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VOLUME 96 ISSUE 8
Tuesday | Nov. 23, 2010
ASMC discusses making Mills a smoke-free environment Bonnie Horgos SPORTS AND HEALTH EDITOR
LAUREN-MARIE SLITER
Lisa Gray posese for the camera after using the new ATM located just outside the Tea Shop doors.
Students cash in on new ATM: lower fees, convenient location Heather McDaniel CHIEF NEWS EDITOR A new ATM was installed outside of the Tea Shop last week. Problems with the cost and location of the old ATM, which was located in a Rothwell hallway, led the college to purchase a new machine. “The ATM costs $18,000 a year and in the past year the ATM was used less than 500 times,” Jasmine Abele, Associated Students of Mills College historian, said about the old ATM in Rothwell, which has now been removed. Abele explained that high user fees and an inconvenient location across from the Parenting Lounge inside Rothwell prevented the old machine from being used more frequently. “The reason why students don't currently use the ATM is because of the fee,” Abele said. “And some people are unaware that we have
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an ATM, because of where it is located.” According to Abele, the old ATM, which was owned by Bank of the West, charged users upwards of $4, depending on which bank that person used. The new machine, which is not affiliated with any bank, is expected to help cut costs for both Mills College and ATM users. “The user charge will only be $1 per transaction plus whatever the person's own bank charges, which is much better than the current machine,” said Interim Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Jamie Nickel in an email. “This new arrangement will save the college the $18,000 a year we've been paying.” ASMC’s decision to install a new ATM followed a discussion sparked by a student's letter that asked the ASMC why there wasn’t an ATM from a more popular bank available on campus.
“I have had multiple conversations with the finance department at Mills (and) have asked ASMC for input and had a meeting with the student services department and the finance department together to go over options for the ATM,” said Amelia Lopez, ASMC President. Lopez also explained that a non-bank affiliated ATM was chosen to keep costs low for everyone. “We asked for the lowest fee to all students rather than a bank that charges nothing to its own users but a high fee to everyone else,” Lopez said. Many members of the Mills community are glad for the lowered fee and the central location of the new machine. “Now that I see this one that’s $2 cheaper, I'm quite pleased,” said Lisa Gray, a former graduate student who now works for the Institute of Civic Leadership. “It’s definitely more convenient.”
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Someday it may be lights out for Mills College smokers. The Associated Students of Mills College briefly discussed the possibility of making Mills College a smoke-free campus in their weekly meeting on Monday, Nov. 8. ASMC’s advisor Courtney Young-Law brought the topic up after a number of other Bay Area universities, including San Francisco State, became cigarettefree. Young-Law emphasized that ASMC would have to seek significant student input before making Mills completely smoke-free. “I brought this to ASMC as a potential course for the college, and if it moves forward, there will be many other opportunities for students to give their input,” Young-Law said. It would likely take a few years before cigarette smoking was completely banned from campus. The meeting’s attendants, which included senators and historians for all class levels, noted at the meeting that students have been voicing various concerns about smoking on campus. According to Young-Law, students have complained that people are lighting up too close to buildings and nonsmokers are getting irritated with smoke. Still, ASMC members agreed that there would be a great deal of student “backlash” if Mills were to take the plunge to ban cigarette use entirely from the campus. “I am unsure if Mills will become a smoke free campus,” said Amelia Lopez, ASMC president. “I can see that making Mills smoke-free would be difficult.” ASMC discussed possible compromises including the idea of Mills as a smoke-zone campus. This model would more strictly enforce the current rule that students must be at least 30 feet from a building before lighting up. ASMC also discussed created covered smoking areas with seating, to
make designated smoking areas more noticable and to limit non-smoker’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Still, Mills’ 30-feet rule is a relatively lenient constraint compared to other Bay Area schools. Stanford University requires students to be at least 100 feet away from a building before smoking and San Francisco State became smoke-free in 2009. Young-Law said that Mills is keeping these recent changes in mind, making sure that Mills’ policies stay current with local institutions. Furthermore, Young-Law said health risks of inhaling secondhand smoke would affect Mills’ decision on whether to become a smoke-free campus. “I emphasized that this was not going to happen without significant community input, but that it was something to consider, given that other Bay Area universities had moved in this direction and given what we know about the harmful effects of smoking,” Young-Law said. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, secondhand smoke is labeled as a “known human carcinogen,” or a substance known to cause cancer. Secondhand smoke can also lead to various health problems for people who interact with smokers, including respiratory and circulation problems. Even amongst ASMC members, however, the option of Mills potentially becoming smoke-free is debated. Terrilynn Cantlon, Prospect Hill Apartment senator, is a regular smoker and unsure about the possible change. “That’s really a tough one being that I'm a smoker,” the English major said. “Obviously some people aren't too happy about it.” Cantlon said that although Mills may some day crack down and enforce a strict no-smoking policy, smokers will not completely embrace the change. “I think that even if Mills goes non-smoking, people are going to smoke,” Cantlon said.
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News
Nov. 23, 2010
Crafters sell handmade gifts for the holidays Ellen Newton COPY EDITOR Curious shoppers, student vendors, alumnae crafters and local artisans convened on Thursday, Nov. 18 on Adam's Plaza for the annual Mills College Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair, sponsored by the Staff Advisory Committee. The crafts available for sale included knit scarves, jewelry, screen-printed tote bags, original paintings and baked pastries. Adrienne Suzio, a second-year Mills student majoring in studio arts, created wallets out of colorful tarot cards, which she sold for $2 each. Suzio also made gloves embroidered with sparkling blue beads and notebook covers collaged with texts from “Stranger in a Strange Land”, a book Suzio did not especially like. “I draw my inspiration from my materials,” Suzio said. “I have always been a very crafty person.” Mills alumna Laura Wasserman offered block-printed holiday cards. One card read “2011” next to silhouettes of champagne glasses, and another card showed Christmas trees reaching up to a waning moon. Copies of Wassermen’s zine, BiFocal, were also available. All of her work, Wasserman explained, was produced by Broken Bottle Press, an independent press she formed two years ago with a couple of friends. “I’m a writer, and I do this in my spare time,” Wasserman said of her book and print hobby, an interest that began when she was earning an M.A. in creative writing at Mills. “I took some book arts classes for fun. I worked with Julie Chen in the book arts department, and was a T.A. in my second year,” Wasserman explained. “These cards are block-printed images, made from linoblocks.” A few tables down, the Psychology Club was busy raising money selling its special “brain cupcakes,” chocolate cupcakes topped with pink frosting in the shape of frontal lobes. “We felt like brain cupcakes were a good way to stimulate the cognitive processes of Mills students, and increase endorphins,” said the club's president, Laura Samuellson. The Mills College Earth Corps club sold $15 tote bags screenprinted in red, blue and green, that read “Mills Earth Corps,” along
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with pictures of trees and rivers. “We’re constantly making silk screened tote bags year-round,” Earth Corps member Melinda Felix said. “All you have to do is come to the Sustainability Center to buy one.” Some students sold original art pieces, including Serena Wendsel, whose colorful paintings and sketches shared a table with Serena's cousin, Meredith Wendsel. Meredith sold homemade jewelry, including “goddess rosaries,” made with crystal beads that featured small metal icons of goddess figures. Like many of the vendors, Serena Wendsel sells on Etsy.com as well as in person. “Selling in person is easier, because you get a better sense of what people like,” Serena Wendsel said. “I use Etsy and DeviantArt as methods of getting my work out there.” One table was covered in colorfully textured shoulder bags and purses from Oaxaca, Mexico. The bags were produced by the Collectivo Rahuna Artesanas, a group of craftswomen in a small village outside of the city of Oaxaca in southern-central Mexico. The bags are shipped to California, where they’re sold to support the community’s interest in preserving their craft traditions, said vendor Angelica Rodriguez. One crafter, Maggie Hurley, had an edge to her hand-sewn owl dolls, a group of whom peered out from a wooden basket with bright, wide eyes. Hurley buys all of her materials from Out of the Closet, a vintage clothing chain whose proceeds go to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which provides free HIV testing, patient advocacy and medicine to HIV-positive patients, according to their website. “I fill the owls with bamboo fiber, a more sustainable alternative to other fillers,” Hurley said. One student, Sarah Scheibe, said she was surprised to find the plaza converted into a craft fair, and hadn't noticed the fliers around campus advertising it. “I came with my friend to get chocolate from the Spanish club,” Scheibe said. “I only saw a sign for it this morning, as it was being set-up.” Judging by the crowds surveying the tables, this year's fair was a dynamic success — by the end of the day, Suzio had sold out of her collaged notebooks, putting a novel she didn't like much to good use.
