19 February, 2015
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DAVID MAKOVSkY SPEAKS ON israel conflict By Joelle Leib ‘17 Staff Writer
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wo years ago, a Claremont McKenna College professor referred to a Pitzer College student as a “cockroach” after the student antagonized him during a reenactment of an Israeli checkpoint at Collins Dining Hall during Students for Justice in Palestine’s (SJP) Apartheid week. This year, an unknown student stole several mezuzot (sacred Jewish scrolls) from the doorpost of a Jewish CMC student who had an Israeli flag hung on his wall. These recent outbursts have tarnished the Claremont Colleges’ reputation as safe spaces in which to engage in meaningful and constructive dialogue while highlighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as likely one of the most contentious issues on campus. A new 5C club, the Claremont Progressive Israel Alliance (CPIA), is hoping to change the hostile atmosphere on campus regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by encouraging students of all political ideologies to respectfully debate with one another on the future of the conflict and the possibility of peace. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, CPIA brought the distinguished Middle Eastern policy expert David Makovsky to
David Makovsky at a previous speaking engagement. Photo courtsey of Mike Sherwin
campus in an effort to promote the prospect of a two-state solution and peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Makovsky, who received his graduate degree in Middle East Studies from Harvard University, most recently served as an advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry on Kerry’s Middle East Peace Team. Under the Obama administration, Makovsky negotiated directly with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders for nearly ten months in peace talks that were ultimately left unresolved.
Makovsky is also the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute and the director of the Project on Middle East Peace. He is a firm believer in the likelihood of the two-state solution and has written numerous articles in support of its implementation in publications including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Makovsky addressed an audience of around 50 students, faculty members and community members in Benson Auditorium at
Bound by Myth: the pleasure chest sheds light on real BDSM culture
“Because it is negotiated and consensual, there really is no dominant person and there really is no submissive person, it just appears to be that way,” Mary said. “So it’s actually a totally even playing field.” In regards to the 50 Shades series itself and its infamous protagonists, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, there is only some overlap with a real BDSM relationship. The main criticism of the series surrounds the issue of consent: “Consent in the book is a little questionable. He does tell her what’s going to happen...and he wants her to sign a contract saying that everything’s consensual” Mary said. “The problem with that is that...a contract within BDSM is something that a lot of people will do...when you’re way [farther along] in a relationship...You don’t enter into that sort of thing when you just met
By Sophia Rosenthal ‘17 Staff Writer
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ary, a sex specialist at The Pleasure Chest in West Hollywood, has covered a table with bondage tape, floggers, lube and an assortment of other sexy items from the well-known sex shop. “We can bring to this discussion about 50 Shades[of Grey] and kink play...what kind of role feminism can play in it...if you can be a feminist and get tied up and spanked,” Mary said. Ever since its release, E.L. James’ erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey has brought BDSM — Bondage/Discipline(Dominance)/ Sadism(Submission)/Masochism — to the forefront of popular media
Inside This Issue:
and culture. With its controversial subject matter and highly publicized film release on Feb. 13, it seems as if everyone and their grandmother either loathes or loves the series. The “50 Shades of Grey vs. BDSM” event on Feb. 11 in Vita Nova was hosted by the Scripps Peer Health Educators as part of National Sexual Health Week. The talk aimed to both untangle the myths perpetuated by the books, as well as to clarify how safe, consensual and fun BDSM play can be taken beyond the realm of fiction. As well as explaining the fundamentals of “risk-aware, consensual kink,” the workshop went over the aspects of BDSM that are often not addressed in the media.
Page 5 - Entertainment
“Fresh Off the Boat” is just what Hollywood needs.
Page 9 - Features
Bring an end to Man-spreading.
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 839 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XVIII | Issue Seven
Pitzer College. Members from the conservative leaning Claremont Students for Israel attended as well as members from the liberal clubs JStreet and Students for Justice in Palestine. In his speech, Makovsky spoke of the difficulty he encountered while working on the Peace Team, but maintained a strong sense of optimism that peace is still possible. “My message is to tell people not to give up on peace,” Makovsky said to the audience. While working for the government, Makovsky toiled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over five key points: borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees and mutual recognition. Makovsky divulged that Netenyahu was much more lenient on borders and offered to give Palestine more land than expected, as well as was willing to help improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees. Despite these breakthroughs, the two leaders could not agree upon issues of security and mutual recognition and the status of Jerusalem. “Obama offered Abbas the best deal I’ve ever seen and Abbas never got back to us,” Makovsky said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
someone. It’s not informed consent... he wants her to be his slave before she even knows what that means.” On another level, many have criticized the book for its portrayal of women: “It is a continuation of a sexist view of women’s sexuality...there’s always a virgin…[who] knows nothing about sex and has no desires of her own...Anastasia really isn’t exploring her own sexuality...it’s a lot more imagery of male aggressiveness put onto female sexuality” Mary said. The good things? “They took... sexuality out of the bedroom a lot... and there is aftercare in the book... they have a couple things going for them.” Whether we love it or hate it, it seems that 50 Shades of Grey has made its mark. “It’s bringing the conversation about BDSM and sexuality in general into this common, cultural conversation,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Page 11 - Features
Learn about the SCORE intern program!
2 • News
FAMILY WEEKEND Highlights all of Scripps’ Finest
The
SAS Bimonthly
Check here every issue for a SAS Udpate By Anna Cechony ‘17 & Alison Kibe ‘15 Faculty/Staff Relations & Media Relations Chair
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et ready for the 2015 Power Down Challenge! Take the pledge to conserve water and energy between Feb. 16 and March 8. Not only is this a great way to learn more about your energy and water use habits, but by reducing your consumption you can also compete against the other colleges and other Scripps residence halls. If we beat the other 4Cs, we will win The Grand Esteemed Ancient and Most Noble Green Cup of the Claremont Colleges. The winning residence hall will also be given a delicious and sustainable food party (specifics TBD) and the trophy will be displayed there. Want to get involved in the competition? There are so many ways to participate! First, take the pledge by visiting www. powerdown.wufoo.com/forms/pledgeform, then start reducing! Some things you can start right away to save water are to stop (or continue to not) shave and only do laundry when you have full loads. Save electricity by unplugging appliances when not in use, reducing the brightness on your computer screen, and using the cold wash setting for laundry. Power Down is about individual actions you can take to contribute to a more sustainable world. By participating, you are creating habits that hopefully will stick with you for many years to come. If you have any questions or want to get involved with the Power Down Team contact the SAS Sustainability Chair Jessica Ng at JNg4209@scrippscollege.edu. Looking for more Scripps sustainability events? Come to the Jam and Jam to make orange jam and hear some sweet jams from student musicians on Friday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Toll.
