THE CAMPANIL // Student-run newspaper serving Mills College since 1917 //
04.21.15
// Volume 100 // Issue 13 //
JEN MAC RAMOS
“The Laramie Project” is based on the true story of Matthew Shepard, a gay man and University of Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998.
Theater department production of ‘The Laramie Project’ explores queerness and community Jen Mac Ramos ramos@thecampanil
After a semester full of rehearsals, theater students are preparing for their first performance since the department’s return to Mills
College with a production of “The Laramie Project.” The production, based on the real life 1998 murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, a gay man, is part of Performance, a theater course at Mills. The drama department became defunct in the early 2000s but made
a return in the Fall of 2014 with a partnership with the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco. Victor Talmadge, professor of theater and the director of Mills’ production of “The Laramie Project,” said that the play is an important piece with a message about
Students organize to change 2015 commencement speaker Dajanae Barrows barrows@thecampanil.com Disappointed in the selection of Libby Schaaf, mayor of Oakland, as commencement speaker, a group of Mills students recently began organizing to bring in a different speaker. A March press release on the Mills website announced that Schaaf would speak at the 127th commencement on May 16. Schaaf was elected mayor of Oakland in November of last year after running against candidate Rebecca Kaplan. Schaaf was inaugurated on Jan. 5. Before her time as mayor, Schaaf was a member of the Oakland City Council from 2011 to this year. "In Mayor Schaaf’s various roles, she has demonstrated a commitment to the economic development of Oakland and has
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Some students disagree with Schaaf’s policies and actions.
been a proponent for supporting local business," said President Decoudreaux in a memorandum sent last month. "She is honored and excited to address our community and I know that she will be an inspirational speaker." However, on the Mills College Facebook group page, many Mills students and alumni/ae have discussed their issues with Schaaf. Students expressed concern about Schaaf's relationship with police. On Jan. 15, Schaaf spent her
prejudice, especially gender prejudice. According to Talmadge, he chose the play because it allows for gender and age fluid casting. Talmadge also said that it serves as an introduction for students to the fall documentary playwriting course. “The format of the piece is a documentary,” Talmadge said. “All
of the dialogue is real.” Junior theater major Sophia DiPaola, who plays four roles in the production, said for those interested in theater, this production is something to see because it’s full of moment work, a method employed see
Laramie page 5
Soccer coach plans new recruitment strategies
first day in office meeting with the Oakland Police Department (OPD) to help build "officer morale", according to the Contra Costa Times. With OPD's history with citizens, particularly with the deaths of Oscar Grant and Alan Blueford, students felt that Schaaf being chosen as this year's commencement speaker was not be ideal. Senior Tess Unger, creator of the Facebook page, immediately expressed anger once she found out that Schaaf would be speaking at the commencement ceremony. Unger has worked closely with the Blueford family in raising awareness in the Oakland community about Blueford's death. Unger did not like the idea of what Schaaf's presence at the commencement ceremony would represent. "We're not liking the message it sends, and we want to keep
Coach La ura Va nWa rt is working to recruit ne w players for the Divison 3 tea m, but some Cyclones have concerns.
Speaker page 3
see page 8 for the full story
see
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News
04.21.15
Little Rock Nine members share experiences with Oakland community UC Berkeley professor talks Islamophobia for SAMEPI Dajanae Barrows
barrows@thecampanil.com
Minnijean Brown Trickey and Dr. Terrence Roberts, two of the first nine Black students that enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, came to Oakland to talk about their experiences with education following integration of schools. The group of students, known as the Little Rock Nine enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, three years after the decision of Brown v. Board of Education was declared. Little Rock was one of the first cities to put the decision into force as Little Rock’s school board and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) enrolled nine students to integrate the high school. Continuing with the Barbara Lee & Elihu Harris Lecture Series’ theme of “Where do we go from here: Chaos or community?” at the Oakland Marriott City Center on Apr. 11, Trickey and Roberts discussed their experiences at Little Rock Central High School. They also reflected on their recent experiences involving race and identity. Both speakers focused on how each experience was not just a revolutionary move in desegregation and nonviolence; it was also an attempt at an ordinary experience in pursuit of education. “If we want to think about the complexities that emerge as the Little Rock Desegregation Crisis, you have to understand that on the day that we put our names on a list, we were planning to go to school,” Trickey said. Roberts continued the conversation of race and identity, recalling his experiences as a professor at University of California, Los Angeles. Roberts stressed the importance of community in fighting racism today.
“None of us can do it alone,” Roberts said. “In this country, we offer a heavy dose of individualism, of doing it yourself. … This is a joint enterprise.” Trickey and Roberts also participated in a Q&A panel with the audience; the panel members discussed different topics, from their experiences at Little Rock Central High to their current politics in Little Rock. One audience member asked about Trickey’s experience as a Black woman trying to pursue an education in a segregated, hostile environment. “The experience was hard,” said Trickey. “There is no formula, there were no calculations, there were no patterns. ... It’s harder than rocket science. Once you know that it’s harder than rocket science, you go in and see what they’re going to do to you today. You go in for an education, no matter what.” Students from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland also spoke at the lecture. Student Jacob Yalung promoted peace and forgiveness between people. “Anger is the enemy of family and community, and pride is a monster that swallows us up,” Yalung said. “Whenever you are hurt mentally, physically [and] emotionally, always work to forgive, because forgiveness allows a chance for bonding and connection between you and that other person.” Thirteen-year-old student Angela Drake voiced her perspective on today’s movement in justice and community. Drake reflected on problematic issues in the community, such as the school-to-prison pipeline and the mass incarceration of people of color. “We fight so hard for something that seems like it’s being torn back down,” Drake said. “Now’s the time for togetherness, hope [and] unity. One person cannot do the work of a thousand. Every hand is needed in building a wall of hope.”
JEN MAC RAMOS
Trickey and Roberts spoke about their 1950s education.
