When asked about their plans for the future, Stevie Gatto ’23, the president of Smith’s only satirical publication did not hesitate in their response: “The biggest goal of the Paradise Ponderer is ultimately, as an activist organization, to change Smith’s mascot from ‘woman’ to the squid.”
This answer gives a good look into the recipe of humor that Gatto has used to birth The Paradise Ponderer: a dash of chaos, a spoonful of absurdity and a healthy sprinkle of criticism.
The Ponderer was born of Gatto’s own frustrations with the college.
“I was actually looking to transfer out of Smith because I was very dissatisfied with how my experience was going,” they said. They were particularly frustrated with their experience trying to join clubs, so they decided to start their own. “What do I know how to do?” Gatto thought. “Criticize things!”
This semester is The Ponderer’s official debut to an in-person campus, and with an elected cabinet and thirty-odd interested Smithies, they are ready to start publishing more diverse content, as thus far Gatto has written every piece that’s been posted to their website. Gatto described their weekly workshop sessions in which they sort through the group’s suggestions and try to fine tune them into workable material: “If we’re not on a roll I’ll say, ‘has anyone been frustrated by anything this week?’”
Gatto believes that post-lockdown, Smith students are more inspired to change the general campus culture. “Before COVID, [there were] no parties, everyone did noise complaints on each other – then we get back, and we have this new generation of students who have never experienced that side of Smith. All of a sudden the social scene explodes,” they said as an example.
Despite describing The Ponderer as “homework: the club,” Gatto stressed their vision for the organization as part of this social renaissance. “Clubs should be all about community and enjoying yourself, not necessarily creating things,” they said.
Gatto emphasized that putting yourself out there does require vulnerability, but that it’s incredibly rewarding, too, citing how many friends have laughed with them about their articles. Gatto added that they want to have students’ input. “I want to know what you hate about Smith and then make other people laugh with it,” Gatto said.
And the parameters around what this contribution can be are pretty liberal. Remember the potential new mascot, the squid? Gatto and their team’s most recent theory is that there has to be a squid lurking in Paradise Pond. “I think it just adds a level of mystique. Like, whenever they drain the pond, where did the squid go?” said Gatto. Ellory Doyle ‘23 is behind the incredible illustration of The Ponderer’s mythical sea creature.
There’s a certain duality to the energy of The Ponderer. Alongside changing the mascot and searching for deep sea creatures in the pond, Gatto said the project is “about making the best of a situation that isn’t perfect. Smith isn’t perfect, Smith will never be perfect, Smith will never be close to perfect.” They believe students have the right to a voice and the power to make our college better. Gatto said, “we don’t produce content — which makes it a ‘Smith’ club.” The point is: Gatto and their team have range, and there is no way to know what the next prickly upload will be poking fun at.
