Posted by Grace Harman
I'm not going to lie: bread has always kind of scared me a little bit. I love the idea of fresh bread, but the entire process has always seemed so daunting. Therefore, when my grandma got me a bread maker for my birthday, I was overjoyed. With this device, it could not be easier to have fresh bread. You simply throw all the ingredients into the oven, press two buttons and when you come back,
Posted by Maxx Salat
Each year, October comes to a close with people across the globe donning guises, participating in trickery and telling tales of ghouls, goblins and miniature candy bars in celebration of All Saints' Day, known to many as Halloween. For college students, however, Halloween is often reduced to a haze of binge drinking and throwing together a last minute costume to ensure a reduced price on a Chipotle burrito, a black and orange variation on our usual weekend activities.
In an unlikely twist this past Wednesday, Oct. 31, a group of students demonstrated that Halloween can be celebrated on a college campus with mirth and pure intentions through the construction and orchestration of a haunted house at Falstaff's.
The haunted house was conceived, choreographed and acted entirely by students. Although this event only ran between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., students could be seen racing in and out of the venue for almost a day before the first tour.
Alex Orthwein '13, who served simultaneously as the eccentric greeter and creative force behind the haunted house, said the operation began almost a month prior to the event.
"We had been having meetings and reiterating ideas about shopping and production for almost a month, but it didn't seem like it would come together until James [Kuzio] '15 designed the sound for it. Then, as we were doing build on Tuesday, the whole thing suddenly seemed tangible," he said.
Funding for the project came primarily from Cabaret Troupe and out of the students' own pockets. Although involvement with the Theatre Department afforded Orthwein access to a number of costumes and other resources, many of the set pieces, effects supplies and cosmetics were either donated by students, or picked up on one of many shopping trips to stores such as Spirit Halloween and Allerdice Party Rent-All. In spite of these costs, the event remained free to any willing entrants.
The haunted house had several sections, each thematically independent of the last, but all with the sole purpose of terrifying students. Included amongst these were a cobweb-strewn hallway, a haunted farm, a confined chamber filled with smoke, and a dance floor littered with zombies who performed choreographed routines to numbers such as Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Divided by curtains and cobwebs, the Falstaff's known to students for its dance parties and open mics suddenly transformed into a claustrophobic madhouse filled with stalking specters and personified nightmares. Although the walking tour only took a few minutes, it served its purpose, a point made clear by the regular shrieks of students that could be heard from Perimeter Road.
"It may have been short, but I think it was clear that it was effective," Orthwein said.
The motivation behind the haunted house was to spread holiday cheer, according to Orthwein.
"I think that it's a lot of fun, and [it's] something that needs to happen," Orthwein said. "Halloween is something that can often be forgotten on college campuses. Yeah, we have Moorebid and those events, but I figure a good old haunted house is something that we needed to spread cheer and help out during midterms."
Orthwein said he has already expressed interest in putting on similar events for other holidays this year, as well as seeing to the continuation of the tradition he created.
"I'm a senior, and this was my chance to finally lead something great and I want to keep it going," he said. "I plan on continuing to do haunted houses every year, and getting better at them."
Orthwein wishes to thank everyone involved, including but not limited to Gavin Berger '15, Alyssa Hammond '16, Shea Sonsky '15, Allison Schilling '15, Will Hoeschler '14, Emma Starr '16, Kyle Amato '15, James Kuzio '15, John Barrack '15, Noah Samors '15, Kirsten Brink '14, Becca Zipursky '15, Ashley Turcan '16, Costume Shop Manager Patty Pawliczak, Theater Manager David Yergan, Associate Director of Leadership Activities Robin Adams, and Cabaret Troupe.
Posted by Julia Leef
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, students will have the opportunity, many of them for the first time, to vote in the 2012 Presidential Elections. A voting machine will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on campus in the Inter-Cultural Center in Case Center.
The College's promotion of student voters stems, according to its website, from the federal Higher Education Act, which requires colleges and universities to provide voter registration forms to all students, and from the College's Strategic Plan, which lists registering and voting to mark the actions of an informed citizenry, one of the main goals of the plan.
"There's been a lot of interest in voting, a lot of people who want to register to vote," Aaron Shifreen '13, who volunteered as a campus coordinator for Obama for America alongside the League of Women Voters at the Tang Museum, said. "We've registered probably 200-300 students, and that's not counting the students that Skidmore Democrats register."
