Walkway Over the Hudson

The Walkway Over the Hudson, the largest pedestrian bridge in the world, is one of many attractions in Vassar's backyard. Meet two friends of mine -- Ruby Cramer '12 and Tanay Tatum '12, both student government leaders -- as they take a stroll over the bridge. The Walkway opened at the beginning of my senior year in the fall of 2009; you couldn't imagine a more beautiful perch from which to see the rainbow of autumn leaves change color. In its first year alone, the bridge attracted nearly 500,000 visitors.

Alumni Profile: Tara O'Toole '74, Under Secretary for Science and Technology

When looking at colleges, prospective students want to know about results. What can an education at College ABC prepare me for? What will University XYZ do for my future? Occasionally, this blog will profile just one (of more than 36,000 living) Vassar graduates, so that prospective families can glean the incredible launching power of a Vassar education.

Tara O'Toole, a member of the Vassar class of 1974, is one of many Vassar graduates serving in senior positions in Obama administration. Dr. O'Toole was appointed Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security in November 2009.

Like many Vassar graduates, Dr. O'Toole's academic resume is stellar. Raised in Norwood, Massachusetts, she came to Vassar with a strong interest in medicine, studying biology and chemistry. By 1981, she had earned her M.D. from George Washington University, and by 1988, she had received a Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She completed an internal medicine residency at Yale and then a fellowship in occupational medicine at Johns Hopkins. And that isn't even the most impressive part!

Dr. O'Toole came to the Department of Homeland Security from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she was Director of the Center for Biosecurity. Throughout her career, she has written extensively on biodefense, response to biological attacks, and containment of contagious disease. She is a Coeditor-in-Chief of the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. She was a principal author and producer of Dark Winter, an influential exercise conducted in June 2001 to alert national leaders to the dangers of bioterrorist attacks. She was also a principal writer and producer of Atlantic Storm, an international ministerial-level biosecurity exercise held in January 2005.

Dr. O’Toole served as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety and Health from 1993-1997, where she was principal adviser to the Secretary of Energy on environmental protection and oversaw health and safety for approximately 100,000 workers in government laboratories. In this position, Dr. O’Toole developed the first overall management and safety plan for dealing with waste left from nuclear weapons production.

A liberal arts education prepares you to solve incredibly broad, thorny problems. Read about some Vassar innovators, and learn about the kinds of world-changing thinkers, movers and shakers that Vassar produces.

Evolutionary biorobic research at Vassar

Prospective students considering careers in science often hear about the importance of research during college. Research experience is key to admission to the most selective M.A., Ph.D and M.D. programs. Your undergraduate work really matters.

So, some ask, why choose a small liberal arts college rather than a humongous research university? Surely bigger labs must translate to better opportunities for research, right? Nope. As I wrote last month, Vassar is a national leader in producing science and engineering Ph.Ds. Our alumni gain admission to the most selective graduate programs in the country. Why? Simple: Access to faculty, both in the classroom and in the laboratory. Vassar science students are able to become research assistants to their professors, participating in cutting-edge projects and often getting co-published in national scientific journals.

To give just one example of this type of work, consider Professor of Biology John Long's evolutionary biorotics lab. Long is an internationally recognized researcher for his work on vertebrates, evolution, and robotics. Essentially, his lab consists of elaborate robotic fish that use sophisticated microprocessors to imitate the physical movement of real fish. With grants from the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research, Long studies the evolution of motion in current and prehistoric species. He also has extensive research collaborations with Duke University and the University of California.

Vassar science students are full participants in his world-changing research. Read some of the many projects and papers published by Long's laboratory that carry the names of his students. Not only is this an incredible résumé item for graduate school, but it's incredible hands-on experience. You would be hard-pressed to gain this kind of access to a faculty member at any large research university.

Interested? Come to Vassar, and take one of Long's many classes. In the Biology Department, he teaches courses on animal physiology, biomechanics, and evolutionary theory. In the Cognitive Science Program, he teaches brain architecture and perception. He also teaches an introduction to Neuroscience and Behavior.

Watch Paul Volcker's discussion at Vassar

Last week, Vassar hosted two of the world's most important economists—Paul Volcker and Paul Krugman. Above, watch the special event with Paul Volcker. Volcker is Chairman of President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board and was Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987. The event was hosted by Vassar alumnus Jeffrey Goldstein (Vassar class of 1977), current Under Secretary of the Treasury, as well as Vassar Economics professor Robert Rebelein, who served for the last two years on the Council of Economic Advisers.

Want to learn more about economics at Vassar (and careers in finance after Vassar)? Check out the Economics Department site and the Office of Career Development site.

Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist, speaks at Vassar

Last week was an incredible week for economics at Vassar! On Tuesday, the College hosted Paul Volcker, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve. And on Thursday, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman spoke at the Vassar Bookstore.

