THE CAMPANIL // Student-run newspaper serving Mills College since 1917 //
09.09.15
// Volume 101 // Issue 1 //
Controversy arises over shuttle changes Grace Forrest forrest@thecampanil.com The Mills College shuttle schedule, finalized only days before the Fall 2015 semester began, has left students frustrated over the sudden changes in shuttle stops - five locations instead of four - and round trip time that they were unable to prepare for. The new route now stops in Lakeshore instead of Rockridge and goes to MacArthur Bart every day, not only on weekends. This new route requires that the shuttle backtrack from Lakeshore to the MacArthur bart which increases the round trip from one hour to between an hour and a half and two hours. Many Mills students pointed out on Facebook that several AC Transit options, including the NL, 57 and 58L bus lines, go straight to Lakeshore. The suggestion to change the shuttle schedule came in the fall of 2013 when a graduate student submitted her final paper to the Transportation Committee. In the fall of 2014, the committee did a survey and the results were the basis for
changing the schedule. Chair of student services committee Katie Laackman said that the decision to stop at the MacArthur BART was made with commuter students in mind since every major BART line goes through MacArthur. Junior Anna Cornelius thinks the MacArthur stop will help students with their commute. “MacArthur [BART] is a place that reaches a greater population,” Cornelius said. "To my understanding, less students live near Rockridge than in west and north Oakland, which MacArthur is central to." Similarly, the change to Lakeshore was to appeal to a wider audience of students. Linda Zitzner, co-chair of sustainability and associate vice president of operations, says that Lakeshore provides a place with more options for students to go to - affordable food, night life and close proximity to other conveniences. According to Zitzner’s memory, roughly 70 percent of those surveyed preferred a Lakeshore stop over Rockridge. see
Shuttle page 3
MAP BY ANDY MURILLO
Students are upset over the longer shuttle waits that prohibit them from getting to places on time.
Senior artist and playwright Mills welcomes new student support coordinator discusses thesis focused on mental health Sarah Hoenicke staff writer
COURTESY OF SOPHIA DIPAOLA
DiPaola (above) has held a passion for theatre since she was 8.
Grace Forrest
forrest@thecampanil.com
Senior Sophia Marie DiPaola, writer, playwright, poet, musician and actor, exudes self confidence and focus. Her words tumble over each other as she passionately describes her life and goals, including writing and performing social justice themed plays around the world.
DiPaola was one of the first two theater majors Mills accepted in the Fall of 2014 since the theater program was dissolved in 2003. Currently, DiPaola is working on her senior thesis project: a play about mental illness, which she suffers from, that will be performed see
Playwright page 4
Pilar Page, Mills College’s new student support coordinator, is no stranger to adjusting to new places. She completed her most recent adjustment in a long line of moves to Oakland in August, just two days before her job on campus began. Page saw that she could do exactly what she had been doing at her previous job at Texas State Technical College, but in an official capacity at Mills — assisting students with all aspects of their transitions to college life. The job at Mills gave her the opportunity to empower women to be successful in a male dominated society. “I saw the need and I wanted to be a part of that team,” Page said. Page has met with about five students since she began at Mills — students who wanted to withdraw, take a leave of absence or are having a hard time dealing with anxiety and separation.
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“I think it’s important for students to realize that they have a safe space,” Page said. According to Page, student interactions with her are different than with a professor or counselor, where conflicts of interest, either academically or otherwise, may arise. “[With] counseling, you get eight sessions. With my office, it’s an open door policy, so you can come in whenever you need to,” Page said. Gabriella Tempestoso, associate dean and Page’s supervisor, said she enjoys Page’s openness to students, her spirit of teamwork and her strong commitment to the vision of Mills College. "[Pilar] brings a strong background in working with students, supporting their needs particularly when students find themselves in need of assistance due to an see
Coordinatorpage 2
Volleyball team optimistic for strong season Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com While most students are adjusting to life back at Mills, the volleyball team has already begun training for this upcoming winter season. With ten new players added to
FELICIANNA MARQUEZ
The Cyclones high energy on the court kept fans spirited in Haas Pavilian. see
Volleyballpage 7
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News
09.09.15
OSA and SJRC combine to form the Center Dajanae Barrows barrows@thecampanil.com Over the summer, Mills College opened a new office that combines two significant organizations at Rothwell Center: the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the Social Justice Resource Center (SJRC). According to an Aug. 21 email from Dean of Students Dr. Chicora Martin, the OSA and SJRC formed a new office under the name of the Center for Student Leadership, Equity, and Excellence [the Center]. The OSA organizes student activities and events, as well as manages clubs and organizations on campus. The SJRC provides resources for students in building and working with the school’s mission involving social justice. After working together in the past, the two offices have decided to combine in order to work on
ABBEY FLENTJE
The brand new Center is located in Rothwell Center where they continue the work of both the SJRC and OSA.
