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Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

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I N S I D E >

NEWS ARTSFEATURES VOICES

the Bennington Free PressT H E B E N N I N G T O N C O L L E G E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R

Volume 17 Issue 4 | Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

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WUDQVSDUHQF\�LQ�JHQHUDO�DQG�WRZDUGV�D�VKDUHG� XQGHUVWDQGLQJ� DPRQJ� IDFXOW\�DQG�VWXGHQWV�VR�WKDW�ZH�DUH�DOO�RQ�WKH�VDPH�SDJH�µ7KHVH� UHYLVLRQV� FDPH� RXW� RI� FRQ-YHUVDWLRQV�DPRQJ�IDFXOW\��6(3&��DQG�IRFXV�JURXSV�FDUULHG�RXW�E\�6(3&��$�UHSRUW� JLYHQ� WR�$3&� E\� 6(3&� VDLG��´>VWXGHQWV@� IHHO� WKDW� WKH� IDFXOW\� DQG�DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ��OHW�DORQH�VWXGHQWV��DOO�VHHP�WR�KDYH�GLIIHUHQW�LQWHUSUHWDWLRQV�DQG�EHOLHIV� DERXW� WKH�3ODQ��7KH\� UH-SRUW� WKDW� WKH\�RIWHQ� UHFHLYH� FRQÁLFW-LQJ� LQIRUPDWLRQ� DERXW� WKH� SURFHVV�LWVHOI� DQG� WKHLU� 3ODQ� LQ� SDUWLFXODU�µ�:KLOH� IRU� QRZ� WKHVH� IRUPV� DUH� ÀQ-LVKHG��5DQVLFN�VD\V��´7KLV�LV�D�OLYLQJ�GRFXPHQW�� DQG�ZKLOH�ZH� KRSH� WKHUH�ZRQ·W�QHHG�WR�EH�DQ\�VLJQLÀFDQW�UHYL-VLRQV��WKHUH�ZLOO�EH�D�PRPHQW�VRPH-WLPH� LQ� WKH� IXWXUH�ZKHQ� LW�PLJKW� EH�VKLIWHG�� DQG� WKDW� LV� WKH� VSLULW� RI� WKH�GRFXPHQW�� ,W� LV� DOVR� WKH� VSLULW�RI� WKH�3ODQ�SURFHVV�µ6WXGHQWV� ZLOO� UHFHLYH� DOO� RI� WKHVH�GRFXPHQWV� QH[W� WHUP� LQ� DQ� RSHQ�*RRJOH�'RF��6WXGHQWV�ORRNLQJ�WR�VHH�WKHP� QRZ� FDQ� HPDLO� WKH� 'HDQ·V� RI-ÀFH�

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LQVWDOOLQJ� PRUH� ZLQGRZV� DQG� JODVV�GRRUV�LQ�WKH�EXLOGLQJ�:KHQ� DVNHG� DERXW� KRZ� ORQJ� WKLV�SURFHVV�PLJKW�WDNH��5HHV�FODLPHG�WKDW�WKH� SODQV� DUH� WR� FRPSOHWH� WKLV� ZRUN�´RYHU�WKH�QH[W�WZR�VXPPHUV�DQG�ÀHOG�ZRUN�WHUP�µ�VR�ZLWKLQ�́ D�\HDU�WR�D�\HDU�DQG�D�KDOI�µ�+H�H[SODLQHG�WKDW�RQH�RI�WKH�PRVW�GLIÀFXOW�DVSHFWV�RI�WKHVH�UHQ-RYDWLRQV�LV�VFKHGXOLQJ�DURXQG�FODVVHV�DQG�IDFXOW\� UHVHDUFK� LQ�RUGHU� WR�´DF-FRPSOLVK� WKH� SURMHFW� ZLWKRXW� PDMRU�GLVUXSWLRQV�µ�$Q\�FRPSURPLVHV�PDGH�IRU� FRVW� RU� ODFN� RI� LQWHUIHUHQFH� ZLOO�QRW� DIIHFW� WKH� TXDOLW\� RI� WKH� UHQRYD-WLRQV��DQG�WKH�SURMHFW�VKRXOG�EH�FRP-SOHWHG�´DV�HIÀFLHQWO\�DQG�DOVR�DV�FRVW�HIIHFWLYHO\µ�DV�SRVVLEOH�'LFNLQVRQ� LV� QRW� WKH� RQO\� EXLOGLQJ�WKDW�%HQQLQJWRQ�ZLOO�EH�DWWHQGLQJ� WR�LQ�WKH�IXWXUH��5HHV�H[SODLQHG�WKDW�WKH�'LFNLQVRQ� XSGDWH� LV� WKH� ´ÀUVW�PDMRU�SURMHFW�RI�WKLV�QH[W�SKDVH�RI�WKH�&RO-OHJH·V� UHQRYDWLRQ� DQG� UHVWRUDWLRQ� RI�H[LVWLQJ� EXLOGLQJV�µ� &RPPRQV�� WKH�6WXGHQW� &HQWHU�� WKH� %DUQ�� DQG� -HQ-QLQJV�DUH�DOO�ORRNLQJ�WRZDUGV�XSFRP-LQJ� UHQRYDWLRQV��7KH� H[WHQW� RI� WKHVH�SODQV� ZLOO� UHTXLUH� ´PDMRU� IXQGUDLV-LQJµ�WKDW�ZLOO�WDNH�PXFK�WLPH�LQ�RUGHU�IRU�WKHP�WR�FRPH�WR�IUXLWLRQ�

Plan Documents Go Back to the BasicsAPC Retools Plan Documents to Clarify and Inspire

42-year-old Science Building Gets Face LiftInfrastructure O verhaul

;R�CHLAN:�:'�:'�;HN<A>K��*+NEWS EDITOR

;R�MK>OHK�LM:GGNL��*.

CNEB:�=KBLD>EE��1,%�<HNKM>LR�;>GGBG@MHG�<HEE>@>�:NFGB�H??B<>

;>MLR�LA>KF:G�L�LMN=>GML�<HG=N<M�:G�>QI>KBF>GM�BG�MA>�=B<DBGLHG�L<B>G<>�;NBE=BG@�BG�*202'�LM:KMBG@�MABL�LNFF>K%�=B<DBGLHG�PBEE�NG=>K@H�:�L>KB>L�H?�K>GHO:MBHGL'

Page 2: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

>>SkinnySenior’s Last Co!ee HourThat awkward moment when a 22 year old realizes no one in the room will miss them.

Sup ParentsHow are you? I’m !ne. I hope you like the paper!

Shouts Out to Kenny Ol-guinFor making people’s lives better through neon yel-low cheese noodles. <3

Why isn’t the Plural of “New” not “News”?And why isn’t one piece of news not just a “new”?

“This is the craziest I’m gonna get this week.” Rachel wears a coat in-doors.

“Meow Meow Meow Meow. I’m going to go sleep in d207 now.”Stanley Wong ‘12

“That is So O!ensive. That is Not Socially Acceptable at All. [Giggles]”Overheard in the Pod.

