Features Day in the Life: Professor Gemma Sala, political science page 7
Arts
Community
Lydia James '19 brings art show to Smith Gallery
"No" wins vote on school bond issue.
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Scarlet & Black Volume 135, Issue 3
thesandb.com
September 14, 2018 • Grinnell, Iowa
Fall 2018 Senator Elections
By Catherine Stone stonecat@grinnell.edu
The election for the Student Government Association (SGA) senators occurred this week. Initially, senator applications were due at noon on Sept. 9, but SGA decided to extend the deadline to 11:59 p.m. that night in order to allow for more applicants to apply. According to the SGA Facebook page, additional candidates were needed for East Campus, Loosehead, Canada and Smounker. “We didn’t have as many candidates as we wanted originally, that’s something that’s pretty common in my time here,” said Charlotte Love ’19, Election Board Chair. “We pushed back the deadline because we think that it’s really important to have people who want to take the time to apply and really take the initiative to think about why they want to be senator.” All full-time students of the College, except for first semester, first-year students, are eligible to run. Senators are important to the governing of Grinnell as they act as liaisons between SGA and their constituents. Dylan Welch ’19, the SGA Administrative Coordinator, wrote in an email to The S&B, “Senators are an instrumental link between the larger student body and the ability to establish student organizations, bring speakers to campus, initiate service projects, host inclusive allcampus parties and voice student concerns with Grinnell College’s administration.” The basic duties of the elected senators include attendance at every campus council meetings,
reporting decisions or ongoing discussions of SGA to their clusters, express ing the views of their constituents, participating in at least one committee, voting on budgets, debating topics of interest and hosting events for their clusters. Some senators who ran have served in this capacity in the past, including Elizabeth Collinger ’21, Allie Pearce ’20, Amanda Weber ’21 and Carrie Stallings ’19. On her decision to run again, Pearce, a candidate for Clangrala, said, “This year I feel that I could be a lot better about advancing some of my own ideas now that I know the lay of the land … one of my biggest goals is to work on community outreach.” Weber, on the ballot this year for Off-Campus and College-Owned housing, said, “I came to really enjoy having the opportunity to serve people and to do what I could to make the quality of life better for the people in my cluster.” Another motivation to run includes representing a certain population of students on campus. Ryuta Kure ’21, who ran for East Campus Senator, said, “I was approached by a current member of SGA who encouraged me to run for Senator as we are lacking international diversity in SGA.” Kure also said that it was important to “negotiate with your cluster, and to know your cluster.” Senators are required to have a project that they focus on during the semester to better student life. Love put the senator project into the context of the role. “The senator project is a place where senators can really go above and beyond,” she said. “A really good senator will have a good idea that
they’ve found matters to the people in their clusters, if they really are proactive and get the ball rolling on something.” Love gave the examples of undergraduate research opportunities and bike repair station as examples of successful senator projects. “Senator projects can be really cool, especially if senators work together, and if they work on it consistently,” Love said. Water quality on and off campus was a topic discussed by many candidates in either their short bios posted to the ballot or during interviews. Weber, a resident of Russian House, said “I would like to get water filters for faucets in the off campus-housing because we don’t have water fountains.” Anne Moen ’20 also showed an interest in prioritizing water quality. “My senate project would be to focus on getting water bottle fillers in residence halls,” she said. When asked what qualities potential senators should have, Love replied that they need to keep their constituents in mind. “Even if it’s not something super fancy, … having regular meetings where [constituents] can tell you how they’re feeling about campus issues is really important,” Love said. Having served as a senator before, Weber echoed these sentiments. “A senator should be a consistent resource for the residents in their cluster,” she said. “Being someone that’s communicable and available is important because that’s basically what the job is.” In total, there were 25 people on >> See Senators page 3
ZOEY KOHLER
Amanda Weber '21 (top) and Anna Moen '20 (bottom) were respectively elected senators for OCCO/OCNO and Jamaland..
First Off the Field Symposium College hires new spurs excitement for faculty and staff upcoming talks By Marnie Monogue monoguem@grinnell.edu
By Mayo Sueta suetamay@grinnell.edu
On Thursday 11 a.m., Juliet Macur, a sports columnist for the New York Times, kicked off the "Off the Field" Symposium, an event organized by the Rosenfield Program, cosponsored by the College’s Athletics Department, the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS) and Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). The symposium, which will continue into next week, discusses the intersection of sports with politics,
economics and society. Macur often “writes about issues that transcend sports,” according to her guest biography. During her panel, she discussed stories that she has written which touched on social, political and cultural issues as well as sports. Through going into detail about specific stories, Macur stressed the importance of “seeing life through the lens of sports,” which she mentioned was what “this whole symposium is really about.” She first became a sports journalist because she was attracted by the idea
of being able to travel and meet people as part of her job and cover big stories right away. “The problem of that, which is still the case, is that I don’t like writing about games, I [want to] go beyond the X's and O's of these sporting events, so I had to go find stories that really had nothing to do with sports and had everything to do with society … and it turned out to be okay!” Macur said in her talk this past Thursday. To Macur, sports stories that transcend sports come to her in >> See New York Times page 2
Grinnell College recently hired a handful of new faculty and staff members, many of whom began working in August. Mollie Ullestad, the new International Student Adviser, arrived on campus in June, and has already had time to adapt to life in Grinnell and plan for her future time here. “One of my big goals this year is learning [about] the students, and … figuring out what the Grinnell student is like,” said Ullestad. “But we’re also starting a new program called the Cultural Ambassadors, which I’m a big part of … we’re sending international students into the local Grinnell schools to facilitate some cultural experiences, which should
be really great. Give U.S. kids some experiences with all these different cultures.” Ullestad applied for her current position at Grinnell specifically because of the College’s high percentage of international students. “My master’s is in geography with a focus on international education, so I was looking for [an] environment that … could provide me with a career in that,” she said. “And, also, Grinnell is such a great school! I just felt it was the best of all worlds.” Ullestad has already adjusted well to life in the town of Grinnell, partly because she is a native Iowan. “Originally, I’m from a small town called Jewell, which is about 20 miles north of Ames. It’s a very rural community — like, 1,500 people,” >> See New Hires page 2
Residential Learning Task Force releases final report By Charun Upara uparacha@grinnell.edu
ELENA COPELL
Juliet Macur, New York Times sports columnist, presented in JRC 101 on Thursday. Friday DIS/UNITY: AN INVITATION Volleyball Courts; Wall Theatre 7:30 p.m.
Sunday ANACHA Presents: !WAR Bucksbaum 242, 5:00 p.m.
Follow us on twitter @thesandb
Tuesday Yom Kippur Main Lounge and Quad Dining Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Last week, President Raynard Kington announced in a special campus memo that the Task Force on Residential Learning had released its final report, which covers two years of investigations and actions to improve the integration of residential living and the student experience. According to the campus memo, Kington asked the Task Force in 2015 to “define the goals of self-governance in order to serve the mission of the College; suggest avenues to infuse the College mission into the residential Wednesday Accreditation Discussion JRC 101, 4:00 p.m.
experience; help students thrive, not just survive; and provide leadership development for students.” With these goals in mind, the Task Force was divided into four sub-committees, collaborating with Student Affairs, the administration, facilities management and various student organizations and groups. Through multiple meetings with the President, the sub-committees collectively generated a list of recommendations to the President on how to improve students’ residential experiences. “A lot of what drove this was an interest in understanding students’ >> See Report page 2 Thursday Writers@Grinnell Reading: Samantha Irby JRC 101 8:00 p.m.
Community 4 | Arts 5 | Sports 6 | Features 7 | Opinions 8
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News New York Times sports editor, Juliet Macur, discusses the intersection of athletics and societal issues
Edited by fentonma@grinnell.edu & suetamay@grinnell.edu
Symposium will continue into next Monday and Tuesday
Continued from Front Page different ways. “Sometimes you gotta find the stories … and sometimes the stories that transcend sports find you,” she said. One story she actively sought out was about two men who were part of the National Guard unit during the Iraq War, who had become friends through playing football. Their job was to find and diffuse roadside bombs in Iraq and, when their Humvee drove over a bomb, one of the men was killed and the other lost a leg. Macur found that the one who had been killed had written a letter to a Congressman telling him that his unit was “ill-equipped to be [in Iraq].” “‘We are not prepared to fight in this war, and … some of us might get hurt and die here because of it,’” she said, quoting the letter. “[The] story
turned out to be so much bigger than just … guys-playing-football-goingover-to-fight-together story, it turned out to be a story that questioned … how America was preparing our troops for war.” As an example of a story which found her, she mentioned a piece about the NFL cheerleaders, where five Redskins cheerleaders approached her to talk about their experience during a trip to Costa Rica where they had their passports taken away and were made to serve as personal escorts, among other things. “The story … started out as a cheerleading story and turned out to be a story about workers’ rights and equal rights,” Macur said. “I was talking to one of my editors about it, and I said, ‘You know what, I never really dreamed that I would be on the cheerleader beat,’ and he
said, ‘You know what, you’re not on the cheerleader beat, you’re on the harassment beat.’” Macur also discussed the story about Colin Kaepernick who knelt during the national anthem at an NFL preseason game and spurred discussion about patriotism, as well as the story on Lawrence Nassar, a child molester who was the USA Gymnastics national team doctor and osteopathic physician at Michigan State University, bringing up questions about “how institutions treat their athletes.” Another story she discussed was about Ryan Hoffman who suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, but did not get sufficient help for his condition. Hoffman’s story highlighted the lack of public policy on such issues. She ended her discussion with a story on a sports coach in Madison, Indiana who works to keep his players
from choosing suicide and drugs in a town where such issues are especially prevalent. Macur used all these examples to highlight the power of sports. “Sports means something more now, sports has caused people to stand up and pay attention,” she said. “Everybody is listening to what sports are saying.” Macur’s panel was followed by Marc Edelman’s 4 p.m. panel, “College Athlete Rights and the Need for NCAA Reform,” and a panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. called “Militarism, Patriotism, Nationalism and Sport” by Michael Butterworth of the University of Texas, Sarah Fields of the University of Colorado and Luis Moore of Grand Valley State University. The symposium will continue into next week where, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nola Agha will discuss how new stadiums are
financed with an interest in distributive justice, and at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Mike and Kim Adamle will talk about traumatic brain injuries. “I’d like people, even those with no inherent interest in sports and athletics, to appreciate the complexity of sports and how they connect to the important questions of the day,” wrote Barbara Trish, political science, in an email to The S&B. “Rosenfield symposia — in the abstract — are vehicles for the exchange of ideas. They allow people from who are scholars and practitioners from outside of our campus community to challenge us with ideas — but they also allow the campus to communicate with these visitors,” she wrote. “We like to say that the symposia ‘bring the world to Grinnell.’ Yet at the same time, they bring Grinnell to the world.”
