Vassar College

Vassar Student Association

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About the VSA

The Vassar Student Association works to meet the needs of the student body and to voice those concerns to the administration, faculty and Board of Trustees. The VSA is composed of executive board and a representative council.

The VSA Council is the legislative body of Vassar’s student government. The Council consists of the Executive Board, which includes the President, Vice President, Academic Executive, Secretary, and Treasurer; the presidents of each residence hall, town houses, terrace apartments, town students; and each of the four academic classes. Council meetings are held weekly and are open to the public. Information regarding the meetings is posted in the lobby of each dorm and on the VSA Bulletin Board in the College Center (adjacent to the Kiosk). Students wishing to bring a matter to the attention of council should contact the VSA President in advance of the meeting if possible; if not, issues can be brought up at open discussion at the conclusion of the VSA meeting.

Students are elected to VSA Council positions at the end of B semester and at the beginning of A semester of each year. Committee positions are filled at the beginning of A semester, freshmen positions are filled at the beginning of A semester. Those interested in positions should contact the VSA Vice President.

The VSA sponsors approximately 115 student organizations. These groups, described in more detail in the following pages, provide students with a wide range of extracurricular activities, from performing arts groups to student publications. The Executive officers of ViCE, Vassar’s campus entertainment group, are elected each spring and coordinate major social events and concerts as well as films. VSA also includes a number of student committees. These committees, many of which are joint faculty, student and administrative groups, meet regularly to establish and review college policies. Student representatives sit on a wide variety of these committees including the Harassment Committee, Master Planning Committee, Committee on College Life, Residential Life Committee, College Regulations Panel, Committee on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Concerns, and the Admission Committee.

For more information on any VSA organization, or on the VSA in general, students should feel free to stop by the VSA offices during the school year (located on the 2nd floor of the College Center) during “drop-in” hours or to call the office at the extension 5381 or email at vsa@vassar.edu.

Vassar Student Association Organizations

We have over 100 active student organizations, including theatre groups, a cappella groups, student government, political organizations, and several student publications:

Accidentals
The Accidentals is the first of Vassar’s two current all-male a-cappella groups, founded in 1980. It has rotating membership with new members auditioned as old members graduate. The Axies usually perform for dorm dinners, campus parties and Founder’s Day, as well as singing at other colleges and Alumni House. These travels usually include a spring-break trip somewhere southern like Florida. They also hold three major concerts a year: an a-cappella jam with all of the other groups on campus, a post-holiday concert with guest groups from other schools and a post-road trip concert with guest groups.

African Students Union (ASU)
The African Student’s Union, formerly known as the Africa Club, began as the Vassar Association of African Students in 1992. The ASU was founded in an effort to stimulate a more sensitive environment to the particular academic, social, political and psychological concerns of African students. Membership to the ASU is open to all (emphasis added) matriculated students at Vassar College as well as to all members of the larger community of African persuasion who may not necessarily be matriculates at Vassar. The ASU’s major goal is to foster a highly inclusive and culturally effusive atmosphere at Vassar.

AIDS Education Committee
The foremost duty of this group is to educate Vassar and its surrounding community about HIV/AIDS related issues. This includes education in preventative measures, treatment, and possible cures as well as supporting programs which correspond with the AIDS Education Committee’s goals. The secondary goal of the AIDS Ed. Committee is fundraising for HIV/AIDS service organizations, charities, and related establishments. The AIDS Education Committee strives to hold at least one major fundraising event each year.

Alive
Founded in 1998, Alive is a Christian a cappella group dedicated to to arranging and singing everything from contemporary Christian pop to gospel. Off-campus events have included singing at local churches, colleges, and attending the annual Gospel Jam. On-campus, Alive sings for various Christian groups and events, including Christian Fellowship, the Protestant Worship community, and the annual Lessons and Carols service. A major project every year is co-sponsoring the Agape Cafe with Christian Fellowship.

Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an independent, worldwide human rights organization that works to free all people detained for the non-violent exercise of belief, or for their race, sex, ethnicity, language, or religion. It strives toward fair and speedy trials for political prisoners and for an end to torture, political killings, and the death penalty. Their work is based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all such international agreements. Amnesty condemns terrorism, taking of hostages, or any killing or torturing of prisoners by armed opposition groups and takes action by writing letters and petitions, setting up informational tables, increasing awareness about international events pertaining to human rights, and sponsoring special events to coincide with days of particular importance, such as Human Rights Week.

Asian Film & Media Club
The purpose of the AFMC is to expose Vassar to the films, television shows, and music of China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries. We put on regular film screenings and plan to expand our efforts in the future. Membership in the club consists of helping to organize and promote all-campus activities.

Asian Quilt
Asian Quilt was founded in the early nineties by a group of Vassar students, AQ had been a biannual anthology featuring works of art and literature by Vassar students and alumnae/i, published authors and more. AQ was established in response to a great absence of spaces for Asian American students to feature their works and beginning with Volume 5, we increased the quality and variety of submissions by searching outside of the Vassar community. It is particularly important for us to present ongoing dialogue in future volumes as well in order to share with our readers the evolution of Asian Quilt and our constant redefinition of “Asian American.” Thus AQ encourages diverse submissions to engage both the Vassar community and beyond in a dialogue about the Asian or Asian American experience and identity construction.

Barefoot Monkeys
The Barefoot Monkeys is an on-campus circus education and performance group. The Barefoot Monkeys exists to increase awareness of circus activities in the Vassar community, provide an opportunity for Vassar and its surrounding community to learn to juggle, and to maintain a regular forum, educating and entertaining all interested in circus performance. All one needs to become a Barefoot Monkey is the desire to learn to juggle, unicycle, or twirl, and to have a great time trying.

