Issue 13, Spring 2011

8
“My husband always laughs when I speak on the telephone,” said Beate Sirota Gordon in a phone interview last Friday. “I’m always bowing my head.” According to Gordon, she has adopted certain Japanese ways of living, such as bowing her head in conversation, from the time she spent there as a child, just before she came to Mills College in 1935 at the tender age of 15. It was at Mills, she said, that she gained the feminist education that helped her draft Articles 14 and 24 of the Japanese constitution, which legal- ly guaranteed the rights of Japanese women, when she was 22 years old. Because of her love of Mills and women’s education, Gordon has agreed to speak at this year’s Commencement ceremony. “I think Mills was an institution that was one of the early feminist institutions. I learned a lot about women and rights and discrimina- tion,” Gordon said. “I had a very wonderful experience because the classes were very small, so I could ask questions and get feedback, which is very good for someone from another country experiencing some culture shock.” Article 14 of the Japanese con- stitution deems all people equal under law, including both sexes, and outlaws discrimination. Article 24 requires marriage to be consen- sual between both sexes and states that husband and wife should receive the same rights. Mary-Ann Milford, an art histo- ry professor at Mills, thinks Gordon’s experience in another country was instrumental to her ability to advocate equal rights in 1946, long before the feminist movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s. “It is amazing: the foresight of this young woman, which, of course, came from her background having lived abroad,” Milford said. “All of these experiences (abroad) had given her a sense of the world that was quite extraordinary.” Milford believes that Gordon's experiences abroad combined with her education at Mills, including the influence of then president Aurelia Reinhardt, helped shape Gordon’s world view. “Aurelia Reinhardt was an amazing woman, a very strong woman, a visionary, I should say, for women’s rights and for the encouragement to fight what we deem is right for us,” Milford said. “I think that Aurelia Reinhardt was probably very influential in Beate’s education.” Gordon does, in fact, attribute some of her inspiration to Reinhardt. “I think Aurelia Reinhardt was very advanced,” Gordon said. “She encouraged women to compete on an equal basis with men when they graduated into the world.” After World War II ended and she graduated from Mills, Gordon took it upon herself to facilitate cultural exchange projects in hopes that Americans would start to see fewer differences and more simi- larities between other culture of the world. “After the war, when we all thought we’d never be at war again, the best way to teach a new culture was through the arts. Arts go direct- ly to the heart,” Gordon said. “I felt it was a way to peace. I really want- ed to inspire people to learn more about (other cultures).” Gordon began her search for arts to bring to the United States by traveling to almost every country in Asia, looking far and wide for whatever art she deemed commu- nicative. The first troupe she invit- ed to tour the U.S. practiced kyojin, a series of short plays Gordon “In our society, it’s hard for women to feel a sense of pride and distinctiveness. There’s a special opportunity in women's colleges,” President Janet Holmgren said at her first press conference at Mills in 1991. Holmgren was 42 when she was elected President by the Board of Trustees. At the time, she and her two daughters, Elizabeth, who was 11, and Ellen, who was 7, had just moved in to the President’s home on campus. A photo in The Weekly (now The Campanil), dating back to 1991, shows Holmgren, her two daughters, their cat Ginger, and their dog Sandy sitting closely together, smiles beaming at the camera, in their new campus home — an “all female” household. During Holmgren’s 20 years as President, Mills has grown immensely. The college has seen changes both physically, with sev- eral new buildings, and academi- cally, with numerous additions to the faculty and curriculum. Still, her Presidency has been a symbiotic relationship of give and take with the college. Three of the school’s biggest construction projects, the Moore Natural Sciences Building, Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business and the renovation of Littlefield Concert Hall, were all completed under Holmgren’s hos- pice. The Prospect Hill Apartments, the soccer field, aquat- ic center and Suzanne Adams Plaza were also built during Holmgren's tenure, according to an article pub- lished in The Campanil in 2001. “Good planning and good con- struction sends a message to the community,” Holmgren said, not- ing that her investment in construc- tion on campus was an investment in people, providing more accessi- bility to classrooms and resources. Academically, the college has seen the development of the Ethnic Studies Department, Public Policy Department, Educational Leadership Department, the Business School and several graduate programs. In her 2005 State of the College address, Holmgren “stressed the importance of women making inroads in the sciences.” Holmgren followed through with this goal, introducing the college’s first Bachelor of Sciences degree in biology, biopsychology, chemistry, environmental sciences, biochem- istry and molecular biology. VOLUME 96 ISSUE 21 www.thecampanil.com Tuesday | May 10, 2011 Left: Holmgren with her daughters Elizabeth and Ellen and their pets in 1991; Right: Holmgren with her daughters and pets in 2010. Holmgren will be leaving her position as President of Mills College this spring after 20 years of leading the college. She plans to return in the spring as an professor. COURTESY OF THE QUARTERLYAND PRESIDENT HOLMGREN see Holmgren page 2 Lauren Sliter CHIEF NEWS EDITOR After two decades, President Holmgren says goodbye to Mills — but not forever Drafter of Japanese equal rights for women articles to speak at Mills Stephanie Scerra FEATURES EDITOR see Gordon page 2 Commencement 2011 C Ch he ec ck k o ou ut t T Th he e C Ca am mp pa an ni il ls s o on nl li in ne e c co ov ve er ra ag ge e o of f C Co om mm me en nc ce em me en nt t a at t t th he ec ca am mp pa an ni il l. .c co om m Beate Sirona Gordon, class of ‘43 to speak at commencement.

