Karma Kitchen: what comes around goes around. See page 5 VOLUME 96 ISSUE 12
EF school to leave Mills Tymeesa Rutledge ASST. ONLINE EDITOR
What is this?
After over 20 years of being on the Mills College campus, Education First, an international immersion and language school, will be moving to a San Francisco campus in April. The EF school provides international students the opportunity to learn English on an American college campus. The EF international students had the opportunity to intermix and mingle with Mills students. The program has over 400 schools and offices globally. In the United States, EF International has 11 schools in different cities including Miami, Los Angeles and New York.
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The EF International school was established at Mills College in 1989, according to EF’s official website. Both Mills College and EF language school said the departure of the program from Mills campus was mutual. “It’s our time to depart Mills and move to our super school in San Francisco,” said Keiko Padilla, director of the EF school at Mills College. Dorothy Calimeris, director of Auxiliary Services at Mills, said that the departure was a mix of Mills needing White Hall and the EF program consolidating to its San Francisco site. In January of this year, 22 EF students left the Mills campus for other campuses as part of the transee
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ANNA CORSON
Education First students exit a classroom inside White Hall, their current location on Mills Campus.
Associated Students of Mills College begin spring semester with a new vision Diana Arbas ASST. NEWS EDITOR
ANNA CORSON
A chalk drawing of a bacteria being infected by a virus is sketched outside of the Natural Sciences Building. The image was drawn by Kat Moon, a post-bac student. It took Moon a total of two days to complete the drawing. “I thought it was so appropriate for her to use her art skills and her science knowledge to create something in front of the science building,” said Jo Scullion, Health Professions Program Coordinator at Mills College.
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Tuesday | Feb. 15, 2011
Associated Students of Mills College (ASMC) leaders kicked off this spring semester with a new vision statement: "to empower student voice." At ASMC's Jan. 31 executive board retreat, ASMC officers began by writing personal and community goals. “My goal is to survive senioritis,” said Terrylynn Cantlon, Prospect Hill Senator, “and to empower a new leader. I want to find somebody, get them motivated and recruit them to participate in something.” Other student leaders shared ideas for projects. Anna Guiles, Class of 2014 Historian, reported on what the first year students are up to and asked ASMC to support and collaborate with them. Guiles said that a lot of first year students are big fans of PostSecret, an online community art project where people mail in
their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. “So we want to do a Mills College PostSecret,” she said, “where we have a drop-off time for about three weeks for girls to drop off their postcards. We want to put them on display near the Tea Shop.” The project is intended to foster a sense of community. “Mills sometimes doesn’t have that community,” Guiles said. “We put up those barriers a lot of times. That’s something we noticed really early on, even being first years.” Rebecca Freeman, Internal Affairs Chair, urged the student leaders to keep their written goals and plans for carrying them out in their binders. “By the end of the semester,” she said, “we can maybe revisit this and ask, ‘Did this happen? Is this something you made happen?’” The next ASMC meeting is Monday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. in GSB 118. The first 15 minutes are Open Forum for students to share concerns or questions.
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News
Feb. 15, 2011
Psych club event aims to involve students Emma Casper CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Psychology Department and Psychology Club hosted their Spring Extravaganza in the courtyard of the Natural Sciences Building on Feb. 3. The event was designed “to develop a sense of community within the department,” said Club Co-President Laura Samuelson. The event featured several panelists including professors and one graduate student. Each speaker briefly told their personal journey from their time as students to their current research and educational work. Attendees heard from Dr. Dean Morier, among other panelists, who has been researching cultural prejudice towards the elderly. Another speaker, Dr. Liz Bachen, focused her research on understanding the connection between stress and the immune
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sition off of the college’s campus, according to Padilla. In midMarch, 33 more students will be leaving to finish their English studies at other campuses. EF students will be compensated for the inconvenience and will choose another location of their liking to spend the remainder of their English immersion experience. “You get to choose where you want to go and I chose New York,” said EF student, Celina Gonzalez from Mexico. She will be continuing her studies on a college campus similar to Mills in New York City. The EF program will be moving its location to downtown San Francisco near Fisherman’s Warf. Some Mills students feel that they will be losing close friends with the leaving of EF. “(I had) a really strong relationship with a special person in EF,” said Isabel Cortes, President of the Fem Dems at Mills, referring to her relationship with an EF student from France. The French student tutored her in his native tongue and, with his help; she aced her first French test. Not all Mills students had friendships or relationships with the EF students. Dorothy Calimeris, Mills College director of Auxiliary Services and Keiko Padilla, EF school director acknowledged a “cultural clash” between EF students and their relationship with
