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February 23, 2007
Former Ambassador speaks on U.S. foreign relations
Ilyse Kramer
The ambassador outlined some important regional economic policies currently in development, such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
February 22, 2007
Weekly Calendar 2/23-3/2
Backpage
NCAA considers expanding Division III athletics
Emma Carmichael
The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is facing growing problems in Division III, now its largest division with 420 active members.
Sports Brief | SAAC approves release of drug testing policy
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) voted unanimously on Monday, Feb. 20 to release the drug testing policy that has been in process for nearly three years.
Men’s basketball prepares for first-ever playoffs
Elizabeth Pacheco
If you attended the last weekend of home games for the men’s basketball team on Feb. 2-3, you were probably surprised to see the typically sparse stands transformed into a sea of Brewer red and gray.
Overtime | NBA unable to accept homosexuality
Kyle Nelson
Earlier this month, John Amaechi, a retired black British basketball player, came out and became the first openly homosexual to have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). What does this mean?
Academy Awards night 2007 is coming: Predictions for sure winners, close calls
Rachel Pittenger
The climax of the awards season has finally arrived—Oscar Night falls on Sunday, Feb. 25, and while the crop of noteworthy movies is sizable this year, the critics are having a hard time identifying the “shoo-ins” in some of the major categories.
Matt and Kim to rock Vassar
Liza Darwin
Up-and-coming guitar-and-drum duo Matt and Kim will perform with Yeasayer at the Vassar NoViCE show on Friday, Feb. 23. According to NoViCE Co-President Jake Friedman ’07, Vassar students will have the opportunity to see “next big things” in the world of music with Matt and Kim.
FLLAC event at KooNewYork
Weintana Abraha
The Vassar community will soon be presented with a unique opportunity to explore modern Asian art. On Thursday, March 1, the Friends of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center will hold the opening of the third annual East Meets West gallery visit series at KooNewYork in Manhattan.
Music Box | Lucinda Williams
Mike Newmark
Notwithstanding the hit-making assembly line of Nashville, country music will always bring me back to the idea of wandering, a sense of nomadic drift brought about by pain, heartbreak and loss. The tradition dates back nearly a century to the Carter Family, whose songs may sound dated but whose lyrics of leaving heartache to wander away from home and into the grave ring surprisingly true today.
Campus Killer Coke Campaign intensifies
Mike Alberti
Ray Rogers has been called “a legendary union activist” by Business Week, and Time magazine stated that he “has brought some of the most powerful corporations to their knees.” On Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Rocky 200, Rogers will speak to Vassar students on behalf of the Vassar Killer Coke Campaign.
Author to recount Guantanamo experiences
Amanda Melillo
James Yee, former United States Army chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, will be coming to Vassar to discuss his experiences at the infamous detention center.
Students launch two new Queer publications
Sarah Siegel
As a freshman, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgeneder and Queer (LGBTQ) activist Kelsey Smith ’07 felt the LGBTQ community was in tatters.
One student’s trash is another’s research focus
Juliana Kiyan
All Campus Dining Center (ACDC) patrons were bound to notice an unusual sight from Feb. 5-7 as apron-clad students called attention to such routine items as paper cups and non-recyclable yogurt containers by digging these scraps of trash out from under piles of food and sorting them into various containers.
Vassar Technology Today | The mystery of your slow computer: What’s the culprit?
Matthew Leung
Adding a new refrain to the recent chorus of Vassar technology complaints is the increasing slowness of computers. This complaint is so common that it seems like there must be someone, or something, behind this “slow computer” syndrome.
Students dance the years away at Matthew’s Mug
Lauren Sutherland
This year marked the 32nd birthday of Matthew’s Mug, which has become firmly embedded in campus life as the host of musical performances, themed parties, trivia nights, and good old-fashioned clubbing.
Staff Editorial | Vassar should prioritize full repairs to the Mug
Last week, Matthew’s Mug was closed due to sewage leaking from a blocked sanitation line. Since the space plays an important role as a social center for a large number of students, we believe that exhaustive repairs must be done in order to ensure that it will be open and operating.