Black Students Union (BSU)
The Black Students Union is a student organization established to meet the needs and concerns of the Black students on campus. Its dual purpose is to provide an on-campus support system for the individual Black student while establishing and cementing ties with our sisters and brothers on other campuses and to serve as a viable political, educational, and cultural force. Its goal is to cultivate sensitivity and awareness of various Black issues and concerns in the hope it will enlighten and foster a more diverse, informed Vassar community. Membership to the BSU is open to any Vassar student who is strongly committed to the tasks of the organization.

Caribbean Students Association (CSA)
The Caribbean Students Alliance (CSA) is an organization established to educate the Vassar community on the different traditional, cultural, and social aspects of Caribbean life and people. One of its important functions as a student organization is to serve as a support system by providing a union where Caribbean students can express and celebrate their cultural diversity. Membership to the Caribbean Students Alliance is all inclusive. All members of the Vassar community willing to uphold the CSA constitution are welcome to bear membership and partake in its celebrations and in its endeavors to educate. The CSA provides the campus with a valuable source of information pertaining to Caribbean issues.

C.H.O.I.C.E.
Despite the connotations of the name, C.H.O.I.C.E. is politically and ideologically neutral. Its purpose is to provide various services to the Vassar Community regarding issues of sexual health. One cornerstone of their services is the sale, and occasional free distribution of condoms, dental dams, latex gloves, and water-based lubricants. In this way, C.H.O.I.C.E. is an alternative to the college store or any drug store venues which can often be intimidating places to purchase such items. The C.H.O.I.C.E. office is located in the basement of Jewett House and open to the entire Vassar community. It is staffed by trained counselors five nights a week and supplied with a wealth of books and videos to provide non-judgmental information on a broad range of sexual concerns including pregnancy, STD’s, contraception, and sexuality. Counselors are selected on a volunteer basis.

Christian Fellowship
The Vassar Christian Fellowship is affiliated with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a student movement active at universities and colleges across the United States. The purposes of the Fellowship are to meet the needs of the Christian community, to provide members of the Christian community with an opportunity for fellowship and spiritual growth, and to inform the Vassar community of the Gospel of Jesus. Membership is open to all Vassar students regardless of race, color, sex, ethnicity, nationality, political or sexual orientation, marital status, or handicap. Non-Vassar students may participate at the discretion of the leaders. The group’s major activities include a book table at least once a semester in the College Center with free Christian books, pamphlets, and information and the sponsoring of informative and relevant concerts, speakers, films, and discussions.

College Democrats
The Vassar College Democrats (VCD) pledges itself to providing a forum for discussing wide-ranging political issues on campus. Although constituted from a Democratic viewpoint, the purpose of the organization is to further the political education of the Vassar community and encourage student participation in the Democratic process. VCD will address issues pertaining both to the Democratic party and to greater national and local social issues. The VCD is not controlled by outside political bodies, but serves to explore and define the philosophy of the Democratic Party, personal, liberal, and left-wing beliefs; and to work with the entire Vassar community to create forums for the discussion of national issues that transcend party politics.

Council of Black Seniors (CBS)
The Council of Black Seniors (CBS) is an organization offering pre-professional services, and social and cultural events that reflect the diversity of the senior class. The pre-professional component of CBS includes career fairs, workshops, seminars, on-campus interviewing and other venues that focus specifically, but not exclusively, on the needs of black seniors. These services are garnered to prepare the black senior for when they leave Vassar and enter the work force. The social and cultural component will focus on alternative programming designed to offer more diversity to the senior week proceedings. This programming consists primarily of the Baccalaureate Service and the Kente Cloth Ceremony, as well as the Senior Block Party.

Cycling Team
As an organization, the Cycling Team provides a resource to those members of the Vassar community interested in cycling. This interest has been deemed strong enough to merit the foundation of a club sport. The Cycling Team’s purpose is to promote the sport of cycling, both competitive and recreational, throughout the Vassar community. The Cycling Team’s primary activity is intercollegiate competition. As a member of the United States Cycling Federation’s (USCF) National Collegiate Cycling Association, the team competes in road racing (spring) and mountain racing (fall). The team also provides the opportunity for every member of the Vassar community to get involved in all types of riding by holding guided open road rides and group-led mountain bike trips.

Daily Brew
The mission of the VC Daily Brew is to provide current news in a convenient format to the community of Vassar College. The news will be strictly non-Vassar, off campus news. The VC Daily Brew was founded in the fall of 2000 in order to keep the Vassar student body informed of events outside the college community. We began printing on September 21, 2000 and have continued to produce five issues a week. The founders, Sirius Fuller ’01 and Amy Lau ’02, perceived that one negative aspect of the Self-sustaining community was lack of knowledge and awareness of current events. To this effect, the Daily Brew seeks to “burst the Vassar bubble.” If you would like to know more about the Brew and how you can contribute, please feel free to contact.

Debate Society
Debate: to deliberate; consider. To discuss opposing points. To argue formally. Nobody does it better than debate. The Vassar Debate Society exists to provide a forum whereby people of all kinds can get together and argue issues in an organized fashion. Debate Society competes intercollegiately, nationally, and internationally in large-scale formal debate competitions. In years past, various debaters on the team have ranked among the top in the nation. Although Debate Society spends most of its time off-campus, it also holds regular on-campus meetings and debate practice rounds. The Vassar Debate Society is open to all members of the Vassar community.

Democracy Matter
Democracy Matters is a non-partisan political group which is part of anational organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of creating a more participatory democracy. The Vassar chapter is beginning its forth year, and is one of the oldest chapters in the country. We focus on projects which involve voter education and registration as well as highlighting issues of campaign finance reform, with goals for clean elections in New York and nationally, so that viable political cadidates are not kept from running to due lack of access to wealth, as well as getting the influence of corporations and wealthy individuals out of politics. Throughout the year we do flyering campaigns to educate the campus, have politically oriented mug nights or parties as well as register voters on and off campus. We bring lecturers to highlight issues in our democracy as well as lobby representatives locally and in Albany and participate in a democracy matters regional summit.

