THE CAMPANIL // Student-run newspaper serving Mills College since 1917 //
10.06.15 // Volume 101 // Issue 3 //
W o r l d r e n o w n e d m u s i c i a n , Corpse flower breathes new life into Mills’ greenhouse Roscoe Mitchell, is as big as the music he plays
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Among other instruments, professor Roscoe Mitchell teaches saxophone at Mills.
Sarah Hoenicke staff writer
There’s a rumor that says Roscoe Mitchell likes to practice for eight hours a day. To this, he says, “Eight is a great goal to go for. I could do that and a bit more.” Mitchell, 75, conveys both the steady reserve of someone who has spent decades learning his trade and the enthusiasm of a person who has just recently discovered what will be his life’s passion. The Darius Milhaud Professor of Music at Mills College since 2007, he lives with his wife Wendy Nelson in the Faculty Village. Though he’s a master woodwind
musician – lately, he has spent time with the bass saxophone and the flute – Mitchell plays percussion as well. Mitchell’s office is rectangular and uncluttered. Percussion racks – instrument setups he has fashioned from bits and pieces of other instruments and things he finds at thrift stores – line the wall opposite his desk. One setup is the size and shape of the average folding table. Where the tabletop would be, rows of objects sit: wine glasses, bells and disassembled instruments. “Nobody even had these,” he says, gesturing towards his setups. “I built them for when I wasn’t able to travel with my large percussion setup, to keep my chops up. I’ve traveled all over the world with them.” He intended for the instruments to be very small. As he made them, he started finding more and more things to go on them, he says, because he’s following the path of the sound. “I like the challenge of working with whatever’s there, and to have it sound like nothing’s missing,” Mitchell said. see Mitchell page 5
Dalit Women’s Self Respect March spreads message in Bay Area Abbey Flentje flentje@thecampanil.com On Sept. 30, the Dalit Women's Self Respect March (DWSRM) came to Mills College to break the silence about the caste system in India and how sexual violence has affected Dalit women. The group is on their North
American tour, going to different cities to bring awareness to the violence of the caste apartheid system in India. Their goal is to start a discussion on the sexual violence perpetrated against Dalit – the lowest caste category – women's bodies as a way of the upper caste levels inflicting oppression upon the see
Dalit page 3
ABBEY FLENTJE
The Dalit Women’s Self Respect March (DWSRM) will be in the Bay Area for the next month doing events.
COLLEEN NEFF
Mills’ corpse flower is the offspring of Trudy, a corpse flower at the Berkeley Botanical Garden.
Erin Strubbe
contributing writer
Last month, the Mills College greenhouse gained a rare – and stinky – addition to its collection. According to Sarah Swope, director of the Mills College Botanic Garden, the corpse flower, also
known as Titan Arum, is native to Indonesia and is the largest flowering structure in the world. Named for the rotten stench that its rare bloom gives off, the corpse flower can reach up to ten feet tall, with a single leaf that has been known to reach twice that height. Just a few months ago, UC
Berkeley’s corpse flower, nicknamed “Trudy,” burst into bloom, filling the Berkeley Botanical Garden with her distinctive smell. Corpse flowers bloom approximately once every four years, and their bloom lasts for only a day. see
Flower page 3
Dr. Julia Chinyere Oparah changes communities through birth justice research Annie Clark
contributing writer
In person, Dr. Julia ChinyereOparah is extraordinarily poised and self-assured, with a relaxed demeanor and a calming presence — undoubtedly the type of person you would want by your side in a crisis. She seems to have been wired to do the kind of work that has been changing cross-continental communities for decades. Oparah has dedicated much of her career to changing the lives of marginalized communities by combining her interests in academic research and social justice activism. Her experience at Mills includes serving as the head of the ethnic studies department and recently as the associate provost. She seems to have found that
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ANNIE CLARK
Dr. Oparah is working to change the way women are treated during pregnancy.
optimal combination of working in a field she not only loves, but can genuinely say has a lasting positive impact on her community.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Oparah completed her bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Cambridge and later took a job as a community developer, where she helped mobilize marginalized communities to become involved in local policy decisions affecting their lives. “If there was going to be a new rec center built in their community, I would work with young people and young people of color to figure out how they could influence the decision makers [who] were building that rec center to make sure that it met their needs,” Oparah said. Oparah later became the director of the Osaba Women’s Center, working with low-income Black women in job training and educational programs, as well as organizing child care for mothers. see
Oparah page 4
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News
10.06.15
Controversial plan for trees in East Bay Hills begins Emily Burian
contributing writer
In early May, the City of Oakland, UC Berkeley and the East Bay Regional Parks Department accepted a $5.6 million grant to thin out the concentration of trees in the East Bay Hills that would reduce the fire hazard in vulnerable areas. The grant was requested 10 years ago under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program to fund a project
that would aim to reduce wildfire hazards. The severity of California’s drought and the flammability of the oil that is present in eucalyptus trees was used as their argument for the requested funds. The plan also aims to preserve native plants over the next ten years. Some residents in these areas rejected the plan because herbicides are being applied to the remaining tree stubs to avoid regrowth. The Hills Conservation Network is one of the many organizations fighting for conservation in the East Bay Hills, specifically the Claremont Canyon and Strawberry Canyon regions. It filed a lawsuit
EMILY BURIAN
Groups like the Hills Conservation Network have filed lawsuits against FEMA to stop funding the project in the Bay.