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system, while Dr. Carol George has been studying attachment during infant development. The event was also a chance for potential members of the club to be introduced to the officers of the Psychology Club. The club now consists of a handful of dedicated Psychology students. “The group has been meeting off and on for years, depending on student interest,” said Professor John Ruch, head of the Psychology department. Dr. Morier remarked that this particular group of students “started last year…but they really amped it up recently.” “This year the Psych Club’s real focus has been providing information to students about all the resources available within the department,” said Vice President of the Psychology Club, Angelica Perez, “the first goal (of the club) is to provide a platform, and a community, on which students can take an active role in shaping their own academic path to success at Mills
the campus. Calimeris and Panilla noted that these clashes are not the reason for the departure. The building, White Hall that the EF program has been renting from Mills College will be renovated, according to Auxiliary Services Director Dorothy Calimeris. There are many possibilities for the future of White Hall, including new residential opportunities for Mills students, utilization by Middlebury College for their Summer Language Immersion Program and/or utilization by other conference groups,” said Renee Jadushlever, the Vice President for Operations at Mills College. “Additionally, there are several classroom spaces in the building.” Before the hall can be used by the college, it has to undergo several renovations. “At the end of the summer, major repairs will be undertaken in the entire building, including infrastructure repairs, bathroom upgrades, painting, new carpeting, lighting improvements, etc,” said Jadushlever. “We hope to have that work completed by the Spring 2012 semester, or at the latest, by the summer of 2012.” The EF building could possibly be used for dormitories to house more Mills students, according to Calermeris. She said that she would like to focus on better campus housing options for juniors and seniors at Mills. The College Board will be meeting this month to discuss the finality of what White Hall will be used for.
CAMPANIL
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and beyond.” “The Psych Department is invested in all aspects of a student’s life,” stressed Laura Samuelson, one of the two Club’s CoPresidents, which made this event integral to showcasing that community. “The Psychology Club's active membership (has) varied from year to year depending on the amount of “This year the Psych Club’s real focus has been providing information to students about all the resources available within the department,” said Vice President of the Psychology Club, Angelica Perez, “the first goal (of the club) is to provide a platform, and a community, on which students can take an active role in shaping their own academic path to success at Mills and beyond.” “The Psych Department is invested in all aspects of a student’s life,” stressed Laura Samuelson, one of the two Club’s CoPresidents, which made this event integral to showcasing
that community. “The Psychology Club's active membership (has) varied from year to year depending on the amount of time the club leaders devoted to organizing and advertising their club activities,” said Dr. Christie Chung, whose lab studies memory and aging, “ we have strong leaders this year, so I am hoping that the club will thrive!” The current officers and members of the club are mostly seniors whose graduation is fast approaching but they continue to plan future events that will emphasize their inclusive presence on campus. This week, Monday through Thursday, all declared Psych majors, including Bio-Psych, Infant Mental Health, and graduate students, are invited to come to the Psych Lounge during lunchtime for Photopalooza. The event is an effort to further integrate the Psychology community. Club members will be giving cookies in exchange for student photos, which will be displayed in the lounge.
The Psychology Club said they are actively welcoming new members.Interested students can attend the Club’s meetings on Tuesday and Thursdays from 12:15 to 1:00pm in the Psychology Lounge or through the group’s Mills community page, email list, or Facebook. “There are no requirements to become a member, just interest,” said other Co-President Kiya Komaiko. After the lecture portion of Sunday's event concluded, the lighter side of the Psychology department emerged. The convivial atmosphere of the sundae party allowed professors, students, peer tutors, and TA’s alike to mingle and connect with one another. “We might have used up our annual budget on this event,” Laura joked with a Professor as she scooped ice cream. She asked the next person in line, smiling, “cookies and cream or chocolate swirl?”
Keeping up with the World - Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt’s president on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, after nearly 30 years in power. The Egyptian military has officially assumed control of the country. - The former ruling party in Tunisia, the Constitutional Democratic Rally, has been almost completely shut out of the nation’s politics as the interim president of Tunisia, Fouad Mebazaa, assumes power to rule by decree. - North and South Korea held a military delegation. It was the first such
meeting held between the two states since the North attacked Yeonpyeong in November, 2010.
