Volume XIX - Issue 7

18 February, 2016

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RIMA SHAH TALKS NEW EMPOWER CENTER

By Layne Wells ‘19 Staff Writer

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ollowing the recent opening of the EmPOWER Center on January 26th, The Scripps Voice had the pleasure of speaking with Director Rima Shah regarding the Center’s purpose, accessibility, and outreach. Shah, whose career in nonprofit programming and sexual violence training spans 13 years, has worked extensively in her field and has just recently led the opening of the EmPOWER Center. It is described as a violence prevention and support center serving the seven Claremont Colleges.

The Center is not Shah’s first experience working with the college students, however; before coming to Southern California, she worked with DePaul University in Chicago as their sexual health and violence prevention specialist, serving nearly 24,000 students and faculty. Prior to her work in the States, Shah worked extensively in India through well-known groups like Ford Foundation, Unicef, and the World Institute on Disability and also independent consulting.

The Scripps Voice: Why Claremont?

After doing work throughout India and the Midwest, what made you want to come out to the Claremont University Consortium?

What started the EmPOWER Center and your role in it?

Rima Shah: I came for the great opportunity— being the inaugural director of a center devoted to the issues

Photo by Layne Wells ‘19

DAVID Scheidemantle and In 2014, Scheidemantle founded the Scripps-Scheidemantle Law Internship for rising-first-years at Scripps, and has continued to have a positive relationship with the College.

Scheidemantle began the training by explaining the concept of self-actualization, which is when a person is in a calm and happy mood and is able to achieve their full potential. Additionally, Scheidemantle claimed that we do not manage time, but instead manage activities.

And in regards to managing activities in the most beneficial manner for each individual, Scheidemantle went over a list of tools to utilize.

The first tool is the notion of acceptance. It is necessary to accept yourself and the current situation in order to capitalize on your future potential. He then explained that every individual needs to create their own blank canvas; people have to find what they need to do in order to focus on tasks with singularity.

While some individuals need to have a clean desk to start working and be productive, others may work better when their workspace is messy. Scheidemantle explains that each person needs to find their best situation for being able to focus on one individual task and not be distracted.

“THE ART OF TIME MANAGEMENT”

By Sydney Sibelius ‘18 Staff Writer

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avid Scheidemantle began his time management workshop by saying: “You can only manage you.” In “The Art of Time Management—A Training with David Scheidemantle” hosted by the Laspa Center for Leadership, Mr. Scheidemantle provided tips and skills for time management. On the evening of Thursday, February 11, Scheidemantle discussed these tools with a classroom full of interested attendees.

The audience was filled with busy students, parents, and Scripps faculty, there to hear about ways in which to be more productive and manage their time better.

Scheidemantle is no stranger himself to having a full plate and maintaining a busy schedule.

Currently, Scheidemantle is President and Managing Partner of Scheidemantle Law Group P.C. Though he practices law now, he attended the Juilliard School as a violinist. He has been concertmaster of both the Juilliard Symphony and Philharmonia, and continues to play to this day.

Inside This Issue:

Page 2 - Exercise

Peer Health Educators talk exercising on a tight schedule

I am most passionate about, i.e. violence prevention and student support. Having the opportunity to help build the Center from the ground up and having the opportunity to do that at an outstanding consortium of colleges is what attracted me to this position. In addition, I believe for any initiative to be effective, it must be informed by the needs of the community it serves. The fact that the creation of the EmPOWER Center was the direct result of the needs expressed by and input provided by students, staff and faculty further drew me to this position.

TSV: For those who have not read your literature or attended the kick-off on [insert date here], what is the EmPOWER Center?

RS: The EmPOWER Center is a 7C resource that primarily focuses on two areas— Support— We provide free, confidential support, counseling, and referrals to 7C students impacted by sexual violence, dating/domestic violence, and stalking.

Education— We work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, clubs and community partners to build awareness and sensitivity and provide educational programs for the 7Cs community around healthy relationships, sexual violence, dating/domestic violence and stalking.

TSV: Is the Center an extension of the Scripps Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault or of any other 5C CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

The second time management tool that Scheidemantle explained is the notion of living in continuua.

There are a variety of continuum scales that affect the productivity and output of individuals. It is necessary to consider efficiency versus thoroughness, the outcome in comparison to the process, and the big picture or smaller details. Being a perfectionist means that you may be very thorough, but not get as much other work done, and individuals have to choose where they want to be on the scale to maximize their output. The same applies for being more worried about the final product, or the process of getting there, as well as if you are going to focus on the big picture or look at the details of everything. Understanding your place on these scales can help you to make a decision based on where you want to be on the continuum.

One of the final tools was the notion of preparing for work versus actually doing work. It is possible to procrastinate in creating a clean canvas, and many times procrastination is fueled by not knowing what your next action is.

The fourth tool which can help you to effectively manage your time is to plan your distractions, and integrate them into your list of overall tasks. When creating a to-do list, it also helps to break down your tasks into manageable chunks. For example, if one of the tasks you need to do is finish your thesis, it helps to break that

Page 5 - Fashion Column Learn about “fast fashion” and its detrimental effects

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

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Page 12 - Scripps Collage Take a peek at charming photos from around campus

2 • News

exercise

ta l k i n g

pandora

By Sasha Rivera ‘19 Staff Writer

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n T h u r s d a y, F e b 1 1 , C l a r e m o n t M c K enna College brought in Ruby Blondell, a p r o f e s s o r o f c l a s s i c s a n d B y r o n W. a n d Alice L. Lockwood Professor in the Humanities at the University of Washington in Seattle, as a guest speaker at the Athenaeum.

Her presentation centered around the story o f P a n d o r a’s b o x i n G r e e k m y t h o l o g y a n d how that myth was used to show in Greek culture that women were the root of all evil a n d t h a t b e a u t y w a s a w o m a n ’s u l t i m a t e weapon over a man.

Blondell began with a retelling of the famous Pandora myth, starting with the purpose of her creation. When Prometheus stole the fire from Hephaestus and gave it to mankind, an enraged Zeus decided to punish the humans by creating the first woman, Pandora. After he sculpted her from c l a y, A t h e n a b r e a t h e d l i f e i n t o P a n d o r a , while Aphrodite gave her immense beauty and Hermes taught her to be charming and deceitful. Pandora embodied the erotic allure and beauty of an adolescent bride with “ v i r g i n s e x u a l r i p e n e s s .” S h e w a s t h e n p r e s e n t e d a s a g i f t t o P r o m e t h e u s ’s b r o t h e r, Epimetheus. Zeus gave her as a gift a clay jar that she was told to never open. Once s e t t l e d a n d o u t o f h e r h u s b a n d ’s s i g h t , P a n dora gave into temptation and opened the j a r, r e l e a s i n g a l l o f t h e t e r r i b l e e v i l s i n t o the world and leaving behind Hope, who was in the shape of a woman. Pandora thus b e c a m e k n o w n a s a “ b e a u t i f u l e v i l .”

B e c a u s e o f P a n d o r a’s c u r i o s i t y a n d w e a k ness before temptation, Blondell likened her to the biblical character Eve, since both had inadvertently created evil in the world b y d i s o b e y i n g m a l e o r d e r s . H o w e v e r, t h e y differed from one another in their purposes and roles in creation. Eve was meant to be a lifelong partner for Adam, created from his own rib, and thus represented the union of man and woman. Pandora, on the other hand, was formed in the image of a bride, n o t a w i f e . S h e w a s m a d e f r o m c l a y, t h e r e fore indicating the Greek belief that men and women were a separate species. In addition, Pandora had her own purpose and agenda, unlike Eve, who was created solely for Adam.

