VassarWiki - User contributions [en]

User:CormacM

2026-05-09T23:11:54Z

CormacM: Created userpage

Category:Departments

2026-05-09T23:08:58Z

CormacM: Created the page

Biology Department

2026-05-09T23:06:12Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox|title=Biology Department|label1=Abreviation|data1=BIOL|label2=Department Office|data2=Bridge 240|label3=Founded|data3=1973|label4=Chair|data4=Nancy Jo Pokrywka}}The '''Biology Department''', abbreviated as '''BIOL''', is one of the largest academic departments at Vassar. The department was founded in 1973 through the combination of the Anatomy, Plant Sciences and Zoology Departments.<ref>Natural History Museum - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref> The department's primary facilities are in Olmsted Hall of Biological Sciences, as well as the Bridge for Laboratory Sciences. The department collaborates on several interdepartmental and interdisciplinary programs, including Biochemistry, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience & Behavior and Science, Technology & Society.<ref><nowiki>https://www.vassar.edu/biology</nowiki></ref>

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Departments]]

Natural History Museum

2026-05-09T22:51:09Z

CormacM: Infobox

{{Infobox|title=Vassar College Natural History Museum|label1=Founded|data1=1864|label2=Location|data2=Main 5th Floor (1864-1874), Avery Hall (1874-1918), New England Building (1918-1986), Ely Hall (1992-present)}}

The '''Vassar College Natural History Museum''' was founded in 1864 as the '''Cabinet of Geology and Minerology''' and has existed in some form ever since. Throughout time, it has been housed in Main Building, Avery Hall and New England Building, before being distributed between Ely Hall and Olmsted Hall.
[[File:Geology Cabinet.jpg|thumb|An etching of the Cabinet from 1867.]]

== History ==

=== Cabinet of Geology and Minerology ===
Henry A. Ward, a Professor of Natural History at the University of Rochester, was hired in 1862 to assemble a museum for the College.<ref name=":0">Natural History Museum - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref> In 1864, Ward constructed the Cabinet of Geology and Minerology on the 5th floor of Main.<ref name=":1">Vassar college and its founder: Lossing, Benson John, 1867: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive</ref> A smaller Cabinet of Natural History was also kept on the third floor.<ref name=":1" /> Yale professor James D. Dana described the collection as surpassing anything he had seen in the United States of Europe.<ref name=":0" /> Sanborn Tenney was hired in 1865 as Vassar's first Professor of Natural History. A student of [[wikipedia:Louis_Agassiz|Louis Agassiz]], the famed Darwin critic, Tenney was a creationist and rejected the theory of evolution. Tenney was replaced by James Orton in 1869. Orton was a friend of Henry Ward and Charles Darwin, and served as manager of the collection until he died in 1877 in Peru on a collecting trip.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vassar College Museum of Natural History ===
In 1874, the College's Riding Academy was decommissioned. This led to the collections being moved to the Calisthenium and Riding Academy (later Avery Hall) and the rebranding to the Vassar College Museum of Natural History.<ref name=":0" /> The Riding Academy would be renamed to the Museum. At this time, the collections expanded beyond geology to include zoological and anatomical specimens.

Upon Orton's death, William Buck Dwight became the college's new Professor of Natural History. Dwight's major project was to acquire a mastodon skeleton for the Museum. Dwight assembled one using the bones of many individuals from across the nation, and the [[Vassar Mastodon]] became one of the centerpieces of the collection.<ref name=":0" /> It measured 9 feet tall and 20 feet long, larger than most mastodons.<ref name=":2">Mastodon - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref>
[[File:Mastodon.jpg|thumb|The Vassar Mastodon on the third floor of New England.<ref>Natural History Museum - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref>]]

=== Move to New England ===
In 1918, the Museum moved again, this time to New England Building. The second floor was taken up by the collection of 3,000 taxidermy birds, including over half of all those in North America. The landing between the first and second floors had embryological models from a wide variety of animals. The majority of exhibits were on the third floor, including specimens in cases and the skeletons and taxidermies. Skeletons included a Mastodon, horse, cow, pig and deer, and taxidermies included a sea turtle, walrus, a famous game fish, the tarpon (which was an impressive 6 feet, 6 inches long and weighed about 187 pounds), and the American Bison. There were also models of extinct elephant relatives and a saber-toothed tiger, as well as displays of insects and parisites.<ref name=":0" /> At this time, all Poughkeepsie children came on field trips to the museum.