UPCOMING 5C EVENTS Open Mic Night and Slam Poet Thomas Fucaloro Fri, 2/20 Mark’s Cave (CMC) open mic 4-6pm. open mic 8pm RSVP to writing@cmc.edu and specify RSVPing for the performance A-Team Oscar Viewing Party Sunday, 2/22 Browning Rec Room 4pm Powerdown Week 2/20-3/6 Take the PowerDown pledge to reduce your personal use, and get some energy-saving tip. Talk to our dorm captain, Natalie Camrud, for more information (ncamrud7964@scrippscollege.edu) or contact Jessica Ng (Jng4209@scrippscollege. edu) to get involved Link: https://powerdown.wufoo.com/forms/ pledge-form/ Upcoming Events: Fri 2/20 (or Fri 3/6) 11am-1pm Jam & Jam Fri 2/27 (or Sun 2/22) 1pm-2pm Sprinkler Care Sat 2/28 1pm-2pm DIY Natural Health and Beauty Sun 3/1 1pm-3pm Clothing swap Fri 3/6 12pm-1pm Climate +: A Climate Fair for Fair Climate National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Awareness Week: 2/23 Meditation 7pm @ Tiernan Field House 2/25 Self-care Fair, 11-2pm on Bowling Green Lawn 2/26 Body Mass Index (BMI): what’s true and what’s NOT 7:30-8:15 @ Tiernan Field House
Parents and students join adminsitrators and staff at the annual Family Weekend luncheon. Photo by Tyra Abraham ‘18.
By Sydney Sibelius ‘18 Staff Writer
S
cripps was on its finest display as hundreds of parents and family members flocked to campus for the 2015 Family Weekend. The weekend consisted of a multitude of events meant to provide family members with a look into the life of Scripps’ students. Family members were invited to join student-led tours of the beautiful sights on campus, and learn the interesting facts behind the many historical buildings. Additionally, Scripps’ own Judy Harvey Sahak from the class of 1964 presented a tour of the rare book room at Denison Library that granted visitors hand-on access to the collection. For the more scientifically minded, the W.M. Keck Science Department hosted a tour and an open house for members of Scripps, Pitzer and Claremont McKenna to meet the faculty. In order to get a glimpse into the history of Scripps, there was a Scripps’ Myths and Legends event in the Clark Living Room over tea and dessert. Presented as a skit, the event detailed stories of the past and some of Scripps’ most popular fables. While enjoying legendary Scripps cookies, families were provided with more entertainment and insight for the night. In order to include the beautiful resources at the Tiernan Field House in the weekend’s events, families were able to participate in an earlymorning yoga practice to prepare themselves for the busy weekend ahead. Before the weekend could get into full-swing, Scripps President Lori Bettison-Varga delivered the State of the College address. She presented the attendees with impressive statistics about Scripps’ Fulbright recipients, NEW Hall information and impressive college rankings. Also addressed were the changing admissions policy regarding
transgender applicants, and the infamous George Will situation. Parents were also provided with the opportunity to learn about life at Scripps by engaging in an interactive conversation with the deans. The deans detailed Scripps programs for both academics and social life, and answered any questions parents may have had. The Career Planning and Resources (CP&R) Office granted Scripps families a look at the help that Scripps students have while preparing for the real world after college, and hosted an internship panel in preparation for the upcoming summer. As fuel for the full schedule of events, families enjoyed festive meals under the tent on Bowling Green Lawn. Grammy-award winning performer and Scripps faculty member, Professor Martha Gonzalez, provided entertainment for the Fiesta! themed dinner on Saturday night. Sunday night allowed families to relax before their day on Monday at a festive, family style barbecue. Many of the talented 5C student groups performed in the annual Movement and Sound event on Saturday night. Ranging from a cappella groups to dance, the performing arts groups wowed the audience with their skills. After hearing numerous descriptions on what it feels like to be a Scripps student, parents were finally given the opportunity to experience it for themselves. The final day of Family Weekend allowed parents to be a Scripps student for the day, letting them attend classes and department open houses. Despite the warm weather and hectic schedule, Family Weekend provided a chance for students to spend time with their families and for families to learn more about the college their student attends. From the delicious food to the numerous events and tours, families were given a true look into what it is like to be at Scripps for a weekend.
Staff discuss the State of College and students share their work experience in a CP&R panel. Photos by Tyra Abraham ‘18.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
News • 3 Students Discuss sexuality for sexual health week By Sophia Rosenthal ‘17 Staff Writer
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ananas, condoms and sexual health pamphlets are spread across the table, but this is no high school sex ed class. Instead of a classroom of embarrassed students and an awkwardly enthusiastic gym teacher, this discussion was created by students for students. The Sexuality at Scripps event at the Sallie Tiernan Field House on Feb. 9 was one of several events hosted by the Scripps Peer Health Educators as part of National Sexual Health Week. The event, which was planned and lead by Raquel Selcer ‘17, focused largely on hookup culture and the discourse surrounding sex and relationships on campus. “Sexuality is not really talked about very openly on the campuses... while certain aspects of it might be...like gender or sexual orientation, sexuality as an overall topic...which involves consent, which involves heteronormativity, which involves hookup culture, is not really discussed,” Selcer said. “I just wanted to open a platform for people to talk about how they felt and their experiences.” The discussion touched on everything from how casual hookups affect safe sex to the way emotions and expectations interact with sexual encounters. The evening culminated with practical tools for navigating sexuality as a college student, including putting condoms and dental dams on fruit, and a “yes/no/maybe” chart that can be used to explore boundaries with partners. As a safe space to talk about sexuality in a more holistic sense, the event was an appropriate kick-off to a week of open discussion and information.
7C “One Billion Rising”
aims to end domestic violence By Talia Speaker ‘18 Staff Writer
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n Saturday, Feb. 14, students, parents and faculty came together to partake in the second annual 7C One Billion Rising event. A worldwide movement to end violence against women and girls, One Billion Rising has brought many communities from over 200 different countries together, allowing each to rise in the way that is most meaningful to them. For the 7C community, this meant creating a space for acknowledging and reflecting on the history, as well as the current state, of gender based violence, sharing thoughts and experiences, verbalizing why this mattered to each participant and dancing together under the hot February sun. According to students heading the event, 7C participation was inspired by a talk given on campus last year by Eve Ensler, founder of V-day and One Billing Rising. “After the talk we only had ten days to prepare, but we all just got really excited about making this happen on campus,” shared Hannah Bower, CMC ‘16. “I just think it’s really awesome that the people who came out are really involved and really interested in doing this,” she continued, “I think the next step is getting people who wouldn’t necessarily come to this to get involved to try to engage the whole community.” One Billion Rising is named for the estimated number of women across the globe that will be beaten or raped during their lifetime. According to Ensler, the movement “is ... an invitation for women and men to rise and dance and resist violence against women across the planet,” with the aim of “creat[ing] this global solidarity and energy that really makes violence against women central stage.” The 7C event this year was not huge, but it was powerful, and if it continues to follow the trend of the worldwide movement, that field will be filled in no time.
DAVID MAKOVSKY SPEAKS ON ISRAEL CONFLICT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Makovsky also touched on the extremely controversial topic of settlements, which are Israeli neighborhoods built on demolished, former Palestinian land by religious Jews who believe that the West Bank is part of the Jewish homeland. Although Makovsky is not in favor of settlements himself, because “anything psychologically demeaning can be corrosive [to peace negotiations],” he believes that the issue of settlements has been heavily conflated. “Eighty percent of settlers live on five percent of the land,” Makovsky said. According to Makovsky, when peace negotiations eventually go through, these concentrated settlements will be annexed by Israel. Even Abbas has allegedly agreed to this plan of action. The remaining settlers, however, will be forcibly removed from all of the land that becomes part of Palestine. Following Makovsky’s speech, CMC Religious Studies Professor Gary Gilbert moderated a question-and-answer discussion. The audience primarily asked questions regarding the future of Gaza, to which Makovsky replied that the Palestinian Authority needs to return to Gaza even though it is unwilling to work with the militant factions that currently control much of Gaza. Makovsky parted Claremont with the optimistic message, “Don’t give up hope.” BOUND BY MYTH: THE PLEASURE CHEST SHEDS LIGHT ON REAL BDSM CULTURE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Mary said. “Kink is getting brought out of the shadows a little bit...In the media it’s always shown as this serious thing...[playing] is acceptable when we’re kids, but when we’re adults it gets weird. I think you can get back to that magical, makebelieve space that you had when you were a kid.” If anything, the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey has started conversations and, hopefully, made room for more diverse conversations about sexuality on campus.