Managing Editor Emily Mibach News Editor Abbey Flentje
Ari Nussbaum Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Rothwell 157 Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone
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HART ROSENBERG
A c c o rd i n g t o P ro f e s s o r H a t e m B a z i a n , ra c i s m a g a i n s t t h e M u s l i m c o m m u n i t y h a s c a u s e d e x t re m i s t g ro u p s t o s p ri n g u p g l o b a l l y.
Priscilla Son staff writer
For SAMEPI Awareness Now! month, Dr. Hatem Bazian came to Mills College in response to Muslim related hate crimes around the world. His talk entitled “North Carolina, Paris, and Norway: Reinforcing Extremes and Navigating Islamophobia” addressed the fear of Muslims and why it exists. Bazian is a professor at University of California, Berkeley and activist for Muslim people. He co-founded Zaytuna College in Berkeley, the first Muslim Liberal Arts College in America, and dedicates his profession to the study of Islam and Islamophobia in today’s society. The attack on Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, on Jan. 7., the bombing of the Oslo district in Norway and the murders of two Muslim siblings in North Carolina have prompted a discussion about how Muslim people are perceived. Racialization and discrimination of Muslim people, Bazian said, has been found to be a prevalent phenomenon in America and Europe. Muslims are seen as extremists, some using the phrase “Islamic extremism;” however, he said this assumption was created by the ulterior motives of bigger nations. For example, the use of immigrant labor in America to suppress wages and create racial tension among those who believe immigrants are stealing jobs, Bazian said, is an issue that is not incidental, but part of a structural problem.
“You cannot really engage in thinking about race without thinking about power and how power is an important aspect to how a particular group is racialized,” Bazian said. According to Bazian, making racism against Muslims acceptable has allowed extremist groups to come into power around the world and create a well-funded, supported, Islamophobic industry. “The extremist right-wing is making inroads in mainstream politics in Europe on the back of Islamophobia and monetizing the fear and the threat of Muslims,” Bazian said. Bazian also said that starting in the recession of 2008, America saw an increase in spending on Islamophobic propaganda, companies and organizations. “There was an incentive for a number of groups who wanted to prevent real economic reforms and real challenges for those who robbed us blind,” Bazian said. “You begin to actually generate more Islamophobic content and divert attention to a whole debate that has nothing to do with the pocket books of people, essentially robbing you blind again.” According to Bazian, Islamophobia is also used as a tool for diversion in other ways including racism. For example, political conservatives who were against Obama being elected as the first African-American president used anti-Muslim rhetoric in discourse against him. Bazian also spoke about how Muslim people in the media are represented only in terms of violence. According to Bazian,
Hollywood vilifies Arabs or displays Middle-Eastern men and women in the context of a harem, which is a sexual fantasy that was actually created by Americans. Mills Junior Fadwa Bouhedda reflected on the way media presents Muslim people, influencing their image in society. “The only way you can get personal interaction is if you’re around Muslims,” Bouhedda said. “If I wasn’t interacting with people like my professors, I feel like they would still be under the impression of the media.” Senior and President of the Muslim Student Alliance (MSA) Samah Ikram commented on the purpose of this event held for SAMEPI and its connection to North Carolina, Paris and Norway. “We wanted to create that space for people to come and ask questions. There is a fear of Islam, so that’s a lot of what we’re trying to do,” Ikram said. “[So that] even if they’re fearful of it, to just ask questions.”
HART ROSENBERG
Students asked questions about Islamophobia’s effect on society.
Copy Chief Greta Lopez Copy Editors Pearl Thompson, Mary Ruiz, Irena Huang, Brittany Burnett, Sydney Van Sinden, Kenna Wright
Sports & Health Editor Jen Mac Ramos Staff Writers Sara Melish, Grace Forrest, Sarah Hoenicke, Allie Enriquez, Asst. Sports Editor Monika Sabic Erin Clark, Priscilla Son Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows Photo Editor Elaine Chen Design Editor Francesca Twohy-Haines Staff Photographer Hart Rosenberg Online Editor Fatima Sugapong
Sustainability Reporter Octavia Sun
Asst. Online Editor Alexina Estrada
Advertising Manager Cleo Pierce
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
04.21.15
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Erica Garner comes to Oakland to talk change for Black community Abbey Flentje flentje@thecampanil.com Following the death of her father, Erica Garner began speaking nationally on the subject of police terrorism against the Black community. Recently, she made one of her stops in Oakland. Garner spoke at the Betti Ono Gallery in downtown Oakland on Apr. 9. Garner’s father, Eric Garner, died in July of 2014 as a result of a police officer putting him in an illegal chokehold. A Staten Island, New York grand jury ultimately decided not to indict the officer responsible for the chokehold. Organizer Cat Brooks of ONYX (Organized to Act, Never Ceasing to Struggle, Youth Focused with
DAJANAE BARROWS
C a t B ro o ks s p o ke a b o u t the impact of trauma on Black communities.