RLC Task Force issues final report on student affairs Continued from Front Page residential experience and what learning looks like in the context of residential experience, and sort of learning broadly — not just learning in the classroom,” said Professor Paul Hutchison, education, and co-chair of the Task Force. “The president felt that a series of those were important to implement immediately and were largely changes to the alcohol policy.” The investigations were carried out during the first year of the Task Force, and in the second year, priorities were established. One action prioritized by President Kington was the re-articulation of self-governance in the Grinnell College community. The re-articulation stemmed from the need to “create a definitive text on this topic that will guide new generations of Grinnelllians.” The report restates the notion of responsibility and accountability that has been Grinnell’s guiding principle for a long time and reminds members of the community that self-governance ultimately co-exists with a larger body of laws, policies and regulations. According to Sarah Moschenross, associate vice president of the College, the articulation was drafted by students, faculty and staff, and was informed
Continued from Front Page
to the public through town halls, open forum and focus groups. Then, the draft was sent out to the community for feedback, edited again and, as the final step, approved by the President. Along with the re-articulation of self-governance, a new first-year learning experience was developed. Responding to suggestions of student groups to improve the firstyear experience and requests for required training for all students, a new curriculum was developed by the First-Year Experience Curriculum Oversight Committee and was first tested in 2017-2018, where students received trainings in residential living as a supplement to their tutorial. “The curriculum covers some of the things that you would have talked about in NSO, for example, active bystanderism, sexual respect, wellness issues,” Hutchinson said. “There’s also some focus on student identities and how student identities impact experiences at the college.” Currently, the curriculum is in its second pilot year. Scaling up from last year, it is being taught as an extension to 11 tutorials. The First-Year Experience Curriculum Oversight Committee hopes to officially launch the program in 2019-2020, where instead of being an extension to tutorial, the curriculum will be a one-credit required course
for all first-year students. Even though the Task Force has completed its work, numerous changes to the community are still happening as a result of their recommendations, such as the renovations of residence halls and the creation of new positions in Student Affairs. Many of the initial recommendations are still awaiting action and the report serves to
determine which organization or subcommittee is responsible for the continuation of implementing changes. Overall, Moschenross thought that the Task Force was a great opportunity for members of the College community to collaborate and address broad issues on campus. “I think that it [the Task Force] helped raise the profile of the work
of Student Affairs on campus and brought to light a lot of the lived experiences of students on campus and where we needed to focus our attention. I do think that it was a successful experience and a good use of our time as an institution, and I think that a lot will come from it,” Mochenross said. “Hopefully, we’ll impact the lives of students positively.”
New hires bring new experiences to Grinnell
Ullestad said. “Coming from smalltown Iowa, you know, growing up, there’s not a lot of diversity. And so, a lot of times in order to experience cultural diversity you have to either travel outside of Iowa or go to some of the biggest cities.” Having experienced a lack of cultural diversity growing up, Ullestad recognized an opportunity for greater cultural experience in Grinnell. “Here in Grinnell … I’d love to help people get those cultural
experiences that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise if it weren’t for our international students,” Ullestad said. “I just think they’re such a good resource … I hope Cultural Ambassadors will help [with cultural experiences] within the community, and also maybe make the international students feel, you know, more welcome in this environment, even though it is very welcoming. But, you know, it’s just different, coming to this place from, say, Asia or Africa.” Newly-appointed Dean of
Students Ben Newhouse, who, according to his staff biography, is a native Texan, says his own transition to life in Grinnell has been much like any other. “It’s interesting to be the ‘new guy’ again, or the new person on campus, and to work to get to know the student community. In many ways, it feels like being a first-year student all over again, where you leave an environment that you’re well-known and trusted in the role that you serve to seek to find ways to build
those relationships and rapport with students,” said Newhouse. “So, a great joy of my time was to wander around the Organization Fair and introduce myself and get to know students and the really wonderful things they’re doing to contribute to the campus-life experience.” Newhouse applied for his present position at the College for a variety of reasons. “I had been the Dean of Students at another college very similar to Grinnell for about six years and really loved serving
and supporting students and the community as a whole in that capacity. And, for me, Grinnell’s role allowed me to expand responsibilities and serve the student community in a slightly, you know, different way,” Newhouse said. “For me, it was about taking on a challenge, working with a new student population that I found to be incredibly committed to their education, and seemed really wonderful to work with. So, it was a community that I wanted to be a part of. I’m excited about the opportunity.”
I’d love to help people get those cultural experiences that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise if it weren’t for our international students. Mollie Ullestad, new International Student Adviser
Ben Newhouse (left) and Mollie Ullestad (right) were recently hired by the College..
CONTRIBUTED
Newhouse emphasized that he found his greatest joy in engaging with students. He enjoys “[helping] students figure out what they care about and how they will make that ‘real’ for themselves and the world both here on campus and beyond that.” According to Newhouse, his biggest goal for his time at Grinnell is “to support the educational mission of the institution, both at the most global level possible, but also at the very individualized level.” “I value that as the Dean of Students I get to know students oneon-one, sometimes in some really difficult moments,” Newhouse said. “I’ve seen students tackle some really tough stuff across their educational experience and do so with incredible strength and grace and dignity.” Both Newhouse and Ullestad encouraged students to stop into the Student Affairs offices at any time, even to say hello.
News
Edited by fentonma@grinnell.edu & suetamay@grinnell.edu
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Fall 2018 Senator election results announced Continued from Front Page the ballot. Canada had only one person running: Steven McDowell ’21. Those running for Clangrala included Papa Kojo Ampim-Darko ’19, Collinger and Pearce. In Smounker the two candidates were Ishaan Tibrewal ’21 and Puravi Nath ’21. East Campus candidates included Rande Nieto ’21, Amelia Zoernig ’21 and Kure. Loosehead had the highest number of candidates with Phinn Lloyd ’21, Hunter Antonisse ’19, Manan Pradhan ’20, Luo Yang ’20, James Msekela ’20, Syamala Gumidyala ’21, Declan Jones ’21. Jamaland had Arish Vale ’21 and Moen. Those running for Off-
East Campus
Campus College-Owned housing included Thomas Hexter ’21, Felipe Monteforte Ferreira ’21 and Amanda Weber ’21. Off-Campus Non-College-Owned participants included Jordan Hamilton ’19, June Christian ’19, Lily Bohlke ’19 and Stallings. Voting began on Sept. 11 at noon and concluded on Sept. 13 at noon. There was a 24-hour grievance period, and results were released on Friday at noon. Please see the photospread for winners. Not pictured is Steven McDowell '21, senator-elect for CaNaDA. Editor’s note: Amanda Weber is the Web Manager for The S&B. Ryuta Kure is the Graphics Editor for The S&B.
Smounker
MAHIRA FARAN AND ANDREW TUCKER
Ryuta Kure '21 (left) and Amelia Zoernig '21 (right) were elected senators for East. Not pictured: Rande Nieto '21
Jamaland
MAHIRA FARAN
Puravi Nath '21 was elected senator for Smounker. Not pictured: Ishaan Tibrewal
Clangrala
MAHIRA FARAN
Arish Vale '21 was elected senator for Jamaland. Anna Moen '20 pictured on page 1.
Loosehead
MAHIRA FARAN
Declan Jones '21 (left) and Syamala Gumidyala '21 (right) were elected senators for Loosehead.
Off-Campus Non-College Owned
MAHIRA FARAN AND ZOEY KOHLER
Elizabeth Collinger '21 (top) and Allie Pearce '20 (bottom) were elected senators for Clangrala.
ZOEY KOHLER
Carrie Stallings '19 (left) and June Christian '19 (right) were elected OCNCO senators. Amanda Weber '21 pictured on page 1.