WhatIsMikeGoldinDoing.tumblr.comNobody ever asks how Mike Goldin ‘14 is doing.

Student Life Denies O! Campus HousingTown/Gown relationship improves.

That Few Days After “Thera"u” by Kanye West Came OutCease and desist orders are weird. What is the name of this song now?

Power Outage During Morning ClassesBrief hope for no more Star Trek themed Google Docs.

End of Term Heat WaveStudents "ock to CAPA for the !rst time.

OMG This Is My Last BFPHold it together. Don’t cry.

This Is Hard. I’m Going to Miss You AllSni#. Goddamnit I said I wouldn’t cry.

Josh, shut up. xoxox, Connie

2 The BenningTon Free Press / May 30th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 4N E W S

Good news and bad news regarding housing

next term: while there will be fewer freshmen,

fewer students will be permitted to live off-

campus. Because off-campus housing quotas

are determined by enrollment, the record break-

ing incoming class sizes of the past two terms

have afforded a substantial number of students

the opportunity to live off campus.

Eva Chatterjee-Sutton, Dean of Students, has

noticed more students requesting to live off

campus. “One of the things I tried to put out

right at the beginning when we did off campus

housing applications was this is a totally enroll-

ment driven decision” so even students with

compelling reasons to live off campus may not

be allowed to. Many students whose applica-

tions were rejected have tried discussing op-

tions with Chatterjee-Sutton, but there is little

she can do. “There have been a lot of one-on-

one conversations where people say, ‘but I have

a compelling reason,’ and I say ‘yes, of course

you do, my hands are tied.’”

There are, however, a number of ways for

students to move off-campus without needing

the permission of the College. Students over

the age of 24, those who establish local resi-

dency, and part time students are not bound by

the residency rule. Those who may need to live

RII�FDPSXV�IRU�ÀQDQFLDO�UHDVRQV�VKRXOG�WDON�WR�WKH�)LQDQFLDO�$LG�2IÀFH� WR�XQGHUVWDQG�KRZ�D�change of residency or going part time,could

DIIHFW�WKHLU�ÀQDQFLDO�DLG�

;R�CHLAN:�:'�:'�;HN<A>K��*+NEWS EDITOR

;R�<AKBL�<HGKHR��*+

Sorry, No Room Off

Campus

The BFP Gives

Back: This Article

Was Written for

Charity

)DFXOW\�6KXIÁH��1HZ�)DFHV�7DNH�2OG�Places

There will be seven new long-term faculty

members on campus next term; Andrew

Cencini in computing, Noah Coburn in Anthro-

pology, Micheal Dumanis in Literature, Susie

Ibarra and Michael Wimberly in Music, and

two new positions in Media Studies, and En-

YLURQPHQWDO�6WXGLHV��ÀOOHG�E\�(ULND�0LMOLQ�DQG�Valerie Imbruce, respectively.

The new faculty members were found through

a complex search process that began last Sep-

tember. According to Isabel Roche, Dean of the

College, there are two times new faculty are

hired on a multi-year basis: either a spot is va-

cated, or a new position is added. The Academic

Policies Committee, which Roche serves on, de-

FLGHV�KRZ�SRVLWLRQV�VKRXOG�EH�ÀOOHG��´7KH�$3&�decides how to best use our resources,” Roche

explained, citing this year’s search for literature

faculty as an example. The end of last year left

the literature department with two vacancies.

The faculty put together a proposal as to why

WKRVH�VSRWV�VKRXOG�EH�ÀOOHG�E\�OLWHUDWXUH�IDFXOW\��instead of adding faculty in another area. The

APC agreed the positions should be used to hire

new Literature faculty, and the search began.

The College puts out a nationwide advertise-

ment for new faculty, then sorts through hun-

dreds of applications and compiles a list of peo-

ple to bring to campus. “The process takes an

entire academic year,” said Roche, explaining

that there are complications when considering

the timeline of a search. It is important to the

school that students have input in the process,

however, students are gone for three months of

the year for winter break and Field Work Term.

“We do as much as we can before Field Work

Term,” Roche said, “then start bringing candi-

dates to campus once the students get back.”

Student input is important to the process.

When a candidate comes to visit, lunches and

lectures are scheduled so that the students and

other faculty can meet them and give their input

to the APC. “Student input is one of the many

factors that we take into account,” she said.

In order to ensure this, there is an individual

search committee for each vacancy that is being

ÀOOHG��7KHVH�FRPPLWWHHV�KDYH�IDFXOW\�IURP�WKH�discipline for which the candidate is being hired,

a faculty member from another discipline, and

VHQLRU�DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ�IURP�WKH�'HDQ·V�RIÀFH�The nature of a Bennington education involves

close relationships with faculty, and because of

this, students desire a say in the hiring of new

faculty. While the hiring process at Bennington

PD\�EH�WKH�PRVW�HIÀFLHQW�ZD\�WR�XVH�UHVRXUFHV��it can be unsettling to the students and their

Plans.

Emiline Mesmer, ’15, was thinking of having

her plan focus more on computer science after

meeting Will Doane, who “brought science to

her.” “My interest in computer science only

came about because of Will, and his dedica-

tion to the subject,” she says. The class that she

took with him this term, Nature of Information,

KDG�D�VLJQLÀFDQW�LPSDFW�RQ�KHU�SODQQLQJ�IRU�KHU�education, and she was thinking of doing a tuto-

rial with him to write a children’s book about

information. Now, she’s considering looking

elsewhere to continue her study of information

due to the fact that Doane will be leaving. “The

day I approached him about the tutorial was the

day he found out he couldn’t do it,” she said,

“It was pretty heartwrenching.” An anonymous

junior is having a similar issue with the lack

of a permanent political economy professor.

“The fact that there is not a permanent politi-

cal economy faculty member means there’s no

permanent faculty member to advise my senior

thesis,” he said. “[Geoff] was the professor that

I studied with the most. I built up a relationship

with him, he was my advisor.”

The individual committees and the APC, how-

ever, work hard to make sure the people they

KLUH�DUH�D�JRRG�ÀW�IRU�WKH�VFKRRO��DQG�WKH�VWXGHQW�upset is an unfortunate backlash. The reason

for the lack of the permanent political economy

IDFXOW\� LV� WKDW� WKH\� KDYH� \HW� WR� ÀQG� VRPHRQH�who they felt was right for the position. The

present plan is to hire a visiting professor rather

than a multi-year faculty member that they are

XQVXUH�ZRXOG�ÀW�LQWR�%HQQLQJWRQ·V�XQLTXH�DFD-demic community.

;R�DKBLM:�MAHKI��*.

CHLAN:�:'�:'�;HN<A>K��*+<HEBG�;K:GM��*+�P:L�MA>�PBGG>K�H?�MABL�R>:K�L�>QMK:�IB@�A>:='�MA>�HMA>K�IB@�A>:=�P:L�;>LMHP>=�UPON KILPATRIK HOUSE AND PLACED ON A STAKE OUTSIDE.

