Four Mills College graduatestudents recently performed theirpoetry to a packed audience at alocal cultural center to mark theirreturn from a week-long tour in thePacific Northwest.

Known as the Poetic LiberationCollective, the students performedJan. 24 at La Peña Cultural Centerin Berkeley. The event included aspecial performance by MayaChinchilla, a spoken word artistand fellow Mills graduate student.

The group, also known by itsblog as the “high maintenance col-lective,” consists of Annah Anti-Palindrome, Jezebel Delilah X,Meg Day and Na'amen Tilahun,who are all currently enrolled inthe MFA creative writing and poet-ry programs. They describe them-selves collectively as “queer identi-fied, feminist and all very interest-

ed in using literature, music, artand performance as a form ofsocial justice activism,” accordingto an e-mail from X.

“I identify with the three ofthem in ways that are really mov-ing,” said Anti-Palindrome. “Weinspire each others’ work.”

Each of the performers had adistinct style, from Day's integra-tion of sign language to Anti-Palindrome recording the sound ofan egg cracking into her back-ground loop.

However, each of their works“both solo and collaborativeexplores the way we exist withinour skins and the places where ourexistences meet/merge/war usingmusic, movement and words,”according to their Web site.

“I liked hearing the recurringthemes – for example, sound. It isinteresting how interconnectedtheir different stuff is,” said juniorJules Shendelman.

Tilahun said, “We all have dif-ferent focuses but our work islinked by being a part of the same community.”

The performers rotated in twoshifts, with each one doing two setsof several pieces each, except forChinchilla’s performance whichstarted off the night to wildapplause and cheering. Dressedoriginally in a trench coat,Chinchilla slowly removed herouter garments while she per-formed, exclaiming “it’s kind ofhot in here!” and placing each itemon the woman she used as a music stand.

The pieces she performed weremostly about relationships and heridentity as a femme lesbian, refer-ring in her work to “gender deviantfemme drama and butch trauma.”

X performed second, startingwith a piece about body image,

For months Mills faculty, stu-dents and alums have been plan-ning events for this year’s BlackHistory Month, celebrated in theU.S. each February.

Every year the Black Women’sCollective (BWC) and the EthnicStudies Department lead efforts tocreate programming to celebrateAfrican American heritage and cul-ture. This year's events include achoral performance, poetry night,special Second Saturday and theannual “herstory timeline” featur-

ing descriptions and pictures ofAfrican American female leadersstaked along the path near MillsHall.

Black History Month allowsstudents to learn more about issuesof importance.

“The month’s events expandupon the limited amount that canbe taught in the classroom,” saidDeborah Berman Santana, chair ofthe Ethnic Studies Department.

According to BWC adviser andEthnic Studies professor JuliaSudbury, the theme for this year’sBlack History Month is the arts.Sudbury said she believes focusing

on these areas will let people soakin the culture and heritage ofAfrican Americans.

“Every year it gets bigger andmore exciting,” said AngelicaAddison, a sophomore and BWCmember. “The events are qualityand allow us to teach and to enter-tain.”

One of the events to be held thisyear is a choral performance bylocal choir Roots of Faith Feb. 4.

Because Roots of Faith’s per-formance was such a big hit lastyear, BWC and the Ethnic Studies

Keeping in time with the Mills community since 1917

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MMoorrggaann RRoossssNEWS EDITOR

Annah Anti-Palindrome (right) performs with her friend at a show during their Northwest tour. Theirweek-long tour consisted of two performances in Portland, Oregon and a salon in Washington.

CAMPUS

Economicsdepartmenthosts discussionon health care

What is currently happeningwith regards to health care reform?That was one of many questionsasked during a discussion of healthcare legislation hosted by theEconomics department last week.

Marian Mulkey, a SeniorProgram Officer of the CaliforniaHealthCare Foundation's Marketand Policy Monitor program, ledthe forum Jan. 27. The foundationseeks to improve the way healthcare is delivered and financed in California.

“It's much easier to agree thatthe current system needs reform,than to agree on who should paymore or be obligated to behave dif-ferently to change it,” said Mulkeyof the stakeholders in the healthcare debate over expanding andimproving coverage: hospitals,doctors, health care providers,employers, labor unions, consumer advocates, citizens andgovernment agencies.

Commentators nationwide haverecently detailed the impact theMassachusetts special election ofSenator Scott Brown (R) has hadon plans to push through a healthcare bill in Congress. The seat wasformerly held by the late SenatorEdward Kennedy (D), who wascommitted to improving healthcare. The democrats no longer have a filibuster-proof 60 member majority.

“With the health care develop-ments, I really wanted to havesomeone to speak about it now,”said Eirik Evenhouse, AssistantProfessor of Economics.

DINING

Renovations,repairs areunderway at dining facilities

Since the end of last semester,Founders Commons has beenundergoing general repairs and ren-ovations to make the building morehandicap-accessible and move themain entrance from the bottomfloor to the top.

Mills College Dining Servicesis installing an Americans withDisabilities Act (ADA)-compliantbathroom on the second level of thebuilding, where diners receive andeat their meals, and a renovatedramp and walkway that leads to theporch in the rear of the building.

“They're making a bathroomand remaking the handicappedspace by the loading dock,” saidJason Landau, the current GeneralManager of Mills Bon AppétitServices. Landau estimates that thenew bathroom installment shouldbe completed by the end of February.

“Founders has been our work-house on campus for 50 years, andis in need of lots of repairs and lastspring the College decided to goahead with the work. The bulk ofthe work will happen this summer,”said Director of Auxiliary Services,Dorothy Calimeris. “When the stu-dents return in the fall you will seea new look in the dining room.”

She added that the handicappedparking spaces are also beingredone to accommodate studentswith disabilities. Repairs alsoinvolve more sustainable and ener-gy-efficient equipment inFounders’ industrial kitchen,including the boilers and dishwashers.

NNiiccoollee VVeerrmmeeeerrOPINIONS EDITOR

AAlliixxaannddrraa GGrreeeennmmaannASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

COURTESY OF POETIC LIBERATION COLLECTIVE

Student poets perform in Berkeley

MMoorrggaann RRoossssNEWS EDITOR

ALIXANDRA GREENMAN

Black Women’s Collective (BWC) president T’Sendenia Gage andmembers listen as a fellow club member discusses Say It Loud.