against FEMA in March to prevent the funding and implementation of the project. Peter Scott, a member of the organization, believes that the removal of trees would not be the solution to prevent wildfire. They advocate for protecting the current ecosystem and preventing wildfires caused by humans. “I’m speaking as someone who was there for the ‘70 fire and the ‘91 fire," Scott said. "I lost my house [and I] lost family members. I don’t want to see another fire. The trees are not the problem. They did not start the ‘91 fire. It is an urban fire problem. Almost all of the fires are set by humans.” The Hill Conservation Network also argues that FEMA's plan is more hazardous than the current state of the hills. “The people that are promoting this are looking for the hills to return to something 200 years ago where there were grasslands and occasional oak. That is the type of landscape that burns every year,” Scott said. Many residents are also worried about the herbicide application to the tree stubs because of the possible health hazards they pose. In an effort to address these issues, Robert Doyle, the manager of the East Bay Regional Parks department, sent an open letter to concerned residents about how the herbicide would be managed safely. “In some areas, trained personnel will be hand-applying very
small amounts of Garlon to prevent stumps from re-growing. Garlon has been proven safe for this purpose. It will not be applied near creeks or other water sources. Less than 20 gallons will be used annually over the 800 acres of ridgeline in the East Bay Hills,” Doyle said in the letter. FEMA's plan report claims that the potential for contaminated water sources and adverse health effects from these herbicides would be worse in the aftermath from a wildfire than from the proposed plan. Residents are still concerned about the herbicide's agency since they come from corporate GMO companies. Although FEMA's plan began in August, some issues with its implementation have already come up. On Sept. 4, another organization, Save the East Bay Hills, reported on their Facebook about an incident that came from composting some of the cut down trees from the plan. Firefighters were called to the scene in Redwood Regional Park after a resident reported that a mulch pile from a recently cut down pine tree was steaming. The steam was the result of heat from composting debris. Many organizations are still actively protesting FEMA's plan, but nothing has halted the implementation of it. The plan will happen over a period of 10 years and it is expected to change the landscape of the East Bay Hills as we know it today.
Column: Hillary and Mills
Tania Gidney
staff columnist
With the second Grand Ole Party (GOP) debate having occurred on Sept. 16, and 22 declared hopefuls competing for the presidential nomination, it is clear national election season is well underway, and because of that, it is time to have a talk about Hillary Rodham Clinton's relationship with Mills students. Since the beginning of the season, the GOP have taken this time
Emily Mibach Editor in Chief eic@thecampanil.com 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Rothwell 157 Oakland, CA 94613 510.430.2246 phone
to attack Clinton who they perceive as their greatest opponent, while ignoring the second front runner from the political left, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Yet to win the nomination, Clinton would have to appeal to the traditional base of the Democratic Party: youth, women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. The GOP’s greatest fear of Clinton is their belief that she will garner the “woman vote.” For years the media has painted Clinton as a champion for women, but now she is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle for pandering only to white women. This criticism was reiterated by Mills senior Patricia Perez who called Clinton a white feminist. Perez explained that white feminism is the lack of intersectionality within feminists like Clinton – a
consequence of the cultural notion of being “color blind." This absence of acknowledging privileged white women over other racial and ethnic groups has become a heated topic in this election. RealClearPolitics online shows Clinton is leading the polls at 47 percent, to Sanders 27 percent. According to the Washington Post, Clinton is facing worse poll ratings than during the 2008 campaign. They say this could be because 7 out of 10 Americans view politicians, especially career politicians such as Clinton and Jeb Bush, to be untrustworthy. Millennials often cite Clinton’s switch from anti-gay marriage to pro-gay marriage in the 2008 election as a prime example of her altering her platform to garner votes, thereby making her untrustworthy. These beliefs are demonstrated
by sophomore Jasmine Marani's emphasis on Clinton’s history of flip-flopping on issues. "I believe that Clinton is opportunistic, and chooses what views to support as a matter of political convenience,” Marani said in an email. “Ultimately, yes, she does support social reform that is helpful to obtaining equality. However, I think her views follow a trend of obtaining votes and popularity. These might be her views for the moment, but might change as the political climate changes. She is a career politician." Read the rest of this column online at thecampanil.com. This column does not necessarily reflect the view of the Campanil and its editorial board. It is the view solely of the author.
Chief News Editor Abbey Flentje
Asst. Design Editor Britt Hart
Arts & Ent. Editor Grace Forrest
Staff Writers Sarah Hoenicke, Valarie Williams, Taelor Ramos
Sports & Health Editor Monika Sabic Opinions Editor Dajanae Barrows
Copy Editors Pearl Thompson, Lindsay Baille
Online Editor Alexina Estrada
Photo Coordinator Hart Rosenberg
Copy Chief Kenna Wright
Staff Photographer Eve Switzky-Martin
Design Editor Francesca Twohy-Haines
Ad Manager Cleo Pierce
ASMC ELECTION RESULTS Joyelle Baker Senator at Large Jasmine Marani Senator at Large Jaqua Parker First Year Residential Senator Ellen Berke APER Senator Natalia Sandoval Solidarity Lounge Senator Sophia DiPaola Access and Support Services Senator Julian Mokgoastsana Transfer Senator Denise Dunne Resumer Senator Kaniya Samm Health Senator Alexandra Higgs Technology Senator Melissa Rosprim Natural Science Chair Maria Villafuerte Continuing Residential Senator Alicia McDaniel Clubs and Organizations Senator
For a full list of ASMC and Class Council members visit the Mills website.
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
Mills greenhouse gains a new addition from
Flower page 1
According to the New York Daily News, thousands of people flocked to the gardens in late July to see and smell the rare phenomenon. The Mills corpse flower is one of Trudy’s offspring and was donated by Holly Forbes, director of UC Berkeley’s Botanical Garden. Forbes and Swope met during their work together on reviving and reintroducing the endangered Tiburon jewelflower to the wild. “[Forbes] is a really big supporter of these kinds of educational endeavors, and so she very kindly donated a plant to us,” Swope said. Unlike her mother, this corpse flower does not yet boast a stinky bloom, but is expected to flower sometime in the next two years. “We just transplanted her and she’s got some roots going, so we’re hoping that she may make a flower next year,” Swope said. “Right now it looks like a pot of soil. [The corpse flower] spends a good portion of its life dormant.” Mills’ corpse flower is currently in the form of a corm, or a bulb-like root, in the Mills greenhouse, carefully tended to by Swope and her associates in the biology department. Senior biology student Andrea Kuftin has been caring for the corpse flower since the day of its arrival several weeks ago.