Community
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Edited by taylorse@grinnell.edu
Back to the chalkboard: school bond fails for the second time By Chloe Wray wraychlo@grinnell.edu After failing to pass in February, the $60 million bond issue proposed by the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District Board of Education was voted down again at the polls on Tuesday. The bond ballot featured two public measures, both of which required at least 60 percent of the vote to pass. The first measure asked whether the district “should be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00,” to renovate the high school and middle school sites and construct a new elementary building, consolidating the three current elementary buildings into one. The second measure asked voters' permission to raise the tax levy above $2.70, but not to exceed $4.05, to finance the bond. The results are unofficial but will be finalized at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, when the final canvass of votes is released, according to Poweshiek County Auditor Missy Eilander in an email to The S&B. As the results now stand, 44.2 percent of the vote was in favor of the first
measure, while 43.4 percent of voters said yes to the second. The unofficial results show a total of 3,847 voters — 2,545 at the polls and 1,302 by absentee ballot. In comparison, the February election saw 2,341 total voters, with 52.1 percent of the vote in favor of the first measure and 51.1 percent in favor of the second. This vote comes after months of information sessions provided on the bond by Superintendent Dr. Janet Stutz and the community groups Educate Our Kids and We Are Grinnell. The bond was proposed in response to an estimated $48 million to $52 million worth of repairs required on current buildings. Rather than make repairs that would not significantly increase the life span of some of the buildings, the bond suggested the construction of a new building, in addition to repairs and renovations to the high school and middle school. Concerns from the community arose over the tax levy that was estimated to increase the taxes of an average Grinnell homeowner by $230, or $2.60 for every $1,000 of homeowners’ taxable property value. Another point of controversy centered on the proposed site for
SARINA LINCOLN
Residents could vote for or against the school bond at the Elks Lodge. the new middle school. Located on Fourth Avenue, the lot was a former manufacturing site. That raised concern over whether or not there were harmful chemicals present. Stutz had the property assessed by several agencies and Grinnell College chemistry professors to look over the levels of toxins and chemicals found. These assessments deemed the site safe for building. Division over the bond issue was illustrated in lawn signs across town, and as early as July 23, Letters to the Editor were printed in the Grinnell
Herald-Register on both sides of the vote. In the Aug. 30 issue of the Herald-Register, twenty letters were submitted, filling two and a half full pages of the paper, while the issue from the Thursday before the election, Sept. 6, featured eleven letters, six in favor of the bond, five against. The Grinnell-Herald Register publishes on Mondays and Thursdays, but on the Monday before a Tuesday election, no Letter to the Editor regarding the election was allowed. On Wednesday Sept. 12, the day following the election, Stutz spoke
with The S&B, admittedly disheartened by the results of the bond. However, the results make the divide over the issue clear and Stutz acknowledged that the community has spoken. About half of those who voted disagree with the bond and as a result a new solution must be sought. Given the condition of the buildings, Stutz still believes that drastic improvements must be made and that a new building should be built, consolidating the district from five buildings to three. Conceding to concerns expressed by the community, Stutz feels that the Fourth Ave. site cannot be used. Instead they will have to find a new site or a creative solution. Stutz hopes that through community engagement sessions some common ground can be reached and a solution found. The Board of Education will begin discussing next steps, likely holding workshops open to the public in the coming weeks to brainstorm alternate options. Stutz encourages feedback from community members on both sides of the vote, but specifically those who voted “no” so that their concerns and desires can be taken into account.
Suzi's Boutique opens in downtown Grinnell By Clara Larson larsoncl@grinnell.edu If you were to make your way downtown eastbound on Fourth St., you would find yourself at Suzi’s Boutique, one of the newest additions to Grinnell’s local business community. Now, if you were to venture inside, you would come face to face with a vibrant display of flowing shirts in bright colors and fun patterns, bejeweled purses, jewelry for all occasions and electric candles that turn on and off with the flick of a remote. Susan Schmidt, lifetime resident of Grinnell, opened Suzi’s Boutique on June 30 of last summer, hoping to broaden the shopping options of working women over 30 in Grinnell. “I just feel like we kind of lacked [stores] for older women,” she explained, “and I wanted to hit a little bit of the senior ladies too, the Mayflowers, because they didn’t really have anywhere to go.” Before opening the shop, she had a strong background in human resources and customer service but almost no business experience. “However,” Schmidt said, “I’ve had lots of practice shopping!”
Throughout her years in Grinnell, Schmidt has watched as the internet, alongside the increasing accessibility of larger stores like Walmart, has led to the decline of Grinnell’s downtown. “When I was a kid,” she recalled, “we had a really vibrant downtown.” She described the Grinnell of her childhood, complete with multiple women’s and men’s clothing stores, a couple of shoe stores, restaurants, a few dime stores and drug stores and even a J.C. Penny’s. “A J.C. Penny’s, right across the block!” she exclaimed. “Isn’t that crazy to think of now?”
SOFIA MENDEZ
Suzi's Boutique, located on 823 4th Ave in downtown Grinnell, is meant to be a place for working women over 30. She has found the biggest challenges of this new field to be figuring out what other people want to buy, and setting affordable prices for everyone while still carrying certain higher-end items. According to Schmidt, another
challenge facing rural small-business owners is access to the internet. “I would say I’m probably competing more with the internet than with anything local, just because people can sit in their pajamas and order rather than come in,” she said.
A JC Penny's, right across the block! Isn't that crazy to think of now? Susan Schmidt Suzi’s Boutique is built into the foundations of one of Grinnell’s old drug stores, Cunningham Drug. In fact, the boutique’s counter is that of the drug store’s old soda fountain. “It’s cool to be in this space,” Schmidt said. “But a lot of people that have no idea … there’s people that live here that don’t remember Cunningham’s.”
She hopes that her boutique, one of a handful of clothing stores in Grinnell, can play a role in reviving Grinnell’s downtown economy. Although it may seem like the presence of other boutiques and small businesses downtown would only drive up competition, she believes that there is potential for the opposite effect. For Schmidt, collaboration between small businesses is the key to downtown Grinnell’s revival. “Rather than competing, I would like us all to work together to have a nice downtown, so that you can go here and here and around the corner and then eat, and that type of thing,” she said. “It feels like you need something special going on to bring them here.” she added. “I do wine tasting, and that really brings people. They’re excited about that.” She expects that even more people might be drawn back to downtown Grinnell if small-business owners were to work together to organize special downtown traditions, like staying open late every Thursday night, as they did when she was a kid. While Schmidt doesn't hold wine nights every week, you can stop by any day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m..
Hotel Grinnell wins historic Billy Robinson, "Birdman of the Prairie," preservation award featured in City Hall By Shuhan Yi yishuhan@grinnell.edu Hotel Grinnell was recently granted the 2018 Preservation at its Best Award on Sept. 2, an annual award given by Preservation Iowa, an organization that honors well-protected historical sites throughout the state. This builds upon the many awards Hotel Grinnell has received since its opening on Sept. 7, 2017. The building in which Hotel Grinnell is housed used to be a junior high school from 1921 to 1978 and was later gifted to the city and used as extra office space. The 65,000 square-foot building remained rarely used, as the largescale infrastructure required huge maintenance efforts. This resulted in its deterioration. But in 2009, owner and operator of the hotel, Angela Harrington — a member of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce
SCOTT LEW
Angela Harrington sits in front of a blackboard in Hotel Grinnell's lounge.
at that time — took the “heavy lift” to start the restoring process for the old school building to construct an event center for the community. After looking for an individual investor for three years, Harrington finally reached out to Steve Holtze, an alumnus and trustee of Grinnell College, who bought the building and invited Harrington to be the co-owner and operator. After years of reconstruction, the historical building finally opened again and welcomed its guests. “We’ve won international interior design award; we were highlighted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune; we are now Orbitz’s [a travel website] most unique hotel in Iowa. You know a lot of great things have happened, but somehow the Preservation Award means the most, because these awards know how difficult these projects are — to repurpose an old building and figure out how to make it adapt to a new use,” said Harrington. “It is an amazing journey, but not an easy one,” Harrington said. Recalling the difficult reconstruction process the school building went through, Harrington said, “It’s about preserving everything that’s left to preserve.” Roaming through the hotel, one can easily see the scattered details which memorialize the old school days: the swinging periodic table on the wall near the bar, the ballroom with yellow basketball court lines, the white chalk ash on the black board hanging in the lobby and a red apple near a quill-pen on the table of the guest room. “[With] all these special touches, we [we were able to] really pay homage to the building’s history,” Harrington said.