Krugman, famed economist at Princeton and New York Times columnist, discussed his book The Return of Depression Economics. In addition to economics students and professors, Vassar invited local high school and middle school students studying economics.

Read more about the event in this article in The Miscellany News, Vassar’s student newspaper.

Jon Stewart Mentions Vassar on The Daily Show

This week, Jon Stewart and the writers from The Daily Show did a book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square. I ran over right after my classes at Cardozo and met up with a Vassar friend from the Class of 2010, Emily Leimkuhler (who's working at the Barnes & Noble corporate office) . The place was packed. Hundreds of fans were there to get their books signed and hear from one of America's most famed cultural critics. I had a different goal. My friend and I plotted on how to convince him to mention our beloved college on the show.

As he signed my book, I told him that if he mentioned Vassar, we would attend his Rally To Restore Sanity -- and stop following Stephen Colbert's March to Keep Fear Alive on Twitter. I think the second promise caught his attention. I passed him a letter (left) to the same effect. Jon and the writers may have laughed at our intense Vassar pride, but they kept up their end of the bargain! At the beginning of last night's show, Jon began: "My guest tonight, a professor at Vassar... no, it's Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of The Huffington Post!" Well done, Mr. Stewart. Check it out:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Los Angeles Heat Wave
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, will speak at Vassar

Paul Volcker, internationally acclaimed economist and Chairman of the Federal Reserve under presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, will speak at Vassar on September 28. Since February 2009, Volcker has served as Chairman of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board under President Barack Obama.

Volcker served as Fed Chair during one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Known as the "inflation fighter," he helped lower double-digit inflation rates in the early 1980s and is widely credited with ushering in an era of economic prosperity. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 1949, and then earned a graduate degree in political economy from Harvard. In 1952, he joined the staff of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

I took many courses in Vassar's Economics Department, and I'm so jealous that current students will have the opportunity to speak with this leader in American macroeconomic policy. Hope they'll record the event for the Vassar YouTube Channel!

Volcker's discussion will take place on September 28 at 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Students' Building. Vassar Economics professor Robert Rebelein, who served for the last two years on the Council of Economic Advisors, will moderate. Jeffrey Goldstein (Vassar class of 1977) and current Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance, will introduce the speakers. Read more about Volcker in a fascinating recent profile in The New Yorker.

Vassar leads in producing PhDs in science, engineering

Each year, the National Science Foundation compiles data on where engineering and science PhDs earned their undergraduate degrees. They then publish a list of the top 50 colleges and universities that produce the most PhDs in these fields, per capita. As always, Vassar is featured on the list. Prospective students might find this data helpful in analyzing career prospects in science and engineering from small liberal arts colleges.

Interested in science and engineering? Learn more about sciences at Vassar by looking at our ScienceWeb and reading about our first-rate science programs, including Astronomy, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science and Geography, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology.

One of the primary advantages of studying science at a liberal arts college is the opportunity to conduct research with professors. Science students are able to become Research Assistants to faculty, participating in cutting-edge projects. Vassar's Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) gives students the option of doing even more intensive summer-long research with faculty, often publishing papers and building their resumes. At larger universities -- which might seem appealing on first glance because of larger faculties or labs -- students have a far more difficulty getting involved in hands-on research.

Plus, Vassar alumni have long been leaders in science. To see just a few examples, read about Sau Lan Wu '63 (PhD, physics, Harvard University), Jeff Sleight '88 (PhD, appled physics, Yale University), and John Carlstrom '81 (PhD, astronomy, University of California at Berkeley).

Vassar Wedding Proposal Goes Viral

Perhaps you've seen one of last summer's most viral videos—the Madison Square Park proposal has gotten over two million views on YouTube. Woodrow Travers '09 proposed to his long-time girlfriend Claudine Sourour '08. But in typical Vassar fashion, Travers didn't simply get down on one knee. Nope. He choreographed an elaborate dance routine, complete with music, backflips and all sorts of acrobatics. Travers and dozens of his friends surprised Sourour on what she thought was a quiet walk through the park. Check it out.

Travers, an aspiring filmmaker who graduated from Vassar with a degree in Film, is currently in the Directors Guild of America's Assistant Director Trainee Program, working on major television shows and movies. Sourour is currently in law school.

Vassar English professor makes headlines

Amitava Kumar, professor of English at Vassar, has emerged as one of the preeminent cultural critics of the decade. Kumar has received plenty of press recently for his two recently published books, Nobody Does the Right Thing and A Foreigner Carrying in the Crook of His Arm a Tiny Bomb. In a lengthy and gushing review in August, The New York Times called Kumar's work "perceptive and soulful."