The College has had many proponents of the election on campus, including Government Professor Robert Turner. Turner, who could not be reached in time for this article, moderated the "Saratoga Springs City Charter Open Forum" on Oct. 4. This forum helped educate voters about the proposed new charter for the City of Saratoga Springs that would create an Council/Manager form of government for the November ballot.
Dan Nathan, professor of American Studies, also contributed to the political atmosphere with his essay on presidential politics as the American pastime. The essay, which was published online on The Conversation, compared the intense rivalry and competitiveness of politics to sports.
"Like athletes, political candidates are written about and widely seen as heated rivals-for popularity, power, and prestige," Nathan said in his essay. "Presidential politics in the U.S., in particular, draw on the rhetoric and iconography of sport."
"It's your civic duty to vote, you live in a democracy The way people get authority and gain their power is through the citizenship, so if you don't necessarily vote, you're sort of disregarding the principles on which this country is founded on," Shifreen said. "People take that for granted and we are in a generation where nearly the majority of the country doesn't necessarily take the time to stay informed and make choices for themselves."
Regardless of these efforts, Shifreen said that there have been difficulties in getting students to register to vote. According to him, some of the efforts to increase student participation in politics, such as posting phone banks every Tuesday for the past month, were received with little to no interest from the student body.
"People have wanted to register to vote, which is good," Shifreen said. "But it's been very difficult to get people to do more than that. We tried to spread the word out as much as possible, and it just wasn't working."
After voting, students will have the opportunity to participate in the "Election Returns Extravaganza," a Student Government Association-planned event that begins at 5:30 p.m. and will run throughout the evening at the Tang Museum.
The event offers door-prizes for students wearing "I just voted" stickers, food, coverage of the election returns on CNN, MSNBC and Fox, live-streamed website coverage, and campaign and debate reaction highlights from shows such as Saturday Night Live, the Daily Show, Mo Rocca and The Colbert Report.
Ron Seyb, chairman of the Government department, will also be present at the event at 5:45 p.m. to discuss the swing states using interactive maps and polling data.
"Before you vote, really do stay informed on the issues that are most important to you," Shifreen said. "Even if you may not agree with each candidate on every issue, find the one that you feel like you agree with the most. It doesn't have to be Barack Obama, it doesn't have to be Mitt Romney, it could be Jill Stein or Gary Johnson. Your vote does count, and you should take it upon yourself to do your duty."
Posted by Ashley Copperstone
Recently, I discovered that my so-called best friend and housemate hates mushrooms. Her response to my inquiry as to why was simply that she had never tried one before. This did not go over well with me, considering my ritual consumption of a Portobello mushroom at least three times a week. I also consider trying things at least once to be fairly important, so since then I have sneakily been plotting away, trying to figure out how to introduce my friend to the glory that is the mushroom.
As I expected, this recipe not only got her to try mushrooms, but had her asking for more. Stuffed mushrooms are pretty much my favorite dish, regardless of additions and preferences. They are warm, filling and, like take-out, somehow get even better with time.
Stuffed Mushrooms:
? 4 sweet Italian sausages, de-cased
? 1 onion, chopped ? 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
? 1 bundle or bag of spinach ? ? bag of frozen peas, defrosted
? ? cup of tomato sauce
? Pinch of basil
? Pinch of oregano
? Salt and pepper to taste
? ? cup of grated cheese
? ? cup of breadcrumbs
? 4-6 Portobellos, washed and drizzled in olive oil
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350
Posted by Julia Leef
Incidents of Note:
- Sunday, Oct. 28: Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported at DUI at 4 a.m. on North Broadway and requested assistance for Skidmore students. Report issued.
- Monday, Oct. 29: Drug Law Violation: Officer located a marijuana pipe and a small amount of marijuana in a plastic bag at 11:22 p.m. while checking purses for alcohol in the lobby of the Williamson Sports Center for the Moorebid Ball. Paraphernalia and drugs confiscated and owner advised of report issued.
- Monday, Oct. 29: Power Outage: Campus-wide power outage occurred at 5 p.m. due to Hurricane Sandy. Proper emergency procedures were followed. Report issued.
