17 November, 2016
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Claremont colleges unite against hate By Anna Liss-Roy ‘20 Staff Writer
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n Friday, November 11 at 2pm crowds of students, faculty and community members assembled at the steps of the Claremont Colleges Library for a student-organized rally called “Claremont Colleges United Against Hate.” In a public Facebook group summoning the local community to action, its organizers described the event as an effort “to condemn the vitriolic hate spread by Donald Trump” and to “demand and reaffirm the Claremont Community’s dedication to protect LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, disability rights, religious freedom, and all other marginalized communities attacked by Trump.” Protestors were asked to wear all black. The event commenced around 2:15 p.m. with opening remarks by chief organizer Jacquelyn Aguilera PZ ’19, who recounted her shock and terror in response to Trump’s presidential victory. Standing on a raised platform, one fist gripping the megaphone, the other raised in the air, Aguilera asked the crowd to repeat a quote by Assata Shakur: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support one another. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Photo by Jessica Padover ‘18
To the beat of a pounding drum, Aguilera and several other organizers led the mass of protestors in a route around the consortium, chanting “America Was Never Great,” “Black lives matter,” “Migrant rights are human rights,” and “El pueblo unido, jamás sera vencido.” After the march, students and faculty shared personal experiences and discussed what it means to be an ally to marginalized groups, as well as possible routes of support to take. “It is not wrong to support our Muslim brothers and sisters and to fight Trump’s promise to ban them,” said Pitzer professor Jose Calderon, who emphasized the importance of
working to “create a kind of equal and just world that we want to live in in our dorms, in our cafeterias, in our classrooms, and in our communities.” “We stand in solidarity against the hate that has become normalized discourse in this campaign…we do not believe in building walls,” said Nigel Boyle, Interim Dean of Faculty at Pitzer. Fo l l o w i n g f a c u l t y s p e a ke r s , undocumented students from the Claremont Colleges stood in front of the crowd, arms around each other. “I am speaking to our allies,” one student speaker said. “It matters.” In Aguilera’s closing remarks, she listed three possible courses
of action: supporting the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition, continuing to express dissent, and self-educating, listening, and practicing radical self-love. “For many of us, existence itself is an act of resistance,” said Aguilera. “[Self-love] is especially important for marginalized communities now that our identities are under attack. Without self-love and understanding you are both worthy and capable of love, it would be difficult to continue the battle.” The protest itself was a flurry of different components met with applause and the occasional standing ovation, bound together by forwardlooking rhetoric and the theme of enduring-- no matter how difficult the next four years may prove to be. “Those not shaken to their soul with agony have no say in how we feel, deal, or fight. This election was never a game for if our survival would be comfortable or awkward, it was a question of if our survival would be possible at all,” said Eliamani Ismail ’20 in a poem she had written that she read into the megaphone, as protestors jumped to their feet in a standing ovation. “The march was not an action but rather a call-to-action,” said Aguilera. “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Students come together to celebrate diwali Emily Diamond ‘20 Staff Writer
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n S u n d ay N ov. 1 3 , ove r 1 0 0 students and community members gathered inside McKenna Auditorium to celebrate Diwali, a Hindu holiday widely commemorated throughout India, South Asia, and the world. The holiday, which coincides with the Hindu New Year, represents the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. The celebration in McKenna Auditorium included a prayer session, a traditional Indian dinner, a henna/mendhi table, performances from several groups, and
Inside This Issue:
open dancing. Before praying, students of the Hindu Society led an informative session regarding the history and traditions of Diwali. Students explained that Diwali lasts five days. The first day is known as Dhan Tera, and people worship to Dhanvantari Trayodashi, the teacher of physicians; the second is Naraka Chaturdashi, and is a day to abolish laziness and evil; the third is Deepavali, which translates to Diwali and marks the end of the financial year; the fourth is Annakutsav, considered the first day of the new year; and the final day is Bhai Beej, which celebrates siblings.
