The Bates Student the VOICE of BATES COLLEGE SINCE 1873
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Bates College SCARAB The aB tes Student Archives and Special Collections 12-7-2016 The aB tes Student - volume 147 number 9 - December 7, 2016 Bates College Follow this and additional works at: https://scarab.bates.edu/bates_student Recommended Citation The aB tes Student - volume 147 number 9 - December 7, 2016 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Archives and Special Collections at SCARAB. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aB tes Student by an authorized administrator of SCARAB. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Bates Student THE VOICE OF BATES COLLEGE SINCE 1873 WEDNESDAY December 7, 2016 Vol. 147, Issue. 9 Lewiston, Maine ARTS & LEISURE FORUM SPORTS The men’s and women’s Ariel Abonizo ‘20 An anonymous letter to the basketball teams begin introduces The editor responds to a recent their non-conference Pillowman, a play article by Hannah Tardie ‘17 schedules strong, set for opening this weekend in calling for campus conserva- key matchups against Gannett Theater directed tive voices. Colby and Bowdoin this by Sam Wheeler ‘17. week. See Page 6 See Page 2 See Page 8 President Clayton Spencer Remembering those co-signs letter to President- who need not have elect Trump died Bates College holds a vigil for trans victims. According to the letter to the It urges the President-elect to MARIAM HAYRAPETYAN community published by Spencer, “condemn and work to prevent had the opportunity to linger and ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR WILLIAM BORELLI EBERT speak with members of OutFront “Bates welcomes applications from the harassment, hate, and acts of STAFF WRITER all students without regard to their violence that are being perpetrated about the vigil and the victims. On November 30, President immigration status, and applica- across our nation, sometimes in For those in the Bates com- Clayton Spencer emailed the stu- tions for admission from DACA your name which is now synony- On November 30, Bates Col- munity, the vigil was a sorrowing, dents, faculty, and staf informing and undocumented students are mous with our nation’s highest of- lege held a Trans Remembrance but more than necessary experi- them that Bates “recently signed an treated the same as those from do- fce.” Vigil in honor of the 26 transgen- ence. “Te vigil had an atmosphere open letter to the President-elect mestic students. Likewise, DACA President Spencer’s letter to der people murdered this year. Te of melancholy, but there was also Trump from college and university and undocumented students are the school discusses the personal vigil was part of Trans Awareness a deep sense of frustration and de- presidents afrming the basic val- eligible to apply for institutional, fear many students have given their Month at Bates and was organized spair,” said Daniel Fichmann ‘19, ues of human decency, equal rights, need-based fnancial aid, and, as background, whether immigrant or by OutFront, a support and aware- one of the members of the Bates freedom of expression, and freedom with all students, we meet the full LGBTQ+, therefore it is important ness group for LGBTQ and gender community in attendance. from discriminating and pushing demonstrated fnancial need of any to remember that we “have the re- diference issues on Bates Campus. Te frustration was rooted in back against a climate of harass- admitted student.” Te act of add- sponsibility to do everything within In 2016, the number of Trans peo- the senseless deaths that took place ment, hate, and acts of violence.” ing our name to the letter is not to our power to defend our values, to ple murdered was a record high even because of hate and intolerance. Te “racist, anti-immigrant, be taken politically; rather it is a way ensure the safety of our students with a month left this year, making Te vigil was a ftting conclusion of anti-Muslim, and similar incidents” to emphasize what our values are. and protect them from discrimina- the service all the more important. Trans Awareness Month as members are “contrary to the values on which Some of the colleges and univer- tion, and to foster a campus climate Te solemn service began at of the community worked to inform Bates was founded and they con- sities that signed the letter are Am- defned by deep listening, mutual 9:30 pm in the Gomes Chapel. one another about gender and sex- tribute to an atmosphere of fear and herst, Bard, Bowdoin, Colgate, Cor- respect, and honest discourse on Tose who were in attendance were ual diferences at Bates, as well the uncertainty.” Terefore, over 100 nell, Davidson, Middlebury, and even the most difcult subjects,” es- given a candle to light