Eating Disorder Reachout Service (EDRS)
The Eating Disorder Reachout Service (E.D.R.S.) is a student-run support service established to help those who suffer from eating disorders to cope better with food/weight issues associated with college life. Their goal is to educate the campus about problems related to eating disorders by providing support, information, and referrals (both on and off campus) to individuals with eating disorders or individuals concerned about friends or family members with eating disorders. E.D.R.S. is staffed by trained counselors and has an office located in the basement of Raymond House. All students who wish to join E.D.R.S. must submit a written application designed by the group. Applications will be accepted at the beginning of each semester for training session to begin that same semester.

Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
The purpose of the Vassar College Emergency Medical Service (VC EMS) is to provide quality, confidential, volunteer emergency medical care for the Vassar College community. EMS operates mainly during the Vassar Health Service’s “off-hours” throughout the academic year. “Off-hours” refers to those times when the Health Service has reduced staff services. VC EMS weekday shifts are from Sunday through Thursday 5pm-8am. Weekend shifts are for 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays 5pm-5pm. VC EMS coverage of the Vassar campus is dependent on the number and availability of VC EMS riding members. There are two levels of membership for VC EMS members: active membership and riding membership. Active members do not participate in patient care, but serve as education and support staff. To be an active member, one need only be a Vassar student. Riding members serve in positions directly related to patient care, acting as the designated agents of the Director of Health Services. The requirements for being a Riding Member include being a New York State certified Emergency Medical Technician at the Basic Level or being enrolled in an EMT course, and being certified and trained to administer CPR in conjunction with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). For more information on specific requirements please see the contact persons of VC EMS or the VSA Secretary.

Equestrian Club
The Vassar College Equestrian Club offers competitive English riding at the intercollegiate level to any member of the Vassar student population. It maintains a membership in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and competes during both semesters of the college season. Students are trained by The Southerlands Foundation and ride weekly in group lessons as well as riding as a club both semesters. The group also hosts / co-hosts an IHSA horse show every year or so. Members are expected to pay their own expenses but limited financial assistance is available in addition to the fundraising the group does to off-set costs. Although Equestrian Club is a student-run club sport, they do have a coach and as one member puts it: “We are not a recreational sport! We train weekly and compete regularly! We’re also now one of the largest club sports!”

Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance
The Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is a feminist political action group. The goal of the group is to take political action, both on and off campus, on issues decided by the group. This goal is realized through the formation of action teams that tackle specific issues in small groups, as well as through the organization of events that the entire organization works on together. Membership to the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is voluntary and open to any member of the Vassar community who is committed to achieving political, economic, and social equality for all women.

The FlyPeople
The FlyPeople is the only official “unofficial” dance group on campus. Members are selected by audition at the start of each semester based on ability to be expressive, exert stage presence, and generally get jiggy with it. There are generally two big performances, one at the end of each semester. Dancers do all their own choreography to songs they choose. Past hits have been Missy Elliot’s “Work It,” Outkast’s “Bombz over Bagdad,” Christina Aguilera’s “Dirty,” and many more booty-shakin’ hits.

Forum for Political Philosophy
The Forum’s investigations lead us to many important and often ignored issues within a national climate which takes a neo-liberalist democracy as given. The focus of the group is not on issue oriented topics, but rather on a more theoretical sort of inquiry. Our questions include but are not limited to; the various meanings of freedom (not just the American, liberal, individual freedom), the relational nature of the human being to political systems (whether positive and social or negative and egotistical), the clash of modern and post-modern views of International Relations (America vs. Europe), as well as the feasibility of socialist systems in contemporary states (the Scandinavian countries vs. the lack of an American left).

Habitat for Humanity
This organization’s purpose is to pursue the goals of the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Chapter Program: to help educate the campus and community about the work of Habitat for Humanity, to help build and rehabilitate houses in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Hudson Valley and other areas, and to help raise funds and contribute money for the work of Habitat and other charitable causes (on an infrequent basis). The chapter also seeks to encourage interaction between diverse cross-sections of the Vassar community. Anyone interested in participating in Habitat’s projects, registered students and their families, is welcome to become a member of the chapter. Although Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian group, no discrimination will be made on the basis of religion or lack there of. Members of all faiths will be welcomed and all efforts will be made to accommodate them and their beliefs.

Happily Ever Laughter
Happily Ever Laughter (HEL) is a comedy troupe that relies primarily upon sketch comedy, with some improvisation, stand-up, guerrilla, and other phenomena. The group provides the Vassar community with at least two performances or happenings each semester. Membership to HEL is by audition, on a need-only basis. Prospective members will be judged on the quality of written material, performance in improvisation games, and a short, meaningful discussion with the current members of the group.

Helicon
Helicon is an organization whose purpose is to serve the needs and expand the creative voice of Vassar’s literary community. Helicon publishes a literary magazine featuring works by Vassar students. It also publishes a more frequent publication consisting of creative works by writers and artists not necessarily a part of the Vassar student body. This includes a calendar of writers’ events and assorted Helicon miscellanea. In addition to these publications, Helicon orchestrates events and activities garnered towards the enrichment of Vassar’s writers community. Some past events have included regularly scheduled Writing Workshops and Writer’s Nights in the Cafe as well as the sponsoring of various relevant speakers brought by other organizations. Membership is open to all.

Hunger Action Committee
The Hunger Action Committee (HAC) is a social awareness group open to all members of the Vassar community. Its purpose is to address issues of hunger and homelessness on both a local and global scale. They serve to educate the campus regarding the causes, effects, and possible solutions of hunger through newsletters, lectures, and various public events. In addition, we also seek ways in which we, as a united group of students, can help stop hunger through an active involvement with local soup kitchens. Sponsoring and maintaining the soup kitchen is their primary activity. Hunger Action Committee is not affiliated with a particular national organization, but maintains contact with a number of these groups to further their knowledge on the subject of hunger.

