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FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010
Campus Happenings William Smith Alumnae Speaker Series:
Sarah DeGray
Sophomore Spring Forward
By Melissa Warner ’12 Herald Contributor
By Kelsey Lee ’12 and Melissa Warner ’12 Herald Contributors
Alumnae Sarah DeGray ’06, returned to campus on Wednesday March 24 as part of the William Smith Alumnae Speaker Series. DeGray spoke about her education at HWS and what she has gone on to do after graduating with a Political Science major and two minors in International Relations and Media and Society. While at HWS she did an honors project on rap music and authenticity and received High Honors for her work. She studied abroad in Maastricht and went to Tokyo with the Tanaka Foundation. After graduating, she also went on the March of Remembrance and Hope, during which she traveled to important sites of the Holocaust with survivors. The fall after graduation, DeGray went to a conference in England to present her honors project and was also asked to write a chapter of the book the conference was putting out. She also worked at Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP for two years before going to graduate school. She chose to go to the New School for Social Research in New York City and, after a year, switched from their sociology department into their political science department. During her time at the New School, she has interned for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy as well as with the Council
on American Islamic Relations. DeGray is currently working on a paper about the state of exception in Israel, which is essentially when the government suspends rights of citizens to protect Photo courtesy of: hws.edu the state. DeGray told the audience that her research has led her to the conclusion that international law can perpetuate the state of exception. DeGray has been accepted into the PhD program at the New School for Social Research but has not yet decided if she will attend. Sarah DeGray is, without a doubt, an alumnus that William Smith can be incredibly proud of. Her love for what she studies was obvious during her speech and was wonderful to see. At one point she described graduate school as a process of “going from a consumer of knowledge to a producer of knowledge”. After hearing her speak on her work, it was obvious to the whole audience that she is definitely well on her way to achieving that goal.
William Smith Congress Update By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor The first issue that was discussed involved student parking tickets. Around Thanksgiving, students are able to take some of their parking fines off if they donate canned goods to the Security Office; these cans go to the local food pantry. This is a poorly advertized event. The woman who came to Congress asked if she could propose to Security that they not only advertise this event, but also host a donation period around Easter time. WSC wants to ensure that students who do have hefty fines be responsible for them so the canned good drive would not be the whole year. A final suggestion was made that since not all students understand parking rules, a pamphlet needs to be given to all students-possibly made by the student governments- when they apply. The Campus Services Committee representative asked the quorum for suggestions on building improvements. One concern that was
addressed is that many buildings have lights on when they do not need to be. Not all buildings are meant to be used 24/7 so having these lights on goes against the campus’s green policy. Another concern was the lack of comfortable spaces that were designated as 24-hour spaces. The Baron Multimedia Lab, outside of the library, is open 24/7 for students to use. The space is small and limited. Students who bring their own computer are shuffled into uncomfortable spaces. The representative agreed to bring this up. A William Smith student who is interning with the WS Athletics is trying to have a physical mascot for William Smith. She will eventually be proposing for approximately $800-$1000. The design for the Heron is still in the making. She will bring some sample designs for the next meeting. It is hoped that the future mascot will not look too cartoonish or have a frightening demeanor.
Kevin Colton/Photographer
It’s that time of year again. That’s right, it’s time for sophomores to formally declare their majors. With class registration approaching, all sophomores need to declare lest they be barred from signing up for fall classes. Many of us have declared though and it was in honor of this that the Hobart and William Smith Dean’s Office held the Sophomore Spring Forward Dinner last Wednesday evening in Bristol Gym. Most of us are chummy with at least one or two of the faculty members associated with our respective majors, but the Hobart and William Smith Deans’ Offices realize that there are a decent amount of secondyears who could really benefit from an evening chatting and dining with members of their newly declared departments. The Sophomore Spring Forward was certainly not a dine-and-dash event. The semiformal celebration provided a fun venue for socializing with professors and students. The turnout was fairly impressive; instead of utilizing the typical Vandervort setting, the event was hosted in Bristol Gym, and still most of the seats were filled. The cuisine was pretty delicious, actually. We were provided a host of vegetarian as well as meat-based dishes, and a surplus of delightful desserts. The generous layout was buffet-style, so no one went hungry that evening. There were a series of interesting speeches made by William Smith Dean Valerie Gunter and Provost Teresa Amott. Before and after the speeches, conversation was lively and many people lingered to talk at their tables. Students were also given buttons with slogans referring to their majors such as “Trust me, I’m a Biologist”. It was a lovely evening and it was heartening to see all the departments come together to welcome their newest members.
Opinions Viewing Obstacles as Stepping Stones By Christine Yankelunas ’10 Herald Contributor Jim Davis, an American actor, once said, “There are so many opportunities in life that the loss of two or three capabilities is not necessarily debilitating. A handicap can give you the opportunity to focus more on art, writing, or music.” It is important to emphasize the specialized capabilities and talents that result from the absence of another capability. Coming to The Colleges in two weeks is The Disability and The Arts Festival, which pays homage to artists, musicians and dancers who celebrate their work as subjects and creators. Axis Dance Company, Sprout Films, Project Eye to Eye and several speakers will be taking part in this festival and showcasing their unique and praised work, including some award-winning pieces. From a personal standpoint, my interest in music and film has prompted my interest in Sprout films. So, this weekend I spent some time watching “The House” and “Rudely Interrupted—” two short films that will be featured here on campus by Sprout Films on April 22. “The House” uses animation and sound to tell a beautiful story. In this nine minute film, we see the every day lives of the women of West Lambeth Community Care
expression displays wit, but also strength. My interpretation of the broader statement of this song is that these band members have no tolerance for “whining.” This reiterated how they embrace themselves and value positive center. To some, Aspergers, Down Syndrome, Autism thinking over self-pity. Lead drawing pictures and caring for and blindness. Lead vocalist, Rory, vocalist, Rory, valiantly states: “I our pets may seem like mundane enjoys rocking out with lyrics that feel revered. I’m not just a nobody— activities; however as classical describe the angst and frustration and I’m feeling it is increasing my non-diagetic sound and colorful of adolescents plagued with the oh- chances of scoring a girl.” So to all animation mimics the actions of so debilitating: pimples. The clever of us who think we cannot relate to these music-loving rockers who these women, we experience seek love and lust just like us, I their joy as they complete such challenge you all to think again. tasks with purpose. I didn’t feel To give credit to each dancer, sad watching this film, nor did writer, musician and speaker that I feel pity of any kind. Instead, I are attending this event would felt admiration for these women not only take away from their who cherished every aspect of debut in two weeks, but it would their life—unhindered by the simply take up too much space in complexities and superficialities this newspaper. of society. In saying this, I invite you The second film I watched all to join us in celebrating Rory, followed the Australian rock the women of West Lambeth band, Rudely Interrupted, and Community Center, and so many was especially inspiring to me. Whether this is due to my sister Axis Dance Company uniquely others who view obstacles as living in Sydney, or just my provides a forum where dancers stepping stones, and challenges general interest in music, I felt with and without disabilities could as motivation. The Disability and The Arts festival will kick off this compelled to share my reaction experience dance together. Spring on April 8—but with your to this film. This highly acclaimed rock band is comprised of six lyrics and subject material playfully attendance and involvement it will musicians— five with physical and mocks the whining tendencies of spark the annual tradition for years cognitive disabilities ranging from teenagers with acne; this artistic to come.