May 13, 2008
Service request process to be streamlined
Julianne Herts News Editor When students find problems with dorm buildings or facilities they submit service requests to the Residential Operations Center (ROC) and hope for the best. Students are...
May 01, 2008
Student government elections underway
Julianne Herts
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) spring elections began yesterday, April 30. The new VSA Executive Board, class and house officers and student committee members will be announced on Monday, May 4.
Committee on EOAA dissolved
Brian Farkas
The Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Advisory (EOAA) Committee will be disbanded next year while administrators work to revamp its goals. The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Executive Board has decided not to hold elections to fill seats on the Committee.
Chris Roellke to act as temporary Dean of the College
Julianne Herts
Just two days after submitting my senior thesis on the scholarship of Pope Benedict XVI, I had the incredible honor and privilege of meeting the Pope himself onstage at the Youth Rally on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y on April 19.
State officials visit to discuss roundabout
Brian Farkas
Three representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) came to campus on Monday, April 28 to discuss the upcoming construction on Raymond Avenue and the installation of a roundabout at the Collegeview Avenue intersection
Vassar continues self-study for reaccreditation
Hayley Tsukayama
The College’s Middle States Review Steering Committee, which conducted a comprehensive self-study of every academic aspect of the College this year, is currently compiling its findings and will report them next December.
April 24, 2008
American Culture Program considers the addition of Native American Studies correlate
Elysia Glover
Fresh from the Native American and Indigenous Studies Conference at the University of Georgia, faculty from Vassar’s American Culture Program are currently developing a Native American Studies correlate.
Yale artist’s project incites controversy
Julianne Herts
Yale University senior Aliza Shvarts has garnered national media attention with her latest art project. Shvarts claims to have spent the past year repeatedly becoming pregnant and subsequently using natural herbs to induce miscarriages. Though Yale officials argue that Shvarts’s project is a fictional piece of performance art, Shvarts herself maintains that her claims are true.
Urban majors keep up bookstore cause
Hayley Tsukayama
The Urban Studies Majors Committee is going forward with its plan to include more community voices in the College’s decision to move the bookstore into the space currently occupied by Juliet Café.
Jeffrey Sachs to lecture on global poverty
Brian Farkas
Renowned international economist and advisor to the United Nation Jeffrey Sachs will speak to the Vassar community on April 24 in the Chapel at 6 p.m.
Gender-neutral housing possible for 2009-10
Elysia Glover
The movement for gender-neutral housing options continues as Vassar Student Association (VSA) Vice President for Student Life Morgan Warners ’08 prepares to present recommendations to the Senior Officers in the coming weeks.
April 17, 2008
VSA pushes back spring election dates
Julianne Herts
Following changes to the room draw schedule, the Vassar Students Association (VSA) has decided to delay its spring elections until April 30. Consequently, this year’s new VSA Council members, unlike their predecessors, will not take office until after Spring Convocation.
Committee looking closely at two 2:2 staffing plans
Hayley Tsukayama
Continuing their examination of Vassar’s current course loads and staffing plans, the Committee on Curricular Policy (CCP) has decided to focus on two academic programs—environmental studies (ENST) and political science—as case studies for what would be a fundamental switch in the way the College operates.
Colleges experience record-high applications
Brian Farkas
This April, high school seniors around the country will conclude their thorny struggle with the college admissions process. 2008 and 2009 will mark the demographic peak of applications to colleges and universities, meaning that Vassar and many of its peer institutions have received record numbers of applications and, in turn, rejected a record numbers of students.
April 10, 2008
Construction on third roundabout begins
Brian Farkas
This third roundabout will be located at the intersection of Collegeview and Raymond Avenues, and will be larger than the other two now at Vassar’s main gate and the intersection of Raymond and College Avenues, which opened in 2006.
VSA elections pushed back to accommodate Davison residents
Julianne Herts
At an emergency council meeting on April 10, the Vassar Students Association (VSA) decided to delay its 2008 elections until April 30th.
VSA passes budgeting changes
Jesse Small
Julianne Herts
Academic departments and programs that used to rely on the Vassar Student Association (VSA) for funding have had to look elsewhere since the creation of the College Academic Fund in November 2007.
Two weeks’ notice: VSA changes election regulations
Elysia Glover
Members of the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council spent their weekly meeting on April 6 debating several changes to the rules that will govern campaigning in the upcoming spring elections.