They all skipped “Get Dressed to Get Laid”

to camp outside Gamer’s Grotto in order to

EH�ÀUVW�LQ�OLQH�IRU�WKH�UHOHDVH�RI�6XNHEDQ�6KD-chou Rena (we don’t know either). Santino, ac-

customed to the fair climes of California, came

unprepared for the chill Vermont midnight, save

the former drug-dealer’s Nike jumpsuit he had

bought on the day blue-tags were half off at

Goodwill, and his leather jacket, a relic of his

high school’s production of Grease (in which he

played Doody).

Shivering, he watched a pale Yehudi cross

the street, with a penguine gait and Game Boy

thrust out like a compass. “What’re you play-

ing?”

“Pokémon.”

“Starter?”

“Squirtle.”

“Right answer.”

“Only answer.”

“What I wouldn’t do for a shell.”

Overhearing the conversation through the

ZDOOV� RI� KLV� GRXEOH�ÀOO� FRWWRQ� FDQYDV³ZLWK� D�GU\�ÀQLVK� VLOLFRQH� WUHDWPHQW� IRU� ZDWHU� UHSHO-OHQF\�DQG�PLOGHZ�UHVLVWDQFH³WHQW��&KULV�EXUVW�WKURXJK�WKH�ÁDS��WKH�OLSLGLQRXV�VFHQW�RI�7RWLQR·V�ÀOOLQJ�WKH�DLU��,Q�DQ�LPPHQVH�JHVWXUH�RI�JHQHU-osity, he invited the others to join him within.

Flubbergasted at the elephantine invitation,

Josh and Santino yielded to its gravity.

Shortly, a knock shook the water repellant

and mildew resistant stockade. “Room for an-

other?” Came a gilded plea.

“Womb for an hour? What? Sure.”

Thus Duff joined the exquisite fraternity; the

friendship formed that night would not only

GHÀQH� DQ� HUD� DW�%HQQLQJWRQ�&ROOHJH�� EXW� DOVR�provide no less than three struggling families

with enough Ramen to last at least the amount

of hours their charitors would log in Skyrim.

God I can’t believe we are actually publishing this. Jesus Christ. At least its for a good cause. The Bennington Food and Fuel Fund earned a wopping $90 for this. That’s crazy. Way to go.

Page 3: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

3 THE BENNINGTON FREE PRESS / May 30th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 3 F E A T U R E S

Dating at Bennington is kind of like bobbing for apples at the very end of the apple-bobbing party; the selection is limited, you can barely tell what you’re doing, and all of the apples are already covered in someone else’s beery backwash. Still, a number of us do it anyway, because our primitive, pre-humanoid instincts occasionally rise up out of the cognitive murk to yell at us for wasting our nubile years reading books when we should be attacking other people with our sex parts. This becomes complicated here due to the 70/30 gender split, which makes this place a romantic bizarro world where the highest concentration of pretty girls on the Eastern Seaboard gets about as much action as the Elephant Man, and, resultantly, the level of female desperation has turned most of the eligible male population into confused, secretly frightened pseudo-Lotharios. For some, amorous encounters

FRPH�Á�\LQJ�QDWXUDOO\�RXW�RI�WKH�HWKHU��EXW�for others, engineering alone time with that certain anyone is like a never-ending sexual Greenwall. Let me guide you through this nightmare so that you can get your end-of-term jollies or start planning ahead for your September conquest.

First: Use the internet! Social media exists for the express purpose of making it easier to hunt down potential bone-zone-dream-teammates on college campuses. Have someone particular in mind? Learn the name of his/her favorite band so you can whisper it mid-potential-coitus! Creepy knowledge is creepy power.

Then: Go to the party. The year is ending and the atmosphere is charged with sexual frustration and the social anxiety that accompanies the collapse of the Senior power structure. Capitalize on this by

dressing like a centurion who could protect him/her or your various desired it’s from invading Visigoths. The same hierarchical FRQIXVLRQ�PLJKW�SHUVLVW�LQWR�WKH�À�UVW�ZHHNV�of next term, too, but it won’t be as heady an aphrodisiac as the current atmosphere of imminent loss and sweaty humidity.

Once you get talking, try: Mnemonic devices, catchphrases, and memes are the key to modern courtship. Can you imagine how many people have gotten laid by just repeating the chorus of “HYFR” to each other? Probably like 8. Maybe ratchet it up intellectually by repeating your favorite passages from “Ulysses”, or throwing down some Nietzsche. Maybe just stick to “HYFR”.

Escalation: Let’s assume that his desperation so exceeds your weirdness that he or she is willing to overlook your

recitation of the “My Name is Maximus” speech from “Gladiator” and you are now alone somewhere. Get freaky, or whatever. Ew, you’re into that? Ok, ok, I’ll leave.

Registration: Be it hand-holding, kissing in a closet, nude yoga, or a blood oath, if a physical demonstration of interest has been made, and it wasn’t Hindenberg-status traumatizing, you’ve achieved the sexual equivalent of a 16-credit clean sweep at Greenwall. Even better, if you’re planning on trying this out before we all Exodus the fuck out of here, all the weird stuff that comes after the À�UVW� GD\� RU� VR� RI� D� UHOD\�OD\� LVQ·W� \RXU�problem, because you’re leaving almost immediately! So if you’re tired of having a stable, independent, and well-organized OLIH��JHW�RQ�RXW� WKHUH�DQG�À�QG�\RXU�DSSOH���

Maybe You Should Just Stay Home

Did freshman Bryan Conover know he

wanted to be the senior speaker?

No.

So how did this happen?

Well, four years, you know? I think what appealed to me the most was making my parents proud. I feel like my mom and dad are gonna appreciate it even if I’m really nervous for it. They’ll be able to say, “I’m not spending this money for nothing.” But it’d be hard to pinpoint on any one turning point in my time here.

Something you struggled with during the

selection process was the actual delivery

of your words - what’s the story with that

and how did you get over it?

I don’t know if I ever got over it. It was different every time I delivered it. You go into that room, and it’s right next WR�WKH�SUHVLGHQW·V�RIÀ�FH��7KH�À�UVW�WLPH�there were probably twelve people in the room and there are a bunch of people we don’t know, we don’t really know the administration and half of them were those type of people- NPC’s- non-playable characters here. I think that’s what made me pretty nervous about it, added to the fact that I wouldn’t call myself a great public speaker - I’m just not very

experienced in it.I didn’t edit my speech and I didn’t

really practice that much. I wasn’t in the mindset to practice this thing - it just felt weird. I didn’t practice it until a few days before I had to deliver it again, and the À�UVW�WLPH�,�KDG�WR�JLYH�LW�,�DFWXDOO\�RQO\�practiced it the morning of - which isn’t a good thing to do when you’re already nervous. I feel like whoever says they’re not nervous going into that situation is just lying.

Have you practiced it since then?

No. [laughs] I mean, I’ve read it and I’ve been thinking of changing it. I wrote it sometime last term, and I’m talking about senior year and I didn’t know the full scope of what would happen. So I’m trying to touch it up so it’s a more DFFXUDWH�UHÁ�HFWLRQ�RI�WKH�SURFHVV��$QG�then with all my work it’s been hard to practice this thing, but I pretty much have it memorized now. It’s pretty short.

