THE CAMPANIL
// Student-run newspaper serving Mills College since 1917 //
02.24.15
// Volume 100 // Issue 10 //
Recyclemania competition returns to Mills
OCTAVIA SUN
Recyclemania is a competition that encourages students to recycle more on campus.
Octavia Sun sun@thecampanil.com Returning to Mills College for its eighth consecutive year is Recyclemania, a competition where students compete to grant their school a higher sustainability ranking. Recyclemania, a recycling and waste-reduction competition between more than 450 colleges nationwide, has some updates to this year’s competition. The winning schools will receive national recognition, an award made out of
recyclable materials and will host the trophy for the year. This year in Recyclemania, Mills hopes to reach zero waste, which is defined as having less than 10 percent waste. The percentage of waste is dependent on the school’s population and the amount of waste exported. There are two types of competition: national, which runs from Feb. 1 to March 13, and between the Mills Residence Halls, which runs from Feb. 23 to March 13. According to eco-representative for recycling Saiqaa Nuri, the people at Mills who collect trash
each morning weigh and compare the total landfill and compost. Afterwards, they send the data to Sustainability Coordinator Britta Bullard and she calculates the rate of recycling, the rate of reduction in landfill and the amount of compost to report for the national competition. Bullard is thrilled to have Mills participate in Recyclemania again. “It’s nice to have Mills represented on the national level,” Bullard said. This year, there is a new category added to the competition which is the Recycle, Reuse, Reduce (3R)
Mills and Indiana University law school form partnership Allie Enriquez staff writer
Mills College is one of five women's colleges that recently established a partnership with Indiana University Maurer School of Law. This partnership could mean a hefty scholarship and mentoring program for two graduates from each school that are accepted into the high-ranking law program.
Mills, along with Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and Wellsley College, follow the scholarship program that was originally set up between Maurer and Vassar College last year. IU Bloomington Newsroom gives specific numbers on what this partnership will mean for students accepted into the program. “The program will offer at least two graduates admitted to the Maurer School of Law from each school with guaranteed minimum
Action Challenge. The 3R Action Challenge is a social media and texting challenge that has four stages (#Recycle, #Reuse, #Reduce, and #ZeroWaste), each being two weeks long, during which students can share when they recycle, compost, reuse or reduce to generate points. “Each time a student texts, tweets or uses a special new app, they’ll give their campus a bump in this ranking to see which school has the most recycling spirit,” Nuri said. Junior Brittany Burnett, an ecorepresentative for creek restoration, is also looking forward to the new addition of the 3R Action Challenge to 2015’s Recyclemania. “This year for us marks a significant change in our outreach to the community, with the Recyclemania kick-off event we had on Feb. 17 and the new hashtag program,” Burnett said. “We’re all hoping the changes we implement this year will help us do that.” Senior and President of EarthCorps at Mills Jane Langner believes that Recyclemania is a fun way to get people to recycle. Linda Zitzner, associate vice president for Operations, said she loves how Recyclemania educates people on what can or cannot be recycled in a fun manner. “Mills has a very real commitment to sustainable practices and this event helps highlight one of our target areas,” Zitzner said. “The competition also engages the students in a fun, competitive way to learn about recycling and hopefully results in long-lasting behavior changes.” For more on Recyclemania, check out Alexina Estrada’s article featured in the The Campanil last year.
Measure FF raises work study pay, leads to cut hours Priscilla Son staff writer
Oakland Ballot Measure FF, requiring an increase in Oakland’s minimum wage from $9.00 to $12.25 per hour, will go into effect March 2015. This new measure is good news to thousands but has raised some questions for Mills College’s student work-study program. The measure also states requirements for employers to offer at least five days of sick leave to all employees and nine for some larger businesses. Provisions that allow hospitality workers to keep all of their wages and tips are also included. Every Jan. 1, the minimum wage will adjust additionally to fit changing living costs. Measure FF gained more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in Nov. 2014 and passed with 81 percent of the vote. A major organization behind the initiative was local coalition Lift Up Oakland. The coalition gathered signatures, held promotion events and held a celebratory party once the measure passed. Their website stated that the measure will increase the wages for 40,000 to 48,000 employees. One concern for businesses regarding the measure is that an increase in the minimum wage will put Oakland at a competitive disadvantage in the job market, with surrounding areas being able to pay their workers less. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates proposed that the whole Bay Area follow suit in order to absolve these concerns. see
Measure FF page 3
8,000 march for real climate leadership
scholarships amounting to approximately 50 percent of annual tuition, along with access to a formal mentoring program," IU Bloomington's press release said. "The scholarship will reduce the cost of law school tuition over three years by $45,000 to $75,000, depending on the student’s residency and other factors.” According to rankings published by the U.S. News and World Report, Maurer School of Law ranks 29th for best law schools. see
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Maurer page 3
see page 2
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02.24.15
News
8000 people march for Child Life Council real climate leadership honors Mills professor Sarah Hoenicke staff writer
January saw no rain, and in the midst of the Bay Area's first storm of the year, 8,000 people from across California marched through Oakland calling for "real climate leadership" — something they feel that Gov. Brown has not delivered since he signed Senate Bill 4, which authorized fracking in California. Hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, is a drilling technique used to increase the flow of oil or gas from a well. Liquids are pumped down a well into rock below the surface at pressures high enough to fracture rock. The end product is a web of interconnected fractures that can aid in the movement of oil and natural gas to the well bore, according to geology.com. The Feb 7 march to Lake Merritt began at 14th Street and Broadway, outside the 12th Street BART station, at 12:45pm. People bused in from 21 different locations across the state and 134 organizations participated, according to the march organizers' website. Representatives from Hawaii and Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand, were included in the march. “We can see the lagoon from the ocean side of our island. Our island could totally disappear because of
the ocean rising. If a storm comes in, we’re gone,” Fili Pedro Epati of Tokelau said. Among the thousands of people marching was an energy-generating, mechanical tree perched atop a bicycle being pedaled through the crowd by a man who was also leading the crowd in raps of, “California’s in a drought, fracking’s got to go no doubt.” There were dance troupes, a group doing hula, and a team of elderly people singing hymns with the lyrics changed to the likes of, “Solar power in that land that I love.” The signs people carried and their verbal chants made their message clear. They wanted to call Gov. Brown's attention to what they feel is a harmful practice — especially during the drought — hydraulic fracturing. According to the latest press release made by climate march organizers the affects of fracking are widespread and dangerous. "Numerous studies and reports have shown fracking worsens climate change, exacerbates the state’s historic drought and jeopardizes the health of residents," said the press release. Multiple organizations supported the march. Breast Cancer Action representative Sahru Keiser held up New York, Vermont, Scotland and Wales as examples of regions that have halted fracking. New York Gov. Cuomo banned
the practice per a New York State Health Commissioner recommendation due to scientific studies which have shown that fracking puts people's health at risk and the environment in jeopardy, according to the Huffington Post. “Climate leaders don’t frack,” said Tia Lebherz, of Food & Water Watch, a statement directed at Gov. Brown's recent push to make California a climate leader. Yulisa Elenes, of UNITE HERE Local 2850, said that she hopes Brown responds to the march with legislation to ban fracking. Others have hoped for a moratorium on the practice, if an immediate halt is not possible. Students attended the march, with Eva Malis of U.C. Berkeley speaking at the press conference. She said afterwards that she hopes Gov. Brown notices the outcry and that he realizes how many people in California are against fracking. “People are dying,” Malis said, citing statistics displayed on Breast Cancer Action's website which state that fracking exposes people to endocrine disrupters and carcinogenic chemicals, both of which are linked to breast cancer. The Colorado School of Public Health has said that those living near natural gas drilling sites may experience accute and chronic health problems. Gov. Brown has yet to issue a response to the march.