McCullough brunches with history class
Brian Farkas
Hayley Tsukayama
Not many Vassar students are awake at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. But history students were eager to make the trek over to the Alumnae House on Sunday, April 6 for a conversation with best-selling historian David McCullough.
Sustainability Committee sparks energy challenge
Jesse Small
Hayley Tsukayama
What would you do with $16,000 a month? According to the College Committee on Sustainability (CCS) member Libby Murphy ’08, the College spends that much in energy costs per month to power eight of the College’s residential halls.
Ten ways to reduce your energy use
Some tips to make your lifestyle a little greener.
April 03, 2008
Vassar, Arlington Community members voice concerns about bookstore move
A crowd of over 100 people gathered at an April 2 community forum in the Students’ Building to discuss the College’s plan to move its bookstore off campus into the Juliet building.
Community forum debates bookstore move
Hayley Tsukayama
Members of the Vassar community interested in having a conversation about the College’s plan to move the campus bookstore into the Juliet Café building on Raymond Avenue gave voice to their concerns in a community forum on Wednesday, April 2.
Vassar controller to move to Dartmouth
Brian Farkas
Controller Gail Goodness will leave Vassar after three years to become Controller at Dartmouth College, announced Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier in an e-mail to faculty and staff last week.
College Center computers swiped
Julianne Herts
The second floor of the College Center used to hold 10 iMac computers for student, faculty and public use. On March 15, nine of the computers were reported stolen. The theft is under investigation by the Poughkeepsie Police Department.
Dems host panel on women and politics
Elysia Glover
More than 20 students and faculty members scattered throughout Rockefeller 200 reflected on the candidates in the on-going presidential primary race, and the role identity politics has played in influencing who people vote for and why.
March 27, 2008
Renovations to make Art Library a work of art, history
Brian Farkas
The Vassar College Art Library will undergo extensive renovations in the next year, restoring the modernist building to its original appearance. Construction will begin in June 2008 and completed by May 2009.
ACT OUT campaigns for Right to Marry in Hudson Valley
Elysia Glover
Vassar Student Association (VSA) organization ACT OUT is teaming up with social justice organization Soulforce Q to tackle the next target issue of the semester: gender neutral marriage rights.
Emergency alert system to be tested
Julianne Herts
The system, to perform its est on April 2, will be used to send an automatic message to members of the College community in case students and faculty need to take shelter, evacuate an area or go to a secure location.
Housing crunch may send students to the Days Inn
Hayley Tsukayama
Students checking in for housing next fall may be doing so at the front desk of the Poughkeepsie Days Inn, if the College employs a housing contingency plan announced at the Vassar Student Association (VSA) meeting on Sunday, Feb. 24.
February 28, 2008
Res Life: No singles for sophomores
Elysia Glover
Room draw procedure will be unusual this spring due to the closing of Davison House and its 191 residents that will be displaced.
FBI whistleblower Rowley discusses terrorism, civil liberties
Acacia O'Connor
In a lecture entitled “How not to counter terrorism,” Coleen Rowley, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, gave a room packed with students a glimpse into federal intelligence.
Three companies contend for dining contract
Elysia Glover
The three candidates vying for next year’s dining service contract with Vassar were announced last Friday, Feb. 22. Last year, the College decided to bid out the contract to Dining Services, currently operated by Aramark, which expires in June 2008.
Gender-neutral housing option postpones
Brian Farkas
The College’s Senior Officers have decided to postpone the implementation of a gender-neutral housing policy for the 2008-2009 academic year.
Northwestern journalism dean faces scandal over fake sources
Hayley Tsukayama
Sixteen current and former faculty members at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism have demanded that Dean of Medill John Lavine explain his decision to use anonymous quotes in his column for the school’s alumnae/i magazine, <i>Medill</i>.
February 21, 2008
Harvard will publish faculty research in database
Christine Vines
The Faculty of Arts and Science at Harvard University voted for a change in publication policy on Tuesday, Feb. 12 that will allow the university to post finished academic papers for free online.
Freshmen forced to drop English course
Hayley Tsukayama
On Tuesday, Feb. 12, several freshmen students enrolled in English 298, an independent study, received an e-mail from the Dean of Studies Chris Roellke, informing them that they did not meet the prerequisites for independent study in the English department.