This summer, Kumar also wrote extensively about the toxic debate over the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque," publishing an incisive piece in Vanity Fair. Learn more about Kumar by reading his blog and by checking out his recent interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Miscellany News also profiled his work this week.

Prospective students considering writing, English, or International Studies at Vassar should keep a close eye on Professor Kumar. His courses include Narrative Writing, Journalism, Transnational Literature, and Literary Nonfiction. He also teaches Freshmen Writing Seminars.

Vassar leads in Fulbright Scholars

Ten Vassar men and women have received 2010 Fulbright Fellowships -- one of the nation's most prestigious scholarly honors. Read about this year's winners, who will conduct research all around the world, in countries including Italy, Syria, South Korea, and Iceland.

Fulbright fellows undertake self-designed study programs in disciplines ranging from engineering to business to the social sciences and humanities. Vassar has consistently ranked in the top 10 among undergraduate institutions for producing Fulbright winners. (Indeed, Vassar usually blows past the competition at Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury, and Wesleyan, to name a few).

You can also read about last year's Fulbright winners, and be sure to check out the Office of Fellowships and Pre-Health Advising. There you can learn about how Vassar alumni earn Rhodes Scholarships, Watsons, Fulbrights, and other prestigious awards.

Virginia Smith, Vassar president from 1977-1986, passes away at 87

Virginia Smith, Vassar's president from 1977-1986, passed away last week at 87. A leader in higher education, she worked to expand access to Vassar by recruiting heavily from community colleges and low-income students. She dramatically increased the College's endowment, leading a $100 million fundraising effort. The New York Times published her obituary this morning. Catharine Hill, the College's current president, said the following of Smith:

“Virginia Smith led Vassar College during important years of its development into an exceptional coeducational institution. Her leadership of an extraordinary fundraising program to strengthen the institution and her innovative support of expanded access to liberal arts education were among the important accomplishments of her presidency, on which Vassar continues to build today."

A great personal tidbit from the Times obituary was that Smith was chosen to lead Vassar from over 450 candidates. When asked why she had been selected, she replied matter-of-factly, “Because I was the best qualified.” Her confidence and leadership will surely be missed by all Brewers, past and present, as we move into Vassar's sesquicentennial year.

Vassar alumnus Justin Long stars in Going the Distance

Justin Long, a member of the Class of 2000, is staring opposite Drew Barrymore in Going the Distance. He and Barrymore have been dating on and off since 2007. In a strong review, The New York Times praised the movie as "insightful and charming."

Long studied in the Film Department at Vassar and did improv in the student comedy troupe LaughingStock. A rising Hollywood star, he's been in hits such as Galaxy Quest, Live Free or Die Hard, Funny People, Youth in Revolt, and He's Just Not that Into You. Long is also well-known for portraying the cool and youthful Mac in Apple's famed "Hello, I'm a Mac" ad campaign, opposite the stodgy PC John Hodgman (of The Daily Show).

Here's the official Going the Distance trailer in HD. Be sure to check out the movie with your friends and remind them that he's a Brewer!

Paintings of historic Vassar buildings arrive in All-Campus Dining Center

Next time you're grabbing dinner in the All-Campus Dining Center, be sure to check out ten stunning oil paintings of historic Vassar buildings. Vassar is renowned for having one of the world's most beautiful collegiate campuses, with architectural styles ranging from Georgian to Gothic Revival to Modern. These oil paintings, hung in honor of the College's 150th Anniversary in 2011, commemorate some of the campus's most magical places and spaces. Below, here's a glimpse of Rockefeller Hall and Skinner Hall:

View all of the paintings on Flickr.

Vassar men dominate New York politics

Two Vassar men are preparing to dominate New York politics—Rick Lazio '80 and Eric Dinallo '85, who are running for Governor and Attorney General respectively.

Here's a quick rundown of each Brewer:

Rick Lazio majored in Political Science at Vassar, before attending law school at American University in Washington, D.C.. Mr. Lazio has forged an incredibly successful career in both the public and private sectors. He served as Executive Vice President of J.P. Morgan (one of the world's largest financial institutions) and then served four terms in Congress from 1993-2001 representing New York's 2nd District. A Republican, his platform focuses on reducing government waste, controlling the State budget, and increasing Albany's efficiency. Albany has been notoriously gridlocked for the past two years, a trend Mr. Lazio hopes to reverse. During his time at Vassar, he was a reporter for The Miscellany News and Vice President of the student government.


Eric Dinallo majored in Philosophy at Vassar, and then earned his M.A. in public policy from Duke University and his J.D. from New York University School of Law. A Democratic candidate, his campaign focuses on fighting corruption, particularly in the financial sector, on the heals of the recession and several Ponzi schemes. Coincidentally, Cardozo Law just hosted a debate of all the Democratic Attorney General candidates, where I got to see Mr. Dinallo in person. He was easily the most eloquent candidate, and presented a real vision for the justice system in New York. Mr. Dinallo faces a primary against several other Democrats, in advance of the November elections.