Over time, the museum fell into disrepair. In the 1970s the Walrus, Buffalo and other specimens needed to be disposed of due to infestations. An employee stole these from the dumpster, but the walrus tusks were returned in 2006.<ref name=":0" />

In 1973, with the creation of Olmsted Hall, the Plant Sciences, Zoology and Anatomy departments were consolidated into one singular Biology Department. With their move to Olmsted, New England third floor was turned over to studio art. In 1979 the decision was made to close the museum, and Professor Margaret Wright was tasked with finding new homes for the collections. Pieces of the museum were send to Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Natural History in New York City, the State Museum at Albany, the Trailside Museum in Westchester County, Dutchess Community College and the Audubon Society. Some of the birds were moved to Olmsted Hall, where they remain to this day.

In 1986, the Mastodon skeleton was believed to be a plaster cast and was scheduled to be disposed of. An art professor contacted the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and confirmed that it was in fact real. The skeleton was transferred to SUNY New Paltz, where it sat unassembled in storage until at least 2005.<ref name=":2" />

=== A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology and Natural History ===
The little remained of the museum was moved to Ely Hall in 1992, and in 2006 it was renamed the A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology and Natural History. The Earth Science department maintains these collections.

== References ==
<references />

Historic Vassar

2026-05-07T02:59:06Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox group|access=All community members|time=Fridays 3:00 pm|location=Noyes MPR}}

'''Historic Vassar''', originally the '''Vassar Historic Preservation Coalition''', is an unofficial student organization dedicated to the history of campus. They have assembled a repository of historical sources and perform research projects into the built history of Vassar.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10ktT9QnYXzQn7XZhcgglmNWPlRnhYOc8 Vassar Historical Research Repository - Google Drive]</ref>

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Greens

2026-05-06T19:34:11Z

CormacM: Free Market

{{Infobox group|name=Vassar Greens|access=All students|time=Wednesdays 8:00 pm|location=Rocky|email=greens.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassar.greens/ Main], [https://www.instagram.com/greens_free_market/ Free Market]}}

The '''Vassar Greens''' are an environmental org on campus. When it was founded in the early 1990s, it was called the '''Ecology Club'''.<ref>Miscellany News 29 March 1996 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> It runs the Free Market, a collection of clothes and other donated goods that are given out to the Vassar community for free every week in the College Center.

== References ==
<references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greens}}
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Natural History Museum

2026-05-06T17:37:36Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox|title=Vassar College Natural History Museum|label1=Founded|data1=1864}}

The '''Vassar College Natural History Museum''' was founded in 1864 as the '''Cabinet of Geology and Minerology''' and has existed in some form ever since. Throughout time, it has been housed in Main Building, Avery Hall and New England Building, before being distributed between Ely Hall and Olmsted Hall.
[[File:Geology Cabinet.jpg|thumb|An etching of the Cabinet from 1867.]]

== History ==

=== Cabinet of Geology and Minerology ===
Henry A. Ward, a Professor of Natural History at the University of Rochester, was hired in 1862 to assemble a museum for the College.<ref name=":0">Natural History Museum - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref> In 1864, Ward constructed the Cabinet of Geology and Minerology on the 5th floor of Main.<ref name=":1">Vassar college and its founder: Lossing, Benson John, 1867: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive</ref> A smaller Cabinet of Natural History was also kept on the third floor.<ref name=":1" /> Yale professor James D. Dana described the collection as surpassing anything he had seen in the United States of Europe.<ref name=":0" /> Sanborn Tenney was hired in 1865 as Vassar's first Professor of Natural History. A student of [[wikipedia:Louis_Agassiz|Louis Agassiz]], the famed Darwin critic, Tenney was a creationist and rejected the theory of evolution. Tenney was replaced by James Orton in 1869. Orton was a friend of Henry Ward and Charles Darwin, and served as manager of the collection until he died in 1877 in Peru on a collecting trip.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vassar College Museum of Natural History ===
In 1874, the College's Riding Academy was decommissioned. This led to the collections being moved to the Calisthenium and Riding Academy (later Avery Hall) and the rebranding to the Vassar College Museum of Natural History.<ref name=":0" /> The Riding Academy would be renamed to the Museum. At this time, the collections expanded beyond geology to include zoological and anatomical specimens.