Elder Guidance, Xercising the Right to Liberate our Communities) opened for Garner by speaking about the widespread trauma in America for Black citizens. “It doesn’t have to happen on your block for it to be a triggering moment for you, for you to absorb all that trauma or the trauma of being Black for however many years you’ve been alive in this country,” Brooks said. Brooks also spoke about the importance of Eric Garner’s last words “I can’t breathe,” saying that the phrase has done more than just energize the Black Lives Matter movement and community. “Those words became the mantra for the words that Black people haven’t been able to find to describe what being Black in America is,” Brooks said. After being introduced by Brooks, Garner talked about how her life changed after her father’s death. According to Garner, she began to view the media in a very different light. Before her father was killed, she trusted the media; after seeing how the news misrepresented her father’s character, her opinion drastically changed. “It’s crazy how much the media can make you look good and how much it can make you look bad,” Garner said. She also discussed the Apr. 4 shooting of Walter Scott in South Carolina as a recent example of police brutality in which a white police officer killed a Black man without cause. Although the police officer was arrested this time, Garner said she does not believe true change will come yet. She also
questioned police accountability. “This keeps on happening to the point where America is used to it,” Garner said. “We shouldn’t be used to our loved ones being killed on national TV. We shouldn’t be used to talking about it in our churches and our schools.” Despite feeling like change has not come yet, Garner said she still believes it will happen someday. She encouraged voting and holding elected officials accountable if they do not stick to campaign promises as ways of starting to change the system. “I feel like change will come, but just like Martin Luther King fought for civil rights, it’s going to take some time,” Garner said. “I feel like we should stay focused on that goal.” Following Garner’s speech, a panel answered audience questions. Garner, along with the mothers of Oscar Grant and O’Shaine Evans (two young Black men killed in the Bay Area by police officers) spoke on the panel. Cepheus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, leader of the Love Not Blood campaign, also spoke on the panel. One audience question focused on the topic of trauma in Black communities. Uncle Bobby answered that, in dealing with trauma in his life, he tries to educate the community on how the country used institutionalized racism against them. Everyone will have a different way of responding to this racism, he said. “Respond the way that you feel you need to to get your point across,” Uncle Bobby said. “I’m not going to condemn you if you
Students propose alternative commencement speakers from
Speaker page 1
electoral politics and big business out of the environment here because it’s not historically been about that," Unger said. After sparking dialogue for the senior class, Unger felt that organizing would work better as a collaborative effort between her and students. "Everything works better collaboratively," Unger said. "We're always better than numbers, and as a white woman of relative privilege, I don't know if I'm the right singular voice for this. It has to be collaborative." Senior Beck Levy also expressed outrage about Schaaf being chosen as speaker. "I was saddened to receive the e-mail announcement that Mayor Libby Schaaf was to be our commencement speaker and outraged that she was described as a strong feminist role model," Levy said in an email. "My feminism stands against the violence of policing and gentrification." Dean of Students Chicora Martin found out about these
concerns after the Facebook post was forwarded to them by students and staff. Afterwards, Martin searched for students to meet with them to get more context. Martin also spoke to administration to learn more about the selection process for commencement speakers. Several students have already
“My feminism stands against the violence of policing and gentrification.” -Beck Levy
suggested speakers to consider replacing Schaaf as the speaker. After an informal poll made by Levy, one of the proposed candidates is Alicia Garza, co-founder of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Other options the group have discussed are activists Diana Block, Janetta Johnson and B. Cole. "They are all strong, anti-
oppression, feminist role models and the Mills community would be better served by any of them speaking to our graduating class," Levy said. According to Senior Class President Mira Mason-Reader, class council requests nominations from the graduating class and sends the information to administration. The President's Office then tries to reach the top candidates for commencement speaker; the speaker is then picked based on the responses. Martin hopes to come to some sort of compromise or agreement between students and staff so that the graduating class can be appeased. Martin also expressed hope that this experience will help with choosing commencement speakers in the future. Martin has met with two students on Apr. 10 to discuss this matter. "I think that we need to talk about concerns and options [and] what that would look like," Martin said. "I always think there is a way to talk through things and see how we can come with a compromise, process or at least for folks to feel heard because I feel that that is important."
DAJANAE BARROWS
Erica Garner encouraged voting and holding elected officials to their word as a way to combat police terror.
break a window, because what is a building or a window compared to a life?” Wanda Johnson, the mother of Oscar Grant, said she helps other mothers whose sons are killed by police to deal with the feelings of seeing their children become “demonized by the media.” She aims to find a space where these emotions can be talked about. “As we’ve lost our loved ones, there is no place to go to talk about how my sisters feel, how I feel, after we’ve lost a child,” Johnson said. “The different stages of mourning, the anger, the frustration, wanting to get that person back. There’s no
place set up for us to go.” Another audience member asked the panel how they chose whether or not to watch a video related to a Black death by police. Garner said that seeing the video of her father helped her realize just how powerful his last words were. “As horrible as it was to watch the video, I had to fully understand,” Garner said. “I had to watch it because I wanted to know the faces, I wanted to know their body language, I wanted to know exactly what they did, who touched him, who did what. And even though it was hard for me to watch, it helped me.”
Upcoming Events Thursday, April 23 Student Leadership and Mills of Color Awards 4 - 6 p.m. in the Student Union
Monday, April 27 Open Student Forum with Dr. Chicora Martin on Mills’ Social Media and Civil Discourse Policy for 2015 12 - 1:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge
Friday, May 1 Racial Equity Workshop 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the GSB
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Arts & Entertainment
Dance department administrator organizes community art show Sara Melish Contributing Writer Inside the aRt Cottage, an eclectic art gallery, community artists displayed their work as part of a recent effort to develop the artistic landscape in Concord. The opening reception, held by the The Concord Community of Artists on Mar. 7, was in honor of their show, Concord Arts Alive! Emerge. For the month of March, 21 artists — along with 16 students from Clayton Valley Charter High School — presented their work at the aRt Cottage to “celebrate their civic identity of being Concordbased artists.” The diversity of artists who participated in Concord Arts Alive! ranged from established professionals to students who were showing their art for the first time. The mediums presented varied widely from paintings, to photography, mixed media and wire sculpture. Inside, visitors interacted with a map of the city, pointing out landmarks and using pins to mark where they locate themselves within the city. Visitors of all ages floated about the gallery, taking in the variety of colors and styles showcased within the space. Sylvia Nuzzo Philis, a co-organizer of the show as
SARA MELISH
Sylvia Nuzzo Philis is a member of the Employee Wellness Committee at Mills.
well as a participating artist, greeted people finding their way in and encouraged them to visit the map. When she is not busy with her art — photography, making art books and organizing — Nuzzo Philis is also the administrator for the Mills College dance department. “It’s wonderful for me to have an understandable language I can speak with in my professional world here at Mills and then have it be so relatable to what I do outside of Mills,” Nuzzo Philis said. Nuzzo Philis moved to Concord, Calif. in 2007, the same year she started working at Mills. Looking to be part of a new artistic and creative community similar to the one
SARA MELISH
Nuzzo Philis moved to from Canada to Concord in 2007, where she created the Concord Community of Arts.
