su their ed capacity is community— r u o to dents, due to e ic o ective important v ng that persp ri b n ca a vibrant and ey th ni here else and ential commu d ew si m re so e d th te d ar an st ns, d organizatio sions, clubs an es bec t-year deadlin rs fi an th t n re tl lines are diffe transfer is no to ay w h at p Transfer dead he nt process. T pletely differe

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps

LIGHT It is awesome! Other schools prioritize parties and you seem weird if you don’t go out every night. Not here! And the best part is: no one here has anything to compare these parties to so their standards for parties are low. That’s why everyone assumes that 5C parties are epic (even though they are at about the same rage level as a well-supervised, poorly lit 14 year old’s bat mitzvah) so they have a great time anyway!

TSV: Would you say the transfer process was fairly easy and accessible? What could be improved?

TS1: [The] process was a bit difficult because Scripps did not officially accept transfer students in the Fall of 2014, so I actually did a “visiting student” semester in the fall and was admitted as an official transfer in Spring 2015.

• e g e l l o C s p Scrip

may be sewhere and el l o o h sc in later lled lso, having a plicant is enro A t. ap e es b th , is ly at al h — usu truly w e if transfer and pathway ith whether transferring is time to decid re o m e av w h g allows to n ments. It also ring wrestli sfer applicant cu an o tr d e th ry s sa w es lo ec ions. n ne al recommendat to gather the d ome deadli d an an n es d io ra is g ec e ght d e up-to-dat are is the ri officers, to hav n o si is m ad ps? Why? ports us, as tion to Scrip ca li p p a n a it ear stum nd-, or third-y ween a student sub y co a se m , r trs ea fi y ted t as wha have comple ly to transfer ey p th ap s se- Up to if ay ts m n ts ca li er studen m one class transfer app ripps Transf uld range fro e considered co ar h ic ts h en w d t, tu S Scripps . den e-seeking stu requirement at o how dents re cy eg en d d a si as re e rk Th college coursewo er institution. esters at the th m o se an r u at fo rs t ts ea leas to two full y transfer studen complete at t p st u ce m ac t e en w d n u The reaso es that a st ) is that the ansfer stat cripps degree. nt class years S re a fe r if fo d le re o ib ef nt times er to be elig sfer at differe ing credits (th y an ar tr v ts h it en d w tu in supl.” S o come s. We want to n ne size fits al o “o as t ts have wh o re n t n is re ss sfer proce nt Scripps iety of diffe into the vibra looking tran path for a var al em n o th ti e ca m u co ed el their e permits, w another in d, when spac an at th rt o p me way. olmmunity.

Claremont C n ee w et perience co b g n ple, rece transferri plicated, sim m e process lik ill others th co , is er t a si h ea w , , Further ore difficult istorically m h it eges Is ? es g le laremont Coll C e th f o o tw g between mmended? plicant. With in transferrin partner- o er transfer ap ed th st o re y te an in t as ly with en cess A stud engage social to act same pro d ex an e s th se h g as u r cl ot comoes thro ss-register fo colleges is n o e cr th to n tarted last g s ee ie w it et n , transfer b the opportu e consortium ve actively th ss ro ac ts studen ication and Scripps. ents as on, at least at m p o on requirem ti so a al u d are ra g e pleted e sam ore 1 be com complete th C r ts o en 0 d kshops and 5 u g st n , must Writi Do transfer istically?

For example nity college ? ts en d this work log u es st riting 50 o d er w th o o H ossibly into W ansfer? p tr d r an ng Scripps. ea ce -y d en u n ple, a q by a seco to the Core se nits. For exam u in p le b ro d ra ts er sf en d mtran Transfer stu rses prior to co etermined by u d , co g le in b d ra an er undergo to st s sferring in ted four transf based on clas student is tran o has comple e h th w application, t If . en 2 d u re st o aived if transfer into Core in C riting 50 is w p W . ro d en l k il ta w e s b p t ed by no ing to Scrip also be satisfi ting 50 would ri ay W m d it r an o igorous stanre , o able courses as a junior, C h 16 transfer it w They provide rs te en t - a studen urse. m and a dem equivalent co an s te ra n dmissio dents? housed on-cam r transfer stu e fo e, er ac rk w o sp ts f w o g en n d ck u si la hou s-sponsored ew transfer st e How does ffered Scripp elve of our n o n tw l ee b dy. There hav al , en g n ft o ri Scripps u- This sp students have ters where no er es sf m an se tr n t, ny transfer st ee as b ing p e e EW Hall open ace, there hav ng pus. In th N sp ri h b n it o ts w g , en in er d d u ev st en r ts, ow housing. Dep er students. H transfer studen h sf g at in p an d tr u al n cl to o in ti , ed duca is offer all students s- housing pate housing ci ti an e w to class discu , 6 1 in fall 20 ence halls.

