THE CAMPANIL // Student-run newspaper serving Mills College since 1917 //
Search for Mills’ 14th president under way Emily Mibach eic@thecampanil.com Shortly after President Alecia DeCoudreaux announced to the college via email that she would not be renewing her contract with Mills in 2015, the Board of Trustees and administration sprung into action to create a presidential search task force that is responsible for walking the college through a smooth
search and transition between college presidents. Leading the task force is trustee and Mills alumna, Katie Sanborn. The task force is working with a higher institution hiring firm, Issacson Miller, to assist with finding a candidate that fits in at Mills. This is not the first time the firm has worked with Mills. Chief of Staff and VP of Operations Renee Jadushlever is also a part of this task force. This is her second time on a search committee, the first be-
ing in 2010 when current President DeCoudreaux was hired. Sanborn chairs the committee that is staffed by 15 current students, trustees, alumnae, staff and faculty. When Sanborn was interviewing for committee members, she looked for three qualities that she felt were not only vital to finding Mills' next president, but also life. "I really want in every see
President page 3
MCAM features new public works exhibit
JANA SLAAM
The current exhibit at the Mills College Art Museum, which opened Se pt. 16, features work from a rtists such as Jenny Holzer a nd Amy Balkin. see
MCAM page 5
Former Sweet Briar student attends Mills Abbey Flentje
flentje@thecampanil.com
Sophomore Satania Gidney is one of two students who came to Mills College after learning Sweet Briar College, the all women's college she previously attended, would be closing. On March 3, Sweet Briar's 530 students found out that their beloved school would be shutting its doors. Then, a first year, Gidney, and her fellow students attended an assembly with no knowledge of what they were about to be told. The announcement they received devastated them. "At first, none of us knew what was going on," Gidney said. "We were all taking bets about what was [happening]. None of us thought this was going to happen." News first broke of Sweet
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// Volume 101 // Issue 2//
A celebration of Latinx heritage at Mills Alexina Estrada Estrada@thecampanil.com Latinx Heritage Month (LHM), or Hispanic Heritage month, is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Mills and the Latinx club on campus, Mujeres Unidas, celebrates the month by hosting an array of events including the LHM kickoff, Ballet Folklorico and dinner at Founder’s. These events serve to celebrate and share the culture with the community. To incorporate the anniversaries of Latin American independence, the celebration of Latinx Heritage spans one month. Five countries observe their independence days on Sept. 15: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, while Mexico observes on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept.18 and Belize on Sept. 21. LHM is for students to bring a piece of their culture and home to campus. For others, it’s an understanding and appreciation of a different culture. Sophomore Gladis Munguia, who identifies as a Salvadorian American Latina, previously attended schools that didn’t observe LHM and was not aware that September begins LHM until she came to Mills last fall. “I grew up in a household that spoke predominately Spanish,”
Munguia said. “Being Latina was just who I was, I wasn’t told much about it, like I didn’t know the history of my country.” Mujeres Unidas, has been working alongside the Ethnic Studies Department, Diversity and Social Justice Resource Center, Associated Students of Mills College and School of Education to host events throughout the month. One recent event that Mujeres Unidas hosted was the Ballet Folklorico workshop on Sept. 11. Participants met in the Student Union to attend a lecture and learn choreography from instructor Steven Koneffklatt of Ballet Folklorico Costa De Oro. “I liked the diversity of students that were [present],” class of ’78 alumnae Albertina Zarazúa Padilla said about the event. “I liked the history and flourishes in some of the steps and how some dances have evolved or changed. He spoke about dances from 50 years ago and I remember them.” Padilla thinks that the sisterhood she saw at the event should be integral to curriculum and daily life. “The importance is that it serves to share our stories and serves a solid foundation for Latina students to participate in a global world see
Latinx page 4
Cooking contest brings some friendly competition to lunch
TANIA GIDNEY
Students at Sweet Bria r were concerned a bout the f ate of their school during the Spring of 2015.
Briar's impending closure back in March of this year. The college's board cited "insurmountable financial troubles" as the primary reason the school would be closing, according to the Washington Post. In addition, the Board said the school's 84 million dollar
endowment could not keep the school afloat while they struggled to attract new students. According to Gidney, the announcement of the closure was made on the college's website see
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EVE SWITZKY-MARTIN
Bon A ppetit hosted a cooking competition between students a nd sta f f on Thursday, Se pt. 17. see
Food page 8
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News
09.22.15
Mills’ rankings cause questions about diversity on campus Dajanae Barrows barrows@thecampanil.com Recently Mills College ranked high on two prestigious lists from U.S. News and World Report. Mills ranked #5 on the “2016’s Best Colleges in the West” by receiving a college rating of 85 out of 100. Mills was also ranked #14 in the “Best Campus for Ethnic Diversity” list by U.S News and World Report. Every year, the report creates a list of distinguished colleges and universities, ranking 618 of them across the U.S as “Best Regional Universities.” According to a press release on the college’s website, 90 of those institutions are listed as the best in the west coast. Last year, Mills placed #6 on the “Best Colleges” list. Mills has been at the top tier of this list for eight consecutive years. “It is gratifying to be ranked as one of the top institutions in the West again and recognized for the high-quality academic experience and good economic value we provide,” President Alecia DeCoudreaux said in a press release. Decoudreaux also expressed her excitement for Mills students and their career paths. “We’re committed to cultivating a new generation of creative, independent thinkers who will forge
distinctive paths throughout their lives,” Decoudreaux said. Dean of Students Dr. Chicora Martin (whose preferred gender pronouns are they/them) also showed hope for Mills with the ranking. Martin believes the ranking will give a positive outcome for prospective students. “I think that the ranking systems for colleges are very complex and what I am excited about with the release of these rankings is that more students may see this information and go online, request a campus visit and learn more about the potential of Mills College,” Martin said. Although Martin has been at Mills for a short period of time, they believe that Mills holds the reputation to support its ranking. “Mills has a wonderful traditional of exceptional education and once you visit, meet students and experience the campus, you realize the Mills of today should be at the top of everyone’s list,” Martin said. However, this ranking in diversity brought questions for many Mills students, especially about the relationships and ideas about diversity on campus. Erin Clark, junior and ASMC vice-president, believed that the rankings placed in the report do not show the issues on campus. “We can be one of the best colleges in the West, we can even be one of the most diverse, but
ABBEY FLENTJE
A c c o rd i n g t o t h e M i l l s C o l l e g e we b s i t e , m o re t h a n h a l f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y ( g r a d u a t e a n d u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s ) a r e s t u d e n t s o f c o l o r.
