Healthful Hints: Finals Preparation: Study tips and strategies for time management as finals approach

Posted by Zoe Silver

Finals are nearing, and each of us is faced with the daunting task of completing a myriad of assignments, including 15-page research papers, cumulative exams and presentations. How in the world are we supposed to get all of this done before we pack up for the summer? More so, how are we supposed to concentrate when it's 80 degrees and sunny out? Hopefully some of the hints I will provide in this article will help you structure the end of your school year so that you can enjoy the sun and keep up your GPA.

First thing's first: if you don't know what finals you have for each class, get that information ASAP and write it into a calendar or program it into your phone. This way, you know exactly what's coming and can prepare in time. In fact, you should write all assignments and exams down in some sort of planner, which helps you to organize, plan and, ultimately, succeed.

Many of us will be faced with multiple finals per day. If you have three or more on one day, that is considered a conflict, and you should talk to your professors so you can reschedule one of them. If you have two in one day, make a study plan for each so that you can devote the necessary amount of time to both topics. Try allotting two days to studying for one exam, the next two days for the other and the third to review both, or something along those lines.

When you are studying, remove all distractions. Log off of Facebook and Twitter, turn your phone on silent and place yourself somewhere where you know you can concentrate. Some of us prefer to study in a dorm room with music in the background, and others work best in the quiet library. Library hours are also extended during finals week. A full list of extended hours is available on the library's website.

Take breaks every 20 minutes or so to get a glass of water, take a brief walk or do something else to clear your mind for five minutes so that you can fully engage yourself in the material. If you don't know which strategy works best for you, try out different combinations until you reach maximum efficiency. Part of adjusting to college life is learning what study habits work best for you, and we all do this at a different pace.

If you are really struggling to concentrate, Student Academic Services (SAS) is a great resource. You can visit the office or just check it out on the Skidmore website, where there are many study and testing tips. Along with these tips, SAS also offers peer tutoring, individual academic support and study groups. Do not hesitate to utilize this resource when you need help. It is also often helpful to go to your professor's office hours. A one-on-one session might clear up any issues you are having with the class material.

Before final exams (or any exam for that matter), be sure to get plenty of sleep. Studies in Health Psychology have shown that less than 8 hours of sleep the night before an exam results in extremely limited brain-activity during the test and usually lower scores. If you must cram the material, do so two nights before the exam, not the night before.

When you arrive at the classroom where you are taking the test, try to sit in the same seat you do during lectures. This may sound like a silly trick but it is scientifically believed that if you are tested in the same environment in which you learned the information, you are more likely to remember it.

Remember to put everything in perspective; this is just an exam, it will not decide anything greater in your life, nor will it have any huge effect on you. Just relax and show your professor what you can do. If you studied and rested up, chances are you are in good standing.

I wish you all the best of luck in the coming weeks! Until next time, sleep tight, study hard and enjoy the warm weather.

Skidmore College enforces its drugs and other substances policy for 4/20: Rochelle Calhoun tells student body there will be no tolerance for students with illegal substances

Posted by Bradley Morris

This past week, Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun reminded students that the codes and policies regarding the use of drugs and other substances would still hold firm as part of the traditional enforcement of the College policy on 4/20, which resulted in part from a media incident in April 2009.

Three years ago, multiple sightings of students publicly getting high off of marijuana on various parts of campus, some in tents, as part of April 20 attracted much negative media attention from The Saratogian.

April 20 is unofficially known as the day of public consumption of cannabis, a tradition dating back to the 1970s. The attention the College received from the press in 2009 helped rank Skidmore College No. 2 on the Princeton Review's "Reefer Madness" list.

"I remember hearing about reporters being there and people making a big deal about this," said a senior who requested to remain anonymous. "I read the Saratogian article on the website and saw people making comments about all the Skidmore students. People were being so judgmental. Skidmore is a highly ranked school; it has a lot of smart kids. I think it was unfair to judge the campus for one thing."

As a result, the College sends annual reminder emails to students about the consequences of previous actions on 4/20 and their role in the community.

"They have to send out emails. I understand that. Know the consequences for what you do," the senior said.

"It's important to note that 4/20 is not only a day for the consumption of marijuana, it is also meant to advocate its legalization and bring about change in terms of societal views on marijuana," said a junior, who also requested to remain anonymous. "People are starting to look at facts and numbers, and one can only hope that the facts speak louder than people's preconceived and mistaken ideas."

At the end of Rochelle Calhoun's email to the student body, she offered the hope that students would take responsible action on 4/20.

"I'm proud to be a member of the Skidmore College community and I know that so many of you are as well," Calhoun said. "Let our actions on 4/20 - and always - be a demonstration of our pride and respect for this wonderful place."

The events of Autism Awareness continue next week: Guest speakers will talk about research, behavior and treatment of autism

Posted by Elise Taverna

Skidmore College is hosting the third annual Autism Awareness Week from April 17 to 27, organized by psychology professor Rachel Mann Rosan. The proceedings consist of a string of student-run events featuring guest speakers intended to promote awareness, sensitivity and tolerance toward those with autism spectrum disorders.

Mann Rosan came up with the idea for Autism Awareness week after April was enacted as International Autism Awareness Month. Events will cover a range of topics including current genetic research into causes and treatment, as well as autism-related career opportunities. All events are free and open to the public.

"I hope that with these events, members of the Skidmore community can learn information that will help them to evaluate research and reports on autism so as to help to dispel myths and address controversies that are often reported in the media," Mann Rosan said.

The events are run and organized by students in Mann Rosan's "Developmental Disabilities and Autism" course. Students worked in six groups, each of which focused on a particular autism-related topic to promote during the week.

Topics include diagnosis and differentiation between individuals on the autism spectrum, epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders, different philosophies regarding the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, current research into causes and treatments and emerging career tracks related to working with the autism spectrum disorder population.

Each group brought a speaker to campus to talk about one of the seven Autism Awareness events. Three events took place this week, including "Do You Have What it Takes: Becoming a Direct Support Professional or a Nurse with the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)", "Autism: A Parent's Perspective" and "People with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Diversity in Your Community." Approximately 40 students attended each event.

The parent panel was a presentation and question-and-answer session with mothers of individuals on the autism spectrum who shared their experiences and the challenges of raising children with autism spectrum disorders.

Parents discussed their struggles with getting their children properly diagnosed, finding schools that provided adequate support for their children and the marital strain caused by raising children with autism spectrum disorders. Above all, the parents stressed that understanding and support are extremely important for the success of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.

"People with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Diversity in Your Community" was a panel presentation about the organization ASPIReNY, or Autism Spectrum Peer Integration & Recreation. ASPIRe is an organization in the Capital District that helps adolescents and adults with ASD meet and participate in activities enjoyed by typical teenagers and adults, such as bus trips to New York City, shopping and horseback riding.

The panel consisted ASPIReNY founders, Deborah Garrelts and Julie Marks, and three individuals with autism spectrum disorders who are members of ASPIRe. The goal of the organization, according to the speakers, is to help individuals with autism spectrum disorders leave their comfort zones and learn to socialize in an atmosphere free from judgment.

Four more events will take place next week. "Autism: The Musical," on Monday April 23, is a documentary about five kids with autism who take part in a theatrical workshop with their parents.

"Diagnosing Autism: Current and Future Perspectives," on Tuesday April 24, is a presentation by Ronda Fein, a prominent clinical psychiatrist, about the current diagnostic criteria for, and anticipated changes to the definition and diagnosis of, autism spectrum disorders in the upcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual revision.