Scripps resid ity. in s u p am -c on m cause it is a co ear y trs like the fi

s Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

7 TS1 (cont.): The transfer orientation was overall fair. We were introduced to a lot of the official Scripps resources, but we were not introduced to any of the social resources or given guidance on how to suddenly fit in midway through the year, especially when no one even knew that transfers were coming to Scripps. It appears that the class that transferred just a few weeks ago got more of a social introduction to Scripps. Also, registering the day before class starts as an upperclassman at a new school can be stressful!

TS2: A nightmare. There is a lot more that I could say about our abysmal transfer program, but I won’t. Mostly because I think that this past semester the

administration took our criticism seriously and changed most of the program. Credit where credit is due: it seems that Scripps put significantly more effort into this year’s transfer program than last year.

At least there’s a transfer Facebook page now.

TSV: Do you have a favorite place on campus yet?

TS1: My favorite place on campus is by far Tiernan Field House.

TS2: Within Scripps, my favorite place on campus is the

gave me a chance to grow and learn and meet the most committed,

Motley. The Motley

intelligent group of students our generation has to offer. The coffee is pretty great, too.

TSV: Closing thoughts?

TS1: Overall I’m very happy to be at Scripps! At my previous college, graduation felt like it was never going to come soon enough, and now that Scripps graduation is near, I’m getting a little sad about having to leave!

tips on welcom ing transfer stude nts:

• Be sen sitive in a sking tra transferr nsfer stu ed. dents wh - A curre y they nt Scripp s studen asking “ t compa why did re you get - The sto divorced s this to ries are o ? ” ften very plainable persona to a stran l and une ger.

- If there x’s any ex perience share, it’s t rans an difficult a swering this que fer students n stion; it c d intrusiv • Instead an be ve e. , ask que ry s t io ns about - Where the pres do you li en ke to tak - What a e study b t or future. re you st r eaks? udying?

Note from TSV: The interviewed students wished to remain anonymous.

8 • Film

#OSCARSSOWHITE2016

By Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist

T

his award season, actors, movie goers, and critics are again enraged at the Academy’s choice of giving 20 white actors the highest recognition for their work in cinema. For the second year in a row, not one actor of color has been nominated, meaning that the 40 actors the Academy nominated in the last two years have all been white. Hollywood giants such as Spike Lee and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, amongst others, are boycotting this year’s award ceremony due to the appalling lack of diversity in this year’s ceremony. Although one of the main causes of this problem lies in the make up of the Academy’s voters – 93 percent is white and 76 percent is male – the main reason for the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominees lies in the racist nature of the movie-making industry itself.

The lack of nominees of color in this year’s Oscar nominees clearly exposes the deep-rooted, racist tendencies of the entire movie industry. Not only are actors of color given fewer opportunities in the film industry, but they are often given stereotypical roles envisioned by white writers in order to simply fulfill a kind of “diversity requirement.” Although these roles are important to recognize, representations of more

“Perhaps these films depict how racism is far too real and present.” complex and realistic characters are still necessary.

The only films featuring black actors that the Academy seems to reward are those of historical significance in which black actors are portrayed in subservient roles, such as The Help (2011) and 12 Years A Slave (2013). These films are crucial in educating the masses about the struggle of the black experience, but there are many more stories that must be told that are not. Other films such as Creed, Tangerine, Concussion, and Straight Outta Compton that focus on issues such as transphobia, police brutality, and racism in America were denied any nominations.

An anonymous Academy voter claimed that many voters on the Academy avoided even watching these films. Perhaps these films depict how racism is far too real and present. It is clear that Academy voters easily handed over that golden trophy to 12 Years A Slave, a film that depicts the atrocities of slavery, a historical institution that the Academy can decisively state is no longer an issue in the U.S., whereas more unforgiving films such as Chi-Raq and Straight Outta Compton depict pertinent problems, such as gang violence and police brutality, both of which are very real issues that the Academy simply ignores. The Academy has no problem rewarding black actors to portray the lives of slaves, which is a very necessary narrative for the American public to understand, but the Academy is unable to reward more complex portals of characters of color.

