— Middletown, Connecticut, since 1868 — THEWESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 VOLUME CLIII, ISSUE 23 WESLEYANARGUS.COM Alumni Chronicle Former Frat’s Life By Rebecca Brill on, the social climate at Wesleyan became Assistant Features Editor more secular and progressive, and the campus chapter felt a dissonance between In recent years, there has been con- the two outlooks. siderable controversy surrounding the At a national convention in 1954, presence of Greek life on campus, but the Phi Gamma demanded that the organi- debate over the role of fraternities at the zation remove the phrase “membership University has a rich history. Several de- from among Christians only” from its list cades ago, the issue came to the forefront of guiding principles. Though the passage when, in spite of the increasingly liberal was changed to require only that mem- atmosphere on campus, Phi Gamma, the bers considered Jesus of Nazareth their Wesleyan chapter of Alpha Chi Rho, was moral exemplar, the national organiza- forced to retain its traditional Christian tion retained a secret policy that not only ideology. The conflict with the fraternity’s restricted membership to Christians, but national organization came to a head in also excluded African Americans. 1958, and Esse Quam Videri (EQV), an “It was a very 1950s script: keeping independent local fraternity devoted to di- things looking ‘nice’ on the surface, and versity and individualism, was born. do your unsavory work behind closed Alpha Chi Rho was founded in 1895 doors,” reads a history of EQV written by as a religious fraternity. Initially, the values Gus Napier ’60 and Jan Van Meter ’63 in

EMMA DAVIS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER of the Phi Gamma chapter, established at honor of the fraternity’s reunion in 2005. Writing House, which is currently located at 202 Washington St., will relocate to 156 High St. along Wesleyan in 1911, were in accord with with Clark Writing Hall next fall. those of the national organization. Later EQV, page 11 Writing House, Hall To Relocate Raunchy Puppets To University Seeks To Create Centralized Writing Hub Excite in “Avenue Q” By Courtney Laermer only to freshmen. Neither Director at 167 High St. This location in- By Sonya Levine nected lives of various puppets, monsters, Staff Writer of Residential Life Frances Koerting spired the decision to move the Staff Writer and humans who are neighbors. The plot nor Vice President for Student house across the street from the centers on a heartwarming love story, Beginning in the fall of 2014, Affairs Michael Whaley was able to center. As finals approach, we all need a rea- while quite a bit of adult humor spices Writing House will be relocated comment on what will happen to “The idea was hatched about son to laugh. What better way to jump- things up. from 202 Washington St. to 156 the space on the first floor of 202 trying to move the residential start that merriment than by watching This show is perhaps Martin and High St., which currently functions Washington St., which is also home component that has to do with puppets discuss sex, porn, and racism? Stoler’s most ambitious venture yet due to as a residence hall for upperclass- to Full House. writing in close proximity to the This Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 the incorporation of puppetry. First, they men. The program house will be Koerting explained the reason Shapiro Center,” Whaley said. p.m. in Beckham Hall, catch a perfor- needed to find puppets that were within combined with Writing Hall, cur- behind the change. “We talked about it with both mance of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s their price range. rently located on the fourth floor “The change was initiated to [Director of Writing Programs] “Avenue Q,” directed by Lily Martin ’14. “Over the summer, I did a lot of of Clark Hall, to form a residential give our writing-based programs, Anne Greene and Amy Bloom, “Avenue Q” marks the third collabo- research Googling different places that writing hub open to all years. Writing Hall and Writing House, and both were supportive of the ration between Martin and Kayla Stoler rented out Avenue Q puppets. We were Writing House is a program more prominence,” Koerting said. idea of having a residential facil- ’14, the show’s artistic director. In the balancing the quality of the puppets house available to students inter- Whaley explained that when ity having to do with writing very past two years, the pair has put on “The with the cost, and I ended up going ested in any form of writing. This Writing House was first estab- close to their office space so that 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling with RoosterSocks, [a company based in residential living-learning environ- lished on Washington Street, Kim- students can access their space re- Bee” and “Spring Awakening” with over- Georgia],” Martin said. ment offers workshops and perfor- Frank Family University Writer in ally easily. It seemed to really line whelmingly positive reception. “Avenue To raise the nearly two thousand mances and promotes writing on Residence Amy Bloom was not at up well…. We think that there Q” combines the hilarity of “Spelling dollars necessary for the puppets, the campus. Writing Hall operates un- the University. Bloom’s office is lo- Bee” with the musicality of “Spring pair, along with stage manager Hannah der a similar premise but is open cated in the Shapiro Writing Center WRITING, page 5 Awakening,” creating a funny, music- Rimm ’15, created a Wesleyan club called oriented experience. 18 Fall Athletes Receive “Avenue Q” explores the intercon- PUPPETS, page 8 Postseason NESCAC Honors By Gili Lipman the 7-1 football team, which brought 756 yards on the ground and scoring Assistant Sports Editor home 12 recognitions, six of which were 10 touchdowns. Finally, defensive First Team All-Conference. Defensive back Donnie Cimino ’15 was named Eighteen Wesleyan student-ath- back Jake Bussani ’14 made the first to the first team, with 35 tackles, a letes were awarded a wide variety of team for the second consecutive season, forced fumble, and a blocked kick on honors for their conquests on the field racking up 27 tackles, two interceptions, the season. and court this past fall. two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, The second team was filled with Director of Athletics and Head and a blocked kick. Offensive lineman players who made huge impacts for new Coach of Football Mike Whalen was Jake Sheffer ’14 joined Bussani as a re- the Cardinals this season. First was extremely happy with how the Cardinal turner to the first team. He was a big linebacker Myers Beaird ’14, who teams fared this fall. reason that Wesleyan was able to protect had two interceptions on the year, a “The NESCAC is considered to the quarterback so effectively and be- forced fumble, and 28 tackles. Kyle be the most competitive conference in come the league leader in rushing yards Gibson ’15 averaged over six yards the country at the Division 3 level,” this year. per carry on the season and reached said Whalen. “To have so many of our Nikolas Powers ’15, a defensive the end zone three times. Sebastian fall athletes recognized as all-league is a end, was named to the first team again Aguirre ’14 ended his Cardinal career testament to the hard work and com- this season, making 33 tackles, includ- on a high note after setting Wesleyan mitment put forth by our student- ing 1.5 sacks. Wide receiver Kevin records for field goals made in a sea- athletes and coaches. All Wesleyan Hughes ’14 returned to the first team son, PATs made in game and in a sea- student-athletes strive for excellence in with 23 catches and 3 touchdowns, son, the most consecutively convert- every phase of their lives, and to receive and was also named a CoSIDA/Capital ed PATs, and finally, the most PATs this type of recognition is beneficial to One District II Academic All-American. made in a career, with 87. both them and our university.” LaDarius Drew ’15 was the third re- ANDREW RIBNER/FOOD EDITOR Leading the way in numbers was turning first-teamer after rushing for ALL-NESCAC, page 14 Puppets (and their corresponding humans) come alive in “Avenue Q.” Community Voices Administrative Approval Presidential Playlist Students ’speak up 2 Meerts backs USLAC 5 Roth shares his favorite tunes 8 2 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

The Wesleyan Argus WESPEAKS established in 1868

Editors-in-Chief Lily Baggott Christina Norris An Open Letter From Production Manager Michelle Woodcock Executive Editors Representatives of Need-Blind Wes Claire Bradach Olivia Horton Abbey Francis

News Editors Miranda Katz Tess Morgan Asst. News Editors Sophie Zinser We Regret to Inform You... Sofi Goode Features Editors Rebecca Seidel By Joshua Krugman, Evan Bieder beyond your comparative financial dents from New England increased Adam Keller disadvantage. Our “need-aware” ad- from 17 percent to 22 percent and Asst. Features Editors Gabe Rosenberg March 30, 2013 missions policy at Wesleyan does dis- the numbers of students from all Rebecca Brill criminate on the basis of socio-eco- other geographic areas in the US Food Editors Andrew Ribner Nora Pandolfo-Steiner nomic status, and we regret to inform dropped or remained flat. Jess Zalph East Maple St. you that your socio-economic status Please know that the vast ma- Asst. Food Editors Erica DeMichiel New Paltz, NY 12561 is not of the caliber that we are inter- jority of our applicants are superb- Emma Davis ested in at the current time. As data ly qualified and would be fully ca- Opinion Editors Josh Cohen Dear Ms. Pandolfo-Steiner, from our class of 2017 demonstrate, pable of doing successful work and Jenn Cummings The admissions committee has Wesleyan is just not as concerned making a unique contribution to Asst. Opinion Editor Jenny Davis met and I am sorry to inform you with economic, racial, and geographic the Wesleyan community. I’d like Arts Editors Dan Fuchs that you are too poor to attend diversity as we used to be. From the to personally encourage you to re- Gwendolyn Rosen Sports Editors Josh Cohen Wesleyan University this year. We class of 2016 to the class of 2017, the apply to Wesleyan in the case that Brett Keating received a record applicant pool of number of students receiving finan- your salary, or that of your imme- Asst. Sports Editors Felipe DaCosta over nine thousand financially quali- cial aid decreased from 48 percent to diate family, increases significantly. Gili Lipman fied applicants and we were only 42 percent, the number of students We wish you well in finding an in- Photo Editors Trisha Arora able to admit a limited number of receiving grant aid decreased from 44 stitution of higher learning with Kathy Lee students in need of financial assis- percent to 37 percent, the number the ethical priorities that will allow Asst. Photo Editor Noah Mertz tance. of first-generation four-year college you to pursue your education. Head Layout Josh Neitzel We realize you may be disap- students decreased from 16 percent Layout Rachel Guetta pointed by this decision, but please to 13 percent, the number of black Sincerely, Angela Hsu understand that it in no way re- students decreased from 11 percent to Michael Roth, President Irma Mazariego flects your strength as an applicant, 8 percent, while the number of stu- Joshua Boger, Chair of the Board Sofia Zaidman Business Manager Andrew Hove Advertising Manager Katya Sapozhnina Web Editor Alicia Gansley Social Media Editor Kirby Sokolow What We Can Do: Distribution Managers Aaron Veerasuntharam By Joshua Krugman, Evan Bieder ing explanations, but no interest or them that vote of confidence in their Alex Papadogiannis intent to engage with their legitimate ethically bankrupt priorities. For those Ampersand Editor Sarah Esocoff Head Copy Editor Chloe Jasper Dear Parent/Student/Alum, worries. of us who thought that a meaningful Copy Editors Sophia Franchi If you are concerned, as we are, Now, a year later, the numbers conversation about these issues could Billy Donnelly with the profound demographic are in and they have proven these con- exist without a donation boycott, it Chloe Jeng changes in the Wesleyan student cerned alumni, parents, and students was infuriating to learn that gifts ear- body that have been attended by uniformly and unfortunately correct. marked for financial aid automatically Thank you to our generous donors: Wesleyan’s new need-discriminatory Compared with last year’s incoming trigger a budget adjustment where an Alice and Colby Andrus admissions policy, please email or class, in this year’s freshman class (the amount equal to 68 percent of the gift Brooke Byers call Michael Roth (mroth@wesleyan. first chosen with the new, need-discrim- is removed from the annual financial aid Lawrence Ling edu/860/685-3500), the President inatory policy), the number of students budget, which means that only 32 per- Alex Wilkinson of the University, and John Meerts receiving financial aid decreased from cent of each gift earmarked for finan- ([email protected]/860/685- 48 percent to 42 percent, the number cial aid actually goes toward increas- The Wesleyan Argus (USPS 2607), the Vice President for Finance of first-generation four-year college stu- ing the financial aid budget, and the 674-680) is published by the under- and Administration, and explain that dents decreased from 16 percent to 13 other 68 percent of any such gift gets graduates of Wesleyan University. your deep disappointment with their percent, the number of black students swept into general operating budget, The University does not publish The institutional priorities has led you to decreased from 11 percent to 8 percent, where it enables the unaccountable and Argus or influence its content, nor is decide against donating and against while the number of students from New unsustainable status quo: out-of-control it responsible for any of the opinions encouraging other parents, alumni, England increased from 17 percent to administrative bureaucracy and the rest. expressed in The Argus. and students to give to the University 22 percent, and the numbers of stu- The University expresses no inten- The Argus is published twice this year. dents from all other geographic areas in tion to reinstate need-blind, yet it says weekly during the school year except When Wesleyan’s Board of the U.S. dropped or stayed flat. that if we just keep donating, things in exam periods or recesses. The Argus welcomes Wespeaks Trustees decided in the spring of 2012 Not only have we seen that our will improve. We say: Wesleyan has the that pertain to campus issues, news to switch from a “need-blind” admis- concerns about demographic changes means to return to need-blind now; all stories, and editorial policy. We- sions policy (in which the applications were well founded, but we’ve learned it needs is the courage to decide to enact speaks should be no longer than of prospective students were evaluated something about strategy as well. We a more ethical, inclusive set of priorities. 750 words. The deadline for submis- without knowledge of the student’s have learned that the University doesn’t We say to the University: ask us again sion is 4 p.m. (Monday for Tuesday ability to pay), to a need-discrimina- listen when alumni and parents call, to donate the moment you choose to publication and Thursday for Friday tory admissions policy (in which ap- and when students demonstrate, pass take up a set of priorities we can get publication). All submissions should plications are read and decided upon resolutions, and sign petitions. The ad- behind. be emailed to [email protected] in part based upon the students’ abil- ministration doesn’t feel threatened by Until then, we urge our fellow and should include the author’s name and telephone number. ity to pay), many alumni, parents, these actions anymore, if it ever did. alumni, parents, and students to con- The Argus reserves the right to and students expressed their concern That is why we are encouraging sider that you may do much more to edit all submissions for spelling, to the President, the Board, and oth- other alumni, parents, and students make Wesleyan excellent and inclusive grammar, and length as well as with- ers that the new policy would decrease who care about this University to take by vocally withholding your donation hold Wespeaks that are excessively the many kinds of difference that the only kind of action that the ad- than by donating. vulgar or nonsensical. The Wespeak Wesleyan values in its student body. ministration really cares about, which In solidarity, get involved! editors will provide titles for all sub- These alumni, parents, and students is to refuse outright to donate to the missions. Due to the volume of mail were met with patiently condescend- University, to refuse outright to give —Need-Blind Wesleyan received, neither publication nor return of submissions is guaranteed. Editorial offices are located at 45 Broad Street, Middletown. Email: Krugman is a member of the class of 2014. Bieder is a member of the class of 2015. [email protected]