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Issue 13, Spring 2011

Transcript of Issue 13, Spring 2011

Page 1: Issue 13, Spring 2011

“My husband always laughswhen I speak on the telephone,”said Beate Sirota Gordon in aphone interview last Friday. “I’malways bowing my head.”

According to Gordon, she hasadopted certain Japanese ways ofliving, such as bowing her head inconversation, from the time shespent there as a child, just beforeshe came to Mills College in 1935at the tender age of 15. It was atMills, she said, that she gained thefeminist education that helped herdraft Articles 14 and 24 of theJapanese constitution, which legal-ly guaranteed the rights of Japanesewomen, when she was 22 years old.

Because of her love of Millsand women’s education, Gordon

has agreed to speak at thisyear’s Commencement ceremony.

“I think Mills was an institutionthat was one of the early feministinstitutions. I learned a lot aboutwomen and rights and discrimina-tion,” Gordon said. “I had a verywonderful experience because the

classes were very small, so I couldask questions and get feedback,which is very good for someonefrom another country experiencingsome culture shock.”

Article 14 of the Japanese con-stitution deems all people equalunder law, including both sexes,and outlaws discrimination. Article24 requires marriage to be consen-sual between both sexes and statesthat husband and wife shouldreceive the same rights.

Mary-Ann Milford, an art histo-ry professor at Mills, thinksGordon’s experience in anothercountry was instrumental to herability to advocate equal rights in1946, long before the feministmovement of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

“It is amazing: the foresight ofthis young woman, which, ofcourse, came from her backgroundhaving lived abroad,” Milford said.“All of these experiences (abroad)

had given her a sense of the worldthat was quite extraordinary.”

Milford believes that Gordon'sexperiences abroad combined withher education at Mills, includingthe influence of then presidentAurelia Reinhardt, helped shapeGordon’s world view.

“Aurelia Reinhardt was anamazing woman, a very strongwoman, a visionary, I should say,for women’s rights and for theencouragement to fight what wedeem is right for us,” Milford said.“I think that Aurelia Reinhardt wasprobably very influential in Beate’s education.”

Gordon does, in fact, attributesome of her inspiration to Reinhardt.

“I think Aurelia Reinhardt wasvery advanced,” Gordon said. “Sheencouraged women to compete onan equal basis with men when theygraduated into the world.”

After World War II ended andshe graduated from Mills, Gordontook it upon herself to facilitatecultural exchange projects in hopesthat Americans would start to seefewer differences and more simi-larities between other culture of the world.

“After the war, when we allthought we’d never be at war again,the best way to teach a new culturewas through the arts. Arts go direct-ly to the heart,” Gordon said. “I feltit was a way to peace. I really want-ed to inspire people to learn moreabout (other cultures).”

Gordon began her search forarts to bring to the United States bytraveling to almost every country inAsia, looking far and wide forwhatever art she deemed commu-nicative. The first troupe she invit-ed to tour the U.S. practiced kyojin,a series of short plays Gordon

“In our society, it’s hard forwomen to feel a sense of pride anddistinctiveness. There’s a specialopportunity in women's colleges,”President Janet Holmgren said ather first press conference at Millsin 1991.

Holmgren was 42 when shewas elected President by the Boardof Trustees. At the time, she andher two daughters, Elizabeth, whowas 11, and Ellen, who was 7, hadjust moved in to the President’shome on campus.

A photo in The Weekly (nowThe Campanil), dating back to1991, shows Holmgren, her twodaughters, their cat Ginger, andtheir dog Sandy sitting closelytogether, smiles beaming at thecamera, in their new campus home— an “all female” household.

During Holmgren’s 20 years asPresident, Mills has grownimmensely. The college has seenchanges both physically, with sev-eral new buildings, and academi-cally, with numerous additions tothe faculty and curriculum.

Still, her Presidency has been asymbiotic relationship of give andtake with the college.

Three of the school’s biggest

construction projects, the MooreNatural Sciences Building, Lorry I.Lokey Graduate School ofBusiness and the renovation ofLittlefield Concert Hall, were allcompleted under Holmgren’s hos-pice. The Prospect HillApartments, the soccer field, aquat-ic center and Suzanne Adams Plazawere also built during Holmgren'stenure, according to an article pub-lished in The Campanil in 2001.

“Good planning and good con-struction sends a message to thecommunity,” Holmgren said, not-ing that her investment in construc-tion on campus was an investmentin people, providing more accessi-bility to classrooms and resources.

Academically, the college hasseen the development of the EthnicStudies Department, Public PolicyDepartment, EducationalLeadership Department, theBusiness School and several graduate programs.