Good luck to both men this election season! Brewers play to win.

Class of 2014 is the most selective in Vassar's history

Congratulations to the 666 members of the entering Class of 2014, who will arrive on campus in just a couple days! 2014 is the most selective and academically elite class in Vassar's 150-year history. Their average GPA's range between an A- and A, and their SATs (Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing) average between 680 and 700.

It's a running joke that most alumni, if they applied to Vassar these days, couldn't get in. Indeed, nearly 80 percent of applicants are rejected, with more and more applying each year (nearly 8,000 this year). It's a scary time to be an applicant. But the reward is well worth it: the best, most enriching four years of your life at one of the country's greatest liberal arts colleges.

Read more about the astoundingly brilliant Class of 2014. And best of luck to the forthcoming Class of 2015... They'll need it!

Follow the Vassar Student Association (VSA) on Twitter!

Want to keep track of daily life at Vassar? Follow the Vassar Student Association (VSA) -- Vassar's student government -- on Twitter. This brand new Twitter page will keep you up-to-date on official Vassar happenings. The elected representatives on the VSA are responsible for virtually all student activities on campus, from lectures and conferences to concerts and movie screenings. Learn more about the student government on the VSA's Web site!

Craving more #Vassarsocialmedia? Here's a list of Vassar's many information sources, including newsletters, RSS feeds, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Rankings fever

At the end of every summer, dozens of magazines and Web sites launch their "authoritative" rankings of America's best colleges and universities. There are literally thousands of colleges in the United States, and ranking them consistently is no simple task. Fortunately, no matter where you look, Vassar appears towards the top of the list.

Here are some of the highlights:

U.S. News & World Report: 12th

U.S. News & World Report (High School Counselors Ranking): 6th

Forbes Magazine: 23rd (including both colleges & research universities)

Princeton Review: 10th Most Beautiful Campus

Princeton Review: 9th Best College Theater Program

How precise, reliable, and trustworthy are all these various rankings? Well, many critics point out that ranking colleges is sort of like ranking music -- one's experience is so subjective that 'ranking' them seems irrelevant. I know plenty of miserable, slow-witted people who attend the top 20 national universities on U.S. News, and I know many really brilliant, happy and driven people who attend schools with lower rankings. College rankings are not determinative of your experience. Any school will be entirely what you make of it.

That said, many of these rankings are based on important, objective data -- for example, graduation rates, student/faculty ratios, and endowment size. (For the record, Vassar has a very high graduation rate, nearly 300 faculty, and a very large endowment). To look at one number in depth, consider the freshmen retention rate. This number is the percentage of freshmen who return the following year -- it's a pretty good indicator of student satisfaction. Here, Vassar ranks 10th in the nation with 95.8% of our freshmen returning as sophomores. In this category, we crushed schools like Wesleyan, Haverford, Middlebury and Wellesley. Now consider what U.S. News calls the "Best Value" schools -- the colleges with the greatest percentage of discounted tuition through generous financial aid packages. Here, Vassar also ranks toward the top, again beating out Wesleyan, Haverford, Middlebury, Wellesley and Carleton, to name a few. Surely, these data are important facts to consider when selecting a college.

In short, rankings have many pros and cons. You should always take them with a grain of salt and look carefully at their methodology. But it's reassuring to know that -- across many years and across many methodologies -- Vassar is consistently leading the pack.

Incidentally, my friends and I are crossing our fingers that Vassar will break into the Top Ten on U.S. News next year for the College's 150th anniversary. We're so close. We know Vassar should be there. Next year, it will be.

New York Times profiles Rachel Simmons, Vassar Class of 1996

Today's New York Times featured an extensive profile of Rachel Simmons, Vassar Class of 1996. Simmons, a Political Science major at Vassar, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and won a Rhodes Scholarship (one of only 32 Americans that year) to attend graduate school at Oxford University. She was also editor of The Miscellany News, Vassar's student newspaper since 1866.

The Times profile discusses her incredible career -- first as an Urban Fellow in Mayor Giuliani's administration in New York City, then as Deputy Finance Director to Senator (then Congressman) Charles Schumer. Since then, Simmons has achieved fame in educational circles for her books and workshops on adolescent development. The article focuses on her Girls Leadership Institute, a "camplike" program aimed at boosting confidence and leadership in young women.

Finance, politics, education, publishing -- quite the renaissance student. The epitome of Vassar.

Reader Question: "Do I REALLY need to do the Freshman Reading?"