visit us online at wesleyanargus.com The Wespeaks section is a forum for student Got an opinion? opinion, debate, ideas, rants, quips, and any- Find an Error? Wanna share it? thing you want to share. Contact us at Write a Wespeak! Submit online: wesleyanargus.com/submit- [email protected] a-wespeak FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS wespeaks • 3 A Letter to The Board of Trustees By Members of Wes, Divest! that the market has underreacted to cli- around private and public investment de- mate-regulating international agreements cisions. This has the capacity to recalibrate Dear Board of Trustees, and legislation. the market to incorporate the real cost of WINTER The climate crisis is a defining issue In the last year, fossil fuel companies climate change. Divestment will not only AT W E S L E YA N of current and future generations. The have allocated $670 billion towards creat- set an example, but could also attract long- fifth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ing new types of fuel reserves (e.g. frack- term, positive attention and increased Change (IPCC) report, released earlier this ing, tar sands, and mountaintop removal), alumni donations. year, states with at least 95 percent certain- which are often less profitable and strain We share a passion for the Wesleyan ty that humans are the primary contribu- operating cash flows. Recent evidence experience. We share a commitment to tors to current warming trends. indicates that demand for natural gas for the opportunities Wesleyan provides. We As a responsible institution, Wesleyan half the world’s population is rising five share a desire to challenge the status quo teaches students to shape a healthy and times faster than supply. While this is not to create a more just and equitable world. sustainable future for our country and proof of a carbon-asset bubble, this is how In our time here, we have not only learned our world. We believe that every aspect a carbon-asset bubble would behave: rapid to think in terms of practical idealism, of Wesleyan, including the endowment, price inflation despite decaying underlying but also that we must aim to apply these should reflect this responsibility. We have value. These are liabilities that could po- ideas as an institution. We believe it is our committed to climate neutrality by 2050, tentially take a toll on shareholder value. responsibility to research and thoroughly yet we continue to fiscally endorse the Moreover, large corporations includ- assess the potential outcomes of a respon- fossil fuel industry with our endowment. ing Wal-Mart, Apple, Cisco, Lockheed sible and gradual divestment strategy. As Investing in these companies inadver- Martin, and Deutsche Bank are earning members of the Wesleyan community, we tently promotes the acceleration of global Renewable Energy Certificates, using on- respect your expertise, understand your warming and is at odds with our Climate site alternative energy generation, and cre- fiduciary responsibility, and trust you to Commitment. The endowment does not ating utility green power products. These make the best decision for our community. exist independently of the University; it corporations are not investing in clean en- Thank you for your consideration. represents Wesleyan’s values. ergy purely for the social good; they likely COME BACK TO CAMPUS It is internationally accepted that a invest because they see potential long-term Sincerely, 2 degrees Celsius increase in global tem- returns in alternative energy investments, Abby Cunniff ’17, Scott Elias ’14, EARLY THIS JANUARY! perature would result in lasting harm to rather than conventional energy genera- Pierre Gerard ’15, Mira Klein ’17, Zac the planet. In order to remain below this tion methods. Kramer ’17, Claire Marshall ’17, Genna threshold, large portions of carbon re- The fossil fuel divestment movement Mastellone ’17, Sonia Max ’17, Maya WINTER SESSION serves—which account for an estimated provides Wesleyan with a unique opportu- McDonnell ’16, Angus McLean ’16, 50 to 80 percent of fossil fuel companies’ nity to establish itself as a leader amongst Sarah Mininsohn ’17, Eva Steinberg ’17, COURSES FOR CREDIT valuations—would have to remain in the peer institutions. Wesleyan divestment Izzy Stern ’14, Sara Swaminathan ’17, ground. By looking at the Dow Jones U.S. can propel a movement dedicated to Zachary Wulderk ’15, and the rest of Wes, Oil & Gas Index (DJUSEN), it is evident fundamentally altering the environment Divest! WINTER ON WYLLYS PROGRAMS AT THE CAREER CENTER Letter to The Editor By Martin Benjamin ist you.” It was lengthened it to “you 21-nation representation) were slaugh- bumper-sticker humanist you.” tered, is an evocative abbreviation. REGISTER NOW! Dear editor, The second improvement per- (Whatever one dubs the event, SPACE IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. The Argus flatters this writer by tains to my submission’s four referenc- it remains a matter of no moment to taking the trouble and time to improve es to “9/11,” half of which appeared bumper-sticker humanist Roth.) his prose. But one can have too much in print and online as “Sept. 11.” But of a good thing. “Sept. 11” and “9/11” are not the -Martin Benjamin My Nov. 18 submission (Open same. Letter to President Roth) contained The former is a date. The latter, a Benjamin is a member of the class of wesleyan.edu/winter the phrase, “bumper-sticker human- morn in which 3,000 human beings (a 1957. 4 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 news Fullilove Talks WesAmnesty Hosts Testimonial of Research Methods Human Rights Violations By Matthew Shelley-Reade crop is significant to the history of Staff Writer capitalism in the United States. “We’ve been led to believe in Students and teachers alike these myths of free enterprise and attended Assistant Professor of the weak state in U.S. development History Courtney Fullilove’s talk, whereby we have these Yankee en- “Scrambled/Lost/Rotten/Dead: trepreneurs pulling themselves up by Research on the Margins,” this past their bootstraps and coming up with Tuesday, Nov. 19. In the lecture, great ideas and through the strength Fullilove focused on researching of private enterprise making the U.S. materials traditionally neglected by a great nation,” Fullilove said. historians and finding significance Fullilove continued to discuss in the intersection of environmental the reality behind this myth. history, history of science, and his- “What...appears is that there is a tory of capitalism. lot of federal muscle behind those ef- Fullilove opened the talk by forts every step of the way,” she said. reading a poem by Charles Wright. “In fact, when American farmers suc- The poem, titled “Tomorrow,” estab- ceeded it was because they were sort lished the talk’s theme: focusing on of sheltered from some of the risks of the ordinary and the obscure. the market and given a big boost in “The part of the poem that I research and development. But we really love are the first lines [on] the don’t think of it in those terms.” idea of the metaphysics of the quotid- According to Fullilove, Smith ian, which is in fact in some ways the embodied the recurring theme of spirit of this talk,” Fullilove said. the significance of the worker in the Fullilove focused her talk on the larger context of agricultural history. archaic Dead Letter Office, an office “Farmers were the first biotech- created by the United Postal Service nicians, and had been for some ten to deal with undeliverable mail. thousand years,” Fullilove wrote. “It’s “If you mail a letter and it doesn’t hard for us to think of them in these get to the proper recipient, it goes to terms, because we’re accustomed to the Dead Letter Office,” Fullilove thinking about research and devel- said. “Whereas first class mail was un- opment as occurring in organized, der seal, meaning it was held private institutional settings. But if we want by the Fourth Amendment of the to understand the grounds of that re- Constitution, third class matter (par- search, both historically and with re- cel posts) could be opened. The mail spect for contemporary practice, we was disposed of, but the parcel posts have to take seriously the contribu- [would be auctioned off]. So that’s tions of agricultural people.” the theme of the talk, trash picking The theme of the talk, drawing in the Dead Letter Office. My con- historical significance from the mun- tention is that there is no such thing dane, appealed to Abigail Shneyder TRISHA ARORA/PHOTO EDITOR as a trivial source.” ’17. Sam Sikder ’14 shared her experiences in the Middle East at the most recent WesAmnesty event. Fullilove utilized the Dead “I [...love] the idea of finding Letter Office to give insight into the significance and historical insight By Sofi Goode We didn’t want this to be a political these are universal experiences.” lives of quotidian Americans. in nontraditional sources—in other Assistant News Editor thing; we wanted it more to be an Arora and Ringoen noted that “The reason I like the Dead words, trash,” Shneyder wrote in an awareness thing, to see how other they hope the event helped open Letter Office is because it is an ac- email to The Argus. “I wanted to Students gathered on students lived in the past and what students’ eyes to the diversity at the cidental archive of failure, which was know what a few leftover seeds could Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the World they’ve experienced.” University and the experiences that the normative experience of 19th- tell me about American history[...]. Music Hall to hear their peers talk Fahmy, who grew up in Egypt, all students carry with them. century economic life,” Fullilove [T]he idea of learning about the about personal experiences with chose to focus his talk on the treat- “People are aware that there are wrote in an email to The Argus. obscure history of forgotten objects human rights in the Middle East. ment of the queer community in his violations going on, but they don’t “[...] It’s quite illuminating to tread does appeal to me. Everything can tell The event, titled WEStimonials, home country. realize that they know people who through the catalogues of the rooms a story. I thought Professor Fullilove featured Danny Blinderman “I feel it’s an extremely serious might have witnessed them, who and ask why all this stuff ended up had a neat perspective on history that ’14, Hazem Fahmy ’17, Carina issue that does not get enough atten- might have been a victim,” Ringoen there. Even with a narrow focus on I’d never been exposed to before.” Caligiuri Kurban ’14, Piril Özince tion in general in the Middle East said. “Even at Wesleyan, you walk by the history of agricultural develop- As for finding context for these ’16, and Sam Sikder ’14 sharing and the Arab/Islamic world where people every day that really are affect- ment, you have to take note of how environmental stories, Professor their experiences with civil liber- LGBT rights are, for the most part, ed by these issues halfway around the many packages of seeds end up in the of History, Medieval Studies, and ties. The event was followed by pretty horrible,” Fahmy said. “I have world. It’s great to get a better aware- halls of the Dead Letter Office. What Feminist, Gender, and Sexualty a reception with Middle Eastern a close Egyptian friend who is gay ness of how these issues affect us here does their presence there tell us?” Studies Magda Teter offered a sug- cuisine. and attempted suicide because of the and how they travel across borders.” Fullilove’s research in the Dead gestion. WEStimonials was organized cultural and legal oppression.” Blinderman, who shared his ex- Letter Office led her to discover the “You really need an imagination primarily by WesAmnesty co- While in the United States much perience as a Jewish person visiting case of Junius Smith, an entrepreneur so you can try to imagine yourself in leaders Margaret Curtis ’16 and of the discussion of LGBTQ rights is Israel, urged the audience not to re- who attempted to bring the British that moment in time you are read- Joe Ringoen ’14. Ringoen said focused around gay marriage and le- ceive the information passively. East India Company’s tea industry ing about,” Teter said. “Don’t project that the event was designed to gal equality, in Egypt, it often centers “Don’t take my word for it,” he to the deep U.S. South. According to your own reality, but try to project present an unbiased point of view around personal safety. said. “Read a book; read an article. Fullilove, Smith’s failure to displace yourself in that moment. In the end, on the current state of the Middle “It’s a matter of them being Go there for yourself. See what you cotton as the South’s primary cash history is about good stories.” East. hunted down, being tortured, being need to see for yourself. Challenge “We’re hoping to bring accused of wild accusations, just to yourself; don’t just go on vacation.... awareness to campus, to get peo- have a reason to put them in jail,” If enough people come and enough ple thinking and dialoguing about Fahmy said. “It’s a matter of them people care, it might be possible to issues that are happening on the being kicked out of their homes by save both Israel and Palestine from other side of the world but that ef- their own families, sometimes being this slow plummet into oblivion.” fect people on campus,” Ringoen killed by their own family. Tolerance Katie Darr ’17 attended the said. “We want to create a positive needs to be a priority.... Acceptance event and found the accounts both dialogue around the issue that’s and embracing is a long way [away]. informational and compelling. not based in different viewpoints Tolerance and a lack of violence “I didn’t know a lot about these or with student groups, but to try against LGBT people is crucial for issues, so it was very enlightening to to create as depolitical of an en- now.” hear about them,” Darr said. “People vironment as possible so we can Fahmy wanted his talk to give know that there are issues, but I don’t discuss these issues without creat- students a more realistic view of both think they know the extent of the is- ing tensions.” the types and scope of problems that sues. So to have a spot where people Trisha Arora ’16, the event’s people in the Middle East face. can hear how big these problems are, social media organizer, also em- “I want to give a more legitimate it was helpful.” phasized that the organizers and un-sensationalized view of issues Rachel Earnhardt ’17, who also wanted the event to be focused on in the Middle East,” Fahmy said. attended the event, agreed, adding awareness and experience. “Most of the time when Middle- that the event opened the doors to a “We wanted it to be more Eastern issues pop up in Western wider discussion. student-oriented as opposed to news [they’re] very dramatized. I “The issues are so complex that professors and more of a lecture,” want people to recognize and under- people are resistant to deal with Arora said. “Our main goal was to stand that there is suffering in the them,” Earnhardt said. “Obviously, C/O SHORPY.COM get students to realize that there Middle East, that it’s not necessarily we did not find solutions tonight, Professor Courtney Fullilove discussed the importance of the Dead are students among us who have something that everyone can under- but it opened a dialogue. This is a Letter Office in her research. encountered human rights issues. stand...but it’s relatable suffering; start.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS NEWS • 5 Faculty Members Share Passions at Wesleyan Thinks Big

