Livingston Arts’ scholastic art shines light on young artists

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Livingston Arts opened “This Art is Your Art,” a scholastic exhibition, on Saturday April 1. The show consists exclusively of high school artists from all over Livingston County, two of which will be awarded a $200 scholarship at the closing ceremony on April 29. (Annalee Bainnson/Assoc. Photo Editor)

Livingston Arts debuted their latest show, “This Art is Your Art,” on Saturday April 1 in its New Deal and Apartment One galleries. The show exhibits the work of high school artists from across the Genesee Valley area and strives to promote the work of these student artists and to encourage the development of their portfolios. 

Each piece was judged and awarded one of four types of prizes offered: best in show, first place, second place and special award. Each work won at least one prize. In addition, two $200 prizes will be awarded to “students pursuing an arts-related field in college” at a closing reception on April 29. 

This scholastic show comes directly after the Livingston Arts’ members’ exhibition, which showcases some truly beautiful and innovative pieces. Judging from this current show, Livingston County has some wonderful budding artists who might just join the ranks of those featured in the previous show. 

The range of works in this student show speaks volumes to the art departments within the county. Traditional mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics were present, but the exhibition also featured more modern mediums, such as digital photography and mixed media. Despite recent cuts to the college’s own arts programs, it’s evident that the arts are thriving in the surrounding high schools. 

One standout piece is that of Geneseo Central 11th grader Abby Salvaggio. Salvaggio won a special award for her sculpture, which features two hands protruding from the inside of a wooden box. The hands hold the earth, whose blue and green colors are bleeding down onto the floors of the box, on which are two crunched up plastic bottles. The piece is executed quite professionally, with a clear and intriguing message of the ecological responsibility of humans. 

This theme is also echoed in first prize winner and Avon 12th grader Mira Sprinkle’s painting, which depicts a beautifully realistic earth hanging from an iPhone charger. The cord is about to break, but there are human hands positioned just below the planet, ready to catch it when it falls. 

Sprinkle’s work, too, is so expertly completed, making it a bit hard to believe that a high school student is behind its creation. Sprinkle also had two other pieces in the show, which won first place and best in show.

Other than these more traditional pieces, the show includes a great number of pieces that push our expectations. One such piece is Dansville 12th grader Sakina Tasaddaq’s mixed media piece, which won a first-place prize. The piece is a sort of pop-up book that stands open, revealing layers of ocean waves and a tiny sailboat set against a starry night sky. If closed, this piece would look rather unsuspecting, but when opened, a deeper world is revealed, as if your favorite story has come to life. 

Ninth grader from Wayland-Cohocton Cecilia Kuhn also contributed a fantastic piece. The only fiber art piece, Kuhn’s work could be described as a stuffed animal—or a monster. With an H-shaped body and button eyes, the little creature has very simple facial features—just a small mouth and cheeks. Kuhn has stamped purple patterns on its body: tiny flowers, circles, large loops and blotches. 

Though it may look cute and simple, it’s obvious that a lot of strategy and sewing skills on Kuhn’s part made this piece possible, winning it a first-place prize. 

This exhibition reveals the great amount of creativity and expression that the county’s students have to offer. It is encouraging to see just how much they are capable of. There’s only room for these young artists to grow and someday hold exhibitions of their own.

Alumni exhibition emphasizes Geneseo art program success

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“ABC: 3 Person Alumni Exhibition” opened in the Lockhart Gallery on March 29. The show features the work of three Geneseo alumni: Andy Smith ‘81, William Finewood ‘72 and Don Cicconi ‘78. The three artists work in different mediums, but all show the value of having arts programs at the college. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

The newest exhibit at the Lockhart Gallery showcases the artwork of talented Geneseo alumni. “ABC: 3 Person Alumni Exhibition” features pieces from Andy Smith ‘81, William Finewood ‘72 and Don Cicconi ‘78. All of the artwork is presented together in the gallery, highlighting the different artistic styles and techniques that these Geneseo alumni have developed.

Finewood has ten pieces in the gallery, the most out of the three artists, which are mostly focused on nature and wildlife. From the exhibit, it is evident that Finewood works in two main mediums: graphite or colored pencil and paper sculpture. The works done in pencil are mostly landscape scenes, with plenty of depth created by skillful black and gray shading. The layers of space he creates give the impression that the scene stretches on for miles. In the front, there are often various animals and wildlife. 

What makes these pieces so stunning, however, is the amount of detail captured throughout the whole scene by Finewood—even as the landscape takes the eye further into the distance. It looks as though the viewer is there with the animals, observing them in their natural habitat, all without being seen. You could be on top of a mountain with the mountain goats, or crouching in a stream next to an elegant egret. 

The remainder of Finewood’s work is made of paper, which he crafts into figures that are framed and mounted on the wall. These pieces also have a sort of natural theme. One is made with strips of brown paper to make up the texture of a rooster’s feathers and another shows a woman in gardening clothes, holding a pot of flowers. 

The one piece of Finewood’s that stands out is “PlayMeArt.” This work uses paper and other media to portray a woman playing a guitar, which seems to be made of a painter’s palette. It’s a beautiful representation of unity within the arts and is a perfect way to reflect the coming together of these three artists in one show.

Smith also focuses on aspects of nature in his work. The only artist of the three to provide a formal artist’s statement, he acknowledges that the world is becoming smaller and smaller in this technological era. The result is an increased exposure to many more images of human despair and ugliness. 

As increasingly global citizens, we want to be aware of what’s happening in the world, but whether or not we are looking for the information, we are often confronted with negative global events. As a response to this, Smith photographs a female figure pictured in beautiful natural landscapes. He believes that these photos are reminders that even in a world that seems so full of human ugliness, humans can share and enjoy the beauty of the earth and each other.

Cicconi has four pieces in the exhibition, but they’re notable for their stylistic differences when compared to the other works. Instead of scenes or landscapes, Cicconi uses Asian characters or geometric shapes as the subjects of his art. He doesn’t provide a specific artist’s statement like Smith.

“[I do] not attempt to make any kind of formal statement with my art … it is up to the viewer to interpret the images through their own experiences,” Cicconi said.  

This statement is intriguing because some of his pieces include languages that most viewers in the United States don’t understand. In effect, his acknowledgement of having no artist’s statement is a statement in and of itself.

All in all, the exhibition shows us how Geneseo students have developed their talents over time, making it even more important to realize that these types of exhibits may start to become fewer as time goes on. 

While it’s true that you don’t need a degree to make art, keep in mind that these are alumni of the Geneseo studio art department––a department that no longer exists. 

This exhibit is not only proof that Geneseo does have the potential to cultivate its students’ talents in launching them toward successful artistic careers—it also serves as a reminder that unless Geneseo supports students’ arts, both the students and the community will end up missing out.

Lily Cai Dance Company blends past, present Chinese culture

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The Lily Cai Dance Company performed in the Wadsworth Auditorium on Saturday March 25. The company’s specially choreographed dances blend past and contemporary Chinese culture. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)

The Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company treated Geneseo to an awe-inspiring show on Saturday March 25. The performance consisted of three individual pieces: “Dynasties,” “Xing” and “Silk Cascade.” 