“One Billion Rising” is held all around the world, including in New Delhi, India (middle) and Hong Kong (bottom). Photos courtsey of OneBillionRising.com
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
4 • News/Opinion
BeHeard Forum addresses racism on campus I
By Joelle Leib ‘17 Staff Writer
n order to address the recent occurrences of hostile racism and systematic, underlying racism on campus, Scripps Associated Students and Wanawake Weusi hosted a BeHeard Forum in the Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Scripps sophomore and Wanawake Weusi 5C Events Coordinator and Alumni Relations Chair ReAndra Johnson moderated the dialogue and posed questions to students regarding racism on campus. Johnson asked students if they believe that the Claremont Colleges campuses are the liberal havens that they claim to be, to which many students responded “no.” Chelci Burroughs ‘17 said. “I think it can be one of the most dangerous places you can be in where students think they’re above certain things just because they are taking a certain class… There are many faces to white students at Scripps.” Nia Gillenwater ‘16 shared how the incident last December involving a Rosa Parks quilt defaced with a racial slur altered her perspective on the supposedly accepting environment of Claremont. “I thought we’d moved past just blatant aggression,” Gillenwater said. Isabel Carter-Kahn ‘17 highlighted the problematic nature of many white students feeling uncomfortable in classes that address race. In response, Rebecca Millberg ‘17 said, “We need to create a culture where it’s more accepted to feel uncomfortable and finding spaces, both socially and academically, to work through being uncomfortable.” Nicole Rufus encouraged white students to put their discomfort into perspective. “It’s not about you or your discomfort because there are people actually suffering because of this oppression
that’s going on.” Students of color voiced their desire to have white students educate themselves on issues of race rather than relying on their friends who are students of color to do it for them. “That’s something I always appreciate when my white friends come up to me and be like ‘Where can I get more information on this?’ or ‘What can I be doing to support you better?’” Gillenwater said. When asked where they felt safe on campus, many students of color cited SCORE. “That’s kind of sad that only one little office is where I can feel like my own person and I would like to make the rest of the campus as open and as comfortable as possible but I can’t do that by myself… It takes the entire Scripps community to make these places safe for everybody else,” said sophomore Leonida Radford. To conclude the forum, Tori Sepand ‘15 encouraged students to take the dialogue further and to convert it into action. “We need to communicate better with our administration and faculty about what we want to see from them,” she said. Johnson added, “I think that the big takeaway from this is that there really needs to be this intention, specifically among white students, to educate themselves and to recognize the privilege in spaces you take up on campus, and how you’re contributing to these social spaces in which students are feeling uncomfortable in and realizing that feeling uncomfortable isn’t something that’s dangerous, it’s a learning experience.” Sepand also offered advice to white students who want to support students of color. “For those of you who want consider yourself an ally it’s constant education, constant willing to feel uncomfortable, and constant willingness to push yourself,” Sepand said.
response to the CI: end of women’s college Opinion Piece by Claire Hirschberg ‘15 Guest Writer
D
ripping with sarcasm, the opinion article “The End of the Women’s College” by Brad Richardson published in the Claremont Independent on Jan 31 argues that Scripps cannot “survive the politics of transgenderism unscathed” and still call itself a “Women’s College.” I cannot strip the transphobia away from this piece, and I cannot work through each act of aggression committed, because frankly such a piece does not deserve that close of an examination. To in one fell swoop invalidate the existence of micro aggressions, the importance of trigger warnings and reparations, while simultaneously being driven by a transphobic ideology is not an act of ignorance. The implications of “the politics of transgenderism” is the regressive idea of trans agenda to destroy “the woman’s college,” something which Richardson believes is “tragic.” To say the crux of that argument is anything other than transphobia would be to afford the privilege of ignorance to someone with enough privilege already. It exemplifies the deep contempt and fear that is still held for trans people by many on our campuses, and for the Claremont Independent to validate that hate is an inexcusable attack. The most shocking aspect of this piece, however, is the moments where Richardson and I seem to… agree? I dont want to align myself too closely with Richardson, but hear me out! For example, Richardson writes: “Although Scripps rationalized its new admissions policy with the purpose of serving the gendermarginalized, it will have to uproot many of its traditions and significantly alter its campus in order to ensure that those it claims to be protecting from gendermarginalization do not actually feel marginalized by expressions of gender at the college.” Contextually, this theme is used to aggressively mock what Scripps’ unofficial motto should be with suggestions like “Scripps College: The [Trigger Warning!] Women’s College.” Obviously this is not a playful mockery; making light of trigger warnings in order to forward transphobic ideology is not a joke. But void of that aggressively-sarcastic context I think I can begin to agree with Richardson. Scripps adopting a trans inclusive policy isn’t about being feminist or progressive; it is about undoing a
violence that we have consistently been committing by excluding trans women from consideration at Scripps while erasing trans men and gender nonconforming people. While our policy may begin to undo that violence, it is not a fully trans-inclusive policy; we still erroneously place understandings of gender in biology by including only trans men whose birth certificates still identify them as female and by failing to explicitly account for the admissions of gender nonconforming people. Adopting a more trans-inclusive admissions policy does not instantly make Scripps a trans-inclusive campus; many students frequently make light of gender pronouns or misgender people, whether intentionally or not. Scripps’ trans inclusivity is a work in progress that requires all of us to confront our internalized transphobia in addition to confronting the institutionalized transphobia. Recent steps in the right direction show that Scripps may be ready to make radical changes in the name of building a trans-inclusive campus; for example, the new portal feature that allows students to submit to their professors their preferred gender pronouns. This is a step forward, but only if paired with a commitment to actually using these correct gender pronouns. In his piece, Richardson chose to highlight the fact that The Vagina Monologues is no longer performed at Wellesley as an example of this drastic change that trans inclusivity requires. Interestingly enough, Richardson failed to realize that last year we held the “Monologue Dialogues” in order to centralize personal narratives of marginalized students rather than hold the traditional Vagina Monologues at Scripps. Scripps needs to radically change in order to become a trans-inclusive place and if that means the “end of the Women’s College” then, contrary to what Richardson believes, that’s okay; by excluding trans women, Scripps has never been a college that’s available to all women, and calling ourselves a “women’s college” right now erases the existence of trans men and gender nonconforming students on our campus. As a Scripps student, I’m not that concerned with our unofficial motto (though I have already voiced my preference for “Scripps College: No Cis Men”). What I am concerned with is how Scripps will continue to build a trans-inclusive campus in light of our newly-clarified admissions policy, which is still a work in progress.