By Sophie Zinser pus, such as crop tops, high heels, “Maybe we are alone,” Huges Assistant News Editor and hoop earrings. Mahurin pointed said. “Maybe we’re not alone, but out that most of the comments are we don’t know about other civiliza- On Wednesday, Nov. 20, over directed at females. tions.... Or maybe they have colo- four hundred students, faculty mem- “I have never once heard anyone nized the galaxy and we just don’t bers, and community members at- at Wesleyan mock the shirt worn by a know about it.” tended the third annual Wesleyan man,” Mahurin said. Cutler spoke next, giving a talk Thinks Big event. Held once per She expressed her aversion to titled “What’s Left? An Unrequited semester, the event provides five the colloquial term “biddie” that she Politics of Pleasure.” Cutler used a professors from a wide range of de- had heard students use in reference to PowerPoint presentation to frame partments the opportunity to give a some women on campus. Students, current American political party bi- 10-minute lecture about what keeps according to Mahurin, define a “bid- ases, suggesting that along with the them up at night. die” mainly based on the clothes that obvious left and right binaries of our For this semester’s event, a a student wears. She suggested that political system, there should exist group of students selected Visiting students focus instead on what wom- a new axis that further bisects those Assistant Professor of African en have on their minds. categories into left and right com- American Studies and English “The stories we tell ourselves munitarianism and left and right lib- Sarah Mahurin, Assistant Professor about other people are almost always ertarianism. Cutler argued that the of Astronomy Meredith Hughes, less interesting than the stories that axis of the libertarian left has yet to SADICHCHHA ADHIKARI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Associate Professor of Sociology other people can tell us about them- be defined by an established party or Assistant Professor Tushar Irani gave a speech titled “The Value of Jonathan Cutler, Visiting Assistant selves,” she said. policy. Learning.” Professor of Biology Andrea Roberts, Next to speak was Hughes, “A left libertarian’s views would and Assistant Professor of Philosophy whose lecture, “Life in the Universe,” be especially anti-work…so if you’re you.” pendent thinking that is necessary to and Letters Tushar Irani to speak. detailed the current search in sci- in the market place as a labor per- Irani’s lecture was the last of the take ownership of your values.” Professors are nominated and ence to find life outside of Earth. She son, you will want more money and series; the title was “The Value of After the lectures, Cutler ex- selected by the students, who com- opened with a startling new astro- less work,” Cutler said. “If we think Learning.” Irani explored how mod- pressed his agreement with Irani’s prise the Wesleyan Thinks Big orga- nomical discovery that sparked many about what the liberal right think ern students perceive learning and lecture. nization. According to one student gasps from the audience. about that box, they are freaked out their belief that learning is intrinsi- “I like to think big because...as coordinator, Wayne Ng ’16, the lec- “Within the last few weeks...we by all the pleasure they imagine hap- cally valuable as well as instrumen- Professor Irani was saying, the point ture topics do not have to relate to now know that there is at least one pening in there.… Let’s give them tally valuable. of this place is not that it will make the professor’s specific discipline. planet per star and that at least one in something to talk about.” “Why are you and I here at this you a lot of money, although it hope- “When I went to Wes Thinks five stars has a rocky planet like Earth Next to speak was Roberts, institution?” Irani asked. “Here’s the fully will,” Cutler said. “All you need Big as a freshman, it was the culmi- on which water can exist,” Hughes whose lecture “Jury Duty, Stem easy answer: I’m here to teach and to do is learn to read and write in or- nating point of why I chose to go to claimed. “That’s literally billions of Cells, and Global Warming: The you’re here to learn. That’s the con- der to get what this place sells. Go Wesleyan,” Ng said. “Originally, I chances for life to evolve.” Importance of a Science in the sumer model of education…. But deep wherever this place takes you.” didn’t know what I wanted to major Hughes believes that it is essen- Liberal Arts Education” made a case knowledge is not best thought of as Emma Davis ’17 commented in. I came to Wes Thinks Big and felt tial for scientists on Earth to continu- for why all students should take at a good to be consumed.” on the capacity of the audience to like I could take any path and do so ally send signals to space so that they least one science course over their From there, Irani detailed the remain open-minded regarding all many things with it.” can be in the right place at the right four years in college. She pointed view that some goods, such as per- lecture topics. Mahurin gave the first lecture, ti- time for those signals to be heard. out that while 75 percent of students sonal health, are valued as ends in “I am so glad I came because I tled “What We Talk About When We While she emphasized the im- at the University take a dance class, themselves, while other goods, such think this distills the best of Wes into Talk About Clothes.” She began with portance of government funding in only 25 percent take a science course. as medical treatments, are instead short, 15- or 20-minute segments,” a passage from Zora Neale Hurston’s the sciences, Hughes also pointed Roberts also encouraged scientists valued as means to an end. Irani Davis said. “I also think that it was “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in out that research in the field of space to make their subject teachable and noted that while in college, it is dif- an invigorating challenge to the au- which the main character, Janie, stirs exploration, and humans as a race, translatable to non-science majors. ficult to perceive your time spent as dience, who could have tuned out up a group of townspeople when she are both very new. These two facts “Take a science course,” Roberts intrinsically valuable. because [each lecture topic] wasn’t wears dirty, revealing overalls. This form the basis for the Fermi paradox, concluded. “Learn to love the de- “While you’re here there is one where [they were] usually comfort- passage guided Mahurin’s discus- which she described as the contradic- tail.... Fulfill your NSM require- precious thing that you’ll never have able, but being able to be present for sion of clothing and her observation tion between the probable mass of ments. Come over to the south side again: freedom,” Irani said. “And by the entire thing was proof of what of articles of clothing that she had extraterrestrial life and humanity’s of Church Street. Ask us what we that I mean the freedom to think, makes a liberal arts education so overheard being mocked on cam- inability to discover it. love to do. We would love to tell the freedom to engage in the inde- valuable.” WSA Resolution, USLAC Goals Writing: 156 High to Gain Traction in Administration Become Residential By Madeleine Stern shaping fair custodial labor policy on WSA Vice President Andrew Trexler ’14 Contributing Writer campus. in an email to The Argus. “The Code “[T]he university can optionally Compliance Board […] will have real Creative Writing Hub On Oct. 15, the Wesleyan Student implement certain policies and practices power, which is really important. The re- Assembly (WSA) passed a resolution call- […] that go beyond those legal require- cent adjustments to reduce workload on ing for extensive reform of labor condi- ments, such as paying all workers a liv- current workers, although in lieu of hiring Continued from front page for people who want to write, but tions and workloads of the University’s ing wage as defined by the institution,” new staff, is also a big plus.” are not necessarily in that major,” custodial staff. Soon after, the WSA an- Meerts wrote. “There may be other things There is one issue, however, that will be a strong program in that Uwakaneme said. nounced that this resolution had gained that could come out of the conversations remains a sticking point for USLAC, location.” Rebecca Brill ’16, another resi- its first formal showing of support from with the code compliance board that may the WSA, and the administration alike: Whaley is hopeful that the dent of Writing House, agreed with the administration. make sense for the university to imple- the University does not directly employ move will increase interaction Uwakaneme, adding that the cur- The resolution called for, among ment.” its own custodial staff, instead subcon- between students and faculty in- rent location is a significant disad- other things, the creation of a Code David Whitney ’16, a member of tracting to Sun Services, LLC. This volved in writing. vantage. Compliance Board to address and investi- Wesleyan’s United Student Labor Action raises the question of whether the Code “The only thing that we “It is a pretty house and a really gate issues of custodial fair labor practices Coalition (USLAC) who also serves on Compliance Board would be vested with are trying to accomplish now is nice place to live,” Brill said. “[But on campus. Sunday’s WSA newsletter the WSA and sponsored the resolution, any real authority. to foster closer connections be- having the location changed] will stated that Vice President for Finance and explained the significance of the WSA Meerts acknowledged that while the tween faculty that are working draw more people in, possibly a dif- Administration John Meerts had to fight resolution. University is not legally able to negotiate in this area and students that are ferent sort of person than typically for the creation of such a board. Meerts “In broadest terms, what this resolu- with or for the custodial staff, it can ne- interested in creative writing,” goes to Writing House. It might clarified, however, that such a board al- tion asserts…is that Wesleyan should be gotiate with Sun Services and ensure that Whaley said. “I am really excited draw in people that want to be im- ready exists, though it has not met very developing its own standards for what fair certain conditions are met. about the possibility of more fac- mersed in the writing community.” often in recent years. labor practices are on campus,” Whitney “We can have language in a contract ulty interaction, and I hope that However, some students cur- “I think the code compliance board said. “There’s a lot of industry standards with our vendors that stipulates certain synergy will enrich the writing rently living in Writing House are [...] will monitor to some degree that and metrics for fair labor practices.… things as long as it does not contradict experience for students living in not enthused about the impending agreed-upon policies and procedures are What the WSA resolution says—it’s actu- rights that workers already have under those areas.” move. in fact followed,” Meerts wrote in an ally kind of radical—is that we shouldn’t their union contract,” Meerts wrote. “But Several current residents of “I find this problematic,” said email to The Argus. “[...] I presume that be looking to those standards to validate I imagine that our contract with Sun will Writing House look forward to Jack Spira ’16. “Initially, it will seem the board will serve as an advisory group how we treat the workers on our campus.” have stipulations, and that this is how this the change. like we are being collected into a to the administration around these is- Whitney and other members of will be operationalized.” “I looked at it in a posi- better hub of writing, but rather we sues.” USLAC see Meerts’ expression of support Alma Sanchez-Eppler ’14, another tive light,” said Writing House are being separated from the rest of According to Meerts, many of the as the first substantive administrative sup- member of USLAC, was similarly opti- Manager Chukwuemeka the school in such a manner that will students’ ideas for improving the custo- port for custodial labor reform on cam- mistic about the prospects for negotiation Uwakaneme ’16. “Writing House hurt writing. Writers don’t need oth- dial work environment make sense. pus. with Sun Services over better working is really far from campus, so if all er writers around them, they need “I think that we as an institution “The biggest win here, I think, was conditions. your classes are not in that area, other people.” have an obligation to see that all employ- that John Meerts agreed to go to bat for “Sun Services is hired by Wesleyan, the location really is not that Spira added that living at 202 ees, whether employed directly by the us for the constitution of this board,” and [Wesleyan has] made it seem like great.” Washington St., which is surround- university or by subcontractors, are being Whitney said. [Sun Services takes] direct marching or- Uwakaneme added that, ed by other program houses, is ben- treated according to all legal requirements Representatives of both USLAC ders from the customer,” Sanchez-Eppler as a biology major, his classes eficial because he has been able to [and] safety requirements as, say, defined and the WSA expressed optimism about wrote in an email to The Argus. “If are mainly located in the Exley make friends with differing interests. by [the Occupational Safety and Health the future of the resolution and the Code Wesleyan asks for something, especially Science Center, so he frequent- “It was great for hanging out Administration],” Meerts wrote. Compliance Board. if they provide funding to do it[…]it will ly travels a far distance from with [students from other program Meerts elaborated on the role the “The administration is taking us get done. I hope [the University is] telling Writing House to get to class. houses] because we learn from dif- Code Compliance Board will have in seriously, and this is a big step,” wrote the truth.” “This new location is great ferent ideas,” Spira said. 6 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 opinion On the Horrible Thing Making a That Was Once on My Face Difference By Josh Cohen, Opinion Editor By Isabel Fattal, Contributing Writer

I hate shaving. Some say it’s a in January 2013 and ending about five my goatee is wearing me. My facial hair When it comes to the ability made some kind of positive effort, I soothing activity, but I have a number weeks later, I, Joshua Russell Cohen, had contorts in an hourglass shape around of the individual to make a dif- understood that my attempts were of questions for anyone who derives re- a goatee. my smile as my arm wraps around her ference in the world, most of us significant. But as I thought about laxation from running sharp metal across It was not grown by accident or back. Her expression does not give any vacillate between disillusionment how very small the individual can be the surface of one’s skin. My razor has under duress, both of which would have indication that she knows how creepy I and idealism. There are moments in relation to the greater issues of the five blades, which I’ve been led to un- been bizarre reasons but would have look in this moment. I shaved a few days when anything seems possible, world, I couldn’t help but feel a per- derstand helps to improve the smooth- saved me the embarrassment of knowing later. but sometimes the world over- sistent uncertainty. ness and closeness of the shave, but I grew it of my own volition and wore it Maybe I’m still just stressed from whelms us with its enormity and This struggle surfaced once just makes me feel on edge. The claim willingly. And I thought it looked good! the trauma, because I still like beards on its power. again as I watched “A Place at the is probably true: the people who made All the sides connected and I shaped it other people. I watched multiple actors I thought that I had found Table, ” a documentary about hun- it probably know science things, and I roughly evenly, so I looked in the mir- in “The Seagull” grow miserable over the a solution to this struggle on ger in the United States screened myself am not a botanist. To me, it just ror and said to myself, yeah, that works. course of the semester as they prepared a community service trip in by the University’s Hunger and sounds like five times as many daggers I smiled, and the sides caved in toward their facial hair for the production, but Kentucky last summer. Homelessness group. I was appalled with which I’m attacking my own skin. the sides of my mouth, but I allowed my- I was saddened when they all shaved af- I spent the first few days in by what I saw, and I felt compelled What can I do, though? I’m a hostage to self to ignore the shape-shifting my hair terwards. I consider Mandy Patinkin to Kentucky doubting the relevance to do something, anything that I Gillette, the face-shaving company hold- was doing. There was nothing abnormal be the grizzled ideal of male appearance, of the work that I was doing. I could to help in some way. At the ing a knife to my throat in this horribly about my beard at all. even more so with his face engulfed as knew that my work would even- same time, I was beginning to real- mixed metaphor. My friends and family commented Saul Berenson on “Homeland” than tually make some sort of dif- ize just how difficult it is to change Grudgingly, I shave once a week. I on it, because how could they not? There with his Spaniard’s moustache adorning ference, even if marginal, but a situation that is so extensive and should probably shave more frequently, were jokes made at my expense, mostly his upper lip in “The Princess Bride.” If I found it difficult to grasp the complicated. I left the screening ed- since I blow past the point of stubble to relating to Walter White, but nothing you’ve seen him clean-shaven, he looks impact of my efforts. By the end ucated and frustrated, my thoughts the scraggly weirdness of a half-grown was mean-spirited about it. And yet, I re- deceitful, as though his smooth skin were of the summer, though, when about the power of the individual beard, hair creeping up my cheeks to- alize now that I was missing signs of peo- concealing his true image. I saw the results of our group’s left somewhere between hopeful and ward my eyes in odd little outshoots. It’s ple being nice. I’m sure some of the com- I would never tell him that, of work, I felt as though I finally unsure. unclear whether anyone notices that ir- pliments were genuine, but at this point, course. For one, I don’t know Mandy understood. I could see with my But when it comes to making a regular growth pattern, thinner than my I would question the taste behind the Patinkin. Approaching him on the street own eyes the outdoor classroom difference, maybe the middle is ex- chin or jawline by the time I slice the kindness. People said to me, yeah, that to tell him my preferences for his fol- that we had built with our hands actly where we should be. While it hairs away, but certainly noticeable, at works, but their yeahs were not like mine. licular activities would be inappropriate from start to finish. I listened to might be easier to choose one side or least to me. Maybe that’s just a product Instead they all had extra H’s and ellips- to say the least, just as my loved ones the gratitude of the parents of the other, this complex combination of years of looking at myself in the mir- es: Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh…………… restrained themselves from telling me students we had worked with. of doubt and hope enables each of us ror, the result being some indirect oppo- There is a photograph of me on just how much my goatee dominated At once, I understood the simple to understand our own place in the site of narcissism. Facebook to which I will not link and my face. It wasn’t big, but it demanded fact that had we not been there, world. Doubt allows us to compre- My facial hair never used to bother from which I have untagged myself, so attention, making me appear to be some- these results would not have been hend the depth of the issues that we me, not before I recently looked at some you wouldn’t find it even if you had the one different behind it. Now that it’s achieved. I began to feel, with a face as young people engaged with disturbing photographs from last win- morbid curiosity to look. Pictured are gone, I look in the mirror and whatever I strong sense of conviction, that the world around us. As we begin to ter. Lacking a clear head and common one of my best friends and me, though see, stubble or scraggle or nothing at all, the work of each individual is, in understand our part in a much larg- sense, I made a bad decision, the kind of she and I were only acquaintances then. I feel that I see myself. fact, valuable. er picture and to realize how much perception-shifting choice one can only I am wearing a dark gray, tweed jacket At the time, this realization work there still is to be done, we are identify as such in hindsight. Beginning with a dark blue, button-down shirt, and Cohen is a member of the class of 2014. felt like the end to any of my humbled. cynicism about an individual’s But when doubt leads to inac- ability to have any real impact. tion, when it paralyzes us from act- However, as time passed and the ing upon our desires to see change, “Venus in Fur:” Gender in potency with which I’d once felt it’s time to cast it aside. While our this conviction began to dissi- doubts may be important, hope pate, doubt returned. As I docu- does prevail. It drives us to test the A Play Within A Play mented my community service boundaries of our own abilities and efforts on my college application, to achieve levels of progress that By Jake Lahut, Contributing Writer I questioned whether they really others before us may have thought meant anything. I put the words to be impossible. Let’s not get too The criticism of gender binaries was outward lack of intelligence. Novachek associated with a person who acts in a on the page, and they looked so busy navigating the contradictions something that caught my interest dur- bitterly complains about the lack of at- way that is logical, serious, and assertive. small, so insignificant. Was I re- of idealism and doubt to remember ing orientation. Although I had come tractive women with intelligence, a mi- Femininity is associated more with feel- ally making a difference? Is any- to give the potential of the individual from what I perceived to be a liberal en- sogynistic claim that festers in locker ings and passivity. one? a chance. Otherwise, we may never vironment and household near Albany, rooms and bars across America. What brought the book “Venus in The confusing contradic- know what we’re truly capable of. New York, I had never understood gen- Novachek’s outward expression Furs” to its fame and what brings gender tion of cynicism and idealism der as a social construct or something is one of masculine dominance, and performance to the fore in the play is never seemed to resolve itself. Fattal is a member of the class of that is socially performed. I thought that Wanda’s one of ditsy cuteness. Her sub- when Novachek and Wanda switch their In each moment of service, as I 2017. all sexual orientations should be accepted missiveness to Novachek is a result of the reading roles, with Novachek attempt- by society, and that was it. rules of the game they are playing. These ing to act feminine and Wanda asserting In conversations with new and re- two characters are in a world where the her masculinity. By taking advantage of turning students, I began to understand masculine has the power, but Novachek Novachek’s own creation, Wanda com- the idea that one’s internal life should not needs feminine beauty to actualize his vi- pletely destroys the gender performance be infringed upon by other people’s defi- sion. Male dominance drives the plot of that Novachek relied upon to create his nitions of gender, that gender identity the play and the play within the play that play. is a spectrum rather than a box. These is being read onstage. Wesleyan’s avant-garde intellectual organic conversations gave me an in- Wanda’s surprising insights into the atmosphere gave me the perspective to vigorating new perspective that I did not psyches of the characters in Novachek’s stay within the world of the play with- expect coming into Wesleyan as a fresh- adaptation change the trajectory of the out feeling uncomfortable. Theater is man. While I was home over fall break, I story. Early on, Novachek is giving the an experience that demands a critically was able to understand a play in a much orders, and he demands that Wanda ac- engaged audience. Inside the world of more valuable way than I would have cept them. She responds to his control the play, I was able to understand the had I not been exposed to the University flirtatiously, both when he dominates her dissection of dominance on stage. More community. in character and when they break charac- importantly, outside of the world of the “Venus in Fur,” written and direct- ter. Novachek takes Wanda much more play I saw parallels that were too true to ed by David Ives and set in the modern seriously when she uses her sophisticated sit comfortably with me, and that’s due to day, portrays two characters, one male transatlantic accent (which sounds more some of the conversations I’ve had here. and one female, who undergo a drastic British than American) rather than her As much as I feel that I am criti- power shift over the course of the female’s natural Long Island accent. cally observant and open-minded, before audition for a play written by the male. However, Wanda begins to blow coming to Wesleyan I had not thought In the play, Thomas Novachek, the writ- Novachek away even using her normal critically about how people perform er and director of his own stage adapta- voice with her dissection of the male their genders. Lily Myers’ “Shrinking tion of the 1870 novel “Venus in Furs” character in the play within the play: she Women,” a powerful slam poem that by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (who correctly asserts that by asking to be the examines gender roles in our society, is coined the term masochism), and aspir- female character’s slave, the male charac- a great example of how bold and critical ing actress Wanda von Dunajew, read ter is in fact gaining not only pleasure but Wesleyan students are. With nearly four from Novachek’s script as Wanda audi- also power from his submissiveness be- years to go, I’m excited to be a part of a tions for the lead role in the play. cause he is making the female character community that is critically engaged, At first, their interaction feels all too do what he wants while she has the illu- both internally and externally, for the exploitive. Wanda, with her raw Long sion of control. sake of learning itself, rather than uses Island accent and amateur bag of props The trait of dominance is isolated the breadth of opportunity here as merely and outfits, is treated by the director as in this play. In the world outside of the means to an end. an unintelligent philistine who should play, we associate certain traits with males use her sex appeal to compensate for her and others with females. Masculinity is Lahut is a member of the class of 2017. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS opinion • 7 As Time Goes Pi: Calculus Connects Generations By Jenny Davis, Assistant Opinion Editor