She was the one who first planted the corm in its new home at the Mills greenhouse. "At first I didn't know which way to turn it," Kuftin said. "There were roots just coming from all over the place!" The roots of the flower have been growing strong underneath the soil for several years now, but the plant has yet to breach the surface. This kind of growing schedule is typical for corpse flowers. “Our plant is probably about seven or eight years old and they flower for the first time around ten years old,” Swope said. “So we’re thinking that she might flower fairly soon.” Many biology students are hoping that this addition to the garden will increase others' interest in the Mills Garden program, and they look forward to studying this rare plant up close. "This [flower] would be a good learning opportunity for students," Kuftin said. "It's just such an extraordinary plant; there's nothing like it." Trudy and her fellow corpse flowers at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden have all been given women’s names, and in the spirit of Mills, Swope would like to continue the tradition for our new corpse flower. “We are looking for a name for her,” Swope said. The Mills corpse
flower is still unnamed, and Swope is looking to the community to help give a name to the newest member of the Mills family.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Mills greenhouse is currently searching for a name for the new corpse flower.
10.06.15
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Students lead conversations on deconstructing whiteness Dajanae Barrows barrows@thecampanil.com On Tuesdays, Mills students are coming together to reflect on accountability with racism, unlearning white privilege and building a better allyship with people of color on campus. The Deconstructing Whiteness meetings are set to converse and unlearn racism and white privilege on Mills' campus. At the Sept. 24 meeting, senior Evelyn Carmack led the discussion on what the series would revolve around. The meetings are held in a non-structured manner, allowing the participants to feel like they are in a safe space. Senior Nazanin Szanto felt that these dialogues will start larger conversations about privilege, not just on campus, but also in the community. Because of that, Szanto still feels that she has more to learn about privilege and racism in society. "I believe that I myself am still in the processes of being educated, as it is a journey and not an end point," Szanto said in an email. "I'm really invested in starting conversations, not to disrespect people or condescend them, but in hopes to get them to think about things they might not have before."
At the Sept. 24 meeting, the group discussed cultural appropriation and its harm toward marginalized communities. Szanto introduced the topic with a definition from Fordham University Law Professor Susan Scafidi, describing it as "taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission." According to Scafidi, this includes the "unauthorized use of another culture's dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc. It's most likely to be harmful when the source community is a minority group that has been oppressed or exploited in other ways, or when the object of appropriation is particularly sensitive, e.g. sacred objects." This conversation fueled Szanto's hope to spread a strong realization about cultural awareness in every day life, even through hair styles and fashion choices, i.e. dreadlocks, mohawks and bindis. "I hope to bring awareness to the harm that appropriation causes and redirect the 'appreciation' for certain cultures back into those POC communities," Szanto said. "What I mean by this is that there is still a lot of oppression in America, and around the world."
Dalit women speak on the injustices of India’s caste system from
Dalit page 1
Dalit people. After the opening remarks, the women giving the talk led a discussion describing India's caste system. The caste system was defined as a "social categorization of human beings into a structure of grave inequality" by Vee Kay, a member of the group. The caste system falls into five categories with Brahmin at the top, followed by Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and Dalit. According to Kay, upper castes consider Dalit people "untouchable," and they are not guaranteed safety by the police or the government. Since India Prime Minister
ABBEY FLENTJE
The best way to bring about an end to the caste system is to acknowledge its existence.
Narendra Modi, a member of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata party, rose to power in 2014, Hindu fundamentalism has been on the rise, creating an even more dangerous atmosphere for Dalit people. Caste-based sexual violence was the main topic of the evening. DWSRM member Sanghapali Lohitakshi presented the statistics of the traumatic subject. According to her, every day four Dalit women are raped and every week five to seven Dalit men are killed. "Dalit women's bodies are used as a battleground for the caste war," Lohitakshi said. Lohitakshi explained there is not a single perpetrator in castebased violence. In addition to the higher caste levels, the police and the state are also part of this violence by ignoring the cases brought to them and not implementing the law to protect the Dalit people. She advocated for global unity to eradicate the caste system. "The media is not ours, the administration is not ours, the state is not ours. It is not implementing the rule of law," Lohitaskshi said. "If we are to end this caste system in our lifetime, then we'll have to work together." Another group member, Asha Kowtal, called out the Indian government, saying the country has the "most hidden form of human rights abuses" in the world today. She said that when people think of
ABBEY FLENTJE
Sexual violence is used as a weapon against Dalit communites by upper castes and the state.
India, they think of the country as exotic. However, in truth they are not seeing the "caste apartheid and gross human rights violation" that is generally ignored. "We are here to speak the truth of this nation, which is actually an atrocity nation," Kowtal said. "You point to any place on a map [of India] and you will find the location of a heinous crime committed against a Dalit person. The list is endless." Kowtal also mentioned how dangerous it can be to fight for an end to the caste system.
Activists can face threats and intimidation for speaking about the injustices of the caste system and Hindu fundamentalism. In addition to the speakers, a panel of Dalit women spoke about their experiences with fighting for justice. Sushma Raj is a young woman who joined the cause in order to fight against the violence that she has seen against her community since her childhood. Lohitakshi reported that the caste system even invades the universities in India. Lists of which
caste each student belongs to are posted in classrooms. Every year, one to two Dalit students across the country commit suicide because of the discrimination they face in academic circles. Audience members asked questions about how to show their solidarity with the Dalit struggle. The panel responded that the best way to show support is to acknowledge that the caste system is very real and to help spread the word that it must be stopped. "The death of the caste system will be our liberation," Kowtal said.