ALL PHOTOS BY SARAH HOENICKE
Thousands gathered in Oakland to protest the use of hydraulic fracturing in California.
Ari Nussbaum Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Rothwell 157 Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone
Grace Forrest staff writer
Beloved by her students, Mills College Student Supervisor and Professor in the School of Education Susan Marchant will receive the Distinguished Service Award for 2015 by the Child Life Council (CLC). Since 1988, the Child Life Council has annually recognized the innovators and pioneers of the child life profession with the distinguished service award, which honors members for their exceptional gifts to the field of child life. With her quiet dedication, Marchant has been key in developing the field of Child Life, a combination of psychology, education and child development. This field of study provides emotional support to children and families in high risk situations. The CLC will honor Marchant’s commitment to the field for the past three decades at the annual CLC meeting in Cincinatti. “Susan is recognized inside and outside of the child life community for her quiet strength and tireless dedication to the future of the profession and has mentored, educated and advised many aspiring and currently practicing child life specialists over the years,” the CLC said in their announcement. Marchant was surprised to get the phone call telling her she had won the award. “I was absolutely shocked,” Marchant said. “The award has been around for quite a few years, and the other professions, who have claimed this award, are people who I have looked up to for years. I was shocked and very, very grateful, but shocked,” said Marchant. Mills students who have worked with Marchant describe her as the one professor who encouraged them to reach for their highest goals. “She has truly supported all of us in not only becoming the Child Life Specialists we have long hoped to become, but also in giving us tools to become successful in our endeavors and in teaching us to believe in ourselves and our purpose,” Second year graduate student Amanda Trapp said. Second year graduate student
Managing Editor Emily Mibach
Online Editor Fatima Sugapong
Chief News Editor Abbey Flentje
Asst. Online Editor Alexina Estrada
Asst. News Editor Octavia Sun
Webmaster
Arts & Ent. Editor Terrapin Frazier
Angelica Leyva-McMurtry
Staff Writers Maria Aguilar, Grace Sports & Health Editor Jen Mac Ramos Forrest, Sarah Hoenicke, Allie Enriquez, Erin Clark, Priscilla Son Asst. Sports Editor Monika Sabic Copy Editors Pearl Thompson, Mary Ruiz, Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows Irena Huang, Brittany Burnett, Sydney Van Copy Chief Greta Lopez Sinden, Kenna Wright Design Editor Francesca Twohy-Haines Staff Photographer Hart Rosenberg Photo Editor Elaine Chen
MILLS COLLEGE
Susan Marchant (above) will be honored by the CLC in May.
Erin Shields said Marchant makes students feel accepted. “Susan truly embraces each and every student for their quirkiness and strengths, and as a result she has created an environment that is strength-based and in which all of her students ... feel that they can excel,” Shields said. Before coming to Mills to teach, Marchant worked for 28 years at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland. She was central to creating the hospital’s first Family Resource Center as well as working with the Oakland Unified School District to create one of the leading hospital school programs in the country. Marchant graduated from Mills in the first child life program the college offered in a time when Mills was the second college in the United States to have classes in child life. In 2006 Merchant retired from UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and brought her expertise and experience back to her alma mater, where she says she feels very privileged to teach at what she says is one of the premier child life programs in the world. Marchant has been part of creating what the field of child life is today. “Susan’s professional work has been foundational to the development and rise of the child life field,” Associate Professor of Education Priya Shimpi said. Graduate student Cathy Suzuki said Marchant inspires generations of students who get to work with her, growing the field of child life each year. “After a conversation with Susan, I always felt confident, strong and inspired,” Suzuki said.
The Campanil welcomes public commentary on subjects of interest to the campus community, as well as feedback on the paper itself. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 150 words. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity only. All submissions must include the author’s name and contact information and may be submitted via e-mail or in typewritten form, accompanied by an electronic copy. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. Submissions must be received one week before the publication date to appear in the next issue. The Campanil reserves the right to upload all content published in print, in addition to original content, on our website, www.thecampanil.com. The Campanil is published every other Tuesday. Students interested in joining The Campanil staff should contact the Editor in Chief at eic@thecampanil.com
News
02.24.15
3
Ballot measure on minimum Mills and Maurer to team up on law program wage to take effect in March from
Measure FF page 1
“Oakland is the place where we would look. If the voters approve the ballot measure, that will set a standard. It makes it much more palatable to people because they are not at a competitive disadvantage,” Bates said, according to Ballotpedia. Reaching a minimum wage that better fits the city’s cost of living may be a cause for celebration to many; however, campus departments must now budget and organize a new distribution of work hours for students. The majority of people affected at Mills are those involved in the student work-study program, which provides students with jobs on or around campus. The amount of money allotted to students as part of their financial aid package may not exceed 5000 dollars, and students may reach this point before the school ends following the wage increase. This means that departments need to create a new plan of action for student hours. The increased minimum wage will allow students to work fewer hours and accrue the same amount of money. Many faculty members understand the benefit of this, especially for busy students. However, hours are already being cut, as is the case for Margarita De La Torre, an admissions ambassador and sophomore at Mills, whose hours were cut in half. "I was kind of shocked knowing that I wouldn't be making as much money as I was planning to, and this change wouldn't be beneficial to me until the new minimum wage is in effect in March," Torre said. Torre also stated that she and many other workers in the city of
Oakland may need to find additional jobs in order to fill the wage gap until March. Aurora Rezapour, chief Human Resources and Compliance officer at Mills responded to concerns in a statement regarding the minimum wage, saying Mills is working on a solution that will be fair for student workers across campus. According to Rezapour, students can expect more information before the minimum wage increase takes effect in March. Some are concerned that campus departments, themselves, may suffer from a lack of student help. Michael Beller, head of reference & access services at the F.W. Olin Library, said student workers are necessary at Mills. “Students carry a large portion of day-to-day tasks, and we have to find ways of getting everything done without them,” Beller said. Janice Braun, library director and special collections librarian, does not consider re-calculating hours to be a negative, but merely part of the job. She is glad to see students work fewer hours while still being able to support their education. In response to the increase, Braun and her assistant, Lauren Devenney, took charge of collecting data and determining how many hours they can provide to fit their budget and keep the library running smoothly. Braun also acknowledges the value of student jobs on campus beside monetary compensation. “Work study is just as much about the experience as it is a means to pay tuition,” Braun said. “We support the raise. No one could survive off of $12.25, but it’s better than $9.00.”
