21 September, 2016
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welcome RECEption held for new president q&A: Meet Dr. larissa tiedens
By Emily Diamond ‘20 Staff Writer
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n Friday Sept. 9, students and faculty gathered on Elm Tree lawn to welcome the ninth President of Scripps College, Dr. Larissa Tiedens. With an array of delicious food to eat — including curried lamb with naan, thai chicken curry with jasmine basil rice, and a dessert bar — Tiedens introduced herself and expressed her desire to meet everyone at Scripps. After her short introduction, attendees chatted with Tiedens and expressed their excitement for the future. Amy Marcus-Newhall, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty as well as Interim President last year, believes Tiedens is perfect for the position. “Her energy, intellect, flexibility, ability to be a strategic thinker, and commitment to women’s colleges is incredible,” Newhall said. “She has been integrating into the Scripps community as opposed to bringing in her own policies, which I and many others appreciate.” “I am really excited about her vision,” Binti Harvey, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said. “She is a person that simultaneously looks at the shortterm and the long-term. To hear her talk about her desire and her thinking about Scripps 10 years from now when it turns 100 is a really exciting conversation to have and I see the energy that it’s bringing to campus.” In addition to faculty, numerous students — many of whom are sophomore peer mentors — were in attendance. “We haven’t seen what a long-term president is like,” Grace OzonoffRichey ‘19 said. “We are really looking forward to seeing how having a longterm President will add to the Scripps community and our experience... we’re psyched for that.” Although many of the students have only known Tiedens for a short period of time, they already see her positive qualities. “She seems like she is open to discussion,” Grace Breckenridge ‘19 said. “She is pretty available which I think is pretty important for a leader to be,” Nma Mbeledogu ‘19 said. “I hope she incorporates that in
Inside This Issue:
By Maureen Cowhey ‘19 Business Manager & Staff Writer
Photo courtsey of www.scrippscollege.edu
whatever she is supposed to do and continues to be as accessible to the community of students and faculty.” Many described Tiedens’ smooth transition into the Scripps community. “She has seamlessly entered in and has already started to be involved, make changes, and work with the community. I think we are better off already and we will be much better off continuing forward,” Newhall said. “Whenever you move jobs, your family, and home, it’s going to be an intense thing and this is a big and complex job,” Tiedens said. “People always talk about drinking from the fire hose. And it’s that. It has been a huge amount of information coming at me. But I knew it would be like that and I was prepared and ready to do that.” Tiedens described the event as “lovely,” noting the beautiful weather and delicious food. “This setting is quick,” she said. “I only get to talk to people for a short amount of time; I’m looking forward to having longer conversations in the future. This is a great way to meet lots of people and have that festive welcoming feeling.” Students also pointed out the food. “This events reminds me that at Scripps, you’ll never be hungry or let down,” Aisha Syke ‘20 said. “The president has our backs and our
Page 4 - News
Missed the Motley opening? Read all about it here!
Photo by Layne Wells ‘19
A wide selection of food was available at the welcome reception for Tiedens on Sept. 9. “These truffles might beat Scripps bread pudding,” sophomore Madison Blumer said. “That was the staple last year but this might have beaten it.”
stomachs.” More important to some than the food, however, was welcoming Tiedens. “I’m most looking forward to being part of this community,” Tiedens said. “With fresh eyes, I’m so aware of what a special place this is. I think people know but it’s just a little treasure here. To get to be part of it is wonderful but it’s even more exciting if I can do something good for such a good place.”
for more on the new president, visit pages 6-7
The Scripps Voice had the opportunity to sit down with Scripps College’s ninth president Lara Tiedens. Having been named President June 21, 2016 in an unanimous vote, Tiedens discussed her decision to leave her position as senior associate dean of academic affairs and faculty member of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, her transition to Scripps, and her goals for the future. The Scripps Voice: How would you like to be addressed? Larissa Z. Tiedens: You may call me Lara. TSV: What motivated your career change? LZT: Fully how awesome Scripps is. I was not in the market to become a college president. I was not looking for that job in fact I had served on the committee at Stanford that searched for the new president at Stanford and I thought ‘I don’t know about that job; it doesn’t look so great.’ But when Scripps contacted meStanford is a great place- but I have a fond place in my heart for liberal arts colleges and I certainly knew about Scripps and thought of it in a very positive light, but I wasn’t an expert in it. I had been to the campus, but it had been a long time. So I remember I got the email from the search firm asking if I had any interest, and I let it sit there for a couple days. In the way that higher education works, there are all there search firms always looking for all these positions and it was just usually very easy for me to send messages back saying “no, I am not interested. I am good where I am.” This one, I thought, ‘hmm, I’m not ready to say ‘no.’” I let it sit and threw it around in my head and thought, “I’m going to talk to them and just see.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Page 12 - A&E
Get to know Lizzie WillsmoreFinkle ‘20!
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 839 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XX | Issue One
Page 12 - A&E
Take a look at Scripps’ new hall NEW Hall (new hall)
2 • News
scripps 360 Kicks off Delaney Dawson ‘19 Staff Writer
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cripps360, a new program designed to connect first years to resources, faculty, and each other, put on its first workshop Wednesday. Headed by Christopher Dennis, Assistant Dean and Director of Case management, the weekly Wednesday night event hopes to bring first years together to share experiences outside of the Core classroom and lecture hall. According to Christopher, the whole idea of the program is to learn “who you are, and who you can count on.” The program will integrate seven core competencies of living well at Scripps, such like health & wellness. Because the first four weeks of the semester are so critical for students to get acclimated, Christopher and the whole team thought starting off Scripps360 with a wellness workshop would be the best way to set a foundation for the rest of the year.