Blondell then turned the discussion to another significant female character in G r e e k m y t h o l o g y : H e l e n o f Tr o y. H e r r o l e a s t h e c a u s e o f t h e Tr o j a n W a r e n f o r c e d t h e i d e a o f b e a u t y a s a w o m a n ’s u l t i m a t e weapon, as well as a source of destruction a n d a c a u s e o f f e a r f o r m e n . W o m e n ’s p o w er rested in their eyes, evident in the character of Helen. When Menelaus tried to kill h e r f o r t h e h a v o c s h e c a u s e d w i t h t h e w a r, he dropped his weapon as soon as he met her gaze because he became enraptured by h e r o v e r w h e l m i n g b e a u t y. T h e r e f o r e , b e a u ty became a symbol of empowerment for women because they could use it to control and overpower men who objectified them.

In addition, the eyes were some of the few body parts that couldn’t be covered or else women would be unable to perform their d o m e s t i c f u n c t i o n s ; t h u s , w o m e n ’s e r o t i c power which lay in their gaze could not be concealed and fully controlled.

Blondell used these ideas to then continue describing practices within the actual Greek culture, focusing on Classical Athens. Women could not legally own very much, but their accessories and clothing were their own. Therefore, lavish adornments and makeup were very important for them since beauty was their source of p o w e r. I t w a s a l s o b e l i e v e d t h a t w o m e n

You Can Do Anywhere

By The TFH Peer Health Educator Team

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or many students, working out is a prime way to deal with stress from the week.

H o w e v e r, a s t h e s e m e s t e r b e c o m e s b u s i e r, a l o t o f s t u d e n t s w i l l f e e l t h a t t h e y no longer have the time to go work out. Losing this coping mechanism can lead to rough consequences, including higher levels of anxiety and a harder time sleeping at night. While there should be absolutely no pressure to make it to the gym, for some students it is good for their mental health to be able to exercise a few times a week. In fact, recent research has shown that just 20 minutes of vigorous exercise, or 30 minutes of moderate exercise, can be incredibly beneficial. If you are someone that benefits from an exercise routine, but feel that you do not have the time to do so, here are some ideas for quick ways to work out:

Cardio Intervals,

Body weight circuit,

30 minutes:

increments of 5 minutes:

Are you someone that loves the endorphin rush from running and biking? This interval is a prime way to mix it up. First you must pick two exercises-- in the past, I’ve had good luck with running and biking.

On your first exercises, start out going at a moderate intensity workout (i.e. if running, a sustainable jog) for four minutes, and sprint (or do something that would be difficult to do for more than a minute) for the fifth minute. Repeat this three times for a total of 15 minutes, then switch to a different exercise and repeat the cycle.

N e e d a l o w - i m p a c t v e r s i o n ? Tr y t h e e l l i p tical and arm bike. Want to do it outside?

Skipping and high knees does the trick.

C a n ’ t e v e n s p a r e 3 0 m i n u t e s ? To t a l l y f i n e , just don’t do the second half.

If you prefer a mix of strength training, an easy way to do a quick workout is to pick your favorite exercises and create a circuit. For example, one could do burpees, squats, lunges, russian twists, and planks. Perform each move for one minute, and then go immediately to the next exercise. At the end of each circuit, take a 30 second break and then repeat. Do this as many times as you care to. This is p e r f e c t f o r t h o s e d e a l i n g w i t h a n i n j u r y, a s i t c a n b e c u s t o m i z e d t o y o u r a b i l i t y.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, i t ’s e a s y t o m i x t h i s o n e u p to make it more interesting. On the first circuit one might do a regular plank, but on the next they could do side planks. If you feel like you don’t even have time to walk to the gym, this is a prime one for the dorm room.

Strength Circuit, 10-30 minutes:

One little-known piece of information about strength machine set-ups is that they are often arranged in a circuit. In Tiernan Field Hoise, in the room with t h e s q u a t b a r t h a t h a s d o o r s t o t h e b a l c o n y, t h e m a c h i n e s a r e s e t - u p i n o r d e r of the muscle groups. Start with whichever machine you desire, and do 12-15 reps of the exercise. Then, transition to the next machine. Complete as many r o u n d s t h r o u g h o u t t h e r o o m a s y o u h a v e t i m e f o r. M a k e s u r e y o u w a r m u p f i r s t though, either hop on the bike for 5-10 minutes before you start or high-knees it from your dorm to the field house. If you can’t perform all of the exercises, t h a t ’s t o t a l l y f i n e - - j u s t s k i p t h a t s t r e n g t h m a c h i n e a n d h e a d t o t h e n e x t o n e .

For more ideas, head to Tiernan to see posters of exercise circuits and recommended workout apps. As always, if you find that w o r k i n g o u t i s n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t ’s r i g h t f o r y o u , m a k e s u r e t o l i s t e n t o y o u r b o d y. T h e p e r s o n a l t r a i n e r, a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r o f H e a l t h and Wellness, and Peer Health Educators are all available for consultation, as well. Best of luck with the semester! were naturally very weak, had little selfcontrol and had immense sexual appetites.

Female beauty and sexual desire were said to cause trouble, so it was important that w o m e n w e r e t o b e c o n t r o l l e d b y m e n . Ye t even though they were forced to dress mode s t l y, t h e f e m a l e b o d y w a s s t i l l p r o v o c a t i v e because men were left constantly wondering what was underneath the clothes.

“A m a n c a n ’ t w i n , a p p a r e n t l y, b u t n e i t h e r c a n a w o m a n ,” s a i d B l o n d e l l .

In Greek culture, women were seen as an intrinsic threat because they were more than statues; they had mind, speech and strength through vision, voice and movement. Blondell contrasted Pandora with H e p h a e s t u s ’s g o l d e n , r o b o t i c h a n d m a i d ens, concluding that women differ from robots and statues because they have the p o w e r t o d e c e i v e . P a n d o r a’s o w n s u b j e c t i v ity made her an object of desire, whereas the golden handmaidens are not.

“Pandora embodies the profound amb i v a l e n c e o f t h e h u m a n c o n d i t i o n ,” s a i d Blondell.

Blondell concluded her presentation by comparing Pandora with modern technolo g y, s t a t i n g t h a t b o t h a r e e s s e n t i a l , y e t harmful. Like Pandora, technology is linked

t o a m b i g u i t y, a m b i v a l e n c e a n d a l a c k o f control. She also displayed several products and websites likening Pandora to techn o l o g y, s u c h a s t h e P a n d o r a r a d i o s t a t i o n .

Then, Blondell took questions from the audience. The first person inquired as to how Greek men protected themselves from the female evils of beauty and desire. Blondell replied that self-control was essential in Greek culture and that masculinity and strength were determined by this self-control. Another audience member asked about the significance of these m y t h s i n c u r r e n t s o c i e t y, t o w h i c h B l o n d e l l replied, “Every culture picks up these stories and u s e s t h e m f o r t h e i r o w n p u r p o s e s .”