In her 2005 State of the Collegeaddress, Holmgren “stressed theimportance of women makinginroads in the sciences.” Holmgrenfollowed through with this goal,introducing the college’s firstBachelor of Sciences degree inbiology, biopsychology, chemistry,environmental sciences, biochem-istry and molecular biology.

VOLUME 96 ISSUE 21 www.thecampanil.com Tuesday | May 10, 2011

Left: Holmgren with her daughters Elizabeth and Ellen and their pets in 1991; Right: Holmgren withher daughters and pets in 2010. Holmgren will be leaving her position as President of Mills Collegethis spring after 20 years of leading the college. She plans to return in the spring as an professor.

COURTESY OF THE QUARTERLY AND PRESIDENT HOLMGREN

see Holmgren page 2

LLaauurreenn SSlliitteerrCHIEF NEWS EDITOR

After two decades, President Holmgrensays goodbye to Mills — but not forever

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FEATURES EDITOR

see Gordon page 2

Commencement 2011

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Beate Sirona Gordon, class of‘43 to speak at commencement.

Page 2: Issue 13, Spring 2011

Though the sciences may havebeen emphasized more stronglyduring Holmgren’s tenure, shealso made strides to improve thearts, such as music.

“She supported the MusicDepartment during a crucial peri-od following the Strike, and madethe renovation of the MusicBuilding a high priority at theCollege,” said David Bernstein, amusic professor, via email.

Holmgren described the newlyrenovated concert hall as “one ofthe most beautiful and inspiringplaces in the Bay Area to listen toMusic,” in an article in the Winter2009 edition of The Quarterly.

Holmgren also initiated a greatpush towards using new technolo-gy, as her tenure bridged the gapbetween the 20th and 21st cen-turies. Though she helped makethe shift from using only paper-bound books and research materi-als to a digital means of gatheringinformation on campus, she feltthat she could have done more tosupport the college during the ageof technology.

“I underestimated the impactof technology,” she said.

Supporting diversity, both inthe student body and in the faculty, was important to Holmgren.

In 1989, about 3 percent of thetenured faculty were people of color.

In 2001, that increased to 20percent, according to an articlepublished in The Campanil in2001. Today, 28 percent of full-time faculty are people of color,according to the Mills College website.

It is the college’s many suc-cesses over the years thatHolmgren holds as her mostrewarding accomplishment.

“Mills has gone from surviv-ing to thriving,” she said.

Mills has given Holmgren a lotto be thankful for as well. She hasmade many friends and has felt astrengthening in her love of education.

“I have become a more power-ful and passionate advocate forboth higher education and the edu-cation of women,” she said. “Ilearned that you don’t necessarilyhave to be in the classroom to bean educator.”

The enthusiasm with whichHolmgren addresses women’seducation has permeated the entireMills community.

“She reinvigorates everyone’spassion for women’s education,”said Kathi Burke, Chair of theBoard of Trustees. “She reallylooks for ways to keep women’sundergraduate education and our

graduate programs relevant.”Holmgren said the people she

has met and the influence andstrength the college has given heroutshines what she has done forthe college.

“What I've gotten has been farmore than I’ve given.”

But great success comes withloss as well.

Remembering some of thetough decisions she had to make,like cutting Dramatic Arts,Holmgren said she faced a lot ofbattles at Mills, too.

Many of the reductionsHolmgren approved were solelybased on finances, she said. As thecollege rose to meet the 21st cen-tury, the focus of Mills shifted toincorporate a wider variety ofstudies and to expand the studentand faculty bodies. All of that costmoney, and so Holmgren had tomake the tough decision to putwhat funds the college did havetowards increasing financial aid,hiring new faculty and developingmore modern departments such as Ethnic Studies.

Holmgren lost some things ofher own during her 20 years at Mills.

“I’ve lost some of my priva-cy,” she said. “I’ve lost the abilityto focus on work that is fulfilling to me — writing, research, teaching.”

And its her passions outside ofeducation that Holmgren wants toreclaim once she leaves thePresident's Office.

“Immediately, I’m going totake a breath,” she said. “I’m 62right now. I’m thinking about thelast third of my life. While this iswonderful work, there are otherthings I would like to do.”

Holmgren plans to continueliving in Oakland and will bereturning in the spring of 2012 toteach in the English Department.

When asked to recall somefavorite memories, Holmgren haddifficulty picking just one or two.

“There are so many wonderfulmemories, I couldn’t pick justone,” she said. “I love the artopenings, the sporting events, thecreative writing readings andclasses I’ve taught.”

As Holmgren transitions to alife outside of the President’sOffice, her successor, AleciaDeCoudreaux will be steppinginto the role of President this Fall.

“I wish her well,” Holmgrensaid. “I hope she gets as muchgratification from this work as I do.”

Special thanks to MichaelBeller and the Mills CollegeLibrary for archival information..

Bonnie Horgos and NicoleVermeer contributed to this report.