Admissions office releases new publications and Web site
Brian Farkas
Vassar College’s Office of Admissions launched a redesigned line of brochures and view books, along with a new Web site, on Tuesday, Feb. 19. This is the first major overhaul of recruiting material in about seven years.
Food Committee to pick vendor finalist this week
Hayley Tsukayama
In early March, the final bidders will give presentations for Food Committee members, rather than the open forum the committee had planned for in the fall.
Conference encourages leadership development
Brian Farkas
The Leadership for Change series, which began two weeks ago on Feb. 5, has garnered a strong reception from students. The series will feature some 17 different discussions led by members of the administration and Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council.
February 14, 2008
College recognizes alumna for public health work
Julianne Herts
This past Thursday, Feb. 7, the Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) gave Laurie Schwab Zabin ’46 the 2008 Alumni and Alumnae Distinguished Achievement Award for her research and service in the field of reproductive health, particularly regarding pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted infections.
Clinton, McCain sweep Dutchess primaries
Christine Vines
New York was among the 24 states to vote on Feb. 5, Super Tuesday. Both locally and statewide, Hillary Clinton and John McCain swept the New York vote.
Racist graffiti found in Williams dorm
Elysia Glover
Students living in the Williams Hall East dormitory at Williams College woke up Saturday, Feb. 2 to discover that racial slurs and images of male genitalia had been scrawled on the doors and signs of their second-floor common room.The incident at Williams follows hard on the appearence of racial hate symbols on Vassar’s campus this past fall.
Vassar eliminates financial aid loads for Poughkeepsie High School graduates
Chelsea Mitamura
Vassar College will offer an expanded financial aid policy for graduates of Poughkeepsie High School (PHS), President Catharine Bond Hill announced at a gathering of PHS parents and students on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
February 07, 2008
Senior, sophomore class gifts announced
Christine Vines
Both the senior and sophomore class gifts were announced last week at separate kick-off events. The Class of 2008 will give additional study carrels to the Library, and the Class of 2010 will add a V-Card payment option to many vending machines on campus.
Bookstore's employees fear job loss
Hayley Tsukayama
Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1120 President Glenn Carter and Vassar CWA met on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in response to a notification informing the current bookstore employees that when the store moves off campus, it will stop employing union workers.
Community Shuttle program to begin runs next week
Gregory Armstrong
After months of planning and number crunching, a regular Vassar-sponsored shuttle service is set to start up next week. The shuttle will take members of the Vassar community to and from a number of spots throughout Poughkeepsie. The service will initially start as a “pilot program” to gauge campus response and determine how much demand for the service actually exists on campus.
Forum discusses racial tensions on campus, comes up short
Julianne Herts
A community meeting convened last Wednesday, Jan. 30 in the Villard Room to discuss the climate of the community after hate symbols, such as nooses and KKK insignia, were found around campus last term.
VSA passes resolution supporting gender-neutral housing
Brian Farkas
At its Jan. 26 meeting, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council unanimously passed Council Action 22-3 in support of a gender-neutral housing policy. This policy would allow sophomores, juniors and seniors to live together regardless of gender. First-year students will continue to be assigned roommates of the same gender unless they submit a request to the Office of Residential Life.
Completion of new THs may be delayed
Brian Farkas
Delayed Town Board approval might result in a holdup of construction of the new Town Houses (THs) Director of Residential Life Luis Inoa announced in an e-mail sent to all students on Feb. 1. Because of the delayed construction, that the new THs and Co-ops would be removed from the upcoming housing draw, Inoa said.
February 01, 2008
Bookstore to expand, move to Juliet’s
Hayley Tsukayama
As students rush to the campus bookstore to plan for the semester ahead, Vassar College is setting its plans in motion for a new bookstore site: the Juliet Building at the corner of Raymond Avenue and Collegeview Avenue.
Jackson to leave Vassar for Kentucky
Brian Farkas
President Catharine Bond Hill announced in an all-campus e-mail Monday, Jan. 28, that Dean of the College Judy Jackson will be leaving Vassar to become Vice President for Institutional Diversity at the University of Kentucky (UK).
Colleges see national trend in financial aid expansion
Christine Vines
In December 2007, Harvard University sparked what has fast become a fiscal trend among elite colleges and universities: dramatic increases in financial aid spending.