until we’re actually committing to a community based education [...] we’re not really going to be making this space an optimal place for learning,” Clark said in an email. According to senior and ASMC
President Rachel Patterson, she believes that these rankings should be taken with a grain of salt. She felt that Mills still has to work together to continue the diversity. “I am proud to be attending a
college that ranks so well in both of these categories,” Patterson said in an email. “I think we are all very privileged to go to such a good school, though there is still a lot of work to be done here.”
Mills alumnae Barbara Lee nominated as United Nations Representative Grace Forrest
forrest@thecampanil.com
Mills College alumnae and Congresswoman Barbara Lee has been nominated by President Obama to be a U.S. representative in the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. According to Congresswoman Lee’s website, if she accepts the nomination, Lee will continue serving her home district while adopting new duties in the U.N session that begins Sept. 17th. Martha Johnson, assistant professor of government, believes that Lee will make a successful U.N representative. “[Lee] embodies the ideals of the UN in her steadfast commit-
ABBEY FLENTJE
Representative Barbara Lee represents California’s 13th District in Congress.
ment to international peace and diplomacy. She would bring important credibility and diplomatic skill to the UN,” Johnson said in an email. “Her appointment would
represent another example of the amazing political accomplishments of women's college graduates in the US.” In a statement on her website,
Chief News Editor Abbey Flentje
Emily Mibach Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com
Arts & Ent. Editor Grace Forrest
5000 MacArthur Blvd. Rothwell 157 Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone
Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows
Sports & Health Editor Monika Sabic
Copy Chief Kenna Wright
Lee said she is “deeply honored” to have been nominated. “The United Nations is a critical body in our global community, and is essential to our shared
Design Editor Francesca Twohy-Haines Online Editor Alexina Estrada Staff Writers Sarah Hoenicke, Valarie Williams Copy Editors Pearl Thompson, Sarah Hoenicke, Lindsay Baillie Staff Photographer Hart Rosenberg Ad Manager Cleo Pierce
future," Lee said in a press release. "This nomination comes at a time when tensions in our world are at a fever-pitch, and I believe now more than ever that the United States must fully engage the United Nations and the international community to ensure a safer and more peaceful world.” For students at Mills, Lee’s nomination represents yet another time when a member of the Mills community has the chance to influence the world. “She offers an incredibly valuable perspective as she is a woman of color and a Bay Area native,” Kendall Anderson, a senior political, legal and economic analysis major, said. “ I am honored to attend the same institution as her and glad to see that Mills students and alumnae continue to positively impact the world.”
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 President DeCoudreaux to leave in spring from
President page 1
curiosity, candor and kindness. I want us to be intellectual so that we ask the right questions, that we probe and are open to new ideas," Sanborn said. Starting Aug. 20, some committee members and representatives from Issacson Miller held constituent meetings to hear from people who work with Mills' president in different settings. On Sept. 9, student constituent meetings were held in the Student Union to discuss topics such as improving transparency among different departments and the administration, diversity on campus and asking what a college president does. Of the attendees, senior Risa Gearhart thought that the meeting went well and has high hopes for the search for the next president. "They [the representatives from Issacson Miller] were really good at summarizing what people wanted," Gearhart said. Issacson Miller representatives are currently putting together a presidential position profile for serious presidential candidates. According to Jadushlever, the position profile will give the candidates an idea of the job description and the culture at Mills. On Sept. 16, an ad put together by the firm and committee was posted on education publications
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Presidential Posting After constituent meetings, the presidential search committee and their contractors at Issacson Miller sent out the job posting to many higher education websites and journals, read the entire job posting at The Chronicle of Higher Education. Below are key challenges and opportunities highlighted in the posting:
CAMPANIL ARCHIVES
P re s i d e n t A l e c i a D e C o u d re a u x ’ s ( a b o v e ) c o n t r a c t e x p i re s a t t h e e n d o f t h e S p ri n g 2 0 1 6 s e m e s t e r i n J u n e .
and websites, such as the Chronicle of Higher Education. The ad described the atmosphere at Mills and the different types of tasks that the 14th president of Mills would have to do. "Mills has a tremendous opportunity, is uniquely positioned to address the social and cultural challenges of our time both within the campus and wider East Bay community, and is seeking an entrepreneurial, dynamic leader who can provide intellectual leadership, strategic direction, vision and innovation" an excerpt from the posting says. According to Jadushlever, the posting is just one of the many
ways that the firm is looking for Presidential candidates. "You look for jobs in different ways. You may check the newspaper, or be told about it from a friend or even promoted from within. However, many of the people who will be interested in applying currently have a job right now" Jadushlever said, explaining that many applicants will come from head hunter calls. According to both Jadushlever and Sanborn, the committee hopes to have a good idea of who the 14th president of Mills will be around March 2016. President DeCoudreaux's contract expires on June 30, 2016.