Last spring, I took the AP Calculus years turn on the news to see that two being socially acceptable to retrieve them. Examination. Taking the test was not my planes had crashed into the World Trade I imagine myself timorously mak- idea; everyone in an AP class in my high Center, one into the Pentagon, and one ing my way up the front steps of 3 Robert school was required to take the May exam. into a field in rural Pennsylvania. Chrisfield Place or 190 Stuyvesant Avenue, I am not, suffice it to say, a math person, I was flabbergasted because I was and asking to locate my capsule. I imagine so I studied months before the actual test reading the same question as high school the people who live there now (or, in the hoping to master the material. (Spoiler seniors who would not for another 20 case of 190 Stuyvesant, the family of rac- alert: I did not master the material.) It was years witness a demonstrative campout in coons) cautiously nodding. I imagine my- a miserable, tough slog—until my world downtown Manhattan that would spread self leaving in defeat, empty-handed and was turned upside down by a practice free across the country, sparking literally hun- apologizing for the small craters left in my response question. dreds of protests known collectively as wake. I doubt that I’d be able to find any The calculus problem in question Occupy Wall Street. of the things I’d buried; I not only don’t re- was from the exam published in 1991. My The teenagers who were doing my member where I buried them, I also don’t teacher had given us enormous packets math problem, which I had claimed my remember what I buried. with practice tests from a variety of years, own after ruminating on it for 10 min- Objects clue us into the things we and my classmates and I worked our way utes while all of my friends had moved valued, the thoughts we had, the number- through them painstakingly: 10 AP tests on, in 1991 were probably wearing MC ing of our priorities. The tattered owl for x 15 pages per test x 10 years = a lot of Hammer pants, hoop earrings, and shoul- which I had so much affection as an eight- problems. When I glanced at the top of the der pads. They were probably sporting year-old means nothing to me now; the page and saw that the date of the test was headphones plugged into a Walkman plastic whistle I loved at age five is now a 1991, though, I was flabbergasted. I might blasting “Good Vibrations,” Marky Mark useless piece of plastic. That’s why, I think, have even let out a small gasp, something and The Funky Bunch’s hit. But they were I was so blown away by the teenagers do- that was probably interpreted by my table- also drawing their integral signs just as I ing my math problem in 1991. I didn’t ex- mates as my routine reaction to seeing a was drawing mine; they were crossing their pect the math to change, but I did expect logarithm. t’s just as I was crossing mine; they were it to mean something different, and the The question might have involved a furrowing their brows in confusion just as fact that it meant the same thing in 1991, logarithm, but that wasn’t the most alarm- I was furrowing mine. or 1995, or 2004, is jarring. ing part. I was flabbergasted because I was Few things are as timeless as math. Time is weird. Math makes it weird- doing the same problem as high school Even history changes from year to year, er. Whole lives are built around the same seniors who would not for another 18 if not the facts then the way they are formulae and practice problems. Numbers months know that Bill Clinton would phrased. What was politically correct in don’t have to be sterile, but sometimes they be sworn in as the 42nd president of the a science or English classroom in 1991 is are. Maybe sometimes we need an anchor, United States. probably not politically correct today. Say a constant—pun intended—that links I was flabbergasted because I was what you will about math, but at least X us to our 90s counterparts. Math is the doing the same problem as students who will always be X. same in all languages, a fact that brought lived in a world without Russia or Taylor I’ve always been fascinated with time Lindsay Lohan’s character in “Mean Girls” Swift or YouTube, a world with apartheid capsules; that sort of thing really gets me unending glee, and understandably so: it’s in South Africa and 85 cents for a dozen going. I’ve buried at least one object in the refreshing to have such easy, direct links. eggs in America. backyard of every home I’ve ever occupied, Math isn’t a clue to the past. It’s a re- I was flabbergasted because I was to symbolize my tenure there, but I usually minder of the present. writing the same numbers as high school forget about these objects until after I’ve seniors who would not for another 10 moved—and way beyond the point of it Davis is a member of the class of 2017. 8 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 arts Betty Brings New Dance Craze to Campus: The Roth By Charles Martin dent’s name right now.” I thought been there at that time and he A: Do you think the “Michael Roth” Staff Writer he needed something like that—it’s hadn’t shown me that GIF, which might become the new “Gangnam a tribute, an homage if you will. It’s was buried on Facebook or Imgur, it Style” of campus? In October, campus electron- definitely harmless; there’s no nega- wouldn’t have even happened, but it B: I really hope so. That was my ic musician Matan Koplin-Green tive vibes about it. did, and it was the perfect marriage idea. It hasn’t really exploded to the ’15, who produces under the name of audio and visual Michael Roth- level that I wanted it to, but some of Betty, released his debut mu- A: So, it’s not like Trillion Dollar ness. day, maybe it’ll be uncovered at sic video for the song “President Boys Club’s infamous sound bite. some point and someone will go, Michael Roth,” titled “How to Do B: Yeah, I heard that right before A: I take it that the other footage “Wow, we need to bring this back.” the Michael Roth.” The video re- my song came out, and I thought, came from a graduation speech? But right now I’m just doing what volves around a three-second GIF I need to release this right away be- B: That’s another video I found on I can with it. When I put up the of President Michael Roth doing cause this can’t be their thing; I’ve YouTube. I used a few random clips. video, I was in the library, and I sent a short jig in front of the baseball got the Michael Roth song. So yeah, From the speech part, that was from it to a friend over Facebook, and diamond, and since its release it has it’s clean, and it’s danceable. a graduation speech he did a few he put it on his page. Then I saw a C/O SOUNDCLOUD.COM gained over two thousand views on years ago. Luckily, I could download random group of friends watching Betty, better known as Matan YouTube. I sat down with Betty to A: So where on earth did you find the video for it, too, and try to synch it and was like, “Oh my god, this is Koplin-Green ’15, released his talk about the video, his music, and, that footage of Michael Roth danc- it up as much as possible to make it awesome!” I ended up getting a few new video for “How to Do the of course, Roth. ing? work together. hundred hits overnight; now it has Michael Roth” in October. B: I actually was in New York this two thousand, but it had a mini viral The Argus: All right, just to start summer doing an internship, and A: Then who’s that at the beginning factor at the beginning. It was fun, under the name MKG, and that was off, tell us a bit about your music. I was at a party with some people actually singing “Do the Michael just watching the numbers going up. really fun. I was in New York with Betty: I’ve been playing in bands who had just graduated and some Roth”? It’s meant to be funny. It’s meant to my friend Dylan, and he was like, and stuff at Wesleyan since I got seniors now, and I showed them one B: At the beginning, that’s actually make you laugh. “Let’s make a rap about how cool here and more recently got into the of my songs and one of them, Dan me and my friend. I got my friend we are,” which is what 90 percent of electronic music production side of Wissinger [’13] was like, “Wow, I over from Milwaukee, when I start- A: Also, I’ve been wondering, where rap is about anyway, so we thought things, learning the programs and just took this video that would work ed the song, and just said “Say ‘do does the name Betty come from? it would be funny to do just a typi- the software instruments and all perfectly with the song.” So basically, the Michael Roth’ a few times into B: It’s actually a reference to “Kung cal club rap song. That ended up that stuff, and I just decided it was one morning he was walking around the mic,” and we just kind of sang it Pow: Enter The Fist.” I saw it a while probably being my favorite. It kind time to release something and put it campus at 5 a.m. for some reason a few times. [I] cut it up a little bit. I ago when a friend recommended it of had a “212” vibe to it and a little out there, you know? and took a video of Michael Roth pitched it down a little bit to sound to me, and I realized Betty can be dubstep influence and a lot of rap. I and was like “Hey, do this dance,” a bit gangster, and it did the trick. a man’s name. In “Kung Pow” he’s really like that style of combination. A: So what possessed you to make and he made a GIF of it. It’s only like one of the masters, so I thought, I I just like putting a lot of stuff your debut based around, and con- two or three seconds, but I was like, A: Have you seen people dancing the can take that. I’m going to make together, which is what I did on the sisting of, President Roth? “alright, this can’t be a coincidence. Michael Roth yet? Betty cool for guys. Breaking gender EP. I hope to do more stuff with B: It’s interesting. I think Michael I need to do something with this.” B: I’ve seen all kinds of dances, all boundaries, that’s what it’s all about. more collaborations, more electronic Roth is a character here at Wesleyan, So I did a little iMovie action and over campus. Before the video came house music, maybe get a little deep- and he needs more attention in the spliced it and added some filters and out, I asked a few friends in New A: So what’s next for Betty? er. This doesn’t show the deepest side arts. I basically thought it would be random stuff. It’s meant to be funny York what would the dance be, and B: I don’t know. The EP was three of my music taste, but it’s nonethe- hilarious if people were dancing to mostly, but I like calling it a music we had all kinds of weird ideas of songs and a few collaborations. I re- less in demand in this music culture. a song about him in a party, just video to my single. what kind of funny dance we could ally like collaborating with people. People love dance music right now, kind of that dirty electronic sound, make it. But once I saw the video it One of the songs was a collabora- so I thought, give the people what but you hear “Michael Roth,” and A: So it was really out of luck? all came together. It’s the Michael tion with my friend who raps under they want. That’s the philosophy of it’s like “I’m dancing to my presi- B: Totally out of luck. If I hadn’t Roth; it’s a certain move. the name DK9. I had a rap in there this one. Puppets: Avenue Q Previewed PROFESSOR’S Continued from front page music are major facets of the show’s ap- Stoler’s set is magnificent; it is the peal, it is the cast that brings them to façade of the buildings on Avenue Q the Puppet Collective, whose main life. with windows and doors that serve as PLAYLIST mission was to bring Avenue Q pup- Cast members went through a the perfect backdrop for the action. By Alyssa Domino Neil Young, “Harvest Moon” typical musical theater audition pro- She also choreographed many of the pets to campus. Contributing Writer The trio also created an Indiegogo cess, but in callbacks, they were asked dance moves, which were clearly dif- Jay Farrar, “California” campaign where people could openly to use sock puppets during scenes. In ficult to manage with puppets and ac- While we all prepare our stom- “As the weather gets colder I start or anonymously donate to a fund di- addition to acting chops, the cast need- tors. Some actors noted that moving achs for turkey dinner next week, reminding myself of all the years I rected toward the puppets. In four ed to have vocal talent and physical co- the puppet one way while moving their President Michael Roth already has spent in California. This is a beautiful days, they raised over $1,500. ordination. It was also crucial that the own different body part another way his plate full. He is completing the fi- song, a very simple song.” The trio had various rewards for members worked well together. was at first nearly impossible. Through nal pre-publication steps for his book those who donated the most. Freshmen Max Luton and Julia her own motions, Stoler helped them “Beyond the University,” in which Bruce Springsteen, “Rosalita” “You could kiss a puppet or get Morrison, who play Princeton and Kate coordinate their movements with ease. he discusses liberal education in the “I’ve tried to get him to come a photo with a puppet,” Stoler said. Monster, respectively, lead the show The cast mates simply love one United States. Simultaneously, he is to campus, actually. I wrote him this “The biggest reward, which was our with gusto and strength. They are on- another and their directors. preparing to begin looking at colleges letter telling him that in 1972 or ’73, ‘Avenue Q Award,’ was [adopting] a stage for nearly the entire show and sing “They’re all just such funny peo- with his daughter, a junior in high when he was opening for a band called puppet, so your name is in the pro- for just as long, which is undoubtedly ple, and even during rehearsals every school, and is packing his bags for a Chicago. I was in the audience scream- gram.” a difficult feat. They have magnificent moment is goofy and crazy and just so Thanksgiving getaway in Western ing ‘I came for you!’ because that was Martin’s grandmother sponsored chemistry and stage presence as well. much fun,” LaZebnik said. Massachusetts. Fortunately for The the big song on his first album. I told the puppet Lucy the Slut upon special Some memorable numbers in- Morrison agreed with the senti- Argus, his loaded schedule did not de- him this story in the letter, thinking, request. clude “The Internet is for Porn,” an up- ment. ter him from firing up his iPod to jam ‘This will melt his heart, he’ll come to Once the puppets were in the beat song that includes the whole cast, “I really like that everyone is just to some of his favorite tunes. If you Wesleyan!’ But nope.” directors’ possession, they needed to “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” which excited to play all the time; everyone want to get down like Roth, check out teach the actors how to use them. delivers a social critique while invok- wants to just get onstage and do their the playlist he provided for us. Dar Williams, “The Beauty of the “It’s definitely a huge other thing ing laughter, and “The Money Song,” thing, and no one has any hesitations,” Rain” to think about when doing musical which involves audience participation. he said. “It’s all about having fun.” David Bromberg, “[Nobody’s Fault “This was one of my favorites theater,” Martin said. “Usually you’re Simone Hyman ’15 and Solomon “Avenue Q” marks the final col- But Mine]” that she played when she was here a a triple threat: you can act, sing, and Billinkoff ’14 are memorable as the Bad laboration between Stoler and Martin, “He’s a folk singer. It’s a song few weeks ago.” dance. But now you also have to think Idea Bears, which function as the an- who feel that this show is bittersweet. from his new album, a kind of old, about using a puppet.” gel and devil within one’s conscience. “I never anticipated being in- traditional blues song.” The Laura Nyro Station on Pandora Josef Mehling ’14 stepped in as Naturally, there is an inappropriate volved in theater at Wesleyan, and “It plays everything from Aretha Puppet Consultant. He led a puppet twist. I got to use a lot of the skills I didn’t Bob Dylan, “Love Minus Zero/No Franklin to Joni Mitchell.” workshop and worked for over three Billinkoff also plays Nicky, whose think I would be able to use in col- Limit” hours with the actors and the puppets relationship with his roommate Rod, lege,” said Stoler. “Also, I got to meet “When I was here as a student I His mother, “Ring Dem Bells” in a mirror exploring how they move. played by Johnny LaZebnik ’16, resem- a lot of people I don’t think I would obsessively listened to Bob Dylan. My “My mother is a singer, so I still Before the real puppets came, they had bles that of an old married couple and have interacted with if I hadn’t been in first year I spent some weeks following listen to a lot of jazz singers from the rehearsal puppets that the actors took is the grounding subplot of the show. these shows.” him around New England. He was on thirties. She did pop from her day, and home to practice with. The actors have Dan Storfer ’15 plays Trekkie Martin is thankful for all of the the Rolling Thunder Review Tour at show tunes. She’s going to be 86 and been working with the performance Monster with a voice so deep and support the show has received from the time, so that was ’75-’76... I had she still sings. She ‘sings to old people,’ puppets for the past two weeks. grumbling one questions how he can the Wesleyan community throughout fun seeing him in different places. I she says. She told me this week that The music is also an extremely produce it. Katie Solomon ’15 per- her theater career. still listen to Dylan. They re-issue old she’s working [on] a song called ‘Ring important aspect of “Avenue Q.” Led forms a rendition of “Special” as Lucy “It’s such an awesome thing to things as newer work, which I some- Dem Bells,’ a song that Natalie Cole by Pit Director Simon Riker ’14, who the Slut that is soulful and attention- be able to create such a huge project times find really interesting.” did a popular version of 20 years ago. has been with Martin and Stoler since grabbing. with so many people,” Martin said. Fifty years ago it was kind of a night- “Spelling Bee,” the pit band plays dif- Dominique Moore ’14 keeps all “There are so many people that are in- Jay Farrar (Son Volt), “Tear Stained club song. My mother says she has a ficult scores for the length of the show. of the cast members in order as Gary volved in different ways, and so many Eye” new arrangement. She’s fantastic. She Some musicians noted that this music Coleman, and Will Stewart ’17 and people wanted to get involved. It’s so “A song that I listen to a lot and says, ‘It’s really not so easy because it’s is even more difficult to learn than that Zoe Lo ’15 are a hysterical, if unlikely, gratifying to see all these people com- play a little bit of on the guitar.” just a lot of drums.’” featured in “Spring Awakening.” couple determining what to do with ing together to create this big project Even though the puppets and their lives. together.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS arts • 9 Sail Away With Blood Orange’s Tropical Grooves By Dan Fuchs a wall of sound around the composition. Arts Editor “It Is What It Is” has a drum machine sucked out of a mid-career Peter Gabriel Chances are you’ve heard Sky track and a collection of drip-drop synths Ferreira’s “Everything is Embarrassing” and keyboards that give the track a tropi- or Solange’s “Losing You” at some point cal feel. It’s an aesthetic that could easily in the last year or two. With the Internet be caked in irony, but Hynes clearly adores buzz surrounding the two tracks, they the influences that have defined his sound; were somewhat inescapable in the indie in his music, one can hear everyone from music sphere. Afropop legend Fela Kuti to Phil Collins. But you might not know Dev And thanks to an all-star list of guest Hynes, the rising producer behind both musicians and Hynes’ willingness to exper- tracks. His hazy, wavy production helped iment, this aesthetic never feels derivative to make those tracks as infectious as they or bland. “Chamakay,” the stellar opening are. Yet up until this point he’s remained track, features a winding vocal interplay relatively under the radar, releasing albums between Hynes and Chairlift’s Caroline from his own projects on the sly while pro- Polachek that, along with the haunting ducing tracks for more “established” acts basslines and intimate lyrics, amounts to like Ferreira and Solange. one of the year’s best (and sexiest) songs. So Cupid Deluxe, the second album “No Right Thing” is a much more muted released under his Blood Orange moni- track, bringing Dirty Projectors vocalist ker, was a chance for Hynes to finally give Dave Longstreth’s bright, nasal voice to himself an identity beyond these singles. the forefront (along with a plucky guitar And Hynes absolutely succeeds, crafting a lick) as a perfect complement to Hynes. sugary collection of tunes that’s nigh but “You’re Not Good Enough,” which fea- impossible to stop from worming into tures Samantha Urbani, is a perfect slice your ears. of hazy pop. “High Street” features rap- Cupid Deluxe, on the surface, is per Skepta and “Clipped On” features C/O THEFADER.COM consistent with what has become Hynes’ Definitive Jux signee Despot in two bits Dev Hynes a.k.a. Blood Orange steps into the spotlight on Cupid Deluxe. aesthetic as of late, but that’s not necessar- of down-tempo old-school hip-hop. You’ll ily a bad thing. With Cupid Deluxe (and, never see a more diverse list of guests this ingly melancholy piece; moments like “I’ll darker moments give Hynes a chance to for the thick, buttery sounds that Hynes to a certain extent, with “Everything is side of an El-P album, but Hynes’ skills leave you with your feelings/I’ll leave you establish pathos within his pop sound, has constructed probably won’t be able to Embarrassing” or “Losing You”), Hynes as a producer have given him the ability with your lies” establish a tale of separa- and, what’s more, they make the album’s latch on to this album. For everyone else, seems stuck in the mid-to-late 1980s, giv- to make these guests work for him, rather tion rather than one of budding love, cre- brightest moments,“No Right Thing” and this album is a delight and a major step for ing everything the synth-y sheen that de- than vice versa. ating a fascinating contrast between lyric “Time Will Tell” in particular, that much an artist who has spent far too long out of fined pop at that moment in time. “Uncle For all of the tropical brightness that and music. “High Street” features Skepta brighter. the public eye. If you hadn’t heard of Dev Ace” dials the reverb and echo up to 11, characterizes most of Cupid Deluxe, the rapping to his mother about his struggles Cupid Deluxe is undoubtedly not for Hynes before, you will now. With Cupid wrapping Hynes’ voice around a saccha- album is, lyrically, relatively diverse. As to succeed, and “It Is What It Is” is an ab- everyone. It builds such a clear, unflinch- Deluxe, Dev Hynes isn’t just stepping into rine guitar lick and synthesizers that build sensual as “Chamakay” is, it’s a surpris- solutely crushing tale of loneliness. These ing aesthetic that anyone with a distaste the spotlight, he’s rooting himself in it. “Sanctuary Songs”: A Arts Calendar Conversation with Jess Best ’14 Friday, Nov. 22 Saturday, Nov. 23 By Meg de Recat whoever you’re playing with is what you student band Sky Bars, one of several bands Staff Writer should put on stage for your recital,” Best of which she has been a member. Best Second Stage presents: Second Stage presents: said. stated that her time at the University has “Next to Normal” “Next to Normal” No stranger to performing, Jess Best This advice is what led her to the helped her exponentially when it comes to ’92 Theater, 7 p.m. ’92 Theater, 7 p.m. ’14 will culminate her musical experi- completion of “Sanctuary Songs,” which creating her musical identity. ences at Wesleyan with her senior thesis incorporates a plethora of different styles “One of the coolest things about Music from East Asia Second Stage presents: concert, “Sanctuary Songs,” this Friday in and personal meanings within the music. the Wesleyan Music Department is that Crowell Concert Hall, “Avenue Q” the Memorial Chapel at 9 p.m. Best began The 90-minute performance will not com- it put my voice in so many different con- 7 p.m., $2 Beckham Hall, 7:30 p.m. writing songs at age 5 and is now a music prise one genre of music, but rather a col- texts,” Best said. “I sang in a jazz ensemble major who sings in a multitude of bands lective of all the music that has influenced where I was singing horn parts, and I was and music ensembles across campus. Best over the years. in an experimental ensemble, the Laptop Second Stage presents: Gamelan: Classical Writing songs to be performed at “The instrumentation [in the show] Ensemble.” “Avenue Q” Music of Central Java a senior recital can be unbelievably over- changes dramatically,” Best said. “I have When asked what her favorite Beckham Hall, 7:30 p.m. World Music Hall, 8 p.m. whelming, and Best noted it was that pres- a gospel choir, and for some songs there’s Wesleyan music memory was, Best re- sure that made the writing so difficult. Not West African drums and horns and sing- counted a story that occurred her freshman “Sanctuary Songs:” Jess Zongo Junction/ Trio knowing where to begin, she felt that she ers.” year. Best’s Senior Recital Décalé was going about it in the wrong way. But Best also insists on staying true to “I will never forget this,” Best said. “It “Over the summer I was thinking her musical origins. was Josh Smith and the Concert G’s per- Memorial Chapel, 9 p.m. 200 Church, 10 p.m. about what I wanted to do, and thinking of “My roots are in soul, R&B, and jazz, formance in Beckham [Hall], and it went it as the big culmination of all of my musi- and you can definitely see those influences too long, and we were kicked out, and a Improv Tri-Show Sunday, Nov. 24 cal experiences at Wesleyan and everything in my songs,” Best said. “It’s where I come bunch of people just picked up their horns Nics Lounge, 10 p.m. I’ve learned, and I realized that I was never from.” and just marched out of the concert play- Wesleyan World Guitar going to be able to write anything if that Best’s friend and fellow vocalist, ing with the whole crowd following them. Chrome Sparks, Ensemble was how I was going to think about it,” Jackie Soro ’14, commented on the loving So then, there was a parade, with New FXWRK, and JDV + Best said. “And for some reason I was very environment that surrounds Best’s perfor- Orleans-style horns, and we were just sing- World Music Hall, 3 p.m. stubborn and didn’t want to use any mate- mances. ing and dancing down the street. We took Eclectic, 10 p.m. rial I had written previously, so everything “There are a lot of really talented peo- over the street, just dancing and singing Wesleyan Steelband I’ve written from coming to school to now ple who are getting together to sing [her] music.” Concert is in my recital.” amazing compositions,” Soro said. A senior nearing graduation, Best is Crowell Concert Hall, Best explained that after talking about Being a part of various music groups beginning to plan for the future, and hopes 7 p.m. her writing challenges with a friend who and ensembles throughout her years at to incorporate music as a major aspect of graduated last year, she was able to produce the University has allowed Best to experi- her life after graduation. as much as she did this first semester. ment with many different styles of music. “Hopefully, I can play music every- All events are free unless otherwise noted. “He told me to see it more as a mo- She was a part of the a cappella group day with people I love,” Best said. “I would ment in time; whatever you’re working on, Quasimodal and is currently a part of the love to teach music, but I don’t know— anything music-related. Except, to be hon- est, I’m not really interested in being a part of the music industry. It does not interest me, because although it’s the music indus- Follow us on Twitter: try, it’s just an industry. I think the amount it actually has to do with the music is so minimal. I feel like that pull [to make it big @wesleyanargus in the music industry] is always there, but once you go to that place, it’s not really mu- sic anymore. Ultimately, my dream would be to just write music. I would love to per- form it too, but I would love to just write.” Friday’s performance of “Sanctuary Songs” should be emotional, uplifting, and representative of its artist. Best sees music as a sanctuary, and she hopes that her re- C/O JESSICA BEST cital conveys the emotions and experiences Jess Best ’14 will perform her original compositions in the Memorial that she puts forth through these composi- Chapel this Friday as part of her senior thesis. tions. 10 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 features