Gov. Spitzer aims to rebuild SUNY, CUNY
Julianne Herts
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer formed a Commission on Higher Educationlast May, with the goal of putting New York State Universities on par with the State Universities of California and the University of Michigan.
December 07, 2007
Food service vendors visit campus
Hayley Tsukayama
With Vassar College’s dining contract up for renegotiation this year, several dining service companies were invited to meet with members of the Food Committee, Conference and Summer Programming Office and the Alumnae House for a two-hour question and answer session on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Phase II of Raymond Avenue work set to begin
Brian Farkas
The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin preparations for Phase II of the Raymond Avenue Reconstruction Project over winter break.
Dean of the College review underway
Elysia Glover
Dean of the College Judy Jackson will be up for evaluation this spring.
News Briefs | Security In-Brief
VSA to purchase VCard machines for College Center
Hayley Tsukayama
At the VSA Council meeting on Sunday Dec. 2 , Vice President of Activities Jimmy Kelly announced that he is raising money for four machines that will enable students to use their VCash accounts to pay for items purchased from student organizations and other College Center merchants.
November 30, 2007
TA fire sparks safety concerns
Elysia Glover
A recent electrical fire in the Terrace Apartments (TAs) has prompted a review of fire safety in senior housing.
Parade, tree-lighting to kick off holidays
Brian Farkas
Poughkeepsie’s 2007 holiday season will begin with a blast. On Friday, Nov. 30, the City of Poughkeepsie, in conjunction with the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and the Poughkeepsie River District Business Association, will host the 14th annual Celebration of Lights Parade and Fireworks.
ACT OUT! lobbies local politicians
Hayley Tsukayama
Seven Vassar students from ACT OUT! traveled to the New York Legislature on Nov. 15 to lobby Poughkeepsie-area legislators to co-sponsor a bill that would amend civil rights for gender discrimination.
Former Kennedy staffer campaigns for Barack Obama
Hayley Tsukayama
More than 100 members of the Poughkeepsie community gathered at the Vassars Alumnae House on Nov. 26 to hear Theodore Sorensen, former Special Counsel and Adviser to President John F. Kennedy, campaign for Senator Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency.
Law scholar discusses affirmative action
Julianne Herts
Acclaimed affirmative action scholar Frank Wu visited Vassar on Monday, Nov. 26 to give a lecture entitled “Dream of a Diverse Democracy: Affirmative Action and Higher Education” in the Villard Room.
News Briefs
House passes sweeping higher education bill
Brian Farkas
The U.S. House of Representatives education committee unanimously approved an omnibus bill to set federal higher-education policy for the next five years. Though most of the issues in the Nov. 15 legislation are uncontroversial, certain provisions related to accreditation have drawn sharp criticism from a number of colleges and universities.
November 16, 2007
Quad-side stairs remain unfinished
Julianne Herts
The four sets of dormitory stairs facing the residential quad have been undergoing renovations since August. To the surprise and frustration of many students, not one of the entrances has been completed.
WVKR officially cancels political talkshow
Elysia Glover
Vassar College’s campus radio station WVKR 91.3-FM officially cancelled its only student-run talk show last week, a decision which has sparked a debate between the WVKR executive board and the program’s hosts as to the reasons for the program cancellation.
Colleges share institutional information
Brian Farkas
In a continuing effort to mitigate the influence of college rankings, many colleges and universities are establishing alternative ways for prospective students to compare institutions.
NYC, Columbia University to host Day Out Against Hate
Elysia Glover
On the front steps of New York City Hall on Nov. 1, New York City Speaker Christine Quinn announced a citywide “Day Out Against Hate” set for Nov. 29. This initiative is being spear-headed by a diverse coalition of New York governmental, law enforcement, religious and advocacy communities looking to lend their voice to the campaign for tolerance.
VSA creates long-term planning committee
Hayley Tsukayama
News Briefs
November 09, 2007
Poughkeepsie voters elect new leadership
Hayley Tsukayama
Preliminary reports show that Republican John Tkazyik has defeated his Democratic opponent, City Legislator Fred Knapp, in the City of Poughkeepsie mayoral election with 52 percent of the vote.
Community Works '08 kicks off
Brian Farkas
Last week’s Halloween pumpkin-carving contest marked the official beginning of the annual Community Works Campaign.
Nineteen university systems commit to economic diversity
Elysia Glover
A new initiative to reduce the post-secondary achievement gap was announced last Wednesday, Oct. 31., with the launch of the "Access to Success" program.