HART ROSENBERG
The minimum wage increase will affect work study hours.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Mills and Maurer will partner to make law school more accessible for women. from
Maurer page 1
David Donahue, interim provost and professor of education at Mills, is pleased with the partnership. “It’s recognition of the important role Mills plays in preparing students for leadership in so many fields including the law,” Donahue said. In the IU Bloomington Newsroom, Donahue explained why he found this partnership a nice fit for Mills students. “Indiana’s focus on preparing ethical leaders for the global legal profession is naturally aligned with Mills College’s strategic imperatives to internationalize our curriculum and prepare leaders grounded in inclusion, social justice and sustainability,” Donahue said. Dean and James H. Rudy Professor of Law, Austen Parrish, is also pleased with the partnership, citing the need for women and diversity to play a larger role in the legal profession. “The legal profession needs more people who reflect the composition of our society as a whole, and legal education offers a clear route to leadership roles for women
in all kinds of fields,” Parrish said. “While tremendous gains have been made, women in the legal profession remain underrepresented in some of the positions of greatest status and influence.” Parrish cited Mills’ great reputation and community values as to why the college is a good fit to partner with. He noted Mills’ ability to retain diverse and talented students that he believes would succeed in law school as another strong reason to create this partnership. “Mills also cares about global issues, which fits well with the law school’s strong belief that a wellrounded legal education requires some understanding of the global legal profession and the multicultural world in which we live,” Parrish said. Parrish believes that students who do well in rigorous undergraduate schools like Mills will be prepared for success in law school. He said Maurer has 14 other partnerships and in effort to cultivate a community of outstanding undergraduates from a vast amount of schools. “Recruiting Mills students is a good way to bring to our
community students with that mix of ambition, hard-work ethic and smarts,” Parrish said. Sophomore public policy major Emma Ishii believes this partnership will bring good results for women interested in entering the legal world. She said having more diversity in the justice system would be nothing but beneficial for the legal system. “There seems to be an absence of women in legal areas,” Ishii said. “This [partnership] will make law school more accessible for women at a lesser cost.” Parrish said close relationships with schools like Mills are beneficial for both sides. “For us, it’s a way to continue to attract bright young minds from around the country, who will come to Indiana University Bloomington and then go on to do great things,” Parrish said. “For our partner institutions, it’s a way to provide another opportunity for their students and to help make a legal education more accessible to their graduates. For the student, it’s hopefully an additional opportunity for them to consider as they decide on their own life path and career goals.”
Campanil staff pack bags for national journalism conference Ari Nussbaum eic@thecampanil.com The Campanil editors are getting ready to boot down their computers, pack their bags and get out of the newsroom and to sunny Los Angeles. The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) annual national conference will take place in Los Angeles from Feb. 26 to March 1. The conference is an opportunity for student journalists to network with other university newspapers
and attend panels and workshops on writing, reporting, editing and more. This year several Campanil editors will be speaking on panels. Sports & Health Editor, Jen Mac Ramos will be speaking on the Covering Collegiate Sports panel. Editor-in-Chief Ari Nussbaum, Managing Editor Emily Mibach and Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows will be leading a panel called How Queer: Covering the LGBTQ Culture in student newspapers. The California College Media Association (CCMA) awards
will also be given during the ACP conference. The Campanil has
follow
#ACP2LA
for live tweets and award news placed in four categories for the less-than-weekly division: Best
Feature Story for Ramos' "Mills student advocates for survivors of sexual violence”; Best Non-Breaking News Story for Fatima Sugapong's "Oakland community responds to Ferguson verdict in protest”; Best Arts & Entertainment Story for Sara Melish's "From Tehran to Mills: Dancer follows her dreams”; and Best Special Issue/Section for our Spring 2014 coverage of racism on campus. Official award places will be announced on Feb. 28. The Campanil will also be entering the ACP Best of Show contest, which names
the best student newspapers of the nation. Keep your eye on our website to read editors' blogs about ACP and check out our live-tweeting throughout the weekend. To see our coverage of previous ACP conferences, check out the 'ACP' section on our website. Click on our 'About Us' page for editors' Twitter handles. The Campanil staff will return to their desks on March 1 with new skills and plans to improve the newspaper — and a few new awards to hang up on the newsroom's walls.
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02.24.15
Arts & Ente
New feminist writers space Former Mills professor writes Liminal opens in Laurel District Grace Forrest Staff Writer
TERRAPIN FRAZIER
People gathered Sunday, Feb. 15 for the pre-opening showcase and fundraiser for Liminal, a new space for feminist writers and artists. Terrapin Frazier
frazier@thecampanil
Behind a pair of red double doors in the Laurel District, a crowd abuzz with chatter, music and artistic critique quieted to a foot-tapping silence as writer and visual artist Indira Allegra stepped to the makeshift center stage and read her poem “Body of the Work.” Allegra’s piece was the first performance at the pre-opening showcase and fundraiser for Liminal, a new location for feminists and artists to workshop, meet and collaborate. The event — Sunday, Feb. 15 — featured sets of performances by artists, poets and musicians from 2-6 p.m., massages, astrology and a writing station from 6-8 p.m., and a dance party from 6-8 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, people wandered in and poked their heads through the doors, which often flowed over with the diverse crowd squeezing in. “To be a feminist is to exist in a liminal space. To be in a neighborhood that hasn’t ever had a venue for Feminist events and workshops, or a venue for creativity such as this before, is to be in a Liminal
TERRAPIN FRAZIER
Community members gathered to read and perform their work.
