20 November, 2014
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scripps college president lori bettison-varga talks potential trans Admissions policy changes By Lucy Altman-Newell ‘17 Editor-in-Chief
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n Thursday, Nov. 13, President Lori Bettison-Varga sent out an email to the Scripps College community stating that “the senior team has developed the following recommendations [regarding transgender admissions at Scripps College] to the Board of Trustees for consideration at its December meeting: Effective for the class enrolling in Fall 2016, Scripps College will: • Consider applicants assigned female at birth and/or who selfidentify as a woman at the time of application; • Continue the practice of not requiring government issued documentation for gender identity purposes; • And continue to award a Scripps degree to any student who completes the baccalaureate requirements, regardless of gender identity or expression.” This email came as a result of the Board of Trustee’s indication “that the insights and perspectives provided to them in October have accelerated their readiness to discuss updates to the College admission policy.”
President Lori Bettison-Varga. Photo courtsey of Scripps College.
The Scripps Voice corresponded with President BettisonVarga to discuss transgender admission at Scripps, the recent recommendations, and the steps moving forward: TSV: What were the main
“I am very proud of our students’ vocal and visible portrayal of the Scripps values of social justice and equity” President Lori Bettison-Varga
Jewish Dialogue Group on Campus explores jewish identity at scripps By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Staff Writer
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ebecca Millberg ‘17 is starting a Jewish Dialogue Group through Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE) that will begin meeting regularly next semester. The group will provide “space for any student who currently identifies as Jewish or has identified as Jewish in the past to explore their Jewish identity and how it shapes their experience at Scripps,” Millberg says. According to Millberg, ten percent of the 5C student body identify as Jewish, but many of these students
Inside This Issue:
influences for discussing transgender admissions at Scripps College? LBV: These discussions started last year as part of a broader conversation about how we might nurture a climate of inclusion and
do not engage in any Jewish life on campus. “There is not a single organization on any of the campuses that fosters exploration of Jewish identity rather than simply Jewish ritual practice,” Millberg said, which is one of the reasons she believes many Jewish students do not partake in the Jewish life at the 5Cs. She hopes to create a community and network of Jewish students on campus. Millberg has both attended and acted as a counselor at a Jewish summer camp, and has gone through a Sustained Dialogues Inclusive Leadership workshop here at Scripps. “I feel prepared to start a conversation with other Jewish
Page 3 - News
Pope Francis sparks reform from within the Vatican
students about our experiences and identities,” Millberg said. “I want to create a space where Jewish students can have dialogues about difficult and important issues, such as what it means to be a Jew in college, how individuals relate to their Judaism differently and how Judaism intersects with race, class, gender, sexuality, ability and other identities, all while looking at our experiences through a social justice lens. These dialogues will allow group members to not only better understand their own experiences but also understand and relate to others’ experiences... Historically and in the present, Jews have been and still are marginalized and victims of hatred and anti-Semitism.” Millberg says that there have been anti-Semitic bias-related incidents (such as mezuzas being torn off of dorm room doors) during her time at Scripps, and in addition to these
Page 5 - Sports
Meet Rosie Kepple ‘18 of the CMS Women’s Golf team
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 744 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XVIII | Issue Five
build capacity to have dialogue across differences. Last year, with the arrival of Denise Nelson Nash, Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, we began formulating a roadmap as a followon to the adoption of the diversity and inclusivity strategic plan that was spearheaded by Dean Amy Marcus-Newhall. As part of the execution of the [I.D.E.A.] Initiative, a series of workshops and trainings were offered for students and staff on breaking down the binary and transallyship. Over the summer, more than fifty per cent of the staff participated in trainings and workshops led by Antoinette Myers ’12 and SCORE professional staff. Concurrently, the trustees formed an ad hoc committee on diversity and inclusion while robust conversations continued on campus. All of these activities heightened awareness of and support for a more inclusive admission policy. TSV: What are the steps going forward that would turn this recommendation into policy? LBV: The Board will consider the recommendation at its December meeting. TSV: What does the timeline for
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incidents, Millberg says that at times when she has felt marginalized it has been a challenge to find “a truly stong Jewish community” at the 5Cs. Jewish students face everyday marginalization such as the lack of Kosher food at any of the 5C dining halls and the fact that some Jewish students have to miss class for Jewish holidays. She hopes to raise awareness on campus about the marginalization of Jewish students and to create that community. “In order to create a truly strong Jewish community on campus, it is crucial that Jewish students at Scripps first explore their identities.” Millberg said. There was an informal meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, but regular meetings will not begin until next semester. Millberg encourages anyone interested in this group to email her for more information at RMillber5497@scrippscollege.edu.
Page 10 - Op Ed
We’ve got a Blank Space, baby, and we’ll write your name
2 • News
Beheard forum: Title IX reform
By Talia Speaker ‘18 Staff Writer
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ast Tuesday, Nov. 11, Scripps students gathered in the Student Union for the week’s BeHeard Forum on Title IX and sexual assault on campus. Cofounder of Scripps Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault Olivia Buntaine ’15; peer health educator Alex Washburn ‘15 and Scripps Deputy Title IX coordinator Sally Steffen headed the event and presented on how to navigate Scripps’ sexual assault policies and relevant resources around the 5Cs. Their presentation was titled “Empowering Choices: Understanding Sexual Violence Support Resources and Reporting Options at Scripps College & the CUC [Claremont University Consortium].” Buntaine opened the presentation by stressing the importance of having conversations around the issue of sexual assault, saying, “I really believe that sexual violence, even though it’s really hard to talk about, is probably not going to go away until we all start to get better at vocalizing what we see... and part of that is understanding the policies that we all signed off on.” Before moving on to address Scripps’ policies specifically, she clarified what Title IX is and why it is so important, touching on the “Dear Colleague Letter,” which states that sexual misconduct should be included in the definition of interference in the right to an education free from discrimination. She noted that by drawing widespread attention to the issue, this letter drastically changed the way sexual misconduct is viewed on campuses across the country. Buntaine went on to address Scripps’ discrimination and harassment policies as well as its grievance procedures, and explained the complexity in policy that comes with being part of this consortium. “It’s important that you know that in terms of definitions, we’re in a really
the sas biweekly By Vaishali Ravi ‘15 Senior Class Representative
I am sure I am not alone in feeling as if it were just last week that I walked through the front doors of Denison and came out to celebrate matriculation. As we prepare for commencement, it is important to reflect on our development over these past few years. We are not the same women as three years ago. We have only gone up, growing both intellectually and personally, building life-long relationships and making names for ourselves. Many of us would not be here, preparing our forms for commencement and registering for classes for the last time. There are some students in years below us who may not be able to continue at Scripps due to changing financial circumstances and missing support. We can gift one of these students the opportunity to develop more friendships, take those upper division electives with your favorite professors, go to Naked Brunch and walk out of the front doors of Dennison. Senior Class Gift is a long-held tradition of the graduating class supporting one of our peers with the same gift we are soon to receive: completing a Scripps education. You can make this possible by making a gift online designated to the Senior Class Gift at www.applyweb.com/public/ contribute?s=scrippsc. In order to fully support our peer, we must reach $10,000. Thanks in large part to our wonderful parents of the class of 2015, we are halfway there, but a gift from every single senior will help us fulfill this goal and keep a fellow student’s dreams alive. Thus, I urge you, class of 2015, to gift your time or treasure, in providing this scholarship. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact myself or my co-rep, Sarah Owens, at vaishali.ravi@scrippscollege. edu or sarah.owens@scrippscollege.edu.