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Arts & Entertainment
10.06.15 Student and alumnae gather to Oparah works for
discuss the historical strike of 1990 birthing justice Lily Drabkin
contributing writer
“Woman energy! Woman energy! Woman energy!” students chanted, holding hands around the oval and looking up at the moon. Rather than a scene from a feminist science fiction movie, this was students’ way of healing during the strike of 1990, protesting the decision to turn Mills completely co-ed. On Saturday, Sept. 26, a group of Mills alumnae who participated in the strike of the 1990s gathered for an event on campus celebrating the strike. A documentary about the strike is currently being made by three alumnae: editor Alexa Pagonas ‘91 and contributors Calia Brencsons Van Dyke ‘90 and Kristen Caven ‘89. These women invited alumnae and current students to reminisce, joke and share stories about their time at Mills as well as be inter-
viewed for the documentary. “Everyone worked really hard, offering everything they had [during the strike],” Pagonas said. “It is still incredible to me how each person was able to utilize their different skill sets and come together.” In the documentary, Pagonas will detail the ways that Mills students contributed to the strike, along with the different reasons students had for opposing the decision to go co-ed. “This documentary is going to be a serious, but funny take on women’s education,” Van Dyke said. “We want people to know the importance of Mills College and the importance of women’s education.” The strike has made a lasting impression not only at Mills, but in the lives of all the people who were involved. Carol Leland Ziscke, class of ‘80, remembers nights filled with walking around campus and
CAMPNAIL ARCHIVE
Mills women protest the decision to go co-ed in 1990.
bringing news from one group of students to the next, while carrying her daughter. “My daughter was around 5 during the strike, very impressionable. Now, she’s class president at her college, and I know that it was because she saw all these strong women taking charge,” Ziscke said, explaining the value of women’s education. Georgi Herman, class of ‘60, remembers the tears pouring down her face when she found out that Mills would remain a women’s college. “This was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. When we won, I felt a sense of victory I’ve never lost. I still carry that feeling with me everywhere,” Herman said. As more and more women’s colleges around the country become co-ed, the unique opportunities afforded to students at women’s colleges are being lost as well. This strike, and the student body, attract students who want a unique learning environment. “Learning about the strike reaffirms why I’m at Mills – to receive a top-notch education in a women-centered and revolutionary environment,” sophomore Alexa Barger said. The strike is long over, but the issues surrounding it are not. The creators of the documentary aim to keep what happened 26 years ago current. They want to inspire current generations by demonstrating the leadership skills and empowered mindsets that Mills fostered in its students when they fought to keep Mills a women’s college.
October Calendar OCT. 10: Monster Mash Comic & Zine Fair - Union Street Oakland from 10:00a.m - 11:00p.m. OCT. 15: Obsessions: a conversation with Eileen Myles @Artists’ television Access from 5 - 7p.m. OCT. 16: Oakland Autmn Lights Festival in Gardens at Lake Merritt @ 11:00p.m. OCT. 17-18: Treasure Island Music Festival OCT. 17-18: World Pumpkin Capital Celebrates The Great Gourd in Half Moon Bay, from 9a.m. - 5p.m. OCT. 18: San Francisco Croatian Heritage Festival @ 1p.m.
CAMPNAIL ARCHIVE
Professor since 1997, Dr. Oparah helped found the queer studies program with David Donahue here at Mills. from
Dr. Oparah page 4
Soon, she realized that she was doing too much of what she calls “firefighting” – solving crises as they occurred moment-to-moment, rather than changing systematic problems that led to the suppression of marginalized voices in public discourse. Viewing academia as a tool to affect more lasting change, Oparah returned to school to receive a master’s degree in race and ethnic studies and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Warwick. Since coming to Mills in 1997, Oparah has consistently worked to uphold the College’s mission of providing an equitable and welcoming environment for students of diverse backgrounds. She helped develop the queer studies minor, in partnership with her colleague Dr. David Donahue of the education department, primarily in response to student demand. Oparah and Donahue conducted research to assuage some doubts among the Board of Trustees about the legitimacy of the queer studies discipline. “We thought it was important to do the research … and we wrote a proposal that went to the Board of Trustees so that they could learn about it, and I think that was a really good process,” Oparah said. Recently, Oparah has been particularly invested in a grassroots research project called Black Women Birthing Justice, which aims to investigate trends of medicalization and mistreatment of Black women during the child-birthing process. “Birth justice” refers to the efforts to ensure that those who experience pregnancy, whether cisgender or transgender, receive ethical care, focusing in particular on the ways in which women of color and trans people are often silenced and ignored in decisions affecting their own pregnancies. Oparah first became aware of these difficulties during her own pregnancy. “The vast majority of pregnant individuals ... are able to go through [the process] with support systems – emotional and social – as well as having regular checks, but it’s not a medical emergency. I felt as if I
were going into a medical system to solve a medical problem,” she said. She says that her desire to remain with her child for the night after giving birth, as well as her preference for a natural childbirth, were immediately dismissed by her doctor. After speaking with a friend – also a Black woman who felt that she was inappropriately medicalized during her pregnancy – Oparah realized the problem may be more widespread. “We were talking to each other and said ‘There’s something wrong with this picture.’ We’re both very empowered typically, but in those critical moments we were disempowered,” Oparah said. Oparah is quick to emphasize that she views herself as a catalyst rather than a solitary actor – that lasting social change happens with groups of committed people. The principal model of the Black Women’s Birthing Justice project is a form of community activism called research justice. “The idea is that community members who have been directly impacted by an issue are the best equipped to be researchers on that issue,” Oparah said. During the research process, Oparah and her colleagues (including youth activists, reproductive rights activists and Doulas, or midwives) collected over one hundred stories from Black women who experienced trauma and injustice during childbirth. These stories are documented in the new book Birth Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy, and Childbirth, edited by Oparah and her colleague Alicia D. Bonaparte. A few of Oparah’s students also became involved. Sophia Perez, a 2015 graduate of the ethnic studies department at Mills, even became a certified Doula while working on the project. “I feel very privileged to have done work with such a revolutionary activist researcher,” Perez said in an email. Perez went on to describe Oparah’s greatest contribution to Mills as “her ability to hold space for tender and difficult moments.” Perez continued, “to me, Dr. Oparah is Mills.”