CAMPANIL
Tara Nelson Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone 510.430.3176 fax
ALL PHOTOS BY ELLEN NEWTON
Top: Shoppers peruse the various arts and crafts for sale at Mills College’s annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. Middle: Adrienne Suzio’s collaged notebooks are made from cut-outs of text from a book she did not enjoy. Bottom: Maggie Hurley’s hand-made owl dolls give passersby wide-eyed looks.
Chief News Editor Heather McDaniel
Design Editor Nicole Vermeer
Breaking News Editor Lauren Sliter
Asst. Design Editor Christina Macias
Opinions Editor Lauren Soldano
Webmaster Yun Miao
Features Editor Stephanie Scerra
Copy Editor Ellen Newton
Sports Editor Bonnie Horgos
Calendar Editor Vanessa Soto
Online Editor Melodie Miu
Staff Writers Lindsey Bozym, Shelby Gibbs, Loren Sanchez
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News
Nov. 23, 2010
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New Mills initiative seeks to build lasting community among students Loren Sanchez STAFF WRITER There’s a new movement at Mills created by Dr. Joi Lewis and it all started with the slogan: “I Hella Love Mills.” On Nov. 16, Mills students and faculty attended the Belonging Initiative info session to learn new ways to connect to the movement, which aims to increase the retention rate at Mills by creating alliances among students within the Mills community. “It started with the DSL Narrative Project two years ago,” Lewis explained. The project consisted of spoken word and writing workshops, and conducted a student survey. The project, initiated by the Division of Student Life, used the survey data to find out the student retention rate and how to improve it. According to the most recent Western Association of Schools and Colleges report, the Mills College student retention rate over a three-year period averages 72 percent.
“The Narrative Project took quantitative and qualitative data (to) see what (made) students feel like they truly belonged or didn’t,” said Dr. Joi. At the Nov. 16 meeting, Dr. Joi asked staff and students to introduce themselves and say what made them feel like they belonged at Mills. Students and staff mentioned several Mills programs and activities, such as the Mills crew team, the Black Women’s Collective and the Women of Color Resource Center, that had contributed to their sense of belonging. Dr. Joi explained one of the key goals of the Belonging Initiative was to connect the diverse student population and create unlikely alliances among students, such as undergraduates and graduates or residential students and commuters. “It’s really about being a movement,” said Dr. Joi. Carla Gonzalez, a senior and a Belonging Initiative member, explained, “We all come from various communities. All of us want to have each others' backs.”
NATALIE DIAZ
Left: Dr. Joi Lewis sits and listens to staff and students discuss what makes them feel like they belong at Mills at a Nov. 18 retreat. Right: Nicole Talaugon, Junior (Left) and Alejandra Iraheta, Senior (Right) enjoy a meal with the rest of the Belonging Initiative members at their Nov. 18 retreat.
Come be a part of the Campanil Stop by Rothwell room 157 Next spring on Monday nights at 6 p.m. to pick up stories and share ideas! All majors wanted, no experience needed. e-mail Tara Nelson: eic@thecampanil.com for more information Interested in learning more about reporting? Make sure to register for Journalism II for the 2011 Spring Semester. Correction: In our Nov. 16 issue, we incorrectly identified the acronym for the Queer/Trans Headquarters as QTHC instead of QTHQ.
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Events & Information
Nov. 23 - Nov. 28, 2010
NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 6 24
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Wednesday
Tuesday
Cavalia What: A multi-media performance by a founder of Cirque du Soleil When: 8:00 p.m. Where: Under The Big White Top next to AT&T
Classes end at 2:30 p.m.
28 Sunday
Holidays at Westfield SF What: Meet Santa and decorate gingerbread cookies! When: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Where: 865 Market St., SF Contact: 415-512-6776
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Thursday
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Friday
Saturday
Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios When: 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Where: Assorted locations, maps available at berkeleyartisans.com Cost: Free
No Classes!