Page 2 - Diwali
Discover more about the Hindu festival of lights
Following the prayers, students ate an assortment of traditional Indian food and chatted about traditions at home. “During Diwali, everyone goes home and spends time with their families. It’s different here in the sense that I’m with friends instead of family on Diwali,” said Aakriti Anand ‘18 at Claremont McKenna college. “What I miss from back home is we play cards. It’s like a mini casino. We always played the game called Rummy,” Bhabika Booragadda ‘18 at Claremont McKenna. Shringi Diva Vikram ‘20 said her favorite part about celebrating in India is looking at the beautiful candles and
Page 9 - SCAMFest
Check out what SoCal A Capella groups had to sing about
1030 Columbia Avenue | Claremont, CA 91711 | Box 839 email: scrippsvoice@gmail.com | Volume XX | Issue Four
lamps, but here she feels a great sense of community. “It’s comforting to be surrounded by others who are also celebrating this holiday and can relate to my traditions. I really miss home right now but there is still something really special about this,” she said. “The celebration at the Claremont Consortium is a place where your culture and religion are respected and where you can still act accordingly to it and celebrate all those major times,” said Meghana ‘17, President of the Hindu Society. “Other people are just as excited about it even if they’re not Indian or Hindu. Everyone
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Page 12 - Protest
See the most compelling images from the Trump march
2 • News
sas holds beheard forum, discusses sexual health issues
By Anna Liss-Roy ‘20 Staff Writer
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n November 8, Scripps Associated Students (SAS) hosted its second BeHeard forum of the year. Assembled around a coffee table in the Student Union as election results trickled in, Natalie Knops ’19 and Julia Gill ’20 led a discussion with a small group of students about Sexual Health at Scripps and the Consortium. The forum, held on election night, understandably drew a lower turnout than the first BeHeard event, but stimulated a wideranging conversation about topics pertinent to the lives of many students, including birth control, stigmas and burdens that come with contraception, accessibility to contraception and pregnancy tests, and the heteronormative nature of rhetoric involving sex and contraception on campus. “Though Scripps aims to be very open and progressive, there is definitely still internalized stigma within the students,” said Miriam Raffel-Smith ’20, who has attended both BeHeard forums. In an effort to combat this stigma and make it easier for Scripps students to access contraception and items like condoms, den-
tal dams, Plan B, and lube, there has been discussion of installing a vending machine on campus. Currently, the only vending machine of this nature can be found at Pomona’s Walker Lounge, which is only accessible to Scripps students at specific hours. “It’s pretty ridiculous that Pomona is the only campus that [has a vending machine with these items], especially since Scripps has the largest female population,” said Raffel-Smith. Students at the forum were asked to consider how much information should be given about the resources that could become available through a vending machine and how that information might be disseminated. While rhetoric involving contraception and sex is often limited to heterosexual sex, SAS lists one of its main community guidelines as “rejecting heteronormativity,” in an effort to be inclusive to all sexual orientations. “SAS stands strongly against heteronormativity and we establish that as part of our community guidelines before the meeting begins,” said Gill. At the BeHeard forum, “people discussed how they hope for healthcare visits to become less heteronormative,” said Gill. Heteronormativity can take many different forms, including doctors only talking to female
patients about pregnancy rather than STI prevention and informational sheets at the health center that limit the conversation to heterosexual sex by using language such as “if you’re sleeping with a guy.” While offering critiques of the sexual health environment at Scripps and the consortium, the forum also provided students with information about sexual health resources that are already available and underutilized by many students. “I learned that there is a part of the health center called HEO (Health Education Outreach) that provides free contraception, free HIV testing, and seeks to educate and support students,” said Raffel-Smith. Students at the BeHeard forum also teased several ideas for possible future initiatives, including a shuttle to Planned Parenthood, IUD information on campus, and linking up payment for STD testing with insurance since the high fees are often a strong deterrent for getting regular checks. Knops had planned an activity that would allow students to pose questions anonymously to help them overcome any awkwardness they might feel in a discussion centered on such a personal topic. “But”, she said smiling, “We didn’t even need it.”
diwali celebration
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comes together and is just so happy.” Following dinner, students danecd to various Indian dances. Students performed the Bharathanatyam, which is a classical Indian dance, the Jalte, and the Banno. In addition, The Competitive Team of Claremont Tamasha performed a dance routine. Then, students danced on the open dance floor and received Mendhi (henna). The successful celebration was organized and hosted by the Hindu Society, with the help of many others. Over 20 CLORGS contributed funds to this event and Rabbi Danny, advisor to the Hindu society through the McAlister center, aided logistically. Ravikuman was the main organizer of this event. She cited difficulties in getting access to a location on the consortium and raising enough money to fund the event (it cost approximately $4,800). Due to the challenge in finding an open space to celebrate, the 5C celebration took place two weeks after the actual holiday. Another complication to the event came after the outcome of the Presidential election. “We weren’t sure if we were going to hold it after the election because people felt so disbonded and it’s such a sensitive time,” Ravikuman said. “However, We ended up going through with it because our culture is so important to us. We realized that Donald Trump’s platform is about denying people’s identities. The last thing we wanted to do is allow him to do that.” Diwali is a time of coming together, forming community, and being with people that you love. Despite recent events, it seems students at the Claremont Consortium were able to do just that.
Photos courtesy of National Geographic.