Other critics argue that what this year’s nominees lack in racial diversity is made up for by other marginalized identities portrayed in this year’s films, such as Eddie Redmayne’s performance as a transgender woman in The Danish Girl, or Cate Blachett and Rooney Mara’s portrayals of a lesbian couple in Carol. But what the Academy neglects to understand is that although these films are no doubt hugely important in depicting the lives of these marginalized characters, they are still rewarding straight, white, cis actors by giving them a nomination. Although the Academy’s president has promised to “conduct a review of [the Academy’s] membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond,” the lack of diversity in this year’s nominees is a mere scratch on the surface of racism in Hollywood. Director Spike Lee contests that “it’s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than to be head of a studio, or be head of a network,” explaining that this lack of diversity stems from the few opportunities people of color have in the entertainment industry. Until all people of color feel represented in realistic ways in the movies they see, Hollywood is bound to remain the white institution it has always been.

MCALISTER CENTER WEEKLY SERVICES & MEETINGS Drop by the McAlister Center and visit the Chaplains of the Claremont Colleges during these times to attend their weekly services and meetings. McAlister is located on the corner of 10th and Columbia.

Phone: (909) 621-8685 Email: chaplains@cuc.claremont.edu www.cuc.claremont.edu/chaplains

Monday - TBD Thursday Tuesday - TBD 6:00pm Wednesday Queers of Faith 7:30am - 9:00am Meeting Zen Meditation 6:30pm 4:30pm Buddhist Meeting Latter Day Saints 5:30pm MultiFaith Service Council 8:00pm-9:00pm Exploring Meditation

Friday 12:30pm Jum’ah Prayer 5:30pm Shabbat Services 6:30pm Shabbat Dinner

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

Sunday 9:00am Christian Worship 11:00am Chatholic Morning Mass 5:15pm Catholic Evening Mass

feels like the

reastfeeding:

the ongoing controversy

first

time: thoughts on virginity CW: sex, sexuality, trauma.

By Sophia Rosenthal ‘17 Sex Columnist

I

t was summer break, and I was sitting in my room talking with friends from high school. We were talking about sex, because, well, that’s what we did. All of a sudden, one of my friends turned and looked at me, scrutinizing me closely, and asked “Wait, when did you lose your virginity?” I know this sounds like the beginning of a coming-of-age movie, but bear with me. I distinctly remember just staring at her blankly, which made everyone turn and look at me even more expectantly. The truth was, I didn’t know how to answer her question, because I didn’t have an answer. Maybe it was because I had already been at Scripps for a few semesters, but a part of me had actually forgotten that the concept of “virginity” existed. I mean, I obviously knew, but I had forgotten that it was an idea — and a question — that I could be expected to apply to myself. In my mind, there was no “first time”; there was a collage of many different first times.

But since I didn’t have the speed or the heart to say, “Actually, I prefer a more nuanced, non-violent, non-binary, fluid understanding of sex,” I think I said “Erm... uhh...that depends.”

Fairly recently, various feminist and sex-education platforms on the internet have deconstructed traditional notions of virginity as an anatomically irrelevent weapon of the patriarchy used to police the sexuality of, in the most popular narrative, cis women (say that three times quickly. No, don’t, you might get dizzy).

There are so many things wrong with the ol’ “losing/taking someone’s virginity” thing that someone could write a book about it — and of course, people have (here’s looking at you, Jessica Valenti).

Without even touching on the ways purity, virginity and sexuality have operated in society (“True Love Waits”...wait, does it?), here’s the quick and dirty version of why “virginity” has been deemed total BS: For one, the verb “to lose” has a blatantly negative connotation and ignores the fact that no one actually loses anything during sex. Except maybe the feeling in your knees. Or a condom.

The point being that value, morality and general wonderfulness do not decline with increased sexual activity.

Second, there are the anatomical myths about vaginas and “first time” penetration (more on that later). No, it isn’t supposed to be excruciatingly painful, the hymen is not a steel door that must be broken through and “tightness” is simply one of many states a vagina can occupy.