When you started writing it did you

already have an idea or did you just start

writing it?

Well I had to submit an outline of what I would write about if I were selected DV�D�À�QDOLVW��2QH�WKLQJ�WKDW�ZDV�UHDOO\�important to me - and I’m pretty sure LW�ZDV�LPSRUWDQW�WR�WKH�RWKHU�À�QDOLVWV�too - was just thanking the faculty,

because these are the people who, in my experience, push me to actually work. Bennington gets a lot of students who can be smart, but in terms of being a student, Bennington attracts a lot of people who need motivation and we have such a great faculty. In literature, at least - I don’t UHDOO\�NQRZ�WKH�RWKHU�IDFXOW\��$QQDEHOOH�has been on my case since freshman year DQG�LW�PLJKW�KDYH�EHHQ�XQSOHDVDQW�DW�À�UVW�but I’ve been so grateful to have had her guiding me and always challenging me. Even now in classes with her she won’t take any bullshit - still gotta do all the reading like I did freshman year, look up all the words I don’t know…

So that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to make sure there was a sense of JUDWLWXGH�WKDW�FDPH�DFURVV��$OVR�MXVW�WKH�kids you go to school with. It’s hard to go to such a small school and leave people after four years. We all know each other pretty well. So I just wanted to get that across. I can’t speak for anyone else. I wasn’t interesting in writing a speech like, “remember all those crazy nights?” you know, the typical college or high school graduation speech where it’s like “I’ll always remember the times we had together, guys”. I wanted it to be rooted in something tangible- my progress as a student and then touch on the other stuff in a more meaningful way.

In writing something that’s not just for

yourself there is an expectation. You’re

speaking to and in a way that is also

speaking on behalf of others. How did you

know that what you wrote was the right

thing?

Well I’d never written a serious speech EHIRUH��$QG�,�ZDVQ·W�VXUH�LI�,�ZDQWHG�WR�make this sad or - that’s what people ask me, usually. The seniors want to know if it’s sad, or happy or whatever- but I can’t imagine myself making that many people laugh. [laughs] That’s just not me, really.

I don’t know if it’s right. I still don’t know if it’s right. Whether it’s right for me or not? Every time I submit a paper I’m up until the last minute changing stuff. I feel like it’s just a part of writing where you have an idea in your head that’s not really something that can be expressed and so the work that you do is never really satisfying because it’l l never completely match up to this idea - which is changing all the time.

If you could give your freshman self one

piece of advice, what would that be?

HP«�>ORQJ�SDXVH@�7KDW·V�D�GLIÀ�FXOW�question... [long pause] Take a… Take a visual arts class. I never took one and I really regret not taking one. I wish I took one some time in the four years. I guess that’s kind of a lame answer, but… Yeah. I wish I took one.

Interview: Bryan Conover

;R�FBD>�@HE=BG��*-ARTS EDITOR

;R�>FF:�=>E�O:EE>��*,

Page 4: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

4 THE BENNINGTON FREE PRESS / May 30th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 4 F E A T U R E S

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First of all, I’m sorry you had to read that article, and, if you’re a senior, I’m more sorry that you might have had to read it again. I’m guessing the upperclassmen that read it at the time were like “bitch is gonna transfeerrrrrr” because that’s how delusional I sounded. Also, I hate fucking drum circles now because well, that’s what happens when you have to hear them every weekend.

PS: A garbage can is not a drum. More VSHFLÀ�FDOO\�� WKH� JDUEDJH� FDQ� EHORZ�my window in Woolley is not a drum. $Q\ZD\�� WKDW� ZDV� P\� À�UVW� PRQWK� DW�Bennington, so I thought it would be interesting to write a senior perspective article on my last month and how I felt.

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Connie, today:1. Your last month at Bennington is

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Page 5: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

5 The BenningTon Free Press / May 25th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 4 V O I C E S

Walshin’ It : Summer Jobs � ;R�DBEEB:G�P:ELA��*-�

It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about the summer premiere of True %ORRG¶V� ¿IWK� VHDVRQ� �9DPSLUH� 6WDEOHU����I’m talking about the annual college stu-dent rush for employment. I realize some of you may have had the foresight to set this up a few months back. Or, perhaps, \RX� WRRN� FDUH� RI� LW� HYHQ� EHIRUH� 6SULQJ�term began. And I’m sure still more of you probably got a job through your ever-burgeoning network of professional con-tacts. In my case, however, it’s becoming more and more apparent that I’ll have to thrust myself out into the job market like a lonely forty-something looking for love, complete with well-kept clothing and an essential necktie.

And it’s not like I haven’t tried. I’ve got a good resume, and it’s varied with jobs in the service industry, certain secretarial positions, a few stints at various theatres, and a good enough educational background to come off impressively. All I’m really lacking is bartender training and maybe an odd job as a house painter. If I had those skills I could work weddings, moonlight at the dive bars on the 6RXWKZHVWHUQ� VWUHWFK�:HVWHUQ�$YHQXH�� RU�SDLQW�KRXVHV��%XW�LW¶V�QRW�P\�TXDOL¿FDWLRQV�that worry me. It’s the job market.

I live in a neighborhood of Chicago that has several large high schools and a sprawling community college with an enrollment just over 5,000, so those vaunted jobs at Chipotle and Jamba Juice are highly competitive. Even getting a salesclerk post at the dilapidated Lady Footlocker in The Plaza mall is getting harder each year. Businesses are being ERDUGHG�XS��WRR��:H�ORVW�WKH�ODUJH�%RUGHU¶V�Bookstore when that company went belly-XS��WKH�6WDUEXFNV�VKXW�GRZQ�D�FRXSOH�\HDUV�DJR� �DOWKRXJK� WKLV� ZDV� ODUJHO\� EHFDXVH�using its drive through required Knievel-OHYHO� VWHHULQJ��� )DWEXUJHU� FDPH� DQG�ZHQW�in spite of Kanye’s desire to make it big, DQG�QRWKLQJ�VHHPV�WR�EH�FRPLQJ�WR�¿OO�WKHLU�collective void.

The sensible course of action to take after this would be to head to QHZVSDSHU� FODVVL¿HGV� DQG� JHW� FOLSSLQ¶��7KHVH� GD\V�� WKRXJK�� ZKDW� VHHPV� WR� ¿OO�those pages are either ominous-sounding medical testing opportunities or dubious propositions that will likely lead to an uncomfortably sexual situation with a stranger. Job websites like Monster cater WR� FROOHJH� JUDGXDWHV�� SRVWLQJ� À\HUV� IRU�odd jobs can only go so far, walking into a place and dropping off your resume is a little frowned-upon now: things are really looking bleak.

As Bennington students, we do KDYH� DFFHVV� WR� WKH� )LHOG�:RUN� 7HUP� DQG�&DUHHU�'HYHORSPHQW�2I¿FH�ZKLFK�� LI�\RX�get past the long haul it takes getting from your dorm to CAPA, sadly can really only RIIHU�KHOS�WR�(DVW�DQG�:HVW�FRDVW�VWXGHQWV��It’s just a sad fact about where the strongest arms of our alumni and extended networks exist.