Tiernan Fieldhouse Coordinators gave an interactive presentation on all of the resources available at the Fieldhouse for holistic wellness, as well as upcoming programs for stress management and fun. Deb Gisvold, the Director of the Fieldhouse, was especially excited to emphasize stress management this early in the semester. She says this kind of programming generally comes later in the year, usually during finals week, but understands that stress is not confined to the end of the semester, so It’s nice to disseminate this information in an early Scripps360 event for students to have at their disposal throughout the semester. It was originally hoped that this first event would draw up to 200 first years. The actual turnout fell short of expectations, with 42 people in attendance. However, Christopher Dennis said he is not disappointed. “We don’t get discouraged by humble be-
ginnings,” Dennis said. “We want the expectation that the entire class is welcome.” He says that they will continue to invite the entire first year class and be prepared for the whole class to attend, all the while growing and strengthening the program through a shared first year experience. “As the room grows, it’ll continue a way for [students] to feel connected,” Dennis said. Looking forward, Christopher said he plans to take what he has learned from the first session to make the upcoming ones even better. “Working on it as long as I have… I’m really excited to know that students are receiving it as well as they are,” he said. First years can count on a Scripps360 event every Wednesday night at 7 p.m., incorporating workshops, peer-to-peer panels and other activities. Check your e-mail and Facebook throughout the week, or keep an eye out for the fliers to learn more.
WE’VE HEARD YOUR FEEDBACK: introducing The Scripps Voice’s
all-new
delivery system! Look for our newspaper racks in each residence hall, the Motley, and the mail room! “A pretty good delivery system. Could use more owls.” -J.K. Rowling “I openly wept with gratitude” -Anonymous Scripps student “NO SOLICITING, TRESSPASSING, OR NEWSPAPERS!!” -the sign you can take off your door now “The tradition of all dead generations weighs like an nightmare on the brains of the living.” -Karl Marx 21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
News • 3
The Scripps Voice Staff Editors-in-Chief Rachel Miller-Haughton Elena Pinsker Advisor Sam Haynes
Presentations:
From
aquaponics to anti-natalism, from
LOs Angeles to lake titcaca
Design Editors Abigail Gilcrest Meghan Joyce Layne Wells Copy Editors Sophie Fahey Anyi Wong-Lifton Business Manager Maureen Cowhey Webmaster Jocelyn Gardner
Students present findings from summer research By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Copy Editor & Staff Writer
Columnists & Staff Writers Emma Ambler Ali Bush Maureen Cowhey Delaney Dawson Erin Delany Emily Diamond Sophie Fahey Jocelyn Gardner Joelle Leib Erin Matheson Jo Nordhoff-Beard Grace Richey Sasha Rivera Sophia Rosenthal Isobel Whitcomb Photographers Molly Ferguson Jessica Padover Layne Wells
Comments and letters can be submitted by emailing scrippsvoice@gmail.com or by visiting our website at www. thescrippsvoice.com. Please review our guidelines online before submitting feedback.
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n Sept. 6th and Sept. 8th, 17 Scripps students presented their summer research, which was funded by various fellowships and scholarships, including Mellon Undergraduate Fellowships and Johnson Summer Student Research Grants. The symposium allows students to share their research with the greater Scripps community. It is also a time for students to practice for senior thesis presentations. “Scripps awards 5-8 Johnson Summer Students Research Grants each year. This award enables current Scripps students to complete interdisciplinary summer research,” according to the Scripps Fellowships website. The Johnson research grants must be interdisciplinary and students must have a Scripps faculty member as a sponsor advisor. Students who receive Johnson grants must present their research at Scripps the following fall. Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellowships are designed to help students “gains critically important research skills and training in a faculty-directed research fellowships” and “to pursue their own research questions and more fully develop their senior theses with a pre-thesis fellowship,” described the Scripps Fellowship website. Students conducted their research and presented on a wide variety of topics, in the U.S. and while abroad. Students interested in learning more about Scripps Student Fellowships and Scholarships can check out inside.scrippscollege.edu/fellowships.
Leah Jeffers Italian Renaissance Fashion Rosemary Kepple Masterpiece of the Medici Alexandra Harder Aquaponics in New York Chloe Soltis Effectiveness of Dental Education Outreach Programs in Los Angeles Isobel Morison Down the Dirt Road: Generational Memory and Oral History Archive in the Sierra Nevadas Hannah Sands Community Based Tourism Development and the Trap of Authenticity for Aymara people around Lake Titicaca Bolivia Meghana Ravikumar T h e M u rd e re r a n d t h e P ro s t i t u t e : T h e Criminalization of the Indian Woman in 20th Century British India Cassidy Vileneuve Telling One’s Own Story: An Exploration of Identity, Community Engagement, and CounterNarrative through Oral History Karen Chan Imaginary Musical Bodies Lucienne Altman-Newell Is Bodily Resurrection Compatible with Materialism? Felicia Argelius Tracking the diagnosis and treatment of ‘severe’ mental illnesses throughout history Eden Amital Mapping Zika Lara O’Connor Anti-Natalism: Is human Procreation Morally Permissible? Isabelle Ramos Imagined Sceneries Jasmine Russell Whistle While You Work: Histories of Mood Creation in the Capitalist Workplace Harriet Lindeman Spoken Resistance: Self-Representation through Slam Poetry within Middle Eastern and North African Diaspora in New York City Reily Anderson Organizations that work in healing communities
The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
4 • News
fall semester Motley opening: a meme come true Emily Diamond ‘20 Staff Writer
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n Thursday, Sept. 8, the Motley coffeehouse opened its doors to a group of students waiting to order their favorite drink or snack. The Scrippsrun student business kicked off the school year with a “meme” theme; baristas sported face paint and the walls were covered with printed images of popular memes. Hannah Lewis ‘19, one of ten managers at the Motley, was disguised as grumpy cat as she discussed the Motley’s mission.