Alumnae/i association launches new monthly newsletter
Brian Farkas
Beginning this month, Vassar College alumnae/i will have a new way to learn about campus events and news. This Is Vassar: The eNewsletter for Alumnae/i will be published on the Alumnae and Alumni Association of Vassar College (AAVC) Web site each month.
News Briefs
November 02, 2007
Campus responds to noose in Jewett
Chloe McConnell
On Thursday, Oct. 25, a Residential Operations Center attendant found the drawstring cord of a window shade on the sixth floor of Jewett House fashioned as a noose.
Students react to fires in California
Julianne Herts
As Evan Price ’10 returned from October break, the first flames of what would become a destructive series of wild fires ignited in California. Price, a native of Del Mar, Calif., was among the hundreds of thousands affected by the natural disaster.
Committee examines Vassar's hidden costs
Brian Farkas
Equality of opportunity. Financial egalitarianism. Access to student support. These are just some of the goals of the Committee of Inclusion and Excellence (CIE), established last year by Vassar College President Catharine Bond Hill.
Nobel physicist imparts Big Bang discoveries
Elysia Glover
The Nobel Prize-winning physicist whose graduate school dissertation led him to a career investigating the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe shared his discoveries with the Vassar community this past Monday, Oct. 29.
Staph infections affect schools nationwide
Hayley Tsukayama
Though Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is not a new phenomenon, recent outbreaks at schools, as well as medical studies showing this particular staph strain on the rise have grabbed public attention.
News Briefs
October 26, 2007
Haverford considers smoking ban
Julianne Herts
Haverford College may soon prohibit smoking on its campus, a move which would make it the latest in a number of colleges to adopt a smoke-free environment.
Maria Mitchell Observatory undergoes renovation
Brian Farkas
Education students at Vassar will have a new home following a major renovation to the Maria Mitchell Observatory, which began the week of Oct. 15.
News Briefs
Mug half full after months of renovations
Hayley Tsukayama
After several delays and changes to the renovation plans, students returned to the dance floor at Matthew’s Mug on Oct. 22.
Local candidates accuse each other of misconduct
Elysia Glover
Town of Poughkeepsie Republican Chairman Tom Martinelli has filed a complaint with State elections officials against incumbent Democrat Supervisor Patricia Myers. Republicans are accusing Myers of failing to submit the required campaign donor information to election officials.
October 05, 2007
Freshmen Class Council takes office
Christine Vines
After 473 ballots were tallied for the Fall 2007 Vassar Student Association (VSA) elections, freshmen Joseph Martinez, Elizabeth Anderson, Charlie Kuder and Kwesi Sey were elected to the Class of 2011 Council.
Local voters, candidates ready for primary
Elysia Glover
Candidates across Dutchess County are gearing up for the final campaign push before voters take to the polls in the general election on Nov. 6.
State clears lab of animal abuse charges
Hayley Tsukayama
Health inspectors from the New York State Department cleared the Vassar College bird laboratory of any state law violations after conducting an investigation of Vassar’s animal care facilities last August.
Vassar women to attend computer conference
Brian Farkas
Six Computer Science students, accompanied by Assistant Professor of Computer Science Jennifer Walter and two alumnae, will attend one of the field’s most prestigious conferences for women in Orlando, Fla.
News Briefs
Class Issues Alliance hosts faculty panel
Brian Farkas | Christopher Doscher
When it comes to diversity, gender, race and sexual orientation are among the first categories that come to mind.On Oct. 3, the Class Issues Alliance attempted to bring social status to the forefront of people’s mind by holding a panel discussion entitled, Confronting Class Boundaries.
September 28, 2007
Vassar lab faces federal investigation
Hayley Tsukayama
Animal neglect allegations from a former Vassar animal care technician have prompted a federal investigation into how Vassar treats its laboratory animals.
Bush raises federal student aid
Elysia Glover
In an act heralded as the largest increase in federal student aid since the 1944 G.I. Bill, Congress approved increases in government subsidized aid maximums and halved interest rates on government student loans on Sept. 7.
Controversy surrounds student-run publication
Kelly Fitzgerald
The student-run weekly newspaper of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), The Recorder, sparked outrage after it ran a racially offensive cartoon in its Sept. 12 issue. The cartoon, “Polydongs,” featured characters who discuss imprisoning and urinating on a 14-year-old Latina girl.