she left behind in her hometown of Edmonton, Canada, Nuzzo Philis started a MeetUp group online for artists in the area. The group later formed the Concord Community of Artists. Nuzzo Philis saw the need for more incorporation of the arts in Concord. In an effort to make the arts more visible to city leaders, she invited the mayor, the Chamber of Commerce and the local newspapers to a VIP event at the gallery to show how viable artists and the arts are to the fabric of the community. “I took the last year to see every kind of art event in Concord so that I could see what is happening,” Nuzzo Philis said. “There is a lot happening in the square in the summer, however, I think we are just ripe and ready for a little bit more of a presence that isn’t just the added entertainment or the added piece.” According to Nuzzo Philis, Concord is very serious about appealing to families and takes a “Families First” approach. Nuzzo Philis saw arts programming aimed at younger children, but felt there was a gap as the children got older. For a city its size, she thought there was a lot more that could be happening in Concord and wanted to connect with more children at the high school level. “There was some really impressive work from the high school students. They held their own in the space just like any of the other artists did,” Nuzzo Philis said. “Working at Mills, it is so natural for me to think about students and what they do and how they can be included in the community.” At Mills, Nuzzo Philis uses her dance and artistic backgrounds, as well as years of experience organizing, to manage the creative and administrative demands of the nationally renowned dance department. Professors and students value her ability to keep the department running smoothly. Dance Professor Sonya Delwaide-Nichols praises her talent in managing faculty and visiting dance artists, as well as organizing events.
“First of all, she is an artist herself, so she brings her understanding of the arts. And more than that, she understands the demands behind being an artist,” said Delwaide-Nichols. “She is extremely conscientious and has a keen eye for making sure that everything is taken care of. Sometimes it is difficult to see the whole picture when problems arise, but Sylvia, no matter what, is able to do so.” Nuzzo Philis feels fortunate to be immersed in the community at Mills. She takes art history classes when she can and is an active member of the Employee Wellness Committee. “The environment here at Mills is about education, it’s about pursuit, it’s about action towards whatever it is that fuels you. That’s part of our fiber here,” Nuzzo Philis said. “Mills supports that just because of what we stand for — for the students and what we stand for within the organization.” Nia Fitzpatrick, a junior double major in dance and early childhood education, appreciates the way Nuzzo Philis keeps her informed so that she can remember to attend dance events in the community. “Sylvia is an extremely important person in the dance department because she sends out all the emails letting us know what’s going on. She keeps us connected, ” said Fitzpatrick. “She lets us know about master classes, workshops and events on and off campus.” Organizing Concord Arts Alive! Emerge has sparked Nuzzo Philis’s interest in becoming more involved in civic council meetings. She also looks forward to incorporating more dance and performance into her arts community. “You have to see what is happening. Get in the loop,” Nuzzo Philis said. “Even just being in the loop makes you a better, more capable citizen, I think. Even if you’re not quite ready to do anything just yet.” For information about the Concord Community Artists and to see pictures from the show, visit concordartsalive.blogspot.com.
Author of ‘Brown Girl Dreaming’ opens dialogue about race and writing and young adults.” Evans hopes that students Greta Lopez who attended this event will lopez@thecampanil learn from the topics Woodson touched on — ranging from cre“When it comes to young adult ativity, to the writing process, to literature, nothing is off-limits.” double consciousness. This is a statement four-time New“I think it’s always useful to rebery Award winner and three-time mind people that writers … are huNational Book Award finalist Jac- man, and there is a process behind queline Woodson stressed to her the book,” Evans said. “I wanted to audience on Friday, Apr. 10. dispel the idea that one simply has Woodson came to Mills College an idea and then sits down and the as part of a public conversation se- book pours out of the brain and finries hosted by POC+MFA and held gers. That’s not how it works. And in the Graduate School of Busi- I think everyone can benefit from ness. Woodson is the author of over understanding creative processes 30 books for young adult, middle- because creativity is beneficial in grade readers and children. Her every field.” memoir “Brown Girl Dreaming” Professor Kathryn Reiss also has received not expressed her only the 2014 joy of having National Book the privilege to “You have to do the Award, but also research and not put a meet Woodson. the NAACP stereotype on the page.” “I have often Image Award, used Jacqueline’s a Newberry novels as texts Honor, and is in my courses at - Jacqueline Woods shortlisted for Mills, and it is the LA Times an honor to meet Book Prize. her here today,” POC+MFA is a group made up Reiss said. of students of color in the MFA creQuickly following the public ative writing program. Throughout conversation between Evans and the semester, they meet with Dis- Woodson, Evans opened it up to tinguished Visiting Writer Achy a Q&A session between WoodObejas to discuss the challenges son and the audience. One audithey face as people and writers ence member asked how a writer, of color. not of color, should approach At POC+MFA’s third and most writing a character of color and recent installment of the public whether it is ethical of the writer to conversation series, Second-year do so. MFA student Jasmine Evans led “I think it is the question of the conversation with Woodson. asking yourself ‘why are my charAfter the event, Evans said it was acters of color?’” Woodson said. important to bring authors as influ- “You have to do the research and ential and inspiring as Woodson to not put a stereotype on the page the College. because if you don’t know people “I think bringing Jacqueline of color, how could you know who Woodson to campus allowed me, they are or what they do or what personally, to take conversations they say? ... Our history is so long happening in corners and office and complicated and even if you hours to a public space,” Evans don’t put that information about said in an email. “I was able to your characters on the page, you tap into Woodson’s expertise and have to know.” hear from a full-time writer what it The final POC+MFA public means to be a writer of color in the conversation of this semester will current publishing landscape, par- take place on Apr. 27, featuring ticularly when writing for children author Nayomi Munaweera.
