Scholars for change: Club aims to raise $30,000 per semester

Posted by Alex Brehm

Max Bevan '12 and Kiyo Egashira ‘11 want to further African communities' economic and social development. To do so, they formed the Healthy Scholar Foundation (HSF).

The new campus club raises money for the Millennium Promise, a non-profit organization providing African people with basic necessities in order to equip them to work their way out of poverty.

Bevan and Egashira were inspired to start the club while abroad last semester in Edinburgh, Scotland.

While there, they took a development economics class and learned about issues of world poverty. After reading "The End of Poverty," by Jeffrey Sachs, the students decided to take decisive action and form the new club.

Sachs is a prominent researcher in poverty and economics and is director of the Earth Institute who started Millennium Promise.

The nongovernmental organization provides various services targeting the educational, medical and nutritional needs of developing communities.

The group trains local teachers and provides building materials for new schools, as well as immunizations and mosquito nets to prevent the spread of disease.

The organization attempts to minimize Western intervention into African communities and to equip African community members with tools and training to distribute within their own communities.

HSF will solicit donations through their "dollar a week" program.

With about 2,500 students on campus, Bevan and Egashira hope to raise about $30,000 every semester.

They plan to reward large donations with T-shirts and mugs and expect to partner with the campus African poverty club Bicycles Against Poverty for a large fundraiser late in the semester.

Other plans include a "dollar a day" program. Participants live on a dollar a day in order to gain a better understanding of life in abject poverty.

The Healthy Scholar Foundation can be found at www.thehealthyscholar.org, as well as on Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The club is currently soliciting résumés for several administrative roles: vice president of Finance, vice president of media and donor Relations, vice president of Marketing and secretary.

Student studies warblers: Sophomore biology major researches competitive mating in warblers

Posted by Hannah Sherman

For common yellowthroat warbler males, mating season can be very competitive. In the Northeast, a male's best asset is his yellow patch, or bib – the bigger the better.

Kate Littrell '13, a biology major at Skidmore, has been doing research on female warbler preference in males for a year now and plans to continue until she graduates.

Associate biology professor Dr. Corey Freeman-Gallant designed a study that looks at why the female birds have such picky taste in males. Previous studies have already shown that males with larger bibs sire more offspring, which supports the notion that females prefer these males.

To find out the reason behind this preference, Freeman-Gallant and Littrell are studying the offspring of males with large, yellow bibs and comparing them to the offspring of males with smaller bibs. They are trying to discover whether or not the desirable, large-bibbed males father young that are actually healthier than those fathered by the small-bibbed birds.

"The study we are doing now is one of the first studies to look at this: what do females get out of picking these sexier males? Intuitively, people think they will get better kids, but nobody has ever proven it." While Littrell is gaining valuable experience in research, she is also filling a gap in the scientific record.

Littrell started work on this project during her first-year. After taking a lecture class with Freeman-Gallant, she asked for special permission to be in a one-credit 275 research course almost exclusively populated by seniors. She got in.

Rather than creating her own project, as most students do, Littrell chose to join Freeman-Gallant in his research. When the semester was over, he asked if she wanted to continue the project as a summer intern. "I said I was very interested. I really wanted some field experience."

Last summer Freeman-Gallant's field assistants had to find yellowthroat warblers in the wild, catch them in nets, tag them and take blood and feather samples from them. This was not easy.

"Sometimes we had to charge through mud puddles and blackberry bushes and run like maniacs to scare them into the nets," Littrell said.

They also had to work countless hours in the fourth floor molecular ornithology lab in Dana Science Center, painstakingly preparing samples and running experiments.

"It can be miserable in the moment, but when you look back it's actually a lot of fun. You put all this work into it and then you get this awesome result. It's real science," Littrell said.

Many students at Skidmore do research over the summer, but few start as early as Littrell and are as committed to one project.

"A lot of people hop from project to project, but I really wanted to stay with something. Eventually this is going to get published. It's really exciting," Littrell said.

Now, Littrell is doing a three-credit independent study where she is continuing Freeman-Gallant's research. The team has weekly meetings, but Littrell is otherwise on her own.

After so long on the job, her professor trusts her to solve problems on her own. "Corey took the dean of Academic Advising job, so he is not really teaching anymore and he's not in the lab. I am really taking over what he would normally do," Littrell said.

Because of her dedication, Littrell will be listed as a co-author on her professor's project once the paper is published. She also anticipates having a stronger voice in designing research in the future.

Most biology students choose to work on their own projects during their first-year and sophomore years.

This strategy has some advantages: students get full control of designing and executing their own experiments.

However they do not get the benefits that long-term research provides and they do not get the experience of working on a professional project.

"My favorite part of college is my research. It is really rewarding. It is not like class where you are given work to do. Even in a lab, you are supervised heavily. In here, I am on my own and sometimes I have to figure things out for myself. I do not have the luxury of just walking over to my professor and asking, ‘Can you tell me what to do?' You really have to think on your feet," Littrell said.

A typical sandwich, an atypical author: Stranger than Fiction

Posted by Hunter Prichard

Every so often, when I become bored with the general grind of school, I return to the work of American author Charles Bukowski.

Although he was not an author widely noted by the American academic world as a genuine "writer," his work (nearly 80 volumes of poetry and prose) has been devoured by younger generations.

He wrote of dead-end jobs in terrible places like slaughterhouses and pickle company factories that involved the masculine, bravado character of Hank Chinanski (an alias for himself) in stories of desperation, alcohol abuse and violence.

No job lasted for more than a few weeks. He was always in motion. His nights were spent with a few bottles of wine at his desk. He wrote three or four short stories a week. Sometimes he would go out to a bar and pick up a prostitute or go off, rub someone the wrong way and get into a fistfight.

How did he get like this?

The answer is "Ham on Rye," Bukowski's memoir of his childhood.

It is his best work. It is a book that should be read by everyone who has ever lived a day on earth. Unfortunately, it is not required in high school. As high school students struggle through the cryptic prose of Faulkner and Virginia Woolf, they do not realize that "the world" can be explained in simpler ways.

It chronicles the author's first 20-odd years on earth, from his "first memory" as a child in Germany, to his growing up as a reclusive, deprived, abused child in America (he was brought over at the age of 2).

Bukowski was beaten nearly every day by his father from the age of 5 to 11 and he had his first alcoholic drink at the age of 13. Alcohol would come to manipulate the plot of his own life.

Although he came from a meager background, his parents still sent him to one of the wealthier Los Angeles high schools. They wanted their son to be perceived as wealthy. Stuck in between the rich boys and girls, he was an island.

To make matters worse, at the age of 15, he was struck with a scarring form of acne. Boils covered his entire body. The boils embellished his feelings of loneliness and fear. He was taken out of school and sent to the charity ward of the local hospital for daily treatments.

While in treatment, he fell in love with the older nurse who worked on him – she was the first person who showed him actual love.

Bukowski found new life in the Los Angeles Public Library in the books of D.H. Lawrence, Upton Sinclair and Ernest Hemingway. He began writing stories.

His first stories were of the adventures of a famous war hero, a pilot named Baron Von Himmlen who was admired by all people. He added another addiction – writing.

As he writes in his memoir: "it made me feel good to write about the Baron. A man needed somebody. There wasn't anybody around so you had to make up somebody, make him up to be like a man should be."

Bukowski was destined for a life as far removed from his generation as possible.

His stories soon crossed into wildness and debauchery. Earlier stories and drawings were found by his father and ripped to shreds. The drawings were of topless women and the stories were of perverse intention.