Arts & Entertainment
10.06.15
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Mills music professor, Roscoe Mitchell, is one of a kind from
Mitchell page 1
Born Aug. 3, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Mitchell started playing music at age 12. Though he now has an international audience, he still considers himself a student of music. The Art Ensemble of Chicago – a group of influential avant-garde jazz artists, of which Mitchell is a founding member – came to California in 1968. He was also an early member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Inc. (AACM) in Chicago. “The AACM is a collective of musicians and composers dedicated to nurturing, performing and recording serious, original music,” says the AACM website. Mitchell’s colleague James Fei, professor of intermedia arts and music at Mills since 2006, says the Art Ensemble was a group that was skirting the line between jazz, classical contemporary music, improvised music and theater, and was in many ways incredibly popular and successful. Mitchell, and three trios whom he has worked with, recently traveled to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago to perform as part of an exhibition. The exhibition was set up, in part, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AACM. According to the museum, the event will showcase “a powerhouse of inventive musicians drawn from Roscoe’s varied musical adventures.” “[The AACM] is a really big part
of both his history as well as this group of mostly African American musicians and thinkers,” Fei said. “It was just an amazing pool of talent who pooled resources and were educating themselves further, leading classes for the community and creating extraordinarily avantgarde work.” *** Mitchell was drawn to Mills by its tradition of great musicians and composers. “I remember the first day he came to my house when he was auditioning for the job,” David Bernstein, department head and professor of music at Mills, said. “He was wearing a beautiful suit. He’s a beautifully dressed man, a very distinguished gentleman – I was wearing dungarees, I was so embarrassed – but I think he dresses like that to show he cares about other people.” Bernstein knew Mitchell was perfect for Mills as soon as they met. “The integrity he has is really unique,” Bernstein said. “You have a lot of musicians. Some, they like to talk shoptalk – kind of loose talking about other peoples’ work – and they’re quick to say, ‘Well, I don’t like this or that.’ Roscoe, I’ve never seen him compromise his integrity.” Around Mitchell, one gets the sense that he believes all is possible. Mitchell’s uncles were painters, and though he tried painting himself, it became clear during his time
RECOMMENDED BO OKS FROM MILLS PROFESSORS
at Wilson Junior College that music was his passion. “My problem with college was that I was always very interested with everything at the beginning of the semester, but as the semester wore on I found myself just practicing all the time. In Paris, I wanted to go the Sorbonne to study French but as soon as I wanted to do that, all the sudden we were running all around Europe doing concerts. People don’t want to hear that at the Sorbonne,” Mitchell said. He went quiet before continuing: “I can always go back, you know.” *** “He’s very open to people from many different backgrounds and he’s very eager to learn from them,” William Winant, a professor at Mills since 1984, said. Larri Parms-Ford has been a student of Mitchell’s for three years. “We first met when I was a first year and I decided to warm up my baritone saxophone outside of the Music Building before a class. He told me I had a nice tone and he recommended I study with him, so I did,” Parms-Ford said. *** Though he has been all over in the service of his music, Mitchell would like to travel some more – this time, not for work. “I’d like to go on a real vacation where I’m not doing anything,” Mitchell said. With some hesitation, he tells me he would like to go to Italy again. “I really enjoyed my trip to Italy
COURTESY OF ROSCOE MITHCELL
At 75, music professor, Roscoe Mitchell continues to inspire both his students and colleagues here at Mills.
last August. It’s like California on steroids,” he said. “Everything is so green. Driving down the highway, I saw rows and rows of agaves in full bloom. They must have all been planted around the same time.” He explained,“What it does is like it goes on and on and it gets big and pretty. Soon this thing shoots up out of the middle of it and it starts out looking like an asparagus – a big giant asparagus – and it goes way up into the sky and then all these branches shoot off of it and then it flowers and, once it does
this, it dies. I’ve got a piece called ‘Agave in Full Bloom.’” He enjoyed being there. People were nice, he was able to relax, there was good food and no one was in much of a hurry. Though he might actually take this vacation, he would surely be back to work – back to practice – as soon as it was over. Everyone who spoke about him contradicted Mitchell’s own belief that “none of us is as big as music.” It was clear they believed Roscoe Mitchell might just be.
Movie Review-Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
Helen Walter Assistant Professor of Biology “The Way of the Kings” - Brandon Sanderson “Daughter of the Blood” - Anne Bishop Cynthia Scheinberg Professor of English “Between the World and Me” - Ta Nehisi Coates “Americanah” - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Kim Magowan Professor of English “To the Lighthouse” - Virginia Woolf “The Good Soldier” - Ford Madox Ford
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Pussy Riot got a world wide name when members were jailed in 2012 for protesting about the lack of sepration between church and state in Russia.