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
News • 3
The Scripps Voice Staff Editors-in-Chief Rachel Miller-Haughton Elena Pinsker Advisor Sam Haynes Design Editors Abigail Gilcrest Meghan Joyce Layne Wells Copy Editors Sophie Fahey Anyi Wong-Lifton Business Manager Maureen Cowhey Webmaster Jocelyn Gardner Columnists & Staff Writers Emma Ambler Ali Bush Maureen Cowhey Delaney Dawson Erin Delany Emily Diamond Sophie Fahey Jocelyn Gardner Joelle Leib Erin Matheson Jo Nordhoff-Beard Grace Richey Sasha Rivera Sophia Rosenthal Isobel Whitcomb Photographers Molly Ferguson Jessica Padover Layne Wells
Sustainable
SCRIPPS:
Sustainability Committee MEETS TO DISCUSS FUTURE PLANS
Mia Farago-Iwamasa ‘18 Staff Writer
T
he Sustainability Committee, or the President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability, is a place where representatives from different branches of our community can collaborate to work toward improving Scripps’s sustainability. In the past, the Committee has assessed the College’s efficiency (you can see our STARS report from 2013 here: https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/scrippscollege-ca/report/2013-01-18/) and pushed the College to implement physical changes to our campus and address the sustainability in our community. Our past efforts include getting New Hall built to LEED Gold Certification standards, solar panels on the Performing Arts Complex (Garrison), replacement of lawns with native and drought tolerant alternatives, and improvements to our residence halls to reduce water and electricity use. The main way the Committee works is by proposing ways to implement these initiatives to the President and/or Board of Trustees. The Committee itself does not have any budget or direct power, other than making recommendations. In the past, this has hindered the Committee’s efficiency, which is why many of these projects take many years before they come to fruition. Nevertheless, the Committee feels that it is essential to making the administration and our community accountable to the environment. This year, one of the Committee’s main goals is revising its mission, goals and structure. This is especially important with the instatement of new senior staff members, a new president of our college, and a new president of our country. It is essential that the Committee maintains its ability to advocate for environmental sustainability, make progress toward reducing Scripps’s local and global impacts on climate change, and incorporate the views and concerns of all those within the Scripps community.
Comments and letters can be submitted by emailing scrippsvoice@gmail.com or by visiting our website at www. thescrippsvoice.com. Please review our guidelines online before submitting feedback. The Scripps Voice is a student forum and is not responsible for the opinions expressed in it.
The Committee strives to work for and with the community, thus transparency of the issues discussed and projects we are working on is extremely important. We also want YOUR input on what you would like to see change on campus and we would love your help to enact that change together. Because of this, I would like to share with you a list of projects we are already planning on working on this year. Short term objectives (to complete this year): -Get more Elkay water bottle filling stations -Get visually distinct recycling lids for outdoor recycling bins for easy identification -Continue coordinating annual events like the Olive Harvest, PowerDown, and Sustainability Fair -Increase transparency by updating our website, display boards on campus, and community building Long term objectives (will take longer than this year): -Make detailed energy metering and utility use information accessible to students so they can keep track of what they are using and try to reduce their consumption -Create a “Real Food” commitment for ideal sourcing of dining hall food to come from sustainable, local, ethical suppliers and allow students to make good, informed choices -Decrease our campus waste -Re-assess and report on Scripps’s campus sustainability through STARS If you are interested in collaborating with us on any of these initiatives or have suggestions about how the Committee can improve, please contact one of the representatives from your branch of the community, or Crystal Weintrub. Here is a list of current representatives on the Committee who you can email: Committee Chair: Lola Trafecanty (Director of Grounds) Crystal Weintrub (Sustainability Coordinator) Josh Reeder (Director of Maintenance) Michael Brookings (Maintenance) Tom Adkins (Scripps Dining and Food Services) Deb Gisvold (Tiernan Field House) Caryn Rothschild (Major Gifts Office) Dean Calvo (Vice President of Business Affairs) Marion Preest (Faculty, Keck Science) Sondra Abruzzo (LASPA, Student Representative) Mia Farago-Iwamasa (SAS, Student Representative) Leta Ames (Student Representative)
Drawing courtesy of Isaac Orloff
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
4 • News
Marginalized identities studying abroad
