Volume XXII Issue 06

28 February, 2019

scrippsvoice.com

Uncompromising Commitment to Inclusivity and Justice.

The Scripps Voice

New Head Librarian of Dennison Jennifer Martinez Wormser Lands Her Dream Job

By Margaret Kraus ‘22 Staff Writer

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hen it comes to rare books and all things Denison, Jennifer Martinez Wormser’s passion is contagious.

Appointed Denison Head Librarian at the beginning of January, Martinez Wormser graduated from Scripps in 1995 as an English major and French minor having worked at Denison for all four of her undergraduate years. She describes Denison as a place where “you can interact with objects from the fifteen hundreds which elsewhere you’d only get to see under glass in an exhibit,” making it a unique place of exploration and beauty, the site of serendipitous learning.

Upon stepping into Denison Library on a campus tour, Martinez Wormser looked around and thought, “I belong here.” She now considers herself “proof of the fact that you can get your dream job.”

Upon accepting the position as Head Librarian, she says, “It’s really nice to go away and learn from other places and other people, but when you get the opportunity to come back and contribute to something you cared deeply about to begin with, it’s really exciting. You don’t often get to come back and say, ‘how can I contribute to this now, as opposed to when I was nineteen?’ I have this totally different toolbox I can offer that I didn’t have at the time.”

Martinez Wormser first heard about Scripps in high school

Inside This Issue:

Photograph by Margaret Kraus ‘22

from three Alumna with whom she worked at San Marino’s Huntington Library. It was their impressive demeanor which lead her to visit campus: “When you think about the attributes of a Scripps woman, she’s courageous and confident and hopeful,” Martinez Wormser reflects. “These three women definitely had that, but also seemed very sure of who they were as people. I liked that about them.”

She applied early decision and was hired at Denison shortly after moving to campus, a step which would further her lifelong love of archives, manuscripts, and librarianship.

“It’s special to be able to have contact with rare books and manuscripts and unusual things,” Martinez Wormser says. “It opens up your world in many ways. Even when you’re doing your job, you’re given opportunities to explore and learn. That’s why I like

librarianship so much, because everyday I learn something new.”

In her undergraduate years, Martinez Wormser enjoyed processing new books because it allowed her to see new materials coming into the collection.

She also created signs and posters for the library with her calligraphy skill. Martinez Wormser details the changes Denison has undergone since her graduation, including the removal of Denison’s circulating collections and closing of the Dorothy Drake Wing, which housed large art books and senior research carrels.

Although it was a bigger space in the 90s, Martinez Wormser notes that Denison continues to fulfill the same purpose: housing a unique collection which emphasizes women’s history and women’s issues.

As a student, Martinez Wormser’s favorite items from

Page 2: Ceramic Annual Celebrates 75 Years

Page 5: How One Scripps Student is Helping Others Through Fashion

since 1991

the collection were the Kelmscott Press books, printed in the 1890s by William Morris during the Arts and Crafts movement and Industrial Revolution.

Morris advocated for a return to craftsmanship from mass production, a principle which Martinez Wormser sees at work in Denison. “You can build a functional library, but it doesn’t need to have beautiful hand-car ved panels like this,” she says. “There’s something special about that craftsmanship. William Morris and the Kelmscott Press were part of that movement.”

This passion drives Martinez Wormser as Head Librarian, striving to ensure that Denison continues to inspire, teach, and foster the intellectual growth of Scripps students, not just of today, but of future decades.

“I don’t want students to graduate who say, ‘I’ve only been in here once,’” she says. “I want them to think of Denison as a place to go and be and explore and grow. With a thousand students, how do I reach them and get them to come here, engage with the collections, and use Denison in a way that’s meaningful to them? I know what Denison did for me as a student, and my hope is that when you walk through the doors for graduation in your green gown, it would have played a similar role in your learning experience.”

Page 6-7: In Support of Dr. Vanessa Tyson

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2 • News

Infinite Possibilities in Clay at the Fire the Fire 75th Ceramic Annual Alarms

By Ali Bush ‘19 Music Columnist

F

or the past 75 years, the Williamson Gallery (tucked away behind Baxter) has been putting on a ceramic show that highlights a diverse collection of objects made from clay. Although many students I’ve interacted with are unaware of this proud tradition, the show still brought hundreds of visitors to campus when it opened in early February. As the longest running ceramic exhibition in America, the Ceramic Annual reminds viewers that the medium of ceramics is not only thriving, but a constantly evolving and expanding its possibilities.

Upon entering the Williamson gallery, there is little guiding information or wall text other than copious thanks to donors and a quote about from the show’s main donor, Mr. Fred Marer. His quote explains that he collected ceramics until his home became an obstacle course of pots and sculpture, and he donated much of this collection to Scripps. The obstacle course that Mr. Marer mentions inspires the layout of the show, as there is no clear path for visitors to choose, but simply a meandering treasure trove of ceramics.

After strolling through the gallery, it be-

comes clear that there is no other wall text or explanatory material about the pieces in the show. There was no mention of stylistic movements or artists’ inspiration. With only knowing the date, name of artist, and process of production, the exhibit leaves the viewer free to think of the ceramics in their own terms.

In this way, visitors can find similarities among pieces and artists without being told by wall text that certain artists worked together or were part of the same

I

movement. This lack of explanatory wall text gives the viewer more time to actually look at the piece and appreciate all of its details. After personally going to many exhibitions at larger museums that are arranged chronologically and must be viewed in a certain order, it was quite freeing to simply be given a room full of treasures and the ability to interpret them for myself. This hands off curatorial approach reminds us that art is for everyone and exhibits can foster inspiration creativity without being overbearing As for the pieces of art themselves, they range from stunning to cute. The pieces exhibited in the show exemplify the astounding diversity of Scripps’s ceramic collection and the seemingly endless possibilities that could be achieved with the medium of clay. From completely abstract geometric sculptures to vases with figurative scenes on them, the exhibition proves that the medium of clay is truly versatile for an artist. Pieces by artists like John Mason and Paul Solder appeared scorched until they were black and had jagged edges where one could clearly see where the artist had quickly sliced the wet clay. Many other pieces by artists like, had impeccable smooth and glistening surfaces, with astonishing symmetry and clean edges.

My personal favorite from the show was a platter shaped like a fish by Beatrice Wood. It brought a little more levity to the exhibition and reminded us that art doesn’t have to always be deadly serious. So, to all those that still think that the field of ceramics only consists of innocuous pots and vases, attend the ceramic annual and you will find an array of wacky, sophisticated, and innovative treasures.

By Annika Ragnartz ‘22 Staff Writer

n the past three weeks, there have been more than nine fire alarms in the Browning/Dorsey Residential Halls. According to Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Charlotte Johnson, there is no evidence that any of them were false alarms.

In an email to Browning/Dorsey residents, Assistant Dean and Director of Campus Life Brenda Ice reported that three or four alarms were caused by smoke from burnt food, two were from people smoking in or near the bathrooms, and one was a fire alarm drill. Despite there being no false alarms, the number of alarms that have gone of this semester have led students to have concerns about the effectiveness of the alarms.

“It’s a bit of a “boy who cried wolf” scenario; personally I’m feeling less concerned about fire danger and more annoyed/angry each time one goes off,” Browning resident Elizabeth Carleton ‘22 said.

Additionally, students have raised concerns about how often the alarms are going off in comparison to other dorms.

“If each alarm went off with actual reason, we really need to evaluate who should be allowed to cook in the kitchens because none of the other dorms are experiencing alarms in the same frequency so either our alarms are faulty or we have the worst chefs in America living here,” Keila Joy ‘21, a two-year Browning/Dorsey resident, said.

Joy and other residents have raised questions about whether the alarms in Browning/Dorsey are more sensitive than other halls as a way to explain the difference in alarm frequency.

According to Dean Johnson, “facilities will also be reviewing exhaust fans, humidity sensors, and fire alarm sensors to ensure an optimal and effective sensitivity level.”

In most other halls, the fire alarms have been deliberately sounded only once for a semi-annual fire drill. For residents of Browning/Dorsey, the most recent fire alarm, sounded on Feb. 11, was the ninth alarm in total.

As a result, many students believe that they should have been exempt from the drill.

“Getting woken up at 6:30am and having to stand outside in 30ish-degree weather, all for a mere drill, was really inexcusable,” Browning resident Julia Lohman ‘21 said. “Browning and Dorsey, at least, had had their fair share of drills and did not need the extra practice.”

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

Have We Forgotten Our Own Memories?

Collective Memory on College Campuses

By Anna Mitchell ’22 Staff Writer

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e don’t often think of a four-year term when we think of college, as we do when we think of politics. Political terms are conceptually approachable. For example, you get elected, you do your duty for four years, you try again, maybe someone else prevails, you show them the ropes, box up the offices, and move on. (This is admittedly an oversimplification of a complex political system, but for our purposes, today, it suffices.)

With this framework of a rise, plateau, and descent in mind, let us turn to the four-year college. We are essentially elected from pools of applicants campaigning for themselves; we enter the community, orient ourselves, time goes by.