The company was established in 1988 by Lily Cai herself, whose choreography melds ancient Chinese dance forms with modern dance. Her “passion has been to reveal the soul and internal beauty of the Chinese women through dance” and she does so by “bridging the continuum from past to contemporary,” according to Cai.

The opening number, “Dynasties,” was a work spanning ancient to modern times. The piece began with modern choreography and simple costumes, but then traveled in time from 770 BC to the 1920s. 

All six dancers quickly reappeared in traditional Chinese clothing carrying baskets over their shoulders. The repetitive movement of the dancers creating an “S” shape with their torsos represented the women of the Zhou Dynasty. 

The scene then transformed into a representation of the Tang dynasty, where graceful, elegant court dancers appeared with long red ribbons. The beautiful ancient art of ribbons is mesmerizing to watch. The ribbons were thrown up in the air and floated effortlessly around the dancers. Next, during dance of the Qing dynasty, the dancers emerged with large headpieces and traditional platform sandals.

The piece soon left the dynastic era and the dancers moved to the music of a different kind of royalty. The piece transformed into high society culture of 20th century Old Shanghai. Chinese tradition began to mix with Western influence as the dancers moved in less conservative dresses and began to explore newer styles of dance.

The next piece, “Xing,” explored the Chinese art of fan dance. Cai’s choreography draws from all regions of China to create a more contemporary, edgy form of fan dancing. She describes “Xing” as “a dance of unique body language—soft yet powerful, a clear tribute to the strength, grace and beauty of dancers.” Cai dedicated this piece to the dancers of her company. 

The final piece, “Silk Cascade,” was an exciting, stunning performance that armed each dancer with 20-foot long silks. The piece was inspired by artist Jackson Pollock and by the strokes of a paintbrush in traditional Chinese calligraphy. 

The beginning of the piece was an intense burst of black and white ribbons, which symbolized the opposing and complementary yin and yang. As colorful ribbons were introduced, the music and movement became joyful and peaceful. 

This piece has become Cai’s choreographic signature. It represents all important elements of a “good life.” The red ribbon represents good fortune and joy, the gold ribbon represents prosperity and the green ribbon signifies long life and happiness. 

The piece closed with a whirlwind of ribbons moving in all different directions. After a big crescendo, the lights went dark and the organized chaos ended.  

Cai’s inspiring choreography was a beautiful fusion of traditional Chinese culture and contemporary dance styles. The dancers successfully illustrated some of the history of Chinese culture, with an emphasis on the culture of women. From the conservative dresses and more restricted movement styles to the free, colorful ribbons, the performance demonstrated the beauty of growth and change.

Art festival spreads creativity across campus

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(Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

The Geneseo campus showcased several student art pieces as part of the Campus Canvas: As We Are festival. Various exhibitions, readings and performances will last until March 31 as a way for students to have a platform to display their artwork and to express their opinions about the campus climate as a whole. 

Campus Canvas’ central project is the Sound Hub, located in the MacVittie College Union, where individuals can record their responses to prompts. Such prompts include whether an individual is happy and what they love or hate about Geneseo. The prompts are given to inspire the individual to provide some type of narration. These sound recordings are then played along with videos shot by students of landmarks around Geneseo, creating an exciting contrast between the images and the students’ monologues. 

“The idea behind that is to really present Geneseo without necessarily editing people’s thoughts. We’re not trying to clean up Geneseo’s image at all,” English creative writing major and collaborator on the Sound Hub project senior Evan Goldstein said. “We’re trying to have people engage with what other people are really thinking more deeply.”

Also featured in the Union is Geneseo Environmental Organization’s trash sculpture, which shows the average annual trash output in the United States versus the average annual trash output of a person who recycles and composts. The sculpture includes a list of items that can be composted. The goal of such a visible and tangible display is to generate critical introspections in how one treats the environment. 

The Integrated Science Center is housing another interactive art project, as designed by English creative writing and geology double major junior Elizabeth Pellegrino, geology major senior Mark Ling and geology major junior Allison Bargabos. These students created a display of various rocks in which individuals can write down a thought on the rock, which will then be placed in their depositional environment. 

“It kind of plays off this idea of geologic time and the fact that it takes quite a while to erode and to get rid of thoughts, and that it’s a very gradual process,” Pellegrino said. 

In addition, English major senior Kiaya Rose Dilsner-Lopez’s Edgar Fellows capstone project entitled “Mezclar” has been relocated from the Kinetic Gallery to the English Department office for the Campus Canvas: As We Are festival. 

Students also had the opportunity to attend a photography workshop on Monday March 27 with activist in the Lesbian Avengers Group and photographer and videographer Carolina Kroon. During the workshop, Kroon offered feedback on strategies to convey context of an event through photography and the importance of editing and experimenting with lighting and distance. Lyric essayist and lecturer of creative writing at Columbia College T Clutch Fleischmann provided a literary reading of a current manuscript that they are finalizing as well as a recently published article of theirs on Wednesday March 29 as part of the college’s Campus Canvas events. In Fleischmann’s work, they explore the phenomenon of being gender fluid as well as questions that arise about sex and the body. Felischmann’s pieces beautifully experiment with language and form and invited listeners to feel close to the present moment. 

To bring the Campus Canvas events to a close, students will present the play “It Can’t Happen Here” on Friday March 31 on the college green. The production is led by English adolescent education major junior William Antonelli and professor of theater Melanie Blood and grapples with the rise of a fascist dictator. 

Event advisor and assistant professor of English Lytton Smith hopes that these events provide students with an opportunity to engage with the artistic community on campus.

“I think it’s really important that art becomes a way of engaging with each other on campus, in particular at a time when there’s the threat of cutting arts funding,” Smith said. “Citizenship without art is a very dull citizenship and a very limited way of thinking and rethinking the world.”

YouTube’s restricted mode discriminates against LGBTQ+ community

YouTube is no stranger to controversy; their recent introduction of a new feature to their video streaming website has certainly made waves. Their new “restricted mode” is geared specifically toward parents wishing to filter out inappropriate content, but who still want to allow their children to enjoy the videos that the website offers. While the feature is still relatively new, it’s obvious that there are still many kinks that YouTube must work out. 

The largest issue concerning the restricted mode is its insensitivity to the LGBTQ+ community. The new feature appears to target and block many LGBTQ+ related videos, regardless of how innocent they may be. In fact, oftentimes the videos being blocked have no reason for being deemed inappropriate—except for the fact that the people in the videos identify as LGBTQ+. Clearly, this is sexual discrimination and it is not appropriate. 

YouTube—which is owned by Google—is not actually the entity in charge of deeming what videos are inappropriate; rather, the feature forms its own judgment through what content users flag. 

Considering the abundance of homophobia still present worldwide, it’s not especially surprising that there is a considerable amount of people who would want to flag content created by members of the LGBTQ+ community. This, however, is evidence that YouTube does need to take initiative to ensure that new features transition seamlessly, instead of fully relying on a poorly formulated code.