- Thursday, Nov. 1: Trespass: One of the contractors reported at 11:32 a.m. witnessing a homeless person exiting the new construction site carrying a pillow and a blanket. Subject gone upon the officer's arrival. Report issued.
Further Incidents:
Friday, Oct. 26:
- College Violation: An excessive amount of people reported at 12:08 a.m. causing a loud disturbance in a room in Wiecking Hall. Officer dispatched reported that the group dispersed.
- College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 2:01 a.m. at Penfield Hall. Officer dispatched reported that the subjects complied with the request to lower the volume.
- Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 4:31 p.m. from Jonsson Tower to the emergency room for an ill student. Transport was completed by the dispatched officer. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Intoxicated students reported at 4:45 p.m. in front of the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. Officers dispatched reported that the subjects were gone upon their arrival.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 6:59 p.m. from Northwoods residence. Officers, maintenance, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department were dispatched. Cause of activation was due to marijuana smoke. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 9:03 p.m. from Jonsson Tower to the Saratoga Hospital Emergency Room for a cut finger. Officer provided the transport. Report issued.
- Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:23 p.m. on the third floor of Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched determined the source of the odor, but found no physical evidence in plain view.
Saturday, Oct. 27:
- College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 3 a.m. at Whitman Way. Officer dispatched reported that the residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
- Criminal Mischief: A removed manhole cover causing a hazard on Moore Way reported at 6:40 a.m. Officer and maintenance replaced it to its proper position. No damage reported. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 10:41 a.m. from an off-campus location to the Wilton Medical Arts. Dispatched officer completed the transport for medical attention. Report issued.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 11:11 a.m. in the Sasselin Art Building. Dispatched officers, maintenance, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was due to a system error. Report issued.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 1:46 p.m. for 2 Moore Way. Dispatched officers, maintenance, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, who were unable to determine the cause of the alarm. Report issued.
- College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 10:13 p.m. from a nearby apartment at Cane Crossing. Officers dispatched reported that the noise had ceased.
- College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 10:28 p.m. from a neighboring apartment on Dayton Drive. Officers dispatched reported the subjects dispersed upon the their arrival.
- College Violation: Loud music and a large gathering reported at 11:20 p.m. on the Northwoods Apartments grounds. Officers dispatched dispersed the crowd.
- Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated female student reported at 11:24 p.m. just off campus on State Street. Officers dispatched located the female and escorted her to her residence. No further problems reported.
- Medical: A vomiting female reported at 11:41 p.m. outside McClellan Hall. Officer dispatched located the subject and transported her to the Emergency Room via Emergency Medical System. Report issued.
Sunday, Oct. 28:
- Medical: Officer reported an intoxicated female at 12:09 a.m. at the Williamson Sports Center in need of medical assistance. Emergency Medical System transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
- Graffiti: Officer reported graffiti at 12:09 a.m. from the North Woods construction area into Scribner Village. Record of damage taken. Investigation initiated and pending.
- Medical: An intoxicated male reported at 12:15 a.m. in need of medical assistance on the first floor of Wiecking Hall. Subject transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
- Medical: An intoxicated male reported at 12:31 a.m. in the men's locker room at the Williamson Sports Center. Subject transported to the Emergency Room via Emergency Medical System. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Neighborhood complaint received at 12:31 a.m. regarding excessively loud music at the Williamson Sports Center. Administration advised.
- Suspicious Activity: Individuals reported at 12:41 a.m. smoking behind Wait Hall by the Basketball court. Officer dispatched reported the subjects were smoking cigarettes. No problems reported.
- Medical: Intoxicated female reported at 12:42 a.m. on the main floor of Moorebid Ball at the Williamson Sports Center. Emergency Medical System used to transport her to the Emergency room.
- Suspicious Activity: An officer observed a male and a female sitting at 12:52 a.m. on the floor of the Williamson Sports Center and requested that they stand up. Female yelled something about the male and fled the area. Investigation revealed a domestic dispute. Subjects separated. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Officer reported an escort at 1:08 a.m. from the Williamson Sports Center to McClellan Hall.
- Criminal Mischief: Officer reported observed damage at 1:57 p.m. to the exit signs on the first and second floor of Howe Hall. Report issued.