space,” said Goldblatt in an email. “To encourage and engage in conversations about sexuality, gender, equality, creativity, is to enter in and out of multiple liminal spaces.” Part of Liminal’s mission is to be accessible to people across the board. Goldblatt said that she intends to offer a low-cost rental fee, package deals and what she calls an inclusive membership that allows people who make under a certain yearly income to attend for free. “A lot of people who are in the arts are not making a lot of money, and a lot of people [who] would maybe be interested in taking writing classes will not be able to afford them,” Goldblatt said. “I think we lose a lot of people whose voices aren’t heard because of the fact that writing workshops can be pricey, and it’s, like, a bourgie thing that a lot of people get locked out of.” According to Allegra, accessibility is one aspect that makes Liminal a valuable and inviting space. Allegra pointed out that Liminal is located along the 57 bus line, and the slope at the end of the sidewalk combined with the building’s wide, flat threshold makes the space accessible to those with a wheelchair or stroller. Immediately upon walking into Liminal, one is surrounded by art. On the right hand side, a series of colorful, three-dimensional and textile, canvas pieces line the wall. Past the entryway, where Liminal’s mission statement is posted, natural light from the building’s many windows highlight three rectangular strips that hang vertically from the ceiling to the tops of the couches below. Each strip has seven horizontal rows of photographs featuring items like shells, bottles, figurines and a bird’s nest. A sign below describes the piece as Kevin Tijerina’s “Giant Versions of Miniature Things.” Allegra, who projected a visual piece at the event in addition to her poem, appreciated the mixture of artistic mediums at Liminal, which she feels makes it a uniquely valuable resource for artists. “I think there is a real need for spaces like this, you know; places wherein people can present work
from many different mediums,” Allegra said. “There can be art on the walls, as well as a space for folks to speak poetry ... I feel like that’s how art happens and where critical conversations boil up to the surface, when there’s this cross-pollination of folks from different mediums.” Golblatt lives in a curtained-off loft, a staircase above the workshop area. She began renting the building last month and in that time has developed the lower floor into what is now Liminal. Though she plans to start small, Goldblatt hopes that Liminal will grow into a communal and cooperative place for artists that is be fully operational in March. “One of the main principles going into this space is really supporting each other and promoting the f--- out of each other,”Goldblatt said. “If we are going to combat a system that is not making a ton of space for our voices, then we really have to do that and not make a ton of divisions inside that group.” Daphne Gottlieb, who taught poetry at Mills during the Fall semester in 2014, is supportive of Goldblatt’s vision for Liminal, and thinks it will become a valuable communal space for feminist artists. “I’m really proud to be part of the consecration of this space because I think that this speaks to a lack that has existed for a long time now, both in the feminist community and the writing community,” Gottlieb said. Gerald Chambers, a psychotherapist who lives two doors down from Liminal, was invited to the event by Goldblatt when they crossed paths one day. Chambers said he enjoyed the event and thinks Liminal will draw people in from the surrounding neighborhood. “I like it; I like it a lot. It’s good for the neighborhood. People have already stuck their heads in the door who are coming back,” Chambers said. “I think it’s very, very new, and we have to give it a chance to catch on, but I think it’s going to be nice. I think people are going to come over here.” For more information about Liminal, visit theliminalcenter.com
After being asked to write for Amazon Prime’s number one TV show “Transparent,” award-winning writer and poet Ali Liebegott left her teaching position at Mills to explore the world of Hollywood. Before writing for “Transparent,” a TV show that explores the relationships within a family after the father comes out as transgender, Leibegott was writing books and teaching at Mills. In 2006 Liebegott won a Lambda Literary Award in the category of Lesbian Debut Fiction for her novel, “The Beautifully Worthless,” and the following year she won the Ferro-Gumley Award for LGBT literature for the “IHOP Papers.” Jill Soloway, the creator of “Transparent,” is an Emmynominated American comedian, and playwright, who won the Sundance best director award for the film she wrote and directed “Afternoon Delight.” When she asked Liebegott to consider writing a sample script for “Transparent,” Liebegott was thrilled. At the time the pilot had just been accepted by Amazon Prime. Liebegott found writing the script surprisingly rewarding. “I really enjoyed it; a lot of
the things that I really enjoy about writing novels are also in script writing,” Liebegott said. “I felt that it was going to be something that was really exciting for me.” When Soloway accepted her script, Liebegott was teaching creative writing at Mills College and working at a grocery store and living “hand to mouth.” She was also tired of the gentrification that had taken over San Francisco with the tech boom. According to Liebegott, the time was right to try something new. “The last couple of years living in SF wasn’t easy. Things aligned in a new way to try something different,” Liebegott said. While she enjoyed teaching, Liebegott never felt like it was her calling. During her time at Mills, Liebegott wished she could be creating more. She never felt like she knew how to teach people to creatively write; instead, she found herself offering suggestions that had helped her and hoping that they might do some good for her students. “Throughout my teaching career, I wondered how to be a professor,” Liebegott said.” I always wanted to be kind to people, and to share books that were meaningful and to share a philosophy on the world, but a far as telling someone what to write … it was always a
little existential Students at M able to take a cl gott remember loose with her g trying to grade was difficult, a teach her stude sincere, and mo being faithful to “One of th member bein about Ali is tha ally put much e ademias as far a She wanted us and authentic,” Horsma said. Although M her to teach tw in the Spring o gott declined, p up and moved t While Liebg the pronoun she tifies as gende felt that becaus rience being m her gender iden help contribute explores gender In Septembe ebegott wrote a riences writing ent’ in a Quartz “As a butch stantly misge regendered th day by strange wrote, “I have s with a trans ex cially when it c public restroom
Student artist and business owner Grace Forrest Staff Writer Student artist Monica Madeiros, whose mediums include sign painting, photography, letterpress, printing and drawing, has an infectious laugh and no patience for what she calls, “conceptual mumbo jumbo.” A senior in the studio art department at Mills, Madeiros is working on her thesis, a combination of photography and letterpress work. She owns and operates a small print shop in Port Costa where she prints business cards, post cards and greeting cards. Q: How did you get started printing? A: I grew up around presses. My mom is a paper and gift designer, and she bought a platen press after coveting my aunt’s letterpress studio. One of my earliest memories is watching my dad push my mom’s press into our garage on galvanized pipes. I didn’t know it then, but I would use
Monica
Madeiros
is
a
the same method to move all of my future presses. I started getting serious about printing when I was a teenager. I’d always been creative and artistic, and in high school I naturally assumed to role of poster and sign maker. I pursued any endeavor that involved making some kind of sign. It didn’t take long for me to turn to my mom’s press and start tinkering, and from that point, it was all over. Q: What is it about printing that you enjoy? A: I’ve always had an affinity for old, slow processes and anything that involves using my hands. ... Letterpress
senior
in
th
is such a tangi while I have a l tion for printers orate digital de with the new (plastic) plates, hand set metal to me. Q: How doe inform the artw A: I think a I do references some way. ... had an interest and if I drew an was ornate lette described “ha I’ve been doing ing lately, draw to do with mem
ertainment
5
for Amazon hit “Transparent” Community discusses artistry of
l for me,” Mills who were lass with Lieber her as being grading because e creative work and trying to ents how to be ost importantly, o their work. he things I reng interesting at she didn’t reemphasis on acas writing went. s to be honest ” Junior Chloe
Mills had asked wo more classes of 2014, Liebepacked her life to Los Angeles. gott does prefer e/her, she idener neutral and se of her expemarginalized for ntity, she could e to a show that r. er of 2014, Liabout her expefor ‘Transparz article. h who is conendered and hroughout the ers,” Liebegott some crossover xperience especomes to using ms, navigating
airports, getting wanded by awesome to be working alongsecurity detail on entering a side so many people with this sporting event — so I felt like bigger vision.” I could use my experience to When she is not writing for add to the conversation.” “Transparent,” Liebegott is Although Jill Soloway, the working to get the sequel to her creator of “Transparent,” is first book published, exploring not trans herself, she became LA and walking in parks with personally invested in the her dog. She took a stand-up trans community after her fa- comedy class and can be found ther came out to her as trans- at open mics performing a gender. In her piece in Quartz, routine of her dog, complete Liebegott says that Soloway with a full dog costume. She told the writers for “Transpar- hopes to learn how to do clay ent” to think about what they miniatures in the coming year. had never seen on TV before According to Liebegott, “Padand create that. dington” is the movie of the “It isn’t a show that spoon year and made her cry so hard feeds the definition of trans to she could barely drive home, the audience. Instead, we pres- and baseball season can not ent a spectrum of trans char- come soon enough. acters to choose from: a butch, a transman, two transwomen, and Maura, a transwoman at the beginning of her transition who may or may not “medically” transition,” Liebegott wrote in Quartz. Liebegott hopes to keep working in the film and TV industry while continuing to pursue her own writing work. She enjoys the community that writing for TV creates and finds being on a team rewarding in comparison to working alone. “When you work in TV, there are so many levels of collaboration,” Liebegott said. “People have consid- COURTESY OF ALI LIEBEGOTT ered every little tiny aspect Liebegott also plays a miof everything. It is kind of nor role as a security guard.