social justice principles together, according to Dr. Martin. It was announced that Sabrina Kwist, the former director of engagement and inclusion, would be the new assistant dean of students and lead the Center’s team. Also, newcomer Remi Harada became the director of the Center after this summer. While the Center has started its work together, “the goal in moving
forward is to ensure more opportunities for social justice education, new programming and first year support, while continuing the great club/organization advising and support for students of color, LGBTQ students, student parents, resumer students, international and other students who look to these spaces and staff as home,” Dr. Martin said. Harada expressed the positive
directions and intentions in bringing the SJRC and OSA together as the Center. “It was an intentional effort to bring the two departments together,” Harada said. “With it being under the Center, it will allow us to have all of our initiatives streamlined so we can be more intentional about everything that is being done.” Sascha Brown, the new program coordinator for the Center, also believes that these two centers working together will be cohesive, allowing the core of social justice into the activities, programs and resources on campus. Brown works closely with Kwist to bring larger events to campus, such as the event Hip Hop 4 Change. “Now when you come to the Center, you can get resources for all the things,” Brown said. “We would like students to think of us as a one stop shop that is here to support your growth as a scholar.”
Division of Student Life Departments -Athletic, Physical Education and Recreation (APER) - Counseling, Pyshological Services and Wellness (CPS) - Wellness and Community Outreach (WCO) - Office of Residential Life (ORL) - Student Access and Support Services (SASS) - Center for Leadership, Equity, and Excellence (The Center) -Spiritual and Religious Life (SRL)
Prices for Oakland’s composting rises Students gain new support staff member Emily Mibach eic@thecampanil.com
Over the summer, the city of Oakland struck a deal with Waste Management Corp to exclusively pick up compost and garbage. This plan caused Mills’ composting bill to go up 500 percent. Due to wanting to be as sustainable as possible, both monetarily and ecologically, new Sustainability Coordinator Nicole Gaetjens and Associate Vice President for Operations Linda Zitzner have been working over the summer to create a composting subcommittee in the sustainability committee, as well as short term plans to cut the campus’ composting fees. Because of the price hikes, there are now two compost toters for the compost collectors. Due to this, campus facilities, who manage the waste for all dorms, except for independent living, must travel further on campus to dump the compost bags. “Most of that work falls on our janitorial [staff],” Zitzner said. “They collect them [from around campus] and carry them to either Founders or to the Tea Shop and dispose of them.” However, this does not apply to independent housing (Larsen House, Courtyard Townhouses and Prospect Hill Apartments), where campus facilities do not dispose
HART ROSENBERG
Independent housing takes care of their own compost, rather than campus facilities. They have bins outside their housing complexes.
of their trash. Residents at the start of the school year were provided with a small container for compost waste. Residents are to then dump these containers in bins located near the trash bins outside of the independent housing complexes. In trying to help out with disposing of compost from Independent Living and the nature of the smaller bins, Gaetjens has been helping move compost around campus. “I am just picking up the compost with my golf cart,” Gaetjens said. She hopes that in the future, the Eco-reps will be able to take the independent living’s compost.
Currently Gaetjens is testing out the bins to see how often they need to be picked up. The reason for the sustainability center’s short term plans is because the city of Oakland has been receiving push back from many restaurants and other high compost creating businesses. As it currently stands, paying for compost in the city of Oakland through Waste Management is currently more than paying for garbage. It is not just Mills College who is having to scramble for new composting ideas, as the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Many businesses and apartment complexes also had their compost bill spike anywhere from 300-600 percent. Octavia Sun, Sustainability ASMC chair and The Campanil reporter, said that a green fee is being reviewed. A small fee, approximately 15 percent per student, would be added to the fees students pay in their Mills bills. However, this is still in the planning process, according to Sun. This new plan took affect on Aug 1. An emergency council meeting was called after restauranteurs went on strike on July 10 after hearing about the new contract on July 1. However, the city council decided to keep the contract with Waste Management as is. According to Gaetjens, the compost fees will hopefully be on the Sept. 17 meeting agenda.
Chief News Editor Abbey Flentje
Emily Mibach Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com
Arts & Ent. Editor Grace Forrest
5000 MacArthur Blvd. Rothwell 157 Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone
Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows
Sports & Health Editor Monika Sabic
Copy Chief Kenna Wright
ABBEY FLENTJE
Pilar Page (above) says she is looking forward to learning more about social justice while at Mills. see
academic or personal crisis," Tempestoso said. Page previously worked as a counselor at Texas State Technical College – a two-year, predominantly male institution. Responding to a need she perceived in the students there, Page reshaped her position to better support her students with their transition into college. When the position for student support coordinator opened at Mills, Page felt it was a natural fit. Dr. Martin said that Page would be the "important link and will also be the main contact for support for students related to sexual violence, sexual assault and harassment." Page went to high school in Las Vegas after moving to the United States when she was 13 from Kingston, Jamaica. She completed her undergraduate
Design Editor Francesca Twohy-Haines Online Editor Alexina Estrada Staff Writers Sarah Hoenicke, Valarie Williams Copy Editors Pearl Thompson, Sarah Hoenicke Staff Photographer Hart Rosenberg Ad Manager Cleo Pierce
Coordinator page 1
studies in English literature and women and gender studies at the University of Redlands in Southern Calif., before moving to Waco, Texas for her graduate work where she earned a master’s degree in social work and community organizing from Baylor University. Page says she spent a lot of time working with at-risk youth in the student services there. She wants to begin work on her doctorate in higher education leadership and is looking into the program at Mills, and at a program in San Francisco. “I think one of the challenges I’ll face here – since this campus is a lot more grounded in social justice, in making sure you’re aware of what is going on, not just on campus but in the community – will be to learn the culture,” Page said. Page says many people have been welcoming and have helped her to adjust.