- Medical: An intoxicated male reported at 1:08 a.m. on the third floor of McClellan. Emergency Medical System transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Excessive noise reported at 1:15 a.m. from a neighboring Skidmore house. Reporting person contacted the police and was making an advisement to the College. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Officer provided an escort at 1:17 a.m. from McClellan Hall to the West Avenue Bus station for a non-student. Report issued.
- Medical: An intoxicated female reported at 1:21 a.m. at the Williamson Sports Center. Emergency Medical System transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 2:10 a.m. at McClellan Hall. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Burned food in the microwave determined to be the cause. Report issued.
- College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 4:35 a.m. on the North Woods Apartments grounds. Officers dispatched reported that subjects lowered the volume upon request.
- Campus Safety Assist: Officers provided several return transports at 6 a.m. from the Saratoga Emergency Room to Campus. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department requested information on a student at 9:08 a.m. Assistance provided.
- Campus Safety Assist: A female student on a bike reported in need of assistance at 12:06 p.m. at Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched located the female and provided assistance. Report issued.
- Medical: Person reported a deep cut to his right hand at 9:21 p.m. Officer responding at Jonsson Tower provided first aid and transported the subject to the Emergency Room.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 11:24 p.m. for Cane Crossing. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Cause of activation determined to be marijuana smoke. Report issued.
Monday, Oct. 29:
- Accident: Person completed an accident report at 9:57 a.m. for an injury sustained when she was dropped while rehearsing in Dance. Report issued.
- Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 12:56 p.m. in McClellan Hall. Dispatched officers discovered the odor to be diesel fuel from a parked garbage truck outside McClellan. Odor dissipated within ten minutes.
- Suspicious Odor: Suspicious odor reported at 5:53 p.m. at the front door of Wait Hall. Dispatched officer reported a subject smoking a cigarette. No other problems found.
- Forcible Sex Offense: Person in Campus Safety office at 8:10 p.m. to file a sexual misconduct report for an incident at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14. Report issued.
- Forcible Sex Offense: Person in Campus Safety office at 8:10 p.m. to report an act of sexual misconduct at 7:20 p.m. that day in Wait Hall.
Tuesday, Oct. 30:
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 8:59 a.m. for the Field House. Prior to contacting the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, Campus Safety received a report that the alarm activation was due to paint fumes. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Person requested an escort at 11:10 a.m. from Jonsson Tower to the Williamson Sports Center Dance Theater as she is on crutches and has not been able to make the appropriate accommodations yet. Officer dispatched provided assistance.
- Parking: Officer reported towing a vehicle at 1:07 p.m. as it has received numerous tickets for various violations. No attempts to rectify the situation. Report issued.
- Security Alarm: Security alarm activation received at 7:02 p.m. in the Schick Gallery. Officer dispatched checked the entire gallery and reported that the motion alarm was due to a curtain blowing from the circulation unit. No other disturbances noted.
- College Violation: Loud music reported at 9:08 p.m. being played on a laptop at the front door of Wait Hall. Dispatched officer reported that all subjects left the area prior to his arrival.
- College Violation: Two subjects reported at 10:15 p.m. on the roof of Rounds Hall. Officer dispatched reported the subjects located and escorted from the area. Report issued.
- Campus Safety Assist: Person requested a welfare check at 9:13 p.m. on a student. Dispatched officer made contact after several attempts. Student found satisfactory.
- Drug Law Violation: A suspicious odor reported at 10:36 p.m. on the third floor of Penfield. Dispatched officer reported drug and liquor law violations. Report issued. Paraphernalia confiscated.
Wednesday, Oct. 31:
- College Violation: Students reported at 12:54 a.m. being too loud in the second floor common area of Wait Hall. Officer dispatched reported that the four loud students dispersed.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 4:44 a.m. at Dayton Drive residence. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Officers reported a strong odor of burned marijuana and smoke determined to be the cause. Report issued.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 6:27 a.m. at Moore Way. Officer, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Officers reported a strong odor of burned marijuana and smoke determined to be the cause. Report issued.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 10:06 a.m. at Dayton Drive. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Officers reported a strong odor of burned marijuana and smoke determined to be the cause. Report issued.
- Suspicious Odor: An odor of marijuana reported at 3:46 p.m. at Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched reported the odor in the hallway, but no odor in room. Source of odor undetermined.