By Mira Tellegen tellegen@grinnell.edu “The Birdman of the Prairie,” a new exhibit at Grinnell City Hall, focuses on former Grinnell resident Billy Robinson. Curated by the Grinnell Historical Society, the exhibit, which opened Aug. 17, focuses on Robinson’s life and his contributions to the airplane. It also includes information on Robinson’s most famous invention, the radial engine, according to Board President for the Historical Society Cheryl Neubert. The exhibit includes pieces of the plane Robinson crashed, a flight suit similar to the one he would have worn, aerial pictures Robinson took of Grinnell and a timeline of his life, Neubert said. This collection and display of materials relevant to the history of Grinnell is inherent in the Grinnell Historical Society’s goals. “That’s part of the mission of the museum. We take in artifacts that have a strong Grinnell connection [and] are important to Grinnell. And it’s to educate the rest of Grinnell or the people that come to live here about what they are and who they belong to,” Neubert said. “That’s part of why we are proud of Billy Robinson.” Robinson lived in Grinnell and briefly attended Grinnell College. “He was a local kid,” Neubert said. Over his lifetime, Robinson gained fame for inventing oilgrooved piston rings, pontoon landing gear and the radial engine, according to an article by Grinnell resident Lynn Cavanagh. Neubert said that Robinson never patented his inventions, but that the U.S. government hoped to collaborate with Robinson to use the radial engine in
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The exhibit on Billy Robinson can be seen at City Hall between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. World War I. “That’s what people with those mechanical minds do, you know, they just they work at something and work at something,” Neubert said. “Feverish middle of the night kind of ideas … that’s how I picture him.” Robinson also broke the long-distance flying record in 1914 with a flight distance of 390 miles, according to Cavanagh’s article. He was awarded a Medal of Merit for his work in the field of aviation, and in 1915 the American Society for Aeronautical Engineers named him one of their 119 charter members. In 1916, Robinson died in a plane crash near Grinnell, and he is buried in Grinnell’s Hazelwood Cemetery, according to Cavanagh’s article. Another tribute to Robinson is the Billy Robinson Field at Grinnell Regional Airport. Neubert worked to update the exhibit at the airport
before deciding to create an exhibit for Grinnell City Hall, and the final City Hall exhibit was a collaboration between the Historical Society, the City, Neubert, Cavanagh and Jasper Cole-Kink, Neubert said. The town of Grinnell also houses Robinson’s former workshop, which is located on Commercial Street and now houses the CPA firm of T.L. Baker. Neubert said that by visiting Robinson’s former workshop, residents can visualize where Robinson lowered the fuselage of planes and connect with the history of the town. Neubert believes that Billy Robinson was significant to the field of aviation and that, as a Grinnell resident, Robinson is important to the town. “People can really connect with something that went on here in Grinnell.” The exhibit can be viewed by the public 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Arts
Edited by schultej@grinnell.edu
Lydia James '19 debuts exhibition titled "I Made It" in Smith Gallery
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Ella Williams ’18 views Lydia James ’19’s Smith Gallery exhibition, “I Made It,” on Thursday afternoon. By Julia Anderson anderson14@grinnell.edu “I Made It,” an exhibition of art by Lydia James ’19, opened in the Smith Gallery on Sept. 13 and will be on display through Sept. 22. James, a studio art major from Atlanta, Georgia, has been making art for nearly her entire life. Studio art majors are required to present a solo show of work prior to graduation but, for James, “I Made It” represents more than just the time spent at and art created during four years at Grinnell College. The show is “an opportunity to kind of look back on my lifetime of making things,” James said. The name of the exhibition itself demonstrates how the show expresses the personal connection James has felt to art from a young age. During a
recent visit home, James discovered a collection of sketchbooks that she had produced during first and second grades. One illustration in particular stood out to her. Following an arrow pointing to the drawing, there is a simple but resilient declaration: “I MADE IT -LYDIA.”
I've always been really driven to make things, which is not really something that I can explain, I can just appreciate it and use that. Lydia James '19 “I love this statement from me from 2002 that was just like ‘I made this, I did it!’ It felt like such a humble celebration. I made this thing, look at it, and that’s how I feel about my work.
I make these things, look at them, please,” James said. The title also represents a certain receptiveness that James strives to demonstrate through her art. “I don’t want my art to be ingrained in that sort of practice where you need to explain the meaning behind it for it to be interesting to people,” she said. There are three main components to the show, presented in a decidedly multi-medium array and reflecting the diversity of creations accumulated over the course of a lifetime. The largest piece and focal point of the exhibition is a pair of colorful, fabric wings spanning about eight feet in length and five feet in height. The wings, which James constructed last semester, are accompanied by a video projection documenting the project. On another wall hangs a series of self-portraits and other originals created by James from 2002 to 2018. Like the exhibition’s title, James’ personal sketchbooks from as early as first grade helped to inspire this project. “I’ve always been really driven to make things, which is not really something that I can explain, I can just appreciate it and use that,” James said. The final project is a baseball bat cast out of lace and embroidered. Like the wings, the bat is presented with documentation of the project. James emphasizes that her friends have been an integral part of the creation of “I Made It.” “I am super grateful to all my friends throughout this process. I can’t talk about my show without talking about them,” she said. More of James’ art can be found on her website lydiajamesart.com and on her Instagram @lydiajamesart.
Concerts lineup released for fall By Kelly Page pagekell@grinnell.edu Students have been ecstatic about the concerts schedule for this semester. Although some of the more high-profile acts (like Girlpool and Kero Kero Bonito) were leaked via Spotify prior to the official lineup release on Friday, Sept. 7, finally seeing a complete concerts schedule did not fail to be one of the most exciting moments of the new semester. This year’s concerts coordinator, Cassidy Christiansen ’20, worked hard behind the scenes all summer long to provide the College with some of the best up-and-coming artists of modern times, despite cuts to the student activities budget this year. “Even though I’ve been in concerts for two years, I didn’t really know what [the booking process] would look like,” Christiansen said. The manager of Girlpool and Porches had worked with Grinnell in the past, making it easier to bring these high-profile bands to the school. Additionally, Kero Kero Bonito showed an interest in the College which was very much reciprocated by a campus obsessed with their music. “You get a lot of artists reaching out to you to play shows, so the line-
up this year is a mix of people who reached out to me and people who I reached out to based on responses to a Google Form that I sent out,” Christiansen said. Christiansen reached out to accomplished musician Haley Henderickx after receiving several requests to bring her to campus (paired with their own personal love of her music), and also found that she wanted
to play Gardner, wedged in between two previously-booked shows in Iowa City and Des Moines. “I’m happy to be bringing a lot of women of color to campus,” they added. The semester to come will be packed with outstanding musicians, so make sure to head on down to Gardner and give them your ears when the time is right.
Writer@Grinnell Jamel Brinkley Q&A
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ZOE FRUCHTER
Jamel Brinkley gave a roundtable talk and reading on Thursday. Jamel Brinkley sat down with The S&B’s Mira Braneck following his Thursday night visit as part of the Writers@Grinnell series to discuss the roles of place, intimacy and gender in his book. A full version of the Q&A is available on The S&B website. You said at the round table today that this collection is united by place, and the South Bronx and Brooklyn are so consistent and they’re so present in these stories. I was wondering what role place plays in your writing. Yeah, I think in order for place to be a real thing in my writing it has to be a real thing to the characters. Meaning, I didn’t want the Bronx or Brooklyn to be these cardboard cutouts of skyscrapers or brownstones or housing projects. I wanted each of these places to exert some force on the characters, whether it’s a house party in Brooklyn, whether it’s a tiny apartment in the Bronx, whether it’s a swimming pool in the suburbs — all of these places are doing things to my characters and shaping the way that they think and act and respond to each other. You also mentioned earlier today that people tend to say that this is a book about masculinity, but that it’s about a lot of other things as well, so I was wondering, what are some of these other things that the book is about? I think the book is, in addition to masculinity, I think it’s about brotherhood, it’s about parent-child relationships, I think it’s about vulnerability and intimacy. And of course, that has to do with masculinity, so there’s a certain version of masculinity that can only conceive of vulnerability as equaling weakness, as opposed to openness of some kind. Or there’s a certain form of masculinity that can only conceive of intimacy as being about sex, as opposed to other kinds of closeness that you could have with another person. So you said at the round table
that this book coheres through obsession. So what are some of your obsessions? Some of my obsessions are definitely brother relationships. I have a younger brother, and like some of the characters, the brothers, in this book, there’s a bit of an age gap between us, and it’s been difficult to always bridge that gap. We’ve sort of gone in and out of times of being close, of being not that close. So just the nature of brotherhood is one of the things that obsesses me. Also, sons and their parents. Fathers, I think, are maybe more prominent in this book, but mothers too. Those relationships. So having father figures, not having father figures, having surrogate father figures, those kinds of things. Yeah, it’s so prevalent. I was really fascinated by the different types of fathers. It’s not just one way. Yeah, it’s not just one way, which I think is maybe the most important thing. Sometimes we have this very limiting notion about what a family is. The nuclear family. It has to be a mom and it has to be a dad and it has to be kids. And of course we know that actual families look all kinds of ways. It could be mom-mom, daddad, it could be a single parent, you know, whatever. … So, just sort of thinking through what it means to have a father or not have a father or have surrogate fathers, I think was super important to me. What are you reading right now? Oh, what am I reading right now? I’m finishing a novel called “The Incendiaries” by R.O. Kwon, which is great. I just finished a novel called “There, There” by a writer called Tommy Orange. Both of which are probably going to be on the National Book Award Long List tomorrow, when it comes out. And I’m reading a lot of poetry, I read a lot of poetry, so I always have poetry in the rotation. Terrence Hayes’ new collection is really important to me.