The Campanil welcomes public commentary on subjects of interest to the campus community, as well as feedback on the paper itself. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 150 words. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity only. All submissions must include the author’s name and contact information and may be submitted via e-mail or in typewritten form, accompanied by an electronic copy. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. Submissions must be received one week before the publication date to appear in the next issue. The Campanil reserves the right to upload all content published in print, in addition to original content, on our website, www.thecampanil.com. The Campanil is published every other Tuesday. Students interested in joining The Campanil staff should contact the Editor in Chief at eic@thecampanil.com
News
09.09.15
Students surprised at shuttle route changes Route Changes at a Glance: Old Route: Estimated round trip time: 1 hr. Stops: Rockridge BART (weekdays) 5660 College Ave Sproul Plaza Bancroft + Bowditch @ UC Berkeley New Route: Estimated round trip time: 1.5-2 hrs. Lakeshore 3200 Lakeshore Ave MacArthur BART 555 40th St. Sproul Plaza Bancroft + Bowditch @ UC Berkeley
Are you great with photography? MAP COURTESY OF ANDY MURILLO
Though the shuttle schedule was changed, Linda Zitzner says it can be reversed if students vote for a reversal of shuttle changes. from
Shuttle page 1
The Transportation Committee asked that Laackman gauge student responses to the potential shuttle change. After holding four sets of publicized office hours in November, Laackman said she got several strong responses for and against changing the schedule. However, she was not given any overwhelming reason for the schedule to be kept the way it was and ASMC approved the change not long after. This new route is longer than before and to accommodate drivers’ breaks and lunch hour, the shuttle runs are less frequent. Zitzner also said the decision to have fewer runs was not the result of changes
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in finances. A large part of students frustration is from the lack of communication about the changes. “There was no real indication that they were changing anything,” senior Nora Roth said. “I realize that their goal was to make it better, but it just doesn’t seem like it was thought through.” Roth said she started checking online for the schedule a week before school started. The day before classes began, the schedule still had not been posted. The schedule was officially put online in the middle of the day on the first day of classes. “[It was] kind of a big slip up to not notify students via email,” Roth said. Zitzner acknowledged that the information should have been put
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on the website earlier and there should have been a clear email stating the changes to students. Many of the students who are finding the new shuttle schedule inhibiting are cross registered at University of California Berkeley and rely on the shuttle as their means of transportation between the two campuses. Currently Roth is cross registered at UC Berkeley in a class that ends at 7 p.m. The lack of an early evening shuttle means she must wait until 9 p.m. or find another way back to Mills. "It feels like Mills should be helping us take advantage of this opportunity, but instead the new schedule feels like another road block,” Roth said. Senior Deellan Kashani, said
that times between shuttle runs are now longer than the time it would take to travel from UC Berkeley to Mills on two to three different busses. “I’m cross-registered at Cal, and I'm commuting from Berkeley every day, and my options for transportation are so limited,” Kashani said in an email. “This added Lakeshore roundabout is super unnecessary.” ASMC is crafting a survey for students that will be online and a comment box inside the shuttle to try and resolve the frustration. According to Zitzner the schedule can be changed back to the way it was. However, if students choose to do that, there will not be support from the transportation committee to change it back again.
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Oakland police change protocols for helping victims of sexual assault Abbey Flentje
flentje@thecampanil.com
In past months, reforms have been made as to how the Oakland Police Department [OPD] treats victims of sexual assault who report their attacks. Mills College senior and PLEA major Kendall Anderson has been advocating for changes by speaking about her own experience reporting her assault to the OPD. According to the Oakland Tribune, the changes made to the OPD's treatment of sexual assault victims include: no longer holding their interviews in interrogation rooms, more sensitivity training for officers dealing with cases of sexual assault and a form that must
be given to any victim who comes in which states that they are legally allowed to have a victim advocate – someone that will provide emotional support and help find resources – present in their interview. In Jan. 2015 Anderson wrote a piece for Salon.com called, "I wish I'd never reported my rape," detailing what happened when she went to the OPD in 2013. Her essay talked about being taken into a windowless interrogation room that had handcuffs on the chair where she was treated as a suspect. Anderson's piece got the attention of the OPD. "Any victim of any crime should not be [treated] in that way, especially victims of violent crimes," Anderson said. Anderson's essay has not only gotten the attention of the OPD, but also California State Attorney
General Kamala Harris. Citing Anderson's piece in a press conference in May, Harris called for support of students who have been assaulted. She stated that law enforcement agencies and campuses must offer help to these students and hold the attackers accountable. Harris also introduced a Model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that law enforcement and campuses will use to improve their responses to cases of campus assaults. Actions in the MOU include: clarifying duties of campus officials and police after an assault is reported, giving the victims any information for services to help them as soon as possible and requiring regular training for the campus and police agencies. "For far too many hardworking students, the dream of an education from a top school is upended
by sexual violence," Harris said. "This model agreement will help... to provide sexual assault victims with the help they need." Anderson's story also impacted activist groups such as Flowering Hope and Pave-Promoting Awareness and Victim Empowerment. Groups such as these offered her collaboration opportunities and speaking roles. Anderson plans to continue her activism work and plans to submit a second piece to Salon. She feels that even though changes are beginning to be made, there is still work to be done. "I think believing victims would be a good first step because I know in my experience, I faced a culture of doubt, and from what I've seen it's a very common occurrence for victims to not be believed by police or colleges," Anderson said.
