Live below the line

Posted by Lauren Bosche Now that Social Justice Month is in full swing, I thought that I'd write to share an important event with the Skidmore community. Live Below the Line, according to the organization's homepage, is "a campaign that's changing the way people think about poverty-and making a huge difference-by challenging everyday people to live on the equivalent of the extreme poverty line for 5 days."

An incredible amount of people-almost half the world, or over three billion people-live "below the line" their whole lives, and they don't have a choice. On April 22, I'll take the challenge myself. I'll have $7.50 to pay for all of my food from Monday to Friday. I have chosen to forgo my current standard of living to witness firsthand, in one aspect, how much of the world goes through life, and share my experience with others. My blog will serve as a testament to my efforts in eating and drinking on $1.50 a day.

This challenge will present a particularly rough transition from the variety of foods I have the fortune of eating here at Skidmore. I'm on the dining hall meal plan as I live in a residence hall. However, for the week of the challenge, I won't step foot into the dining hall, unless I'm grabbing a cool glass of water-I'll be preparing all of my food in my residence hall "kitchen" (aka the microwave and refrigerator).

I plan to head over to the local Price Chopper in the next week-with $7.50 in my pocket-and purchase the staples that will get me though the week. I'll have my calculator in hand as I comb the aisles, looking for items that will keep me under budget. For many people that live below the poverty line, access to clean water isn't reliable. Fortunately, I'll be able to drink unlimited tap water in the challenge.

As I've pledged to take the challenge, my family and friends have donated to the charity of my choice. I chose the Rainforest Foundation because I have a passion for sustainability, and I'm fascinated by human interaction with the natural world. I had never heard of the foundation before, but after doing a little research I knew I wanted to support RF because of their unique position in supporting indigenous communities while preserving the rainforests of the world.

For more information on participating in the challenge go to https://www.livebelowtheline.com/us

And to keep up on my own progress please visit my profile page on Live Below The Line at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/laurenbosche

A game of Spanish f??tbol

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos!

I hope things are starting to warm up in Saratoga, and hopefully aren't as wet as they are here in Spain. Apparently, this is the most rain the country has ever gotten at since they started recording the weather seventy years ago, more than tripling the last record. Good to know there really is no escaping New York weather.

As the Yankee fans among my friends lament, I am a proud Boston Red Sox supporter and enjoy watching or participating in the occasional baseball game. I played in the Little League when I was younger and was on the softball team until high school. I used to argue with a friend of mine of Colombian origin, about which sport was better-baseball or soccer.

Well, when another friend from Colombia came to visit me in Spain, we decided to see a soccer (or f??tbol, as the sport is called in almost every country except in the United States) match this past weekend. It was my first time seeing a live soccer game-an essential experience for any student studying in Spain.

And... I still think baseball is better. However, f??tbol has its own merits, as some of its qualities are unrivaled by any other sports game I've attended.

The match that we attended was between Real Madrid and Levante The rivalry between these teams is not as big as the one between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the crowd was still pretty riled up.

And that, for me, was the most appealing part about watching the game. The fans are so incredibly responsive to anything and everything the players do. Like in any sport, they cheer and chant at random intervals, rooting their team on as the players run across the field. A group of fans even brought a drum with them, which reverberated throughout the stadium as they sang and waved giant team flags over their heads.

But it's not just the goals or a particularly tricky pass that sparks their reactions, although those outbursts are something to behold. They applaud and encourage their team at any given moment-whether a goal has just been missed or a player has intercepted the ball. In baseball, the crowd will give a little smattering of mild applause if the pitcher manages to strike someone out. But Spaniards cheer as if every move is a home run.

They get angry too. Very angry. When Levante scored the first goal of the game, there was plenty of cursing and yelling directed at the few non-Madrid fans brave enough to cheer. One man sitting two rows below me treated this offense as though it was a deeply personal insult made against his entire family. But you should have seen his face whenever Madrid scored. I don't think he would have been happier if he had won the lottery.

And that's what I think I liked most about watching this game and being a part of that crowd. It wasn't an important game, not part of the World Cup or against a superior team in the division, but everyone treated it as if it was. Fans of all ages, from small children brought by proud parents to elderly folks who've probably seen it a hundred times cheered as though it was their first match. Everyone was happy and excited from start to finish, and when Madrid scored its fifth goal against Levante's single one, they cheered as if their team had just come from behind in a miraculous sweep that took them straight to the championship.

Having had the experience, I'd still much rather watch a baseball game on television than I would f??tbol. But in terms of the crowd? Sorry, America, but Spain has you beat.

Un abrazo,
Julia

Skidmore alumni provide insight on "careers that make a difference"

Posted by Kate Butler

A buzz of voices filled the second floor of the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall on the evening of April 4 as Skidmore College students chatted with alumni about their post-graduate experiences and careers. Thanks to the collaboration of the College's Career Development Center and the Community Service Office, Skidmore students gained a glimpse into the careers of eight alumni who have all made a difference in a unique way.

When facing intimidating decisions about majors, internships, and post-college career paths, many students seek reassurance through the achievement of the liberal art students before them who now successfully operate in the working world. The visiting panelists, who all share a common liberal arts background, but work in diverse fields, appealed to the students' unique interests while offering insight on how to secure a future career. They placed particular emphasis on advocacy and making an impact in the world in varying professions.

The alumni panel consisted of eight alumni: Jackie Abodeely, a retired New York police officer and current volunteer service dog trainer; Becky Jarczynski, a program director for the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation; Tyrone Jones, a clinical supervisor for Palladia, Inc., who specializes in substance abuse treatment and supportive housing services for the homeless of New York City; Victoria Malaney, a Fellow in Skidmore's own Office of Student Diversity Programs; Joshua Relin, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Counseling and Psychological Health; Kasha Rybczyk, the site director for a middle school who also works for Tenacity, Inc., a non-profit that provides reading and tennis instruction for under-privileged kids, and Evan Schneider, a director of policy development for Senator Neil D. Breslin.

Jenna Hartwell of the Career Development Center organized the event with Michelle Hubbs of the Community Service Office. Hartwell explained that she and Hubbs wanted to provide students with a wide range of careers with that make a difference but lie outside of the traditional social science fields. Hartwell, whose office offers free, unlimited career counseling both before and after graduation, emphasized the importance of the advocacy involved in these jobs to appeal to the socially conscious students.