Students gather in the Student Union to further discuss Title IX and sexual assault on campus. Photo by Suzette Guzman ‘18.
complicated situation,” she said. “First of all, there aren’t that many consortiums in the country, but even among consortiums, none of them function the way that ours does [because of the proximity of our campuses].” She proceeded to explain that because each school has its own grievance procedures, it is crucial that they work together to deal with cross-campus incidents, which make up the majority of the cases at the 5Cs. According to Sally Steffen, this is why the Title IX teams of each school meet bi-weekly and why the important definitions around sexual misconduct are consistent throughout the consortium. An important piece of information noted was that in cases of cross-campus incidents, the grievance procedures of the respondent’s school (the accused perpetrator’s school) apply. However, the presenters assured the students that due to the constant communication between Title IX offices, none of the procedures are drastically different.
The next major topic the presenters covered was the role of “REs,” or “Responsible Employees.” This included who they are, what their responsibilities are, and how they are trained to do their best to ensure that students understand these responsibilities before disclosing to them information about an incident. An important and commonly-asked question was: if a student discloses information to an RE, will the Title IX case proceed regardless of whether or not the student wants it to? Buntaine responded, “The Title IX team’s priorities are for the survivors to regain control over the process… Disclosure to the alleged perpetrator or the college is not automatic, and neither is the grievance process… Confidentiality is only going to be superseded in the limited circumstances in which there is an immediate threat of danger to the survivor or to the greater community, [which] is a minority of
brief: joss greene visits campus S
stereotypes and expectations placed on people in disproportionate ways, and we want to have a space where people can come to understand what those are...and hopefully create this world with gender justice.” Greene went on to say that the goal is to include trans people of any identification, noting that the current policy defines inclusivity based on womanhood, when in reality trans people of all genders face marginalization.
cripps graduate Joss Greene ‘11 visited the College on Nov. 14 to talk with current students about proposed changes to Scripps’ admissions policy regarding trans students. The event was structured as a discussion; less a presentation of what one (or a few) individual alumni think, and more of a means of allowing current students’ voices to find a consensus of how the policy should be changed, as well as how that change will affect the culture, atmosphere and inclusivity of Scripps. Scripps Associated Students (SAS) President Alex Frumkin ‘15 shared information from a petition for a change in Scripps’ policy. 580 students signed the petition saying they support a trans-inclusive admissions policy, with 88 per cent of the first year class signing. Students at the discussion, however, expressed concerns over the manner in which the petition was administered; signatures were gathered in a door-to-door fashion, and the students argued that those being asked to sign did not have time to become educated enough on the nuances of the admissions policy. One student mentioned that she thought students may think back on the petition and realize they did not agree with what they signed because they did not necessarily take the time necessary to learn about it. The petition called for an admissions policy that would accept anyone who is not cisgender male — one of the broader forms of a trans-inclusive admissions policy — even though it would mean Scripps admitting students who do not identify as female. “Why are women’s colleges important?” Greene said. “[We must give] credit to women’s colleges according to a definition that’s more than a school full of women. Women’s colleges were founded because the way gender is structured in our society is profoundly unequal. There are
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LBV DISCUSSES TRANS ADMISSIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
making this decision look like? LBV: The Board’s goal is to make a decision by the end of the school year to allow any changes to go into effect in 2016. TSV: What has student involvement with this issue looked like in terms of influencing policymakers at Scripps? LBV: Students have been actively engaged in every step of this discussion, and have shown tremendous leadership in raising awareness and understanding while expanding the network of allies across campus and the 5Cs. I’m very proud of our students’ vocal and visible portrayal of the Scripps values of social justice and equity. They’ve not only been an important voice in the dialogue, but they’ve also participated in the governance process in a thoughtful and effective way. Students are fortunate to have such strong, dedicated representatives on SAS, trustee committees, and the president’s ad hoc committee on diversity and inclusivity, among others. TSV: What do you encourage students to do to be involved in this hot topic on campus? LBV: We are collecting comments on the proposed policy from the community through November 20 at www.insidescrippscollege. edu/admissionspolicy. These comments will be provided to the Board to help inform their decision, so it’s important for students and other stakeholders to take this opportunity to share their perspective on the policy.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
News • 3
POPE FRANCIS MAKES PROGRESSIVE REFORMS
The Scripps P Voice Staff
By Ashley Minnis-Lemley Copy Editor
Editors-in-Chief Elena Pinsker Lucy Altman-Newell Advisor Sam Haynes Design Editors Taylor Haas Selene Hsu Copy Editors Rachel Miller-Haughton Ashley Minnis-Lemley Elizabeth Lee Business Manager Lily Comba Webmaster Megan Petersen Multimedia Director Laurel Schwartz Columnists & Staff Writers Chloë Bazlen Melanie Biles Natalie Camrud Sophie Fahey Taylor Galla Jocelyn Gardner Evelyn Gonzalez Kay James Elizabeth Lee Erin Matheson Jasmine Russell 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.