With Vassar just a couple weeks away for the Class of 2014, I've gotten a few e-mails asking about the freshman course reading. Do we really have to do it? Will everyone else have read it? When will we talk about it?

Each year, Vassar selects a book to be read by the entire incoming class. This year, it's Gerald Graff's acclaimed Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind (Yale University Press). After discussing the book with your fellow group and in your Freshman Writing Seminar, you will hear directly from the author at a large event known as the William Starr Freshmen Course Lecture.

How often do you get to read a book, discuss it in depth, and then engage the author in a dialogue? Pretty amazing.

My freshman year, the Class of 2010 read Shalimar the Clown, and then were treated to a lecture by the world-renowned author, Salman Rushdie. The next year, freshmen heard from Tim O'Brien, author of the famed Vietnam War-era memoirs The Things They Carried and In the Lake of the Woods. Then it was Elizabeth Kolbert (journalist for The New Yorker) who discussed her Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change. And last year (one of my favorites) the freshman class were treated to Billy Collins, Poet Laureate of the United States.

My advice: you should absolutely read Clueless in Academe. No, you won't be tested on it. Vassar isn't like high school. But trust me, you'll be happy that you did. Not only do you get the obvious intellectual benefits of reading the book (it's supposed to be hysterical!), but the assignment gives you an instant bond with your future classmates. Just think: No matter how different you and your roommate might be, you'll be able to quickly break the ice by asking, "So, what'd you think of the book?" It's an instant conversation starter.

What's also cool is that when you arrive at campus, virtually everyone will have read the book over the summer -- the staff, the professors, the deans, and of course, your classmates. In a school filled with unique perspectives, the freshmen reading provides common ground for the whole community. So happy reading!

Watch President Obama give Presidential Citizens Medal to Vassar grad

Obama awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Class of 1955 Vassar graduate

Check it out on Vassar's InfoSite and on the White House Web site. The prize was awarded for the founding the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

On August 4 in a ceremony at the White House, President Barack Obama awarded Student Conservation Association (SCA) founder and Vassar College alumna Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam ’55 the 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal for “performing exemplary deeds of service for her country and fellow citizens.”

The original idea for the SCA, for which the alum won the award, began as her senior thesis at Vassar. Putnam was a Geology major (a department we now call Earth Science & Geography). Congratulations!

Reader Question: "Which Freshman Writing Seminar should I take?!"

Many incoming freshman are curious about Freshman Writing Seminars (FWS). These Seminars are open exclusively to first-year students, and allow new Brewers to focus on becoming superior analytical writers. These small classes are also perfect for making your first friends in the Class of 2014 outside of your dorm. Many of the students in my FWS stayed close friends for all four years.

Unlike many schools, which offer these classes exclusively through an watered-down English or writing program, virtually every Vassar department offers a FWS. (This sends the strong message that first-rate writing is required and taught regardless of your major). I had friends who took their writing-intensive courses in Biology, Physics, and even Math. I took Early British Literature in the English Department.

With pre-registration looming, many students have e-mailed asking for advice on which FWS to take. So many to choose from! There are almost five-dozen offered in the fall semester alone. Which to choose? With well over 200 faculty members at Vassar, I can't pretend to know all of the courses and professors. But that said, I'd definitely highlight the following teachers based on my own experiences:

Robert Brigham (History/International Studies)
Robert DeMaria (English)
Marc Epstein (Religion/Jewish Studies)
Hua Hsu (English/Asian Studies)
Kiese Laymon (English/Africana Studies)
Ken Livingston (Psychology/Neuroscience)

Of course, your selection should depend on your academic interests and intended major (if you have one yet). A couple incoming students have asked me which course I would pick. If I were choosing myself -- as a proud History major -- I would choose Bob Brigham's course on "The Kennedy Years." Mr. Brigham is unequivocally one of Vassar's best professors. He's often featured in major newspapers, scholarly journals, and on television programs as one of the world's foremost experts on American foreign policy, the Vietnam War and the current conflict in the Middle East. But beyond that, he's an incredibly inspiring professor. I took two courses with him during my time at Vassar and loved them both.

But that's just me! The good news is that there are very, very few 'bad' classes at Vassar. All of our professors are outstanding teachers (with an occasional exception), and FWS in particular are very well-constructed courses that allow tons of contact with faculty. If you're curious about other courses as you're signing up, feel free to e-mail me, and I'll put you in touch with a friend who knows that particular department. Good luck and happy choosing!

Reader Question: "What sorts of computers do students bring to campus? Do students bring laptops to class? What about accessories?"

Alongside questions about packing and residential life, I've gotten half-a-dozen or so questions about computing at Vassar from incoming members of the Class of 2014. Here, I'll try to provide concise answers to some of the most common questions that 2014ers seem to have.