President Holmgren, left, meets with incoming first-year students at a New Students Tea in 2007 in the Reinhardt Alumnae House.

News22 MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

The Campanil welcomes public commentary on subjects of interestto the campus community, as well as feedback on the paper itself.Submissions for Open Forum should be no more than 400 words.Letters to the editor should be no more than 150 words. Submissionsmay be edited for length and clarity.

All submissions must include the author’s name and contact infor-mation and may be submitted via e-mail or in typewritten form, accom-panied by a CD. No anonymous submissions will be accepted.Submissions must be received one week before publication date toappear in the next issue.

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The Campanil is published every other Monday. The first copy ofThe Campanil is free. Additional copies are 50 cents. Students inter-ested in joining should contact the editor in chief.

Tara NelsonEditor in Chief

[email protected]

Managing Editor Nicole Vermeer

Sports & Health Editor Bonnie Horgos

Opinions Editor Lauren Soldano

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CAMPANILTHEChief News Editor Lauren Sliter

Ad & PR Manager Tymeesa Rutledge5000 MacArthur Blvd.Oakland, CA 94613510.430.2246 phone

510.430.3176 fax

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Holmgren from page 1

COURTESY OF THE CREST AND PRESIDENT HOLMGREN

Holmgren’s tenure as President of MillsCollege comes to an end after 20 years

describes as easily understood andperfect for tourists.

“(Kyojin) has comic relief inthe way Shakespeare does,”Gordon said. “(The actors) werespeaking a different language, butby the expressions and the move-ments, you could understand a lot.”

Gordon would invite the audi-ence to come early so that theycould see the performers prepare beforehand.

“Sometimes, before the per-formance, I’d have an extra demon-stration in the other room so (theaudience) would not feel so differ-ent from the art being presented,”Gordon said. “(I invited them) justto make people not so scared of thisnew culture.”

As Gordon is invigorated byMills, the students of the collegeare equally inspired by Gordon.According to Renee Jadushlever,Vice President of Operations, thesenior class suggested that Gordonspeak at this year’sCommencement.

“We are delighted that BeateSirota Gordon has agreed to be the2011 commencement speaker,”Jadushlever said in an e-mail.“Mrs. Gordon will talk about herlife and the things and peoplewhich have influenced and pre-pared her and enabled her to makesuch an important contribution toJapanese history.”

According to President JanetHolmgren, Gordon spoke at the1991 Commencement, whichHolmgren was unable to attend asshe was not yet the head of the college.

“It’s a wonderful symmetry,having her return 20 years later,”Holmgren said. “I’m thrilled.”

Milford believes that Gordon isa great example for the Mills community.

“(Gordon is an example of) tak-ing adversity and turning it insideout and recognizing that everyonehas inner strength,” Milford said.“She is someone who has knownhardship, but she has used thoseexperiences to better the world.”

Milford hopes that those whoattend Commencement and hearGordon speak will be able to drawfrom Gordon’s inner strength andbe inspired.

“Nobody else is going to fightthis fight for us except for us aswomen,” Milford said. “A lot oftimes I get, ‘Oh feminist move-ment, women’s studies -- that’s oldhat. We can have access to every-thing we want.’ I don’t think so. Westill have a long way to go andthose who work really hard andwho are motivated will.”

The Mills Commencement cere-mony will begin on Toyon Meadowat 9:45 a.m. The Commencementaddress will precede the conferringof degrees and awarding of honorary degrees.

Gordon from page 1

Page 3: Issue 13, Spring 2011

Events & Information 33MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com.

MAY 10-MAY 15

Tuesday May 10Senior CelebrationWhat: Seniors from the Englishdepartment share their thesesand achievementsWhere: Lokey GraduateSchoolWhen: 6:30 p.m.Cost: Free

Wednesday May 11Walking Backwards Forward,Mills MFA Thesis ExhibitionWhat: The exhibition showcas-es works created during theMills MFA studio art programWhere: Mills, Art MuseumWhen: All weekCost: Free

Thursday May 12

Do you still have any librarybooks amidst your boxes andsuitcases? Well, you shouldnot! Today is the last day toreturn all library materials or

you will be charged.

Friday May 13Baccalaureate CeremonyWhat: This celebratory cere-mony, which schools have heldfor centuries, is intended as a“spiritual sendoff” to all graduates.Where: Mills College, TheChapelWhen: 5:30 p.m.

Sunday May 15

Residence halls close for allgraduating students

Saturday May 14

The 123rd Commencement

CONGRATULATIONSTO THE

GRADUATING CLASSOF

2011

THE BEST OF LUCK TOYOU AS YOU DEPART ON

A NEW JOURNEY!

Editor’s Pick:Sail into Finals

Monday 5/9: Pirates for midnightbreakfast Tuesday 5/10: Under the SeaWednesday 5/11: Sand and Surf

Who doesn’t enjoy free food?Come to the Tea Shop any one ofthese nights at 10 p.m. and take a

break from all that hard studying!