The Scripps Voice Staff Editors-in-Chief Elena Pinsker Lucy Altman-Newell Assistant Editor-in-Chief Evelyn Gonzalez Advisor Sam Haynes Design Editors Melanie Biles Taylor Haas Selene Hsu Copy Editors Rachel Miller-Haughton Ashley Minnis-Lemley Elizabeth Lee Business Manager Lily Comba Webmaster Jocelyn Gardner Multimedia Director Laurel Schwartz Columnists & Staff Writers Melanie Biles Natalie Camrud Sophie Fahey Taylor Galla Jocelyn Gardner Diva Gattani Evelyn Gonzalez Kay James Elizabeth Lee Joelle Leib Erin Matheson Sophia Rosenthal Jasmine Russell Sydney Sibelius Talia Speaker Isobel Whitcomb Photographers Tyra Abraham Suzette Guzman Tianna Sheih Nicole Zwiener Comments and letters can be sent to Scripps College The Scripps Voice, 1030 Columbia Ave, Box 386, Claremont, CA, 91711. You can also email The Scripps Voice at scrippsvoice@gmail.com or visit our website at www.thescrippsvoice.com The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
Entertainment • 5
“Fresh off the Boat” is everything hollywood needs and more By Taylor Galla ‘18 Staff Writer
F
resh Off the Boat, ABC’s newest sitcom, is the first network television show about Asians in 20 years. Centered on Eddie Huang and his family, who recently moved from Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown to a predominantly white neighborhood in Florida, the show tackles issues of race and culture with funny and smart dialogue and relatable characters. The show plays with relatable familial dynamics and racial stereotypes within the Huang family’s storyline. There are several moments that capture this in an effective and intriguing way. These moments are perfect examples of what I believe is the show’s ultimate goal: to evoke profound messages regarding racial dynamics in the U.S. through a lens that is not discussed enough — the Asian-American experience. The oldest son, Eddie, is in a rebellious phase: not as attached to his parents as his younger brothers Emory and Evan, and also not as attached to their culture as his mother would like him to be. The first episode consists of Eddie starting at a new school and being made fun of because of the Chinese food his mom packs him for lunch. This bullying makes it difficult for Eddie to make friends with the predominantly white student body. Eddie returns home and tells his mom he needs “white people lunch” in order to fit in. After showing up to school with lunchables, Eddie and an African American student get in a fight and the school only berates Eddie for the incident. Eddie’s parents are frustrated with the lack of discipline for the other kid and decide to homeschool Eddie and his brothers. This moment in the principal’s office is significant to the show and its many messages, as it points to the predominantly white school’s disappointing lack of ability to handle racial tensions between minority groups within the student body. The lack of understanding and care put towards the two children in this circumstance points to very key weaknesses in American society’s ability to handle race. The show brings to light the flawed idea that America consists of whites and nonwhites only, an idea that ignores the complexities and nuances among racial minorities. The genius of this show is that it has this discussion under the cover of quick and comical dialogue that brings the viewer into difficult and complex thoughts regarding the topics they are discussing in a gentle and amicable way. Viewers begin to think about these topics and examine stereotypes and racial dynamics, while also being entertained. This entertainment aspect of the show makes the material much easier to digest. Another notable moment occurs at the father, Louis’, place of business. The whole reason the family moved to Florida was so the father could own his own restaurant. Cattleman’s Ranch Steakhouse is a western themed restaurant that epitomized the American cowboy stereotype in the eyes of Louis. At the start of the first episode, business at the restaurant is slow and Louis becomes frustrated and stressed because his whole family has sacrificed in order for him to be able to take up this opportunity. He concludes that he needs a white face to host the restaurant in order to appeal to his target customer base of caucasians. The “whiteness” of the restaurant and the demographic he is aiming at conflicts with his own race, putting him in a situation where others’ conception of his race is hurting his business. The fact that he is willing to accept this fact and adapt to it in order to achieve the ideal “American Dream” success story that he explicitly mentions early on in the episode reveals how culturally appropriating the messages American society
“Fresh Off the Boat” is based on the life of chef Eddie Huang (pictured last). The show is the first of its kind to portray an Asian American family on primetime comedy television. Photos courtesy of ABC and HypeBeast.com.
have sent this particular family representative of racial minority groups in general really are. Louis is looking for success and wants it so badly that he is willing to leave parts of his own culture behind, assimilate into American culture and put himself aside in order for the white guy to be the face of his own restaurant. This family trying to make it in America while also balancing their own valuable cultural heritage points out very key and significant flaws
in the structure of racial dynamics that corporate and mass media America produce. This show, being a part of this mass media conversation now, is very valuable and significant and should be recognized for the important and impactful work its doing not just for the marginalized group it is focused on which rarely gets media attention, but for marginalized groups and the entire American community in general.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
SPOTL
6
our guide to the... By Sydney Sibelius ‘18 Staff Writer
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n Feb. 22, thousands of stars will be gathered in Dolby Theater in Hollywood to celebrate award-winning films from the past year. The Academy Awards ceremony will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, with award presenters ranging from Josh Hutcherson to Octavia Spencer. As thousands of stars are expected to be in attendance, and millions are predicted to be watching live, The Scripps Voice provides you with an allinclusive guide to the 2015 Academy Awards. Upon the release of the 2015 Academy Awards nominations, there was turmoil throughout Hollywood. Amongst the 20 acting nominations, none of the nominations went to actors of color. The group is made up of entirely white actors and actresses. Many people reacted angrily to the list of nominations, stating that the lack of diversity in Hollywood is appalling. There was widespread belief that “Selma” was snubbed in the nominations. Additionally, the two writing categories are dominated by men- not a single woman was nominated in either. As the nominations are typically seen as a reflection of the best roles of the year available to actors, people are questioning the Academy Awards and their troubling lineup.
Did you know? 1.
First ever Academy Awards took place on May 16, 1929.
2.
First televised Oscar ceremony occurred in 1953.
3.
A coveted Oscar statuette weighs 8 ½ pounds.
4.
Bob Hope has hosted the most Academy Awards shows, 19.
5.
3,300 people can sit in the Dolby Theater on Oscar Night.
6.
Meryl Streep has been nominated 19 times, the most for any actor.
7.
The length of the Red Carpet is 500 feet.
8.
Bradley Cooper is nominated as a lead actor and best picture producer.
9.
Edward Norton stars in two of the Best Picture nominees.
10.
2014 Winners Best Picture:
“12 Years a Slave”
Actor in a Leading Role:
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Not a single winner from the 2014 Oscars was nominated in 2015.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps V
LIGHT
7
NOMINATIONS Best Picture:
2015 Predictions Best Picture: Boyhood
Actor in a Leading Role:
American Sniper The Imitation Game Birdman Selma Boyhood The Theory of Everything The Grand Budapest Hotel Whiplash
Actor in a Leading Role:
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Steve Carell (Foxcatcher) Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Guide) Michael Keaton (Birdman) Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Actress in a Leading Role:
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Actress in a Leading Role: Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Actor in a Supporting Role: Actress in a Supporting Role:
Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night) Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) Julianne Moore (Still Alice) Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) Reese Witherspoon (Wild)
Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert Duvall (“The Judge”) Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”) Edward Norton (“Birdman”) Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”)
Actress in a Supporting Role:
Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”) Laura Dern (“Wild”) Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game”) Emma Stone (“Birdman”) Meryl Streep (“Into the Woods”)
Music (Original Song):
“Everything is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie” “Glory” from “Selma” “Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights” “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me” “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again”
Directing:
Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game
8 • Features
the first year experience
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brought to you by a real-life scripps first year •
What is Core II even...