Monica Madeiros mixes mediums
he
COURTESY OF MONICA MADEIROS studio art department at Mills.
ible craft. And lot of apprecias who use elabesigns and print photo polymer , nothing beats and wood type
es sign painting work you do? all of the work s letterforms in I have always in letterforms, nything at all, it ers. I was a selfand letterer.”... g a lot of drawwings that have mories from my
childhood. I didn’t realize until I stepped back and looked at them, that a lot of my memories are associated with signs and letters and words. And really, I only started drawing images recently, but I learned to draw letters long ago, and have been doing so my entire life. Q: Do photography and printmaking overlap for you? A: They have begun to overlap slightly in my pursuit of the senior thesis exhibition. I think more often than not, it’s my photographic eye that informs the printing. I love photography; it’s always been one of my passions. ... Like many things in my life, it is a tool in
my very large tool box, and I am grateful to have it. Q: What is your thesis about? A:My thesis focuses on ephemera and memory. Specifically, it deals with my upbringing in the small historic town of Port Costa. I utilize my personal archive of photographs, newspapers, notes, etc, to tell not only my story, but the story of my community. Q: What do you hope to do after you graduate? A: I plan to continue to grow my little business, build my house, grow my garden ... and hopefully become more and more self-reliant. I’m not much of an activist, nor am I a politician, but I work everyday to become more sustainable, live more off my land, reuse more and consume less. I’d like to have a ranch someday, hopefully with a barn full of letterpress equipment. Q: What inspires you? A: If I’m working in my studio, there is definitely music playing. And if for some reason I can’t have music, well, then I don’t work.
Black Lives Matter movement Erin Clark Staff Writer In the midst of the growing Black Lives Matter movement, an event meant to spark discussion about the intersections of art and community building was organized by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in collaboration with The Oakland Impact Hub, Monday, Feb. 17. With national attention mounting on the Oakland based organizing project, everything from t-shirts on SNL performers to protests donning the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter” have kept Oakland leadership busy. Not too busy to interact with the community as was demonstrated by the event, entitled “The Movement of Movement: Kyle Abraham in conversation with Alicia Garza.” Abraham’s upcoming Bay Area premiere of “Pavement,” a theatric dance performance being featured at YBCA, framed the night around the importance of art forms as a means of expressing identity and how Garza was using organizing as an art form of resistance. Abraham, a 2013 MacArthur Fellow, award winner and nationally acclaimed performer/choreographer, was invited to be Alicia Garza’s fellow keynote conversationalist. “Kyle is really oriented toward community conversations outside of the performance space,” Raquel Gutiérrez, a main organizer, said, “and this space is a good friend to the Black Lives Matter movement.” Garza, co-founder of “#BlackLivesMatter,” current Special Project Director of the Domestic Workers Alliance, and excellent voice for the movement’s goals and pedagogy, expanded on the social media trend turned full fledged organizing project, and how she was going about complicating the narrative of Blackness as a political identity, being a Queer Black woman. Abraham, however, was the first welcomed to the mic, introducing his work through two quick performances. The first involved a single dancer from Abraham’s “Abraham. In.Motion (A/I/M)” troupe, Jeremy “Jae” Neal, who did a short piece to “I Told Jesus” by Roberta Flack. The second involved Abraham re-emerging without his previous turtleneck and blazer, soon to be joined by the rest of his
ERIN CLARK “The Movement of Movement: Kyle Abraham in conversation with Alicia Garza” was an event to discuss the intersections of art and community building, Monday, Feb. 17.
Abraham. In. Motion dance troupe. They opened with some laid back exchanges that could have been mistaken for idle chatter if not for the projection of their voices and the rising escalation of their back and forth interrupted by dance. The mix of theatrics and carefully rehearsed steps soon came to an end, and Abraham slipped away to re-dress, joining Garza on stage, where smiles and formal introductions were given and exchanged. Then, the questions were rolling. Garza presented the first query; each successive question begging an expansion on the intentions behind the phrase “BlackLivesMatter.” “Yes, all lives matter. You heard it here first,” she said, joining the audience in soft laughter, “But there’s a way society has segmented us, and we can’t jump to ‘all lives matter’ yet, because it simply isn’t true.” Highlighting the evolution and success of the Black Lives Matter movement, Garza raised the point that violence against Black people in America had become a kitchen table conversation in a way it wasn’t before. “I’ve gotten letters from our incarcerated family thanking us,” Garza said. “People are saying it feels like home.” This is the level of comfort Garza and her fellow Queer cocreators, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, have stressed since the inception of #BlackLivesMatter. Abraham elaborated on ways to re-frame the notion of identities by telling stories honoring people’s own truths however graphic they may be. He made somewhat of an
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example of himself in clarifying that he identified as “Black mangay” rather than a “Black gay man.” These distinctions matter, Garza drove home, like having Queer and Transgender leaders expanding the narrative around Black life. By centering complex Black identities, as opposed to limiting these dialogues to the periphery of central conversations, this movement is different. Then, practically in response to a question met by Garza with how spaces could be created to embrace differences without trying to integrate them, Abraham expressed that he attempted to attract a diverse audience with the visual and musical make-up of his performance. “Ideally, we have people reacting through lived experiences,” he said. Nearly two hours of questions from the audience, and each other, brought the event to a close. Garza and Abraham both expressed various reasons for exhaustion but had enjoyed chatting with the community and each other. “The audience had amazing questions!” Abraham said.”I’m used to just getting ‘Can you do the splits?’” While Garza agreed, a different role in the event had interested her more. “Honestly, I just wanted to be in the audience, watching,” Garza said. Audience member, community organizer and performer Jay-Marie Hill enjoyed being in that audience. “It was about telling stories that make our voices heard,” Hill said, “and they’re both great story tellers, making space and leaving room for people to tell their stories.”