Taelor Ramos staff writer
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, now available on Netflix instant, takes place over a tumultuous six months beginning before the Russian feminist group’s infamous concert in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The concert was a punk performance art protest about the lack of separation between church and state and Putin’s totalitarian leadership. This documentary goes in depth, following Nadezhda “Nadia” Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Sautse-
vich through secret rehearsals and flash performances alike. Friends and family share childhood stories and heart wrenching thoughts as the women incite outrage and action across the nation and later the West. After the performance Nadia, Maria and Yekatrina are accused of hooliganism and denied bail as they await trial. Members of the Russian Orthodox Church rallying against Pussy Riot are interviewed, freely calling the women “demons” and angrily stating that if it were the 16th century “we would’ve hanged them,” followed by “we would’ve burned them as witches.”
The group’s brightly colored outfits and energetic music clash with the intense conservatism they face fighting for freedom of speech and civil rights. While the film ends during the trial, the story doesn’t end there. Nadia and Maria served 21 months and were released on December 23, 2013. This means that they were granted amnesty with only two months left to serve, a move Nadia Tolokonnikova later called a publicity stunt on behalf of Putin before the 2014 Winter Olympics. If you’re interested in music, art and politics, this is one thrilling (and surprisingly humorous) feature you don’t want to miss!
Staff Editorial
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Opinions
10.06.15
Uber’s choice to buy Sears building and its potential effects On Sept. 24, SFGate announced that Uber purchased the former Sears building in downtown Oakland. The article stated that company officials plan to renovate it as their East Bay office in 2017. Uber also intends to expand its headquarters in San Francisco, which “will employ up to 3,000 people.” What did The Campanil think of the news? We felt that Uber’s choice to purchase the Sears building will contribute to the gentrification that has already been occurring in Oakland. Although we are aware of the potential jobs and “economic development” Uber could bring, we also cannot help but wonder what it
takes away from us. Oakland is known for its diversity and activism throughout its history. Especially because it is in downtown Oakland, we feel that Uber’s choice takes away the offbeat reputation that the city is known for. Another thought we had was that when Uber has finished its construction, who will they hire? We question whether Uber will work to hire Oakland residents or if it would become a place for San Francisco residents to commute to. If it were the latter, it would contribute to the gentrification and displacement that is already happening in Oakland. Uber’s history with the San Francisco Bay Area has been
OAKLAND LOCALWIKI
The building opened in 1927 as a department store. It was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake and Sears bought it in 1994, allowing it to operate for 20 years.
viewed in a negative light (i.e. questionable hiring choices), and we doubt that the company will want to build a true relationship with the community it has bought
itself into. Oakland has been experiencing gentrification in many sides of the city, particularly around Lakeshore, North Oakland, and downtown. According to a policy report used by The Bold Italic, rent has already increased 9.1 percent from Nov. 2013 to Nov. 2014. In the same report, it was released that the African American population in Oakland decreased by 24 percent, and that home ownership in East Oakland decreased by 25 percent. The Campanil also notices the potential trend that Uber is following, along with other companies and startups: They are slowly working to make Oakland a technological hub akin to
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San Francisco. We could not help but notice how quickly San Francisco has shifted into a tech hub in the past 10 years. Because of that quickness, we fear that Oakland will lose more of its history, diversity and creativity. Although gentrification and displacement appear inevitable, we understand the importance of truly preserving the history, culture and diversity of Oakland. As journalists and community members in Oakland, our role is important. We have to participate in moments like these through our stories, letting the Mills community know what is happening in the city we are investing our time in.
Come to our Open Meetings Rothwell 157 Mondays @ 6:30 p.m. or contact: eic@thecampanil.com
My awareness of the missing 43 students Alexina Estrada Estrada@thecampanil.com
Editor’s note: With the exception of staff editorials, the views expressed in columns and 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.
It’s been a year, yet questions remain unanswered and justice fails to be served. It’s been a year now since 43 voices were silenced. The one year anniversary of the night that students went missing from Ayotzinapa was on Sept. 26. As a third generation Latina and first generation college student, I find it horrifying. With all of the horrific events happening in the United States, trying to grasp what was happening in Mexico only makes me wonder where one can be safe. I have never visited Mexico. My grandfather and my great-grandma no longer have any reason or desire to visit. They strongly believe it is not the same as they once knew it, and that it is unsafe for me to go. I wasn’t raised knowing much about Mexico because the belief was that in order to succeed, I didn’t need to know much. As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to teach myself, ask questions and try to strengthen the spark inside me. 43 missing students – that’s what made me more aware. I remember seeing the hashtag #Ayotzinapa first. I was shocked, but at the same time, I didn’t expect
anything less. The only difference of this horrific event was that it was in Mexico, not the United States. Yes, Mexico has other issues, like drug wars, poverty and government corruption, but 43 students… 43 students. I went to the year anniversary vigil in San Francisco on Sept. 26. I stared at the floor of the posters with the 43 students’ faces and thought, “This could have been my friends, this could have been my cousins, this could have been ME.” There were not many people at the vigil. It shocked me how some people did not seem to know about something that had strongly affected me and others. One woman passing by asked what Ayotzinapa meant. Another man walked by and told his accompanying friend, “That’s horrible, I didn’t even know that happened.” It pains me to know that I could have been born in Mexico, could have been denied an education, could have been denied a chance of success, and even if I beat the odds, could have had my whole presence erased. 43 lives have been erased and their memories have been left like eraser shavings being blown off your desk. What’s giving me hope now though, what encourages me to continue to pave a path for my younger brothers to work towards
EMILY MIBACH
their future, are the people who are still demanding justice. Not everyone has given up. The people holding vigils, participating in demonstrations and keeping the 43 students in their thoughts and prayers, they are the ones giving me hope. I want to see justice and change come from the disappearance of their lives. I want to see recognition of the value of a person and the freedom to fight for what you believe in. 43 days, weeks, or years from now, I want to know that I helped fight and bring justice. I want to know that people’s lives who have been lost will not go in vain. I’m not talking about just Mexico, but the rest of the world. For now, the 43 students from Ayotzinapa have brought me closer to my heritage and motivation for social justice.
