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Event Calendar
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Shoutbox
Latest on Wed, 09:24 pm: too hippie for the website?
: but, what do you want? It's the calendar section, fwiw.
: The future is not what it used to be. WTF?!
: Accepting Points
: http://congratulations.whoismgmt.com/
: Is williams a "new" ivy? Wes only 8th Most Political College?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/the-new-ivies-10-schools-_n_692223.html#s128862 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/28/the-most-political-colleg_n_697826.html#s129203
Showing: Alumni
MGMT Weighs In On Wes Applications Increase
“It’s definitely more due to us . . . I think.”
Also, DKE parties described as “tea, knitting, mutual handjobs, stuff like that.” Enjoy . . . if you can tolerate Nardwuar’s grating interview style, that is.
Thanks to anonymous shoutboxer for the tip.
Five Years in New York
Liz Colville ‘05 has a lovely post over at The Awl, an open letter to ‘10 grads. She writes about her post-college years – the alien world of temp jobs, online dating, and apartments that make a HiRise seem palatial. Colville still lives in New York — and take heart ‘10 grads: “slowly my temp career was being replaced with a writing career”!
The Awl: Five Years in New York: To the Class of 2010 from the Class of 2005
Mytheos: The Controversy Lives
I thought that when us 2010ers graduated, all the “do we publish this crazy thing about Mytheos or not, because if we don’t we’re ignoring a topic of genuine interest, but if we do we’re just feeding his egocentric love for campus drama” fuss here at Wesleying would go away. The realization that he really had been doing it in the name of controversy for controversy’s sake only solidified my relief that we wouldn’t have to deal with this again.
“Good job, Mytheos,” I thought. “You pulled off your insane media coup, dismissed liberal students’ lack of serious engagement with your columns as proof of political aloofness when really your arguments were so nonsensical that nobody knew where to begin, and inadvertently perhaps pulled off a weird kind of postmodern performance art.”
So I felt mildly amused when I saw that someone posted a link in the Shoutbox under the pseudonym “FUCK YOU MYTHEOS.” It leads to an article called “Elegy for Academia,” penned by the man himself and published as a guest article with Accuracy for Academia, a conservative nonprofit that “wants schools to return to their traditional mission–the quest for truth.” I don’t know what I expected. Maybe Mytheos got a full-time job in journalism and someone was jealous. Whatever, ha ha.
Then I actually read beyond the first few paragraphs, and it turns out that this article is annoying enough to drag me back from the proverbial grave. Read More
Trollin’ the Twittersphere with the Class of ‘05, or: “Roses Are Red, Westco Is Dirty”
This just in: even without the ACB in their day, alumni know how to troll in style. Jesse Sommer ‘05 sends word of a pretty hilarious Reunion prank perpetrated by an unidentified member of the Class of 2005:
Over Reunion weekend, the Class of 2000 had set up a Twitter account and provided the access information to the public, where “public” was intended to express “members of the class of 2000″ but unsurprisingly included “a member of the Class of 2005 who took the opportunity to exploit the open account access.”
And, perhaps aware of where suspicion might inevitably fall, Jesse adds:
I became aware of this because of a very inconsequential exchange of heated words between members of the Classes of 2000 and 2005.
With no further ado, I present some highlights from the Class of 2000’s hopelessly hijacked, NC-17 Twitter stream:
Wesleyan Spirits’ Spring Jam: Tonight at 9!
The Spirit ‘81 writes:
The Spirits’ Spring Jam! Come see it. Big things. New musics. A life-changing experience. A waste of your time. All wrapped into one hour of songs you love and other songs too. A revelation; a revaluation! A cappella–without boundaries!
Plus, it’s your last chance to see senior Phi Beta Kappa members Daniel Charness ‘10, Justin Bours ‘10, and Hansel Tan ‘10 do the only thing they are good at!