By Melanie Biles ‘18 Design Editor
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hese last weeks have brought a multitude of major developments to life at Scripps. Some have been good — the pool has extended hours! My tanlines are back! Others have been notso-good, like the lack of Grammys awarded to Taylor Swift. (This is a travesty on a major level, and I refuse to back down on that point.) There are uncomfortable happenings, like the Style music video, which I refuse to discuss out of anger and disappointment. Then there are the unexpected changes, like the fact that my roommate watched a full season of Supernatural in six days. (For those of you following along
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Happy Galentine’s Day!
at home, that’s 880 minutes of angsty ghost stories.) The most exciting thing about the last few weeks, however, is that Scripps has finally started to feel like a place of comfort. We’ve been here for a while, so it makes sense that we’ve gotten used to it, but it’s interesting to see how the level of comfort has progressed. As of the end of first semester, many felt like we had a pretty good handle on things, but we were still just fetuses in the womb of college experience. Now we’re newborns, and this metaphor is not turning out the way I wanted it to. Let me try again. A few months ago, we did not know the people we now call our best friends. We
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The parents descend upon us
did not know how to say “Balch” or “Malott,” let alone find them on campus. Nobody had learned about the magic that is Pitzer brunch, and everyone still thought that they had to wear real outfits to class. Not to say that any one of us is an expert on college life now, but we at least know that wearing your keys on a neck lanyard isn’t the coolest thing you could do. We’re learning, growing and figuring things out one step at a time. And though we once thought it impossible, Scripps is familiar now. We know some of its quirks, though we still learn something new every day. We know where to find our favorite meals, our favorite study spots, the best places to do our
I think we’re figuring it out...
Home?
Core readings and the best places to pretend to do our Core readings until we instead fall asleep. I know that GJW’s automatic doors, though in my opinion a security risk, can be helpful when you’re trying to bring Christmas presents to your friends. I’ve met enough people that I can be fairly confident that I will find someone to sit with if I go to dinner by myself. My roommates and I know each others’ favorite Motley drinks, pizza toppings, snack foods and TV shows. This is comfort. This is familiarity. It may not be home yet, but at least nobody’s clicking her ruby heels to to get out.
valentines and candlelight
By Erin Matheson ‘18 Staff Writer
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n Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 the annual Valentine’s Day Candlelight Dinner was served in the Hampton Dining Room. The dinner, a cause for celebration of love in all its forms, gave Scripps students the opportunity to dress up with their friends and loved ones and enjoy a dinner that was a little bit more upscale than that to which they were accustomed. Students began arriving at 5:45 in semi-formal attire, filing into a room adorned with rose bushes and Valentine’s Day decorations. Over 100 students were in attendance, and as they sat down, the air hung heavy with the delicious scents of the fantastic meal that had been prepared for them. The menu included three courses, provided by a catering company to the Scripps students. Each course added a different element of taste to the evening, first with a strawberry and pine nut salad served to whet everyone’s appetites. Students who
were used to navigating piles of watermelon, pineapple and cantaloupe at every meal were incredibly appreciative of the fresh berries for a change of pace. The main course was chicken marsala with mushrooms, spaghetti squash, rice pilaf and broccoli served family style. Dessert was a decadent and rich chocolate cake. “The dinner was so good. This is probably one of the highlights of my week,” Alex Cheng, Scripps Class of 2018, said. Her sentiments were repeated by many of her peers over the course of the evening, all agreeing that the meal was excellent in both food and atmosphere. During lulls in table conversation, there were multiple announcements reminding students to attend the LASPA candidate open forums directly after dinner. The dinner was a lovely celebration of Valentine’s Day filled with peers, students and friends sharing a tasty meal in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Top Left: Maya Thomas ‘18, Kohsheen Sharma ‘18, and Sonia De Mello ‘18 bonding at the dinner. Top Right: Over a hundred students attended the dinner. Bottom: Dessert was a decadent chocolate cake. Photos by Tyra Abraham ‘18.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
9 • Opinions
“I Had no IDEA”~ starting the conversation
By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 Mental Health Columnist and Webmaster Trigger Warning: eating disorders, disordered eating, body image
W
hat does it take to be “healthy?” Who sets these parameters and standards? In the search for balance, many people lose sight of what is most important: everyone is a different individual with particular quirks and nuances-this is beautiful; this is natural. Tragically, we are not taught to value our health and our bodies. There is a mindset in popular culture telling people a certain lifestyle leads to being “healthy,” which is presented as being thin and fit, and as having perfect skin, hair and teeth. If you are “imperfect,” you must be doing something wrong; you must correct this by meticulously regulating what you eat and when and everything else your body can be doing. There is a sort of desperation, presented in magical fixes and hacks, to achieve this “healthy” ideal-- think about the “superfoods” that guarantee weight loss, or the miraculous one exercise that will give you sculpted abs. Even the antioxidant-heavy health fads claiming to deliver you from the risk of death by cancer are capitalistic manipulations of our drive to “better” ourselves. Also, be wary of “science.” Advertisements are trying to hook you and will market something that seems trustworthy.
I feel like we generally know that media has contributed to the damaging mindsets that lead to low self-esteem, depression, dissatisfaction with ourselves, disordered eating and full-blown eating disorders. They also contribute to the critical way we view others’ bodies. We don’t realize how deep the malicious ideas run, however. Now, of course, the scenarios mentioned above explain how the “facts” we internalize are detrimental to us through the flawed paradigms and misinformation. The presence of the harmful information seen everywhere– it is unavoidable-- in daily life is not to be underestimated. But while they are seen as pertaining mainly to the physical, or that they have very physically manifested effects, much of what happens takes place internally; the mind is at the core of these matters. National Eating Disorder Association’s Awareness Week (Feb. 22-28) is the inspiration for the topic of this article. “I had no idea” refers to the theme of this year’s NEDAwareness week and ties in perfectly with the theme of raising awareness, which is a goal shared by this column. (Another goal is for you to think critically about mental illness and the interconnected world surrounding and affecting it...) “Raising awareness” is a phrase thrown like confetti in terms of various causes. NEDA doesn’t mess around with the idea, however, citing early intervention and prevention as well as recovery and help-seeking as solid reasons raising awareness is necessary and beneficial. And what’s more? They provide evidence that their awareness week, in which 44 countries and all 50 states participate, achieves. Website traffic and use of helplines, screenings and social media (#capturehope) increases are hard to argue with: this campaign gets results. I would normally say that there isn’t really a point to me spouting facts you can find on the internet, and move on to my next point. The problem is, the internet information about eating disorders and disordered eating is inconsistent, incomplete and riddled with stigmatizations. So, I will briefly describe them, but my disclaimer here is that this information should be used to help understand people and the relationships between people, bodies, image and food. NEDA’s website (which is reliable, despite my previous bash-fest of the web) defines eating
disorders as “includ[ing] extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors surround[ing] weight and food issues.” According to the DSM-V, there are four diagnoses of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Anorexia involves a low self-esteem related to body image with extreme dread of weight gain. Binge Eating Disorder has episodes of out-of-control binge eating, which can be coupled with severe feelings of shame and guilt. What sets Bulimia apart from binge eating is the purging. People have a stereotypical idea of all of these, but many people don’t understand that purging includes many behaviors, such as exercise, physically purging food, diets and fasting, to compensate for binges. The last category refers to anything that doesn’t meet the criteria for one of the others. “The commonality in all of these conditions is the serious emotional and psychological suffering and/or serious problems in areas of work, school or relationships” (NEDA). People are even less aware of disordered eating. “In our culture there is an obsession with size and weight, diet and exercise-- the pervasiveness of disordered eating is astounding,” writes Dr. Carrie Gottlieb, a psychologist specialized in eating disorder treatment in a post on Psychology Today. She continues, “Research suggests that up to 50% of the population demonstrate problematic or disordered relationships with food, body and exercise.” This is what I was talking about earlier-the prevalence of the propaganda-like information normalizes some thoughts and behaviors that can be considered disordered eating; they promote bad relationships. People may not also be aware of conditions such as Restrictive/ Avoidant Intake Disorder, which limits or restricts the types or amounts of food one eats. (Often due to fear of vomiting or dislike of textures, etc.) and Pica, the persistent consumption of non-food items. Dr. Gottlieb gives some tips to prevent/ manage disordered eating, such as avoiding diets, adopting inclusive meal plans that suggest moderation and diversity, healthy limits on physical activities and focusing on enjoyment of the activities themselves, resisting negative body talk and throwing away the scale. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
a quick fix for global warming?
By Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Environmental Columnist
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hat if I told you that right now, scientists are researching a solution to global warming? And no, I’m not talking about the painstaking process of cutting emissions. I’m talking about a climate fix. The fix I am talking about is called geoengineering and is defined as the large-scale human manipulation of the earth’s natural processes in an effort to counteract global warming.
Solutions proposed include mimicking the cooling effects of a volcanic eruption by releasing sulfate particles into the atmosphere, increasing cloud cover, fertilizing the oceans in order to boost populations of carbon fixing microbes and burying atmospheric carbon dioxide deep underground. Other solutions proposed vary from plausible to sounding like something straight out of a science fiction movie. (I’m thinking, in particular, of one group’s proposal to launch hundreds of tiny mirrored satellites into space in hopes of reflecting the sun’s rays.) Each of these projects has the potential to bring temperatures back down to where they were at the beginning of the 20th century. Whether you feel skeptical or frightened, excited or intrigued, I would bet a lot of money that if you are even a little concerned about the future of our climate, you just felt a tiny spark of hope at the thought that a solution could exist. Hope is a natural response to the idea of a quick fix when we are attempting to deal with a situation that is beginning to feel more and more desperate. Perhaps the scariest part of our generation’s greatest environmental crisis is
how helpless we all feel. We are told over and over again to take shorter showers, turn off the lights, unplug devices when they are not in use. But deep down, most of us know that there are far greater factors at play in global warming than the energy wasted by ordinary citizens. If individuals have a hard time making small changes, how are corporations like Shell and Tyson going to change the destructive practices that currently provide jobs to thousands of Americans? How is a concerned individual supposed to even begin to affect our deeply seated culture of consumerism and our capitalistic economy? It is this sense of great helplessness that makes us vulnerable to placing our hopes in quick fixes. Why use the word vulnerable? After all, isn’t a solution to the climate crisis a good thing? I use the word vulnerable because the ideas proposed by geoengineering all could carry disastrous consequences for both the environment and human health. While enacting “Plan B” could buy us substantially more time in our race to lower emissions (“Plan A”), if geoengineering were to fail, it could actually spark a negative feedback loop that would cause sudden and
drastic warming effects of the planet. But ignoring the potential consequences, let’s imagine a scenario where “Plan B” works. Would we actually use the opportunity to lower emissions? Unfortunately, the answer is most likely “No.” Climate skeptics and dirty companies are getting behind geoengineering because they see it as a replacement for cutting emissions. According to Newt Gingrich, “instead of penalizing ordinary Americans, we … have an option to address global warming by rewarding scientific invention. Bring on the American ingenuity.” As our understanding of climate change deepens, one fact is becoming clear: a sustainable solution to the crisis at hand depends on system change. Geoengineering is hazardous not only because it could potentially encourage global warming, but because it would allow us to preserve the existing system. As we consider possible solutions to climate change, we should be cautious in our discussion of geoengineering as a “quick fix.” Instead, it must be discussed as a Hail Mary, a last resort. Instead of placing our hope in “Plan B” we should use our energy to pursue “Plan A.”
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
Features • 10
Man-spreading: “Stop the spread”
By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 Feminism Columnist
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uspicious smells, unusual noises and cramped spaces are all the charms that come along with using public transportation. For those of us that have had our fair share of less than desirable encounters on public transport, we know how difficult and sometimes outright uncomfortable it is to share our spaces with other people. What makes it even more difficult is trying to navigate very small spaces with people who are not always considerate of those around them. Man-spreading, for those of you unfamiliar with the term, illustrates a sitting posture in which the legs are widespread, often at an exaggerated angle, so that the body is extended and as a result takes up a greater expanse of area. The term emerged not as a result of acknowledgements towards a new phenomenon but as an attempt to put a name to such commonplace situations occurring in shared spaces like buses, subways and trains. While we can all be guilty of taking up a bit more space than we should be, such as when we leave our bags on the seats next to us, it is often male-bodied individuals who are the repeat offenders. By addressing man-spreading we are not only focusing on issues of space or comfort. While
it may be just a minor inconvenience to some, I think it hints at some of the larger issues in our society. The stigma that follows women in all realms of everyday interactions are most apparent when looking at the double standards found between the female body and the public space. Mic, an online news source, crafted a social experiment in which they sent their female correspondent, Liz Plank, out into a busy subway to see whether her participation in man-spreading would garner a different response from their male employee. In many cases it warranted a doubletake involving disapproving eyes from onlookers and even the occasional sneaky photo, showing how natural our society deems it for males to occupy more space. Females are not afforded the same luxuries. When a female sprawls out she becomes “unladylike” and inappropriate. Men are taught to make themselves larger to create a more domineering and assertive attitude while women are taught to always make themselves smaller and to take up less space. This sexist approach often translates to almost every other aspect of a woman’s life and therefore makes it difficult for women to be authoritative because of the reproach it often gathers. Man-spreading is a manifestation of the ways in which male privilege works. Talking about man-spreading and recognizing the different ways in which it is harmful is going to remind us that we should be mindful of the ways in which we are interacting with others in closed spaces. While it may be a more comfortable position for you to stretch yourself out, it’s important to try to exercise some common decency and keep those around you in mind. The next time you find yourself taking public transportation, remember that you are in a shared public space, emphasis on “shared.” While those who were male bodied were the main focus when discussing issues surrounding public space it’s important to be conscious of how much space you’re taking up and keep your spreading to a minimum regardless of your gender. If you’d like to see how others are using social media to expose man-spreading, check out yourballsarenotthatbig.tumblr.com for a humorous take on the man-spreading taking place on New York City subways.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 STARTING THE CONVERSATION: MENTAL HEALTH COLUMN
I would see these taken a step further. The relationship with your body should be a loving one-- the one you deserve. It isn’t easy to get to that point, and it will take time and effort, especially since the conditions we’re discussing are often so deeply rooted. That said, it’s hard to imagine how scary taking those leaps of faith into self-care and healing are. But balance will come with time. There is a lot of fear involved when you don’t know what’s going on, which is why awareness is such a key idea. Realizing that something is off is terrifying, but taking the next step is so crucial. The last thing I want to say for the time being on this topic is that it is often trivialized and should absolutely not be. Eating disorders stem from very real psychological places. People think they’re about food, when, much of the time, the feelings and thoughts are more essential to what is happening. These are not topics to be joked about, and food, exercise, body image, etc. are also not laughing matters. In the spirit of my last article and Awareness week, I would ask that people think about how they can refuse complacency in the collective mindset that promotes sick ideals and invalidates people. Your language can, and often does, harm. While it may seem harmless to talk about topics in a certain way, it’s important to recognize that this seemingly-casual speech may seriously jeopardize someone else’s mental state, especially that of someone in recovery, Raising awareness and being mindful of others in speech in action literally saves lives, (eating disorders have one of the highest fatality rates among mental illnesses) and for conditions that can in effect turn one’s body against one, people should not need to face fear of ubiquitous triggers in addition to what they must go through. So let’s turn “I had no idea” into a quest for us-- a healthier us. The kind of health that allows us to love ourselves for who we are in every sense. Tiernan Field House is also having a few events for NEDA Awareness week. For details, see the events calendar on page 2.