After a half hour of free time to mingle and network with alumni, the students and panelists took their seats for the moderated question and answer portion of the evening. For the next hour, David Karp of the Sociology Department and Campus Life moderated, asking questions and calling on students to contribute their own. Questions ranged from how to choose a fitting career path to the benefits of taking a gap year. The panelists offered their unique opinions and experiences, often emphasizing the importance of their liberal arts educations in providing them with a wider range of opportunities.

Despite their differing interests and careers, the panelists often offered similar advice to their audience. Seeking new opportunities and developing fresh interests remained, for each panelist, the most important strategy for graduates embarking on the career search. Whether searching for the perfect job, considering a gap year, or contemplating graduate school, students should keep all of their options open.

"You're growing and changing through four years of college," Abodeely said. "But you're growing and changing through life, so don't shut any doors. Be open." 

Community rallies to support April 14 Empty Bowls event to benefit Wilton Food Pantry

Members of the Skidmore community are partnering with friends of the Wilton Food Pantry on the second annual Empty Bowls lunch, scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge 161, on Route 9.

Ceramics students of Associate Professor of Art Matt Wilt have created 150 bowls for the event. In addition, members of the Dining Services team are contributing their expertise in preparation of the food to be served on Sunday.

The premise of Empty Bowls is simple: each attendee chooses a unique handcrafted bowl and fills it with a simple meal of soup or chili and bread. The fee for the meal includes the bowl, which people may take home after the event as a reminder of neighbors faced with empty bowls every week.

"Each bowl at this event is a true vessel of hope, the proceeds from which allow the Pantry to purchase 93 pounds of food from the Regional Food Bank," noted WFP Board President Deb Zellan. 

In addition to the handmade ceramic bowls and food, the afternoon will feature live music by John & Orion Kribs, with fiddler Doug Moody as a special guest. A silent auction will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with items including a gas grill, his and hers vintage Schwinn bikes, jewelry, shopping, dining, golf, art and more.

 "This event amplifies the spirit of the food pantry, which is neighbor helping neighbor. Folks are doing what they can to be part of this home-grown solution-strengthening community, volunteerism, generational ties-and working together to resolve food insecurity and provide good nutrition, which makes for a healthier Wilton," said event organizer and WFP board member Dennis Towers, whose company, McKinley Griffen Design & Advertising, is providing its services free of charge to the pantry.

"This event is the single largest source of funds to operate this all-volunteer food pantry, and it is a rare opportunity to build community within the town of 16,000 residents," Towers added. 

Residents of Wilton can visit the pantry 12 times in a year for a three-day emergency supply of food for their family. The Wilton Food Pantry distributed groceries equal to more than 24,000 meals in 2012.

The families that utilize Wilton Food Pantry services are educated about nutrition, food origins, and meal preparation. "Chef Ben Niese of Skidmore, who was involved at our first Empty Bowls last year, is now a regular volunteer. Ben will look at the inventory that day, with a focus on perishables. He will write up easy-to-prepare recipes on the spot, which we share with the families. This helps them get back to "slow food" principles and perhaps prepare foods they have not had in the past," explained Zellan.

Advance tickets are $15 at wiltonfoodpantry.org or at the three Wilton branches of Saratoga National Bank. Admission at the door (if bowls are available) will be $20. For more details, please visit www.wiltonfoodpantry.org. 

Skidmore recognizes Autism Awareness Month with event-filled calendar: Schedule month-long events

For the fourth straight year, students of Skidmore College psychology Professor Rachel Mann Rosan have arranged a month of public events to observe Autism Awareness Month.

Since the early 1970s, the Autism Society has celebrated National Autism Awareness Month as a special opportunity to raise awareness about autism and issues within the autism community.

At Skidmore, students in Mann Rosan's psychology course PS 212b, "Developmental Disabilities and Autism" have annually arranged a slate of activities offering community-specific information. Mann Rosan provides a structure for the students to use, including learning outcomes. The students are then assigned various activities - speaker, panel discussion, informational posters - geared toward the learning objectives.

The learning objectives include understanding autism and the philosophies that influence diagnosis and treatment, researching the epidemiology of autism, examining the different causes and treatments, and looking at the impact of autism on the community. Mann Rosan encourages the students to research the topics and make decisions on what activity or speaker best addresses the topic.

The class has established the following schedule. All events are free and open to the public.

? Monday, April 8,6 p.m. in Tisch Learning Center, room 302

"The Role of a Clinical Team to Support Parents and Individuals with Autism," featuring

Cassandra Estey, Wendy Ashe, and Diana Graviano

Members of the Clinical Consultation Team from Saratoga Bridges, Inc., will provide an overview of their roles as a behavior specialist, certified occupational therapy assistant, and speech-language pathologist. Topics included will be positive behavior support, sensitivity training, feeding, expressive language, social skills, and the counselor-clinical role.

? Tuesday, April 9,6:30 p.m., Bolton Hall, room 282

"Philosophical Perspectives of Autism Spectrum Disorders," by Susan M. Parillo

The discussion will center on philosophical issues as they pertain to Autism Spectrum Disorders, including understanding the current debate over the primary deficit thought to be a major contributing factor to autistic impairments, implications of the 2013 change to the diagnostic criteria and notions of whether Autism is something to be "cured" or "embraced".

? Thursday, April 11, 6 p.m., Tisch Learning Center, room 201

"Autism: Where is the Terminology Going?" by Anthony Malone, M.D.

In the midst of a likely expansion of the problem of Autism, there is a major change in how it is thought of diagnostically. The discussion will focus on how the two issues meet and how it affects children on the spectrum.

? Monday, April 15, 6:30 p.m., Tisch Learning Center, room 302

"The Epidemiology of ASD's: A Brief Review of Recent Research," by Paul A.H. Partridge, Ph.D.

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the increasing prevalence and factors associated with increased rates of diagnosis.

? Tuesday, April 16, 6 p.m., Bolton Hall, room 282

"Modeling Behaviors Relevant to Autism in Inbred Strains of Mice," by Dr. Valerie Bolivar

Mice can play an invaluable role in modeling the biology underlying autism and in developing more effective therapeutic agents. Dr. Bolivar's lab has established the BTBR T+Itpr3^tf/J inbred strain as a useful model for autism-relevant behaviors and is currently examining brain development in these mice, looking for biomarkers relevant to autism.