this necklace that was really important higher and higher, and at the be- to her and what it means to her. I have ginning the audience and judges WesCeleb: this poem called “Couch” that’s actually aren’t as willing to listen to poetry, EMILY WEITZMAN about my ex-boyfriend but it’s pretend- I guess. That was always a decision: ing that he is this couch that was impor- who to put first, which poem to put By Gabe Rosenberg ers have three weeks off to work on cur- that I’m writing about, describing in my tant in our relationship. I write a lot and first. Last year, for some reason, we Assistant Features Editor riculum and development. They asked thesis. I don’t always perform all the poems I thought a lot of their poems would me to come back and help lead that pro- write. work better later, so it was always a WeSlam is synonymous with gram the next summer. I studied abroad A: How did you get involved in slam struggle to figure out who was going Emily Weitzman ’14. A dance and in Kenya, in Mombasa on the coast, on poetry? A: What was last year’s trip to Nationals first and what poem was going first. English double major, Weitzman a program learning Swahili and Islam EW: I hadn’t heard of slam poetry be- like? You can have a layout for what has participated in WeSlam since its cultural studies. While I was abroad fore I got to Wesleyan, and then when EW: Well, [last year], I was abroad in poems you want to do, but then if founding; not only has she compet- there, I went back to Kibera School I was here, my freshman year, that was the fall so I couldn’t try out for the team, another team does a funny poem ed as part of the slam poetry team for Girls again, and then I got the Olin actually the first year WeSlam started, so they asked me to coach. It was dif- right before you were going to do twice, but last year, she also acted as Fellowship for two summers to do writ- by former WesCeleb Mike Rosen ’11. ficult to coach them, even though I’d a funny poem, it might not be the its coach all the way to Nationals. ing projects involved with the school. So I went to the second poetry slam and been on the team twice before; it was a best bet. Weitzman talked with The Argus I’m writing my senior thesis about [watched] everyone up there on that totally new experience. In some ways it about writing poetry, strategy in a midwife in Mombasa whom I met stage just sharing their souls to strangers. was similar because, when you’re on the A: What are your goals for WeSlam slam competitions, and teaching while I was studying abroad there and The energy in the room was tangible, team, you’re expected to edit each oth- for this year? kids in Kenya. my experience with her and other wom- and it was such a spirited thing that was er’s work and be invested in this process. EW: The final slam is this Saturday, en in Mombasa. so exciting that, in that moment, I was But as the coach, I wasn’t working on November 23, at 9 p.m. in the CFA The Argus: Why do you think like, I want to try this. After that second my own writing with them at all. It was Hall. There are 10 poets in the fi- you’re a WesCeleb? A: Can you talk a little about what you slam, I went home and tried writing my all about the team and really overseeing nal slam, and the top five make the Emily Weitzman: I guess because did at the school and what inspired your own poem and then ended up perform- that editing process. team. So that would be my goal. I I’m known for sharing personal idea to write a thesis? ing it in the third slam, making it to the do want to be on the team, but... thoughts about myself in front of EW: At the school, for the three-week final slam that first year. Then I was on A: What sort of things do you have to you never know what’s going to audiences of strangers and organiz- summer program, I was teaching lit- the first ever WeSlam team. From there, think about as a coach that are different happen—having been on the team ing the slams at Wesleyan. I do a lot eracy and dance, writing, telling-your- the rest is kind of history. It’s pretty from when you’re on the team? before doesn’t mean I’m going to of things on campus, but I’ve been story workshops, performing stuff. It’s much taken over my life from that time. EW: It was totally collaborative. I didn’t be this year, because it’s a new team involved with WeSlam for all four a fun, educational summer camp type I feel really lucky that I’m the only per- want it to feel like I had any leadership every year. Even if I don’t make the years and I run it now. I’ve been on thing, so while the students have three son that’s gotten involved with the team role in that; it was very much equal. team, I’ll definitely stay involved two of Wesleyan’s slam teams and weeks off from their normal classes, the every single year since its beginning. It’s Really, the difference is that in any with the team. I would be happy I coached the team last year. And I college students and also youth from really grown and progressed. given competition, it was my role to de- to coach them again. I did love that talked to my grandma on the phone Kibera work together to make more, cide which poem and which poet to do experience last year. And I’m excited last night, I told her I was doing this still educational, but fun, creative imag- A: What’s it like actually being on the in each spot. Some people don’t realize to see the new group of five people, interview, and she was like, “They inative classes. I also helped develop an team? there’s actually a lot of strategy involved because when I was a freshman it picked well.” after-school program. The school had EW: It’s really a wonderful and intimate in slam poetry, and basically making the was very upperclassmen-heavy, so all an after-school program, but I worked experience because writing is something right call for what to do at any given those first people who started with A: Before we get to talking about with the after-school teachers to inte- that is often an individual thing, done time could make it or break it for you in me are gone, it’s really new, fresh WeSlam, what other things do you grate the arts and poetry and perform- alone. So having that and putting it in a certain bout. A bout has four teams, faces and I feel like it’s transitioning do on campus? ing and dance into their after-school the setting where there are four other each team does four poems, and that’s from one generation to the next and EW: I’m involved with Shining program. people who are invested in your work what happens at all these competitions. I’m sort of stuck there in the middle. Hope for Communities, the organi- In terms of my thesis, while I was and are totally engaged in your process, So there’s a lot of pressure involved. At It’s been great to see both sides of zation that was started by Kennedy abroad on the School for International your editing and writing and perform- Nationals, there were 60 teams this past that transition. Odede ’12 and a nonprofit school in Training, I did an independent study ing process, that collaboration is really year, and we made it to the semifinals, I was just thinking that I met Kibera, Kenya. I’ve worked at that project about three Kenyan women exciting. Also, when you’re on the slam which was pretty good. It was my job some of my best friends through school for three summers on a pro- where I interviewed them about their poetry team, you can write group pieces to make the strategy calls and to take WeSlam. The writing community gram called the Summer Institute, stories and life histories. I’m an English together, which is a different and really our arsenal of poems, which was a lot on campus is really big, and there taught at the Kibera School for major with a concentration in creative fun experience, to write with someone of poems, and figure out how best to go are so many different facets, and Girls. I help run SHOFCO on cam- writing, and mostly, even though I do else and to just work together and have a about where to put each poem. And we that’s been really cool. I think be- pus, and I’m also a dance major, slam poetry, I really love writing nonfic- poem that is as much someone else’s as it did this strategy not because we wanted ing involved in slam is what made so I choreograph. And then I do tion, actually the most. I knew I wanted is your own. Being on the WeSlam team to be competitive about it but because me realize I wanted to be a creative WesBurlesque, I do WesReads, and to do a nonfiction thesis, so I applied for has made me grow as a writer more than we wanted to be able to share to the writing major and now that I’m a lot of random things. the Olin Fellowship to go back and do anything else. I’m also so close to the most people. writing my thesis, I feel like it all ties more research with the midwife I met people I’ve been part of the team with together. And with dance, I even use A: Can you tell me about the school while I was there. She’s a really incred- because you’re in this setting, editing A: What decisions do you have to make, spoken word in my dances, and in and how you got involved? ible person. At the time I wasn’t sure ex- each other’s work about really personal what strategic moments come up? the teaching I’ve done in Kibera, I EW: I met Jessica Posner ’09, the actly what my topic would be, it sort of topics, and you know, we travel to all EW: An example is that you pick out teach them slam and spoken word. person who co-founded the school shifted over time, but I knew I wanted these competitions together and sleep of a hat which team goes first, and each I feel like everything ties together in with Kennedy, and I met her fam- to write creative nonfiction. in the beds together and you become a team dreads getting the A slot, having a weird but nice way. I don’t know ily on a plane to Kenya in high It’s interesting because I was doing family. We call it Slamily. to go first, because there’s this thing what I’m going to do in the future, school, actually. They told me the research for it all summer, and now called “score creep,” which says that as but I think all of that will definitely about the school, and it was part I have over 50 hours of voice recordings A: What topics do you normally write the slam goes on, the scores get pushed have an effect. of what got me interested in com- and journals full of stuff, and I have over about? Or do you not have an overarch- ing to Wesleyan. I got involved with four thousand pictures. I was really in- ing trend in your work? Shining Hope for Communities on terested in the waiting room in the clin- EW: I don’t really think about having campus when I got here freshman ic I was working on and the concept of an overarching trend, because I just year, just helping with fundraising space, so I would sit in the waiting room sort of write about what I’m feeling at for the school and awareness and with all the women who were waiting to any given time. I’m known for having other events on campus. Then I ap- go into the midwife, and I would watch a lot of weird poems about objects. A plied to go to the Summer Institute people pass by on the busy street in lot of times I see things in weird ways. my first summer, which is a program Mombasa, and then I’d take pictures of Relationships in my life as seen by the where college students work at the that, and I became obsessed with taking objects they represent— that’s a theme school for three weeks. They’re the pictures of what passed by in the little that comes up a lot. I have this poem teachers, while all the Kenyan teach- space of this doorway. That’s something about my grandmother talking about C/O EMILY WEITZMAN Improv Comedy Tri-Show