Charles Bierk discusses his work at Faulconer Gallery By Zainab Thompson thompson8@grinnell.edu Anyone who wants to experience “Faced: Charles Bierk” in Faulconer Gallery needs to do so fast. Saturday Sept. 15 is the last day for the exhibit. Come face to face with the huge, black and white hyper-re-
alistic portraits that make up most of the display and see the intricate gridding process that he used to create his work. “It’s kind of like an Easter egg that these are in fact paintings,” Bierk said. From a distance, the viewer is no doubt convinced that the work is a blown-up photograph. It’s only
when the viewer is within a few feet of the painting that they may notice the little details like the thin paint strokes highlighting lips, a cat hair trapped in the paint, the faint pencil marks under the layers of white paint. Bierk said that when he has a subject come into his studio, he
REINA SHAHI
Charles Bierk explained his work to in the Faulconer Gallery before it transitions to its next exhibitions.
may take anywhere between 50 and 200 photographs, each with varying lighting setups, background colors and poses. He then begins the process of narrowing the pictures down to what he wants. Later, he may decide to mess around with the photo’s contrast as well. Then, he starts gridding. “Gridding” is a process artists typically use to reproduce their work onto a larger material. Bierk then treats each square or “box” like an individual painting, methodically working through each one until the entire portrait is complete. “Other than the hands, I would say on any of these portraits, at no point am I working on a square that you can clearly cut out and say ‘oh, that’s a nose or an ear or an eye,’” Bierk said. “Someone once said [the portraits are] more real than real, whatever that means,” Bierk joked. When asked how the canvas isn’t full of squares, he added that he “can still see squares on some of these.” One portrait did have slightly visible squares, seen in the white of the portrait subject’s shirt. Bierk said that he didn't mind leaving marks “because these are paintings. I’m not trying to trick people into thinking they’re photographs … I think it’s interest-
ing that people think they’re perfect at first.” Bierk was born in Peterborough, Ontario. On becoming a painter, Bierk cites the influence of his father, who was a “fairly well-known” American-Canadian painter that taught at Fleming College in Ontario. “His studio was a machine,” Bierk said when he described how he and his brother would go and hang out at their father’s studio after school when they were children. He said that the most important lesson he learned from his father was to “treat this thing like a job, work harder than anyone else, and hopefully you will see results.” Most of the works in the exhibit were people close to Bierk: his brother, his future wife and friends from the time. “I will say I strive to give each of my subjects as much humanity as possible … to make monuments out of the people that I love.” To anyone who does not get the chance to see the exhibition, Grinnell has acquired the main piece, “Tau.” At 7 1/2 feet tall by 6 1/2 feet wide, it is now a part of the College’s permanent collection. The piece is Bierk’s first work to be part of a museum collection.
Sports Football wins big against Trinity QAA hopes to bring inclusion to sports Bible College 6
Edited by seibertl@grinnell.edu
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Ryan Slager '19 takes down a player from Trinity Bible College. By Seth Bartusek bartusek@grinnell.edu With a 46-0 win, The Grinnell College football team made a statement last weekend in their home opener against Trinity Bible College. The Pioneers scored 27 points in the second half and held Trinity to 34 yards of total offense. The team also set a school record for sacks in a game, with nine total, recorded their first shutout since 2009, and scored the most points in a game since 2014. “Blowing out a team we’ve played competitively with for the last two years is exciting,” said Jeff Keele ’19. “Especially having our defense and offense in sync like that is something that is rare, so it’s a great win.” The Pioneers set the tone early, opening the game with a five-play, 40-yard drive ending on a 26-yard run by Dustin Saia ’22. Saia ended the game with 16 carries for 162 yards and a touchdown. After punting on the subsequent drive, the Pioneers got the ball at its own 50-yard line and
went 50 yards in 10 plays to reach the end zone again. This time quarterback Jake Kaplinski ’22 scored on an 8-yard run. Kaplinski ended the game 7 for 16 completions, passing for 94 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground. “We stayed focused,” said Cole Riley ’19, an offensive lineman for the Pioneers. “Even with a lead you can’t get too excited, you need to focus on your assignment every play. There were times we had to change up protections based on Trinity showing us some different looks, but we executed like we’ve been planning all season.” The defense was just as dominant, only allowing Trinity across the 50-yard line three times all game. Ryan Slager ’19, linebacker, led the team with 11 tackles while Keele, a defensive end, had eight tackles and 3.5 sacks. “Everyone was just doing their job,” Keele said. “In past years we had guys get out of position to try to make a play but on Saturday everyone
stayed disciplined. When that happens, gaps stay closed and really the offense can’t do very much. I think you saw that on Saturday.” The Pioneers get a bye week following their big win, giving them a chance to gear up for a tough upcoming matchup. Head coach Jeff Pedersen knows it’s early but is also looking forward to the upcoming contests. “We know we’ve got a big challenge ahead,” said Pedersen. “But we have a great mix of guys who are hungry. We might be fighting an uphill battle, in terms of numbers, against these teams, but we’re taking a good approach. The bye week gives us a chance to go back to fundamentals and also condition pretty hard, but we are definitely going to enjoy the bye week.” Beyond St. Norbert, the Pioneers will match up with Ripon College at home and then away at Monmouth College, the reigning conference champions. “We are facing some tough teams in the upcoming weeks, so we’ve got to be ready to meet that challenge,” Riley said. “The bye week will allow us to prepare, but we are going to need a good game from our defense, along with controlling the ball on offense so we don’t put our defense in a bad situation. If we can do that I’m optimistic we can have a good showing against the top teams in the conference.” It’s early in the season, but Pedersen is encouraged by the strong start. “It’s great to win at home,” he said. “It’s great for our veteran guys for all the hard work they’ve put in and great for our younger guys to get their first win. The whole team recognizes the work it takes, and they’ve been putting in that work so I’m excited for things moving forward.”
Women's Tennis enjoy 22-game win streak By Julia Sloniewsky sloniews@grinnell.edu At Grinnell College, some of the best-performing teams sometimes happen to have the fewest. Despite having a group of only seven players, Women’s Tennis spent their weekend beating Ripon College, Lawrence University and old rival St. Norbert College with a score of 9-0 for all three games. The weekend’s success marks a 22game winning streak in the Midwestern Conference for the Pioneers. “We expected to beat [Ripon and Lawrence] and we expected to win against St. Norbert, but not as decisively as we did,” said Lily Hamilton ’19, who has the seventh highest number of singles wins for a Women’s Tennis player at Grinnell. The tennis players also have the unique opportunity of hitting the ground running even before classes start in the fall, meaning they have the entire summer to prepare in whatever ways they see fit. Despite the popular slogan that practice makes perfect, some players saw rest and relaxation as better uses for their time than clocking in long hours on the court and at the gym. “I didn’t really train over the summer,” said Brenda Guan ’20, who pulled stunning victories in both her
singles and doubles matches. “The ex-
Guan said. “We have more friends off
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Lily Hamilton '19 prepares to deliver a fierce forehand
ELENA COPELL
Cara Bresnahan '19 and Cally Carr '21 will hold inclusion talks and run events to promote queer inclusion in athletics. By Lauren Miller millerla@grinnell.edu While athletics commonly garners the reputation as an inaccessible space for queer people, the Queer Athletes and Allies group (QAA) hopes to combat this trend by starting a conversation on the inclusion of queer athletes and students alike. QAA, co-led by Cara Bresnahan ’19 and Cally Carr ’21, was created to “support LGBTQ students and student-athletes on campus,” said Bresnahan. One big goal of QAA is working with the current athletic department to make the Bear Athletic Center a safer and more inclusive space for all students. This, however, is only one part of a larger problem. “The issue stems larger than just at the Bear and just at Grinnell,” said Carr. “You don’t really hear about queer professional athletes. I think that fosters an environment that trickles into Grinnell where many queer athletes don’t feel as comfortable or confident being true to themselves.”
Things you say or do may not have any intention of being hurtful, but just be aware and inclusive in your speech and in your habits in the locker room Cally Carr '21
pectation is that when you get back for training, you give it your all. But when you’re off, you’re off.” The ethos of giving it their all follows the tennis team both on and off the court. Besides playing six days a week, the team strives for strong academic performances as well. “It’s incredible to see a group of women who are so driven in the classroom but also so dedicated to the sport,” Guan said. “We put a lot of emphasis on academic success.” The team’s size also makes it easier for them to form a cohesive unit. “Everyone knows each other really well,” Hamilton said. “There’s no room for cliques,”
the team now, because otherwise we would get sick of each other, with all the time we spend together. It’s healthier this way.” The team is young, with three firstyear players, which creates an element of the unknown for the team’s season. “We have a different team dynamic because half our team is new. So we don’t know exactly how our team is going to stack up,” Hamilton said. Her biggest concern? “Lake Forest is a really tough team. But, we’re playing really well.” The women’s tennis team hopes to continue their winning ways this weekend, as they head to Beloit and Lake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 15.
To combat the exclusion many queer students feel both in athletics and on campus, QAA leads inclusion talks within athletic team to brainstorm ideas on what each team can do to foster inclusivity on their teams. “They’re a starting off point for teams to further discussion as well as just a place to figure out what the team can improve on and reflect upon their own team culture surrounding these topics,” Carr said. As for other efforts, QAA has worked to make athletics more inclusive to all students. “A few years ago we hosted a
town hall type meeting for both students and student-athletes where we came together and talked about why the Bear was not an inclusive space and what would need to happen in order to change that,” Bresnahan said. This year, QAA hopes to continue the dialogue by including the general student population that wants to use the athletic center but might not feel welcome. This is on top of the club’s original goal to provide support to queer athletes on different teams to make them feel more comfortable and included. QAA is planning to collaborate on an event with other athletic-based groups on campus, like International Athletes and Allies (IAA), so students can be exposed to the work that is being done on a variety of issues to make the campus a more welcoming space. Additionally, the group would like to partner with The Stonewall Resource Center (SRC) to host a fun athletic event for the wider College community. It would ideally take place during Pride Week this year in order to attract people into the Bear while doubling as a fundraiser, though the club is still in the planning stages for the event. Furthermore, Bresnahan and Carr hope to invite queer speakers to talk about their experiences in athletics, demonstrating that, while issues of inequality also exist outside of Grinnell, several opportunities exist for a fulfilling and successful career. The co-leaders emphasize that inclusion of queer athletes stems from just being aware and respectful of your teammates and peers, whether one participates in the group or not. “Things you say or do may not have any intention of being hurtful, but just be aware and inclusive in your speech and in your habits in the locker room,” Carr said. “Just do your part as a teammate and an ally and you can make little differences in their experience in athletics.” QAA meets every other Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in JRC 203, starting Sept. 12.