Happy Thanksgiving! No Classes
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PLEA Focus Group What: PLEA majors meet to discuss the program When: 7:00 p.m. Where: GSB 109 Contact: aredemeer@mills.edu
Holiday Tree Lighting and Live Music When: 4:30 p.m. Where:555 California St., SF Cost: Free
Exploratorium Free Day What: Enjoy free admission to the museum! When: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: 3601 Lyon St., San Francisco
Berkeley Art Museum Free Day When: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: 2626 Bancroft Way Contact: 510-642-0808
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For more events, check out www.thecampanil.com If you have events for the calendar, email soto@thecampanil.com
Monday
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SF Swing Dance Festival: Norma Miller’s Birthday! When: 7 p.m. Where: 750 Kearny St., SF Cost: $50 dance pass
The Dodos When: 9 p.m. Where: The New Parish, Oakland Cost: $15- $18
Friday
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Saturday
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Tuesday
Monday
Sunday
Small Press Distribution: Open House, Book Sale and Scavenger Hunt When: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Where: 1341 7th St., Berkeley Cost:Free
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Wednesday
Instruction Ends Last Day of Class
Thursday
WINTER BREAK EVENTS Dashboard Confessional Swiss Army Romance 10 Year Anniversary Tour Cost: $32 When: November 17 - January 22 Where: Various locations across the U.S. Contact: www.dashboardconfessional.com
Zoolights What: Zoolights meadow show by Impact Lighting When: December 3 - January 2; closed December 24 & 25 Where: Oakland Zoo Cost: $7.50 adults, $5.50 children & seniors Contact: (510) 632-9525
The Dandy Warhols Tour Cost: $23 When: December 3 - December 12 Where: Various locations across the U.S. Contact: www.dandywarhols.com
DeYoung Museum Exhibits Ending in January What: Pat Steir: After Hokusai, After Hiroshige ends January 30; To Dye For: A World Saturated in Color ends January 9; PostImpressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay ends January 18 Where: DeYoung Museum, SF Contact: deyoung.famsf.org
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Weezer Tour Cost: $27.50 - $116.50 When: November 29 - January 8 Where: Various locations across the U.S. Contact: www.weezer.com
Wild Jam: Drake Cost: $28.75- $170.70 When: 7:30 p.m. Where: HP Pavillion at San Jose, CA Contact: www.drizzydrake.org
Shrek the Musical Cost: $30 - $99 When: December 1 - January 2 Where: Orpheum Theater, SF Contact: shnsf.com
West Side Story Cost: $25- $90 When: November 30 - January 2 Where: The Pantages Theater, Los Angeles CA Contact: www.broadwayla.org
Arts & Features
Nov. 23, 2010
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Utah Professor and new Mills club cultivate love of math through doodles
Nicole Vermeer DESIGN EDITOR "This is such good attendance for a Friday at four. Do they know this is a math talk?" asked Dr. Robert Easton, a mathematics professor at the University of Utah, as a group of fifty college students laughed and joked among themselves. The group was not there for a concert, a party or a dance. They had gathered in the Natural Sciences building that afternoon for math - "The Mathematics of Doodling," as the lecture was titled. Easton's lecture was intended to attract more than just math minds, which is why the Mills College Möbius Band invited the professor to speak. Möbius Band is one of the
college's newest clubs, and is already a chapter of the Mathematics Association of Women in Math. Through events with speakers like Easton, the group hopes to help others see some of the appeal and benefits of math. "Math teaches you how to do things. It helps you learn to think," said Emily Meike, the Mobius Band president. Yet the club's main focus is to show that math can be just as enjoyable as it is practical. "Math is beautiful and creative, and people don't usually think about that," said Maia Averett, Möbius Band's Mills faculty advisor and a professor of mathematics. "We want to spread the beauty of math."
One of the chief ways Mobius Bands hopes to spread mathematical affection and concern at Mills is by exposing students to the math they don't get to see in the classroom. “My goal as president is to introduce people to other kinds of math," Meike said. "Calculus is not even scratching the surface of what math is." Club members decided to invite Easton to speak on doodling because people rarely see it as a form of math. "Everyone likes to doodle, and people do it without thinking,” Meike said. Easton played to the fact that doodling comes naturally to most by making his talk just as accessible and interactive as drawing in
the margins of a notebook. Easton gave each student a packet with pages of prompts for doodles. The students were then shown how to mathematically derive the area and perimeter of a seemingly random doodle. “I randomly observe something, string it together and create something sweet," Easton said of his doodling process. Averett hopes that, after seeing similarities, students will approach other forms of math with the same confidence and interest. "There is a critical mass for math at Mills. People are starting to realize that it can be fun and creative," Averett said. "Math is on the rise." Averett's vision may already be coming true.
"I have never seen a group this enthusiastic," Easton said at the end of his presentation, along with some last words of advice - "Let your curiosity draw you in."
For More Information... For more information on Dr. Robert Easton and his research, visit his webiste at http://www.robertweaston.com. To participate in Möbius Bands’ activities and growth, go to weekly meeting on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in one of the lecture halls in the Natural Sciences Building. For more information on Mobius Bands, you may visit its Facebook group, Mills College Student Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics.
Top: Dr. Robert Easton, an assistant professor at University of Utah, explains how doodling can be mathematical. Bottom: Mills students pay close attention to Easton.
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Arts & Features
Nov. 23, 2010
How to Spice Up Your Holiday Cooking Step 1: Get excited about food Anna Corson CONTRIBUTING WRITER Everyone is doing it, and it isn’t sex. Food porn is taking over the bookmark bar on computers as thousands of people around the world sit in front of LCD screens and salivate over pictures of delicious food. “Everybody has to eat. And most people love food,” said Amanda Simpson, creator of FoodPornDaily and author of the FoodPornDaily cookbook. FoodPornDaily features vivid micro-style pictures of food, photographed in immaculate lighting
with sharp attention to details tohat tantalize the site’s voyeurs. Photos of fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls; buttery, cheesy pasta; and succulent, herb-roasted chicken beckon viewers to “click, drool, repeat,” as the website suggests. “It’s basically putting whatever submissions I get up to my own photos and trying to find the best food porn for the day,” Simpson said about choosing the site’s images. “If I’m drooling, it’s good.” FoodPornDaily allows people to drool however they want, whether by clicking images in random or sequential order or by browsing the website’s extensive
Step 2: Learn how to cook
Stephanie Scerra FEATURES EDITOR With shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Top Chef taking over television and computer screens, it’s difficult not to pick up a spatula and join the cooking craze. But with a heavy courseload at the top of students’ priority lists, finding the time and the money to learn how to cook can seem like an impossible task. In an effort to help those anxious to saute
MORGAN ROSS
their way to the top of the culinary arts, Mills College dining provider Bon Appetit plans to give the campus community an early holiday present: a cooking class. "The cooking class was Jason’s idea to give back to the community because everyone was asking about the current programs that we have," said Raul Garcia, Executive Sous Chef. "The students are asking more questions about techniques and products that they see up here
Step 3: Cook dinner yourself Stephanie Scerra FEATURES EDITOR Try making holiday dishes at home. Executive Sous Chef Raul Garcia and Tea Shop Cook Anthony Bowman offer recipes to make your tastebuds tingle, while Catering Director Leslie Panion suggests tips on how to make your table look as good as your meal.
Raul’s Thanksgiving Turkey 1 turkey (20 lbs) 3 tbsp salt 1 tbsp thyme 1/2 tsp white pepper 1/2 tsp rosemary 1 tbsp paprika 1 tbsp sage 4 whole garlic cloves 1/2 lb flour (for gravy) 1 cup chardonnay (for gravy) 3 bay leaf (for gravy) black pepper and salt (for gravy) butter or margerine (for both)
1. Lightly rub surface of turkey with butter/margerine and spices. 2. Score skin with knife and insert whole garlic cloves. 3. Roast turkey (breast side down) for 4 hours in an oven heated at 325 degrees. 4. Turn over and let roast for 2 more hours. Internal temperature must reach 165 degrees. 5. Gravy: Melt 1/2 lb butter in a pot. Add 1/2 lb flour and mix. Cook on low heat for 5-10 minutes until smooth. Slowly add leftover turkey juices until you get a smooth consistancy and desired thickness. Add rest of ingredients. Strain.