By Maureen Cowhey ‘19 Business Manager & Staff Writer Study abroad is a popular choice for many college students including Scripps. Over 56% of Scripps students choose to leave campus to pursue higher education or internships elsewhere. While global education and experiencing new cultures can be beneficial to academic and personal growth, living abroad can be alienating for many marginalized identities. Several Scripps students shared their personal experiences dealing with disability, LGBT identity, race and gender abroad. While studying abroad in Denmark with a physical disability, one student endured a lack of accommodations and classroom bias. The student had difficulty climbing the three flights of stairs needed to get to her apartment due to a lack of elevators and ramps in Denmark. She addressed the university with her dilemma to no avail. The student recalled, “When I talked to housing, they decided they knew what was best for me and asked me to just deal with it, pointing out that anywhere else would mean being placed farther from the school.” In the classroom, this student was personally called out and given a poor grade for her inability to complete physical tasks on a mandatory tour. “I tried to do as much as I could since obviously it’s an expensive trip that I’ll probably never get to do again, but they constantly moved at such a fast pace that even able-bodied people were getting lost and having trouble keeping up, so I definitely did not have a chance. I was late to almost everything and literally had to navigate the city either on my own or with a group of other students who got left behind and were equally lost. They did not offer me any of the funds I knew they had access to at any point in the trip.” The school had funds that could accommodate her disability, however her teacher chose not to use them. Her grade was then docked for a lack of participation on the field trip, lateness, and not being able to keep up with the group. The student said, “It made it near impossible to actively participate since if I kept up, it meant extreme pain. And of course I was late. It was physically impossible.” As far as queer identity abroad goes, one student shared her experience of being openly bi-sexual in Copenhagen
and abroad. She felt comfortable engaging in same-sex PDA and attending gay bars in the city. However, she pointed out the lack of space for queer women abroad. “The only surprising thing is that there isn’t really space made for queer women (i.e. many gay bars and one singular lesbian bar that runs a pretty heteronormative crowd some nights).” She pointed this out in other countries such as Iceland and Sweden which are known for being accepting and more liberal. She elaborated, “In Iceland I was surprised that there was literally only one gay bar just because they’re kind of known for being alternative and accepting.” While more conservative cities such as Prague and Budapest had a larger amount of gay bars, she still felt there was a lack of acceptance and space for queer women. “Similarly though I heard from my female queer friends studying there that there wasn’t a space just for them, and a friend in Budapest said that she’s actually been barred from entering a gay men’s club; whereas I can go to all the gay bars I want, there’s just a decent chance I’ll be the only woman there.” While her experience in Europe was open accepting for the most part, her time in Israel differed. “As much as they claim to be really accepting I didn’t notice that much of an active community in the city, that being said I also didn’t really make any personal attempt to integrate into the queer community (like I never went to any gay bars there even though I knew of a couple). And because there are quite a lot of religiously conservative people I probably would’ve been much more guarded in public if I been involved at all.” A couple Scripps students shared their experience with race and specifically being a woman of color abroad. Overall, both students believed that they experienced less racism in Europe than at home in the United States. “I went to Edinburgh and it was
mostly less racist than America, though random racist micro-aggressions did happen. The most blatantly racist things came from other American exchange students. I talked to someone else who went abroad and she said it was the same for her.” Not only was her experience with race abroad more positive than at home, the negative experiences that she did have were due to American students. One of the students described experiencing less overall prejudice and racism, but microaggressions still persisted. “London and Brighton are considered relatively diverse and liberal areas with an increasing number of racial minorities coming to live there. During my time abroad I did not face any acts of overt discrimination and prejudice. However, I was not completely free of racial microaggressions.” Overall this student stated, “Studying abroad truly opened my eyes to the fluidity of identity, as my identity took on different meanings when I entered different spaces and interacted with other students from around the world. I learned that there is no one country with a perfect history of respecting the rights of communities of color and other marginalized identities.” While no country has a perfect past, it is important to educate yourself on a country’s history of race and oppression before you study abroad. Educating yourself on their history may give you more insight into the experiences you might have today as a person of a marginalized identity. Other students also suggested staying in touch with friends and family throughout your experience abroad and finding a person or place that you can form a safe community around. Study abroad applications are due December 2, 2016. For more information on specific programs, experiences, application, and more please visit the Study Abroad and Global Education (SAGE) office in Balch or online at http://www.scrippscollege. edu/sage/.