- China faced the worst drought it has experienced in 60 years, according to its official media reports.
- Indonesia faced two attacks against religious minority groups. A mob of Muslims attacked an Ahmadi sect and beat four of its members to
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death in western Java. In central Java, another mob burned down Christian churches.
- An army recruitment camp in Mardan, Pakistan was attacked by a Taliban suicidebomber. The attack killed and injured dozens of people. - Taiwan arrested General Lo Hsien-che, accusing him of being a spy for mainland China.
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Events & Information
Feb. 15, 2011
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FEBRUARY 15 — FEBRUARY 22 16
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Tuesday
Blood Drive What: Save a life. Give blood When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Student Union
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Wednesday
Workers of Faith What: Ebracing body & spirit. Clothing optional When: 7 p.m. Where:OrchardMeadow Rm.152 Call 818.923.8815 to get in
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Oakland Featured Artists Show What: Local artists share their work When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Jack London Square
Home Coffee Roasting Class What: A coffee workshop Where:2049 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley When: 7 p.m. Cost: $25
Sunday
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Thursday
LiveTalk Lecture Series What: Come listen to the the brightest minds of the bay area When: 7 p.m. Where: Oakalnd College Prepataory School
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Monday
Tuesday
Lecture by Laerke Lauta What: Discussion of her latest work “floating female” When: 7 p.m. Where: On campus, Danforth Hall
Truman Capote
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Friday
Fresh Friday What: A Party When: 9 p.m. Where: Student Union
Saturday
Improv Comedy What:Improv Comedy Troupe entertains When: 8 p.m. Where: Pan theatre Cost: $10
For more events, check out www.thecampanil.com If you have events for the calendar, e-mail Priscilla Y. Wilson at wilson@thecampanil.com
Barbara Walters
Diane Sawyer
Hunter S. Thompson
Christiane Amanpour Joan Didion Mark Twain
Nellie Bly
COME JOIN THE RANKS OF GREAT JOURNALISTS e-mail Tara Nelson: eic@thecampanil.com for more information Stop by Rothwell room 157 Monday nights at 6pm to pick up stories and share ideas! All majors wanted, no experience needed.
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Feb. 15, 2011
Arts & Features
Cypher kicks off Black History Month ALL PHOTOS BY ANNA GUILES
Above: Guest performers dance in the center of the circle of attendees during the cypher. Below: Graffiti artists paint a four-panel piece spelling out “BWC” outside.
Anna Guiles CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The dimly lit Student Union smelled of sweat and spray paint the smell of a lifestyle. The attendees ranged from novice to experienced hip-hoppers, Mills students to community members, all eager to learn and to share. The entertainment was heavily booked with performers showcasing one after the other. It was the night the Mills' Black Women's Collective (BWC) had been planning for weeks. It was the night of the Cypher. Originating from the African game of Capoeta, the cypher has developed into a free style support system. Participants stood in a circle as they watched performers dance, speak and rap in the center. Such a culture is exactly what the BWC wanted to replicate on Friday, Feb. 4 with their exhibition of graffiti artists, break-dancers, rappers and emcees. “Cypher today talks about
stand’n in a circle. Hip-hop is usually standing in a circle free styling," explained Davey D, renowned hip-hop emcee. "We feel from the energy from the circle." The BWC hoped that the modern take on the traditional African sport would get students excited about this month’s celebration of black culture. “(The cypher) is our mainstream event for BWC. It’s the first one open to the public and it’s really starting off our celebration of Black History month,” said sophomore Noni Thomas, BWC treasure. Golden State Breakers took the floor with the first performance of the evening, break-dancing to a remix of James Brown’s “Get Up Offa That Thing.” Guests watched the duo show off their fancy foot work, head spins and flips, in awe of their talent. “I like (the performances). It’s really interactive and pumped,” said freshman and attendee Audre Mowry. As the Golden State Breakers completed their dance the room
filled with applause. “In a cypher you are suppose to dance with the free-stylers so they can feed from your energy. Hiphop is not a spectator sport,” announced Davey D as the applause died down. As Davey D suggested, the BWC got the audience to participate with a variety of hip-hop performers and pieces, all with different messages. Coon and Trouble Sin, the ELegal Tag Team duo, delivered their performance with soulful spoken word, inspired by struggles and strength. Dropping lines such as, “love don’t cost a thing, but some how she made a profit…you gave that girl the world and now your world is crashing,” and “I’m sleeping in garages because I don’t have a family, mamma kicked me out ‘cause I resemble daddy.” E-Legal Tag Team’s inspiration comes from God, life and their environment. “We speak mostly for the youth, but also adults. Because who else raises the youth, but the
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adults,” Coon said. As far as their participation in the hip-hop culture they place themselves in their own category, inspired by hip-hop but influenced by life experiences they find their style varies depending on where they are in their life journey. The impromptu freestyle ended and transitioned into an interpretive dance from a member of the Golden Gate Breakers. Performed to Natalie King Cole’s “Smile,” the three minute dance offered an alternative approach to the clichéd gangster life associated with hip-hop. Throughout the evening’s entertainment, graffiti artists worked outside to complete a fourpanel piece spelling out “BWC.” One of the artists, Alberto Azurdia, began his trademark graffiti in the tenth grade. “First it (graffiti) was just because everyone else was doing it, but then I started to want to perfect it," Azurdia said. "I started on paper then walls, mostly in my backyard to practice."