The rest of the questions pertained to the practices of prostitution in Greek culture a n d t h e p o r t r a y a l s o f H e l e n o f Tr o y i n o t h e r time periods like the Renaissance. While Blondell admitted that she could not give a proper response since her specialty was in exclusively Greek culture, she did bring up how Hollywood films often depict Helen as a girl next door rather than a woman with divine powers. Blondell is currently writing a book on the representations of Helen in film and television.

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

News • 3

The Scripps Voice Staff 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 Star Schneider 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 Photographers Tyra Abraham Jessica Eu Suzette Guzman Anita Ho Annalise Ko Jessica Padover Layne Wells

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.

former scripps professor speaks for liberal education

By Kandace Fung ‘19 Staff Writer

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ormer Scripps professor, past president of the California College of the Arts, curator, historian, author, associate director for the Getty Research Institute, and now president of Wesleyan University since 2007, Michael S. Roth spoke for liberal education in his Athenaeum talk at Claremont McKenna College. On the evening of Thursday, February 11, in a room packed with faculty and students, Roth expanded on the four core points of liberal education: liberation, animation, cooperation, and instigation.

Discussing the value “liberation,” Roth traveled back to Thomas Jefferson, an Enlightenment thinker who believed that without education, the freedom the Americans fought hard to secure would crumble and become meaningless—for how can one have freedom if one cannot think for himself? Education is supposed to open up possibilities, and to catalyze students to challenge their own dogmas and beliefs.

Roth jokingly added that education “doesn’t look like Harvard,” because people used to attend Harvard to learn the ways of becoming a minister. Roth believes that one should start one’s educational journey not knowing what path they will end up on; one should not start the quest for education already knowing where they want to go. Roth then brought up another important historical figure, giving a short story about Frederick Douglas when he was a slave. The mistress of the house he served taught Douglas to read while the master was away, and when the master discovered this when he came back, he raged “Education will make [them] unfit for slavery!” Education will liberate.

After explaining liberation, Roth dissected the next aspect of a liberal education: animation. He began by quoting the words of Emerson: “the

task of education is to animate, so that you can animate the world.”

Roth elaborated on this quote, stating that education should be more than just drilling facts and rote memorization—rather, we should be educated to make the world come alive. Liberal education opens up the opportunities for students to meet people who were otherwise “off-limits” -- people we would otherwise never meet in our life. Many people from around the world with various interests come together in a liberal arts education to explore themselves and other paths. Students are put in a university environment, where they can listen to music they would have never listened to or heard of before, take classes outside of their majors just for fun, and, through this, become animated to break the rote part of life and what was expected of them. The liberal education will animate our lives and bring us out of the hum-drum norms in life.

To begin talking about the third value of liberal education, cooperation, Roth shared a story about Jane Addams, who wanted to go to a university. However, because of her father’s refusal to send her, she went to a convent school instead. Addams proved her worth to her father by becoming a campus leader, getting straight A’s, and writing for the convent school’s newspaper. But after graduating, her father still refused to send her to university, and he died shortly afterwards. Obeying her father’s last wishes, she Addams did not go to a university, and instead traveled with her companions. Then one day in London, she saw a man trampled by a horse and carriage, and the realization struck her that “I have lumbered my mind with literature. I have studied so damn much that I can’t think in a way that allows me to act.” She realized that her “quest for knowledge will soon handicap her to act.” When she returned home, she began to learn

by working in community, aiding immigrants and the less fortunate in partnership. She realized that “she had been trapped from learning to free herself through her mind”; she wanted to “create conditions in which people free themselves together through practice - through action.” She believed that in school, students shouldn’t delve deeper into their subject, but look up from it to see another fellow’s perspective.

Addams believed that “we needed to overcome a blindness”--people become more and more blind as they narrow themselves to only one field, dismissing and ignoring things outside of their fields-- and worked to fix this dilemma.

Similarly, explained Roth, while schools push students to become independent and to get things done by themselves, John Dewey thought that this push was “narcissism at best” and “sick isolationism at worst”. He urged that people should “learn to do things in concert with one another”, because it would lead to obtaining values that would “allow us to put what we are learning into service.” Applying Addam’s story and Dewey’s pragmatic view, Roth promoted the idea that we do not learn from a professor, but learn as a group. Liberal education calls for cooperation and learning together, from each other.

Roth ended his talk by explaining the concept of instigation, something he believes should happen from a liberal arts education. When students go to college, they reject the very terms of their education: that they should start education not knowing where they’ll end up. Roth explains that student protest serves as evidence that the education provided is effectively working.

There should be an instigation for change. The country will only thrive and overcome challenges with the instigation stimulated by liberal education.

For more information about Michael S. Roth, visit http://www. wesleyan.edu/president/biography/.

ADVICE ON TIME MANAGEMENT FROM WORKSHOP 7C EMPOWER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

down into smaller tasks. Instead of just writing “finish thesis” on your list, Scheidemantle explained that it can be helpful to be more specific about what you need to do. “Edit chapter 5,” “set up appointment with reader,” and “finish conclusion,” all seem more manageable when you see them on a list then “finish thesis” would.

For help with creating lists, Scheidemantle demonstrated the aid that internetbased methods can provide. Trello, an online tool for managing products, is beneficial in creating lists and helping organize activities. Evernote and Toodledo help organize lists, and Zapier connects all of your online bases into one, and are all also internet sources that provide time management aid.

Scheidemantle ended the training by sharing the concept of sharpening your saw-- taking the time to take care of yourself so that you can be productive and get more done in the long run. With

the metaphor of cutting down a tree, it is beneficial to sharpen your saw before you begin to reduce the total amount of time that it will take to cut down the tree. However, an individual may not take the time to sharpen the saw, and they will be stuck spending time trying to cut down the tree with a dull saw.

Take time to sharpen your own saw, so that you can personally be able to handle more and be more productive at the same time.

If you have more questions on time management tools, visit the Laspa Center, CP&R, or the offices in the Tranquada Student Services Center. The internet-based management tools are all accessible online; you can easily find them with Google, and you can create a free account on each site. Expect more trainings similar to this from Laspa to help you perform at your best and be a leader in your life!

CENTER Q&A CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

support groups?

RS: Not exactly. But we collaborate with the Advocates from the various colleges and with other support groups.

TSV: Will the Center host events this semester and beyond for the colleges? If so, what kinds and when?

RS: Yes. We are still in the planning stages. More details to come soon. But in the works are a 5C/7C men’s initiative, a survivor support group, first responder trainings, collaborative events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, etc.

1030 Dartmouth Avenue 909-607-0690 Note – the Center has yet to publish walk-in hours but can be reached at the above address by Garrison Theater.

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

4 • Science

On gravitational waves proving einstien correct on his century old theory of general relativity

By Jenny Lee HMC ‘19 Design Editor, Science Enthusiast

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n 1916, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of what were ripples in the curvature of spacetime that propagated across the universe in the form of waves. Called gravitational waves, these tiny pulsations can be compared to the waves formed by a pebble thrown into a pond. The differences lie in that those waves are moving at the speed of light, and the pebble is equivalent to enormous objects like black holes, whose incredulous accelerations are enough to make an impact in spacetime itself.

piece of paper. Take the paper and lay it flat on the table. Mark two points, anywhere with reasonable white space between the two. Now slowly push either side of the points together so that the paper “folds” up in between the two points. You can see that the two points have gotten closer, despite that they’re stationary on the paper. The act of folding is comparable to the vacuum that sucks in everything.