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Staff Editorial
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02.24.15
Opinions
The New Republic’s opinion piece on trans students at women’s colleges Recently The New Republic published an opinions piece about transgender rights and admission to women’s colleges. In this piece, freelance writer Monica Potts discusses how transgender students pose a threat to the mission statements of women’s colleges, using the matter of feminism and women’s rights as a means to justify her statements. The New Republic even changed the piece’s headline from “Trans Activism is Threatening Women’s Colleges’ Mission” to “Why Women’s Colleges Still Matter in the Age of Trans Activism”. The Campanil felt that
it was not only difficult to read this opinions piece, but it was also misinforming and wrong for a work to perpetuate transphobia in higher education. We believed that it was wrong for Potts to consider her ideas as feminism by promoting exclusivity at women’s colleges. Even with the changed headline, we cannot ignore its problematic issues about trans activism at women’s colleges. The Campanil recognizes the importance of inclusivity at a women’s college. Mills College was the first women’s college to officially admit transgender students last year, stating that the College will admit self-identified women and students that were assigned to female sex at birth and identify as transgender or gender fluid. Before then, Mills would consider transgender
applicants who self-identified as a woman on a case-by-case basis. We feel that Mills College’s new policy takes a great step towards inclusivity on campus and that Potts’ piece opposes what Mills strives to attain for diversity. At the same time, The Campanil knows about the significance of respecting identities, particularly for those who are transgender and gender-variant. We feel that Potts’ piece in The New Republic did not understand that importance. For instance, Potts equates gender with biology multiple times, using Eve Ensler’s play “Vagina Monologues” to “prove” her point. The fact that Potts refers to “Vagina Monologues,” a work already criticized for its lack of diversity and narrow definition of womanhood, should not be used
to justify the transphobia in this piece. Overall, we feel that her argument was misguided and invalidating to transgender and gender variant people. The Campanil also notices the usage of feminism as a means of justification for this opinions piece. According to Potts, women’s colleges are “still allowed to exclude certain applicants based on gender because there’s still a need to their exclusionary existence.” She furthers her argument by stating that women must advocate for their own rights and struggles, perpetuating cissexism through her statements. Although the piece attempts to show the struggles that most women face, it ignores that women’s rights and LGBTQIA rights may be interconnected. The Campanil
believes that feminism fights for equality for all, and transgender and gender variant should be included in that fight. Overall, we feel that this opinions piece did not capture feminism and equality, especially for transgender people in women’s colleges. The Campanil feels that The New Republic published an opinions piece that did not create an open and productive dialogue to move forward for inclusivity and safe spaces in higher education, especially in women’s colleges. We acknowledge Mills’s mission statement involving diversity and social justice through education. Mills and other women’s colleges are working to become an institution for marginalized genders, and transgender people are a part of that category.
Jennifer Lawrence, boa In search of feminism constrictors and consent feminist
How to be a
ELAINE CHEN
Abbey Flentje Flentje@thecampanil.com Earlier this month, Vanity Fair released a photo of Jennifer Lawrence from their Fall issue. The photo depicts a nude Lawrence with a boa constrictor partially covering her body. Several months ago, photos of numerous female celebrities, including Lawrence, were leaked onto the internet by hackers. These hackers, whose identities are still unknown, violated these women's privacy by delving into their personal cloud servers. Their actions disgusted me. However, their cyber-attack was not unlike attacks women go through on a daily basis, with people releasing private photos not meant for everyone's eyes. Because this started happening to celebrities, more attention has been given to issues of privacy. As I have said before in both my Sep. 30 and Oct. 17 pieces about these photo hackings, I am a fan of Lawrence. I take issue with some of the things she's said in some of her interviews, but I take issue with things almost every person I've met has said. Naturally when these photos leaked, I took great issue with a person invading someone's — someone I admire and idolize — privacy. But this was not the only thing
that popped into my mind when I heard about these photo hackings. It also got my mind rolling on the issues of consent that female and woman-identifying bodies face every day. As soon as the boa photo dropped, the web exploded. The reaction from misogynists who prowl the internet? Comments that, by now, should not have shocked me. Many of them complained, calling her a hypocrite for being (rightfully) upset about her private photos being leaked, then "posing" for such photos. Others made vulgar comments and body-shamed her. What these jackholes behind their keyboards do not understand is the difference between theft of private property and consent to have these photos taken. Lawrence willingly allowed the now infamous boa constrictor photo to be taken. She said yes to having them published. She consented. As a friend of mine would say, consent does not take a day off. It is rarely respected, and women get slut-shamed for choosing to make choices about their own bodies. When men post their nude photos, it is overlooked; women, though, according to the vast majority of the internet, must be shamed for their bodies. This is unacceptable. It is a despicable part of our culture and this needs to change. No one deserves to be shamed for their personal choices of what they do with their bodies, and the definition of consent needs to be made clear. If Lawrence wants to allow photos with giant snakes to be published, it is her choice. If someone wishes to pose nude for art, it is their choice. And if those trolls on the internet do not understand that, then they are the ones who deserve to be shamed.
“a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes”. Sound familiar? This definition is now much more well-known as a result of Beyoncé sampling it in her song “Flawless.” As a result, more people are now informed about the topic. However, misconceptions still abound. The first step to being a feminist is thus being informed and continuing to learn more about how we can lessen the gender divide.