Upon Orton's death, William Buck Dwight became the college's new Professor of Natural History. Dwight's major project was to acquire a mastodon skeleton for the Museum. Dwight assembled one using the bones of many individuals from across the nation, and the [[Vassar Mastodon]] became one of the centerpieces of the collection.<ref name=":0" /> It measured 9 feet tall and 20 feet long, larger than most mastodons.<ref name=":2">Mastodon - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref>
[[File:Mastodon.jpg|thumb|The Vassar Mastodon on the third floor of New England.<ref>Natural History Museum - Vassar Encyclopedia - Vassar College</ref>]]

=== Move to New England ===
In 1918, the Museum moved again, this time to New England Building. The second floor was taken up by the collection of 3,000 taxidermy birds, including over half of all those in North America. The landing between the first and second floors had embryological models from a wide variety of animals. The majority of exhibits were on the third floor, including specimens in cases and the skeletons and taxidermies. Skeletons included a Mastodon, horse, cow, pig and deer, and taxidermies included a sea turtle, walrus, a famous game fish, the tarpon (which was an impressive 6 feet, 6 inches long and weighed about 187 pounds), and the American Bison. There were also models of extinct elephant relatives and a saber-toothed tiger, as well as displays of insects and parisites.<ref name=":0" /> At this time, all Poughkeepsie children came on field trips to the museum.

Over time, the museum fell into disrepair. In the 1970s the Walrus, Buffalo and other specimens needed to be disposed of due to infestations. An employee stole these from the dumpster, but the walrus tusks were returned in 2006.<ref name=":0" />

In 1973, with the creation of Olmsted Hall, the Plant Sciences, Zoology and Anatomy departments were consolidated into one singular Biology Department. With their move to Olmsted, New England third floor was turned over to studio art. In 1979 the decision was made to close the museum, and Professor Margaret Wright was tasked with finding new homes for the collections. Pieces of the museum were send to Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Natural History in New York City, the State Museum at Albany, the Trailside Museum in Westchester County, Dutchess Community College and the Audubon Society. Some of the birds were moved to Olmsted Hall, where they remain to this day.

In 1986, the Mastodon skeleton was believed to be a plaster cast and was scheduled to be disposed of. An art professor contacted the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and confirmed that it was in fact real. The skeleton was transferred to SUNY New Paltz, where it sat unassembled in storage until at least 2005.<ref name=":2" />

=== A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology and Natural History ===
The little remained of the museum was moved to Ely Hall in 1992, and in 2006 it was renamed the A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology and Natural History. The Earth Science department maintains these collections.

== References ==
<references />

File:Mastodon.jpg

2026-05-06T17:20:33Z

CormacM:

The Vassar Mastodon on the third floor of New England.

File:Geology Cabinet.jpg

2026-05-06T16:45:14Z

CormacM:

An etching of the Cabinet from 1867.

Students for Equitable Environmental Decisions

2026-05-04T20:51:55Z

CormacM: links

{{Infobox group|access=All students|time=Wednesdays 7:00 pm|location=Rocky 110|email=seed.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassar.seed/ Instagram],}}

'''Students for Equitable Environmental Decisions''' or '''SEED''' is a student org dedicated to environmental issues and activism. Its primary focus is fighting for decarbonization of the campus heating system. Vassar's current steam heating burns fossil fuels on campus, and in the near future the college will be moving to a [[wikipedia:Ground_source_heat_pump|geothermal heat pump]] system.<ref name=":0">Engineering firm Wendel to prepare Vassar decarbonization plan – The Miscellany News</ref> SEED holds seats on the [https://www.vassar.edu/sustainability/leadership Climate Action and Sustainability Committee] (CASC) and [https://www.vassar.edu/arboretum Arboretum Committee].