Black History Month events showcase art and the lives of African Americans

History page 3see

Dining page 3seePoetry page 3seeReform page 3see

Dances withwalls: TrishaBrown exhibit atthe Art Museum

p. 5

Opinions & Editorial22 FF ee bb .. 11 ,, 22 00 11 00

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Campus facilities should address safety hazards

Staff Columnists Carla Hansen,Tara Nelson

he torrential downpours ofthe past 10 days have raised

a number of campus safety issues.While jumping across puddles thatseem to take up the entire walkwayor sliding down a wet hill may befun for some, it should not be anecessary means to get to class.

Although rain is much moreinfrequent on campus than in other

parts of the country, Mills CollegeFacilities should consider lookingat drainage issues so that our side-walks don't become small lakeswhen it does rain.

But the rain also highlights prob-lems with campus safety and acces-sibility which already exist.Walkways where large puddles col-lect are often cracked and bumpy tobegin with, and the hills thatbecame a virtual water slide during

a storm are often rather steep towalk on regardless of the weather.

A handrail for stability up theMary Morse hill would be prudent,as would better lighting at night.Several stairways can also usemaintenance, including the stairsleading up to Ege Hall – the con-crete stairs have wooden boardsthat are coming loose from thestairs. A student injured herself on astaircase in Ethel Moore last

semester and the resulting hole inthe staircase has not yet been fixed.

We would hope administratorsconsider which improvements tomake first depending on their safe-ty impacts. A portion of the side-walk leading to the side entrance ofthe Prospect Hill apartments wasrecently renovated, and while it isnow aesthetically prettier, it is notobvious why that was a priority.

For many students, tripping and

skinning one's knees while walkingacross campus during the commuteto class has become a constantannoyance. Walking around cam-pus should not be a safety hazard –no one should risk falling or step-ping nearly ankle-deep in water toget around. Before Mills renovatesparts of campus that don't harm stu-dents' well-being, the Collegeshould renovate the parts of cam-pus that affect students the most.

Editorial

T

How much do repealing Don’t AskDon’t Tell will really affect LGBTQ

people in the military?

Soapbox

“I think it'll make more ofa difference to people whoaren't in the military tothose who are.The mili-tary takes a long time tochange.”

— Matthew Dintenfassgrad student

“I think it would be a goodthing ... but I think therewill still be a lot of hatredand animosity towardsgays in the military.”

— Isis Blanchette, junior

“I don't think changing pol-icy will change opinions butI like to remain optimistic.”

— Jessica Reff, sophomore(left)

“You have to change policybefore you can change pub-lic opinion.”

— Ariadne Nelson,sophomore (right)

jus tarriveds a f e l y

from myrelaxing andrejuvenatingruise aroundHaiti.

Did something happen there?Haiti. The new buzzword for

the month of January. Maybe evenFebruary, if Haitians are lucky.

Hopefully you picked up on thesarcasm. I didn’t cruise to Haiti andhang out on the white sand beachwith over 200,000 dead people 60miles away.

However, some vacationers didand are still doing it despite thehuge “shame on you” from the U.S.How about shame on all thewealthy cruise goers who’veoverfed themselves and snorkeledin one the poorest countries in theworld without a pinch of guiltbefore the earthquake? Why shouldthey feel guilty now?

I’ll tell you why. Because thedisaster in Haiti has become thelargest public relations, philan-thropic buzzword since the tsunamiin Southeast Asia and the hurricanein New Orleans. Suddenly celebri-ties and companies have a newplace to send oodles of tax-deductible money along withimage-boosting warm fuzzy feel-ings again.

Now don’t get me wrong, if noone was doing anything for victimsof this disaster I would be writingsomething entirely different. I

think it’s great that people are rec-ognizing their own privilege in theworld and giving to those who haveless. But it should not take a natu-ral catastrophe to do that.

Celebrities were the first tojump on the relief wagon, as awhole giving millions of dollars toHaiti. Am I supposed to beimpressed? I’m not going to hailany of them as saviors of Haitiwhen I know its buzzword-inducedgiving. Any disaster is an opportu-nity for celebrities to make them-selves appear human and careabout those less fortunate. Did anyof them give a damn about Haitibefore Jan. 12?

I thought the whole telethonwas insulting. The corny line-up ofsongs with heartbreaking picturesof crying children made me moreangry than sad. People everywhereknow about the disaster in Haitiand what it looks like.

Those with hearts and resourceswill help. Celebrities don’t have tosing "Lean On Me" and show peo-ple near death to get people todonate their money.

Everyone ate it up, though.$429 million was raised in onenight. That money plus all themoney already raised by citizens ofthe U.S. and other countries isprobably more money Haiti hasseen in its entire existence. It’s def-initely enough money to sustain thecountry through rebuilding andmake it a prosperous country inyears to come, right?

We’ll see. Without any infra-

structure or trusted government allthis money could be wasted. Onceit runs out and Haiti’s 15 minutesof disaster are up it could be backto pre-earthquake status or poten-tially even worse.

A report from the TsunamiEvaluation Coalition found that themoney given to tsunami reliefefforts had a number of positiveeffects but also “exceeded theabsorption capacity of an over-stretched humanitarian industryleading to wasted and inefficien-cy,” according to oregonlive.com.

Does this mean we shouldn’tgive money to disaster relief effortsin Haiti? No way. I don’t want tosound like a particular uber-conser-vative radio personality whodenied that Haitians deserve oursupport.

We definitely should be helpingthese people in ways that protectand honor their dignity, but makinguse of all the money donated isequally important to Haitians as itis to those who donate. If the reliefeffort is handled properly, Haiticould be better off than it wasbefore the earthquake.

I’m putting bets on how longthe Haiti buzzword will last. Threemore weeks maybe? I sincerelyhope all the money will help re-build Haiti for the better even afterits disaster fame fizzles.