“We are a sustainable, fair-trade business looking to address antioppression initiatives that happen on campus in addition to serving food and drinks,” -Motley Facilities Manager,
Hannah Lewis (‘19) “Part of our mission statement is to recognize different feminist critiques,” Lewis said. “We aim to understand feminism in not just the white feminist sense but including all identities and genders.” Supporters of this mission statement include the 18 new baristas at the Motley this semester. One of them, Kaila Finn ‘20, decided to apply to the Motley to gain a sense of community and because she connected with their values. “I love how the Motley has a strong sense of femininist women and empowerment as well as a focus on sustainability,” Finn said. “It’s really refreshing to be in a room where all of the leaders are women because so often I feel like everyone I’m looking up to are men.” In addition to an empowering environment and a delicious menu, the Motley offers entertainment. “I can’t wait for all the activities to start,” Lewis said. “We have trivia nights, bands, music nights, spoken word events and more. But I’m most excited to have good coffee again.” “I always feel like I do better work when I’m in an environment with lots of cool people and also really interesting drinks that you can’t get anywhere else,” Harper Mills ‘20 said. Elisabeth Mayer ‘17 stood in the front of the line. After being abroad for a year, she said she could not wait to be reunited with her favorite Motley drink: the London Fog. Once the doors opened, students were led into the decorated coffee shop. The baristas took orders, pop-music filled the room, and chattering students sat on the couches and chairs while taking pictures of their drinks. Jaicel Artega ‘18
was one such student. While drinking an iced chai, Artega described how the Motley fosters a community within Scripps and the 5C consortium. “It’s a really cool space that brings students together from all the schools” Artega said. “It’s always a positive and relaxed environment.”
“The atmosphere is really quirky and safe...There are always so many cool performances that make you feel warm and fuzzy when you’re doing your work or just hanging out.” -Kristen Liu (‘19)
An hour after its opening, the line persisted in Seal Court. The baristas continued to serve students until 12 a.m. The next day, head-manager Lauren Hartz reflected on opening night. “Opening night can be very hectic because a lot is unknown,” Hartz said. :It was spontaneous [and] also really, really fun.” Students and baristas alike said they are excited for the energy to continue throughout the school year. With a variety of delicious drinks and snacks, empowering staff members, and feminist-entrepreneurship, it seems nothing can get in the way of the Motley’s magic. Motley hours for the Fall 2016 Semester are: Monday-Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
ConverActions: Conversations to Actions Scripps students, faculty, and staff are invited to engage in moderated discussions in exploration of the national climate on race, community, and change.
About Jeff Chang’s Talk:
We Gon’ Be Alright, Notes on Race and Resegregation Facilitated by Bessie and Cecil Frankel Endowed Chair in Music and Professor of Music Hao Huang, with Director of Parent Engagement Natalie Adams, SAS Diversity Chair Monika Lee ’17, and student Phoebe Shen ’17 September 22, 12pm, Scripps College Hampton Room UPCOMING EVENTS* Maria Hinojosa | Host of NPR’s “Latino USA” Photos by Jessica Padover (Top): Manager Ariana Steiner (Middle): Managers Morgan Weidner, Hannah Lewis, Milena Mans, and Annie Carroll (Bottom): Meme-decorated Sitting Room
Omid Safi | Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University *To confirm upcoming event information, visit www.scrippscollege.edu/diversity
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
Sports • 5
All-Female CMS TITLE IX Lecture Met with mixed reviews Anna Liss-Roy ‘20 Staff Writer
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n Thursday, August 30 at Claremont McKenna College, a sexual assault seminar was held after the CMS athletic convocation. It was open for female athletes only. The seminar ran approximately 45 minutes long, although around 15 students reportedly stayed for an additional 20-30 minutes to speak with CMC Title IX Coordinator Nyree Gray, who was running it. The seminar was a joint effort by Ms. Gray and softball coach Betsy Hipple, who are both on the Title IX committee. It was the first of its kind, conceived with the goal of educating Hipple’s softball players on sexual assault, but was eventually opened up to all female CMS athletes in order to foster a sense of community within teams and the Athena community as a whole. Timing was key for Gray and Hipple, who purposely scheduled the seminar early in the semester in anticipation of “the Red Zone,” the first six weeks of school when rates of sexual assault are especially high, especially at CMC where rates are already higher than the national average (6.8 per thousand students in 2014, compared to the national average of 6.1 per thousand). “Rarely do we, just as women, get together and talk about issues that concern us,” Gray said, who ran the seminar w i t h o u t coaches present in order to encourage honest conversation. “Although we do what we can during orientation, we thought it would be a good time to get all the female athletes together to not just talk about [sexual assault], but to really talk about, like, how do we support each other? And are there issues that you guys are facing that we should be responsive to?” “My hope was that Ms. Gray would open a conversation and create a safe space,” Hipple said.The seminar was envisioned as a sanctuary to share concerns, an opportunity for experienced team members to mentor their first year counterparts, a chance to connect early as an extra resource to athletes. But the seminar was not announced until the end of convocation, and some felt it was underemphasized for the male athletes. “It was just such a “by-the-way” thing...the point of the talk was to acknowledge the importance of [sexual assault], yet it felt devalued at the same time because of the way it was brought up with the group before the guys left,” said one first year CMS athlete.