EMILY MIBACH
Elizabeth Sunseri Contributing Writer
Feminism can be intimidating. We use the term a lot here at Mills, but how many of us are actually unfamiliar with it? My guess is more than we think – often because it can be hard to speak up and ask for information. But don’t fear! If you want to learn how gender justice relates to you, how to get involved or just what feminism actually means, this guide is for you. Step 1: Be informed. The first hurdle budding feminists have to leap is the essential question: what is feminism? Many people’s hesitance to identify as feminist comes simply from not personally researching the answers to this question. As defined by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a feminist is
Step 2: Be open. When you research gender justice, you’ll be assaulted by endless opinions on sexism, privilege and a million other topics – some of which you may not have even known existed. This can be stressful and emotional, especially if you’re researching via the internet. Yes, there will be extremists on both sides, and, yes, some people will be jerks. Part of being a social justice warrior is having a thick enough skin to filter out the grating commentary of internet trolls and your older, sexist and/or racist relatives, but an equally important part is being able to accept the viewpoints of others and reconfigure your own beliefs to recognize hidden gems of truth. You’re going to disagree with people sometimes, including other feminists, but remember that this is okay, normal and actually awesome. Discussion and openness is how we hone our ideas. Step 3: Stay calm. Identifying as
a feminist isn’t always easy. I’ve been reduced to angry tears, quit researching a triggering topic, or snapped at a debate opponent many times since I began researching gender justice. This is a hazard of attempting to become more informed on such an emotionally charged topic. As a feminist, you must be able to feel passionate and care deeply about topics without letting them affect your emotional well-being. This means sometimes getting away from the computer, taking a walk or talking to friends. Whatever works for you, do it. Feminism is about fighting for the rights of yourself and others, and you can’t do this if you aren’t happy yourself. Step 4: Own it. Being a feminist is a fantastic way to develop a strong sense of self. The many feminists I know are some of the happiest, smartest and most confident people I’ve met. The empowerment that comes from knowing you’re a social justice warrior, cultural researcher and passionate aficionado is unparalleled. Besides this wonderful perk, feminism is also a community. From Riot Grrrls to fashion feminists, there are different subcultures that contain strong, empowered activists of all genders who can challenge and support you. So get out there, blossoming feminists, and kick the patriarchy to the curb.
Editor’s note: With the exception of staff editorials, the views expressed in the Opinions section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Campanil and are solely those of the author. Additionally, statements made by contributors outside of The Campanil do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board.
If you would like to submit an op ed, please email Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows at: Barrows@TheCampanil.com
Sports & Health
02.24.15
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Cyclone of the Week: Christine Wu and Ashley Young Lindsay Baillie Contributing Writer Christine Wu was awarded Cyclone of the Week for her outstanding technique and overall enthusiasm for the Mills College tennis team for the week of Feb. 2, 2015. Wu, a prospective biomedical engineering major and first year student at Mills, joined the College’s team this semester, which started mid-January. Her interest in tennis stemmed from the four years she played in high school. Wu was awarded Cyclone of the Week by Head Coach Amy Jensen. This honor is given to athletes who go above and beyond during practices and matches. “The tennis coaches felt that Christine was a stand out in terms of her engagement, competitive spirit, tactical awareness, and
intensity/energy,” Jensen said in an email. At the start of the season, Wu showed the coaches her strengths and range of abilities. “Christine is strong across the board – in all things we do,” Jensen said. “She practices at a very high level and brought her skills to match day in our season opener. She is strong in singles and doubles and also very academically committed.” According to Jensen, Wu is passionate about her team and their goal of qualifying for the NCAA’s. Wu’s hard work and technique has made her a key player in the team’s push towards success. The tennis player is known for her topspins, slice serves, slices from the baseline, drop shots, angles and lobs. Her ability to sequence different shots creates not only an effective game, but an interesting one as well. “We love having her on the team – and the other tennis players learn a lot by playing with and against her,” Jensen said.
Named Cyclone of the Week, Wu’s passion for the sport, skill,and determination are publicly recognized. “She is such a consistent force at practice, and these athletes often go unnoticed,” Jensen said. “Coaches and teammates
sense that Christine is a tough competitor that we know we can count on to play at her full capacity and represent Mills with pride and passion.” Wu was surprised to receive the honor and attributed it to hard work during practice. She hopes this honor will encourage other members on her team and hopes the team will work harder as a whole to become better teammates and overall players. Wu’s hard work on the court was noticed not only by her coaches, but also by other teammates. “For Christine, tennis is a game of strategy,” Sophia Wasteneys, co-captain of the tennis team and first year Mills student, wrote in an email. “When I watch her play, I see her constantly thinking and searching for a response to her opponent. When she plays, it’s not about just getting the ball back over the net; it’s about strategically placing the ball where she knows her opponent is weak.” In addition to her abilities as an individual player, coaches and teammates recognize Wu as a powerful teammate. “As a teammate, Christine is constantly smiling,” Wasteneys said. “Her subtle positivity plays a crucial role on the team. She’s a true team player, always putting others’ needs before her own. She’s very committed and loyal as a teammate, a student and a friend.” While she likes to play both singles and doubles, Wu prefers singles. She looks forward to the rest of the season and would like to continue playing tennis for her four years at Mills. While the tennis season has just started, both coaches and teammates agree that Wu will be essential to their team’s later success. “Christine is a key ingredient in our ‘secret sauce,’” Jensen said.
Jen Mac Ramos
ramos@thecampanil.com
Second year swimmer Ashley Young was awarded the title of Cyclone of the Week by APER, for the week of Feb. 9. Young, who swims freestyle and backstroke, dropped 12-13 seconds between the last home swim meet at Mills College and the Liberal Arts Colleges Championships at Coley College in Iowa in a two week period. Before that, Young dropped 12 seconds at Mills’ Senior Day. Young said she was really excited to be named Cyclone of the Week . “Ashley is one of those super consistent, dedicated workers,” Head Swim Coach Neil Virtue said. Virtue noted that Young shows up and is willing to swim any event. He tells the team that life is 80 percent showing up and Young does just that.