We write culminating projects, turn to relinquish positions we have held or groups that we have founded; and then we leave, extracting our voice, commitments, and, in some cases, our memory.

But what does this mean? Our memory is individual and ingrained in our bodies, is it not?

Thinking one-dimensionally, this would be the only side to the equation. Yet, upon broadening the perspective, we can consider collective memory just as integral and just as pertinent as the individual’s memory.

What renders memory collective? What qualities must this entity possess or reflect in order to be

By Corine Astroth ’21 Staff Writer

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News • 3 deemed cumulative? I am far from a psychologist.

The above query, in my eyes, is more theoretical and my argument purely grounded in my own experience. To me, collective memory represents the wealth of shared experience, energy, and formative events extending over a wide period of time. As a college student addressing the idea of collective memory on campus, specifically in activism, I am a stakeholder.

Stunting collective memory within specific groups – in our example, a college’s student population – is a method of controlling activists, denying darker moments of the past, and ultimately maintaining a certain level of stagnant balance, of gradual and sluggish progression.

Coming into college, we rely on infrastructure established by our predecessors and on information we can gather from them, until we, too, become familiar with the inner workings of the system. But by this point, we’re packing our bags and reminiscing and endowing what we can with the next “generation.” This inhibits notable advancement in activist projects and all other variants of initiatives for change on campus. Two steps forward, one step back. Two new leaders, one graduated. Both the severity and sincerity of the issue of disjointed collective memory seem to have gone unnoticed.

Taking the example of the multitude of nonperformative and deeply motivated activist groups — and without naming names — I give you the task of picking one, reaching out, and speaking to the leaders. Ask them if there are archives for their group. Ask them if there are other groups fighting the same fight, or rather, if there have been in the past. Ask them what has worked, and what could stand for improvement.

Contemplating the above questions, I wonder: what can activism look like without constant group members or without preservation of past work? What can activism look like here? I watch a paper poster, damp and sagging, slip down lower, lower on a being stucco wall, finally falling into a murky puddle below. Four tabs of cobalt painters tape remain, a vacant frame. What will

fill this frame next?

Some may raise their brows, purse their lips and rebut me with the quip, “Isn’t it the struggle that counts?” (I know this because “some” have.)

On one level, I cannot disagree, as perpetual attention and effort devoted to an issue keeps it alive, like CPR, breathing life into questions and concerns constantly threatened by death.

But this renders activism more self-serving than I believe it should be, as it suggests that a person’s learning how to struggle, how to act as an activist, takes holistic precedence over the ultimate goals of the organization.

The more we consider collective memory, the more complex the issue becomes. For example, most colleges maintain intensive, cared for, and extensive archives of the school’s history, a method of preservation and remembrance.

Yet an institution is just as much defined by its student body as it is by its documented past, and so we ask what thread binds students, specifically student activists, through the years?

Is higher education engineered to create such an effect? For does it not benefit our administration, to have student groups slowed by time itself, losing members, losing leaders, losing purpose? Does it not place our school’s leadership in a position of perpetual indifference, under little pressure to consider deeply the demands or grievances of its many student activists?

And what about movements that seem to require that first-hand experience in order to mobilize around an issue? Remember the RA strike? Oh right, you weren’t here for that. I was not. There’s no denying it. Yet knowing my class is living in its wake, what can I do, what can we do, to understand? That is the task at hand: recognize the role of collective memory in our college lives, seek to identify how it impacts our experiences as students and as activists, and then set out to make lasting change.

If Conspiracy Theories are Bad, then What’s the Solution?

n Feb. 6, Professor Karen Douglas of the University of Kent gave a talk at Scripps titled “The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.” In her lecture, she discussed the epistemic, existential, and social reasons people have for believing conspiracy theories and addressed the potential outcomes of these beliefs. Douglas is also a coauthor of the paper “Understanding Conspiracy Theories,” which she discussed with students in the Scripps Humanities Seminar.

Douglas defined conspiracy theories as “attempts to explain the ultimate causes of significant social and political events and circumstances with claims of secret plots by two or more powerful actors.” Throughout her talk, she listed some of the more mainstream conspiracies theories such as rejecting climate change and the belief that vaccinations are harmful and/or cause autism. Douglas also addressed more extreme theories, including the 9/11 truther movement, whose followers find the U.S. culpable for the attack, and David Icke’s lizard people conspiracy, which claims prominent world leaders are really Jewish shape-shifting reptiles.

Although these views seem outlandish, they have acquired a wide following. Douglas’ research suggests that one reason people trust conspiracy theories such as these is that they desire meaning and certainty. She cited studies displaying that conspiracy beliefs are stronger among people who seek patterns in their environments. Her paper also presents evidence that conspiracy theories are more widespread under conditions of uncertainty.

Belief in conspiracies is associated with feelings of powerlessness, and it has been found that conspiracy theories offer greater feelings of control and security. Beyond these root causes, people are socially inclined towards conspiracy theories as they are “linked to defensive ways of identifying with one’s social group.”

Although people are motivated towards belief in conspiracies for many reasons, Douglas stated that there is little evidence to suggest that peoples epistemic, existential, and social needs are met through belief in conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, research does show negative outcomes such as people choosing not to reduce their carbon footprints, not voting, avoiding vaccinating their children, and in general harboring prejudiced views.

So, if conspiracy theories are bad, what’s the solution? During a discussion with students in the Humanities Seminar, Douglas listed critical thinking as essential to combating belief in conspiracy theories. She based this on evidence that believers in conspiracy theories tend to have lower levels of analytical thinking and score lower in rational thinking style.

These findings point to preventative solutions because, as Rebecca Reisman ’21 stated, “It is nearly impossible to convince people when their theories are incorrect.” This is supported by research showing prevention is the most effective method against conspiracies.

Perhaps then, the proliferation of conspiracy theories reveals a failing on the part of education systems. Conspiracy theories are

based on the desire for the truth and search for meaning is not vicious in itself. In fact, there is possibly nothing more human, and for this reason, I do not believe that we should aim to eliminate conspiracy theories altogether.

Questioning standardly held views generally serves to further our knowledge. However, when people are not provided the necessary skills to seek the truth in constructive ways, the effects can be catastrophic.

Through Douglas’ work, it seems evident that people are not receiving the proper skills to fulfill their natural curiosities, and I believe this is supported by research that suggests conspiracy theories are linked to feelings of boredom.

This talk prompted me to reflect in multiple ways. First, in the areas where my education generates critical thinking and other areas where it promotes a regurgitation of information.

Secondly, on the work left to be done in the field of psychology surrounding conspiracy theories.

Douglas herself conceded during the question and answer portion of her talk that she could not answer all the questions because the research does not exist.

Rachel Diamond ’21 “found it striking how often [Douglas] said more research was needed given that it is such an important topic.” I agree with Rachel. Considering measles outbreaks and extreme weather pattern changes, this topic is of utmost importance, but progress in the field will require a new generation of critical thinkers. Which leaves me wondering, will these intellects be harder to find?

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

4 • Politics

Ringing in Change: Young Candidates Challenge the Democratic Party Establishment

By Theri Aronson ’20 and Ittai Sopher PZ ’19 Staff Writers

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fter a recount, on Monday, Shayok Chakraborty PO ’19, learned that he won a position as a local delegate for the California Democratic Party convention. While this position does not hold legislative capabilities, a delegate still holds the ability to shape the California Democratic platform.

“What was most important to me was that [delegates] vote on who the party endorses and what kinds of props they endorse,” Chakraborty said. “Because these [Propositions] can be really inaccessible sometimes.”

For a month, Chakraborty believed he lost his delegate race by 13 votes. Chakraborty saw this small margin of this loss as a victory since local delegate races generally do not have high turnout rates, especially among younger and non-white voters. Although, Chakraborty remains hopeful that in future delegate elections there will be greater youth representation and racial diversity among the voters. He believes that the party leadership can become more representative of the state’s demographics.

“After visiting various polling locations and seeing who was going out to vote, I was not so surprised by the results,” Chakraborty said.

“I’m not surprised that out of 14 voters, there were 12 white and just one millennial voter.”

The Democratic Party of California is also trying to change its own image as the state becomes more liberal. Last July, California Democrats endorsed progressive state senate president and Pitzer alum Kevin De Leon over longtime incumbent Dianne Feinstein, which demonstrates a shifting opinion among state party leaders.

De Leon, who lost his race to 85-yearold Feinstein, represents the Democratic establishment control over the party. Despite having had the endorsement of the California Democratic party, and having a platform rooted in farther left ideals than Feinstein, De Leon’s loss ultimately demonstrates how the antiestablishment movement among Democratic voters — as it is often characterized — has yet to take full effect.

“I just think we need a younger, progressive person there,” State Democratic Committee Member Lynne Standard-Nightengale said in an interview with The New York Times. “The

Democratic Party in California has moved to the left, and he personifies those values.”

As our attention shifts more toward the 2020 Presidential Election, young and local-level leaders are making headlines. For instance, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. and potential candidate for the 2020 presidential race, formed an exploratory committee back in January.

If Buttigieg, who is scheduled to speak at Scripps on Feb. 27, wins his presidential bid, he will become the youngest president elected at age 39, and not to mention, first openly gay President in U.S. history.