“The girls have to go to another meeting, and you [male athletes] can leave. Like, you’re free.”
There was also anger in response to the female-only invite list, which created a negative stigma for many athletes, some of whom refused to attend. “The girls have to go to another meeting, and you [male athletes] can leave. Like, you’re free.” another freshman CMS athlete said. Frustration stemmed not only from the introduction, but also from some of the responses from audience members. “At the end of convocation, everyone stands up and starts walking out of Roberts, and one guy was like, ‘have fun talking about rape!’ So that’s the message that the rest of the people got,” a CMS freshman athlete said. Both athletes who expressed frustration noted that they would not have been angry if male athletes had had a separate sexual assault seminar during the same time period. There was, however, a mandatory seminar last spring, in which male athletes discussed ideas of masculinity, responsibility, and ideas of their own actions. Despite this, neither Hipple nor Gray could confirm a specialized seminar opportunity for this year’s male athletes, other than the sexual a s s a u l t discussions that took place for all students during orientation week. “We are already in the process of clarifying the path we’re going to take with male student athletes,” Hipple said. “This is a multipronged, multifaceted initiative to initiate male student athletes and men, female student athletes and women.” “Just as when we say black lives matter, it doesn’t mean all lives don’t matter, it really means black lives matter too,” Hipple said. “So addressing female scholar athletes does not mean we were not also going to address male scholar athletes. So, for there to be sort of a pushback, like hey what about the guys, I think we expected.” Some students, in fact, were supportive. “I would absolutely recommend this seminar to first years,” freshman CMS athlete Alison Jue said. “In fact, I would advocate for first years to be broken up into smaller groups so that way the conversation could be more engaging and more intimate instead of a large lecture that we had this year.” Despite some resistance to the lecture, Hipple said she is not discouraged. “If this prevents one sexual assault, I’ll be happy” Hipple said. “I anticipate we’ll do it again.”
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
SPOTL WElcome to the white house Q&A with the new president of scripps college, Dr. Larissa 6
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Q&A: MEET DR. LARISSA TIEDENS
TSV: Following the events last year on CMC and college campuses across the country, what will you do to best support marginalized communities and open a dialogue between the administration and students? LZT: I hope that students will consider my door open and that they will also see the Dean of Students office as open to them as well. The rest of the administration team and I want to work collaboratively with students on building a community that supports all students. If students have ideas about ways we can do better (and I hope they do!), I hope that will tell us as those ideas as soon as they emerge.
...I had the first contact with the search firm and thought that this sounds better and better, and I started obsessively reading the website. I read The Scripps Voice online and everything I could find. From the very beginning, every bit more I learned about Scripps the more I liked it and the more I felt that it was a very special place. I would say that was the main motivator. I think in conjunction with that, in the recent past, liberal arts has been under attack and I think it is something that needs to be saved and preserved and cherished. That was another piece of it - Scripps being so special and through TSV: How will you foster this position to be a a community that allows protector of the liberal arts people with different or approach to education. even controversial The other piece of opinions to speak up? it was that, since high LZT: This year, we are school, I have thought of trying out a new program myself as a feminist and called “ConverActions at lots of different points on the National Climate in my life been involved in on Race, Community, things oriented towards and Change.” These the advancement of events are designed to women. In the last few provide students, staff, years, I had been involved and faculty opportunities in several efforts towards to engage in the advancement of meaningful, challenging women that really got me conversations about race, thinking about the stalling class, and politics. These of the advancement of conversations will provide women. Tons of progress an environment to explore has been made, but still racial and ethnic identity not enough. Scripps’s and to gain insights mission around the into the experiences advancement of women of others. Our ultimate is also very appealing to goal is to create a more - SCRIPPS COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. LARISSA TIEDENS me. Early at some point inclusive community, in the process, I met with where all voices are heard students and talked to them about what brought and valued. The first one was great, and I look them here, and I think a lot of what they said really forward to the next one. We are also very open resonated with me. Very much of what they loved to other ideas from the community about how to is what I loved. The other piece that I really heard promote and produce an environment with deep when I spoke with first-years, and I think if you discussions of opposing views, so I hope that have been here long enough you really start to those will be suggested to us. forget, but how many of them talked about their first time visiting campus and just the feeling of TSV: Do you have plans to make Scripps the campus and how good this place feels. I very more accessible to students with physical much had that experience. disabilities? I will not forget that first time and walking - i LZT: This is a topic that SAS has said that they came early in the morning and it was just so quiet would like to work with us on this year. I’m eager - through honnold gate and down the lawn and just to engage in this work with SAS. the smell of the trees and just the way the air sits and students starting walking around. I have been on a lot of college campuses as an academic and scripps has a very distinct and unique feel that is really special and hard to say ‘no’ to.
I WILL NOT FORGET THAT FIRST TIME AND WALKING - I CAME EARLY IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS JUST SO QUIET - THROUGH HONNOLD GATE AND DOWN THE LAWN AND JUST THE SMELL OF THE TREES AND JUST THE WAY THE AIR SITS AND STUDENTS STARTING WALKING AROUND. I HAVE BEEN ON A LOT OF COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS AN ACADEMIC AND SCRIPPS HAS A VERY DISTINCT AND UNIQUE FEEL THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL AND HARD TO SAY ‘NO’ TO.