I’m sure that I won’t be the only RQH� VWUXJJOLQJ� WR� ¿QG� HPSOR\PHQW� WKLV�summer, either. If I was, there’d be every reason to do what those above-mentioned loveless forty-somethings do when they’ve run out of luck: hit up some dive bars. But, I’m not giving up hope, and you shouldn’t either. The way fast food restaurants burn through employees means that I’ve at least JRW�D�¿JKWLQJ�FKDQFH��$QG�LI�DOO�RI�WKDW�IDLOV�and I do end up jobless, there’s always panhandling.

� :LWK� WKH� UHDOLW\� RI� JUDGXDWLRQ�quickly approaching I have come to a re-alization. I have spent four years espousing controversial opinions to my friends and hoping that one day I would write an article RQ�HDFK�RI�WKHP��:LWK�WKLV�LGHD�QR�ORQJHU�feasible I have decided to give you a list of headlines. 1.Just because Obama has a good voice/talks about vague feelings/seems like a chill guy does not make him care any more about you or your constitutional rights than Mitt Romney does. Romney has never ex-ecuted an American citizen without a trial. ��/HG�=HSSHOLQ��&&5��DQG�WKH�6H[�3LVWROV�DUH�RYHUUDWHG��WHUULEOH��DQG�ERULQJ��7KH�6H[�Pistols are not a punk band, CCR has no right to talk about any kind of bayou, and Led Zeppelin are racist/sexist dolts who don’t give credit where it is due.*3.If you talk ad nauseam about your pets or how cute any kind of animal is, you have no right to eat meat until I can watch you NLOO� DQ� DQLPDO� DFFRUGLQJ� WR� WKH� 6KHFKLWD�laws. 4.If you are a vegetarian why would you HDW�IDNH�PHDW"�:RXOG�\RX�DOVR�KLUH�D�PLPH�to fake slaughter it for you? And if you are a barefoot runner why do you wear fake shoes? 5.Tom Hanks ruins every movie6.Robert Zemeckis is the most overrated DQG�VH[LVW�GLUHFWRU�PDNLQJ�¿OPV�QRZ��7.Just because True Blood is a big allegory

for LGBT rights does not make it an in-teresting show, nor progressive. Actually comparing demonic beings who feed on human blood to homosexuals probably makes it homophobic.8.I think maintenance works hard and does a good job.9.Pot is for stoners10.The construction is not that bad and the look of the redone houses is awesome. 11.There are some good folk-punk bands����7HJDQ�DQG�6DUD¶V�DOEXP So Jealous is one of the best albums of the last ten years13.I think Zack Franklin might still go here14.The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is rac-ist.15.Third street is a fun place16.Mickey Roberts is one of the only peo-ple I respect on campus.17.No, you don’t need that much reverb-3HRSOH� ZKR� ZHSW� RYHU� JUDI¿WL� LQ� 9$3$�but did not have the same reaction to the vandalizing and destruction of classroom materials in Dickinson are idiots.18.Anthony Bourdain is bad for America. Also pig products are not an interesting topic of conversation, bacon does not need WR�EH�LQ�HYHU\WKLQJ��DQ\WKLQJ��19.I think CAPA is great.20.The BFP is funny, sometimes

,I� \RX� GLVDJUHH� ZLWK� WKHVH� ¿QG� PH��¿JKW�PH�� 6HH��HYHU\�FODVVLF�URFN�EDQG���&KXFN�Berry’s bank account compared to Jimmy Page’s.

Homage to the Turkey Mesa

� ;R�=:G:�L<A>BG��*+

The Turkey Mesa is a sandwich that my mom discovered at the Blue Benn 'LQHU� XSRQ� P\� ¿UVW� YLVLW� WR� %HQQLQJWRQ��6RPHKRZ�� VRUWLQJ� WKURXJK� GR]HQV� RI�handwritten offerings taped above the counter, she found the best thing on the menu. I am certain of this because in any subsequent visit to the Blue Benn my order always looked better than the person’s sitting across from me.

I won’t indulge too much in describing the sandwich’s contents: two buttery slices of toast containing warm turkey, avocado, cheddar jack cheese, and most importantly, a mystery sauce that elevates the Mesa to the type of pleasure that induces suspicion. I once asked a ZDLWUHVV�IRU�WKH�UHFLSH��6KH�OHDQHG�RQH�DUP�on the counter with the other akimbo. “It’s a secret,” she said.

The ritual eating of the Turkey Mesa marked the beginning and end of every semester when my dad and older brother would drive from New York City to drop me off or pick me up. For my dad and I, lunch was easy. Years went by and the menu remained unopened. Then

came a point when my brother became restless. “I’m tired of the Mesa,” he conceded; “maybe there’s something else on the menu.” Looking down at his plate of iceberg lettuce and refried beans my dad and I shared a look of palpable victory. My brother never wavered again.

My junior year I was exchanging letters with a boy who lived abroad. I was deeply infatuated him. He asked me about FROOHJH�� ³9HUPRQW� LV�QLFH�´� ,�ZURWH�� ³7KH�leaves are nice in the fall and there’s an old fashioned diner where I order the same sandwich every time.” A year later, when we were dating and he came to Bennington for a visit, I delighted in the prospect of introducing him to my beloved Turkey Mesa. My eyes widened as I watched him take a bite. “It’s OK,” he remarked.

Now faced with the reality of leaving many of the comforts associated with college, I will also have to part with my sandwich. Nothing else has remained so constant over four years. I envision lunch at the railroad car diner on graduation day, punching in the numbers for Roy Orbison’s “Crying” on the jukebox, and savoring my last taste of Bennington.