If any good comes from thisdisaster it’s taking Lionel Richieoff unemployment. He’s writing a“We Are The World,” Haiti ver-sion. Can’t wait to pick that up.

by Carla HansenGrad NotesI

“I don't think you canlegislate morality. I don'tthink you can change atti-tudes - if anything it maycause more resentment.”

—Matt Raffety,

bookstore staff member

Calendar Editor Lauren Sliter

In Barack Obama’s first Stateof the Union address, he acknowl-edged problems he said he inherit-ed, stayed hopeful for the futureand proposed legislation that wouldaddress the needs of everydayAmericans.

Obama’s statement, deliveredto a joint session of Congress onJan. 27, focused on the economy,jobs, higher education and militarypolicy regarding gays.

During Obama’s introduction,he discussed jobs and how theeconomy has improved since hisinauguration.

“The worst of the storm haspassed ... But the devastationremains: One in 10 Americans stillcan’t find work,” said Obama.

“Jobs must be our number onefocus in 2010.”

According to Change.org, thenational unemployment rate hasreached 10 percent — and morethan seven million Americans havelost their jobs in the last two years.

In addition, Obama addressedthe government bailout of financialinstitutions, saying, “We haverecovered most of the money thatwe spent on the banks.”

He proposed levying a feeagainst the biggest banks in orderto recover the rest of the money.

Even with the persistent prob-lems, Obama remains optimistic.

“I have never been more hope-ful about America’s future than Iam tonight,” he said.

Obama also called for an ade-quate clean energy and climate bill,and for legislation aimed at helping

colleges and students to haveaccess to quality education.

“I urge the Senate to followthe House and pass a bill that willrevitalize our community col-leges,” said Obama.

Obama then said he wanted tocompensate and reward parents andstudents that are paying for college.He proposed giving a $10,000 taxcredit to pay for four years of col-lege. He also wants to increase theamount of aid given through feder-al Pell Grants.

He said students paying offtheir loans will not have to paymore than 10 percent of their salarya year and that loans should be for-given after 20 years.

In the speech Obama alsomentioned the problem of the gen-der wage gap.

He said his administration was

going to clamp down on violationsof the Equal Pay Law, so thatwomen get equal pay for an equalday’s work.

Obama also made a pledge toend the “don’t ask, don’t tell” poli-cy in the military.

“I will work with Congressand our military to finally repealthe law that denies gay Americansthe right to serve the country theylove because of who they are,” saidObama.

Overall, Obama sought unityduring a turbulent time of biparti-sanship and urged Congress to not“walk away from reform.”

In response to Obama’sspeech, many GOP senators andrepresentatives said they areencouraged to hear Obama say thathe is going to focus on job creationin the new year.

Professor of Economics.Evenhouse said he had attended apanel with Mulkey dedicated tohealth care reform, and requestedher to speak to students in coordi-nation with fellow Economicsprofessor Siobhan Rielly.

“There are a lot of marketswhere we really need governmentintervention and health care isone of those markets,” he said.

Topics discussed included thecurrent status of both federal andnational health care, the proposedlegislation to reform policies andthe outlook for the future.

“This is the furthest we haveever gotten in national policychange in the health care debate,”said Muckley. “Depending on

how you want to tackle the prob-lem, it won't even be easy. It willbe hard to tackle health care.”

During her presentation, sheoutlined those who are uninsuredin the state, which include 70 per-cent of households earning lessthan $50,000, a disproportionatenumber of youth between theages of 18 to 24 and a dispropor-tionately high percentage of theHispanic population, includingundocumented workers. Many ofthe uninsured either do notreceive coverage from theiremployer, can’t afford it or don’tconsider health insurance a highpriority or a good value.

“About one in fiveCalifornians are uninsured, theydon’t have health insurance atall,” she said. “Why do we care

that millions are uninsured?Most are less likely to get the carethey need in a timely way.”

Mulkey also touched on whyhealth care costs are so high inthe first place - because of newtechnologies, high administrativecosts and more services neededby patients near the end of life.

Obesity and other chronicdiseases, plus giving insuranceproviders more rewards for doingmore, also contributes to costs.

“There are financial conse-quences for people without healthinsurance including debt, bank-ruptcy and loss of savings,” shesaid.

Health care reform plansinclude expanding Medicaid tomore people, instituting newemployer responsibilities and

new individual responsibilities toreceive coverage.

“There is enormous potentialto make health care finance anddelivery fairer, more efficient andmore transparent,” she said.

Students from theIntroduction to Economics andPublic Sector Economics coursesattended the lecture, along withpublic policy majors.

“I don’t know anything abouthealth care, and it was veryinformative,” said first year AishaRichardson.

Mulkey expressed her excite-ment in discussing the impor-tance of health care.

“It’s a great opportunity to seeyoung, enthusiastic people whoare interested in this issue,” shesaid.

In addition, she said the build-ing would be more accessible toeveryone.

“Over the summer there will bea lovely walkway and porch areathat will change the point of entryto Founders from the bottom to thetop,” she said

Currently diners without dis-abilities enter Founders at the topof the hill, up steps to the bottomfloor and up more stairs to get tothe top level of the building.

The renovations are part of anadministrative decision to upgrade

dining services as a whole.According to Campus ArchitectKaren Fiene the upgrades toFounders will cost $1.5 million,and future renovations to centralizedining at the Tea Shop in RothwellCenter will cost upwards of $15million.

New food options were alsorolled out this semester, includinga weekly Tapioca Bar at Foundersand a “Take ‘n Bake” pizza optionat the Tea Shop.

“We’re branching out - folkscan buy and take home pizzas tobake,” said Roselia Zendejas, theOperations Manager. More express

salads and sandwiches are beingoffered as well.

“In my opinion the sandwichesare pretty good, they have prettygood flavor and they taste rich,”said sophomore Angelica Addison.

New sandwiches and saladoptions are being offered at the TeaShop including the Pork Banh Mi,a pork baguette sandwich.

Candy options are also in theworks at the Tea Shop, withupcoming specials on new espressodrinks. More vegetarian and veganoptions are also being added to thedeli, grill and global sections.

Bon Appétit will be hosting an

event with guest speaker and WestCoast Fellow for the company,Vera Chang who will talk about herwork fighting for farm workers’rights.