He left home soon after and roamed the country from LA to Philadelphia through Miami, Texas and back to California.

What is important to take note of about this journey throughout the country were his intentions on carrying through with it. This is not a man who has the freedom of a Kerouac or Cassidy. He does not go out for the adventure; he goes because he has nowhere else to go.

The title of the novel comes from the typical American sandwich that the typical American worker brings for his lunch everyday at his typical American job.

His father had one of these typical American jobs. The title is an inside joke. The only life that the author wanted to have was to never be a part of the American system, the nine - to - five days, and the houses in suburbia . . . everything that he grew up with and around he wanted to throw away.

Who is to blame when friends hook up?: What Would C. Do?

Posted by C.

Welcome back to the snowdrifts of Saratoga Springs, where we are slipping, sliding and trying to pick up where we left off — and where was that exactly?

Some of us may have ended our first semester sex/love life or friendship with a question mark, exclamation point or the ever so annoying "…".

Fear not, oh sun-deprived one, I am back and ready to answer the questions that have your head and heart on thin ice.

Dear C.,

If I hook up with my best friend and he has a girlfriend, who is the shittier person?

—It Takes Two 2 Tango

Dear It Takes Two,

You are right: it does take two. However, it also takes someone to initiate the hook-up and another to either hesitate, or follow through immediately.

Once you are able to distinguish the role you play in the unfortunate, smelly situation, the easier it is to decipher the anal route you want to take.

Hesitating and not going through with the hook-up not only leaves you with a guiltless conscience, but also with a clean backside. You can try to talk it out with him and see what the deal is with his girlfriend.

You cannot make any decisions for him, so help by giving a girl's perspective on his issues. If you enjoy the odor of ordure, go for it.

Assess the consequences. If it is too late, expect to own up to them and take responsibility. It may strain the friendship, but if he is a true friend it should flow out as if nothing happened.

The question is not who is the shittier person but "how do I fix this?" By mentioning that both parties are "shit" indicates a guilty conscience on your part, which is key, as well as recognizing the fault in his actions.

If you do not experience guilt, I would question your motives and feelings toward your best friend. Does he mean more to you than you actually admit? Have you ever been sexually attracted to him? What are your feelings toward his girlfriend?

These questions, as well as analyzing and comparing your relationship to other friendships, may help decide whether you are considering hooking up because of your horn, his horn or your heart.

—Stars and hearts, C.

I am a nonbiased, nonjudgmental third party (because I love parties). My aim is to advise, not to direct. The real question is what will you do? Email me at SkidWWCD@gmail.com with questions.

Privacy is guaranteed. Advice can remain unpublished upon request.

Home is where the hearth is: Fanning the Flames of Communality at Skidmore?s South Quad (Part I)

Posted by Brian Connor

Chimney

  • noun (pl. chimneys) 1. a vertical pipe which conducts smoke and gases up from a fire or furnace.

-Oxford English Dictionary

If one walks from Case green to Wiecking Hall, one must pass through a length of covered walkway, which stretches from the stairs at Starbuck Center and eventually forks, leading in one direction to Kimball Hall and in the other direction to Penfield Hall. If one heads toward Penfield one must necessarily pass through the Chimney. The Chimney is marked by two benches facing one another in an open air walkway underneath a curved roof and, depending on the time of day, one will understand how this area came to be named so.

The first genuinely sunny and warm day in spring, when the temperature rises above 75 degrees, is the Chimney-goer's answer to the Fourth of July. From about 5 p.m., when most classes get out, late into the evening, the two benches outside of Penfield and Kimball will be occupied, and the surrounding area buzzing with bright cheerful faces. People pass through the gentle mob wondering what obscure holiday is being celebrated. Unaware passersby start to assume that it is a tobacco festival of sorts, as plumes of smoke rise from the crowd and illustrate the area's namesake. Student tour guides lead groups of prospective students past Starbuck Center toward Case Green, and these students and their parents undoubtedly wonder what has spurred this gathering. Students and administrators alike pass by the crowd of chattering people and wonder "why?" But don't ask the Chimney-goers themselves, they couldn't tell you why they are here either. Their being at this spot is almost instinctive. So obvious to themselves is their presence at this area with these particular people that they couldn't begin to ponder that question. This area and the people who occupy it encompass the Chimney experience. All of the gatherers recognize each other as belonging to one another as long as they're in this spot.

 At about 4:30 p.m. on such a warm sunny day I decided to stroll downstairs from Penfield and pay a visit to the Chimney. I sat down on one of the benches. The kids sitting around me were all engaged in a conversation regarding the taxation laws of New York State Indian reservations. A few were smoking cigarettes and one guy who wore aviators was drinking a beer. The conversation jutted to and fro and eventually arrived at an entirely different topic, that of which states contain the highest concentration of wealth. The people sitting around the chimney kept at their conversation, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes all the while, and paid little attention to passersby. A tall athletic looking type in baggy jeans walked by with swagger of superiority that seemed almost visibly contrived for the express purpose of his Chimney passage. The folks in the chimney just sat and smoked.

 Most of these fellows lived in Penfield, and it seemed at first that they were sitting out here purely out of convenience. I inquired as to why they were sitting out here rather than on Case green. One fellow named Friendan Ghastly replied that "The [Chimney] is a good central spot of south quad. Everyone knows where it is, it's really close to Penfield, really close to Kimball. Everyone knows where it is, it's easy to get to." The others agreed. "There aren't a lot of central points for south quad because we're kind of spread out," Ghastly continued, "but there are a couple spots where people congregate, this being the most renowned and/or used."

 A few people walked by as we sat and talked. Small foreign students slinked past as did athletic types. The guys just kept chattering away, oblivious to those passing through. The only person that garnered a response from these fellows was a slender brunette. Her approach silenced the guys. As she strutted past, the conversation faded and the fellows leaned back and engaged themselves in preoccupied motions. One drew from a cigarette, Aviators sipped his beer and Ghastly hummed some obscure tune. As the girl walked away, the conversation carried on, in a very subdued manner with chatter that made little sense. Then, as soon as the girl was out of earshot, the fellows erupted with feigned and highly exaggerated blue-collar accents, saying things like, "Yeah, I'd like somma' dat," which is isolated from the others. Mansion lit a cigarette and then offered his ideas about the use of the Chimney...

Read next week's newspaper for the conclusion of this article.

Learning the business of art

Posted by Julia Leef

The college provides many programs designed to aid art students in perfecting their craft and preparing them for future employment in the art industry. Two new courses were created last year to promote art as a career option.

These new courses, AA-201 "Foundations of Arts Administration" and AA-221 "Philanthropy and the Arts," are part of a new arts administration curriculum implemented by the college. David Howson, a visiting associate professor and Arthur Zankel director of Arts Administration has been working with representatives from the Tang Teaching Museum, Management & Business and other art departments to establish arts administration as a minor.

"The field of arts administration combines a passion for the arts with the tools of business, including marketing, accounting and management, just to name a few. Legal issues are also explored and include contracts, labor relations and intellectual property," Howson said.

Students with various interests and backgrounds, not just those majoring in studio art, participated in the Foundations course last fall. Katie Lane '11, a theater and dance double major, found the course incredibly helpful. "I chose to take the arts administration course because working for the Skidmore theater department has allowed me to combine my passion for the arts with practical business knowledge, and I wanted to extend that into a more formal learning experience," Lane said.

