Meet Me in Poughkeepsie event promises excitement, awareness

Events for the fourth annual Meet Me in Poughkeepsie (MMiP), which will take place next weekend on Nov. 19, vary from philanthropic projects to a night of shenanigans on skates to a more sophisticated evening of wine tasting.

MMiP intends to get the Vassar student body off campus and interacting with the local community. Through an array of events presented by different organizations, the Vassar Student Association (VSA) wishes to strengthen the bonds between the students it represents and the Hudson Valley populace surrounding it.

An event that may appeal to many, but is only open to the older crowd, is wine tasting at a local vineyard. Presented by the ladies from Town House 112, of-age Vassar students can visit Millbrook Vineyards and Winery. Owned by John and Kathe Dyson, the vineyard produces chardonnay, tocai friulano, pinot noir and cabernet franc. However, besides the opportunity to have a more sophisticated evening of drinking, the trip serves an educational purpose as well. As one of the organizers, Julie MacDonald '12, pointed out, "The Hudson Valley is known for its great variety of local wineries. As college students in the area we have a rare opportunity to gain a more thorough understanding of the winemaking process, as well as its implications within the economy, ecology and culture of the Hudson Valley region."

The Vassar Democrats invites you to visit Springwood, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's estate in his native Hyde Park. It will be the second time the group hosts this event. As a National and New York historic gem, the property includes Roosevelt's Presidential Library and Museum, as well as the Rose Garden and his burial site. President of the Dems Tess Dernbach '12 clarified, "We chose this event because while the event does not include direct interaction with members of the community, it does locate Vassar students and the College within a broader regional, historical and cultural context." Vassar students will have an hour-long tour of the home itself as well as time to stroll through the flora and ultimately pay their respects at the tomb of our country's 32nd president.

A fan of economical, stylish and vintage shopping? Join Contrast, Vassar's fashion style magazine as they take a jaunt through the thrift stores of Hudson, N.Y. The town is said to be one of the most chic in the state as it is home to Vassar student body favorites like Five & Diamond Vintage Clothing. A 2011 online review of Hudson Valley's best shopping states that this "small but crammed shop is stocked almost exclusively with pre-1980s clothing in good, wearable condition."

Want to trade in those ice skates for some retro roller skates? Join Black Students Union as it heads to Hyde Park's Roller Magic Rink to boogie down on skates to some rocking jams. The rink boasts "the latest in lighting, sound and our live DJ likes to mix up the floor every now and then with interactive skating games."This evening is a chance to reminisce about those middle school birthdays and first dates as well as to groove childishly with friends.

The campus political group Democracy Matters will be holding an event called Meet Me in Occupy Poughkeepsie. Participants will travel down to the epicenter of the Occupy Poughkeepsie protests, an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street protests, at Hulme Park on Market Street. "Students will have a chance to spend the day and engage in dialogue with community activists and organizers," stated President of Democracy Matters Tim McCormick '12 in an emailed statement. Students will also be able to take part in the daily General Assembly meeting and rallies.

Hunger Action, the Vassar chapter of the national organization Hunger Action Committee, will also hold a community outreach event. Students will help prepare and serve food at Hudson River Housing and The Living Room, organizations dedicated to housing help, as well as bring clothing, toys and toiletries to donate. "We wanted people from outside of Hunger Action to get to know some of the really awesome citizens of Poughkeepsie, who they may not meet otherwise," said co-President of Hunger Action Hillary Frame '14. "We would really like Vassar students to take that they can get involved and help those in need, and that it doesn't have to be in the far off future, it can be in their own backyard."

The Vassar Prison Initiative, a group dedicated to raising awareness about issues regarding the prison-industrial complex, will work in collaboration with Project More to present its own event. "[Project More] is a local non-profit organization that provides an alternative to incarceration for men and women with drug-related criminal offenses," said President of the Vassar Prison Initiative Dalia Sharps '14.

Students will take part in a discussion over lunch between Project More staff members and residents regarding their own personal anecdotes and the War on Drugs as well. "It is easy for people to envision the type of client we serve but when they come and talk to the 18-year-old who lives in an upper middle class neighborhood...sitting next to another 18-year-old from the inner city who has never met his father, has four siblings and has known nothing but welfare; and yet despite their grossly different backgrounds...it makes it much easier to understand that this crisis facing our youth is universal and knows no boundaries," Sharps said. "The trip will engage the broader community, while simultaneously enriching our organization's commitment to educating the campus about prison issues."

The Vassar Islamic Society will be holding its own event as well, Vassar Goes to Masjid Al-Noor and Kabab Palace. As the name implies, students will first travel for a meal at the Kabab Palace, which specializes in South Asian food. They will then visit Masjid Al-Noor, a mosque in the town of Wappinger Falls. Said Isra Amjed from the Vassar Islamic Society, "This will give Vassar students a chance to observe Muslim prayer and talk to the Imam (Muslim leader) and see how a mosque looks from the inside. Also, going to Kabab Palace will allow the students to experience Halal food (food prepared according to Muslim law) and taste the delicious South Asian cuisine shared by a great deal of Muslims around the world." This trip may offer students the opportunity to discuss the current political circumstances in the Middle East with people who are uniquely affected by the situation.

With such a diverse lineup of organizations and events, Meet Me in Poughkeepsie looks to take yet another step in uniting Vassar students and the area in which they live. Besides the broader goals, the assemblage provides a sometimes well needed diversion from the Vassar campus.