Leaders like Chakraborty, De Leon, and Buttigieg represent how the Democratic Party is increasingly looking to younger and more diverse candidates for political office.

“Being from the younger generation is one of the main reasons to run, and why I’m running,” Buttigieg said on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last week. “We are the generation that is going to be on the business end of climate change ... No one has more at stake than the younger generation, and who better to deal with those issues than someone who will actually be affected by them?”

Green Deal or No Deal

By Sondra Abruzzo ’19 Sustainability Columnist

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ver the past few weeks, many of us heard the buzz phrase “The Green New Deal” circulating in the news, but what does it really mean, and what can we takeaway from this national proposal?

In a nutshell, the Green New Deal serves as a sustainability plan for the nation, setting big goals to reduce fossil fuel dependency and emissions, and making other holistic economic changes that contribute to a sustainable society.

In October of 2018, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report announced that we have about ten years to turn around our polluting practices to avoid the detrimental effects of climate change such as rising sea levels, stronger storms, more severe droughts, and greater food insecurity.

In response to this dire need for action, Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) presented the Green New Deal to outline how the U.S. should holistically combat climate change.

For star ters, the resolution seeks to restructure the energy system to supply 100 percent of the nation’s power demand through clean, renewable, zero-emission energy sources. It also calls for infrastructure upgrades that are both energy efficient and resilient against f u t u re i m p a c t s o f climate change. Within our carbon intensive transportation sector, the Green New Deal

would expand electric cars, public transportation systems, and high speed rail to remove the need for gas-powered cars and airplanes. It calls on farmers to adopt more sustainable and low polluting agricultural practices, and eventually ensure universal access to healthy foods. The resolution addresses conservation by emphasizing the restoration of natural ecosystems and cleanup of hazardous sites. Beyond environmental work, the Green New Deal also incorporates progressive economic policies like universal health care, high quality housing, and guaranteed employment.

While many Republicans and moderate Democrats hold reservations about the ambitious resolution, advocates for the Green New Deal, including most climate scientists agree that combating the disastrous effects of climate change require this type of aggressive action. In fact, Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker, and Kirsten

Gillibrand all signed onto the resolution as cosponsors.

While the nation takes a critical look at its own sustainability plans, we should look at our own community’s needs and goals here at Scripps. To date, the college does not have a published plan or office dedicated to ensuring sustainability at Scripps. It is also the only 5C without a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality. While we have the potential to improve our sustainability programming, most of the labor now falls on students who lack the time and resources to initiate these measures.

Scripps has taken steps to be more sustainable such as installing low water lawns, LEED certifying Schow Hall, renting out reusable dishes and flatware to students, and implementing a compost system at Malott. However, just as the Green New Deal emphasizes fossil fuel reductions on a broad national scale, Scripps can reduce dependency on fossil fuels by retrofitting more buildings to be energy efficient, and sourcing its power from renewables. On the food and agriculture side, we should find ways to limit food waste (Malott throws out about 1200 lbs of food each day), and grow our own food in the Scripps Garden.

Moving forward, Scripps should remain inspired by the ambitious nature of the Green New Deal, and continue to push for a comprehensive and holistic sustainability goals for the college’s future. We are a campus composed of bright and passionate individuals who can (and should) start taking climate action.

Photo Courtesy of

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

Arts & Entertainment • 5

How The Oscars Likes to Talk about Race (And How it Doesn’t)

By Ittai Sopher PZ ’19 Political Correspondent

B

affling filmmakers, “Green Book”, a movie accused by many of portraying outdated narratives about race relations, won the Academy Award for Best Picture on Sunday.

Spike Lee, the filmmaker who won his first Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay category that night for “BlackKKlansman”, and Jordan Peele, who won Best Original Screenplay last year for “Get Out” were among those astonished.

According to the Associated Press, Lee tried to exit the theater when Julia Roberts announced “Green Book” had won, while Peele refused to clap.

“Green Book”’s win is not surprising given that The Academy Awards are obsessed with history.

Five out of seven of the films nominated for Best Picture this year are period pieces. 11 out of the 20 acting nominations this year are for actors playing real-life individuals.

Historically though, the black cast and crew of these movies are mostly snubbed by The Academy. Today, Halle Berry remains the only black woman to win Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in 2001’s “Monster’s Ball”. In addition, only four black actors have won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. So far, no black directors have won Best Director. The #OscarsSoWhite movement protested this lack of diversity after The Academy only nominated white actors during the ceremonies held in 2015 and 2016.

For behind the scenes work though, the 91st Oscars presented black women with the most awards to date, with Ruth E. Carter and Hannah Beachler taking home the prizes for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design,

respectively, for their work on the superhero film “Black Panther”, which also featured a mostly black cast.

“Only three black women have won Oscars for anything other than acting,” journalist Kyle Buchanan wrote on Twitter. “Two of them just happened tonight.”

Lee credited The Academy’s recognition of black crewmembers to the #OscarsSoWhite movement in a press conference backstage.

“Without April Reign, #OscarsSoWhite … I wouldn’t be here tonight,” Lee said referencing the activist who started the hashtag in 2015. “They opened up The Academy to make The Academy look more like America — it’s more diverse.”

Another cost of the Oscars preferential treatment to period pieces is that the Academy ignores movies that tackle social issues from a contemporary perspective. “Blindspotting” followed Collin Hoskins (played by Daveed Diggs), a black man on probation in gentrified Oakland, Calif., who is afraid to face the consequences of speaking out against a police murder that he witnessed. The movie was met with critical praise, garnering a 94 percent rating on RottenTomatoes, yet was not nominated for any awards at this year’s Oscars.

As my brother pointed out in a conversation over-the-phone, “Blindspotting” even deserved a nomination for Best Original Song, for one scene, which contains the best spoken-word poetry that I have ever witnessed. I won’t spoil the movie, but anyone who has seen it knows what I am talking about.

Another film “Sorry to Bother You”, which Jazmine Joyner of Okayplayer, the alternative media website, said it’s “not just a film about code-

switching and upward mobility. It is a film about the dangers of capitalism and how one could lose themselves trying to keep up with the Joneses,” was also locked out of the Oscars, receiving zero nominations.

Boots Riley, who wrote and directed “Sorry to Bother You”, criticized Spike Lee’s depiction of race relations in “BlackKKlansman” in a Twitter post last August. “Without these fabricated story-notes that BlackKKlansman hits upon Ron Stallworth looks like a hero, and so does his partner and the police force,” Riley wrote about BlackKKlansman’s real-life protagonist.

“Without the made up stuff and what we know of the actual history of police infiltration into radical groups, and how they infiltrated and directed White Supremacist organizations to attack those groups, Ron Stallworth is the villain.”

Nonetheless, Spike Lee’s screenplay win for BlackKKlansman is historic in that Lee himself has been shut out from the Oscars, despite receiving critical acclaim for his poignant depiction of black leaders and racial tensions in the United States. Particularly, 1989’s “Do The Right Thing”, which received only two nominations in minor categories and zero wins, despite being one of the only movies to ever make legendary film critic Roger Ebert cry.

Lee was the first to acknowledge how “Green Book”’s victory over “BlackKKlansman” echoed “Do The Right Thing”’s loss to “Driving Miss Daisy” in 1989, both winning films featuring sentimentalized view of the race relations in the Jim Crow South.

“I’m snakebit,” Lee said in a press conference after Sunday’s show. “Every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose.”

Fashion-Forward: How One Scripps Student is Helping Others

By Jacqueline Loh ’22 Staff Writer

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eople rushing into Malott before the sushi line gets too long, students chugging Motley coffee before a 1:15 class, the opportunities for people-watching during the lunch rush at Seal Court are endless. One can see people dressed in a variety of different styles. Students wear everything from the latest trends in magazines to repurposed vintage clothes to a blend of traditional cultural clothing with modern styles.

One student stands out in particular for creating their own unique style with an innovative mindset.

Chiugo Rossi Akujobi’s ’21 personal style is punctuated by bright hues contrasted with black. When asked about where they get inspiration for fashion, Akujobi pondered for a bit and said they don’t really have a “fashion idol”, but Instagram provides a lot of inspiration for mixing and matching styles, such as blending vintage overcoats with popular fashion today.

Akujobi joked about Rihanna starting a socks with shoes trend that has greatly influenced their own style today.

Along with seeing what’s trending on Instagram, Akujobi also turns to thrift stores for inspiration. Akujobi was able to get tons of stylish, vintage clothing for as little as $3 in Houston, where they grew up.

While thrifting is a more cost-friendly way for

many students to get new clothing, it is also a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to fashion. Many college students today shop at fast-fashion stores, such as Forever 21 or Zara; these stores often have a greater carbon footprint due to constantly shifting demands and use of unregulated sweatshops.

What stood out to me about the way Akujobi spoke about fashion is how they emphasized the emotional aspect of clothing. Akujobi

@ayeyoblackcindy

reminisced about how fashion changed their life, and helped them feel more confident.

“Clothes don’t define you,” Akujobi said, “but when you step out of the house loving the way you look, it defines the way you treat people that day.”