-Engage, inspire and unite the Mills community, external constituents and partners around a compelling and distinct vision for the College -Position Mills as a leader and educational model locally, nationally and internationally -Further develop the economic model that will support student access and success -Build a leadership team that embraces shared governance and transparency in decision-making
Sweet Briar students thrilled to continue education at all women’s college from
Sweet Briarpage 1
before the students were informed. Professors were also forced to sign non-disclosure agreements the week prior to the announcement, saying they were not allowed to tell students about the news. "My government professor asked me if I was planning to go [to the assembly]," Gidney said. "He looked me in the eye with the most serious expression I'd ever seen him have and said, 'You need to go.' That's when I got nervous." Gidney said that many Sweet Briar students expressed concerns over whether or not the school
would go co-ed. According to her, there were some students who felt this option was worse than closure. "Sweet is sweet," Gidney said. "It's supposed to be the embodiment of strong femininity." After the announcement came, one of the first concerns for many Sweet Briar students was the fate of their faculty. Gidney said that much of Sweet Briar's faculty lives on the campus grounds. The first question out of the mouths of students during the assembly was what would happen to their faculty. "For a lot of us, our faculty was our family," Gidney said. "It was...chaos."
Kate Chaviny, an associate professor of history at Sweet Briar, lives on campus. When the news initially broke that Sweet Briar would close, Chavigny was in a position to lose her home. "The prospect of losing my home on such a beautiful campus of a college where I had the privilege of teaching students who I came to know as human beings, was devastating," Chavigny said in an email. After months of fighting against the closure and ultimately thinking the 2014 graduation would be the school's last, Sweet Briar found out on June 9 that they would remain open. According to the New
TANIA GIDNEY
Many of Sweet Briar’s professors live on the campus and were in danger of losing their homes when the school was still going to close in the spring.
York Times, the Virginia State Supreme Court blocked the closure of the college after the Supreme Court ruled colleges can be both trusts and corporations; therefore, the College's board could not close the school without approval from a court. Chavigny was thrilled to hear the school would remain open. She believes the College's new board and president, Philip Stone, appointed following the decision to keep the school open, are dedicated to Sweet Briar's mission of educating women. She is optimistic about the College's future. "We were overjoyed, and we felt vindicated," Chavigny said. "The closure decision was so wrong in so many ways! But by that time, we were also exhausted and aware that we...had a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, and no roadmap to guide us." Sophomore Courtney Magnusson applied to several other schools after the initial announcement of Sweet Briar's closure. When she and her friends were told the school would remain open, she was apprehensive about returning. After seeing how hard the new president and the other faculty were trying to get them to return, Magnusson chose to return. "The feeling of pure joy was overwhelming," Magnusson said in
HART ROSENBERG
Sweet Briar’s students and faculty returned to campus for Fall 2015.
an email. Gidney's financial aid prevented her from waiting for the verdict of whether Sweet Briar would remain open or not. She chose Mills for the strong history, the theatre programs offered and the location of the school. Though she enjoys Mills immensely, she said she does miss the East Coast and Sweet Briar. "Even now, I still refer to myself as a Vixen and as a Sweet," Gidney said. "It's a family there."
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Arts & Entertainment
Big plants and bigger Movie Review Una Noche plans for the Garden Club Taelor Ramos Contributing Writer
Erin Strubbe Contributing Writer
Just under a dozen students gathered outside the Gaia House on the first cool, cloudy weekend of the school year to lend a hand and a trowel to Dr. Sarah Swope’s efforts to revamp the gardens for the 20152016 school year. Saturday, Sept. 12 marked the kickoff of a new year of planting, planning projects and ecological experiments at the Mills College Botanic Gardens. Dr. Swope, assistant professor of biology at Mills, replaced Ann Prentiss as director of the Botanic Gardens. Swope oversaw the students’ efforts on Saturday morning, directing action and doing plenty of planting of her own. “The garden has been neglected for a few years, and we’re trying to revive it,” Swope said. Students joined together to carry out Swope’s new vision for the gardens, including planting fruit trees, building raised garden boxes and establishing a new herb and vegetable garden. At the end of the day, the hard work of the students had given new life to the previously sparse garden. “[It was] amazing, totally amazing,” Swope said of the work done Saturday afternoon. “[There were]
HART ROSENBERG
Stduents work to create new garden beds in the Mills community garden.