“there is no one country with a perfect history of respecting the rights of communities of color and other marginalized identities”
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
Sports • 5
It’s time to give credit where it’s due Scripps athletes go underappreciated
By Jo Nordhoff-Beard ‘19 Sports Columnist
The World Series viewing party group chat for the victorious Chicago Cubs of which I was a part was one of the first concrete actions that I had seen from Scripps students who bound together to watch sports and shared their sports appreciation with the world. More often than not, I have found in my nearly 1.5 years on the Scripps campus that Scripps students do not often band together to watch sports, and that if they do, it is much more low key than it is at other campuses. Scripps athletes are some of the most successful ones in the SCIAC, yet their success is not well known to the general Scripps population. As I write this column, the CMS Athenas soccer team are preparing for a game against Pomona Pitzer to determine which team goes on to the Sweet 16 in Division III Soccer. On the Facebook event page, members of the team posted that the CMC Dean of Students office made 100 free tickets available to students to go to the game and that the Mudd Dean of Students office would reimburse tickets for Mudd students, but the Scripps Dean of Students office was not mentioned in regards to similar actions. Even though the tickets were only three dollars, Scripps’ actions of not making free tickets available or reimbursing tickets do not give students incentive to go to the game, unlike the other two schools. The CMS soccer team was second in regular season SCIAC this year and won the conference tournament handily. There are four Scripps students on the team, one of whom, Wren Osler ‘18, is a starting central defender and has been instrumental in the Athenas’ massive defense that has been a large contributor to their 8-game
winning streak and .89 goals against average. Scripps studentathletes have won national championships, gone to regional championships in team sports, and have also won SCIAC championships in their respective sports. There are also Scripps athletes on every single CMS team except for women’s golf. Bryn McKillop ‘18 holds the CMS record in the 6k cross country race and just placed 4th in the Regional Championships, headed to be one to watch at Nationals in a few weeks. Sarah Bruml ‘18 has gone to the Elite 8 National Championships with the volleyball team in 2014. Mara Falahee ‘16 was the captain of the basketball team and lead the team to 3 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the second round, a program first, in 2016. Tyra Abraham ‘18 won the NCAA Division III National Track and Field Championships in the 100 meters last year. How many Scripps students, other than these student’s friends, know about this? Probably not that many.
We have unsung heroes throughout the Scripps community in various ways, members of our community that are winners in all fields. As a community, we should try a little harder to recognize athletic winners from inside our squirrel ridden, ivy covered walls and give them the credit they deserve.
So, you want to work for
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Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? And the best part: we’re ALWAYS hiring! go to thescrippsvoice.com for more details, or email scrippsvoice@gmail.com 17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
SPOTLIGHT
6
7
11/16/2016
To the right are the words students used to describe how they decided who to vote for in the e l e c t i o n11/16/2016 .
Hillary Clinton D e m o c rat 92.6 3%
Gary Donald Johnson Trump L i b e r ta r i a n Pa r t y 3.69%
5 C winner
9 6 . 4 7 % o f w o m e n v o te d f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n
Jill Stein G re e n Pa r t y 0.4 6%
1/1
Republican 3.23%
9 8 . 5 0 % o f D e m o c r a t s v o te d f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n
3 0 .76 % o f R e p u b l i c a n s v o te d 7 5 . 0 0 % o f L i b e r t a r i a n s v o te d f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n
Word Cloud
To t h e r i g h t are the words students used to describe why they chose to vote in this election at all.
U n i te d S t ate s w i n n e r
8 8 .8 8 % of people of color v o te d f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n
The circles to the left are scaled to reflect the proportion of poll respondants in the 5C community who voted for e aWord Cloud ch candidate.
91. 3 0 % o f p e o p l e w h o d o not identif y with a par t y v o te d f o r H i l l a r y C l i n to n
17 November, 2015 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
8 • Features
film review ********** By Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist
B
ad moms” (2016) is a raunchy new comedy with an all-star cast that hilariously explores different kinds of mothers and the expectations they face. The film’s title speaks for a generation of moms who have deemed themselves to be “bad moms” because they aren’t able to live up to today’s high expectations of being an all-organic, working supermom. “Bad Moms” is the ultimate rejection of the “mommy wars” of this generation, defying the judgment women face about who can make a healthier lunch for their child. In place of this scrutiny competition, moms in this film come together commiserate have raging parties. Amongst the gloom and overall pessimism I faced this week, “Bad Moms” certainly brightened my day and made me want to call my mom and thank her for being such a “bad mom.” Main heroine Amy Mitchell is a successful working mother who is underpaid at her job and overworked at home. While she strives to be a supermom that this generation has come to expect, she finds that it is impossible to be an involved mother, efficient employee, and happy individual. After a particularly bad day, she “quits” and devotes herself to being a bad mom. She joins up with Kiki (Kristen Bell), an insecure stay at home mom and Carla (Kathryn Hahn), a divorcee and a truly bad mom who strives to spend as little time coddling her
Photo courtesy of Ritz Cinema.
son as possible. These three friends decide to start spending more time doing things they enjoy and less time at bake sales and PTA meetings. Eventually, their new-found system of hands-off mothering is met with opposition from uptight PTA president Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate). Amy decides to run for PTA President in an attempt to replace Gwendolyn and the high expectations she places on the school’s mothers and to spread her belief in simply “doing less” as a mom. The film does follow all the expected conventions of a blockbuster film. It’s predictable, and simple, yet uplifting. The most disappointing aspect of the film is the fact that it was written and directed by men, which is sometimes extremely apparent in the dialogue. While this aspect is upsetting, I am still extremely happy to see a film that recognizes the pains that women go through to keep their family life and professional lives in tact. It refreshingly portrays moms and women in general as raunchy, bad-mouthed, and above all human. The film’s characters do not define themselves solely as mothers, but as combinations of professionals, wives, friends, and above all women, something that is often lost in many films that classify women solely as either mothers, employees, or sex objects.