EMILY MIBACH
Anderson (above) has stated that since her story has been told, she has felt support from people all over the country.
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09.09.15
Arts & Entertainment
Q&A with student M ovie review “ m e r c e d e s s o s a ” artist and playwright, Sopia Marie DiPaola Taelor Ramos Film Columnist
Grace Forrest
In the award winning documentary “Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America,” currently on Netflix instant watch, the life of the Argentinian musician is woven together with clips from her performances and interviews with footage of her friends and family. The strength of Sosa’s otherworldly voice shines throughout the piece, illustrating in artistic detail how she raised the spirits of indigenous and working class people across Latin America. Her humorous and calming interviews show the audience the euphoric courage of the hope she spread across nations under tyranny, and gave voice to the deep isolation of exile and renown. “Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of
forrest@thecampanil.com
see
Playwright page 1
early in December. Could you talk about how your passion for theater began? I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Both of my parents worked in the [film] industry my whole life; my dad worked for Francis Ford Coppola and did special effects, and my mom was a theater major at UCLA. When did you become interested in theater? Literally since I was 8 years old, I knew that I wanted to be in theater. I found an essay from when I was in second grade that asked me what my life goals were and I said that I wanted to be an actor and if that didn’t work, I wanted to be a screenwriter or playwright. When did you begin acting? I think my first theater class was in middle school. I joined the drama department and I played the Mad Hatter in “Alice In Wonderland” and Prince John in “Robinhood.” I liked playing male roles because in middle school, I felt like there weren’t many female empowered roles. You went to public school. How was that with your focus on art? The art in public school is interesting because you have to just grasp what you can and make what you can of the experience. High school was different because I was in show choir, which is like glee club, and we were national champions; we toured the whole nation. That actually had more effect on my theater than the drama department because that was singing, acting and dancing at one time. I was also the stage manager, so a lot of my technical background comes from that. What is your thesis about? I struggle with mental illness — depression, panic anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. My play is about that. I interviewed 30 people about their experiences with mental illness, and the play is really an exposé of their voices and experiences. I didn’t want to write just about mine. What do you do in your life that inspires you? I am inspired by so many things in life; however, what comes to mind is being of service, meeting
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPHIA DIPAOLA
Playwright Sophia Dipaola hopes to perform social justice plays around the world.
people who have struggled and are stronger because of it, heartache, hardship and trauma, being still in nature, witnessing mind blowing art, whether it’s theater or music or paintings, the values and love of my family and my grandfather (beatnik poet Stuart Perkoff). What is it about theater that you feel is different from other art forms? I feel that theater is a raw human experience and it has such incredible potential to affect people on a deeper level. For other art forms, the message and emotion is interpreted through the art piece. Theater is interactive, interpersonal and in some cases, when done right, it directly embodies the message and emotion. It’s happening in real time. People can get lost in the world and truly feel like they are a part of the show. This in turn moves them and hopefully plants a seed of thought within. I truly believe theater is a healing tool we can use to speak our truths and raise awareness because of all this and so much more. What other kinds of art do you do? How does it inform the theater work? Besides theater, I am a writer/ poet, singer, musician, dancer and film maker and all the art I express is integrated into my theater work. Each creative experience I develop or have expands my overall vision for theater I create. I always have to be doing something creative in order to feel stable. Also, there are times when I do art for art’s sake, not to inform my theater work or help me reach my vision, but to express myself.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CINEMA 7
“Mercedes Sosa” chronicles the life and music of a woman who touched lives across Latin America with her voice.