HART ROSENBERG
Professor Sarah Swope is the new director of Mills’ Botanial Gardens, where students can volunteer their time.
lots of volunteers, which was great, and lots of new people. We got way more done than I thought we were going to!” However, this is only the beginning of the revitalization of the Botanic Gardens. This year, the gardens will be the site of a highpriority project to restore several critically endangered plant species. Along with her research team of Mills students, Swope gathered soil samples from the Tiburon Peninsula just north of San Francisco and hopes that they will be able to germinate and grow dormant seeds of the critically endangered Tiburon Mariposa Lily and Tiburon jewelflower. “We’re trying to understand whether or not there is any dormant seed in the soil, and whether or not that could reduce the risk of extinction,” Swope said. Swope also emphasized that the Garden Club is strongly student driven. The latest of their many student-planned and implemented projects is a special milkweed garden meant to sustain populations of endangered monarch butterflies. Devon Thrumston, a senior biology major, has been working with Swope for two years and is one of the heads of the Garden Club. “I’m excited that students are
getting actively involved in the direction the botanic garden is taking,” Thrumston said. Swope and the Garden Club are also currently working to expand the garden beds for student use and for class projects. Though many of the new beds are reserved for biology class experiments, participation is not limited to biology majors. In the Spring semester, Swope will be leading BIO 55, a plant ecology class open to non-majors, hoping to bring fresh perspectives from students of all majors with an interest in ecological sustainability in agriculture. At the end of the day, at least one student came away inspired by thew success of the Garden Club’s work. “I felt inspired by all the different plants in the greenhouse,” said Madeline Wallsten, sophomore environmental studies major and member of the Garden Club. “And I look forward to meeting people with similar passions and finding ways to improve the environment together.” Anyone who is interested in getting involved can send an email to Thrumston at: dthrumst@mills.edu.
Heritage Month a recognition of Latinx Pride from
Latinx page 1
future,” Padilla said. “When you’re strong in foundation, you’re strong all around and strong in your story.” President of Mujeres Unidas, junior Laura Elizarraras, has been working closely with her fellow club members to put together fun and educational events for the community. “Planning LHM has been tougher than I expected, due to the small amount of officers and total members that we have, but has also been a reality check on how challenging event planning can really be,” Elizarraras said. Elizarraras, who joined Mujeres
Unidas her first year at Mills, felt a strong support system and space. She makes it her own goal now to make sure the club does the same for its current and future members. That includes making sure that LHM at Mills is at least shared with the whole community to teach everyone about the different Latinx cultures. “It gives us a chance to be proud of who we are,” Elizarraras said. “I strive to build safe spaces for them because these spaces are not often offered to us as people of color in higher education, therefore I make it my duty to give them something that private institutions lack to give.” Upcoming LHM events include
the “Yo Soy” Monologues on Sept. 24, the Caribe Carnaval Dance and the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Dinner. Elizarraras hopes that the Mills community will continue to participate in this month of cultural education. “I hope that those who identify as Latinx find a great connection to their cultural backgrounds and are motivated to further invest in themselves, ” Elizarraras said. “For our allies, I hope to educate them on our traditions and hopefully they will get inspired to learn more about our heritage. This way, they will respect, understand and not appropriate Latinx culture. But overall, I seek for everyone to have a great time and lots of fun!”
Una Noche (2012) premiered at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival and hit the independent film scene with flair, taking home awards for best actor, best cinematography, new director, woman filmmaker and best screenplay. First time director Lucy Mulloy had spent years in Havana, Cuba researching until she created the story of Elio and Lila, teenage twins who had never been apart, and their friendship with Raúl that challenges their understanding of each other and ultimately changes their lives forever. Now streaming on Netflix, you can watch the raw and untrained talent rock the leading roles. Javier Núñez Florián plays Elio, dedicated twin brother to Lila, who has secretly found love in an unexpected place. Anailín de la Rúa de la Torre embodies Lila, cautious and observant, who follows her instincts and curiosity to the point of tragedy. Dariel Arrechaga is the brooding Raúl, who thirsts to leave Cuba but is torn by his need to stay and care for his mother. In this tapestry of sun bleached landscapes and panicked land-
UNA NOCHE FILMS
Themes of family, friendschip, sexuality, gender, pain wave through movie, Una Noche.
less sea, the themes of family, friendship, sexuality and gender do an intricate dance through the scenes. Those with delicate sensibilities should be warned of dialogue containing homophobic and transphobic language, moments of nudity and brief scenes containing sexwork. The intimate angles of the camera follow the teens’ motions through impoverished streets and tourism. We bear witness to the military presence and police violence of their daily lives, and the negotiations of their underground economy as they struggle to find their motivations, their dreams and their loyalties.
Music Review Badlands Annie Clark
contributing writer
In an era where it’s considered obligatory to keep up with everyone, from your high school lab partner to your favorite cast member of Orange is the New Black, via social media, it becomes difficult to separate people and their work from their meticulously cultivated online presences. Ashley Frangipane, known professionally as Halsey, has gained a reputation in the Twittersphere for her brash and uncompromising attitude. Her website’s bio simply reads, “I write songs about sex and
ASTRALWERKS
Singer Halsey waves her brash honesty with lyrics that address sexism in the male driven music world.
being sad. I will never be anything but honest.” On Badlands, her debut fulllength album, it becomes apparent that there is no need to separate Halsey’s music from her public persona. With Halsey, what you see — or hear, rather — is exactly what you get. The opening track, “Castle,” whose lyrics confront sexism in the music industry, serves as both a mission statement for the album and an introduction to Halsey herself. Over scattershot electropop beats, she sings of “an old man sitting on a throne/saying [she] should probably keep [her] pretty mouth shut.” Though the rest of Badlands follows “Castle’s” genre construction of new wave electropop, the album is anything but homogenous. While the gorgeous, vivid “Colors” finds Halsey looking back on the profound influence of an exlover, “Gasoline” uses synthesizers and distorted vocals to illustrate the chaotic nature of identity crisis. Whether she’s confronting the media’s obsession with her personal life or “the villains that live in [her] head” (“Control”), Halsey creates an unflinching and refreshingly honest portrait of young adulthood that this writer very much appreciates. It’s about time we heard something real.