I would also encourage prospective/admitted students to check out Vassar's Computing and Information Services Web site, which has a special section for incoming students. Note also that the Computer Store at Vassar offers great student discounts on laptops; they are also able to advise students on low-cost solutions, if purchasing a new computer isn't an option. Here's my own take on some of the most common questions I've received from students and parents:

1. Laptops or Desktops?

Many high school students are accustomed to using desktops. But you'll quickly find that laptops are the predominant type of computer on most college campuses. Can you have a desktop in your dorm? Absolutely. But for a couple reasons, if you're buying a new computer for college, I'd suggest choosing a laptop. First, all dorms already provide about 6-8 desktops in their computer labs (located on the first floor of every residential house). Many more desktops are also available in the Library. Second, because Vassar's campus is 100% wireless, many students like to work outside or sit inside academic buildings with classmates. Laptops give them the ability to move around, studying and writing wherever they're most comfortable. Having only a desktop in your room forces you to stay in your dorm.

2. Mac or PC?

The inevitable question! Vassar supports both. It won't matter if you bring a Mac or a PC to campus, in terms of internet access or ability to use Vassar's internet applications/services. We have both types of computers available in the Library and in most academic buildings. With that being said, though, Macs are definitely more common. Most students I know have a MacBook or MacBook Pro. These are certainly the most common types of computers one sees in classrooms and around the dorms. Why? Well, in addition to being stylish (disclaimer: I've been a loyal Mac user and Steve Jobs groupie all my life), Vassar actually has a certified Apple Store and Apple technician on campus. This means that if you ever have a problem with your computer, getting it fixed is very easy. Our computer store also stocks all sorts of software and accessories for Macs.

Anything else to know about the Mac/PC culture? If you plan on studying Computer Science, Physics, or Earth Science & Geography, you're going to end up working with PC software fairly frequently. Academic programs like Biology, Film, and Media Studies make frequent use of Mac software. Outside of the classroom, if you plan on joining The Miscellany News (our student newspaper), The Vassarion (our yearbook), Contrast (our fashion magazine), or Helicon (our literary journal), you're going to end up working with design/layout software on Macs.

3. Computers in the Classroom?

Using a computer in class depends on the course and on the professor. Some classes really lend themselves to laptop use, but the vast majority don't. Vassar classrooms are very discussion-intensive. With very few exceptions, you'll be expected to speak, argue, and defend your opinions—not just passively type notes. You'll be expected to really engage in conversation, much more so than in high school. Vassar really tries to train its students to think on their feet. Laptops, some professors feel, can distract students from doing that. So before you whip out that laptop, check with the professor. Often, they'll explain their feelings on laptop use on the syllabus, which they distribute on the first day of class.

(As a side note, you may find that this changes dramatically when you get to graduate school. From my first day as a law student at Cardozo, I found the norms are very different. Everyone brings a laptop to every class, without exception. Exams are given online, and papers are submitted electronically. Many of the readings are online too. So enjoy that pad and pencil while you can!)

4. Printers? Scanners? CD Burners?

A few 2014ers have asked whether they should bring printers, scanners, external hard drives, and other accessories with them. My answer: most external gadgets aren't really necessary. Vassar provides large printer/copy machines in all dorms and in the Library (color and black and white available). Every student can wirelessly print to these machines. In my experience, having your own inkjet printer is costly and only takes up space in your room.

What about other equipment? In the Library, students also have access to the Media Cloisters. The Media Cloisters is an incredible resource. It's a large room that features computers with very large monitors, state-of-the-art software, high-resolution scanners, CD/DVD burners, and all sorts of video production equipment. (The room is often used by Film and Media Studies students, but all students have access). My suggestion would be to use these sorts of shared tech resources, rather than schlepping tons of computer accessories with you to Poughkeepsie.

That said, I would strongly encourage you to bring a backup hard drive with you. You can buy cheap ones online that can backup your files quickly via USB or Firewire. Every semester, some poor student inevitably forgets to save a term paper and suffers a horrible computer crash. Professors will have little sympathy for students who don't create backups of their work. Don't be that person!

And in general, remember that some crazy expensive/powerful laptop definitely isn't required. More often than not, you'll just be writing papers in Word and researching online. Incoming students shouldn't feel pressure to go out and try to buy a state-of-the-art machine before August. (And remember, student discounts on computers and hard drives).

Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me about any other tech questions—although if you have really specific computing questions, I'd suggest contacting helpdesk@vassar.edu.

Reader Question: "What exactly will my Vassar dorm come with?"

I've been receiving quite a few e-mail questions lately from members of the Class of 2014, who will begin their incredible Vassar journeys this August (so jealous!). I'll try to post answers to some of the most common questions I've been hearing—starting with "what will my dorm come with?" and "what should I bring or not bring?":

I remember wondering the same things in the summer before Vassar. Hopefully I can take some of the mystery out of packing...