Eye On America | Angelou School an example for reforming offenders
Ross Weingarten
The students at Maya Angelou Charter School in Washington, D.C. are just like any other high school students in the country. They go to class, play sports, work part-time jobs to make extra spending money, and socialize with their friends. Many of them hope to graduate and go off to college.
Views On Vassar | More rugby coaches needed to improve perfomance
Tendai Musakwa
“Beast of the East” is the name of one of the tournaments that both of Vassar’s rugby teams have won in their long and successful histories. The teams can certainly be described as “beasts” of east coast collegiate rugby: According to cstv.com, the women’s team ranked 11th in the nation as of Feb. 20.
Object Lessons | The media’s framing of “choice” obscures larger goals of feminism
Carolyn Bradley
Will someone please explain to the right wing that when women speak out against sexism, they are not claiming victim status but rejecting it? How feminism, once maligned as the political movement of power-hungry, man-bashing castrators, came to be derided as an ideology of female helplessness and victimhood is a question not easily answered.
Jobs’ letter prompted by sales concerns
Walker Boyd
“A storm is brewing”, is what the technologically inclined would say. No doubt they would be referring to the controversy surrounding Digital Rights Management (DRM) and digital music downloads.
Letters to the Editor | Details of Israel-Palestine conflict inaccurate
Ross Weingarten’s description of the current negotiations between Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah (02.15.07 edition of The Miscellany News) is quite accurate. However, his history is in some places ill-informed, and the sweeping judgments he makes based on this history need be addressed.
Poughkeepsie Galleria parking garage collapses due to snow
Shahreen Saifi
Part of the upper deck of a parking area collapsed at the Poughkeepsie Galleria at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, burying several cars under snow and debris. The southeast section of the mall was shut down to allow rescue teams to survey the wreckage.
Financial aid offices at 60 colleges investigated by N.Y. State Attorney
Brian Farkas
New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is expanding a nationwide investigation examining the relationships between colleges and the private lenders recommended to students applying for loans.
Sewage once again floods Matthew’s Mug
Audrey Tempelsman
Monday through Saturday, sweat-soaked students crowd Matthew’s Mug, the campus bar and club. But lately, bodily secretions of a different sort have dominated the dance floor. The sewage backup that flooded the Mug on Jan. 27th recurred last Tuesday, prompting a shut-down and disappointing Jazz Night devotees.
ASA gets apology from Mr. Vassar contestant
Stephen Cheng
The Asian Students’ Alliance (ASA) met this week to examine remarks made by Austin Clark ’08 at the recent Mr. Vassar competition. Clark attended the ASA meeting on Wed., Feb. 14 and apologized, but explained that he had expected shock from the audience, not laughter. “As outrageous as my statements were, I chose my words carefully,” said Clark.
Vassar launches new internship fund
Hayley Tsukayama
As of this week, all students may now apply for the Summer Internship Grant (SIG) fund, which was established as the Class of 2008’s Sophomore Gift and will provide financial support for Vassar students working at unpaid summer internships.
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
On Tuesday, Feb. 20, VISA and CSA held a Mardi Gras celebration in the Students' Building. Local vendors, such as La Cabanita, Reggae Boys and Mole Mole, sold food....February 15, 2007
Weekly Calendar 2/16-2/23
Backpage
Men’s swimmers and divers are a splashing success
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar College men’s swimming and diving team made program history at home last Saturday, Feb. 10 when they captured their first-ever Sprint Invitational victory with a 59-point lead over second-place Skidmore College.
Athlete of the Week | Bisignano, Upham are all-stars on the strip
Elizabeth Pacheco
Coming off of their most successful season in years, Vassar’s men and women’s fencing teams are highly anticipating the New England Championships. With the tournament less than two weeks away, players are honing their skills on the strip in hopes of continuing their dominance over opponents.