Since YouTube has put its faith wholeheartedly in their viewers, they are now facing the repercussions of extreme backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and heterosexual allies. Many popular YouTube content creators, such as Tyler Oakley, Chelsea Kei and Gigi Gorgeous have spoken out against this issue, urging the company to adjust the feature immediately. While the feature may have been created with good intentions, it does not seem to be doing its job at all.

Even if parents want to shield their children forever from the oh-so-cruel reality that not everyone in the world is like them, YouTube already has a policy that doesn’t allow children to use the website. Once a user turns 13, YouTube welcomes young viewers to use their website with an underage account, which comes with its own restrictions that cannot be disabled. Restricted mode, however, can easily be disabled by anyone using the website. 

The restrictions for underage accounts are taken very seriously by YouTube, which makes the new feature extremely redundant—unless, of course, parents are going against YouTube’s policy and allowing their young children to use the video platform. By the age of 13, viewers will have hopefully experienced enough of the real world to realize that the LGBTQ+ community is a reality and can formulate their own opinions of their peers. Even if their opinion is negative or heavily influenced by their parents, they are aware of the concept and should make their own decisions regarding it.

While restricted mode does manage to block its fair share of inappropriate content for young viewers, inappropriate content hidden by the restricted mode (particularly music videos) is still out there to be found through loopholes. For example, if there were multiple videos released by other YouTube accounts, they could get around the mode. Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” is a perfect example. As such, if parents cannot trust their children to use YouTube, perhaps they should just block the website all together, or monitor their viewing themselves.

Despite the recent progress made concerning acceptance of sexual orientation, there remains a large population of individuals who criticize and fear members of the LGBTQ+ community. Regardless, children are being exposed to the LGBTQ+ individuals through personal experiences and other media platforms. Parents cannot prevent this exposure, even if they do use the new restricted mode. 

The world is slowly progressing, and it’s time that companies like YouTube start pushing for equality and proper representation. Thankfully, YouTube is already answering the cries and protests of their viewing community, officially stating that they are currently working to fix the problems with the faulty restricted mode.

Student author publishes first novel

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American studies major senior Olivia Vetrano published her first novel, Neverland, in 2015 at the age of 20. The fiction novel was selected to be published by the Kindle Scout Campaign, which called upon readers to vote for their favorite book. (Courtesy of Olivia Vetrano)

Getting a book published is no easy feat, but American studies major and history and anthropology double minor senior Olivia Vetrano has done just that. 

It all started in her senior year of high school when she was 17 years old. 

“[Neverland] is primarily about this 18-year-old with an eating disorder,” Vetrano said. “She’s kind of battling her own demons, trying to figure out life post-graduation.” 

When Vetrano was 19 years old, she finished the novel, and it got published immediately after she turned 20 years old.

Vetrano obtained a book deal in March of 2015—the spring semester of her sophomore year—with Kindle Press, where the book was electronically published. The paperback edition was self-published about a year later.

“I really didn’t think anyone would want to read it because it was a book written about a teenage girl by a teenage girl,” she said. “[It’s] not exactly award winning, but I got a really good response to it.” 

The Amazon website writes, “Neverland follows a thin line of magic that strings together Hayley Winter’s last shreds of hope. At 18 years old, the thoughts of glimmering kingdom lights and enchanted tea parties were the only way to dull the flashbacks, insecurities, burying of loved ones, etc.”

In addition, the prompt warns, “This is not a happy tale. And despite the green-eyed man who inspires magic with every touch, it’s not a love story either. It’s a reminder to always cherish the things that give us strength, real or make-believe.”

Hayley Winters, however, is not so different from the writer herself.

“The book has been a really big comfort to me because I wrote it about a lot of personal stuff, so it’s kind of like my diary in a weird way,” she said. “[Writing Neverland] was sort of a way for me to write a script of my own struggles, sit down and say, ‘This is how she’s going to respond to this,’ because I didn’t have that much control of myself.”

Vetrano submitted an excerpt of her novel to the Kindle Scout Campaign—a 30-day campaign that involves advertising your book and getting people to vote for it. When she received an acceptance for her submission, she was taken aback.

“I was raised by a librarian so everyone always knew, ‘Oh she loves to read, she loves to write,’” she said. “So the idea that I was writing a book wasn’t really a big shock to anyone, but the fact that I wrote this 300-page book as a teenager, and it was a published, everyone was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’”

Even though she’s not an English major, Vetrano said she is looking forward to pursuing a career related to writing after graduation. 

“Yes, ideally, I would love a career as a novelist, but … it’s not the most realistic thing. So I’d like to go toward the publishing world,” she said.

Right now, she’s planning to take a year off before going to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in young adult and children’s literature. Another dream of hers is to write children’s books.

This is just the start of Vetrano’s career, as she has big and bright plans for her future. Seeing what she’s already done this early in life, it seems like there’s no limit to what she’ll be able to accomplish.

Annual Insomnia Festival challenges students’ creativity, time management

As college students, many of us have been forced to pull an “all-nighter” for one reason or another––to write a 10-page research paper, or perhaps to read an entire textbook in one sitting. A group of creative Geneseo students signed themselves up for the ultimate “all-nighter”: the Geneseo Insomnia Film Festival, which took place on Friday March 24. 

Modeled after the Apple Inc. Insomnia Film Festival, the Geneseo students were challenged to write, shoot and edit a three-minute video in just 24 hours. In addition to the time crunch, participants are required to include at least three unique “elements—” which are special themes, topics or features—which are only revealed to the students at the start of the 24-hour period. After all the videos are submitted, they are judged and scored; then, a winner is revealed at an awards ceremony on Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement & Talent Day.

The competition started on Friday March 24 when the clock struck 5 p.m. The groups were crowded in a South Hall computer lab, where this year’s surprise elements were displayed on a large screen. 

The list of 20 different elements included some technical suggestions, such as using “Dutch Angles” or split screens—but most of them were humorous scenarios to give the students some ideas to work with, like “a frisbee used as a dining plate” or “an average sized person with very small hands.” 

As soon as the elements went up, the room was filled with excited chatter. Students stopped at a refreshment table—stocked with coffee and cases upon cases of energy drinks—before rushing off to start planning. 

Computer & Information Technology’s Instructional Support Specialist, Joe Dolce, is the man behind it all, holding the first GIFF in 2012. In the past, Dolce had helped students to submit a video to Apple’s Insomnia Film Festival, where they competed with dozens of other schools—but when Apple discontinued their festival, Dolce decided to start an insomnia fest of our own here at Geneseo. Since GIFF’s first year, there has been a huge turnout of students ready to learn about videography and to have some fun. 

“There are roughly 70-something maniacs starting to make their videos in the next few hours,” Dolce said, shortly after the countdown began. “My goal is to have 100 students participate.”

Dolce emphasizes that the GIFF is more than just a friendly competition. It also teaches the participants—or “insomniacs,” as Dolce likes to call them—valuable life skills. Most kids, he said, don’t even realize how much they’re learning in terms of small group work and interpersonal communication skills.

“It gives students a chance to step out of their normal comfort zone,” he said. 

In addition to communication skills, students get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with video editing, as they use software provided by CIT. An increasingly dominant medium, video is everywhere; knowing how to manipulate video is a valuable skill that can strengthen any resume.