Recently, Akujobi has blended their love with entrepreneurship by offering styling sessions for students. Akujobi first gained experience with styling while modeling for a company, and styling all their own outfits for the shoots.

Then, as more friends asked them for styling tips, Akujobi got the idea to turn their knack for fashion consultation into something of a small business. This altruistic new take on fashion is innovative, especially the way Akujobi was able to blend their interest in style with their interest in business.

This stands in stark contrast to the stereotype that liberal arts students don’t have real world skills. Akujobi, utilizing their strength in economics, and an interest in fashion, has carved out a niche for themselves while also making the world a better place, something truly to be commended.

Akujobi hopes their business acumen will help people feel more confident and happy with themselves. They believe that something as simple as a nice scarf or accent piece could significantly brighten up someone’s day, and even boost someone’s overall confidence.

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

8 • Features

National Eating Disorders Week

By Alexandra Rivasplata ’22 Staff Writer

The Scripps Eating Disorders Alliance (SEDA) is a new campus organization at Scripps founded as a way to offer support, information, and resources to those recovering from eating disorders, affected by eating disorders, or those wanting to learn about eating disorders, mental health, and body image. This alliance means to act as a community dedicated to preventing eating disorders, encouraging recovery, and celebrating individuals’ uniqueness and value.

SEDA meets every other Sunday evening. To understand more about the specifics of this club, I talked to SEDA’s club president and founder, Clarissa Ann Ylagan ’19.

The Scripps Voice: What is the goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) Week? How can this goal be applied at Scripps?

Clarissa Ann Ylagan: The National Eating Disorders Association sponsors NEDA week, and the 2019 theme is “Come As You Are.” NEDA Week offers opportunities for people to start and join conversations about eating disorders, share their stories, and know that their experiences are valid. The week invites people to come as they are rather than how they think they should be. The larger goal is to increase inclusivity in the eating disorder community by sending the message to all, especially those whose stories have not been widely recognized, that their stories and experiences are valid.

These goals are important in any community.

Eating disorders do not discriminate, and misconceptions about and stigma surrounding eating disorders are harmful to those at risk, struggling, and in recovery and prevent people from getting support. Raising awareness, spreading information, and starting conversations rooted in empathy are constituents of SEDA’s mission. SEDA is registered as an official 2019 NEDAwareness Collaborator.

graphic courtesy of NEDA

TSV: Are you collaborating with other campus organizations for the events of this week?

CAY: SEDA frequently partners with Tiernan Field House at Scripps and the Claremont Colleges Eating Disorders Task Force. SEDA-hosted meetings and events are open to all students and faculty at the Colleges.

TSV: What support is available at the 5Cs, beyond SEDA? CAY: The Eating Disorder Task Force is a collaborative effort by Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS), Student Health Services (SHS), Health Education Outreach (HEO), Athletics, and the Dean of Students office to provide resources and direct services to students struggling with eating disorders.

The Eating Disorder Task Force determines the appropriate level of care and provides referrals or brief individual therapy, nutritional assessments, and health monitoring when suitable.

The NEDA Helpline is available MondayThursday from 9AM to 9PM ET, and Friday from 9AM to 5PM ET. Contact the Helpline for support, resources and treatment options for yourself or a loved one. Helpline volunteers are trained to help you find the information and support you are looking for. Call at (800) 931-2237. The NEDA website also has a chat feature you can use.

TSV: Can students with eating disorders be better supported at Scripps?

CAY: As the sole student member of the Eating Disorders Task Force at the Claremont Colleges, I try my best to communicate to administration

and the Task Force what students need with regard to eating disorders prevention and support. I have also tried to create and share sources of support visible to students and an inclusive eating disorder community. One of the setbacks I have faced is limited funding; the Eating Disorders Task Force does not have funding for programming or events. There is much work to do at the Colleges and with each day, interaction, and experience I learn more about how to go about this work. I hope to be taking important first steps.

TSV: What event are you most looking forward to during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week?

CAY: I am looking forward to bringing Nalgona Positivity Pride (NPP) to the Motley on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. for a talk on “Eating Disorders and Body Love: The Things Mama Didn’t Tell you.”

The organization provides intersectional eating disorders education and community-based support. All at the Colleges are welcome.

Scripps Eating Disorders Alliance (SEDA) offers support, information, and resources to those in recovery and affected by eating disorders. SEDA is a community dedicated to preventing eating disorders, encouraging recovery, and celebrating individuals’ uniqueness and value.

For more information on SEDA, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/scrippsedalliance or send them an email at scrippsedalliance@gmail.

The Cutting Rebellion: A Satire

By Jacqueline Loh ’22 Staff Writer

I

t was the normal dinner rush at the HochShanahan Commons. As per usual, all the tables were filled up, students were piling in for some dining-hall quality slightly-unfresh-butstill-satisfactory sushi, and it was business as usual. The pasta bar line was winding through the Hoch as students waited impatiently to inhale all the carbs they could handle.

However, something wasn’t right. Someone was…walking up to the front of the line? Talking to someone, laughing? Then…getting in line?

This doesn’t seem right…some people have been waiting for half an hour for some tomato-y Italian goodness, how could someone just walk up there and cut in front of basically everyone in the Hoch?

“You can’t just cut in line!” A lone voice shouts from the back of the line. The dining hall comes to a standstill. Students immediately cease their gossiping. The dining hall staff stop scooping food. Everything comes to a

standstill as all eyes settle on the confrontation in the Hoch.

“Actually, I have tendonitis.” And with that, the student returned to their spot near the front of the line. Silence blanketed the hall. Jaws of students dropped. Line-cutter student whipped around and shot a glare at the shouter.

A shouting match ensued, with the two opposing foes screaming about tendonitis, rules of the Hoch, and whether or not aliens would deem this a socially acceptable custom (more on that later). Students on both sides of the debate began slowly joining in on the fight, reaching for food from the trays as artillery.

It only took several hundred pieces of meatballs and California rolls flung across the Commons for Campus Security to be called.

Students were dragged kicking and screaming from the hall, scuffles were breaking out onto Platt Boulevard, and fistfights were taking place in the Rose Garden. The Consortium was coming to pieces, over whether or not it was ethically sound for someone to cut in line

if their friend was in line already.

The Presidents of the Colleges convene.

Harvey Mudd stands its ground, no cutting in line even if your friend is in line. CMC, in true CMC fashion, withdraws from the entire consortium just to build its own dining hall with its own rules on line-cutting (Dining-hallexit? Dexit?). Scripps and Pitzer are just trying to get by, praying that they can attract more prospective students with an extravagant dining hall run by a slightly-amoral French corporation. Pomona raised its hand and suggested letting students cut in line if they have a higher SAT score, because after all, Ivy of the West.

The great philosophical question continued to be debated in the only way a bunch of college students know how: through memes.

Students were taking sides once again, but this time in the comment section. Who has time to study for midterms or write essays when the real question is whether you can cut in line?

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

Opinion • 9

An Open Letter to Cis Women F

or a student body that considers itself to be radical and accepting, Scripps College students continue to ignore and perpetuate transphobia on campus. Straight, cis women on campus laugh about ‘loving dick too much’ to be gay even though they claim that they would love to date women.

Gay, cis women on campus joke that ‘hating dick’ is the root of their gay identity. Nearly every time I correct this kind of trans-exclusive language, I am met with eyerolls, nervous laughs, or an insistence from the person I’ve corrected that they’re not transphobic.

These reactions are always dripping with guilt and discomfort because no one at Scripps wants to be called out for their ignorance. As a result, I, and many others, have to force a laugh and smile to make you feel better, despite the fact that you just implied that my genitals define who I am — that the reason I don’t date men is because they have penises, that you yourself would never date a trans person.

The language that you use matters. When you continue to use language that excludes trans and non-binary people, your transphobia, whether it was intentional or not, exposes itself. We have all been raised in a transphobic society and as a result we all have internalized transphobic ideas and beliefs. Like with any internalized xenophobia/bigotry, we all have an obligation to unlearn this rhetoric and actively work to dismantle the transphobia present in the systems around us.

If you make a mistake sometimes it’s OK, but if

you react with guilt or defensiveness, you’re trivializing the actual pain and discrimination that trans people go through. All your reaction has done is expose your own transphobia. As Audre Lorde said in “The Uses of Anger”, “Guilt is not a response to anger; it is a response to one’s own actions or lack of actions.” Your discomfort from being called out on your transphobia is not worse than experiencing actual transphobia; the same way that being called out on your racism is not worse than experiencing actual racism. When being called out on your transphobic language, try to instead learn from the experience and work harder to validate and include trans people when you speak.

In order to truly be an ally to your trans siblings, it’s not enough to just say that you support them.

You should be actively fighting against the transphobia you see in your life and working to support members of the trans community. This can be done in many different ways: whether on an individual level you support and respect the pronouns, names, and identities of your trans and non-binary friends, or on a larger level fight against the structures at Scripps that continue to create a culture where trans people feel unwelcome.

On an individual level, truly respecting and supporting your trans friends means more than just using their preferred name and pronouns. It means correcting others when they use the wrong language to refer to someone you know.