? Wednesday, April 17,at 7 p.m., Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall

A screening of the movieTemple Grandin

This award-winning film paints a picture of a young woman's perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism at a time when it was still quite unknown. Starring Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, Catherine O'Hara, and David Strathairn.

? Thursday, April 18,6 & 7 p.m., Tisch Learning Center, room 201

6 p.m. - Panel on "Parenting Autistic Children"

7 p.m. - Panel on "What It's Like to Have Autism"

Parents: Julie Marks, Stephanie Veitch, Steve Oill, Skip Parry & Ronda Fein

Individuals on the Spectrum: Eric Olefson, Melanie Hecker, & Rebecca Shook

? Sunday, April 21, noon in Intramural/Dance Gymnasium

Second Annual Autism Awareness Informational Fair & Carnival, hosted by Saratoga Bridges, the Parent Network of the Capital Region, and the Skidmore Psychology Department and presented by

Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC. Skidmore is a partner on this event, which is organized and sponsored by community groups. Skidmore students assist with running the carnival for children attending the event. Admission is free and open to the public.

Ashley Reynolds '14 honored for civic engagement

Ashley Reynolds '14 has been named a 2013 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic and social responsibility. Reynolds is among 180 students nationally to receive the award, which recognizes college students for their efforts to explore social issues and work toward positive change. 

A social work major from Ashburnham, Mass., Reynolds takes a particular interest in community-based research and its use in effecting social change. Through her work in a course titled Community Engagement, she assisted at two local agencies-the Saratoga Center for the Family, an advocacy center for victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and the Center for Hope, an organization that supports families with missing children and adults. She has volunteered at Shelters of Saratoga, a housing and advocacy center for the homeless, and has served as a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

In the fall semester of 2012, while studying at Payap Univeristy in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Reynolds worked with the agency Grandma Cares, which helps children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS. She began by teaching English, but noticing a shortage of personnel in key areas she proposed and was approved for additional responsibilities-conducting interviews in the field, compiling reports for the agency and their sponsors, and developing an English education assessment program.

On campus, Reynolds is a go-to person for students seeking help with social science research methodology. She is also an active member of the campus organization Christian Fellowship who reaches out to younger students who may be struggling with the transition to college life.

"Ashley is a multi-talented student who has the drive to make positive social change," said Crystal Moore, associate professor of social work and chair of the department. "She is effective in working directly with people, has strong research skills, and has a high degree of professionalism." Moore and Reynolds are currently working as co-authors on a clinical update of an article by Moore on communication issues in palliative care.

Book Review: Ninety Nine Years: A commemoration to the Leica camera that brought us the past century's most iconic photos

Posted by Dylan Lustrin

Anyone who has taken a photography class, fancies themselves to be even an amateur photographer, or simply has an appreciation for photography's representational properties surely has their photographic idols. Maybe that idol is Barbara Morgan, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Douglas Duncan, or Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Or perhaps one feels an aesthetic attraction to a certain iconic image: Elliott Erwitt's artfully crooked 1950 image showing two side-by-side water fountains labeled "white" and "colored;" Alberto Korda's 1960 shot of an intent-looking Che Guevara - the same image reproduced on countless t-shirts and even the Cuban three peso banknote; or Thomas Hoepker's moving 2001 snapshot of five friends relaxing by an idyllic Brooklyn waterfront as thick smoke rises from the World Trade Center towers behind them. Although creating seemingly dissimilar works, these artists all had a commonality - they captured their photographs with Leica cameras. The instantly recognizable Leica design has come to conjure a specific element of admiration and connote quality in equipment and the resulting image.

The company's rich history is documented in the new book 99 Years Leica. As expected from a firm whose main focus is the creation of visual pleasure, the book's packaging is eye-catching yet far from ostentatious. The 300-page coffee table book-sized volume comes slipped into a thick matte black protective cover with a small square-shaped cutout in the middle meant to reveal, but not give away, the book's cover. Reading "Ninety-Nine Years" (stylized over four lines as "NINE / TYNI / NEYE / ARS") in glossy black letters against a flat white background, there is little possibility of mistaking 99 Years' purpose as a celebration of a legendary company's legacy and future on the occasion of its 99^th anniversary.

In 1914, optical engineer Oskar Barnack created the Ur-Leica in Wetzlar, Germany. This camera featured an all-metal body, a retractable lens, and used 35mm film - all features engineered to save space and weight in a time where heavy and largely unmovable cameras were the norm. By 1924, Leica had developed the small format Leica I. Upon its introduction and release in 1925, the camera was an instant hit, selling over 70,000 units between 1925 and 1930 and securing the company's place within the annals of photography.

Flipping through the pages of 99 Years Leica, it is difficult not to stop and do something of a double take at the strikingly-colored images, bold statements (in both content and typeface), dynamic page layouts, and compelling tales of photographers, their works, and Leica's development as a company. One such eye-catching two-page spread features a photo of the Eiffel tower taken from the bottom up and rendered in a tie dye-esque mixture of green, brown, blue, and white. Overlaid on the image in broad grey text is the witty statement "PARIS IS A BITCH (sometimes)." The text opposite this image speaks fondly of Paris and its ability to inspire the work of noted Leica users such as Henri Cartier-Breson and Brassa??.

I must admit, I was skeptical of this book at first. Although being a long-time Leica fan, I could not help but wonder if I was simply looking at a glorified advertisement. Despite that, I also could not help but be completely captivated by this book and emerge from the last page with a rekindled love for what are arguably the best cameras currently made. 

Two leading psychologists to give presentation on sources of memory confusion

At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, in Davis Auditorium, two leading psychologists will present: Remembering Fictions: Our Own and Others' Constructions

The presentation will share the intriguing research of sources of memory confusions in our everyday lives. Alan Scoboria, a clinical psychologist in the Behavioral, Cognitive, and Neuroscience Program of Windsor University, will discuss "Deciding whether a memory is fictitious: Insights from nonbelieved memories and false memory formation." Elizabeth Marsh, cognitive psychologist in the Duke University Psychology and Neuroscience Program, will discuss "Creating Illusions of Knowledge."

Marsh and Scoboria will each give a brief presentation of their research, which will be followed by an interactive discussion period.

Scoboria will discuss the ease with which people come to believe imagined scenarios of possible life events originating from experienced events. Marsh will speak about her research that examines the ease with which people can incorporate details they encountered while reading fiction (others' fictional constructions) into their own knowledge about the world.