ope Francis’ election was unconventional, and his leadership of the Catholic Church has lived up to the word as well. While popes are usually chosen after the death of their predecessor, Francis’ election took place because of the retirement of Benedict XVI, the first time a pope has stepped down in 600 years. In the year since his election, Francis has become known for his radical style of leadership, perhaps culminating in his unprecedented demotion of American Cardinal Raymond Burke from his position as head of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest court. Burke will retain his position as cardinal, though his responsibilities will be severely lessened. His new position as the Patron of the Order of the Knights of Malta, a charity organization, is largely ceremonial and is often given to a cardinal nearing retirement. Burke, 66, is nine years away from the age at which cardinals are required to offer their resignation, though many will continue in their posts for several years after this point. It is highly unusual for a cardinal to be removed from a position without being granted a comparable degree of responsibility elsewhere. Burke and Francis have clashed in the past, with Francis removing Burke from a committee dedicated to selecting new bishops and Burke calling the Catholic Church under Francis’ leadership “a ship without a rudder.” As a cardinal, Burke would have voted in the election to select a new pope after Benedict XVI’s retirement. Cardinal Burke is known for his vocal conservative views. He has spoken out against pro-choice policies and divorce on multiple occasions, making headlines in 2004 for his refusal to give Communion to Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) because of the Catholic politician’s prochoice stance. He has also refused to give Communion to divorced and civilly-remarried Catholics. More recently, Burke participated in Pope Francis’ October synod on family and was a leading force in changing a midterm report with conciliatory views regarding gay and lesbian people to one restating the Church’s hardline BEHEARD FORUM DISCUSSION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
cases.” She explained that although this “grey area” tends to make people uneasy, it actually allows for much more flexibility in the process than a “hard and fast rule” would, and that the latter would be more likely to force students into a reporting process that they did not want. The final section of the presentation, led by Alex Washburn, was about supporting survivors. She addressed a multitude of aspects and methods of support that went far beyond reporting. As Buntaine pointed out, “There is no right, wrong or normal way to respond to an incident of sexual violence, and as allies of survivors on this campus, we need to understand that reporting is the right option for some people and not for others.” The three general types of support addressed were physical, psychological/emotional and academic. Washburn highlighted the resources available to a survivor post-assault, which included calling Campus Safety or the RA on call to ensure the survivor’s physical safety in that moment, as well as getting a SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) exam at the Pomona Valley Hospital to preserve evidence and receive medical assistance to ensure future physical health. Washburn added, “An important thing to know is that a survivor can get the exam without deciding to proceed with criminal charges,” and that “the evidence will be stored for fifteen days after the exam” in case a survivor decides to use it. She highly recommended Project Sister as a support resource for this process; a survivor can access the organization by calling the hotline and requesting an advocate. According to Washburn, Project Sister can provide transportation and support for the survivor, and because they are familiar with the process and the survivor’s rights, they can ensure that the survivor does not have to pay for any medical costs including
stance. While the midterm report acknowledged that “Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community,” the published document states that “There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.” Although this is perhaps one of the most prominent waves Francis has made since his ascendance to the papacy in 2013, there have been countless others. He is both the first South American and the first Jesuit pope, and is also the first non-European pope since Gregory III in 741. He has eschewed the elaborate vestments typically associated with the papacy and has chosen to live in a Vatican guesthouse instead of the papal apartments. He has chosen ‘Miserando atque eligendo,” or, “Because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him,” as his episcopal motto and has emphasized mercy as a major focus of his papacy. In a Holy Thursday ceremony shortly after his inauguration, he washed and kissed the feet of twelve juvenile offenders, two female and two Muslim, the first time that women have been allowed to participate in the ceremony. On Nov. 14, 2014, he announced plans to build showers for the homeless men and women living in Vatican City. Pope Francis also recently spoke publicly in support of evolution and the Big Bang. In a speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Francis said, “When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so.” Francis’ remarks echo the Church’s belief that Catholic doctrine and evolution are not incompatible, a position first expressed by Pope Pius XII in his 1950 encyclical “Humani Generis” and upheld by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The Big Bang theory itself was originally posited by Georges Lemaitre, a Catholic priest and former president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. While Francis continues to draw ire from conservatives within the Church, the general consensus seems to be that he is a breath of fresh air for a religious institution often mired in centuries of tradition and bureaucracy. Time will tell if his reforms hold. emergency contraception, prophylactics and testing for STI’s [Sexually Transmitted Infections], among other things. Washburn wrapped up the presentation by noting that it is important for students to be aware that these medical services are available at Planned Parenthood and Student Health Services, both of which are confidential. She also mentioned that Plan B is available for $20 without an appointment at Student Health Services during business hours, and starting this year, 24/7 5C access to it and other supplies for the same price in a vending machine on the second floor of Walker Lounge at Pomona. Buntaine said earlier in the presentation that the most important part of all of this is, “The survivor needs to understand their options and have control over their path after their assault, which is why trying to disseminate this information is so, so important.”
Maddy Klein ‘15 of Scripps Advocates. Photo by Suzette Guzman ‘18.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
4 • News
Perfomers fall into their roles in this year’s SPRING AWAKENING at pomona By Chloë Bazlen ‘18 Staff Writer
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his weekend, the Pomona College Department of Theater and Dance will be performing the Fall musical, Spring Awakening. The musical opens tonight, Nov. 20, with four Scripps students involved in the production: Katherine Marcus Reker, who plays Marta; Sarah Lopez, who plays Adult Female; Dominique Chua, who is Assistant Stage Manager and Victoria Montecillo, who is Assistant to the Musical Director. Spring Awakening is a coming-of-age rock musical based on the 1891 play of the same name by Franz Wedekind. Set in late nineteenth century Germany, Spring Awakening tells the story of young Wendla, who, as Director Ortega says, “is just longing to know what it is like to be alive.” The musical criticizes the sexually-oppressive culture of 1890s Germany; because of this, the musical was often banned or censored. When asked what it was like to be a part of such an intense production, the Scripps students were unanimous in seeing the play as a challenge they were ready to take on. “At first it was very scary, especially after we first got cast,” Lopez said. Marcus Reker agreed, and said, “We really just wanted to do the characters justice, to tell their stories well.” The musical dives into many tough topics, but Monticello said that “the show does an amazing job at tackling these really tough issues that are still relevant today.” “The main way of dealing with such intense and dark situational stories is to make sure that you get a cast that will be bonded by love and camaraderie,” Ortega said. Chua agreed that having a supportive atmosphere has made the play a great experience. “After getting to know everyone, it makes the content a lot easier to handle,” she said. Ortega said he suspects that the Claremonts will be more ready to handle this musical. “This is a very progressive campus, and this is a very socio-political statement by Wedekind,” he said. Wedekind was raised in an area of Germany that had many Bohemian communities, and because of that was able to see that “what is taboo to everyone is not taboo for a different group of people,” according to Ortega. He sees it as if Wedekind is saying, “I’m not here to scare you, but I want you to see a different way of how people are taking these issues.” Both cast and crew believe that it is integral for the 5C community to see the play. Montecillo pointed out that it is particularly relevant for Scripps students. “Spring Awakening does a really great job of tackling the representation of different women and girls,” she said. Marcus Reker agreed, saying, “The women in the show are all very complex characters. They’re not one-sided. They’re all very different. It gives these women a chance to share their stories in a very powerful and empowering way.” Ortega further adds that the play is, in general, appropriate for the college audience. “Wendla [the main character] is in essence the ‘wanderer’ — that is the literal translation,” he said. “She is someone who does not feel. I think that anyone who has had that moment in their life where they are like, ‘I just want to know what it is like to feel, to touch, to love, to be loved,’ should go see this play; this is a great opportunity to see that displayed right in front of your eyes.” To Ortega, one line in particular sums up the experience of this play — the love interest of Wendla, Melchior, tells Wendla, “I feel your heartbeat, Wendla, I feel it wherever I go.” Ortega said he is particularly fond of this line not only
because it is beautiful, but because it “exemplifies what the story is about. It is just about what it is like to feel alive.” Although they are all in the play together, each Scripps student has a slightly different opinion on what the process of arriving to opening night has been like. Chua, who is rather new to the theatre scene here at Claremont, reflects, “I have been amazed by the talent, because not a lot of people at Pomona are actually theater majors. Seeing people combine choreography, dance, music and acting has been magical for me.” As the first show is quickly approaching, Lopez is eagerly awaiting an audience. “There are a lot of lines that are funny, heartbreaking or scary. I’m really excited to see how people react to those. I think once we do see their reactions, the show will become real to us and will become all the more powerful since the audience’s thoughts will be changing based on what they are seeing.” Monticello agreed, adding that “Spring Awakening is really dependent on how the audience takes everything, and I think the cast will work off the energy of the audience and will really draw reactions from that.” Marcus Reker is amazed at the progress that has come about. “We’ve all put so much work into this, and we’ve all become really close as a cast. It is really exciting to see — I mean, we have a show!” She is additionally excited because of how impactful the play is. “You will walk out having felt something very big. Though some may relate to a specific character, everyone will in some way, shape or form walk out having felt something.” Director Ortega is just as excited as the students are. “They are just waiting for the audience. You can feel it. It is an exchange of energy. They want you to see what it is like to be a human being, and your breath will be in this space with theirs, and we will all breathe together.” This play has been a particular challenge for Ortega, but one that he has met with all eagerness. “I’ve never had to deal with a play that tackles these issues at so many levels. I have learned so much out of this, not just as an artist or a director but as a human being.” He adds that the cast and crew have made this experience all the more valuable. “No one is better than anyone, and no one is less than anyone. We each do our job, and we are all equal.” Ortega also stresses that “this point of view, our point of view, is completely different than any productions of this play in the past.” The cast and crew together decided that “all of the different
cast members of that show are integral in the whole production,” and as a result, emphasis is being placed on scenes that may otherwise have been overlooked. Nearly sixty people are involved in the making of this play, which features 16 cast members, 22 songs, nine musical dance numbers and a live eight-piece band. Spring Awakening opens today, Thursday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. and will also be performed on Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. The show runs for approximately two hours and will be performed at Seaver Theater at Pomona. Tickets are $5 for students, staff and seniors and $10 for general admission.
