Category Archives: Tzipora Lederman

Oberlin’s No Trespass Policy: A Closer Look

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By Kitt Disston, Tzipora Lederman and Kyla van Buren

Associated Press/Tony Dejak

Associated Press/Tony Dejak

In January 2013, the One Town Campaign was launched to raise awareness about Oberlin town-gown relationships and the college’s infamous “No Trespass List”.  Despite media attention and many discussions surrounding the policy, confusion persists. Through interviews with Marjorie Burton of Safety and Security, Dean of Students Eric Estes and One Town student representatives Lyle Kash, Marina Multhaup and Sofie Ghitman, Fearless and Loathing attempted to sort the fact from fiction in order to better understand the issue.

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The Multifaceted Jewish Identity

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By Tzipora Lederman

Monday, March 6 was tragic and beautiful. It was invigorating and exhausting. It was a chance, as President Krislov said at the convocation, to focus on a different type of education. As we did this, some contradictions and misunderstandings became clear. As a Jewish woman on campus, the recent events have made apparent the fact that it is incredibly confusing to be Jewish at Oberlin.

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Classes Cancelled for Reflection on Recent Events

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By Kitt Disston with additional reporting by Tzipora Lederman and Kyla van Buren

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In the past few years, the Oberlin College community has experienced acts of racism, homophobia, queerphobia and anti-Semitism. The most recent surge of hate speech began on February 9, with the defacement of posters advertising events for Black History Month. Instances of hateful signs and graffiti did not stop there, and over the following weeks included racist and homophobic slurs written outside the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) on February 12, various incidences of swastikas painted on buildings and student advertisements, and a strong-armed robbery which targeted a student for his perceived ethnic identity on February 17.

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Second Sexual Offense Policy Forum Busts Myths and Raises Questions

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By Tzipora Lederman

At noon on Friday, March 1, approximately 70 community members gathered in West Lecture Hall to attend the second Sexual Offense Policy Task Force Forum, and to enjoy free pizza. This was an open forum, where individuals shared their personal opinions, critiques and suggestions in discussion moderated by the Oberlin College Dialogue Center (OCDC.) The forum was a safe space; all comments will remain anonymous.

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Sarah Schulman Speaks on Palestine and the International Queer Community

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By Tzipora Lederman

Sarah Schulman’s Year of the Queer talk on Februrary 7 was based on her latest book, “Israel/Palestine and the Queer International”.  It focused, not so much on the queer international but on Palestinian queer organizations working to end the occupation. This angle was not surprising. It is uncommon to hear a conversation that includes the positive, progressive aspects of Israeli society in Oberlin. It is hard to separate our understanding of the state of Israel as an institution from our recognition of Israeli people who do share progressive values.

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Anna Deavere Smith Highlights Difference in Convocation Performance

By Tzipora Lederman

In a unique shift from typical convocation speeches and panels, Anna Deavere Smith combined her address with vivid excerpts from her one-woman plays. Oberlin’s second convocation event of the year took place on October 6 and left the audience in a post-event haze, the kind usually associated with live theater: her entire presentation was a performance. Continue reading →