The final video submissions are due at 5 p.m. sharp the next day, and the judges have already selected this year’s winner. The participants have to wait until the awards ceremony on G.R.E.A.T. Day to find out who won, however, it’s certainly worth the wait. 

The three highest scoring videos are shown at Wadsworth Auditorium; with refreshments and hot finger food provided. The insomniacs also get one “Golden Ticket,” which can be given to any faculty member. If that faculty member presents the ticket at the door, the faculty member and the student that gave it to them are entered in a prize raffle. Prizes come from local Geneseo vendors, like the Geneseo Family Restaurant, the Geneseo movie theater and Aunt Cookie’s Sub Shop. 

So while you’re out enjoying the G.R.E.A.T. Day festivities, stop by Wads and see some of the hard work your peers have completed—and laugh a little, too. 

Oh, and don’t forget to start brainstorming for next year.

Teres manipulates line, color in “50 Years of Photography”

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Michael Teres’ “50 Years of Photography” explores the photographer’s experimentations with light and color. Consisting of self-portraits and shots of the human body, landscapes and food, the exhibition will be on display in the Lederer Gallery from Wednesday March 22–April 29. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

The Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery is holding a thought-provoking new exhibition from photographer Michael Teres titled “50 Years of Photography” from Wednesday March 22-April 29.  

Teres is a retired professor of studio art here at Geneseo who has been exploring the way light affects various objects and forms. He has been photographing what he finds from a young age. Seeing these photographs in one gallery is a treat, as you can trace how Teres matured as a photographer throughout his life. 

The exhibit includes pieces from a series of self-portraits, including pieces that focus on a variety of subjects including food, landscapes, nature and the human body.

The photographs currently in the gallery are numerous and each is distinct in its exploration of line and color. The gallery is attention-grabbing upon first glance, simply because of the various hues central to each piece. Teres takes the colors in his photos and reduces them to the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow. This creates an interesting relationship between line and color, giving Teres’ work a distinct quality. 

Many of Teres’ photographs explore light and shadow in relation to the lines of the human form. By shining a light on the human body, shadows inevitably create new, harsher lines, redefining how we think the human body should appear and blurring the line between what we think we know and what appears before us.

One such piece is that of a woman bent over in a yoga-like position. This movement creates a line between her shoulder blades, as her hair falls to the floor; her hands are held up behind her back, extending the line even further. This opened the photo vertically; one’s eye is drawn upward. This photo explores space and balance as well, as the woman is positioned slightly off-center, standing in front of a completely white background. 

Teres also explores light in landscapes. Using Photoshop, Teres enhances certain aspects of photographs, creating lines with different shades of color to further manipulate our perceptions of reality within a single photograph. These photographs bring to mind a mixture of surrealist and pop art photography.

There are also several prints on display in the exhibition. These are standouts, especially when presented side by side. One such pair of photos uses a similar print in both, but while the first uses many different ink colors, the second is only black and white. Essentially, the pair is exploring the same movement, but the different colors and light patterns draw our eye in different directions, allowing for vastly different reactions to each. These pieces are reminiscent of pointillism and pop art. 

All of Teres’ photographs are evocative, visually mind-bending and contradictory. The viewers easily find themselves drawn into each piece, as they attempt to grasp the subject principles of design that Teres was focused on. 

Each of Teres’ photographs are a striking experiment that gives the viewer new perspectives in regard to how we see our own bodies and the dimensions of the world we live in.

“Sesame Street” introduces first autistic character

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“Sesame Street” recently announced the addition of a new character on the show—Julia, the first Muppet with autism. She will make her TV debut on April 10. (Zach Hyman/AP Photo)

Someone new just moved to 123 Sesame Street. Julia—a bright orange-haired, green-eyed little Muppet—is the newest addition to the family and to “Sesame Street’s” tradition of reflecting reality and tackling big issues. Julia is the first autistic character on the classic children’s television show. 

Julia has been a part of the Sesame Street world via its online storybooks, in which Elmo explains that Julia’s autism means that she does things a little differently than the other Muppets. Her character was so popular, however, that “Sesame Street’s” creator decided to include her in the television show as well, according to CNN.

The creators aim to emphasize that autism can manifest in several different ways. Julia has qualities that are very specific to her, not to all children with autism. For example, she does not like loud sounds, flaps her hands when upset and prefers not to make eye contact. 

Parents had a chance to meet Julia in a “60 Minutes” episode in which she, along with her fellow Muppets and show writer Christine Ferraro, were interviewed by correspondent Lesley Stahl. In the special, Big Bird explains that when he first met Julia, he believed that she did not like him, due to the fact that she did not make eye contact. 

But everyone’s favorite furry red monster and Julia’s long-time friend Elmo is quick to jump in, saying, “Yeah, but you know, we had to explain to Big Bird that Julia likes Big Bird. It’s just that Julia has autism. So sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things.” He adds, “We really like Julia. She’s really special to us.”

The show’s goal—as it always has been—is acceptance. When Julia acts differently than her friends, fellow Muppet Abby Cadabby replies, “That’s just Julia being Julia.” 

But her autism does not define Julia—she’s also a budding artist who loves to paint, emphasizing that autism “brings wonderful things,” according to Rose Jochum, director of internal initiatives at the Autism Society of America. The Sesame Workshop—the company that runs “Sesame Street”—consulted a handful of autism groups in order to learn how to express autism to children. 

Sesame Workshop has also spearheaded the campaign “See Amazing in All Children,” which provides families of children with autism with materials to learn. Julia is just one example of these tools; also offered are videos for both parents and kids, daily routine cards and storybooks. The not-for-profit company has found that the initiative has resulted in many more parents and children being able to identify with the characters they see on screen. 

In addition, they found that after using the materials and being exposed to Julia, children that are not on the autism spectrum are more accepting of those that are. 

And so with Julia, “Sesame Street” is one step closer to their top priority: “Reaching children, looking at these things through their lens and building a greater sense of commonality.” 

Julia’s television debut will be on April 10 on PBS Kids and HBO.

Playwright, television writer alumna to speak at commencement

For many of us, returning from spring break means graduation is looming just around the corner and the nerves are starting to set in. This year’s commencement speaker, however, might help to put all our minds at ease—at least a little bit. The 2017 graduating class will be addressed by alumna Molly Smith Metzler ‘00, writer, editor and comedic playwright.

Since graduating from Geneseo, Smith Metzler has written numerous plays, including “Close Up Space,” “Elemeno Pea,” “Training Wisteria” and “Carve”––which have been presented in the Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights’ Horizons, The O’Neill Theater Center and even The Tristan Bates Theatre in London, among many others. Recently, she made the move to television, writing for the one and only “Orange is the New Black” as well as the Hulu series “Casual.”

Smith Metzler’s writing often comes directly from her experiences growing up, making them not only incredibly relatable and straightforward, but also captivating and entertaining for the viewers. 

One of her most successful plays, “Elemeno Pea,” was inspired by her experiences waiting tables at a club in Martha’s Vineyard. “Elemeno Pea” features main character Michaela, who is based off a particularly difficult customer that regularly gave Smith Metzler trouble at the club. Following Michaela’s posh vineyard life and laughable antics, the play has a sense of real-time comedy that’s simply irresistible. Her family shaped her comedic voice so much that after hearing a reading of “Elemeno Pea,” her sister said, “You owe me a 10 percent commission.” 