5Cs host annual scamfest By Jasmine Russell ‘17 Staff Writer
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n Friday, Nov. 7, a cappella group the Claremont Shades hosted SCAMFest (Southern California A Cappella Music Festival) 2014 in Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium. According to their website, this was the nineteenth year the Shades have hosted SCAMFest in order to allow local a cappella groups to “show off their vocal talents.” This year, these groups included the Claremont Shades, the 9th Street Hooligans, Women’s Blue and White, Men’s Blue and White, the K*Chords, the After School Specials, Midnight Echo, Mood Swing, the Scattertones (UCLA), Bruin Harmony (UCLA), the SoCal Vocals (USC) and the Spokes (UC Davis). “It was nerve-wracking, but really awesome,” Laura Kent ‘17, member of the 9th Street Hooligans, said of her first SCAMFest performance. “It felt really great to perform for 2500 people. [My favorite part was] getting to perform alongside other really talented groups and getting to be surrounded by so many talented vocalists. It’s not an experience you could really get to have outside of this scenario.” “Even though I’ve done it before, I was more nervous this year because I had to do the pitch pipe and count everyone in,” Laura Casaregola ‘17, a second-time SCAMFest performer and member of the K*Chords, said. She said, however, that her nerves quickly faded. “The actual performing was so fun,” Casaregola said. “You can’t see the audience because of the stage lights, so once we started singing it really felt like it was just the fourteen of us fooling around like in rehearsal.” With more than 2000 tickets sold this year, filling Bridges Auditorium, SCAMFest is quickly becoming a well-attended event in Claremont. Like many Claremont students, Misha Vysotskiy (HM ‘15) says he “look[s] forward to it every year.”
Students rehearse Spring Awakening on stage in Pomona’s Seaver Theater. Photo by Suzette Guzman ‘18.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
Sports • 5
Athlete profile: Rosie Kepple ‘18 By Chloë Bazlen ‘18 Staff Writer
At what at age did you begin golfing and why? I began golfing at thirteen because I had decided to quit soccer but wanted to continue to play a sport. I loved playing but wasn’t fast, and golf didn’t involve running. My dad got me started playing and we are still able to play a lot. What is it about golfing that you love? I like that it is, for the most part, an individual sport. I don’t have to depend on other people to be able to go out and play. That being said, I like being on a golf team because that means I get to golf with friends and have fun. In high school, for example, I was able to make a lot of friends outside of school that I am still able to see. I also find it very relaxing to just be outside and hit balls for a couple hours; it is definitely a stress reliever. Where do you hope golf will take you? I want to be playing for a long time. It helps relieve stress and take my mind off of things. I just want a lifelong activity that I can enjoy. What is your experience with golf before being on the CMS team? I was on my high school’s golf team before this one, at Walter Johnson High School in Maryland. I liked my high school team, but I’ve enjoyed CMS more. My high school team was co-ed, but I definitely enjoy being on a women’s team. I also worked at a course back home in Maryland. It was nice because it allowed me to play and practice all the time for free and meet a lot of new people. How have you liked the CMS team so far? I’ve been loving it. Our Fall season is kind of short, but I cannot wait for the Spring season to begin. Our head coach Jodi Burton is extremely nice, and has been really supportive. What advice do you have for students who want to play a sport? You might as well try it. It’s really fun to have a team that supports you. But make sure to balance sports and school work. I have to plan out my workout times and when I am going to practice and when I am going to do homework, just to make sure I get it all done. What is the coolest experience you’ve had while golfing? My uncle and aunt are members at Pinehurst Country Club, and my family goes down there and plays a couple times a year. That’s actually where they held the U.S. Open for men and women last year. We went and watched the Open over the summer; it was really hot but a lot of fun. I liked it because they were playing on a course that I knew — it was interesting to see how they transformed it for the Open.
scripps college ‘18 CMS Women’s Golf Photo courtsey of Rosie Kepple ’18
Want to nominate a female cms athlete for the next issue? email us at scrippsvoice@gmail.com
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
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-Emma Wegner ‘16, Pitzer My grandma was Spanish and she taught us that in the last 12 seconds of the countdown to New Years, you have to eat 12 grapes. If you can, it’s supposed to bring you luck in the coming year. We also celebrate Christmas and Epiphany [a Catholic tradition]. For Epiphany we bless our home by writing the initials of the Three Kings above our doorway in chalk. That’s Jan. 6. - Ashley Minnis-Lemley ‘16, Scripps I am Swedish and on the shortest day of the year my family celebrates Santa Lucia Day. It is a secular holiday that started with the whole burning of the yule log stuff, but [it] is popular among Lutherans because Lutheranism is very popular in Sweden [and] Norway. It technically has no religious affiliation in its roots. [On Santa Lucia Day] we make lefse, a Swedish potato tortilla that is a whole day ordeal to make. In Sweden traditionally the oldest daughter dresses in a white dress and wears a wreath of candles on her head and bakes biscuits for the family, neighbors [and the] homeless. - Chloë Bazlen ‘18, Scripps My mom is British, so for Christmas my family always bakes a traditional British figgy pudding — pudding refers to desert in England — with a quarter in it. We pour a lot of brandy on it, turn down the lights and then light it on fire. It’s really dramatic. Then, the person who bites into the quarter gets good luck in the coming year. On New Years, a “tall dark stranger” has to come to the door at midnight. It’s usually my dad. And we do really unconventional Thanksgivings because it doesn’t mean much to my mom. Because it’s just my immediate family usually and our British expatriate friends, we basically use Thanksgiving as an excuse to eat a bunch of good food. My mom’s an awesome chef and in the past we’ve had feasts of Indian food, Mediterranean food, chocolate cakes for dessert, etc. We are not very attached to turkey and mashed potatoes. A lot of the traditional Thanksgiving foods seem really weird to my mom, and so I have come to view [it] in the same way. - Isobel Whitcomb ‘17, Scripps The way my family celebrates Christmas is that, along with all the staple mainstream dishes, there’s also Chinese food. And instead of wearing green, we tend to wear red because it symbolizes luck in Chinese culture. -Pamela Ng ‘16, Scripps
Interviews compiled by Kay James ‘16, designed by Taylor Haas ‘18
Claremont students celebrate the holidays
“
My family is Jewish, and we celebrated Hanukkah when I was little, but we don’t really celebrate it anymore. Hanukkah is not actually a major holiday in the Jewish tradition, and it has really only become big in a “secular” way because it provides an opportunity for Jewish families to give gifts to their children so they won’t feel left out around Christmas time. Now that I’m not a child anymore, I feel no need to celebrate Hanukkah (besides a little candle lighting), but my family and I have kept up another tradition. We always join our Jewish friends and synagogue community at our local Chinese restaurant on Christmas. It’s totally stereotypical, but it is actually a beautiful community gathering; the whole restaurant is full of Jews I know. The owner says it’s his busiest night of the year — even busier than Chinese New Year.