Let’s step back a bit. We naturally think of things existing in three dimensions. As we learned in math, this is commonly referred to as the x, y and z axes, or height, width and depth. But in reality, we are living in the fourth dimension, time. Spacetime is essentially the crossover of the three dimensions and time, so all of us are actually point on the four-dimensional coordinate system that looks like (time, x, y, z).

Gravity, as most of us know it, is the force that pulls on other things. Almost everything in spacetime has gravity. Imagine it being something like an aura around an object, except instead of radiating things away, it’s pulling everything around it to itself. The bigger the object, the stronger this force is, and thus the greater effect it has on spacetime.

As with most things in our universe, we are very small objects slowly cruising along in spacetime, not making much of an impact. But when huge things like black holes or supernovas appear as a result of exploding stars or galaxies, spacetime becomes distorted. Their huge gravitational forces suck in everything like a vacuum, including spacetime itself. This causes a disturbance that affects the rest of the universe in ripples.

Each time a ripple rolls along, that part “folds” in and thereby changes the distances between two points. You can remodel this simply with a

The greatest problem with detecting gravitational waves was that these ripples were too small for it to be detected with certainty. In fact, these ripples were so small that LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, set deep underground in rural pastures, had trouble distinguishing signals of the actual wave from vibrations caused by tumbleweeds, hundreds of feet above the detectors.

So why is this discovery so important? Our current method of looking at the universe is through telescopes, which gives close to no information about black holes. Telescopes work off of light, but black holes consume even light, rendering them useless. Gravitational waves, however, introduce an entirely new spectrum of ways to observe things.

This would answer so many questions that were left unanswered because of simply not being able to “look” directly at a black hole. In fact, in the very first week of discovering these waves, scientists were able to discover that black holes orbit around each other and merge to form one big black hole, a revelation itself in the field of astrophysics.

In addition, this furthers the incorrectness of the Newtonian theory of gravitation, which postulates that physical interactions of gravity happen at infinite speed. Simply put, this states that gravitational waves cannot exist. Instead, this confirmation puts us closer to the physics of

By Erin Matheson ‘18 Science Columnist

W

general relativity, which, alongside quantum mechanics, composes the physics scientists work with today. As of February 11, 2016, scientists have taken an immense step forward in advancing physics as a whole.

This is easily one of the greatest discoveries in all of mankind’s achievements in science, and the excitement is only uphill from here.

Illustration courtesy of Allen R. Palmer

For the Enthusiasts

hether you are a frequent resident at the Keck Science Center or you do not consider yourself a science geek, the new findings on gravitational waves, confirming Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity published over one hundred years ago, are fascinating. These gravitational waves are caused by two large objects (two black holes in this case) colliding. New evidence supports theories that we, students, not only learn in the classroom, but also governs our daily lives.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration (LIGO) monitored a disturbance in the cosmos 1.3 billion years ago. This disturbance was the merging of two black holes 95 miles apart.

These gravitational waves, which have a power 50 times greater than that of all the stars in the universe put together, vibrated a pair of L-shaped antennas in Washington State and Louisiana known as LIGO on September 14, 2016.

This evidence has been a long time coming... 1.3 billion years coming and 50 years of monitoring, in fact. The National Science Foundation spent about $1.1 billion and more than 40 years to build these laser monitoring machines.

Einstein announced his theory of General Relativity in 1915 and predicted that matter and energy distort the geometry of the universe by gravity. A violent disturbance in the universe such as exploding stars and colliding black holes could ‘jiggle’ space-time, like a mattress shaking when that sleeper rolls over, producing ripples of gravity: gravitational waves.

Scripps student Genna Gores ‘17 said, “[The discovery of gravity waves] is so cool! It opens up so much new material to study.”

I highly recommend watching the visually stunning New York Times video that puts the new evidence all together nicely: http://www.nytimes. com/2016/02/12/science/ligo-gravitational-waves-black-holes-einstein. html?_r=0 Knowledge of and about these gravity waves will be used as a new tool as scientists continue to explore the universe according to LIGO. This means that soon, gravity waves will become a whole new research topic for Scripps students to get involved in post-graduation. It is an exciting time to be a STEM major.

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

Features • 5

ATHLETE PROFILE: ELLA KIM

By Natalie Camrud ‘17 Staff Writer

THE SCRIPPS VOICE: What sport do you play?

ELLA KIM: I am the president and captain of Claremont FC, the 5C Women’s club soccer team.

TSV: How long have you been playing? Have you done any other sports/do you play any others now?

EK: I have been playing soccer since I was six years old.

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

EK: I would want to be really good at speed skating. I am a big fan of frozo.

TSV: How has being on a sports team influenced your experience at Scripps?

EK: When I first arrived at Scripps, we didn’t have a club soccer team.

During my freshman year I really missed playing soccer and being a part of a team. Sarah Berschinski ‘17 and I decided that we wanted to start a women’s club soccer team, because

there was a lot of interest across the 5Cs. Getting the team officially recognized was very political and difficult, but it was well worth it. I am proud of how far the team has come and what we have accomplished. I am also so happy to be playing again and I really love all of the women on the team.

TSV: Do you have a favorite memory with your team?

EK: Last semester we had an away game in LA, which we unfortunately lost. But afterwards, on the drive home, we pulled over on the side of the road, and we all ran out of the car screaming on the top of our lungs and jumped into the ocean. At that point, no one really cared that we had lost, we were just happy to be spending time together.

TSV: Do you have any advice to other students considering joining a sports team?

EK: If you are interested in joining CFC, come out and practice with us.

We are very welcoming and will take on new players in the fall!

Photos courtesy of Ella Kim ‘17

FASHION COLUMN

WHERE DID YOUR CLOTHES COME FROM?

Photo courtesy of Diva Gattani ‘17

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

D

o you know WHO made your clothes? Do you know how much they were paid? Do you know how old they were? Do you know if they were chained to their sewing machine or if they were allowed bathroom breaks? Most of us cannot answer these questions. The fast fashion industry, meaning an industry that rapidly produces cheap clothing, makes it very difficult to trace the origins of our clothes and the dark story that might be behind that miniskirt, but lifting that veil and holding fashion companies accountable is important.

On Feb. 2, 2016, there was a fire at the Matrix Sweaters factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh. The factory is a supplier to retailers like H&M and JCPenney. The fire took place early in the morning, so luckily the 6,000 workers who work at the factory had not yet arrived; if the fire had occurred even an hour later, many, many lives could have been

lost. In 2014, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety inspected the facility and found dozens of safety hazards— including electrical risks and a lack of fire exits and sprinklers. The factory did not meet mandatory deadlines to fix these issues, and continued to operate anyway.

If the Feb. 2016 fire did not happen as early in the morning as it did, this story could have ended similarly to the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, when a building in Bangladesh collapsed and killed over 1,100 people. What’s even more chilling is that on the day of the Rana Plaza disaster, the workers refused to enter the building because of the large, visible cracks, but the building owner forced them inside anyway. A documentary, “The True Cost,” contains footage of the disaster. The now-collapsed factory manufactured garments for companies like Benetton, the Children’s Place and Walmart.

These are just two examples that show the mistreatments of garment workers that are often

kept silent. Today, there are 4.7 million child workers in Bangladesh working in dangerous factories instead of going to school. Of all the garment workers, about 85% of them are women.