Despite the growing appreciation of graffiti art there are still risks to the trade. According to Azurdia, it can take three to four hours to complete a detailed piece, while a simple one takes 10 to 30 minutes. “When starting off my first time, I had to worry about cops and going to jail. I always kept cautious,” Azurdia said. The evening ended with a set from DJ Sane and many of the performers introducing themselves and interacting with the group. With future events planned throughout the month of February including the BWC dance on the 18th and the “Art of Living Black” on the 26th, the cypher introduced the community to an important part of the black culture and the month. “All of the performances were amazing," said Mariah Taylor, first year BWC member. "Some of them have been really powerful because we can relate to them as women.” Future events include the Black History Month Dance and the Art of Living Black.
Arts & Features
Feb. 15, 2011
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PRISCILLA WILSON
Karma Kitchen, a project put on by CharityFocus, gives guests a bill of $0.00. However, guests are encouraged to make whatever contribution possible - may it be money or a box of cookies - to keep the Kitchen running. The cycle of giving continues with a staff of volunteers who come in to serve, prepare, wash and help in the Kitchen.
What goes around comes around: Karma Kitchen provides “gift economy” Priscilla Wilson CALENDAR EDITOR Walking through the door, a guest to Karma Kitchen is overwhelmed with the smell of Indian spices, doughy naan and sweet mango lassi. The walls are covered in murals painted in deep, rich colors to depict various deities. Other guests sit comfortably in their elaborately-carved chairs as if they are sitting at their own dining room tables. The waiters and chefs are nervous but excited, like a typical first-day employee. But for Karma Kitchen, there is almost always someone new on staff because everyone’s a volunteer. CharityFocus, a volunteer-run charity organization, opened the Berkeley Karma Kitchen in 2007. Karma Kitchen's Berkeley location - which is rented out every Sunday by the restaurant Taste of Himalayas - serves as one of three restaurants that make up CharityFocus' project inspired by a concept called the "gift economy." “(Karma Kitchen) is a gifteconomy operation, where everyone contributes not for themselves, but for the person after them. Here, it is a chain of generosity,” said Nipun Mehta, one of Karma Kitchen's coordinators and cofounder of CharityFocus. With an outrageous bill of $0.00, many people agree that
Karma Kitchen is generous. While the "gift economy" encourages many people to keep coming back, both as customers and as volunteers, others wonder why anyone would dish out free food for people who don't need it. "It's important that people don't come with the essence of a 'free meal,'" Kahn said. "This isn't corporate sponsored.... This food is a gift." Although bills are $0, and guests are welcome to leave just having had enjoyed the food, people, and energy, Karma Kitchen encourages guests to be generous like the people before them who made their meal possible. Whether it’s a box of cookies or money, any sincere contribution maintains the cycle of giving that Karma Kitchen strives for. Mehta explained further that Karma Kitchen is a way for people to, as he likes to say, "pay it forward." “Naturally, we are a humble experiment," Meta said. "Such an experiment introduces (people) to a culture of sharing." The culture of sharing has attracted some regulars, like Moses Ceaser. Caesar has volunteered at Karma Kitchen once every month for over three years and intends on continuing to do so. For Ceasar, it only seems fair to help others get the Karma experience. The Karma Kitchen experience
is just as special for the volunteers as it is for the guests. The volunteers are given an opportunity to participate in the more spiritual aspect of Karma Kitchen; they get the chance to extend the services of Karma Kitchen by offering their time and energy to act as waiters, dessert chefs, dishwashers and general helpers. According to Ceasar, it is also the volunteer’s duty to interact with the guests. Having extended conversations, hugging, singing and laughing are all highly encouraged.