The Foundations course featured many guest speakers who shared their real-world experiences with the business aspects of the art industry with students. "I really learned a lot from hearing the journeys and advice of real-life arts professionals and their presence allowed Professor Howson to extend the breadth of the course even further than his already vast knowledge of the arts industry," Lane said.

Lane has just begun a marketing internship at SPAC this semester, an accomplishment she attributes to the knowledge she gained from the arts administration course.

The arts administration curriculum prepares students like Lane for their future careers in the arts. "A major focus of the curriculum is on non-profit organizations, including both the performing arts and museums," Howson said. "Artists and arts organizations need creative people to help them navigate the real world and support their artistic vision."

According to Howson, the program is the result of the gift from the estate and family of Arthur Zankel, who supported the arts and the creation of a liberal arts program that would aid students in becoming leaders in their respective fields. The two courses, Howson hopes, are just the beginning of what may soon blossom into the curriculum Zankel envisioned.

In fall 2010 David Howson invited several speakers to his Foundations class to discuss issues ranging from being the chief executive officer of a large performing arts complex to writing arts reviews. Scott Mulligan, from Management & Business, discussed intellectual property and copyright and its relevance to students interested in any kind of arts enterprise. As an intellectual property lawyer, Mulligan spoke about the basic information students would need to know regarding contract negotiations involved in any kind of arts production.

"Intellectual property is one of the most important ‘intellectual commodities' . . . that we have in the U.S. today," Mulligan said, emphasizing the importance of protecting artistic ideas in the business world. His course, Intellectual Property in the Global Economy, touches on many different areas of people's lives where intellectual property is involved. "Imagine that this lawsuit is hanging over your head and affects your ability to fundraise . . . it affects the way a production might be valued [monetarily], in a Broadway or off-Broadway production." With the new arts administration, various people with different forms of experience can be brought in to teach students from a multiple-angle approach, Mulligan said.

Another important aspect of any art business is the ability to manage and maintain donor relations and fundraising, which is what Mary Solomons, director of donor relations at North Hall, talked about along with John Chaplin. "A key part of any arts organization is fundraising," she said, "that's how you're going to get resources in order to survive."

Solomons emphasized the importance of working with donors on a personal level, adding that according to the American Institute of Philanthropy, the cost of attaining new donors is 10 times more expensive than maintaining old ones. "I found the skills I developed in arts management have been very good for me in development," she said, adding that, "if you look at any large arts organization . . . ticket sales are not going to keep the lights on in places like SPAC or other arts administrations; they depend on the support of their patrons."

"I think it's terrific that Skidmore's offering this type of art program," Solomons said. "It's a key part of the art, being able to oversee and manage a non-profit organization."

Penny Loretto, the interim director at Career Services, spoke about resumé preparation and how to target it to fit a specific position or employer. She also ran several resume workshops last November, which is one of the ways in which Career Services has provided resources to the Foundations class.

"An effective, targeted resume helps students get interviews and a foot-in-the-door for an internship or a job," Loretto said, adding that Career Services will continue to work with arts administration students in the future.

Howson also anticipates several other guest speakers for his spring course, Philanthropy and the Arts, including Elizabeth Schlatter, deputy director of Harnett Museum at the University of Richmond, Judy Hansen, trustee of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Bill Ladd, a Skidmore trustee. He hopes that the arts administration program will be a great help to students for years to come.

"I look forward to seeing ‘Skidmore College' on the resumés and in the bios of future arts leaders," he said. "Skidmore already has many alumni working in the field, so this program formalizes a field of study that students have already been crafting on their own."

Howson will host an information session before the fall registration for any students interested in the arts administration. He asks students to contact him directly at any time if they have questions regarding the program.

Ending the semester with the Token Dude: The Token Dude

Posted by Jack McDermott

Well folks, it is almost the end of the semester, which means my housemates and I will all be going abroad soon.  That's right, the Token Dude will be no more. Well, unless I end up living with five Italian girls in Florence.  But I don't think that is going to happen.

 So I think it is time for me to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective.  Up until now, I have been writing about all the weird and ridiculous things that my housemates do.  But let's just take a look at all the weird things I do that they could make fun of.  

 For one, when I go to bed, change or do anything that involves taking off my pants, I literally just drop trough and step out of them.  I just leave them there on my floor right where they fell, still perfectly molded to my body.  When I take off another pair the next day, the old pair is usually still just sitting there right next to the new.  My housemate made fun of me once because she walked by my room and there was a circle of shorts and pants just standing guard next to my bed.

 On the subject of clothes, I also have blue boxers from the Gap that have beer and pretzels on them.  As a side note, for my 21st birthday last week, my housemates filled my room with beer and pretzels.  They put some pretzels on my wall, which actually just look like mounds of poop.  But I haven't taken them down because I am way too lazy, and you never know when you're going to need a midnight snack.  

But back to the boxers.  My next-door neighbor happens to have the exact same boxers and we actually plan out days when we are going to both wear them.  He will come over and just draw boxers on my calendar and I know that's beer and pretzel day.  We also just randomly show each other what boxers we're wearing whenever we see each other on campus.  My housemates always make fun of it, and now that I'm writing about it, it actually is really bizarre.

 Lastly, other than using regular unscented shampoo, a real bar of soap and having a whole corner of my room devoted to my own huge paintings, one of the weirdest things I do is talk about getting fat.  Now I have a really high metabolism and can eat pretty much anything without gaining any weight, but I am just convinced that one of these days I am going to wake up fat.  No slow transition.  Just, "Good morning sunshine, you're fat!"

I mean, the other day I really wanted ice cream, so I bought a pint from the atrium and ended up eating the whole thing.  Eating my emotions? Maybe.  Now stereotypically, girls are the ones who worry about getting fat, but whenever I'm eating anything, my housemates make fun of me because I always exclaim, "One of these days I'm going to wake up fat!"

Now that we've taken a step back and looked at some of the things that I do, I realize now that it isn't just living with girls that is weird and mysterious.  Living with anyone in general is just hard.  Everyone has some quirky thing he or she does that you don't understand or that will inevitably get on your nerves.  But if you just accept that fact, any living situation, whether it is with five girls or just one roommate, can be manageable and fun.  

Before I leave you, I want to share a few facts. First, you should know that all of my housemates just won vibrators, and we've decided that if one of my housemates was an adult model, her name would be "Abstinence Sally." And, last but not least, for all the English majors out there, "I don't care that I'm dangling a preposition, I'm dangling my dignity!"  Cheers! Token Dude out.

Combating finals with cookies: A Sprinkle in Time

Posted by Katie Lane

It's finals time. I'm way busy. Who isn't?

The logical thing would be to set aside non-essential activities in order to focus on passing my classes. But nope, not me.

I think have baked more in the past week than I have all semester. It is, after all, the ultimate stress buster.

First, you can procrastinate by browsing hundreds of drool-worthy recipes online. Then you can waste at least a couple of hours in the kitchen actually making the darn things. To top it off, you can wallow in your stress by scarfing down some freshly baked cookies, cupcakes or anything chocolate with your equally stressed housemates.

But really, who am I fooling? Stress is stress and not even these cheery sugar cookies can write a paper or study for an exam for you.

 They can, however, remind you that the holidays are right around the corner. We can all take a break, a breath, and recharge a bit. Sometimes, though, you just need a little holiday cheer to push through to the real thing.

We are trying as hard as we can over here at my house of diverse faiths and traditions. We have a tiny Christmas tree, topped with the Star of David, and we have a menorah. We have lights (thanks Elaine!), we have cranberry bread (thanks Rebs!) and we have "Now That's What I Call Christmas! 3" (thanks Betsy!).

