The Miscellany News
miscellanynews.org
Vassar College’s student newspaper of record since 1866
September 8, 2022
Volume 158 | Issue 2
College reinstates COVID-19 dashboard College updates Jacques Abou-Rizk and Will Sorge News Editors
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n response to student criticism, Vassar College has reinstituted the COVID-19 dashboard, which will be updated with the number of positive student and employee cases every Thursday at noon. “We will track the number of new and cumulative cases for students and employees,’’ President Elizabeth Bradley said in her Sunday email on Aug. 28. “Thank you for your continued engagement with our efforts to keep campus safe and healthy.” Since the start of the 2020-21 academic year, the COVID-19 dashboard had provided daily updates to the number of new and historic cases for members of the College community to reference. Many students and employees ordered their pandemic-era precautions, such as masking and social distancing, around the severity of the campus caseload. The administration had initially planned to discontinue updates to the dashboard, which it communicated in a series of emails over the summer, considering the state of the virus. Instead, Vassar originally planned to update the community about particular clusters or outbreaks as they arose. Many students criticized this decision. Even with the return of the COVID-19 dashboard, students are still expressing concern for the loosening of isolation, testing, and distancing protocols. Melanie Burgess ’25 said she checks the COVID-19 dashboard case count every week. They said, “I think the new isolation policy is lazy and an excuse to spend less money.” According to Burgess, “Last year I tested positive for COVID and was sent to isolate in the hotel
for 10 days. My roommate, however, did not test positive. This new policy basically just puts people at greater risk of actually contracting the virus.” Burgess added that masking has also been a topic of discussion within the classroom. “Half of my classes have mandated masks and the others have not,” Burgess said. “My classes that require masks are in smaller rooms with a lot of people in them, and I would not feel safe in those classes if we did
not have masks as we are all seated closely together.” Even so, students are generally pleased with the decision to bring the dashboard back. “The decision to discontinue the dashboard felt premature considering the pandemic is not over,” said Charlie From ‘25. “It may be in its late stages, but nonetheless it’s more deadly and contagious than most common illnesses, and depriving students of a See COVID on page 3
Graphic courtesy of Sophie Wood ’23.
Palmer Gallery exhibit explores life Foundations Ganesh Pillai Arts Editor
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ow does nature impact us and the way we reflexively view the world? How are we molded by the spaces we live in? These are some of the questions that Marieken Cochius’ art seeks to tackle and explore such that even being left without concrete answers feels like an epiphany in itself. Students from Vassar have the opportunity to ponder such issues by stopping by the Palmer Gallery through Sept. 15 to take in the exhibit “Impulse and Stillness: The Art of Marieken Cochius.” As you walk into the gallery, the words “Impulse and Stillness” sprawled across the wall greet you, below them a piece of interlocking loops across the canvas. If it conjures up images of tiny cells within the body, or a mass of microscopic organisms, then that’s precisely what Cochius was going for. In a statement from her website, Cochius described how she is fascinated by the depiction of natural processes, and by the energies of the world
around us. Specifically, she noted on her website, “My sculpture, drawings, and paintings capture such fleeting moments in an organic world dominated by chaos and change. The energy that natural forms temporarily contain yet inevitably transform particularly inspires me.” As viewers of her art, the mind cannot help but wonder about these processes, considering the universality of them and the connectedness of our world, chaotic as it may be. Regarding opening the exhibition, Associate Director of Campus Activities Ed Cheetham said, “Amy Manso and I went to Marieken Cochius’ studios and were blown away by her breadth of work and infectious passion for art! All kinds of art.” Continuing through the gallery, Cochius’ other abstract, curiosity-piquing works come into view. While she did have her inspirations for the work, each piece serves as an exercise in the imagination for the viewer. Does a piece remind one of a group of flamingos standing upright, or the paint drippings of a frustrated artist, See Palmer Gallery on page 5
The Mug’s look Sophie Wood Guest Reporter
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big, bright sign welcomes students back after a long year of renovations to The Mug, the small but mighty space underneath the College Center. The Mug is finally open, but will it become the next big study spot/party spot on campus? Only time can truly tell. The Mug first opened its doors in the fall semester of 1975, according to the Spring 2002, Volume 98, 2nd Issue of Vassar Today, and became successful as surrounding bars disappeared or changed their names. However, as the years went on, The Mug struggled with the “logs show[ing] that the problems managers encountered span the decades [it was open]: kegs with no pressure, growing banned lists, and sticky floors” according to Vassar Today. On Dec. 1, 1984, New York State changed the legal drinking age to 21, making a student bar in the College Center even harder to maintain. Eventually, Vassar College did not renew its liquor license, and The Mug fell from a go-to weekend spot to a place where infamous Mug Nights, StuMu concerts and Student Theater events were held. Known for being an overcrowded and small space, The Mug got a much needed facelift this past spring. As students make their way down the winding stairs, they are greeted with the sound of soft jazz music and a low roar of chatter from their peers. From the old bartop now backlit and hanging on the wall to the color-changing ceiling, Vassar has truly tried to make The See Mug on page 8
prepares
Richard Lu
Guest Reporter
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he day I was dreading had finally arrived. I woke up on Aug 15, 2022 early in the morning, body caked with sweat from the night before. My eyes were bloodshot as I blankly stared at the wall for a good 10 minutes. Could this really be happening to me? Was I really going to Vassar? I knew the answer already: Yes, I am. The drive to Vassar was relatively calm. We passed many bridges, many trees and many empty roads as I approached the Poughkeepsie area. I sat there absorbing the peace and quiet—a luxury in New York City, the place I was born and raised. A feeling of tranquility enveloped me as I slumped in my seat. This changed the instant I reached the reception area outside of Main. I was greeted by a roar of cheers and applause from the upperclassmen I would eventually call student leaders. Their smiles beamed as bright as the sun on that warm August morning. They were hold-
ing signs of greeting and waved me inside. I felt like I belonged here. Then I was led to my room in Josselyn house by one of the available student leaders, and I was told how lucky I was to have such a large room. Afterwards, I was left to my own devices and followed my family around to different events. The privilege of touring the campus for the first time was, much like the rest of my introduction to my new home, a surreal experience. Sadly, the time came for me to say goodbye to my family. After a family dinner, we walked back to the parking lot in front of Josselyn house and I said my farewells, gave my hugs, and everything in between. Yes, I’ll keep in touch through Facetime and I’ll see them again during Thanksgiving break, but my heart still ached. I was devastated and didn’t know what my next steps were. Doubt crept in my mind. I became unsure of what would happen in the week to come. However, in hindsight I can say that the week that followed contained some See Foundations on page 7
Inside this issue
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HUMOR
Humor Editor Madi Donat returns with another 100 percent official listicle.
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Read all about the study-abroad adventures of Opinions Editor OPINONS Ben Fikhman!
10 SPORTS
student
Sports Editor Doug Cobb shares his thoughts about a controversial MLB trade.