Latin America” is a work of art in its composition. The vivid sound paired with alternately brilliant
EVENTS CALENDAR SEPT. 11
Ballet Folklorico, in the Student Union, @ 7pm
and haunting tones and the intimacy of Sosa’s voiceovers are melded to conversations with such a natural discourse that it seems she is among the interviewees, speaking of the beauty of music within the frame of anxiety and persecution. The narrative of the film positions the audience at her knee, listening to her speaking wisdom and singing magic, sharing her intense shyness and bravery for the sake of a fierce love for her own and other people. If you’d like to keep a theme of musical films going, “Selena” (1997) is being shown Thursday night, Sept 17th from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. on Holmgren Meadow. Other recommendations on the entertainment spectrum for Latin American Heritage Month include: “Even the Rain” (2010) and the animated “Chico & Rita” (2010) on Netflix instant watch.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS FROM MILLS PROFESSORS
Marc Joseph Professor of Philosophy
Oakland Pride Parade + SEPT. Festival Broadway & 14th 13 @10:30am SEPT. 17
- Graham Greene
Carlota Caulfield Professor of Spanish and Spanish American Studies
“The Blazing World” - Siri Hustvedt
SEPT. 18
Mills Strike Documentary Preview, TBA, @ 4pm
“Rhythm Field” - Ann Murphy and Molissa Fenley
Helen Walter Professor of Biology
Eat Real Festival, Jack London Square, @ 10:30pm-9:00pm Eat Real Festival, Jack London Square, @ 10:30pm-5:00pm
SEPT. 26
“The Quiet American”
“Selena” Movie Night, Holmgren Meadow, @ 7pm Eat Real Festival, Jack London Square, @ 1:00pm-9:00pm
SEPT. 19
“Why I Write” - George Owell
“The Way of the Kings” - Brandon Sanderson “Daughter of the Blood” - Anne Bishop
SEPT. 20
Elmaz Abinader Professor of English
“Meeting Faith” - Faith Adiele “We need New Names” - NoViolet Bulawayo
Arts & Entertainment
09.09.15
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Upcoming MCAM exhibit, Public Works: Artist Inter ventions 1970’s-now Abbey Flentje Flentje@thecampanil.com Women artists and their public art displays will be featured in the exhibit “Public Works: Artists’ Interventions 1970s-now,” which opens on Sept. 16 at the Mills College Art Museum (MCAM). The exhibit includes work from artists Bonnie Ora Sherk, Karen Finley and Stephanie Syjuco. The show was curated by Christian Frock and Tanya Zimbardo. A Mills press release sent by
Maysoun Wazwaz, the MCAM program manager, said the exhibit is going beyond “traditional views of public art as monumental and/ or permanent artworks and instead focuses on often small but powerful temporary artistic interventions...in the urban environment.” Some of the art being displayed will be a social media and photography piece used to close the Tamms Supermax Prison in Illinois, as well as a piece that raises questions on immigration. Frock says that restrictions to public expression are part of what makes this exhibit so important.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MILLS COLLEGE ART MUSEUM
Public Works Artist Stephanie Syjuco ‘s moving contemporary art, an unsolicited project proposal for the Google worker buses.
“Public Works broadly considers how artists subvert their limitations to advance freedom of expression...[and] issues defining public life,” Frock said. According to Stephanie Hanor, director of the MCAM, this exhibit will feature artists who usually present art in public places, rather than galleries and museums. Studio art and art history major Nora Roth is excited to see this exhibit and believes this type of public activism art is important. “I think what will be special about this exhibit is that it has a lot of potential to foster a sense of community in those who engage with it,” Roth said. “It...celebrates the contribution of women to public artistic discourse, which is a rare and valuable thing.” Roth said she is excited to see what other women artists have been able to achieve. Hanor is interested to see how people respond to these works of public and performance art and hopes that students will learn strategies for engaging in social practices. “This is an exhibition that will impact and engage everyone,” Hanor said. Opening receptions for the Public Works exhibit will be held on Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m.
Mary Shelley lives on for her 218th birthday
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Valarie Williams Staff Writer A discussion of human reanimation in the 21st century marked the 218th birthday of Mary Shelley. Written over two hundred years ago, Frankenstein not only entertains and amazes its readers, but also continues to inspire questions. On Saturday, Aug. 29 the North Berkeley Public Library branch hosted this celebration with a lecture by Stephanie Stewart-Bailey, curator of The Body Appropriate and of the San Francisco Exploratorium. This event was in partnership with Abigail Guerdat of the Bone Room, a retail store in Berkeley specializing in natural history items. Stewart-Bailey and Guerdat asked, “What would Frankenstein be like if he were alive today?” Amidst slices of birthday cake, displays of mounted insects and pieces of brain, Stewart-Bailey addressed this question to a room full of Frankenstein enthusiasts. Active participation from audience members was highly encouraged. Between sips of tea and bites of cake, attendees happily discussed parallels between the text and scientific achievement. Specifically citing perfusion - the process of a body delivering blood to a capillary bed in its biological tissue Stewart-Bailey spoke of Shelley’s astute imagination. “Mary Shelly was ahead of her times,” Stewart-Bailey said. “She wrote about scientific
PHOTO COURTESY OF MILLS COLLEGE ART MUSEUM
Landscape architect, planner, educator and performance artist Bonnie Ora Shark, featured in the Public Works show, explores interdependance hidden landscapes, in her project “Sitting Still 1,” 1970.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VALARIE WILLIAMS
Discussions of both the scientific and literary aspects of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein took place at the North Berkeley Library on Aug 29.