On Thursday, April 26, Paul A.H. Partridge, doctorate, will give a presentation entitled "Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Brief Review of the Research Literature" discussing the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders and the factors associated with them.

Valerie Bolivar, doctorate, will discuss her research using mice in an effort to understand the underlying genes and brain structures in autism spectrum disorders in her lecture "Genetic Investigations of Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Abnormalities in BTBR T+ =TF/J Mice" on Friday, April 27.

The final event on Sunday, April 29 will be a vendor and informational fair at the intramural gym, organized by ASPIReNY, and a kid's carnival for children attending the event with their families. 

Freirich Business Plan competition winners announced: Winners will receive $17,500 in prize money to further their business plans

Posted by Marcella Jewell

On April 13, Matthew Miron '13 and Isaiah Crossman '13 were awarded $10,000 for winning first place in this year's Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition for their social media application "Grumbul."

Using the prize money, in addition to $20,000 from other sources, the two plan to spend this summer in New York City, developing and testing Grumbul, which they hope will revolutionize how customers register complaints with companies.

"The competition gave each of the students the opportunity to take what for them were nascent ideas and turn them into solid and coherent business models," said Roy Rotheim, professor of economics and director of the competition.

Throughout a 10-week workshop, the groups received assistance from Freirich, and Ali Frey '12 and Todd Powell '12, of the Skidmore-Saratoga Entrepreneurial Partnership. Each group worked to revise its business plan to present for judging on Friday, April 13, to a panel of seven alumni.

"Working with each of the students in the competition is enormously fulfilling to me as an educator," Rotheim said. "There is nothing more important to me than to make even the smallest contribution to helping someone pursue their passions. It is yet another reason why Skidmore is such a special place where creative thought really does matter."

Miron and Crossman were among nine students who competed in the finals of this year's competition. Students were paired with alumni working in their field of interest to submit a business proposal in hopes of winning prize money to further their efforts.

Miron and Crossman pitched their proposal as the "first universal customer-service application with full continuity from complaint through action and resolution."

Crossman said his motivation for the app came last summer when he received a bad meal at a restaurant and wanted to complain, but without the hassle. He said he thought of using an iPhone application to provide an instant outlet for complaints.

Miron and Crossman said that they are aiming for a full release in Saratoga Springs before they graduate in May of 2013 and plan to expand more broadly shortly there after.

In addition to Miron and Crossman, Zachary Fagiano '13 and Hope Schwartz-Leeper '13 won the second-place prize of $5,000 for their plan. They created Wellfleet Sea Salt Company, which harvests sea salt with a new low-cost and economically friendly technology.

Hattie Young '12 won the third-place prize of $2,500 to develop the Chicago-based Rephrase Dance Collective, a professional dance company that uses a flash-mob style to bring dance to the public.

The Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition is open to all students, regardless of major or year. Contributions from alumni advance the entrepreneurship opportunities for students, and the alumni themselves serve as mentors throughout the entirety of the competition.

"The capacity to be entrepreneurial is in each of us, no matter what our background or education," Rotheim said. "Executing that passion is a different matter because it takes excruciatingly hard-word and tenacity to make the intuitions convert into something meaningful."

Skidmore Softball team presents $2,000 to the Gargiso Foundation: The organization, inspired by the sibling of a softball team member, funds cancer research and care

Posted by Andy Shi

On Saturday April 7, the Skidmore Softball team presented a check for more than $2,000 to the Andrew J. Gargiso Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising money for cancer research and care.

The Andrew J. Gargiso Foundation was founded in 1999 in honor of Andrew J. Gargiso, who, at age 4, was diagnosed and hospitalized with stage four, Burkitt's Lymphoma/Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Gargiso's eventual recovery inspired his parents to create the foundation to alleviate the pain of other cancer patients and provide funds for cancer research.

Gargiso is a healthy 18-year old freshman at the University of Scranton. His sister, Christina Gargiso, is a Skidmore senior on the softball team.

According to the foundation's Facebook page, Gargiso has taken action to help others who suffer from cancer as he once did. His current initiative, dubbed "Exergaming," targets patients, whether currently undergoing treatment or finished, who do not have enough physical activity in their lives.

"Exergaming," according to the page, increases physical activity for cancer patients, with the intention of making these patients physically and mentally healthier.

Inspired by Gargiso's story, the Skidmore Softball team in February raised money for the foundation by auctioning off several items, including tickets to see Adam Lambert, the Philadelphia Eagles, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and to an assortment of other getaways and events.

The team donated $2,350 to the Andrew J. Gargiso Foundation with the intention of helping cancer patients and their parents cope with the pain and suffering, according to Julia Schwartz '13, a member of the team.

To learn more about the Andrew J. Gargiso Foundation, visit their Facebook page. 

Skidmore re-evaluates its Sexual Misconduct policy: New changes to reflect effective consent under the influence of alcohol

Posted by Lyndsay Stone

Recent changes to Skidmore's Sexual Misconduct policy, including to the section concerning effective consent and peer and faculty advocates, demonstrate the College's efforts to foster a safe and communicative social atmosphere on campus.

The Center for Sex and Gender Relations informs students of the policy's specific requirements through "The Insider: A Guide To Sex and Gender at Skidmore," a pamphlet given to all first-year students, is a condensed version of the policy that aims to clearly and succinctly relay the official document's vital messages.

The section concerning effective consent states that direct, assertive communication is the enabler of safe and consensual sexual interactions.

"Effective consent is the crux of the problem," said Lauren O'Donnell, one of the head peer advocates at the Center for Sex and Gender Relations. "Before it was just 'no means no, yes means yes.'"

The policy now directly addresses this communication when affected by the consumption of alcohol, a common component of sexual interaction. According to the pamphlet, someone is not in a position to give or gain consent if he/she is "severely intoxicated," "unaware of his/her surroundings" or "physically helpless" - three common side effects that occur alongside "going out" at the College.

The new policy emphasizes more than just affirming or negating a request. Each participant must dictate exactly what he/she would like to do, how, where and for how long. These statements cannot be communicated while in a state of inebriation. If they are, the policy considers the consent ineffective.

In response to an acquaintance rape that occurred on campus on March 25, Campus Safety hung up fliers throughout campus alerting students and faculty of the incident.

The fliers read "No Means No" in large letters and included a short summary of the incident. O'Donnell said the Center is working closely with members of the Sexual Assault Task Force, Campus Safety, Dean of Students Rochelle Calhoun and Director of Health Promotions Jennifer McDonald to ensure future fliers reflect the changes to the policy.

"'No means no' fails to stress the importance of effective consent and is very negative," O'Donnell said.

The revamped policy calls for a Deputy Title XI Coordinator to assist those affected by sexual assault. Appointed last semester to fulfill this position, Director of Student Diversity Programs Mariel Martin is the go-to person for both the survivor and the accused. If the survivor wishes to pursue the encounter in court, Martin is the primary resource for both the student and the Center during the process.

In addition to Martin's new position, the new policy alterations assign a campus advisor, who is a trained member of the faculty, to both the survivor and the accused. Previously, the policy only required an advocate for the survivor.

Additionally, the Center was just recently approved as the only anonymous peer-to-peer resource on campus. When approached for help by either a survivor or the accused, peer advocates need not report more than the date and location of the incident. They are also no longer required to report to Campus Safety.

These changes stem from the desire to make the post-scenario process as emotionally and logistically concise as possible, according to O'Donnell, who said the goal is to have the process remain under 45 days.

"The College is being very aware and taking huge strides toward improvement," O'Donnell said. 