Sponsors of the research colloquium are the National Science Foundation, Skidmore's Psychology Department and Neuroscience Program, and the Office of the Dean of Faculty.

Skidmore students launch Social Justice Month to raise awareness: Roster of activities includes public events

Students at Skidmore College have deemed April "Social Justice Month" and have organized a series of events to increase awareness among their peers and the public regarding challenges to fairness and justice worldwide. Many of the activities are open to the public free of charge.

"Our vision is to bring the campus together to engage students in social justice issues. We want to educate them and provide ways that they can concretely fight against injustice," Skidmore sophomore and one of the Social Justice Month organizers, Timothy Kim said. The planned activities will address such issues as multiracial identity, world hunger, education, human trafficking, North Korean human rights, climate change, urban poverty, the criminal justice system, and political conflict.

In addition to events such as film screenings, speakers, and discussions, the activities will include hands-on service projects by the students, such as sprucing up backstretch housing at the race course and assisting at the Albany Regional Food Bank.

The program is widely supported on the Skidmore campus, with more than 25 academic departments and student organizations signing on as sponsors. "We are very excited to have all of these clubs, departments, offices, and individuals come together and work to fight against social injustice," Kim said.

Skidmore students organized a similar program last year, with events taking place over a week's time. This year the students have expanded the number of events to cover a full month. For more information contact skidmoresjm@gmail.com.

The following Social Justice Month events are open to the public free of charge:

?Tuesday, April 9

Education: Film screening of "Teached"

8:30 p.m.

Palamountain Hall 200

"Teached" is a short film series that assesses the causes and consequences of the nation's race-based "achievement gap," looking at continuing inequalities in public schools. The documentary takes viewers into communities where the effects are most severe to hear solutions proposed by students, parents, teachers and others. A discussion will follow the film.

Wednesday, April 10

?Climate change: Film screening of "The Island President"

7 p.m.

Saratoga Springs Public Library

"The Island President" lifts the issue of global warming out of the theoretical and into the personal. The film depicts how President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives is struggling to save his nation of 1,200 low-lying islands, as they sink into the Indian Ocean as sea levels rise due to global warming. The film will be followed by discussion.

?Thursday, April 11

Sex trafficking: Film screening of "Very Young Girls"

8 p.m.

Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall

"Very Young Girls" is an expos?? of the commercial sexual exploitation of girls in New York City as they are sold on the streets by pimps and treated as adult criminals by police. The film follows barely adolescent girls in real time, using v??rit?? and intimate interviews with them, documenting their struggles and triumphs as they seek to exit the commercial sex industry.

Friday, April 12

?Labor trafficking: Fair Trade Market

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Case Green, Skidmore campus

Merchandise will be available from fair trade organizations. Proceeds will go to support human trafficking victims and community programming in their countries. 

Monday, April 15

?North Korean refugees: Film screening of "Crossing"

7 p.m.

The Spa, Case Center

"Crossing" follows the journey of a North Korean man as he illegally leaves the country to find medicine for his sick wife, portraying the many hardships of the average North Korean citizen. The event will include a speaker from PSLAT, a non-profit organization dealing with North Korean human rights.

April 15-21

Political prisoners: Exhibition of "Where Love Does Not Exist"

Dining hall atrium and Intercultural Center (in Case Center)

The North Korean Political Prison Camp is a huge place of exile housing approximately 150,000 political prisoners considered a threat to the regime. The exhibition documents the extreme violations of human rights in the political prison camps through drawings by former prisoners who escaped from the camps.

Tuesday, April 16

?North Korean refugees: The real life story of a North Korean defector

8 p.m.

The Spa, Case Center

A North Korean defector will speak about life in North Korea and escaping from that country, as well as the journey to the United States and the conditions of living as a refugee in the U.S.

Wednesday, April 17

Urban poverty: Film screening of "A Recycled Life"

7:30 p.m.

The Spa, Case Center

This short documentary film tells the story of the massive toxic landfill near Guatemala City and the residents who scavenge there to eke out a living.

Thursday, April 18

Race and power film and dialogue

6:15 p.m.

Dining Hall, second floor

The event will present the film "Latinos Beyond Reel: Challenging a Media Stereotype," with discussion to follow. Reservations required. Contact Kristie Ford at kford@skidmore.edufor registration and more information.

Saturday, April 20

?The environment: Earth Day celebration

Case Green, Skidmore campus

Noon-9 p.m.

Celebrate the earth as Skidmore student clubs offer activities that support and promote stewardship of the environment.

Monday, April 22

Criminal Justice System: Talk by Jeff Deskovic

6:30 p.m.

Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall

Jeff Deskovic, who was wrongly incarcerated for 16 years, will discuss his imprisonment and the work his foundation does to reform the criminal justice system. 

Tuesday, April 23

Political Conflict: Film screening of"5 Broken Cameras"

7 p.m.

The Spa, Case Center

This Palestinian film is a deeply personal, first-hand account of life and non-violent resistance in Bil'in, a West Bank village surrounded by Israeli settlements. The film follows one family's evolution over five years of village upheaval. The screening will be followed by a discussion.

Wednesday, April 24
Prison education: Film screening of "Zero Percent"
7:30 p.m.
Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall
This documentary gives viewers a rare look inside the storied Sing Sing correctional facility to learn about the college program offered there by Hudson Link for Higher Education. The film follows prisoners inside the prison as well as those who have finished the program and have returned to society. Sean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link, will speak after the film.

Distinguished professor emeritus and ecological engineer, John Todd, to give lecture

John Todd, a pioneer in the emerging field of ecological engineering, with a specialty in food production and living systems for water purification, will lecture at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in Filene Recital Hall.

Todd's passion and work revolve around the broad field of planetary healing and regeneration. He has been active in shaping the field of ecological design for more than 40 years. He earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture and an M.S. degree in parasitology at McGill University, and holds a Ph.D. in fisheries from University of Michigan. Todd is an emeritus research professor and distinguished lecturer at the University of Vermont, and a fellow at the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics.

He is founder and chairman of John Todd Ecological Design, Inc., and president of Ocean Arks International, an NGO dedicated to publishing, and to healing the inshore oceans. He is based in Woods Hole, Mass. He was the co-founder of the New Alchemy Institute in 1969.

Todd has received a number of awards and honors, including the first Buckminster Fuller Challenge award for the best idea to help save humanity. His entry, recognized in 2008, was titled "Design for a Carbon Neutral World: The Challenge of Appalachia." In 2006, he received the Global Visionary Award from the city of Chicago and in 1999, he was named a "Hero of the Planet" by Time magazine.