“People know from the beginning that (Karma Kitchen) is an experience that’s different.” - Moses Ceasar Although she is the one serving the guests, Lachmin Singh, who has volunteered at Karma Kitchen many times before, feels like the volunteers and guests have a symbiotic relationship. “I needed the energy,” Singh said. "It's a way for me to reach hearts." Not all of the volunteers are as well seasoned as Ceasar and Singh. On Super Bowl Sunday, Ceasar and Singh were two of three who had volunteered before. The other
seven workers of the day had no prior experience working in a restaurant, nor a place anything like Karma Kitchen. According to Vinod, an everyday engineer and first-time volunteer, he had been a guest the week before and had returned this time to help because he liked the Kitchen's high-energy. Another first-timer, Meena, wanted to know what it was like to be on the other side of the Kitchen door. “I was really curious about what this was like, and I’ve always wanted to work at a restaurant," Meena said. Guests, too, came from all walks of life and for all different reasons. Mike Bloxham, a retired Physics professor and a regular, dined at Karma Kitchen with his wife. “I’m anti-capitalist - that’s why I love Karma Kitchen. My wife is more into the spiritual, noncommercial component,” Mike Bloxham said. Another tradition that keeps people coming back is the Kindness Table, located just left of the entrance. The Kindness Table serves as a space for guests and volunteers to leave behind anything from scrapbooks about Karma Kitchen, C.D.s of personal music, stacks of the newspaper Positive News and "smile cards" - U.C.
Berkeley student Surya Koatha's favorite item on the table. “You’ve been tagged,” the "smile card" says on the front alongside a huge smiley face. On the back, the card encouraged its receiver to perform any act of kindness. For Koatha, the "smile cards" embodied the giving concept of Karma Kitchen. In tune with Super Bowl Sunday, the ten volunteers agreed to have “Super Generosity.” According to Ceasar, the guests were asked to think of 30-second commercials they would create to change the world. They were then asked to write down acts of “super generosity.” Some of the things guests wrote include: “I would like to give the gift of volunteering so that others can enjoy the meal just as much as I did!” “Respect your children as individual- don’t put them down.” “This does not belong to me, it belongs to us all.” Yet regardless of whether or not there is a theme that day, Ceasar believes Karma Kitchen always provides a unique experience. “People know from the beginning that this is an experience that’s different,” Ceasar said. Karma Kitchen is located at Taste of Himalayas Restaurant, 1700 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. The Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.
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Feb. 15, 2011
Opinions & Editorial STAFF EDITORIAL
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised—But It Might Be Tweeted In case you have been living under a rock—or really, in case you haven’t logged into your Facebook recently—some pretty crazy stuff has been happening over in Egypt. Two weeks of protests have resulted in the resignation of 30-year president, Hosni Mubarak. Many are saying the protests themselves are partially the result of networking done through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. The uprising in Egypt is certainly not the first instance of social networking media being utilized for activist and organizing purposes—a majority of the mobilizing which occurred during the
Ukraine’s 2004 “Orange Revolution” was credited to internet activity. This is not suprising, as the emergence of widespread internet in the Ukraine was beginning at that time. Youth riots in Greece during 2008 relied on twitter feeds, as did the 2009 Moldovan uprising—referred to as “The Twitter Revolution.” As interested as we are here at the Campanil in the intersections of activism and the interwebs, our journalistic tendencies have us thinking most about the role of social media for us reporters—out there in the middle of all that activist action. Some of us think it may be possible that the use of
social media by journalists during the Egyptian uprising may provide some answers to questions about how journalism will change (or has already changed) in the digital age. With the use of Twitter and Facebook on the rise, everybody can get “published.” Many people rely more heavily on social media for “newsfeeds” rather than picking up the paper. Layoffs abound in print journalism, and many papers have gone out of business. Supposedly these trends may be an indication of “the death of journalism,” but as the minute-by-minute social media coverage in Egypt has shown, reporting is anything
but dead. This pervasive and ubiquitous computing technology makes clear the need for trained reporters now more than ever. Coverage is not inherently less valuable because it was tweeted rather than in print— but it is important that said coverage is accurate and thoroughly fact-checked. Instant information sharing can make this process of fact-checking easier, but can also lead to publishing stories based on misinformed tweets. It is the role of responsible, trained journalists to navigate newsfeeds—using the old journalism stand-bys of multiple sources in each and every digital platform.