National Sports Brief | Super Bowl loser’s apparel finds suprising home
Elizabeth Pacheco
At the end of Super Bowl XLI, when the Indianapolis Colts’ victory had become reality and Peyton Manning had finally achieved his redemptive win, a sea of emotion and coveted championship merchandise flooded Dolphins Stadium in South Florida.
Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos Visit Vassar
Schechner to lecture on experimental performance
Liza Darwin
Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU) Professor of Performance Studies Richard Schechner will give a lecture on “American Experimental Performance: Histories, Functions, Prospects.”
An Interview with Oneida
Oneida (pronounced “oh-NYE-duh”) has been a difficult band to pigeonhole, which is precisely what makes listening to them so rewarding. They mix genres as though no differences exist between them, and they’re supremely confident spinning off in any number of directions. Their latest album, Happy New Year, was released in July 2006 to critical acclaim.
Music Box | Deerhunter
Mike Newmark
Maybe this will damage my credibility as a music journalist, but I believe that the best music can’t be described in words. I admire artists who have been able to elevate their music above language, and the albums most dear to me have rendered me dumb and hopeless to explain their power.
V-Week at Vassar
Emma Epstein
Lauren Sutherland
Baize Buzan ’10’s eyes do not stray far from the page in front of her as she delivers the somber, almost deadpan meditation on war and compassion that concludes this year’s production of “The Vagina Monologues.”
Two Broads Abroad | Reunion in Italy full of mishaps, saved by Nutella
Part of going JYA, especially in Europe, is traveling, or as the British call it, “going on holiday.” The countries are so close together and the flights are so cheap that hey, you might as well rack up a few more passport stamps.
Vassar Technology Today |Technology history repeats itself in recent news
Matthew Leung
Over the course of the history of modern technology, there were some notable events, organizations, and laws popularized by either their novelty or potential threat. But in the last couple of weeks, news in the technology sector seems to have reflected some of these well-known events in funhouse-mirror style.
On The Job | From Mr. Vassar to Mr. Teacher
Mike Alberti
During the weekend of Mr. Vassar, former competition winner Phil Clark ’05 returned to Vassar to speak to students and recruit for Teach For America (TFA), the non-profit organization he has worked for since graduating from Vassar.
Prepare for a Zombie invasion
Andrew Birkhead
You may have noticed students over the past week wearing bandanas, shooting NERF guns and cursing aloud. Don’t be afraid, it’s only the Apocalypse. That’s right, zombies have taken hold of our campus.
Author, radio personality Sarah Vowell to deliver Alex Kreiger ’95 lecture
Sarah Siegel
After lending her voice to animated film, radio shows, and numerous books, writer and humorist Sarah Vowell will be giving the Alex Krieger ’95 Memorial Lecture Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Students’ Building.
Betty Francis: Mug Gatekeeper
Jackson Reeves
Everybody knows Betty Francis: She is the sentinel of the renowned Matthew’s Mug and a campus celebrity. She showcased this popularity at last weekend’s annual Mr. Vassar competition, where she served as judge for her fourth year in a row.
Staff Editorial |Successful All College Day Mural requires respectful dialogue
For the past six years, the All College Day Mural has provided an open forum for the Vassar community to post opinions on any issue. The theme of All College Day 2007 is “Building Community at Vassar: What’s Next?” and the mural should serve as a space to discuss ways in which to strengthen our community.
Eye On America | Radical changes needed to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine
Ross Weingarten
Last week, leaders from the two sects of Palestinian leadership met in the holy city of Mecca to try to broker a peace agreement between the two groups.
Views On Vassar | Haiti Project a role model for international charity
Tendai Musakwa
Are we the self-involved, ignorant students that some people assert we are, or are we more in touch with the communities around us than people give us credit for?
Off Topic, On Point | Mr. Vassar prompts examination of group decisions
Evan Casper-Futterman
A friend of mine recently sent out an e-mail in which she expressed her desire to be nominated for Mr. Vassar. Ultimately, it seems she didn’t get enough votes, and her candidacy ended before it really began.