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20 November, 2014 • The Scripps
LIGHT
7
e for the Holidays! December
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s Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
birthday in
7 26 35 36 42
days to Hanukkah days to Christmas days to Kwanzaa days to New Year’s
8 • Features
Wolves, Fracking and Environmental Elitism
By Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Current Events Columnist
R
ecently, the New York Times published an online article on the long-term consequences of the controversial decision to reintroduce grey wolves into Yellowstone National Park. A few wolves were first brought into the area from Canada in the 1990s. Since then, populations have risen past 1,600 — more than four times the original goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and enough to allow for the grey wolf to be taken off of the endangered species list in states as far west as Idaho. The project has been touted by environmentalists as one of the most successful environmental
projects of the twentieth century; however, today the wolves are stirring dissent among ranchers on the outskirts of Yellowstone. At first I was tempted to dismiss their complaints as ignorant; however, reading about the significantly negative impact of the wolves on the lives of the ranchers caused me to think more deeply about what is perhaps the greatest challenge within the modern environmental movement: avoiding elitism. As I discussed in my last column, Climate Change: Our Generation’s Biggest Injustice, climate change and destruction of the natural environment almost always affects working class and low-income communities long before it affects the middle and upper classes; however, in the effort to fight climate/ environmental injustice there is a catch-22: frontline communities can be equally negatively impacted by the activism and policy changes environmental groups use to fight climate change and habitat destruction. The backlash against the wolves in Yellowstone National Park is a symptom of this paradox. It is true that wolves play a vital role in the ecosystems of the Northwest; however, the impact they have on the lives of ranchers in the area is also very real. There is a reason that the Yellowstone Wolves were killed off so quickly as settlers moved west: wolves prey on livestock. While this fact is not a valid reason
for the extermination of an entire species, the plight of the ranchers in the area is an issue that was clearly overlooked in the decision to reintroduce the wolf. One rancher lamented the loss of $60,000 in livestock within just the first few years of the project. These ranchers around Yellowstone are examples of a frontline community negatively impacted by the decisions of environmentalists. I am not arguing that we should abandon the pursuit of more ecologically-friendly decisions. Rather, I am arguing that environmental decisions, even ones that are seen as hugely successful by environmentalists, often come from a place of elitism. The people making and implementing these decisions will likely not personally experience any major ramifications. While climate change and ecosystem destruction are major crises, so is poverty. Environmental activism often alienates lower social classes by failing to ask them what their idea of a better world looks like or to include them in the process of making change happen. In a recent conversation, Irma Muñoz, the leader of the social and environmental organization “Mujeres de la Tierra,” recounted the story of how her lower-middle class, predominantly black and latino community in Inglewood was alienated by the environmental organization LA Food and Water
Watch. Inglewood sits right next to the largest urban oil field in the country, and a few years ago that oil field became the focus of LA Food and Water Watch’s efforts to end fracking in California. While ending fracking would be a major environmental accomplishment and would positively impact the health of the residents of Inglewood, LA Food and Water Watch botched the movement by failing to include these residents in their activism and decision-making. Instead of building relationships with residents, they posted flyers meant to instill fear. Coming from a place of elitism, they did not bother to find out that Inglewood was already holding community meetings to end fracking in their neighborhood. The movement failed, because of racial and economic segregation. It is important to take away one message from these anecdotes. While coming years demand radical change in our treatment of the environment, we are useless without communication, collaboration and understanding among different social and economic groups. If this understanding had been present in the decision to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone, perhaps ranchers would have received some sort of compensation. At the very least, perhaps collaboration would have eased the resentment that now permeates Northwestern ranching communities.
Representing oneself with selfies
By Evelyn Gonzalez ‘18 Feminism Columnist
W
ith iPhones and apps like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat it is easier and faster than ever to document our lives and upload photographs to social media platforms. It seems as though taking photos of ourselves has quickly become everyone’s favorite pastime. As a result, Time Magazine labeled millennials the “Me Me Me” Generation and even tacked on the term “Selfie” Generation to further emphasize our fixation with taking photos of ourselves. While it is true that the term “selfie” is indicative of the type of society we live in today, where every moment can be captured and shared with the touch
of the button, many people fail to understand the true implications of selfie culture and incorrectly label our generation of millennials as self-obsessed and egocentric.These photos actually mean, however, that society, and especially young girls, are starting to love themselves and their bodies. Taking selfies is not just an activity intended to feed our vanity; rather, it becomes an affirmation of who we are in that moment, allowing these photos of ourselves to become not selfobsessed, but self-accepting. It takes a lot of courage to show yourself to the world, especially when you know everything about your life is constantly being monitored and judged. It is important to have moments in which we can dismiss the idea of perfection and aim attention at genuine moments of selfawareness. Society holds people, and more specifically women, up to various unattainable standards, but our perceptions of ourselves change when we become the focal point of our own images. Selfies allow us to focus on the positive aspects of ourselves and allow access to more realistic portrayals of young girls and women. Taking photos of ourselves is a display of individuality that is conducive to creating a society, which challenges our preconceived, narrow-minded notions of beauty. We get to see bodies of all shapes, sizes and colors depicted favorably, which contributes to a body-positive movement that represents the
dismantling of beauty standards. Selfies are not, much to contrary popular belief, a signal of the deterioration of our society into a conglomeration of self-centered individuals only interested in figuring out the best angles and lighting for their pictures. We should become accepting of the selfie as a development towards a more tolerant and accepting society. We
all need to embrace selfie culture and forgo the idea that it showcases our societies problematic narcissism; rather, it signals a changing dynamic in which women and girls everywhere are finally in control of how they are represented. Learning to love yourself is a long process but one I think that could begin with the snap of a camera.