I Won’t Grow Up Day
Wanna be a kid again? I Won’t Grow Up Day is a day in April where students come together to make the college center into a carnival/ fair for big kids and little kids alike. The day entertains close to 200 off-campus guests who come to Vassar to enjoy arts & crafts, games, food, and educational fun. All the money raised through both fundraising and donations goes directly to the Child Abuse Prevention Center of Poughkeepsie.

Improv
Improv is an improvisational based performance group whose sole and never-ending mission is to bring laughter and good cheer to an otherwise dull world. Founded in 1908, by Jon Adams, Macciavelli, and Jean-Paul Sartre, Improv’s first show was held in the deserted town of Roanoke; to their dismay, no one attended. Since those humble beginnings, Improv has blossomed into a well-loved and popular entertainment group. For almost eighty years Improv has performed consistently on campus and taken their shows to other colleges in order to spread the good cheer and uphold Vassar’s reputation for the performing arts. Membership is open to all Vassar students. Improv uses all-original material including whatever comes to mind, and whatever material is at hand.

International Students Association (VISA)
Vassar International Students Association, (VISA) is an organization established to strengthen the pride of the international community at Vassar; to promote understanding between international students and the rest of the Vassar campus by providing a basis for communication and the exchange of ideas; and to expand the campus’ knowledge of foreign countries via social, cultural, and political education. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning about people and countries worldwide. Through membership, VISA seeks to have a reciprocal broadening of horizons between the international students and the rest of the Vassar community. International students are automatically members of the organization and can attend all of its functions. VISA meetings are open to the public.

Mahagonny Ensemble
A student-run chamber orchestra and choir that specializes in the performance of contemporary music. Each year, the Ensemble holds two formal concerts that are free and open to the public. The group focuses on repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as student compositions, and is devoted to creating unique performances that highlight modern developments in classical music. The Ensemble has recently been featured as part of ModFest, the Music Department’s annual modern music festival. Membership is open to all students by audition.

Matthew’s Minstrels
Matthew’s Minstrels is a co-ed student run a cappella group. The Minstrels sing a wide variety of music ranging from disco to contemporary/new wave. Matthew’s Minstrels perform up to two major concerts a year on campus, and when invited, off campus. They also perform for dorm study breaks and special events upon request. Renown for interspersing splices of humor in their music, Matthew’s Minstrels is a highly entertaining and popular group. Quoth a fan “There’s just no one like the Minstrels!” Audition is required for membership. The group varies in number based on the strength of individual voices.

Measure 4 Measure
In 1979, in keeping with their intrepid spirit, a few of the Vassar Night Owls struck out on their own to form Measure 4 Measure, Vassar’s only other all-female a cappella group. M4M is active throughout the semester, performing at study breaks, café nights, and other on-campus events. They also are frequently invited to perform off campus, and record a full-length CD approximately every two to three years. In addition, twice a year M4M hosts an all-male a cappella group from another college in their big end-of-semester concert. Measure 4 Measure arranges all their own music, making for a fantastic repertoire that is very diverse, consisting of everything from Sweet Honey in the Rock to ’80s pop to more contemporary music. Membership is by audition.

M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán)
As the official Chicano/a voice of Vassar, MEChA seeks to create a sense of community and security for Chicano/a students on campus. The organization strives to fairly represent and reclaim their ethnic identity while increasing campus-wide consciousness of the social and political issues that have kept their people oppressed. Members are committed to joining the movement towards self-determination for the purpose of liberating Aztlán, the birthplace of nuestra gente. Membership is open to all Vassar students who share the values and interests of the organization, regardless of race and/or ethnicity.

Moderate Independent Conservative Alliance
M.I.C.A. of Vassar College is an organization aimed at promoting “non-liberal” (for lack of a better term) views on campus—hence the name, “Moderate Independent Conservative Alliance.” Despite this avowed purpose, however, liberals are also welcome in the group. Our purpose is to give those who may possess disseminating political (primarily), moral, social, etc. goals a forum to have their voices heard. In many ways we are both a shelter and support group for those who may be fearful of expressing views that are in opposition to the Vassar majority. In general, we aim to not only raise the visibility of non-liberal issues on campus, but also to raise political awareness in general.

Miscellany News
The Miscellany News is the campus newspaper. It was founded in 1866 and was originally called the Vassar Miscellany. The name was changed to the Miscellany News in 1915 and thus it has remained. It is the oldest student publication at the College. While the publication appreciates contributions from all members of the college community—students, administration, faculty, alumni/alumnae, and trustees, it is primarily intended as a service for Vassar’s students. Its purpose is to inform them of news, art, and sports in and around the college in a timely manner. It also serves as an open forum for public dialogue on important issues and serves to entertain through its feature pieces. Any student within the Vassar community may serve on the staff of the paper as long as s/he attends weekly writers’ meetings and fulfills the obligations of a staff writer as defined in the Miscellany News by-laws.

Night Owls
The Night Owls are the nation’s oldest continuing all-female a cappella group. They were founded in 1942 when a plague struck Vassar’s campus and all students were quarantined at night. The original Night Owls were a group of brave women young women who snuck out of their dorms and met in the basement of the library to sing late into the night. Today the Night Owls arrange, rehearse, perform and record a cappella music for the Vassar community and abroad. They perform at least two major concerts a year and invite groups from other colleges to perform with them. They have also toured the United States and traveled abroad to sing and compete in tournaments. They have been invited to sing at both of Clinton’s inaugurations, and have been featured on Comedy Central. They are a spectacular group with a rich history. Their repertoire is built around jazz standards from the 1940s when the group was founded, but is always expanding.Membership is by audition.

Nonhuman Student Organization
The Nonhuman Student Organization (NSO) provides the Vassar College community with all of its geek-based needs. Anything and everything Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anime, and Gaming can be found with us. We sponsor gaming events of various types, weekly movie and anime nights, marathons, trips to conventions, and other fun events open to the campus at large. We also host our own yearly convention, NonCon, right here on campus.