Frisbee preps for annual Elephantitis tournament By Chloe Wray wraychlo@grinnell.edu This Saturday, Sept. 15, marks the 16th annual Elephantitis Frisbee Tournament. Elephantitis, or Titis. Grinnell’s ultimate frisbee teams’ first tournament of the year is also the only frisbee competition hosted on the College's campus. The tournament will take place on the recently reopened MacEachron Field for a competition that has earned a reputation for its relaxed nature. Grinnell’s two teams, the Grinnellephants and Grinnell Women’s Ultimate, will be facing off against 20 teams from across the Midwest. In years past, Titis was completely organized, funded and run by the frisbee teams themselves. Through bid fees and the sale of frisbees — on sale this year, they will feature an elephant themed design — the team was self-sufficient with covering the costs of the event. Since 2015, however, both frisbee teams have transitioned to become part of the Athletic Department. This supervision from administration and a College-funded budget has made logistics for the team easier. Last year was the first year the
women’s frisbee team had a SAM, or a Student-Athlete Mentor. A program through the athletic department, SAMs parallel the work that a Community Advisor (CA) does in the dorm, but in the context of a team. Without coaches for the frisbee teams, SAMs have been a great resource to all players, aiding the team captains in their responsibilities. This year, both the women’s and open teams will have SAMs who contribute to fostering the team culture by being receptive to and inclusive of all team members, and offering support and guidance as a role-model. Frisbee captains and SAMs tag-team these efforts, but the presence of SAMs on the teams also gives captains the space to focus more on planning practices. In addition to the SAMs, Frisbee players now have access to the athletic training room, a development that contrasts with past years. However, guidance from the College has not deterred the teams’ fun-loving and independent spirit. Captains of the open team Michael Sundby ’19 and Liam Niehus-Staab ’20, and Cecilia Bergman ’19 of the women’s team, spoke on how not
CONTRIBUTED
The Grinnellephants and Women's Ultimate pose after a game having a coach allows the members to maintain a self-sufficient and enjoyable culture. “Frisbee was founded off of spirit of the game and playing for fun and it’s all self-ref[ereed],” said Niehus-Staab. According to him, the encouraging nature of the team — players of any and all skill sets and experience levels are encouraged to join — contributes to a deliberate autonomy, an essential characteristic of the team. For Sundby, the team executes this balance well.
“We’re sort of the old guard of frisbee in terms of culture, Grinnell,” Sundby said. Fall is the frisbee off-season, so captains primarily focus on introducing new members to the team and teaching these players skills, while also refreshing those of veterans. The emphasis of the semester is learning rather than fierce competition, a factor that contributes to Titis’ casual nature. “We do things in our Grinnell way… nothing is official,” said
Bergman, adding that Titis will not be sanctioned or count towards teams’ rankings and the fields will be smaller. Niehaus-Staab added that “relaxed, fun, people usually don’t take it seriously the same way they do with other fall and certainly not spring tournaments.” The frisbee teams welcome those interested to join them for a practice at any point throughout the year. Practice runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week, starting at 4:15pm on Mac Field.
Features
Edited by vitaioli@grinnell.edu
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Grinnell hosts OWL facilitator training, sex education for every age By Eva Hill hilleva@grinnell.edu With high school over and NSO fully wrapped up, first-years may think that they’ve experienced the last sex education events of their school careers. Yet, the opportunity for students of every grade level to learn more about relationships and sexual respect will be expanded this year thanks to the availability of Our Whole Lives (OWL) trainings for students. OWL is a comprehensive sex education curriculum designed by the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association to cover not only basic sexual anatomy and safe sex measures, but also relationships, consent and social norms relating to sex. While the program and training are facilitated by religious groups, the curriculum can be taught from a secular perspective. Additionally, unlike traditional sex education, which typically discusses only heterosexual relationships, the curriculum was created to be inclusive a wide range of sexualities and relationships. “OWL is rooted in four key values that are really similar to our community values — self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice inclusivity,” said Emily Howe ’16, Grinnell’s Title IX post-baccalaureate prevention & outreach coordinator. Howe has par-
ticipated in the training herself and was involved in bringing the training to Grinnell. “It’s not just ‘don’t do this,’ it’s also ‘do this,’ so it’s got a very positive focus to it … when we talk about it in such a positive, that’s really — it’s enlightening, and it brings people in a lot more than just saying ‘don’t do this,’” said Charlie Saunders ’19, Community Advisor Mentor (CAM) for the Clangrala cluster (Langan, Rawson, Gates and Clark), who participated in an OWL facilitator training session earlier this year Speaking about the recent facilitator training, Howe explained that the level of engagement from the student body was unprecedented. “We had enormous interest from students, which we were thrilled about — we thought it was going to be half students and half community members, but we filled the entire group with students, and that’s just really, really awesome," she said. "We’re so appreciative that students have the interest to give up that time and come together and think about sexual respect. … That’s really hopeful and exciting.” Saunders added that the program, which included representatives from Student Government Association (SGA), the Peer Educator Program (PEP), Monsoon, the Sexual Health Information Center (SHIC), Stone-
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Newly trained OWL facilitators after their training session, hosted on the second floor of the JRC.
wall Research Center (SRC), other Community Advisors/CAMs, Education Professionals (EdPros), Student Athlete Mentors (SAMs) and the Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies (GWSS) Department, was an important networking experience. “I think that having leaders from these different organizations was really enlightening," Saunders said. "That was really interesting to think about … how we could partner with them, that was a big thing too, that now … we can combine to make this even more effective than it would have been.” Future CA and SAM trainings may incorporate OWL curriculum, and there is a long-term goal of using the program in trainings for many school offices beyond student advisors. Howe and Saunders agreed that their biggest concern is getting students engaged and willing to add another item to their already full schedules. “We already have some things in mind: … follow-up sessions for NSO that use activities pulled directly from this curriculum, and STI testing coming up, and thinking about how we advertise for that and how we talk about that,” Howe said. In addition, future programming may go beyond just Grinnell College students. Howe has also taught the OWL curriculum in the community over the past year, hosted by Grinnell’s local UCC church. “We had awesome turnout — the parents whose kids went through it loved it, the kids loved it, so there’s definitely potential for more community involvement.” Saunders added that facilitators hope that the program’s lighthearted nature, designed to reduce the taboo status of sex-related topics, will help increase student engagement. “Keeping it silly is definitely a big part … that’s how you engage people, get the fences down a little bit, and that’s when people start to open up and internalize the information,” Saunders said.
S&B Cribs: Goat House talks football and friendship
By Alanis Gonzalez gonzalez@grinnell.edu Hidden in the alleyway just behind the houses on East Street sits a small, sky blue house. This house is so hidden that even Google Maps was completely boggled trying to reach the destination, seemingly wanting to go in a large and rhetorical 40-minute circle to arrive at the destination. With a little detouring and investigating, the front door to 827 East Street, or better known as “Goat House,” is found just down a small dirt path. Goat House in any given year is home to members of the College’s football team, and this year it is home to four residents: Kevin Gubner ’20, Jeff Keele ’19, Vinny Pavoni ’19 and Ryan Slager ’19. Although this is the first time all four are living together as a group, they’ve been playing together on the football team their entire College career. When asked how they were getting along, Slager said, “Well I think we’re all getting along pretty well, you know, it’s a chill space. We’re not really here that often ’cause we’re playing football and stuff, and we have homework to do so we’re not too social over here ’cause we just don’t have that
much time, but right now it’s pretty cool.” “I’ve lived with Slager before, our sophomore year and then this summer, so I’m used to all his crap,” Keele said. This of course triggered a thunderous laughter from the group, exemplifying their playful and brotherly bond. With their fun yet laid-back nature, it’s not hard to see how these four ended up living together. Goat House seems to deliver the unexpected. “Man Cave” is what most might imagine Goat House to embody, with sports gear, a lazy boy, red solo cups littering the floor and the smell of lingering cologne. But upon visiting, neither the phrase nor the imagery seems to fit. Walking into Goat House, one can hear rock music flowing through the speakers. Upon entering the living room, visitors will catch sight of flags from various countries hanging on the walls, with empty bottles displayed in built-in shelves. The vibe coming off of the house is still that of athletes, but the house remains comfy and welcoming. Why is it called “Goat House?” In the middle of Iowa, a name like that could very well be literal. However, when asked this, the group simply chuckled before Pavoni said, “The
inspiration came from a show called "Blue Mountain State," which is a TV show about [a] college football team.” The college football team’s mascot in the TV series is a goat, hence the name “goat house.” The house is reported to have been called that since the show aired in 2010. “It’s nothing like this … it looks way better in the show.” Pavoni remarked. Regardless of whether Goat House embodies its namesake, Goat House has its own Grinnellian charm. The group ended their interview with a strong statement. Goat House’s members want to make clear that the space was open to all, athlete or non-athlete alike. “It’s really open for anyone. We don’t just have athlete-only parties, we send campus-wide emails, spread it to everyone,” Keele said. Although farther and more hidden from campus than some of the other houses, Goat House is not one that should be dismissed. All four residents are amicable and friendly. A visit is sure to be worth the extra 11-minute walk from South Campus. With a win last Saturday against the Trinity Bible College Lions, (a win that entailed a whooping score of 46-0), this school year is looking up for the Goat House players.