Mila Kuniss, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn play three stressed-out mothers who decide to go rogue. Photo courtesy of STX Entertainment.
Lastly, the film rejects the scrutiny and pressure placed both on moms and their children to eat healthier, play more sports, and prepare for college sooner. Instead, the film portrays the exact opposite in which moms spend time thinking more of themselves and the result makes for a hilarious movie. It reminds us that amongst the competition and stress we face in our life, what really matters is taking care of ourselves and taking time to be with loved ones. The movie reveals that its title is totally misleading because truly every mom trying her best is a supermom.
Kathryn Hahn plays Carla, a divorced mother with no filter.
Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
Features • 9
SCAMFEST By Alyssa Alfonso ‘19 Staff Writer
A
s the lights went down in a packed Big Bridges Auditorium on November 12th, the crowd held its breath in anticipation for a lively night of a cappella hosted by the 5C’s very own Claremont Shades. “This is my favorite night of the year,” said Scripps sophomore Avery Harwood, “I bought my tickets the second they went on sale.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the theater as the audience eagerly awaited the show. Eleven different collegiate groups performed at the 5C’s most anticipated a capella event of the year. From the Claremont Consortium: the Claremont Shades, Mood Swing, Ninth Street Hooligans, One Night Stanza, Women’s Blue and White, The After School Specials, and Midnight Echo. From UCLA, the ScatterTones and the all-male Bruin Harmony. USC’s SoCal VoCals and all-female group from UC Davis, The Spokes, topped off the lineup for 2016’s Southern California A Cappella Music Festival–better known by the (markedly catchier) name SCAMFest. Each decked out in distinctive colors, every group brought their own flair to the night. As the maroon-clad Claremont Shades stepped on stage to start off the evening, the crowd was red-dy for what each group had in store. A mix of performances from current pop hits to retro classics to a pop-hits turned bluesy were each a treat in their own right. Mood Swings’ performance of DNCE’s Cake By The Ocean and Midnight Echo’s arrangement of Beyonce’s Pray You Catch Me were hard for some not to croon in unison from their seats. Other less trendy ballads like The SoCal Vocals’ rendition of Allen Stone’s Perfect World kept the audience enraptured even if they couldn’t sing along.
TRUMP VOWS TO DISMANTLE
CLIMATE 2016 PROGRESS
The Ninth Street Hooligans were a favorite of the night as they proved no song was too poppy for a slowed-down and jazzed-up rendition. The crowd went bananas over Laura Kent’s (SCR ‘17) powerful solo that made Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl seem as if it were made for a cappella. USC’s SoCal Vocals’ seamlessly tight choreography, understatedly rich vocals and riffs were another crowd favorite as they strode across the stage in perfect unison. The Spokes’ soloist took down the house as she soulfully sang I Feel a Sin Comin’ On. After intermission, Claremont’s favorite green group was up next. As the crowd anticipated the arrival of the After School Specials, shouts could be heard of “ASS? More like yaaaASS!” and other ASS-related puns which rivaled that of the group’s ASSkicking vocals. With the outcome of last week’s election still fresh and raw in national memory, several groups changed their setlist to reflect the emotional state of the campuses. One Night Stanza dedicated their performance of The Dog Days are Over to “all of those who have felt marginalized this week–or ever.” Women’s Blue and White’s praised “the healing and strength the group has witnessed in [the 5C community].” The group also altered their setlist to include a touching and poignant rendition of Wasted on the Way by Crosby, Stills & Nash. The line: “So much love to make up everywhere you turn” seems a frightfully fitting refrain for the week. SCAMFest was a much-needed evening full of vibrant colors, stellar performances, and overwhelming support from the 5C community. As the audience streamed out of Big Bridges after a night of a cappella, hugs and flowers abounded–the end of a successful SCAMFest 2016!
By Erin Matheson ’18 Science Columnist
J
ust a year ago, the international community with the United States came together to sign the Paris Climate Agreement which commits more than 190 countries to reduce their emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide pollution. Donald Trump, presidentelect, has who has vowed to dismantle the agency “in almost every form” and pull America out of the agreement in which they spearheaded. He has already taken steps to undo Obama’s legacy by appointing Myron Ebell to head his Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) transition team. Myron Ebell is a known climate change skeptic that once called Climate Change “silly”. Ebell is the director at the Competitive Enterprise Institute--a libertarian thinktank that fights excessive government regulation and advocates a free marketplace of entrepreneurship and innovation. The Paris Climate Agreement could close hundreds of coal-fired plants and create vast new wind and solar farms. The U.S. is projected to cut power plant emissions 32% from 2005 levels by 2030 to fight off off the atmospheric warming of at least 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the US Energy and Employment Report, over 600,000 Americans are employed by industries related to alternative energy. The website Five-Thirty-Eight’s article “It’s Hard to Tell Whether Trump Supports Renewable Energy -- And That May Not Matter Much” argues that Trump’s influence will not be incredibly impactful. As a college student, I recognize that Climate Change will be one of the greatest challenges that the world will face in my lifetime. With this year on track to be the hottest on record, I do not buy into the fact that the president of the United States will not have decisions regarding Climate Change that are incredibly consequential. The protests on the Claremont Colleges and in downtown Los Angeles are in part sparked by the negligent vows toward Climate Change of the president elect. Grievances need to be voiced. Change needs to occur. The environment and our futures are at stake.
