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November 12, 2004
Comics
The Devil and Matthew Vassar, Underverse.
The Flaming Chef | May the best chef win: The ACDC recipie contest
Craig Libman
A few weeks ago, I briefly mentioned that ACDC is holding a recipe contest this month for all Vassar students..
When students go to prison:
Vassar class has weekly dialogue with inmates
Daniel Morgan
Thirty minutes away but worlds apart from the arboretum-like landscape of Vassar lies the maximum security Greenhaven correctional facility.
Behind Academics at Vassar
Tiffany Chow / The Miscellany News
A special report on the numbers, policies, and programs that define academics at the College.
Now and Then
Taking a look at the popularity of majors, 30 years ago and today
Larissa Pahomov
In 1974, 34 courses of study were available to students as a major. In 2004, the number had increased to 47. In the interim, the College has seen changes in which majors attract the most students.
How to major in everything
Multidisciplinary programs turn ideas into reality
Laura Attanasio
Today, the College offers 13 multidisciplinary programs available as majors, and all of which have been created in the last 50 years. The trend toward multidisciplinary learning is one general reason that so many programs have developed and flourished in a relatively short time, but the story of how each program was created is different.
Going Independent
Independent Program lets students pursue their own ideas, but not without serious planning
Aaron Biberstein
The independent major allows students to craft their own focus to their coursework.
Tripling your major
Katie Aberbach
The next time you find yourself regretting this semesters five class course load, or your decision to double major, think of Steve Gilhool. The senior has not one, not two, but three (thats right, three) majors: astronomy, physics, and Japanese. He is the sole triple major in the entire Class of 2005.
The Ratio Game
Emma White
Though the number of faculty who actually teach each year varies due to sabbaticals and administrative assignments, these absences are filled by visiting faculty members.
Phocus brings alumnus to teach
John Palmer
Phocus, the campus photography club, is hoping to revitalize their club and share a wealth of knowledge with the Vassar community through a lecture by photojournalist Serge St. Levy ’95.
Students gather for post-election discussion
Walter Padilla
Shortly after the media announced the predicted re-election of George W. Bush to the presidency, a group of students from various on-campus political organizations, including members of the Students Activist Union and the Forum for Political Philosophy, got together and planned the next immediate phase of student political activism at Vassar.
Jewish Alumni Organization hosts conference on identity
Hayley Tsukayama
Dozens of Vassar alumni will return to campus from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 as part of the Jewish Alumni of Vassar College (JAVC) organization’s program, “Jewish Identities: At Vassar and Beyond.”
VSA distributes capital funds
Larissa Pahomov
On Friday, Oct. 29, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) announced the recipients of the Capital Budgeting Fund for Fall 2004. Out of 50 applications, 40 groups were awarded parts of the $8,025 total budget.
Vincent Harding urges students to take social action in daily lives
Janine Parziale
Thus, his speech, which was more of a reflective and exhortative conversation, with the entire Vassar community, entitled “Where Do We Go From Here?,” was placed specifically in the context of this year’s presidential election.
ERC launces energy conservation campaign
Jamie Rosen
In an ongoing effort to add wind power to Vassar’s current energy sources, the Environmental Responsibility Committee has started a campus-wide energy conservation campaign. Money saved as a result of the campaign will subsidize the premium required for the New Wind Energy Company to add wind energy to the output of power supplier Central Hudson.
Chapel celebrates 100th birthday
Janine Parziale and John Palmer
As the Chapel turned one hundred, members of the College community congregated to reflect on the history and purpose of this spiritual space. Throughout the afternoon of Nov. 4, a number of different activities helped illuminate the role of the Chapel and visions for the future.
The Vassar Chronicles | A history of the Chapel : serving spiritual needs since 1904
Jon Cruz
Chapel Services were a required part of campus life for decades, and the removal of such services from student life sparked a series of discussions and debates that continue to affect us today.
Director of Geese: A dog with a job
Sarah De Filippe
There are dogs, and then there are dogs: the kind of animals that deserve praise, admiration, and lots of doggie biscuits for the amazing feats that they accomplish in their daily routines. At Vassar, we have one such dog here.
Letters to the Editor
Comments on problems at the campus Halloween party, and a response to a recent post-election protest "designed to inflame."
Political funeral procession takes to city streets
Anita Varma
A somber funeral procession made its way through the streets of Poughkeepsie on Sunday, Nov. 7. Accompanied by a drummer and hushed talk, 16 pallbearers carried four coffins. Three of these coffins read “Justice,” “Liberty” and “Peace.” The fourth was solid black.
Students can affect housing policies
Jessica Gentile
As students, we often fail to recognize the complexities involved with bringing about new policies and more importantly, fail to recognize how we can influence such changes. The Office of Residential Life is more willing to take student input into consideration than one might expect.
Another Angle | Morality should be kept from politics
Amanda Melillo
In electing Bush, not only did America validate and support his presidency for the last four years by granting him another term, but the identity of this country has been reaffirmed: historically, we are not a land of equality and freedom...
Activism on campus self-righteous
Marvin Campbell
In response to the recent spate of articles that have examined and analyzed the political atmosphere of this campus, only one phrase seems appropriate by way of response: Give me a break.
Security not actually cracking down
Recently, campus grumblings of a renewed effort by security to ‘crack down’ on Vassar’s party scene have risen to an audible level. These disgruntled rumors arise from the feeling that an increased number of parties being shut down and students reprimanded for their illegal behaviors.
News Briefs
Underage drinking in the mug, bikes recovered in New Paltz, and several marijuana confiscations.
November 05, 2004
Letters to the Editor
Asian Quilt speaks out against their slashed budget, and a rebuttal against the CIA recruitment meeting protest.