“Conditions for the tomatofarm workers in Florida are horrif-ic. Bon Appétit has taken a standfor the tomato workers,” saidZendejas. The event will be heldFeb. 10.

Bon Appétit will also be start-ing its campaign for a Low-CarbonDiet from February to April, andwill program events in coordina-tion with Earth Week on campus.

News 33FF ee bb .. 11 ,, 22 00 11 00

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AAlliixxaannddrraa GGrreeeennmmaannASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Department have brought it backfor the community to enjoy.

“The choir is great because ituncovers the histories of blacksthrough music,” said Sudbury.

Another upcoming event isSay It Loud, a poetry slam featur-ing poetry, monologues and spo-ken word pieces.

The Say It Loud poetry slamwill take place Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.in the Student Union and will fea-ture performers from all over theBay Area.

The Second SaturdayExtravaganza will be held in theStudent Union Feb. 14 with spe-cific Black History Month pro-gramming, including performersand vendors.

Finally, Sudbury and fellowEthnic Studies professor MargoOkazawa-Rey will launch their2009 book Activist Scholarship:Antiracism, Feminism and SocialChange a week later.

“The goal of the festival is tocelebrate our rich cultural her-itage and to involve Oaklandyouth and families in arts and cul-ture,” said OSA in a statement onthe Mills website.

JENNIFER COURTNEY AND MORGAN ROSS

The Tea Shop (left) and Founders (right) are undergoing renovations until summertime with upgrades including installing aAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) restroom on the dining room level and regrading the walkway that leads up to Founders.

Obama focuses on jobs, the economy, and equal rights in State of the Union

which, like Chinchilla, resulted inher taking off her clothes.

“This is my body,” she said. “Iam the only person who can say mybody is beautiful, and guess what?I say it.”

Tilahun, described by X as the“dyke-tyke lesbro,” went next.Tilahun said he is interested in “notjust romantic relationships, [but]also friendships and how we nego-tiate the spaces between eachother.”

As the group’s only male, he is“hands-down the most on top of hiss--t feminist queer man I’ve evermet,” said Anti-Palindrome, whoherself integrates feminist idealsinto her multimedia work.

“I will write a song, and thinkof signifiers, so that it creates a dia-logue between viewing and listen-ing. I like to say that it’s ‘opticalsound,” said Anti-Palindrome.

Day’s spoken word piecescovered many of the same themes,but added her own experience tothe mix, including a piece on thequeer community’s attitudetowards HIV/AIDS and her rela-tionship with her mother.

The group embarked on a five-day tour during the second week inJanuary, performing at two venuesin Portland, Ore. and holding asalon in Klickitat, Wash.

According to Tilahun andAnti-Palindrome, the performancewas especially popular at SexualMinorities Youth Resource Center(SMYRC), a drop-in resource cen-ter for gay and lesbian youth inPortland.

Outside the Gates

Founders and the Tea Shop to undergo upgrades by the fall

Reform, from page 1

Guest Speaker discusses the policy and background of health care

History, from page 1

Several events organized for BlackHistory Month

Poetry, from page 1

Poetry collectivefeatures Millsgrad students

Dining, from page 1

Features44 FF ee bb .. 11 ,, 22 00 11 00

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T h o s ewho are notnecessarilyinterested inor knowl-e d g e a b l eabout artmay find therealm of theabstract alittle off putting at times, simplyfinding it difficult to understand orrelate to.

However, visiting MillsCollege professor and Bay Areaartist Robin McDonnell createsabstract works that are at once cap-tivating and complex – as well asbeautiful – even to the most

untrained eye. In her latest showing at the

Brian Gross Fine Art Gallery inSan Francisco, titled“Affect/Effect,” McDonnell show-cases her ability to create move-ment and intensity through her useof brushstrokes and color.

“The energetic, sometimes tur-bulent, compositions are evocativeof dynamic forces of nature,” saidthe gallery’s Web site.

While some of McDonnell’slarge oil paintings are composed ofearthy hues in reds, oranges, greensand yellows, juxtaposed next tothose are others consisting of pre-dominately cool blue tones.

Despite the fact thatMcDonnell’s work is largely con-ceptual, the viewer gains an under-standing that she is trying to con-vey a sense of motion in naturethrough the collection. Each paint-ing builds off of the previous, andone can see the advance of colorand movement as the series pro-gresses through each individualpiece.

“I’m interested in the fact thatas I depict nature, it’s through theprism of my own understanding ofit,” McDonnell said of her work.“It ties in very strongly with howwe are planetarily affecting natureright now. There’s a sense of affect-effect. You do one movement andwhat is the effect of that move-ment? That becomes sort of what itis in the kind of larger environmen-tal idea.”

McDonnell, who has only beenpainting since she was in her early30s, has already put together twoother exhibitions with this particu-lar gallery. While attending UCSanta Cruz as an undergraduate artstudent, she worked mainly invideo and sculpture. A true jack ofall trades, McDonnell also has anextensive background in drawing,building and design work.

She said she was drawn topainting mainly because of theunique ability to express certainemotions that can’t always be

expressed through other mediums. “[Painting] is just very com-

pelling and I just became veryintrigued by it,” McDonnell said.“It’s probably the hardest thing I’veever tried to do.”

Although McDonnell spendsmost of her time working in herOakland studio, she enjoys the timeshe spends teaching classes, andhas been a visiting professor atMills since 1999.

“I love teaching,” she said. “Itgets me out of the studio. And Ifind that the teaching becomes away of service, of helping peoplestart to achieve some of their owngoals.”

Meryl Olah a student inMcDonnell’s beginning paintingclass enjoy her presence as well.

“Robin makes me excited topaint,” said Olah, a junior who istaking one of McDonnell’s classesfor the first time. Although Olahhas not had an opportunity to viewany of McDonnell’s art, sheexpressed her excitement. “I’mvery curious to see it. I can’t wait!”she said.

HHeeaatthheerr MMccDDaanniieellASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Clockwise from top: Oil on canvas board, Effect: Silver, Red,Brown, Blue, 2009; oil on canvas board, Effect: Blue, 2009; oil oncanvas board, Affect/Effect - Warm: Green, purple, 2009.

