Burger Review: A look at the Saratoga pub scene

Posted by Matt Choi '14

Here in Saratoga, we are blessed with a food scene that exceeds-in both quality and quantity--what you would expect from a town of similar size. In my time here, I have been lucky enough to eat at several Saratoga standbys and witness the recent boom of bars and pubs downtown. This year seems to be one of particular transformation. Following the success of Druthers, and The Local before it, Saratoga has welcomed Henry Street Tap Room and The Merry Monk (as well as a renovated Peabody's) to its ranks of beer-centric eateries. Proper reviews of these places are to come, but I want to talk for a second about the one thing they all have on their menus: burgers. Burgers are inherently subjective things. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a good burger is often in the taste of ones own taste buds.

The criteria I focused on include the quality of the patty meat, the texture of the outside char and the consistency of the medium-rare insides. Of course, I paid attention to the bun too, but cared less about the ubiquitous iceberg lettuce and bland tomato slices which are an unfortunate staple, even at more expensive places. Lastly, although prices are relatively similar, I took cost into account because we're students after all.

Druthers: Druther's Burger $13. The standard Druther's burger has some rather untraditional toppings. Pickled green tomatoes, pickled shallots and Druther's aioli come standard. I've had enough bad burgers with unusual toppings to know that no amount of truffle oil or fried baby shallots can make up for a subpar patty, but I was pleasantly surprised by Druther's offering. The aioli added a nice peppery bite, and the pickles a pleasant sour note. The patty was nice and rare on the inside, fading to pink and then brown towards the outside. The bun was good as well, and sort of reminded me of the dense squishy buns that come with classic Nathan's hot dogs. Wash this one down with a house made I.P.A, $3 a pint on Tuesdays.

Max London's: Grilled Long Lesson Farms Grass Fed Angus Burger $14. I have had more good meals at Max London's then at any other restaurant in Saratoga, which is why my most recent burger experience there was all the more painful. Maybe it was because it was during Chowder Fest and chef Derrick Adams was outside the kitchen passing out cups of his pulled pork chowder to the masses, but my most recent burger was off.

Let's start with the good. This burger had the best bun of any on this list: buttery brioche, toasted to a deep brown that prevented the meat and cheese from making it a soggy mess. The patty was fine, a little lean for my taste, but cooked to nice pink medium-rare and incredibly moist. Unfortunately, that excellent bun could have fit another half a patty in-between it. The poor bread to patty ratio led to one of the ultimate burger faux pas, a first bite in which you get bread and no meat. I've had cheeseburgers here before and the cheese has been perfectly fine, but for whatever reason today it tasted like a Kraft Single, and not even the normal kind. It tasted to me vaguely like Kraft's approximation of mozzarella. Some people say a slice of Kraft cheese is the only true cheese for a good burger. I am not one of these people. The melted Kraft contributed a plastic, almost fishy taste to the top of the burger. It almost sounds like I'm making this up. A Kraft Single? In Max London's! But I assure you this was the case, or at least tasted like it. If these criticisms sound nit-picky to you, it just shows that when you are constantly in the "best restaurant in Saratoga" conversation you are held to a different standard. This is still a burger worth having, just specify your cheese, and maybe don't go during Chowder Fest.

Merry Monk: Classic ? Pound Burger $12. My dining companion for my night at the Merry Monk is the type of person who likes to cut their burger in half. I never do this (you lose too much juice and heat), but on seeing the inside of theirs I was tempted to. A beautiful pink center changed suddenly to a light brown before turning into a blackened char. This is the kind of burger that can only be made when you have a grill that is so hot it can quickly cook the outside before heat penetrates the inside, leaving the center relatively rare. The Merry Monk must have a grill that runs on volcano stones because this thing was cooked perfectly. Biting into the burger revealed a taste that matched its look. The patty was lean enough that it kept its firmness and didn't fall apart, with just enough fat to stay juicy. Of course, that perfect medium-rare also gave it a wonderful texture. I also enjoyed the toasted brioche bun. I should mention that this thing is huge. In my memory it is a good three inches thick, but maybe that was the Belgian beer talking (don't skip on that). Not even the most expensive Burger on this list, but a step above the rest.

The Local: Local Burger $9: The Local really caters to people who like to dress up their burgers. They have an exhaustive list of toppings, including obscure things like hummus and black olives. If you like lots of traditional toppings, and some not so traditional toppings, then go for it. If not, don't let that distract you from a very good and well-priced burger. The meat is local and suitably beefy. The patty is about eight ounces and they usually do a good job cooking it. One of my companions said hers was a little off, but mine had a good medium-rare center. The bun is unremarkable but serviceable. This is a great bang-for-your-buck meal, but not necessarily a destination food. I'm usually more inclined to get fish and chips here, but if you find yourself craving a burger at The Local fear not. Bonus points for great sweet potato fries as well.

Dishonorable mention

Henry Street Taproom: Wagyu Beef Burger $15. The description of the Henry Street burger is full of buzzwords. The very first thing I noticed was not the heirloom tomato, nor the wagyu beef, nor the Adirondak Farms cheddar, it was the poor white bread bun, the kind of bun that comes with your bacon egg and cheese at the Spa. If you spend the time to source Wagyu beef and heirloom tomatoes, why not invest in a good bun?

The patty was tender and fatty. This sounds good, but it was so tender and fatty it pretty much disintegrated in my hands the second I picked it up, dropping little burger meat-bombs all over my plate. Despite this tenderness it was rather small, which makes a pink center nearly impossible because the whole patty cooks quickly. Sure enough, the entire burger was a dull brown. The heirloom tomato was a cut above your standard deli sliced tomato, but not by much. The fried shallots were too salty. Points off too for the limp oily fries. Avoid it. A real shame for the place with arguably the best beer selection in town, and one of the friendliest bartenders.

Burger Review: A look at the Saratoga pub scene

Posted by Matt Choi '14

Here in Saratoga, we are blessed with a food scene that exceeds-in both quality and quantity--what you would expect from a town of similar size. In my time here, I have been lucky enough to eat at several Saratoga standbys and witness the recent boom of bars and pubs downtown. This year seems to be one of particular transformation. Following the success of Druthers, and The Local before it, Saratoga has welcomed Henry Street Tap Room and The Merry Monk (as well as a renovated Peabody's) to its ranks of beer-centric eateries. Proper reviews of these places are to come, but I want to talk for a second about the one thing they all have on their menus: burgers.
Burgers are inherently subjective things. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a good burger is often in the taste of ones own taste buds.

The criteria I focused on include the quality of the patty meat, the texture of the outside char and the consistency of the medium-rare insides. Of course, I paid attention to the bun too, but cared less about the ubiquitous iceberg lettuce and bland tomato slices which are an unfortunate staple, even at more expensive places. Lastly, although prices are relatively similar, I took cost into account because we're students after all. 

Druthers: Druther's Burger $13. The standard Druther's burger has some rather untraditional toppings. Pickled green tomatoes, pickled shallots and Druther's aioli come standard. I've had enough bad burgers with unusual toppings to know that no amount of truffle oil or fried baby shallots can make up for a subpar patty, but I was pleasantly surprised by Druther's offering. The aioli added a nice peppery bite, and the pickles a pleasant sour note. The patty was nice and rare on the inside, fading to pink and then brown towards the outside. The bun was good as well, and sort of reminded me of the dense squishy buns that come with classic Nathan's hot dogs. Wash this one down with a house made I.P.A, $3 a pint on Tuesdays.

Max London's: Grilled Long Lesson Farms Grass Fed Angus Burger $14. I have had more good meals at Max London's then at any other restaurant in Saratoga, which is why my most recent burger experience there was all the more painful. Maybe it was because it was during Chowder Fest and chef Derrick Adams was outside the kitchen passing out cups of his pulled pork chowder to the masses, but my most recent burger was off. 

Let's start with the good. This burger had the best bun of any on this list: buttery brioche, toasted to a deep brown that prevented the meat and cheese from making it a soggy mess. The patty was fine, a little lean for my taste, but cooked to nice pink medium-rare and incredibly moist. Unfortunately, that excellent bun could have fit another half a patty in-between it. The poor bread to patty ratio led to one of the ultimate burger faux pas, a first bite in which you get bread and no meat. I've had cheeseburgers here before and the cheese has been perfectly fine, but for whatever reason today it tasted like a Kraft Single, and not even the normal kind. It tasted to me vaguely like Kraft's approximation of mozzarella. Some people say a slice of Kraft cheese is the only true cheese for a good burger. I am not one of these people. The melted Kraft contributed a plastic, almost fishy taste to the top of the burger.
It almost sounds like I'm making this up. A Kraft Single? In Max London's! But I assure you this was the case, or at least tasted like it. If these criticisms sound nit-picky to you, it just shows that when you are constantly in the "best restaurant in Saratoga" conversation you are held to a different standard. This is still a burger worth having, just specify your cheese, and maybe don't go during Chowder Fest.