And we have sugar cookies (thanks me!). The kind you roll out thin and cut out with cookie-cutters and decorate with frosting and eat for months until they go stale in your pantry.

Somehow these ones didn't make it that long in our house… Anyway, I plan to bake (and eat) my way through finals. And once I get home, I plan to bake (and eat) my way through winter break. If you need a little homemade holiday cheer, whip up some of these classic sugar cookies, and have a wonderful break, my friends!

Stay tuned at www.asprinkleintime.wordpress.com for treats all winter long!

---

Traditional Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

Adapted from The All-American Cookie Book by Nancy Baggett

•2 ½ cups flour

•1 tsp baking powder

•1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened

•1 cup sugar

•2 large egg yolks

•large pinch of salt

•2 tsp vanilla extract

•Frosting or sprinkles for decorating

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. In another bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until well blended and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks, then the salt and vanilla, until evenly incorporated. Gradually stir in the flour mixture to form a smooth dough. If dough is overly dry, try adding some milk (just a tiny bit at a time) until the dough comes together.

Chill the dough for at least an hour or overnight. Remove from fridge and roll the dough out 1/8 inch thick. Cut out cookies with assorted cookie cutters and transfer carefully to an ungreased baking sheet. If using sprinkles, add before baking.

Bake for 8-11 minutes, until very lightly colored. Keep a very close watch as these will burn quite quickly. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before removing them and let them cool completely before decorating.

Perfecting your potential New Year's kiss: What Would C. Do? Advice from an Anonymous Friend

Posted by C.

Let's talk about the importance of a good kiss. I've had numerous conversations with friends and strangers about their random hook ups and the number one question I always ask is: was he or she a good kisser?

 A kiss is like the root of a flower; if it's watered properly, it will mature into a fruitful make-out session.   

Don't feel nervous and feel the need to practice on your hand before you go out.  If you are unsure of yourself it does show. Be confident and don't be afraid to ask for something your partner is lacking: more tongue, less teeth, etc.

Being dominant and knowing what you want is not a bad thing, and even appears endearing in the eyes of your partner.

Everyone has his or her own kissing style.  It isn't bad if someone tells you what he or she wants — welcome it as practice!

 If you're worried your hook up buddy is becoming a potential mate, don't fret. Couples usually adapt to each other's kissing styles eventually, especially as the feelings grow stronger between the couple.

Never doubt the importance of a kiss.  Whether it be French, Eskimo, butterfly or underneath the mistletoe, it's the confidence you carry with your lips that counts.

Dear C.,

I'm hooking up steadily with this guy, but we aren't bf/gf. Now that break is coming I don't know what to do. Should I mention visiting him? I don't want to force him into staying with me over break.                —Sleepless at Skidmore

Dear Sleepless at Skidmore,

Okay, things to consider: do you hook up with other people (or does he)? Is he a good kisser? Do you like him?  Most importantly, though, if this hook up has lasted over a month, why haven't you developed into something more than just a hook up?

I believe the biggest indication for the future of any casual hook up relationship is the faithfulness of both individuals. If you know you look forward to his call, which only occurs after 1 a.m. and inconsistently, chances are he is getting booty elsewhere.

Now, don't be discouraged; keep in mind that you are not boyfriend and girlfriend. If he is being a loosey goosey then you must try to be as detached from him as possible and avoid any high hopes of a serious relationship. Vice versa if you do the same thing!

If you only like him for his tongue pressure and not for his quirks, I would not mention visiting him.

Keep in contact and send a "hope your break is going well" text and add a bit of your personality or something that will make him chuckle.  See what happens after break. It's nothing to lose sleep over, just distract your self with the potential of a New Years smooch!

                —Stars and hearts, C.

Email me at SkidWWCD@gmail.com with questions. Privacy is guaranteed. Advice can remain unpublished upon request.

Learning to research for credit

Posted by Julia Leef

With hundreds of courses offered each semester, one and two credit classes can easily be passed over when a student is searching for the perfect schedule. Two such classes are LI 100: Electronic Information Resources, and LI 371/372: Independent Study, offered through the Lucy Scribner Library faculty.

LI 100 is only taught for the first quarter of the semester; its goal is to show students how to navigate the massive collection of electronic databases and resources available through the college.

Access Service and Humanities Librarian John Cosgrove and Barbara Norelli, the instructional services and social science librarian, alternatingly instruct the one credit LI 100 course.

"We are living in what has been dubbed the Information Age, so I think the course becomes more important every year," Cosgrove said. "We examine how information resources are formatted, organized, structured, searched, browsed, evaluated and used, and consider some of the technological, social, political, economic and practical issues of the information age."

LI 100 meets twice a week for seven weeks. In addition to weekly class meetings, professors from other departments often make guest appearances, instructing the class in how to best research for different subject matters.

"It's an opportunity to expose students not only to research technology, but to talk about resources students should be aware of," said Norelli, who has taught the course since 1998.

Norelli also notes the importance of taking the class as early as possible. "Students who enroll in the spring of their senior years often regret not learning about the databases sooner," Norelli said.

 Part of the problem, according to Norelli, is that students may not necessarily see the Library courses between the much larger departments in the course catalogue. However, a renewed effort to advertise, she believes, will help inform students of the opportunities that the classes offer.

"I think students like the class," Cosgrove said. "Enrollment has been good and evaluations have been positive."

LI 371/372 is an independent study course designed to help students prepare for intense projects such as a senior thesis, a capstone or an honors project involving a lot of research.

Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a subject specialist in the library to organize and prepare for major projects.

Ruth Copans, the Library director and one of the professors for LI 371/372, has worked with two students working on French projects this semester. Copans has enjoyed the experience, noting, "Seniors would benefit from working with a librarian one-on-one with their topic."

The course allows students to gain full knowledge of the library's research facilities and databases, aiding them with stressful final projects and alleviating some worry, such as correctly assembling a properly formatted bibliography.

"I think sometimes we can open up different avenues and different perspectives, and that's really helpful," Copans said.

In addition to Copans, LI 371/372 is taught by Susan Zappen, Yvette Cortes, Andy Krzystyniak and Linda Hofmann, among others.

Several professors, such as Kate Graney, head of the government department, and sociology professor Kate Berheide, routinely recommend that students participate in this course.

"Having a weekly assignment and being kept to a specific timetable for researching and compiling a bibliography has proven very useful for the students," Graney said. "It is a great class and a wonderful resource for the government department and our students."

French professor John Anzalone requires LI 371 for students working on an honors thesis or other final projects.

"Students need to know how to navigate the world of research in the digital age and I find that our students are not well equipped to do so without guidance," Anzalone said. "Scribner Library's subject specialist librarians have been invaluable in directing my thesis students in the creation of targeted bibliographies and in the myriad ways of conducting research today."

Anzalone also brings some of his classes to the library for bibliographic instruction sessions, which he finds helpful for his Scribner Seminars as well as several of his other classes.

The library courses also allow students to build relationships with the librarians and subject specialists by working with librarians consistently over a period of time. LI 100 and LI 371/372 provide important information for students that will benefit them in future semesters, and the professors and librarians involved all encourage students to take advantage of its many resources and opportunities.

Holiday cheer hits Saratoga

Posted by Sarah Barry

The holiday season in Saratoga Springs is celebrated throughout the downtown area. Almost all the shops and restaurants don festive window displays, and wreaths and trees line the streets and buildings. In addition to the decorations, Saratoga holds annual events to celebrate the season.