Reale’s Controversial Opinions ��;R�I>M>K�K>:E>��*+

IAHMH�;R�;>G�K>=FHG=��*-

2QFH�DJDLQ��'RJÀVK�+HDG�PDQDJHV�WR�WDNH�D�EHHU�WUHQG�,�WKLQN�,�DP�WLUHG�RI�DQG�PDNH�LW�GHOLFLRXV��:H�DOO�NQRZ�KRSV�DUH�D�WKLQJ�ULJKW� QRZ� DQG� WKH� KRSSLHU� WKH� EHHU�� WKH�PRUH�\RX�DUH�VXSSRVHG� WR�HQMR\� LW�� ULJKW"�1RW�DOZD\V��6RPH�EHHUV�VHYHUHO\�RYHUGR�LW�DQG�PDNH�LW�GLIÀFXOW� WR�HQMR\�WKH�GULQN�DW�DOO��%XW�WKLV�EHHU��WKH�+HOOKRXQG�$OH��LV�DE-VROXWHO\�GHOLFLRXV��%HVLGHV�WKH�KRSV��WKHUH�LV�D�KXJH�DPRXQW�RI�FLWUXV�ÁDYRU�WKDW�FRPHV�WKURXJK�XSRQ� WKH�YHU\�ÀUVW�GULQN��7LOO� WKH�ODVW�GURS�LQ�WKH�ERWWOH��WKH�WDVWH�LV�EROG�DQG�GHOLFLRXV��2Q�WKH�ERWWOH�WKH\�KDYH�LQVFULEHG�DW� WKH�ERWWRP�´$OH�EUHZHG�ZLWK� OHPRQVµ��ZKLFK�LV�ZKDW�ÀUVW�LQWULJXHG�PH��WKDW�OHP-RQ�WDVWH�LV�GHÀQLWHO\�P\�IDYRULWH�DVSHFW�RI�WKH�EHHU��$EVROXWHO\�GHOLFLRXV�� 7R� EDODQFH� RXW� WKH� KRSV� WKHUH� LV�D� WDG�ELW�RI�VZHHWQHVV�WKDW�FRPHV�WKURXJK�DQG� D� KHDY\� FDUERQDWLRQ�� ,� KRQHVWO\� IHOW�OLNH� ,�ZDV� GULQNLQJ� D� FLWUXV� IUXLW� GULQN� DW�WLPHV� ZHUH� LW� QRW� IRU� WKH� SHUIHFW� DPRXQW�RI�DOFRKRO�WDVWH�WKDW�VXUIDFHV�DW�WKH�HQG�RI�HDFK�VLS��6XUSULVLQJO\��GHVSLWH�WKH�DPRXQW�RI� KRSV� DQG� FLWUXV� IUXLW� LQYROYHG� LQ� WKH�PDNLQJ� RI� WKLV� EHHU�� LW� LV� QRW� WKDW� ELWWHU��0D\EH� WKLV� LV� ZKDW� SODFHV� WKLV� EHHU� RYHU�WKH�RWKHU�RQHV�LQ�WKH�KRS�IDG�WKDW�LV�JRLQJ�RQ��'RJÀVK�+HDG�FHUWDLQO\�NQRZV�KRZ�WR�EUHZ� ¶HP��7KDQN� JRG� WKLV� RQO\� FRPHV� LQ�ODUJH�ERWWOHV��\RX·UH�QRW�JRLQJ�WR�ZDQW�DQ\�OHVV�� ,Q�DGGLWLRQ�WR�WKLV��IXQ�WLGELW�DERXW�WKH� QDPH� RI� WKH� EHHU�� VWUDLJKW� IURP� WKH�'RJÀVK�+HDG�ZHEVLWH��´�����ZRXOG�KDYH�PDUNHG� WKH����WK�ELUWKGD\�RI�0LVVLVVLSSL�'HOWD� EOXHVPDQ�5REHUW� -RKQVRQ��ZKR� DF-FRUGLQJ� WR� OHJHQG�� VROG� KLV� VRXO� GRZQ� DW�WKH� FURVVURDGV� LQ� D�PLGQLJKW� EDUJDLQ� DQG�FKDQJHG� PXVLF� IRUHYHU�� :RUNLQJ� DJDLQ�ZLWK� RXU� IULHQGV� DW� 6RQ\� /HJDF\� �\XS��WKH� VDPH� IRONV� ZH� GLG� RXU� 0LOHV� 'DYLV�LQVSLUHG�%LWFKHV�%UHZ�ZLWK���'RJÀVK�+HDG�SDLG�WULEXWH�WR�WKLV�EOXHV�OHJHQG�E\�JHWWLQ·�WKH� KHOOKRXQGV� RII� KLV� WUDLO� DQG� LQWR� WKLV�ÀQHO\�FUDIWHG�DOH�µ

%HHU�%URDG�5REHUW�-RKQVRQ·V�Hellhound On My Ale

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Page 6: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

6 The BenningTon Free Press / May 30th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 4 A R T S

Not a lot of Bennington bands are as straightforwardly, unabashedly fun as Hot Babes. Maybe this is because Christian Mailloux ’14 and Jay Kineke ’15, originally conceived the whole thing as a joke: While staying up all night after a Ty Segall show in New York City last term and talking about how nobody dances at Bennington concerts, Mailloux and Kineke began throwing around an idea to start their own band that might get us listless post-modernists moving our desiccated bodies. The conversation led Mailloux to a revelation: “I wanna make a surf band... I wanna make a joke surf band, in... New England”. They immediately made a list of song titles (“I’m Really Starting to Get Sick and Tired of All These Goddamn Tourists”, “Cool Wave”, “Stoked on Some Girl”, “Shitty Van”, etc.) that, while obviously meant to be goofy, comprise an evocative, nostalgic, and somehow refreshingly earnest repertoire.Hot Babes is generally described in the

blogworld press (coverage is slowly but VWHDGLO\� DFFXPXODWLQJ�� DV� OR�¿� JDUDJH�surf punk, with plenty of yelling, jangly guitars and elements of Beach Boys-esque romanticism. For Kineke, guitar dude and co-vocalist, that kind of sound runs in the family. “My dad was in a surf band” he said, laughing, “At the time I really hated it. I was more into Nirvana”. Kineke himself had been in a few high school bands which he describes as “kind of silly”. Mailloux, drum shredder and also-vocalist, has been singing/songwriting for some time and once had a band in high school called “Punching... Meat Noise” that only played one concert,

which was at a Halloween party. Their present collaboration is both comfortably experienced and playfully weird.³+RW� %DEHV� &RRO� 6XUI´�� WKHLU� ¿UVW�

EP, became available for download on bandcamp this winter, and they’re starting to get attention. They’ve been played on MIT’s radio station (which is great, because those nerds could use some surf music) and, for some reason, the local radio station of a small city in France. They’ve been reviewed and plugged by 8 blogs and music sites, including CaptainCrawl and Dying For Bad Music, and the super-obviously-named Indie Bands Blog. They won this year’s Battle of the Bands and put on an energetic show at Sunfest. Since most of you were probably at home washing off all of the chocolate sauce / bacon grease / face paint / whipped cream / pig juice / baby oil during their set at Pigstock, you missed them playing a show in Kilpat’s “bounce house” and almost

destroying their own drum kit mid-show. What comes next for these babe-alicious

wave-shredders? “I think we’re doing one more show this term - a weird show”, Mailloux says. “I want to do a performance piece with Nick de Leonardi dressed up as a sea-man... Jay’s going to be a surfer covered in blood and I’m going to be either a wave or a shark”. They are also debating going on a tour sometime within the next year, probably in Christian’s currently out-of-commission camper (and probable inspiration for the song “Shitty Van”). More concretely, they plan to release a few more singles online for downloading, and hope to make some vinyl records next year if they can raise the neccesary funds. They are currently making hand-decorated and packaged CDs for anyone who asks, on a name-your-own-price basis. When I asked Hot Babes what they wanted

to say to Bennington at large, Christian automatically started spouting dumb stuff like “Sand in your food kinda stinks like +RW�%DEHV�ZKHQ�WKH\¶YH�EHHQ�VXU¿Q¶´�DQG�“Surf Life”, but Jay had a more sincere message- “What I really want is for people to do the twist. Please, do the twist at our shows.” So, guys, go to whatever weird sea-play show Hot Babes is doing this term, and for the love of god, do the twist.