Governments may regulate and censor traditional media outlets— newspapers, television, etc. However, users create their own status updates and tweets. The forum found on Twitter may not necessarily represent democracy at it’s purest, but it is certainly an outlet for alternate and dissenting voices that may not be represented in government regulated, traditional media—especially in times of political upheaval. We don’t embrace twitter feeds as the single savior of journalism’s future—or the future of activism, for that matter. However, we can’t help but say, “Viva la tweets! Viva la revolution!”
O PEN F ORUM Give Up That Legalizing Marijuana Is Good Why California Voters Should Maintain Provisions Or Possible for California in Jessica’s Law
Dear Fellow Californians:
I am writing you this letter to help you to realize that the legalization of marijuana in the state of California is neither feasible, nor smart. In the wake of the great recession, even voters of conservative values began to eye the potential legalization of marijuana as a possibly economically sound option to solving the revenue problems with a higher than 12 percent unemployment rate, 50 billion dollar deficit, and endless furloughs for state workers. Many liberals got excited about legalizing marijuana for people of age, because, isn’t California one of the most liberal states after all? And people are doing it anyway, right? After this initiative was put on the ballot in November of 2010, many voters’ hopes were dashed after a sweeping majority knocked it down. And others were relieved because they somehow believed
that if marijuana was legalized, it would be the end of the world after all. Even President Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder indicated on the eve of the election that if the law passed, it would be immediately considered illegal on a federal level. But does California, with its high unemployment rate really need more people at home lighting up instead of looking for work? Do we really want our high school students dreaming of turning age 18 or 21, so they can smoke weed at home or in public? And do we need more sin taxes and surgeon’s general warnings because a lack of information may saddle long term smokers with diseases and health complications we can’t presently predict and will ultimately pay for in high health care costs and disability benefits? Do we need poor and minority communities marketed to the same way that alcohol and cigarettes companies presently target them? Wouldn’t you say that enough is enough, and that our citizens, rich, poor, and in between need to be in as healthy and optimal a place possible in order to survive the rigor of these tough economic times?
Since many of us were young, we heard marijuana referred to as a gateway drug that leads to recreational use of harder drugs and risky behavior. If we suddenly decided that recreational marijuana use was legal, would that argument suddenly be unfounded? And what about inmates in California prisons who will be incarcerated for life under the Three Strikes law? If one of their offenses was marijuana related due to possession or distribution, does that mean that their legal records can be expunged retroactively because of the legitimization of marijuana as something that now benefits the larger society? It’s already tough enough that medical marijuana is widely unregulated and quasi-legal for those who need it for health reasons. Black market distribution already puts many of our citizens at risk every day without their knowledge. So let’s be smart about this California, by thinking this through and realizing that more options don’t necessarily mean better ones. — Monica Ayers, first year graduate student
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Divinia Anderson CONTRIBUTING WRITER California needs to keep dangerous sex offenders off the streets. With the provisions in Proposition 83, many sex offenders are left homeless and this makes it difficult for law enforcement to keep track of them. I believe that sex offenders should not be forced to become homeless, but they also should not be permitted to live 2,000 feet within schools or parks. Proposition 83 also known as Jessica’s law was passed by California voters in 2006. Jessica’s law states that sex offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet of a school or park. In keeping with compliance with this law 2,100 offenders have become transient in California. I encourage voters to keep the 2,000 feet limitation, despite the results it has caused. Other measures can be taken to offset the resulting homelessness besides repealing the provision. A California judge temporarily blocked the enforcement of a legal restriction on how close sex offenders can live to parks and schools in Los Angeles County. The reasoning behind the suspension on this provision of the law is that it could cause a serious risk to public safety Many believe that
homeless sex offenders put the public at risk. These offenders are unstable and more difficult to supervise. Voter support is needed to address the 2,000 feet limitation, California voters will be urged to repeal the 2,000 feet limitation because many sex offenders have become transient and harder to track. An alternative to repealing this provision is immediately allocating funds to better tracking and monitoring of transient sex offenders. It is crucial to have better supervision on sex offenders who are most likely to recommit crimes. The routine evaluations that are mandatory for all sex offenders will determine which ones are most likely to recommit crimes. The better monitoring techniques will help to reduce the risk of sex offenders recommitting crimes. I urge voters to address this issue of security when it comes up on the next ballot and vote to keep the 2,000 feet limitation in place, and in addition to this stricter monitoring and more counseling for sex offenders must take place to track transient sex offenders. To ensure public safety Jessica’s law mandated the 2,000 foot limitation, but it leaves many people homeless. A more long term solution would be to create more housing that would allow sex offenders to be in compliance with the law. More solutions other than more housing are needed because there is a housing shortage all over California. In the mean time the 2,000 feet limitation should remain in place.