experiments that were not even possible in her lifetime, but we perform them now.” Stewart-Bailey encouraged audience members to view the text as futuristic in its knowledge of medical advances that had yet to be invented in Shelley’s time, but are widely practiced today. Frankenstein discusses reanimation and organ transplants decades before these life-saving methods were options. While society in the novel feared these acts, Stewart-Bailey pointed out that in contemporary times, these methods are not only no longer feared, but are welcomed. “We seem to be more comfortable with death now then in Shelley’s times,” she said during her lecture. Body fluid transfusion, galvanism and electrophysiology — all scientific acts found in Frankenstein — are considered standard medical procedures now, nearly 200 years after the book was written. In Shelly’s time, such revolutionary acts were horrors, but today, many are commonplace; however, ethical questions
surrounding transplants, reanimation and resuscitation persist. While attendees were engaged with Stewart-Bailey’s thought-provoking take on the revolutionary scientific methods Shelley writes about in Frankenstein, many audience members were happily engaged with the discussion of the text as a timeless piece of literature. However, the book has another appeal entirely, and it is not so easily identifiable. Rebecca Cuthwell, a UC Berkeley student who is considering the book for her thesis project, remembers her father reading her the book when she was a child. Her interest in the novel is less scientifically focused. Cuthwell is interested in Shelley’s portrayal of social classes in the novel. “It haunts me; I can’t seem to escape it now,” said Cuthwell. She believes the novel maintains a place in popular culture due to its mutability. The novel has endured changes in both science and literature and maintains its place as a ground-breaking, awe-inspiring story.
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09.08.15
Opinions
Coming back and what’s next letter from the editor Dajanae Barrows Barrows@thecampanil.com
Staff Editorial
It’s the start of a new school year, and my final year as a M.A candidate at Mills. As I’m writing this, it’s really starting to sink in that I’m graduating in the spring. It reminds me that I have so much to do this year and have to prepare for post-grad life. Usually, I would be taking out my stress on my keyboard, venting my thoughts and anxieties about grad school; but, I feel like everything will be fine. The last time I wrote for this column, I was balancing two internships, two jobs, three courses, and was on the verge of insomnia, stress and weight gain. Honestly, I didn’t think I could pull through last semester with all that I was balancing. Hence, the reason I was wondering whether to throw in the towel and admit that all that I was doing was too much for me, or to suck it up and pull through. What’s changed this time? Well, since my last installment, I left both internships, choosing to focus solely on my education, health and well-being. I still have my position at The Campanil and my oncampus job, yet I still have a desire to work another job. To answer the questions I asked earlier, I admit...I was doing a bit much to keep up with my goals as a grad student,
Emily Mibach eic@thecampanil.com
EMILY MIBACH
writer and woman. Now, I don’t consider it as giving up anymore; it’s knowing my limit and when to take care of myself instead. I feel more peaceful, even though it’s only the beginning of the year. My state of mind might change once I seriously start work for classes, but at least I’ll know when to admit I’m overworking and to take care of myself. If that’s not one thing I’ve learned to take with me through this new year of adventures and studies, then I would put myself through all of the stress all over again. And if I do get a bit stressed, I have to remind myself that I have great friends on and off campus, an awesome partner and my wild family to talk about it with. This is an installment for the column “Confessions of a Grad Student.”
This school year, I am the Editor in Chief (EIC) of this amazing publication that I have been on staff nearly since my day 1 at Mills in 2012. To be this high on the ladder of The Campanil is exciting and SO extremely nerve wracking. I still feel like our old EIC will be coming into the office at any moment to tell me to get off of her computer. The Campanil has been embedded in my Mills College experience, and I hold it so near and dear to my heart, which I think is a big reason why I am freaking out so much! I’ve seen three other EICs run the show. I have seen three different ways of not only deciding what gets published but also how to manage a staff of at least 8 peers. If I have learned one thing from those three women it is that the staff is just as, if not more, than the single EIC desk. I am so lucky to have a fantastic staff that I know will put in as much work as their grades and health will let them. Which leads me to you, the
reader online, or walking away from one of our blue distribution boxes reading this. You are far more important than any staff or EIC that this paper has. While the staff of The Campanil may be the organs of this paper, you, the readers and contributors and commenters and Facebook likers and story subjects are the skin, pores and everything else that goes into this newspaper’s body. This leads me to the few requests I have of you, dear readers. First off, please contact me at eic@ thecampanil.com. Second, give us ideas for stories, columns, blogs or photoseries, tell me when a story was good and tell me when a story is bad or problematic. We are all learning from each other and this newspaper and its staff is no exception. I am a firm believer in the idea that you learn something new everyday, so let this paper perhaps teach you something and in turn, teach us something. It’s funny. People I am close with know that I have been working my ass off to one day be the Editor-in-Chief of The Campanil. Now as I sit here in my weird shade
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of green office, I still feel like I have a ton left to learn. I still feel like one of the old EICs will come into the office and ask me why I am sitting here. Some of those same people who know how hard I have strived for this position tell me that I am the most qualified and ready person to be at the helm of this newspaper for the school year. But that doesn’t quell my fears and insecurities. But with a fantastic staff, advisor and mentors, along with my amazing cheerleader of a partner, I think it will be fine. I just have to remember that everyone, including myself, is still learning.