McDonnell’s show “Affect/Effect” will be exhibited until Feb. 27 at49 Geary St., 5th floor in San Francisco. For directions and moreinformation visit www.briangrossfinearts.com

COURTESY OF BRIAN GROSS FINE ARTS GALLERY

Build

ing

bloc

ks

ROBIN MCDONNELL

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If you walk into the ArtMuseum any time betweennow and March 14, the first

thing you see may be TrishaBrown. Her image is projectedagainst a white wall in the muse-um; it is a video of “If YouCouldn’t See Me,” one of her manyincredible performances.

Brown, a dancer and Millsalumna, appears to move across thewall, gesturing and swaying tomusic that only she can hear. It isjust the first of many things toexperience in her exhibit, “So ThatThe Audience Does Not KnowWhether I Have Stopped Dancing.”

She has on display not justvideos of her performances andpieces she has choreographed, butalso a large collection of her draw-ings. The show opened Jan. 20 witha public reception Jan. 27.

Brown is an icon in the worldof modern dance. She is a foundingmember of the Judson DanceTheater, a group of dancers that arecredited with the creation of post-modern dance. After forming herown company, Brown was given a1991 MacArthur Fellowship (alsoknown as the Genius award).

Brown’s choreography focus-es on everyday movements that arerepeated continuously. One of her

most memorable pieces is Roof andFire Piece, which dancers per-formed on the rooftops of buildingsin New York City. Dancers fromone rooftop traded off choreogra-phy with dancers from otherrooftops, transmitting the move-ment from building to building.The piece is on display at theMuseum, and is just one of manypieces where Brown seems to playwith the ideas of gravity and phys-ical limits – her pieces have takenplace on rafts and on street corners.One even featured a man walkingdown the side of a building.

Sophomore Alyssa Ilves saidshe has learned a lot about Brownfrom the exhibit. “I’m excited thatit’s here,” she said. “I think it’s fab-ulous that Mills is allowingTrisha’s work to be here.”

Brown’s extensive career isshowcased in the exhibit, but whileit focuses on her dance back-ground, visitors can also see herother passion – visual art. Brown’sdrawings cover the walls, many ingroups of four or five per theme.

One collection of drawingscenters around lines that curve,almost as if they are letters in a for-eign language. Another group of

drawings features cubes with num-bered corners – all using seeminglycomplicated formulas that relate tothe space surrounding the shapeand correspond to the alphabetcoded with numbers. Her drawingsare sometimes simple, sometimesdetailed, but always intriguing.

Art Museum DirectorStephanie Hanor spoke at the pub-lic reception and said the exhibit isa rare chance to see Brown’s manyartistic talents.

“This is a great opportunity tosee her work in all of its forms,”she said. “It’s a beautiful exhibitand a great way for us to learnmore about Trisha Brown.”

One of Brown’s pieces,Planes, which she originally creat-ed in 1968, was performed twice atthe public reception by members ofthe Mills Repertory DanceCompany, divided into two groups.Each group of dancers, six in total,will rotate performances of thepiece and will also perform it Feb.3, 10 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.

What stands out about thepiece is that it’s entirely impro-vised, and the dancers literallyclimb a wall as they move into oneposition, pause for a few momentsand move to another position,keeping in mind relation of space,

speed and balancebetween the otherwomen. The wall iscovered in holesfilled with rubberflaps that allowdancers to stick entirelimbs through thespace. Think of it

almost as a huge game of Twister –but vertical. At one point, a dancerwas completely upside-down sev-eral feet above everyone’s heads.The dancers curled into and out ofposes, slowly moving their feet andhands back to the safety of theholes. Here is where Brown’s dis-missal of gravity comes into playagain, but this time it is live.

Throughout the reception,Brown walked around the exhibitand mingled with visitors. At onepoint in the performance of Planes,Brown moved a chair, placed it in afront row seat behind some audi-ence members and sat in it, watch-ing the work that she created over40 years ago being performed.

President Janet Holmgren, whoalso attended the public reception,said that the night was “a rareopportunity.” Holmgren said thatone of the things she has enjoyedthe most about her almost 20-yearspan as president of the College hasbeen getting to know Brown.

“She is the author, the spirit, themind, the energy of this work,”Holmgren said, gesturing to thepieces around her. “This is achance to get to know her amazinggenius.”

bbyy AAnnnnaa BBeellllee PPeetteerrssoonn FEATURES EDITOR

Clockwise from top: Dancer and visual artist Trisha Brown watches members of the Mills RepertoryDance Company perform her 1968 piece, Planes. A visitor to the Art Museum looks at a few ofBrown’s drawings on display. A collection of performance posters, supplied by Brown, was anoth-er aspect of the exhibit, which runs until March 14.

Upside down with Trisha BrownModern dance icon displays many artistic talents at Art Museum

PHOTOS BY MIKA ROSEN AND ANNA BELLE PETERSON

Maybe one of your many NewYear’s resolutions is to get into bet-ter shape. Or possibly you justwant something active (and offcampus) to do on the weekends. Nomatter what your reason, Oaklandhas plenty of places that give youthe opportunity to move.

Hipline Belly DancingThis studio is near the

Rockridge shuttle stop and focuseson belly dancing but also offersclasses in other kinds of dance andaerobic styles, including ones withnames like “Shimmy Flow” and“Power Pop.” Right now the studiohas a deal where you can get threeintroductory classes for $20.

Hipline's Web site has advicefor what classes you should takedepending on what you want toachieve. Ask yourself if you wantto “just get your butt kicked” or ifyou want to be a “superstar bellydancer” and then choose classesthat the site recommends.

If you’re not willing to make aweekly commitment, there’salways the one-day workshopwhere you can learn all the movesfrom Beyonce’s now infamous“Single Ladies” video.3167 College Ave. @ AlcatrazBerkeley, CA(510) 350-7784myhipline.com/classes/rates.html

Lake Merritt Dance CenterThe Dance Center serves as a

host location for a ton of differentdance classes and teachers. TheCenter is a non-profit corporationdedicated to giving communitymembers a place for recreation.You can try salsa, lindy hop, ball-room — or even rent out the spacefor your own event.