The average hourly wage for a garment worker in Bangladesh is $0.24 an hour; garment workers in the United States earn 38 times as much. Many garment workers in countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh have demanded higher wages, but it’s very difficult for them to actually win; fashion companies can simply relocate to another country if the minimum wage gets raised, so this threat of job loss deters countries from actually raising wages. Some brands argue that raising minimum wages would make clothing more expensive. In reality, average clothing costs have decreased in recent years, and if wages were doubled for a garment worker, the cost of a piece of clothing would only rise by a few cents, or the company could just absorb those costs and the price would stay the same.

While fast fashion has detrimental impacts on the environment, there are also human costs that don’t get factored into the cost of that $4 t-shirt, or even that $400 t-shirt. Even extremely expensive designers use cheap labor overseas; just because something has an expensive price tag does NOT mean that it was made more ethically or that is is more environmentally friendly. It’s a common misconception that expensive clothes are made better or are higher quality.

If you want to apply what you’ve learned to your own closet, it’s easy enough to look up ethical brands, and buying secondhand or vintage is always a great option. Does this mean that every item of clothing you buy must be made ethically?

Do you have to boycott Forever 21? Of course not, because it is extremely difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes expensive to only buy items that were made “perfectly.” Just being educated on the issue and understanding the story behind your clothes is half the battle.

Sources: http://www.refinery29.com/2016/02/102470/ bangladesh-sweater-factory-fire http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/01/ rana-plaza-collapse-dozens-charged-with-murderbangladesh Zady Campus Guide

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

6

From 1931 ...

SPOTL

The beginning -

The very first graffiti piece was done by the graduating class of 1931, who painted the construction scenes of Toll hall, the first dormitory building. The class of 1932 continued with the take on the rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. The tradition continued on as the class of 1935 made their marks.

Sahak - “[It] represents the continuity of students’ lives. There are some characteristics that are similar deep down from those first students and the current students. It is a rich representation and a meaningful bond between generations.”

Here begins a new life . . . . . . we finally got together

Joy and rapture I have a brain

A speck, a mist, a shape And still more dark and women under construction pensive. I bit my ears, I sucked the blood And shrieked, A COMPREHENSIVE

T

A loo

All you need is love YES, YOU’LL MISS US

THE GRAF

give peace a chance

The ivy chain gets A window on the world stronger each year

A Reflection of the days Sahak - “Most classes echo and reflect the time that they’re in ... The wall is social and residential. It expresses what [the students at the time] were concerned about.”

For example, the class of 1970 only has the words ”Stop the War” in black, scrawled text. Others include social fads like a reference to The Beatles or serious issues like the economic depression era. Some classes do their contribution to the graffity wall during their time at Scripps, and some come back as alumni and contribute to the wall then.

Chanin desp

As A

Sahak - “There is so reflected on the wa of outdoor art on ca life as students live have always been g administration.”

It is easily the olde pus. The night befo an artist to paint, a

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps

LIGHT

7

An interview with Scripps librarian and “unofficial Scripps College Historian,” Judy Sahak, shows us a brief history of the famous and gorgeous graffiti wall between Toll and Browning residence halls. The wall embodies the memories and legacies of over 80 years of Scripps’ graduating classes; the tradition has brought students together across generations.

The colored texts on this page show some examples of what has been written on the wall. By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 and Jenny Lee HMC ‘19

ok at

with women like these, failure is impossible 20 years late but

worth the wait

FFITI WALL

S WHEN WE’RE GONE!

Stop the war

a brilliant crop.

You’d scarcely guess to see us now that we were freshmen once

ng the world Incipit vita nova spite it all And there was light

Are we out for good or are they just cleaning our cage

The future work of art

omething embedded in the college that is all ... The wall is the most important piece ampus. It’s not high art, but it represents ed it during their time here ... The images generated by the students and not the

est and most important tradition on camore commencement, each class selects and everyone gets to sign their names.

Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

Sahak - “The wall is controlled graffiti-- not random.”

The restoration of the wall was first brought up in Oct. 2006, and the College hired an art conservationist (Aneta Zebala) to work on it during the Summer of 2007. The main problem with the wall is that sometimes, people add their initials to the piece without having been a part of the class. The wall is also running out of space. Sahak suggested that a good space for a continuation of the graffity wall would be near New Hall. The current wall is in the middle of old campus, so putting it there would mean that it would be a part of the newer campus, with the residence halls.

... to 2016

8 • Features

2016 presidential candidates &

their stance on environmental issues bernie sanders

By Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Environmental Columnist

F

or people who care about environmental issues, it is surprisingly easy to fall into a trap of apathy towards the cause. The modern media is filled with rhetoric about making small changes that count, living green lifestyles, and being environmentally conscious. But sometimes these small changes can feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things. That’s when the apathetic thoughts begin to set in: “How much does it really matter if I take a five minute shower when there are droughts and gas leaks and oil spills?” While I don’t want to discount the importance of making small, environmentally-conscious decisions, it is true that these decisions don’t do much to change the systematic degradation of the environment that we, as citizens, have little control over: oil subsidies, unregulated exploitation of natural gases, and methods of waste disposal among other large issues. However, every four years we do get a chance to affect change on these larger systemic levels. By voting, we have some sway in the way the United States approaches these environmental issues. Here are the leading democratic and republican candidates in this year’s primary elections and their stances on major environmental issues.

hillary clinton

Courtesy of Google Images

In Dec. 2015, five months after Clinton announced her plan to tackle climate change, Bernie Sanders revealed his own plan. His included ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions to 40% below 1990 levels.

Steps towards this plan would include the creation of a clean energy workforce, which Sanders claims would provide 10 million jobs to Americans, and imposing a carbon tax, which would then provide revenue to support communities struggling from the effects of climate change. Sanders is endorsed by smaller, grassroots environmental groups as having a stronger record than Clinton when it comes to voting, proposing measures, and giving speeches on environmental issues. However, larger environmental organizations worry Sanders is too unlikely a candidate, and that if he ran as opposed to Clinton, the “establishment candidate,” it could place the next presidency in the hands of climate change deniers.

donald trump Courtesy of Google Images

When it comes to climate change, Hillary Clinton is adamant that action needs to be taken. She has been openly critical of “climate deniers” running in the Republican primaries. Last summer, she announced her plan for tackling global warming, which includes investing in clean energy and stopping tax give-aways to oil and gas companies. Unlike her Democratic opposition, Bernie Sanders, Hillary has been open to investing in natural gas as a clean energy source. Part of her response to climate change would also include modernizing natural gas infrastructure, accelerating pipeline replacement, and enhancing maintenance programs for natural gas distribution. Until late last summer, she refused to take a strong stance on the Keystone XL gas pipeline.

However, she now stands openly in opposition to the project. Hillary would “build upon the successes of the Obama administration,” such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. Although she has been endorsed by environmental organization League of Conservation, grassroots environmentalists have criticized her for being the “safe candidate” and as “somewhat conservative.”

Courtesy of Google Images

ted cruz

Cruz is perhaps more adamant than Trump that global warming is a “pseudoscientific theory.” However, his history as a politician reveals that his stance on global warming has shifted over the years. As senator, he voted for a senate amendment saying that climate change was real, but voted against a second amendment which declared it man-made. As an “anti-establishment” candidate, Cruz believes that the federal government has passed too many “growth-stifling” regulations, and believes that these projects have done more to protect special interests than to protect the environment. Cruz is a large promoter of the oil and gas industry. He has received over $1 Billion in donations from affiliated companies since 2011, and promotes decreased regulation of fracking, opening areas for offshore drilling, and lifting the ban on crude oil exports. Although Cruz is a critic of government regulations such as the Clean Power Plan, he is a firm believer in what he calls “volunteer conservation.”