Each year on the Thursday after Thanksgiving, Broadway hosts the Victorian Street Walk. This is the 24th year of the event, which will take place on Dec. 2.

"Everyone participates in the Victorian street walk," said Linda Ambrosino, owner of the store G. Willikers on Broadway.

Downtown Saratoga stops all traffic on the street and all events are open to the public.

"We have entertainment from the Victorian street walk, but we also have our own entertainment. We have our own face painter and Mrs. Claus comes and reads if it is not too crowded," Ambrosino said.

G. Willikers will also have hot cider and cookies for the event.

Businesses have a variety of local entertainment outside the shops, including some of Skidmore's a cappella groups. The Bandersnatchers, the college's all male a cappella group, will perform outside of Soave Faire for the Victorian walk.

Aside from its participation in the walk, Soave Faire has special holiday sales in appreciation of its customers, but it also fundraises for local groups during the holidays.

"We're just starting our 38th year, we're one of the oldest on the block," said Lynn Soave, one of the store's co-owners. "We have a holiday promotion as a thank you for our customers, but we also utilize the time to focus on fundraising and gathering donations. There are a lot of people in need right now."

Soave Faire tries to donate to several local charities including the Estherville shelter and the empty stocking program.

Impressions of Saratoga will also participate in the Victorian Street Walk, and the store is covered inside and out with holiday decorations.

"It's my first Victorian Street walk in the store and I'm very excited about it," said Jamie Onderdonk, who works at Impressions. The Skidmore Accents, an all female a cappella group, will perform outside the store on Thursday.

"Music plays and everyone working will be dressed up in Victorian clothing. We're also having cider and cookies," Onderdonk said.

Participating businesses provide an itinerary of events and locations, but the list is also available online at http://www.saratoga.com/holiday/victorian-streetwalk.cfm.

Another attraction that runs in conjunction with the Victorian Street Walk is the Saratoga Festival of the Trees, which runs from Wednesday Dec. 1 through Sunday Dec. 5 and commences with the lighting of the trees on Wednesday.

This is the 15th anniversary of the tree festival and the celebration will be held for the first time in the new Saratoga City Center.

"The event is a fundraiser for the Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. All trees are decorated by community individuals or local groups and businesses," said Earline Johnson, a festival committee member.

"There are floor trees, table top trees and arrangements all decorated — some by kid in schools, some by groups and individuals," Johnson said.

Many of the trees have specific themes; one tree decorated by Saratoga Hospital is themed "The Night Before Christmas" and comes with a wooden fireplace, teddy bears, tree skirt and wooden chair.

Volunteers are essential to the Festival of the Trees fundraiser, and everyone is welcome.

"We love having anybody who is free to come; many hands make light work. There are well over 200 volunteers over the five days. It's a kick off to the holiday season and we're so excited to be celebrating the 15th year in the new city center," Johnson said.

The large windows of the new city center allow for a view of the trees from the street. On Thursday the City Center invites everyone from the Victorian Street Walk to come in and see the trees, and each of the five days holds a different event — such as senior day and family day — for the community.

Holiday festivities run throughout November and December downtown. For further information visit http://www.saratoga.com/events.

Putting a vegan spin on your treats: A Sprinkle In Time

Posted by Katie Lane

I love butter. I do. I'm not ashamed. The smell of butter melting in a saucepan, the taste of buttery shortbread melting in my mouth, those cold chunks of yellow magically disappearing into a bowl of sugar, flour and vanilla.

That being said, I'm always curious to try new things and I've been learning a lot about the health benefits of veganism. I tried the vegetarian thing for a while (two months to be exact), so I can pretty much guess that I will never be one to give up my milk and eggs for good, but it's always nice to know that just in case I ever change my mind I could still have plenty of delicious things to eat.

I brought these bars to my a capella group, The Drastic Measures, and nonchalantly placed them on the table, as I usually do with my Sunday rehearsal snacks. However, I decided to keep their true identity a secret to test the stigma about cardboard-like, tasteless vegan desserts. One by one, the Drastics tried and were mostly delighted by these interesting cookies.

Mr. President Bryce even said, "these are so buttery!" before discovering that there was not a pinch of dairy in them. When he found out the truth, he quickly retracted his statement and tried to insist that they weren't so good after all. I know your true feelings, Bryce.

I certainly have become a bit of a convert for vegan baked goods. While I will never permanently trade in my butter for Earth Balance Buttery Spread or my eggs for flax seed and applesauce, I have eaten some pretty amazing vegan treats.

Last year, I even blogged about the perfect vegan chocolate cookie, proclaiming it to be the single best of its kind I had ever eaten. These bars don't quite meet that high standard, but they are certainly intriguing to the taste buds. The maple syrup flavor comes through quite nicely and the chocolate adds just enough sweetness. They aren't too dry but they hold together nicely — a great afternoon snack or tea cookie.

Do you have a kick-butt vegan recipe? I'd love to learn more! Send it to me at klane@skidmore.edu, and I will cheerfully be your taste tester.

---

Chocolate Drizzled Maple Wedges

Ingredients:

•½ cup canola oil

•1/3 cup maple syrup

•1 teaspoon vanilla

•pinch of salt

•2 cups unbleached flour

•½ cup powdered sugar, plus more if needed

•1½ tablespoons unsweetened

•cocoa powder

•3 tablespoons hot water

•1 tablespoon light corn syrup

•1 oz. chopped unsweetened chocolate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8" or 9" round cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the oil, the maple syrup and the vanilla.

Combine the flour and salt and add to the creamed mixture, blending thoroughly with your hands until the dough holds together. Press into the cake pan and bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.

In a small saucepan, stir together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, water and corn syrup and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat.

Placing the unsweetened chocolate in a small, heat-proof bowl, pour the hot mixture over the chocolate.

Let stand for several minutes, until the chocolate has melted. Stir until smooth, cool until drizzling consistency.

Drizzle the chocolate over the bars using a pastry bag or a Ziploc with one corner cut off.  Let cool before slicing with a sharp knife.

Calmly dealing with the post-turkey blues: What Would C. Do? Advice From An Anonymous Friend

Posted by C.

With last week's grubfest I'm sure a few of us are feeling a bit weighed down. Hopefully it was all worthwhile, and if not, at least your jaw got a great work out.

As for the next few weeks, informally referred to as hell weeks, stress induced anxiety may lead to a lack of munching or a D-Hall overload, depending on your personality. Whether you substitute a solid meal with a huge latte or stock up on the offerings at Burgess, make sure to eat things that will make you feel good.

I'm not going to tell you what to eat, what the healthy alternatives are or to make sure you eat the colors of the rainbow at every meal - you can look that up online - but I do believe in giving yourself a compliment everyday, or whenever you feel down.

We all have those days when we look in the mirror and are not content with what we see — thank you Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! — but we must keep in mind that even those girls have flaws and dog days too.

Learn to love the flaws you have and work it: dance naked in your room, wear something sparkly, be generous with yourself and the compliments you give. If you're feeling really generous, reward your flaws with a guilty pleasure once a week.

Whether you wear sexy lingerie while taking a final exam or study naked, confidence in yourself can be that extra push to success which will make you proud of the work you accomplish.

Dear C.,

Over Thanksgiving I realized I don't want to be with my high school boyfriend anymore. We have grown apart, but he seemed very happy to see me. I don't think he realized how unhappy I was. My question is — should I break up with him now so I'm not stressed out during finals, or wait until I go home and give it a second chance?