Raul’s Holiday Stuffing 1 cup celery 1 cup onions diced bread, toasted butter or margerine olive oil thyme
COURTESY OF FOODPORNDAILY.COM
gallery. At least one new photograph gets posted each day, which allows foodies from around the world to partake in a new experience that blends their visual and olfactory senses. “I consider myself a food pornographer,” Simpson said, “because humans experience the
same physical effects from food as they do from sexual pleasure. We salivate, our heart rate rises, we get turned on by food.” Simpson hopes to spread her passion for food to others through her website. “If I’m in the kitchen just cooking for the rest of my life, I’ll be
happy. Nothing else matters,” Simpson said.
at Founders or down at the Tea Shop. They want to know how they can bring these recipes to their tables at home." With a cooking class comprised of only 20 people, Bon Appetit hopes to make preparing chefinspired meals almost as easy as walking into Founders Commons. "We want to make it as intimate as possible to make it as interactive as possible," said General Manager Jason Landau. "Everyone is making part of a meal." Jaime Dominguez, Executive Chef, and Garcia - both of whom have over 20 years of experience will be teaching the class. "It's a hands-on class," said Leslie Panion, Director of Catering and Conference Services. "People will be helping prepare the meal chopping stuff, seasoning stuff, cooking stuff - so they'll either go up and assist the chef when he calls on people or they'll be getting things ready at their own stations." Those who attend the class who want to get more involved and show particular skill may be invited to participate in Bon Appetit
exhibitions, such as the pasta bar and the omelet bar, at events - just as students already cater for Bon Appetit. "We're looking forward to...getting them out there so they can feel like they're a big part of our Bon Appetit family," Garcia said. Nevertheless, the class's focus will not be to recruit students. Rather, by teaching all of the steps, both the preparation and the cooking, Garcia hopes "to boost [students'] morale about being able to do something that looks difficult and challenging." "There isn’t going to be a final," Garcia laughed. "It’s coming to a class, getting involved, having fun, getting educated and getting others just as enthused about it." For Panion, building a community around food is part of a Bon Appetit employee's job description. "One of the big things that Bon Appetit is all about is how food can bring people together," Panion said. "It's a way for people to come together, break bread, socialize." Landau finds community-outreach equally important.
"For us, it's not about making money because we won't be making any anyway," Landau said of the class. "We just want to cover the expense and just have fun." If November's cooking class receives positive feedback, Bon Appetit hopes to have more classes in the future. "Hopefully we can do one every semester," Panion said. "Maybe next semester we'll do a Valentine's Day one so you can go cook a meal for your loved one." The holiday cooking class is on Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge. The class has only 20 spots and prior registration is required, so if you are interested in participating, call Leslie Panion at ext. 2062. More Bon Appetit events coming up during the academic year include gingerbread house-making in December, Mother's Day brunch and Easter brunch.
1. Lightly saute celery and onions with olive oil and butter. 2. Add thyme and bread. You may also add hazelnuts and cranberries, if desired. 3. Place in buttered pan. Brown in 350 degree oven (20 minutes).
Anthony’s Sweet Potato Pie
Raul’s Cinnamon Yams
1. Cut up yams. 2. Place yams in water. Wait until they get tender. 3. Add seasonings: nutmeg, sugar, butter, evaporated milk and vanilla. Taste and add flavor as needed. 4. Fill pie shells 3/4 of the way high. 5. Place pies in 375 degree oven for 35-45 minutes.
flower at the one of the three corners for a particularly elegant look. Tip #2: A cheese board - with cheeses, dried fruits, breads and nuts - can serve as both a lovely centerpiece and a decadent dessert guests will love. Chef Jaime Dominguez will be teaching the cooking class how to make one.
5-6 lbs yams 1/2 lb butter 2 cups brown sugar 1 tbsp salt 1/2 tbsp cinnamon 2 cups marshmallows
1. Peel yams and quarter yams. 2. Boil yams until tender. (Usually takes about 45 minutes.) Then strain. 3. Place boiled yams into pan and sprinkle or spread ingredients on top. 4. Put yams in the oven at 350 degrees. 5. Pull out when marshmallows are golden brown. (Usually takes about 15 minutes.)
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3-5 lbs yams 2-3 tbsps nutmeg 1-2 cans evaporated milk 2 1/2 cups sugar 2 lbs butter 2-4 Pet-Ritz pie crusts 2-3 tbsps vanilla
Leslie’s Decorating Tips Tip #1: Use candles of different heights - a few short, medium and large - to create dimension. Surround the base of each candle with colored rocks in the form of a triangle. Then place a seasonal
To get your dose of food porn for the day, visit http://foodporndaily.com where you can also find out when Simpson is coming to a city near you during her tour for the FoodPornDaily cookbook.
For more information, visit Bon Appetit’s website on Mills.edu at http://www.mills.edu/student_services/dining/index.php.
COURTESY OF RAUL GARCIA
Top: FoodPornDaily.com puts up a new photo of mouthwatering food every day. Middle: Chef Jaime Dominguez (left) will be one of the chefs teaching the cooking class. Bottom: Raul’s Thanksgiving Turkey.
Arts & Features
Nov. 23, 2010
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Holiday Shopping on a Budget Where to go to save time and money COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
Tara Nelson and Lauren Sliter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND BREAKING NEWS EDITOR
Laurel Bookstore The Laurel Bookstore has been a staple of the area for 9 years and carries an eclectic selection of books . Store owner Luan Stauss said children's books and cookbooks are especially popular this time of year. The store is giving Mills students a 10% discount through the end of the 2010-2011 school year, and if that isn't enough
Tis’ the season for shopping and, for Mills students hoping to avoid the last-minute, holiday-gift giving grind, saving time and money. The Laurel Shopping District, located between the wrought iron arches of 35th and High Street, offers several convenient holiday go-to gift hotspots sure to help you wrap up your friends' and families' wish lists - and maybe even your own. The best part? Many stores give discounts to Mills students. Here are three of our picks for the holiday season.
incentive, the bookstore hosts fundraisers for local schools and readings for creative writing classes at Mills. Store hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 4100 MacArthur Blvd.
TARA NELSON
Cookbooks and children’s books are popular gifts for the season.