Professor Gemma Sala, political science
SARINA LINCOLN
Professor Gemma Sala outside her office in Carnegie where she meets with students and is thankful for the invention of daycare. 1 a.m. — “Mhmhmhmh (pause) mhmhm.” Baby Nora is humming and moving in her crib. Please, please, please, let her find her thumb and fall asleep. Full on, deafening “Nghaaaaaaaa” ensues. Wasted hope. After a whole summer of sleep training, Nora still wakes up three to four times a night and this is progress. 1:20 a.m. — After two Twinkle-Twinkle's and a duérmete niña she is back asleep and so am I. 5:30 a.m. — Last “Nghaaaaaa” of the night. She calls it. It is officially morning time. Milk for her, coffee for me. Did you know it is possible play peek-a-boo in the dark for an hour? 6:30 a.m. — Showers begin. Husband John prepares breakfast. Since the kids exist, I made the point of not learning how to use the coffee maker, and much of the stove for that matter. 7 a.m. — Lucas wakes up. This four-year-old boy sleeps like a log (Is this English? Como un tronco, anyway) and wakes up like a clock at the same time every day. Want-to-Play v. Late-for-School is our daily rerun. I always win! 7:50 a.m. — Kisses at the door. John takes them to daycare. Great invention, daycare is. I close the door. I have the house to myself! Well, usually I would, but this month we have my father-in-law Jeffrey (“Pop pops”) with us, though he is still sleeping. 8:20 a.m. — I am out of the house. Another beautiful day. I walk three blocks to my office trying to retain the blue sky in my retina and the breeze in my face before I lock myself in an office with boarded windows. Check email, write a to do list, wrap up class prep. 10 a.m. — Comparative courts seminar. Constitutions help people coordinate to limit their politicians. Students know it! I always like seminar. It reminds me of grad school. 11:50 a.m. — Already? I find out time is up only because a student hesitantly looked at the clock. Time flew for me but was not so fast for my students … 12:15 p.m. — Lunch. I walk the three blocks in reverse to go home. More blue and more sun. All is well in the house but the kitchen is a mess. Flour is all over. Pop pops is making pizza, but I don’t panic. I have fresh pizza for lunch! 1 p.m. — Class prep for Nationalism. How industrialization led to the rise of nationalisms. Or was it democracy? Or was it the printing press? 2:30 p.m. — S&B photographer takes my picture for this piece. 3 p.m. — Class meets. Lots of fun (for me). Students participate a lot — you have got to love the beginning of the semester. Don’t give up! 4 p.m. — First student comes to my office hours. She does not think she has a paper topic but she actually does! More email. 5:10 p.m. — Run to McNally’s to buy cake. They have a fabulous Tiramisu in a box. Friends have invited us for dinner and I offered to bring desert. I thought I would make it myself. Wishful thinking. 5:29:59 p.m. — John and I pick up the kids from daycare. They are happy. They are tired and dirty. The plan worked! 5:40 p.m. — Dinner with friends. They are brave. They have invited all five of us, three different generations. Lovely barbecue chicken and lots of salads. Cake for dessert, as you know. The kids play together really well and we can actually have a conversation. Remember those? 8 p.m. — Having overstayed our welcome, we leave their house with lots of toys on the floor. Classy. 8:30 p.m. — The kids are exhausted, which makes the bedtime routine short but challenging. Anything can easily turn into drama when they are this tired. 8:45 p.m. — Kids are asleep. What is tomorrow? Revise some docs for an early morning meeting.
RACHEL BYERLY-DUKE
The Goat House crew from left to right: Ryan Slager '19, Vinny Pavoni '19, Kevin Gubner '20 and Jeff Keele '19
9:30 p.m. — John and I try to watch a movie but fail quickly and are asleep … at least until Nora decides it is time to get up again.
8
Opinions
Edited by bohlkeli@grinnell.edu
Isabel Lieb: The Big Mood
Tresther's Tru-pinions: The 2018 Prison Strike and Prison Abolition
By Esther Hwang hwangest@grinnell.edu
The 2018 national prison strike, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 9, was an important continuation of our society’s progress towards prison abolition. Organizers across 17 prisons held work strikes, hunger strikes, sit-ins and protests. Their demands call for an end to modern day slavery. This strike was a feat of immense grassroots organizational power, and symbolism is tied to the very dates of the strike. The first day of the protest, Aug. 21, commemorates the 47th anniversary of the killing of jailed African American activist George Jackson. The last day, Sept. 9, commemorates the 1971 Attica prison riots in New York, “eventually leaving more than 40 people dead when police stormed in to re-take the facility,” according to an article from USA Today. In case anyone wants to support prisoners involved in this national strike, I recommend you read the
demands and USA Today article, research about the prison abolition movement in general and, in Iowa, make contacts with organizations, organize a phone zap or fundraise/raise awareness! Even reading and having conversations about what you learn is a form of activism. Activists right next door to us in Des Moines protested in front of the Iowa Prison Industries office in support of the national strike. Unfortunately, there was no large organized action at Grinnell in support of strikers, but that does not mean there were no amazing Grinnell-affiliated activists working behind the scenes on their own projects. There are people helping prisoners through the Liberal Arts in Prison program. There’s a group of professors who just received a grant to make a school-to-prison coalition. Last fall, Gina Clayton won the Grinnell Prize for her organization the Essie Justice Group which harnesses collective power of women with incarcerated loved ones, and there are many other people doing
personal or community work related to supporting the humanity and health of communities affected by mass incarceration. I didn’t really know about prison abolition until a few summers ago when I interned at Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa (now called Monsoon Asian Pacific Islanders in Solidarity), where I had access to an amazing book collection filled with radical female warriors. One of my coworkers lent me his copy of “Are Prisons Obsolete?” by Angela Davis, the queen. Here’s a basic rundown of the book, since you probably don’t have time to read the actual book: Prison abolition argues that racism is so deeply interwoven into the fibers of the prison system that the only solution is to abolish it entirely. This does not necessarily mean burning down prisons but restructuring how we think about punishment, especially when the punishment system is so explicitly racist (police are stationed in poor Black communities to arrest them for petty crimes). The reality is
that the existence of prison systems paired with a militarized police state is physical and psychological warfare on communities of color. The system is based on punishment rather than restoration, and those released from prisons are thrown back into society with a criminal record that marks them for life — not to mention the toll on family members and communities most affected by mass incarceration (Black and Brown communities).
Fuck the prisons. Malcolm Davis '21 To no surprise, prisons proliferated under Reagan’s administration. The first prison in California was built in San Quentin, California in 1852. Within the next century, eight more were built. Reagan became president and prioritized the expansion of the prison industry. Nine prisons were built between 1984 and 1989. Twelve more opened in the 90s. Today, we have 102 federal prisons, not to mention 1,719 state prisons, 942 juvenile
correctional facilities, 3,283 local jails and 79 Indian Country jails. The 2018 prison strike is a big deal, but I didn’t hear many people talking about it. I hope this article raises some awareness on the amazing work community organizers are doing, and I hope to see more involvement in the future from the Grinnell community in the prison abolition movement and prison studies in general. In the words of Max Horkheimer, “The Revolution won’t happen with guns, rather it will happen incrementally, year by year, generation by generation. We will gradually infiltrate their educational institutions and their political offices, transforming them into Marxist entities as we move towards universal egalitarianism.” P.S. “Fuck the prisons.” — Malcolm Davis ’21. “Prison and reform are two words that sound good together on purpose. The prison industrial complex is itself [a] site of slavery reform after all.” — Jin Chang ’19.
Opinions Grinnell Queer Eyes: This Week in Wellness: The roommate and Mindfulness to improve focus Wyatt Earp and reduce stress levels 9
Edited by bohlkeli@grinnell.edu
Welcome one and all! This is a column pertaining to pretty much all things queer. From the campus world to beyond, 20-gayteen is in full swing and it is about time someone did some hardcore reporting on it. Where better to capture my rants and opinions than in the school newspaper? My goal is for this column to remain anonymous and create space for discussion. To accomplish this, there will be an accompanying “Ask” so that people can submit questions and it can almost turn into my dream “Gossip Girl” scenario (disclaimer: I have never seen this show I don’t know what I’m signing up for). Stay tuned for a variety of interesting excursions into the depths of my gay mind, and feel free to submit your own content for inclusion at https:// grinnellqueereyes.tumblr.com/ask.