Page 4: Issue 13, Spring 2011

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

COURTESY OF THE CREST

President Holmgren Through the Decades44 MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

March 1993

Mary Atkins Lynch1854-1865

Susan Mills1865-1884, 1890-1909

Cyrus Mills1865-1884

Luella Clay Carson1909-1914

Aurelia H. Reinhardt1916-1943

Lynn T. White Jr.1943-1958

Mills College Presidents: From Past to Present

“I am nowconvinced that

this is the begin-ning of a very longlove affair with MillsCollege.”

- Janet Holmgren,March 4, 1991

“I’veliked her

(Holmgren)better each timeI’ve met her.”

- Warren Hellman,March 1991

“I’ve seen that in thelast 10 years that building the

endowment, building the studentbody, building the buildings — it’s allan investment in empowering Mills

as an institution.”- Janet Holmgren

April 2010

Fall 1996

With Lorry I Lokey, April 2008

With trustee Evelyn “Muffy”McKinstry Thorne, Summer 2010

COURTESY OF THE CREST

COURTESY OF THE QUARTERLY

Page 5: Issue 13, Spring 2011

Through the Decades 55MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 2200 11 11

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

C. Easton Rothwell1959-1967

Robert T. Wert1967-1976

Barbara M. White1976-1980

Mary S. Meltz1981-1990

Janet Holmgren1991-2011

From Past to Present

“I’veiked herolmgren)ter each time

e met her.”Warren Hellman,

March 1991

’ve seen that in the0 years that building the

ment, building the studentilding the buildings — it’s allstment in empowering Mills

n institution.”- Janet Holmgren

April 2010

“People say presi-dency is like being mayor

of a small town.... Yourresponsibility is to take care ofthe whole body politic, not justyourself or your own aspira-

tions”- Janet Holmgren

April 2010

“Undergraduatecoeducation is not an issue

for Mills. It is off the table. Ispeak for myself as presidentand I speak for the board.”

- Janet HolmgrenSept. 1993

At the groundbreakingfor the Moore NaturalScience building in

Sept. 2005

Fall 2003

2008

COURTESY OF THE CREST

COURTESY OF THE CREST

Virginia Smith1990-1991

COURTESY OF THE CREST

Page 6: Issue 13, Spring 2011

Opinions & Editorial66

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

SSTTAAFFFFSSTTAAFFFF FFAARREEWWEELLLLFFAARREEWWEELLLLMM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

The veryfirst class Itook here atMills wasJournalism Iwith MeredithMay. I remem-ber walking in to a warm stuffywhite room on the third floor ofMills Hall in the Fall of 2008 andsitting down at a long table with 12other nervous faces all trying tocasually avoid overt eye contact inthat awkward waiting-for-the-pro-fessor-moment that always hap-pens on the first day of any class.What I didn’t know then is thatmany of those nervous avertedfaces would become some of mybest friends here at Mills.

I remember that first day goingover the syllabus and thinking Imust drop this class immediately.This professor expected me to coldcall city council members, toapproach strangers on the street, todrive to police stations and askthem questions. The whole ideawas terrifying.

I had signed up for journalismon a hunch. Some of my favoritewriters had made their living asjournalists: Joan Didion, Hunter S.Thompson, Ernest Hemingway,Tom Wolfe, Gabriel GarciaMarquez. I had tremendous respectfor their ability to craft reality bothartistically and authentically.Already a fiction writer, I wantedto learn how to shine a light in thedark and say ‘look here, and now, ifyou can stand it, look closer.’

Still, journalism terrified me.And so this is the part in the

story where I talk about “the turn-ing point” or the “moment” thatchanged my mind where I tri-umphantly stood tall and proud,despite rain pouring down, a braverand better person. This is the partwhere I am supposed to tell youhow I overcame my fears andbecame a journalist. But the truthis, there was no magical moment. Isimply kept showing up.

Sarah Pollock, head of the jour-nalism department, often says thebest way to learn to be a journalist

is just to go and do it.And so that’s what I did.I paced my living room week

after week nervously cold callingstrangers for interviews. I practicedasking questions aloud while driv-ing in my car. I walked up to citycouncil members at meetings handsshaking, stuttering on words askingthem for a moment of their time—and the miracle? I survived. Infact I got used to it. And the more Igot used to it the more I loved it,and then one day it just sort of hitme—I was a journalist—and astime passed I think I became a pret-ty good one.

The next year I kept at it. Ijoined the staff of the Campanil asassistant Features Editor and ulti-mately this year, my last at Mills, Ihad the honor of serving the news-paper, and the Mills community, asEditor-in-Chief.

Joan Didion once said writerslive in ‘a constant state of lowdread.’ Add to that dread home-work, term papers, full-time jobsand final exams and you can under-

stand why I am so proud andimpressed by what the Campanilstaff has accomplished this year.Their dedication, talent and unflap-pable enthusiasm for the craft ofjournalism has inspired me onmany levels, and I hope they’veinspired you as well.

I am proud to say we returnedthe Campanil to its former weeklyglory. I remain floored by the staffscommitment to serving the Millscommunity—they spend countlesshours before, between and afterclasses working to bring you thenews each week. It’s hard work andthey do it every day, every week,because they believe in its impor-tance and transformative potential.