—Time (not) on my side

Dear Time (not) on my side,

I'm sorry for your loss of love and gain of stress, especially during this unfortunate time. However, some good things do come to an end and it's great that you're perceptive as to why the relationship is failing.

Consider how much of a burden the relationship is causing you — are you losing sleep, notice your mind wandering or feeling a growing anger and resentment toward him? If so, you don't want to leave a relationship on bad terms, especially if you had deep feelings for him and would like to remain friends.

Be honest, let him know that you notice the drift and would like to put things on hold until you can sort things out in person.

If you feel a break up is necessary, consider the consequences. Will your mind feel clear or cloudy with uncertainty that you made the wrong choice? Also think about him: if he, too, has final exams and still feels the relationship is strong, he will be affected by the break up, which might impact his studies.

Although he might have seemed happy, chances are he did notice your unhappiness, unless you're a budding starlet; he is probably experiencing the same insecurities you are. Even so, you are entitled to your own happiness and you are not responsible for his. Step back and consider what you want, the consequences and be honest with him. You might be growing apart from your high school sweetheart, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost.

—Stars and hearts, C.

Email me at SkidWWCD@gmail.com with questions. Privacy is guaranteed. Advice can remain unpublished upon request.

Preparing for the spring semester on campus and abroad: Playing Doctor

Posted by Adam Cohen

It's the first week back from our short Thanksgiving break — though it was more a tease than anything else — and it also happens to be the second to last week of the semester, so naturally most of us are having trouble doing work even though the workload is at its toughest.

At the same time, we're thinking about how badly we'd like winter break to come and are beginning to look forward to the spring.

This spring, I will be studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Now, I mean no offence to my loyal readers, but don't expect my column to be here while I'm gone.

But before I leave, I figured I'd give some advice on the spring semester — for those going abroad and those staying on campus.

First of all, for those going abroad, I think a commendation is in order, so congratulations! It's a big deal to spend an entire semester in a foreign place where you will most likely be less comfortable (at least in the beginning) than at home. Even if it is a domestic program, spending time in new area is a challenge.

It's kind of hard for me to discuss what to expect when abroad since I haven't done it yet; the best advice I can give is what I've been telling myself in preparation for going abroad.

The first thing that comes to my mind is to just relax. Don't think you're the only student who is worried, nervous, upset or intimidated — everyone going abroad is anxious in some form or another. It's natural.

But don't let it overwhelm you. Chances are, everything is going to be fine — we've all made the transition to college, it'll be easy enough to transition to college abroad.

Next, learn to take everything in stride. It doesn't pay to be unnecessarily worried over small things like whether you'll be able to tell time on a 24 hour clock, calculate currency values or learn a new language (things I admittedly think about).

When the time comes, trust your ability to pick it up. If there's anything college has taught me, it's that learning something new is not as difficult as it really seems. For instance, in my pursuit of a major, I studied everything from ancient Greek to art history to business, all with no intention of majoring in those areas. I may have forgotten a lot of what I learned, but I was nonetheless able to do it with enough studying.

And finally, don't forget to keep up with things you do at home. If you have a certain diet, try to keep up with it, or at least keep a similar schedule. If you exercise regularly, try to do that too — I bet there are a lot of cool things you can do to replace running on a treadmill. In Copenhagen, I'll most likely be doing a lot of bike riding or walking around the city to replace my usual fitness class.

Find things that work for you — with the bombardment of culture shock this could prove difficult, but finding a balance is key to your wellbeing and it is definitely achievable.

Now, back to Skidmore. For those who will still be here for next semester, I've got just the same basic tips as always, but some more seasonal advice.

The beginning of the spring semester is anything but spring. There's a good chance there will be at least a foot of snow on the ground when you return from winter break.

And once you're back on the small campus with that kind of weather, Skid-plague will probably rear its ugly head again. Take precautions against sickness — it's worth your effort. Eat right, even if it means facing the cold to go to D-Hall or go food shopping, rather than eating Ramen for a week straight.

Go to the gym once or twice a week -- I'm sure a run on the treadmill will thaw out your toes. Or, if you prefer, check out the town in the snow; Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area is a beautiful place to be in the wintertime. Go for a snowshoeing expedition in the North Woods!

If you're going to stay indoors, being snowed in is a great excuse to get some homework done — after your sledding and snowball fight.

Once the weather warms up, you know the drill: get outside ASAP. I'll definitely miss that part of the spring semester at Skidmore. And have a great fun day! I hope to see some great pictures.

So goodbye for now, or as they say in Danish, farvel. Be well, and enjoy the upcoming semester!

Adam Cohen is a junior Peer Health Educator who knows more about your body than you do.

Reevaluating the library hours

Posted by Mariel Kennedy

With the approach of the end of the semester and the ominous cloud of final exams hanging overhead, many Skidmore students are flocking to the library for extended study sessions. A question on several students' minds this semester is whether the library will have enough space for the student body with this year's overpopulated first-year class.

Normally, the library closes at 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and at 10 p.m. on the weekends. During finals (Dec. 5 – Dec. 20) the library extends its hours, closing at 2 a.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

"We track library usage with gate counts that measure traffic through the library front doors and headcounts 90 and 30 minutes before closing. We also look at the academic calendar and the library usage patterns each fall and spring as well as over the year as a whole. This information helps us determine when the library is likely to be used most heavily," said John Cosgrove, access services and humanities librarian.

Hours are extended during finals to meet demands of the student body while not putting too much additional pressure on library staff that need to work later to keep the facilities open.

Colleges such as Duke and Boston University boast libraries that never close, an option that Cosgrove believes would be unnecessary at Skidmore.

"Several years ago we stayed open until 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m. for an entire semester and there just was not enough late-night traffic to continue those hours," he said.

Even with the surplus of students in the freshman class, Cosgrove believes the recent patterns of usage do not show enough students regularly using the library late at night to warrant a change in hours.

"The targeted approach to extended hours seems to work pretty well to meet overall student demand for the library," Cosgrove said.

Most 24-hour college libraries are part of larger universities, while smaller schools that claim to be open 24 hours only offer a small section of the library all night, Cosgrove explained.

"We do not currently have a space in our library that could be locked off from the rest of the building and provide 24 hour study space," Cosgrove said.

Students are not the only members of the Skidmore community who would be affected by changing library hours.

"We do not have the staff to keep the library open 24 hours. Also, we rely very heavily on student staff to keep the library open. Those students have midterms and finals too."

Though many students feel they would benefit from extended library hours, Caitlin Allen '12 believes the current library hours work well .

"Personally, I need sleep during finals and the latest I'll stay at the library is 1:00 am. A 24 hours library is unnecessary, because most students won't stay too late. Case Center is open, and the school doesn't need to spend the extra money putting faculty [in the library] too late," Allen said.

Gabby Carboni '14 agreed, saying, "Sometimes it's a good thing that the hours are 8 a.m-1 a.m., because then I can't stay there all night. When I have a lot of work, I probably would stay all night. Depending on how much work I have and what kind of work it is, I sometimes stay in the library for a solid 5-6 hours. I prefer studying there than in my triple, which can feel crowded. "

With a busy part of the semester coming up, upperclassmen seem worried about space in the library more than the hours. Allen is concerned about crunch-time space.

"The library seems to be overcrowded at all times, especially during finals," she said.

The library staff understands student concerns regarding space, and classrooms in the library are often opened for students to allow for more space during finals.