- Medical: Medical assistance requested at 10:10 p.m. for a bump to the head at Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer and Emergency Medical Transport. Officer examined the subject and advised that she seek further medical treatment. Subject transport to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
- Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:20 p.m. on the eleventh floor of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers noted no suspicious odor at that time.
Thursday, Nov. 1:
- Suspicious Activity: Suspicious activity reported at 9:21 a.m. in the North Woods trails. Officer dispatched located the area of concern but did not witness any further problems.
- Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:23 p.m. from Hillside Apartments B. Dispatched officers, maintenance, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Cause of activation was due to burned food. Report issued.
Posted by Kara Clark
Beatlemore Skidmania, one the College's most reputable events, will undergo several changes in operation and presentation this fall. Professor Gordon Thompson and students involved with the project sat down with Skidmore News to discuss these changes.
Thompson has enlisted students Sam Hoffmann '13, Xan Goldberg '13,
Cody DeFalco '14, Matt Kugler '14 and Oliver Mashburn '15 to organize and manage the concert this fall. The students will receive credit for the endeavor as an independent study.
Beatlemore will add another night show exclusively for the college community, extending its run from two nights to three. Tickets for this show will only be available at the Box Office and require a college ID for purchase. "The challenge [will be] to have a concert that is [only] known on campus," said Thompson, who has decided to omit this performance from the event's official press release. "I like the idea of having the last show largely for Skidmore students," he continued to say, "there's just going to be a lot more energy in the room."
"It's just something we noticed about being in the show last year," said Goldberg, who acts as the program's recruiter. He explains that an audience with students as the minority lacks energy, as opposed to an audience filled with his peers. "There wasn't the same kind of fire that you get when you're friends are in the audience," he explained.
Beatlemore will also hold viewing parties for Alumni to watch the community-only show. These will take place in Boston and New York.
Thompson went on to mention that the proceeds of the Saturday college-only show will be given to the Office of Financial Aid, so "when the college starts handing out [aid] to students, there's some extra money there to help." The last time Beatlemore donated its proceeds to financial aid (in 2009), the concert earned around $1,000. "[That will be] cool because it's the college show," said Goldberg, "it's the community specifically contributing to that cause to help bring people into the community."
The college-only show will also sport limited edition merchandise, thanks to the cooperation of Art Professors Sang Wook Lee and Deborah Hall. Lee's textile class will create limited edition silkscreen T-shirts for the event, while Hall's Communication Design class will provide a small selection of posters. "That will be nice because they're designed by students for students," says Hoffmann, who predominantly manages publicity for Beatlemore.
Perhaps the most significant change to Beatlemore's operation was the decision to accept auditions via video submission. The Beatlemore student coordinators reviewed close to 32 auditions, the selection process taking almost five hours to complete. In the end, 17 groups were selected. The final program features college-affiliated groups such as The Accents and The Bandersnatches, as well as student formed bands like Los Elk and Bo Peep and the Funk Sheep.
Last fall auditions occurred in person, and were managed by students enrolled in the Beatles music seminar. This process proved arduous for all parties involved. "We spent a total of twelve to thirteen hours sitting through auditions," Goldberg said. "Many people didn't [even] show up for their slots."
Beatlemore Skidmania will take place at 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 17. The college-only show will begin at 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 as well. Tickets are currently available at the Zankel Box Office as well as online - with the exception of Nov. 17's last performance.
Posted by Emily Singer
On Friday, Nov. 2, the Skidmore faculty came together in Gannett Auditorium for the monthly discussion on campus happenings, which included the recent bias incidents on campus.
President Philip A. Glotzbach addressed these incidents and expressed how disappointed he was that these events took place, especially on a campus that is supposed to be welcoming and supportive of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religion.
Glotzbach said he does not want another biased incident to occur, and that both the students and the faculty need to make an extra effort towards creating a more accepting campus. He said that there should be room for conversation without the fear of being judged or threatened, and that any type of behavior that is not accepting will not be tolerated.
This led to a discussion of the possibility of changing the all-campus requirement for students to take a non-Western course to have a greater focus on the diversity of any of the categories listed above. Some professors said they believe educating the students would help prevent aggressive behavior.