Date: May 7th
Time: 9pm
Place: Memorial Chapel
Price: Fo FREE
Wesleyan Community Demands a Staff Position Dedicated to Sexual Violence
The following is also published as a Wespeak in today’s Argus. Keep an eye out for a response from the administration:
The one-year anniversary of Johanna Justin-Jinich’s murder is fast approaching. This Thursday, May 6th will mark for the Wesleyan community one year that has passed since we lost Johanna in what was undeniably one of the most horrific acts of violence this campus has, and ever will, experience. Her murder was a hate crime, a ruthless act of gender violence and anti-Semitism.
Gender violence is a persistent problem on this campus, as was once again brought to the fore by the recent Wespeaks written by students who have been sexually assaulted at Wesleyan, as well as those written by staff and students calling for greater administrative accountability to issues of gender violence prevention and response. Additionally, at the forum on campus violence on Tuesday, April 27th, students, staff, and alumni came together to discuss possible improvements to Wesleyan resources.
Students have been working with the university for years to improve University policy, response, and prevention around issues of sexual and gender violence on campus but still have found little sustained administrative support. The only way more effective resources, policies, and prevention efforts can be put into place is to establish a full-time staff position that would be responsible for advocating on behalf of survivors of sexual and gender violence, heading sustained prevention efforts, and helping all members of the Wesleyan community work together to build a campus that is safe for everyone. Safety means a community in which everyone is accountable for creating an environment that promotes respect, consent, critical thinking, and sex-positivity.
Persistent student pressure on the administration resulted in the creation of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Intern, but this position alone cannot adequately address a campus climate of gender violence. The intense responsibilities of the position are too demanding for any one student to carry out effectively. Although there are various support systems in place for students (i.e. the faculty/staff on SART & OBHS), it is unfair and unsustainable that the only person on campus who is paid to be specifically knowledgeable about sexual assault and gender violence is a ten hour per week student position that isn’t even written into a specific departmental budget. The Intern position currently gets its funding through the SBC.
The University has a responsibility to invest in a staff position which would allow us to address this pervasive violence. This isn’t a question of available funding, but a question of priorities. Comparable schools such as Barnard, Amherst, Trinity, Bates, Bard, Skidmore, Bowdoin, Colorado College, Lewis and Clark, Whitman, and Brown have invested in at least one staff position, and it’s time for Wesleyan to follow suit.
The above document circulated via the internet for only three days and, in that time, received formal support from 536 members of the Wesleyan community: 405 students, 47 alum, 37 parents/family members, and 27 members of the Wesleyan faculty/staff.
The Person You Think You Know: Signs and Solutions of Campus Violence
This should be interesting. FOX News comes to Wesleyan in the form of a corporate-sponsored forum on relationship violence.
Brought to you by the Hartford Courant, FOX News CT, and Wesleyan University:
“The Person You Think You Know: Signs and Solutions of Campus Violence”
Almost half of college students have experienced abuse in a relationship, according to a 2008 study. Abuse can range from cyber-stalking to beatings and rape. Four experts will look at relationship violence on campuses, how to recognize danger signs and get help.
The four panelists will be:
- Jaclyn Friedman ‘93, a performer and co-editor of Yes Means Yes! Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape (check out her recent article on the topic and the Yes Means Yes blog)
- Connie J. Kirkland, director of sexual assault services at George Mason University in Virginia and a national expert on campus stalking
- Janet Peckinpaugh, a broadcast journalist who has been a victim of stalking and domestic violence
- Claire Potter, professor of American studies here at Wesleyan University, whose research includes the study of violence against women
The panel will be moderated by Laurie Perez, of FOX News CT.
Don’t let the scare tactics in the title throw you off. I think this is going to be a really interesting opportunity to hear different perspectives on violence on college campuses, of which there are, unfortunately, far too many examples. The effectiveness of our university’s sexual assault prevention and response policies have been called into question by students and alumni as of late, and it’s worth it as members of this community to weigh in. Changes in administrative policy would affect huge numbers of our campus’ population. That’s just my two cents.
Date: TOMORROW, Tuesday April 27
Time: 6 – 7:15 pm
Place: Beckham Hall
This Just In: Westco a “Haven for Ferret Owners”
You’re sick—again—of hearing about MGMT, and that’s fine and good, because so are we.