Sometimes it means not outing your trans friends. I don’t need you to tell me that your friend is trans. The only person who should tell me (if they even want it known!) is your friend. I don’t need to know your trans friend’s deadname. I don’t need to know that “he used to be a she.” I don’t need to

know anything other than their current name and pronouns because it’s none of my business. Unless someone wants to be open about their identity and experience as a trans person, stop outing them to other people.

On a more structural level, work to expose the transphobia and trans exclusive rhetoric that you see at Scripps and in other systems. Pay attention to the language Scripps uses and how it works to erase trans-masculine and non-binary people on campus, as well as trans women. Join organizing work on campus that uplifts trans students and fights to change structures at the 5Cs that perpetuate transphobia.

As students at a historically women’s college, we should all be working to better support and uplift trans folk at Scripps and the broader Claremont Colleges. White cis women especially cannot remain silent when given the privilege and ability to fight against transphobia with few repercussions.

Trans people, especially trans POC, are far too often not listened to or given a voice, which is why it’s so important for those with privilege to amplify the voices of trans folks.

Cis women have to start organizing and showing up for protests that center trans folks, especially trans women of color, and use their cis privilege on behalf of their trans siblings. They need to start viewing their trans sisters and brothers as allies and empathize with and memorialize their loses the same way cis women do for their cis sisters.

If feminism and activism at a historically (white) women’s college is to mean anything, it must be explicitly inclusive of the full range of trans folks that exist and are hurt by cissexism here at the Claremont Colleges.

Homophobia and the Christian Bible

How Modern Homophobes Appropriate Scripture for Hate, and How We Can Fight Back

By Claire Dwyer PO ’20 Staff Writer

T

he rhetoric most commonly used to justify homophobia is, without a doubt, the Bible or the Christian faith. As a medievalist historian and a queer individual with a Catholic extended family that supports me no matter what my sexuality, I’ve always taken issue with this. I’ve consistently had trouble believing it is the religion itself which “legislates hate.” Rather, it is the individual, or in some cases the institution surrounding the religion, which makes such hateful choices, even though it is never something that “Jesus would have done.”

As someone who spends a great deal of time educating herself about Christianity, I am perhaps one of the greatest opponents to this kind of hate, and I take that responsibility seriously. It is hard to argue for homophobic hate against a queer woman deeply educated about religion, because I know that such ridiculous protestations are more than unfounded — they are just worthless misinterpretations of Scripture that do not truly reflect Christian ideals.

Unfortunately, for those who use a few isolated Bible verses to justify their own unimaginable “sin,” we also have Matthew 7:12, which refutes all that hateful quibbling instantly, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (NIV).

But in any case, the best way to refute hatred perpetuated by anti-gay individuals using Christian tropes to justify their bigotry is to ask actual Christians what their religion means to them. For there is nothing more horrifying for those who use “Christian” ideology to promote hate than real Christians, who radiate the love, kindness, and acceptance that is truly commensurate with the core of their faith.

One such Christian is Rebecca Harvey PO ’19, a Roman Catholic who argues rationally and elo-

quently on why it is ridiculous to use the Bible, and Christian ideology in general, to perpetuate homophobic hatred based on just a few passages like Leviticus 18:22.

“The Bible is not a monolith, there are too many contradictions in it for that,” Harvey said. “I once heard someone describe it to me as ‘the Bible is not prescriptive, but rather descriptive.’ It includes everything: sacred stories, cultural norms, history, military records, poetry, mythology, religious law, and prophecy. This means we cannot take everything we read at surface value; by its very nature, it demands that we discuss, question, and interpret it. The way I see it, the Bible’s divine inspiration is not God laying down the law, but rather inviting us into a constant conversation. Also, the Bible was written by humans who saw the world in a very specific way, and very differently than we do now.

I mean, the Bible is all about context.”

The context she speaks of is the very same thing that we as historians or scholars of religious studies grapple with all the time. It is hard for me to see the Bible outside of its “medieval” context — it is, after all, a medieval document, one with a rich and varied history. We must approach its study not only with an understanding about this complex history which it emerged from, but also with an understanding of how all the Bible’s different parts (both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament) collectively contribute to its general message.

Sarah Grace Engel PO’20 is an aspiring Anglican theologian and an individual who sees love at the core of her own faith. “I have grown up in the Episcopal Christian tradition, which openly accepts homosexuality and celebrates samesex marriage,” Engel said. “I believe that scripture on the whole demands that its adherents align themselves with the oppressed; Jesus tells us that our treatment of those whom society rejects is in fact our treatment of him. Personally, I feel my relationship with God calls me to go out into

Graphic Courtesy of Clipart Library

By Hayley Van Allen ’21 Queer Columnist

the world with the intention of radiating love, and sometimes that love comes in the form of confronting systemic injustice.”

Engel sees the love which is truly at the core of Christianity. This is the love with which Jesus lived and the love which ought to be in the media, instead of hatred disguised as Christianity which merely appropriates Scripture.

“If the Bible says any one unified thing, it is that humans have an essential relationship with the divine,” Engel said. “While it gets complicated sometimes, I believe that this relationship is defined by love. Anyone who begrudges that pure love on the basis of difference is profoundly misguided, operating from a mindset of scarcity rather than abundance. Those who believe that God is love and loves humans more than we could possibly comprehend should not be saying, ‘No, there isn’t enough love for you.’ At their best, faiths of all kinds call their adherents to start from a place of compassion, striving to build better lives for each other. We cannot afford to ignore that call.”

And we certainly can’t — not in a world which is so full of bigotry, hatred, and anger. We must live, religious or not, with a focus on promoting change in our world, and on being radically “kind.”

It takes a great degree of courage to do so, to set aside our own worries, to look someone in the eye, and to say, “I love and support you,” whatever that “love” might mean to us.

“My conclusion has always been that God loves us radically, with no limits, in ways that we cannot even begin to understand,” Harvey said.“So, in that tradition I try to practice radical love, which in our current society means loving those who are considered different, deviant, queer, and not restricting our definitions of love to those prescribed to us by our ancestors. God does not restrict Her love for us and radically does not restrict the ways in which we can love.”

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

10 • Health & Lifestyle

COERCION IS NOT CUTE. Faith McDermott ‘20 Staff Writer

I

’m a sucker for a classic love story. Carrie and Big from “Sex and the City”, Noah and Allie from the “Notebook”, all these tales, while different, follow a similar scaffolding: Boy likes Girl, Girl does not like Boy, Boy eventually convinces her otherwise. They ride off into the sunset on a moped, or a bike, or if we’re in the deep south, a vintage pickup truck, usually the type without seatbelts.

Growing up, I never took part in, or really even witnessed a real-life love story. And chances are, many of you reading this are in the same boat.

Children are rarely exposed to a parental romantic love for one of two reasons, the first being they were never privy to their parents’ moments of intimacy, and the latter being that a high percentage of marriages end in divorce. Considering that sex, romance, and passion are not something we learn from our parents or our school systems, society has left it to the media to teach the human population what physical and emotional intimacy looks like between partners.

Starting in middle school I began binge watching episodes of “Sex and The City”, whenever I was home sick with the stomach bug or a runny nose.

The 1990’s phenomenon followed the lives of four Manhattan women, focusing primarily on the love saga between Carrie and Big.Their hot and cold romance kept my eyes glued to the screen, and while their affection was not always mutual, there was a key difference in their methods of pursuit. If Carrie desired Big, and he did not feel the same, she left him alone. However, if Big desired Carrie, and she did not want him in return, he waited outside her apartment, he followed her to Europe, and he wrote her endless love emails. Writing that sentence it’s clear to me that Big’s behavior was creepy. However, when watching the show I, along with many other women not only failed to recognize the problematic nature of this relationship, but I proceeded to romanticize it.

Next, let’s look at the “Notebook”. A Nicholas Sparks novel turned iconic film follows the ‘romance’ of Noah and Allie. However, to get Allie to agree to a date with him, Noah climbs a Ferris wheel, asks her

out, and threatens to let go and plummet several stories if she is to say ‘no.’ Some of you may be saying this scene was all in good fun, and no one would really scale a Ferris wheel and threaten their death if the object of their desire wasn’t interested.

Many of you would probably say the same thing about Big, as who has the money, time, and guts to follow their crush internationally. And on a certain level that’s true: grand gestures in media rarely happen in reality. However, both of these love stories end with the guy getting the girl, and so audiences are left with a very perverted message.

These acts of sexual harassment are not only acceptable acts of affection, but they’re effective ones too. In summary: To get the girl you can’t take ‘no’ for answer.

Now, I haven’t been stalked, or sent dozens of flowers asking for forgiveness, or been bombarded with voicemails from potential suitors. However, a few weekends ago, while being blinded by strobe lights at Club Claremont, I reconnected with a guy who I had met through a mutual friend. Let’s call him “Carl”.

Carl seemed nice enough — so I journeyed back to his room, settled in on his couch, and the two of us started browsing for something to watch. I’m well aware that an invite to go back to someone’s room and watch TV is very rarely an opportunity to bond over your mutual love of Netflix Originals. However, when a glorified stranger’s lips practically jump you before a show’s theme song has even ended, it can feel a little jarring, especially when that’s not something you had in mind.