Todd and his wife Nancy are co-recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bioneers (1999); they also received the Charles and Ann Morrow Award for technological innovation on behalf of the planet (1998).

Author of more than 200 hundred scientific, technical and popular articles, Todd is also the author or co-author of seven books. He is the inventor of Eco-Machines and the holder of a number of patents. 

Spring Break in Spain

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos!

As I write this, I'm sitting on a beach in Barcelona (how's all that snow, by the way?) on the third day of my spring break. We have a week off for Santa Semana, or Saints' week, which is our equivalent of spring break. Since I'll be traveling a lot this week, I thought I would talk a bit about traveling in Spain for those who have not yet had the pleasure to do so, but may one day wish to.

First of all, if you're planning a trip to Spain, make the reservations as early as possible, at least a month in advance if you can. As happens for many trips, tickets become more expensive the closer you get to your travel date.

There are many ways to travel in Spain. The bus is by far the cheapest option, but it's also the most time-consuming. If you don't mind taking a nine to 18 hour-long bus ride (depending on your destination) this is probably the best option. One of the bus tickets I found cost about 30 euros for an eight-hour-long trip from Madrid to Barcelona.

There's also the option of flying. Some flights can be very cheap, but it can also be stressful trying to check in and navigate an airport in a foreign country, especially when you have to be there at least an hour (two is better) before your flight. I have a few flights planned for this week, and so far, through some error or another, I haven't been able to check in for any of them. But if you're okay with checking in at the airport on the day of your flight instead of online in advance, or you know the European booking process better than I do, this is a pretty good way to go. A flight from Madrid to Barcelona can be as cheap as 60 euros and would take just over an hour.

I opted for a train line to get me to Barcelona, and there are plenty of options available for this mode of transportation as well. There are many different train companies to take (I went for AVE, which is one of the faster but more expensive ones) which all offer various prices ranging from 54 euros to about 120 euros, depending upon the time of day. You can also purchase a euro rail pass, which allows you to travel around Europe for a set price and time.

Once you've decided how you'll be traveling, you'll need to find somewhere to stay. While there are plenty of hotels available no matter where you go, the best option for someone traveling, especially if he or she will need to be in many different places, is to stay at a hostel. A hostel is much cheaper than a hotel, and is a common choice amongst travelers.

Hostels are set up a bit like dorm rooms. Many different groups live on the same floor and share a bathroom. Sometimes, you'll even stay in the same room as another group of people. I've seen as many as 12 people in one hostel room, which makes a triple at Skidmore luxurious by comparison. While it can be strange to share a room with people you don't know it can also be a fun experience since many of them will be travelers like you from places all around the world.

I'll be leaving tomorrow morning on a flight to Paris, and I'm looking forward to exploring the city and doing as many touristy activities as possible. To those of you who may be considering studying abroad, I would definitely recommend it as a fun experience and a great opportunity to see places you might not get a chance to see otherwise.

Un abrazo,
Julia

Julia Leef is a junior at Skidmore currently studying abroad in Spain. She worked for the Skidmore News as Editor in Chief in the fall and is a contributing columnist this semester.

A glimpse into the origins of fetishism

Posted by Kate Butler

On the evening of Mar. 20, 2013, Dr. Elizabeth Perez of Dartmouth College brought the culture and history of fetishism and voodoo to life for the students and faculty gathered in Emerson Auditorium.

In her lecture, titled "Inventing the Fetish: Voodoo, Religion and the European Thing for African Objects," sponsored by the College's religion and philosophy departments, Perez discussed the origins and evolution of voodoo in Africa spurred by the trans-Atlantic slave trade, its new roots in the New World and its distorted image in European viewpoints and representations in popular culture today.

The spiritually and ritually significant objects known as fetishes were similar to talismans in voodoo worship, but did not have same connotations they carry today. Perez claims that while the Europeans discovered fetishes, the objects were actually invented during the evolution and demonization of voodoo in the New World, a process caused primarily by European interference and misinterpretation, as well as the slave trade. The exoticism and power of African objects fascinated Europeans, but they considered ritual objects to be connected to an unfamiliar polytheistic tradition that was viewed as sacrilegious, much in the same way that Africans were considered to be subhuman.

These objects of worship were made from a variety of materials and were unique to their owner. Slaves brought these talismans from their homes to the plantations of the New World, only to have them confiscated by plantation owners or missionaries. Already stripped of their independence, the slaves also lost these important objects, which were deemed inferior and replaced by "worthy" religious objects like rosaries.

The creation and use of the term "fetish" and the glorification of a supposedly viable religion reinforced the "worthless" and unreligious view of the objects and the style of worship they represented. This created and emphasized a contrast between religion, especially Christianity, and fetishism, setting them as opposites.

Despite the confiscation of fetishes, the spiritual rituals and traditions survived, as can be seen by the spread of voodoo throughout areas of the New World like the American South and the Caribbean. However, the European viewpoint and mindset of fetishism has also survived in many ways, impacting the views and portrayals of voodoo and fetishes in popular culture today. Although there have been many negative and distorted depictions of voodoo and its followers, it continues to endure despite the stereotypes. As Perez concluded, in the end worship is a private matter, and one's ideas about what constitutes religion depend on personal beliefs of ritual and faith. 

Bon Appetit

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos!

By the time this article goes up on The Skidmore News website, you all will be back from vacation, getting back into the swing of classes and lining up for some D-Hall food (or ordering take-out, if you live in the apartments without the convenience of a full meal-plan).

Depending on where you go in Spain, the native food isn't that much different from American food. Like any country, Spain has regional recipes, but if I'm ever craving something American, there's a Burger King, McDonald's, and three or four American-themed restaurants within walking distance.

While the food itself may not be radically different from what I'm used to, the times and quantity of the meals are. Nearly three months into my study abroad experience, and I still don't think I've completely adjusted to the food schedule yet.

Breakfast in Spain is a small, individual affair. Most people only grab an apple or a piece of toast before heading off to work or school, and the commercialized "part of a complete breakfast" meals are atypical of the average Spanish household.

Lunch, however, which for many people in the United States is a considerably larger affair to get you through the rest of the day, is also a small meal. In fact, while "desayunar" (to eat breakfast) and "cenar" (to eat dinner) are common vocabulary terms, the verb "to eat lunch" (almorzar) is uncommon in everyday conversation. Instead, people simply say "comer" or "to eat," and lunch is referred to as "la comida."