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20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
Features • 9
Body Positivity on campus
By Jasmine Russel ‘17 Staff Writer
F
rom Nov. 12 to 15, Scripps Residential Life hosted “Great Sex: Are You Coming, Again?” for a second year. As an attempt to “promote inclusive and positive dialogues across the Scripps campus about sexual health and safety,” this week of events included a Queer Sex Night, #DeflinedLines: Are You Coming?, O! The Orgasm Talk, and Body (Positive) Chest Painting. Students were encouraged to come to the events to develop “healthy attitudes and actions around sexuality.” On Wednesday, Nov. 12, ResLife partnered with Family and Health Education Outreach (HEO) to present Queer Sex Night in SCORE. Described as “a night of frank discussion, glittery activities, and a sexual health Q&A” on its Facebook event, Queer Sex Night attracted over 40 students from all of the Claremont Colleges. As part of the Q&A section with Alex Washburn (SC ‘15), a peer educator from HEO, students asked anonymous questions about everything from dildos to sexually transmitted infections. Students also learned how to make mini “how to sex me” zines about their sexuality and sexual preferences. Finally, $190 worth of sex toys and supplies from Sensations Love Boutique were raffled to students who had entered to win. The other events in the series were similarly successful. Co-hosted by the Scripps Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault, #DefinedLines: Are You Coming? also brought more than 20 students to SCORE on November 13 to hear Scripps alumna Tiombe Preston, a therapist who specializes in consent and sexual assault, talk about consent on campus. O! The Orgasm
Photo by Tyra Abraham ‘18.
Talk on November 14 in Vita Nova brought sex educators from the Pleasure Chest in Los Angeles to shared tip, advice, and recommendations on how to achieve an orgasm with a vulva. The week ended on November 15 with Body (Positive) Chest Painting in the Motley Coffee Shop, where many Scripps students came to make prints of their various parts, including their breasts, hands, elbows, and feet. Whether by winning prizes, creating decorations
for their dorm rooms, or just receiving some new knowledge about their bodies, many students reported enjoying ResLife’s week of events. Laura Kent ‘17 reflected on her favorite event of the week, Queer Sex Night: “I think it was really nice to see so many queer people in a room. That doesn’t really happen in mass numbers, I think. Having 30 to 40 people in a room was really impressive. It was like its own little community; that was nice.”
Self Care is worth the effort
By Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 Mental Health Columnist
A
s I have mentioned self care in previous articles, I thought it might be a good idea to give a little more information on the topic. You should not be made to feel guilty for taking care of yourself by anyone — including yourself. Yes, there might be more “serious” problems. Honestly, who cares? Does the fact that someone, somewhere has a terminal illness mean that you don’t deserve to rest when you have strep throat, or to prevent catching the flu? The importance rests in the existence rather than the arbitrary severity. Problems, characteristics and habits vary person to person and cannot be over simplified. Don’t remove the context, and don’t forget that there is no true way for a person to exist and develop in complete isolation. This means that you can’t completely blame yourself or any
one factor for problems. When it comes to your own wellbeing, there is no need for sell yourself short in order to appear “strong.” Part of self care is trying to differentiate the situations in which you should let go from those in which you should push yourself. That is a very fine line, and a lot of thought may be involved, though do not underestimate your instincts, as you know yourself best. Understanding the nuances of your mind is not simple and cannot be done without a lot of reflection. Other people you trust are very helpful in this process. This kind of deep thought can certainly be overwhelming, especially at first, so it is important to pace yourself and seek support when needed. Again, self awareness is not easy; delving into possibly distressing topics can be exhausting for anyone. Also, it might not be helpful if this leads to circular thoughts — outside information is indispensable. I am not just saying that reading up on various mental illnesses is a solution; rather, a variety of sources can be very helpful. There are so many places, events and websites at which one may find ways to discuss these issues and to hear about others’ stories and discuss. Often, other people can use their similar experiences to help you put words to your thoughts. In my experience, this is a very real and unmatched kind of affirmation. Even just by sharing your story, listening or offering support, you can profoundly affect someone. This is another reason that it is important to keep this discussion alive and why I write this column.
I can’t tell you how to take care of yourself, but there are some changes that are generally seen as positive across the board. Lifestyle changes may be beneficial, if not necessary. As seen in the last article with burnout, aspects that don’t seem related often have large effects on mental wellbeing. In addition to the usual nutrition, exercise, sleep, etc., regulating your schedule, social life, and stress can help you greatly if they are balanced. As the days grow shorter, getting enough sunlight is actually very important as well. These are not usually total or immediate solutions. Often, regulating these factors a bit will make some other strategies more effective than they would be on their own. Trying out different approaches is another great idea. Breaking out of a routine can be a breath of fresh air. There are some interesting ideas to try suggested by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at i.http://www. nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ Find_Support/NAMI_on_Campus1/ Tips_and_Tricks_for_Dealing_with_ Mental_Health_Issues.htm. Taking care of yourself might also mean not being everything to everyone all the time. While it feels like this may strain relationships, that is not always the case. Personal stability is significant in relationships, and people should understand. Of course, pushing them away is not the way to go about this—you can hardly go wrong with honest communication. After all, people may surprise you when you open up to them. In the rare case that someone
does not understand or reacts badly, do not be discouraged. This is not a reflection on you. And just because something falls through once doesn’t mean it will every time. When it comes to being healthy, the benefit greatly outweighs this risk. People often say to remain positive. As this is coming from someone who still sometimes thinks positive thinking is a heaping pile of bovine excrement, please take me seriously when I say that while it is hard, it is worth the effort. Note that this is also not an automatic fix. Also, you are allowed to have bad days. You are entitled to have bad days. Putting on a mask is an extra effort that doesn’t always help. But sometimes, acting okay will make you feel okay, and that makes this is a worthy practice. Once again: don’t do it if it feels wrong. Self-care is also necessarily not about fighting. We would like to say that people fight their demons, if you will. Why not work with them and save energy in the meantime, so that you can decisively banish them when you are ready? Blocking them out entirely will not help you understand. I want to be clear in saying that if things are rough, they might not seem like they can or will improve, but they will. Self-care is not only needed in tough times. It should be at least somewhat consistent. Yes, it will take a lot of time first. No, you might not see progress right away. Do not worry about how much time it takes—do not worry about later. Focus on yourself and “the now.” Lastly, do not think of self-care as something you “must do,” or something that might not apply to you. You are worth it.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
10 • Opinions
Haters gonna hate but not on Taylor Swift (hate hate hate hate)
By Melanie Biles ‘18 Staff Writer
“I
t’s a new soundtrack - I could dance to this beat forevermore,” Taylor Swift sings in “Welcome to New York,” the opening track to her groundbreaking new pop album, “1989.” The lyric sets the tone for the rest of the album; a departure from everything she has done previously, “1989” combines the synth-pop sound of the late eighties with songwriting skills that show marked difference from previous albums. Not only is the sound new and improved, but Swift’s lyrics demonstrate considerable growth and maturity as well. Having finally joined the ranks of self-identified celebrity women, Swift uses “1989” to encourage other women to take charge of their lives, ignore destructive criticism and lead lives of which they can be proud. With the release of her music video for “Blank Space,” the second single off of the album, Swift shows a level of cynicism previously unseen in this once idealist, girl-next-door romantic. The song presents its singer as an “insane” girlfriend who “loves the players,” demonstrating Swift’s understanding of the fact that the media considers her a menace to poor, innocent men who just want a nice relationship.