Her most recent play, “Close Up Space,” is about a ruthless editor who is known for tearing apart the manuscripts of fresh-faced writers with red ink. The inspiration for this play came from Smith Metzler’s familiarity with the publishing world––the title itself is actually proofreading jargon. 

In addition to being a playwright, Smith Metzler is also the Playscript Editor for American Theatre Magazine. She admits, however, that she is often her own biggest critic and that she is thankful for the supportive environment that surrounds her. 

“As a community of writers, we are all in this together, and you have to celebrate your friend’s success as much as your own,” she said.  

Smith Metzler’s commencement speech is sure to touch upon her successes and experiences as a writer; but, funnily enough, it was Geneseo that piqued her interest in playwriting to begin with. Smith Metzler was originally an English major planning to get a Ph.D. in English literature, but after taking a playwriting class at Geneseo, she “fell desperately in love with playwriting,” and shifted her plans accordingly. 

“I signed up on a lark,” she said, “and it really just changed my entire life.” 

The play she started writing in that class became “Training Wisteria,” which went on to win three Kennedy Center American College Theater awards.

After Geneseo, Smith Metzler completed graduate writing programs at Boston University, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and Juilliard. This is just one example of how having the ability to explore many areas of knowledge and culture makes a SUNY education invaluable. 

“You have to be lean and sharp and hard on yourself. It takes forever just to write one good page of dialogue, and I love the challenge of every sweaty, horrifying, exhilarating moment,” Smith Metzler said.  

Ask any Geneseo senior: that sounds a little bit like college. Based on her career, her success and her comedic flare, Smith Metzler is sure to give this year’s commencement ceremony a sense of warmth and excitement.

Spring musical plans to amaze with production of “Gypsy”

What’s one word that describes this year’s spring musical, “Gypsy?” According to some cast members: bigger. Much bigger. Sponsored by the Department of Music and opening the week of April 5, “Gypsy” will involve a myriad of dance numbers, emotion and passion. 

The musical tells the story of Rose, a mother who pushes her two young daughters into show business. After years in the business, Rose’s young daughter June quits and elopes, leaving Louise to carry out her sister’s legacy. Louise takes the only job she can get—one in a burlesque house—and transforms herself into Gypsy Rose Lee, a notorious dancer. 

Geneseo’s rendition of the musical features two outside hires as the orchestrators: director Scott Scaffidi—a friend of musical director Don Kot—and choreographer Katie LeSur. 

“The students are working really hard—it’s a big show,” Scaffidi said. “Lots of people are playing different roles; it takes place over 10 years. It’s a historical piece, too, because it takes place in the Vaudeville Era, when movies with sound were becoming a thing and the Great Depression happened and all that … so there are a lot of moving parts.”

The student cast members are incredibly enthusiastic about the upcoming performance. Communication and musical theatre double major junior Sophie Yeomans—who plays Rose—claims this musical is “going to be bigger than ever before.” 

“With the dance incorporated, too, the songs are just bigger and the staging is bigger. This just seems much grander,” she said. “It’s going to be a true spectacle.” 

Furthermore, this cast exhibits great chemistry. “What’s really special about this show is that you can tell that the people onstage have a real connection as well,” music major freshman Rachel Wilson said. Wilson plays two characters and is the production’s dance captain. “I think that’s so special and it will read really well for the audience, and the audience will be so transported because I know just during the rehearsal process, I find myself getting lost in what they’re doing onstage.” 

The choreography is one of the most appealing attributes of this show, according to the cast and crew. 

“I think for everyone, the choreography has been really new and exciting.” Wilson said. “I know not everyone in the major has dance as their strongest talent, but we’re super excited about it and it’s been an awesome experience from day one. Seeing the growth from the beginning has been so incredible; everyone has just been really pushing themselves and really digging right in—it’s awesome.” 

In addition to the astounding choreography, look out for some of the cast member’s favorite scenes when watching the show. 

“I personally like the cow and farm scene, just because of its high energy and fun dance number,” musical theater major junior Jessica Murphy—who plays Louise—said. “There’s just so much going on and there’s so many different pieces of it put together.”

Murphy added, “I also love the dressing room scene between me and Sophie. There’s so much power in the scene; I think it grows so much throughout, and it just shows the overall arch of the characters.” 

No matter your favorite element of the show, it’s sure to be a stellar performance. You can catch “Gypsy” at the Alice Austin Theatre from April 5-9.

Drake’s latest project takes a mellow turn

Just under a year after releasing Views comes Drake’s newest musical endeavor. Labeled as a playlist, the Canadian rapper dropped More Life on OVO Sound Radio on Apple Music’s radio station on Saturday March 18. 

Unlike Views, this playlist arrived with little advanced hype—but it’s no small addition to Drake’s musical repertoire. With 22 tracks, More Life is over an hour of Drake grappling with getting let down by friends, family and lovers, all the while exploring the sounds of black music; this ranges from the United States and his hometown of Toronto all the way to Africa and the Caribbean. 

More Life boasts more of Drake’s brooding, melancholic sentiments, while also offering the mic to various other rap and R&B artists. If there is one thing about Drake, he keeps his lyrics personal and honest. In “Lose You” he ponders over losing someone—or some people—close to him while trying to remain true to himself, saying, “Inspirin’ and never takin’ credit/I know I deserve more, I just never said it/Two middle fingers as I make a exit.” 

With relaxed beats enveloping each track, this playlist seems to scream R&B more than Drake’s usual hip-hop nature. Some critics argue that Drake is worn out, but he assures his audience that this is untrue. In “Sacrifices,” Drake openly acknowledges his opponents, noting, “Niggas see me in person/First thing they say is ‘I know you need a break’/Hell nah, I feel great, ready now, why wait?” 

One track that stands out from this playlist is “Passionfruit.” Musically more upbeat than most of the other tracks, Drake croons in his balmy voice, “Passionate from miles away/Passive with the things you say/Passin’ up on my old ways/I can’t blame you, no, no.”

It seems like Drake is ready to explore other facets of music production through his experimentation of marketing More Life as a playlist. Playlists tend to be made up of songs brought together under an overarching theme or mood. Besides “Fake Love,” there are no standout party anthems, however—something that Drake always manages to include on all of his other albums. The mood of More Life is an air of tranquility and placidity, as evoked by each track.

A review from Slate refers to More Life as “long and meandering, but never exhausting.” This description perfectly encapsulates the playlist. The review goes on to name Views as “Drake’s safest and most unadventurous album to-date.” More Life was a bit safer in terms of musicality, in my opinion. The beats are a bit redundant, and sometimes his raps become monotonous. 

Drake certainly stepped out of his comfort zone in terms of format, though. By playing around with brief interludes from artists Jorja and Skepta and by shifting from an album format to a playlist, Drake’s passion for music remains clear, even if some of the tracks fall flat.

More Life seems like a playlist that will continue to grow on fans with every listen. Drake remains a master of his craft, and only time will tell with what he chooses to experiment with next.