From the campus world to beyond, 20-gayteen is in full swing and it is about time someone did some hardcore reporting on it. Where better to capture my rants and opinions than in the school newspaper? The Roommate
This weekend, pre-Harris, as any bored gays may, my roommates and I embarked on a game of “would you rather?” heavily featuring queer celebrities. It was determined that in a scenario where myself and Steven Tyler’s daughter were on the table, my current partner would in fact chose Steven Tyler’s daughter whose name none of us can figure out. In fact, she had more trouble deciding between Megan Fox and Steven Tyler's daughter than when I was in the mix. After these interesting insights that I will reevaluate at another time, we dived into the mysterious romantic interests of my third roommate who I believe only exists between the hours of 12 a.m. and 1 a.m., frantically working on her homework or chopping vegetables. Now this noctural being has been a close friend of mine for the last few years but somehow I
overlooked her flannels and love of women and came to the conclusion that she was as straight as they come. Granted I also thought I was straight for 18 years but, I mean, everybody makes mistakes. Everybody follows a lot of queer women on Instagram thinking that they want to dress like them when in fact they may want to date them. So even though I was successful in determining that I was actually not straight and in love with the entire U.S. womens’ soccer team, in regards to my roommate, my gaydar was completely and utterly broken. Unfortunately, there is not a shop to get it fixed, but whenever I feel it going haywire I just binge watch some Ellen clips on YouTube for a few hours and peruse my local Hot Topic to feel better. Either way, I am blind, and in all reality my roommate is just as in love with Waverly Earp as I am (this is my fav queer tv show rn; the tumblr fandom is my life #thankyouCanadad). I don’t know how the Midwest can even use the word “west” in its name if y’all don’t know who Wyatt Earp is. I have told so many people about my obsession and they’re like “ … who?” If you all didn’t drive 45 minutes once a month to the Wyatt Earp Pie shop in Black Canyon City then how can you call yourselves part of the west? This is going to be important when Domonique Provost-Chalkley runs around the whole damn city killing demons and taking care of her sister’s magical gun. You are all welcome for this information.
So even though I was successful in determining that I was actually not straight and in love with the entire U.S. womens' soccer team, in regards to my roommate, my gaydar was completely and utterly broken. Thus, I am absolutely full of nonsense so if that is what you are looking for in terms of literary entertainment, tune in. If not, I apologize in advance, refunds available at the front. — Gaylord Phoenix
By Eva Hill hilleva@grinnell.edu Whether you’ve tried it or not, you’ve probably heard of mindfulness meditation, the technique for introspection and clearing one’s mind. Some schools have introduced mindfulness programs into their classrooms to help students improve their focus and lower their stress levels and all kinds of meditation apps are available for download today, from Headspace, which offers guided and unguided meditations, to basic ones like Breathe+ and BreathingApp, which provide rhythmic visuals and sounds to help the user establish a calm breathing pattern. But what exactly is mindfulness, and is it an effective technique to reduce stress?
Meditation is in no way a replacement for psychiatric medication, but it may be a helpful practice for those who take it, as well as being an opportunity for mental health improvement for people with milder conditions who are not on medication. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School and the creator of several mindfulness-based stress-relief programs, described mindfulness in a January 2017 interview with mindful.com as an “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.” During a meditation, participants attempt to keep their minds free of thoughts that are not relevant to their immediate experience. When a thought wanders in, though, the participant will notice the thought, recognize it and then gently and nonjudgmentally push it away. According to its proponents, the method allows participants to gain greater peace with themselves and their immediate environment. Scientific studies surrounding mindfulness have so far generally been relatively small in scope, making it difficult to make a com-
prehensive statement about the neurobiological impact of regular meditation. However, what evidence is currently available reflects positively, for the most part, on the practice. It is believed that the benefits of mindfulness come from neuroplasticity, or the ability of the brain to “rewire” its own neurons. Because of this, mindfulness has begun to gain traction in the medical community as a technique to improve mental health. Application of mindfulness by people with anxiety disorders and chronic physical ailments shows some signs of reducing depression and increasing stability. Meditation is in no way a replacement for psychiatric medication, but it may be a helpful practice for those who take it, as well as being an option for mental health improvement for people with milder conditions who are not on medication.
Mindfulness has begun to gain traction in the medical community as a technique to improve mental health. Mindfulness may also be a useful practice for people who do not have a specific mental health concern but feel stressed or burned out. A study published in Biological Psychiatry in July 2016 provides evidence that mindfulness meditation can physically change the brain and lead to a happier, more relaxed everyday life. The study measured the effects of practicing mindfulness meditation against the effects of having done a non-mindfulness-based relaxation activity on 35 subjects, all of whom were unemployed and experiencing considerable daily stress. At the end of the three-day program, both the mindfulness group and the placebo group reported feeling better and more relaxed, but when the subjects’ brains were scanned, only members of the mindfulness group had physical changes in their brains, including higher levels of communication between the parts of the brain relating to stress, calmness and focus, and lower levels of brain inflammation than the placebo group. I’d certainly
say mindfulness is worth trying.
So, is mindfulness worth trying? I'd certainly say so — it may help you gain better focus and reduce your day-to-day stress levels, and possibly even change your brain's structure for the better. This week’s book:
Want to read more but just don’t have the time? You can’t go wrong with “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri, a 1999 collection of nine short stories about love and relationships that range from heartbreaking to hopeful. They’re substantial enough that readers gain a clear look into characters’ lives, but short enough to fit in between homework assignments and meetings.
This week’s music:
Saying goodbye to summer takes a soothing-yet-danceable soundtrack, and for that there’s no better album than “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook.” It’s the only one of Fitzgerald’s Songbook albums where the featured composer performs — Ellington and his orchestra back each performance, with some really spectacular solos. My personal favorites include “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing.”
This week’s recipe:
Flourless egg muffins Mix together 4 beaten eggs, ½ teaspoon salt (and pepper, if you want), 1 cup grated cheese and 1 cup broccoli, spinach, kale or other green vegetable. Pour into muffin tin (makes around 6 muffins) or medium glass baking dish and bake for 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees. Can function as breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack, midday snack, procrastination project or potluck contribution.
Maggie Parke: Oy vey but it's okay
The Scarlet & Black Staff Editors-in-Chief News Editors Features Editor Sports Editor Arts Editor Community Editor Opinions Editor Copy Editors Photo Editor Video Editor Graphics Editor Web Manager Business Manager Staff Writer Honorary Editor
Mira Braneck Candace Mettle Maxwell Fenton Mayo Sueta Keli Vitaioli Lily Seibert Jackson Schulte Seth Taylor Lily Bohlke Zoe Fruchter Ben Mikek Andrew Tucker Nana Okamoto Ryuta Kure Amanda Weber Carter Howe Chloe Wray ITS
SPARC Policy The Scarlet & Black is published on Fridays by students of Grinnell College and is printed by Times Republican of Marshalltown. The newspaper is funded in part by the Student Publications and Radio Committee (SPARC) and also relies on advertising revenue to cover operating costs. All publications funded by SPARC are copyright of SPARC and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without specific written consent from SPARC. Contributions The Scarlet & Black welcomes story ideas from students, faculty and other members of the town and college community. If there is any story that should be covered, please email newspapr@grinnell.edu or visit thesandb.com Send letters to the editor via email at newspapr@grinnell.edu or mail them to Box 5886. The author’s name must be included, but letters can be published anonymously in certain occasions. Letters will be printed at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff. The S&B reserves the right to edit any and all submissions. Advertising Advertising inquiries should be directed to the business manager, Carter Howe, who can be reached at sandbads@ grinnell.edu or by mail at 1115 8th Avenue Grinnell College Box 5886, Grinnell, IA 50112.
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Purple mountains majesty.
SOFIA MENDEZ
Gym
Social Calendar Friday
6:15 p.m. Shabbat Table @ JRC 209 7 p.m. SOL Movie Night @ Bucksbaum 152 7:30 p.m. DIS/UNITY: AN INVITIATION @ Wall Theater 7:15 & 9:45 p.m. Black Panther @ Harris Cinema
Tan
Laundry
The S&B Dorm Crossword: Life
Saturday
10 p.m. Bad Girls Gardner @ Gardner Lounge
Snedge
This week, Mario Manalu '22 and Sara Licht '22 polled 100 students asking: SGA Harris pt. 1 or SGA Harris pt. 2?
JRC
Platinum Vajine 80%
ARH
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Across
Down
2. Ugh, left it in the shower again 3. Not-dorm rooms and dorm-rooms 6. Hell in Harris, lottery included but you don’t get to choose your numbers 8. Under the door 9. Hallways must be clear of ____ 12. You’re not allowed to smoke here 14. Write your name or someone else will eat it!
1. North campus, North America 4. Need something fixed? 5. Where’s my sock? 7. AC 10. Sock on the door 11. What your CAs tell you to practice 13. The day you breathe a sigh of relief because the bathroom doesn’t smell like vomit anymore
Rants & Raves:
Students speak about what’s on their minds in 75 words or fewer, and you’re invited! If you have a rant or a rave, email it to [bohlkeli]
Lights OUT
Hello Sun
Mac 'n cheeese
To set the scene: my walk home to Broad Stret from campus takes me down Park, south of Eighth on the western edge of the HSSC construction. Since the school year has begun and construction continues to be underway, the street lights there have not been working and my walk home after sundown has been SCARY. The College needs to do something to get these and many other faulty street lamps on campus working so my neck can get some rest from looking over my shoulder every time I hear a twig snap!
Good that the sun started existing again. I feel like inverse Gollum
The line for mac and cheese the other day in D-Hall was ridiculously long. For one, humans are not even supposed to eat dairy. Secondly, even mac and cheese is not worth spending any more time in lunch-hour D-Hall than absolutely necessary. - CopyCats '21
- Keli Vitaioli '19
- Andrea Baumgartel '19