(I may actually create a “not sufficiently aroused” sign that I can whack people with the next time someone seductively croons “You’re sooo tight”). Cherries don’t “pop.” They just taste really good (I mean the fruit, gosh not everything is about sex).

Then there’s the fact that “virginity” is not queer-friendly, in almost any sense of the word. When do you “lose your virginity” if your sexual experiences extend beyond the realm of penis-in-vagina sex, or penetration of any kind for that matter?

If you’ve been in a sexually-satisfying relationship for years but have never had sex with someone who has a penis,

B

Features • 9

are you “still a virgin”? Or — even if we decided that vaginal penetration is the defining aspect of sexual activity, which it isn’t — what if I’ve been happily getting off with a dildo since I was fifteen, but haven’t had partner sex? It’s penetration, it’s orgasmic...does it count as “real sex”?

Of course it does. Or at least, it sure as hell should.

Hence why people like sex-positive educator and YouTube goddess Laci Green have adopted phrases like the “sexual debut,” which sounds more like a sexy sweet sixteen party than the annihilation of a sacred treasure: “After my sexual debut, I went out for froyo!” versus “I lost my virginity… have you seen it?”

But I have to confess...I’m not the biggest fan of “sexual debut” either.

Okay, maybe I’m just not a fan of labels in general when it comes to this topic.

To me, “sexual debut” still suggests one catalytic sexual initiation, and that doesn’t work for me.

I can’t pinpoint my sexual debut. A single “first time” does not exist in my sexual history.

Instead, there are many first times. It’s like if someone were to ask me, “when was the first time you travelled?” Well... that depends: there was the first time I travelled away from the safety of my mother’s arms. The first time I travelled across a room (picture that adorable baby-waddle).The first time I rode in a car. The first time I rode a bike around my neighborhood. The first time I got on a plane. The first time I got on a plane alone.

The first time I travelled abroad. The first time I travelled abroad by myself.

There wasn’t one “first time” I travelled, there’s a whole collage. Each one was new, and each one taught me something; some experiences were better than others (is there a sexual metaphor for flight delays?), some places I’ll travel to again, and some I won’t. But no single experience or location shaped who I am as someone who moves and travels. Just like no single experience shaped who I am sexually. And sure, some might place more significance on an adventure abroad then a five minute bike ride on training wheels, but at the time, riding a bike alone was something new and exciting that I’d never done before. And it isn’t fair to invalidate that.

My point (in case you didn’t believe there was one) is not that virginity doesn’t exist and if you’ve included the term in your sexual history you’re an ignorant victim of sexual repression. My point is that we need choices, and the virginity narrative cannot be the only one. Maybe you do identify with a single first time, and it was really special and you want to remember it. Or maybe you do feel like you lost your virginity, and you want that trauma to be acknowledged. Or maybe, like me, you don’t identify with a first-first time. Maybe you’re still waiting for your sexual debut. Maybe you like reading about sex, but have no desire to partake yourself (I’m assuming you like reading about it because, well, here you are).

Whatever your story, it is valid.

Did you know that according to some Greek translations, virgin just means “one unto [her]self”? If that’s the case, I plan on being a virgin for the rest of my life.

T

By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 Feminism Columnist

he hypocrisies of society become self-evident when you begin to examine the controversial topic of breastfeeding in public. We see babies being bottle-fed on a daily basis, and yet it does not bring about the same provocation, anger or disgust that are expressed when children are nursing from a breast. There are many layers to consider when parents are scrutinized for feeding their child in public— beginning with the over-sexualization of breasts, the commercialization of breasts and the ideas of modesty often forced on those with breasts.

Breasts are everywhere.

They appear on billboards, storefronts and advertisements selling products from hamburgers to cars and everything in between. So why is it that people seem to be so taken aback when a parent chooses to breastfeed in public? One of the reasons people are so uncomfortable seeing a parent breastfeed in public and why they often have such strong opinions is a direct result of the ways that breasts are treated and viewed in society. Breasts are overtly sexualized and commercialized. Unfortunately, people have a difficult time realizing that these masses of tissue are not in themselves erotic and sexual but have been made so by the social contexts in which they have existed. People are unsettled at seeing someone breastfeeding because their ingrained perceptions about what breasts are and what they are made for get distorted. It’s a lot harder to sexualize a parent’s breasts if there’s a baby attached to them. Yes, breastfeeding can be an intimate experience— for the parent and their child, not for the stranger who happened to glance over. If you experience these feelings of anger and aversion at seeing a child being fed, maybe you should reevaluate your priorities and make an effort to work at extinguishing your need to objectify others as a result of your own self-imposed discomfort.