No Offense
No Offense seeks to amuse and enlighten the campus through sketch comedy. We mine comedy from social issues and conventions, occasionally stooping to naughty words and/or outright absurdism. We believe our most important role is as a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, either in the mind of the individual, among a small group or people, or across the entire college community. As jesters in the court of learning, we sometimes tread unlightly on hallowed grounds, and take it upon ourselves to listen with respect to those who will inevitably take offense. In the event that we still go wrong, we will never attempt to silence, or close our minds to those who disagree with us. Beyond that viva wit, raunch, mini sombreros and comedy!

Outing Club
The purpose of the Outing Club is to stimulate participation in and appreciation for the outdoors; to promote low-impact usage of the outdoors; to provide trained, reliable, and safe outdoor leadership for the community; to provide specialized equipment and knowledge to the community, and to do all of this without financial discrimination. Some of their activities include backpacking, hiking, and mountain climbing in the scenic Hudson area, rock climbing, regular nature walks and hikes around the Vassar Farms. The Outing Club has ties with the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) and the Intercollegiate Outing Club Association (IOCA). The ADK usually invites Outing Club members to its events and the Outing Club usually hosts hikes and an intercollegiate, all-campus contra and square dance in conjunction with IOCA. The Outing Club stresses that all the groups’ activities are open to any member of the Vassar community. All outdoor activities have trained leaders assigned to see to all the logistics of the activity. Any member of the community may train to be a leader also. Direct information requests, membership details, or questions to:

Patchwork Players
The Patchwork Players is one of the newest organizations, being founded only one year ago. It is a story theater ensemble dedicated to experiencing and demonstrating the influence of a multicultural group through teaching stories to children. They perform skits in schools throughout Poughkeepsie and the surrounding Hudson Valley area as well as at Vassar. They also perform for other venues such as the American Cancer Society of Poughkeepsie’s “Great American Smoke-Out” and sometimes work in conjunction with the education and drama departments. Theirs is a work of creativity and community service in a society that places less emphasis on the arts in school. Their efforts are rewarding for them and all involved.

P.E.A.C.E.
P.E.A.C.E. is a non-profit national organization devoted to the elimination of prejudices and racism. They believe hatred is something one learns not something one is born with. Through activism, education and the experience of diversity, one will not learn tolerance, but a genuine acceptance and appreciation ofdifferences. P.E.A.C.E. strives to celebrate commonalties, establish relationships, create memories, and promote understanding while building awareness through the knowledge of our difference. P.E.A.C.E. is not an organization that preaches diversity. It is an organization that provides people with the experience of diversity. To accomplish this, P.E.A.C.E. has two major programs. P.E.A.C.E.’s Brothers and Sisters program seeks to establish relationship among children of different races, ethnicities and religions. It involves elementary to middle school students, as well as college students, teachers, administrators, and interested community members. The Awareness Day program is aimed more towards high school and college students. It is designed to create discussion on racism and prejudice and takes place in area high schools and at Vassar on April 4 , the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and a declared national day of peace and non-violence.

Philaletheis
The Philaletheis Society is an organization which provides the Vassar community with the opportunity to efficiently produce dramatic works of art. It shall be used as a means for aiding production through an advising and support system that encompasses the artistic, financial, and technical aspects of theater. The Philaletheis Society is the primary student production company. Membership to Philaletheis is open to all Vassar students and based upon their desire to participate.

PHOCUS
Phocus runs the community darkroom on a cooperative, members only basis. Because the college only offers photography courses periodically, Phocus seeks to fill in some of the gaps. It sponsors showings of student work, offers mini-courses in various photography topics, sponsors guest lectures and field trips. Many of the activities of the group involve fees, as does membership to the darkroom co-op, although the fee is waived for those who see to its upkeep. Any student who participates in a Vassar taught photo course is admitted free. Membership to PHOCUS is open to the entire Vassar community with or without photographic experience.

Poder Latino
Poder Latino addresses the needs and concerns of Vassar’s Latino community, serves as a support group, and a political action group. Its purpose is to promote communication and understanding between the members of Poder Latino and the other members of the Vassar community through forums, lectures, and other social events. It also serves to create a network between Poder Latino and other Latino communities, particularly in the local community, in order to provide strength and support in dealing with Latino issues. All members of the Vassar community are eligible to become members of Poder Latino. Particular effort will be made to recruit Vassar Latino students for which the group is founded. Full membership in Poder Latino, as in any serious organization, is contingent upon regular meeting attendance and other active forms of support.

Polo Team
The Vassar College Polo Team is a nationally recognized, competitive polo team. We play at the Varsity level against schools like Yale, UConn, and Skidmore. We travel throughout the region to compete and have attended regionals all the way to Indiana. We practice two times a week at Gardnertown Polo in Newburgh. We also participate in club chukkers 2-3 times a week. Members can conceivably practice 5-6 times a week if they are interested. We compete in about 3 or 4 games a month and our season lasts from September to April. Members pay a flat fee per semester and additional riding has no extra charge. We are actively seeking new members for our men’s and women’s team. No experience is necessary — one of our two nationally ranked coaches will be happy to teach you to ride and to play.

Premium Brew
Premium Brew is one of the last bastions of all male barbershop music still breathing in this world of contemporary a cappella. Only half of the repertoire is barbershop music, while the other half is a melange of oldies music that can be most easily defined as “good.” Premium Brew was founded way back in 2002 by five guys with dreams, the dreams were all different and subsequently Premium Brew is the end result. Today Brew consists of a membership of a non bakers dozen of Vassar men who all have a love for music, Barbara, and French culture.