When you arrive in your dorm (regardless of which of the nine residence houses you're placed in), you'll find some basics: two single-sized bed with mattresses, two closets, two dressers, two desks, and two chairs. You'll also have two trash cans. Where I lived, Cushing, we also had a full-length mirror in every room.

Remember that these aren't your only resources. Each residence house has many other amenities that are shared by all the residents. These include common areas with couches and a beautiful flat screen television, a large kitchen (with an oven/stove/microwave/fridge/freezer), and a computer lab with about six-eight desktops and a printer. Most dorms have at least four vending machines, usually two with food/candy and two with water/soda. Thanks to the Sophomore Class Gift a couple years ago (an annual effort by the Sophomore Class to raise money for a gift to the Vassar community), most of these machines allow you to pay by simply swiping your student ID card.

Vassar's Residential Life Office (who will be in touch with all of you about half-way through the summer) publishes a suggested list of "what to bring." I would just add a couple pieces of advice to that list:

1. You shouldn't bring anything of great emotional value—family heirlooms, autographed baseballs, one-of-a-kind photographs, etc. Of course, almost all students bring valuables like laptops and iPods, and the dorms are very safe, but it's not the best idea to bring items that can't be replaced.
2. I would suggest getting an inexpensive mini-fridge. Residential Life works with a third-party company that allows students have their fridges installed before they even arrive on campus. (And they remove them after your final exams in the spring). Talk to your roommate about this when you receive his/her contact information—only one fridge is needed per room, so you want to make sure you're not both renting one!
3. Don't bring a television/video game system. Most of my friends who brought them regretted it, for a couple reasons. First, they're a pain to schlep back and forth. But more importantly, they ended up not using them very often. There's SO much to do during your four years at Vassar—bringing a television or video game system will tempt you to miss out on a really transformative experience. Vassar is all about getting out of your room, joining a Varsity team, writing for the award-winning campus newspaper, or getting involved with one of our 120+ student organizations. It's a school of active people. Don't waste your time by sitting in your room playing Mario while your classmates are figuring out how to start businesses, run governments, and solve the world's problems.
4. Do bring a laptop instead of a desktop, if possible. I've already gotten several questions about computing at Vassar from incoming students, so I'll write another post about this later in the week. But for now, here's my take-away advice: If you're going to buy a new computer for Vassar, I would strongly suggest a laptop. Our entire campus has wireless Internet, allowing students to study together anywhere—by Sunset Lake, outside the dorms, in the dorm's parlor areas, or in any of the academic buildings. If you have a desktop, you'll find yourself 'restricted' to working in your dorm room. Laptops are much better suited for the academic culture at Vassar.

Alright! Hope this helps incoming 2014 students as you begin to pack. If you have more questions, shoot me an e-mail at brfarkas@alum.vassar.edu. Happy Fourth of July!

Vassar's famed Powehouse Theater in Wall Street Journal

Check out this article about Vassar's famous Powerhouse Theater in The Wall Street Journal! For more than 25 years, Vassar has collaborated with New York Stage and Film to create of America's best summer theater seasons. Every summer, we attract the most talented actors, directors and writers in the country. In years past, renowned talents like Steve Martin, Lewis Black, Meryl Streep, Edie Falco, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, have all come to Vassar to hone their craft. This summer, John Patrick Shanley is directing!

Read more about the Powerhouse, and if you're a prospective student (or an incoming member of the Class of 2014), contact the Office of Admissions to see if you can reserve a ticket.

Watch Vassar's 146th Commencement

Coming to Vassar next fall? See what you have to look forward to in four years! Watch Vassar's 146th Commencement! It was a really incredible ceremony—lots of tearful parents, proud brothers and sisters, and spirited faculty members to send off my class.

Among the highlights: Lisa Kudrow (Vassar Class of 1985, and Emmy Award-winning actress) gave a hysterical and inspiring speech. (Her speech begins around 81 minutes into the video). And, if that isn't enough for you, watch me and Rachel Gilmer present the INCREDIBLE results of the 2010 Senior Class Gift. Rachel and I were the chairs of the Senior Class Gift, a student created endowment to support financial aid. We raised $22,849 from 92% of our class! Not only did 2010 make history at Vassar, but our results also crushed the senior class gifts of virtually all of our peer institutions. Wesleyan should just give up now. (The results start at about 35 minutes into the ceremony).

Questions about Vassar? Are you starting in 2014, or thinking about applying? E-mail me (brfarkas@alum.vassar.edu) with questions over the summer!

Law School...