== History ==
SEED was originally founded as '''DivestVC''', pushing Vassar to withdraw their investments in fossil fuel companies. In May 2016, a weeklong sit in was staged outside the office of President Catherine Bond Hill.<ref>DivestVC responds to recent trustee vote – The Miscellany News</ref> They also pushed for the Carbon Neutrality by 2030 in Vassar's 2020 Climate Action Plan.<ref><nowiki>https://vassarseed.wixsite.com/website/climate-action</nowiki></ref> In 2022, SEED achieved their goal of divesting Vassar from fossil fuels. With their main goal accomplished, SEED merged with [[Vassar Greens|Greens]], another Environmental org, in Fall 2022.

In late 2024, SEED was reestablished as '''DecarbonizeVC''' before returning to the previous name. The org now advocated for Vassar to swiftly transition to a ground source heat pump heating system.<ref>Making the case for ground-source heat pumps at Vassar – The Miscellany News</ref> In 2025, Vassar hired the engineering firm [https://wendelcompanies.com/ Wendel] to produce a plan of how to decarbonize the college.<ref name=":0" /> In 2026, the College's Master Planning Committee allocated $25 Million of the next fundraising campaign to decarbonization projects. SEED has called on the College to break ground on the project by 2030.<ref><nowiki>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YDbCy_IUA-lrzfMv2Np7UiWhoQ4r1at7CPv0N71kVZ4/edit?tab=t.0</nowiki></ref>

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

VTree

2026-05-04T20:48:33Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox group|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vtree_initiative/ Instagram]}}

'''VTree''', officially '''Vassar Team for Restoration and Ecological Engagement''', is an environmental org on campus. It was founded in 2025 and is currently registered as a pre-org with the VSA. Following unauthorized tree removals by grounds in October of 2025, VTree worked with [[Students for Equitable Environmental Decisions|SEED]] to lead the opposition, resulting in the codification of a new Tree Removal Policy.<ref>Clearance of “Seed” sculpture trees highlights need for transparency – The Miscellany News</ref> Since 2026, VTree has held a seat on the [https://www.vassar.edu/arboretum/committee Arboretum Committee].<ref>[https://www.vassar.edu/arboretum/committee Committee | The Arboretum | Vassar College]</ref> It has organized vine removal events and has planted 118 trees on Campus in the spring of 2026, primarily along the Casperkill creek.

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Greens

2026-05-04T20:36:24Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox group|name=Vassar Greens|access=All students|time=Wednesdays 8:00 pm|location=Rocky|email=greens.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassar.greens/ Main], [https://www.instagram.com/greens_free_market/ Free Market]}}

The '''Vassar Greens''' are an environmental org on campus. When it was founded in the early 1990s, it was called the '''Ecology Club'''.<ref>Miscellany News 29 March 1996 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

== References ==
<references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greens}}
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Students for Equitable Environmental Decisions

2026-05-04T20:26:53Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox group|access=All students|time=Wednesdays 7:00 pm|location=Rocky 110|email=seed.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassar.seed/ Instagram],}}

'''Students for Equitable Environmental Decisions''' or '''SEED''' is a student org dedicated to environmental issues and activism. Its primary focus is fighting for decarbonization of the campus heating system. Vassar's current steam heating burns fossil fuels on campus, and in the near future the college will be moving to a [[wikipedia:Ground_source_heat_pump|geothermal heat pump]] system.<ref name=":0">Engineering firm Wendel to prepare Vassar decarbonization plan – The Miscellany News</ref>

== History ==
SEED was originally founded as '''DivestVC''', pushing Vassar to withdraw their investments in fossil fuel companies. In May 2016, a weeklong sit in was staged outside the office of President Catherine Bond Hill.<ref>DivestVC responds to recent trustee vote – The Miscellany News</ref> They also pushed for the Carbon Neutrality by 2030 in Vassar's 2020 Climate Action Plan.<ref><nowiki>https://vassarseed.wixsite.com/website/climate-action</nowiki></ref> In 2022, SEED achieved their goal of divesting Vassar from fossil fuels. With their main goal accomplished, SEED merged with Greens, another Environmental org, in Fall 2022.