Society’s perceptions of the male body: A heavy weight to carry
Susannah Plocher
The other evening, hoping to beat the rush, I bundled my lazy self up and headed over to the gym. It was after 8 p.m. at this point, so I figured that not many people would be there. Though I was right in guessing that few people would be there, I was amazed at the gender divide of those who were: Of the 20 or so people there, only three were women, myself included.
Letters to the Editor | VSA adds Vice President for Student Life
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council is currently considering an amendment to the VSA Constitution that would add a sixth member to the VSA Executive Board: a Vice President for Student Life.
SAAC to adopt new drug testing policy
Audrey Tempelsman
On Feb. 19, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will vote on the “Drug Testing and Education Program,” a policy that would empower the Vassar Athletics Department to test student-athletes for drugs.
VSA adds new position to Exec Board, renames other posts “VPs”
Brian Farkas
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) introduced a major amendment to its Constitution at its Feb. 11 meeting, altering Article IV to create a brand new sixth Executive Board position: the Vice President for Student Life.
Blackboard, Inc. combats criticism of patents policy
Shahreen Saifi
In response to months of criticism that its legal policies were squashing educational software development, Blackboard, Inc. pledged on Feb. 1 that it would not assert patent rights on open-source projects or homegrown software.
University of Chicago votes against Sudan divestments
Hayley Tsukayama
Breaking with many of its peer institutions, the University of Chicago announced on Friday, Feb. 2 that it will not divest from companies linked to the Sudanese government.
Harvard names first female president
Anita Varma
While the nation muses over whether Hillary Clinton will be the first female president of the United States, Harvard University has appointed its first female president. Harvard University President-elect Drew Gilpin Faust was selected on Sunday, Feb. 11.
Alum Vera Rubin receives award for achievements in astrophysics
Stephen Cheung
Dr. Vera Cooper Rubin was named the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award for 2007. As such she delivered a lecture entitled “How I Left Vassar and Found Dark Matter: Reflections on Vassar and Astronomy,” in Sanders Auditorium at 3:30 p.m., on Feb. 8, at an event hosted by the Alumnae and Alumni Association of Vassar College (AAVC).
Comments at Mr. Vassar contest spark controversy
Stephen Cheung
The Mr. Vassar competition on Feb. 10 raised some eyebrows when contestant Austin Clark ’08 cracked jokes about Asians during one of the judged events in which contestants modeled handmade loincloths and then described the production process using a slideshow.
News Briefs
Initiative will bring Bronx high school students to Vassar
Brian Farkas
A partnership between Vassar College and the Columbus Institute for Math and Science (CIMS) is marking its fourth anniversary with an initiative to introduce inner-city students to the possibility of higher education and bring the entire freshman class of CIMS to Vassar.
Photo of the Week
The biggest snow storm of the year thus far hit Vassar on Wednesday. The winter storm, which shut down the College's administrative offices for the day, was expected to dump...February 08, 2007
Weekly Calendar 2/9-2/16
Backpage
U.S. welcoming to international sports stars
Josh Bleiberg
Here in the United States, sports leagues have never shied away from importing international stars in an effort to rejuvenate enthusiasm among American sport fans. One of the most recent examples is Britain’s David Beckham, who left his club team Real Madrid to sign a quarter billion dollar contract with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Los Angeles Galaxy.
Brewers show spirit at home competitions
Sports Spread...Athlete of the Week
Emma Carmichael
The Vassar College men’s basketball team is currently enjoying its most successful season since it joined the competitive Liberty League a few seasons back, largely due to the outstanding play of forward Lawrence Avitabile ’08.
Learn to live your Best Life
Elizabeth Pacheco
In a society where thin is always in and a new diet fad is continually on the rise, Bob Greene built a successful career in the fitness business. No, he has not developed a weight-loss pill or created a five-minute ab workout; rather he has designed a life plan for Americans to follow.
Vassar’s first ArtSwap
Anita Varma
Vassar students are involved in a variety of official campus groups, from sports teams to Vassar Student Association organizations. But students who harbor little-known talents without a structured club backing them can have a difficult time finding an outlet for their work.