Review: Kung Fu brings their lethal funk to the Putnam Den

Posted by Dale Obbie

Pulsing with lights, smoke and funky music, the Putnam Den took a brief trip through time on April 5, traveling back to the early 1970s - back to the era when bands like Weather Report and the Headhunters reigned supreme. Hailing from New Haven, CT, the newly formed jazz-fusion band Kung Fu dealt its whirlwind of fusion music blow-by-blow to a crowd of both dedicated fans and unsuspecting newcomers.

"Lethal funk" is the phrase most often used to describe Kung Fu's music by both critics and the band itself. And there's no wonder why: it's a pithy summary of the elements that mix to form its distinctive sound. Combining jazz-based improvisation with the hard edge of rock, the groove of funk and the throb of electronica, the band's music is as sophisticated as it is downright dirty, as cerebral as it is instinctively dance-provoking.

The band opened with the steamroller "Gung Ho," a complex tour de force with ferocious drive. But what makes "Gung Ho" distinctively "Kung Fu" is its breakneck dance beat - the unrelenting rhythm that catapulted the show forward from the start.

Next was "Bopcorn," another aptly named song, whose title brings to mind the funkiness of James Brown's "The Popcorn," as well as the technical complexity of bebop. And rightly so: guitarist Tim Palmieri and saxophonist Rob Somerville played a tightly synchronized yet trapezing melody reminiscent of Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee," while bassist Dave Livolsi, drummer Adrian Tramontano and keyboardist Todd Stoops laid a foundation of funk underneath their melodic acrobatics.

Then, taking a break from their funky onslaught, the band members slid into a downbeat blues song. It was a refreshing break from the intensity of the first two songs, and evidence that Kung Fu knows the worth in the occasional laidback groove. Nonetheless, their blues jam didn't lack the jazzy flourishes that give life to their other songs.

"Alright, let's take a shot," said Somerville, passing around shot glasses to his grinning band mates. Refreshed, they played a flawless cover of Weather Report's "Teen Town." Livolsi played blindingly fast Jaco Pastorius bass licks, while Stoops added a spacy synth overlay. As the song reached its climax, Palmieri shredded during a totally uninhibited finger-tapping guitar solo, taking the jazz-rock classic to new heights.

"Chakrabarty Overdrive," as its title suggests, was yet another supercharged juggernaut of a song. The powerhouse combination of Livolsi's thunderous bass playing and Tramontano's aggressive drumming drove the song along at a superhuman pace. Meanwhile, Stoops bent pitches on his clavinet, using melismas and Middle Eastern modes to add yet another element to the fusion of styles. "That's a song about this guy named Chakrabarty who used to be in a band with me...He's from India!" laughed Palmieri.

"This next song is called 'Letters from Bobby Portugal,'" added Palmieri. "It's like a journey in a sailboat to Portugal." Indeed it was: the song had a tropical feel and featured some mellow and richly textured guitar playing from Palmieri.

Covering Billy Cobham's "Stratus" - another '70s-era jazz-fusion classic - they sounded as if they were true fusion veterans themselves. Livolsi grooved on a repetitive rhythmic figure while Palmieri played a dissonant, brain-probing guitar solo. The song became so heated that several people in the crowd began moshing around - a testament to the heaviness of Kung Fu's sound, which sometimes adopts elements of metal in its flexible fusion of styles.

"Sometimes you gotta bring it," said Somerville as they returned to play an encore. It was an explosive funk song and the pinnacle of their performance's momentous energy. With each hand on a different keyboard, Stoops played with percussive precision, layering organ and synth sounds on top of one another. Somerville played a colorful sax solo, ending the night just as they had started it - with everybody dancing. 

Restaurant Review: Country Corner: The pancakes are worth it

Posted by Tegan O'Neill

It is no secret that Country Corner Cafe does a good breakfast. On any given weekend morning, the place is swarming with people who know how good the homestyle cooking is, and others who will soon find out.

Waiting for a table is just one of Country Corner's charms. It is not for lack of space, though, that customers must write their names on a whiteboard and watch the seconds tick into minutes before a table becomes available. There are two dining rooms - one is open and airy, akin to a farm house b&b, and the other is small and stuffy, akin to a small town dinner. We sat in the former.

Looking around at the kitsch mounted on the walls, the hardwood floors and the cream colored dining ware, it seems that the name Country Corner could not be more fitting. The clink of spoons against coffee mugs and the buzz of conversation between friends constitute the caf??'s cheery soundtrack.

The service was slow, and I would not have minded a speedier refill on my coffee, but this shortcoming can certainly be forgiven. It was a busy Sunday morning; all of the waitresses were obviously doing their best to keep things on track. Our waitress, despite the frenzied pace at which she was running, graciously took the time to answer our questions concerning the menu and bring us extra plates and little containers of real maple syrup.

Another cup of coffee was not necessary anyway. Country Corner is not the type of place that you expect to have good coffee, although it's practically obligatory to order it nevertheless. At this sort of breakfast joint, the java is just a liquid to wash down with the meal - especially handy if said meal contains that magnificent substance otherwise known as peanut butter.

Jars of Saratoga Peanut Butter Company Peanut Butter are on sale in the waiting area-cum-gift shop, but the substance canalso  be found in smaller quantities beneath two thick pieces of french toast, squeezed between the homemade strawberry jam and slices of banana. The strawberry jam is a homemade concoction that is so good it borders on addictive. The PBJ Cristo turns boring brown bag lunch fare into a fun breakfast treat. Spectacularly sticky peanut butter meets sweet jam beneath cushiony egg battered french toast. It oozes jam as it is cut into, and when bitten into, the peanut butter skids and sticks to the roof of your mouth. The breakfast version of this sandwich is more satisfying than its lunchtime inspiration

Sadly, the Florentine Benedict with baby spinach and roasted red peppers was nothing special. The poached egg was beautiful and the English muffin was fine (quite soft and easy to bite into), but I was expecting something more exciting. I could not taste the hollandaise sauce at all, which is usually the best part,. The red pepper was great because, for one, I could actually taste it, but also the size of the medium dice nuggets packed each bite with a perfect amount of pleasurable punch.

The fried oatmeal is worth a try if you are up for a breakfast experience off the beaten path. The concoction sounds more bizarre (and unhealthy) than it actually is. As our waitress kindly explained, fried oatmeal is made by first mixing the oatmeal and its accompanying ingredients (in this case, apricots and cranberries). The oatmeal is then packed into a loaf pan and chilled. After the oatmeal has congealed, it is sliced into hefty portions the size and shape of Texas Toast and then slapped on the grill for a little frying action. The end result is not all that different from the standard bowl of oatmeal. True to form, the oatmeal is grainy and moist and not all that sweet without the help of some syrup. The one advantage to trying the fried oatmeal is the chance to sink your teeth into yummy gummy apricots - a food seldom showcased on menus.

The pancakes are an absolute must. I had the banana pecan and the cranberry walnut. Three adjectives - fluffy, thick, pillow - say it all. The banana pancakes were not overwhelmingly flavored by banana. In most bites, I hardly tasted the starchy tropical fruit. The flavor was faint and hardly distracting. It just added a thin layer of dimension. The rare (but welcome) whole slice of banana ushered in a whoosh of flavor mixing things up before the pancake could get dull. Packed with walnuts and bursting with berries, these pancakes are ready to rock and roll. Apart from the nuts and fruit, the pancakes are honest-to-goodness good pancakes. The finished product stays true to the

I definitely plan on going back to Country Corner. Plain and simple: the pancakes stole my heart away. I have to go back for more.