JASMINE EVANS
MFA student Jasmine Evans (left) leads discussion with award winning author Jacqueline Woodson (right).
Arts & Entertainment
04.21.15
“The Laramie Project” to be first production since theater department’s return from
Laramie page 1
by the Tectonic Theater Project, who originally collaborated in writing “The Laramie Project.” “It’s a collection of interviews that the company members did with the people of Laramie to get their responses and reactions to what happened,” Elizabeth Bergstrom, a student actor, said. “So in the original production, there are the real-life company members who are actually characters in the play. Each of those company members portrays a number of Laramie residents that were interviewed. For example, I play company member Greg Pierotti, and I will transform into various Laramie residents throughout the play.” Rivianna Hyatt, a theater major who is acting in the play and the head of marketing for the production, noted that the idea of community spaces is important
within T”he Laramie Project.” “‘The Laramie Project’ deals with queerness and its implications,” Hyatt said. “While it’s about a story that happened in 1998, these kinds of things are still happening all the time. As a queer person, I can relate to a lot of the sentiments expressed in ‘The Laramie Project.’” DiPaola agreed the play is relevant to the Mills community. “A lot of hatred has been thrown around. Whether it’s racial or queer rights, we’re trying to figure out how to deal with it,” DiPaola said. “I think that ‘The Laramie Project’ ... really shows how to put love into a situation filled with so much hatred and when it comes to social justice, it’s something we need to remember to do.” Hyatt said she hopes that the theater department will be able to show what they’re all about with “The Laramie Project.”
“It’s been pretty exciting because it’s the theater program’s first production since we’ve been established again this year,” Hyatt said. “So we’ve drawn a lot of energy from that and how exciting that is.” Bergstrom, a sophomore double major in mathematics and theater, said that the play is important to kickstart the theater department. “The best part has definitely been working together as an ensemble cast,” Bergstrom said in an email. “We all depend on each other as actors and actresses and it really translates to the stage to bring out the truth of relationships in the play.” Bergstrom said that each actor plays between three and five characters in the show because of the way it was written. “This play has over 40 characters in it and only 11
people in the cast,” DiPaola said. “It’s such a challenge, but really cool to see how we transform on stage.” The play is meaningful and political, DiPaola said. And for Hyatt, she said that a big part of the play is that it shows Wyoming as something other than a “hellhole of the Earth,” quoting one of her character’s lines. “Learning all the dramaturgical information about it makes me want to go to [Wyoming], and getting to know what that community is like and what that space is like has been really interesting to me,” Hyatt said. “My takeaway from this show is that we’re all a part of a community. Whether we like it or not, we’re all products of a community.” “The Laramie Project” will be showing Friday, Apr. 24, and Saturday, Apr. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Lisser Hall.
Check out The Campanil’s website for multimedia coverage of Hip Hop for Change!
Upcoming Events Apr. 22
Unlimited Possibilites at Your Library: Celebrating Faculty Authors Heller Rare Book Room, F.W Olin Library 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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SAMEPI event connects culture and career Jen Mac Ramos
ramos@thecampanil
In the intimate setting of the Mills Hall Living Room, Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA) presented “Integrating Cultural Identity with your Career” as a part of South Asian Middle Eastern Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Co-sponsored by APISA, Muslim Student Alliance (MSA), Ohana club, ethnics studies department, French and Francophone studies, Diversity and Social Justice Resource Center and ASMC, the event featured panelists Dr. Andrea Che and Monica Lee. Che, a psychologist at Asian Americans for Community Involvement in San Jose, Calif., spoke on her experiences as an Asian-American doctor. Lee, a tech entrepreneur and an angel investor who provides money for startups, currently works in the field of social entrepreneurship, according to Sophomore Emma Ishii, one of the organizers of the event. Che discussed the intersections between mental health and ethnicity. “I think that the whole ethnic background, diversity — that’s what psychology is all about,” Che said. “We really embrace that; we’re very mindful of everyone’s cultures.” A first-year considering a major in psychology, Victoria Lai, had many of her questions answered by Che and Lee. “I definitely felt comfortable coming in here because it was something I could relate to,” Lai said. “The Asian community here is pretty small, specifically the Chinese community.” Currently, Lee works for the 1990 Institute, which aims to widen understanding of cultures between people in the United States and China. “It’s so important now for us to encourage Americans to seek valid views of China,” Lee said. “A lot of the perception of China is negative. If it’s negative, which it mostly is, it affects all of us Asian-Americans.”
Apr. 22
A+P+I Lecture: Jacqueline Kiyomi Gordon Danforth Lecture Hall 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Apr. 27
Performance Collective Noontime Concert Mills Hall Living Room 12:20 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
May 2
A+P+I Open House Art Studios 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
May 2
Terra Incognita Opening Reception Art Museum 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
JEN MAC RAMOS
The latest SAMEAPI event featured panelists Dr. Andrea Che and Monica Lee.
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04.21.15
Opinions
Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign announcement
Staff Editorial
Recently former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton officially announced her candidacy for Democratic president in 2016. In her announcement video, Clinton attempts to capture different stories in America “getting ready” for new things, even including the portrayal of a gay couple walking down the street to show a sense of progress in America. Overall, Clinton’s announcement for her presidential campaign marked her re-introduction to Americans, hoping to appeal to voters by spanning through matters that affect many people, particularly those who are
considered middle class. The Campanil knows the impact of Clinton running for president of the United States. If Clinton were to win, she would be the first female president of the United States, symbolizing and creating a turning point for other women to run for office in the future. In an op-ed from The Guardian, Clinton is described as a “second wave feminist to the bone.” This proves problematic for us because of second wave feminism’s notoriety for focusing mainly on heterosexual, middle-class white women. Because of this, we feel Clinton’s feminism and politics do not include marginalized populations, such as women (or people) of color and the LGBTQ community. Although Clinton attempts to represent those groups in her campaign video, we felt that it was only a strategy to have people vote for her, or at least consider her as an option. The Campanil also found it interesting that Clinton’s campaign
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strategy was similar to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s. Warren’s strategy when she was running for Senator in 2013 focused on how “the system is rigged” to favor the rich. Clinton’s statement “the deck is stacked” echoes Warren’s words, and it did not look coincidental to us.