Music Box | Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Mike Newmark
Around the time when Sony was caught giving Hawaiian vacations to radio programmers for airplay, underdog Brooklyn quintet Clap Your Hands Say Yeah dropped their eponymous debut like an atom bomb into a cynical musical landscape.
Exploring arts outside the Vassar campus
Rachel Pittenger
From film screenings to theater productions to art exhibits, the arts are a central aspect of Vassar culture. However, outside the College gates lies a great opportunity to experience such cultural endeavors in the broader Dutchess County setting.
Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth blurs line between fantasy and reality
Matthew Poland
The great achievement of Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro’s phantasmic political fable, lies in its deep ambivalence about the nature of fantasy.
BARR show
Mike Newmark
Remember Les Claypool’s verses to “Pork Soda” in 1993? No? He sang in a gleefully deranged mutter about a sorry guy who buys a tasteless couch and whose girlfriend used to be a man.
Mr. Vassar candidates walk on the wild side
Weintana Abraha
It’s that time of year again: Students talk of crowns and excitedly whisper about themes., guys anxiously wait to find out if they have been nominated as one of the eight coolest, sexiest, funniest men on campus, and if they are set to vie for the honor of all honors: the title of Mr. Vassar.
Vassar Technology Today | Microsoft Office gets a free replacement with open-source
Matthew Leung
When Microsoft first introduced Internet Explorer (IE) as a free Web browser in 1996, it only got hold of 10 percent of computer users. As Windows became popular, and IE was bundled with it, that percentage went up to 40 percent in 1998 and 80 percent in 2000. IE’s monopoly status peaked in the summer of 2002 at 96 percent. Microsoft finally had control over the Internet.
Profit loss ends winter festivals
Shirley Shangguan
Wintertime excursions for Vassar students often include snow sculptures on the quad or traying down by Sunset Lake. Those who wish to add Winterfest or the Arlington Holiday festival to their list will have to go without this year.
Students still recovering from Katrina’s effects
Sarah Siegel
When Danielle Morvant ’10 went home over winter break, she slept on a box spring. Lulu Caruso ’07 is on her sixth house in the past 18 months, and Jessica Muller-Pearson ’08 is living in a government trailer.
Cultures clash as students readjust to college life
Margaret Files
Rachel Hui
Anna Volk ’08 misses empanadas. For Carrie Holland ’08, it’s good sushi. Lily Huang ’08 even misses burritos for breakfast.
Greysearch creators aim to create Vassar’s Craigslist
Mike Alberti
Have you ever wished there was a Web site where you could trade your books, check the menus of local restaurants, and look at professor ratings all in one place? Consider, then, checking out greysearch.com,, a new Web site created by Carlos Sawyerr-Ibriga ’07 and Ray Blackford ’07.
Staff Editorial |Changes to federal financial aid a step in the right direction
When Democrats swept the midterm elections last November and gained majorities in both the House and Senate, The Miscellany News asked, “What’s next?”
Eye On America | Soldiers’ strain caused by intensity of Iraq situation
Ross Weingarten
In the past months, there have been reported incidents of American soldiers performing brutal, horrible acts of violence against Iraqi men, women and children. Reports of theft, abuse, rape and murder have come back from the warfront and horrified the American public.
Views On Vassar | Mr. Vassar pageant reinforces male stereotypes
Tendai Musakwa
“Get your jungle juices flowing” is one of the advertising hooks that the Daisy Chain is using for Vassar College’s annual male beauty pageant, Mr. Vassar.
Demonstrations losing relevance in 21st century
James Boyd
Those Vassar students who listen to the “blogospehere” (during breaks from their busy schedules of skipping classes, sipping caramel-macchiato-espressos and looking as blasé as possible in eight-degree weather) heard about the Jan. 26 mass anti-war protest in Washington, D.C.