Arts & Entertainment
09.22.15
5
JANA SLAAM
(left) Artist Jenny Holzer ‘s “Inflamatory Essays,” a collection of 100 word texts posted anonymously throughout New York City. (Right) Tatyana Fazlalizadeh’s “Stop Telling Woman to Smile” uses street art to raise awareness of street harassment by creating large scale portriats of women with captioned messages.
New exhibit challenging tradtional approaches to art opens at the Mills College Art Museum lily drabkin contributing writer
“You are exactly where you need to be,” broadcasts a Susan O’Malley piece, painted outside of the most recent exhibition at the Mills College Art Museum (MCAM). With a gradient of blue letters on a yellow background, this is a reaffirming message of optimism. However, this optimism contrasts with the thought provoking work inside the exhibit. This exhibit celebrates and challenges traditional approaches to public art. “Public art is often a permanent installation that relates to a specific site,” Stephanie Hanor, director of the MCAM, said in an email. “The artists in the Public Works exhibition are creating alternatives to these models... the work is often ephemeral, political, performative and uses strategies that one may not associate with art making, such as telephone recordings, newspaper ads or staging a free speech rally.” Some pieces, such as Tania Bruguera’s Tatlin’s “Whisper #6,” is
RECOMMENDED BOOKS FROM MILLS PROFESSORS Kim Magowan Professor of English “Absalom, Absalom!” - William Faulkner Fred Lawson Professor of Government “Esprit de Corps” - Lawrence Durrell Sarah Swope Assistant Professor of Biology “Field notes from a catastrophe” - Elizabeth Kolbert
politically focused. This film places Cuban citizens in front of a microphone, with the premise that they have one minute to say anything they want, questioning the right to freedom of speech in Cuba. The people in the film are not actors; they are Cuban citizens. As such, their messages are straight from the heart, delivered with raw intensity. While “Artist’s Interventions” features all female artists and art intended to be shown in a public space, rather than in an art gallery, the works displayed offer deep diversity in message, media and location. From works on paper, to contemporary installations, themes ebb and flow, from environmental sustainability, to racial imbalances. Some of the work is traditional, such as posters and videos. There are also interactive projects, like the contemporary student-ID making installation, which creates fake student IDs. This installation was created so that everyone could try to get the student discount when they are shopping. “I’m amazed at the variety of art,” Oakland resident Sasha Price said. Price was also struck by the
strong representation of women specifically for non-artists. This letters alongside the photographs. among both artists and attend- series bridges the gap between fine The show also mixes famous ees, and how they compliment art, the public and the marginalized art, such as that of the Guerilla each other. community of inmates. Reynolds Girls, with less-famous artists, “It’s amazing to see so many asked prisoners in solitary confine- which impressed art history profeswomen in a single space,” ment at the (now closed) Tamm’s sor Dr. Moira Roth. Price said. “I think the art is en- correctional center, a maximum“Some of this art I have nevhanced by the fact that it’s at a security prison, for photo requests. er seen before,” Roth said. “It’s women’s college. The mean- With a team of volunteers, Reyn- quite exciting to learn about many ing of the show changes with the olds took the photos. Requests new artists.” audience, certainly.” ranged from photoshopped images “Artists Interventions: Public Another unique quality of the of the prisoners, to J-Lo’s butt, to Works 1970s–Now” runs until Dec. show is the setting in which the art a request for the prisoner’s mother 16 at the MCAM. The museum is is displayed. Since traditional pub- in front of a mansion with piles of open with no charge from Tueslic art is meant to be experienced in money. Even people who have little day through Sunday from 11 a.m. public spaces, rather than art galler- inclination toward art and photog- to 4 p.m.; Wednesdays from 11 ies, the unusual context calls into raphy can be affected by this work a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (510) 430-2164, question the relationship between because of the inclusion of these mills.mcam.edu public art and works more often seen in museums. This also begins to break down the traditional barriers between the two. “The show is more moving than traditional shows,” Amina Khribeche, a second-year biology major said. “The fact that these pieces are meant for the general public, rather than artists, makes this show and its emotional documentary more accessible to non-artists.” JANA SLAAM One series, by Laurie Jo ReynAll of the work shown in this exhibit was created by women artitsts. olds, is an example of art meant
EVENTS CALENDAR SEPTEMBER
Give Someone the Joy of Creating a Family Become a Pacific Fertility Center Egg Donor
S e p t . 2 4 : Yo Soy Monologues - @7 p.m.
Student Union
S e p t . 2 6 : Mills Strike Documentary Preview @ 4 p.m.
Sept. 26 - 27: Bay Area Blues Festival Sept. 27: Piedmont Harvest Festival from 11-4 p.m. @Piedmont and Burke
OCTOBER Oct. 2 - 4: Hardly Strickly Bluegrass OCT. 4: Artist Panel Discussion Danforth Lecture Hall @ 3 p.m.