Date: Friday, November 22 Time: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Place: Nics lounge FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS features • 11 EQV: Alumni Recall Saga Of Counter-Cultural Frat

Continued from front page club. In November, the club members extent, was what our argument was mosexuality, the fraternity served as own eating facilities, membership received individual letters from Alpha all about,” said Robert Patricelli ’61, a place of refuge for gay students at a dwindled, as it did with all fraternities Despite the national organiza- Chi Rho officially stating their suspen- who was Corresponding Secretary at time when homophobia was pervasive at the University starting in the mid- tion’s strictness during the ’50s, its su- sion and demanding that they attend the time of EQV’s formation. “To be even at Wesleyan. ’60s. The campus’ attitude toward pervision of Phi Gamma was limited. a hearing in New York City. “Failure rather than to seem, that we’re not go- “I didn’t realize it at the time, but fraternities had shifted dramatically as The executive director visited the fra- to appear will constitute acknowledge- ing to fake it. We’re transparently non- we had a huge gay population in the the social climate began to place more ternity house a number of times, but ment of guilt,” the letter read. No discriminatory.” house, which I realized almost after emphasis on individualism and toler- Alpha Chi Rho did not investigate the members of the Black Walnut Club EQV’s new rebellious reputation graduating,” said Corwin. “It was very ance. According to an Argus poll taken chapter’s adherence to the official re- attended. attracted students, leading freshmen quiet. It was not talked about. I was in 1965, 60 percent of Wesleyan stu- quirements or the secret agenda. Phi For a brief period, the club tried and sophomores who had not previ- straight, so I wasn’t aware of it. But dents believed fraternities did not play Gamma took advantage of the na- to reclaim its position as a chapter of ously pledged Phi Gamma to join. I became aware after graduation that an important role at Wesleyan. Thirty- tional organization’s disengagement. Alpha Chi Rho, and students and fac- No rushing was involved in the EQV EQV was kind of a safe place for gay five percent expressed a desire for fra- It omitted all religious phrasing from initiation process. Instead, pledging members of the Wesleyan population. ternities to be eliminated altogether. the initiation ritual and admitted a We came up members simply took a secular oath. Like a third of the house was gay. I Generally, EQV was in a state number of Jewish members. In 1955, Additionally, the group became more didn’t know it, but it was true.” of disarray at this point. Deeply in- it pledged African-American students with Esse Quam known and respected on campus, in Acceptance and diversity were fluenced by hippie culture and a San for the first time. part because of its subversive history. major parts of the fraternity’s agenda. Francisco lifestyle, it lacked internal or- On campus, Phi Gamma was Videri, which we “I think the campus was quite The brothers frequently discussed civil ganization and funding. Additionally, recognized for its progressive attitude. proud of us for taking this stand,” rights around the table, and many par- the fraternity became something of a Napier, who grew up in Georgia dur- thought, to some Napier said. “I know they were be- ticipated in protests. In 1960, a num- hub of drug use. Marijuana and LSD ing a period of intense racism, pledged cause we were on the forefront at that ber of members traveled south to par- were commonplace, and Lawler even as a freshman in the fall of 1956. extent, was what time of challenging discrimination. take in the Greensboro lunch counter remembers some members receiving He was drawn to the fraternity’s lib- I think that registered with the cam- sit-ins. Later, many became involved peyote by mail. eral values—a contrast to those of his our argument pus. I think also some of the faculty in organizing protests locally. The dis- On December 4, 1967, the sec- hometown—and its spirited environ- admired our process, that we worked cussions of tolerance and social justice ond floor of EQV was destroyed by ment. was all about. To hard to try to change the national fra- affected many EQV members’ political a fire as a result of what the fire mar- “Certainly this was a very bold, ternity.” views and career choices later in life. shals called “careless disposal of smok- lively, gutsy group of men, and so I be rather than to Of course, the other major con- “Certainly the discourse made ing materials.” The fire rendered the was attracted to their vitality and their tributor to the popularity of EQV, me more sensitive to different points house unlivable, and EQV was moved enjoyment of having a good time and seem, that we’re which was known as “the singing fra- of view and better able to understand back to the dorms on Lawn Avenue. of just being intellectually adventur- not going to fake ternity,” was its resident folk music and appreciate a wider range of opin- Though no EQV members recalled ous,” he said. group first known as the Clansmen ions,” Lawler said. formally agreeing to disband after the In 1957, the national organiza- it. We’re trans- and later as the Highwaymen. The In 1963, representatives of Alpha disaster, the fire marked the end of the tion began to monitor Phi Gamma group, which was awarded a gold re- Chi Rho’s national organization vis- fraternity. EQV did not rush in 1968. more carefully, and the officers were parently non- cord in 1960, performed frequently at ited the EQV house and proposed that “It wasn’t the Alpha Chi Rho dissatisfied with the chapter’s devia- the dinner table. EQV merge with Alpha Chi Rho. The thing that did EQV in,” said Van tion from its ideology. A story popu- discriminatory. In general, music was a crucial organization affirmed that it had made Meter. “It was the declining strength lar among Phi Gamma members of part of EQV’s culture. Patrick Lawler significant changes to its ritual to make that fraternities had at a place like this era is that the National Secretary —Patricelli ’69, who was treasurer, recalled that the fraternity more inclusive. The list Wesleyan, which had a great effect found two Phi Gamma members us- Uranus and the Five Moons, a popular of guiding principles, for example, on how many people join, the fact ing the fraternity’s sacred cross and ulty members generally respected the Wesleyan rock band at the time, used was amended to read, “Membership in that they didn’t have an alumni body crook as swords in a play-fight during decision. But throughout its suspen- to have concerts at the EQV house, Alpha Chi Rho is not denied by rea- who could help them and help them his visit to the house and became livid. sion, the group faced one major adver- attracting students from other college son of race, color, or religion, but the through bad financial times, and also The tale might be fictitious, but it is sary: Robert Moore, class of 1915, who campuses. Throughout the fraternity’s Fraternity requires that its members the impact of drugs, which was very nonetheless indicative of the growing had been a member of Phi Gamma. In run, the brothers frequently sang, look up to Jesus of Nazareth as their strong.” tension between the local chapter and 1959, Moore wrote an open letter to mainly after dinner around the piano. moral exemplar.” In 1971, Alpha Chi Rho altered the institution. all Alpha Chi Rho alumni that stated, Song choices varied widely and includ- EQV members, naturally, were its guiding principles to be more in- That June, some members of Phi “There are those who have no fight in ed spirituals like “Michael, Row Your skeptical that any real change would clusive, but fraternities had long fallen Gamma attended a meeting in Newark them. But already there is a body of Boat Ashore,” popular songs like “The be palpable in the revised Alpha Chi out of favor at Wesleyan. In 1973, with the officers of Alpha Chi Rho’s well over two hundred Graduates of Gypsy,” and the Wesleyan Fight Song. the University purchased the Alpha national organization. The officers Phi Gamma who stand by Alpha Chi Once, the fraternity even had the op- Sometimes the Chi Rho house and converted it into demanded that the chapter expel its Rho’s moral right to be an autonomous portunity to sing with the folk singer the headquarters of the Romance African-American and Jewish mem- Christian Fraternity without compro- Mimi Baez Fariña, the younger sister behavior, as I Languages Department, which it re- bers and ordered it to reinstitute the mise or equivocation—as it has been of Joan Baez. mains now. Christian initiations and rituals. If the from the beginning.” The atmosphere at EQV was live- look back on it, Of course, the demise of EQV chapter did not abide by the national Though the national organization ly, bordering on rambunctious. The was saddening to former members, agenda, it would be evicted from its lifted the Black Walnut Club’s suspen- brothers were notorious for rappelling was unrestrained, but most had seen it coming consider- house. sion soon after Moore’s letter was is- down the side of their house from the ing the state of chaos the fraternity had “It was a kind of inquisition, sued, Moore and his “Committee to third floor window and for their brief shall I say. fallen into by the late ’60s. Still, for- with accusations and threats,” said Ted Preserve Phi Gamma of Alpha Chi affair with a bullwhip, which ended mer EQV members look back fondly Wieseman ’58, Phi Gamma President Rho” had a major influence on the or- after Patricelli accidentally used it to —Lawler on their time in the house. at the time of the meeting, as quoted ganization. Ultimately, Alpha Chi Rho yank out the radio antenna of a pass- “I came to Wesleyan wanting a in the EQV history. “…They said that changed its mind and reinstated the ing car. Rho. In December of 1963, they vot- different kind of life, and that’s why the National owned the house with chapter’s suspension. (Tellingly, EQV The fraternity gave frequent par- ed unanimously to reject Alpha Chi I was attracted to this fraternity,” the implied threat to kick us out if we later adopted a tradition of chanting, ties, too, where a punch called “Hairy Rho’s offer. The national organiza- Corwin said. “This was a group of very didn’t comply. It was a truly awful ex- “Bob Moore: fuck him” before meals.) Buffalos” or “Jew Boys’ Revenge” was tion was persistent, and throughout special, very diverse, very alive, very perience.” The suspension was reinstated in often served. Mostly, EQV members 1964 it continually requested that the bold men. This was a terrific group of Back at Wesleyan, Wieseman and September 1959, when the group had looked forward to parties because stu- University allow it to return to campus people. I think it was just good luck Bill Olson ’58, the Ritual Ffficer, met its first chapter meeting after its initial dents from women’s colleges attended and reclaim the house that EQV now that these people found each other, with Dean Don Eldridge ’31, who suspension. There, then-president Jay them. The women were known to lin- occupied. and I somehow stumbled in the midst encouraged them to protest against Levy ’60 reported the national organi- ger in the house on weekends. In 1965, EQV was forced out of of it.” the national organization. In June of zation’s decision to reverse its decision “There were no women on cam- its house because of Alpha Chi Rho’s Though the fraternity is long 1958, Phi Gamma held its annual and continue the chapter’s suspen- pus, and this was not healthy in many potential return. Members temporar- gone, it continues to have an impact meeting, during which, with support sion. In response, the chapter voted respects, but it meant that house party ily moved into dorms on Lawn Avenue on student life at Wesleyan. At a meet- from its alumni, it modified the Alpha unanimously to leave Alpha Chi Rho weekends were crazy all over campus,” and ate meals at the Alpha Delta Phi ing at the first ever EQV reunion in Chi Rho ritual manual to contain sec- and start a new, inclusive fraternity. Lawler said. “Sometimes the behavior, house with separate seating apart from 2005, Steve Olesky ’64 proposed the ular, inclusive language. Levy, having studied Latin, proposed as I look back on it, was unrestrained, members of the host fraternity. In idea of sponsoring summer internships In the fall of 1958, all members the name Esse Quam Videri (“To be, shall I say.” 1966, EQV was relocated to the Weeks for Wesleyan students for 10 years. of Phi Gamma were suspended from rather than to seem”) to represent not Still, courting women was not House (now home of Full House After the decade ended, the interns the national organization for their only the fraternity’s agenda of sincerity on every EQV member’s agenda. and Writing House) on High Street, funded by EQV would take over the failure to comply with the Alpha Chi but also its break from the tradition of According to Bruce Corwin ’62, there though the fraternity was not the sole internship program. The members Rho ritual codes. The members of the Greek life. was an unspoken but substantial gay occupant of the 40-room house. present agreed to help execute the idea, chapter voted to rename the fraternity “We came up with Esse Quam subculture at EQV. Though no mem- Though EQV now had a more and the fraternity has been supporting the Black Walnut Club after its eating Videri, which we thought, to some bers openly acknowledged their ho- permanent-feeling location with its summer internships since 2006. RECYCLE THIS ARGUS 12 • features THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 Students To Bring Experimental Sounds to Campus