The studio offers plenty of ses-sions during the week, so you maybe able to fit in some dance beforeor after classes. The advantage tothis is that classes are even cheaperon week days, although they areonly slightly more expensive on theweekends.200 Grand Ave. Oakland, CA 94610(510) 504-2176lakemerrittdancecenter.org

YWCA Berkeley In an incredibly convenient

location (it's just steps away fromthe Berkeley shuttle stop), theYWCA offers everything from“Ballet for Fun and Fitness” to“Argentine Tango.” Most classesare taught in a six-week series, butyou can also drop-in just to get ataste without having to make sureyou’re available every week.

You don’t have to become amember of YWCA to take classeshere, although there is a discount tothe class fee is you are a member.Also, these classes are open to theentire community and some arequite popular — so get there earlyand check online to make sure thatthe session isn’t already full. 2600 Bancroft WayBerkeley, CA 94704510-848-6370ywca-berkeley.org/dance-1.html

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

East Bay duo proves that“rhythm is all you need”

The Street Eaters album art was all hand drawn by band member and Mills alumna Megan March. Thepaper used on the album cover is recycled and March used vegatable ink to create the drawings.

A Street Eaters disc was sent toThe Campanil one day in the nottoo distant past with a note attachedrequesting a review. The noteexplained that band memberMegan March is a Mills Collegealumna and it was signed by anunknown fellow named Rich.

Always on the lookout for newmusic, particularly of the local per-suasion, I eagerly snapped up theopportunity to discover what thisEast Bay duo had to offer. So Ipopped the disc into my CD playerand gave the album a couple of lis-tens while driving back to myhometown one weekend.

Admittedly, I was not all thatimpressed upon first listen.

The only thing I could hearwere the unpolished vocals that, forsome odd reason, made me wonderwhether or not this is what it wouldsound like if Joanna Newsom com-bined vocal forces with a dying seaotter, started a punk band and for-got to add a guitar to the mix.

Or maybe Joanna and Mr.Otter just forgot the guitarist on theside of the road somewhere in NewMexico.

OK, maybe that last bit mayhave been slightly exaggerated, butthe point is that I wasn't a fan atfirst. I chalk this temporary lapse injudgement up to the fact that whileriding in my car, one can either

hear the gentle vibrations of nearlyblown-out speakers or the smooth,cascading sounds of every vehicleon the road as I whizz past at 85mph.

Not only is my car not compe-tent in the fine art of outside noisecancellation, but I am pretty sure Iwas talking on my cell phone for alarge portion of the drive.Basically, I just wasn't listening.

When I got off the phone andout of the car, I decided to give theStreet Eaters a fair chance. I foundthat I legitimately enjoyed the rawvocals and lo-fi quality recordingof this band made up of one partMegan March on drums andvocals, and one part Johnny Geekon bass and vocals.

It was refreshing to hear a bassand drum band whose sound leansmore towards punk and lesstowards the noise side that is com-mon amongst acts like LightningBolt. Somehow, We See Monsters

even manages to be catchy, whiletheir MySpace page declares theyare “not looking for a guitarist,because rhythm is all you need.”

Though the EP only containssix songs, I found it difficult tochoose my favorites.

I managed to narrow it down tofour, with the opening and middletracks, “Blackwater” and “I AmThe Running Dog” ranking in thetop two.

I would definitely recommendWe See Monsters if you like two-piece punk bands that most peopleprobably have not heard of.

HHeeaatthheerr MMccDDaanniieellASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

I found that I legitimatelyenjoyed the raw vocals and lo-fi quality recording of thisband made up of one partMegan March on drums andvocals, and one part JohnnyGeek on bass and vocals.

Get on your dancing shoesAAnnnnaa BBeellllee PPeetteerrssoonn

FEATURES EDITOR

COURTESY OF HIPLINE

COURTESY OF STREET EATERS, BAKERY OUTLET RECORDS

Listen to them!

MySpace: Find the band atmyspace.com/streeteaters tolisten to a few of their songs,including one of Heather’sfavorites, “Blackwater.” Youcan also find out more aboutthe band members here.Facebook: Become friendswith them on Facebook atfacebook.com/streeteaters.Funnily enough, their pagesays that they are in an “It’sComplicated” relationship.Live: See them in the flesh- Broad Fest, 3069 Broad St.

in San Luis Obispo on Feb. 13at 8 p.m.

- Mama Buzz Cafe, 2318Telegraph Ave. in Oakland onFeb. 26 at 7 p.m.

Each issue this semester we will look at interesting thingsin the College’s past, going further back in time. This arti-cle, published on Feb. 28, 1974, states that the “new vege-tarian dinner program” will begin immediately.

This day in Mills history

CalendarFEBRUARY 1-14

9Tuesday

8Monday

Mills College Event: The WordMill - ToastmastersWhat: Come practice your publicspeaking skills.When: 12 – 1 p.m.Where: Lokey GSB 125Contact: Dawn Schrey Colvin,dcolvin@mills.edu

Marker Dance PartyWhat: Dance and draw where thefloors and walls are your canvas.When: 7:30 p.m.Where: Berkeley Art MuseumContact: (510) 642-0808

1Monday

Mills College Event: The WordMill - ToastmastersWhat: Come practice your publicspeaking skills.When: 12 – 1 p.m.Where: GSB 125Contact: Dawn Schrey Colvin,dcolvin@mills.edu

Mills College Songlines Series:Dobromila JaskotWhat: Visiting Polish composerDobromila Jaskot will speak abouther CCM residency project and dis-cuss the influence of interculturalvocal expression on her use of liveelectronics.When: 7:30 p.m.Where: Ensemble RoomContact: Center forContemporary Music, (510) 430-2171

4Thursday

5Fr iday

3Wednesday

"Codeswitching: How To TalkSo Men Listen" What: Audrey Nelson, Ph.D., coau-thor of "Code Switching: How to Talkso Men Will Listen" will speak abouther book. This event is cosponsoredby the Lorry I. Lokey GraduateSchool of Business and the FinancialWomen's Association of SanFrancisco.When: 7 – 9 p.m.Where: GSB 101 (Gathering Hall)Contact: Adrienne Burghardt,aburghar@mills.edu