Queer Coalition
The Queer Coalition of Vassar College (QCVC) is the social awareness and political umbrella organization for those whose sexual preference is not exclusively hetero and whose gender designation is not limited to their sex. It houses within several subgroups uniquely suited to serve the needs of the group’s constituents. The subgroups are People of Color Collective(POCC), Gay-Straight Alliance, Continuum, a group for those who identify as not gay and not straight; He’s Into Men (HIM) the men’s group, Sisters, the women’s group, First Step, a discreet discussion group for those coming out; and ACTS 29, the newest subgroup which serves as a safe place for those whose religion does not approve of their sexuality. There is, to date, no subgroup for transgendered students but they are in process of forming one and in the interim, QCVC serves as a safe space for transgendered students to meet as well. QCVC has a base of operations in Blegen House, located at 37 Collegeview, although its meetings are generally in the Chapel Foyer.

Ra’ashan
Ra’ashan is Vassar’s journal of Jewish culture. It is published in the fall, winter and spring of every year and includes a wealth of student written articles, stories, poetry, and perspectives. Ra’ashan is the first Jewish journal in Vassar history. It was founded by students who saw the need for a strong Jewish voice on a campus where it was otherwise absent. The expression of Jewish ideas, be they political or reflexive, poetic or editorial, religious or secular, or otherwise, which have always had a place in dorm rooms, and classrooms will now have a place in print on the pages of Ra’ashan.

Renaissance Singers
The Renaissance Singers, founded in 1995, introduce an alternative to audition-ridden a cappella groups. They are designed primarily to provide a casual atmosphere in which students can share their enjoyment of singing music from the Renaissance Period. Membership is open to anyone who wants to sing. The Renaissance Singers mostly sing for fun but perform as guest singers at other concerts as well as performing at informal concerts. The key word is relaxed. A nice change.

Respect Life
The Respect Life Group is a non-sectarian group dedicated towards promoting the respect for human life from conception until natural death. This is achieved through education, action and service. Members may choose to promote any one, or many, issues that coincide with the purposes of the group. Projects are undertaken both on campus and in the community at large. Meetings are always open for discussions, and all are invited to attend.

The Rock N Roll Club
The Rock N Roll Club, founded in 2003, is Vassar’s only club that celebrates all forms of rock music, and rejects the a cappella craze. The Rock N Roll club screens rock-oriented movies, holds listening parties, sponsors shows and concerts, and, in general, rocksout. All are welcome.

Sailing Team
The Sailing Team competes in over 20 races in the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (the most competitive region in the country) in the fall and spring sailing season. They race primarily FJs and 420’s but increasingly we compete in Lasers and large yachts. Interested adventurers of all skill levels are welcome but you must be able to swim.

Shakespeare Troupe
The Shakespeare Troupe is a selective group of theatrical creators dedicated to the production of fresh, vibrant, and compelling Shakespeare on Vassar Campus. Made up of an Acting Ensemble (added to by yearly audition), and a Director (elected yearly by the voting members), the Troupe may also include permanent members in Stage Management, Production, and Design, although non-permanent members may fill some, or all, of these positions for a single year. Membership as a Stage Manager, Producer, or Designer is by vote of the permanent members, and is contingent on one year of previous work with the Troupe. In the past, the Troupe has produced one Shakespeare play each year, usually in the Spring, and selects a new location for each production, usually outdoors. We seek consistently to challenge ourselves as artists, to produce stimulating and thoughtful theater, and to celebrate the works of a playwright we respect and love. No experience with Shakespeare is necessary, but you must be this tall to ride: ----.

Ski Team
Ski Team organizes competitive ski racing for the common students of Vassar college. It is our fervent belief that ski racing, due to its prodigious costs, is chiefly a pastime of the elite. These elites perpetuate the capitalist super-structures that preserve our low socio-economic status. To combat the unyielding class homogeneity inherent in ski culture, we, the proletariat, secure funds and disperse them freely to help the common, working class Vassar students (as well as their capitalist overlord fellow students) to participate in and subvert a principle bastion of neocolonial patriarchy—ski racing. As a competitive club we are members of the National Collegiate Skiing Association (NCSA) and race in the MacBride Division. The team is competitive although no race experience is necessary to join.

South Asian Students Alliance (SASA)
The South Asian Students Alliance (SASA) is an organization established to meet the needs and concerns of the South Asian community at Vassar College. Its goal is to provide a forum for South Asian Students in which issues of cultural, political, religious, and ethnic relevance are discussed and dealt with. Furthermore, it seeks to inject a South Asian component into the academic curriculum of Vassar College. It will unify the students of South Asian descent and at the same time provide the Vassar community with an insight and understanding into issues of South Asian culture and politics. Membership into SASA is voluntary, and is open to any Vassar student who is strongly committed to the ideals stated above.

Speaker’s Bureau
Speaker’s Bureau was created to increase the number of high quality speakers on campus. It is a fund set up to offset the cost of bringing good speakers to campus. The funds are available to any VSA-authorized organization and operates on a first come, first served basis. It is chaired by the Academic Executive and has a committee made up of the vice-presidents of all four classes. The committee evaluates speakers for funding taking into account the diversity of past and future speakers and free speech. Speaker’s Bureau will fund up to half of the speakers total cost if the requesting organization meets all the necessary criteria for funding. For more information on funding criteria and an application for funds please contact the VSA Student Academic Executive.

Spectator
The Vassar Spectator describes itself as the “journal of neglected ideas” and features a wide variety of investigative journalism, coverage of various facets of Vassar, anecdotes, narratives, factoids, and short stories. It is notable for it’s tabloid sized pages and graphic layouts and provides an interesting “slice of life” look at Vassar students and Vassar views.

SQUIRM
Squirm is an organization dedicated to intelligent and provocative explorations of sex and sexual pleasure. SQUIRM Magazine is a submissions-based publication, and all members of the Vassar community are encouraged to submit their writing, art and photography. Our exciting events seek to create a sex-positive community at Vassar while educating and promoting safe and consensual sexual expression. Students of all sexual and gender identities are welcomed on staff and at all of our events.