In late 2024, SEED was reestablished as '''DecarbonizeVC''' before returning to the previous name. The org now advocated for Vassar to swiftly transition to a ground source heat pump heating system.<ref>Making the case for ground-source heat pumps at Vassar – The Miscellany News</ref> In 2025, Vassar hired the engineering firm [https://wendelcompanies.com/ Wendel] to produce a plan of how to decarbonize the college.<ref name=":0" /> In 2026, the College's Master Planning Committee allocated $25 Million of the next fundraising campaign to decarbonization projects. SEED has called on the College to break ground on the project by 2030.<ref><nowiki>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YDbCy_IUA-lrzfMv2Np7UiWhoQ4r1at7CPv0N71kVZ4/edit?tab=t.0</nowiki></ref>

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

StuMu

2026-05-04T01:44:57Z

CormacM: Added category

{{Infobox group|name=StuMu|access=All students|time=Tuesdays 7:00 pm|location=Blodgett 104|email=studentmusic.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vcstumu/ Instagram]}}

'''Vassar Student Music Union''', or '''StuMu''', is a campus org for student musicians. They organize student bands and run sound for concerts around campus hosted by other orgs. Their own events include Mug Nights, Jazz Nights, Slush Pit, Fall Fest and Folk Fest. The latter two are in collaboration with [[Outing Club]].
[[Category:Student orgs]]

StuMu

2026-05-04T01:43:40Z

CormacM: Created the page

Outing Club

2026-05-04T00:09:18Z

CormacM: Created events and programming sections.

{{Infobox group|name=Vassar Outing Club|access=All community members|time=Wednesdays 9:00 pm|location=Cushing Parlor|email=outingclub.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassaroutingclub/ Instagram], [https://www.facebook.com/VassarOutingClub/ Facebook]}}

'''Outing Club''', abbreviated to '''VOC''', is the largest student organization on campus. The club is an open space where anyone can lead hiking, biking or other trips. In addition to hosting many trips around the Poughkeepsie area each week, they also lead larger overnight trips on Fall and Spring Break.

== History ==
Outing Club was founded in October 1925 as part of the Athletic Association.<ref name=":0">Vassar Miscellany News 10 October 1925 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> At that time, the annual fee to join the club was $1.00. The club operated several cabins around the Hudson Valley in its early years, including in the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains.<ref name=":0" /> On December 5th, 1926, the club opened its cabin located at the southern end of what is now the Vassar Preserve, at the time the College farm and the Kenyon Estate. President [[wikipedia:Henry_Noble_MacCracken|Henry MacCracken]] named it the [[wikipedia:The_Tabard|Tabard]] after an inn in the ''Canterbury Tales''.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 8 December 1926 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

In Spring 1930, the Tabard burned down. President MacCracken and the College's General Manager Keene Richards quickly ensured the construction of a second Tabard by October of that year.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 27 September 1930 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> Though smaller than the first, it was constructed in the same location. At this time the Club owned a car for use on trips, which they had to donate to the war effort during World War II.<ref name=":1">Miscellany News 28 October 1994 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In 1946, a problem emerged that to get to the Tabard, many students were crossing [[wikipedia:IBM|I.B.M.]] land. After legal action, VOC repeatedly reminded their members to not trespass on I.B.M. property under penalty of the law.<ref>Vassar Chronicle 7 December 1946 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In January 1948, a Third Tabard was constructed, this time near the Hockey Fields, located where the Terrace Apartments are now. The same year, Outing Club and Ski Club merged.<ref>Vassar Chronicle 31 January 1948 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> For several decades, a common VOC event at the Tabard was "Freshman Feed".<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 30 September 1939 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref><ref>Vassar Miscellany News 2 October 1957 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In 1965, a VOC member found what she believed to be the ruins of the second Tabard.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 24 February 1965 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In the 1970s, the Terrace Apartments were built on the location of the Tabard, which burned down sometime after 1972.<ref>misc 3 December 1971 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref><ref>Misc 5 May 1972 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

Following the destruction of the third Tabard, the Club declined in the 80s, receiving little or no funding.<ref>Miscellany News 13 November 1981 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In the late 80s and 90s, the club went through a revival and grew again. During this revival the club began meeting in Cushing House, and still does to this day.<ref name=":1" /> The Club's gear room has also located in Cushing basement since the 90s. From 2001, Outing Club and Greens collaborated on the event Lakefest at Sunset Lake in September.<ref>Miscellany News 3 October 2003 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

In Fall 2025, Outing Club celebrated its one-hundred-year anniversary.