Monique’s Clozet! Monique's Clozet! is a boutique that sells both new and gently used ladies fashions. Whether you're looking for last season's Gucci kitten heel or a cheetah-print L.A.M.B. handbag, this store has it all. “There's something for everyone,” said Myrtle Henderson, mother of the owner. The shop boasts a decent collection of plus size clothing and jewelry, T’s and sweet-smelling candles created especially for the store by several local East Bay designers. Be sure to stop by the
day after Thanksgiving for their instore fashion show and mixer for even more deals and a chance to win a $5 gift card. And if you're looking to make a little extra Christmas cash, the store purchases gently used clothing. Prices for new and used clothing range from $15-50 with some high-end brands running at about $75-90. Store hours: Wednesday Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 4140 MacArthur Blvd.
TARA NELSON
Racks of chic clothing and handbags, both new and used, line the purple walls of Monique’s Clozet!
Laurel 99 Low on funds or gift wrap? Head over to Laurel 99, a store stocked with all sorts of items, including toys, scarfs, Obama wristwatches, key chains, stickers, binoculars, earrings, hats, holiday plates and mugs - not to mention an extensive assortment of gift wrap for all seasons. We couldn't find anything over $20 when we were there, so we're pretty sure you can go nuts without going broke.
TARA NELSON
Laurel 99 sells wrapping paper for every season and occassion.
Store hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 3731 Mac Arthur Blvd.
TARA NELSON
A wall of toys is on display at Laurel 99, most for under a dollar. Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
8
Nov. 23, 2010
Opinions & Editorial STAFF EDITORIAL
Death of Derrick Jones Raises Questions about Oakland’s Police Forces On Nov. 8, Oakland police shot and killed Derrick Jones – the third unarmed person of color to be shot and killed in an Oakland police shooting in 2010. In the wake of the controversial Mehserle verdict, Jones’ killing may suggest a pattern of negligence on behalf of the Oakland police force’s use of firearms. Campanil editors are divided in their opinions about the behavior of Oakland police: some are convinced that Oakland police are out of control while others emphasized the violent streets and potential danger that these officers are asked to navigate every day. There is a consensus amongst the staff about the need for police accountability, though we do have different visions of what that accountability might look like. Many of us believe there should be stiffer punishments for those who have been given higher authority, such as police officers. Someone who has been given the
right to carry a loaded weapon in public should be held accountable for misusing it. Police officers should be held to the higher standards of the law if they are asked to enforce it on regular citizens. These staff members feel if police were held to stricter standards their authority would be more warranted. These staff members believe police officers and others in positions of authority should receive harsher sentencing than the average citizen because they are entrusted with our protection. Others envision accountability being created with watch groups to organize and publish their observations of Oakland police forces. A few watch groups already exist, such as Copwatch, a network of activist organizations throughout the United States and Canada which observes and documents police activity while looking for signs of misconduct or otherwise unreported brutality. Increased
Copwatch-style surveillance, some of us feel, is the kind of citizen surveillance that can prevent further violence. Ultimately, serious changes need to happen – such as a huge increase in training for Oakland’s cops. This training could emphasize how to handle suspects who don’t respond to officer’s commands without firing a gun. Advocates for reform feel that another possible improvement might be a new design for the Taser holster – this would make the difference between the gun and the Taser more obvious for police reaching for a weapon during a stressful situation (such as described by Johannes Mehserle during his trial for the shooting of Oscar Grant), when mostly muscle memory is in action. This faction feels that the Oscar Grant case and the cases that have followed, including that of Jones, show that the OPD and BART police have broken
the people's trust and that shooting without warrant is can no longer remain acceptable or unquestioned. However, other staff members feel that the “cop-bashing” is getting old. This segment does feel it is important that officers are held accountable, especially when unarmed suspects are killed, but think that police officers aren’t necessarily out to “get” anyone. Oakland is generally considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the US and officers working here are in daily contact with the most violent aspects of our city. These staff members feel that the actions of a few police offers don’t necessarily reflect the conduct of the entire police force. As far as individual officers, several members feel that the culprit behind these misfires cannot be placed on a single person, but rather are the fault of a racist criminal justice system and an everexpanding prison industrial com-
plex which disproportionately incarcerates people of color, as well as trans and queer people. These staff members feel it is worth considering that part of what makes these shootings possible may be the way young black males are portrayed in the media – usually as agents of violence, eternal criminals, prematurely labeled as “up to no good.” There are gangs and there is violence in Oakland. But the image of Oakland as “more dangerous” relies partially on creating and maintaining the racist image of the black male as always on the verge on some kind of “criminal” behavior. We all agree that the actual cause of the problem needs to be determined before a solution can be put in place. We also agree that the solution has definitely not been found yet, as reports of negligent gun-use continue. Most importantly, all staff members believe every Oaklander should be protected equally under law and by police.
O PEN F ORUM Cancellation of KPFA’s “Morning Show” will mean less diverse voices included in media Tami Etziony CONTRIBUTING WRITER Most mornings, especially while driving to school, I listen to the radio station KPFA for local and international news coverage. KPFA is more than a radio station – it’s an education. It is a community radio station established after World War II by the famous Berkeley pacifist, Lew Hill. The station is a part of the Pacifica network, a media network which reports all over the world and includes programs such as Democracy Now! As a progressive, I feel my opinions are represented in KPFA’s coverage better than anywhere else on the dial, including NPR. Unfortunately there are political wars happening at the station between different segments of the staff and this programming is in danger of being lost. On Nov. 9, I was among thousands of KPFA listeners listening to “Morning Show” staff getting laid off on live radio. This is only the latest turn of events at KPFA. The station has had an ongoing internal dispute stretching back to the middle of the 1990’s. Back then, the management tried to eliminate several shows produced by local volunteer staff. This dispute was, at its core, about the type of
programming the station carried and how much influence the unpaid staff had on the station board. The unpaid volunteer staff used to belong to the employees’ union, but the paid staff voted to join a different union, disempowering the volunteers of their union sway. “The Morning Show” staff were all paid employees. According to KPFA managemennt, they were laid off due to budget cuts. The station operates off of listener pledges. A few times a year the station asks its listeners to contribute donations. KPFA does not accept corporate sponsorships. In the past, the station ran on a mostly volunteer staff. In recent years, full time paid staff doubled. During that time, KPFA’s subscribers have decreased by 20 percent.