Another Angle | Voters disregard significant "wedge" during 2004 presidential campaign
Amanda Melillo
With all that could potentially go wrong over the next four years and beyond, several issues have been painfully negleccted.
Vassar "bubble" an inaccurate term
Judy Jarvis
Get over it. There is no Vassar “bubble.” The expression is really a cop-out—an overarching term inactive people use as an excuse.
ResLife hazardous to student health
The Office of Residential Life's reactive method of addressing issues has proven too little, too late.News Briefs
A West Point student with a sword, maijuana confiscations, and a mercury spill.
Senior Council plans class gift
Larissa Pahomov
Few students are aware of the criteria that a potential gift has to meet in order to be considered feasible.
New faces in local government and senate
Ariel Schwarz
While most Vassar students followed the presidential race with vigor, local elections also occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Four Watson Fellowship nominees announced
Anita Varma
Four seniors were nominated for the Watson, an unusual fellowship where students pursue their own year-long program of independent study.
VSA works to standardize noise regulations
Aaron Biberstein
Confusion has erupted over a disagreement in policy between the Residential Life Handbook and Campus Activities party registration forms regarding quiet hours on weekends.
Mold forces students out of two THs
Walter Padilla
After a slow response from Residential Life, ten students move out of the THs in order for their housing to be renovated.
Comics
The Devil and Matthew Vassar.Fashion show exhibits culture and style
The event, organized by the ASU, portrayed different aspects of African culture in addition to the role of being an international student at Vassar.
What's in your coffee cup?
Vassar switches to more globally-aware fair trade grinds
Nick Kusnetz
When Maureen King began her job as Director of Campus Dining at Vassar in 1999, the College already had begun to purchase some of its coffee from Fair Trade suppliers. The fair trade label means that the producer receives a higher price for the product by skipping over middlemen and gaining direct access to markets...
The Flaming Chef | New Tex-Mex restaurant opens
Craig Libman
At Fresco Tortillas, entrées “spring to the touch” with delectable freshness.
Presidential Race at Vassar 2004
On Nov. 2, the entire campus held its breath as the 2004 presidential election unfolded. Students particpated on all levels, from voting, to helping others vote, to traveling to other states in order to canvas for candidates. By the end of the day, however, all there was left to do was to sit and wait for the results.
Studies after college: Fellowships offer support for pursuits
Janine Parziale
Each year, thousands of undergraduates are intimidated and overwhelmed by the thought of what will happen after graduation. The inevitable question arises: What now?
Backpage Calendar
Democracy is doomed
The events calendar for the week of Nov. 5 to Nov. 11, plus so many tea jokes you won't want to drink the stuff ever again.
Democracy is about Choices
Democracy is community
College celebrates unity at the ballot box
In a grand celebration of our own righteousness in voting almost entirely democratic, 2400 male and female students, and as many faculty’s members as care to, will line up around the circumference of the campus for a 12 to 15 minute simultaneous assisted-orgasm party. For those attending, you will be wanking to the left. CHOICE will provide blue lube and blue latex gloves to make sure the event is safe and in keeping with the Democract’s platform promoting sexual education.
Sports Briefs
Hickman named Liberty League Swimmer of the Week, and championships in Fencing at "The Big One."
Out of Bounds | Pigs fly, hell freezes over: the Red Sox win World Series
Gabe Mosca
Red Sox fans have waited 86 years for a World Series title. They cringed when Johnny Pesky held the ball in 1946 and the St. Louis Cardinals scampered to a four games to three victory. They rejoiced in 1976 when Carlton Fisk ended game six with a home run only to have Joe Morgan and the Cincinnati Reds come back and take the championship in game seven...
Committee evaluates drug use on campus
Sarah Palermo
When the news got around last spring that the College Athletic Department would begin developing and implementing a drug-testing policy, the rumors flew faster than the gossip server could handle. To address the concerns so many people were voicing, the College formed the Drug Testing Policy and Procedure Committee.
Intramural Sports
Steve Buonfiglio
With Indian summer in full bloom, with George Bush’s reign of “Srategery” approaching an end (or John Kerry’s aspirations sinking like the waist line of a Veteran for Truth), with the Patriots actually losing and the Boston Red Sox setting New England hearts aflutter for the first time since 1918, who knew what would transpire in the IM Soccer Final Four.
Man Booker Prize and others awarded to novelists
Marcella Veneziale
The Man Booker Prize, the United Kingdom’s most prestigious award in fictional literature, has recently been awarded to Alan Hollinghurst for his work, The Line of Beauty, which depicts the life of its protagonist, Nick Guest, in 1980s England.
What's to do? Poughkeepsie Edition
Coffee and Cigarettes in Sanders, Lord of the Dance in Poughkeepsie, and the events calendar.
Rocky Horror returns to Vassar
Andy Berger
Sometime in your life, you’ve been witness to a cult phenomenon. Perhaps it was Lord of the Rings, Homestar Runner, or The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Why do these groups emerge? Why do they linger? Only a sociology professor could give you a complete answer. For Rocky Horror Picture Show, however, the answer is undoubtedly “the experience.”
Converge and Pavement reemerge in new CDs
Two new offerings—one new album, and one expanded re-release—from two bands at the tops of their respective fields.
New Broadway DVD gives historical insight
Deborah Temkin
Although an expensive treat, Broadway is something that needs to be experienced by anyone lucky enough to live just an hour and a half from brilliance.
"Long Way Round" brings star power and surprises
Miranda Kimball
It’s clear that BRAVO has found a lucrative and popular niche in entertainment television. BRAVO can now add another show to this engaging list of television programming: “Long Way Round.”