Courtesy of Google Images

MARCO RUBIO

Like Trump and Cruz, the Republican Party’s third leading candidate has cast aspersions on climate change. However, he is less adamant that it is a complete hoax. Rubio has declared that he is “not a scientist,” saying “I’m not qualified to make that decision. There’s a significant scientific dispute about that.” Although he is unsure what to believe about climate change, Rubio is certain that limiting carbon emissions would have a devastating effect on the economy and has called the EPA’s Clean Power Plan “one of the worst regulations ever created.” Although Rubio’s current stance on the environment could be called anti-conservationist, his political history is more mixed than Cruz or Trump’s. As speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Rubio helped pass a sweeping energy bill and was strongly backed by environmentalists.

According to Donald Trump, Donald Trump has “won many environmental awards.” He has also proclaimed that clean air and clean water are very important to him. However, he does not believe in man-made climate change, and has called it an “expensive hoax.” Even if he did believe in climate change, he has expressed that the United States shouldn’t bear the burden of changing its practices while China benefits from the country’s decreased “competitiveness.” In addition, Trump has repeatedly called oil the “lifeblood” of this country, declaring that as president, he would not support measures such as cap and trade or an oil tax, and would cut the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

Courtesy of Google Images

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

let’s

a b k o l ut a t

By Taylor Galla ‘18 Opinion Poll Columnist

Trigger warning for diet & body image talk.

W

hen I was younger, the Oscars was a glamorous evening of my favorite actresses donning elegant gowns and handsome actors with shiny shoes gathered in one large movie theater to talk about everything they’d done that year. It was a beautiful evening, and I watched it in awe. However, now, after growing up with my holistic and interdisciplinary education, many flaws and problematic facets of this event were revealed. As I learned about the history of prejudice, discrimination and oppression — and became aware of it in my everyday life and the lives of my peers — I started to see it all around me. Being a white woman from an upper-class family, these facets of society do not affect me in the same way that they do many of my peers, and my awareness and advocacy is the best I can do. So this week, I decided to focus my column on the Academy Award nominations this year, which include exclusively white actors and actresses in the most prestigious 4 categories — just like last year. This is a pattern that many have noticed in previous years-- as the Oscars has often been charged with being disproportionately white in general, but this year was especially bad. So, I set out to find out what the Scripps student body thinks about this.

I asked the question “What are your thoughts on the

lack of diversity in Academy Award nominations this year?” and got a total of 12 responses. The most

popular response, which constituted half of the total responses, was “I think that the academy in itself is

not the problem but is just revealing a much larger problem in Hollywood.” “I think that award shows are

useless and obsolete anyway, and don’t represent the preferences of the general American public” and “I’m angry and disappointed in the academy” each received two responses. “I’m a bit upset but I’ll still watch” received one response, as did “Other.”

An extremely notable comment is “I’m honestly not sure what we expect from an organization that’s overwhelmingly white, male, and over sixty. If we

want to be in a place where we can reasonably expect nominations to be both fair and diverse, the structure of the Academy has to change...

which means either their standards to become a voting member have to change or Hollywood itself has to change. The latter would probably be more significant, but it would also be significantly more difficult.” Also, “I

think the Academy is nothing more than a selfcongratulatory clique of old white men. I’m not

sure why we have ever cared about what they think, but since the entire world seems to — yeah. They’re racists, sexists, and onanists, and their track record shows that.”

This group of responses did not surprise me in the slightest, as it reflects the general opinion of those who pay attention to issues of this sort — everyone is pretty fed up with this blatant display of bias and discrimination. (http://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/no-actorsof-color-were-nominated-for-an-academy-award-this#. pcNrOqGZrv) Most people have been aware that the Academy is a predominantly white and male institution for a while now, however not having any black actors nominated for any of the major acting awards is just too much — it makes too big of a statement and points out the flaws in this supposed “reflection” that is not how America’s population exists today. The U.S. is an incredibly diverse place, and, along with all of its racism and discriminatory practices that still exist today in more subtle but arguably just as harmful ways as those throughout history, there are states- like California- in which the majority population consists of people of color. This heterogeneity is something to be treasured and is also something that is not going to change— in fact, much research shows that it’s just going to further itself with time. That is why the Academy Awards, like many many other institutions given stature and praise in the U.S. for the work that it does, needs to adapt along with this racial climate.

However, as much as the Academy needs to change,

diet

Features • 9

W

Director Spike Lee is among those boycotting the Oscars.

Photo courtesy of Variety.

I also do not think we can blame this entirely on them and their mostly white male voting base. Sure, any organization that lacks diversity is not going to make decisions with an intersectionally progressive perspective. But I think we also need to examine the larger Hollywood climate, and the discrepancies between the number of white people involved in blockbuster films on and off the screen and people of color who hold an equal position. Let’s focus on actors and actresses, because that is who most of America sees every day in the content they view and thus who holds the most power over those viewers. Most Hollywood films, or at least most of the popular ones, have predominantly white faces on the screen, indicating a cultural bias towards wanting to see those people over anyone else.

This is due to their extreme prominence throughout Hollywood history and thus a fabricated message of superiority established through visual codes. People have been taught that white people, as opposed to people of color, belong in Hollywood and on the movie screen. This is the story the white heteropatriarchy has been socializing the public to prefer; it’s become familiar and therefore comforting to some. Whether this is just another manifestation of the larger public’s inherent racism, a result of social division between races and therefore a lack of interest in another group’s culture and preferences or any other number of complex reasons I could go into-—it’s the reality of the situation. The only way to remedy a problem is to first accept that it’s there, and I believe the public has done that.

As outlined above, the problem is way bigger than just a group of white men voting on what movies they want to critically acclaim. In my opinion, the conversation we all need to be having is about the inherent prejudice on the screen in general, in the larger Hollywood plethora of viewing experiences, and not with the select group of films battling it out for this year’s gold man statue because these do not reflect the movies that people went to see this year. Perhaps they do for some, but personally there have been many years in a row now when myself and most of the people around me haven’t seen most of the movies nominated in the top categories for the Oscars. They are well made, beautiful films that say a lot (both intentionally and not), but they are not the reason that the general public goes to the movies— so it’s this content that we need to be discussing.

The visual is one of the most powerful forces in the U.S. and in the world today, and through its structured biases it has dictated many messages to people of all races and identities about who should or should not be seen. Overthrowing the patterns that persist within this force, as well as the imprints it has left on the American public, is a daunting and seemingly near-impossible task.

The noise after this round of nominations, however, is a step in the right direction— and is a conversation that we would not be able to be having without the movements of the last few years. It’s notable, it’s historical and it’s something.

c u l t ur e

By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 Feminism Columnist

e currently live in a diet culture and it has manifested itself in a number of ways. Diet culture is disguised as New Year’s resolutions, where the ultimate goal for self improvement is to lose weight.

It is laxatives camouflaged as delicious energy drinks, it is kale and chia seeds as the ultimate superfood, although they won’t be for long, and it is diet fads, pills and supplements providing endless advertisement fodder during commercials. Diet culture is as much about control and obedience as it is about losing weight. How well can you adhere to the standards that society has put forth? The media creates a one-dimensional view of beauty and self-acceptance that is often damaging to those who don’t fall into very specific categories set forth by society.