“As a progressive, I feel my opinions are represented in KPFA’s coverage better than anywhere else on the dial, including NPR.” The staff of “The Morning Show” pointed out that their show raised the highest amounts during the fund drives. Therefore, eliminating the show was defeating the purpose of financial solvency. The show’s staff asked the station manager Arlene Englehardt to state her salary, which she declined to do. The laid-off staff filed an unfair
labor practice charge against the station on Friday, Nov. 5. The union staff had offered the management a cost saving plan that would have eased the financial concerns, but this plan was rejected by management as too minor to sufficiently address the budget problems. In the mid 1990’s, in response to the station management’s attempts at cutting programming, a group of unpaid staff, listeners and activists organized a group called ‘Save KPFA’ to counter the managements actions. In the current dispute, a new ‘Save KPFA’ group has formed. The agenda of this group is very different than the group from 15 years earlier, and many listeners feel that the new group’s intentions are to make the station more mainstream. Voices such as Mumia Abu Jamal, death row inmate and progressive African American writer, would not be heard at all if not for KPFA. oday the station has evolved to represent its local listeners’ perspectives. KPFA’s audience can join the decision making process by donating at least $25.00 a year and becoming a member. This station has struggled to air voices from all corners of the world. These alternative voices are the essence of KPFA. Let's not lose these voices! As a long time listener of “The Morning Show” and an advocate for the inclusion of diverse perspectives, I urge you to make this donation and ensure that alternative media continues to thrive.
Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JADE SOLOMON
8
Opinions & Editorial
Nov. 23, 2010
Question of The Week
Will you be a part of the shopping stampede on Black Friday? “No. I try to avoid going outside that day.” — Carson Whitley, second-year graduate student
“I’ll probably be asleep or eating Thanksgiving leftovers. Screw that.” — Melanie Weston, junior
“No, we prefer to live.” —Kiaonno Bradley and Elena Ruiz, sophomores
“No. I think Black Friday is offensive.There are racial implications in calling the day when everything is cheapest ‘Black.’ Also, the Emeryville shopping center, which is where most people from around here will probably go, is built on Native remains – the Shellmound burial site.
Founders Flounders: Does the dining hall’s schedule encourage unhealthy eating patterns? Jacqueline Elliot CONTRIBUTING WRITER There is a serious problem when I wake up early on weekend mornings and have to wait two or more hours in order to start my day. Not being able to roll out of my warm bed and sleepily traipse up the labyrinth of stairs in Ege Hall, I find myself distracted by hunger. This delayed breakfast has forced me into a ritual of sleeping-in unnecessarily, consequently delaying imperative to-dos such as homework and laundry – a damaging blow to my ideal weekend schedule. Bon Appetit-run Founders Commons is the culprit responsible for my weekend delay, and must be held accountable. To write this article is to risk the possibility of a rant, but I must forego the niceties and rant anyway! During the days that the majority of the student population has classes (Monday through Thursday) Founders is open three times a day, with no designated snack times. For breakfast, the doors open promptly at 7:30am and close at 9:00am; lunch is from 11:30am until 1:30pm; and dinner is from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. On Fridays, the only deviance from this schedule is that they close at 7:00pm for dinner instead of 7:30pm, which is another inconvenience. As the author has discovered the hard way recently, do not expect to swipe your meal card at 7:29pm on a Thursday night and expect to have the same access to meals as others may have had who were able to come to Founders earlier than yourself. By the time the clock strikes 7:30pm, all food is cleared. To top it all off, on Saturdays and Sundays there are two meal periods. Yes, you heard me correctly. Two. Brunch begins at 10:30am and ends at 1:00pm, while dinner commences at 5:00pm, ending at
7:oopm on Saturdays and 7:30pm on Sundays. I don't know about all of you out there, but I get hungry when I wake up, which can be fairly early sometimes, and as for those of us who have the commitment to get up early on Saturday mornings for sports teams, there is no reprieve of their hunger until brunch! For shame, Founders . . for shame. Is the logic behind Founder's schedule the result of deciding that a predominantly female population must not be hungry very often? Last time I checked, I attended an all-women’s college that claims to promote empowerment of the female mind and body. How empowering is it to provide an inadequate number of meals on some days of the week, as if the residents who are not fortunate enough to come from homes within driving distance do not deserve three meals a day? This is asking for unhealthy eating habits on the parts of students who rely on Founders as their primary source of sustenance. Individuals struggling with eating disorders must find this more than challenging to their recovery, if not flat-out enabling a pre-existing eating disorder to flourish. I, myself struggle with an eating disorder, along with many of my friends here at Mills. I do not find the schedule at all helpful in overcoming my disorder. I would assume this error in judgment has risen from funding issues – which, frankly, bothers me since I pay thousands of dollars a year to eat at this facility. While we're at it, why not pose yet another question in regards to an unfortunate aspect of Founders dining schedules and policies. Why is it that I am not able to have access to Founders between meals to grab a piece of fruit or a glass of water in order to keep my blood sugar up so that I avoid binge eating at meal times? On Bon Appetit’s own website, they suggest that I eat at least a small meal or healthy snack every 3-5 hours. Well, how am I supposed to do this
if I do not have sufficient access to my primary food source? Finding a solution to these pressing issues will benefit both parties involved – both Bon Appetit and students. It will provide a nonhostile, nourishing environment in which students will be given an opportunity to construct healthier eating habits. Bon Appetit does advertise and offer healthy dining options (vegan/vegetarian, organic, local, etc.), but are these wonderful things really enough to create a truly healthy eating environment? For those students who may struggle with eating disorders, this lack of consideration for their needs may create another hurdle for those individuals. It also may affect the eating patterns of one who does not have an eating disorder, but who might struggle with a weight or diet-related health issue. It is well known that having at least three balanced meals a day does help support a healthier lifestyle. In return for truly catering to an even broader portion of the Mills populous, Bon Appetit wouldn’t have to fret so much about food being snuck out by hoarding students. Most of these students are probably sneaking out food because they are worried about whether or not they will be able to eat the next time they are hungry or need a meal. Signs posted at the entrance to Founders prohibit diners from leaving the premises with more than one piece of fruit or “carry-out” style food items, such as an ice cream cone or a piece of bread. This is evidence that Bon Appetit clearly isn’t receptive enough to students’ need for a more open and less restrictive eating environment. Being the opinionated Mills woman that I am, I believe it is time to open this can of worms. So, Founders, let’s collaborate! I propose these changes be considered and implemented. Don’t trap students in unhealthy cycles! Provide healthy opportunities that allow students to worry about more pressing issues, like sleep and finals.
Wanna see your doodles in next week’s issue?
—Kehontas Rowe, senior
Send your ideas or comix to soldano@ thecampanil.com!