Sports & Health Cyclone volleyball team takes on alumnae Monika Sabic
sabic@thecampanil.com
Haas Pavilion was a packed house as the current Mills Volleyball team dominated in a four-set friendly game against Cyclone alumnae on Sept. 25. Both current and alumnae teams played a close match on the court with high energy and Cyclone spirit. The volleyball alumnae — whose years on the team range from the 1990s to last season — kept up with this year’s team without previous practice. This year’s alumnae team had the highest turn out ever with 16 members. Alumnae flew in from all over the country for the chance to play again at Mills. Alumnae Tina Ong, a graduate from 2002, was excited to see old teammates from when she played from 1998 to 2002 as a setter. Ong notes that she has come a long way since playing volleyball at Mills. “Walking up to the Pavilion was surreal,” Ong said. “It was getting all those flashbacks of the memories of all the practices that I had in here. Head coach Loke Davis played for the alumnae team rather than coach her team from the sidelines. Davis, a Mills alumnae, played for the Cyclones from 2005 to 2009. She looked forward to the alumnae game so that she could once again have the perspective of being a player. “When you coach it is easy to separate yourself from that
10.06.15
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Haas Pavilion Fitness Center Hours Mon., Wed., Fri. 6:30- 8:00 a.m.
Mon.-Thur.
12:00-9:00 p.m.
Friday
MONIKA SABIC
The current team won 4-0 against the alumnae in the game.
position [because] you forget what it [is] like,” Davis said. “I think it is important to put yourself in that position so you know what it feels like again.” Co-captain Janan Salaam believed that the alum game was the best game that her team has had this season. She was especially motivated to win this match since the team would face their coach. “I wanted to prove to [Davis] why I was on this team, why I was a captain, and why I play volleyball,” Salaam said. “I wanted to show her what I can do and there
Setter Megan Miller played hard for the alumnae team.
was no pressure.” The current team set the tone for the game with great communication and touches on the ball. Passer Amber Meza dominated on the court with her high-powered spikes that would catch the alumnae off guard. Her attacks on the net would either even the score, or give the current team the lead point. By the fourth set, the alumnae came back and were able to even the scoreboard. Brittney Dockerty, who played from 2013 to 2015, started the set off strong for the alumnae after scoring the first three points with powerful serves over the net. Both teams were able to keep a consistent rally with each other until the current team was able to take the lead and win the final set by seven points. “The fact that [the current team] won reminds the alumnae that Mills volleyball is a thing,” Salaan said. “We are trying hard to keep up that legacy for them and want [the alumnae] to be proud of us.
Laura Davis was impressed with how Cole’s hard work and commitment was visible in the opening race of the season. She notes that Cole shows great potential for her running ability and becoming a leader on the team “It’s rare that you see a first year athlete finish first for a team, and even rarer that you see her become a leader from the first practice,” Davis said in an email. The race featured runners from five other GSAC schools: Agnes Scott College, University of Maine-Presque Isle, Pine Manor College, and Salem College. These schools have higher ranked crosscountry teams that are Division Two or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Cole finished as the top Division Three runner of the race. According to Davis, the 6k coastal course was considered challenging due to the several loops that included a single-track dirt trail, which can be difficult when passing other runners. This longer distance can also be hard for new college runners — in high school cross-country races are 5k distances. Cole did not know what to expect from her first collegiate race, especially since this was her longest distance race. “I was going to run and evaluate how I felt and honestly I didn’t feel
that tired when I finished,” Cole said. “I know that I need to push myself harder next time so that I can go faster.” Cole’s leadership and dedication to running has been noticed by her teammates. Mara Harwood, a senior, made sure she kept Cole in her sight during the race. “It [is] easier to run when you have someone ahead of you and you know that they are pushing themselves,” Harwood said. “It inspires you to push harder.” In preparation for this season, Cole did intensive summer training that she believes is paying off. Her workouts with her personal trainer included extensive cardio and cross fit drills. She has noticed that after the three month training, she has become “a lot more fit and [a] stronger” runner than before this upcoming season. With five races left in this fall season, Cole’s goal is to improve her times during races. More importantly, she wants to create a strong bond with her cross-country teammates. “[Cole] is a great athlete, but she is also warm and encouraging to her teammates; both of those things will take her far as an athlete,” Davis said. “It also means that her teammates succeed with her because she’s bringing them along with her.”
MONIKA SABIC
12:00-7:00 p.m.
Sat.-Sun.
12:00-3:00 p.m.
The fitness center will be closed from Nov. 25-29, 2015
Upcoming Games Swimming
vs. CSU-East Bay Oct. 9 at 3:00 p.m.
Soccer vs. Sierra Nevada College Oct. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Volleyball
vs. Simpson (Ca) Oct. 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Mills hosts 16th annual Carmella Cole wins GSAC Runner of the Week award Swim-A-Mile to fight cancer Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com Mills first year Carmella Cole was honored as the first Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC) Runner of the Week of the 2015 season for her impressive performance in the 6K race at Humboldt State. In her first collegiate race ever, Cole proved herself by finishing first for Mills’ seven member cross country team with a steady pace of 26:25, approximately a 7:05 mile. She came in 35th place out of 49 runners competing. Interim cross-country coach
COURTESY OF APER
MONIKA SABIC
Participants of all ages were welcome to swim a mile for a women’s cancer awareness, hosted at Mills’ aquatic center.
Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com The Mills community and Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) gathered together for the 16th annual Swim-A-Mile to fight against women’s cancer on Oct. 3-4. “We are so grateful for Mills to host this event,” Swim-A-Mile coordinator Christine Sinnott said. “This is the 20th Swim-A-Mile and we have been here 16 years.” Every year, head coach Neil Virtue and his Cyclone swim team host the event with WCRC for both the team and walk-on volunteers to swim a mile distance – 33 laps – in honor of their loved
ones who have or are currently battling cancer. On either end of the pool are spectators cheering on the swimmers with cowbells. After swimming the 33 laps, participants are given a medal for their participation in fighting for a common cause. After exceeding the $375,000 goal at last year’s Swim-A-Mile to $431,000, the WCRC is striving higher for this year. This years goal is to raise $465,000 which will go towards the WCRC providing free supportive services to both men and women with cancer in Alameda County and Contra Costa County. “Our goal this year is ambitious, but we were at 70 percent last night,” Sinnott said. “These swimmers are amazing.”
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Sports & Health
10.06.15
Exercises to achieve a toned booty
Ivory Veale is the new cross-country coach
Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com
Monika Sabic sabic@thecampanil.com
In the midst of midterm season, we cannot forget to workout and keep in shape. Too much studying turns into stress eating, which leads to junk in your trunk. You think everything is fine until one day the stress eating catches up to you, and then you notice that you’re having difficulty trying to button your pants. People think that squats are the only exercise that will give you that nice, toned behind. Those who suffer from knee pains or injuries are unable to do exercises like squats because it puts stress on their knees. For those who have difficulty with squats or want to diversify their buttock regiment, here are some simple exercises that will help tone and perk up your booty:
Ivory Veale’s impressive background as both a coach and college runner made him the ideal candidate to be Mills’ new crosscountry coach. Veale joins Mills after coaching Pittsburg High School’s junior varsity cross-country team for two years. He started as a track coach in 1996 as a graduate assistant for Chico State. His position eventually evolved into becoming a tenure coach for the the school’s sprint and relays, as well as for the middle distance team. Veale transitioned to cross-country after coaching the women’s team at Bethany College in Kansas. Since leaving Kansas, Veale has focused on coaching long distance running because he likes working with a small team, compared to track teams that have more participants. “I have more one on one access to the athletes to really design [fitness] programs that fit the needs of the individual, “ Veale said. Veale’s experience in both track and cross-country has broadened his coaching ability. Not only does Veale have an extensive background as a coach, but also as an accomplished runner. Running track for Chico State, Veale was a Division II All-American athlete his junior year and three-time NCAA Division II conference champion in the 100, 200, and 4x100 meter events in his senior year. After 18 years, he still holds Chico’s relay race record. Despite his achievements in track, Veale notes that he is “really proud [of] the fact that [he] was an academic all-conference student” maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher during his two years at Chico State. After meeting his team for the
ALL PHOTOS BY EMILY MIBACH
Single-leg Hip Raise: This workout requires you to lay flat on your back and bend one leg, with your knees in the air at a 45 degree angle; the other leg should be lifted straight outward. If you cannot keep your balance with your leg straight outward than you can cross it over your other knee. Next, you should lift yuor hips in the air so that they are straight and aligned with your toes and your neck. Remember to tighten your abdomen. One hip lift is equal to one rep. After ten reps, switch legs to work out both sides of your butt. This exercise works the middle of the gluteus maximus muscle. Working out this section of the muscle helps rounds the buttocks while making it more toned.
Stair Leg Lifts: This exercise involves standing on steps. While balancing on the step, lift one leg straight backwards until you feel a slight, tight sensation in the crease between your buttocks and upper thigh. Remember to keep your abdomen tight. One lift is equal to one rep. After ten reps on one side, switch legs. This exercise works the gluteus medius, which is the muscle in the upper buttocks above the gluteus maximus that gives it its roundness. Stair leg lifts also work the bottom of the gluteus maximus, which should lift the buttocks while also firming the muscles in the upper thigh. Butt Plié-Sumo Squats: If someone suffers from chronic knee pains than this exercise is not recommended. This workout requires your legs to be hip-length apart, with your toes pointed slightly outward. Bend the knees slightly less than a 45-degree angle. Tension should be felt in the butt and inner thighs. Pains felt in the knees indicate that you are bending too low. While in a Fire Hydrants/Doggy lifts: You must get into a crawling position; your back should be horizontal to the floor. Keeping your knees bent, lift one knee outward to the side so that your hips create a 45-degree angle. For more of a challenge, as you lift one knee extend the leg straight outward into a kicking position. One knee/ leg lift to the side and back to the starting position is one rep. After ten reps on one side, switch legs. This exercise tones the outside of the gluteus maximus and hips. This helps tighten and compact the sides of your butt while also lifting it.
plié position, lift your heels up and then drop them back down for one rep. Remember to keep your abdomen tight. One plié and knee heel is equal to one rep. This exercise works the bottom of the gluteus maximus, which helps lift and tone the buttocks and upper thigh. In addition, Plié-Sumo squats help tighten the muscles in the inner thigh.
first time, Veale was pleased by how the team easily took to him being their new cross country coach. He is excited to start working on the runner’s personal short-term goals for this upcoming season. Because Veale joined at the beginning of the academic year, he was unable to create fitness programs during the off-season that were designed for long-term goals. Instead, Veale and his team want to establish a starting point and focus on developing skills and techniques that can be accomplished in their first fall season together. After meeting Veale for the first time, senior Mara Harwood feels that he will be a successful coach at Mills and appreciates the new training principles that he brings to the team. Rather than focus on running the distance, Harwood likes that Veale is more about “less mileage and more about quality over quantity.” “[We are] working a lot with agility and doing drills and core strength that we have [not] seen,” Harwood said. “There is so many ways that you can approach training.” Senior Natanya Friedeim believes that Veale has big shoes to fill as the new cross-country coach after the departure of their previous coach who was loved by the team. However, after meeting Veale and hearing what he offers to the team, Friedeim thinks his experience in both track and cross-country will bring a new dynamic to the team’s training. “I’m really looking forward to helping these athletes out to reach their goals,” Veale said.
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