For students who cannot find space in the library, or those who prefer a less crowded environment, Case Center, Student Academic Services and residence hall study rooms are alternative options for space to hit the books.

Seeing red and white on your birthday: A Sprinkle in Time

Posted by Katie Lane

You should come over to my house. You should sit on my couch. You should look down at the coffee table and start drooling. Because that's basically what we do over here.

Why? I own some pretty sweet cookbooks completely devoted to cupcakes.

There is something about a stack of books filled with nothing but tiny, delicious, personal-sized cakes that just gets those salivary glands working.

Needless to say, it became a weekly habit for my housemates to peruse these books, neglecting their French homework and business projects to choose the cupcake I should bake that week.

About a month ago, my friend Elaine came to my door and peeked her head in.

She declared that she had chosen what I would be baking for her birthday: Red Velvet Cupcakes.

My little ears perked up because I had never made them before and we all know I love a good adventure in the kitchen!

So Nov. 12 found me in the kitchen at 8 a.m. elbow deep in red food coloring, trying to create the perfect red velvet cupcake. Just a few hours later, after I had finished scrubbing the last of said food coloring off the counter and picking up all the sprinkles from the floor, I had these little treats ready to go!

Here's an interesting little fact: red velvet cupcakes traditionally got their color not from food coloring, but from the reaction of acidic vinegar and buttermilk with the red anthocyanin in the cocoa.

The "Dutch Processed" cocoa we use today is more alkaline, so that red color isn't quite as prominent.

There are endless variations of red velvet cake, with varying amounts of food coloring, cocoa, buttermilk and/or vinegar.

It all depends on whether you are going for a sexy valentines-day-don't-you-want-me sultry deep red or a HAPPY-BIRTHDAY-ELAINE-BURNS bright and cheerful red.

Okay. Science lesson over (thanks Wikipedia)!

Let's all sing a round of Happy Birthday and wait for the birthday girl to take the first bite.

Katie Lane is a senior, amateur baker and blogger. If you try this recipe please let her know at

www.asprinkleintime.wordpress.com

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Birthday Girl Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

•2 cups all-purpose flour

•2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

•3 teaspoons baking powder

•¼ teaspoon salt

•10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

•1 cup sugar

•2 large eggs

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•scant 1 cup milk

•1 Tablespoon red food coloring (I like to use no-taste gel food coloring)

•8 oz cream cheese (room temp)

•¾ cup unsalted butter (room temp)

•4 cups powdered Sugar

•1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Put a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute in between each addition. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, add flour mixture alternately with the milk and red dye in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and beating until just incorporated.

Bake at 350? for 15-18 minutes, or until the cakes a pick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes then remove cupcakes from muffin tin and let cool on a wire rack.

To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese in a bowl until it become fluffy. Beat in butter until combined, and then add vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Decorate cupcakes when cool!

Seconds' sauce makes great leftovers

Posted by Robin Kronsinsky

I've tried, but I can't seem to find the right way to describe my love of the farmers market. But I can say that a major source of that love comes from the wonderful people who sell the produce of their farms.

The food that I buy at the market always tastes better than store-bought goods, in part because it is grown or made locally, but also because the people who sell it know everything about their products. The farmers at the market are happy to be sharing both their harvest and their wisdom with you, and this makes for the sweetest food there is.

One of my fondest memories of the farmers market led to the making of my favorite sauce — a chunky, vegetable-filled tomato sauce created by my dear friend Caitlin and myself.

The sauce was made possible by the generous gift of a kind-hearted farmer. He was selling a large box of "seconds" tomatoes (tomatoes that became too juicy for their own good and split open, causing scar-like cracks to form) for $8.

Caitlin ran up to me as I was examining a bushel of Swiss chard, told me of the deal, and asked if I would make a tomato sauce with her. I couldn't imagine anything better, so we decided to carry the box back to school together — it was quite heavy with all the large, juicy tomatoes.

After telling the man behind the farm stand that we wished to buy the box, he asked us how we planned on using them. We told him that we planned to use them in a sauce, and he responded by giving us a whole extra box that he was keeping in his truck.

When we kindly refused, saying that we would not be able to carry them back to campus, he offered to deliver both the boxes in his truck after the market had ended.

We could hardly believe his kindness, and after attempting to politely refuse his offer, we accepted and made sure to buy a few bushels of fresh herbs from him to use in our sauce.

Once back in Caitlin's kitchen, two large boxes of incredibly colorful, somewhat gruesomely scarred tomatoes resting on the counter, we spent over an hour in reconstructive vegetable surgery, skinning and coring about 30 tomatoes.

Caitlin also had fresh garlic, peppers, zucchini and various types of carrots from the market. We diced all these vegetables to use for the sauce, along with onions from the grocery store.

Once we had about two pounds of luscious, sweet tomato guts prepped, we began to make the sauce. We didn't follow any recipes or plan what we were going to do. We started with a simple beginning — sautéing onions and garlic in oil — and added the rest of the ingredients step by step, ending with the tomatoes and red wine.

The sauce cooked for several hours, though we allowed ourselves many taste-testing spoonfuls. Once it had cooked down long enough, we had before us a hearty, heart-warming sauce. It was quite rich, thanks to red wine and fresh sage, but also had a beautiful lightness due to the extra-juicy tomatoes, fresh zucchini, fresh parsley and oregano.

Caitlin and I both stored a good portion of the sauce in the freezer (we had made a huge batch). I have been using it for months in several different dishes. It's delicious over pasta, served with breaded chicken or as a base for stews — I used it to make beef stew last week.

The afternoon of labor was absolutely worthwhile; the "seconds" sauce makes for delicious dishes and sweet memories.

---

"Seconds" Sauce

Ingredients:

•¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

•20-30 heirloom tomatoes (preferably "seconds" pick, but it is not a necessity - skinned, cored and cut into large chunks

•5 cloves of garlic - peeled and minced

•4-5 onions - chopped

•4-5 green bell peppers - diced

•5 carrots of different variety - chopped into small pieces

•4 medium-sized zucchinis - chopped into small pieces

•¼ cup each of fresh oregano, flat leaf Italian parsley and sage- roughly chopped

•¾ cup of dry red wine

•Sea salt, pepper

Directions:

Sautee the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft. Add the carrots and peppers and cook for five minutes. Add in the zucchini and sauté for another five minutes. Add generous pinches of salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and whatever juices have escaped. Add all of the spices, plus another generous pinch of salt and pepper, then add the red wine.

Let the sauce simmer with the lid on for an hour. Remove the lid and summer for another 2-3 hours, until the sauce has cooked down to a thick, stew like consistency. At this point, the sauce may be blended to create a smooth pasta sauce, or left as a chunky vegetable sauce/stew.

Eat, bake, love: The Token Dude

Posted by Jack McDermott

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Katie Lane's baking column is anything but vanilla, I think it is high time we talk about baking in a house full of girls.

There are so many baked goods in our house right now we could probably open up a bakery that would shut down Plum Dandy, as blasphemous as that may sound.

Now, I am not saying guys do not or cannot bake; they just definitely do not bake as much as my housemates. The guys next door, in fact, do not bake at all.

Fun fact: girls love baking, girls love eating baked goods and girls love boys who make them baked goods. I just so happen to be one of those boys. But I really only make a couple different things— mostly rice krispy treats and chocolate chip cookies.

My housemates, however, are more into seasonal and themed baking. We had a whole month of apple cinnamon and now we are chugging along through cans of pumpkin and bags of brown sugar.