“I would be a straggler. Or getting trampled on.” —Desirae Tongco, junior WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY KATIE SUNSHINE Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
10
Opinions & Editorial
Nov. 23, 2010
Should Maura Kelly Be Allowed to Write Shamelessly FatPhobic Blog Posts (Even for a Women’s Magazine)? Nicole Vermeer DESIGN EDITOR
Fatphobia and sizeism have always been prevalent in the media, but I have rarely seen it expressed as explicitly as it was on magazine Marie Claire’s website Oct. 25. The vast majority of women’s magazines use photos to promote an ideal that involves only one body type: the white, straight, perfectly made-up, incredibly thin woman we all know so well. Most of these magazines at least pretend they care about body acceptance, as long as you’re working out and trying really hard to get thin – but not Marie Claire blogger Maura Kelly. In one of her recent posts, Kelly decided to forgo the farce and publicly declare her fat-phobic sentiments, voicing the underlying sizeism on which most women’s magazines rely. The post appears in Kelly’s blog, titled “A Year of Living Flirtatiously.” The entry can still be found on the Marie Claire website. The title of the offending piece is “Should ‘Fatties’ Get a Room? (Even on TV?)” Yes, you did just read that correctly. Let’s just take a moment and think about that. First of all, the word “fatties” is problematic and can be incredibly offensive. In that one phrase Kelly is separating “fatties” from the general public, and calling them out specifically to “get a room”. The “fatties” she is referring to are Mike and Molly, the two title characters on CBS new sitcom “Mike and Molly.” The show is standard prime-time sitcom fare,
except for the fact that these two characters are overweight and met in Overeaters Anonymous. What do these “fatties” need to get a room for? A kiss. Albeit, a rather steamy one, but it was not sex nor a stripping scene. It was a simple kissing scene which happens on television between “normal” actors daily. If Kelly didn’t make her disdain for larger people clear enough in the title, in the post she spells it out for us. She writes , “So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything.” Excuse me? What? Think about if you replaced “fatties” with any other marginalized group. That doesn't sound right, does it? However, sizeism is still socially acceptable, even standard in our society, which frequently makes fun of overweight people. It is socially acceptable to exclude people of size in fashion magazines, degrade them on reality television, and make “fat jokes” about them. What was nearly worse than the original piece was the response by the magazine. Marie Claire’s ediotr in chief excused Kelly as a “provocative blogger” and stood by what she wrote, even after feminist pop-culture website Jezebel reported Marie Claire receiving 18,000 angry emails about the blog post. The post generated countless comments that read along the lines of “Consider my subscription cancelled.” Does Kelly think her article is out of line? Nope. She writes later in the piece, “Now, don't go getting the wrong impression: I have a few
friends who could be called plump. I'm not some size-ist jerk.” Oh really Maura Kelley? Good to know. I'm sure you have black friends too, and therefore could never be called racist, regardless of what you say. Kelly goes on to talk about her concern for the overweight, claiming she would “find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine [the misspelling is hers] addict slumping in a chair.” Since when is obesity the same as an extremely unhealthy drug addiction? She even goes on to give “helpful” diet tips, saying “But ... I think obesity is something that most people have a ton of control over. It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it.” Yes, because you know, obese people just haven’t put that much thought into their weight. And even though she says she also doesn't like looking at people who are anorexic, she does find it more respectable than fatness: “Yes, anorexia is sick, but at least some slim models are simply naturally skinny.” So some people are naturally skinny but nobody is naturally fat? I don’t think so, Maura Kelley. Yes, it is possible for a lot of people to lose weight. But what about those who can’t, either due to their economic situation or a physical problem? Being overweight is not always unhealthy. Weight and health are NOT the same thing. Weight measures the force that gravity has on your body; health is a complex mix of internal and external factors. Most people however, still confuse the two things, which is part of the problem with eradicating fatphobia: we are taught that anyone who
is fat is unhealthy. Some organizations exist to fight these fat-phobic myths, such as a non-profit called Health At Every Size. The organization tries to teach young women about how weight and health are not the same thing. On their main website page they state that their mission is to “acknowledge that good health can best be realized independent from considerations of size. It supports people – of all sizes – in addressing health directly by adopting healthy behaviors.” Even scientists acknowledge the fact that health exists at every size. Some scientific studies have begun to find that fat can be healthy, with the New York Times reporting that “a number of studies (show) that men and women who were a few pounds overweight but physically active had less risk of developing cardiac disease than people who were of normal weight but sedentary.” This kind of information is not advertised on the covers of these women’s magazines, which usually touts workouts that will get you “healthy” by losing those “last ten pounds.” Think about it this way – having a little too much of something is probably better than not having enough. Some studies even mention that some fat can be good for you. For example, a new article on livescience.com summarizes a body of research showing that “hip and thigh fat can help to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.” Kelley’s insensitive article has not only incited the huge amount of Marie Claire reader backlash – it has set the blogosphere aflame. The fury even lead to action in the real world. A “Big Fat Kiss-in” was
staged in front of the Marie Claire offices in New York City, organized by popular fat acceptance blog “Big Fat Blog.” Jezebel’s writers provided several responses to Kelly’s post. The most scathing was written by blogger Dodai Stewart, titled "If you're fat-phobic, you're also an ignorant, bigoted idiot." While that sounds harsh, the point Stewart makes is that you cannot judge someone based on their weight alone. She writes, “Point being, you cannot LOOK at someone and make a judgment about his or her health. So you shouldn't. And really: Even if you do know why someone is thin or fat, what business is it of yours?” So now you must be wondering, what happened to Maura Kelly? She is still writing for Marie Claire, updating her blog several times a week. She did apologize in print, saying, “I would really like to apologize for the insensitive things I've said in this post. Believe it or not, I never wanted anyone to feel bullied or ashamed after reading this, and I sorely regret that it upset people so much.” Her apology was not accepted by very many of the outraged readers, mainly because she places the blame on the “too fat” reader rather than herself. Well I'm sorry I'm offended too, Maura Kelly. I'm also sorry you can't take responsibility for your own words and actions. Eating junk food and being sedentary is not healthy, and may lead to weight gain. However, it is completely possible to be overweight and healthy, and this is the message that most mainstream media sources, and our society in general, tends to flat-out deny.
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY INQUSITIVE COONEY
Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
Sports & Health
Nov. 23, 2010
11
BONNIE HORGOS
Kurt Loeffler sitting in the hot tub at Mills College’s Trefethen Aquatic Center. The swimmer and lifeguard can regularly be seen photographing Mills athletic events.