The deal with Apple’s new emojis Alexina Estrada estrada@thecampanil.com ecently Apple released new R emojis for their products. Personally, I was super excited to finally have some options and more realistic choices of emojis to match my moods. However, I'm barely satisfied. That's about it. When you get the update, the layout of all the emojis is different. It's a continuous roll instead of sections. You can still choose a specific section like food, people, travel and what not, but things blend together now. Some emojis are even put into new sections, like the three monkeys that represent see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil; they were moved to the animal section. It took me a bit to find all my favorite emojis. Besides the new layout , you can now choose the skin tone of several emojis. The ones that are specifically a person's face, the salsa dancer and some of the athletes offer you five choices — six if you count the "neutral yellow." When you first update your phone, you may notice all these emojis look like "Simpsons" characters, minus Homer's cowlick and Marge's giant blue hair. (Come on, Apple! I'm sure SOMEONE would have brought attention to the racist implications
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of this decision.) When you press the "baby" emoji, and you hold on it, you're given five more skin tone choices ranging from lighter skin tones to darker ones. Once you make a selection, it saves it to your emojis. You can always change it or make a new selection later too. I'm thinking, "Alright, cool!" until I see the options. It's only the skin tone that has changed. Not the eyes or the hair, just the skin. See, I like the middle emoji, but the skin tone doesn't match me perfectly. I have curly hair too, and I don't have blue eyes like some of the options. I'm all for having more choices, but can we have enough so all people can enjoy these emojis? I want to personally use the "sassy secretary" emoji that matches my skin tone with some curly black hair. Marge would be very upset about this. On a similar note, the new skin tones have also opened doors for people to use the emojis to make racist jokes. An article from The
Independent mentions how the east Asian and south Asian emojis were the first emojis to be racist because of their representations with slit eyes and a turban. The Independent says now we have the "white emoji wearing masks." Another new feature is that Apple made LGBTQ couples and families. I think that's so awesome, but I don't enjoy the fact that these emojis don't include the option of changing the skin tones! These are only in the "neutral yellow." I do really appreciate the fact that Apple added new flags! Finally, I can use the actual American flag or the Mexican flag instead of one that sorta kinda looked like them. My thing is, Apple took how long before they came out with these emoji updates? So why did they only half-ass this update? I am no computer science engineer or app developer, but I'm sure that taking a bit longer to add an option to create your own skin tone, choose different hair styles or colors, eye colors, and different interracial and LGBTQ families wouldn't have been so much harder. So I'm satisfied for now. I appreciate the update, but I do want to see Apple come up with some more emojis with more caution and hopefully not take too long. The real question that we all have been asking still remains: where is the middle finger emoji?
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.
Clinton has praised Warren as a “progressive champion,” yet there is still an issue of animosity and competition for and between women in politics, something that society has condoned since women first started getting into politics. The Campanil also knows that Clinton holds moderate views in her politics, as well as questionable policies and ideas during her time as Secretary of State and U.S. Senator. The Campanil questions Clinton’s trustworthiness as a politician, especially if she were elected as President. At the same time, The Campanil wondered about whether it is better to have Clinton or a Republican candidate, such as Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio or Rand Paul, as president. We see the different ways either option could go, and all options look questionable. We have also noticed that people tend to vote or register to do so when candidates are relatable and see something symbolic in their
campaign, just as many people of color did when President Barack Obama ran for office. Because of what Clinton running represents, we see the potential in her winning the election because of the possible relatability as not only a candidate, but as a wife and mother will symbolically represent. The Campanil knows that it takes less time to vote than to read about policies that could be unfair or unreasonable or of her questionable past as Secretary of State and U.S. Senator. The Campanil recognizes our rights and privilege as citizens in voting in elections, for policies and politicians. At the same time, we cannot excuse what could potentially happen if Clinton or any of the candidates are elected as President. While voting (or not voting), we have to consider not just what these politicians represent, but also what they have done and plan to do in office, especially for issues that will better all communities instead of just singling one or two.
Why diversity in feminism matters Dajanae Barrows Barrows@thecampanil.com For the past few weeks, there have been interesting moves for feminism in media. From Patricia Arquette’s feminist speech at the Oscars to Lena Dunham’s comments in Variety, feminism is making its claim on society. However, this is mostly white feminism that’s taking the media by storm. With all of these declarations, I feel that they do not – and probably never will – apply to me. In my introduction to this column, I briefly discussed my rocky experiences with feminism as a queer Black woman. Although I’ve learned a lot working with this column, I still feel that some of those feelings and experiences are still swept under the rug. As I’ve stated before, I feel like I’m fighting for more than just my gender. I’m fighting for inclusivity and space in every realm possible because of my identity — things that I cannot change about myself. My personal struggles bring up my biggest issue at hand with feminism: inclusivity for marginalized people in this realm. The New Republic’s opinion piece on trans students at women’s colleges proved that we have a long way to go to live up to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s definition of feminism. Saying that an entertainer like Iggy Azalea can express and claim her sexuality through her music while Beyonce can’t shows clear inconsistencies in feminism are just two examples of how so much work needs to be done for marginalized people to have a true space and voice in feminism. There is a reason why womanism, an ideology of feminism for Black women and women of color,
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exists. There’s a reason Black feminism gained its roots away from second wave feminism. Overall, there’s an explanation for pretty much of all of these ideas. These movements (and many others that can be named) have issues with more than just gender weighing on their shoulders. There are issues of sexuality, race, class, identity; the list can probably go on and on. Importantly, it shows that different movements have been made to create a sphere that womanists, Black feminists, queer feminists, transfeminists – pretty much every different movement you can name– can belong in because a majority of us feel that we cannot and will not belong in feminism. In order for marginalized groups to belong in this movement, the definition of feminism has to change a tad bit. For instance, it has to assist with promoting racial equality and sexual freedom and choice for all. Overall, feminism still has a lot to do and work on. I’m not knocking what feminism has done for society. I’m just saying that diversity in feminism matters, that it’s not just cis white women fighting for fair wages, sexuality or anything you’ve heard on social media or on the news. We have voices that should matter in this movement. This is an installment from the column “In Search of Feminism.”