The Source
The mission of the Source is to educate students about drugs and alcohol. Our goal is education for the sake of education alone. In other words, we do not, as a group, have a stance (pass a value judgment) on the action of taking drugs or consuming alcohol. This goal of education is fueled by a desire to protect the health and well being of the student body. However, we believe that students are less likely to ask drug-related questions of a drug-prevention organization because such an organization might present biased information or pass judgment on the asker. Because we do not wish to alienate an important audience, we are a non-judgmental organization. We do not seek to facilitate “safe” drug use, nor do we believe that there is such a thing as safe drug use. We further believe that college campuses harbor an environment of rumor with regards to the consequences of drugs and alcohol. We seek to combat this mis-education with accurate, truthful, non-biased information about drugs and alcohol. As a group, we acknowledge the disciplinary authority of the school and we fully support and respect the authority of the New York State and U.S. Federal Law. As members, we are aware of our obligation to the school to uphold college policy not to use.

The Student Activist Union (SAU)
A dynamic organization constantly in the process of moving toward non-hierarchical self-governance. It is a coalition of students that seeks to promote human rights and social, political, economic, and environmental justice. SAU provides a service to the community by seeking to proactively promote progressive social action on the local, regional and global level through rallies, petitioning, direct action, workshops and awareness-building campaigns. SAU acts as an umbrella organization for special interest groups that work on more specific issues within the broader context of SAU. In the past, working groups have taken up such causes as anti-war organizing, prison reform, domestic violence, the labor movement, environmental concerns, and Palestinian rights. SAU interacts with other organizations to promote issues of mutual concern, and provides speakers, films, workshops, and newsletters on relevant human rights issues. SAU strives to be non-hierarchical. Anyone who wants to be a member may join. Anyone may begin going to meetings and, with the support of other members, take SAU in directions that they wish; in fact, taking such initiative is encouraged. It should be noted, however, that SAU is an organization devoted to working against homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of oppression.

Students For a Free Tibet
Students for a Free Tibet is a national organization that is expanding at an explosive rate. The purposes of the organization is: To recognize Tibet as an independent country under Chinese occupation; To educate the general public about Tibet; To focus attention to 1)correct the human rights conditions in Tibet, and 2) effect change in our government’s China policy and Corporate America’s behavior for the peaceful settlement of the Tibet issue. Any Vassar student may join.

The Listening Center(TLC)
The Listening Center (TLC) is a group of students who are committed to providing non-judgmental, confidential, peer counseling to the Vassar student body. They offer information and referrals to other campus and community support services. TLC uses an empathic listening model and an informal, open, and relaxed atmosphere. It has an office located in Davison basement. Students can come down to the office or call during these hours to speak with a listener. At any other time, students can leave a message at ext. 7136 and a listener will get back to him/her during office hours. TLC listeners are extensively trained in a mandatory semester long program. Listeners are selected by application process and personal interview. Except for first semester freshman and first semester transfers, all members of the Vassar community are encouraged to apply.

Track Team
The Track Team is a Vassar club sport. Club Sports are teams that are entirely student run. Despite the lack of formal coaching, they continue to represent Vassar at the national and international level. As Vassar’s newest Club Sport, the Track Team has achieved enormous success in the past few years. They compete actively in the NCAA. Membership is open to anyone who runs for fun.

Ultimate Frisbee (men’s)
Men’s Ultimate Frisbee is one of Vassar’s club sports. Club Sports are teams that are entirely student run. Despite the lack of formal coaching, they continue to represent Vassar at the national and international level. The purpose of Men’s Ultimate Frisbee is to recruit and train its members with the goals of general fun and gentlemanly competition. They practice often and compete regularly. Occassionally, they also host tournaments amongst Vassar students or with other Frisbee teams.

Unbound
Unbound is an organization put together by and for students to provide a voice for the cultivation of non “western-European” based performance arts. The purpose of Unbound is to educate, enlighten, and entertain the entire Vassar community. This organization is not closed to ANYONE, regardless of age, sex, creed, or religion.

Unitarian Universalism (UU)
is a liberal, non-creedal religious tradition that values the inherent worth and dignity of ALL people. With this in mind, Vassar’s UU group seeks to explore spirituality, discuss social issues, and build a safe, welcoming community. Students run weekly worships and discussions, and some participate in services at the UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie. All students are welcome, regardless of previous knowledge of or involvement with UUism.

Vassar Animal Rescue Coalition
The main goal of the VARC is to educate the campus about its obligation to maintain the safety and welfare of its non-human animal residents. Often due to negligence animals are abandoned on campus. Most of the funds for the group go to a spay-neuter release program which serves to control the pet population by vaccinating Vassar strays, spaying/neutering them, and then releasing them in a rural and safer area or placing them with loving adopting families. VARC also brings pertinent speakers to the campus and sets up tables in the college center to further educate the campus about issues pertaining to animal welfare.

Vassar Catholic Community
The Vassar Catholic Community (VCC) is an organization represented by a core of Catholic students who foster a sense of community among Catholic students and among the broader spectrum of Vassar students. Each of our activities and events finds its focus in this central theme. The VCC’s main activity centers around the Sunday Liturgy and the planning of weekly Mass services. VCC also plans activities which involve its members and the members of the Christian Fellowship on campus as well as all campus events. Some of their past events have included the annual pumpkin carving held on the Chapel lawn each year, a regularly meeting rosary group, and a C.S. Lewis reading group. This group also performs many community services such as adopting a family for the holiday, donating carved pumpkins to children’s hospitals, and holding furniture and clothing drives for Dutchess Outreach in the city of Poughkeepsie.

Vassar Classic
The Vassar Classic was founded in 1999 and is dedicated to representing every type of music from classical to hip-hop. Anyone interested in submitting an article should e-mail the editor/contact.

Vassar Devils
The Vassar Devils are Vassar’s other co-ed a cappella group and, as stated in their charter, they are dedicated to performing in a professional manner. We’re talking serious a cappella. The Devils perform both on and off campus and intercollegiately. They usually have two large concerts a year and invite other schools to sing with them. Two teaser concerts to advertise their organization are produced at other times during the year. Membership is by audition.