A parent is entitled to feed their child in any public place.

Another person’s negative comments or hurt sensibilities does not constitute the law. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “Forty-nine states [excluding Idaho], the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location and twentynine states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws.” Although nursing parents are protected by law these do not protect them from the stigma and judgement expressed upon them by society, which often force them into uncomfortable and often unsanitary situations and conditions. Breastfeeding parents are often subject to varying levels of harassment.

It’s harassment that pressures mothers to cover their babies with blankets in 90 degree weather, it’s harassment that forces mothers to stop breastfeeding at an early age although they would like to continue, it’s harassment that keeps parents cooped up in their home for fear they would be unable to feed their child elsewhere and it’s harassment that pressures a parent into feeding a child behind a locked stall in a public restroom. The uncalled-for feelings of embarrassment and discomfort exhibited by others should not prohibit parents from doing what they feel is best for their child, especially if that action is basic care and comfort.

Posters protesting breastfeeding conditions. Photo courtsey of When Nurture Calls.

Fortunately, there is some movement to help change society’s perception about breastfeeding in public. When Nurture Calls was a campaign started by Kris Haro and Johnathan Wenske. These students, from the University of North Texas, created a series of posters illustrating parents nursing in public restrooms. They adorned the photos with slogans like “Would you eat here?” to illustrate the unhygienic and often cramped spaces into which breastfeeding parents are forced. The intention behind this campaign was to “gather support for protecting a [parent’s] right to breastfeed in public.” People are speaking up about the hypocrisy surrounding breastfeeding. It’s one thing for a parent to specifically choose not to breastfeed their child in public, but it is a whole ‘nother story to bar them from doing so in the first place.

Whatever a parent chooses, whether to breastfeed or bottle feed, they have a right to do so safely.

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

10 • Features

I GET BY

with a litle

P EL

H from my friends:

friendships strengthen mental wellbeing

By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 Mental Health Columnist & Webmaster

Y

our friends and acquaintances form a very important network of people in your life, and I don’t mean in a career path sort of way-- your friends are an incredibly important factor in your mental wellbeing. Even if you don’t like to have friends over or if you prefer alone time, there are probably people you like talking to and laughing with, and these interactions affect both you and them. Since students here at the Claremont Colleges tend to be cooperative rather than competitive, I’m confident that we can quite easily improve how we interact with the idea of mental health and wellness if we start with how we interact with our friends. The best part is that overriding stigma is actually a side effect of getting closer to your friends.

If you’re wondering at this point if and how mental health and friendship relate to you, I can guarantee that at some point, mental health will be relevant in your friendship. In fact, it probably already has been or is currently relevant. Besides, strengthening friendships and feeling connected and invested in your friendships is always fantastic.

Even if you don’t think mental health and the way you interact with your friends applies to you, it is extremely likely that it applies to your friends.

Obviously, friendships affect all involved, and your behavior can have a profound but invisible effect (of encouraging mental wellbeing) on your friends.

Next, I want to give a little bit of background so that you can understand why I know that friendships are important to mental health. I didn’t really connect with other people my first year at Scripps until we talked about mental health.

Obviously, we didn’t sit in a circle and decide, “Let’s talk about mental health.” It started with being open in our day-to-day conversations about what we thought, felt, and had experienced regarding mental health and wellness. The people I knew in my first year spoke about mental health in the same way that they would talk about their high school classes or something funny that happened earlier that morning. This tore down my wall formed by years in a heavily stigmatized and silencing atmosphere.

In other words, I learned that it was okay to talk about these topics.

Breaking down mental health stigma’s silence barrier was vital for me and for my friends.

Candid discussions of a friend’s former OCD or current antidepressants, for example, were key in building up the trust needed to stick together through three major crises, a summer from hell, relapsing and worsening mental illness, subsequent burnout, medication disaster and everyday ups and downs. And, not only are we as friends so much better for all of it, but our bouts with mental illness have become enormously more

manageable—even, in one case, disappearing almost altogether.