By Rebecca Seidel duo as the only constant of the music fes- Sonderegger, who mostly has a jazz back- Brogan remarked that this decou- on in the form of the popular course Features Editor tival, that it would prove to show a lot of ground, and our duo is an attempt to sort pling fits in well with the festival’s overall “Introducion to Experimental Music” different perspectives on the way you can of reconcile our backgrounds—so more theme of dualities. (MUSC 109) and in the endeavors of Whether it’s pushing sonic limits make music in this form. Even within the classical and jazz, together,” he said. “It’s not just a duo in the sense of various faculty members in the Music or questioning the notion of silence, the umbrella category of experimental music, Sonderegger and Friedman will both two people; it’s very much a duo in the Department. The Experimental Music field of experimental music knows no there are so many different variables.” be playing clarinets for this performance. sense of two hands, a duo in the sense of Group hopes to seize this enthusiasm bounds. The Experimental Music Group, Zucker added that they didn’t origi- “[This set will feature] a repertoire finger and string, a duo in the sense of for experimental music on campus and currently a core of two undergraduate nally plan for this to be the theme; it just of composed and improvised music, bow and string, string and wood,” he said. extend it beyond the music curriculum. music majors and six graduate students, ended up working out that way. The originals and arrangements, that empha- Friedman went on to explain that “There’s such an emphasis on ex- hopes to foster a greater appreciation of group also wasn’t initially planning to size complex interplay and powerful dif- decoupling produces very distinct and perimental music in the curriculum, and this type of music at Wesleyan, mainly cluster these performances into a single ference tones,” the event website reads. unconventional sounds. pretty much everybody who’s interested by bringing experimental composers and festival, but all of the artists it wanted “These musicians prove that sometimes “You have conventional string play- in music seems to take Music 109, ‘Intro performers to campus. to book happened to be available on the 1+1=3.” ing, where you finger a note [with one to Experimental Music,’” Chilton said. “The main purpose of the group has same weekend. The headlining performers on hand] and you bow it [with the other], “But then, where do they go from there? always been to increase awareness and the “It’s very fortunate, the way that Saturday night will be Cat Toren, a and generally they move together when We’re trying to make it so that they have presence of experimental music on cam- artists’ ideal dates lined up,” Zucker said. Brooklyn-based jazz pianist, joined by you’re changing notes,” he said. “But in somewhere to go from there.” pus, given that Wesleyan has such a rich “It was like, ‘Hey, we can do this on a Lovell-Smith on the soprano saxophone. this case, they’ll have different rhythms, Many graduate students in the history of it,” said Ben Zucker ’15. weekend and make it look like a big deal!’ The two musicians have worked together different textures for the bowing hand Music Department see the department’s Zucker is one of the undergraduate Which it is.” before, and this performance will feature and for the fingering hand. But there’s extensive background in experimental leaders of the group, along with Matthew Saturday night’s concert will open original compositions by both of them, also more variation in timbre. And so music as an invaluable resource. Chilton ’16. The graduate students in the with a performance by local vocalist and including a graphic score that Lovell- yes, it’s classical, but it also won’t sound “The definition of experimen- group are Jason Brogan, Daniel Fishkin, performance artist Stephanie Trotter, who Smith recently created in a printmaking like anything anyone will expect. And it tal music is very broad here, I think,” Nathan Friedman, Jasmine Lovell-Smith, will be accompanied by Zucker on the pi- class. will be very interesting; people will be Friedman said. “The freedom we have Dina Maccabee, and Sean Sonderegger. ano. They will be playing selections from “Cat is Canadian, and Jasmine’s wondering how they’re producing these here to explore what we want—aestheti- The group’s biggest event this se- a song cycle composed by Friedman. from New Zealand, so there’s an interest- sounds, and they’ll hopefully be able to cally, but also in terms of resources—is mester is the upcoming Experimental “The pieces are not jazz, but they ing globe-trotting aspect and a distinctly see exactly what’s going on.” definitely great.” Music Festival, which will feature con- are, I feel, jazz-influenced,” Friedman personal style to what they’re doing,” The festival’s location at Russell He added that this multiplicity is certs at Russell House every night start- said. Zucker said. House, an intimate location, will allow part of what defines experimental music ing at 9 p.m. from this Saturday through Friedman comes from a classical Sunday night will feature a perfor- guests to do just that. in general. Monday, Nov. 25. The festival will conservatory background but is now pur- mance by cellist Kevin McFarland and “Russell House is an underrated “[Music critic] Alex Ross, in a re- showcase a wide range of musical ideas, suing an MA at the University in compo- violinist Christopher Otto from the Jack space,” Zucker said. “The piano in there view, said that in a sense, experimental bringing together the works of world- sition and experimental music. Quartet, an accomplished young string is top-notch; it’s got a nice sound to it. music is kind of like the north pole,” renowned composers, prominent local Zucker said that the performance quartet based in New York City. And it’s out of the way, but that kind of Friedman said. “Different genres are dif- performers, and the students themselves. will represent a merging of styles and “They’re coming from definitely a makes it easier to use in some cases. We ferent continents, but they all converge at Although the performers represent a wide ideas. classical tradition, but their music is to- briefly considered using other spaces, but the pole—which might be cold and dis- variety of backgrounds and styles, the acts “We are singing songs in a kind of tally unlike what you’d expect from a clas- given that we’ve had previous concerts in tant, but it’s an interesting point of con- will all converge on a single idea: the mu- high modernist style, [Friedman’s] com- sical tradition,” Friedman said. “It’s based Russell House before, it’s part of the char- vergence between different things. And I sical duo. position style, possibly with improvisa- around almost a deconstruction of the acter.” think this festival is part of that.” “There’s so much embedded within tion to blur the experience,” he said. instrument, so it’s what they call decou- The festival will conclude on Lovell-Smith noted that many the duo in terms of possibilities and differ- Following this performance, pling, where the different hands playing Monday night with a set by two re- people gravitate away from traditional ent strategies for making music,” Chilton Friedman himself will take the stage. the instrument are effectively indepen- nowned musicians: Peter Evans on trum- courses toward experimental music. said. “We thought that by crystallizing the “I’m playing a duet with Sean dent.” pet and Sam Pluta on laptop electronics. “I feel like there are a lot of people “Both of them are pretty acclaimed who are less interested in engaging with for their work internationally in various traditional theory or some of the more other groups, Evans as a free-jazz and classically oriented courses, but who do improvisatory trumpeter, and Sam as a take the Intro to Experimental Music sound artist and as a composer,” Zucker class, and they really love being exposed said. “In their duo, a lot of it is taking to a wide variety of ways of making music Evans’ trumpet sound and breaking it that aren’t necessarily using the tradition- apart and messing with it.” al Western framework of, you know, mu- Chilton added that this set will be sic on a stage, and reading and learning a very much in the spirit of the festival as lot of rules,” she said. a whole. Members of the group agree that “There will be tons of really interest- this lack of rules in experimental music ing live processing, and moments where is what makes it so accessible, even if it you can’t tell where sounds are coming doesn’t seem so at first. from, and it’s all just very fast, extremely “Experimental music doesn’t always engaging and exciting stop-and-start have to be this hyper-technical, academic intensities, and all these weird trumpet thing,” Chilton said. “It also should be sounds that you thought couldn’t come accessible to many people, because ev- out of a trumpet before,” he said. “So it’s erybody has the means to create awesome really interesting to listen to, just kind of and interesting sounds that they might music you want to sit in a chair in a nice, not look for.” cozy room like Russell House and just As an example, he picked up a wa- enjoy.” ter bottle and hit the opening at the top According to members of the group, with his hand, creating a distinctly hol- visitors to Russell House will enjoy not low sound. just the individual performances, but also “All these objects we’re holding and the sheer variety of music represented. playing with in our everyday lives have “Its very much a festival in the sense the opportunity to be integrated into that it’s a collection of different threads musical contexts, just by sort of listening within contemporary experimental mu- to them as such,” he said. “That’s a pow- sic,” Brogan said. “On Saturday night erful tool for engaging people and getting and Monday night, there’s very much this people together to make music, from possibility of showing up, hearing one set, sources that they see every day.” and then hearing a set that’s completely In addition to engaging people with different from what you heard before. the sounds that surround them, mem- Or on Sunday night, you might here one bers of the Experimental Music Group piece, and then the next piece that’s on hope to expand the group’s reach in other the program will be completely different ways. More concerts are on the horizon, in some way.” but group members have other ideas, too. A festival like this on campus is hard- “I don’t feel that experimental mu- ly coming out of nowhere: the University sic is entirely about music,” Brogan said. has a rich tradition of experimental mu- “It’s about so much more than music. I sic composition and performance. Alvin think that any action that’s made within Lucier, a key figure in the field who is per- the world of experimental music is po- haps best known for his narrative piece “I litical in some way or another. Within ex- Am Sitting in a Room,” recently retired perimental music practices, there’s always after decades of teaching at the University. something at stake. There’s always some Pivotal avant-garde composer John Cage kind of radical core concept that might also had longstanding ties to campus. be explored or presented in a work, some Professor of Music Anthony Braxton, an some kind of claim.” acclaimed avant-garde composer known He added that discussions about for his work in a variety of genres, has these claims are vital to looking further in also been teaching here for many years, experimental music. though he will be retiring at the end of “Sure, there will be concerts as the year. well, and that’s exciting,” Brogan said. Although many of the people who “But I’m more concerned with using the brought the University to the forefront model of a workshop or an open forum of the experimental music scene are no to kind of explode experimental music in longer on campus, the tradition lives a way.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS 13  
  

  
 : Students, Faculty and Staff who came out to show Cardinal Pride in support of us this season!



  

 