Want to have your voice in The Campanil? The Opinions section is currently looking for columnists, opinions submissions, and letters to the editor! Email barrows@thecampanil.com for more info!
The “All Lives Matter” march and what it means to us On Friday Aug. 28, conservative talk show host Glenn Beck led an “All Lives Matter” march in Birmingham, Alabama, where 20,000 people expressed their solidarity for the rally, marching from Kelly Ingram Park to Birmingham City Hall. The Campanil understands the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. We felt that this march was insulting to the work of the movement and location. The choice to march with the slogan “All Lives Matter” proves to be problematic. The slogan undermines, ignores and erases the experiences of Black people, especially with police brutality and deaths of Black people by police officers. Beck organized the march to help raise awareness and money
for the “Never Again is Now” campaign, which helps persecuted Christians in the Middle East. Supporters such as actors Jon Voight and Chuck Norris and Alveda King, Martin Luther King’s niece, participated in the march. Because of this, we feel that Beck not only inserted himself in this movement in a negative way, but he changed it to support his own agenda. Beck has taken a movement that three queer women of color created to point out injustices against Black people, and did not mention it in his march. It appeared to us that Beck and the 20,000 people did not truly understand the wrongness in this march. Also, the choice to hold such a march in Birmingham appeared
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Beck’s march in Birmingham fell on the anniverary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.
problematic. Birmingham is one of many places where Black people and allies fought for justice in the civil rights movement. Beck also appeared to undermine this, making this march his stomping ground to further his conservative and religious views. We believe that it would have made sense for Beck to hold this march for solely the “Never Again is Now” campaign; it would have been more respectful to do so. In fact, Beck could have even held the march under a less problematic name. Because of the 20,000 people marching in this rally, we also wondered about the potential consequences of holding a rally if it were involved with the Black Lives Matter movement, or any other marginalized group. We
recognize that Beck was privileged in holding this rally; his beliefs and agenda supports the institutionalized racism in the U.S., and anything that opposes those views (i.e. the Sep. 2 protest for the death of Freddie Gray) shows that many of its participants and protesters end up arrested. We also wondered: Will matters like this march in the U.S. ever stop? As editors, journalists and students at Mills, we recognize the importance of social justice; we are in a hub that holds a strong history for social justice. Oakland is in the center of the Black Lives Matter movement, and it is important that we help to raise this movement instead of matters like those involved in this march.
Editor’s note: With the exception of staff editorials, the views expressed in the Opinions section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Campanil and are solely those of the author. Additionally, statements made by contributors outside of The Campanil do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board.
Have something to say?
Come to our Open Meetings Rothwell 157 Mondays @ 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays @ 5:30 p.m. or contact: eic@thecampanil.com
Sports & Health
With ten new members, Cyclone volleyball looks forward to upcoming winter season – from
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this year’s squad, head coach Loke Davis is working hard to bridge the wide level of experience, ranging from fresh skill levels to a decade long worth of training. “Regardless of the experience that each person brings to the team,” Davis said, “I think it is that togetherness that will transcend.” Despite the range in volleyball backgrounds, this year’s fourteen volleyball players are striving for a successful outcome through their commitment and love for the game. So far, the team has already won 3-2 in their first match against neighboring community college Laney College on Aug. 29. Although the season started off strong with a victory, Davis still plans on working on the team’s serve receive formations, which is the five team members’ positioning during their opponents’ serve. Practicing this formation will help players easily transition from defense to offense. Davis is providing additional training opportunities, depending on skill level, both inside and outside the court, for players to build their techniques. Not only is first year Nicole Aniguid motivated in putting in her full effort on the court, but she is
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also dedicated in improving her technical skills for the matches. Aniguid’s libero position is unique in Volleyball because that defensive role does not allow her to go for the ball above the net’s length. Instead, the libero only serves or receives passes from the opponent. “I want to focus on my consistency in passing balls, especially since I’m the libero,” Anuguid said. “The pressure is on me if I don’t pass ‘settable’ balls.” After she refines her passes and digs, which is a diving hit for the ball before it touches the ground, Anuguid hopes that her improvements will prove her defensive
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ability to play in the front row as a hitter. By switching from libero to a net-side hitter, Anuguid will be able to attack more passes and serves from her opponents. By the end of the season, she wants to come out as a more confident and aggressive player on the court. Sophomore Miranda Crothers has stepped up in her role as the team’s co-captain by helping her teammates bond together on and off the court. “We have a great group of players who are very spirited and supportive of one another,” Crothers said. “I’m very excited to continue to see us grow and become
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even stronger together.” Crothers was voted co-captain for her leadership skills. She recently organized a team bonding session to Jack London Square that helped create better relationships and communication amongst the players. This season, the team will have eighteen matches against other Division III schools. After a victorious start, the squad is very optimistic about continuing the winning stride. “Their team goal is to have a cohesive team,” Davis said. “I think that is our primary commitment and goal for each other.”