I can say without hesitation thatmy time as Editor-in-Chief of theCampanil has been one of the mostsurprising and profoundly inspiringexperiences I have had here atMills. I have no doubt theCampanils incoming Editor-in-Chief, Lauren Sliter, will continueto push the paper in innovative andexciting directions. In addition to

being a talented reporter, she bringsa passion for journalism. Sheunderstands that a journalists firstobligation is to truth and it’s firstloyalty is to the community.

Before joining the paper in theFall of 2009 I was a shy transferstudent adrift. Now I have a life-long family and I belong to a com-munity of women I deeply respect.

I want to thank the Mills com-munity for allowing me to be ofservice to them and for theirinvaluable feedback and supportover this last year. Journalism atit’s best “speaks truth to power.” Ibelieve it is a crucial vehicle forchange and for a campus dedicatedto issues of social justice the poten-tial of an independent student-runorganization is boundless.

So as leave my post as Editor-in-Chief I would like to say toleave the Mills Community withthis simple advice: Get uncomfort-able. And just keep showing up.

And to next years staff: Publishand be damned. Print the news andraise hell.

Final words from the editor-in-chief: get uncomfortable

My mom issuper excitedabout my grad-uation. Shedidn't have theopportunity togo to collegewhen she was younger, and sort oflives vicariously through me some-times. Well, she does wear her"Mills College Mom" shirt as oftenas possible. I, on the other hand, amgenerally a frenzied, frustratedmess that can't seem to take amoment to appreciate the fact thatmy Mills experience will soon allbe over.

It's unfortunate that graduationcomes right at the time when youare least likely to enjoy it. At leastthat's been my experience for thepast few months. The unexpecteddeluge of tasks that have presentedthemselves to me always seem totake priority over dinners, dances,

parties and other traditions associ-ated with the ending of one's tenureat Mills. Plus, sometimes I reallyjust don't care about all the pompand circumstance.

This general business and apa-thy towards all things graduation-related means I sent out graduationannouncements not too long ago.Okay, my mother sent out my grad-uation announcements not too longago. I couldn't find the time to do it.Or maybe I didn't want to make thetime. I'm pretty sure I was at workeach time she called me about it.The fact that my immediate futurewas uncertain has made me savemore money than I ever have—which really just means I am sav-ing money period.

Maybe my non-attendance atcertain graduation related eventshas to do with the fact that I tend toleave planning until the last minute.Although I found out today I will

be gainfully employed after gradu-ation day, I don't know where I'll beliving. I've started looking at thevarious underpasses surroundingthe area. Well, I might.

Don't get me wrong, my time atMills has been amazing. I have somany great memories from the pastfour years. I have met some peoplethat have become so important inmy life, and gained perspective onthings never would have if I hadn'tleft my hometown of Salem,Oregon after high school.

However, I really don't get whyI need to march across a stage in ablack robe to symbolize thisachievement. I would prefer to justreceive the piece of paper in someless dramatic spectacle.

Maybe someone could delivermy diploma to my home and wecould have a party there afterwards.The meaning of the whole "cere-mony" thing is lost on me. What

does it even mean when we walkacross the stage in a black gown,and put those little tassels from oneside of the cap to the other? In fact,why do we even wear a cap? Or a gown?

I realize there is some historicalreason which has to do with thefirst ever university commence-ment at Oxford or something likethat. However, this has nothing todo with me or my life. I don'tunderstand why the majority ofpeople seem to perpetuate tradi-tions because "that's how it's done."I understand some people celebratereligious traditions for this reason.However, most of those people doit because it's what they choose andwhat feels right to them. I don'tthink shaking president Holmgren'shand and smiling for pictures willhave the same spiritual feeling astaking communion, for example.

It seems like there could be so

many other ways to celebrate thistype of event. Maybe a ceremonialcleansing swim in the ocean orsomething. A bonfire/cupcake cele-bration where I burn all of mynotes for classes I didn't want totake. I mean, this is what I feelmight feel the best for me—itwouldn't be the same for everyoneelse. I want to make a change sothat people celebrate their impor-tant life transitions exactly howthey want to. The point is—it'syour day to celebrate, so why notdo exactly what you want to?

However, I'm looking forwardschool ending. I'm looking forwardto seeing my classmates at the var-ious parties and gatherings that willrepresent the culmination of theselast four years of my life. Plus, mymom will be so happy when shegets to take that snapshot of me inmy black robe, walking across the stage.

Graduation is fun for everyone — well, mostly just my motherTara Nelson, a creative writing major and a journalism minor, is the outgoing Editor in Chief of The Campanil. She hopes to win a Pulitzer prize for something real, real soon.

Nicole Maria Vermeer is a senior, graduating with a major in English and a minor in Environmental Science. When she is not Millsing around she enjoys being outside and drinking teawith milk and sugar, preferably at the same time. She owns too many dresses, and one Mills sweater, but doesn't wear it very often.