But few things make me roll my eyes more than mainstream press exotifications of Wes (see: naked dorm, pornography class, OMFG CO-ED SHOWERS AND GROUP SEX), leading one Wesleying alum and co-founder to theorize that any article about Wesleyan includes three obligatory mentions: marijuana, the “naked dorm”, and the pornography class. It’s about as airtight as the Caine-Hackman Theory, I’d say, and totally rife for a thesis topic (looking at you, ‘11).
As for mainstream press portrayals of Westco: again, three basic elements—drugs, jam-band music (sup, Wes circa 1995), and . . . ferrets? From a Rolling Stone profile on MGMT this week:
Wesleyan University, a 2,700-student liberal arts school in Connecticut that caters to academically advanced students who may not have fit into their high schools. Both guys had signed up for rooms in the ‘weird’ dorm, a haven for jam-band lovers, ferret owners, and kids that arrived at college very familiar with psychedelic drugs.
Thanks to Jessica Jordan ‘13 for the tip. I can’t seem to find the full article online, so feel free to comment with a link or your own ferret lolcat (lolferret?) or something equally procrastinatory and useless if the spirit moves you.
“Behind the Glossies: The Filtering of Fashion from Conception to Publication”
We know you all love to read this magazine, so come hear the second speaker in The Argus Speaker Series:
Michelle McCool ’95
Fashion Director, Cosmopolitan
“Behind the Glossies: The Filtering of Fashion from Conception to Publication”
Supported by the Wesleyan Writing Programs
Refreshments to follow
Date: Friday April 16
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Allbritton 311 (top floor)
new Amanda Palmer projects
For any of you who aren’t so into MGMT and Das Racist being the only Wes alums to make Wesleying music news (as we all know Wesleying is the true barometer of musical success), here’s a little change for ya.
Amanda Palmer ‘98 has a new project, Evelyn Evelyn. Palmer is probably best known from her Dresden Dolls years, but her stuff is generally pretty cool. She’s very into vaudeville in her performance style, so if you’re looking for a little something different check her out. I’m going to go ahead and link in the Brooklyn Vegan story, which has tour dates and all that jazz.
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/04/evelyn_evelyn_i.html
Santigold to perform at Wes during Reunion Weekend
Looks like Santigold (Santi White ‘97) is this year’s Reunion & Commencement weekend performer, following the show put on at the Memorial Chapel last year by Dar Williams ‘89.
There’s been no official announcement yet, but the R&C weekend schedule lists a WSA co-sponsored performance by Santigold on the night of Friday, May 21st, in the giant tent they set up every year on Andrus Field.
This will be the first show played by Santigold at Wesleyan, who was scheduled to perform at last year’s Spring Fling before it was canceled. Very fittingly, it will be held in memory of Johanna Justin-Jinich ’10 and Chase Parr ’10.
Looks like it’ll be a free show, with donations to the Memorial Clinic of Kibera in Kenya (scheduled to open this summer) highly encouraged. Good times if you’re sticking around for senior week.
Peep the R&C schedule and video invitation.
Date: Friday, May 21st
Time: 10 pm
Place: Andrus Field Tent
Cost: Free, I guess?
SphincterVerse: MGMT’s “Flash Delirium” video
Another MGMT post. This time, with eels.
Also, please pass a joint through a campus tour today. Or streak in slow motion. Or get in a foodfight around them. Or dose them with miraculin. ’sAPRIL!
Das Racist on DKE, Richard Slotkin’s Retirement, Olin
Following up on their personalized publicity campaign, the strangely-named MTV Iggy interviews Das Racist on all Wesleyan topics. But I can’t introduce this clip better than they did:
“Westco. Butt B. Anthony Braxton. The Argus. The Ampersand. If these words mean anything at all to you, you probably attended Wesleyan University in grim, grim Middeltown, Connecticut. You know who else did? The “weed-edge/hare krishna hard-core/art-rap/freak folk” duo Das Racist. We sat the MCs of our favorite hip hop group down and asked them the tough, tough questions about their alma mater. We ran out of time before they could sing the school fight song, but if you’re even watching that far into the video, you already know the song by heart. 06459 in the house!”
Thanks shoutbox commenter for the tip!