Opinions & Editorial The Truth About Marriage Trevor Rogers GUEST COLUMNIST
Hallelujah, I've seen the light. Thanks to conservative talk shows, I've finally concluded that gays should never be allowed to marry. It's comforting to know that there are voices of reason to guide me in this topsy-turvy world. Rush and Glen, you've taught me so much. In fact, as a result of subjecting myself to marathon sessions of Fox News I'm now convinced that ALL committed, long-term relationships should be outlawed. Judged by conservative standards, marriage is clearly anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-democracy. A marriage typically consists of two people living in one house and sharing a single bank account. I honestly can't envision a more thor-
oughly un-American arrangement. Is this or is this not the God-fearing U.S. of A, where the pooling of assets and resources in communal, egalitarian fashion is considered a slippery slope toward socialism? Honest, hard-working Americans agree that the free market should be the sole determiner of a person's lifestyle and finances, yet marriage often forces a wealthy person to share his/her income with a far less successful spouse. Is there a more deplorable example of wealth redistribution? Why should the proletariat get to ride the coattails of the upper class? In true capitalist fashion, the primary breadwinner should get the bedroom while the secondary earner is consigned to the garage until he/she gets a better job. You want mattress privileges, loser? Maybe you shouldn't have settled for a Bachelor's degree in social work. The communist underpinnings of marriage aren't limited to income discrepancy. In the event that one partner is laid off from work, marriage potentially acts as the ultimate form of welfare. We Americans expect to succeed or fail on our own merit, not be bailed out
by the charity of the taxpayer or some wealthy spouse. And health care? If you think Obamacare was a socialist plot, just wait until you see how many people are benefiting from a joint insurance policy. It’s sickening. And not just the adults in the family...buy your own Ritalin, freeloading brats. Marriage doesn’t simply undermine capitalism, it runs counter to the whole concept of democratic society. By definition, democracy requires at least three participants. A democracy of two is unsustainable. If I want fish and you want chicken, who casts the deciding vote? Polygamy would be a much more democratic arrangement. I'm not saying that married people are evil...I'm saying that every time someone gets married, the terrorists win. So to anyone considering entering into the subversive, socialist, democracy-eroding pact that is marriage: we're on to you. No longer will you be allowed to chip away at the very fabric of capitalist society with your unholy, unAmerican matrimony. Down with marriage. God bless the USA.
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Feb. 15, 2011
Question of The Week
What would be a better mascot for Mills than “The Cyclones?” “The Robots.” —Courtney Jacobson, first year
“I like the cyclone. It’s curvy, it morphs. It could be construed as phallic, but it’s a vortex—so it’s inherently vaginal.” — Jessica GlennonZukoff, sophomore
“Elephants. Because they’re super smart.” —Thea Anderson, first year
“Unicorns. Mills is a magical place and there are lots of interesting creatures—and unicorns are beautiful.” — Ashley Diaz, first year
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY KATIE SUNSHINE
are you a cartoonist? send your doodles to soldano@thecampanil.com
“Seahorses, because they subvert animal sex roles.” —Weyam Ghadbian, senior
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Feb. 15, 2011
Sports & Health
Bon Appetit tries to accommodate gluten-free diets Bonnie Horgos SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
When Rene’e Gallison’s father bet her $50 that she couldn’t go without eating gluten for a week, she happily accepted. A week without pizza and bread seemed like a piece of cake. What the Mills College junior didn’t expect, however, was that she’d stick to the lifestyle, eventually losing 40 lbs. It’s been three years, and the 23-year-old is still eating a glutenfree diet. Not that she has to nix favorite foods such as pizza and pasta. With people increasingly going gluten-free, alternative choices are popping up. But what is gluten and why are people avoiding it? Gluten is a type of protein that appears in wheat, barley, rye and oats; these grains are often ground into flour, which makes up common foods including bread and cereal. Gluten reacts with yeast, making focaccia fluffy and donuts doughy. But this common ingredient may come at a cost. According to Dr. Dana Q. Pletcher of healthdocs.org, one in 30 people are intolerant to gluten; their bodies have trouble breaking down and absorbing the protein. Symptoms may range from subtle stomachaches to severe nausea. Gallison said that before the bet with her dad, she'd often feel sick