Let’s talk about sex, baby Anonymous Sexual Health Columnist Pick a romcom. Any romcom. Now conjure up a sex scene from said romcom. I bet I can guess exactly what happens: a door is thrown open to show a heterosexual couple entering a darkened room, tearing each other’s clothes off and passionately gripping body parts before falling onto a bed. End scene. Nothing about the reality of sexual encounters is shown. Hollywood sex is perfect sex, so when our sex doesn’t go as we imagine it would in a romcom, we’re disappointed and even embarrassed. Well I say no more; there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed when sticky moments happen or when bodily functions occur. When I took a
survey of my sexually-active friends, they said that the dreaded queef is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen when you’re getting hot and heavy. The term “queef” doesn’t sound that great, but the official term, vaginal flatulence, doesn’t sound that great either. But whatever you want to call it, it’s completely natural and involuntary. It occurs when air moves into the vagina and then is pushed out, usually during intercourse, but it can happen at other times too. Topics like these typically aren’t covered in sexual health classes and are generally swept under the rug and not discussed. In a society that creates unattainable standards of beauty and sexiness for women, this can create an unhealthy relationship with sex and an unrealistic standard for how “perfect” it should be.
When a queef first happened to me with my college hookup buddy, I was so embarrassed because nobody had ever told me that noise was even a possibility during sex and I wasn’t able to relax after that. After we were done, I sheepishly apologized, which confused him. “What do you have to be sorry for? It happens, it’s totally fine,” he told me. Even real flatulence isn’t anything to be embarrassed about. A friend of mine told me a story of when she was having sex doggy-style and was feeling particularly bloated. All the sudden, an audible fart escaped and she was absolutely mortified. Her partner assured her all was good and they laughed it off, even when it happened a second time. I love this story for a few reasons: one, you would never ever see this in a movie, but yet it happens more often than
you think. The second reason is I’m glad they communicated; she told her partner she was embarrassed and they were able to talk about it and move past the incident. Awkward moments are bound to happen during sexual encounters, and when they do, being able to laugh it off and communicate with your partner about how you’re feeling can help you create a healthier relationship with sex and you body image in general. If your partner is unfamiliar with queefing, for example, you can educate him or her on why they happen and maybe how to prevent them (don’t pull out as far during sex, because it allows air to get in). Accepting your body for everything it does, including queef, is so important in a world that doesn’t acknowledge the way that real bodies function.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
Features • 11
“Django unchained” and the contemporary slave narrative
By Elizabeth Lee ‘16 Copy Editor & Film Columnist Trigger Warning: film contains graphic violence
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t is probably more uncommon at this point for one to have not seen “Django Unchained” (2012), given its immense critical success and popularity. But in keeping with the Claremont spirit, when it showed up on Netflix, I couldn’t help but revisit this film not only through a lens of racial violence but also in reflection on the importance of narrative to historical transitions and even social justice. Our understandings of slavery come from not only the authority of history textbooks and lecturing scholars, but also the stories we remember, create and circulate—
from first-hand accounts to contemporary fictional films. These narratives have the potential to give voice to those who were victimized and to draw attention to the brutality they suffered as we work towards a more progressive future. Depending on who dictates the story, however, the narratives also have the potential to twist the past into a more favorable, less accurate and more distant memory. Perhaps the most important aspect of these slave narratives to consider is the various ways in which they depict violence. A systemic objectification and commodification of human beings, an intimately brutal act of immorality, a manifestation of dominant ideologies and racial superiority, a form of resistance. How the violence is portrayed often determines whether we are being drawn into the memory of it or attempting to leave this distant suffering behind. While the powerful accounts of, say, Frederick Douglass often confront us with some of our darkest moments, “Django Unchained” has its own take on slave violence. Starring a cast of prominent celebrities, including Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz and Kerry Washington, and written/directed by the ever prominent Quentin Tarantino, the film was released to great critical acclaim and box office success, rendering it more a
work of artistic achievement and entertainment than of significant social commentary. Tarantino, who is quite famous for the brutality and satirical nature of his highly stylistic films, made “Django Unchained” a very intentional juxtaposition of the traumatic and serious versus heavily stylized entertainment violence. In doing so, Tarantino distinguishes the cruel violence between masters and slaves from the retribution and supposed ultimate empowerment of the protagonist, a slave who is freed and becomes a bounty hunter in the process of tracking down and saving his wife who had been sold off. During the scene in which Django first sees his wife, Django watches from afar as she is removed from a “hot box,” a metal box placed in the sun where she is forced to remain without clothes or water as she overheats. Not a single drop of blood is shown, but the footage is slowed down as melancholy music plays quietly and painfully over her screams. On the other hand, the culminating shootout at the slave owner’s plantation is less disturbing or heart-wrenching than it is an exciting game, with choreographed stunts and blood spurting everywhere. While one depiction of violence highlights the brutality of slavery, the other uses it to engage the audience and encourage them to root for the slave-turned-hero. The stylized violence comes from Tarantino’s intent to create a
spaghetti western film, a term used in the past to refer to Italian westerns. The genre itself, in this case, seems like a means of appropriating our own culture, infusing humor and stylized violence into our nation’s tragic history. “Django” seems to simultaneously criticize as well as distance us from our past and the violence we’ve committed and suffered. And yet it begs the question of whether slavery can actually be considered a thing of the past. Have we effectively transitioned from an era of violence and injustice to one of peace and justice? Or are there ways in which the remnants of institutionalized slavery persist in our contemporary world? The hefty number of protests in response to the hefty number of police shootings of unarmed, black victims even just within this past year seems to indicate the truth of the latter. Though it is easy and reassuring to view ourselves as moving from one state of chaos and hatred to one that is peaceful enough that we can now perceive slave violence as a thing of the distant past, we are caught in a never-ending struggle to reach a better place or way of life, to constantly reconcile with the past so that we may continue to move forward. You can find all movies reviewed here on Netflix
score interns: crushing oppression since 2013
By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 Mental Health Columnist and Webmaster ucked away in the Frankel-Routt annex is a space that serves a very unique purpose to Scripps and the greater community. Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE) “provides organizational support and resources to student organizations so they may further promote social and political awareness, specifically with respect to issues of class, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality and sexual orientation,” according to its Facebook page. The space is home to a kitchen, living room complete with comfy couches and a TV, and a conference room, in addition to offices that house some of the CLORGs such as Wanawake Weusi, Café con Leche and Family. Though SCORE is primarily known among students by its relationship with the CLORGS and for hosting events on campus, not many people are aware of the internship program-- currently in its second year-- and the hard work of the ten interns. Each of the interns is a part of one or more of the following committees: arts and activism (artivism), Our Sound, internal, and external. Artivism bridges social justice and activism with artistic pursuits in the visual and performance media. Branching off artivism is the committee which creates Our Sound, a zine/literary magazine that delves headfirst into the social justice issues important to students. External focuses on community partnership that extends beyond the reaches of the Claremont College campuses; one subgroup called Junior Leadership leads workshops and shows middle schoolers that they have the capabilities to become leaders. The other subgroup aims to reduce the uncertainty and stereotypes about college for high school students. Both parts of external meet with