Vassar students protest Farm Bill
Christine Vines
Imagine an issue that both President George W. Bush and Vassar College students agree upon. The Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 goes to the Senate this month and for once, both Bush and Vassar students are pushing for major agricultural reform.
Vassar begins reaccreditation process, self-study
Brian Farkas
This year, Vassar College begins the process of seeking reaccreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The MSCHE accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
September 21, 2007
Vassar students attend march in D.C.
Kelly Fitzgerald
Heather Lewis ’10, through Vassar’s Student Activist Union (SAU), led a group of students to Washington D.C. on Sept. 15 to protest the war in Iraq and demand immediate troop withdrawal.
Dean of Faculty to step down
Brian Farkas
Dean of the Faculty Ronald Sharp will step down from his administrative role at the end of the academic year to join the Vassar College English Department.
VSA Council dissolves special renovation committee
Elysia Glover
A motion to dissolve the current VSA Special Committee on Dorm Renovations was passed unanimously at the VSA Council meeting on Sunday, Sept. 16. In a second unanimous decision, the Council appointed Andrew Bennett ’09, former Chair of the Special Committee on Dorm Renovations, to the newly formed position of Dorm Renovations Coordinator.
URSI Symposium showcases research
Hayley Tsukayama
Robots! Lasers! Fruit flies! The Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) symposium, on Sept. 26 has all that and more.
News Briefs
September 15, 2007
Vassar questions validity of U.S. News and World Report college rankings
Brian Farkas
Vassar College President Catharine Bond Hill announced this week that Vassar, along with 18 other liberal arts colleges, will no longer mention the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings in any future promotional publications. They will also make public all statistics that were formerly distributed to individual ranking companies.
Mold once again found in the THs
Hayley Tsukayama
Residents of Town House (TH) A10 moved back into their home last weekend after mold in their TH bathroom forced them to live in dormitories for two weeks.
Planned changes to Graduate Record Exam underway
Elysia Glover
Students planning to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) this fall may see something a little more familiar than they had originally expected. After a joint decision by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) and the GRE Executive Advisory Board, the release of a fully-revised, computer-based GRE was halted this past April as a result of concerns over the accessibility of an Internet-based examination.
Food, punches thrown at Serenading
Brian Farkas
While most enjoyed the chaos and revelry involved in the annual tradition of Serenading, the day hit a sour note. At around 4:30 p.m. in front of Davison house, a student and custodial worker became involved in a heated exchange that led to the worker striking the student in the face.
September 07, 2007
College returns to need-blind admissions
Hayley Tsukayama
Beginning with the class of 2012, financial circumstance will no longer factor into whether or not a domestic applicant may attend Vassar. After 10 years of considering applications through the lens of a “need-sensitive” admissions policy, Vassar is returning to “need-blind” admissions.
Summer construction abounds on campus
Brian Farkas
While Vassar students enjoyed their summers at home and abroad, teams of workers were busy making a number of improvements to the campus.
Class of 2011: By the numbers
Brian Farkas
This August, 682 members of the Class of 2011 joined the Vassar community. They are drawn from the largest applicant pool in the College’s history, with an increase of more than 300 applications since last year. Sixty-nine percent of the class of 2011 with a high school rank graduated in the top 10 percent of their class, and nearly 95 percent were in the top 20 percent.
President Hill appoints third dean to Senior Staff
Elysia Glover
Vassar College President Catharine Bond Hill announced on July 24 that Rachel Kitzinger, the Matthew Vassar Jr. Professor of Greek and Latin Languages and Literature, was to become the first Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs.
VSA looks ahead to new year’s projects
Christopher Doscher
This Sunday, Sep. 2, representative from each housing area and class year met in the College Center with the Vassar Student Association(VSA) Executive Board for the year’s first Council meeting. The majority of the meeting focused on approving some broad goals for the year.
May 03, 2007
College to consider printer quotas
Hayley Tsukayama
The Committee on Computing and Educational Technologies (CCET) and the Committee on Sustainability renewed discussions this week about conservation, and considered limiting the number of pages that students can print at the Library per year. Inspired by concerns with paper waste on campus, theses committees hope that a quota will encourage students to be mindful of their resources.