But enough about me. My life is only relevant in this context in that I can tell you how I was able to achieve that trust, which is so powerful in managing and fighting mental illness. As I mentioned earlier, the trust began to form when stigma was flattened by willingness to share stories and talk about mental health. So, the first tip I have for you is to share. Let your friends/acquaintances (again, my friends weren’t my friends until we built up trust with each other, which involved talking about mental health) know that you are able and willing to talk about such an important yet taboo topic.

If your friends share with you, show that you are interested and care. Use active listening and ask questions. Also, if you aren’t used to talking about mental illness, try to play it cool—don’t act like you’re talking about something taboo.

Many people who have experienced mental illness do not like it being sensationalized or treated differently.

For example, don’t talk about it as you would talk about a terminal disease. And try not to act surprised if someone talks about mental illness.

It shouldn’t be surprising based on how common it really is.

If someone tells you they have a mental illness, the best thing to do is to learn more about it and to continue to support your friend. Mainly, this looks like taking time to learn about what the friend is going through, what you can specifically do to help, and telling your friend that they have your support.

(A lot of people with mental illness are afraid their friends will reject them.) Spend time with your friend: offer to have a meal or study together. Again, don’t treat this person differently. You can find (so many!) resources online about how to support a friend with mental illness. (And if you need help finding said resources, feel free to contact me!)

When someone shares something with you, you probably know that it is frowned upon to tell everyone you know. However, if it is something you feel is important for other people to know, ask the person who told you if you can tell one or two of

your mutual friends. (But make sure those people are also trustworthy.)

Hopefully, you and your friends will get to a point at which you will be totally comfortable talking about mental health. This doesn’t mean that there is nothing else you and your friends can do to strengthen your friendship on the mental health front. You can still help each other maintain wellbeing and prevent burnout and stress, which can be different from simply talking about mental health. Do activities together. Study together.

Check in on each other. Remind each other things you know are helpful—for example, if a friend has anxiety about academic performance, you can remind her that grades don’t define her worth as a person.

Lastly, if you notice something is “off” with someone you know, don’t be afraid to talk about it. Sometimes a gut feeling can end up saving someone’s life. (I’m not exaggerating!) In less extreme cases, you can make someone’s day by showing that you genuinely care about them. You don’t even have to ask someone if something is wrong outright. Instead, if the person seems “off,” you can invite them to hang out.

My friends and I really bonded over what we’ve been through together, and their support has been instrumental to my success and growth as a person. We still take care of each other in big and small ways, and it is amazing. I know that none of this could have happened if we all didn’t take those risks and listen to that small voice in our heads telling us to tell our story or to ask a question.

The most important thing to remember is that talking about something so stigmatized and often personal is potentially awkward for many people.

Mental health is one of those topics which everyone

“Putting yourself out there” by sharing or asking something is a risk, but it is one worth taking— really, it transforms, and often saves, lives.

agrees needs to be discussed more but which no one discusses. Rather than focusing on the fact that it isn’t discussed, let’s focus on the fact that a majority of people care and want to reduce stigma.

So, take the risk and talk.

For a list of mental health resources, go to pages 111-112 of The Unofficial Scripps Survival Guide: http://issuu.com/scrippsvoice/docs/ the_unofficial_scripps_college_surv For emergency help, call Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services at 909-621-8202, or 909-607-2000 for an after-hours emergency.

Photo courtesy of The Arlington Partnership.

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

Features • 11

FASHION COLUMN

SUSTAINABILITY & BEAUTY PRODUCTS

By Natalie Camrud ‘17 & Diva Gattani ‘17 Fashion Columnists

I

n the age of endless information, we have the ability to be more diligent about the items we consume. Many of my peers are conscientious about what they put into their bodies, whether it be organic or vegetarian or non-GMO’s. If you’ve been reading our column, maybe you’ve started checking the labels when you shop or only choosing companies that have ethical practices (yay!). But for all the diligence we have when it comes to what we put into our bodies, we don’t always think critically about what we put onto our bodies. Studies have shown that people who wear makeup daily absorb roughly 5 pounds of chemicals a year into their bodies, and most of the time they don’t know exactly what they’re absorbing. I’m guilty of this; too many times I’ve been in Sephora and I see a brightly packaged product and suddenly I don’t know how I can live without it. I don’t bother to check the ingredients, and even if I did, I have NO freaking idea what sodium lauryl sulfate is or what methylparabens are, and what does “fragrance” even mean?!