Opinions
04.21.15
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The NFL’s choice to hire a female referee Monika Sabic Sabic@thecampanil.com Starting in the 2015 NFL season, expect to see a woman breaking up a pile of football players after a play. Sarah Thomas will be the first official female full-time referee for the NFL. Finally women are breaking down the gender barrier in maledominated sports. Men should actually be happy that Thomas became the NFL's newest referee. Sarah Thomas, a mother of three boys, started officiating high school football in 1999 and moved her way up to officiating Conference USA football games. After the NFL announced the hire, Thomas and the NFL have received criticism from football players. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks believes that the NFL only hired her out of “great publicity,” and it is “all about monopolizing every opportunity.” Marks has no authority to make any comments regarding Thomas's hiring. He gets paid millions of dollars to do something that he loves. Thomas is also doing something that she loves but gets backlash. What kind of double standard is this? People believe that after recent domestic violence scandals, the NFL is trying to win back its female audience by diversifying the organization. Marks commented that there "ain't nothing wrong with it, especially as long as she knows what she's doing." Really, Marks? I’m pretty sure she knows exactly what she is doing if the NFL hired her. Actually,
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you must be very good to officiate a NFL football game. It is unfair for people to assume that Thomas only got the job because of the NFL’s supposed publicity stunt. Maybe she received the job because she is a fair and honest football referee. If the NFL hired a male referee, would people question him on whether he knew what he was doing? I don’t think so! In a previous ESPNW interview, Thomas has even said that “[she] does this because [she] loves it.” Thomas does not even appear noticeably female when she officiates a game. In previous interviews, she mentioned how she was told to put her hair under her cap and not wear makeup. Her referee outfit is also not tailored to be flattering to a female body. I’m sure the more masculine she appears, the less ridicule she receives. I tell the NFL to allow Thomas to put down the hair! Tailor her outfit! Allow her to be proud of who she is! It is obvious that more people will question the calls that Thomas makes because she is a woman. Whenever there is a new change against the norm, fans will begin to question it. Football is considered a "manly" sport just like ballet is considered a "female" sport. When either of these genders participates in a
sport that is stereotyped as either male or female, it creates a rise in suspicion. In this case, there has never been a female to officiate a male sport. It is not surprising that fans and players will question Thomas's qualifications and think that her hire was a publicity stunt. I am sure that Thomas will receive additional pressure and taunting now that she is in the big leagues. It shouldn’t have to be this way. Having more female officials in any sport will change the dynamic of the game. Women are perceived as being more compassionate and fair when it comes to decision-making. If there would were more female officials, would there be more fair calls? Football is an intense sport. There is yelling, hitting, and cussing. You name it — in football, they do it. Can having more female football referees reduce the amount of yelling and aggression that happens on a football field? Maybe... Who knows? Regardless of whether it’s a publicity stunt or not, this is exactly what females need in sports. Finally women can be involved in other ways than just as sideline cheerleaders. Sarah Thomas has paved the path for future female referees.
OVERHEARD in the NEWSROOM
“Why is this a lede? It doesn’t lead me anywhere!” “You just made you, me and some doves cry.”
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“There’s a raccoon in the newsroom! Get it out! Get it out! Get it out!”
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NOTERSS
“Of course I’m on point! I’m the Opinions Editor!”
Sarah Thomas has worked her way to become the first female referee in the NFL.
COMPILED BY THE CAMPANIL STAFF
Sleep deprivation, new opportunities and balancing it all
Check out The Campanil’s special issue on May 5!
Dajanae Barrows Barrows@thecampanil.com
It’s been a long time since I’ve written for this column, so I have many updates for you! For starters, I’m doing two internships at Sommet Dame and My Color of Beauty, and it feels great. I still have my two jobs, plus three courses this semester. Because of everything I’ve been balancing, let’s just say that I’m going through a teensy, weensy thing called sleep deprivation. Well, it isn’t entirely new for me because of my last four years at University of California, Irvine; I would do this while trying to finish my studies. The twist is that I’m just trying to juggle so many different things. I’m trying to stay caught up with this semester, so I haven’t been sleeping much. And in the moments that I’m tired, I have to
drink energy drinks or other forms of caffeine to stay awake in order to get anything done. I’m absolutely grateful for all these opportunities, but I feel like...I’m doing too much. I mean, there’s only so much I can do in one day. There’s only so many energy drinks and so much lack of sleep I can have. I know that I’m pushing myself to success to achieve different goals. Hell, I’ve been doing this to myself for as long as I could remember. So...what’s different about this time in grad school? During my undergrad years, I did pull all-nighters but not as frequently as now. Honestly, I was trying to pass and receive my degree. It took me getting to Mills to realize that I have to focus on school and start a writing career. Well, the writing career was my choice, but now...I’ve gotten so far in it with these editorial internships that I feel that I cannot stop. I refuse to quit, an aspect of my overachieving personality.
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Also, I feel that I’m also fighting against myself, trying to become a better version of myself — if that makes sense. I feel as though I wasted time during my undergrad years not doing what I really wanted to do. Now that I have all of these opportunities in journalism and writing, I’m just questioning whether all of this is worth it. When I say that, I mean all of the sleep deprivation, energy drinks (which I feel are quickly hurting my body during
the process) and the anger that’s building up in me. Oh, I forgot to mention that these extra positions are making me a tad bit frustrated. There’s homework and reading that I should be doing so that I won’t fail my classes. These internships have been time-consuming, fueling these all-nighters I’ve been pulling, trying to edit stories and write blog posts, while reading such dense, yet enriching texts. I have a few more weeks left, and I’m trying to hang in there with all of these things happening. What am I going to do? Suck it up and finish everything? Or crash and admit that I shouldn’t be doing this much? I’m only human after all. I’m only a grad student that’s trying to make it through her first year at Mills. I don’t know what I’m going to do. This is an installment of the column “Confessions of a grad student”.