However, this may be disputable. In doing some browsing online, I saw that lunch is actually considered the biggest meal in Spanish culture, with multiple courses followed by a siesta to sleep it off. While the siesta bit is true, in my experience I've found that lunch isn't really a huge meal, which may have to do in part with the changing times.

While traditional families would have set aside time in the workday for a big meal, I have observed that people nowadays are more occupied and scattered during the day, which makes a group, several hour-long meal impossible. At least, this is what I've seen in my time here, and it is very likely something that varies with each family.

For me, the hardest meal to get used to by far is dinner, mostly because Spaniards don't eat until 9 or 10 p.m.. This has been pretty difficult to adjust to, since I get hungry around 5 or 6 p.m. but still have hours ahead of me before I can eat. But when we finally eat, we eat.

Spaghetti, salads, sausage, bread and tortillas are not options, they're courses. I can barely get through two plates myself, but still my host mother insists, "come m??s! come m??s!" It's a good thing that dinner is a long affair for us, because I need time to digest before I can eat more.

In my time here, I've tried many new foods, and I'd like to share with you the recipe of one of my favorites: tortilla de patatas. If you're not a fan of meat, you can still enjoy this, although, considering people in Spain put meat, especially ham, in everything (I mean it, ask for a vegetable sandwich and you still get ham and tuna), it's pretty rare to find a vegetarian tortilla de patatas.
Ingredients
? 6-7 medium-sized potatoes, peeled
? 1 yellow onion
? 5-6 large eggs
? 2-3 cups of olive oil
? salt

1. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then slice these into thin strips. One-eighth of an inch is the optimal size for this recipe.
2. Peel and chop the onion into small pieces about a quarter of an inch. Mix these with the potato slices into a bowl and salt the mixture.
3. Heat the olive oil on medium heat in a non-stick frying pan. Place the potato-onion mixture in so that the oil almost covers it. If the potatoes start to burn, turn down the heat.
4. Once the potatoes and onions have fully cooked, remove them from the frying pan and let the oil drain away.
5. Crack the eggs into a larger bowl and whisk them together. Pour in the potatoes and onions and mix them thoroughly.
6. Pour one to two tablespoons of the olive oil into a frying pan (the size of which will determine the size of your tortilla, so a 9-10 inch pan is best) on medium heat. Pour the potatoes and onions into the pan and spread them out evenly.
7. When the mixture has browned on the bottom (the inside should not be completely cooked, like a pancake) flip it over to cook the other side. When it's ready, flip it onto a plate.
8. Put the frying pan back on the stove and pour in enough oil to cover the bottom and sides. Let it warm for approximately 30 seconds and slide the tortilla back into the frying pan and let it cook for three to four minutes. Then turn the heat off and let it sit for two more minutes.

This recipe creates six servings. Many Spanish bars will also serve the tortilla de patatas as part of the appetizers (tapas) in bite-sized pieces. Enjoy!

Un abrazo,
Julia 

Julia Leef is a junior at Skidmore currently studying abroad in Spain. She worked for the Skidmore News as Editor in Chief in the fall and is a contributing columnist this semester.

Entertainment industry pioneer to give Skidmore's Harder lecture April 5

Paula Wagner, a pioneer in the film and entertainment industry, will discuss "Entrepreneurship and Entertainment" when she gives the F. William Harder Lecture at Skidmore College at 6 p.m. Friday, April 5, in Gannett Auditorium.

Wagner is an entertainment industry entrepreneur.  She began her career as an actress, performing on and off Broadway. She went on to become one of the top talent agents at Creative Artists, representing stars such as Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Oliver Stone, Val Kilmer, Demi Moore, Liam Neeson, Robert Towne and Kathryn Bigelow.

She then founded Cruise/Wagner Productions, with Tom Cruise, and for the next 13 years produced a number of films, including the Mission: Impossible trilogy and Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds. During Wagner's tenure as CEO of Cruise/Wagner Films, the company produced films that earned more than $3 billion in worldwide box office receipts.

Most recently, Wagner founded Chestnut Ridge Productions.  Chestnut Ridge produced the Broadway theatrical revival of the Tony Award-winning play The Heiress, starring Jessica Chastain and David Strathairn and Craig Wright's acclaimed play Grace, starring Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington and Ed Asner.

Among her many honors are the Chicago Film Festival's Renaissance Award (2011), the Swarovski President's Award from the Costume Designers Guild (2008), and the Sherry Lansing Award from Big Brothers-Big Sisters (2006). In 2007 she and her husband, Rick Nicita, received the ACLU Bill of Rights Award for championing numerous film projects that highlight civil rights and civil liberties issues.

Wagner is the mother of Zachary Nicita, who graduated from Skidmore in 2010 and is currently touring with his band MS MR in Europe.

Skidmore's annual F. William Harder Lecture in Business Administration was inaugurated in 1985 through the generosity of F. William Harder, a Skidmore parent who served as trustee from 1968 to 1980. The lecture brings together students and faculty with industry leaders to explore the current business environment and upcoming challenges.

The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the Class of 1967 Lobby of the Palamountain/Dana complex.

Blue Note president Don Was to be in residence at Skidmore April 1-2

Don Was, a musician, Grammy-winning producer, composer and president of the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records, will present Skidmore College's annual Carr Distinguished Interdisciplinary Lecture at 8 p.m. Monday, April 1, in Gannett Auditorium.

Was will discuss the past, present and future of the music business, including career opportunities, in a lecture titled "From Walking Dinosaurs to Rolling Stones: A Conversation with Don Was." Joel Brown, chair of Skidmore's Department of Music, will moderate. An audience Q&A session will follow.

A native of Detroit, Was grew up listening to jazz, blues, and the Rolling Stones. Starting out as a professional musician, he is now recognized as a major record producer, having worked with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, Ziggy Marley, the B-52s, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Ringo Starr, the Black Crowes, Brian Wilson, Barenaked Ladies, Aaron Neville, and others. He has earned multiple Grammy awards, including Producer of the Year in 1995.

He also served as musical director or consultant on several motion pictures, including Thelma and Louise, Hope Floats, Honeymoon in Vegas, 8 Seconds, The Freshman, Days of Thunder, Boys on the Side and Toy Story. His compositions for the film Backbeat earned a British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Original Score. In 1997 Was directed and produced the documentary I Just Wasn't Made for These Times about former Beach Boy Brian Wilson.