What should the new dress code be for graduation instead of cap and gown?Q u e s t i o n o f t h e W e e kQ u e s t i o n o f t h e W e e k

“Decorating your gown in a way that repre-sents you. Mine would be sewn out of years

worth of notes.”

— Kat Moon,post-bac student

“Nudity. We come into this world naked,why shouldn’t we get our degree naked?”

— Emelie Whiting, junior

“I think a gown is okay. What’swrong with the gown?”

— Christine Iyohi, sophomore

“David Bowie—circa 1972 leotardthings. Extra glam. And eye patches.”

— Nick Wang,first-year grad student

COMPILED BY LAUREN SOLDANO AND JOANN PAK

Page 7: Issue 13, Spring 2011

“Did youknow you’re aqueen? Youare beautiful. Ican take careof you,” an oldblack man saidto me at the bus stop between SanPablo and University in Berkeley.

“I’m not a gold digger,” I said.“So, do you like women?” said

the man.At this point, I refused to

answer any of his utterly ridiculousquestions. His comments were notonly sexist but inherently filledwith the assumption that I don’tknow who I am or know myself.

Yes, I know my ancestry. Yes, Iknow that I am beautiful. Lastly,you can’t buy me sir. I was disgust-ed that this man in his 50’s wouldhave the nerve to think that becauseI wore a short skirt I could bebought with his insinuations or thatmoney could make his sexist com-ments and lecherous stares (like Iwas piece of meat) make up for hisinappropriateness.

This is not the first time that Ihave been sexually harassed at thebus stop. Everyday I am harassed atthe bus stop, bart stop or walkingdown the streets of Richmond,Berkeley, Oakland and SanFrancisco. The harassment justincreases when I wear skirts, dress-es or shorts. That is the battle withtaking transportation as a youngblack woman. I have to think ofevery scenario I might have toencounter that day because of whatI wear.

There is no reason men shouldassume a woman’s sexual avail-ability or question it because shedecided to wear a short skirt. As ayoung woman, I should be able towear whatever I’d like and not besexually harassed.

When I woke up that morning, Ithought about wearing my cuteshort Hollister jean skirt. I thoughtabout how much harassment Icould endure—lustful ogling, yells,

hollers and attempts to possiblyeven touch me. I have thesethoughts every time I put on shorts,skirts or dresses that show my legs.Often I opt to just put leggings ortights underneath—but it’s hot out-side. And damnit, I should be ableto wear what I want!

Unfortunately, this is not a sin-gular narrative. I know there aremany women throughout the worldwho think about how a pair ofshorts or skirt can attract unwantedattention or nasty remarks frommen and women. A skirt, a simplefashion expression, should be wornwhenever a women feels like it. Itshould not be a reason or excuse touse as an invitation to rape, harass-ment or any other sexual innuendos.

Typically, short skirts havebeen used as a excuse as to howrape may have occurred. I haveheard men and women say in thecommunity, “She had a short skirt,so she was fast” or “she wore ashort skirt to the club and wasdancing so it was okay to feel onher legs and thighs while invitingher to engage in sex.”

Recently, in a controversialrape case with an 11-year old girl inEast Texas, a community memberwas quoted in the New York Timessaying that the girl, “dressed olderthan her age, wearing makeup andfashions more appropriate to awoman in her 20s” as a reason towhy the girl was raped.

None of these reasons are valid.I, a Black woman should be able towear a short skirt and not getharassed. But, in a patriarchal soci-ety, I am an over-sexualized Blackwoman who has to fight societalsexism and racism every day. Yes,no exaggeration– everyday whichincludes how I express myself inmy clothing options. I would like tonot have to deal with all of the sex-ual harassment because of howshort my skirt, shorts or dress is butthat is not my current reality.

Opinions & Editorial 77MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

Tymeesa Rutledge is third-year PLEA major and a hip-hop fashionistawho fights sexism one lyric at a time. Read her blog tinyteesbsw.com.

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

OPENFORUMShort skirts do not makesexual harassment okay

The MillsCrest Yearbookis a yearly pub-lication thatincludes a col-lection of pho-tos from Millsevents, clubs/organizations andmost importantly, graduating sen-iors of the academic year. TheCrest’s aims to capture memoriesto create a tangible way for seniorsto reflect upon their journey atMills after graduation.

My decision to join the year-book staff at Mills was sponta-neous. I contributed to my highschool’s yearbook and I thought itwould be amazing to dedicate myexperience to the college yearbook.

As exciting and rewarding asthis experience has been, I havefound numerous challenges—departments not willing to be pho-tographed, clubs and organizationssubmitting photos after the dead-line, and keeping a committedstaff. Most challenging, however,is working with all Mills’ seniors.

The yearbook staff works very

hard to make sure the flow of infor-mation for senior portraits andphoto submission is constant andclear, yet often we receive com-plaint in return.