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04.21.15
Sports & Health
Cyclone tennis player serves up positivity on court Lindsay Baillie Staff Writer
Featured Photo: Athletics Banquet
Tennis player Christina Gnong was awarded Cyclone of the Week for her outstanding performance, drive and dedication to her team. Gnong, a second-year nursing student, received this honor after winning both her singles matches against Notre Dame de Namur’s Division 2 team. She dominated the matches, 6-1 and 6-0. “We had just seen little signs of more positivity, more optimism, more confidence, more determination,” Head Coach Amy Jensen said. “She’s just been pushing herself a lot harder in fitness, also in practice, and pushing everyone else.” Gnong started playing tennis her senior year of high school. She was introduced to Mills’ team during the Summer Academic Workshop program and is now in her second and final competitive tennis season. The award came as a surprise to the player. Gnong attributes this
COURTESY OF APER
Sophomore nursing student Christina Gnong dominated in her matches against Notre Dame de Namur in March.
achievement and her success to her passion for the sport. “I don’t know what the drive is that has made me want to push harder this semester,” Gnong said. “Maybe because it’s my last year — last year to be on a team, last year to play tennis competitively.”
Gnong plays singles and doubles for the tennis team. Although she likes both types of matches, she particularly enjoys the teamwork involved in playing double. To Gnong, tennis is a mental game similar to chess; it is all about strategy.
Gnong’s teammates have also noticed her passion and drive. Gnong’s doubles partner Noelani Meteyry believes that Gnong is a team leader who supports her teammates on and off the court. “She ensures that we are both mentally and physically capable of achieving our goals by regularly checking in with us or even being an open ear,” Meteyry said. As a student in the nursing program, Gnong will be leaving Mills in May to complete her degree at Samuel Merritt University. Over the past two years, Gnong has turned into a leader on and off the court. Her coaches and teammates will notice Gnong’s absence from the team. “Christina is an athlete I really wish I could spend more time with,” Coach Jensen said. “I wish she had more time with the team.” In addition to playing for the Mills team, Gnong plays tennis with various individuals on campus. While her competitive tennis playing may end after she leaves Mills, Gnong will continue to play recreational tennis. “Tennis is life,” Gnong said.
Calendar Athletics Tennis
GSAC Championships Apr. 24-25 @ Wesleyan College
Rowing
WIRA Championship Apr. 25-26 @ Rancho Cordova
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Denim Day Apr. 29 10:30 a.m. Adams Plaza
Sexual Assault Awareness March Apr. 29 5:00 p.m. Mills Main Gate
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Mills Cyclone senior student-athletes honored with stoles to wear during commencement in May.
Cyclone soccer team to begin recruiting new talent Monika Sabic
sabic@thecampanil.com
As this school year comes to an end, the Mills soccer team is thinking ahead as they start recruiting new players for next season. Last season was Coach VanWart’s first as head coach for the Mills soccer team. After last season’s record of 0 wins and 13 losses, VanWart plans to bring in new talent to the team. She believes that the new recruits will help the team have a lasting and successful fall soccer season. “The key is to get people who will thrive at Mills, and I believe athletics and soccer will help them to do this,” VanWart said. Throughout the year, the athletic department will recruit student ath-
letes to join their teams. VanWart will reach out to talented soccer players throughout California and introduce them to Mills. “We have strong academic programs, empowering athletics, engaging opportunities and a beautiful campus,” VanWart said. “Mills has a lot to offer these talented players who would like to play Division 3 soccer.” VanWart has noticed the team’s efforts and commitment. With the new recruits, she believes that the players will continue their optimistic and positive culture with the recruits into the upcoming season. First-year defender Vera Williamson trusts that the new recruitments that have already been introduced to Mills will be an improvement to the team and athletic department. “I think we are up for a great
season, especially [since] some of the recruits are nice and they are definitely Mills people,” Williamson said. According to Williamson, Coach VanWart notes that there are currently six strong players that hold up the team. With new players coming in, the team expects wins in the upcoming season. Other soccer players are against the soccer team’s efforts to recruit new players. Alexandria Miller, sophomore forward, believes that the new recruits will replace returning players for next season. “I think [Laura] is going to pay so much attention to those people and work on pleasing those people that she will forget about the people that are already there,” Miller said. VanWart previously worked as an assistant soccer coach for University of California, Berkeley’s
female soccer team. Miller thinks that VanWart’s previous coaching experiences are influencing the new recruitment strategies for next season. Miller believes that VanWart is changing the team’s relaxed dynamic into one similar to a Division 1 team. “She needs to let us know that we need to play better and get better rankings than what we have had in the past, but at the same time it has gotten to a point that it’s not fun anymore,” Miller said. Sarah Villa, sophomore midforward, thinks the coaches should not focus on recruitment because the Mills College team is a Division 3 team. “Soccer should be as a stress relief, and not so competitive because we are mainly focused on academics — not soccer first and then academics,” Villa said. Villa remembers being told by
other soccer players last year the team’s dynamic was open to all athletes regardless of skill level. This motivated her to later join the team. With the new recruitment plans, Villa thinks students will feel intimidated and discouraged to join the team. Although some of the players dislike the soccer team’s recruitment plans, they agree that the team will be more successful compared to last years record. “I know Laura has a new outlook for the team, and she wants us to succeed and do better — it’s a win-lose situation,” Miller said. Returning players are currently practicing in their non-traditional Spring season. Along with the new recruits, returning players plan to continue their dedication and enthusiasm into the fall soccer season.