2Tuesday

Mills Music Now: Bob OstertagWhat: Bob Ostertag performs originalworks with Mills students.$15 general, $10 seniors and non-MillsstudentsWhen: 8 p.m.Where: Littlefield Concert HallContact: (510) 430.-2171

Oakland Chinatown Lunar NewYear Bazaar What: The first of a two-day eventcelebrating the Chinese New Year.When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Where: 9th St. at FranklinContact: Jennie Ong, (510)893-8979

7sunday

Say It Loud!What: Presenting Mills students, facul-ty, and others performing poetry,monologues and spoken word.When: 7 p.m.Where: Student UnionContact:Jean Long, ethnic@mills.edu

Lecture: Robert IrwinWhat: Hear Robert Irwin speak.When: 7:30 p.m.Where: Littlefield Concert HallContact: Art Museum, (510) 430-2164

6Saturday

Mills Repertory Dance Companyperformances of "Planes"What: Mills Repertory DanceCompany performs Trisha Brown's"Planes", originally performed in 1968.When: 6 – 8 p.m.Where: Art MuseumContact: Art Museum, (510) 430-2164

Black History Month: Cake Off!What: Celebrate Black HistoryMonth by eating cake!When: 12:15 p.m.Where: Suzanne Adams PlazaContact: Ethnic Studies, (510) 430-2080

San Francisco Museum ofModern Art: Free First TuesdayWhat: Visit the SF MOMA for free!When: The first Tuesday of eachmonthWhere: 151 Third Street, SanFranciscoContact: SF MOMA, (415) 357-4000

10Wednesday

11Thursday

Roots of Faith - ChoralPerformanceWhat: Listen to the progression ofAfrican American faith and culture.When: 7 p.m.Where: ChapelContact: Jear Wong,ethnic@mills.edu

Poetry/Open MicWhat: Enjoy poetry, food, and cof-fee at It's A Grind Coffee House'spoetry/open mic event.When: 5 p.m.Where: It's A Grind Coffee HouseContact:(510) 268-9902

12Fr iday

Last day to:• Drop a class• Decrease credit for a variable-creditcourse or an undergraduate 1-creditcourse• Change grade option

Institute for Civic LeadershipInformation SessionWhat: An informational meeting onthe Institute for Civic Leadership andits 2-semester program.When: 12:15 – 1 p.m.Where: Vera Long 102Contact:Michaela Daystar,mdaystar@mills.edu

Oakland Chinatown Lunar NewYear BazaarWhat: The Oakland ChinatownChamber of Commerce presents the2nd day of celebration for the LunarNew Year. Enjoy vendors, and liveentertainment, including dragon andlion dancing.When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Where: 9th St. at FranklinContact: Jennie Ong, (510) 893-8979

Does your department, group or club have anevent that you would like to see on

The Campanil calendar?

Send it to sliter@thecampanil.com

To see more events, check out the online calendar at: www.thecampanil.com/calendar

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

The State Budget: Where Doesthe Money Come From, andWhere Does it Go?What: A program discussing whereCalifornia gets its money and howit’s spent. Part of the NWPC DinnerMeeting Series.When: 5 – 6:30 p.m.Where: Buttercup Grill, 229Broadway at 3rdContact: Buttercup Grill, (510)444-2976

13Saturday

11th Annual Lunar New YearFlower MarketWhat: A free festival featuring SanFrancisco’s language immersionschools, arts and crafts and more.When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.Where: San Francisco BotanicalGardenContact: Venue, (415) 661-1316

National Survey of StudentEngagement (NSSE)What: Help Mills improve under-graduate life.When: Look for an e-mail inviteWhere: OnlineContact: Talia Friedman,(510)430-2084

14Sunday

VALENTINES DAY

Second Saturday ExtravaganzaWhat: This festival brings togetherMills College and the Oakland com-munity to celebrate our diverse her-itages. Enjoy a jump house, vendors,balloons and ethnically diverse food.When: 2 – 6 p.m.Where: Student UnionContact: Ethnic Studies, (510) 430-2080

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CCaarrrrooll PPaaggeeSPORTS AND HEALTH EDITOR

Not all accidents will lead youastray, as Chris Harmon found outwhen he became the newest assis-tant coach for the Track and Field team.

Recently, Harmon was leavinga potential job at Merritt Collegewhen he got lost, and found himselfaccidentally at the front gates ofMills College. Instantly attracted towhat he discovered within theCollege grounds, Harmon went toHaas and knocked on head coachLaura Davis’ door to inquire aboutopen coaching positions.

After learning about a possibleposition on the team, he appliedand got the job, joining WinstonWong as assistant coach. “I liketeaching girls because a lot of timesfemales are overlooked. It’s likethey are considered second class

citizens in athletics,” said Harmon.Harmon has been coaching

track and field for 23 years, andfollowed his wife across the coun-try from Florida to Oakland for hernew teaching job. Before he livedin Florida, Harmon coached insouthern California.

While Harmon previously heldhead coaching positions for upwardof 70 athletes, he now finds himselfcoaching just six athletes on thisyear’s team, specializing in sprints,jumps and hurdles.

Junior runner Jasmine Abelesaid Chris “is strategic about plan-ning practices.”

“He’s very constructive abouthis methods. There is a reason whyhe makes us do certain things,” saidAlondra Hamilton, a fellow juniorrunner. “With Chris, it’s qualityover quantity.”

The cyclones attended theirfirst meet Saturday Jan. 30 at

Skyline High School.“Some girls are doing the sport

for their first time. I rememberback in 1970 something when Istarted doing it,” Harmon said.

Harmon now jokes about end-ing up participating in the sport henow is so passionate about. Hesigned up for his first meet in highschool as a dare from his father,who Harmon said wanted to “showup” his co-worker’s son, a trackand field runner. The meet was 200miles away, but Harmon proved tobe a promising athlete, eventuallycompeting on the national level.

Harmon promotes sports withand through his family. Both he andhis wife have coached numeroussports, and his son and daughterparticipate in not only track andfield, but in other sports as well.Though he said, “I am not a diehard sports fanatic,” he does have asoft spot for the Florida Gators.