without knowing why. "I was getting a lot of stomach aches and so I researched it," Gallison said. "Since going glutenfree, I've had no stomach pains. I feel like I have more energy; my focus is better." And Gallison isn’t the only Mills switching it up. Mills’ food service Bon Appetit are offering dishes that omit gluten, using alternatives such as rice flour and xanthan gum to replace the ingredient. The Tea Shop always has gluten-free bread available for sandwiches and Founders occasionally offers alternatives such as gluten-free pasta and brownies. Additionally, Bon Appetit marks which foods are gluten-free at Founders Commons, Café Suzie and the Tea Shop. “For every meal there are always gluten-free options,” said Bon Appetit general manager Jason Landau. “We recreated the menu to have a lot more gluten-free options.” “Gluten-free has become more and more prominent (here at Mills),” Landau said. “The chefs went through quite a bit of training on what is gluten-free.” Bon Appetit executive chef Jaime Dominguez said he has been focusing on adding more glutenfree options to Mills’ menus since he first began working here a year and a half ago. “My priority is to offer whole grains and veggies that are in season,” Dominguez said. “Since day one I started focusing on gluten-free.”
Check out the information below for gluten-free restaurant optionsfrom Lakeshore to Berkeley.
For instance, Dominguez said next week's menu includes fresh cabbage roles stuffed with quinoa, a gluten-free grain rich in protein, optimal for a vegan diet. Junior Olivia Stame, who
became gluten-free last June, eats frequently at Founders. Stame faces another obstacle besides avoiding gluten: she’s been vegetarian since age seven. “It’s been hard at Mills, especially because I’m vegetarian,” Stame said. “They offer a lot of gluten-free meat products.” Landau said Bon Appetit tries to accommodate all different dietary restrictions however. “There are some students who are vegan or vegetarian and gluten free, so options like quinoa are good for those students,” Landau said. Stame said that she was able to eat at Founders, though, looking for common staples to eat. “It’s easy when they have rice and beans,” Stame said. Landau said Bon Appetit encourages student with dietary restrictions to communicate with food services.
“I meet with students all the time who have food allergies; we encourage them to do so,” Landau said. “They come in and we discuss the menu and ingredients.” Sophomore Brittany Watkins, who has been gluten-free since age 13, said she has communicated through comment cards available at all of Mills’ eateries. “I had to write a comment card for Founders saying that you can’t label couscous or oats as glutenfree and to be mindful that some gluten-free people are vegetarian,” Watkins, 25, said. Landau said that Bon Appetit is constantly working on options for all students and also focusing on making sure that the food tastes good at the end of the day. “The chefs are just very cognizant about keeping flavors simple,” Landau said. “We have really good chefs; some of them have been chefs for 15 years.”
A. Mills College B. Mariposa Baking What: a 100% gluten-free bakery selling goods including bagels, pizza crusts and cinnamon rolls Where: 5427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland Contact: (510) 595-0955 or www.mariposabaking.com C. Good Chemistry Baking What: a 100% gluten-free bakery selling products including baguettes, biscuits and cookies Where: 3249 Grand Ave., Oakland Contact: (510) 350-7190 or www.goodchemistrybaking.com D. MLK Café What: an Ethiopian/American restaurant that offers gluten-free pizza Where: 3860 MLK Jr .Way, Oakland Contact: (510) 450-0600 E. Pizza Rustica What: an Italian café that offers gluten-free pizza
Where: 5422 College Ave., Oakland Contact: (510) 654-1601 or www.caferustica.com F. Fine Feather Café What: a vegan bakery that offers gluten-free options including cakes, macaroons and scones Where: 1080 Stanford Ave., Emeryville Contact: (928) 499-7295 or www.finefeathercafe.com G. Sfoof’s Woofle Café What: a casual café that serves gluten-free waffles and Panini Where: 2554 Bancroft Ave., Berkeley Contact: (510) 548-0118 H. Saturn Café What: a vegetarian café that offers a gluten-free menu including nachos and quesadillas Where: 2175 Allston Way, Berkeley Contact: (510) 845-8505 or www.saturncafe.com
Check out these gluten-free options in the East Bay
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