and a photo importance of working to strength- colleges and universities stated that Williams. Te short but informative pecially since we do not have control of one of the victims. From the front en inclusivity not only at the college they want a “continuation and ex- letter is directed towards Donald of what is happening in the world. of the chapel, members of OutFront but the greater world as a whole. pansion of the Deferred Action for Trump and begins with “as do you, spoke about the need to refect and Joshua Hunt ‘19, one of the Childhood Arrivals (DACA) pro- we ‘seek common ground, not hos- remember the lives of those taken organizers for the event, spoke on gram.” tility; partnership, not confict.’” by transgender violence and how behalf of OutFront. “We were hum- it is imperative for the community bled by the turnout and hope to to stand together in solidarity with translate the healing and mourning those who remain at risk. into direct action in the future, par- Te vigil featured a moment ticularly in the wake of the Trump of silence in honor of the victims presidency.” Hunt’s comments re- before beginning the service. Out- fect the growing sense of uncer- A community comes together Front read out the names of the 26 tainty and concern that many in the individuals, where they were from, LGBTQ Community at Bates have and a brief description of their lives, expressed after the surprising out- Bates mourns over the passing of two stellar probing into who they were and come of the 2016 Presidential Elec- faculty members. what they liked. Tey also spoke of tion. For them, the importance of each of their tragic deaths. After tell- the event could not be underscored. ing one of the victim’s stories, those NICO BARDIN Nonetheless the service was very MANAGING NEWS EDITOR in the audience with their photo meaningful in bringing the Bates would come up to the front of the community together for the eve- Te past two weeks have been chapel and place their candles on ning. Tose who came were able to marred by tragic news of the pass- the photo. After another moment of leave with a better understanding ing of two beloved members on silence, Brittany Longsdorf from the and greater sense of compassion for campus. On November 20, Bea- multifaith chaplaincy read a poem the transgender plight in our cur- trice Bell Verville, who joined the that she had wrote for the service in rent society. accounting ofce in 1977 and re- honor of the lives that were needless- tired in 1992, passed away at the ly cut short. Once the service ended, age of 90. It was not more than members of the Bates community a week later that current faculty member Katie Vale, Vice President of Information and Library Ser- vices, sufered a sudden and tragic passing due to a cardiac arrest. Both Dear Bates College individuals were stellar members of the faculty and staf and have helped to improve the campus in Administration, a plethora of ways. It is with great gration and Customs Enforcement regret that the Bates community BATES STUDENTS AND BATES must say a fnal farewell. (ICE). Colleges and Universities photo courtesy of Phyllis Graber Jesnon STUDENT ACTION Verville was not only a valu- Katie Vale hold unique power in that ICE of- We, the concerned students of able and exemplary member of the fcials cannot step foot on campus the Bates Community, move that staf in the accounting ofce here property without authorization Bates College follow the lead of over on campus. According to an email (policy number 10029.2). Not only 200 colleges and universities across sent by President Clayton Spencer will sanctuary status serve to protect the nation in seeking ofcial status on November 28, “She was a tal- DACA-mented, undocumented as a sanctuary campus for undocu- ented seamstress who created heir- students, faculty, and staf, but it mented immigrants living at Bates loom quilts for her children and will also serve as a gesture of protec- and in Lewiston. Tis is an impera- grandchildren. She was active in the tion and kindness to Lewiston’s large tive step as we prepare to protect the Knights of Columbus, taught line Somali refugee population (one of members of our community directly dancing, and enjoyed bowling, cro- the largest populations in Maine threatened by President-Elect Don- cheting, knitting, senior bus trips, with approximately 7,000 Somali ald Trump and his administration. and playing cards. An open-armed refugees)—a group of people whom Within the frst 100 days in of- matriarch, she was able to weave to- Donald Trump has directly targeted fce, President-Elect Donald Trump gether three families into one.” in his campaign, blaming them for plans to block funding for sanctu- Verville’s countless examples of Maine’s increasing crime rates.