Misc.08.25.22

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The Miscellany News

miscellanynews.org

August 25, 2022

Vassar College’s student newspaper of record since 1866 Volume 158 | Issue 1

Welcome, Class of 2026!

New guidelines concern students Summer Powerhouse returns Jacques Abou-Rizk, Will Sorge News Editors

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s the 2022-2023 school year starts, the College has announced several loosened restrictions and guidelines regarding COVID-19, including the relaxation of mask guidelines and changes to isolation protocols. As campus comes to life again, new and returning students are facing the reality of these new protocols. Among the changes, students will no longer be required to wear masks in public indoor settings, which had been an on-again, off-again policy throughout the last academic year. Additionally, the College is adopting an “isolation-in-place” approach to students who test positive, meaning they will remain

in their housing assignments rather than isolating in special isolation rooms on or off campus. Only in the event of a roommate’s or housemate’s high-risk status will the positive student isolate elsewhere, according to email communication from the President’s Office on July 7, 2022. Some students expressed disapproval with the isolation-in-place approach in particular. “The new isolation policy is silly,” said Roswell Wendell ʼ24, adding, “We all know people aren’t going to actually isolate if they’re on campus. Their friends are gonna be around, there’ll be stuff to do, they’re not staying in their room the entire time.” He went on, suggesting,“When there’s an inevitable spike in cases ‘cause people aren’t isolating, they’re See Guidelines on page 3

Photo courtesy of Adrian Widak via Wikimedia Commons.

Dorms

Ganesh Pillai Arts Editor

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y late May, the Vassar Campus is just a fond memory for most, a place to recall and reminisce over. Many students’ curtain calls for the semester entail bidding adieu to their home away from home, and a relocation to wherever summer takes them. With some students choosing to cross over state lines, or international borders, a distant summer may feel alluring. However, the Powerhouse Theater’s summer season attracts people from across the country to our very own campus every year, a testament to the truly amazing work happening right in our own backyard. The Powerhouse Theater’s summer season runs for five weeks a year, and its training program gives accepted students the opportunity to work collaboratively on theatrical projects, attend related classes, interact with professionals in the field and form lasting connections within the industry for the future. The program typically involves being part of a predetermined group of productions, as well as putting on a collection of six shorter, entirely student-prepared productions at the end of the session. The Powerhouse Theater often also partners with theater groups throughout the country, allowing for students to work alongside, and ask questions of, pro-

ranked Summer students reflect on sunny days

Madi Donat

Monika Sweeney

Humor Editor

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s I make the great leap towards senior housing, I have begun to reminisce about the time I’ve spent within Vassar’s most brochure-able architecture. Now that it’s time for me to say goodbye to the life of communal bathrooms and room draws, it would only be right for me as a certified campus elder to impart my knowledge to the younger among you. Plus, there’s nothing I like more than starting unnecessary drama about things that literally do not matter at all. So, for you ’26ers who just moved in, I encourage you to use this list to see how you measure up. And, remember: This list is both objective and scientifically proven, so any attestations to the contrary will not be entertained at this time. As a disclaimer, of course, I must remind us that ALL of these dorms are good, and this is more of a list from most good to least good. Basically. Kind of. 1. Strong (a) Low capacity, (b) no men. Need I say more? There’s a reason a bunch of seniors move there!! Quiet AND clean. I wish I could say more about Strong and its strength, but all I’ve heard is that it’s a great place to be if you like lowkey vibes and clean spaces. When See Dorms on page 4

Senior Editor

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he final weeks of a spring semester always pass by in a blur. One minute, you’re cramming for an Economics exam in the library and the next you’re physically cramming into the backseat of your mom’s minivan for a six-hour ride home, along with your seven suitcases, a sticky mini-fridge and far too many pairs of white sneakers. However, if you’re one of the 263 students who chose to remain on campus for at least some portion of the summer, your spring-to-summer transition looked a bit different. Instead of frantically hauling all your belongings down five flights of stairs the morning after your last exam (apparently a functioning elevator in living spaces isn’t covered by an $83,730 bill), summer students were slowly moving into summer housing assignments, basking in the silence of an empty campus and coming to terms with the fact that Late Night was no longer, at least until the fall, and that it would be at least 70 days until their next chicken nugget pouch from Retreat. Of the 263 students who remained on campus during the sweaty months of summer, devoid of air conditioning, access

to health services and unlimited Deece swipes, 76 stayed for on-campus employment, with jobs ranging from mailroom clerk to grounds maintenance, 89 were Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI), Beckman or Ford Scholars and 14 students were conducting independent studies. Many students who utilized on-campus housing during the summer worked with specific departments or programs, others were unable to return home due to travel restrictions and over a dozen remained after working events such as Reunion or Commencement. While some students thrived on an empty campus, using it as an opportunity to finally break out their rollerblades or sunbathe in peace, others were left feeling lonely and isolated from their peers. For Olivia Gatto ’24, summer was challenging at times, but overall enjoyable. Gatto stayed on campus as an office assistant for Residential Life. She helped plan, advertise and coordinate events for students staying on campus over the summer, while serving as a resource to answer any housing-related questions. Gatto, who felt more homesick than she expected, sought out other activities to keep her busy, such as reading and painting. She also walked Lyd-

Inside this issue

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LETTER

lific theatrical talents. Essentially, students have a unique chance to develop and grow their craft in a highly focused and creative environment, filled with peers and professionals alike. This summer, the Powerhouse’s summer season ran from June 26 through July 31, marking its return to the scene after a twoyear break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, any doubts of potential rustiness were quickly cast away given the seamless transition back into the program, as displayed by all 38 of the students involved. Producing Director Ed Cheetham acknowledged, “I know it wasn’t easy. Their days are long, and it gets tough. But I think they really forged through and did some tremendous, tremendous work.” And what did these performances entail? A lot of hard work, dedication and commitment that yielded a set of diverse, but equally high-quality, productions. This Powerhouse’s summer slate consisted of productions put on by the theater itself, as well as those done through its training program. Those of the latter variety included partnerships with the theater group NY Stage and Film company, featuring the likes of Andre Braugher (of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” fame). The Powerhouse and NY Stage and Film organized three different plays to be performed: “The World See Powerhouse on page 3

Editor-in-Chief Leila Raines welcomes the Class of 2026 with a letter reflecting on the past few years of the Misc.

Check out Senior Editor Monika Sweeney’s Crossword to kick off the start of the PUZZLE new semester!

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HUMOR

Monika Sweeney/The Miscellany News. ia, the unofficial mascot of Main House, for a week. “I missed my pets and my family, so seeing the animals on campus helped me combat that,” she shared. Gatto further explained that having friends on campus was also crucial to staying positive during these past few months. “I needed them this summer, and I’m so glad they were there,” she noted. Despite feeling homesick and See Summer on page 4

Which of our beloved Vassar dorms will end up in last place? Keep reading Madi Donat’s unofficial official ranking to find out!


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