Dean of the College reports to VSA Council
Hayley Tsukayama
On April 30, Dean of the College Judy Jackson, Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life Edward Pittman, and Associate Dean of the College for Campus Activities Raymon P. Parker met with the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council about ongoing planning.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week sees changes in College’s policy
Stephen Cheng
Last week’s Sexual Assault Awareness program coincided with significant revisions to the College’s sexual assault regulations, composed by the Committee on College Life (CCL).
VAST program brings Poughkeepsie students to Vassar
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
On Wednesday, May 2, seniors enjoyed the sun in their graduation finery before entering the chapel for Spring Convocation, during which they became Vassar alumnae/i.H. Rosenblum/The Miscellany News...April 26, 2007
VSA announces elections results
Hayley Tsukayama
Vassarions, meet your incoming Vassar Student Association (VSA) Executive Board: President Sam Charner ’08, Vice President for Student Life Morgan Warners ’08, Vice President for Operations Summer’s-Grace Green ‘09, Vice President for Academics Jessica Cho ’08, Vice President for Activities James Kelly ’09, and Vice President for Finance Jessika Wong ’08.
College to consider need-blind admissions policy
Brian Farkas
The Board of Trustees will likely consider a move to a need-blind admissions policy at its next meeting, scheduled for May 10–12. Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid David Borus said that he is confident “that this is one of the many issues that they will be considering.”
Student loan troubles escalate to federal level
Katie Paul
The student loan controversy went federal on Tuesday, April 24, when Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the formation of a task force that will examine “key lender issues” amidst the recent onslaught of allegations, multimillion-dollar settlements, and—this week, for the first time—a lawsuit.
News Briefs
Dorm fires spark security concern, investigation
Juliana Kiyan
Following the discoveries of burned materials in Noyes and Strong Houses this semester, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police and Arlington County Fire Department are conducting an investigation of both incidents. Buildings and Grounds and Security are also taking measures to educate students about fire safety and awareness.
“Keep Vassar Weird” campaign fights shift to mainstream
Shahreen Saifi
Vassar students tend to take pride in the liberal atmosphere and the tolerant environment that are associated with the College. “Vassar is a comfortable respite for indie-chic students who revel in obscurity,” one student declared to the Princeton Review, which posts the comment on its Web site to describe the school. However, some students allege that the Vassar administration is now downplaying the school’s offbeat personality.
Photo of the Week
Politican and environmental activist Ralph Nader signs his new book 17 Traditions for Ezra Noon '07 after kicking off Earth Week with a lecture in the Chapel on April 23,...April 19, 2007
33 dead in Virginia Tech massacre
Lauren Sutherland
On the morning of Monday, April 16, two deadly shootings at a dormitory and a classroom building at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Va., eclipsed all recorded incidents of public shootings in American history.
Vassar responds to Virginia tragedy
Brian Farkas
The news of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) shootings hit home for many individuals on Vassar campus, some of whom have personal connections to the University and to the town of Blacksburg, Va.
Task force looks into faculty course loads
Juliana Kiyan
Can Vassar College commit equally to both teaching and research? This fundamental question of Vassar identity is at the crux of ongoing discussions about the faculty’s current teaching policy and whether it should be revised.
VSA holds two Executive Board candidate debates
Hayley Tsukayama
On April 17, candidates for Vassar Student Association (VSA) Executive Board positions debated for the second time in The Retreat. Candidates had three minutes to respond to individual questions, and one minute was allotted for each to address rebuttals. Much like the first debate on April 12 in the All College Dining Center, there was low student turnout.
Photo of the Week
In response to the tragic shootings at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the Vassar community held a silent vigil on Tuesday, April 17 on the Chapel lawn. The...April 12, 2007
VSA hosts forum on drug testing
Brian Farkas
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council sent a letter to senior athletic and administrative officials of the College enumerating several problems Council members had with the Vassar College Department of Athletics’ (VCDA) proposed drug testing policy. The letter was adopted after a lengthy forum discussion that invited students and athletes to Sunday’s Council meeting.
College reconsiders quantitative requirements
Stephen Cheng
Last week, the Committee on Curricular Policy (CCP) passed a proposal to re-evaluate the current standards of the Quantitative Analysis Requirement. As the requirement currently stands, courses in a variety of disciplines ranging from the natural sciences to economics count towards the single unit quantitative requirement that each student must complete by their third year.