Kurt Loeffler: swimming to the beat of his own drum Bonnie Horgos SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR Everyone knows Kurt Loeffler. The 6-foot-10-inch swimmer, lifeguard and photographer towers over swim meets, cross country runs and tennis matches, always aiming for the perfect shot with his Nikon D700. Loeffler's evolution into the goto photographer at Mills events happened by chance, a common theme in his life. Loeffler has followed hobbies from swimming to surfing to lifeguarding, allowing each to take him up and down the California coast. While most Mills students know him for his faithful presence at Mills athletic events, few know of the different strokes he took to get to this small all-women's school in Oakland, Calif. Butterfly: Growing up in Huntington Beach Loeffler's parents were both swimmers. His Croatian mother grew up swimming in the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea, situated between the Italian and Balkan peninsulas. His mother emigrated to the States in 1942. Loeffler grew up in Huntington Beach in southern California, a small coastal town known for its wealth and good waves. His parents enrolled him in swimming lessons at age two; by age six he was participating in
swim meets. Still, Loeffler wasn't exactly the stiffest competition. “It's not like I was swimming competitively back then,” Loeffler said. “I just loved the water.” He started surfing at 12, carving the famous waves of Huntington. Soon after, he joined his school's swim and water polo teams. At his athletic apex, he was swimming up to four and a half miles a day. Swimming became Loeffler's main squeeze. Still, the water wasn't always comforting. Loeffler was 5 foot 11 inches when he was a high school freshman -- by the time he graduated, he was 6 foot 10 inches. Loeffler also has a 6-foot twin sister and a 6-foot-6-inch older brother. “Competing was a always a bit difficult; I didn't go up to the swimming block thinking, ‘Yes, life is good,’” Loeffler said. “I think maybe because I'm tall and I always had people staring at me. It's like, ‘look at the 6-foot-10-inch guy on the block!’” Not that Loeffler lets looks get in the way -- he simply forged ahead, ready for a change of scenery from Huntington's warm ocean to the colder waters of Northern California. Breaststroke: Cruising Between Huntington and Santa Cruz After graduating from high
school, Loeffler decided to chase the surf, vacillating between Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz, northern California's "beach bum" neighbor. Besides promising waves, Loeffler felt comfortable amongst Santa Cruz's downtown street musicians as opposed to Huntington Beach's immaculately kept avenues. “Huntington Beach is a monoculture and everything is gentrified -- this nice neat package to look good on the outside and there's no spontaneity,” Loeffler said. “The beach is a competition: who has the best suit and who has the best body. Up here, you see someone on the beach in a full set of motorcycle leathers.” Life wasn't just about chasing the perfect wave. Loeffler became a state lifeguard along the way, allowing him to make a living while staying close to the water. “I've found in life I'd rather just have fun,” Loeffler said. “I'd rather just enjoy myself.” Loeffler did enjoy himself. He was a state lifeguard for 15 years, ditching desk jobs to stay as close to the water as possible.
than a pool to whet his appetite, however. He met Mills' aquatics coordinator Carol Berendsen on the pool deck, immediately hitting it off. “He came in as a lap swimmer, and he's so gregarious that you feel like you've known him forever,” Berendsen said. “He would come in and check in and chat and say, ‘How are you? It's a beautiful day; I've missed being at the pool the last few days.’” Loeffler paid his daily fee to get into the pool until Berendsen noticed the Thursday lunchtime lifeguarding shift was empty. Loeffler nudged his way into the position faster than a lap across the pool. “I said, ‘I should work here as a lifeguard so I can swim here for free,’” Loeffler said. Loeffler took on more shifts until he was the head lifeguard, then started teaching a lifeguard class at Mills. With each class, lesson and stroke, Loeffler was accepted into the Mills community.
Backstroke: Off to Oakland
Loeffler stumbled upon another opportunity with equal serendipity: photography. “As a kid, I was fascinated by really old cameras,” Loeffler said. “I'd go to the Goodwill near my house and buy cameras for 50 cents, then buy film for them.”
Loeffler officially said adieu to Huntington Beach in 1990, settling in the Bay Area. He started swimming at Mills nine years ago after a friend recommended its Olympicsized pool. Loeffler found more
Freestyle: Photography at Mills
Still, photography was just a small hobby for Loeffler until he watched junior Cathy Knight swimming butterfly; he wanted to document Knight flying across the pool, her muscled arms reaching deep into the water. “I remember Kurt laying down at the opposite end of the pool and taking pictures as I would swim towards him,” Knight said of the first time Loeffler photographed her. “I was always afraid that when I would turn on the wall I would splash his camera, but every time he managed to roll out of the way.” Loeffler's desire to capture athletics on film soon went beyond Knight. He began photographing the entire swim team and then started showing up at soccer games too. Now he stands at every sporting event at Mills, his Nikon D700 at the ready. Loeffler gradually became more woven into the community with every soccer game, swim meet and cross country scrimmage he attended. Along with photography, he still works at the pool on Thursdays and teaches lifeguarding. “I love it here,” Loeffler said. “I found it's really important to me. It's like this huge extended family because I tend to have a lot of solitude in my life doing photography.” Even behind the lense, though, people still come up to him and chat, perhaps trying to get a glimpse of Loeffler capturing a stroke, dash or leap.
Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
Sports & Health 12 Working out to bust stress and stay fit for the holidays Nov. 23, 2010
Kylie Stevens CONTRIBUTING WRITER As students make walk past the windows on the path leading to the Mills College gym inside the Haas Paviilion, the whirring of stationary bikes intermingles with the beat of dance music. Using ellipticals, yoga balls, weights and treadmills, Mills community members are increasing their heart rates while listening to Ke$ha, Beyonce and Far East Movement. While some student aim to shed a few pounds for the holidays, others are looking to boost their endorphins. In many cases athletes are using the gym to strengthen up for a team sport. Iz Love, a first year student on the crew team, said she likes the gym because it allows for a place to train and build camaraderie with fellow teammates in the off-season. “I like the facility because it has everything I need to stay in shape for the spring season,” Love said. From 1910, the gymnasium was located where the Tea Shop now
stands.The old gym included a swimming pool which was lated replaced by Adams Plaza. In 1961 the gym moved to its current home in the Haas Pavilion on Richards Road, across from the Mills College chapel. The Haas Pavilion includes many of the dance studios and athletic department offices. By relocating the facilities, Mills was able to expand the number of ways students could get their heart rates up. Mills currently offers a variety of physical education classes including kickboxing, karate and fitness swimming. Many of the classes require students to use the fitness center as part of the curriculum. Sarah Taylor, a first year student who has a strength training class twice a week, said she likes the gym because it’s free with a Mills identification card. “The equipment is varied and the traffic in the fitness center is moderate,” Taylor said. Taylor, who works at the front desk and takes people's ID cards, said she notices that there is never
a long wait to use any of the equipment. Unlike places that require memberships where someone may have to wait for a treadmill, Mills students share the equipment and monitor themselves on time so that everyone gets a turn. First year Daniella Smith, who is taking a tennis class and dance class likes how the dance studios, volleyball courts, tennis courts and gym are all so close to each other, making access easy. “Keeping active is important to me,” Smith said. “I have always been super active and the gym is a great resource.” Fitness may not increase muscles, but grades too. Researchers at UCLA have found that students who exercise are not only happier but perform betters on exams as well as experience improved health in comparison to students who do not engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. “Keeping active is a good way to have more energy during the day and stay healthy during school,” Smith said.
Fitness Center Hours September 7 - December 6 Monday - Thursday 12–10 p.m. 7–9 a.m. Mills only 4-6 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 12–3 p.m. Closed Nov. 25-26 for Thanksgiving
Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com
BONNIE HORGOS
Graduate student Lupe Thun uses the elliptical machine in the Mills College fitness center. “It relieves stress,” Thun sald.