== All Campus Events ==
Outing Club's largest events are Fall Fest and Folk Fest, both of which are in collaboration with [[StuMu]]. Fall Fest occurs outside of Blodgett over [https://www.vassar.edu/families/events/weekend Families Weekend] in late September or early October. Folk Fest occurs in late April on or near Admitted Students Day on Commencement Hill.<ref name=":2"><nowiki>https://www.instagram.com/vassaroutingclub/</nowiki></ref>

== Programming and Trips ==
Outing Club leads a broad variety of trips around the Hudson Valley and beyond, with approximately 8-12 trips per week.<ref name=":4"><nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7qeR2kDRl4</nowiki></ref> Sunrise hikes are a key part of the club, most often at [[wikipedia:Overlook_Mountain|Overlook Mountain]], the [[wikipedia:Mohonk_Preserve|Mohonk Preserve]], [[wikipedia:Beacon_Mountain|Mount Beacon]], and [[wikipedia:Mount_Tremper|Mount Tremper]].<ref>Go Take a Hike! - Exploring the Valley and Beyond with the Outing Club - Stories - Vassar College</ref> The [[wikipedia:Dutchess_Rail_Trail|Dutchess Rail Trail]], a mile from campus, is a popular destination, providing access to the [[wikipedia:Walkway_over_the_Hudson|Walkway Over the Hudson]] and [[wikipedia:New_Paltz_(town),_New_York|New Paltz]]. This trail is part of the [[wikipedia:Empire_State_Trail|Empire State Trail]], which connects from New York City to Canada. There are also frequent polar plunges and swims at the Watering Hole in [[wikipedia:Wappinger_Creek|Wappinger Creek]], located two miles from campus.<ref name=":3">VOC Map - Google My Maps</ref>

Over Spring Break, the Club leads several larger overnight trips. These include backpacking, [[wikipedia:Bikepacking|bikepacking]], camping and canoeing.<ref name=":2" /> Destinations have included the Catskills, Adirondacks, Vermont, Virginia, New Hampshire, California and more. Over Winter Break, the VOC leads WWARM, a weekend in a cabin in the Adirondack Mountains.<ref name=":3" /> If WWARM was once an acronym, what it stands for has been lost to history. During study week, VOC hosts a four day [[wikipedia:Wilderness_first_aid_certification_in_the_US|Wilderness Advanced First Aid]] (WAFA) training to teach overnight trip leaders wilderness safety. Prior to Covid, it was a VOC tradition to go skydiving at the end of every year.<ref name=":4" />

Each week, the Club meets on Wednesday night to propose trips for the next week. It is an open org and any member of the Vassar community may lead a trip. The meetings occur in the Cushing Courtyard in the warm weather and in the Cushing Piano Parlor the majority of the time. In 2023, the meeting time was moved from 9:30 pm to 9:00 pm.<ref>Vassar Outing Club | Poughkeepsie NY | Facebook</ref>

== Links ==

* [https://www.instagram.com/vassaroutingclub Instagram]
* [https://www.facebook.com/VassarOutingClub Facebook]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1JbUs7izbkQkW3pbt3ra7wL3gL_ylyag&ll=41.67331399312452%2C-74.09643504536486&z=10 Map]
* [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScslAeD4tgO0RKjk7LCN2HqNlsN_1EiIzSlbj2SrzRcvIVNrQ/viewform?usp=header Email List Sign Up]

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Outing Club

2026-05-03T22:28:25Z

CormacM: Added more to club history

{{Infobox group|name=Vassar Outing Club|time=Wednesdays 9:00 pm|location=Cushing Parlor|email=outingclub.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vassaroutingclub/ Instagram], [https://www.facebook.com/VassarOutingClub/ Facebook]}}

'''Outing Club''', abbreviated to '''VOC''', is the largest student organization on campus. The club is an open space where anyone can lead hiking, biking or other trips. In addition to hosting many trips around the Poughkeepsie area each week, they also lead larger overnight trips on Fall and Spring Break.