Results of the SGA spring elections round III: SGA announces the results of this week's student elections

Posted by Julia Leef

On Friday, April 13, the Student Government Association announced the results of this week's Student Government elections, in which 40 student candidates ran for positions on the Inter-Class Council, the Inter-Hall Board, and the SGA Executive Board. 499 students participated in this election.

Election Results: 

Inter-Class Council:

• Class of 2013 Secretary: Nicole Cox '13: 84, Abstain: 13, No Confidence: 1
• Class of 2013 Social Chair: Meaghan Yolles '13: 91, Abstain: 7, No Confidence: 3
• Class of 2013 Treasurer: Evelyn Canela '13: 83, Abstain: 11, No Confidence: 4
• Class of 2013 Vice President: Will Wygal '13: 85, Abstain: 10, No Confidence: 4
• Class of 2014 President: Laura Venner '14: 85, Abstain: 15, No Confidence: 7
• Class of 2014 Treasurer: Jess Sonnenfeld '14: 83, Abstain: 16, No Confidence: 7
• Class of 2014 Vice President: William (HB) Heidepriem-Baird '14: 80, Abstain: 20, No Confidence: 5
• Class of 2015 President: Soraya Attia '15: 109, Allan Brown '15: 57, Marcella Jewell '15: 43, Abstain: 4, No Confidence: 6
• Class of 2015 Secretary: Liliana (Lily) Rivera '15: 96, Madeleine Kanazawa '15: 78, Abstain: 38, No Confidence: 2
• Class of 2015 Social Chair : Jarred Green '15: 182, Abstain: 24, No Confidence: 4
• Class of 2015 Treasurer: Nile Nair '15: 186, Abstain: 18, No Confidence: 7
• Class of 2015 Vice President: Noam Yossefy '15: 192, Abstain: 18, No Confidence: 3

Inter-Hall Board:

• Howe-Rounds President: Andrew Lowy '15: 372, Abstain: 81, No Confidence: 12
• Jonsson Tower President: Madeleine Kanazawa '15: 376, Abstain: 75, No Confidence: 14
• Jonsson Tower Vice President: Jarred Green '15: 388, Abstain: 72, No Confidence: 8
• Kimball President: Erik Morrison '15: 386, Abstain: 69, No Confidence: 16
• McClellan President : Sibonginkhos (Sibo) Gama '15: 386, Abstain: 72, No Confidence: 8
• McClellan Vice President : Tshediso (Joe) Matake '15: 380, Abstain: 74, No Confidence: 11
• Penfield President: Hannah DeGraaf '15: 382, Abstain: 78, No Confidence: 11
• Penfield Vice President: Nick Toker '15: 373, Abstain: 85, No Confidence: 10
• Wait President: Lauren Scauzzo '15: 363, Abstain: 90 No Confidence: 11
• Wait Vice President: Nile Nair '15: 393, Abstain: 67, No Confidence: 11
• Wilmarth Vice President: Sam Harris '15: 386, Abstain: 67, No Confidence: 14

SGA Senate:

• SEC Chair: Taylor DaFoe '13: 367, Abstain: 86, No Confidence: 20
• Senators at Large: Sam Harris '15: 277, Kojo Amarteyfio '15: 263, William (HB) Heidepriem-Baird '14: 248, Evan Friedler '13: 247, Tshediso (Joe) Matake '15: 245, Tami Cohen '13: 234, Britt Dorfman '14: 231, Brittany Dingler '15: 227, Doug Hamilton '13: 221 and Emily Paull '13: 211, Abstain: 25, No Confidence: 7
• Speakers Bureau Chair: Alexandra (Z) Steinhauer '13: 368, Abstain: 91, No Confidence: 13
• Sustainability Senator: Jessica Dunning '15: 367, Abstain: 79, No Confidence: 23
• Vice President for Financial Affairs: Donald Duff '13: 372, Abstain: 79, No Confidence: 20

In addition, voters approved all three amendments to the Student Government Association constitution.

• Constitutional Amendment #1: Yes: 450, No: 22
• Constitutional Amendment #2: Yes: 441, No: 25
• Constitutional Amendment #3: Yes: 439, No: 20

A new FAD on campus: SGA grants the Friends of Anxiety Disorders a club charter

Posted by Sarah Barry

Despite its deceptive acronym, the Friends of Anxiety Disorders (FAD),  has secured a place on campus as an SGA chartered club. The club endeavors to raise awareness of a broad spectrum of disorders and problems related to mental health.

FAD became an officially chartered club through the Student Government Association on March 27. The club has only been officially in existence since the beginning of this semester, so it is still working to draw in members, but has received positive feedback from students thus far.

"When I've mentioned the club to people, many express interest in joining. Also SGA was very positive throughout the chartering process" said Priscilla Montalto '15, member and Secretary of FAD.

"Our club wants to educate and inform people here, and help students who may experience these conditions and situations feel that they have friends and understanding - a community" Wyatt Erchack '12 co-president and founder said. The club focuses on anxiety, but welcomes anyone with a mental disorder as well as students who have friends or acquaintances suffering from a disorder. In addition, students seeking more information or a discussion on these issues are also welcome.

During the fall semester, FAD began to organize the club in an effort to supplement other support groups existing on campus. "We started this club because we perceived a void on campus with regard to things people consider to be 'issues;' specifically, people with mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have no community in which to connect with other students who may go through similar situations" said Willa Mayo '12, co-president of FAD.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in any given year one quarter of all adults are diagnosable for one or more mental disorders. FAD hopes to provide a community of supporters for students struggling with these issues, one that is free of judgment. They also hope to educate the campus about the prevalence of mental disorders.

"I first discovered FAD at a club fair at the start of the semester. It was such a relief to see that there was a community of students facing similar problems to my own. I used to worry I was alone on campus in terms of my disorders, but FAD quickly dispelled those worries" Montalto said.

For students who are concerned about confidentiality, FAD's charter includes a clause that designates all meetings as confidential. "While our club certainly may deal with personal issues, we are simply aiming for an understanding that, should someone share something personal, we will not share any information without that person's permission" Mayo said. Students are also not obligated to share any personal information during meetings.

FAD meetings consist of a 50-50 split between open discussion and a more structured brain-storming and agenda driven conversation. The group is working to change the campus' bias policy to include mental disorders, and FAD also hopes to produce a flyer series similar to the "Racy Reader" which will offer informative information on mental illness.

Be on the lookout for other upcoming opportunities to be involved as the club aims to host a student discussion on mental disorders. FAD is also working to implement an ally training program, which will instruct students in ways to aid friends and peers in times of need.

FAD meets every Tuesday in Bolton 101 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., or for students interested in joining the mailing list email pmontalt@skidmore.edu.

Skidmore and Saratoga community members to partake in "A Walk of Solidarity": The walk will be a peaceful demonstration addressing the social climate in downtown Saratoga.

Posted by Julia Leef

The Center for Sex and Gender Relations is organizing a peaceful demonstration at 3 p.m. on April 13 in a "Walk of Solidarity" from campus to downtown Saratoga Springs, uniting college and community members in response to concerns about the social climate in Saratoga.

The walk will begin on campus at the bus stop outside of Case Center. Demonstrators will walk down Van Dam Street and then Broadway Avenue to their final destination on Caroline Street, where participants will discuss their downtown experiences and hopes for better relations in the future. After the discussion, participants will return to the College.

"Our goal in this event is to create solidarity for the Skidmore community and residents of Saratoga Springs who experience harassment, violence or discomfort downtown," peer advocates for the Center for Sex and Gender Relations said in an email to the student body. "This includes, but is not limited to, verbal harassment due to racial, sexual or gender identity, unwanted sexual advances, fear of being drugged, physical confrontations and assault, 'drive-by' harassment and general discomfort downtown."