Go to pfcdonoragency.com and apply today! We welcome women of all ethnicities, academic achievements, & creative talents! $8,000 + expenses per cycle Between the ages of 21-29
Staff Editorial
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09.22.15
Opinions
Oakland Police Dept, body cameras and trust On Friday Sept. 11, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) released edited video footage from body cameras of two separate incidents that led to police related deaths. The videos were released to the San Francisco Chronicle as a response to a California Public Records Act request (which calls for inspection and/or releasing governmental records to the public when it is requested, unless the law prevents this), but had been rejected prior. The videos were also released as a means to resolve rumors of the deaths being inflicted by the police. However, the same footage was released a few weeks ago to several journalists, under the condition that they could not
release this information to the public. According to SF Gate, the footage was still under investigation at the time. Since then, several questions have been asked about this action by folks, from the intent of releasing these videos to how much should be edited in videos from body cameras. Body cameras have stirred debate amongst many, especially after the death of Mike Brown last year. As journalists and editors, we understand the importance of releasing information to the public, especially when vital to our community in Oakland. We felt that this case of releasing information was prolonged, especially because the public wanted to know about these
particular deaths. The Campanil recognizes the benefits of body cameras used by police, yet we also notice the potential issues that can come along with them. We believe that footage like these two cases only work when the entire truth is being told, not just parts of it. We have to be able to trust those in power of using them — in this case, the police — to do the right thing and share the stories of deaths and cases of brutality. The OPD has had a shaky history with its citizens, especially with police force, brutality and deaths. Because of the videos, we also questioned the OPD’s intentions. We wondered how releasing edited footage would build trust with citizens.
Mother of Dragons speaks out against nudity on Game of Thrones Abbey flentje Flentje@thecampanil.com
On Sept. 14 multiple entertainment news sources reported that Emilia Clarke, the actress most known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s Game of Thrones, said she disliked the gratuitous nudity on the show. Clarke stated she “can’t stand” the copious amounts of sex scenes used to attract (some) viewers that have made the show one of the most talked about on television. Reactions to Clarke’s comments have been varied. They range from people who support her for speaking out about the industry’s obsession with making young women take their clothes off, to those who believe she should not be criticizing the show that made her famous. And let’s not forget those who lamented the fact she was “denying” the full frontal shots of her. Now, I absolutely love Game of Thrones. I’ve read all the books, seen every episode and even gotten the Targaryen sigil tattooed on my back. However that’s not going to stop me from criticizing the way women are portrayed on the television show. In the five seasons it has
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been on the air, the show runners have altered scenes of consensual sex in the books to be rape on the screen, they go out of their way to have women remove their clothes, and they’ve included entire scenes of sexual violence that do not happen at all in the books on which they are based. So, I applaud the Mother of Dragons for what she said. She has also allegedly stated (according to her cast mate Oona Chaplin) that she wishes to be known for her acting and not for her breasts. She has more than proved she does not need to bare her breasts to be remembered. Hell, her role as Daenerys has earned her two
Emmy nominations. So when I see people complaining on Facebook or article comment sections that she should not “bite the hand that feeds her” or that they have been waiting to see her boobs again, it pisses me off. Clarke and other actresses should not be expected to take their clothes off, and people should definitely not be complaining when they say thats what they want. The fact this is the reaction of people on the internet is just a reminder of how much women in popular culture are primarily valued for their bodies and sex appeal, rather than for being talented and practicing their craft. While it’s true Game of Thrones has lessened their reliance on sex scenes, they still find ways to sneak in unnecessary shots of women’s breasts. I have great doubts that Clarke’s comments will do anything to change the way the show will handle sex scenes, much less how the industry treats actresses. Even larger names than her, such as Patricia Arquette and Reese Witherspoon, have tried before to speak out on women’s treatment in the entertainment industry to no avail. Nevertheless, to hear her say something that reflects on the wildly successful show that helped raise her to prominence is refreshing, especially in regards to such a sexually explicit show.
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.
At the same time, the fact that the videos were edited was problematic to us. According to the report, the footage was edited for timing purposes. It made us wonder that if body camera footage can be edited for an aspect such as timing, what other logic can be used to edit the footage? The Campanil feels that with body cameras, footage, etc., regulations on editing footage must be set and enforced in the future. In particular, regulations have to be put in place for cases involving police brutality and deaths. We also thought about the reactions from others when seeing videos involving police brutality. We imagined the potential shock and negative reactions
after their release. The Campanil felt that while videos like these do have sensitive content, it allows our community to be aware of police brutality and related deaths to it. As members of the Oakland community, we have a right to know what is happening in our city. While the OPD has a bit of work to do to build trust with its citizens, we feel that these videos have both a positive and negative impact with that goal. We also feel that if videos are to be released to the community, they have to tell the truth, even with issues such as timing. Even if the videos are too long, we have a right to see what really happened in these cases.
The Struggle is Real
Opinions You’ve Got Mail
09.22.15
7
A sense of community: my first Oakland Pride Abbey Flentje Flentje@thecampanil.com This past weekend, Oakland Pride took place along 20th & Broadway, with people waving rainbow banners and proclaiming love for their community. You could feel the love and support everyone had for their fellow LGBTQ+ people and allies. Grade schoolers and religious groups walked with banners, showing they were safe spaces. People in fabulous makeup and wild outfits danced their way down the parade route. Kaiser Permanante and Pandora (sponsors of the event) employees even carried balloons that said “Thrive” and wore rainbow tshirts meant to show their allyship. It was a beautiful display of people coming together to celebrate something bigger than themselves. I have attended only one other Pride festival in the past, when I was 14 years old in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. It had the festivities of a Pride festival, with rainbow flags up everywhere, and copious amounts of alcohol being consumed. But what makes Oakland’s Pride different than Grand Rapids’ Pride? For me, it was the first time I’ve truly felt part of that community. I came out to my closest family members when I was 13. It felt wonderful to be supported by them and know they loved me unconditionally. They even encouraged my decision to attend an LGBTQ+ youth group. While I felt accepted at this group and met people who I care deeply for, it never felt like a “family” to me. I’ve always heard other
DAJANAE BARROWS
Cheif News Editor land pride and felt a
Abbey Flentje great sense of
queer people say how they feel like the LGBTQ+ community is like a family to them, how they feel such a warm sense of community that they always have to lift them up. Even coming to Mills never made me feel that way. For some reason the idea of belonging with a community has never clicked with me and I’ve always felt like I was looking in from the outskirts at people who I could connect with but never did because of my own fears and insecurities about the possibility of rejection. But, being in the streets of Oakland and seeing the fabulousness and diversity this city has to offer made me feel at home. My bestie and I walked through the throngs of people, checking out booths that ranged from political organizations to resources for prospective LGBTQ+ parents to
attended community
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sexy leather clothing sellers. We smelled the powdered sugar off of funnel cakes and listened as singer-songwriter Michel’le warmed up to perform. I smiled until my cheeks hurt (something that almost never happens to me), took photos of the people marching and let myself soak in the energy of the LGBTQ+ community. And in that instance, I realized I allowed myself to open up and let go of the tension I live with on a daily basis. Every worry evaporated and I became part of something bigger than myself. This was me ceasing to think I had to be a bystander and finally discovering a community I never thought I would have the confidence to enter. I find myself wondering if that feeling will continue as I move forward with my life, but for now I’ll just enjoy it.