Student explores family, sexuality in personal exhibition

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English major senior Kiaya Rose Dilsner-Lopez exhibited her Edgar Fellows capstone, “Mezclar,” from March 8-10. A series of acrylic portraits, the exhibit is an exploration of Dilsner-Lopez’s family history and sexuality. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

The Kinetic Gallery kicked off spring break with an eye-opening student exhibition, perfect for those going home to see their families. The gallery hosted English major senior Kiaya Rose Dilsner-Lopez’s exhibit “Mezclar” from March 8-10. As part of her completion of the Edgar Fellows program, Dilsner-Lopez presented a series of brightly colored acrylic portraits as a way to explore her “Chicana identity.” 

Dilsner-Lopez uses the Spanish term mezclar–which translates to “to mix”–to describe the combination of her “culture, ethnicity and sexuality.” The exhibition is comprised of portraits of the artist’s family members; each wall of the gallery coincides with a different section of her “mezclar,” with the families of her biological and adoptive mothers facing each other. Many of the portraits include flowers, which Dilsner-Lopez said she only paints when she “finds warmth.” Dilsner-Lopez affords her sperm donor a portrait as well, though his eyes are covered with a bandana, denoting her distance from him. 

Dilsner-Lopez is both an artist and a writer, as she finds a “potential energy” in language. Each portrait is accompanied by a short poem, except for the one for her donor. His likeness—which is painted behind bars—is paired with a letter from donor to daughter, as Dilsner-Lopez has recently reached out to her father, curious about her biological history. It is through words that she is able to maintain a growing friendship with yet another facet of her family. 

In the center of it all is a self-portrait, but not in the traditional sense. It is a deconstruction of body parts, painted in the same bold colors that make up the smaller surrounding works. This is an effort to recognize the influence of all the painted figures, which are manifested both physically and relationally. 

Dilsner-Lopez’s inspiration for this exhibition stems from a longing to understand her “identity, body and the complexity of my family history.” Growing up as the child of two gay parents took its toll, resulting in shame for her family and her own sexuality. Over time, however, she has grown to take pride in her differences and the differences of others, as she encourages her peers to do so as well. 

“I encourage you all to mix yourselves within the discourse of others,” Dilsner-Lopez said.  

The recent political atmosphere has also encouraged Dilsner-Lopez to view her exhibition as a protest. The mere celebration of ethnic and sexual differences is her “rallying call.” She finds it impossible to “unmix a mixed country,” just as it is fruitless to attempt to ignore one’s familial roots. 

Despite this progress in her journey to self-love and self-acceptance, Dilsner-Lopez knows that it’s not over. She continues to explore her own body and her identity. For this, she turns back to poetry, writing: “But there is beauty and freedom in the ways of the mix/In the ways my body holds histories/In the ways I create love/And in the ways I deconstruct!”

Fiction author Novey shares writing secrets

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Fiction writer and translator Idra Novey visited the college on Monday Feb. 27 to speak about her first novel, Ways to Disappear. The novel, which centers on the disappearance of and search for a Brazilian author, examines the ways in which we long to be understood. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)

Poet and translator Idra Novey treated the Geneseo community to a reading from her widely acclaimed first novel Ways to Disappear on Monday Feb. 27.

The novel won the 2016 Brooklyn Eagles Prize for Fiction, earned a spot as one of National Public Radio’s Best of 2016, The New York Times Editor’s Choice and The Paris Review’s Staff Pick, among other honors. She has had two collections of poetry published in the past and has also had other short stories and poems published. 

Novey herself cuts an impressive figure; she has taught at Princeton University, Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, the Catholic University of Chile and in the Bard Prison Initiative. She is currently the Visiting Distinguished Writer in the MFA Program in creative writing at the Long Island University in Brooklyn. 

She has translated the works of many prominent Brazilian writers, such as Clarise Lespector’s The Passion According to G.H. With her own writing, however, Novey wanted to write the book that she couldn’t find, and for her that included a character who did not conform to stereotypes of a translator.

Ways to Disappear is set in Rio de Janeiro, and it follows the story of Brazilian author Beatriz Yagoda, who disappears after accruing gambling debt. In her absence, a loan shark attacks her children and editor and American translator Emma. Emma then teams up with Yagoda’s children to solve the mystery of her disappearance. 

“They are all looking for her, but none of them is looking for the same person,” Novey said. 

The novel explores translation, the ways in which people long to be understood and how we confine each other to certain definitions and expectations. Novey said that with Ways to Disappear she wanted to push fiction forward a little bit by working between genres and at times between languages, which she said she believes invigorates a writer’s work. 

She admitted that her book incorporates instances that are autobiographical in nature, but it is mostly fictional. During her reading, Novey reminded the writers in the room that you don’t need to have lived the exact situations that your characters are in—but you do need to have experienced the same emotions as them. 

When asked how she maintains motivation to write, Novey recommended that writers maintain a sense of urgency about why a book needs to be written and why they need to be the one to write it. She keeps herself motivated by finding new ways to re-enter her own work, such as through empathizing with characters that do not warrant empathy upon a first reading, or through considering her characters’ different points of view. 

Above all, though, Novey is sure to continuously ask herself whether or not she’s taking each scene as far as she can emotionally. 

On the other hand, when translating a work, Novey has different priorities based on whether the work is poetry or prose. With poetry, she can let the music of language take priority; with a work of prose, other factors must take priority—notably the images that the work creates in its original language versus those it would create in another language.

Novey encouraged a room full of young writers to stick with their craft, offering up this critical piece of wisdom: the writing you throw away feeds whatever you write next.

Academy kisses #OscarsSoWhite goodbye

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The 89th Academy Awards has gained praise for its markedly diverse nominees and winners. Among the milestones were NASA hero Katherine Johnson’s standing ovation with the cast of Hidden Figures and Mahershala Ali’s win as the very first Muslim actor to win an Oscar. (Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

There was never any doubt that the 89th Academy Awards would get political.

Stars turned up with American Civil Liberties Union ribbons pinned to their designer gowns and suits on Sunday Feb. 26, host Jimmy Kimmel made his fair share of allusions to President Donald Trump and presenter Brie Larson refused to applaud Best Actor winner Casey Affleck due to his 2008 sexual harassment allegations—but perhaps what viewers did not expect was for the ceremony to be in stark contrast to last year’s #OscarsSoWhite criticisms. 

Right off the bat, the nominations were much more diverse than in past years, with four out of the nine films nominated for Best Picture centering on the stories of marginalized individuals and the actors from those films receiving their own individual nominations. These films include Fences, Moonlight, Hidden Figures and Lion. 

What’s even more is that Moonlight—which tells the powerful story of a young, gay, black man in Miami—won the award for Best Picture. And who could talk about Moonlight’s win without mentioning the mix-up beginning to be known as “Envelopegate?” Many are noting the importance of the award’s hand-off from the predominately white cast and crew of La La Land to the black talent of Moonlight. 

But the success of Moonlight does not stop there. Mahershala Ali won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in the film. Ali is the very first Muslim actor to ever win an Academy Award. Moonlight writers Berry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney also won for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) for Moonlight. 