The main organizers of the event are peer advocates Alexis Curry '12, Caleb Stoeffler '12 and Rachael Bowen '14, who collaborated to develop the event's mission statement and specific route of action.

The peer advocates have conducted on campus outreach to organizations including the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Diversity Programs, as well as off campus with various Saratoga area press outlets, including The Saratogianand the local media.

In turn, the Center for Sex and Gender Relations has received interest from Bare and United Minds, the Bias Response Group, Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun and Mariel Martin, director of Student Diversity Programs.

According to the three peer advocates, the demonstration is an independent action resulting from feelings expressed by several members of the College community. Members also said most of the bad experiences students spoke about happened in downtown Saratoga Springs, rather than in specific establishments.

Approximately 30 to 50 participants will attend the event, which was planned from the beginning of the semester. The walk will also include "mic-checks," in which a person reads a statement and the group repeats it back to maintain anonymity and solidarity without the use of a megaphone or other amplification device.

"We are looking to raise awareness about these issues downtown by educating the Saratoga community about specific incidences of concern as well as the overarching societal issues that contribute to this discomfort," Curry said. "We want to create active communication within these communities with the intent of creating lasting and meaningful solutions to these issues."

Educational reform speaker to address students on campus: Former Special Assistant to the President to talk about improving educational policy

Posted by Julia Leef

Andrew Rotherham, co-founder and partner at Bellwether Education, a nonprofit organization that improves education for low-income students, will speak on "Racing to the Top? The Whats and Whys of Today's Education Reforms," in an open event at 7 p.m. on April 11 in Gannett Auditorium.

Rotherham, who lives in Virginia with his wife and two daughters, has involved himself in several organizations dedicated to education reform, including the Virginia Board of Education and the Education Sector, a nonprofit organization dedicated to challenging conventional thinking in education policy.

"I met him when I took a class from him at UVA in Education Policy," said Hope Casto, assistant professor of Education Studies who invited Rotherham to speak on campus. "He has Skyped with my School and Society class in past semesters. The students have enjoyed the conversations with him so much that the department decided to bring him to campus."

Rotherham leads Bellwether's thought leadership, idea generation and policy analysis work and writes the weekly "School of Thought" column for TIME magazine. He also writes on the blog Eduwonk.com and is the co-publisher of "Education Insider," a federal policy research tool produced by Whiteboard Advisors.

Further adding to his list of experiences, Rotherham previously served at the White House as special assistant to the president for domestic policy during the Clinton administration.

Rotherham has authored or co-authored more than 200 published articles, book chapters, papers, books and op-eds regarding education policy and politics.

He also serves on advisory boards and committees for several organizations, including Education Pioneers, The Broad Foundation and the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research.

Rotherham is on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Mind Trust, is vice chairman of the Curry School of Education Foundation at the University of Virginia and serves on the Visiting Committee for the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In the lecture, Rotherham will describe what he sees as the crucial areas in school reform in today's society, giving examples of what areas work, as well as what can be improved. He will also discuss how dramatic improvements in America's education system are essential to ensuring equal opportunity and creating a just society.

"His experience with the Virginia Board of Education and in the White House allow him to shed light on both state level and federal level policy and decision-making," Casto said. "Overall, he is an excellent and engaging speaker and expert in the field, and I am sure it will prove to be an educational and exciting evening."

String of false IDs uncovered in Saratoga Springs: Recent local incidents tie into nation-wide investigations

Posted by Julia Leef

In a press conference at 1 p.m. on April 3 in the Saratoga Springs City Hall Council room, the Saratoga Springs Police department announced the arrest of 15 people in possession of false identifications, including a Skidmore College student, and is in the process of interviewing approximately 30 more high school students, according to Lt. John Catone, as part of a larger investigation undertaken by Homeland Security.

Of these individuals, 14 were charged with possession of a forged instrument, a class A misdemeanor, and had their New York State Driver's License suspended for 90 days.

One male, Stephen Smero, age 48, in addition to this charge, was prosecuted for unlawfully dealing with a child in a Class D Felony and also received a Class A Misdemeanor Conspiracy and a Class B Misdemeanor.

According to Catone, on March 9, 18 year-old Bradley Green entered a local wine and liquor store in Saratoga Springs to purchase alcoholic beverages for high school students at the Saratoga Springs High School Hockey Team's weekend playoff game in Utica.

Green identified himself with an out-of-state driver's license, which indicated to the store scanner that he was old enough for to purchase alcohol.

A female customer in the store identified Green as a high school student, and thus not of legal age to make the purchase. The store employees confronted Green and confiscated the liquor and the identification card.

Patrolman Dan Noeker wrote a report on the incident and secured Green's ID, in the process uncovering the possibility of the existence of more false IDs. Investigators Meghan Mullan and Jack Barney, who were assigned to the case, discovered that as many as 25 past and present Saratoga Springs High School students may have counterfeit IDs from as early as spring 2011.

The identification traced these IDs to a company based in China called ID Chief, which, according to Catone, is the focus of Homeland Security investigations in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

In early 2011, police seized 1,700 counterfeit driver's licenses in a shipment from China at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, according to an article in The Huffington Post.

District Attorney Jim Murphy III released a statement prior to the press conference stating that the IDs were ordered through a website based in Beijing, China, the monies were transmitted to Indonesia, and the actual IDs were forged in Eastern Europe.

According to Murphy, the IDs are crafted well-enough to possess many of the enhanced security features embedded in genuine licenses, and thus can pass security inspection when crossing into Canada or Mexico or when boarding an aircraft.

Subjects used these false IDs to purchase alcoholic beverages from more than six stores in the Saratoga Springs and Wilton area, to enter several Caroline Street bars, and to provide alcohol to students as young as the eighth grade. 

Senate approves amendments to the CAC Policy: New additions include an article addressing club impeachment and new language about Benef-Action

Posted by Julia Leef

On April 3, the Student Government Association Senate approved the amendment to the Club Affairs Committee Policies and Procedures which, among other changes, added a uniform process of impeachment for all student clubs on campus that voids all individual impeachment procedures.

Logan Brenner '12, vice president for Club Affairs, said the committee added the impeachment clause because many clubs either do not have impeachment policies in their charters or they are vague. In addition to establishing a standard system for impeachment, all clubs must now inform the vice president of Club Affairs of the intention to impeach, keeping the SGA aware of ongoings events and situations within student organizations.

"I think that a clearly outlined impeachment policy is important to ensure a greater sense of cooperation and transparency within the student groups, and by extension the student government," Wyatt Erchak '12, co-president of Friends of Anxiety Disorders, said.

Club presidents received an early draft of the changes and gave feedback to the committee on March 26. The policy was then revised based on the critiques and the finalized version presented to the SGA Senate the following week.

"I think that these new revisions are good for clubs, as they provide a good method for potential impeachment of board members, especially if the club charter of the club does not mention impeachment," Stefan Cocorelis '13, president of the International Student Union, said. "Of course, I would never want this to ever happen, but if it was necessary, I think these new revisions would definitely help in what is an uncomfortable process."

Senate members also asked for clarification on the language surrounding Benef-Action, a student-run volunteer club that supports community service within the student body.

The Benef-Action board asked Brenner to change the language in the policy to give students trying to start new clubs the option to discuss with the executive board whether they would prefer to operate under Benef-Action.

"This policy was decided because many niche community service clubs do not last very long," Michael DuPr?? '12, president of Benef-Action, said. "Benef-Action wanted to offer to help students working on community service projects without demanding that they work under us."