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
10 • Features
film
review ********** By Ali Bush ‘19 Film Columnist
2
0th Century Women” (2016) is a sunstreaked collection of experiences and anecdotes of three women and a teenage boy set in 1979 Santa Barbara. Told through the experience of a 15-year-old boy named Jamie, the film is an ode to writer-director Mike Mills’s own childhood and the women that inspired him. His mother Dorothea (Annette Bening) is at the crux of the film, as she enlists in two young women, Abbie (Gretta Gerwig) and Julie (Elle Fanning) to help guide and raise Jamie to be a good man. Set in an era when gender roles were just beginning to be criticized, the film tackles important questions of gender roles and how they play out among the messiness of real life. While the film is heartwarming, nostalgic, and masterly questioning, the film ends up being more of a string of beautifully captured experiences rather than a film with a clear aim or message. The only conflict in this almost nonnarrative film is Dorothea’s concern for her teenage son, Jamie, a sensitive loner who has grown up without his father for most of his life. To teach her son how to be a good man, she enlists in a talented cast. Abbie (played by the effortlessly interesting Greta Gerwig) is a post-punk, fiery redheaded photographer who rents one of Dorothea’s rooms and faces tribulations of her own, as she faces the consequences of having cervical cancer. Julie (played by an always cool Elle Fanning) is Jamie’s best friend who flirts with all the local boys instead of returning Jamie’s affection. Dorothea (Annette Bening) bridges generations as she is a free spirited mom of the 70s who lets her son skip school, but also a woman of earlier decades who admits she got married too early, cringes at punk music and refuses to give up her cigarettes. All situated in one dilapidated Victorian house, these characters are what bring life to the movie, as it really has no aim whatsoever. Set in the late seventies, the film perfectly illustrates California at the end of the counterculture era and the looming transition into the yuppie culture of Regan’s 80s. While the film is obviously an aesthetically pleasing journey through this era, filled with VW vans, halter tops, and Talking Heads tracks, this era situates the characters in a unique position within feminism. Already familiar with militant feminism of the early seventies, Abbie and Julie clearly grapple with how to translate the glory of Gloria Steinem into real life. Despite the lack of a real message,
it becomes clear that the women simply teach Jamie about respect and sensitivity. Despite the adorable scenes of these misfits acting like a family, it was disappointing to find after watching 5 minutes of the movie, that a film named “20th Century Women” is centered around a male. Although the characters deal with the important task of deconstructing masculinity, the women in this film often sacrifice their emotional needs in order to fulfill the idealistic task of raising Jamie in an honorable way. Although Mills portrays these women with nuance and sincerity, it still pains me to see that this beautiful film was created by a man, and not a 20th century woman. Despite having no aim, the film is relatable and movie. Perhaps its anti-climactic nature is closer to the truth, as life is filled with so many messy, sad, and joyous moments. It becomes clear at towards the end of the film that even though the entire film is centered around teaching Jamie about life, each resilient woman learns about their own lives.
Photo courtesy of ComingSoon.net
Photo courtesy of Hollywood Reporter.
6 April, 2017 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Seven
10 • Features
how DONALD TRUMP By Emma Wu Shortt ‘19 Staff Writer
A
will affect queer rights
s terrifying as the prospect of a Donald Trump - Mike Pence presidency is, we cannot freeze or flee. It’s time to prepare and rally the troops, in this case the queer troops. So what nightmares does this upcoming administration hold for the queers we hold near and dear? Well first off, Donald Trump has been public about his opposition towards nationwide marriage equality. His reasoning for this rejection? He’s a “traditional guy.” How ironic. I didn’t realize multiple marriages, and “grabbing women by the pussy” was traditional...However, in all seriousness, Trump/Pence stances on marriage equality and other queer rights are honestly terrifying. Pence is the face of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, supporting a bill that allows businesses to discriminate against and deny service to members of the queer community. And Trump? He supports the most hateful of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, North Carolina’s HB2 and has spoken publicly about his intent to not ensure that transgender Americans are treated equally. Despite all of this, Trump claims that he will “do everything in his power to protect our LGBTQ+ citizens.” Hmm... this honestly enforces the idea that
everything Trump says is contradictory and ultimately untrue. If this isn’t spooky enough, just wait, it gets worse. Not only will the White House be run by an anti-queer administration but this hatred will most likely bleed into the Supreme Cour t. Over the past years, rulings on LGBTQ+ issues have been very close narrowly decided by a 5-4 majority. However, with the death of Antonin Scalia, Trump has disclosed his plans to appoint a justice with similar anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. This could be the start of an anti-LGBTQ+ equality majority within the Supreme Court, which is a very scary prospect. However, do not despair yet, dear queers, all hope is not lost. One positive side effect of this horrifying election is that the liberal population is mobilized and furious. We have made so many strides toward marriage equality and queer rights and we are
“Not only will the White House be run by an anti-queer administration but this hatred will most likely bleed into the Supreme Court.”