We use the comprehensiveemail alias, post on student news,publish in The Campanil, and postfliers and posters in various loca-tions across campus. The staff sin-cerely understands that not all sen-iors have access to a computer, readthe Campanil or may not even havean opportunity to read the fliers.However, if more seniors do notbegin to participate in the processof creating the Crest, the availabili-ty of the yearbook may changevery soon.

This year, out of 278 graduatingseniors, a mere 147 took their pho-tos. We know not every graduatingsenior would like to have theirphoto included in the Crest, or ishas time to take their picture, butthese numbers jeopardize the futureof the yearbook.

The fee for The Crest is includ-ed in the ASMC fee, and aside fromthis there is a $5 sitting fee when

seniors take their portrait. This feewas introduced last year to reim-burse the photograph company,because so few students have beenshowing up to get pictures taken.

If this trend continues, on top ofthe aforementioned fees there willbe a charge to pick up the yearbook.

Because we want to keep theyearbook affordable, it is impera-tive that future graduating studentskeep their eyes and ears open as towhen to take their yearbook photoand how to participate in the pro-duction of the Crest to insure thatwe keep this wonderful tradition.

As the Editor of the yearbook, itis not my intention to offend any-one. The most rewarding part ofmy job is being able to createsomething that holds long lastingmemories and the accomplish-ments of my fellow Mills women.

It is my hope that with the pub-lication of this piece, future stu-dents will be more open to partici-pating in the process of keepingThe Crest an important part of whatmakes our community unique.

Poor participation rate threatens Crest’s ability toprovide free yearbooks

Note from Abroad: Tokyo, Japan

Kirstyne Lange is a Junior and Public Policy Major. This is her first submission to The Campanil

The times-pan betweenApril 29 andMay 5 is com-monly knownin Japan as“ G o l d e nWeek.” It’s a time in the springwhere there are 4 national holidaysin one week: Showa Day,Constitution Memorial Day,Greenery Day and Children’s Day.

People usually get the wholeweek off from school and work;they go on vacations, relax andhave parties. Stores have GoldenWeek sales, and Shinkansen (bullettrain) ticket prices shoot right up to

take advantage of all the travel.As for my case, Sophia

University only gave its studentsMay 2 - 5 off from school. Theclass sizes began to dwindle comi-cally around April 27, and themorning trains grew progressivelyless crowded.

Over the past week, students onmy program left for 10-day trips tothe US and Taiwan. Some went tostay with friends in Tokyo, whileothers went sightseeing as far awayas Osaka. Two girls actually wentup north to volunteer in the Tohokuregion (the area most affected bythe crisis).

In other words, my dorm build-

ing has been incredibly quiet forthe past few days.

Since they haven't returned yet,I can't help but wonder how the twogirls who went to Tohoku are far-ing. There are a lot of mixed feel-ings around foreigners in theTohoku region right now. On theone hand, there’s resentment for“flyjin” (gaijin (foreigners) whoflew away following the disaster).There’s also mixed gratitude andcontempt for the gaijin who stayed.

The latter is partly due to analarming recent trend of “disastertourism” where people actually goon day trips up to Tohoku to see thestricken area like it’s just sightsee-

ing. There are also people who goup to help, but don’t speak muchJapanese and just manage to get inthe way and sap resources. TheTohoku region has actuallyrequested officially that no onecome to help unless they havestrong enough language and physi-cal skills to be helpful.

There’s a person in my dormbuilding who is originally fromFukushima, where the troublednuclear plant is. On Tuesday ofGolden Week he brought out alarge bottle of saké from his home-town, saying that it was sold toraise funds for the relief efforts.

We opened the bottle and toast-

ed Fukushima. Every time we tooka drink, we would say, “GanbareFukushima.” or “Ganbare Nihon.”(rough translation: Good luckFukushima. Good Luck Japan).

I feel like Golden Week was atime to make meaningful memoriesand to really explore Japan.Everyone has stories to tell afterthis week.

Although the weather hasn’treally been spring-like, GoldenWeek is the pinnacle of theJapanese springtime—everyonecomes back into their normal rou-tines rested and ready to persevere.

“Ganbare Fukushima. GanbareNihon.”

““GGaannbbaarree FFuukkuusshhiimmaa,, GGaannbbaarree NNiihhoonn”” GGoollddeenn WWeeeekk ssiiggnnaallss sspprriinnggttiimmee iinn JJaappaann

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WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY KATIE SUNSHINE

Page 8: Issue 13, Spring 2011

SSppoorrttss && HHeeaalltthh88 MM aa yy 11 00 ,, 22 00 11 11

Find more stories, photos, videos and live updates at www.thecampanil.com

Cyclones in action: 2010-2011

First four photos clock-wise from top: the soccerteam running towards thecrowd after a game; thecross country team at thebeginning of a 5k race; thevolleyball team stretchingon the Mills volleyballcourt; the swim team kick-boarding during an earlymorning practice.

Clockwise from bottomphoto: the crew team row-ing while the sun risesover Briones Resevoir;track and field coachLaché Bailey talking withthe team; Jamie QuinnHarris celebrating with thevolleyball team.

ALL PHOTOS BY KURT LOEFFLER