This would give clubs an opportunity to work with Benef-Action on community service projects, but also allows them the freedom to engage in non-community service activities as well, eliminating the need to work towards an overall community service goal.

"Basically we're looking for a place to help clubs be sustainable," Brenner said. "It's just to make sure all of the right people are consulted. I updated these also because I think policies should be looked at once a year to keep them current and keep everyone involved."

The second annual FIGHTWeek provides conflict-related events for students: Events continue at Falstaff's and the Wilson Chapel this weekend

Posted by Julia Leef

April 4 marks the halfway point of the second annual FIGHTWeek, a series of events for students dealing with peer mediation and conflict, sponsored by members of the Conflict Resolution Club (FIGHTClub), a student-run organization created last year to deal with mediation and conflict coaching on campus.

This year, according to Chris Lord '12, president of FIGHTClub, the club has a larger budget to work with, which has allowed organizers to add new events, such as workshops that focus on moving from discussion to action.

"Last year was hard because we were starting from scratch," Lord said. "This year we had a base. We kept a lot of the events that went well. Also, we added and tweaked some events based on the needs we heard from students. We do our best to provide an opportunity for anyone in FIGHTClub to run an event that interests them."

Lord said FIGHTClub is working this week to provide fun events that service student needs and give them the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships. The week will also advertise FIGHTClub's peer-to-peer conflict resolution service, which provides the services of New York State Certified Mediators to students on campus.

Lord cited difficulties in scheduling the various events without creating overlaps, although he added there is almost always a way to work conflicts out.

"After helping to plan FIGHTWeek last year, and planning Flow Jam earlier this year, preparing for events is beginning to be second nature to me," Lord said. "I know who to talk to in order to get what done. I want to share this knowledge with students who have less planning experience to help them implement their own ideas to better Skidmore."

The club received support from several members of the administration, including David Karp, associate dean of Student Affairs and director of Campus Life, who serves as the club's advisor. 

Kris Scully, financial coordinator for Campus Life, and Robin Adams, interim director of Leadership Activities, also lent a hand in helping the club fund events and work with facilities to oversee the construction of a picnic table on April 2.

Beverly Cottrell, catering secretary for Dining Services, provided additional help by booking the second floor of the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall for a "Dialogue to Action" panel with Duke Fisher, a trainer of conflict resolution and restorative justice, on April 3. Rick Chrisman, director of Religious and Spiritual Life, reserved the chapel for an upcoming event on Saturday, April 7.

Each FIGHTClub member is responsible for a different event of FIGHTWeek, including the Compliment Booth in the Atrium of the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall all week from noon to 3 p.m. April 4 included a game of Capture the Flag, a blood drive, and an open FIGHTClub meeting, all of which took place on April 4.

Still to come is a movie showing and raffle at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Spa, a "Feel Good" party with live Skidmore bands and DJs from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Falstaff's on Friday, and a Gong Bath Meditation with Universal Sound at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Wilson Chapel.

For some, like Lord, this will be the last FIGHTWeek before graduation.

"I have built some incredibly deep relationships through this club that I will never forget," Lord said. "FIGHTClub has provided me the opportunity to develop my mediation and conflict coaching skills, confidence in my abilities to make a difference, deep friendships, the knowledge that there is always a solution, and a deep rooted optimism about humanity. I just hope I can leave this club with a fraction of what it has given me."

Representatives of the Fullbridge Program speak on campus: The program provides students with essential business skills to prepare for their careers

Posted by Julia Leef

Carter Williams and Tom Mayell visited the College on April 3 as representatives of the Fullbridge Program, which will host two sessions in Boston, Mass. from June 4 to 29 and July 9 to Aug. 3.

According to the presentation, the Fullbridge Program is a "business boot camp," that bridges the gap between college and career, and helps students learn important professional skills to assist them in obtaining and maintaining a job.

"Employers are looking for students to hit the ground running from day one," Williams, who is co-leading the university recruitment effort, said. "We saw this space and this crying need to have a program that would prepare students to bridge this gap between school and the workplace."

The two principle founders and co-CEOs of the program are Peter and Candice Olson, who started the program in May 2010. Peter Olson is the former CEO of Random House, and Candice Olson is one of the first women to lead an initial public offering, the first sale of a stock by a company to the public, in the United States.

Also involved is Timothy Butler, a senior fellow on the faculty of Harvard Business school and director of Career Development Programs, who leads the Fullbridge Program as an adviser and a Career Leader.

The program looks to work with a diverse set of students and majors who want to impact the world and engage with their fellow classmates and teammates, Williams said, adding that as a smart, liberal arts focused college, Skidmore would be an excellent place for recruitment.

"We sort of view the program as this big mosaic that ties together in the end," Williams said. "You begin to build things as you learn. We thought a program like this would really resonate with Skidmore."

Williams broke down the fundamental ideas of the program into three basic pillars: "Find It," "Get It," and "Crush It." The program works to help students realize these three objectives in finding a vision for their career by identifying core areas of interest, developing the necessary business and professional skills, and making an impact from day one of their internship or job.

During its four week session, students spend eight hours a day learning everything from basic competencies, such as effective oral communication and financial analysis, to more complex skills, such as creative problem solving and project and time management.

"You walk away in four weeks with a pretty serious construction of powerful business, finance and professional skills and self-awareness, which of course gives you a huge amount of confidence in any job or internship," Williams said.

Both sessions will feature the same content and material, and between the two Williams said the program is looking to gather approximately 100 students for this summer.

The program is divided into on-site and optional offsite work, in which students have the choice to work on their own online during weeks two and three. Williams said that this allows students to work on their own for part of the time if they prefer, and it also helps emphasize the team experience when they return on-site.

Students will work on individual projects and on assignments with teams, which will culminate in a final presentation at the end of the semester. They will have a variety of resources to work from, including videos, guest speakers, and each other.

"We wanted the whole experience to reflect the workplace," Mayell, the senior manager of college recruiting for the program, said. "It's a global world of business, you're going to have to work off-site and in teams even though you're not all in the same room."

Each student benefits from personal interactions with Fullbridge coaches. They continually assess the individuals and provide daily feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in areas of presentations, team and individual work, leadership and attitude.

"They're not like instructors or professors in that they'll be lecturing at you," Mayell said. "They're there to guide you should you need it, to tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are, to hone your strengths and to work on your weaknesses."

Current coaches for the summer terms include Kelly Skinner and Luke Owings, both of who received an MBA from Harvard Business school. Williams, who was also once a coach, said it is not unusual for students of the program to return and become coaches in areas they excelled in.

"It's so easy to go in and pinpoint where people are having problems in specific areas so the coaches are able to immediately intervene, figure out what's gong on, and help the participant move forward," Williams said.

Anna Gaissert, a junior from Brown University and one of the program's graduates, said her experience with Fullbridge pushed her to go beyond her normal work efforts.

"The challenge of this program was that you were learning information and applying it and doing that really quickly," Gaissert said. "That was something that really pushed me out of my comfort zone but was so good for me to do."

"One thing that I know I can definitely say that I'm going to take away from this program is confidence," Reide McMann, a junior from Harvard University and another graduate of the program, said. "Fullbridge has really inspired me to go above and beyond, and reach for the stars."

"I am much more aware of who I am, I'm much more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and I'm much more confident to go out into the world and show people what's up," Anatol Gudenus, a sophomore from Brown University, said.