“She puts the team as a high priority,” Virtue said. For Young, she said that going to the two meets in Oregon in November was good for her. She broke her personal best time in numerous events and was happy with her overall results. “Before that meet, I was feeling like I wasn’t really improving as much as I would’ve liked, but I think that was a turning point in the season for me,” Young said. “I had a 100 percent best times that meet. I got to my season goals, which was to swim under 30 seconds on the 50 free [style] and to make the top 10 list on the 50 back [stroke].” Now that the season is over, Young plans to stay in shape to finish out the rest of the semester. She plans to continue swimming during her junior year.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF APER
Keys to health: Sleep Visit The Campanil’s website for these articles, columns and ongoing coverage: -Cyclones of the Week -In Search of Feminism -Black History Month events -Being Asian at Mills Everything in this issue and more at www.thecampanil.com
Felicianna Marquez Health Columnist Thinking of college means stress — no sleeping and freshman fifteen. However, that doesn’t have to be entirely true with this basic healthy tip. Your body is a temple, as cliché as that may sound. And no temple can stand if it isn’t built on a strong foundation. The start of that foundation is sleep. “Sleeping at for at least seven hours a night and keeping consistent with those seven hours will keep your body healthy and happy,” said Stacey Angela, wellness and fitness coach for Herbalife, a leading nutrition and weight management company. “Let’s say you sleep seven hours one night but then five the next. Those two extra hours of missed sleep will weigh you down like one brick on each shoulder. As well as oversleeping. Oversleeping an extra two hours may feel good, but ultimately
messes up your daily routine and makes your body feel groggy.” According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleeping consistent hours will help improve energy, memory and keep your weight balanced. Your body needs at least seven and a half to nine hours of sleep per night, and if you are unable to do that, your body will obtain “sleep debt,” according to helpguide.org. A way to pay off your debt is to add an hour of sleep every night until you reach seven and then keeping it consistent. When we hear the demonic sound of the alarm clock ringing, no one wants to get out of bed, and some mornings are harder than others. A way to make mornings less miserable are setting your alarm clock in multiples of 90 minutes, according to helpguide.org Ninety minutes are a the length of an average sleep cycle, and during the sleep cycle, your brain is going through deep sleep stages and more alert stages. At the end of
the 90 minutes your brain is typically more alert, a perfect time to wake up and feel refreshed. To help lead you into a good night sleep, stay away from caffeinated beverages past 2 PM. College and caffeine go hand in hand; however, caffeine tends to last about five to six hours and you want enough time to wind down and let your body relax to sleep easier. Last but not least, if you have the night-time munchies before bed, the best snack that aids in peaceful sleep is a snack full of protein and carbohydrates, building tryptophan, which causes sleepiness. An example of a good snack would be cereal (Cheerios, LIFE, Puffins) and milk. College gives us little time to do anything, but making time to sleep will help you accomplish everything you need too. For further reading: www.helpguide.org/articles/ sleep/how-much-sleep-do-youneed.htm sleepfoundation.org
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02.24.15
Sports & Health
m a e t w e r c s e s a c w o h s -thon
Erg-a
Jen Mac Ramos
ramos@thecampanil.com
The Mills College Crew Team’s annual erg-a-thon took place on Adams Plaza Thursday afternoon. With erg machines, also known as indoor rowers, out on the plaza and rowing 320,000 meters — translating to 198.8 miles or the distance from the Mills campus to the Nevada border — members of the crew team finished erging
faster than the team has in the past few years. “We have a strong team; they’re working hard and working really well together,” Head Coach Sara Nevin said. “You’ve seen them just hopping on and off and calling for help and somebody hops on.” Every year, the Crew Team holds an erg-a-thon with erg machines on the Plaza to raise money for extra items, according to Nevin. The team sold “Smarter than Barbie, Stronger than Ken” shirts for $15 a piece while the team rowed on the machines.
Jessica Parlin, senior rower, said that it is good to raise awareness of the team’s presence on campus, especially with the erg-a-thon happening in the middle of Adams Plaza. “We’ve had professors come by and say, ‘I didn’t know you were on the team!’” Nevin said. “It’s really great to let people see how hard we work, so I think that’s fun.” Parlin said that the erg-athon went well and made a note of the time it was taking to row. The event was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the team finished erging well ahead of
schedule at around 5:15 p.m. “We are probably faster than we’ve been in a while, and it’s really exciting,” Parlin said. Nevin said that because the crew team has done the majority of the work off-campus and not in the daylight, the community might not know about the team’s efforts. “I know that we’ve attracted a lot of attention, which is the whole point, but it’s really good,” Parlin said. “I know a lot of people have stopped, and I know that they’ve at least talked to us. If at least half of those are donations,
that’s awesome.” First-year rower Gisele Guzman said that many people stayed longer than they were expected to and that the team got a lot of meters in. “I think it’s helped [the team] fundraise just [for] everyone to see the dedication we have, and I think it’s helped the team itself just to see how much strength we have,” Guzman said. Nevin agreed with the sentiment about the team’s strength. “It’s beginners and experienced rowers all taking turns, so it’s [a] really fun team dynamic,” Nevin said.
JEN MAC RAMOS
Cyclone swimmers go to Liberal Arts College Championships in Iowa Monika Sabic
sabic@thecampanil.com
The Mills Swim Team traveled across the country to compete in the Liberal Arts College Championships (LAC) at Coley College in Iowa. Despite the negative 13 degree weather, the team was motivated and prepared to compete against 10 other East Coast colleges in their biggest meet of the season. The team ranked 11th place out of 11 in their five-day tournament from Feb. 11 to 15. Each swimmer raced in roughly five events each, like the 100 free-fly race and the relays. Their day at the pool started from 8 in the morning until around 12, had a lunch break and then swam again until 9 p.m. “It is such a unique experience, traveling for five days and being together so tightly,” Head Coach Neil Virtue said. “They give us a bleacher space. There is not a whole lot of room; you are in this pool and there is all sorts of cheering; the noise is kind of constant.” Junior Mara Harwood recalls how busy the tournament was. Being the only college from the West Coast, Harwood and her team spent the majority of their trip either traveling or in the pool. “It is just really eat, sleep, swim … swim more,” Harwood said. The tournament was held
indoors during the cold weather. Virtue mentioned the possibility of swimmers’ hair freezing if they stayed out in the cold weather for too long. Many of the Cyclone swimmers broke their own personal records. Senior Gaby Amberchan was able to drop 30 seconds in her mile event as well as placed on Mills’ top ten records list for her 400 individual medley race. “I am so happy on how the season ended,” Amberchan said. “My 400 IM was my first time and it went better than I expected”. Out of the 11 teams competing, Mills had the smallest team with eight swimmers. Other competing schools, like first place winner Luther College in Iowa, had 24 swimmers. Regardless of the different team sizes, Virtue wanted the team to focus on controlling their individual improvements. “As far as place wise, we didn’t really improve, but we worked out what we can control to improve which is our own effort and attitude,” Virtue said. Dani Sherman, junior, made it her job to get her teammates excited for the big meet. According to Sherman, the team would be on the sides of the pool, cheering on fellow swimmers during the events. “Half of our team had never been to champs before, and you couldn’t even tell,” Sherman said. “We were the loudest team there, even though we were way smaller
than everybody”. Since it was Valentine’s Day during the tournament, the team bonded by making valentine cards and passing them out to competing schools. The team fostered new memories and friendships with each other while they watched other swimmers and as they warmed up together between events. “The meet is every emotion you can imagine,” Virtue said. Everywhere you look, there is an emotion happening. It is really rich.” Now that the swim season is over, the team members are excited to finally have extra time to focus on school or relax. As the swimmers adjust into their new schedules without swim training, they still find it hard not being around each other. “With the team we definitely grew closer instead, and its kind of weird not having the season going on,” Harwood said. Virtue has begun recruiting and keeping in touch with incoming students who are interested in swimming. He believes that if these incoming athletes decide to attend Mills and swim, the team will have a lot of potential for the upcoming season and the next LAC Championships. “Now I’m trying to keep in touch with them and encourage to make a decision that works for them,” Virtue said. “Hopefully that’s Mills, but ultimately I really want people to come here.”
Photo Spotlight: Pick-up Volleyball on Wednesdays at Holmgren Meadow
ALL PHOTOS BY JEN MAC RAMOS
Members of the Mills community can join in a game of pickup volleyball on Wednesday afternoons between 12-1 p.m.