Track and field hurdlesforward to third season

CCaarrrrooll PPaaggeeSPORTS AND HEALTH EDITOR

Heading into its third season,the track and field team has notonly advanced physically and men-tally since its days as a physicaleducation class, but now practiceson a different track as well.

The team began as a PE classthat met three times a week andtraveled to Skyline High School forpractice. Events offered weresprints, running and throwing.

“We have come a long waysince those days,” said LauraDavis, head track and field coachwho specializes in running eventsranging from the 800 meters up tothe steeple chase.

For the first time, the team isnow practicing at Merritt College,and members said they enjoy nothaving to compete with high schoolstudents for time on the track.

“It was chaotic. We werealways being pushed to the outerlevels to practice,” said PerlaCantu, a senior thrower. “Besidespracticing in un-ideal lanes, thetrack was always dirty.”

Senior runner Angie Sandavalagrees with Cantu. She said,“Changing to Merritt was a hugeimprovement for our team – andthat’s with an emphasis on huge!”

The track at Merritt will serveas the host track for the Mills homemeet coming up in April.

Davis considers one of thegreatest advancements for her teamas a whole to be placing an athlete

in every track and field event, withan exception of the pole vault.

Ana Tijiboy, an alumna, beganher track and field career at Millswhile it was offered as a class. “Asa result of track and field transi-tioning from a PE class to a colle-giate sport, people became morecompetitive. Before it was aboutfun but now they have becomemore cohesive as a team,” she said.

Davis has noticed her athlete’srising level of commitment. “Theyrealize it’s a commitment to thewhole team and not about one indi-vidual,” she said. “It’s really toughbecause you have to run a qualify-ing time but there are a handful ofathletes that have a good chance tocompete at nationals this year.”

In the previous two years 15athletes participated on the team.

“It’s looking like there will be18 athletes this season, but it’s hardto tell the first couple of weeks,”she said.

The team has two assistantcoaches, Winston Wong and ChrisHarmon. Wong specializes in shot,disk, javelin and hammer throws.Harmon is new to the team this sea-son and coaches jumps, sprints and hurdles.

The team emphasizes that crosscountry and track and field are twodifferent sports in mental and physical aspects.

“If anyone is interested in run-ning, I would start with track andfield. You can really test all aspectsof your body and mentally, it’s adifferent discipline,” said Cantu.

Give Mills a piece of your mind!The Office of Institutional Research & Planning conducts student surveys on behalf of the College. Your participation in these surveys is vital to the growth and improvement of Mills programs and services.

Living-Learning Communities Experience, January and April: A two-part survey directedtowards first-year students. This online survey is your chance to evaluate the LLC program, your RA and Advisor.

Graduate Services Satisfaction, February: An online survey aimed at evaluating your unique position at Mills as a graduate student and the services and supports available to you.

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), February: Help Mills improve the quality of theundergraduate experience by letting us know what academic and social activities you have partici-pated in and how you’ve grown as a result. Open to all first-year students and seniors online.

Multi-Institutional Survey of Leadership (MSL), March: Explores the role of higher education indeveloping leadership capabilities. All undergraduates are invited to participate online.

Your First College Year (YFCY), April: All first-year students are asked to participate in thisimportant survey about your experiences, what you’ve gained and how you’ve changed after completing your first year of college.

Senior Survey, April: All graduating seniors are encouraged to participate in this survey about yourcollege experience, your future plans and your personal and academic achievements.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!

PARTICIPANTS ARE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A $350 CASH PRIZE.

Please help Mills improve the experience of all students by participating in these surveys when they aresent to your e-mail account! Every voice heard increases the value of the information we receive. Be heard!

CARROL PAGE

Chris Harmon and his new Cyclone runners pose in front of Haas before an afternoon practice.Harmon landed an assistant coach position after accidentally stumbling onto the college campus.

CCaarrrrooll PPaaggeeSPORTS AND HEALTH EDITOR

The Mills College swim teamjust couldn’t stay dry on MartinLuther King, Jr. day.

Members of the team volun-teered to serve on the day the feder-al government has deemed aNational Day of Service, taking theidea that the holiday was “a day on,and not a day off” to heart. Theteam braved cold and rainy weath-er conditions to help restore trailsand meadows in Shepard’s Canyon Park.

The park, which is located inMontclair, has served as a collec-tion site for construction equipmentover the years, though it is not anofficial dump site, according tohead swim coach Neil Virtue.

“The surrounding communityresidents decided to take back theland and stop the dumping,” saidVirtue. “They work year long onthe projects but get the most helpon Martin Luther King Jr. day.”

Participating teams were askedto wear gloves and sturdy shoes.Their tasks at hand included build-ing an approach trail to a newbridge, path upkeep, pulling upinvasive species to protect nativeplants, maintenance to Tori gateand casting wild flower seeds at thescenic overlook.

Other participants besides theswim team included advocatesfrom around the surroundingShepard’s Canyon community.

“We wanted to establish a rela-tionship with a place near by. Weare taking ownership over a part ofthe community,” said Erin Lucas,assistant swim coach and Millsalumna.

The team volunteered its timeas long as the weather permitted.Around 1 p.m. work ceased due toincreasingly bad weather.

“We set up an alternative activ-ity to do for the girls while we werethere,” said Lucas, “because it waspouring rain. It was really coolthough, because none of them tookadvantage of it. They all took therain and the mud head on.”

“I was proud of the team forsticking through the pouring rain. Iam thankful for their attitudes andwork ethics,” said Virtue.

“I felt encouraged to see a largenumber of people ready to workeven though they could easily justbe sitting within the warmth oftheir homes. It made us realize thatif these people could work in therain, then we definitely could workin the rain alongside them,” saidfirst year Desirae Tongco.

“A rewarding part of the eventwas seeing the physical outcome ofmy work. I especially enjoyedcoming back to the rubble pile Iworked on last year,” said Tongco.

Senior Amelia True said, “Ithink the remarkable thing was thateven in the rain, and in the smallerthan last year turn out, we wereable to accomplish all of the tasksthat we set out to do.”

The reward of getting lost: assistantcoach joins the track and field team

Swim team braves weatheron annual volunteer day