Students may apply online at fullbridge.com/summer. The first phase of applications involves a short essay and several short answers, and the students who pass this part will move on to a Skype interview with one of the program's admissions members. While a student's' grade point average certainly plays a role in the selection process, Williams said the program prefers to judge people based on their merits and actions.

The next round of applications is due on April 16. Students must provide basic personal and school information, a summary of an activity or job that has been the most meaningful for them, and a short essay on their interest in Fullbridge.

"We care so much about these participants and it is such a pleasure having them be a part of the program," Williams said. "The transformations are pretty remarkable. It's a really powerful experience, and you get completely immersed in it."

Representatives of the Fullbridge Program speak on campus: The program provides students with essential business skills to prepare for their careers

Posted by Julia Leef

Carter Williams and Tom Mayell visited the College on April 3 as representatives of the Fullbridge Program, which will host two sessions in Boston, Mass. from June 4 to 29 and July 9 to Aug. 3.

According to the presentation, the Fullbridge Program is a "business boot camp," that bridges the gap between college and career, and helps students learn important professional skills to assist them in obtaining and maintaining a job.

"Employers are looking for students to hit the ground running from day one," Williams, who is co-leading the university recruitment effort, said. "We saw this space and this crying need to have a program that would prepare students to bridge this gap between school and the workplace."

The two principle founders and co-CEOs of the program are Peter and Candice Olson, who started the program in May 2010. Peter Olson is the former CEO of Random House, and Candice Olson is one of the first women to lead an initial public offering, the first sale of a stock by a company to the public, in the United States.

Also involved is Timothy Butler, a senior fellow on the faculty of Harvard Business school and director of Career Development Programs, who leads the Fullbridge Program as an adviser and a Career Leader.

The program looks to work with a diverse set of students and majors who want to impact the world and engage with their fellow classmates and teammates, Williams said, adding that as a smart, liberal arts focused college, Skidmore would be an excellent place for recruitment.

"We sort of view the program as this big mosaic that ties together in the end," Williams said. "You begin to build things as you learn. We thought a program like this would really resonate with Skidmore."

Williams broke down the fundamental ideas of the program into three basic pillars: "Find It," "Get It," and "Crush It." The program works to help students realize these three objectives in finding a vision for their career by identifying core areas of interest, developing the necessary business and professional skills, and making an impact from day one of their internship or job.

During its four-week session, students spend eight hours a day learning everything from basic competencies, such as effective oral communication and financial analysis, to more complex skills, such as creative problem solving and project and time management.

"You walk away in four weeks with a pretty serious construction of powerful business, finance and professional skills and self-awareness, which of course gives you a huge amount of confidence in any job or internship," Williams said.

Both sessions will feature the same content and material, and between the two, Williams said the program is looking to recruit approximately 100 students for this summer.

The program is divided into on-site and optional offsite work, in which students have the choice to work on their own online during weeks two and three. Williams said that this allows students to work on their own for part of the time if they prefer, and it also helps emphasize the team experience when they return on-site.

Students will work on individual projects and on assignments with teams, which will culminate in a final presentation at the end of the semester. They will have a variety of resources to work from, including videos, guest speakers, and each other.

"We wanted the whole experience to reflect the workplace," Mayell, the senior manager of college recruiting for the program, said. "It's a global world of business, you're going to have to work off-site and in teams even though you're not all in the same room."

Each student will have the opportunity for personal interactions with Fullbridge coaches. They continually assess the individuals and provide daily feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in areas of presentations, team and individual work, leadership and attitude, Williams said.

"They're not like instructors or professors in that they'll be lecturing at you," Mayell said. "They're there to guide you should you need it, to tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are, to hone your strengths and to work on your weaknesses."

Current coaches for the summer terms include Kelly Skinner and Luke Owings, both of who received an MBA from Harvard Business school. Williams, who was also once a coach, said it is not unusual for students of the program to return and become coaches in areas they excelled in.

"It's so easy to go in and pinpoint where people are having problems in specific areas so the coaches are able to immediately intervene, figure out what's gong on, and help the participant move forward," Williams said.

Anna Gaissert, a junior from Brown University and one of the program's graduates, said her experience with Fullbridge pushed her to go beyond her normal work efforts.

"The challenge of this program was that you were learning information and applying it and doing that really quickly," Gaissert said. "That was something that really pushed me out of my comfort zone but was so good for me to do."

"One thing that I know I can definitely say that I'm going to take away from this program is confidence," Reide McMann, a junior from Harvard University and another graduate of the program, said. "Fullbridge has really inspired me to go above and beyond, and reach for the stars."

"I am much more aware of who I am, I'm much more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and I'm much more confident to go out into the world and show people what's up," Anatol Gudenus, a sophomore from Brown University, said.

Students may apply online at fullbridge.com/summer. The first phase of applications involves a short essay and several short answers, and the students who pass this part will move on to a Skype interview with one of the program's admissions members. While a student's' grade point average certainly plays a role in the selection process, Williams said the program prefers to judge people based on their merits and actions.

The next round of applications is due on April 16. Students must provide basic personal and school information, a summary of an activity or job that has been the most meaningful for them, and a short essay on their interest in Fullbridge.

"We care so much about these participants and it is such a pleasure having them be a part of the program," Williams said. "The transformations are pretty remarkable. It's a really powerful experience, and you get completely immersed in it."

Communications finalizes design for the Skidmore website: The final result is a combination of two designs with new elements responding to survey feedback

Posted by Adrian Appleman

On April 4, the Office of Communications officially finished the redesign for the College's new website to be submitted on to the new content management system, OmniUpdate. This decision comes after two rounds of campus and community surveys, several focus groups, meetings with the Student Government Association, the President's Cabinet, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and other administrative organizations on campus.

After Communications analyzed the data collected from the second round of campus surveys and the feedback from focus groups held on March 13 and 20, the website task force decided to focus on how to incorporate the most appealing and traditional elements of Design A, such as the green color scheme, into the more unconventional Design C, which uses an entirely different layout format from the other designs, including a navigation bar on the side of the website instead of the top.

These design changes include adding a slight transparency to the navigation bar to make it less obtrusive, lending more focus to the glossy background slideshow of events. The vertical navigation, instead of having cake-layer sub-navigation bars, now opens horizontal menus, similar to the menus in Design A, with an integrated content panel underneath the menu for highlighting student and alumni research and accomplishments.

There is also an "admin bar" at the bottom of the page, which allows visitors easy access to a new A-Z index and the ability to bypass the new interface. An additional "CTM banner" on the navigation bar also adds recent content about creative happenings around campus right off the main page.

The committee presented the results of the "Skidmore Web Site Redesign Survey" to the ad hoc SGA Web Site Redesign subcommittee on April 2. The survey found Design A to have the highest percentage of approval, with 45 percent of survey respondents saying they would most like to see it as the College's new home page.

Because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback, however, Communications received about the runner-up Design C from its advocates, they decided to incorporate many of the popular features of Design A in an enhanced version of Design C, which was presented to the SGA committee as well.

Approximately 400 current students, 142 faculty and staff members and 114 alumni and parents, responded to the survey. Results differed negligibly between demographics, except in the case of the design most favored, in which the faculty and staff group selected Design C by a small margin of 3 percent over Design A.

"The people who liked Design C really liked it," Andy Camp, director of Web Development, said. "Design A, which, though it received the most votes in the survey, didn't win by a majority, and never really got as enthusiastic a response."

This closeness revealed itself in a class taught by Deborah Hall, associate professor of art, and a faculty counselor on the redesign project, in which students, when shown the new designs were split fifty-fifty on the designs, but those in favor of C spoke emphatically for it.