I want to make clear that it wasn’t Carl’s attempt at a Netflix makeout session that disturbed me. We had kissed prior, so it wasn’t unreasonable of him to think I’d want to do it again. The problem lied in his response, as when I pulled away and said I just wanted to watch the show, he grabbed my chin, put his lips close to mine, and whispered that we could watch TV after having sex.

Carl like many of us learned about heterosexual relationships from Hollywood. As discussed above, the ‘don’t take no for an answer’ technique is everywhere. And so when I declined his advances yet again, Carl’s response of, “What? Why not? So what are we going to do instead?” was practically scripted.

While I eventually became fed up with Carl’s antics and left, there was a part of me that felt I had been the one in the wrong. After declining him a second

Finding Your 5C Soulmate: Datamatch Comes to Claremont Aya Burton ’22 and Sarah Nunez-Lafontaine ’22 Staff Writers

I

’m lonely. The kind of lonely that involves Buzzfeed quizzes and copious amounts of ice cream. I regularly check my horoscope for love predictions. I ask friends to set me up. And for the briefest moment, I learned to swipe on Tinder. So when the flier outside my door advertised love, who was I to object?

This Valentine’s season, the free matchmaking service, Datamatch, came to the Claremont Colleges to spice things up for those riding solo (either by choice or not) through the hell that is cuffing season. Teaming up with the Harvard Computer Society, The Golden Antlers launched the survey on Feb. 6, giving participants until Feb. 13 to answer 20 questions that supposedly would “match you with the love of your life.” Interested students simply had to sign up and complete the survey made by The Golden Antler’s team in order to receive their matches on Valentine’s Day. On their Facebook page, The Golden Antlers claimed that “despite our tomfoolery in the past, we are excited to bring DataMatch to the 5Cs and

Image courtesy of Harvard Datamatch

help bridge connections across the campuses.”

The creators of the algorithm repeated this sentiment, Supreme Cupid (and yes, that is how he wanted to be titled) Russell Pekala (Harvard ‘19), described how the purpose of the service is to help students make connections and to have a good time. Although Datamatch provides a list of like-minded individuals with whom one might be compatible, it’s ultimately up to the survey-taker to reach out for a date or conversation over brunch.

One could even make an event of it, setting up “a group meeting with all your matches to figure out who is best for you.”

For many, Datamatch was a perfect alternative to Tinder. Those hesitant to enter the world of online dating said Datamatch seemed a less intense version of other dating platforms since only 5C students could participate. Others completed the survey as more of a joke, enjoying the absurd questions asking whether they were more likely to be found blacked out at “the Hoch salad bar line” or the “10K massage chair in Student Health.”

Image courtesy of HBO time he appeared genuinely shocked, and his voice wreaked of annoyance, as if it bewildered him that my decision was up for discussion. As if I had inconvenienced or insulted him by saying I didn’t want to.

Carl, just like Noah and Big, assumed that if he was persistent enough I would eventually ‘give in’.

Not only because of his charm, and supposed good looks, but because Hollywood perpetuates the false idea that no means “convince me to say yes”. This romanticization of a twisted pursuit is perverted, manipulative, and flat out gross. However, it is also quite common. I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t been coerced into being with a guy or at least been made to feel guilty for saying no. Girls are demonized for declining prom invites, or sexual advances, or even a simple ride home, and it only worsens as they become women.

This is not to say that men are always the coercers and women are always the ones being coerced, as both parties can lie on any part of the coercion spectrum. However, on-screen romances often give men the idea that they are entitled to a women’s body, love, and desire. It also leads women to believe that they owe a man something.

Let me make something very clear: you do not owe anyone anything. You do not have to justify your decision to opt-out. Saying the word “no” is never something you should feel obligated to apologize for, and for those who are granted permission to touch, love, or desire you — they are guests in your home. A home where you make the rules, you decide the guestlist, and above all else, you should feel comfortable.

As first-years, many of my friends and I had difficulty answering certain questions which required niche knowledge of 5C customs and culture. For instance, those who haven’t been on campus long might not perceive the nuanced differences between 5C parties, from “getting squirted in the eye with paint at Mudd” to “walking to a Pomona party and leaving after a couple minutes.” Freshmen experienced similar troubles recognizing the 5Cs’ most iconic art pieces, such as the “Johnny Sins” statue, characterized as “hot and unbothered,” or “The CMC Pregnancy Test: white, lanky, and proud.”

When it comes down to it, the beauty of Datamatch is that it can be whatever you want it to be — an entertaining quiz used to pass the time, a legitimate way to meet potential romantic partners, or simply something to strike up a conversation about during Valentine’s season. At the very least, one’s sure to get a laugh out of the silly, 5C-specialized questions and maybe undergo some self-reflection as they consider whether they most value “a gentle countenance reminiscent of Karl Rove” or a “Flex balance > $32” in a romantic interest.

So I, a member of the perpetually-single club, took a shot in the dark and took the quiz. And lo-and-behold, on the dreaded day of roses and chocolates, I logged into my account and found my matches. Sadly, none of my matches and I ended up meeting. We will continue to exist as strangers, perhaps reminiscing about what might have been.

However, this entire experience has, in a rather odd way, given me hope of finding love. Because if thousands of people were willing to take a ridiculous survey in the hopes of finding a connection, at least one of them is bound to be the one for me.

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

Health & Lifestyle • 11

Are We Too Old to Learn a Thing or Two From “Sex Education”?

By Sage Molasky ’22 Staff Writer o, I dare say we are not. “Sex Education”, the new Netflix series from creator Laurie Nunn follows Otis (Asa Butterfield), a socially awkward 17-year-old high school student and his escapades through sex, love and friendship. Sounds quite quotidien, does it not? Think again.

His mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson), is a sex therapist. And despite Otis’ dismay at having such a mother, Otis soon realizes that he too —after years listening to his mom talk about strap- ons and erectile dysfunction — has a knack for administering some spot on sex therapy himself.

Maeve (Emma Mackey), the vividly smart and enigmatically sexy bad girl at school — realizes Otis’ hidden talent, and convinces him to join her in creating an underground business, dishing out sex advice for cold hard cash. The unlikely pair soon discover that sex advice for high schoolers is in high demand. Along the way, the duo embark upon a nuanced bildungsroman of teenage lust, sexual missteps and, ultimately, a stumbling upon love.

The series is full of archetypes, much like the star himself, but what sets this adolescent saga apart from others, is how it breathes new life into the

N

ask

Lue

Luena Maillard is a junior who is passionate about holistic health and education. In high school, she was employed by Planned Parenthood as a Peer Health Educator to teach sex ed classes to high schoolers.

She is currently working as a PHE here on campus, and you can find her during her office hours at Tiernan Field House for oneon-one conversations!

Q

A

Dear Lue, Should someone start with a vibrator or a dildo?

-Hmm Hmmm

Hey Hmm Hmmm!

It’ll depend on what you like and what you’re looking for! If you’re more into external stimulation, definitely go with a vibrator, if you’re more into internal stimulation, think about a dildo!

Vibrators are nice because some can be used for both internal and external stimulation, allowing for more versatility in case you’re not sure which stimulation you prefer. Since it’s your first toy, I would say make a list of what you’re looking for (type of stimulation, size, price) and go exploring on an online sex store! Find some you’re interested in, read the reviews, and make sure you read the details on material, size, and noise level carefully so you know what you’re ordering. Have fun browsing!

-Lue

carcasses of cinema selves. Otis, yes, has a gay best friend, Eric, but he is much more than a notch on “Sex Education”’s diversity belt. Ncuti Gatwa delivers a bright but solemn journey as Eric, navigating his way with immigrant parents, religious struggle, familial obligations, and pride for his queer identity.

Maeve, as aforementioned, screams a kind of manic-pixie-dream girl type, but Mackey and the glorious writers give this badass even more rough edges — their nuanced depiction of abortion, parental absence, substance abuse and Maeve’s wit (in and out of the classroom) makes the character so very real.

A host of other personalities— including Adam, the Headmaster’s unruly son (Connor Swindells), Lily, the sex-obsessed virgin writing comic-book erotica (Tanya Reynolds), and Jackson, the superstar, head boy jock (Kedar Williams-Stirling)— redefine our notions of stock characters, making us laugh and connecting, deeply, with our shared humanness.

This is where “Sex Education” truly sets itself on fire, alight in the thicket of many an overdramatized youth television show.

The costumes and set are reminiscent of an 80s rural, British high school, set to a kick ass 70s soundtrack. A cacophonous conglomeration of

Q

A

iPhones and neon puffers and 90s grunge, “Sex Education” gives us a deliciously inviting world — isolated in its eccentricity and yet utterly accessible in its unapologetic humanity.

Within this world, void of a clear historical context, it is the middle-aged explorations of sexuality that add to its Truth. Otis’ mother, Jean is both liberated and troubled by her sexual past — and her heartwarming relationship with the striking Jakob (Mikael Persbrandt) presents a wonderful juxtaposition with those of the younger generation.