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these students weekly and create curriculum. Internal generates programming for the 5Cs. “It’s more about nourishing our community here,“ said SCORE intern Tara Partow (‘17). Internal is responsible for hosting events such as the “Busting it Open” series addressing controversial topics. The events draw dozens– sometimes over a hundred-- RSVPs on Facebook. Partow said, “That’s an indication to me that this is a much needed event for the 5Cs, and it’s great that Scripps can help fulfill that need.” “SCORE is a space for all students to explore issues of privilege at a personal level but also systems of oppression that have existed for centuries,” explains Interim Assistant Director of SCORE Victoria Verlezza, “It is through programming, done mostly by the SCORE interns, the CLORGs and students through which they challenge each other’s privilege in difference aspects, raise awareness of “hot button” issues and work with the Interim Assistant Directors [Verlezza and Yuka Ogino] to further support the mission of inclusion. The interns’ programs are whenever they want. They aren’t held to a specific day of the week or time. They program to the needs of the students and host their programming at times convenient for students.” Partow discusses the importance of the intern program, “The key of the intern team is to allow a group of generally underrepresented students to do necessary programming that will make the college a better place for them, other students and students for whom access to the college is blocked because they don’t know about it due to class/neighborhood (where community partnerships [run by external committee] come in), documentation or a host of other reasons.” There is also a distinct feature of SCORE’s program that sets it apart from the social justice
work done in other communities: the interns are paid. Partow explains, “[...] the biggest point of all is that you are paying students to do this work. SCORE interns tend to be very involved on campus not just inside of the intern team, but also outside, where many of them occupy important leadership positions for which they usually don’t get paid. But nevertheless, there is a historical tradition of expecting oppressed people to do free labor to liberate themselves regardless of the nonoppressed being on-board with it or not. This is especially true of women, who face intersecting oppressions.” As the Facebook page states, “SCORE is more than an office or department; we seek to build a community of people dedicated to enhancing and supporting inclusion at Scripps College and beyond through programming and advising within a social justice framework.” On that note, Partow invites students to check out SCORE on behalf of the office and all the interns, “I encourage students with ideas to make this campus a better place. Talk to Yuka or Victoria during their office hours [Yuka’s are Wed 2-4 pm; Victoria’s are Mon 3:30-5pm] so you can have the support of SCORE and the interns … they can help make it happen so you aren’t doing all the work for free. There are so many possibilities for the intern group. We can do so much! It is also really valuable experience for us interns. I’ve learned so much about this school, my colleagues, and programming, coordinating, planning, facilitating, etc. since I began here. I highly encourage other students to apply for next year, and if they haven’t already, to engage more with SCORE.” SCORE is open Monday through Friday from 9am until 6pm and it is located across from the Frankel/Routt residence hall entrances and next to SARLO.
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven
12 • Arts & Entertainment
Those Booties were made for Walking
By Natalie Camrud ‘17 Fashion Columnist
Leonida Radford ‘17
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ets talk about booties. They are quintessential pieces for everybody and you can get nice ones at an affordable price. I see them all over campus, on feet hurrying to class or out to parties. Even my mom arrived for parents weekend wearing a maxi skirt and black-heeled booties. You can dress them up, dress them down, pair them with shorts or with dresses. Basically all earthly combinations are possible when you own a pair of booties. If you’re looking for a versatile pair of shoes for your closet, I certainly recommend black flat booties. You won’t regret it, and if you do, give them to me (I’m a size 10).
with Jasmine Russell ‘17, Staff Writer
Look 1: Name: Sheenie Yip Year: First Outfit: Sheenie pairs her booties with a minimalist, athletic chic look, with black shorts, a tan crop top and a black hat to top it off. Describe your style: “I usually dress like this in Seattle, like very minimalist, and now I’ve bought Adidas shoes, and I’m wearing more grunge-y looks. I’m just trying new stuff out, I don’t really have a defined style.”
happy summer?
Photos by Nicole Zwiener ‘16 As we don our flip flops, tanks and shorts in the middle of February, we can’t help but chuckle at our high school friends who chose schools in other, much colder parts of the country. Yes, we salute you, scarf-and-gloves-wearing snowcovered soldiers, but there is nothing in this world that could make us switch out our Birks for boots. At least, that’s why we chose this place...
Look 2: Name: Maggie Lund Year: Sophomore Outfit: Maggie emulates a Free People catalog with distressed denim shorts, white crop top, cardigan and, of course, black booties. Favorite item in her outfit: Her necklace. “I have no idea where I got it. Nordstrom rack maybe, in like ninth grade.”
From: San Francisco, California Major: Biochemistry What are you involved in on campus? I am a tour guide for Admissions, on the 5C club volleyball team, Vice President of Wanawake Weusi, part of the first generation community on campus and am also on the Admission Advisory Board. Where is your favorite place on campus? I would have to say SCORE. I just think the people in SCORE are absolutely fantastic. They are a very dynamic group of people. The conversations that we have in SCORE aren’t typically the ones that we have in the res halls at Scripps or in living rooms at Scripps or at the Motley. It’s very much what I’m interested in talking about on campus, and it’s typically stuff that I would like to see improved with the institution. What did you do over winter break? I slept and ate my mom’s food. The first meal I had at home was a traditional Filipino soup called sinigang. It’s vinegarand tamarind-based, so it’s really sour. I like it very sour, so I put extra vinegar in it, and you eat it with rice. It has bok choy, and I asked my mom to make it with beef this time. It also has some tomatoes in it. It’s my favorite soup to have. Who’s been most influential in your life? It’s a tie between my mom and my brother. [For my mother] It’s bigger than the bounds of ‘she’s the person I look up to’ or ‘she’s my best friend,’ because she’s not my best friend. That’s not true. But the sacrifices she made for me and my brother are sacrifices that I can’t picture myself doing. Partially because I don’t have a child, but I wouldn’t even think about doing the things she’s done for me and my brother. The life she had and the life she continues to have is one that’s very difficult, but she still finds a reason to wake up in the morning, and that’s something I really admire about her. As for my brother, we’re both first generation students, so he literally had no help applying to college. He didn’t know which colleges to apply to. I had pretty much my hand held the entire way. But somehow, even though he ended up at one of the top engineering schools, he feels like he failed in a way. I don’t want him to feel like that, but even though he thinks he failed, he is ridiculously smart. He’s an engineering major and I feel like he’s going to graduate probably in the top tier of his class. He tries really hard. He never took a summer off; he’s taken summer classes since he started. He’s just had a bunch of obstacles in the way, but somehow he keeps going over these hurdles and doing fantastic things. Complete article at thescrippsvoice.com
19 February, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Seven