"There was a considerable group of people who liked the more traditional feel of Design A," Dan Forbush, director of Communications and overseer of the project, said. "The 'Skidmore green,' for example, and the conventional vertical navigation, were well-received aspects. But we thought we could definitely give it a more creative feel using elements from Design C."

The final version of the home page, screenshots of which were sent to members of the SGA subcommittee Wednesday evening, addresses concerns brought up in the last subcommittee meeting, as well as a meeting with the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees earlier this week, and several meetings with the project's three faculty counselors: Hall, Flip Phillips, professor of Psychology, and John Weber, Dayton Director of the Tang Museum.

These issues included the prominence of the College logo, which now floats above the navigation bar instead of being boxed in by it, the addition of a panel allowing for navigation of the site based on demographic of the visitors (i.e., parent, alumni, student, prospective student, etc.), and social media integration.

The finished design features a social media banner below the items on the navigation bar, with easy access to the College's social media outlets. Sub-pages, the design for which are still being finalized, also now include a flag at the top right-hand corner allowing the page to be "liked" and "tweeted," as well as emailed and clicked, with the push of a button.

"We hope to integrate Skidmore's vast social media presence into this design across the board," Camp said.

The next stage of the process will solidify the design of top-level sub-pages, such as "Admissions," "About Skidmore," "Student Life" and "Alumni." On April 9, the SGA ad hoc committee will reconvene to discuss the final home page as well as the future design of the "Student Life" sub-page, including the decision to conflate the two pages, "Current Students" and "Student Life" into one page informative to both prospective and current students. The Communications office also will organize an online focus group with alumni to collect input on the "Alumni" page.

There will still be room for fine-tuning after sending the programming to OmniUpdate, allowing for further input gathered in the upcoming docket of meetings and focus groups to polish the site even further. For now, the Communications department celebrates reaching a major milestone in the redesign process, culminating in the new site going live at some point this June.

"All audiences with whom we've shared the new design have responded enthusiastically," Forbush wrote on the Communication's web site redesign blog . "Andy Camp has skillfully pulled together a distinctive new design that everyone seems to agree says 'Skidmore.' "

Screenshots of the latest design can be found at http://www.skidmore.edu/redesign. 

Dr. Catherine Golden gives the prestigious Moseley Lecture: English professor unpacks the complexities of the Victorian era

Posted by Sarah Barry

Professor Catherine Golden, Skidmore's award-winning jam maker and Victorian literature and culture expert, received the College's highest honor conferred by other faculty last Thursday when she presented the Edwin M. Moseley lecture in Gannett Auditorium.

Golden's lecture, titled "Victorian Culture on Display: Decorative Objects in "the time of chivalry...the age of steam," explored the relevance of material objects to Victorian life.

"I'm not at all sure if Catherine regards herself as a woman of the 21 century," said vice president for Academic Affairs Susan Kress in her introduction.

Golden took the packed auditorium on a trip through historical moments in the Victorian era. She highlighted events during Queen Victoria's reign, including the first World Fair and the writings of Charles Darwin. Golden explained that although Victoria's rule lasted from 1837-1901, the term Victorian characterizes British life up to the start of World War One.

Golden illustrated the complexities and character of the Victorian era through an examination of five objects: (list them here).

"Popular culture has sterilized the Victorian age and idealized it" Golden said. She described that in reality, the era is full of contradictions and dualities. The moral and refined lifestyle was paired with prostitution, poverty and religious crisis.

Golden delved into the importance of a tea chest or tea-caddy, a mulready envelope, a lap desk or Victorian writing desk, a Tussey Mussey (a petit vase) and a fully gilded book. Upon closer examination, these objects indicate the intricate customs and history of Victorian culture. Unlike our smart phone gadgets, most objects served only one purpose in the Victorian age. The Tussey Mussey for example would hold a small bouquet of flowers. However, Golden explained how specific colors and species of flowers carried specific meaning. This "language of the flowers" allowed Victorians to communicate without words.

Animated throughout the lecture, Golden drew the audience in through demonstrations of fan poses, popular Victorian texts and popular period works such as Lewis Caroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and the current trend called "steam punk" which emulates Victorian culture.

"I loved seeing real objects with the lecture. She was funny and animated as usual" said Phoebe Pundyk '12.

"I enjoyed the lecture, she was a really entertaining speaker," said Eleazer Amarteyfio '15.

A member of Skidmore's faculty for 26 years, Golden teaches and writes on the Victorian era in the English department. The classes she teaches include: the Victorian Illustrated Book, Children's Literature and the 19th Century British novel among others. Golden was also named director of Skidmore's Periclean Honors Forum in 2011 and she leads an Honors Forum travel seminar to Bath English, titled "Jane Austen in Bath."

More information about Professor Golden's research and publications can be found on the English Department's faculty page.

Healthful Hints: Sexual Misconduct: An informative response to the recent Safety Alert on campus

Posted by Zoe Silver

We were all a little alarmed earlier this week when we received a notification that there had been an acquaintance rape on the Skidmore campus. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, but we do not hear about it very often, because victims tend not to report incidents. This week, I'd like to provide my readers with some information on what to do if they are involved in an incident involving sexual miconduct and some steps they can take to protect themselves.

Although it is reasonable to fear incidents such as rape or other incidents of sexual misconduct, do not let this fear get in the way of having a good time. Take the necessary steps to stay safe.

These steps include awareness; you are probably a good judge of character, so trust your instincts and avoid people and situations where you feel uncomfortable. Before you go out, make a plan with your friends so that they know where you are and whom you are with. Maybe set up a few check-points throughout the night where you will promise to contact one another, or at least make it a point to stay in touch by sending a text every couple of hours. Try not to venture out alone. Take a buddy, preferably two, with you to parties or wherever you are going. This way, if one of your friends decides to go elsewhere, you will not be alone.

If all of your precautions fail and you are involved in an incident, there are many resources on and off campus equipped to help you. First, go to a safe place, and ask a trusted support person to stay with you. Know that it wasn't your fault, and that you should now do what is best for you. Also realize that if you had an erection, if you ejaculated or had an orgasm, it does not mean that you gave consent or desired it: these are natural responses to sexual stimulation.

Consider reporting the incident to campus safety. They can preserve the evidence, making a record of the event incase you decide to sue. Campus safety can also find you immediate medical attention which could help reduce any physical harm to your body. If you are having evidence collected, do not shower until you have done so. Campus safety will probably take you to Saratoga Hospital for this process. The more these incidents are reported, the more aware the entire campus will be and the likelihood of them occurring should decrease.

Also consider going to the counseling center, which is a wonderful resource on campus to talk about the incident and work through any emotions you are experiencing as a result. You can also talk to your Peer Health Educator (PHE), Resident Assistant (RA), a trusted Professor, or someone off-campus. A PHE is required to report the incident to campus safety but will do so anonymously (just for statistical reasons). Your RA is required to give names by contract. The counseling center is completely confidential and is not required to report to campus safety.

You can also call 1-800-799-SAFE (the National Domestic Violence Hotline), visit Saratoga Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services in Saratoga or a number of other off-campus resources. If you are worried that you might have contracted an STI and/or, for effected women, gotten pregnant, Health Services at Skidmore provides pregnancy tests and a wide variety of STI tests. The staff there is very friendly and will make you feel as comfortable as possible during the testing, so do not be embarrassed.

I recognize that this topic is difficult to think and talk about, but given recent events, it is clearly an important one. Until next time: stay safe, remain alert, and continue to enjoy your college experience!

Learn more ways to stay healthy in Zoe Silver's bi-weekly column Healthful Hints.