Was has been president of Blue Note Records since January 2012.

The Carr Distinguished Interdisciplinary Lecture Series allows students and faculty to interact with influential leaders and professionals on the cutting edge of social issues, nonprofit and public-service innovations, and social responsibility, with a specific emphasis on helping Skidmore students think about the transition from college to the working world or to further studies. In addition to the public presentation, Was's Carr residency will include visits to select classes and meetings with students.

Admission is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the Class of 1967 Lobby of Palamountain/Dana halls.

Late night cooking: an adventure in making vegan pancakes

Posted by Erin Dillon

Pancakes: the antidote to an existential crisis, the common cold, a broken heart, what have you. Who hasn't thrown their hands up in the air and declared, "Screw it. I'm making pancakes"? Anybody? Bueller? Just me? An hour ago in the library, defeated from a homework-filled and dehydrated Sunday, I reached that get-me-a-pancake moment, printed my essay, and marched home to my Northwoods apartment to get cooking.

The best part about pancakes? They don't discriminate. Even if you are a vegan like me, hardly know how to cook without using a microwave, or lack time, energy, or desire to do anything but snuggle in your jammies upon arriving home, you no longer have to forgo pancake therapy.

I am writing this article with a stack of "Whole Wheat Banana and Chocolate Chip Pancakes" in my tummy, thanks to my Betty Goes Vegan cookbook. The recipe is easy, inexpensive, relatively healthy, and it positively oozes chocolate. Need I say more? I adapted the recipe and I now present you with the answer to your pancake prayers.

Midnight Vegan Banana Dark Chocolate Chunk Pancakes
Adapted from Betty Goes Vegan

Recipe notes: I don't know about your college apartment's kitchen, but mine is less than professional; I tweaked the Betty Goes Vegan recipe to accommodate my lack of all-purpose flour, Himalayan salt, chocolate chips, and electric mixer (the pancakes are still divine, I promise). This recipe yields about 2 large or 4 small servings. Additionally, be sure that your chocolate is dairy-free! Happy cooking.

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana, mashed
1 cup whole wheat flour
? cup soy milk (add more if batter is too thick)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 teaspoons baking powder
? teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegan chocolate chunks (I sliced a Trader Joe's dark chocolate bar)
Olive oil for skillet

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine banana, flour, soymilk, sugar, olive oil, baking powder, and salt until smooth. Gently fold in chocolate chunks. Add more soy milk if your batter is too thick.

Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium heat. When hot, add just enough oil to prevent the pancakes from sticking. Spoon on batter, keeping in mind that it will immediately begin to cook, so know how big you want your 'cakes ahead of time. When bubbles begin to appear, flip your pancake until it's golden on each side.

I told you it would be easy. If you're a purist (or a broke college kid), serve pancakes by their beautiful selves, or top 'em with syrup, fruit, or peanut butter. Eat these puppies (that sounded morbid) soon, while the chocolate is still gushing. And since the recipe is 100% vegan, you're obligated to lick the bowl. 

Tang Museum's We the People continues its civic-engagement series

We the People, a show at Skidmore College's Tang Museum devoted to the importance of constitutions, particularly the U.S. Constitution, will continue its series of public events with topics ranging from the "slow democracy" movement to the debate over "corporate personhood."

We the People, which runs through April 7, is a dynamic laboratory for exploring constitutions as lived processes, examining the way these documents create order, configure communities, and form collective identities.

The latest round of events will begin with a talk by Susan Clark, co-author of Slow Democracy:Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home, on Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m. Clark will discuss the book and lead small-group discussions. Copies of Slow Democracy will be available for sale and book signing.

The series will continue with a lecture by Jeffrey Clements titled "Corporations Are Not People: Responding to the Supreme Court in Citizens United" on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. Clements, former assistant attorney general of Massachusetts, heads Free Speech for People, an organization dedicated to challenging the creation of Constitutional rights for corporations. The organization advocates overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling on Citizens vs. Federal Election Commission through a 28^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The We the People series will conclude on Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. with a "Crowd-Sourced Constitutional Convention" organized by faculty and students from Skidmore College's Department of Government. The group will lead a conversation about the current state of the U.S. Constitution, including the document's strengths and weaknesses, and opinions on how it could be changed for the better.

For more information and a full listing of Tang events go to www.skidmore.edu/tang.

Improving Case Center

Posted by The Editorial Board

Case Center, though often praised for its convenience, is rarely mentioned as a desired destination for many students. For example, in a 2007 sociology study done by a Skidmore student none of the students she interviewed cited the facilities available at Case Center as a primary draw. Despite its lack of appeal in some regards it serves many useful purposes, like supplying students with a place to hang-out in between classes and giving students a place to study into the late hours of the night when the library closes. In this sense, Case serves as a "gateway" center for students traveling to class and to their dorms. But with a few quick fixes Case could be considered not merely a stop along the way but a destination that students seek out, much like D-hall.

Firstly, the most obvious aspect of Case that could be utilized is what once was called "The Student Entertainment Lounge", which housed computers, comfortable seating, and games, but now is an empty room serving no purpose.  The lounge was transformed into offices during the Starbuck renovations but has been left vacant since Starbuck was reopened. According to students, when the "entertainment lounge" was still in service it was a somewhat successful space. This room was predominantly used by clubs who held meetings in the lounge.

 Another idea floating around is to turn the space into a coffee shop where students could work in a relaxing environment. The difference between Burgess and this coffee shop is that unlike Burgess, where people are constantly running in and out grabbing coffee or snacks before their next class, the coffee shop would serve as a relaxed study space with an added bonus of specialty coffee drinks--think a much smaller scale Uncommon Grounds. This would mean likely mean moving Burgess to the ex-game room, which is a better choice than creating a third cafe.

The Spa should also be exploited more. As a large space it can host many events such as Lively Lucy's which is currently held at Falstaffs. The Spa's projector screen should also be utilized during the day, tuning into the day's news with captions so students can still study but others will have something to watch while grabbing a quick snack or relaxing for a few moments. At night it can air films or sports games, much like D-hall. Although there is a television screen on the second floor of Case, it solely provides a montage of events pertaining to Skidmore  and some  news coverage, but mostly goes unnoticed.