We've had apple pies, apple scones, apple tarts, pumpkin scones, snickerdoodles, white chocolate cookies, ice cream cake with marshmallows and teddy grahams, brownies, blondies and lots more cookie variations.

One time, the head baker of the house got me to help her make an apple pie at 3 a.m. on a Saturday. I'm not saying I regret it, but who does that?

Now what would baked goods be without some good old fashioned emotions? When you live in a house of girls, you come to notice that emotions are much more out and about in everyday interactions. There is much more drama, much more crying and much more honesty about everything.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that —it can actually be kind of refreshing — but guys do not really do that. We keep things to ourselves. And if and when we cry, we usually do it alone, out of sight, without anyone knowing.

Having said that, I must admit, since living with five girls, I have cried more times than ever before. This is not good. They're rubbing off on me.

On a similar note, I found out last night at dinner (yes, this was part of our dinner conversation) that the five of them are almost synced up, if you know what I mean. Next month is going be rough.

But to deal with all these emotions, the go to response is usually baking. It's true, according to one of my housemates, sometimes the only cure to whatever she's dealing with is a fresh batch of cookies. It's quite comforting.

So we've baked, we've cried and now to round it all off, let's talk about gentlemen friends.

It is quite interesting when one of my housemates brings home a guy to hook up with. When I have a girl over, it feels more normal because, well, it's a house full of girls. She just blends right in. But when there is another guy, it suddenly all changes. I'm no longer the token dude. I'm the token dude plus one. When I wake up in the morning do I try and be friendly like I would a regular guy? Or do I act awkward, because hey, you just slept with one of my sisters. I'll tell you when I figure it out

On a side note, this past weekend my housemate and I both had friends sleep over. Interestingly they were housemates too, conveniently living next door.

Jack McDermott is from Mars, but he lives on Venus.

When privacy is necessary, bribery is the best solution: What Would C. Do? Advice from an Anonymous Friend

Posted by C.

Everyone loves a piece of juicy gossip. However, the feeling isn't as mutual on the other end of the gossip train. When it's our secrets and actions that are being talked about, it's about as juicy as an overcooked piece of meat.

When your sexcapades are on the lips of people you haven't touched, it's natural to feel paranoid and upset. You want to know who is saying what, underestimate the trustworthiness of friends and worry that people are jumping to conclusions.

And you know what? It doesn't matter! Even if you attempt a dramatic hunt for the gossiper it doesn't solve the six degrees of separation puzzle of possible people the rumor originated with.

Sure, you may be curious as to whom not to confide in, but the truth of it all is that everyone talks about everyone. As long as the people that are most important to you know the truth, that's all that matters.

Rumors suck, especially if they aren't true, but life will go on. What people say and think now will not matter after a week, a month or a year. The less of a stink you make out of the situation, the more you'll reek of self-respect.

Dear C.,

How do I ask my roommate to leave for a night? My boyfriend is coming to visit right after Thanksgiving and I don't know how to talk to my sort of homebody roomie about leaving…

— Turkey Jerky

Dear Turkey Jerky,

This is a sticky subject, but luckily you're in a double. Remember the beginning of the year when you had to fill out that awkward roommate questionnaire laying out the ground rules of your room?

If you both agreed about visitors, I wouldn't be too worried about bringing it up. Remember, the sooner the better! Approach her as soon as possible that way she can plan an alternate sleeping situation for when your temporary roommate arrives.

If you ask her in a nervous manner, chances are she'll be sympathetic to your request. If she doesn't seem too open to the idea, try to make her feel as comfortable as possible by helping her find other options. Make sure you tell her exactly when he's coming and what times it will be convenient to be in the room. Look at your situation and think, how can I make it most convenient for her?

There's also the bargain route. Offer to buy her lunch or dinner downtown, or when you go out with your guy, bring her back something. Perhaps surprise her with her favorite treat. Any gesture to show your appreciation is as sweet as leftover pumpkin pie.

—Stars and Hearts, C.

Email me at SkidWWCD@gmail.com with questions. Privacy is guaranteed. Advice can remain unpublished upon request.

Talking about the big issues

Posted by Jean-Ann Kubler

The spirit of creative thought has taken a new form at the college: an interdisciplinary series of panel discussions.

A series of topical panels, collectively called "Intersections," began Nov. 2 with a discussion of religion in the Spa. The second panel, which focused on gender, took place Nov. 17 in Emerson auditorium.

Most panels include a combination of faculty, staff and students who are engaged in that installation's topic. Future panel topics will include class, sexuality, race and nation.

"The discussions aren't linear. The panelists speak for about 10 minutes each, discuss a related topic of concern and then encourage audience participation," said Winston Grady-Willis, an associate professor of American studies and director of intercultural studies at the college who organized the majority of the Intersections series.

The series is co-sponsored by the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding, the Bias Response Group and the Committee on Diversity Affairs

The goal of the series, according to Grady-Willis, is not only to spark conversations about each individual panel's topic, but also to encourage attendees to talk about the topics in relation to each other.

As an American studies professor, the Intersections topics relate strongly to Grady-Willis' discipline. "American studies is very interdisciplinary and most of the courses that are taught in the department deal with every single one of these issues, if not all of them," Grady-Willis said.

Other members of the American studies department have been involved in the formation of Intersections. Allison Dell Otto '12, an American studies and gender studies double major, and professor Beck Krefting, will serve on the sexuality panel in February.

Contributions to the Intersections panels are not limited to the American studies department. Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Rick Chrisman served on the religion panel along with Rabbi Linda Motzkin, a Jewish chaplain, Imam Ghengis Khan of Schenectady and Marla Segol, assistant professor of religion.

Future panelists will include professors from the English, religion, history, economics, management and business, Spanish, sociology and anthropology departments, staff from health promotions and admissions, and students from the junior and senior classes.

Audience participation is as much a part of the Intersections series as panelist contributions. During the religion discussion, panelists spoke for about 40 minutes, followed by an additional 40 minutes of questions and comments from the audience.

"The first panel took place on election night, right in the middle of midterms, and we still had about 55 people turn out and participate in a really engaged way," Grady-Willis said.

The panels encourage audience members to share their insights and personal anecdotes in relation to each topic. A first year student at the religion panel commented on her feelings of isolation as a practicing Muslim student that embraces a secular culture.

"It was a powerful moment," commented Grady-Willis, "And even more powerful and great a moment was afterwards when each of the spiritual leaders on the panel spent between five and 10 minutes talking with the student about resources and individuals she could contact on campus."

Discussions are not necessarily Skidmore-focused. Conversation about each issue may begin at the college level and then extend to national and global issues, depending on the preferences of the panelists and audience members.

"It's very much a group dialogue," Grady-Willis said.

Grady-Willis said he was impressed with the turnout at the religion panel, and the audience for the gender panel filled Emerson Auditorium.

"Even if audience turnout is not as high in the future, due to overscheduling or any other factors, I'll be satisfied as long as the panels produce substantive conversations and encourage the audience to connect the dots between the different topics," Grady-Willis said.

The next four panels will take place throughout the academic year, culminating with a capstone lecture presented by Cornel West of Princeton University in April.

While there are not currently any plans for Intersections beyond this year, Grady-Willis believes the capstone lecture might shed light on additional topics worthy of panel discussion.

"As an amputee, I'd like to see some discussion of ability and disability in the future," Grady-Willis said. Issues such as age and privilege are also potential topics for future panels.