During their acceptance speech McCraney called attention to the film’s groundbreaking theme. 

“This goes out to all those black and brown boys and girls and non-gender conforming who don’t see themselves,” McCraney said. “We’re trying to show you, you and us. So thank you, thank you. This is for you.”

In addition to black men finally gaining their much-deserved respect, Sunday night was a big one for black women, as well. Actress Viola Davis became the first black woman to win the triple crown of acting: an Emmy, a Tony and now an Oscar, with her win for Best Supporting Actress for Fences. 

Her acceptance speech urged her peers to “exhume and exalt” the lives and stories of ordinary people. Ruth Negga, Octavia Spencer and Naomie Harris were also nominated and honored for their work. 

But perhaps the most profound moment of the night came when the stars of Hidden Figures—one of the nominees for Best Picture—presented the award for Best Documentary Feature. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae spoke of the importance of films that, “shine the spotlight on those whose names were known to only a few, but whose stories deserve to be told.” Then, surprising audience members and viewers, the trio proudly introduced Katherine Johnson, one of the three African American women whose story is finally told in Hidden Figures. 

“A true NASA and American hero;” Johnson is a physicist and mathematician whose contributions to NASA made America’s space dreams come true in the 1950s. Her history is finally being told and celebrated in 2017. 

This year’s nomination changes—which also include the first nominations of black filmmakers in the categories of cinematography and editing—are a direct result of the Academy’s changes to its rulebook. 

The Academy consisted of an astounding majority of white males in 2016: three-fourths of the body were male; nine-tenths were white. But after the uproar following the ceremony that year, Cheryl Boone Isaacs—the Academy’s black female president—made necessary adjustments. The Academy has added 638 new members to its voting body, has limited membership to 10 years and has made it possible for those who are not involved in new projects during that time to keep their voting rights. 

It looks as though these changes have been for the best: this year, the Academy awarded its most diverse group of winners since its creation in 1929, according to The Huffington Post. 

As always, though, there are still some ways to go when it comes to diversity at awards shows. Latin American and Asian filmmakers and actors remain wildly underrepresented at the Oscars, as well as at other awards ceremonies. 

Hopefully, Isaacs and other organization leaders will keep the changes coming.

Children’s author Bruna passes, leaves Miffy legacy behind

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Children’s author Dick Bruna passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 89. He leaves behind the legacy of his globally popular character, Miffy. (Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

Dick Bruna, famed Dutch author, artist, illustrator and graphic designer, passed away on Feb. 16 at age 89. 

Bruna has written over 120 books, but is most known for the creation of the character Nijntje—known in English as Miffy—which is the little white rabbit beloved by children all over the world. After her debut in 1995, Miffy quickly spread from the pages of children’s books to various forms of merchandise; now, Miffy has an entire museum in her honor. She can even be spotted on the walls of the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, welcoming visitors to the Netherlands.

The simplicity of Miffy has won the hearts of not only children, but also adults and well respected artists who appreciate the genius that goes into Bruna’s design. Miffy is always represented only by the flat black outline of a bunny, with two black dots for eyes and a small “X” for a mouth. 

Yet, through this simple, unchanging face, Bruna could somehow communicate any emotion. With the only variations being perhaps a small teardrop, a hat or an outfit change, Miffy’s lack of defined features makes her all the more expressive. The rest of his aesthetic is similarly minimalistic, as he only used strong lines and primary colors. 

To Bruna, visual variation is not what makes the books special. The most important thing, he said, is that “Miffy is always Miffy.” Surely, it’s this universal nature that propelled the little white bunny into such popularity; the 32-book series has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold over 85 million copies. 

“He’s the most translated author in the Netherlands, except for Anne Frank,” children’s book author Agnes Vogt said in a New York Times article.

But despite her simplicity, an impressive amount of effort and expertise goes into every single frame. 

“For a book of 12 pictures, I make at least a hundred,” Bruna said.  

He would draw her again and again, ensuring that Miffy’s face was showing the right emotion. Her face is constant, but her moods are precise and thoughtful. With only two eyes and a mouth to work with, Bruna would craft just the right Miffy for each story—she could look sad or happy, surprised, disappointed or slightly cross. Even his tools were made with the utmost care, as Bruna used only paintbrushes that he cut himself.

Considering Bruna’s family and background, however, it’s no wonder he developed such a knack for precision and a strong philosophy for design. Born in Utrecht to a family of publishers in the Dutch countryside, Bruna started out designing and illustrating over 100 posters and 2,000 book jackets for the family business. As a child, he didn’t attend school, so he trained his own artistic eye by studying the work of Rembrandt and Van Gogh. 

His early designs often featured silhouettes of figures over solid colors, foreshadowing his style for the Miffy series, which was only a side project. Later, he spent time in France, where he was influenced by the bold, two-dimensional aspects of artists like Henri Matisse and Fernand Léger.

Eventually, Bruna’s true genius matured, as he published his first book in 1953, called De Appel (The Apple). Miffy was born soon after. 

Bruna’s legacy is sure to outlive him through the many books he leaves behind and through the image of Miffy, which continues to be present in the Dutch culture as well as around the world. But even in his great success, Bruna’s life didn’t change all that much—he continued to live a humble and simple life, in a way embodying his own artistic identity.

SASI provides stage for student creators to entertain, educate

Andre Doeman ‘15 performs at the Students Against Social Injustice’s third annual Express YaSelf event on Sunday Feb. 26. Students were invited to recite poetry, songs and other creative mediums to express themselves and educate their peers about recent social issues. (Jenna Harbus/Staff Photographer)

Among the politically charged current events surrounding the nation and the campus, a bright light was the Students Against Social Injustice’s third annual Express YaSelf event. Held at the Knight Spot on Sunday Feb. 26, the event was a safe place for students to enjoy and to appreciate entertainment, socialization and education from peers.

Founded in 2013, SASI is a student organization that aims to educate the campus community about issues of social injustice and what we as a campus community can do to reduce the suffering of others. Over time, the group has found their own space in Geneseo by “bringing more awareness on campus in terms of activism.”

“Express YaSelf was sort of the brain child when we were all baby freshmen, and we tried to think of something on campus that was directly toward social injustice, activism and a safe space for all the activists on campus to come together, celebrate each other and then also bring awareness to different clubs that are doing different things,” SASI president political science major senior Sasha Miller said.

During the event, multiple students performed an array of different talents, such as psychology major sophomore Kevin Vazcones’ impressive dance. Additionally, the event provided deep and meaningful slam poetry from Andre Doeman ‘15, Josh Roychowdhury ‘15 and history adolescent education major junior Ilana Turk. Their poetry spoke to social injustices in our country and around the world. 

Among the student performers, however, were representatives from certain activist clubs on campus such as Alpha Delta Epsilon sorority, One Love and Peace Action. This way, attendees could learn more about each respective organization.

“We call it a one-stop shop for education and entertainment because you come here to celebrate your peers and their talent, but then also you find out about the activities of specific organizations, so you don’t realize that you’re learning,” Miller said. “That’s sort of one of the hidden outcomes of Express YaSelf.” 

Express YaSelf not only presented many talents, it also fostered a larger sense of community. 