TSV: What long term and short term goals do you have for Scripps? LZT: In the short term, even though I just told you how much time I spent researching this place, I did it in a way that I could under the cloak of secrecy. It was all reading online and books, and I learned a lot, but there are huge limitations to what you can learn through those modes. So my biggest short term goal is to really learn about the college in a way that I couldn’t then - which is to really learn about the people and get to know them. [I want to] understand what the experiences here are for students, faculty, staff, alumnae then and now, how the board of trustees experience the college, and how the consortium experiences us (and vice versa). The first year, as it always is for a new president, especially one from the outside, is for deep learning. That is what I will be most engaged in and am already engaged in, but will continue throughout the year because this is a complex place. I want to do that because I can’t really do anything without doing that first. Another big thing that was part of the job description is to create a new strategic plan for Scripps College. We have one that dates back to 2007, and most people believe that it’s time for something new. I think the way that strategic planning works best is through a deep understanding of the institution itself. I can’t make a good strategic plan without understanding the organization really well. The big long term goal is to establish a vision for the college. Where are we going? We’re about to turn 90 and I want to know what Scripps looks like at 100. Where are the energies and passions within the college about what it wants to be. I can’t come in and say this is what “I” want Scripps to be at 100 because it is about what the whole “community” needs and will put their efforts into. As I am getting to know the place, it’s partly in this open ended way, but also in this targeted way of listening for the currents that are out there that will turn into the river that becomes the strategic plan. We need a plan that takes into account who students are now and who students will likely be in the next 10 years.
21 September, 2016 • The Scripp
LIGHT
7
Tiedens TSV: What opportunities will students have to interact with you? LZT: I hope a lot! As you found, if you try to contact me, you can get time with me. Certainly students are welcome and I will continue all of the things that Amy was doing. We continue to have president office hours. I’ve already started going to various student events. I have been to a few different kinds of student dinners. I heard from a number of students that they’d like me to try and find a way to have contact with the students on their turf as opposed to mine. That really made sense to me. To do this, we will be rolling out something called “Tiedens’s Teas.” Those are going to be tea hours that I will hold in each of the residence hall living rooms. There will be no agenda. I just want to get to know you and you can get to know me. Come to one that works for your schedule. They won’t be on a set schedule so that, hopefully, everyone can find at least one that they can go to. We picked the tea theme because, well, I love tea, and it’s a Scripps tradition. I also plan to go to a lot of the Wednesday afternoon teas as well. I hope to be out and about a lot. Students have already seen me in the Malott commons; the biggest fan in my family of the Malott commons, though, is my son. I bring him there and you can often catch us there around 6:45, where he is in the cookie line. He walks off leaving crumbs of cookies along the way.
ps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
In case you m i s s e d i t. . .
TSV: If you could create and name a drink at the motley what would it be? LVT: “Monty’s Motley Meow” – Vanilla, black tea, milk, a touch of agave. TSV: Which hall would you like to live in? LZT: The only residence hall I have seen the inside of, at this point, is New Hall, and I was ready to move in even while it was still under construction. I am looking forward to seeing the others after having heard so much about each hall’s beauty and character! TSV: Tell us a bit about your family (including pets) — who’s in it, what they’re like, etc. LZT: There are 4 human members (me, my husband Dale, my daughter Elena, and son William). My husband is a social psychologist. He is originally from Canada and is highly identified with being Canadian. My daughter is in 7th grade and loves history and literature. She is also a dancer (ballet and tap). My son William is in pre-school. He loves trucks and loves to cook. We also have a cat, Montgomery, who goes by “Monty.” He is my daughter’s cat and is named after L.M. Montgomery, the author of “Anne of Green Gables.” TSV: How is your family enjoying living in the Revelle house? LZT: We are all liking it, and we each have our favorite part. I love the wood paneled room with all the bookshelves (our browsing room), my husband loves the garden, my daughter has a beautiful gabled room that overlooks the oak tree, and my son loves being so close to the cookies of Malott Commons. READ THE FULL Q&A ONLINE AT THESCRIPPSVOICE.COM
Photos by Layne Wells ‘19 Attendees of the reception for Tiedens held on Elm Tree Lawn on Sept. 9 recieved free phone stands and food. “This events reminds me that at Scripps, you’ll never be hungry or let down. The president has our backs and our stomachs,” said freshman Aisha Skye.
Spread by Meghan Joyce ‘20 Photos by Meghan Joyce ‘20
8 • Features
MENTAL HEALTH setting up for success this semester
Jocelyn Gardner ‘17 Mental Health Columnist & Webmaster
W
elcome to Scripps (or welcome back!) Hopefully everyone had a great summer and the beginning of this semester is going well. For some, the start of a new semester is a slow ease into school. Others have had to hit the ground running — or even sprinting. As the mental health columnist, the obvious thing to do would be to tell the first group to be wary of the semester suddenly picking up and getting intense and to tell the others to slow down if possible and be careful. But, I would be a blazing hypocrite to say either. Instead, I want to explore ways that a student can try to maintain their pace in a healthy way. First, a student should think about this pace: it is easy to fall into a rhythm, and this rhythm is not always the correct one. So, let’s take a deeper look at the pace we’ve been following. Think about the last few weeks — take inventory of stressed/relaxed moments and the positives and negatives since coming to Scripps in August. This will help you reflect on your pace, and this also brings us to the next question. Does this pace or rhythm feel ‘off’ to you? Is this a significant change to how you’ve worked in the past? If it is significant, it still might not be a problem. Maybe you’ve become more productive and can work longer after discovering a great spot in the library. Maybe you found a new organization method. Maybe you just really love your classes! These all sound good. But, it’s possible that you do not feel good about this semester’s pace. You might have a “precarious” or “suffocated” feeling (not always to a large extent—it might be a small nagging at the back of your mind). For example, I’m doing something I’ve never done before (taking five classes) and I feel very wary about this. This brings us to an important assessment:
is this feeling okay for you?