Merry Monk: Classic ? Pound Burger $12. My dining companion for my night at the Merry Monk is the type of person who likes to cut their burger in half. I never do this (you lose too much juice and heat), but on seeing the inside of theirs I was tempted to. A beautiful pink center changed suddenly to a light brown before turning into a blackened char.
This is the kind of burger that can only be made when you have a grill that is so hot it can quickly cook the outside before heat penetrates the inside, leaving the center relatively rare. The Merry Monk must have a grill that runs on volcano stones because this thing was cooked perfectly. Biting into the burger revealed a taste that matched its look. The patty was lean enough that it kept its firmness and didn't fall apart, with just enough fat to stay juicy. Of course, that perfect medium-rare also gave it a wonderful texture. I also enjoyed the toasted brioche bun. I should mention that this thing is huge. In my memory it is a good three inches thick, but maybe that was the Belgian beer talking (don't skip on that). Not even the most expensive Burger on this list, but a step above the rest. 

The Local: Local Burger $9: The Local really caters to people who like to dress up their burgers. They have an exhaustive list of toppings, including obscure things like hummus and black olives. If you like lots of traditional toppings, and some not so traditional toppings, then go for it. If not, don't let that distract you from a very good and well-priced burger. The meat is local and suitably beefy. The patty is about eight ounces and they usually do a good job cooking it. One of my companions said hers was a little off, but mine had a good medium-rare center. The bun is unremarkable but serviceable. This is a great bang-for-your-buck meal, but not necessarily a destination food. I'm usually more inclined to get fish and chips here, but if you find yourself craving a burger at The Local fear not. Bonus points for great sweet potato fries as well.

Dishonorable mention

Henry Street Taproom: Wagyu Beef Burger $15. The description of the Henry Street burger is full of buzzwords. The very first thing I noticed was not the heirloom tomato, nor the wagyu beef, nor the Adirondak Farms cheddar, it was the poor white bread bun, the kind of bun that comes with your bacon egg and cheese at the Spa. If you spend the time to source Wagyu beef and heirloom tomatoes, why not invest in a good bun? 

The patty was tender and fatty. This sounds good, but it was so tender and fatty it pretty much disintegrated in my hands the second I picked it up, dropping little burger meat-bombs all over my plate. Despite this tenderness it was rather small, which makes a pink center nearly impossible because the whole patty cooks quickly. Sure enough, the entire burger was a dull brown. The heirloom tomato was a cut above your standard deli sliced tomato, but not by much. The fried shallots were too salty. Points off too for the limp oily fries. Avoid it. A real shame for the place with arguably the best beer selection in town, and one of the friendliest bartenders.

Campus Safety Reports: Jan. 31 to Feb. 6

Posted by Julia Leef

Incidents of Note:

• Friday, Jan. 31-Criminal Mischief: Water overflow reported into rooms at Wilmarth Hall at 4:52 p.m. The flooding appeared to be intentional. Report taken.
• Tuesday, Feb. 4-Suspicious Odor: A burning odor reported at 7:43 p.m. in the basement of McClellan Hall. Dispatched officer and maintenance. Maintenance reported that the odor came from a spray lubricant placed on the boiler. The chemical was not hazardous and was vented out of the building.
• Thursday, Feb. 6-Sex Offense: Campus Safety office received a third party report at 9:37 a.m. of a possible sexual assault at an on-campus location.

Further Incidents:

Friday, Jan. 31:

• Medical Assistance: Ambulance requested at 4:20 p.m. for a female in the Filene Music Hall. Student and nurse declined transport due to a medical condition.
• Larceny: A card reported taken at 4:50 p.m. from Falstaff's Pavillion and used around campus. Report taken and investigation begun.
• Fire: Fire alarm received at 7:57 p.m. at 9 Dayton Drive. Heavy smoke condition and fire extinguisher used. Damage to residence. Report taken.
• Medical Assistance: A student requested medical assistance at 11:24 p.m. at 12 Whitman Way. Subject transported to the Saratoga Hospital.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:31 p.m. on the second floor of Jonsson Tower. Report unfounded.

Saturday, Feb. 1:

• College Violation: Loud noise reported at 2:42 a.m. coming from the common area on the first floor of Wilmarth Hall. Students quieted down.
• Accident: Student reported an injury at 9:08 p.m. when she slipped and fell on the Keyes Quad. Accident report completed.
• Campus Safety Assist: A large house party reported at 11:30 p.m. with students in the roadway at an off-campus location. Sheriff's Department advised.

Sunday, Feb. 2:

• Criminal Mischief: A hole reported at 12:01 a.m. in the wall on the second floor of Wiecking Hall. Report taken.
• Intoxicated Subject: Intoxicated female reported at 1:20 a.m. in the Spa. Student was transported to the Saratoga Hospital.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated male reported at 2:45 a.m. in the first floor lounge of Wilmarth Hall. Subject was transported to the Saratoga Hospital.
• Suspicious Activity: Report received at 4:09 a.m. that someone was banging on the subject's door in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officers reported no one in the area upon their arrival.
• Criminal Mischief: Club posters reported torn down at 1:49 p.m. in Case Center. Report taken.
• College Violation: Officer confiscated drug paraphernalia at 5:05 p.m. at 5 Dayton Drive. Property receipt left. Report filed.
• Suspicious Odor: Suspicious odor of grilling reported at 5:38 p.m. at McClellan Hall. Officer dispatched and students complied with the request to move the grill.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated male reported at 10:31 p.m. on the eleventh floor of Jonsson Tower. Subject was transported to the Saratoga Hospital.

Monday, Feb. 3:

• Campus Safety Assist: Officer assistance requested at 8:05 a.m. in Wilmarth Hall. Officer dispatched provided assistance to the reporting person with the removal of student property. Report issued.
• Harassment: Unwanted contact attempts reported at 10 a.m. in Wiecking Hall from another party. Report issued.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm received at 5:53 p.m. at the Sussman B Apartments. All officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department sent. Activation was due to burned food. Report issued.
• Medical Assistance: Report received at 8:53 p.m. of a male who had sustained an injury at intramural soccer at the Williamson Sports Center. Dispatched officer who requested the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service. Report issued.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm received at 11:17 p.m. at the Sussman J Apartments. All officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Officers reported that the activation was due to burned food. Report issued.

Tuesday, Feb. 4:

• Medical: Transportation requested at 2:33 p.m. for an injured student at the Art Center. Officer provided the transport for medical attention. Report issued.

Wednesday, Feb. 5:

• Suspicious Activity: A possible intoxicated subject reported at 12:43 a.m. in the West Lot. Officer dispatched was unable to locate the subject.
• College Violation: Loud people reported at 2:45 a.m. slamming doors in the hallway of Wait Hall. Officers dispatched were unable to locate the subjects.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 6:26 p.m. in the Sussman Apartments. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Burned food was determined to be the cause. Report issued.
• Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 6:53 p.m. to the Emergency Room. Dispatched officer who completed the transport. Report issued.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:22 p.m. on the first floor of Kimball Hall. Dispatched officer spoke with the resident who complied with the request to lower the volume.

Thursday, Feb. 6:

• Campus Safety Assist: Transportation requested at 9:39 a.m. for a student from Health Services to Wilton Medical. Dispatched officer reported completing the transport.
• Graffiti: Graffiti reported at 4:06 p.m. in Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer recorded the incident. Report issued.
• Campus Safety Assist: A welfare check requested at 9:39 p.m. for a student at an off-campus location. Officer was dispatched and located the subject to deliver the message.
• Medical: Reporting person was in the Campus Safety office at 7:47 p.m. stating that he had a small piece of metal in his right eye. Officer and the Emergency Medical Transport provided assistance. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 10:38 p.m. in Howe Hall. Dispatched officer stated that there was no odor at the time. Call unfounded.

Sarah Mirk Lectures at Filene: How to use the Internet for effective social justice activism and work with mainstream media

Posted by Daniel Kapp

Passion for the feminist movement was the focus of Sarah Mirk's on Thurs Jan. 30 in Filene Recital Hall, though her presentation stemmed more into the importance of public involvement in activist issues. B*tch Magazine is a feminist pop-culture nonprofit which emphasizes involvement through the Internet and other media. Mirk, as a role model to her audiences, has posted multiple podcasts on feminist concern and has urged others to use the media not just as a source but also a tool in expressing and standing up for one's passions.

The name of her presentation was "Speak Up, Make Change-How to use the Internet for effective social justice activism and work with mainstream media," which, simply put, gets at the heart of her point. Mirk encourages students to engage in political and personal journalism, as well as challenges them to make a statement. Social media tools (such as Facebook and Twitter) have allowed millenials to get involved in what they otherwise might not have been able to while lending the freedom to express opinions.