With the 2012 Commencement Activities looming (and the hype about Peter Dinklage growing exponentially), many Bennington seniors are currently facing, have faced, or are attempting to put off facing for as long as possible, the same question:“So, what exactly are you going

to do with a concentration in (insert your Plan title here)?” With eight of the twenty “Most Useless

Degrees” according to TheDailyBeast.com being art-related in one way or another, LW� FDQ� EH� D� GLI¿FXOW� TXHVWLRQ� WR� DQVZHU��By now, you’ve completed four Field Work Terms (successful or not) and the majority of them were probably unpaid. The current job market looks a little bleak and while you’re looking to get your foot in the door, you’re also trying to keep your head above water. Maintaining a balance between making your art, maintaining your personal life as a college graduate, and advancing your professional career is the key according to alumni and faculty.“Since graduating, it has been clearer

and clearer to me that my life is my art practice. While it is so important to keep making drawings and photographs and think formally about contemporary art culture, it just as valuable to spend time digging in the dirt and growing my own food, taking really long bike rides and having conversation with strangers,” says sculpture alumna Marisa Prefer ’10, who is currently working as a freelance web developer/designer. At the moment, she is collaborating with Eyla Cuenca ’10 in Miami, Florida on starting an alternative art space and photo studio.Falling into a “good rhythm” engaging in

the arts discourse took time after graduation, she says, but she’s learning how to keep her hands in her work while maintaining her personal life as well.Faculty members Andrew Spence and

Jonathan Kline stress the importance of continuing to create; “That’s our ‘job,’” says Kline, “No one else could possibly do it.” Spence says that the painting faculty attempt to “prepare students for working on their own without feeling totally isolated.” He suggests making art that people want to see, for whatever reason, ZKLFK�PHDQV�¿QGLQJ�VRPHZKHUH� WR�PDNH�LW� DQG� WKH� ¿QDQFLDO� VXSSRUW� WR� SD\� IRU� LW�“Usually a day job can help, as well

as sharing space,” he suggests. “Other things to do would be networking; become friends with other people who are interested in making art; go to art events; support an art community by SDUWLFLSDWLQJ�� ¿QG� DOWHUQDWLYH� H[KLELWLRQ�VSDFHV� WKDW� H[KLELW� ZRUN� E\� ¿UVW� WLPHUV�´�Kline recommended Diaries of a Young

Artist, a collection of diary entries written by young artists, all responding to the same set of questions regarding their role as newcomers to the art “scene.” Compiled

;R�F:K>G�CHAGLHG��*.

by Shelly Bancroft, Peter Nesbett, and Rebecca Sears, the answers range from the abstract to the poetic to the bitingly realistic. “There seems to be a crisis of sorts in

the contemporary art world at present,” writes Adam Helms (whose response is conveniently stickey-noted in Crossett’s copy of the anthology) “This crisis is the artist’s position not only within the “art world” – and the series of dialogues and arguments surrounding – but also within the gargantuan, hydra-headed juggernaut known as the ‘art market.’” While some of the artists the Press

interviewed are optimistic about the future of the art market, others have already developed a bitter stance towards the carnival-like system of commerce. They all agree, however, that the most important thing to them is their work. In many cases their work has become their life or vice versa; the two become inseparable as time goes on.So don’t worry, arts students, your degree

isn’t totally useless. Find a working EDODQFH�EHWZHHQ�DUW��¿QDQFHV��DQG�D�VRFLDO�life and you might not have to get that computer science degree that your aunt has been talking about as a “backup plan.”

DEL VALLE WITH HOT BABES AT SUNFEST

PHOTO: MIKE GOLDIN

THE BFP STAFF

EDITOR IN CHIEF<HGGB>�I:GS:KB>EEH��*+

FEATURES EDITORK:<A>E�C:<DLHG��*-

NEWS EDITORCHLAN:�;HN<A>K��*+

VOICES EDITOR<>E>G>�;:KK>K:��*.

ARTS EDITORFBD>�@HE=BG��*-

PRODUCTION MANAGERETHAN CLARK-MOSCHELLA

�*-

COPY EDITORMAREN JOHNSON

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS!!

Making Art After Bennington

Hot Babes Surf Cool in Vermont;R�>FF:�=>E�O:EE>��*,

B�F�;HK>=��;R�F:K>G�CHAGLHG

FACE ON SCREEN, LIGHTER, COMPUTERS.

Rock out to Vermont’s premier surf band at:

hotbabes.bandcamp.com

SPECIAL NON-ARTS RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT

FREE HOT DOGS OUTSIDE TD BANK AT FOUR CORNERS

TODAY.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.THANK YOU.

advertise with the bfp!

Page 7: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

7 THE BENNINGTON FREE PRESS / May 30th, 2012 > Vol. 17 No. 4A R T S

On Thursday, May 24, less than a dozen people in Tischman lecture hall bore witness to a new wave in American cinema art being born. Like many birthings, this one was somewhat off-putting and disturbed a number of audience members. 7ZR�QHZ�¿�OPV��Professor Hand and Teen

Gone Bad, both produced by Bennington students shocked their audiences severely LQ� D� VSDFH� RI� DERXW� ¿�YH� PLQXWHV� �WKH�combined duration or their run times). The BFP sat down with Liz Edwards, Katherine Henderson and Katie Coughlin to discuss their process in producing Professor

Hand and the future of American art.

Is this an autobiographical piece?

Liz: Why not? I think it’s everyone’s autobiography, really.Katherine: It illustrates those times you

wake up from a nap feeling really weird.

Katie, what was it like to work with the

rest of the cast and crew of Professor

Hand?

Katie: Liz and Katherine were great directors, really.

What is the ideal viewing environment

and mindset to watch Professor Hand

with?

Katie: A blank slate.Liz: Yeah.Katherine: Tabula rasa.

Do you feel this process has changed

you as artists?

Liz: Oh, we have a lot more ideas..DWKHULQH��:H�DUH�EHFRPLQJ�¿�OPPDNHUV�/L]��2XU�QH[W�¿�OP�LV�JRQQD�EH�D�VXUUHDO�workout video called Bodykick..DWKHULQH��$QG�WKH�¿�OP�DIWHU�ZLOO�LQFOXGH��well, it was Katie’s idea- do you want to

talk about it?Katie: Well, it’s upcoming. It has to do with an 8-ball.Katherine: A magic 8-ball.Katie: And teen angst.Liz: This one is gonna be in stop motion.

What is your process for developing

new ideas?

Katherine: Mostly we talk, about-Liz: - What if we did this- and also that!Katherine: Things happen in our lives and inform our art.

Have you gotten any critical feedback

on Professor Hand?

Liz: I don’t think people understand.Katie: On person told me it was really strange.Katherine: One person told me he thought it was great because it, in a way, mocks ¿�OPV�ZKLFK�DUH�IHDWXUH�OHQJWK�DQG�WU\LQJ�to be extraordinarily serious, whereas we’re serious and silly. Seriously silly.

$Q\�¿�QDO�WKRXJKWV�DERXW�WKH�contemporary cinema-verite art world?

Liz: Well, there’s gonna be more from us.Katherine: Expect more.Liz: And you should make your own movies too!Katherine: Anyone can do it.