That’s a hard question to answer, even for me as a senior. First, I’ll break it down using myself as an example:
I’ve never taken more than four classes in a semester!
What if I burnout?
Yes, but I’ve been feeling increasingly comfortable with each semester of four classes, so I don’t think that I’ve gotten myself into an impossible situation. I won’t take five next semester, and then I probably won’t be in school later on anyway.
I know what burnout is, and I’ve experienced it before. I will know if I’m heading toward burnout, and I know how to put my work on pause and unwind. I don’t have a risk of longterm burnout as much because I’m graduating relatively soon and my spring should be less hectic.
I’m busier than I’ve ever been! Am I okay? As long as I keep checking in with myself and not getting stuck in a draining routine, I will be okay. I know my support systems and how to ask for what I need. I know how I work and how to stay organized. (I should note here that these last three things only became true recently, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t gotten there yet. It took me until probably spring of junior year)
(Long-term burnout is harder to see coming. It can occur months after a lot of heavy work, like overloading in the fall and burning out in the spring. Another example that happens frequently is pushing through senior year of high school only to be exhausted in every way for the first semester of college. For more information, see the article I wrote on burnout, found on thescrippsvoice.com and in The Unofficial Scripps College Survival Guide) Photo courtesy of thelatestkate.tumblr.com
But I’m in two thesis seminars! That’s true, but I’m ready for it. As long as I stick to my schedule, stay organized, and keep in communication with my advisers/professors, I can do these classes and set myself up for success. Just think of them as normal classes (with a lot of work).
So, it seems that I’m doing something hard but I have the tools I need. I know how to intervene if I start to feel buried. However, what would I do if my answers to myself were “Oh god, what have I gotten myself into??? What have I done?!?” If this had been the case (i.e. if I/you are not confident in how this semester’s going), I then should have figured out why I felt that way. For example, I could have been feeling overwhelmed by having five classes. Then, assess your options. In my example, this could look like dropping the fifth class, talking to my professors, practicing better selfcare and balance, or knocking out work early. If you need help finding these options or choosing the one(s) right for you, consider talking to any of the people listed in the first two bullet points in the “tools” section below. Next, act early on your choice to ensure that you get to a better place as soon as possible. It might also be your instinct to wait and see if the situation clears up on its own—after all, the semester is still fairly young. If you wait, make sure that you continue to assess the situation instead of putting off a decision. Once you’ve acted on your decision or chosen to wait, make sure that you keep an eye on the situation to see if it improves. If it doesn’t, repeat all these steps and consider asking for advice or help. Remember that it is okay to take on fewer responsibilities if that’s what the situation calls for. You’re not inferior in any way for doing this: you’re setting yourself up for success and showing self-awareness and maturity. Go, you! And, often the pressure and expectations you feel come from within rather than from others in your life. Moving on, I’ve mentioned tools a lot in this article, but I haven’t gone over what they are. Although they vary greatly from person to person, I can give some examples:
• • • • • • • • •
on-campus resources like your peer mentor, RAs, primary contact dean, adviser, Dean of Students office, student mentors, Tiernan Field House, SCORE, hall supervisors (Jill, Kim, Erica), professors, Monsour and health center, etc. your friends and classmates; your family and friends from home; organization methods like calendars, written lists, online tools (trello, evernote, etc.) self-care things like watching TV, walking, sitting in Margaret Fowler, going to the pool, having a night out with friends, cleaning up your room, doing art/ crafts, reading articles, going out for boba, looking at pictures of cute dogs… being proactive by communicating early, finding your resources, scheduling in “me time,” knocking out assignments early knowing yourself—knowing your individual signs of stress and burnout, accounting for things like tendencies to start things at the last minute or being an early-bird taking care of your other needs (drink water, get sleep, go to the dining halls, take a walk, go to a fitness class at TFH, socialize, shower, get on a schedule) validation: whether from yourself, friends, professors, parents, or anyone, feeling good about what you do is important. Spend time with people who validate you, whatever that means to you specifically. Academic accommodations Keeping things in perspective: remind yourself that missing one homework assignment isn’t the end of the world. Your wellbeing is always most important, so don’t compromise it. Sometimes, it helps to think outside of the “Claremont bubble.” (Or, this might be stressful for some people. Do what feels right for you.)
To recap, if you’re feeling good, make sure you have what you need to continue feeling confident. Know about burnout and how to avoid it. Take an inventory of your tools and even write it down if that helps you remember. If you aren’t feeling good, try to find out why. Then, take steps to improve the situation—this might involve using some of the tools or taking on less—you don’t need to take six classes and have three jobs to be worthy of something. While you do not have to obsessively keep track of the semester, it’s still a good idea to occasionally see how you’re doing. In my experience, following all of this advice has led me to do things otherwise impossible. I’m very glad to be writing this column for you for this final year, and although you’ll hear from me in the next issue, I still want to wish you the best of luck this semester!