“Before, this event was sort of a nice time for people to get together for you to learn, but this event this year is more targeted toward self-healing and relaxation,” Miller said. “You feel tired and depressed, so this is sort of a moment for like-minded people to come together, celebrate each other and sort of validate what we know and what we stand for.” 

Considering recent events surrounding our country, this annual event came at the perfect time.

“Express YaSelf reminds people that you’re not alone on campus and [not alone in] what you’re feeling. People see you,” Miller said. “You may feel like your rights are taken away by this presidency, but we’re here with you 100 percent of the way.” 

Although this event was SASI’s biggest event of the year, they still intend to promote their ideas in any way possible. For example, they marched in the Solidarity Riot together as an organization on Friday Feb. 24.  

Express YaSelf was and continues to be an excellent way for students to “express themselves,” to communicate with other student activists and to make a change on our campus and ultimately our nation as a whole.

Hip-hop expert speaks on evolution of the genre

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Rapper Claude “Paradise” Gray led a discussion on Tuesday Feb. 28 as a part of Geneseo’s Hip-Hop Symposium. He discussed the changes of hip-hop over time. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me—except when hip-hop is involved. 

Hip-hop legend Claude “Paradise” Gray proved this notoriously trite proverb false in his “The Latin Quarter: An Interactive Discussion with Paradise Gray of Hip-Hop’s Golden Era” on Tuesday Feb. 28 in the Lederer Gallery, as part of Geneseo’s Hip-Hop Symposium 2017: The Timeline. 

Hip-hop hits close to home for Gray—quite literally, as Gray self-proclaims himself as one of hip-hop’s greatest fans. As a child, Gray moved to the Bronx—which is customarily referred to as the home of hip-hop—with his family to escape poverty. 

“Hip-hop was a way of life for me and my friends, growing up in the South Bronx,” Gray said. 

During that time, however, hip-hop was known as disco and rapping as “rocking out,” according to Gray. Keeping with the symposium’s theme of hip-hop’s timeline, Gray asked the audience a plethora of rhetorical questions: What is hip-hop’s DNA? Who influenced hip-hop? 

“Because if we think about it, the greatest story that’s ever told … is that hip-hop was created in the Bronx, and I say this because all of the elements of hip-hop predate hip-hop,” Gray said. “Can we find someone who was rapping in 1940? That’s impossible, right?”

Not impossible—merely difficult, as Gray showcased the YouTube video “Preacher and the Bear” by The Jubalaires. The Jubalaires were a Gospel rap group from the 1940s, with “Preacher and the Bear” dating to 1941—if you can believe it. Hip-hop then used language as a tool to unify people.

“Hip-hop is capable of taking people from anywhere on this planet … and putting them in the same book—on the same page,” Gray said. 

Though in modern times hip-hop has negative connotations of being sexist, homophobic, capitalistic—the list seems endless—Gray debunked these stereotypes by examining hip-hop’s timeline. In fact, Gray said that hip-hop is a great unifier that transcends religions, cultures and politics because it gives us the language to not only uplift ourselves, but others, as well.    

Gray was armed with many facts to validate this statement, including the fact that the first clubs that would let hip-hop artists perform were gay clubs. 

“Hip-hop’s been gay,” Gray said. “[The LGBTQ+ community] could relate to [the African American community], who was also being marginalized. They could relate to all the hatred we were getting because they were getting it, two-fold.” 

Hip-hop even employs language to contradict denotations of seemingly antagonistic words. 

“Hip-hop is good at what we call flipping the script,” Gray said. “All the negative things have been flipped, including negative words like ‘the n word’ and the ‘b word.’ Before hip-hop, if someone said, ‘The man,’ they were talking about a white man, but hip-hop flipped the script so that I’m the man.”

Today, however, such hip-hop artists as Kanye West—who called artist Taylor Swift a “bitch [he made] famous” in “Famous”—use their lyrics to hurt people. Why is hip-hop so negative now, Gray asked. Why aren’t we working to uplift others? 

As a society, Gray stressed the need to challenge the use of language, in and outside of music. For example, the most popular form of hip-hop right now is trap music: but why does that word—“trap”—not bother more people? It should, because who wants to fall into a trap, Gray pointed out.    

“Words plus sound equal power. Words are very, very important to human beings. Never underestimate the power of words … don’t accept negative words about people,” Gray said—even when dealing with loved ones and friends. “If you don’t correct them—challenge them—no one will.”

Witty Whitman story discovered

It’s not every day that a long lost, forgotten work of a celebrated author is discovered after being hidden in the archives of old newspapers. Recently, however, University of Houston doctoral candidate Zachary Turpin has made an incredible discovery. 

A 36,000-word, anonymously published work of short fiction was published in 1852 for a New York newspaper. Titled Life and Adventures of Jack Engle: An Auto-Biography; In Which The Reader Will Find Some Familiar Characters, the newly discovered work was published in six parts and has now been attributed to American poet Walt Whitman. 

The finding of this novella was published and announced on Feb. 20 when it was published in the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review, with the University of Iowa Press releasing it in the form of a book. 

The amazing discovery was made in 2015 when Turpin found Whitman’s work while conducting research on multiple online databases of 19th century newspapers. He was specifically searching for newspapers that contained popular names found in Whitman’s notebooks. 

Turpin was unintentionally looking for the literary treasure when the work popped up on his computer. The work was originally set to run in The Sunday Dispatch, a newspaper formerly based in New York that Whitman was known to have contributed to. Growing more curious, Turpin requested a scan of the first page from the Library of Congress, which held the only known copy of that day’s Dispatch. 

He was stunned to receive an email clarifying his curiosity a month later.

“I was at my in-laws,’ setting up a Pack ’n Play, when the email arrived,” he said in an article from The New York Times. “From that day until now, I’ve had this simmering inside me.”

Oddly enough, this is not the first time that Turpin has made such a brilliant discovery. In the past, he found a series of articles by Whitman that offered tips for a healthy and vigorous lifestyle, which were featured in another newspaper.

For such an incredible discovery, it’s amazing to look at how this new finding fits into the timeline and the quality of Whitman’s other works. 

Jack Engle was written three years before Whitman published Leaves of Grass, the work that placed him in the American literary canon, according to an article published on the National Public Radio website. Prior to the reveal of this novella, it was believed that Whitman spent the early 1850s entirely on Leaves of Grass, publishing nothing of great importance. Now, thanks to Turpin, we know better. 

Additionally, it’s apparent as to why Jack Engle took this long to be attributed to the great American poet. 

“It’s not a great novel, though it’s not a bad read either,” David Reynolds, author of Walt Whitman’s America, said.

Turpin, on that other hand, disagrees with Reynolds. 

"I'm really blown away by this book,” Turpin told NPR. “It's all things to all men. It's weird, it's wild, it's beautiful and hilarious, and turns on a dime in ways that are both great and terrible. It's truly phenomenal, and I think something that everyone will enjoy picking up."

Despite the disputed quality of Whitman’s 1852 work, it’s certain that this is an unbelievable find for Whitman literature fans. Such an artifact gives us brand new insights into the mind of this legendary author, and, according to Turpin, gives any reader much to think about.