Fashion, feminism and owning my sexuality Want to have your voice in the Campanil? The Opinions section is currently looking for columnists, opinions submissions, and letters to the editor! Email barrows@ thecampanil.com for more info!
Dajanae Barrows Barrows@thecampanil.com For as long as I can remember, the way I dressed was an expression of my emotions for that day. At the same time, my style evolved tremendously from that "tomboyish" kid with the big sweatshirts, bright nail polish and big hoop earrings, to having fashion inspirations such as Zoe Kravitz and Janet Jackson in 1993. If anyone sees me on campus, they'll probably see me in form-fitting clothes and different shades of red on my lips. It has taken me a long time to embrace my sexuality, especially through my wardrobe. However, I still encounter naysayers about my choices—from revealing my body to the supposed conformity that I'm exhibiting as I make myself an "object of desire." There's even the argument that I'm contributing to my own "oppression" as someone that cares about her appearance, according to a former girlfriend
of mine. It didn't take long for me to realize that feminism and fashion have a complex relationship with each other. I've paid attention to all the backlash and criticism that designers like Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld received in the past for objectification with their models and choices. I noticed so much slut shaming based on fashion choices, including from my own family and friends. I've even heard my mom blame a woman's attire for a possibility of being attacked by a man at night while we were at a store. The compatibility between feminism and fashion can be seen as one similar to water and oil. At the same time, there are those that argue for the importance of fashion in feminism. According to writer Linda M. Scott's book Fresh Lipstick: Redressing Fashion and Feminism, the two have a much more intricate connection that traces back to the women's suffrage movement. She argues that fashion has a connection to identity and ex-
pression for women, and should not be a means of objectification and attack from both men and women. In the meantime, I've also noticed that I (as a Black woman) am objectified differently from white women. With my fashion choices and my body type, I'm seen in a more harsh light from men and women alike. Either I will get stares, critical eyes and/or catcalls, depending on the occasion. Overall, because of my choices in wardrobe and appearance as a Black woman and woman of color, I get more hypersexualized on the street than I should (which shouldn't happen at all). To me, fashion plays a significant role in one's identity. However, it should not be the defining factor for me as a woman. I understand where feminists want to break away from gender norms and/or binaries through styles and appearances. For me, I just happen to be "feminine" in expressing my feminism; people are going to like
EMILY MIBACH
it or hate it. Either way, it goes back to the power of choice. I choose to express aspects of my feminism through my style. My red lipsticks, crop tops and long black boots play a role in my style. It plays a role in my feminism as a display of sexual empowerment as a queer Black woman. However, it does not give anyone the right to objectify me. I make my style choices for myself, not for anyone else.
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09.22.15
Sports & Health
Bon Appetit hosts cooking competition Q & A with new tennis coach Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com
Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com
If there is one thing that food does well, it is bringing people together. Four contestants, two staff members and two students competed in a sustainability cooking competition hosted by Bon Appetit in Adams Plaza, on Thursday afternoon, Sept 17. Within one hour, the four chefs had to create a unique dish that would be rated by a panel of judges. Autumn Rauchwerk, Bon Appetit’s West Coast Fellow, hosted the competition to encourage Mills faculty and students to come together to create healthy food using sustainable ingredients. Based off the TV show Chopped, the contestants were required to use four ingredients in their dish: potatoes, leftover pulled pork, mushrooms and Halayang Ube (purple yam jam). Founder’s head chef Eric Boarini purposely chose these particular sustainable ingredients because the potatoes and mushrooms are low import crops that do not require a substantial amount of energy and water, pigs do not omit as many green house gases as cows and the Halayang Ube jam was from a
Mills College’s Athletic Department welcomed Tony Canedo as its new head tennis coach for this upcoming season. Canedo brings 30 years of tennis experience to Mills, including playing professional tennis throughout Europe and coaching both men and women’s teams throughout the United States. With his new team of eight, half returners and half incoming players, Canedo is excited to share his knowledge and love for tennis. What influenced you to play tennis? I started playing tennis at age four [and then] competitively at age eight until being recruited for college. Why did you choose to play tennis? My older sister was in lessons and I was the squeaky wheel [who] wanted to get into it. I loved it. What was your tennis career like when you played professionally in Europe? I played in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) pro tours, [which] is considered the third level in the satellite circuit. I travelled all over Eastern and Western Europe and North Africa playing for about five years. I was centrally located in the South of France, so that was a lot of fun. It was a great way to see the world. What was your biggest accomplishment in your tennis career? I won a tournament in Denmark, which was probably my biggest professional [accomplishment]. I won the Maryland State Olympics, [too], which was fun. What is your experience in coaching? I worked at the Milwaukee School of Engineering about eight to ten years ago, for about
EVE SWITZKY-MARTIN
(Above) Larri Mariola was very satisfied with how her omelet and sandwich dish came out for the competition.