Ola (Patricia Allison), Jakob’s daughter, is likewise enchanting. And, what’s more, to our delight, “Sex Education” deals with so much more than mere titillation — from episodes dealing with loss, sexual predation and conflict with our multitudinous identities, “Sex Education” illustrates love in its many forms and intricacies.

Even the most progressive and enlightened of souls has something to gain from this roaring circus of fun. It is a must watch for anyone in need of a good laugh or a good excuse to see true television at its finest. “Sex Education” is, quite simply, a show about being human. And for that reason, its is the kind of learning we all ought to be doing, every day of our lives.

Dear Lue, I was recently called ‘sex-negative’ for saying that I thought a certain sex act was degrading to women. I’d like to think I am open, but I don’t see how not liking one sex act makes me ‘sex-negative’?

-Confused in Claremont

Hey Confused!

I hear you asking whether being sex-positive requires you not to find any forms of sexual activity degrading. I want you to know that it’s fine for you to find some sexual acts degrading!

You’ve touched on a very salient issue and the answer isn’t easy.

Historically, sex-positivity as a movement came about as a form of combating a puritanical society which associated sex with being dirty and shameful.

Sex-positivity does not have one concrete definition. However, most boil down to this: sex-positivity is the holding of an attitude towards sexuality that deems all consensual sexual activities as healthy, encourages pleasure and experimentation, and promotes safer sex and informed consent.

Does the act you are uncomfortable with fit this definition? The definition itself is idyllic, but I think the situation you may have encountered, unfortunately, sheds light on a problem with the practice: many feminists who espouse sex-positivity do so without critical analysis.

One argument is that any choice we make around our sexuality is inherently empowering because the very act of being able to make that choice is empowering.

However, if we make that argument, we are overlooking an important aspect of what it means to live in a society — socialization.

We don’t live in a vacuum and therefore none of our choices do either. For example, I enjoy wearing makeup because I like it and I think it is pretty. The fact that I can choose to put on makeup or not might be empowering, but I cannot escape the fact that I have grown up in a society that tells me that to wear makeup is to be beautiful and to go without is to be ugly.

Perhaps if I grew up without this messaging I wouldn’t want to wear it at all. Knowing that

socialization might have had an effect on my choices allows me to question the ‘why’ behind my makeup habits.

Our sexual choices are also affected by socialization, thereby necessitating the critical analysis of those choices. While much of this analysis is up to the individual, it is up to the group to foster a space where there can be dialogue. Unfortunately, there is a faction of the sex-positive movement who don’t leave room for discussing questions surrounding the extent to which our choices can be empowering given that we are all still navigating oppressive structures.

What do you find degrading about the act in question? Is it because it reminds you of patriarchal idealisms? It is important to note that finding a sex act degrading does not necessarily mean you are judging people who decide to engage in the act. Your opinion on how this act portrays women does not automatically make you sex-negative. Instead, it opens up a discussion on why you find this degrading, why someone might choose to participate in that act, and how it might be reinforcing existing power structures.

Sex-positivity is becoming increasingly black-and-white. This progression can be seen both on and off campus, often with the effect of people who want to engage in a conversation being automatically labeled as sex-negative. Approaching every question of a very intricate issue with a dismissive label is a disservice to the very foundation of the theory. As a sex-positive columnist, I would like to invite us all into a more open discussion surrounding empowerment and degradation, as it is up to the group to help create a space in which the individual can feel comfortable in understanding and embracing the ‘whys’ behind their decisions.

-Lue

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

12 • Creative

What love sounds like

by Nyarai Khepra ’22

His heartbeat becomes my favorite melody His existence reminds me of my favorite love song Reminds me that love does exist cause I found it in him.

Found out how to measure my love.

The bass in his voice remains unmatched Remains my favorite sound in the universe It’s universally known that he has my heart In his hands.

A chord is created when we’re together Simultaneously sounded If our love was audible it’d be crescendo Growing beautiful never flat His love feels like forte Even when I’m not strong enough to reciprocate When I’m not loud enough He still hears my cries And my wants and needs My harmony Would cease to exist without him

His love is like a song So memorable, unforgettable.

If I could I’d put it on repeat I would I’d learn every line Just hoping and praying that it’d get stuck in my head like a catchy song That I’d never forget it, like his touch.

When he’s around My heart beats louder than any bass ever could when I see his face I’m reminded of the sweetest melody Reminded of the butterflies in my stomach And the love in his eyes On his lips On his mind I remain constantly Constant like the tempo Oftentimes I forget that he isn’t a part of me That I can exist without him and him without me My beat My ballad My baby is my My favorite love song

do not repel me, as you do water

by Anna Mitchell ’22 I I know nothing of the desert. I was born and raised in an arctic cave, what Plato imagined to exist in my conscious mind. Plato clings on my neck. An imp. One hair, two hairs, blown out of his scalp. They drifted, like samaras, down the slopes of my shoulder – and hip and calf and heel – onto the gravel of our driveway.

Summers were sticky, even at the end of the earth, so we guzzled powdered lemonade and sweat through our jackets. I know shades of grass, the wet undersides of boulders, radio hum, and steamy venison stew.

My house, or, what later felt like an envelope, a porcelain tub, a cranny between glaciers. An inky airway between two frigid palms. A painting restored by the not-sonimble hand of recollection.

Despite our utter lack of each other, the desert seems to know lots about me. Before we even met. So, finally, we meet. And it floors me, how intricately and intimately I am known by a sand dune. Why does this surprise me? How undeveloped must I be? Minerva Hoyt would have punched me.

II Here is a brief account of why I am here: One Tuesday, after dropping my apron in the canvas bag, soiled, I was hit with a memory hard enough to bruise the soul like a punch does the body. My father, my sister and I, in search of the big-horned sheep.

We wound up wooded hills, down barren gulches; through teeming valleys, over mountains whose slopes appeared gentle as a giant’s knees until you’re seesawing on its peak.

On our fourth day in transit, still a day’s journey from the sheeplands or holylands or holy sheep lands, out my window, I observed, for the very first time, big love.

The big love was contained by a valley, which we cut through

[about where its rib might be] parallel to the low lying creek-spine, iridescent, azur. It was fuller than an unopened ice cream tub, brighter than a day-time television show, vaster than school, deeper than poems can be pressed into stone.

I have yet to see an apron since. That past, I’ve come to understand, is neither within nor without me. It is both.

The vague memory of violet mountains, so compelling as to swell the organ of my brain and induce gnawing, snapping aches. This is why I drink Coca Cola. In a can.

III I reach the valley in a matter of hours. Father drove roundabout routes, guided by coffee stains on the map. Since retiring myself to the dust, I have become a query-sponge. What can my lover do for humanity? My lover is not a scientist, nor an artist who sharpens his pen on the whetstone of truth. My lover is kind, though he is not good.

Later, as I pull over towards a plain where one tall plant is silhouetted by the moonlight in the shape of a human, I ponder how like my cave desert at dusk can be. If we work together. Then, nightness smothers day, an impassioned struggle notwithstanding. [The struggle is beauty and power.]

IV Sand stings sharper than muddy ice crystals, under the crescents of my fingernails, buffed by fatigue and dusty as moth’s wings ablaze under summer lamplight.

V Without you, the desert is as blank as death. I imagine death both as absence and as waiting. For reincarnation, that is. When I kneel down beside a lone sage, sometimes I think I can almost see the softness of Antonia’s skin in its leaves, the unrelenting summer of her eyes. Oh, Antonia.

VI At day

break, I unfurl, zip on a jacket, twist the hair on my ankles. I adjust my tent stakes, pee, gather debris to light on fire. I stretch out my toes. They do the writing for me. They write: To my lover, You sought quite a different sort of mountain from the one I affix to my internal horizon line. You guzzle thick warm beer like a boar or a bear tantalized by a day in a human’s flesh. You pack cookies with peanut butter and chocolate in all your pockets, in case the snow threatens to swallow you. You trip on small pebbles caught in frozen puddles in the parking lot of a motel, where a bus sputters and squeals, stopping, every morning, at your doorstep. You gather snow from out your sliding glass door and let it melt by the heater, because the very prospect of buying water with such an abundance is like the suggestion that a deer in a lush wood buy a ten foot by ten foot plot of ferns and underbrush for grazing. Or maybe it’s not quite like that. I have never been a deer, and I have not yet stopped loving you, either. I wonder if I will.

Yours, Cressi [You are right. This was in no manner intended for matters of the heart. Though I find them now quite inseparable, especially considering that I left him the day I came to the valley. That is not a crucial detail. We are dying, and I must speak.]

Part VII There is a rule of seven. It is not well known, except for in the desert, particularly in the subterranean jungles such as these that survive as echoes and as shouts. It states that one should pursue no more than seven endeavors at once. You were my eighth. But now, you are the desert. And I ask you, do not repel me, as you do water.

Graphic by Molly Antell

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

6

SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Vanessa Tyson: In Support of One of Our Own

Copy Editor

D

r. Vanessa Tyson is an esteemed and invaluable member of the Scripps community — this is the sentiment echoed by students, faculty, and Scripps Administration alike in the wake of her allegations against Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax.