I'm excited to say that after Vassar, I'll be attending Cardozo School of Law. Located in Greenwich Village just blocks from Union Square, I'll finally be back in my hometown of New York City! Cardozo is nationally known for its programs in alternative dispute resolution and intellectual property law. I'm especially interested in studying intellectual property law after taking a class on the subject last year in Vassar's Political Science Department. (The class was taught by Michael Bennett, who studies the intersection of nanotechnology and the law). Professor Bennett really inspired us to think critically about very difficult issues, ranging from fair use to gene patenting to the very notion of "owning" an idea. That course hooked me on these issues, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to study them in depth at Cardozo.

The thought of leaving Vassar certainly isn't easy for me. I love this place, and it's difficult to imagine leaving my beloved History Department, my housemates, or my work on the VSA. But I know that I'm prepared and excited for the challenges ahead!

Graduation is just a week away, and I'll be sure to update you on all the Senior Week happenings. Remember: E-mail any prospective student questions to brfarkas@vassar.edu.

Vassar to Google!

My good friend Eric Estes '11, Design & Production Editor of The Miscellany News, just got a hugely exciting summer job offer from Google. Right after Commencement, he'll fly to their corporate headquarters (the famous "Googleplex") in Mountain View, California. He'll be working as a Web designer for their research and development team. As a Computer Science major at Vassar and avid computing geek, he should be perfect for the job. Everyone is very jealous of Eric though, not just because of the amazing job and salary, but because of the benefits. Google offers its employees free breakfast, lunch and dinner, free laundry, and free foosball, air hockey, and video games. Plus, employees are usually given 20% of their time "free" to work on independent development projects that interest them.

Good luck, Eric!

Watch the Attorney General's lecture at Vassar

Attorney General Eric Holder lectures at Vassar

Vassar attracts countless big-name speakers. From Hillary Clinton to Salman Rushdie and from Gail Collins to Frank Rich, we've hosted some of the nation's most important politicians, writers, and intellectuals. But for a pre-law student like myself, there is perhaps no speaker more relevant or exciting than the United States Attorney General—the country's single most powerful lawyer.

Eric Holder, an old friend of Judge Richard Roberts (Vassar class of 1974), spent the day at Vassar last Thursday. The day concluded with a community-wide lecture in the sold-out Chapel.

Here is just the introduction to his speech, which described the incredible impact of Vassar graduates in bringing about social and political change. You can read the entire speech on the Department of Justice's Web site:

Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here and a privilege to join so many members and leaders of the Vassar community. I want to thank you all – especially President [Cappy] Hill – for inviting me to participate in this week of reflection and discussion about the power and importance of public service.

Let me also thank my good friend, Judge Richard Roberts, for welcoming me to his alma mater. This campus and this historic chapel are as beautiful as he described. As I look around at the hundreds of very young students gathered here, I realize that Ricky and I have been friends for more years than most of you have been alive. And I’ve always known him to be a proud Vassar alum. From him, I’ve had the chance to learn quite a bit about the traditions, achievements and contributions that are, and always have been, such a vital part of life on this campus.

On Saturday, I understand that many of you will come together to mark one of Vassar’s oldest traditions – Founder’s Day – when you’ll celebrate the extraordinary foresight, generosity and optimism that Matthew Vassar showed in establishing this college. As you all know, this institution welcomed its first class of students in 1861, during a time of unprecedented instability, impending war and deep, national division. Despite the challenges of the day, Matthew Vassar believed he could leverage his great fortune for the common good and the cause of equality. And he saw education as the country’s most powerful tool to ensure peace, prosperity and justice. What was true then remains true today. In creating this place of learning, Matthew Vassar believed that its students would, as he put it, “mold the character of [America’s] citizens, determine its institutions, and shape its destiny.” M any other students and professors who’ve worked to improve life on, and far beyond, this campus have proven that he was right. And the spirit of service he continues to inspire is, indeed, cause for celebration. It is my fervent hope that you will continue this great tradition.

But the truth is that the celebration of your founder’s legacy and vision has already begun. During the events and activities that you’ve participated in throughout this week – and, today, in commemorating Earth Day – all of you have honored and extended the commitment to public service that Matthew Vassar first established on this campus. For many of you, public service is not only a top priority but also a central part of your daily lives. You serve as mentors at nearby high schools; you teach elementary students about the environment at the Vassar Farm; you clean up the Hudson River; and, as part of the Green Haven Program, you tutor inmates at the maximum-security prison in Stormville. Your commitment to public service also goes far beyond this campus and the Poughkeepsie community. In fact, four of you here today were on the ground in Haiti a few months ago when the earthquake struck. In the wake of that disaster, you were among the first responders who worked to save and to protect lives.

In these and many other ways, all of you have strengthened Vassar’s tradition of service – a legacy that is remarkable... [Read more]...