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“Best Overall” winner Phaedra Gauci learned how to cook sustainable food that her family grew on their farm in Malta.
previous catering event. The four competitors ranged in cooking experience from never cooking before, to Chef Boarini himself. Senior Larri Mariola was one of the competitors who had no cooking experience. “This just made me realize how happy I am that Founders is on campus,” Mariola said. “I am not a chef; I am a musician.” With helping staff member Sasha Brown, Mariola successfully created an omelet with salt and pepper potatoes, and a cinnamon peanut butter and ube sandwich on the side. The judges nominated her dish as “Most Surprised” out of the four, for her surprising delicious sandwich combination. Winning “Best Overall” from the judges was housing operations manager Phaedra Gauci’s deconstructed hash with fried potatoes and an egg on top. Growing up on the Island of Malta, Gauci explained that she and her family practiced cooking seasonal foods. “We lived on what we couldn’t sell, like the beaten up left overs,”
Gauci said. “That was the sort of food that I am used to growing and making.” When it came to using the required ingredients, Gauci did not break a sweat coming up with a delicious spread that incorporated all four components. Her dish was praised by all the judges and students who were lucky enough to take a bite. “The way she incorporated all the ingredients together was just magical,” judge Haley Tallent said. “There was sweetness, spiciness and everything; it was amazing.” Despite the range of cooking experience, all four contestants created tasteful dishes that were enjoyed by the judging panel. Rauchneck was impressed with how the Mills community easily came together to practice cooking original meals with healthy ingredients, something that Bon Appetit strives for on college campuses. “Everyone was willing to work together,” Rauchneck said. “I think the connection between the Bon Appetit team and the Mills staff is strong; that is key to sustainability.”
four years. I took the team to the NCAA the year that I left. In terms of coaching, I have been lucky to have great coaches my whole life from the time that I was a junior [in high school], to college, to when I was playing for a living. I have always had great direction and good solid coaches. What made you transition from playing tennis to coaching? I was too old to play and be competitive. I love coaching, [especially] that light bulb moment when a player gets it. Why did you choose Mills? When the opening occurred, I always wanted to get back into college coaching and it so happened that Mills was right here. I live in Oakland so it was an easy transition, but the fit was perfect. It allows me to coach the team and the PE classes and be more involved with the campus life; and, of course, I have my own tennis academy which I get to use the courts for. Do you have any goals for this upcoming season? To finish better than where we started. For every player it is going to be relative to where they start and to where they finish. I think as a team, to get that whole sense of family and support and that “one for all, and all for one,” it is going to be fun.
HART ROSENBERG
Five ways to make your commute more eco-friendly Sarah Hoenicke staff writer
The commute from San Francisco to Mills College can be a harrowing experience. Most of the time though, with a little planning, it’s a breeze. I knew when I accepted my offer of admission to Mills – in part, my decision to go here was due to the college’s commitment to sustainability – that I had to find ways to live out my ideals of how I wanted to move through the world without generating much waste, supporting my local economy and maintaining my choice of a vegan and whole foods diet, etc. Below are some of the choices
I make every week to maintain a sustainable, commuting life. Everyone can make small changes – even non-commuters – that will add up to making a big difference. Use existing public transportation. According to a Freakonomics article, “If we can persuade travelers to leave their cars and ride existing transit service, rather than new service, the environment will benefit greatly.” With your Mills College AC Transit pass, you can get all over the bay for free or very cheap. By using a system that runs regardless of whether you’re on it or not, rather than putting one more car on the road, you’ll be cutting your carbon dioxide emissions. If
public transit is out of the question for you, try parking further away from your final destination and walking or biking the rest of the way. Bring your own food. Packing your own food ahead of time, rather than purchasing it at school or elsewhere, will cut down on the money you spend, and you’ll be generating less wrapper and plastic waste that comes with buying food ready-to-eat. Use reusable containers, bags and cutlery. If you commute to school two days a week and use two forks a day at the Tea Shop, that’s around 64 forks a semester (128 per year) that you’re throwing out. Then, do the math to add in
disposable coffee cups, Ziploc bags, etc. and picture the heap of waste you would’ve generated. Invest in quality food containers, as well as a thermos and water bottle, and bring your own cutlery that you can wash at home. Print as little as possible. This will save your back and help prevent further deforestation. According to an article on the New York Times website, “Fifteen billion trees are cut down each year, and five billion are planted. At that rate, all of Earth’s trees will be gone in about 300 years.” Eat local, organic and vegan. This last one isn’t just for commuters. You can reduce your waste, help conserve water, save
animals’ lives, improve your health and reduce your footprint (cows produce more methane gas than cars do). Do a little research and figure out what’s manageable for you. Substituting even one meal a week for one made up of sustainable and organically grown fruits and vegetables will make a difference. In my experience, making changes to live more sustainablyhas only ever caused an increase in personal happiness, even if the changes were challenging. Living in a way that you choose with intention – supporting principles in which you believe – will always be worth any initially perceived inconveniences.