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
Features • 9
KECK SCIENCE CENTER KICKS INTO GEAR WITH EVENTS Photo Courtesy of Asha Gupta (SCR ‘18) The Keck Science Club and the Claremont Integrated Science Society held their annual liquid nitrogen ice cream social on Sept. 8. Students across all disciplines were invited to mingle and eat homemade liquid nitrogen ice cream.
By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Copy Editor & Staff Writer
K
eck Science Department has accelerated quickly along with this school year. There are six introductory biology courses, six introductory chemistry classes and five introductory physics classes at Keck — each of which have about 40 students registered in them this fall — and upper division science courses abound for the upperclassmen. Teacher’s office hours are buzzing, labs are in full swing. Scripps, Pitzer and Claremont McKenna students gathered on Sept 2. to share with each other presentations on their summer opportunities at a pre-health summer experience symposium. Topics ranged from Domestic Wound Care to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jill Jones, the pre-medicine coordinator, organized the event. Symposiums such as this one give Claremont students practice presenting on important topics to a wide range of people. “It was a great opportunity to learn about other students’ experiences and share what I had done over the summer with the Keck community,” Caitlin Gaylord, a junior at Scripps, said. Gaylord presented about her summer spent working as a Search
Photo Courtesy of Asha Gupta (SCR ‘18) The liquid nitrogen ice cream social is one of many Keck Science Center events which takes place in a given year. Students can look forward to the Keck Science dinner, the Lewis “Dot Off” competition, and more later this semester.
and Rescue Responder at Yosemite National Park. On Sept. 8, Keck Science Club and Claremont Integrated Science Society (CISS) held the annual liquid nitrogen ice cream social. Students across all disciplines were invited to mingle and eat homemade liquid nitrogen ice cream. Additionally, CISS welcomed the new class of Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence (AISS) students with a mentormentee meet up. Events like these are hosted throughout the year to encourage
a friendly, community environment and facilitate relationships with professors outside of the classroom. Other events include Keck Science dinner and the Lewis “Dot Off” competition later in the semester. Keck Science Department has many resources and events that are available to the new Class of 2020 as well as for upperclassmen. Check bulletin boards and Facebook events regularly to get involved in a strong community.
save the pandas, but do not neglect other at-risk species A little over one week ago, conservationists celebrated a major victory: the giant panda was officially moved from the endangered species list and re-classified as “vulnerable.” This change means that while the panda will still receive many of the protections afforded under the Endangered Species Act, it is no longer considered to be in danger of extinction by the American Fish and Wildlife Service. American attitudes towards this milestone have been overridingly jubilant. Leading conservation nonprofits, such as the World Wildlife Fund, are celebrating this as a signal that efforts to protect biodiversity are finally paying off. This
By Sophie Fahey ‘17 Copy Editor & Staff Writer
optimistic outlook is visible in recent news headlines on the topic. The first two headlines that google brings up when searching “Giant Panda” proclaim “Pandas On The Rise! These Gentle Giants Are Endangered No More” and “Symbol of Conservation: Giant Pandas No Longer An Endangered Species.” And the celebration is justified— since the late 1970s, when giant panda populations hovered around 1,000, these numbers have nearly doubled. READ THE FULL COLUMN AT THE SCRIPPSVOICE.COM
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
10 • Features
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist
P
icture a family living in the forest of Oregon, living off the land, playing folk music, and discussing Rousseau: “Captain Fantastic” (2016) appears to be a recipe for a cliché-ridden disaster, but director Matt Ross cleverly manages to tell this family’s unique story with sincerity and grace. The film centers around nonconformist parents of six, Ben (Viggo Mortenson) and Leslie (Trin Miller) who decide to raise their children deep in the Oregon forest, far from any cell tower, Walmart, or traces of mainstream, capitalist America. The parents spend their lives dedicated to their children’s education, filling their days with rigorous physical trading, hours of reading, and high level intellectual discussions about obscure humanitarians. It may seem like a utopia for a fed-up anarchist, but when the children’s mother dies, the clan is forced to interact with the totally unfamiliar, capitalist society around them. As the rag-tag group of father and children fight perform the burial ceremonies for which their mother requested, they are met with opposition from their family in the “real” world, and faced with the weighty realization that there are major downfalls to living in their own pseudoWalden. The movie aptly captures the complex relationship of this overly-optimistic father, Ben, and his loyal band of children. While at times Ben gains our trust as a caring, open-minded father, at other times, such as when he teaches his gang of misfits how to plan and execute a shoplifting heist at a local grocery store, we become more doubtful of his parenting methods. Mortenson certainly steals the show, providing a moving performance that balances the roles of wise patriarch and vulnerable, unsure parent. The film leaves one pondering the myriad of complexities that come with raising children. One of the most striking aspects of the film is how Ben speaks to his children without censorship or condescension. When his pre-pubescent son asks about sexual intercourse, Ben gives one of the frankest, yet most appropriate answers I’ve heard, but one that may make some uncomfortable. This conversation reminded me of my own frustratingly non-existent sexual education, and the need to educate children honestly about certain subjects, rather than letting topics such as sex, loss, and rejection loom ominously in a child’s future. Ben’s unusual method
of parenting suggests that answering children’s questions with honesty and without any watering down, gives children time to critically ponder these topics rather than fear them, leaving them more ready to face these issues when they arise. Likewise, the movie particularly brings to light the quality of public education in America, and makes the point that alternative educational methods
“a film about a dad doing his best...may be the best superhero movie of the summer”
have their value when compared to a standardized, impersonal educational system. Ben proves the effectiveness his unusual homeschooling methods in a scene in which his 6-year-old daughter flawlessly recites the Bill of Rights and gives her own opinion on gun law, as her older, public-schooleducated cousins glaze over with confusion. The film suggests that there are still setbacks
Photo courtesy of Electric City Entertainment.