== History ==
Outing Club was founded in October 1925 as part of the Athletic Association.<ref name=":0">Vassar Miscellany News 10 October 1925 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> At that time, the annual fee to join the club was $1.00. The club operated several cabins around the Hudson Valley in its early years, including in the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains.<ref name=":0" /> On December 5th, 1926, the club opened its cabin located at the southern end of what is now the [[Vassar Preserve]], at the time the College farm and the Kenyon Estate. President [[Henry MacCracken]] named it the [[wikipedia:The_Tabard|Tabard]] after an inn in the ''Canterbury Tales''.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 8 December 1926 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

In Spring 1930, the Tabard burned down. President MacCracken and the College's General Manager Keene Richards quickly ensured the construction of a second Tabard by October of that year.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 27 September 1930 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> Though smaller than the first, it was constructed in the same location. At this time the Club owned a car for use on trips, which they had to donate to the war effort during World War II.<ref name=":1">Miscellany News 28 October 1994 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In 1946, a problem emerged that to get to the Tabard, many students were crossing I.B.M. land. After legal action, VOC repeatedly reminded their members to not trespass on I.B.M. property under penalty of the law.<ref>Vassar Chronicle 7 December 1946 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In January 1948, a Third Tabard was constructed, this time near the Hockey Fields, located where the Terrace Apartments are now. The same year, Outing Club and Ski Club merged.<ref>Vassar Chronicle 31 January 1948 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> For several decades, a common VOC event at the Tabard was "Freshman Feed".<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 30 September 1939 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref><ref>Vassar Miscellany News 2 October 1957 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In 1965, a VOC member found what she believed to be the ruins of the second Tabard.<ref>Vassar Miscellany News 24 February 1965 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In the 1970s, the Terrace Apartments were built on the location of the Tabard, which burned down sometime after 1972.<ref>misc 3 December 1971 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref><ref>Misc 5 May 1972 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

Following the destruction of the third Tabard, the club declined in the 80s, receiving little or no funding.<ref>Miscellany News 13 November 1981 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref> In the late 80s and 90s, the club went through a revival and grew again. During this revival the club began meeting in Cushing, and still does to this day.<ref name=":1" /> From 2001, Outing Club and Greens collaborated on the event Lakefest at Sunset Lake in September.<ref>Miscellany News 3 October 2003 — Vassar Newspaper & Magazine Archive</ref>

In Fall 2025, Outing Club celebrated its one-hundred-year anniversary.

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Outing Club

2026-05-03T18:57:38Z

CormacM: Added link

Barefoot Fireflies

2026-05-03T16:33:08Z

CormacM: Added category

{{Infobox group|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/barefootfireflies/ Instagram], [https://www.youtube.com/@BarefootFireflies YouTube]}}
The '''Barefoot Fireflies''' are Vassar's circus and flow arts performance troupe.

== Upcoming events ==
{{Poster|name=Spring Fire Show|organizers=[[Barefoot Fireflies]]|date=2026-04-25|time=8 pm|place=Res Quad}}

== See also ==
* https://pages.vassar.edu/barefoot-fireflies/
[[Category:Student orgs]]

Trad

2026-05-02T21:38:47Z

CormacM: Created the page

{{Infobox group|name=Trad|time=Sundays 4-6|location=Jewett Parlor|email=traditionalmusic.vsa@vassar.edu|socials=[https://www.instagram.com/vctrad/ Instagram]}}

'''Vassar College Traditional Music''', usually called '''VC Trad''' or simply '''Trad''', is an org dedicated to sharing traditional music. Every week they host an open [[wikipedia:Irish_traditional_music_session|session]] that any community member may attend to learn pieces. They play music from various traditions, including [[wikipedia:Irish_traditional_music|Irish]], American [[wikipedia:Old-time_music|Oldtime]], [[wikipedia:Nordic_folk_music|Scandinavian]] and [[wikipedia:Scottish_folk_music|Scottish]].<ref>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/15tESyU-frT6Iq7yZKlAy4zho1MBjrgdr8a4WVlCuD-U/edit?tab=t.0 Trad Tune Library]</ref> Trad frequently plays at concerts and events on campus.

== History ==
VC Trad was founded in Fall 2019 by Malcolm Callagy '20.<ref name=":0"><nowiki>https://www.instagram.com/vctrad/</nowiki></ref> It was certified as a pre-org with the VSA until 2021 before becoming unofficial. In 2023, it was again registered as a pre-org and a full org in 2025.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Student orgs]]
[[Category:Music Groups]]

Outing Club

2026-04-30T19:23:23Z

CormacM: Added category

Outing Club

2026-04-30T19:21:48Z

CormacM: Created the page