Dr. Tyson’s allegations came in the form of a private Facebook post, which she made shareable upon request, and quickly circulated around the internet. This post was made in reaction to the possibility that Justin Fairfax would step in as governor if current governor, Ralph Northam, resigned due to photos from his medical school yearbook depicting Northam posing in blackface. As of yet, neither politician has stepped down.

Virginia Republicans have begun to organize a public hearing where Dr. Tyson and Meredith Watson, another woman who has stepped forward with allegations against Fairfax, have been invited to testify. Both women have confirmed their willingness to testify, however Dr. Tyson is pushing for a bipartisan committee.

Fairfax believes the FBI should investigate, despite the non-federal nature of the accusations against him (should Dr. Tyson choose to press criminal charges against Fairfax, she would do so through the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office in Massachusetts).

On Feb. 6, five days after her initial Facebook post, Dr. Tyson and her legal team released a statement wherein she discussed her assault, which occurred at the Democratic National Convention in Boston July 2004. She depicts that she and Fairfax engaged in consensual

kissing which quickly devolved into an assault when Fairfax physically forced her to perform oral sex.

In a statement to CBS News, Fairfax denied these allegations, asserting that their encounter was entirely consensual, and that some time afterward Dr. Tyson continued to talk to him, hoping to plan a trip to Columbia University (where Fairfax was in law school) so he could meet her mother.

In this, Fairfax not only denied Tyson’s claims, but with a quiet chuckle, attempted to debunk Dr. Tyson’s credibility. He tried to code her as desperate —as the kind of person who would never refuse his sexual advances, the kind of person who might take pleasure in ruining his political career. Fairfax also subtly worked into his statement the fact that he has a high-level degree from an Ivy League institution, perhaps hoping that his educational background would serve as evidence of his character, as evidence of the fact that he could never have committed an act of assault. This tactic was similarly used by Brett Kavanaugh when he faced allegations of sexual misconduct from Dr. Christine BlaseyFord last September.

In his statement, Fairfax used Dr. Tyson’s own words against her, stating that their interaction was not only “a consensual encounter”, but that Dr. Tyson “admits” to this fact in her telling of the story because she acknowledged that their encounter began consensually. This statement blatantly conceals Dr. Tyson’s right to revoke consent at any point during a sexual encounter, especially as said encounter escalates. Fairfax also cited the fact that Dr. Tyson gave her story to The Washington Post when he initially ran for office, and they elected not to publish it.

He claims that The Washington Post found

“significant red flags and inconsistencies within [Dr. Tyson’s] allegations”, a claim the news source promptly refuted.

Dr. Tyson’s statement, which came out three days after Fairfax’s aforementioned conversation with the press, relays Dr. Tyson’s encounter with Fairfax extremely plainly, almost painfully so. The letter is both conscious and critical of not only Fairfax’s claims, but the hostility survivors are met with in our current political climate — particularly when they try to tell their stories. Dr. Tyson very explicitly states that she did not consent to anything beyond kissing, and that she avoided Fairfax for the rest of the DNC and did not attempt to contact him again, as he claims she did. She rebuts his statement regarding The Washington Post article and denies any political motivation to her actions. Dr. Tyson also very powerfully admits to the “shame” she experienced after her assault: a shame which she, “like most survivors”, was forced to bury “as a necessary means” to seek success in her desired field.

Moreover, Dr. Tyson, putting herself on a level playing field with Fairfax, cites her education at the University of Chicago and her professorship at “a prestigious women’s college” to assert that she is just as accomplished as Fairfax, just as legitimate in the eyes of a society which conflates the pedigree of one’s degree with their worth. Dr. Tyson anticipates and responds to the backlash inherent in telling her story, insisting that being “branded a liar” is “routinely the case when women come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent men.” In this, she reifies the courage it takes for survivors to publically share their stories in a world that is ready to attack them for doing so. She reminds us of all the reasons why

survivors do not come forward, and allows us to marvel at her bravery for doing so regardless.

The Scripps community quickly made moves to confirm their support for Dr. Tyson, as did movements for women in politics. SAS released a statement of support and solidarity with Dr. Tyson and 5C community members have been given a space to write their name to confirm their support for Dr. Tyson.

A similar type of letter was released by the Women’s Caucus for Political Science & #MeTooPoliSci. Women’s Caucus for Political Science is a nonprofit seeking to promote equal opportunities for women within the discipline of political science, which spearheaded the #MeTooPoliSci movement, giving femaleidentifying/women+ political scientists a space to discuss their experiences with sexual misconduct. These two platforms also organized a statement of support for graduate students and academics of any discipline to sign, which attests to the strength of her character, the importance of the advocacy she does in her personal life and in her work, and how difficult it is for women of color to tell their stories of assault while existing under a “status quo [which] favors power and privilege.” The letter also affirms that its signers, and hopefully, the discipline of political science more broadly, “hold our government responsible and accountable for the misdeeds of its elected representatives.” A GoFundMe has also popped up to fund Dr. Tyson’s legal fees, which has raised $30,000 thus far.

Additionally, the Scripps community sought more personalized approaches to supporting Dr. Tyson. Several letter writing campaigns emerged, where volunteers offered to either write letters that students could submit electronically or deliver letters students had written themselves to Dr. Tyson. This gave students the space to personalize their support to Dr. Tyson, which a larger statement of solidarity simply cannot accomplish. One of these letter writing campaigns was organized by Lina Mihret ’18, a Scripps graduate, who did so to “communicate to Prof. Tyson that she has a community of people at Scripps that will support her.” She also hopes that her efforts will help set a precedent of support, that her work will show community members that if they are in need, this community will show up for them.

Mihret added that her efforts to stand with Dr. Tyson were made to address the fact that Scripps Administration would likely remain silent on the issue. “I knew that Scripps as an institution wouldn’t vocally support Prof.

Tyson,” Mihret said. “So it would again be up to the community to organize support for one of our own.”

Mihret also asserted that Scripps has a responsibility to support its black students, staff and faculty, given its status as a predominantly white institution. Dr. Tyson is one of five black female professors at Scripps, and the institution’s failure to advocate on her behalf indicates the larger systemic issue: places like Scripps claim to support women of color by making abstract statements, but do not actively show up for women of color when the opportunity arises.

Photo Courtesy of Scripps College

Graphic by Emilie Hu ’21, Design Editor

By Madison Yardumian ’21

7

According to an article by The Student Life, Scripps Vice President for External Relations and Institutional Advancement Binti Harvey stated that “while we are unable to comment on the incident in question, which occurred prior to Professor Tyson’s employment at Scripps College, we support women sharing their stories of sexual assault as a powerful tool for healing and change.”

This statement seems to purposefully distance itself from Dr. Tyson’s assault by asserting that it occurred before she was hired (thus making a statement of support unnecessary?), and makes an abstract statement of support for survivors without doing much of anything to suggest this support is anything more than a

individually to flood President Tieden’s inbox with such demands. President Tiedens responded to each student individually. She insisted that the college was in contact with Dr. Tyson and her legal team and are doing all they can to avoid “unintentionally increas[ing] Professor Tyson’s emotional, professional, or legal burden.” According to President Tiedens, being in contact with Dr. Tyson’s legal team is “the best form of support the college can provide.”

Narang believes that this statement is “a copout” and distrusts the notion that “supporting Dr. Tyson behind closed doors was the only and best form of support the school could provide.”

By remaining silent, Scripps has inadvertently communicated to its student body that the only way to support survivors is to state that you support survivors.

While the Scripps Administration has asserted its legal inability to outwardly stand with survivors and women of color, I am proud that the wider Scripps community has sought to rectify this and support Dr. Tyson. Narang describes how a Scripps professor delivered notes of support from students to Dr. Tyson, who was apparently “deeply touched, moved, and grateful for our support.”

Support matters. These seemingly small actions are ways of indicating that survivors and their experiences matter in a world which continually delegitimizes their perspective and denounces their right to be heard and believed. “[Students] should continue to send their support to Professor Tyson in whatever way they can,” Narang said. By writing letters to Dr. Tyson, having conversations with Scripps administration, contacting our legislators and asking them to push for Fairfax’s resignation, and more, the Scripps community can continue to support one of our own.

Support matters. These seemingly small actions are ways of indicating that survivors and their experiences matter in a world which continually delegitimizes their perspective and denounces their right to be heard and believed.

28 February, 2019 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XXVIII • Issue Six

political move necessitated by Scripps’ status as a historically women’s college. This statement is also unsurprisingly color-blind, failing to acknowledge the hurdles women of color especially face in reporting sexual assault, and also fails to address the particular scrutiny Dr. Tyson faces by making her assault public information, a scrutiny which Scripps had the opportunity to counter, and did not take.

Niyati Narang ’20 was unsatisfied with Scripps’ response, and organized a group of students to write a letter to President Tiedens asking Scripps Administration to stand by Dr. Tyson in the form of a public statement.

The letter asserted that “to not publicly and boldly speak out on behalf of Professor Tyson... reinforces those that attempt to silence her, and survivors at the national scale writ large” and “undermine[s] the founding principles that our community is built upon.”

Students were advised to send this email