Glotzbach, along with several other faculty members, stressed the importance of having a safe, open environment for students to live in. He said if there is any type of feeling causing students to believe that they are not in a safe place, something must be done immediately to fix this.
The meeting also touched on a new document called "Policies on Policies", an outline which states the actions that must be taken before new policies are established, and which people must be involved in order to have new policies instated on the campus.
President Glotzbach also announced the College's recent achievements, such as receiving the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education award for using renewable geothermal energy to heat the school buildings. Only four schools in the country received this award for geothermal energy, and Glotzbach said he hopes to have the campus operating on at least 50% geothermal energy by 2020.
The discussion also briefly mentioned student debt and whether students can manage the amount of debt from their college tuition by the time they graduate. It was understood that students from Skidmore College graduate with a manageable amount of debt, and that it can easily be paid off a few years after graduating.
Posted by Jake Dolgenos
On Nov. 6, 2012, I will cast my first presidential vote. I will be voting as a college student and as a liberal. I will be voting as a man.
But I will also be voting as a big brother, as a feminist and as the father I hope I can be someday. Because as complicated as the election cycle can seem, there are some issues on which Mitt Romney and Barack Obama truly do disagree. And right now, across the country, there is an attack on the reproductive rights of women that pollsters and pundits continue to describe as an issue the country just doesn't care about. Alongside a struggling economy and the threat of a nuclear Iran, this arena of gender issues has somehow been relegated to the fringes of the discussion. But it would be difficult to exaggerate its importance.
After listening to 90 minutes of the foreign policy debate last Monday, I will be the first to confess that it can, at times, feel impossible to stay truly informed. The issues we face as a nation both internationally and domestically do not lend themselves to clear-cut definitive answers that the two candidates can use to neatly differentiate themselves. Rather, it is with broad and necessarily complex outlooks and strategies that Romney and Obama propose to handle the economy, the current Syrian chapter of the Middle East mess and the looming issue of our growing national debt. These strategies are often in agreement on many points; peeling apart the specific differences between the candidates' approaches to Iran is something we can all be forgiven for not having the time to undertake. So when there is a clear difference between the candidates, when a specific policy or range of policies do neatly divide the two party platforms, it is worth paying attention.
At present, Republicans and Democrats do not see eye to eye on the issue of abortion rights, access to contraceptives and legislation supporting equal pay for women.
Let me describe for you my own thought process regarding the sexual side to the discussion of female rights. "No one is 'pro-abortion,'" as the President once said, but the procedure sometimes represents a choice born of unfortunate necessity.
If you are serious about limiting abortions, or making them difficult to obtain, you had better be willing to take the distribution of contraceptives and comprehensive (that's code for "actual") sexual education seriously.
If you are unwilling to take these preventative measures, you had better be willing to support legislation making it possible for low-paid women to take maternity leave, the right to push for flexible work schedules, higher (or just fair) wages, and government-subsidized daycare and childrens' health insurance, not to mention providing classroom space for the millions of inevitable new children.
If you are unwilling to fight for this legislation, you had better accept the fact that with a higher birth rate and no public support, huge numbers of children will be born into poverty or households that cannot adequately support them and women as a group will continue to be underrepresented in challenging fields where the stresses of pregnancy and child-rearing keep them from advancing. Schools will be full and underfunded.
Now, I know that Republicans want to make abortion an illegal procedure. (1) But they also staunchly oppose contraceptive-distributing groups like Planned Parenthood and continue to fight for 'abstinence-only' sexual education, which ignores realistic discussions about contraception. (2) On top of this, Republicans have fought and continue to fight against legislation supporting mothers - they fight against increasing funding for public schools, (3) ideologically oppose the kind of "waste" that programs subsidizing daycare and children's health care constitute, and have staunchly resisted, and, in some cases, repealed, legislation making it illegal to discriminate against women, in the name of avoiding "over-litigation." (4)
The sum total effect of these policies is to unravel the progress in women's rights that has been hard won over the past century. If women must live with the constant threat of pregnancy - and without adequate support, pregnancy is and will always be a threat - they can never truly compete with men in the workplace, who need never fear a 9-month loss in performance and the long-lasting repercussions this can have on the arc of a career. Despite the progress we've made, women are still only making 77 cents to a man's dollar (skeptics should look up the math - it's accounting for profession and education but NOT specific job description. I still hold its conclusions to be valid, but it's worth investigating) (5) imagine what that could be without the reforms we've fought for as a nation, a nation in which more than two-thirds of families primarily rely on the income of a woman.