Mirk wrapped up her presentation by describing the experience of writing her book, "Sex from Scratch: Making Your Own Relationship Rules." In writing about something she feels passionate about, despite its overall controversial nature, Mirk gained a sense of fearlessness. She then encouraged the audience to feel courageous and have strength when it comes to what matters in one's life. Walking out of the presentation, I felt motivated to actively think and participate in the organizations that I am involved in. Mirk expressed that there are benefits of being active and engaged in media, as well as the importance of speaking up when it comes to your passions.

Reporting from D.C.: Settling in

Posted by Paulina Phelps

Going abroad at Skidmore is very common; going abroad your sophomore year is not. Then again, going abroad to D.C. is not your typical abroad experience. I came to D.C. to study journalism through the Washington Semester Program (WSP) at American University. For those who aren't familiar with the program, it comprises three parts: an internship, a seminar on your specialization and an elective course at American. I have been living in Washington D.C. for almost a month. In this short amount of time I have experienced a huge range of feelings, sights, people, opinions and even weather patterns.

Despite this hodgepodge of experiences, I have never once felt overwhelmed. In fact, D.C. feels surprisingly small. In part, this has to do with the shorter blocks, and there is always something going on around you. The stretches of concrete without any life make you feel much smaller than a block populated with businesses and people. With the constant distraction of interesting people, cafes, bookstores, beautiful views from bridges and the rows of embassies lining Massachusetts Ave., you have to be acutely aware of everything around you. In my personal experience, the best way to get to know DC is to jog it. I highly recommend this for a number of reasons: the city is generally very flat, you will look like a Washingtonian and the streetlights change peculiarly fast so you're never left waiting at a crosswalk. 

If the journalism professors have drilled anything into our heads here, it is that accuracy is the most important thing and that the truth takes time. This is reflected in all matters in life. In making generalizations and blanket statements about people, places and ideas, the truth becomes harder to uncover. Instead, I aim to make observations--sometimes bold reflections--but they are not necessarily the truth. So in this column I aim to be a travel journalist as opposed to a travel writer. While many aspects of D.C.'s culture were surprising, I could anticipate some parts. Seeing monuments like the Capital Building and the Lincoln Memorial was surreal after knowing them as scanned images on postcards for so long.

DC's particularly diverse population and unpredictability struck me most. Of course the same could be said of New York City, but it seems that the various burrows of the city all have stereotypes unique to their area. Compare that to Woodley Park, my neighborhood in D.C., where on just one block there is an Indian, Ethiopian, Italian, Japanese and Mexican restaurant. Every morning walking down the elevator at the Woodley Park metro stop, I pass the murmurs of unfamiliar and colorful languages. Looking out my bedroom window and seeing busy Connecticut Ave. instead of the peaceful acres of Northwoods is an adjustment and makes me wonder about Skidmore at times. But, while uncertainty is ubiquitous, I am assured by the growing attachment I feel to this city every day.  

Injustice at the Grammys

Posted by Sarah Benson

28.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the 56th annual Grammy Awards broadcast on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 26. Maybe these high numbers-the second largest audience for the live awards broadcast since 1993- can be attributed to the prospect of seeing Daft Punk in their signature space suits, or to the titillating temptation of watching Beyonc?? slink across stage. Regardless of the reason for the initial draw, people looked on in anticipation, as they do every year, to confirm whether their favorite artists would receive due accolades.

And because it's an awards ceremony derived from the premise that the "best" music of the year should win and gather public validation, each broadcast is designed to fail. Sure, the recipe for glamorous success is there: beautiful, talented people milling around in fashionable outfits, performing elaborate dance and song numbers and attempting to come together as a community in order to recognize achievements of the music industry. But I would argue, as many irate Internet bloggers chafe to do in response to each category's winner (and its losers) that the notion of "best" needs clarification.

Unlike the Super Bowl, our nation's most recent televised spectacle, the Grammys have famously failed to explicate what it means to win. In the Seahawks vs. Broncos game, there was no mistaking what winning looked like. And in even closer games of years past, the time on the clock and the scoreboard always determined an absolute champion. But what does it mean, for example, to win Best Rap Album? What are the criteria that separate one great musician from another? Is it media exposure, personal charisma, live performance ability, album revenue, Facebook and Twitter followers, tour ticket sales, radio plays, Billboard chart rankings, ambition for social revolution, independence from a record label or recognition from veteran rappers? If an artist best represents any one of these standards, he or she is usually weaker in another comparison to a fellow nominee.

Arguably the biggest upset at the Grammys was when Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "The Heist" beat out Kendrick Lamar's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" for the coveted Best Rap Album award. Before, and since then, skeptics have run with arguments that span from racially charged, to homophobic, to anti-mainstream: the rapper/producer duo who also scored the Best New Artist award are white, have put out an iconic song advocating for marriage equality ("Same Love") and have also seen immense commercial recognition. Unfortunately, for many in the hip hop community, these are not reasons to celebrate or embrace the win.

Instead, some critics take issue with all three of these talking points. For instance, back in September, rapper Lord Jamar (from New Rochelle's group Brand Nubian) had complicated feelings about Macklemore's rising fame. He expressed a controversial but articulate analogy in an interview with VladTV, suggesting Macklemore's "Same Love" is pushing an unwelcome gay agenda within the hip hop community that has nothing to do with hip hop culture:

"White rappers, you are invited into the house of hip hop as a guest...I can't go into somebody else's house, and even though they let me wear their clothes and eat their food, that's not my house! That's their house. And I can't get so comfortable in their house that I feel like I could now start talking house politics."

This comparison to an overly contented houseguest is apt, but only in that it puts to words why many others in the hip hop community have not been welcoming Macklemore onto the scene with open arms. No high-profile rappers have been clambering to collaborate with the Seattle-based star, despite his broad crossover appeal. Several hip-hop news outlets have already published articles calling his Grammy win a show of ignorance and disrespect. A humbled Macklemore even felt the need to let Kendrick know privately, and then publicly, that injustice had been served; The New York Times recently blogged about the text message that he posted to Instagram: "I wanted you to win. You should have. It's weird. I robbed you." 

Well, damn. How does this happen? How can rap enthusiasts and experts alike, including the winning artist himself, all agree that this was a "robbery"? If there were no room for ambiguity, all awards ceremonies would be incredibly boring to watch-understood. Perhaps some people would miss the mystique surrounding Grammy politics and would rather leave the cryptic deciding factors unknown. But for many, the margin between what took place and what was deserved is too wide here: Kendrick went zero for seven on Grammy night, leaving without a single award. 

This, to me, is unconscionable. That's not to say that I think Macklemore was entirely undeserving of any award; his win in the category for Best New Artist seems appropriate, given his sudden mass appeal this past year. And his bold attempt to find a home in the hip-hop genre, which is historically known for its homophobia, with a hit single like "Same Love" is a risk worth recognizing. I also happen to be a member of the camp that disagrees with Lord Jamar's parameters for "house politics": gay rights are civil rights; the struggle to attain them is indisputably related to the same strain of oppression that the predominantly black hip-hop community would like to claim as solely theirs. 

Despite these differing vantage points, I can understand the outrage over Macklemore's win. The outpour of vitriol wouldn't be so widespread in certain corners of news media if winning Best Rap Album were directly informed by a mutually accepted upon ethos of social justice. Pervasive backlash tells us that social justice shouldn't be the trump card. But what should be?

Fishing

Posted by Allison Smith

Fishing seemed like a good idea an hour ago. When our faces were red and we spat with every word said, taking a break to fish seemed like a good idea.

            We are sitting on a carpeted dock, smoking, fishing and not speaking. The sky is covered in grey clouds so it starts to get dark early. 

He wants to go home. 

I want to talk.

He wants to eat. 

I want to keep fishing.

            He puts out his cigarette on the dock, and then throws the butt into the water.  He looks at me as if to dare me to challenge him.  He wants me to tell him to not litter in my childhood pond.  He wants me to tell him that he shouldn't have burned a hole in the carpet on the dock where we are not supposed to be. He wants to respond to me that he does not care and I am such a nag.

            He stares at me with watery brown eyes and furrowed brows, tempting me to start another fight.

            I wordlessly pull his butt out of the water and place it next to mine in a tin. My eyes meet his.  Tension builds and then is broken by laughter. Not ours.

            I jump at the sudden sound.  He rolls his eyes.

            We both look back and see two teenagers holding hands walk through the path in the woods and step onto the dock.  I recognize them as they walk towards us.  The girl is Elizabeth Rummel, she use to be a tomboy in elementary school and we were friends for a short period of time because I liked her pet chickens.  She was also the first girl in our grade to have a boyfriend. In 5^th grade she and Geoffrey Stevens would walk around the playground holding hands.

            Now she is holding hands with someone who I recognize but I dont remember his name.  Wesley? West? Walker? Walker Littlehand.  Littlehale? Littlehan? Linahan? Ned Linahan.  Elizabeth Rummel dated Ned Linahan in middle school.  Now, in high school, she is dating Walker ...

            Elizabeth Rummel and Walker ... slow their bouncy walk when they see us sitting on the dock fishing.  We exchange greetings but mainly stay quiet.  I'm not sure if she recognizes me since I left our public high school where she attends three years ago.

Elizabeth Rummel and Walker ... stand to the right of the dock and we fish on the left.  They keep whispering in each other's ear.  We remain silent.  I can tell that my boy wants to leave as he starts to wind up his fishing line.  My attention keeps getting pulled to the right but sudden burst of laughter.

Elizabeth Rummel pulls her dress up over her head.  She is wearing a white string bikini that loosely sits on her low set hips.  She has always had short legs and a long flat torso.  Nothing much has changed, even her breasts still barely fill out the top of the bathing suit.

Walker ... pulls of his shirt while smiling.  He reaches out and puts his arms around Elizabeth Rummel's long waist.  They kiss quickly before jumping into the water.

When they bob up, both of them notice me staring at them.

My boy gets up and walks away. I grab my pole and leave Elizabeth Rummel and Walker ... behind.

Healthy Perspectives: The Functionality of Physique: A New Look at Body Image

Posted by Brittany Dingler

One of the most prominent priorities across college campuses is combating the issue of negative body image. Regardless of gender or age, a toxic concoction of the intrinsically and extrinsically placed stressors brought on by work, classes, family concerns and general frustrations, induced by the realization that a gap exists between where we are and where we want to be, most often manifests itself through critical thoughts toward others and, sooner or later, ourselves. Although the possibility of an eating disorder should be delicately and seriously considered when diets are drastically modified for the purpose of changing one's body, here I hope to address more general tendencies that so many of us have whenever we get dressed, see ourselves in pictures from weekend festivities or - god forbid - pick up a magazine.

Many of us share a common set of ideas for how we define beauty. Although there are a limitless number of deviations from this common canon of pleasing traits, we are, essentially, biologically programmed to find certain core features attractive. That being said, the constant bombardment of sex-focused advertisements, TV shows and movies has seemingly overridden our brain's natural propensity to favor symmetrical faces, women with wider hips (suggesting greater reproductive fitness) and men with a strong jaw line (denoting higher levels of testosterone). Now we're told to admire an infinite assortment of features that, when consolidated, are not naturally found in one single person. The comedian Tina Fey comments on our propensity to envy these tailored traits in others while condemning our bodies for not having gotten the memo. Fey jokes that if we were to create a single individual with the 'most beautiful' version of every trait, we would obtain something that most closely resembles Kim Kardashian, who "was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes." Although funny, Tina Fey's insight is spot-on in pointing out the absurdities of our expectations. We need to confront our proclivity to condemn even the smallest, pore-sized imperfections on ourselves, an energy-sucking habit that takes time away from dealing with other, more productive tasks. 

Unfortunately, these criticisms tend to linger most when we evaluate our body by how it looks rather than by what it's able to do. We criticize our curves by abhorring the inappropriately placed adipose tissue concentrated too highly in our thighs (so sensitively named "saddle bags") or obliques ("muffin tops"). We are hopeful that we can simply wish it all to more desirable locations so our bodies may mimic an hourglass figure, spontaneously transforming into a svelte, toned physique. After shaming the quality of our muscle and fat, however, we move on to critique the quantity; we want to be toned, but not bulky, curved but not chunky. Even the language we use to describe our "wobbly bits," as the zaftig Bridget Jones affectionately refers to hers, confers acceptance or disapproval. We experience estrogen envy toward those with larger cup sizes, or resent the larger, testosterone-triggered triceps that our 135-pound frame just won't quite allow. Furthermore, we often use arbitrary terms to describe our body shapes as the fruits they most closely resemble and continue our condemning from there: apples want to be bananas, who want to be pears - and all fruits gang up to envy their mutual enemy: the hourglass (a shape that currently only describes eight percent of women in the US). 

It is important to note, however, that Americans did not always have this drive for the unobtainable perfection. In the late 19th century a Prussian immigrant named Eugen Sandow garnered considerable fame for his body. However, unlike Kim Kardashian and friends, he had a noble purpose for willfully advertising his defined, shaped, bodybuilding physique in the nude: to motivate inactive, American men to get up and shape up. In his "Looking Good: Male Body Image in Modern America," Lynne Luciano reflects on Sandow's ability to use his known success as a weight lifter, coupled with his impressive form, to "transform muscle and strength training into a miracle cure for the ills of a sedentary and stressed male population." Sound crazy? Perhaps. But one must acknowledge Sandow's bold brilliance, which can also be seen today in the First Lady's "Let's Move!" campaign, designed to get kids and teens up and moving. Her program aims to fight the obesity epidemic by making healthy food more accessible and tasty and by reigniting the fun of exercise for those who have grown up in an increasingly sedentary society made even more toxic by its technology-ridden tendencies. 

Fully clothed, unlike Sandow, Michelle Obama works hard to look strong and healthy, thereby affording her the credibility to emphasize the importance of eating for fuel and exercising for fun. She created an environment in which the conditions for healthy eating and exercising are more readily available for everyone, issued incentives for children and teens to meet certain exercise goals, and, by being fit and healthy herself, is a non-photoshopped role model who passively and straightforwardly embodies the attainability of health. Moreover, she gracefully juxtaposes the omnipresent, rib-jutting storefront mannequins with her famous biceps and full face. It is therefore no surprise that not only have the First Biceps inspired the "Michelle Obama Arm Workout," but also, as President Obama pointed out in last week's State of the Union address, the obesity rate has dramatically dropped since "Let's Move!" took off in 2010 - a much-needed decline antithetical to trends from the past three decades. Although recent statistics show that children and pre-teens have benefitted the most from Mrs. Obama's laudable campaign, we all have something to learn from her and her biceps. In wit, rather than attempting to over-control the "wobbly bits" by creating a relationship with food in which we choose what to eat by imagining what ghastly effects each option could have on our physique, the First Lady's model encourages us to evaluate the food based on what we need it to do for us in that moment and for various energy-demanding tasks throughout the day. In other words, when we begin to treat our bodies as temples for health and productivity, rather than merely for beauty, the latter comes as a natural side effect.    

Skidmore's Women In Business Club

Posted by Taylor Ray

Women in Business, a recent addition to Skidmore's list of clubs, has sparked interest all over campus. Founders and co-presidents Zoe Dartley '16 and Lyssa Jackson '16 have high hopes for the club, and since its creation in Fall of 2013, both have helped put Women in Business in the spotlight.

Women in Business is a forum through which the Skidmore community may share ideas, thoughts, and experience relating to female leadership. Carol Chiarella, faculty advisor for the club and member of Skidmore's Department of Management and Business, describes co-presidents Dartley and Jackson as being "energetic, dynamic, and focused individuals who care about affecting change."

According to a recent interview with Her Campus, Women in Business was created after Dartley and Jackson discovered the program's prominence in big universities around the country. They reformed the program to fit a small liberal arts environment but kept the focus and intent holistic and all-inclusive, with a fundamental goal of encouraging strength and leadership for women in all disciplines. For Women in Business, the path to achieving this goal lies in the sharing and exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience. "Skidmore's climate is characterized by community participation and engaging alumni," Chirella said. The club hopes to achieve its goals by taking advantage of said climate. Exchange of simple tips-such as how to act in a business environment-brand Women in Business as a practical, constructive and collaborative club.

Members of Women in Business have made it clear that its goals reach beyond solely the business major. "To be dynamic and better the position of women, we need to be inclusive, support each other, and share wisdom we gain from our respective backgrounds,"  Chiarella said. In their interview with Her Campus, Dartley and Jackson describe the club's values as both entrepreneurial and philosophical, noting that the club will set pathways for applied learning and useful preparation for a number of careers. This will be done within the Skidmore community itself, but also within a network of students, community leaders and alumni.

Among other future plans for Women in Business are skill-building workshops that focus on leadership and communication skills, a student forum that includes job opportunities for women in the business field and a newsletter. Co-presidents Dartley and Jackson also plan to foster an engaged and successful club through panel discussions with representatives from the community.

Last December,  Women in Business sponsored their first panel, entitled "Do Aggressive Women Win?" The speakers and audience members contemplated expectations for women in the workplace, the glass ceiling and more. The panel featured Skidmore professors from the business and philosophy departments, including Paula Tancredi, Susan Parillo, and Corinne Moss-Racusin. Doreen Crosby of the University of Albany represented professionals from outside of Skidmore.

Women in Business has already begun to promote a collaborative learning experience through social media, predominantly through their Facebook page. In this informal setting, anyone is welcome to post interesting articles that may spark debate or discussion on an issue relating to women in business, women in the workplace or women's rights in general. The club also uses this space to post photos and updates on meeting locations and times.

Women in Business meets at 7 p.m. on Monday nights in Palamountain 201. The current leadership positions within the club include Treasurer Leah Docktor, Co-President Lyssa Jackson, Co-President Zoe Dartley, community outreach coordinator Olivia Dynan and Secretary Emma Marshall (all class of 2016).

Restaurant Review: Triangle Diner

Posted by Tegan O'Neill

The coffee at Triangle Diner isn't particularly strong, but the service makes up for it. As for the food, it is neither healthy nor fancy, but it is good, and that is all that matters on a weekend morning. Without a car, Triangle is not as easily accessible as the competition on Broadway, but some extra effort on the transportation front is worthwhile if you are hit with a hankering for a classic diner breakfast. Expect to have to wait until a spot opens up when at Triangle; expect to wait even longer if you prefer a booth to a seat at the bar. Most likely, the other diners are the ones holding things up because the women in the kitchen (on a recent visit, all workers were women except for one male dishwasher) are moving at a breakneck pace.

It should not take all that long to decipher the menu. Triangle has your classic fare and as always, there is the glaring divide between savory and sweet. At Triangle, though, you have the split between run-of-the-mill sweet and super sweet. This particular morning's sweet specials were Reese's pancakes and chocolate caramel french toast. Only those who were brave enough to go down the peanut butter pancake route will know what that concoction tasted like. I can not include myself in that ilk, but I can report on the chocolate caramel french toast. Talk about chocolate overload. Have you ever been worried that an eatery won't put enough chocolate chips in the chocolate pancakes? If so, put your fears aside at Triangle. A generous handful (or two) of chocolate chips provided a thick, sticky blanket for the toast so that not a bite of toast went naked. The wealth of chocolate smothered any hope for also tasting caramel or, for that matter, tasting the bread.

Although by no means the more visually appealing, the savory option was the more gustatorily appealing, hands down. What is this pile of fat on fat with more fat poured over it that you see pictured on the screen? Country eggs benedict in all its glory. The first layer, biscuit, is so buttery it tricks you into thinking that you just walked out of the barn from milking cows and sat down at the kitchen table in an old farmhouse. The second layer, sausage, has the same flavor that sausage (the real thing, not that fake tofu stuff) has had since you were in elementary school eating at the annual pancake breakfast. The third layer, poached egg, represents the pinnacle of poached eggs. The yolk oozes its golden goo out from its cocoon of light white. The last layer to be lathered on, homemade gravy, is better than any other gravy you have had. It avoids the common pitfalls of being too starchy and too tasteless; instead, it packs seriously rich flavor into a velvet-like cream. As if the portion were not yet big enough, a hefty side of starchy potatoes makes the plate complete.

You will leave Triangle with a full stomach, guaranteed. You will also leave with a smile. You won't be able to resist at least a chuckle when you remember how you saw two elderly women sharing a booth and how one of them ordered a bowl of fruit and the other ordered a huge chocolate eclair piled high with whipped cream; her eyes widened like a little girl's when her dessert was placed in front of her.  

Student group renews approach to mental health awareness on campus

Posted by Elena Nogara '16

In this day and age, the topic of mental health is one that is brought up on most college campuses. Whether or not it is dealt with properly is another discussion. As Skidmore College climbs in competitiveness , the stress inflicted on students begins to increase; what can be done about this? Are there enough resources on Skidmore's campus for students to seek help, and how can students learn about them?

As a transfer student from Drexel University, new to the Skidmore community, I have seen many students affected by the difficulties and pressures that come along with the heavy workload in college. Unfortunately, some are affected to the point where they have no more will to fight on. Drexel's neighboring school, the University of Pennsylvania, suffered the painful loss of freshman Madison Holleran, who took her own life in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. While Madison's death shocked friends and family, it immediately caused students in the area to recognize the importance of the care of mental health on college campuses.

Skidmore offers student counseling services, shining a light on mental health, but are we sure that students are aware of this? We do not need a tragic event to happen at Skidmore to realize the importance of mental health care. All students should be knowledgeable of the resources at their disposal, and the school is starting to catch on to this idea.

Active Minds, a non-profit organization that empowers students to speak about mental health, is an excellent provider of information. Just last spring, Skidmore introduced their own chapter to the campus, and immediately started working on making the issue of mental health more well known. The president of the club, Siena Tugendrajch '14, strongly advocates for mental health awareness, and was able to provide insight on some plans and opinions the group has.

"Last semester, Active Minds actually made flyers for the counseling center precisely because we felt like students didn't know what was available to them." That's one of the ways Tugendrajch has addressed the problem with the lack of knowledge students have about the counseling resources. There is now talk of reusing this idea in the spring term, hoping to make another strong impression on campus.

Another big concern with mental health care on campus is what kind of counseling is offered and to what extent. According to Tugendrajch, "the counseling center does do a pretty solid job of working with people and referring them to outside counselors, but not everyone can afford to see someone outside of Skidmore." This shines a light on a big problem: students with fewer financial possibilities cannot always seek the help they might need. The counseling center also offers group therapy, but it is difficult for students to know how effective   these confidential groups are.

In addition, there is controversy on campus about the availability of the counseling center's one psychiatrist. Currently, the psychiatrist is only available once a week, which causes many timing conflicts for students. This is an issue that is being talked about among students, and if spoken about loudly enough, could potentially create change.

What can be done to help solve these problems? Tugendrajch has some ideas of her own that entail the involvement of students on campus. "We could have student-run groups, but people would need to be trained." If these groups were to come to life, it could help students who are not comfortable talking to professionals find a safe haven.

Mental health requires constant dialogue, whether it is among friends, family, or professionals. Without the ability to have an open conversation, students are put in dangerously unhealthy situations . Students are here at Skidmore to enjoy a positive learning experience, not an uncomfortable one. It is important to keep our eyes open to these problems, as they are often veiled in feigned happiness. As students feel the need to hide their pain, they begin to suppress their real emotions, and replace them with "peace of mind." Most people have a much easier time understanding happiness than depression, so it takes a little more concentration to see what is really going on in a person's mind. With that extra focus, we, as a community, can improve the mental well being of students at Skidmore.

Student group renews approach to mental health awareness on campus

Posted by Elena Nogara '16

In this day and age, the topic of mental health is one that is brought up on most college campuses. Whether or not it is dealt with properly is another discussion. As Skidmore College climbs in competitiveness, the stress inflicted on students begins to increase; what can be done about this? Are there enough resources on Skidmore's campus for students to seek help, and how can students learn about them?

As a transfer student from Drexel University, new to the Skidmore community, I have seen many students affected by the difficulties and pressures that come along with the heavy workload in college. Unfortunately, some are affected to the point where they have no more will to fight on. Drexel's neighboring school, the University of Pennsylvania, suffered the painful loss of freshman Madison Holleran, who took her own life in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. While Madison's death shocked friends and family, it immediately caused students in the area to recognize the importance of the care of mental health on college campuses.

Skidmore offers student counseling services, shining a light on mental health, but are we sure that students are aware of this? We do not need a tragic event to happen at Skidmore to realize the importance of mental health care. All students should be knowledgeable of the resources at their disposal, and the school is starting to catch on to this idea.

Active Minds, a non-profit organization that empowers students to speak about mental health, is an excellent provider of information. Just last spring, Skidmore introduced their own chapter to the campus, and immediately started working on making the issue of mental health more well known. The president of the club, Siena Tugendrajch, strongly advocates for mental health awareness, and was able to provide insight on some plans and opinions the group has.

"Last semester, Active Minds actually made flyers for the counseling center precisely because we felt like students didn't know what was available to them." That's one of the ways Tugendrajch has addressed the problem with the lack of knowledge students have about the counseling resources. There is now talk of reusing this idea in the spring term, hoping to make another strong impression on campus.

Another big concern with mental health care on campus is what kind of counseling is offered and to what extent. According to Tugendrajch, "the counseling center does do a pretty solid job of working with people and referring them to outside counselors, but not everyone can afford to see someone outside of Skidmore." This shines a light on a big problem: students with fewer financial possibilities cannot always seek the help they might need. The counseling center also offers group therapy, but it is difficult for students to know how effective these confidential groups are.

In addition, there is controversy on campus about the availability of the counseling center's one psychiatrist. Currently, the psychiatrist is only available once a week, which causes many timing conflicts for students. This is an issue that is being talked about among students, and if spoken about loudly enough, could potentially create change.

What can be done to help solve these problems? Tugendrajch has some ideas of her own that entail the involvement of students on campus. "We could have student-run groups, but people would need to be trained." If these groups were to come to life, it could help students who are not comfortable talking to professionals find a safe haven.

Mental health requires constant dialogue, whether it is among friends, family, or professionals. Without the ability to have an open conversation, students are put in dangerously unhealthy situations . Students are here at Skidmore to enjoy a positive learning experience, not an uncomfortable one. It is important to keep our eyes open to these problems, as they are often veiled in feigned happiness. As students feel the need to hide their pain, they begin to suppress their real emotions, and replace them with "peace of mind." Most people have a much easier time understanding happiness than depression, so it takes a little more concentration to see what is really going on in a person's mind. With that extra focus, we, as a community, can improve the mental well being of students at Skidmore.

Mental Health: The Stigma is Real

Posted by Amber Charette

Mental health is a topic of interest that not only fascinates me, but that affects me on a personal level. For the past several years, I've been struggling with severe anxiety and depression. My illnesses began sometime in high school, but it wasn't until my junior year of college that I really started to try and make things better for myself. Since then, I've experienced enormous ups and downs, and have at times questioned my ability to continue fighting these illnesses. Recently, with the help of medication and therapy, I have begun to make great strides in my coping ability. I'm not going to say that I'm in the clear, but I can tell that what I'm doing are the right things for me and that as long as I continue doing them I will become increasingly stronger.

My name is Amber Charette, and I am a senior exercise science major here at Skidmore. I wanted to share a small piece of my story to you all because I would like nothing more than to help open people's eyes to the realities of mental illness. The stigma that is present on mental illness is real, and it is not only hurtful to those affected by mental illness but also detrimental to their overall wellbeing. How is someone going to ask for help if society does not accept people being ill in this way in the first place?

Most of you who are reading this article probably don't fall into this stigmatizing group. But that doesn't mean there aren't people out there who do. I can recall several instances where people have ridiculed, bullied, and tormented people because of their mental illness. Not only this, but I have also witnessed such stigmas via popular social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, and Tumblr. One of the latest stigmatizing experiences I came across was a Facebook post shared by a group I am a member of. While I couldn't find the exact post (as it was shared back in September), I did find an article that highlights the gist of it very well:

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/26/asdas-mental-patient-fancydress_n_3993125.html. While I encourage all who are reading this article to take a peek at this link, I understand the realities of the last few weeks of the semester very well. Thus, I'll give a brief synopsis of the whole situation. Basically, two companies, Asda (which is owned by Wal-Mart) and Tesco were selling "mental patient" and "psycho ward" Halloween costumes in England. One look at the costumes, and viewers became instantly outraged. And while I was pleased with the quick backlash from viewers, I was nonetheless disgusted by the fact that some people, somewhere, thought it was acceptable to sell such costumes.

To some, I may seem like I was exaggerating my frustration at this post, but I don't think I was. As someone who has been a patient in a mental health unit multiple times because of my illnesses, I was personally offended and hurt by what those companies did. But what bothered me most was the message that was being sent to consumers: which was that mental health patients and people with mental illness in general are all violent, scary, and insane.First, I can guarantee you all that while I admit to being quirky and weird at times, I am certainly not crazy. I'm a normal college student, who happens to struggle with anxiety and depression. Second, notice I said that I struggle with anxiety and depression. I do not consider myself to be "an anxious and depressed" person. Rather, I am a person with anxiety and depression. While the change is subtle, the meanings differ enormously: I am first and foremost a person, and thus, using what is known as 'people-first' language is essential.

I do not define myself by my mental illnesses, and I think it is time that society realizes and respects that mental illnesses are just that - illnesses. I read another post on Facebook recently that said something like this: "You wouldn't tell someone with diabetes to just snap out of it." Whether psychological or physical, illnesses should be treated equally.

As an endnote, my struggles with mental illness have helped to show me what I am passionate about doing in my future. I hope to become a social worker in an inpatient mental health unit one day, so I can help individuals cope with and eventually overcome their illnesses too. Sometimes, just sometimes, your weaknesses can become your strengths. 

Democracy Matters: A letter from the chapter founder

Posted by Juanita Tabb '15

Skidmore students are actively working to get big money out of politics and people back in! A new club, Democracy Matters, is exploring the dominance of big money donors to political campaigns and what we can do about it and the political corruption it creates.

Democracy Matters is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots, student organization that fights to take back our democracy from wealthy corporate donors and to end the corruption that over 80% of New Yorkers think is rampant in Albany. Striving to create the next generation of social justice leaders, Democracy Matters provides hands-on organizing projects to support democracy-strengthening reforms of social justice issues such as the environment, funding for higher education and student loans, economic inequality, civil rights, and the availability of good-paying jobs.

The Skidmore Democracy Matters chapter has been organizing discussions with faculty on issues of money and politics, screening documentaries, tabling, planning a poetry slam and music festival and much more. Next semester we will be lobbying our elected officials to pass "Fair Elections," which would reduce corruption and give all New Yorkers a voice.  Most importantly, Skidmore Democracy Matters wants to create a non-partisan but politically engaged student body devoted to real social change. 

Since my involvement in the Democracy Matters club on campus, I have felt inspired to change public policies and to stand up for what I believe in. I am more politically aware and believe that students can make a difference and build a democracy that is fair, inclusive and responsive to all citizens.  Join Democracy Matters and learn how you can become an advocate and make your voice heard.  Contact Gschwab@skidmore.edu or go to wwww.democracymatters.org. We need your help creating a government of, by, and for all citizens -- not just wealthy funders and lobbyists!

Rethinking Thanksgiving: Comfort Food as a Holiday Tradition

Posted by Brittany Dingler

From a reductionist perspective, (ignoring for a moment Americans' propensity for overindulgence) food is crucial to survival.  However, even before McDonalds came around, Ben Franklin recognized this temptation and the consequence it can have on our lives - an understanding that prompted his advice "eat to live, don't live to eat." Following this advice is much easier said then done, of course, as self-medicating qualities of comfort food exist.  As a result, we eat for stress, for comfort, in celebration, in boredom, in sadness, and in happiness. This wheel of carbohydrate-fueled contradictions, however, is consistent in one message: we eat our feelings.  Never is this concept more prominent than during the holidays when, at some point or another, every major feeling on this wheel is experienced.  So it is no wonder that overeating has come to be expected and accepted come late November.  Perhaps then, this could be the ideal time to tackle the underlying issues and find a way to dissect the physical feelings of hunger from our emotions. 

            The first step to tackling this issue is to understand that overeating, especially at Thanksgiving, is not truly our 'fault.'  After we eat comfort food a vicious storm of hormones and neurotransmitters arises where positive, addictive feelings afforded by ghrelin (the "hunger hormone"), serotonin (the "happy hormone"), and dopamine (the "reward hormone") come together in celebration to help (temporarily) alleviate the preceding stressors which caused us to seek consul in the form of food.  As a result, we tend to create an addicting cycle of self-reinforcement for our eating behaviors.  Psychologically speaking, the most toxic component of this cycle is our propensity to become angry with ourselves when we've eaten the 'wrong thing' or even too much of a good thing. Ironically and sometimes painfully, this stress and anger often pushes us to eat more. 

            Taking this back to the Turkey-Day dinner table here are some considerations. We should ask ourselves how this cycle ever gets triggered initially.  We're home with family and taking some much-deserved time off from our biggest stressor as college students: school.  Although these are ideal ingredients for us to attain that romanticized holiday happiness we long for all year, our eating behaviors are one indication that our bodies and brains are dealing with additional subconscious stressors of which we are largely unaware.  As a result, we only pay attention to the positive feelings associated with this family time; we focus on the annual touch football game, catching-up with cheeky cousins and over-sharing aunts, and talking to parents about how no, really this is what I want to major in.  We're distracted, having fun and dodging bullets and are therefore not entirely tuned in to our feelings (and why should we be?).  But come time for Thanksgiving dinner that evening, after most distractions have largely disappeared, the stress is still there, screaming for chemical relief, which can now be conveniently found in the form of cornbread, stuffing, and casserole.  In all,  when considering the predictable package of emotional ups and downs that hail the holiday season, coupled with a nationally shared awareness of how good we feel as we devour our third and fourth servings, can anyone truly be surprised that overeating has become a cultural norm for Thanksgiving? 

            So what do we do? How can we separate our feelings of hunger from feelings of emotion? We must change how we view food.  Instead of using pumpkin pie as Prozac we should work to tune into the relationship between our mind and body, thereby creating a healthy divide between feeling and fueling.  In essence, if we can learn to change our relationship with food we can create a healthier relationship with ourselves.  Some simple tips to control our cravings integrate common sense with mindfulness strategies.  To start, eat small, healthy snacks throughout the day to prevent yourself from getting too hungry.  The trifecta previously mentioned of ghrelin, serotonin, and dopamine is particularly sensitive to low blood sugar, which often leads to grumpy, cranky feelings that could spark a whole host of stressors in the presence of friends and relatives.  Second, ask yourself - before you plop four servings worth of sweet-potato casserole on your oversized dinner plate - just three simple questions regarding why you want to eat it.  One: are you actually hungry?  If yes, try drinking a glass of water first; we often confuse feelings of hunger with signs of dehydration.   Two: are you eating because it tastes good?  Studies show that all you need is a bite or two to make cravings vanish!  Three: are you eating because it feels good?  Even just acknowledging where our emotions are coming from allows us to rethink what and how much we eat.  As soon as we realize when we're eating for emotions rather than  for hunger, we allow ourselves the strength to lean back from the dinner table and find that we can actually find more comfort in family and friends than in food.  As a result, we are better able to consciously acknowledge our stressors, a simple level of awareness that allows us to be more present, so that we can enjoy the holidays in a healthier, happier way.   

Harvest Festival

Posted by Rachel Dyckman

The Skidmore Traditions Committee holds numerous events throughout the year such as the tree lighting ceremony, Chocolate Milk Day, and the bonfire. The latest addition to the list of Skidmore Traditions is the Harvest Festival. Do you like eating delicious local food while listening to folk music performed by talented groups such as the Bandersnatchers? If so, you are sure to enjoy the Harvest Festival!

The Harvest Festival took place on Thursday, November 7th on Case Green at 8pm. The Skidmore Traditions Committee will be teamed up with the Sustainability Committee to promote sustainability and environmental awareness on campus. It is a great event for students to learn more about what both the Traditions Committee and Sustainability Committee does, and to help educate students about the benefits of locally produced food while fostering a sense of community amongst students.

Food at the event was provided by Comfort Kitchen, a Saratoga Springs restaurant that uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and which is an active proponent of the farm-to-table movement, advocating for local, seasonal produce to eliminate the need for lengthy transport, minimizing the burning of fossil fuels. There was also Eco-friendly giveaways at the festival.

SGA Senator and head of the Traditions Committee, Lauren Scauzzo '15 explains, "Tradcomm's first event isn't until the Tree Lighting Ceremony in December. I wanted to have an event that brought the Skidmore community together a little earlier in the school year, and Harvest Festival was the product of this idea. When a fellow Senator who chairs (the) Sustainability Committee reached out to me about collaborating for Harvest Fest, I was really excited. It's the perfect opportunity to promote sustainability on campus in a really fun and engaging way."

The Harvest festival is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the crisp fall weather and take advantage of the green before the inevitable snow and frigid temperatures descend on campus. What better way to enjoy the fall season and celebrate local food than to share a delicious, locally grown meal with friends while listening to great music under the stars? 

Semester Online offers interactive courses for Spring 2014: This online program teaches courses from numerous national and international universities

Posted by Julia Leef

As registration comes to a close, students wishing to take additional courses may wish to consider Semester Online, a unique program that offers undergraduate online courses. This program opened enrollment for the spring semester of 2014 with 21 courses for students to choose from.

According to a recent press release, Semester Online uses the Socratic method of learning to engage students in face-to-face learning through live video conferencing and online chats. Students participate in discussions and exercises, attend lectures and collaborate with peers in an online-capacity. The program operates through a consortium of colleges and universities, including Boston College, Brandeis University, Emory University, Northwestern University, and Wake Forest University. Students will also receive an official transcript from the institution offering the class. 

"The fall pilot of Semester Online has been a successful start for this groundbreaking online education program with more than 100 students enrolled across 10 courses," Andrew Hermalyn, executive vice president and general manager of Semester Online at 2U, Inc., said in a press release. Semester Online partners with 2U, which was founded in 2008 by a team of education veterans and provides universities with the technology, infrastructural support, and capital needed to support this web-based program.

On Nov. 6, Semester Online announced Trinity College Dublin and the University of Melbourne as its first international partners, giving students the option to study abroad online in Ireland and Australia. The University of Melbourne will offer a Classical Mythology course while Trinity College Dublin will lead a course on Ireland in Rebellion, 1798-1916.

"Trinity College Dublin and the University of Melbourne are world-renowned education institutions with a legacy of innovation in teaching," Hermalyn said. "Semester Online students will benefit from the talents and global perspective of their respective faculty. Their participation in Semester Online demonstrates our commitment to making this initiative international in scope, thereby enriching the development of all the students in this new for-credit program."

Several of the newer courses added to Semester Online's curriculum for the 2014 spring semester include Critical Earth Issues, The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament: Then and Now, How to Rule the World and Baseball and American Culture. A complete list may be found at the program's website.

"The expansion of Semester Online's course offerings demonstrates the speed at which the program is growing, as we provide more students the opportunity to participate in this unique academic experience with live online classes of fewer than twenty students per class, led by renowned professors from the nation's best undergraduate institutions," Hermalyn said.

Semester Online will accept applications from students currently enrolled in a four-year, regionally accredited institution and who are in good academic standing. The deadline for the application is Mon. Dec. 23, with an early deadline of Fri. Nov. 22.

Mouzon House Restaurant Review

Posted by Tegan O'Neill

Creak went the floorboards as we snaked our way to our table at the Mouzon House on a recent Thursday evening. Musicians in the room over were just beginning to make noise. While they meddled with their instruments, we spoke in whispers. It was too quiet. Hearing about the specials felt a little like playing pretend with no one else in the ghostly dining room yet. The waitress, (there was only one) deftly played her assigned role in this seemingly make-believe meal. Our food arrived in portions that, at first glance,seemed better suited for dolls in a doll house. Alas, sometimes our eyes are hungrier than our bellies. Thankfully, the chef had sense enough to know this. Each of the dishes proved to be richer than anticipated. Enough was enough by the last biteful, even of the most delightful foods. Reinforcing that too much of a good thing can be bad.

The beef short ribs over pumpkin risotto were especially delightful. The meat, slightly aromatic, and delightfully fatty. The pumpkin risotto, sweet like a dessert and homey like a crackling fire. A few leaves of kale maintained their beautiful green vibrancy and

 strength of texture, but were rich in a way that greens rarely are. Fat and flavor have seeped into the kale's veins. Luxuriously rich kale no longer is an oxymoron.

I now know that when white beans and broccoli rabe are sauteed with roasted garlic, finished with white wine and romano cheese, a strikingly rich and complex dish is born. Butter, I am sure, helps. For such a humble combination of ingredients, the dish is an unexpected pleasure.

 It is curiously deep. Elegance arises when nourishing ingredients are cloaked in robes of herbs and fat. Red hot pepper also lends a fantastic punch, making the story of bean meets green a success.

Although quite similar in flavor profile, the orecchiette with broccoli rabe does not have the same satisfying effect. Here, orecchiette pasta takes the place of beans. The dish does not have the same heartiness--perfect for a fall meal--that the other one so generously provides. By comparison, the tiny ears of pasta seem flimsy and nutritionally inferior.

The seasonal soup--butternut squash--also falls short. There are so many iterations of this soup during autumnal months that lackluster versions are easy to criticize. This one is thin and overly salty and does not muster the cozy, warm and fuzzy feelings that

 are to be expected. Cinnamon, coriander, allspice, and cardamom are confusingly fused together. This combination tastes like India, which is odd because the Mouzon House could not be farther from the subcontinent.  

Although dessert was not included in the Thursday night $20 prix fixe menu that we had chosen from, we could not let the meal stop just yet. The bananas walk a dangerous line between sweet and cloyingly so, but it manages to stay in the clear. The way it drips and drools down the spoon justifies spending a little more. It does not matter that the cinnamon ice cream melts in the bat of the eye, it oozes right on into the syrupy coalescence. Surely, other options like the apple bread pudding and an ice cream sandwich with molasses cookies are just as good.

By the end of the meal, music and people had filled the room. The Mouzon House felt a little less like the skeleton of a restaurant. There is no doubt that this Saratoga standby sees robust crowds in the summertime months. In the meantime, it holds its breath.

 Nevertheless, eating out at the Mouzon House is worthwhile. The food reflects the season, it is rich, complex, and elegant, and the service is more than competent: the Mouzon House stands for why we like going out to eat.  

Gratitude: Paying it Forward

Posted by Amber Charette

            In the seventh grade, my school held an annual 'movie day' for my entire grade. I loved these days, for the obvious reasons of just simply enjoying watching movies and for getting out of a few periods of class. The movie chosen for this particular year is one that to this day inspires me. It was "Pay it forward", which was released in 2000 as a motion picture and was adapted from the novel written by Catherine Ryan Hyde in 1999. Now I won't unveil the entirety of the plot, but I can tell you the main synopsis and assure you that the power of the movie will not be ruined for anyone who has yet to see it but is interested. Though, I hope that everyone will go back and watch this film again regardless of whether it has already been watched. Anyway, moving on...

            Essentially, the storyline is about a young boy who is given an assignment by one of his teachers. The assignment is vague and open-ended: to create a plan of action that will help to better the world in some form. Trevor, the main character of the film, takes this assignment to heart, and forms the idea of "paying it forward" after he meets and helps a homeless man. "Paying it forward" basically means what it implies-that when someone helps you out in some way, you do the same for someone else. In this way, a chain is created where people are performing good deeds, which are then passed down to others. Though the homeless man is the one to introduce Trevor to this concept, it is Trevor who puts his all into really trying to make this concept a part of everyday life for people. Thus, the rest of the film illustrates Trevor's valiant attempt at putting this "pay it forward" theory into action.

            Now, at the time of watching this film, I have to be honest in saying that I didn't really understand its depth or how poignantly powerful it was. In fact, I pretty much didn't even pay much attention to it as I didn't really understand the plot very well at all. But after watching the film again a few years later (and after maturing a lot more intellect wise), Trevor's "pay it forward" theory really moved and resonated with me. And what made this even more touching to me was that Trevor's character was in the seventh grade-the same grade I was in when I first watched the film. What I am trying to get at here, is if a twelve-year-old can introduce such an innovative and selfless concept for people to follow, then imagine what we all can do as adults.

            After watching the movie the second time, I decided to Google it just out of curiosity. What I found was that there is now a real-life "Pay it Forward" movement that exists to pass on the power of this concept. For those interested in learning more about this non-profit organization here is the link: http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/.

            Finally, in case you didn't take notice, I titled this article "Gratitude: Paying if forward". But what I haven't done yet is explain how gratitude and this concept are connected. Well, if it's not blatant enough, I personally believe that one of the strongest ways of showing gratitude is to do something good for others in return. Hence the spiel I just made on "paying it forward". I am aware, however, that gratitude can be shown in other ways as well and that it can mean different things to people. Thus, I'd like to end by just throwing out some ideas as to how you all can show gratitude not only now but in everyday life. With that said, here's a few of the ideas I came up with: say thank you when someone does something for you, even if it's as simple as holding the door open for you, call your family every so often to tell them you love and miss them, show your professor's that you appreciate their time by really engaging in class, help a friend out who is struggling in a class that you aced, and take some time once in awhile to think about all the good things you have in your life that others who are less fortunate do not. 

Social Justice Month list of events

This November is the 3rd annual Social Justice Month at Skidmore College. This movement is a month of many events related to various social justice issues. Social Justice Month's vision is to bring the campus together to engage students in social justice issues, and give a voice to voice-less groups. Although these injustices might feel far off, they are very connected to our lives and Social Justice Month wants to inform the campus of these injustices and equip students with how they can help. This year's main themes are related to the education system, human rights, and hunger & homelessness. Types of events include workshops, speakers, documentaries, a poster campaign, a display on Case Green, an exhibition, and more, and over 50 organizations on campus are co-sponsoring Social Justice Month. Following is the detailed schedule of Social Justice Month.

November 2, Saturday

Kickoff: Social Justice Month Showcase

9:30pm Spa

Social Justice Month is having a kickoff event to officially start the month-long movement. There will be Bandersnatchers, Breakbeats, and Lift Every Voice Gospel Choir performing with presentations of the three main themes that Social Justice Month is dealing with: Education, Human Rights, and Hunger & Homelessness. There will also be free Plum Dandy Cookies and Esperanto's Pizza and Doughboys/Doughgirls.

November 4, Monday

Human Trafficking: Film Screening of "Dreams Die Hard"

7:30pm Emerson Auditorium

"Dreams Die Hard" is a documentary by Free the Slaves, a NGO fighting to end human trafficking. The documentary discusses the hidden slavery in the United State by featuring victims and how they got trapped into human trafficking. A dialogue will follow the screening.

November 5, Tuesday

Labor Movement: Why Unions? Reflections on the Purpose and State of Organized Labor

7pm Emerson Auditorium

Erin Johansson, Director of Research at American Rights at Work and 1998 Skidmore alumna, will be giving a lecture about the state of the labor movement and her work within it. Erin is a member of the Labor and Employment Relations Association and serves as a Co-Chair of the Labor Studies Committee.

November 6, Wednesday

Education: Film Screening of "Race to Nowhere"

8pm Davis Auditorium

"Race to Nowhere" is a documentary that discusses concerns with standardized testing and how it affects students in elementary school. The film features students across the country who have been pushed to overwork and lack of engagement due to the current testing system in the U.S.  A dialogue will follow the screening.

November 11, Monday

Health and Human Rights: High Cost for Service, a Case Study of HIV/AIDS in Iran with Dr. Kamiar Alaei

7pm Gannett Auditorium

Kamiar Alaei M.D. is the Director of the Global Institute for Health and Human Rights and an expert on HIV/AIDS. He and his brother Arash co-founded the first "Triangular Clinic" for three target groups in Iran (drug users, HIV patients, and STD cases) to deal with both the biological and social manifestations of the disease. The controversial nature of his work led to his persecution and eventual imprisonment in Iran with his brother for over 3 years. Since his release, Dr. Alaei has been preparing to return to his area of expertise, focusing on HIV/AIDS policy and management through an academic perspective with a concentration on the Middle East and Central Asia.

November 11-17

North Korean Political Prison Camp: Exhibition of "Where Love Does Not Exist"

Dining Hall Atrium and Intercultural 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.

November 14, Thursday

North Korean Human Rights: Escape From Camp 14: The Story of Shin Donghyuk, a North Korean Defector

7pm Gannett Auditorium

Shin Donghyuk, a human rights activist, is the only known North Korean defector who was born in a political prison camp. He will be sharing his life in the political prison camp and his escape from North Korea. Addition to his personal accounts, he will discuss human rights violations in North Korea. After escaping from North Korea, Shin Donghyuk testified in the United Nations and spoke in various organizations and college campuses. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West, a biography of Shin's life, was published in 2012.  

November 19, Tuesday

Homelessness: Film Screening of "Homelessness in Paradise"

8pm Davis Auditorium

Filmed over two years beginning in December 2002, "Homeless in Paradise" focuses on a small group of people living on the streets of Santa Monica. The documentary explains how the homeless got there and the issues faced by a city that both cares for them and wishes they would go away. A discussion will follow the screening.

November 20, Wednesday

Hunger: Flags for Hunger

11am-5pm Case Green

FeelGood is a national youth movement committed to end world hunger by selling grilled cheese sandwiches. FeelGood deli will be selling grilled cheese and a customer will be invited to pick up a flag representing a statistic of world hunger from Case Green. When the sandwich is ready the customer will be handed a new flag representing a change that is happening to erase global hunger.

November 20, Wednesday

Education: Resisting the Ambush of Public Education

7pm Dining Hall 2nd Floor

To address the destructive effects of current, corporate-driven educational policies, Nancy Schniedewind co-editedEducational Courage: Resisting the Ambush of Public Education. The book is a compilation of first hand narratives of resistance to these policies by students, parents, and educators who have fought to uphold democratic public education. Book contributor, Felipa Gaudet, a public school teacher in Kingston, NY, and Nancy, professor in the Masters Program in Humanitic/Multicultural Education at SUNY New Paltz, will join us to lead an interactive workshop. Both experts on the current state of the school system, as well as veteran teachers who have seen the effects of these policies from the inside, these women have valuable insights to share including ways to actively fight for change.

November 21, Thursday

Hunger: Hunger Banquet

7pm Tang Museum

Hunger Banquet is an interactive event that allows participants to experience how our decisions affect others in the world. The banquet will help participants visualize and understand the current global hunger problem. After the banquet, participants will have an opportunity to view the "Classless Society" exhibition in the Tang Museum.

Co-sponsored by 

Active Minds, American Red Cross, American Studies Department, Art Department, Art History Department, Asian Cultural Awareness, Benef-action, Biology Department, Chemistry Club, Christian Fellowship, Classics Department, Economics Department, Education Studies Department, English Department, FeelGood, Feminist Action Network, Fight Club, Government Department, Hayat, Health and Exercise Science Department, Hillel, Intercultural Studies, Intergroup Relations, International Affairs Program, International Student Union, Late Night, Latin American Studies Program, Management and Business Department, NihonGo!, Office of Communications, Office of Community Service, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Office of Student Diversity Programs, Opportunity Program, Photography Club, Physics Department, Pre-Law, Raices, Skidmore Democrats, Skidmore, Education Taking Action, Skidmore Labor Alliance, Skidmore News, Social Work Department, Speaker's Bureau, Students United for Public Education, Sustainable Skidmore, Tang Teaching Museum, Theater Department, Ujima, Voices for Planned Parenthood, WSPN