Diet culture is dangerous, not just because it teaches us to hate our bodies, but because it tries to force us into an impossible mold.

I wanted to talk about fat specifically because that’s what diet culture is targeting. As Virgie Tovar, fat activist, sexologist and author explains, “ “fat” is just the current catchall word for all the things that we as a culture are afraid of: women’s rights, people refusing to acquiesce to cultural pressures of conformity, fear of mortality.”

Fat is often viewed as the worst thing you could be.

Note that I said “could be” and not “could have.” This is because when you’re fat, it becomes your one defining identity, an identity that others view as an affront to their own. If you take the good fatty vs. bad fatty dichotomy, an idea that looks at what actions are acceptable, and break it down, it’s easier to see where all this hatred for fat people comes from. It’s because of a thing Jes Baker calls Body Currency. “It goes like something this: we are taught as a society that IF we achieve the ideal body that we see in traditional media (and not before) we will then obtain love, worthiness, success and ultimately— happiness. Which is what we all want, right? Because the vast majority of our culture buys into this, we have millions upon millions of people investing everything they have into achieving this ultimate goal. The goal being— thinness, which obviously equals happiness, remember?

(Note: other body “goals” also apply here, like able bodied/ lighter skin color/cisgender appearance, [citizenship] etc.) SO, they spend their lives in a perpetual state of self-loathing (it’s called inspiration!) while working their asses off to become that ideal. So THEN after all of this, when a fat chick— who hasn’t done the work, who hasn’t tried to fix her body, who doesn’t have any interest in the gospel we so zealously believe in, stands up and says: I’M HAPPY! ...we freak the fuck out. Because: that bitch just broke the rules. She just cut in front of us in line. She just unwittingly ripped us off. And she essentially made our lifetime of work totally meaningless.” It’s almost as if society thinks, “We can’t exploit them sexually, we can’t make money off of them if they are not buying into the ideals and marketing ploys that society has set forth, so what value are they bringing to society?” It’s important to challenge this notion of worthiness.

Our bodies are not a spectacle, they are not a statement, and they do not exist for the comments and criticisms of others. Stop buying into all the harmful diet fads, the body policing and the self-hatred talk. Take a moment to think about who profits off our self-hatred because it certainly isn’t ourselves. Just because we’re not attractive or valuable in the eyes of society since we don’t contribute to society’s narrow and capitalistic ideals of beauty does not mean we are any less deserving of respect or love.

I think it’s about time we started accepting ourselves, all of ourselves, no matter our size.

XX Month, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue XXX

10 • Features

phobias

By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17

Mental Health Columnist & Webmaster

W

e’ve all seen those “fun” quizzes and graphics on the internet covered in pictures of spiders, skyscrapers, and clowns with the bright, fun title, something along the lines of, “25 Most Bizarre Phobias” or “What Phobia Do You Have?”

I hate to rain on your parade (not really. In fact, I really want to rain on this parade.), but there is absolutely nothing fun about a phobia.

All my life, I’ve heard a lot of garbage about phobias. “They are fun personality quiz topics. They are fake.

They are for attention. They are not a mental illness. People can just ‘get over’ them. People with phobias are ‘scared’ of something. The treatment for phobias is to face the fear headon.” All of these statements are myths, at least to some extent.

(More on this later.) They are also all very invalidating, infantilizing, and dripping with stigma. While I feel like people have made some progress on understanding more about the most well-known conditions like depression (to clarify, they are still light years away from where they should ideally be, in terms of destigmatization), people overlook phobias.

So, what exactly are they? If you Google it, you’ll see that the accepted definition is an intense,

and the

casual ableism

irrational dread or fear of something specific. You commonly hear about arachnophobia, which translates as “fear of spiders.” I hear a lot of people who dislike spiders claim they are arachnophobic. If you had severe arachnophobia, you’d know that you would probably check the corners and the walls of rooms to make sure there are no spiders. You might avoid going into basements and garages. If you see one, you’ll have a sudden physiological reaction, which can include symptoms such as tight throat, muscle tension, rapid heart rate, trembling, dizziness, avoidance behaviors, sleep difficulty and tiredness. There are other symptoms very similar to anxiety or panic attacks, which people are generally more familiar with.

This is no joking matter. Some people are prevented from living normal lives because of their phobia(s). Phobias also can spread.

They can be learned, and often are caused by a traumatic encounter.

They also feed on association, so people who already have one or more phobias often develop more phobias that branch off of their original one(s).

Some people who know someone with a phobia take it upon themselves to “cure” them via exposure. First, the need to “cure” someone is quite ableist [see “Disability 101” in the Unofficial Scripps Survival Guide— accessible via thescrippsvoice.com—

for more information on ableism, or reach out to the amazing people at the Disability, Illness, and Difference Alliance (DIDA) or the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC)].

Exposure is something that the person with the phobia should be in control of: never surprise someone with a phobia with the subject of the phobia. This is flooding. Flooding can further traumatize the person.

Basically, it comes down to consent and autonomy: you do not have a right to “help” someone, no matter how noble your intentions are, unless this person gives their informed consent. While exposure therapy can be effective, it is not up to you to decide when, where, how or if it should happen. (For example, you wouldn’t give someone a surprise surgery while they are sleeping…) I wrote about this consent issue in my trigger warning pieces that can be found in other issues of The Scripps Voice and the Survival Guide.

Returning to the dangers of flooding and surprise therapy, inappropriate exposure can broaden the scope of the phobic associations and can increase avoidance. Phobias are deeply rooted in human survival mechanisms (think “fight or flight”).

The processes which govern fear are one of the strongest instincts humans have, so anything that works off that is a very complicated and difficult condition.

of quizzes

Examples of online “phobia quizzes.”

Photos courtesy of Eversave and Quizpug.

Phobias are anxiety disorders, like PTSD, generalized anxiety, and OCD (depending on what diagnosis guides you look at). None of these or other mental health conditions should be taken lightly or joked about. If someone tells you they have a phobia, believe them, and try to remember. Often, if the phobia subject is something commonplace, friends will bring it up and trigger the person with phobia unwittingly.

As with any other mental illness, the best thing to do as an ally is to offer your nonjudgmental support and to respect your friend’s agency and dignity.

Again, as interesting as it is to read about the ridiculously long names of phobias, phobias themselves are not a joke.

x e s l a u and cas

on

emotions Phtoto courtesy of Vimeo.

By Sophia Rosenthal ‘17 Sex Columnist

Y

ou know the part at the end of the live-action version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” where the Grinch’s heart grows and he’s lying in the snow screaming, “Help me! I’m...feeling!” That—minus Jim Carrey in green makeup—is basically what I picture whenever people talk about “catching feels” for someone.

The popular narrative around sex and feelings is that the two go together only in the context of a committed and usually monogamous relationship. When you have sex in the context of a relationship, feelings are allowed, because you presumably care about your partner(s).

But if you’re having sex with someone and you aren’t in some sort of mutually acknowledged relationship, feelings are generally seen as sneaky, evil creatures that one must avoid and ignore at all costs. Because if we feel something, then we might start to care, and if we care about someone then… we might as well just date them and start shopping for patio furniture, right?! Yikes. You introduce a small helping of “feelings” to the mixture, and all of a sudden you’re faced with the possibility of two very scary things: expectations and vulnerability.