Vassarion
The Vassarion is the official school yearbook. Like most yearbooks, it publishes once a year and sales start at the very beginning of the school year. The yearbook uses photographs and text to try and represent a comprehensive overview of the social and academic lives of the students at Vassar. Although, a large portion of the book is dedicated to the portraits of the graduating class. The books cost approximately $65. The Vassarion welcomes any interested Vassar student to work on the yearbook, regardless of experience.

Vassar Jewish Union (VJU)
The Vassar Jewish Union seeks to serve all Jewish members of the Vassar community regardless of their backgrounds or form of Jewish expression. The VJU does not endorse a partisan view of Jewish life, but encourages expression of all the facets of Jewish experience in search of an actively diverse Jewish life on campus. The VJU’s purpose is as follows: to teach students about Jewish heritage, Israel, and the variety of Jewish experiences throughout the world; to strengthen the bonds between the Jewish religion and its cultures; to serve as a political voice of Judaism in the Vassar community; to promote political, cultural, and religious dialogue with members of other cultural and religious communities in order to foster communications and understanding; to help enrich the lives of the Vassar community as a whole; and to prepare students for an informed and active participation in the Jewish communities that reside outside of Vassar’s gates and those communities they may enter after graduation from Vassar. VJU has a base of operations in the Bayit House, located on Collegeview Avenue. Membership is open to all students and meetings are open to the public.

Vassar College Televisions (VCTV)
In recognition of the realization that television is a powerful communications media and educational tool, and in response to the need for its full potential to be realized by the Vassar community in conjunction with the community outside Vassar, Vassar College Television (VCTV) was established. VCTV provides an opportunity for students interested in writing, directing, acting, and producing original television programming as well as offering such areas as programming, public relations, and business management. VCTV also hopes to offer its viewers a diverse selection of quality programming by drawing upon works both inside and outside the Vassar community. VCTV airs on public access Channel 32 and/or UHF channel 15. VCTV can produce and air programming even during breaks, recesses, and study/exam periods. Membership is granted to any individual who attends two consecutive general meetings. Non-Vassar students may be honorary members, unable to vote, but able to participate actively in the group’s other processes and activities.

Vassar Greens
Vassar Greens seeks to increase awareness of local, national, and global environmental issues on campus. They accomplish this goal by dispersing information to students, sponsoring lectures, films and groups that are concerned with environmental issues, providing a forum for discussion on environmental issues, and evaluating the state of the campus ecology while serving as vehicle for action on these concerns. Membership is voluntary and open to all students in the Vassar College community.

ViCE
ViCE stands for Vassar College Entertainment, (don’t ask ME where the ‘i’ comes from). It is the major, large-scale programming body on campus and brings a variety professional entertainment to Vassar. It also sponsors small and large campus events. The goal of ViCE is to provide diverse entertainment programming designed to satisfy the entertainment needs of the student body. Membership is voluntary and open to all members of the Vassar student body.

Vassar Student Association(VSA)
The Vassar Student Association is the governing body of all the student organizations authorized and recognized by Vassar College. It maintains records of each organization’s activities and is where organizational funds come from. It also serves as a liaison between the students and administration of Vassar College. The VSA recognizes that the student body is a separate entity in the corporate body of Vassar College, and that each student has the responsibility to conduct his or her life with consideration for others in the college community. The VSA seeks to provide a means for responsible and effective student participation in the appropriate decision making processes of the College and to further student welfare and interests.

Vassar Teknowledgy(VT)
After a decision made by a small group of Vassar students to bring the electronic music that they love to this campus, Vassar Teknowledgy is an organization that has grown tremendously in its short 3 year lifetime. The club’s environment is relaxed and almost family like, and is founded on a love for all things pertaining to electronic music culture. VT’s mission is to provide students with new and innovative events that incorporate various type of electronic music styles and to promote e-music awareness. VT has maintained a reputation of always surprising the Vassar community with new ideas, such as setting a massive game of dodge ball with an e-music background, or staging mock boxing matches to promote upcoming events, that have widened the organization’s fan base from year to year. We look forward to becoming one of the larger event planning organizations on campus and in the near future continuing to provide the campus with increasingly talented electronic musicians and DJs.

Women’s Ultimate Frisbee
Picture this: fourteen women, two teams, one disk, and a field. NO referees. Women’s Ultimate Frisbee is one of Vassar’s club sports. Club sports are teams that are entirely student run. Despite the lack of formal coaching, they continue to represent Vassar at the national and international level. The purpose of Women’s Ultimate Frisbee is to recruit and train its members with the goals of sportsmanship and fun. They practice often and compete regularly. They may also host tournament amongst Vassar students or with other Frisbee teams.

WVKR
The FM radio station of Vassar College known as 91.3 WVKR FM is a non-commercial, educational, student operated, broadcast facility licensed to the trustees of the college and serving the Poughkeepsie community as required by the Federal Communications Act of 1934 and all subsequent revisions thereof. In addition to operating as legally obligated under federal law, it shall be the objective of this organization to educate, entertain, and involve the members of the Vassar community in the maintenance and operation of this FM broadcast station. The radio station is located on the third floor of the College Center and broadcasts a wide variety of radio programming including, but not limited to music and talk shows, instructionals, and the news and weather. Broadcasting usually runs 22-24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any member of the Vassar community may join the staff of WVKR or have their own show provided they follow the regulations set forth by WVKR and the law. WVKR encourages visitors. For more information regarding radio shows or membership see the organization’s contact person.

*Other VSA organizations

• Chess Club
• Aikido
• Catalyst
• Commencement Musical
• Film League
• FORCE
• Founder’s Day
• Grain Magazine
• The Limit
• Snowboarding Team
• Woodshed Theater Ensemble
• Vassar Bikes
• Yafeyfiyah

Click for Alphabetical Listing of Vassar Websites