Staff Editorial | Creation of College Republicans would benefit political diversity on campus
When Vassar College is categorically ranked by the Princeton Review each year, it is almost always a contender for the list “Students Most Nostalgic for Bill Clinton.” While many members of the Vassar community relish the College’s longstanding reputation as a hotbed of far-left thinking, the unavoidable consequence is the prevention of political discourse between opposing viewpoints.
Vassar gets a “B” on sustainability
Brian Farkas
On Jan. 24, the Sustainable Endowments Institute released its annual College Sustainability Report Card, which grades 100 leading colleges based on environment-friendly policies. Vassar College received a B, tying with Brown University, Columbia University, and Duke University, among others.
New economic plans outlined in Poughkeepsie
Hayley Tsukayama
The Town of Poughkeepsie held the second public hearing regarding its plan for the future of the area on Jan. 31. The proposed plan is a revamp of the 1990 master town plan.
Bush, Congress support raising Pell grants
Ilyse Kramer
On Jan. 29, House and Senate Democrats agreed on a spending bill that will provide the maximum federal grant for middle-to-low-income students to attend college. Congress will raise Federal Pell Grants from $4,050 to $4,310. Unlike student loans, these grants do not need to be repaid.
Educators crack down on Wikipedia
Shahreen Saifi
Beginning this spring semester, the Middlebury College History Department has banned citing Wikipedia as a primary source. Although it is still acceptable for researching background information, members of the department unanimously agree that, as a main source, it is unreliable.
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
Shirley Ecker Boskey Professor of History Robert Brigham gave a lecture on Feb. 5 entitled "Is Iraq another Vietnam?" The lecture was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of...February 01, 2007
The Backpage
Senior Class Gifts at the College.
Weekly Calendar 2/2-2/9
Swimming and squash take second at Sisters
Elizabeth Pacheco
On Jan. 20-Jan. 21 the Vassar women’s swimming and squash teams both placed second at their annual Seven Sisters Tournaments. Although facing challenging competitors, the Brewer women still gave outstanding performances, receiving various Seven Sisters Tournament honors.
Volleyball aces in opener
Vassar men’s volleyball team opened its season with a pair of wins this past weekend on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Super Bowl XLI preview
Matthew Elias
On Sunday, Feb. 4 the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Fla. It is a match-up between two of the most storied franchises in the National Football League’s (NFL) history, both of which are looking to end their championship droughts.
Sports Brief | Serena Williams serves up surprises at Australian Open
Entering the tournament unseeded and from a 2006 season that was riddled with injury, few expected Serena Williams to come out on top at the 2007 Australian Open.
Teen Visions ’07 at Palmer
Rachel Pittenger
A different side of the local community comes to light in Teen Visions, the new exhibit in the James W. Palmer Gallery that features works by Poughkeepsie-area high school students.
For the People murals exhibit in FLLAC
Liza Darwin
For the People: American Mural Drawings of the 1930s and 1940s, the new exhibit at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center (FLLAC), features preliminary drawings for large murals by artists working in an unstable era of American history.
Two Broads Abroad | Part 1: Let the cross-Atlantic adventures begin...
Where did all the juniors go? You may find yourself asking this question in the coming weeks, as you begin to miss some of the familiar Class of 2008 faces (and wonder who all those weirdos with fake accents, cute Euro-style, and newfound appreciation of tap water are).
Weird winter weather from coast to coast
Emma Epstein
Julie Mahoney ’07 found herself stuck at Vassar when, four days before Christmas, the Denver Colo. airport grounded planes due to severe winter weather. Fortunately, Mahoney lives in an off-campus apartment and was able to remain in her home until booking a flight home late Christmas Eve.
Vassar community sounds off on the troop surge
Greg Armstrong
“War makes good people very monstrous,” said Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies Ismail Rashid as he introduced the panel discussion “War, Peace and Justice: Building a Safer World.” “Many people feel that the war in Iraq and the war in Darfur are foreign wars. But wars always come home. They come home in body bags and with wounded soldiers.”