Another aspect of Case that could be improved is the presence of the printer. Although there is a printer in the room next door from the SGA desk many people don't know about it because of its concealed location, and are forced to walk to the library to print something. Having printers in a more conspicuous location, like by the computers near Burgess, would not only make Case more convenient but give students good reason to do their work there.

Lastly, many people have complained about the lighting of Case. Especially at night when there is no natural lighting coming in from the windows, Case can feel a lot like a cave. Changing the severe lighting to something more subdued and relaxing would solve this problem. 

These are small suggestions that take into account the  major renovations Case will be undergoing within the next five or so years. Despite the minimal degree of these changes (although creating a coffee shop in the ex-game room is a more ambitious enterprise), together they may make the difference that can truly turn Case into the "center" of Skidmore.

A new potential food source on campus: Skidmore College investigates the Community Supported Agriculture Program

Posted by Mohannad Aljawamis

Riley Neugebauer, Sustainability Coordinator at Skidmore College, has recently introduced the Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA), an idea based around introducing healthy, local food products to Skidmore. The program would be implemented this upcoming fall with the help of students in the Marketing department and other departments, who are interested in fresh, sustainable produce.

The CSA Program involves three local farmers who would provide food packages to be picked up by the program participants on a weekly basis. The packages would include fresh produce such as vegetables, fruits, eggs and cheese.

The program supports a sustainable food production system by limiting farmers' travel within a local sphere, effectively cutting farmers' gas costs and emissions.

The health benefits and ecological benefits of purchasing locally-produced products are significant. Presently, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of where their food is coming from and how healthy it is. Previously, the concept of convenience diverted the focus on food from nutritional value to ease of access and preparation, as well as price and taste. Thus, a place like Wal-Mart can easily sell food to millions of people with a limited budget, such as those affected by the recent economic recession and college students without much consideration of where their products were coming from or how they were grown and treated.

However, studies have shown that the market demand for local organic products is growing rapidly. There is a good chance that the CSA program will have a big success at the College, where the availability of healthy food items is currently somewhat limited.

Typically, college students are busy with their workload and extracurricular activities and often do not have time to invest in searching for and preparing healthy meals. They can easily turn to fast food and instant meals without second thought. But such food items contain many preservatives, as well as considerable quantities of salt and saturated fat. Saturated fat can clog arteries and increase risk of heart disease. Additionally, many products may include high amounts of sugar even if they are labeled as "light" or "low" in calories.

A well-balanced meal contains about two and a half cups of vegetables and two cups of fruits. Vegetables and fruits contain low calories and fat but provide plenty of vitamins and minerals that the human body needs, as well as antioxidants that protect the body and boost immunity and fiber that regulates the digestive system.

Additionally, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and peanut butter provide the body with unsaturated fat, which is the healthy form of fat that cleans clogged arteries and lowers cholesterol when consumed in appropriate quantities.

The CSA program will target upperclassmen who live in apartments or houses and may not always have easy access to vegetables and fruits. There will always be unhealthy elements to the student diet, especially when it is so easy to occasionally rely on unhealthy fast food for convenience. However, the availability of a bag of fresh produce can help balance this diet and keep students healthy. 

A tale of two cities: Valencia and Toledo

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos!

One aspect of high school that I actually miss is the joy that comes with a field trip, often not because of the destination, but simply because you're missing class to do so. Field trips, if they occur in college, almost always require a paper or reflection assignment that takes the fun out of the adventure.

And that's why I'm glad to have these opportunities in my abroad program in Spain. Not only do we get to go on homework-free field trips, but we also get to see some pretty cool places.

I just got back from a weekend trip to Valencia, which was the second trip the program scheduled after our time in Toledo in the beginning of February. We've got one more vacation planned for Segovia in April, which I'm looking forward to, as it seems like a very beautiful city and weather will definitely be warm enough for outdoor excursions.

I think out of the two cities I've seen so far, Toledo is my favorite. It's one of those old-fashioned European cities built on a hilly peninsula with cobble-stoned, narrow streets and two or three massive gothic churches. The hotel where we stayed, Hotel Alfonso VI, was located on a hill, with one side of the building overlooking the city so that those with balconies (such as myself) enjoyed a really nice view. The balconies were just large enough for a small table and two chairs. The hotel, medieval in architectural style, featured suits of armor in the stairwells (with price tags attached, just in case you were interested in buying one) and wooden thrones in one of the rooms adjoining the dining area.

When walking around Toledo, there are two things that immediately catch your attention. You have to keep an eye out for cars because the streets are so narrow that when one goes past you have to press up against the wall to avoid getting hit. The other notable thing is the incredible amount and variety of weapons for sale in the city.

Every third shop boasts an array of swords, daggers and battle-axes, which would have been so tempting to buy if they weren't a nightmare to get through customs. Toledo has long been known for its weapons, especially for its swords, which were used by the armies of Hannibal and Ancient Rome.

In fact, there's a sword smith's firm in Toledo called "Marto" that reproduces weapons seen in films and television shows. Several of the shops I passed displayed replicas of the various weapons used in The Lord of the Rings films, everything from Gandalf's staff (both as the Grey and the White) to Gimli's axe.

Valencia is a much more modern city, with only a handful of churches to break up the present-day buildings. Still, that certainly doesn't mean it's lost its sense of tradition.

The weekend that we visited, the people of the city were celebrating the Las Fallas Festival, the main part of which, as I understand, takes place in mid-March. This holiday involves a carnival of bonfires, fireworks, and parades with giant papier-m??ch?? figures and adults and children dressed in traditional attire.

While I didn't get to see the parade, I certainly heard the fireworks. At every street there were groups of people, mostly children, throwing firecrackers onto the ground so that the gunshot noises reverberated throughout the city. It's a bit startling at first, but there are so many of them that you quickly get used to it. And then there's the period of several minutes during the afternoon in which explosions go off continuously in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento as part of the la Masclet?? event. I was in the next plaza over during that event, and I had no problems hearing the noise. During this time, the plazas are about as crowded as Times Square during New Years, or the Dining Hall during Wafflefest.

Both cities were a lot of fun to visit, and best of all, they gave me a break from work so that I could just relax and enjoy myself. Definitely a great way to spend the weekend, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to go.

Un abrazo,
Julia

Julia Leef is a junior at Skidmore currently studying abroad in Spain. She worked for the Skidmore News as Editor in Chief in the fall and is a contributing columnist this semester.