Go ahead, check the back of your shampoo or body wash and you’ll most likely see the mysterious “fragrance” listed on the ingredients. Additionally, the majority of people continue to use cosmetics after their expiration date.

These expired products, especially lip-stick and eye cosmetics, are infested with bacteria and can lead to eyeinfections and illness. PSA: please do yourself a favor and throw out that eyeliner you’ve had since last year of high school.

You’d think that harmful chemicals wouldn’t be allowed to be in these products, right? WRONG! The FDA is pretty terrible about banning chemicals, partially because these chemicals have to be proven to be harmful before they are removed, and companies are creating new things at incredibly fast rates and it’s time consuming and costly to test every single one. That’s not a great excuse though;

“...Studies have shown that people who wear makeup daily absorb roughly 5 pounds of chemicals a year into their bodies, and most of the time they don’t know exactly what they’re absorbing...”

Europe has banned 1,372 cosmetic ingredients, many of which are known carcinogens, and the U.S. has only banned ten (Refinery29).

I know, it sounds scary, but there are steps you can take to have more control over what’s soaking into your skin. I use an app called “Think Dirty.”

It’s free and it allows you to scan the barcode of a product and see the ingredients (with explanations as to exactly what they are) and get an overall rating of its risk. It’s a great app; now I go through Sephora scanning stuff before I buy it! There are also natural/organic products at all price ranges, and you can even DIY if you want (I recommend searching Youtube and Pinterest).

Some brands with natural or organic products include Josie Maran, Bite Beauty, Physicians Formula, Aster & Bay, Origins and many more. Look for organic products or products that are made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances.

Sources:

http://www.refinery29.com/2013/06/48912/ banned-cosmetics https://zady.com/features/sustainablebeauty-why-farm-to-face-is-the-new-farm-totable http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ uknews/1555173/Body-absorbs-5lb-of-makeup-chemicals-a-year.html

HIGHLIGHTS • Europe has banned 1,372 cosmetic ingredients (many known carcinogens).

The U.S. has only banned 10.

• The app called “Think Dirty” scans barcodes of any product, shows its ingredients (with explanations!) and gives a risk rating.

• Recommended brands with natural/organic products: Josie Maran, Bite Beauty, Physicians Formula, Aster & Bay, Origins.

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six

12 • Arts & Entertainment Home Town: San Mateo, California You’ve mentioned you’re biracial-- Is there a particular way in which you think this has affected your experiences?

Being biracial has enriched my experiences in that I’m more aware [of] other cultures and how different people in different cultures will interpret certain things that are said or how their perspectives have changed how they interact with other people. It has helped me to converse with people of color and find common ground that way; it’s also just made me more aware of different traditions and practices [across certain] cultures.

high enough to make those positions-- so [I’m flying] just for fun for now.

Is there anything you always wanted to try or start, but was afraid or wary of doing?

I can’t think of anything in particular that I want to do but haven’t done because I’m afraid, but I do sometimes second guess trying new things because I’m wary the social stigma/judgement... but I do get around to it eventually. I’m trying to branch out, going to new clubs and going into the gym to work out and not care what other people are doing— just doing my own thing.

Is there a core value in your life that you believe in or follow?

It would be considering all options, definitely taking into account, for example, how if going out all night will affect me in the morning, whether it’s something I’ll regret or stuff like that. Because I’m very indecisive, so that’s probably where it stems from. I definitely want to consider all my options, not to be “Oh I don’t want Would you consider becoming an airplane pilot as a to miss this and that,” I want to go to everything, but career? more like how will I react in that environment and to I wouldn’t really because […] females aren’t represented make sure I can still be true to myself when placed in a very much [in the industry] and it’s mostly a hierarchy of different environment. white old men, so it’s not the best place to work and you have to struggle very hard to put out a lot to even get For the full interview, visit thescrippsvoice.com.

When did you start flying airplanes?

I started flying when I was fourteen years old. I won a scholarship at the local airport, and they paid for my training and for me to get my license. I trained for an entire summer pretty much every day, and took my license right when senior year started.

Julie Korsmeyer ‘19 with Kandace Fung CMC ‘19, Staff Writer

Motley OPening Photos by Anita Ho ‘19

4 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Six