Still Fighting Those Cutbacks

Response to administration's answers to the financial crisis is picking up again this week with students and faculty speaking out against the decisions to cut courses, faculty positions, and the varsity rowing teams.

Christopher Scott '06, a former men's rowing varsity co-captain, is the latest alumnus to contact administration about the decision to cut the varsity teams. "Not only would the proposed merger of Vassar's rowing team with the Hudson River Rowing Association (HRRA) be detrimental to the college itself, but...this proposal is unnecessary and founded upon misinformation," Christopher writes. The former co-captain also points out that the women's rowing team is less expensive than golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and swimming and diving, and the men's team costs less than tennis and volleyball.

As for the faculty reductions and course reductions, a new petition is currently being circulated. Email junichols@vassar.edu with your name and class year to add your name to the petition.

The VSA endorsed the latest petition, stating in an email to students that "the document demonstrated a clear concern for the long-term health of Vassar’s multidisciplinary curriculum, our flexible course offerings, and our retention of excellent scholars and teachers... We believe these are core properties of a Vassar education that our constituents value deeply."

12.1.09 6:50pm

Protest At West Point Tonight

President Obama will be announcing a troop surge in Afghanistan tonight during a speech at West Point, our neighbors down the Hudson river. Local anti-war and activist groups will be protesting tonight and invite Vassar students to join.

"The world will be watching Obama's speech that evening and it is important to show that representatives of the majority of the American people who oppose the Afghan war are making their views known," states the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter, one of the sponsors of the event.

There will also be a protest in New Paltz on Saturday.

Click here for more details on the protests.

12.1.09 1:42pm

Search Party In Pictures

A few days late, but here are some pictures from ViCE's Search Party last weekend.

By the way, E-603's album Torn Up is available for free online.

11.25.09 12:13am

Our Rivals Win PETA Contest

Despite allegations of unfair voting, Wesleyan has been named the country's Most Vegetarian-Friendly School in PETA's competition.

Vassar was up against Wesleyan in the first round of the competition. Sadly, we didn't even make the top 10.

11.25.09 12:08am

Big Week For Noah Baumbach

Noah Baumbach '91 is having an exciting week. The trailer for his upcoming film Greenberg came out today and his latest screenwriting collaboration with Wes Anderson, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, opens tomorrow.

In Greenberg, Ben Stiller plays the title character who moves into his brother's house in LA and grows close with his brother's personal assistant. "As their relationship develops through a series of embarrassingly awkward romantic encounters, even someone as irascible as Greenberg might have at last found a reason to be happy," the synopsis states.



The film comes out in March.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, which features the voice of Meryl Streep '71, has already received rave reviews.

11.24.09 11:46pm

Vassar And Thanksgiving

What do the histories of Vassar and Thanksgiving have in common?

Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of a popular 19th century women's journal, suggested that Matthew Vassar remove the word "female" from the original name of the college, Vassar Female College. The trustees obeyed, and that's why there is an empty space between the slates for "Vassar" and "College" above the entrance to Main Building.

Hale is also responsible for Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday. Back in the day, Hale wrote editorials proclaiming that the holiday should officially take place on the last Thursday of each November. President Lincoln obliged in 1863.

Click here to read more about Hale's contributions to life as we know it. Have a relaxing break, readers!

11.24.09 10:25pm

CHOICE Presents...

Tonight CHOICE is presenting The Female Orgasm from 7-9pm in Rocky 300.

"Join us to laugh and learn about the 'big O,' the most popular topic sex educators Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot teach about! Orgasm aficionados and beginners of all genders are welcome to come learn about everything from multiple orgasms to that mysterious G-spot. Whether you want to learn how to have your first orgasm, how to have better ones, or how to help your girlfriend, Dorian and Marshall cover it all with lots of humor, plenty of honesty, and an underlying message of sexual health and women's empowerment. People of all genders welcome. Are you coming?"

Click here for more info.

11.23.09 9:47am

New Video Of Local Election Controversy

The Daily Freeman just posted this video of a Bard student being challenged at the polls when trying to vote in the local elections a few weeks ago. According to the DF, the video shows "a dispute between elections officials and one student who wanted to cast his ballot on the District 5 machine, rather than by affidavit. The voter claims to be challenging on the basis of residency, but without providing a reason."



Here is the dialogue between the poll worker and the person filming:
"Challenge for residency."
"What's the basis for the challenge?"
"Residency."
'What's the specific reason?"
"Residency. That's the only answer you get... That's all I'm going to tell you."

Even more disturbing footage comes later in the clip when the poll worker is again asked the basis for challenging the student's residency. The worker walks calmly up to the camera and suddenly smacks it away.

11.21.09 4:02pm

Firetrucks Outside of Main

Lots of firetrucks outside of Main right now. The fire alarm went off, but it's unclear whether or not this is in any way related to preparations for the ViCE party, which involves a fog machine. We spoke to a security officer who could not confirm that the fog machine was the cause.

Update: We have confirmation that the fog machine was indeed the cause of the fire alarm, but the party will go on!

11.20.09 7:00pm

Vampire Weekend "Cousin" Speaks

Vampire Weekend, who played at Vassar back in Fall 2007, just released the second single from their sophomore album, "Cousins."

Ironically, the first cousin of VW's lead singer Ezra Koenig is Vassar's very own Mike Koenig '11. Here's what Mike had to say about the song:

"'Cousins' is rockin and full of energy. It's great to see Ezra and the band are still kickin' it, and I'm pumped for their new album. "

It's unconfirmed whether or not Mike is the inspiration behind the song.

11.20.09 5:16pm

Your First Look

Here is your first look at the stage set-up for tonight's Search Party.

Still very much a work in progress, but it looks good. Lots of lights.

11.20.09 5:17pm