Vassar Technology Today | Legally free: Downloads make turning point with ads
Matthew Leung
Since the iTunes Store opened its doors for $0.99 music downloads in 2003, it has become the world’s largest music download store, cashing in two billion song purchases over the past four years. It seems that competing music download services must directly confront Apple’s near-monopoly in order to get noticed.
Mixed reviews for revamped Raymond Avenue Construction
Jenny Nigro
In the beginning of the fall semester, Raymond Avenue construction instigated much dissent within the campus and Poughkeepsie communities. Students complained of delays while crossing the street, noise from late-night construction and clogged inboxes from mass e-mails about the issue.
Staff Editorial | Slow streaming video frustrates campus Internet users
If you returned to campus on Tuesday, Jan. 23 and tried to watch the State of the Union address on the White House Web site, you may have found yourself out of luck. In fact, if you have ever tried to watch any Internet videos on campus, you might have discovered that they didn’t stream so smoothly either.
Eye On America | Electibility important question for one popular candidate
Ross Weingarten
Around Washington, D.C., one name seems to be on everyone’s lips: Barack. I don’t have to tell you that I am talking about Barack Obama, the Illinois senator who has made it clear that he is primed for a run at the Democratic presidential nomination.
Views On Vassar | Vassar has brought back parts of past hippie culture
Tendai Musakwa
The Princeton Review’s “2007 Best 361 Colleges” ranks Vassar 14th in the category “Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Colleges.” A ranking such as this suggests the emergence of a neo-hippie movement among college students in the United States.
Freedom of expression not free for some in the U.S.
Evan Casper-Futterman
There are young citizens of this country for whom the primary concern is not whether there is room on the bus going to the weekend protest, but rather whether their presence at the demonstration will lead to criminal charges.
Feminism means going against the surge
Carolyn Bradley
Like most “competing” leftist movements, feminism and peace politics have always had a touchy relationship. It’s as true now as ever.
Letters to the Editor | Removal of stoplight makes Raymond unsafe
Students, professors protest Iraq war
Nadine Reitman
On Saturday, Jan. 27, over 100 Vassar students, teachers, and faculty members attended an anti-war protest in Washington, D.C.
Daily Princetonian parodies Asians
Juliana Kiyan
Shortly after Princeton University’s student newspaper ran its annual joke issue on Jan. 17, readers responded with outrage to an op-ed column that they claimed constituted anti-Asian bigotry. The Daily Princetonian column, written in broken English, parodied an Asian American student who filed a civil rights complaint against Princeton.
Commencement speaker chosen for Class of 2007
Amanda Melillo
President Catharine Bond Hill has selected Terry Gross to be the commencement speaker for the Class of 2007, Vassar College’s 143rd graduating class. Gross hosts the talk show “Fresh Air” on National Public Radio (NPR) and is known for interviewing prominent public figures in politics, entertainment, the arts, sciences and business.
Class of 2007 announces gift of solar panels
Amanda Melillo
The Class of 2007 will be hosting a kickoff party Friday, Feb. 2 to announce its selection of solar panels as the Senior Class Gift. Hudson Valley Clean Energy will be supplying several panels that altogether will be roughly the size of Ferry House’s roof.
Chris Roellke appointed new dean
Stephen Cheng
Associate Professor of Education Christopher Roellke has been chosen to succeed Professor of Economics Alexander M. Thompson III as the Dean of Studies. Thompson, who resigned the post last spring, will formally step down by July 2007.
House cuts student loan interest rates
Ilyse Kramer
On Jan. 17, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the College Student Relief Act of 2007, seeking to reduce interest rates on student loans and make college more affordable. The Act, which passed by a vote of 356-71, will next be debated in the Senate.
Vassar professors snag national grants
Brian Farkas
Associate Professor of History Mita Choudhury and Visiting Associate Professor of English Karen Robertson have both been awarded fellowship grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for their research projects.
VSA to report on midterm progress
Hayley Tsukayama
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council will release a report on this year’s progress early next week. VSA President Abel McDonnell ’07 said that the Council feels the fall semester was largely a success.