Professor Hand� ������� UXQ� WLPH�� ��minutes) was directed by Elizabeth Edwards and Katherine Henderson. It features Katie Coughlin and the mysterious Professor Hand. It is available for private screenings at the discretion of the directors.

Each spring, the Bennington College music department gets ready for senior music students to present the culmination of their work at the end of term. The senior concerts are a focal point for the campus, with student musicians, interdisciplinary collaborators and cheering audiences taking part. Most of the school only becomes aware of these shows after the posters go up, but for the performers and music faculty, senior concerts are an involved, year-long process culminating in the creation of advanced musical work.For some musicians, the senior show

begins germinating before they are even seniors. “It’s been in my mind for a while that I wanted to do a show about nature. I SLFNHG�RXW�P\�À�XWH�VRORV�DV�D�MXQLRU�´�VDLG�Holly Mutascio. Rebecca Blumental began composing during her summer abroad, with her senior show in mind. “Before I left, I talked to Kitty [Brazelton] about doing a senior show. I think it was expected once ,� JRW� EDFN�´� VKH� VDLG�� )RU�PRVW� VWXGHQWV��though, the senior show begins at the beginning of term when the music faculty begin meeting with students to discuss advanced work. Students then begin to pull together the components of their shows- a process that includes soliciting musicians and composing or curating performance material. “It could be way more organized than it actually is.... They wanted to talk to XV��MXVW�D�OLWWOH�DERXW�RXU�LGHDV�HYHQ�LI�ZH�didn’t have them all in place. By the end of WKH�>IDOO�����@�WHUP��WKH\�JDYH�XV�D�VSDFH�request form and asked us to schedule rehearsals, which is weird because some of us didn’t even know all the music ZH¶G� EH� SHUIRUPLQJ�´� VD\V� 0XWDVFLR�

Open-endedness is characteristic of the senior show process, and while faculty prefer to give students room to work, they also recognize the dangers of such an approach. “The state of supervision now is much more than it was one or two years ago. People would do whatever they ZDQW´�VDLG�PXVLF�IDFXOW\�1LFN�%URRNH��7KH�concern most often cited by the faculty was the students’ own ambition: since the senior concert is a culminating work and a very public one, students often want to FUHDWH� IXOO�À�HGJHG� VSHFWDFOHV� WR� VKRZ�off the full of extent of their talents. This often involves multidisciplinary work with lighting, costuming, even theatrics and dance. These features may be integral

to a show, but students often don’t have VXI¿�FLHQW� H[SHULHQFH� LQ� WKHVH� DUHDV��“People would have these beautiful vast dreams, and then they would get up there DQG� KDYH� QR� LGHD� KRZ� WR� SXW� LW� RQ�´� VDLG�music faculty Kitty Brazelton. “Slowly, ZH� GHFLGHG� ZH� QHHGHG� WR� KHOS� PRUH�´This help comes in the form of a faculty

sponsor, chosen by the student to supervise several rehearsals, give guidance and aid the student’s communication with the College in preparing a space. Sometimes the sponsor is the student’s advisor, and sometimes the student chooses a professor they rarely work with for a fresh perspective. While all of the music faculty participate in the sponsorship process, they continue to

be largely hands-off. “The supervising is PDLQO\�MXVW�WR�VHH�LI�WKH�PXVLF�LV�¿�QLVKHG��LI�the rehearsal process has started, if they’ve dealt with the space, and make sure they have their ducks in a row. It’s not like a WXWRULDO�ZKHUH�\RX¶UH�UHDOO\�HGLWLQJ�WKHP�´�said faculty Bruce Williamson. Brazelton HODERUDWHG� RQ� WKH� UHODWLRQVKLS�� ´7KLV�concert is a time to show your best work, not a time to go off and try something new and think you’re the Messiah. Hopefully we defuse some of that. We encourage them to be short and really well-done[….] :H¶UH� VKHHSGRJV�� :H¶UH� KHUGLQJ�´Even though the senior show process is QRW� DV� GH¿�QHG� DV� WKH� DGYDQFHG� ZRUN� LQ�other disciplines, everyone involved is generally pleased with the diversity and quality of music that com es out of it. This year’s concerts range from composition showcases to vocal recitals to rock shows, and other performances that simply defy categories. If students are worried about conservatism in the department, these shows should put those fears to rest. “Generally, they’re supportive of LW�´� VDLG� -R�$QQH� +\XQ�� ZKRVH� LQGLH�rock songwriting was compositionally DGYLVHG�E\�$OOHQ�6KDZQ�DQG�1LFN�%URRNH��“Sometimes the constructive feedback doesn’t come as quickly because it’s more open-ended, but all the music faculty have very open musical tastes, which is what PDNHV� PXVLF� DW� %HQQLQJWRQ� LQWHUHVWLQJ�´�Would these intriguing results be possible without this process? It’s hard to say. “There are real advantages and disadvantages to this approach. We don’t always see the ZRUN�XQWLO�LWV�¿�QDOO\�WKHUH��$�ORW�RI�ZRUN�LV�GRQH�UHDOO\�FORVH�WR�WKH�ZLUH�´�VDLG�%URRNH��That work, however it is developed, is always eagerly anticipated by the community as an exciting end to the year.

GREGORY OBIS PERFORMING HIS SENIOR CONCERT. PHOTO: INDIA K

PROFESSOR HAND. DIRECTED BY LIZ EDWARDS AND KATHERINE HENDERSON.

What’s In A (Senior) Show?;R�;>GC:FBG�SN<D>K��*,

The BFP At The Cinema: Deciphering Professor Hand;R�FBD>�@HE=BG��*-ARTS EDITOR

Harlots Land in Kinoteca6FL�¿�� IDQV� DQG� VWXGHQWV� ZKR� KDG� EHHQ�

intrigued by the Senior Art Show’s only movie trailer crammed in to Kinoteca at Midnight on Monday to catch the world premier of Harlots From Venus- a new movie by Colin Brant and Diedre Hamid.While the cut of the movie shown on 0RQGD\� ZDVQ¶W� FRPSOHWHO\� ¿�QLVKHG��DQG� ZDVQ¶W� ¿�QLVKHG� UHQGHULQJ� TXLWH� LQ�time for its midnight release, leaving the DXGLHQFH� ZLWK� ��� PLQXWHV� WR� VRFLDOL]H�amicably with their aislemates), viewers were taken with the narrative ZKLFK� ZDV� GLVFULEHG� DV� ³VXVSHQVHIXO´�DQG� ³KLODULRXV´� VLPXOWDQHRXVO\�There has been some speculation

regarding the ending of the movie shown on Monday night, with the verdict on ZKHWKHU� RU� QRW� WKH� ³UHDO´� HQGLQJ� KDG�been shown with the premier still up in the air. At publication Colin and Diedre had not responded to an inquiry from the BFP regarding the movie’s ending, or whether an online release was in the works.

;R�FBD>�@HE=BG��*-ARTS EDITOR

KINO, MONDAY AT MIDNIGHT.PHOTO: JOSHUA A.A. BOUCHER

Page 8: Spring 2012- Volume 17, Issue 4

2012