Over the last years of her career, Swift has been heavily criticized for writing so candidly about her boyfriends; instead of viewing her actions as a woman confronting her emotions and allowing them to strengthen her — something that should be celebrated — the media only focuses on the supposed string of men whose hearts she breaks. No matter what she does, there is something to criticize. Whether it is too many men, overly-emotional lyrics, or passionately-dramatic performances, one of the only ways the media is willing to view her is as the crazy ex-girlfriend. In “Blank Space,” then, Swift seems to be saying, “You call me crazy? Let me show you crazy,” exposing how ridiculous her critics are once and for all. However, it is not just her music that has shown growth and maturity. As a public figure and private person, Swift has developed greatly since the release of her last album. Where once she rejected feminism, she now regularly takes on feminist issues in interviews, not allowing anyone to give her heat for anything that her male peers also do and defending her fellow women as much as she can. In various interviews, Swift has also voiced her feeling that she sees her strong, successful, female peers
as inspiration and not, as the media tries to paint them, as vindictive competition. Additionally, Swift has used the release of this new album to make life just a little bit better for many of the dedicated people who have been with her since the beginning, paying back those who have made her career possible. Over the summer, Swift looked for fans who ran Taylorthemed blogs, commented regularly on her Instagram posts, or tweeted at her every day, then selected groups of them to come to her home and listen to the album before its release in what she called the 1989 Secret Sessions. However, her kindness has not stopped there; since then, many other fans have reported receiving gifts, letters and other surprises from the singer —
Photo courtesy of abcnews and one lucky fan even got a house visit to boot. With the advent of “1989,” Taylor Swift has reinvented herself. Once a young country singer unsure of her Place In This World, she has now become a full-fledged feminist pop singer who is completely comfortable being who she is and supporting others for doing the same. It is clear that Swift will continue along this path — her only way to go is up.
You’ve probably never heard of IHS. The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) was created to expose students (like you Scrippstas) to classical thinkers whose idealism launched a nation that’s been rocking the planet for 238 years. And continues to, today. We do this through programs like: ONLINE WEBCASTS Interactive webcasts jam-packed with advice and guidance on all aspects of graduate school on what to expect, successful time management, publishing and more.
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Find out more at theihs.org/Scripps. You’ll be amazed at all IHS offers. Which is all the more reason you won’t forget us, either.
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20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
Features • 11
the first year experience
•
A Still hard-hitting look at the first-year life •
Does anyone have a cough drop?
By Melanie Biles ‘18 Staff Writer
F
all has come to the 5Cs. Leaves are turning brown-ish, the temperature sometimes drops into the low seventies — and once even the high sixties — and we’ve seen clouds for the first time since arriving. Girls walk to their morning classes in Uggs and sweatshirts, bemoaning the five-day loss of sundresses but secretly reveling in the fact that it is now yoga pants season. (Let’s be real, it’s always yoga pants season.) Boys pack away their salmon-colored Chubbies and collared shirts in order to make way for salmoncolored pants and collared shirts. Of course, with Fall has arrived the bubonic plague. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s what this absolutely horrendous cold epidemic is. Every lecture is a cacophony of coughs (a ca-
“THE ATTACK”
By Elizabeth Lee ‘16 Film Columnist In the opening of “The Attack,” Dr. Amin Jaafari, an esteemed Arab doctor living in Israel, embraces his wife Siham as she prepares to leave for a brief trip to her grandfather’s. “You’re silly,” he tells her as she expresses great remorse over having to leave him, “but don’t change. I don’t want anything to change.” The film cuts to an award ceremony where the doctor is to be recognized for his achievements in the medical field when his phone rings. “I can’t talk right now. I’ll call you later,” he tells Sahim before hanging up. The next day at work during lunch break, Amin hears an explosion go off somewhere in the city. The sound reaches to your core with its thunderous intensity, demanding your attention, yet it’s so distant there is no immediate sense of danger or trauma. And then the victims from the scene start rolling into the hospital and onto the doctor’s operating table. There are mangled bodies and screaming children, and after a long and gruesome day of work, Amin goes home, where Sahim has not yet returned. The doctor is later called back in to identify one of the corpses. During a moment of silent but absolute horror, Amin recognizes his wife lying out before him. It seems too painfully impossible to believe until an even darker and more implausible truth is revealed: Sahim was the suicidebomber. In so brief a moment, the truths that serve as the foundation of our sense of trust in people and everything we know can be shaken and blown apart. And as Amin is forced to come to terms with, there is little else that can make us feel so alone or lost. It can’t have been Sahim, because he had known her and loved her, they had a history together. But Amin is slowly forced
•
•
Scripps hosted a party?!
cough-ony, if you will) and I’ve been sneezed on by upwards of 13 people in the last two weeks. The other day, I had to look under my bed for a book I had dropped, and I was actually disgusted with how many crumpled-up tissues I found. If I don’t make it, tell Mother I love her. Another side effect of fall is that we are now in holiday limbo. For Christmas-celebrating folk, there is of course the eternal struggle of when to start listening to the best music made all year. And in case you were unaware, Taylor Swift made a Christmas album a few years back, so you don’t have to go Swift-less during the holiday season. My roommates continue to tell me that Christmas music has to wait until after Thanksgiving, but I do deeply and honestly believe that Christmas season begins the moment
to accept the lack of any alternative explanation. “We don’t fully understand what happens to us,” his friend Raveed tells him. “Something snaps in their brain, and they’re off. It can happen to anyone. Then you don’t see the world the same way.” As Amin attempts to trace Sahim’s steps and make sense of what has happened, he begins to feel more and more estranged from the woman who was his wife—in Israel, the female terrorist and psychopath after media attention; among Arabs, a martyr immortalized as an icon on posters. But she continues to haunt his thoughts with all the conversations and interactions they had, the ones they did not, the ones he did not know they should have and the final phone call he did not realize would be their last. It becomes clear how possible it is for everything we hold to be dear or true to not be as real or reliable as we believe, to deceive us even. We can develop entire histories with people or ideas and not know or understand them at all. The wife you shared your life and happiness with for fifteen years one day murders herself along with seventeen other people. The wealth and comfort of your home and friendships are easily dissolved. The prestige or righteousness with which you regard yourself could be dependent on a variety of things that have nothing to do with who you are as an individual. And as the trials and confusion of an intimate relationship are placed within a much larger social conflict, it becomes so unclear whether we are working within the framework of a personal, individual context or a context that is far larger than ourselves. “We’re not Islamists or Christian fanatics,” a priest tells Amin. “We’re just ravaged people fighting with whatever we can for our dignity.” “The Attack” (2012) was written by its director Ziad Doueiri and Joelle Touma and stars Ali Suliman and Reymond Amsalem as Amin Jaafari and Siham Jaafari.