Mills volleyball team falls short to Westcoast Baptists Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com Mills Cyclone Volleyball team lost in a three-set game (19-25, 20-25, 14-25) to the West Coast Baptists Thursday night in Haas Pavilion in its second game of the season on Sept. 3. Although the Cyclones were shut out against their opponents, their consistent support and team spirit gave
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Amber Meza made solid passes against attacks from the West Coast Baptists team.
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them the motivation to maintain a solid match. The Cyclones had a rough start to the game with inconsistent hits and sets that gave West Coast an eight point lead by the middle of the first set. Head Coach Loke Davis made sure her team finished the set strong. “[The team] did a good job of working on the rotations that we have been working on,” Davis said. “I threw something new at them in game three and they managed it very well.” Faced with new rotation strategies, the Cyclones were able to keep up with their opponents after taking advantage over the West Coast’s slump to take the lead before their opponents bounced back to take set two. Co-captain Miranda Crothers led the team with consistent passes and attacks, scoring ten points and serving two aces that would even out the score in set two. “I really tried to strategize my serves this time,” Crothers said. “I noticed that they were really pushed far back near the line, so I would serve short.”
Crothers’s highlight of the night was hitting an unusual backwards block over her shoulder to score a point for the Cyclones. Originally trying to tip it, Crothers and the West Coast hitter were in a pushing duel, resulting in Crother’s abnormal hit. Passer Amber Meza had a solid game that helped her team catch up to West Coast. Her powerful spikes helped her score eight points and have ten digs. “Sometimes you get funky balls and those situations get tricky, but I think I was pretty consistent throughout,” Meza said. So far, Davis has noticed progress in her team in making stronger serves after their opponents call for a time out. She was especially impressed with how the time outs would not break the Cyclones’ concentration and momentum. Although the team has quickly become a unified front this season, Davis believes that there is room for improvement like experimenting with new rotations. She wants her team to know multiple rotations so that in case of a changeup during a game, the players
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Jenna Crothers ‘s dive for the ball made a strong impact on defense.
are prepared. Already having her eyes set for winning the next game against West Coast, Davis plans to implement new drills in practice for the next time these two teams face again. “We started off a really fresh team with a lot of new players,” Meza said. “It’s only the second week and it’s only growing from here.”
Upcoming Health & Sports Events Soccer vs. Simpson (Ca) Sept. 12 at 2:00 p.m.
Bon Appetit Cooking Competition Sept. 15 at 12:15 p.m. Adam’s Plaza
Volleyball vs. Pacific Union Sept. 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Self compassion, also known as “self love,” is considered a revolutionary act. It is the thought that one can not only acknowledge their flaws, but that happiness can go against the values ingrained in mainstream American culture. We live in a society where it is hard to find contentedness because we are taught to never be satisfied and to want more. Charlie Chaplin once stated, “As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health — food, people, things, situations and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a ‘healthy egoism’. Today I know it as, ‘love of oneself.’” Chaplin was right in his words. Some may think that self love is egotistical, when in fact it is simply learning to live in oneself and enjoy it. Researchers at the University of Waterloo studied a group of 153 female college students, asking them various questions on their eating habits, weight/height, self esteem and self compassion. The study concluded that women with high self compassion had a more accepting and loving body image, as well as healthier eating habits. According to psychcentral.com, having a more compassionate relationship with oneself helps with depression and anxiety, and also lowers levels of stress. The idea of being more compassionate to oneself may sound terrifying when coming to terms with the skeletons one hides in one’s closet. However, there are small steps one can take to ease into the process. Here are some of the best steps according to psychcentral.com: 1.“Start Small.” 2. Walks, warm baths or showers, nourishing snacks and deep, meditating breathes are all small acts of self compassion that one can try. 3. Acknowledge the struggle. 4. Writing out frustrations or stating them out loud without judgement allows you to understand yourself better, as well as acknowledge that the situation is frustrating, not that you are less. 5. Most importantly, remember you are not alone. Millions of people struggle with self compassion and go through periods of depression. So next time the thoughts “Goodness, I am a failure,” or “I can’t do anything right” come up, stop and treat yourself the same way you would a best friend or a pet: with [some] tender love and care. Treat yourself with the love and respect that you deserve.
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Meet the Press
09.09.15
The mission of The Campanil is to serve the Mills College community through the practice of ethical and responsible journalism. Knowledge and progress in all areas of life is accomplished through the sharing of correct information. The Campanil strives to accomplish this standard by reporting and writing the truth in a way that enlightens and informs our entire community, while providing information in a manner that seeks participation through thoughtful response, dialogue and action. Our clear objective is to serve the student body and we realize the importance and impact of this endeavor. We do not make news but cover the events that stimulate and change our community and college life.
Emily Mibach Editor in Chief
Alexina Estrada Online Editor
Abbey Flentje Chief News Editor
Grace Forrest Arts & Entertainment Editor
Dajanae Barrows Opinions Editor
Monika Sabic Sports & Health Editor
Francesca Twohy-Haines Design Editor
Kenna Wright Copy Chief