No wonder “catching feels” is treated like an STI for which there’s no protection.

Yet, unlike libido and lightbulbs, feelings don’t turn on and off (if they do, please, in the name of all that is sparkly and good, let me know what I’ve been missing).

Feelings are pretty much always there—it’s part of this whole being human thing. So why does this unconscious narrative exist that suggests we can turn our emotions off in sexual situations? Or, as Mila Kunis explains in the classic cinematic masterpiece “Friends with Benefits” (2011), “no emotions, just sex.” Maybe it’s just me, but I

can barely walk into Sunday brunch without experiencing at least one, probably seven, emotions. And in a sexual scenario, it’s only going to get more intense.

But when we’re talking about hookups, one-nightstands, friends with benefits (plus or minus Justin Timberlake)—anything typically placed under the heading “casual”—then acknowledging one’s emotions is generally considered a bad move.

But why?

Now, I know what you’re thinking (and I always do.

You’ve got a filthy mind. Let’s be friends). You’re thinking: Because I don’t want my night to be ruined when I see [hookup/sexy bed friend/person/hot dance partner/lover] making out with someone else on a Thursday night!

Okay, fair point.

Sex is messy, emotions are messier. Pretty sure we can all agree on that.

But for all intents and purposes, let’s also agree that a) emotions are inevitable (human stuff, yeah?) and b)—this one’s important—feelings do not equal romantic feelings.

Sit with that one for a second. If feelings don’t equal romantic feelings, then all of a sudden it doesn’t seem so crucial to keep feelings separate from sex. Which is good, because I’m arguing that you can’t.

To elaborate, this isn’t about romantic feelings or falling for a sexual partner/partners; when romantic/ bonded feelings are unrequited it’s devastating, and it requires a whole conversation of its own. This also isn’t a criticism of casual sex or aromantic sex.

This is a criticism of the general narrative that paints the repression of emotions as a shield against that kind of vulnerability. To suggest that we should ignore or tune-out our feelings during sex is not only silly, but dare I say it’s dangerous.

You’re allowed to have whatever kinds of sex you want, with whomever you want. But in order to enjoy it (let’s just assume enjoyment is a goal) you have to figure out what you like and what you want. And to figure that out, you have to be in tune with how you’re feeling. I’m not just talking physical sensations, although goodness knows that’s important, too. I’m talking real, messy, vulnerable, emotions. Does this feel safe? Does this feel awkward?

Does this feel awkward in an okay, fun way that you can laugh about? Are you nervous? Are you uncomfortable?

In order to take care of yourself and help your partner(s) take care of you, you have to have some level of selfawareness. No matter who you are, what you like, and who your partners are, feelings are real, and they are important. If you’ve experienced trauma, feelings and sex probably have a more complicated relationship, but their presence is still valid. Any time you’re interacting with someone you’re probably feeling something, and if you detach from that just to avoid encountering expectations and vulnerability, you’re missing out on the chance to learn something about yourself.

Just because you’re feeling something doesn’t mean you’re going to fall in love with whoever you’re with. Even a totally physical moment of I don’t care about anything, I just want it right now involves emotions. The point is not to suggest that you include psychoanalysis in your foreplay (unless you want to. Analyze this, Freud!) the point is that feelings are there, and we need to question the narrative that idealizes keeping them out of sex.

And the next time you have a “help me! I’m...feeling!” moment, tell that voice in your head, “congratulations, you’re a human-freaking-being.” Now how do you feel about that?

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

Opinions • 11

film review **********

By Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist

T

angerine (2015) is a red-hot and unforgivingly human depiction of the dubious underworld of the sex trade in present-day Los Angeles. As the lives of prostitutes and pimps unwind on the hot asphalt of West Hollywood, you are sure to be shocked and left dazed, yet entertained and moved. Director Sean Baker makes bold move after bold move in this extremely low-budget, Sundance Festival-nominated film. The film’s protagonists, two black transgender women, Sindee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) romp the streets of Hollywood, tracking down unfaithful boyfriends and hoping for a glimpse at fame. Not only does this film unapologetically depict the sordid life of sex workers in a dark subculture of Los Angeles, but it does so in a way that is all at once touching and tough, hilarious and bittersweet.

The plot of Tangerine is simple, but the beauty of the movie is in the intertwined stories, which are both humorous and appalling, acted out by an extremely realistic cast of characters. The stories of these unsavory characters ironically take place on Christmas Eve, when protagonist Sindee has just been released from jail. She fiercely scours the sidewalks of Hollywood searching for her unfaithful boyfriend and the “other woman.” It turns out that the other woman, Dinah, (Mickey O’Hagan) is a prostitute who is everything she is not: white, innocent, and assigned female at birth. When the two meet at a scumbag motel, Sindee drags Dinah all over the streets of LA. What starts as a shockingly violent parade through the impoverished streets of West Hollywood, ends as an unexpectedly touching night out on the town.

Sindee and Dinah hilariously bicker over men and make-up, as Alexandra attempts to calm the both of them and advance her singing career in a local

Photo courtesy of YouTube.

night club. Both women’s lives intertwines with that of Razmick, an Armenian taxi driver living out the normal American Dream. He purchases a house, supports his extended family, and appears to be a loving father, but he also has a sinister craving for Sindee and Alexandra’s company. The characters’ lives all hilariously and climactically collide in the final scene, where every character is brought together in a slimy donut shop and forced to face their flaws and sins under the glare of fluorescent lights.

Filmed solely on iPhones, this film’s jagged camera work seems to depict the lives of reality television stars, not the charades of the underworld of sex workers. But the bounces and imperfections in the camera work creates the perfect mood as the viewer tries to physically and mentally keep up with the wacky and high energy characters we meet along the way. Set to rave music and dizzily fasted-paced, Baker avoids pitying these characters’ lifestyles, and rather truthfully conveys the humanity and complexities of this particular time and community in Los Angeles.

Although the film only scrapes the surface of the two women’s transgender identities, it digs deeply into the two protagonists’ friendship. Despite the sordid and often dejected lives that the two women lead, Rodriguez and Taylor depict their characters with resilience and dignity. The women’s stories are disreputable yet touching, and these unexpected protagonists share surprisingly universal human stories about love, jealousy, friendship and letdown.

Tangerine is a genius and fresh take on extremely real stories delivered in a surprisingly captivating way. I have no doubt that Tangerine is a film unlike any you’ve seen before.

Photo courtesy of Berlin Film Journal.

The film was shot entirely on iPhone 5s.

Photo courtesy of the Berlin Film Journal.

Photo courtesy of Berlin Film Journal.

Tangerine characters Sin-Dee Rella (performed by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (May Taylor.)

Photo courtesy of Berlin Film Journal.

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven

Photo courtesy of The Village Voice.

12 • Photo Collage

common beauty

Photos by Alyssa Alfonso ‘19 Scripps College is known for its beautiful campus throught the Claremont area. Here are some common places with simplistic and elegant, mediterraneanstyle architecture that you can spot while on your way to class. From ornate doors to ivy-lined hall entrances to pastel-colored benches--can you try to guess where each one is?

Are you a writer? photographer? vlogger? We’re Hiring!

Whether you have a passion to write, know your rule of thirds, or just love to be yourself on camera, email scrippsvoice@gmail.com to express your interest, and we will get back to you regarding steps to join! FMI, visit us on Facebook or at thescrippsvoice.com.

18 February, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XIX • Issue Seven