College to add seventh senior officer position
John Palmer
A new senior officer position will be created at Vassar as a part of President Catharine Bond Hill’s strategic planning for the College. The Dean of Planning and Academic Affairs will combine certain aspects of two existing senior offices and will primarily oversee “the development of long-term academic planning and the supervision of academic areas of the College outside the curriculum and the academic departments and programs,” according to a description of the position endorsed by the faculty on March 28.
With filing closed, VSA candidates launch campaigns
Hayley Tsukayama
The Vassar image. Dorm renovations. ACDC food. Tuition. As spring elections to the Vassar Student Association (VSA) draw near, student candidates find themselves thinking a lot about the state of the College and the major issues that will face the VSA next year.
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
From Mon. April 9th through Wed. April 11th, Haitian art is on display in the Palmer Gallery. An auction, run by the Vassar-Haiti project, will take place this Friday, Saturday,...April 05, 2007
NY Attorney General expands student loan investigations
Katie Paul
College and university financial aid offices received national attention this week as New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo expanded his investigation into what he deemed “deceptive practices” in the student loan industry.
Drug testing sparks VSA debate
Brian Farkas
Ilyse Kramer
A debate concerning the rationale behind a new drug testing policy aimed at student-athletes dominated the April 1 meeting of the Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council. Expected to be implemented in August 2007, this policy has faced opposition from certain members of the student body due to privacy concerns. At the request of the VSA, Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Carter attended the meeting to explain the goals of the policy.
Students voice opinions on major dorm renovations
Brian Farkas
The architectural firm S/L/A/M Consortium was set to come to campus on Wednesday, April 4 to discuss the renovation of Davison House with students and administrators. This meeting marked the first opportunity for students to ask questions and voice concerns about prospective campus renovations directly to the architects.
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
Seth Biberstein '10, Ian Patrick '07, and Sofia Gans '09 star as Werner Heisenberg, Niels Bohr, and Margarethe Bohr in Philatheis's production of "Copenhagen". Directed by Lucy Robins '08 (in...March 30, 2007
GSA Administator Lurita Doan ’79 to face allegations of misconduct
Amanda Melillo
Vassar College trustee Lurita Alexis Doan ’79 made her first appearance at a hearing regarding allegations of misconduct in her role as administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
High cost of higher education in U.S. again subject of scrutiny
Hayley Tsukayama
In a bold move, peer liberal arts institution Davidson College became the first liberal arts college to eliminate the use of loans from its financial aid packages in favor of grants and work-study programs to reduce the amount of debt for undergraduate students.
VSA, ResLife to streamline relationship
Brian Farkas
The structure of House Teams will be significantly changed as of the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year.
Student arrested for poking around prison with pot
Katie Paul
When Africana Studies major Jessica Kibblewhite ’07 visited a New York State prison to conduct research for her senior theis, she had no idea that she would soon become a part of that research.
Walkouts protest Iraq War anniversary
Shahreen Saifi
The war in Iraq sparked protests at colleges and universities across the country last week as students joined the growing anti-war movement.
News Briefs
Photo of the Week
Warm weather greeted students as they returned from spring break. Freshmen Chris Root and Marco Brydool-Horowitz left their shirts at home on Tuesday, March 27 when temperatures rose into the...March 01, 2007
Vassar fundraising tops $50 million
Shahreen Saifi
It was a record-breaking year of fundraising for Vassar, among many schools. According to the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), Vassar raised $34,337,585, but including gifts and pledges, Vassar’s total fundraising for the year was approximately $50 million.
VSA to initiate faculty evalutations
Danielle Laberge
The Vassar Student Association (VSA) Council passed the Professor Review Resolution to create a forum for faculty evaluation at its Feb. 25 meeting. The idea sprang from the former AskStudents database, which was dismantled by the administration over concerns of unfair grades and inappropriate comments.
Ongoing sewage troubles shut down the Mug
Brian Farkas
After a series of sewage leaks in Matthew’s Mug, the campus bar has been shut down until extensive repairs can be made.
ACT OUT demonstrates in Retreat
Stephen Cheng
ACT OUT, the student activist group that protested the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in New York City during the Fall 2006 semester, held a silent vigil and fundraiser in the Retreat on Feb. 22.
Rutgers awarded $3 million for federal social monitoring project
Hayley Tsukayama
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, a $3 million grant this week to study patterns in online social networking, part of a four-university collaborative program begun this past summer.
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