not going to give up that progress easily. Additionally, public opinion and understanding of queer issues and rights has improved and that is not something that Trump or Pence can take away, no matter how much hate they spew. So where exactly do we go from here? Well, as Ellen Browning Scripps says, we must live “confidently, courageously, and hopefully.” We must feel confident in the support of our wonderful community in Claremont, we must move courageously forth in owning our queer identities, protesting attempts to take away our rights, and supporting our friends that may feel endangered after the election result. And finally, we must live hopefully. If we lose hope, we lose everything, and there is SO MUCH to be hopeful for. This all becomes clearer to m e a s I s e e how triumphantly our amazing community raises up to support one another, refuses to tolerate injustice, and strives for more progress. Do not let this election drown you or take away your hope and courage, let it light a fire in your belly and a spark in your beautiful mind that says we will not tolerate hate and we are not going anywhere.
“One positive side effect of this horrifying election is that the liberal population is mobilized and furious.”
Photo courtesy of hillaryclinton.com
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
Features • 11
the next four years: what does a trump presidency mean for the environment?
Isobel Whitcomb ‘17 Environmental Columnist
S
o far, the fight against climate change has been and is a long, hard slog. It’s difficult to make quick progress in a country so divided by political parties and corporate interests that consensus seems impossible. However, we are at an important turning point. Under Obama’s Clean Power Plan, the US made a commitment to cut carbon emissions by one third before 2030 (and even made some progress towards that goal). At the Paris Climate Conference, we signed a “binding, ambitious” contract. Change was happening at a painfully slow rate. But it was happening. And then we elected a climate change denier. Climate change is progressing much more quickly than many experts initially predicted. To prevent as much damage as possible, a constant effort to change society’s relationship to our environment and resources is absolutely necessary. This effort cannot wait even 4 years. Trump’s presidency not only threatens to halt progress, but to set it back it at much as 10 years. Trump’s proposed cabinet is composed entirely of other climate change deniers. Among Trump’s stated goals are to dismantle
the EPA, pull the US out of the agreement made at the Paris Climate Conference, and gut Obama’s Clean Power Plan. He plans grow the fossil fuel industry by reducing regulations on fracking, building pipelines, and tapping into shale sources of oil and gas. How does he plan on funding these progress? In part, by cancelling billions in climate change spending. According to Bill McKibben, the president of Climate Organization 350.org, a Trump presidency has the potential to leave an impact measured on a geological timescale. So what can we do? F o r t u n a t e l y, i t i s still true that 75% of Americans believe in climate change. It is still true that 50% of Americans see it as a serious threat. This fact gives environmentalists hope that progress can continue even without the support of government. Businesses and individuals can invest in and switch to renewable energy. Although capitalism is what led to the growth of the oil industry, it can also dismantle it. Market forces are leaning towards renewable energy as
“Change was happening at a painfully slow rate. But it was happening. And then we elected a climate change denier.”
it is a cheaper source than fossil fuels. The fact is that the American economy has continued to grow even as we have cut emissions. According to Andrew Steer of the World Resources Institute, this proves that the idea of a “trade-off between environmental management and economic growth” is a total misconception. But we can’t totally depend on our economic system to lead to the oil industry’s natural death. We also have to remember that state governments have an important role in regulating the use of energy resources. Over 30 states currently have renewable energy standards. Finally, we can use this election, as we have in so many other movements, as a point from which to galvanize public support for a movement. Perhaps, instead, it will become clear that apathy is not an option.
“Trump’s presidency not only threatens to halt progress, but to set it back it at much as 10 years.”
Photo courtesy of Environmental Jusice and Climate Change Initiative.
Photo courtesy of the Washington Post.
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four
12 • Arts & Entertainment
“not my president” 5c students protest trump win Photos by Jessica Padover ‘18
17 November, 2016 • The Scripps Voice • Volume XX • Issue Four