to Ben’s alternative system of homeschooling. While the children’s isolated woodland classroom provides them with self-dependence and critical thinking skills, it also gives off serious cult vibes and leaves the children raw and unprepared for communicating with new people. It becomes clear that Ben is out of touch with the risk involved in his survival-centric way of raising his children, such as giving his a six-year-old son a disturbingly large knife. The film genuinely presents both the pros and cons of their education, and asks the weighty question of how to raise children authentically in a world of conformity and consumerism. Although the end of the film becomes somewhat unrealistic and a bit overly-sentimental, Mortenson’s ability to balance the roles of the enraged anarchist and concerned father make it worthwhile. Similarly, the talent from all the young actors is not to go unnoticed, whose characters seem to emanate an endless amount of hope. Ending with a quirky, acoustic rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” you can’t help but feel but uplifted. With just the right balance of angst, tragedy, and hope, “Captain Fantastic,” a film about a dad doing his best, may be the best superhero movie of the summer.
Photo courtesy of Electric City Entertainment.
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
Pride & Prejudice
Opinions • 11
&
Condoms
Written by Sophia Rosenthal ‘17, Sex Columnist
*The following work is strictly fictional. Any similarities to real life are completely coincidental. I am absolutely not writing about you, I promise. Any similarities to the characters in Jane Austen’s novel are due to the fact that I am indeed stealing her characters.*
I
t is a truth universally acknowledged that a student in possession of a new semester and tons of homework must be in want of lots and lots of sex. Thus begins the story of the Bennet sisters as they embark on a new semester at Scripps College.
T
he eldest sister Jane Bennett, a senior English and Philosophy major, was in a serious relationship for most of her sophomore and junior year, but has since found herself quietly single and sleeping with a pile of thesis books in lieu of another warm human body.
L
izzy Bennett, the second eldest (also a senior) has had a small but memorable number of sexual encounters over the past four years, all of which have ranged from pretty good to devastatingly mediocre. Preoccupied as she is with doing research for her psychology thesis, she has resolved that all hook ups - may they be infrequent and emotionless - be nothing less than mindblowing. And never with any gentlemen from Claremont McKenna College.
M
ary Bennett has already decided that her junior year will be the best ever. Having officially declared a double major in chemistry and French, she’s excited to apply for internships and visit her girlfriend during fall break. Mary doesn’t have sex, and doesn’t want to anytime soon.
K
itty Bennett has swiped through everyone on Tinder within forty miles and is determined to make real connections this semester. Her Pitzer friend-with-benefits graduated last year, and she’s craving some (not necessarily intellectual) stimulation.
L
ydia Bennett is so glad to finally be at Scripps with the rest of her sisters and to scope out her new classmates. She has calculated that she will probably be able to complete the 5C challenge by the time Toga Party rolls around.
As we each embark on our own stories alongside the Bennett Sisters this semester, let us not forget that we can write our own erotic narratives however we choose; we each hold the pen (take that innuendo as you will) and are free to accept or reject dances as we see fit - or to avoid the balls all together (again, take the innuendo as you please). The sisters have many adventures ahead. So do we. Get ready, and get excited.
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One
12 • Arts & Entertainment
Lizzie Willsmore-Finkle ‘20 with Erin Delany ‘20, Staff Writer
TSV: Where are you from? Lizzie: I’m from Sammamish, Washington. It’s a small suburb 40 minutes East of Seattle. Sammamish has a lot of wildlife, like coyotes and bobcats. There was once a warning in the town newspaper about an attack owl. TSV: You’re a first year. What has been your first impression of Scripps? Lizzie: Scripps seems challenging but quirky. I’m kind of quirky, and I feel like Scripps fosters that.
INCIPIT DOMUS nova Photos by Jessica Padover ‘17
TSV:You’re quirky? Lizzie: When I was little--actually, for a while when I was younger--I used to hunt for dinosaur bones in my backyard. I guess it fostered my curiosity, I’m still really interested in science and I think I might want to major in something science related. TSV: What is one item on your bucket list for your time at Scripps? Lizzie: Scripps bucket list? Oh, I don’t know. There’s just so much! I guess I want to sit on the roof and watch the sunrise or the sunset. I live in Browning, so we have the balcony. TSV: If you could do anything with your life, what would you do? Lizzie: I would probably live in different places, move around a bit. I have family in Manchester, England. I would also want to live in the Galapagos and study the ecosystem there. It’s really selective, but that is 100% what I would do. TSV: Who is your favorite female leader? Lizzie: Definitely Michelle Obama. She is such an intelligent, well-spoken woman. She could very well sit back and do nothing, but she’s made others’ needs her priority. She’s also very smart and she knows how she can use her influence and how she can’t. TSV: What is the best advice you have received? Lizzie: My Writing 50 professor told me that when it comes to making a choice between your head and your heart, you should always pick your heart because you can forgive your heart. TSV: What is one secret talent that you possess? Lizzie: I can do a really realistic seagull call.
21 September, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue One