Born to Bake: Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

Posted by Grace Harman

I love cupcakes. To me, they're the perfect treat. I mean, really, how can you go wrong with a portable cake? Especially one wrapped in pretty paper?

I happen to be a huge fan of the tacky decorative muffin tins. The only problem I've come across is that after a little while making basic cupcakes, the task just gets boring.

Chocolate, vanilla, yawn! To liven things up, I decided to embark on a cupcake adventure and try out some new recipes and techniques.

While in many cases such a baking endeavor would lead me to stick random treats into my batter (not that anyone complained when a Reese's wound up in my chocoholic cupcake), I wanted to try something a little more complex and I ended up baking cake into cake. Sounds crazy, I know, but hear me out...

Cheesecake! It's creamy, tangy and tasty, particularly when mixed with chocolate. There are few things as yummy as a chocolate cheesecake cupcake. I'm talking about a decadent chocolate cake swirled with cheesecake filling and topped with vanilla chocolate chip buttercream frosting.

Now, since baking is my pride and joy, I went ahead and made my own frosting. But if you prefer a less time-consuming and messy task, feel free to grab a can of good old Duncan Hines vanilla frosting and throw in some chopped up chocolate chips.

A serious warning about this recipe: you WILL be tempted to eat all the batter and filling raw. I know it is oh-so-tempting (everyone knows that cake batter is secretly ambrosia), but seriously, these cupcakes are amazing cooked, so settle for licking the spoon.

For the record, this recipe makes 12 cupcakes, but I would advise doubling it, or you may find yourself with a group of disgruntled friends who missed out on tasting this divine treat.

Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

Ingredients
 ? 1 cup all-purpose flour
 ? ? cup unsweetened cocoa powder
 ? 1 teaspoon baking powder
 ? ? teaspoon salt
 ? 6 tablespoons butter, softened
 ? ? cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
 ? 1 egg, at room temperature
 ? ? cup milk, at room temperature
 ? 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
 ? 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 ? 2 tablespoons mini semisweet chocolate chips (regular ones work too, the filling is just a little chunkier)

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350?F and line 12 muffin cups with cupcake papers.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. If sifting isn't an option, use a whisk to mix     the dry ingredients together--this will help break up any big clumps.
3. Using a mixer, cream the butter and ? cup of sugar until they are pale yellow, about 1 minute.
4. Add the egg and mix together.
5. Gently add half of the flour mixture into the sugar/butter/eggs and stir until just incorporated.
6. Mix in the milk.
7. Add the remaining dry mixture and stir until everything is combined. Set the batter to the side.
8. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the vanilla. A wooden spoon works best here. Use it to sort of mash together the ingredients until they become soft enough to stir.
9. Mix in the chocolate chips.
10. Fill each cupcake paper with enough chocolate batter to just cover the bottom.
11. Add a dollop of the cream cheese filling to each.
12. Cover the filling with the remaining chocolate batter.
13. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cupcakes stand in the pan for 3 minutes and then remove and allow them to cool completely on a rack.

Grant family no longer suing Skidmore students: Family of Alexander Grant dropped five million dollar lawsuit last Tuesday

Posted by Adrian Appleman

Last Tuesday, the family of Alexander Grant, a Boston College student found dead on March 8, 2011 in Putnam Creek after attending a downtown party hosted by Skidmore students, dropped a five million dollar lawsuit filed in April against nine men, eight of which were former students.

The family is now offering a $100,000 reward for any information that could lead to a conviction in the case. For further information, see The Saratogian report. 

Second round of testing in Starbuck Center completed: The College will conduct a third test before moving employees back into the building

Posted by Julia Leef

The College completed additional testing to the Starbuck Center, finding nothing of concern, and will begin the remediation and renovation of the building to improve the appearance and functionality of the building.

In an email sent out to the faculty and staff by Michael West, vice president for Finance and Administration, he reported the environmental hygienist the College hired for testing found normal background radiation far below OSHA action levels, no elevated readings of substances of concern and white efflorescence on brick walls, which was not microbial and believed to be non-harmful salts.

This testing is part of a larger investigation by the College this semester to determine the source of unconfirmed health concerns reported by several Starbuck employees. On Jan. 18, Barbara Beck, associate vice president for Finance and Administration and director of Human Resources, sent a message to the faculty and staff, informing them that concerns had been reported and that the College was taking measures to hire an industrial hygienist to begin the assessment process.

President Philip Glotzbach and Dean of Students Rochelle Calhoun released a similar statement to the student body on Jan. 25, encouraging students to direct any inquiries to Patricia Bosen, director of Health Services.

To protect the safety of the 50 employees, the administration decided to evacuate the building until the source of these concerns could be verified. However, the initial testing only revealed an unsubstantial amount of mold in one of the rooms.

The hygienist will conduct a third and final environmental testing phase before moving staff back into Starbuck. In addition, the College is carrying out a medical review, working with an epidemiological group and an outside medical specialist to define the possible scope of study.

"The health and safety of our employees are, as always, of paramount concern," West said. "We will continue to work closely with the employees of Starbuck Center and with our independent consultants."

West encourages those with questions or concerns to contact Beck or Chris Kaczmarek, director of business services, through Terry Mariani at extension 5804. 

Letter: Response to 'Granting Alumni Access to Online Databases'

Posted by Ruth Copans, Justin Sipher and Michael Sposili

Dear Editor,

It was with great interest that we read the editorial which appeared in the The Skidmore News on Friday, March 23, 2012 titled, "Fan the flames of our education, grant alumni access to databases."  As you may or may not be aware, several members of Skidmore' administration have been actively considering the implications, both technical and financial in nature, of making this service available to alumni. We are pleased to announce that Skidmore will soon participate in a pilot project that will allow alumni to access, JSTOR resources, a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of digital content. This service contains over 1,500 academic journals and other scholarly content.  

Offering this service to alumni is not without expense. Based on the exploration we have completed to date, the fee associated with offering this service to our alumni will be $2,000 annually. Rather than looking at this as an expense, we believe, as you do, that this investment will provide Skidmore alumni with yet another benefit as a graduate of the College. 

Specific information about how alumni will be able to access JSTOR resources will be made available to alumni this summer and it will be publicized in upcoming editions of SCOPE Monthly, the College's electronic newsletter. Additionally, a link will be provided via the Library Website.

Sincerely,

Ruth Copans               Justin Sipher                             Michael Sposili

College Librarian         Chief Technology Officer         Director of Alumni Affairs &

                                                                                      College Events

Students to join May Day demonstrations in Albany: Organized by Occupy Albany, the event will take place May 1

Posted by Julia Leef

On Tuesday, May 1, students will depart for Academy Park in Albany to join in the demonstrations for May Day, or International Worker's Day, organized by Occupy Albany.

Occupy Albany is a left-wing activist movement in conjunction with Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Together movement, along with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Solidarity Committee.

Joseph Byrne '13, who is organizing the student trip from the College, contacted Occupy Albany through Colin Donnaruma, a graduate student from the University of Albany and one of the organization's organizers.

"There was an Occupy film screening sponsored by CLASS and Social Justice week on campus a few weeks ago," Byrne said. "After seeing the film I contacted members of Occupy Albany in order to find out how Skidmore kids could get involved in direct action, and Occupy pointed me toward May Day."

According to its website, May Day is a general strike to demonstrate the power of the people in which over 115 cities in the United States will partake, including New York City, Chicago and Seattle.

The events, which begin at 1:30 p.m., include a march through Albany, teach-ins and workshops, and a mass rally and speak-out, concluding with live music and food at 5 p.m. The opening plenary will talk about the origins and history of May Day, while the closing focus will be on current organized labor fights against what the movements see as "plutocratic capitalism."

Byrne said his interest in Tuesday's event came from researching Occupy Albany and discovering its weekly meetings as a social-justice community center.

"I found out [Occupy Albany was] planning a May Day event, and I wanted to go, but I didn't want to go alone," Byrne said. "I knew other people would care, if they only knew it was happening. I foresee future trips as Occupy Albany continues to grow."

Students who are interested in attending the trip may contact Byrne at jbyrne@skidmore.edu, clarifying whether they require transportation. Students will depart at 12:30 p.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. 

Restaurant Review: Mrs. London's

Posted by Tegan O'Neill

What a luxury it is to have Mrs. London's in Saratoga Springs. The storefront looks like a Valentine's Day card come to life. Every detail has been tweaked to appeal to the eye. I cannot help but feel a pang of guilt gazing at all of the beautiful pastries. They look as if someone had to make each one, individually in its own little convection oven. They are too perfect to have been made in large batches.

Surely, Mrs. London's has the highest quality pastries for miles around. To taste one of the Almond Croissants is to taste French royalty. The addition of almond to an already sweet, rich pastry makes for a delicacy fit for a king. Its crust can be pinched off as if it were a doily made of the thinnest paper. Then, once you get to the meat of the croissant, it becomes thick and chewy - almost cake-like. A layer of almond paste provides a silver lining to this already optimistic cloud of butter. The almond flavor is the croissant's defining quality.

Other items of splendor include the Currant Cream Scone and the unassuming yet completely marvelous Brittany, otherwise known as a Kouign Aman. The Currant Cream Scone tastes like a dream come true. The first bite is cool and creamy. It then drifts into a delicious realm of starchiness. Each bite is inexplicably both moist and floury - a balance than only a magician in the kitchen can strike. It looks, tastes and feels like a scone and is almost completely free of distracting elements like nuts or - God forbid - icing. The buttons of currants add a pop of textural contrast here and there, as well as a little flavorful zing for good measure.

Whereas the Almond Croissant is a show-stopper in the display case, the Brittany is more like the scone in that it looks relatively simple. I would not have chosen it from the array of pastries had I not earlier been informed of its merits. I think I was so surprised by the Brittany, because it was so artless. To understand the Brittany, think of the most buttery croissant you have ever had, then subtract all of the air, which usually puffs up the pastry. What you are left with tastes like a croissant but more intense. In one bite, you get the flavor of a croissant multiplied by 10. It is also markedly less messy to eat. It does not flake all over the place. Rather, it stays in its little elephant ear twist.

A less heavy, more airy selection is the Kugelhoph: a sweet, raisin-laden yeast bread. This hot air balloon-looking pastry is mostly all pomp. The inside of the Kugelhoph pulls apart like cotton candy, but the fun stops there. Tear apart its sugar-encrusted outer casing and you will discover the inside offers nothing more than a slight poof of bread, which tastes like brioche but a bit sweeter and lighter. Its taste plays second fiddle to the taste of the raisins. The flavor of the actual bread is so dainty that it is hardly discernible.

Known for its pastries, Mrs. London's also offers delicious hot chocolate, but I would not call it a beverage. It is better suited to the category of dessert. The hot chocolate is essentially a chocolate bar in liquid form. It is decadence at its finest. As for the type of chocolate used, it tastes somewhere between milk and dark. It is rich enough to pass as dark, but melted into warm milk. The hot chocolate is richer than it is thick, but imbibed alongside pastries, a drink any thicker would be too much to handle. As it stands already, the hot chocolate is an over-indulgent treat.

Not only is the quality of pastries at Mrs. London's a cut above the rest, but so too is the level of professionalism exhibited by the staff. It is encouraging when those working on the other side of the counter are knowledgeable about what they are selling and seem to adore the product that they place into the hands of the customer. Put it all together - the d??cor, the service, the pastries - and you have an exceptional boulangerie.

To read more of Tegan O'Neill's outings visit her blog.

Letter: Mr. Finkelstein, Let's Be Fair

Posted by William Van den Broeck

Dear Editor,

It's Wednesday April 23^rd and this morning I cannot sleep. Yesterday night, I sat through Norman Finkelstein bashing Israel for an hour and half, omitting any mention of wrongdoings by anyone else involved - historically the Israel-Palestinian conflict deals with more than just Jews and Arabs or Zionists and their neighbors.

The event was packed and people were excited to hear what he had to say, though by the end many members of the audience had left. I don't know if they left because they were bored, or had places to go, or just couldn't take what he had to say anymore. I'd like to think that a fraction of those people that left realized that it wasn't worth their time to listen to someone just go on, and on, and on about everything Israel does wrong, especially when he starts out his speech with "I'm not here to bash Israel." Of course, that is just my hope though it is probably not true. I'm sure to many, he was engaging.

Finkelstein considers himself an activist and surely hoped that yesterday he moved a lot of people to take action. His purpose was not to foster anti-Semitism, it was just to foster anti-Zionism, but understand, Mr. Finkelstein, that the two will always be related.

No, I do not believe the majority of Anti-Zionists are indeed anti-Semitic, but I do know that at many pro-Palestinian demonstrations and marches, there are incidents of anti-Semitism - whether it be through the defacing of synagogues, in the rhetoric mentioned or simply direct physical attacks on Jews.

After the Israeli offense on Gaza, incidents of anti-Semitic acts increased in Europe and cops were needed in front of Jewish schools and Jewish neighborhoods. I remember, for example, in Antwerp at the time when people wrecked the famous Hassidic neighborhood of the city, directly attacking shops, schools and temples. I remember a few years later, Central Park South, next to the Apple Store when I proudly attended the Israeli-Day parade on 5^th Ave. and there were a dozen counter protesters across the street. Again, I'm sure this was meant to be just a protest against what the Israeli government is doing and a call to end the occupation, but there was a banner denying the holocaust.

Yesterday, Finkelstein only mentioned what Israel does wrong; he was not even willing to add an "although...." as if all their acts are inexcusable by anyone's standard. I asked him how his speech can lead to progress (by progress I thought it was explicit that I meant peace but I guess not.) How does mentioning all the weapons used by the Israeli army in Lebanon and Gaza effective without ever mentioning one rocket launched by Hamas? How is talking about the terrible acquisitions from the Six-Day war helpful in a goal of educating when you fail to even mention that Israel was the one ATTACKED? That is not justification but mere explanation as to what happened.

It is always hard to answer to questions under emotion and on the spot when we don't have time to fully think our questions through so, yesterday I just asked why he needed to be SO one-sided, of course he never answered my question. While I am proud of myself for standing up and voicing my opinion (hey, I even got some applause), I wish I could have said something more along these following lines to Mr. Finkelstein:

Sir, why do you feel the need to bash a country and talk about a conflict in such one-sided manner? How can that lead to peace?

Yes, I am against the occupation and I think Israel needs to give up its occupied territories and religious settlers need to stop doing what they do. Others in Israel share my point of view. Their opinion is voiced on the streets through demonstrations, in the Knesset (Israel's congress) by official elected representatives and by soldiers who refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza because they feel those are occupied territories.

Yes, there might be more tension between Egypt and Israel now that Mubarak has fallen but you know what, Israeli and Egyptian soldiers have had a peaceful relationship for many years and continue to even after the revolution. This relationship is not just peaceful, they actually get along, Mr. Finkelstein.

Yes, Israel's offensive in Gaza had terrible consequences and the IDF did some pretty horrible things but at the same time there were Israeli doctors that put their lives on the line to go into Gaza and rescue victims of war to give them adequate healthcare.

Yes, there is a blockade right now and it should not happen because no one should have food access blocked to them. But, this blockade is not in place out of hate, it's happening out of fear. Weapons pass through these rations of food and soldiers who fight back this kind of trafficking get attacked.

Yes, Israel must take responsibility for its share in the problem and it responds to the conflict in a less than adequate manner and should be criticized for some of its actions but you know what, it should also be praised for some of its actions. In January of 2010, Mr. Finkelstein, do you know what Israel did? It sent aid over to Haiti to help out in the earthquake, just a day after the earthquake happened. I am not going to name a bunch of countries where Israel has gone, but I can bet you that any natural disaster that has occurred no matter where in the world, Israel has gone there to help out. They even stay in some places longer than other countries. There are places where no one dares to go-helping women in South Sudan and giving aid to victims of the Darfur genocide, granting those refugees citizenship. How many other nations can say they've done that? How many white-nations can say they've granted citizenship en masse to refugees from African countries like Sudan and Ethiopia? Because, clearly those actions are worthy of comparing Israel to N. Korea, Pakistan and noting "when was the last time you ever heard anything nice said about those countries?"

Yes, I agree we need to get rid of the settlements, the occupied territories need to be given back, the treatment of Palestinian refugees is unacceptable and the Palestinian people today are victims whose cry for help needs to be heard.

That's not a reason, however, to go to college campuses and universities and give extremely one-sided accounts of the conflict and bash a country that, though just like any other place, has done many wrong things, has also done many great things and continues to do so today and so many would like to see destroyed. Understanding and stating the multiple pieces of the puzzle-that leads to progress and peace Mr. Finkelstein. You, on the other hand will only promote hate!

William Van den Broeck

Class of 2015

Non-student rushed to hospital at Fun Day event

Posted by Brendan James

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, a non-student was carried off of the South Green's Fun Day event and rushed into an ambulance. At the moment Campus Safety has said that the young woman is a non-student and possibly a Skidmore graduate, though this has not yet been confirmed.

The young woman was unconscious as the EMTs carried her on a stretcher into an ambulance just outside Case Center. Campus Safety Director Lawrence Britt disclosed that the woman is indeed a non-student, but did not disclose her name or whether she is a Skidmore graduate or former student.

Britt later said he could not confirm anything about the woman's identity, nor her current condition or reason for hospitalization, as Campus Safety does not keep track of medical conditions after the person has left campus, due to the Hippocratic oath.

"It's all confidential, so all we know is that she was transported to the hospital," Britt said. "Nobody can discuss somebody's medical information anymore."

Editorial: If 'Creative Thought Matters' then protect it in the new IP policy

Posted by the Editorial Board

Allow students to retain their rights to intellectual property. Skidmore is behind its peer and aspirant schools when it comes to legal policies. The College has been working to update its policies to safeguard legal action against the school. Creation of an intellectual property policy is being considered. Intellectual property rights issues have been a point of contention between students and institutions throughout the U.S. At our institution we should ensure that we protect student creativity.

For many reasons, it is important that Skidmore adopt guidelines concerning the ownership of copywritten, trademarked and patented material. Many organizations that give funds and grants for research require that the institutions have a clear intellectual property rights policy.

Skidmore does not produce large volumes of patents, especially compared to technical institutions. However, with an increasing entrepreneurial spirit cropping up among Skidmore's student body, it is necessary that the administration and the faculty reach a fair agreement on intellectual property rights.

Patents created by Skidmore faculty in their capacities as employees should be shared fairly between the inventor and the school. This should be done in a way that incentivizes creativity and provides the school with a funding source for further research.

However, when developing this policy, the College should draw a clear distinction between faculty, who work under contract with the college, and students, who are paying to attend classes.

It is imperative that we protect student innovation. Nothing would stifle the creative thought of students more than a surprise phone call from the administration informing them that their patents now belong to the school.

It should be assumed that student work and innovations belong to students.  The administration should have no intrinsic or inherent claim on student work, especially work that is done by students on their own time.

The school might have a claim to patents developed by students if, and only if, the school creates a contract with a student with the express purpose of sharing a patent.

In developing the final version of Skidmore's intellectual property rights policy, students need to be included in a meaningful way, and these concerns regarding the involvement and limits of the College's claims on student property must be accounted for. Students should be on the board that writes this policy and the administration should put this up to the student body for a vote.

In whatever policy the school eventually adopts, the interest of students should be paramount. The extent to which the policy protects student innovation will be a good indication of Skidmore's commitment to its motto, "Creative Thought Matters."

Review: Evolfo Doofeht : Long-anticipated Boston band brings funk to Falstaff's

Posted by Lyndsay Stone

Last Thursday night's Lively Lucy's Falstaff's event kicked off Earth Day weekend with exuberant energy and enthusiasm when student bands Mugsy Boges and Beardo opened for the long-anticipated visiting act, Evolfo Doofeht.

Having traveled during rush hour from their Boston home, The Berklee School of Music, one may have expected signs of sleepiness from Doofeht, if only a few yawns. Quite the contrary, musicians and manager alike bustled with excitement and zing. They had long awaited this gig at Skidmore.

"The scene at liberal arts colleges up here is really lax, as opposed to the regulated scene in Boston," said Matt Gibbs, the band's founder and lead vocalist/guitarist. "Falstaff's is a sweet venue and we know that people are open-minded at Skidmore."

Rewind two-and-a-half years, and we get a glimpse of the birth of Evolfo Doofeht. Gibbs and his brother, Frankie, a current sophomore at Skidmore, were two of the first members during the band's early stages in San Francisco, the brothers' hometown. Their high school was putting on a contemporary production of Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night and needed a house band to play funky covers of Velvet Underground songs.

The elder Gibbs recalled, "the director wanted us to be called 'The Food of Love,' from the line in the play, 'If music be the food of love, play on.' Naturally we called ourselves 'Evolfo Doofeht,' which is 'The Food of Love' spelled backwards." That was only the first instance of the band's contrarian and inventive style. It didn't stop there. When Matt graduated from high school that summer, he took the band's name, vibe, and ideals with him to Boston. He re-staffed but he did not rewind-Evolfo Doofeht's reputation and repertoire continued to expand.

In addition to vocals, guitar, bass, drums, alto and tenor saxophones, and trombone, Doofeht typically includes a trumpet player and another percussionist. Though two members were missing, there was no void of sound to be found. Every square inch of Falstaff's main room was bursting at the seams with "gypsy funk," or as Gibbs depicted: "Sassy-gypsy-funk, like demons and earth and nymphs-anything from Final Fantasy X."

The 50 or so Skidmore students who attended Falstaff's last Thursday experienced the fantasy for themselves. The crowd was especially buoyant when Doofeht played an original song called "Walk with a Demon." The song's perpetuating rhythm and upbeat groove starkly contrasts the demonic tones played by the bass, guitar, and brass section. It was nymphs and demons all at once. "It reminded me of some giant clown on stilts - very circuslike," said Eliza Hollister, a particularly animated and grooving crowd-member.

Mugsy Boges' drummer, Paul Gladstone '14, had a bird's eye view of the performance. Grooving atop a circular platform across from Doofeht's brass section and next to Peter Oundjian '14 (disguised in a head-to-foot banana suit), Gladstone observed the crowd. "When Evolfo came on, the funk just burst out. As soon as they started playing, the whole place was raging," he recalled.

Doofeht opened by playing an original song with an irresistible hook. "When they started that first tune, and Gibbs was singing 'if you wanna get down with Evolfo Doofeht,' everybody immediately caught on and the whole crowd was singing the chorus. Everyone was going nuts," said Gladstone.

Getting the crowd to groove is just what Doofeht aims to do with their innovative and provocative sound. "Getting people dancing makes me feel like what we're doing is worth it," said drummer Julian Moore. "I get this fat adrenaline rush walking off stage knowing that we got people to dance."

If the enlivened Skidmore crowd has any say, Evolfo Doofeht will soon return to our campus, along with their funky, maniacal, phantasmagoric circus of sound.

NBA Talk: First Round Playoff Predictions: Who's going forward and who's going home

Posted by Andrew Shi

It's playoff time - here's a quick rundown of who's getting past the first round.

Eastern Conference:

(1) Chicago vs. (8) Philadelphia.

The 76ers were nothing but phenomenal at the beginning of the season. How they dropped all the way from a season-high 3rd seed to barely making 8th is still being debated. Chicago's team is looking better every day and has one of the best defenses in the league.

Prediction: Chicago wins in five games

(2) Miami vs. (7) New York.

Miami had a rough patch at the end of the season, whereas New York ended with a nice win streak, albeit Miami did sit out its star players the last few games. New York has unbelievable potential, and the whole nation is waiting for Jeremy Lin's return. The Knick's new coach might be the factor needed to boost New York through the playoffs, but the team needs a little more time for everyone to figure out their roles. Lebron James also really wants this championship

Prediction: Miami sweeps New York.

(3) Indiana vs. (6) Orlando.

Indiana has been this season's surprise. No one saw them dominating the league but they did. Meanwhile, Orlando is without Dwight Howard. The Magic still have a few key players, but it won't be even close to enough.

Prediction: Indiana wins in five.

(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Boston.

Boston is the aging team. Atlanta has the right mix of veterans of young talent. Still the Hawks  seem to lack something, whether its chemistry or motivation, and, despite their team's impressive athleticism and caliber, they struggle against top teams. Boston has always saved their best for the playoffs, and Rondo is capable of taking over. Boston won two out of their three matchups with the Hawks, and the one they lost, they kept it within 5 while sitting their big four. It doesn't matter if Atlanta clinched home court advantage.

 Prediction: Boston wins in six.

Western Conference:

(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Utah.

San Antonio is with one of the best defenses and bench. Utah just barely made the playoffs. As long as San Antonio keeps all of its players healthy they should see great success.

Prediction: San Antonio sweeps Utah.

(2) Oklahoma City vs. (7) Dallas.

Oklahoma City has some of the youngest talent in the NBA. Kevin Durant is arguably the best small forward, and Russell Westbrook is a top point guard. Serge Ibaka is one of the league's best defenders and James Harden is likely winner of sixth man. Dallas has a lot of clutch players, and, old clutch players, but it's unlikely they'll be able to keep up with the Thunder.

Prediction: Oklahoma City wins in five.

(3) Los Angeles vs. (6) Denver.

The Lakers have Kobe Bryant and the best active center - Andrew Bynum. Metta World Peace will be out for six more games which may take a toll on the Lakers. Denver has a lot of young players who can dominate the game. JaVale Mcgee was a great pickup, and Kenneth Faried is a top choice for rookie of the year. It's going to be a close call but the Nuggets need another year or two of experience.

Prediction: Los Angeles wins in six

(4) Grizzlies vs. (5) Clippers.

This has probably been the hardest matchup to decide so far. Last year the Grizzlies, without Rudy Gay, topped the Spurs (although the Spurs were without Manu Ginobili). Marc Gasol is one of the most versatile and prolific centers in the league, and Mike Conley is a top tier point guard. Zack Randolph is a dominating figure, and having him and Gilbert Arenas come off the bench is pretty awesome. Still the Clippers have Chris Paul who is possibly the most clutch player in the league and has utterly transformed the team making it in to one well-oiled bull-dozer of a team. Blake Griffin must also be mentioned, as well as Randy Foye DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe, who have all added essential offense and defense. In season match-ups, the Clippers won 2-1. Prediction: Los Angeles win in 7, but if the Grizzlies take the win there will be no surprise either.

Family of Alexander Grant to sue students for $5 million: Eight Skidmore students named in the lawsuit for supplying Grant with alcohol prior to his death

Posted by Julia Leef

The family of Alexander Grant, the 19-year-old Boston College student who drowned in Putnam Creek last March, filed suit April 26 against nine men who allegedly supplied him with alcohol on the night of his death, according to The Saratogian.

The nine men, eight of whom are current students, are all named in the lawsuit. The Grant family is suing for $5 million, in addition to court costs.

Grant, while visiting his friend Matthew Perlow '13 on the weekend of March 6, 2011, went to a party at 146 Church St., which he later left in a state of intoxication. According to The Saratogian, Grant walked down the tracks at the Saratoga Springs Train Station and a security camera later detected him breaking into a medical office building on Care Lane. His body was found the following Tuesday.

After an extensive investigation, police determined Grant had hypothermia and a blood-alcohol content of .16 percent.

Perlow is not mentioned in the lawsuit, although his four roommates-Jonathan Hoeg '13, Bryan Connolly '13, Matthew Diaco '14 and Nicholas Yedibalian '13-are, according to The Saratogian. Also mentioned are Brendan Flynn '12, Ian Bain '12, Charles Sullivan (who is not a student) and Brian Milazzo '12, who allegedly hosted the party at 146 Church St.

In addition, the man who allegedly purchased the alcohol Grant drank in the dorm room, Seth Berger '14, is included in the lawsuit.

 The lawsuit, according to The Saratogian, claims Grant told Perlow he was "unable to care for himself" and that Perlow assured him they would return to the dorm room after the party. The lawsuit further states that due to his own intoxication, Perlow did not see Grant leave 146 Church St.

The document states that everyone who supplied Perlow and Grant with alcohol knew they were underage, calling Grant's death "wrongful."

District Attorney James A. Murphy III and police said they will grant immunity for minor crimes to anyone with information about Grant's death, according to The Saratogian. None of the occupants of the room will be charged with a criminal offense.

A statement from the Grant family is expected, according to The Saratogian.

Quasi-Intelligible Rants of Case Center Computers

Posted by Sandy Zhang

• "Ugh. Yet another set of Dorito fingers. Just one more installment of the classic Thursday night THC-induced munchies. After doing this gig for 4 years, I know exactly how this will go: a visit to the website of Pope's Pizza, check credit card account, then Tumblr and e-mail. Too typical. When will I get to go on Harper's Magazine, HUH? I thought this place was supposed to be filled with intellectuals."

• "Us Macs have to put in much longer hours than PCs. It's not fair. Since when did being stylish and sleek bring hard labor? These kids work me endlessly. I thought attractiveness promised an easier life."

• "Please get this red pepper hummus off of me."

• "Sheesh, it's that time of the night again - 1 am. Thorns of bleary-eyed procrastinators leave the library and settle for Case. Someone, probably an upper-classman, will inevitably shack up with me, type the way only someone who has taken Adderall moves her fingers, and won't even offer to call before leaving. Tomorrow, lather rinse repeat. Such is the mundane life of a Case computer."

• "Kids these days have no manners, is it too difficult to log out after you are done with your business? I don't want to get mired in an investigation if a psycho invades this turf and posts assassination threats on Brad Pitt's Facebook page."

Soapbox: Dear Occupy Wall Street, Clean Up Your Act: Four suggestions to make the OWS movement successful

Posted by Eric Shapiro

It is still premature to write a eulogy, but it's fair to say that Occupy Wall Street has not lived up to the astronomical expectations it generated last summer. The movement has largely been supplanted in media coverage by the presidential race, the war in Afghanistan and Rush Limbaugh's repulsive utterances. Part of this was inevitable; no peaceful movement, Tea Party included, can continue to hog the media spotlight forever, especially as its novelty wears off. Without minimizing Occupy Wall Street's legitimate and much-needed contributions to the national discourse, here are some things the movement can do to ensure its future relevance.

1. Drop the extraneous pet causes

Far be it from me to call the value of animal rights activism into question, or to doubt the sincerity of those who single out Israel for its alleged oppression of the Palestinians at a time when Arab regimes are having a ball brutalizing their own people. But a movement concerned with spurring real change should maintain a focused message and a clear sense of purpose. There are plenty of well-funded organizations devoted to the aforementioned causes. Occupy Wall Street should emphasize the parts of its message that resonate in a time of economic crisis: income inequality, corporate welfare and the plight of the 99 percent. Otherwise, it risks coming across as a jumbled patchwork of progressive pet causes that, for better or worse, do not carry all that much weight with the general population.

2. Establish a clear, efficient hierarchy

Occupiers can learn a lot from the successes and failures of past social movements. For instance, many of the key organizations that comprised the second wave of feminism began as freeform, directly democratic affairs that prioritized every voice being heard. Unfortunately, this very same quality came to undermine the cohesion of the movement and limit its capacity to make decisions in a prudent and timely matter. Occupy Wall Street need not fall into this same trap. It currently has something resembling these leaders, but they have thus far not received much media coverage and, consequently, do not benefit from the attention and respect afforded to high profile political figures. To be fair, there have been encouraging signs of late that Occupy Wall Street is a hierarchy better equipped to pursue its lofty goals. Let's hope this trend continues.

3. Mind the Occupy Wall Street image

As much as we would like Occupy Wall Street to function as an extension of our youthful, free spirited selves, it is important to remember that appearance matters greatly to many older Americans sympathetic to Occupy Wall Streets ideas. I have perused various political message boards and have found that many middle-aged and older Americans are far from impressed by the scrappy, disheveled appearance of Occupy protesters. It may remind them of radical New Left movements in the 1960s, whose members threw rocks at soldiers returning from Vietnam and publicly sympathized with the likes of the Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong. It may just give them a bad vibe. Either way, it would be a shame to turn off voters receptive to Occupy Wall Street's underlying message by refusing to obey the basic rules of political decorum. So please, Occupiers, before you get your protest on, have a shave, take a shower and maybe even put on a nice outfit for the cameras.

4. Raise money and back politically viable candidates for office

Lets be real: Ironically, Occupy Wall Street would do well to take a lesson from the Tea Party - its very rough conservative equivalent. The latter movement started small, establishing an infrastructure in communities and grabbing media coverage. Then, as it gained greater attention and more financial support, it set its sights on electing legislators sympathetic to its right-wing populist goals. Granted, the Tea Party had a considerable advantage over Occupy Wall Street: the patronage of the 1 percent. Subsequent investigation has revealed that Republican strategists and donors like the Koch brothers played an indispensable role in conceptualizing and funding the so-called "grass-roots movement. " Occupy Wall Street has not yet attained this level of influence. Yet, its ideas have gained political traction, placing a renewed focus on growing economic inequality in America. In addition, a number of wealthy individuals (many of them celebrities) and organizations donated large sums of money to Occupy Wall Street in its early days. If the movement truly wishes to capitalize on the big splash it made last summer, it must transfer the resonance of its message into political power by means of fundraising and lobbying in Congress. It is not the most glamorous pursuit, to be sure, but you have to play the game in order to change it. 

Closing Thoughts:

Occupy Wall Street is a true grassroots enterprise, unlike the Astroturf Tea Party. It would be a shame for its members to squander the movement's potential out of some misguided notions of ideological purity. As the generation that will inevitably be forced to deal with the deleterious financial effects of the Baby Boomers on American society, it is time to grow up and play an active role in shaping our future. If we refuse to work through the present political system, pulsating warts and all, we will become irrelevant in the issues of our day. Global warming and income inequality, as well as, the stifling of democracy by big money (see my article on Super-Pacs) are not problems that we can conveniently set aside as we live out our communal, post-adolescent fantasies. Unlike our parents, we cannot afford that luxury.

New Intellectual Property policy under revision: After receiving negative feedback, the Committee on Intellectual Property to compose a second draft

Posted by Julia Leef

The administration recently decided to revise its initial proposal for an Intellectual Property policy to address the rights of patentable student or faculty inventions due to negative feedback received from students and faculty.

The IP policy draft clarifies a basis for the College planning a shared revenue resulting from patents that it had a significant hand in funding, providing resources ranging from departmental equipment to college computers, allowing it to take control of the patentable works and 50 percent of the royalty income. 

The policy also requires full disclosure of inventions, which the College will review to see if it wants to pursue the patent. If so, the College would retain the right to sell its portion of the invention and the inventor would need to pay a licensing fee to use the patent.

In addition, the policy would create an Intellectual Policy committee which would oversee the policies regarding the ownerships of patents and copyrights in works created using college resources.

This draft is no longer in effect, according to Dean of Faculty Beau Breslin, who said the committee would start over crafting a new policy that would better encourage entrepreneurship among the students and faculty.

"We heard that faculty, students and community members were concerned that we were not being generous to entrepreneurship, and as a result we went back to the drawing board," Breslin said. "The general direction is to be more generous to the creative thoughts and the entrepreneurship of the students and faculty than the previous draft suggested."

The administration initially presented the proposal to the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee, and then to the faculty last semester. After the administration deemed changes necessary, it established an IP working group comprised of members of the student body, the faculty and administration to review and revise the policy.

Ethan Flum '13, vice president of Financial Affairs on the Student Government Association, is one of the student members who expressed his dissatisfaction with the original policy.

"There needs to be more checks on the administration's actions," Flum said. "This policy was proposed as though it were mainly complete and ready to be implemented. It was only until there was real backlash on the part of faculty and students that they backed down on these details of the draft."

Flum said he found issues with the contrast in language between the introduction and the body of the document, as well as the disclosure for the invention, which he said would include everything from resources to the initial conversation about the idea, if held on campus. He cited Isaiah Crossman '13 and Matthew Miron '13, this year's winners of the Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan competition, as an example. Their patentable invention, the iPhone application "Grumbul," would have been subject to college ownership had they developed it under the policy.

The specific changes for the revised draft have not yet been released, as Breslin said the committee is still in the initial stages of rewriting the policy. Dean of Students Rochelle Calhoun, when approached on the subject, said she had not seen the most recent review of the proposed policy, but understood that the original was still under review.

Flum said students should be more involved in this process, especially on the proposed IP committee, as they also will be affected by the new policy.

"Students need to be way more involved," Flum said. "As it stands now, no students are on the proposed IP committee. This is a committee that reviews disclosure forms, which in my view are way too long and extensive. Also, the committee is the only body that has the power to propose changes to the policy," he said, lamenting the lack of checks from the student body or faculty.

Flum said that as of 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, the IP working group had discussed significant changes regarding the differentiation between normal and non-normal support as well as the structure of the proposed IP committee.

The working group will continue to meet until June 1, after which it will reconvene at the start of the fall semester. Breslin said he hopes to have a new draft by that time, the proposal for which would go out in October. Should the policy pass, the IP working group will disband.

"They've been understanding of the students and faculty concerns, but just the simple fact that this policy was post-legal review, shows there is a huge disconnect between the administration and student body," Flum said, adding that he knew several students who said they would sue the school before giving them control over their ideas.

"When this process is done, I presume it will be an acceptable policy, but it is the responsibility of the Skidmore community, both students and staff, to make sure of that."

Skidmore's riding team prepares for IHSA Nationals: Two years ago Skidmore won Nationals and now they venture down to Raleigh, NC, to regain the title.

Posted by Lauren Bosche Next week, from May 3rd to the 6th, Skidmore's riding team will head down to Raleigh, North Carolina, to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's National Championships.

Unlike most other sports offered at Skidmore, riding has a year-round season. Competition generally starts in October and culminates in Nationals in the spring. Skidmore's team of 36 riders is led by Head Coach Cindy Ford and Assistant Coach Belinda Colgan who have helped garner much prestige for Skidmore's riding program.

The riding team has an outstanding competitive record, having won 16 of the past 18 Regional titles and numerous Zone titles as well. The Thoroughbreds have held the IHSA National Hunt Seat Team National Championship five times and the Reserve National Championship twice since 1990.

Skidmore's impressive riding caliber allows the team to compete in an organization that is comparable to Division I, despite Skidmore being a school of Division III athletics. Rather than riding against other Liberty League athletes, Skidmore rides against Zone II equestrians in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

The IHSA was founded in 1967 by Bob Cacchione. The organization's website states that its mission is to "[promote] competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional, zone, and national levels." The IHSA provides a unique showing experience, as riders do not need to own a horse to compete. The association was founded with equality in mind, as it asserts that any college student-regardless of his or her financial status or riding level-should be able to horse show in the same capacity as others that are better off.

The IHSA has taken a traditionally individualist sport and turned it into a team sport. When Skidmore competes at away shows, they ride the host team's horses, in lieu of trailering Skidmore's own show horses around the state. Then, when Skidmore hosts a show, all of the visiting riders have a jumping round or a flat class aboard one of Skidmore's horses. One doesn't need to own a horse to compete; on the contrary, Skidmore's team members benefit from riding a variety of horses.

According to the IHSA website, there are 404 riding teams in the IHSA, which are divided into Zones and then further divided into Regions. In the 2011-12 season, 6,468 Hunter Seat riders were registered to compete, while 1,819 Western riders signed on as well.

The IHSA truly tests horsemanship skills, regardless of a rider's background in the sport. A rider's show performance on a foreign horse is incredibly telling of their dedication. Additionally, the IHSA supports thousands of riders in their pursuit to become better horsemen and horsewomen by getting rid of a substantial part of monetary concern and through providing equal opportunities to its riders.

Skidmore heads into this year's National competition with an undefeated record. This season's finale is one to watch. Follow Skidmore Equestrian on Twitter to keep up with the latest news at http://twitter.com/#!/SkidEq

Player Profile: Chelsea Jones: Jones '12 talks about her journey on the riding team and the duty of a captain

Posted by Andrew Shi

Chelsea Jones '12 is one of the captains of the riding team. She has participated in the riding team all four years at Skidmore, but started riding at the age of two.

Jones continued riding and when she entered Skidmore she was rewarded with great success for her hard work."We have always done very well in our region and it is expected that we win every show. Sophomore year we actually won nationals and last year we were reserve champions at nationals. This year ...we recently won zones and are off to nationals in two weeks," Jones said.

Although the team has been very successful Jones says: "being on the team for four years has had its ups and downs just as any sport. I have been fortunate to go to nationals all four years for the team, however there is a lot of stress and expectations that arise from nationals that have led to the tougher times on the team." Those tough times include some performances Jones described as poor, but were good enough to win her class at zones in her division.

Jones has used her poorer performances as opportunities to learn, and her journey at Skidmore is testimony to her growth. "I started off on the team as a novice rider and have now made my way through to an open rider," (the highest level) Jones said.

It is perhaps her  growth as well as her will to win and ability to remain calm that made her captain. Despite the calm facade, Jones admits that she often is under a lot of pressure, mostly due to her own doing."I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed and take doing something wrong very hard and personal."

Jones says that leading the riding team to nationals has not been easy, and the role as captain is tolling. "I am very lucky this year because all the girls on the team are fantastic... however, to be the go between the coach and riders, as I care a great deal about both, is hard as sometimes there are sticky situations that I am the messenger for."

Also, with championships approaching, nerves are running high and Jones works hard to keep her teammates happy and motivated. "I am just there to cheer my teammates on and give them hugs and support no matter how well they do. If members on the team start to get down on themselves they are not going to perform as well as they can" Jones said.

After her final IHSA nationals and graduation Jones says she will continue riding but aspires to become a child psychiatrist. "I am a Saratoga mentor and have been since my freshman year of college. I have been a mentor for the same girl from age 6 to 10 and this has been one of the best experiences I have had at Skidmore. I have also interned at the Four Winds Psychiatric hospital in Saratoga where I found my passion for children with psychiatric disorders... For the future I am hoping to become a child psychiatrist so there is a long road ahead of schooling for me. "

For now though Jones will keep her focus on the IHSA nationals. "IHSA nationals are always stressful and nerve-wracking ...but this year seems special because it is my last year adding some pressure." Still Jones is optimistic about this year's results, although she says a lot depends on the horses that the team's randomly receive. "I am very confident in the team we have going this year as many of us have shown for the team at nationals before and if we are lucky enough to get the right horses I see no reason why we could not win."

Norman Finkelstein to address Israeli-Palestinian question in Gannett Auditorium: Controversial author will offer his insight on practical solutions to the historical problem

Posted by Julia Leef

This Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium, author and professor Norman Finkelstein will deliver a lecture on the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and outline possible solutions.

As the upheavals in the Middle East continue to unfold, from the Arab Spring to the simmering tension over Iran's nuclear program, several Skidmore students have decided to invite Finkelstein to campus and throw the spotlight back onto on one of the region's perennial questions-the issues of Israeli and Palestinian statehood.

Finkelstein has been writing on the subject for over two decades and has published several books since first tackling the question in his dissertation at Princeton University in 1988. His latest book, titled "Knowing Too Much," contends that the American Jewish community is becoming increasingly skeptical of Israel's approach toward several important factors of the conflict.

Finkelstein's appearance was organized by Danny Pforte '13, Salim Mohamed '15, Abdelmonem Mislati '15 and Ahmed Wheida '15. Working through the Office of Student Diversity Programs (OSPD), these students invited Finkelstein to showcase an analysis of the conflict they feel is underrepresented on Skidmore's campus.

"We urge everyone to come to this event and agree or disagree however they like. We feel that there is a real lack of engagement on this issue here. There is mostly one view that is accepted and we wish to spark conversations to challenge that view," Mislati said.

Echoing this sentiment, Wheida stated that "while there is freedom of speech here, there are things you don't speak about. That's too bad, we want to change that."

Wheida stressed the organizers' hope that Finkelstein's appearance will result in rigorous discussion and argument.

"Once people begin to talk, others offer counterarguments, then there are rebuttals, and so on. And along the way you learn more and more about the strengths and weaknesses of your own position, which is all we are interested in doing here-that is education."

On Tuesday night Finkelstein will be introduced by the organizers, deliver a prepared talk, and then open the floor up to questions from the audience.

Pulp Review: Max London's Brunch

Posted by Sandy Zhang

Hearty pot of joe

Juicy steak and seeping yolks

"Do you want my fat?"

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

Posted by Zoe Silver

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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