Halloween ends. To add to the holiday dilemma, we’ve entered the awkward waiting period (AKA the entire month of November) during which it is not yet Thanksgiving but we also can no longer walk around in costumes without judgment. The most infuriating part of fall arriving, however, is that this is the beginning of the end. Just when all of us first years are finally figuring out our Core teachers, devising plans to minimize homework time while maximizing grades and timing our walk to class so that we can get out of bed as late as possible, we’re told that it’s time to find new classes for the next semester. This has led to five separate breakdowns amongst my roommates alone — the constant question is, “What are you taking next semester?” The response is universal — some version of “I don’t know” with various expletives
• •
Another core paper...
[Winter] Break fuh-evah!
it’s FAll!
thrown in for dramatic effect. Because honestly, how are we supposed to know? There are GEs to satisfy, interests to explore and personal rules to conform to, like my roommate’s ban on evening classes or my own disinterest in ever having to wake up on Fridays. And so, another season is upon us. Though it’s hard to tell from what I’ve written so far, fall is actually my favorite time of year. So revel in it. Make sure everything that enters your body is cinnamon or pumpkin flavored. Cut out hand-shaped turkeys to hang on your dorm room wall. Wear scarves. Bake cookies. And most importantly, take a moment of your day to be thankful for mild weather, good health and an education. We’re all pretty lucky, aren’t we?
Antisemitism at the Claremont Colleges By Elena Pinsker ‘17 Editor-in-Chief
W
hen rapper Nicki Minaj released a lyric video for her song “Only” featuring images that glorified Nazism, it was not surprising — antisemitism is prominent in the United States and around the world, whether it be through obviouslydisturbing means such as this one, or subtle acts of violence disguised as political views. What was (but perhaps should not have been) surprising, however, was the Claremont Consortium’s reaction — or lack thereof — to the video. The 5C community is generally an accepting and tolerant one; although this campus, like the rest of the world, is far from perfect, there is a general consensus that one should not be discriminated against in any way based on gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, socioeconomic class or physical ableness. However, there is one area where the consortium continuously fails; antisemitism is, time and time again, ignored on campus, and the marginalization that Jews face is frequently not given the attention that it, just like every other denial of equality, deserves. There is a shocking lack of dialogue on campus about antisemitism; while students of the 5Cs are quick to criticize a celebrity who shows any form of white-on-non-white racism, the fact that antisemitism is disregarded on campus reveals a side to the 5C community that it would perhaps rather leave unnoticed. Whether it be incidences like this, where a prominent celebrity’s antisemitic acts are ignored (where were
the myriad Facebook posts that usually accompany any other type of social injustice?), or acts taken by members of the 5C community, such as when an Israeli flag and multiple mezuzot were stolen from Bryan Turkel CMC ‘15, it seems that the 5C community simply does not care about this particular form of violence. The hypocrisy of the 5C community is not a new phenomenon; while there was outrage at the words of George Will, who was recently uninvited from speaking at Scripps, there was little push back against the words of Ward Churchill, who spoke to the students of Core I last year. His presence at Scripps after his “controversial” (which is nothing more than a softer way of saying downright anti-semitic) writing about 9/11, accompanied by an inperson joke to Scripps students that trivialized the Holocaust (when he warned us, as he did in his written work, not to be “little Eichmanns”) was an unacceptable and violent addition to the Core program. Jokes like this one, as well as the glorification of the Holocaust (as in Minaj’s video) are forms of antisemitism that are allowed to slip by unnoticed all too frequently. Churchill, quite fortunately, has not been invited back to campus this year thus far, but the lack of student outrage at his presence last year cannot be excused. There is inherent hypocrisy in the idea that some forms of violence, depending on which marginalized group they target, are more worthy of one’s attention and outrage than others — a fact that the 5C community needs to learn.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five
12 • Arts & Entertainment
two Perfect looks to wear in winter
By Natalie Camrud ‘17 Fashion Columnist
H
ello Scripps! It is time to officially trade your Birkenstocks for boots and your crop tops for sweaters. Sweaters are your best accessory in a SoCal winter; they keep you warm on your way to your morning class and can be tied casually around your waist when the sun finally comes out. Tying a sweater around your waist is retro and cool — at least that is what I tell myself. Boots are another classic winter item; they serve both a functional and a fashionable purpose. While your friend in the Northeast might be wearing boots for survival, you wear them because they give your outfit a winter vibe. I have a very low tolerance for cold weather, so if you see a girl wearing four layers, a scarf and a hat walking towards the Motley for a warm drink, it is probably me. Until next semester, bundle up and enjoy that hard-earned winter break.
Prisma Herrera ‘18
with Kay James ‘16, Staff Writer
Look One: Name: Taylor Carr-Howard Year: Sophomore Outfit: Taylor pulls off the California winter look with a comfy sweater and jeans and Converse to give it a casual feel Inspiration: “It’s cold and my sweater is soft!” Favorite item of clothing: “Sweaters are absolutely my favorite.”
Faculty art show Photos by Tianna Sheih ‘16
Scripps art students are often in the spotlight for their work, so this issue we decided to highlight the talent of the staff to whom art students owe so many thanks.
Look Two: Name: Haley Godtfredsen Year: Junior Outfit: Haley is perfectly prepared for the perpetually-indecisive California “winter” weather with dark fall colors and boots to protect against the cold mornings, and short sleeves for when the sun decides to come out. Look Two courtesy of Nicole Zwiener ‘16
From: Brooklyn, New York Major: Chicano Studies and Latin American Studies Would that be a double major? I don’t know, I just want to do a lot of stuff. If I could do 5 majors, I would. Work: SCORE Intern at CLSA as an office assistant. Extracurriculars: Member of Cafe Con Leche. Favorite On-Campus spots: Tiernan Field House and SCORE If you could live in any other dorm, what would it be? That’s hard. I enjoy living in Frankel. I like the AC. I would want to live in GJW, but they don’t have fountains, and I’m too lazy to go outside and get my water. Maybe Kimbo — if they installed AC. Why Kimbo? I don’t know.., because they [have big] dorms. I want to be an RA next year. What’s the hardest thing about your first year so far? The work and feeling a bit [overwhelmed by] homework. It’s just a lot to do. I went to a public high school, so [here] in class there’s so much [more] work. Back in high school, I would write a four-page paper [about] every month. Now it’s like every week or every two weeks. So what kind of resources have kept you going and supported you socially and academically? I feel like SCORE has really helped me a lot, [for example] the intern team. It’s a good place to just talk about different stuff that [is] maybe happening in my classes or just on campus. I also really like CCL [Café con Leche], because they’re able to listen to and not judge. Do you have a lot of non-Scripps peeps? I have a surprising amount at Pomona because I have two of my classes there. Which ones are they? Identity in Latin America and Chicano Latino History. Why did you choose to take ChicanoLatino courses? I’m from [New York City], so there’s not a lot about Mexican culture there. We learned about it in my U.S. History class, and I was really intrigued by the whole Chicano movement during the 60s. So I started looking it up and found it really, really interesting. That was one of the main reasons why I applied to Scripps Early Decision.
20 November, 2014 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XVIII • Issue Five