2013 Little Three and NESCAC Champs 14 THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013 sports McKenna Talks Turnaround For Women’s Hockey season. McKenna sat down with The tor has been huge for us. Since they’ve making any changes on defense to help only look back at what you’ve done, Argus to talk about past struggles, the gotten here, the seniors have believed settle in your new goaltenders? you know, it’s a ‘what have you done opening weekend with Williams, and that this program can make strides: it JM: We have some new people on de- for me lately?’ sort of thing, and we her hopes of turning things around. can get better and be a different pro- fense, and I think the combination of haven’t done much of late. So, it’s not gram than what we’ve had here in the the young defenders that came in this necessarily that we’re counting on that, The Argus: First game of the season: past. That alone has propelled us in a year as well as just the maturation of but we recognize that we might be able you’re playing Williams, a Little Three lot of different ways. It sets a good ex- the defensive core that is already here to take some people by surprise. rival, and time is ticking down in the ample for the younger players coming will provide a good boost for the soph- third period with a tied score. Then, up, but it’s also pushed everyone to get omores that we think will help carry A: Do you think a playoff run is in the boom: Jessica Brennan, a freshman, better. the weight in goal. Cards this year? nets a power play goal that turns out JM: I certainly think so. It’s not our to be the game winner. How big was A: The women’s hockey team seems to A: You’ve got a good core of scorers on goal to just make playoffs by the finest that moment? have the Ephs’ number pretty regularly, the team this year, led up by Jordan of margins. We want to be a presence Jodi McKenna: I think it’s, you know, having beat Williams at least once in Schildhaus ’15. What are you looking in the league throughout the season, big in a couple ways. Obviously, for a each of the past three seasons. Is this a to do strategically to help them suc- and we want to establish ourselves freshman to be able to do that, to step mere coincidence? ceed? heading into the postseason. Anything up in a tight moment, bodes well for JM: I don’t think so. I think we’ve been JM: I think if we can build a little bit can happen in a one-game playoff. the future. You know, to be able to able to show, in the past, glimmers of more depth throughout our lineup in handle that sort of pressure and come what we’re capable of, and first game of a sense of having—yeah, we’ll rely on A: How important is it for you, per- through in the clutch. But also, from the season, you’re super excited to play. that group to provide a lot of offense— sonally, to turn this program around? ALIX LISS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER where our program has come, in those You sort of just let instincts take over, but if we can also pinpoint other play- JM: It is my life’s work, no joke. It’s By Michael Sheldon tight moments late in the game, per- and just the natural ability to play takes ers to carry some of that load, it takes something that I take great pride in, Staff Writer haps in the past couple of years, we over. I think that’s what’s been helpful the pressure off of them. And so, when even in how far we’ve come. I know would have folded, or we wouldn’t in the past, and hopefully we can capi- that happens, when the pressure’s off, it doesn’t show in the records, but for The 2013-14 season marks the have been able to live up to the pres- talize on that this season as well. you can do more things offensively. So those inside this program, we know sixth full year that the women’s hockey sure. And I think that’s one thing building more of a five-man attack in- what the steps that we’ve taken are, team will be led by Head Coach Jodi that the freshman class has done for A: What sort of coach do you aspire to stead of just the forwards is what we and it’s a tremendous sort of pride to McKenna. McKenna has a long line us. Obviously, they’ve made some big be? How do you see your role in the want to do. I think with our speed on be able to take that even further. To of credentials behind her: she took a contributions on the ice already, but team’s potential success? defense we’ll be able to build a more show alumni, you know, we stand on year off from coaching the Cardinals they’ve also injected a really nice shot JM: If I can help the players develop complete attacking team. the shoulders of past alumni, and for in the 2009-2010 season because she of adrenaline. on the ice in the time that they’re here, us to really live up to that, we have to was chosen by Team USA to serve as but also if I can help them develop out- A: NESCAC opponents are prob- turn this program around. We have to an assistant coach in the 2010 Winter A: Last season was an obvious struggle, side of hockey—you know, they can ably not expecting much out of the turn around the NESCAC standings. Olympics. There, she helped the team and the 2012-2013 squad was the only become more confident, and more able Redbirds this year, after a 2-14 season I think you get a sense that the whole earn a silver medal. team to miss the postseason. Yet two to achieve the dreams that they have— last year. Do you think underestima- athletic program here is turning in a While McKenna has the talent games in, you’ve already got a big ri- if I can, in some small way, push them tion on their part is something that new direction, and we want to be a part for coaching, she has been unable to valry win in hostile territory. What’s to that, or help them to that, I think you can look to take advantage of? of that. I don’t want it for myself nec- translate it into success at Wesleyan different for the team this year? that’s ultimately my job. JM: I think that’s certainly something essarily, but I know how this team has in recent years. Last season, her team JM: Maturity in the players that we we’ll face throughout the season, and worked, and all the girls I’ve coached went 2-14, and was the only team in have here. You know, believing in A: Last year, you graduated your starter that’s something that we’ve already over the past few years, they’ve wanted the NESCAC to miss out on the post- where we’re going, that intangible fac- in goal, Ashleigh Corvi ’13. Are you talked about as a team. People will it so badly. Women’s Basketball All-NESCAC: Conference Wins Third Straight Awards 18 Wes Athletes exceptional effort as an athlete as well as By Felipe DaCosta the Cardinals did not squander her hard work in the classroom. Assistant Sports Editor many attempts from the charity “It definitely meant a lot to be stripe, going 19-for-22 in the sec- named to the All-NESCAC team,” This Tuesday, the Cardinals ond half and 23-for-29 for the en- Farris said. “It really is such an honor. played their final game on the road tire match-up for 79.3 percent. I couldn’t have done it without the before their home opener on Friday, Another scorer took primary rest of the team since volleyball is such venturing up to Springfield, Mass. for duties in the Cards’ third outing a team sport. I can’t get a kill without a clash with Western New England as guard Dreisen Heath ’15 shot someone to pass and set the ball. The University. The Cardinals came away 5-for-7 from the bench and to- NESCAC coaches vote for the all-con- with another come-from-behind vic- taled 14 points to go with three re- ference teams, and it is an honor that tory, upending the Golden Bears by bounds. After starting the first two they thought that I deserved the recog- a score of 60-51. The Cardinals have contests, Heath spent the opening nition.” won all of their games so far this sea- whistle of the third one watching Finally, field hockey player Blair son, and all of their contests have had the action, but made sure her im- Ingraham ’14 was named to the first a similar comeback flavor to them. pact was felt the moment she filled team All-NESCAC. Ingraham was While the Cards have fallen behind at in; she was her team’s most profi- second on the team in scoring with the half against all of their opponents, cient scorer. six goals; she also added two assists. they’ve managed to outlast other The total team effort also saw SHANNON WELCH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Ingraham started all 60 games during squads on the way to racking up wins. newcomer Brenna Diggins ’17 Captain of the women’s volleyball team Kim Farris ’14 was named to her four-year career and racked up 16 However, the Cardinals did not step up in a big way for her squad. the Second Team All-NESCAC. goals and nine assists for 41 career scor- have to mount such an impressive Coming off the bench, the fresh- ing points. comeback on Tuesday, as they man- man contributed nine points and Continued from front page Kerry Doyle ’14 was the lone Cardinal “I’m very proud to have been aged to keep the contest close through ripped down a team leading six selected to the Second Team All- honored by the NESCAC this season,” the first half, only trailing 24-23 at the rebounds, three of which were of- Offensive lineman Pat DiMase NESCAC. She played in 60 out of 61 Ingraham said. “Playing for a great break. Inconsistent play marked the fensive. With Diggins’ spark-plug ’15 joined the team after playing a big games in her four years as a Redbird and coach and with awesome teammates in Birds’ first half as the team mustered effort, the Cardinals led their op- part in aiding pass and run protection. led the defense to four shutouts in her a competitive league the past four years only a 27.3 percent from the field ponents in total, rebounding by a Tight end John Day ’15 had 10 catches senior season. has allowed me to improve and prog- while squandering a 10-point lead tight 39-36 margin. for two touchdowns on the season; “Making the all-conference team ress as a player. It’s a great feeling to end early in the contest. In all of their games so far this Devon Carrillo ’17, who averaged 25.7 was a huge honor, especially as a se- my Wesleyan field hockey career on a A three-ball from Captain Amber year, the Cardinals have held the yards per kickoff return, also made the nior,” Doyle said. “It was a really satis- high.” Wessells ’14 would be the go-ahead advantage in rebounds. The team Second Team. fying way to end my career. Going into After a successful season for many basketball with 17:39 to put the will need to continue to hold the The men’s soccer team had an- the season, all I wanted was to finish my of the fall competitors at Wesleyan, it match in the Cardinals’ favor for good. edge on the boards in order to stay other successful year despite its season soccer career on a high note with a final will now be the winter athletes’ chance Wessells contributed a solid all-around competitive in games even when it ending in a conference quarterfinal loss season that I could be proud of look- to turn some heads. effort for her team, totaling eight falls behind. to Williams. The team consisted of ing back. When it ended, I personally “Every program in the athletic de- points, five rebounds, and a team-high This weekend, the Cardinals’ three First Team All-NESCAC players: believed that I had done that, but to partment has different goals,” Whalen three assists. She had active hands all home opener will signal the be- Ben Bratt ’15, Charlie Gruner ’17, and have this outside confirmation meant a said. “Most importantly, student- night on defense as well, stripping the ginning of a four-game homes- Brandon Sousa ’16. Bratt led a defense lot to me.” athletes need to be realistic with their ball away for a team-high four steals. tand as the Cardinals play host that produced eight shutouts through- Despite being unable to reach goals and make every effort to improve For the third time in as many for the Courtyard by Marriott out the 2013 campaign. Gruner had the playoffs, the 2013 volleyball team throughout the season. If a team is games, the Cards came back from the Tournament. First up, on Friday a spectacular freshman season, scor- received some good news about its healthy and peaking come the end of locker room remarkably more dialed at 7 p.m., the Cards will be tasked ing two goals and tallying an assist as season, as Kim Farris ’14 was named their season, they have a much better in, playing efficient basketball on their with taking on UMass Boston, a midfielder. Sousa, another midfielder, to the Second Team All-NESCAC. chance to advance in NESCAC and end of the court while severely limit- currently 1-0 on the season, and had two assists and two goals, including Farris ranked third in the conference post season tournaments.” ing their opponents’ defensive chances. then will close the tournament on a game-winner against Bates. in kills and second in aces. Farris was Twelve weeks from now, the ath- The Cardinals came back to shoot an Sunday against Albertus Magnus The women’s soccer team was also named to the first-team CoSIDA letic department hopes to celebrate just improved 36.4 percent from the field College, which also picked up a vic- bounced in the first round of the play- Capital One District II Academic All- as many team and individual honors as in the second half of play. Additionally, tory in its first outing of the season. offs by eventual champion Williams. American program commending her it did this fall. How to Start a Social Media War for Attention Uh oh...what’s that on your would ever expect. hates babee hippos.” face? No, underneath the foun- Ex. “@ElleFanning You dation. No, no, underneath the think your cool because you Step 4: Take an Insta-break! inch of liquid eyeliner. No, no, haven’t been checked into rehab Composing 140 characters no! Under the spray tan, too. Is yet? Your time will come, you worth of literature is hard work, that a big “C”? As in C-List? underage minor! #UrNot21” especially when waging a war. If you want to continue spon- Take an Instagram break by soring new miracle weight loss Step 2: Take everything per- posting a sad selfie with a pro- pills advertised on late night sonally found caption to garner the sym- television, or keep hosting MTV Was your target seen in pub- pathy of your fans. and VH1 reality show reunions, lic yesterday? Whatever they Ex. “Let it be, let it be, hey you know what time it is: time did was a personal offense. Jude, Mother Mary. #TheEa- to begin a social media cry for Ex. “@ElleFanning I can’t gles.” help war for attention! But in believe you were carrying Louis case your memory has gone as Vuitton just because you know Step 5: Take another Insta- stale as your reputation, here’s a I like Coach better. #Immature.” break! refresher on your Tweet-kwon- Let’s be real, who can only do skills. Step 3: Don’t be afraid to spend five minutes on Insta?! make mistakes This time, post a triumphant Step 1: Choose your target. Spelling and grammar mis- selfie with a confident caption. You could give yourself a takes that is! The moment you You’ll receive more “U r so challenge by setting your sights abandon all convention of the brave” and “#Inpiring” com- on an A-Lister, but those celebs English language, the moment ments than you can count! will usually enlist backup from you’ll have thousands of people Ex. “@Elle Fanning Don’t GOOP Holiday Gift List heavy-hitters such as the View tweeting right back at you with hate me for my perpetual sum- or Ellen Degeneres. But, you corrections! Hello attention! mer glow. You wish your name Hello my lovelies! It’s that time of the year again when we just still want to be shocking, so Ex. “all of are stress sichua- was Elle TANNING. #UrNot- need to drink USDA-certified organic mulled wine by the fire- you must choose a target no one tions our becos @ElleFanning Classy #UrPale” place in our Swiss vacation homes. Give this list to your personal assistant to brighten the lives of your loved ones:

1. Lobster, caviar, and wine flavored pacifiers: So your child will have top-notch taste straight out of the womb. 2. Personal pet masseuse: I don’t know about you, but my Daf- fodil gets wiped out from all the charity events she has to make appearances at. Our doggies and kitties deserve to be massaged every single day, just like we do! 3. Viságé Face Cream: made from platypus feces and crushed particles from the Hope Diamond, because sometimes a girl needs to splurge, and this is worth every thousand! 4. Sponsor a Middle Class Family: The have-lesses need mono- grammed cashmere bathmats even more than we do. 5. Apple Brand Apples: Named after my 9-year-old, who has been slaving away in her canopy bed FaceTiming our farmers to choose the freshest, cleanest apples life can offer. 6. TED Conference Slot: These are such a delight. In my recent A New Direction for Taylor Swift TED Talk I spoke about the benefits of bi-weekly yoga/yoghurt retreats. Ampersand: We’ve noticed you realized how naïve I was when life gets really hard sometimes, 7. One gift money can’t buy: sweet, sweet, nepotism. haven’t been broken up with I was 22. So instead of singing I know that living in ditches and since January. Is this why you about breakups with teenage sex trees, being ostracized by the haven’t released an album this icons, I’m focusing my attention South Vietnamese, and blamed Cat Stevens Bitten by Vampire, year? on more relevant matters such as for the Vietnam War by the entire Taylor Swift: If you must know, the Viet Cong. world probably hurts more than Changes Name to Bat Stevens I’m working on a new album my breakups do. The Viet Cong Critics were shocked to hear must face in today’s world. that will be released in 2014. I’m &: I think we can all agree that didn’t only teach a lesson to that music legend Cat Stevens “The vampire community changing things up a little, so it’s teenage girls connect more with South Vietnam; it also taught me has been transformed into a is peace-loving and kind, con- taking longer than usual to finish. songs about East Asian Commu- about true hardship and suffer- vampire. The celebrated singer- trary to popular opinion,” Jim nist Guerrilla groups than with ing. I sympathize with the Viet songwriter assured fans that he VanVampire, Stevens’ vampas- &: What exactly are you doing songs about liking a boy, turning Cong, and hope that all of my will continue to make music, tor claims. differently? sixteen, or not liking a boy. fans will too after hearing my but that his new material will Bat hopes his new album “D TS: Well, now that I’m 23, I’ve TS: Exactly! Even though my next album. Để chiến thắng! explore his altered identity. is for Dracula” will show fans He has changed his name from that being a vampire doesn’t “Cat” to “Bat,” as an expres- mean you can’t be a world- Man Has Funny Dream About Bill Murray sion of solidarity with his new class folk musician. Tracks Local resident Hugh Manoli ray came to stay and when he if Miller wanted to be a daisy community. include “SunShadow,” “The told reporters last week about saw Miller he said “You are a man in his new film and Miller Controversy arose when Bat First Stake Is the Deepest,” and this really funny dream he had daisy man” and obviously Miller had to decide between tending to was held and interrogated at an “Nosferatu and Son.” about Bill Murray. In the dream, was like “That makes little sense the hotel with Hugh or being a airport for his lack of reflection This news came shortly af- Hugh bought a hotel that was what is a daisy man” and Bill daisy man and he chose to stay at in a mirror. Vampire activists ter Warren Zevon confirmed really nice but he decided to Murray explained that it is a man the hotel because it was a more claim that this incident speaks rumors that he is, in fact, a renovate it anyway with his boy- who has nice facial features but stable source of income. to the tribulations all vampires werewolf. friend Miller. After that the hotel big shoulders and feet and that Bill Murray could not be was so agreeable that Bill Mur- is a daisy man. Then he asked reached for comment.

The Ampersand: In it for the money. Sarah Esocoff, Editor; Ian McCarthy and Emilie Pass, Assistant Editors; Emma Singer, Queen of Layout. GOOP, Emily Fehrer; Media War, Caitlin O’Keeffe; Taylor Cong, Willie Molski; Bat Stevens, Nico “The Bush” Hartman. Write for the Ampersand! E-mail [email protected]. Visit us online at wesleyanampersand.tumblr.com Wrecking Ball Reacts to Miley Cyrus Video Jim Mattherson, 33, has work and sitting on my head. been a wrecking ball his entire I was just trying to conduct ble. adult life. Having been heavily myself in a respectable, busi- Kanye West also blows a snot featured in pop superstar Mi- nesslike manner. I assure you bubble, but his is more visceral ley Cyrus’ bare-all music video I wanted no part of her naked, and aesthetically striking than for her new song, “Wrecking la-di-da antics. No sir, not me.” that of the child’s - clearly he Ball,” he is now in the midst of Sources confirmed that, is the snot-blower of our gen- the firestorm surrounding the even in the face of adversity, eration. controversial video, and Jim is Jim got the job done. making his voice heard. “I said to myself, ‘Well, For the past twelve years Jim, you’ve just got to pretend &: Ever since your debut proj- Jim has led a quiet life toppling she’s not there,” he said. And ect, “My Beautiful Dark Twist- condemned structures with his I did. I shut my eyes and tried ed Diaper,” we’ve been waiting 10,000 pounds of fused steel not to think about the clammy with baited breath to see what ingots for East Peoria’s Con- lady cushion (pardon my lan- you produce next. struction Equipment Company guage) on my face. A job is a NW appears to be formulating LLC. Until, that is, he was job, no matter how many sad an astute and comprehensive called upon for a different type pale women are straddling you North by Kanye West answer to my question: I can of job. and crying. barely imagine the liquid po- “So the flat-bed unloads “Look, as a member of the Alfred Hitchcock Would Be Ashamed etry that is about to pour forth me and I see this little cinder- wrecking ball community, I from… block building I’m supposed just want to say that I don’t Last week The Ampersand got life, but I never saw him again. to demolish, and I’m hanging appreciate being used as a a chance to sit down with voice Thoughts, North? KW: Oh my God… I just re- there thinking, ‘Well, they re- culturally-interpreted semi- of our generation, Kanye West, North West looks around membered who won the 2009 ally should’ve gotten Dan for otic representation of heedless and his daughter, intercardinal blankly, unaware of her sur- Teen Choice Award for Choice this job,” he said. See, he’s a destruction. There is actually direction, North West. roundings. Hip-Hop/Rap Artist- it was me! Demolition Rectangle Wreck- a very rigorous protocol for &: I see we have a Vietnamese ing Block, so he’s much better demolition, involving evacu- &: Funny story, before my Nationalist on our hands! Any- &: Well I think that just about at toppling this sort of single- ation of the area twenty-four squad mate Billy was cap- way, North, I was wondering wraps up our interview! Make level architecture. Then, this hours prior and notification tured by the Viet Cong, the if you could tell us something sure to pass along my regards naked woman comes out, and of all neighboring residences last words he spoke to me were about what you’ve been work- to Kim! I’m just like, ‘Well what the and businesses. This kind of ‘North West’ - it was the direc- ing on these days. KW: I don’t know anyone who heck is this?’” narrow thinking perpetuates a tion to our HQ. Billy saved my NW begins to blow a snot bub- isn’t named Kanye. Jim’s mood reportedly stereotype that puts our people soured when he was told what back between one and two would be taking place. years. We are not singular enti- “I am not a tire swing,” he ties. Though physically we are said. “And I do not appreci- smooth spheres, our souls are ate some Australian underwear multi-faceted. And we love. model coming into my place of Remember this: we love.”

Celebrity Couple Names Barack + Michelle Obama = Hell Bomb Justin Timberlake + Jessica Biel = Lake of Bile Prince William + Kate Middleton = Widdleton Brittleton Penélope Cruz + Javier Bardem = The Spanish Inquisition Justin Bieber + Selena Gomez = A Pubeless Mistake Kanye West + Kim Kardashian = Yeezus and Sleezus Kate Winslet + Ned Rocknroll = Rocknslut Daniel Day-Lewis + Rebecca Miller = Renal Millday Beclewer Taylor Steele ’14, burgeoning WesCeleb, has trouble avoiding the paparazzi. “My recent mention in The Wesleyan Argus has made me a veritable superstar,” Ellen DeGeneres + Portia de Rossi = Disingenuous Porch Sitter Steele said. “It’s taken over my life. Everywhere I go I am hounded by these Snoop Lion + Shante Broadus = Broad-Loined Snoop Shank insatiable photo-snappers. It’s too much... too much.” Cate Blanchett + Brad Pitt = Blanched Pit Marion Cotillard + Brad Pitt = Yard Pit The Ampersand: In it for the money. Sarah Esocoff, Editor; Ian McCarthy and Emilie Pass, Assistant Editors; Emma Singer, Queen of Layout. Wrecking Ball, Nick “Sugarwater” Mar- MORE Angelina Jolie + Brad Pitt = Angel Pit tino; Tweets, Katie Darr; Kanye and North, Luke Schisler; Taylor Steele, Emma Singer. & Write for the Ampersand! E-mail [email protected]. INSIDE! Jennifer Aniston + Brad Pitt = Anus Pit Visit us online at wesleyanampersand.tumblr.com