Is it any surprise that this election will see one of the highest gender discrepancies in history?
I know that many buy into the message we're fed - that the economy is the issue that will truly define this election, the issue that people really care about. I know many conservatives who don't support the Republican Party's social platform, but will vote for Romney this November on the strength of his economic policy. I want those half-reluctant conservatives to know that you cannot avoid responsibility for the social policies you support when you cast that vote next week. These issues are more important than the media admits, and just because you may have the benefit of avoiding personal setbacks at the hands of these policies, your friends, sisters and, someday, daughters may not be so lucky.
We choose, with our votes, the world we want to live in, the country we wish to be a part of. Don't relegate yourself to the losing side of history. Don't be a part of any organization that fights against the rights of women, gays and lesbians and immigrants. Don't be a part of a party that has fought to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of poor, urban and young citizens in key swing states leading up to the election with heavily-targeted new voter ID laws.
On Nov. 6, 2012, I will cast my first presidential vote. I will be voting as a feminist and a progressive. I will be voting as a big brother, for my little sisters who can't vote yet.
I will be voting for Barack Obama.
It is fine if you disagree with me about the Republican Party's historical and current treatment of women's issues (people's issues - you can't call 51% of the population a special interest group). But here is where, generally, I'm getting my information.
(1) "Numerous studies have shown that abortion endangers the health and well-being of women, and we stand firmly against it." From the Republican Party Platform.
(2) Their fight against Planned Parenthood is well-publicized, and their support for abstinence-only sexual education is a part of their position on "consumer choice in education" which also slams teacher unions and clearly advocates a greater reliance on standardized testing to determine merit, a policy teachers almost universally oppose. When Mitt Romney says he "loves teachers" what exactly does he mean?
(3) Once more, this can be found in the Republican Party Platform. But this requires some explanation, because merely calling the Right out for not wanting to increase education spending is disingenuous. As a party, they are merely in support of voucher systems, charter schools and other new kinds of institutions to make changes to the entire field of education (and for-profit colleges, which is its own can of worms I will not open here). To find the really damaging policies on education, you have to look at the state level, where Republican Governors have been cutting funding for public education for years. Most recently, Scott Walker in Wisconsin cut funding for public schools by over $800 million, leading to massive layoffs in public schools across the state. In my own home state of California, similar cuts made a decade ago have resulted in plunging test scores and we now stand, as one of the nation's wealthiest states, with
(4) I'm referencing the Lilly Ledbetter Act specifically, which you can read about here.
But Republican Governors have been unraveling fair pay laws across the country for several years now (Not to pick on Scott Walker, but he's been so very proactive.
I don't want to deny off-hand the legitimacy of the Republican position on the bill and others like it: that it would just clog the judicial system with fruitless litigation. Conservatives have a general (though recently not particularly well-exercised) opposition to judicial activism, and, of course, interference in free enterprise. But laws mandating equal pay without regard to gender have been on the federal books since 1963 when the Equal Pay Act was passed, and it's hard to conceive of a way in which women can exercise their right to demand equal treatment without litigation. Whether you accept the Republican position is your call.
(5) I choose to give this citation because I think witnessing the controversy will give a greater sense for where the truth can be found. The specific statistic may vary between professions and, in some cases the differences are not especially dramatic, but the fact that men still universally come out the winners in every field is telling on its own. Take it for what you will.
Jake Dolgenos is a member of the class of 2014, reads boats and rows books, and while he adores conservatives individually, he agrees that as a group they're rather unfortunately shortsighted.
Posted by Katie Peverada
KP: You were a successful player -- All-American and you played professionally -- how did you become so dedicated and involved?
RM: It was just something that I got involved in. I had some good coaches, had some good luck, worked hard, and just got there. I love the game.
KP: Did you know while you were a player that you wanted to be a coach? How did that come about?
RM: It was kind of a natural evolvement. I went to grad-school for Physical Education and took classes in Psychology in a Masters Program, which was kind of the advent for sports psychology and coaching. I'd already worked for a few years and been in the army, so it was cool to do something else.
KP: Do you have any other passions besides soccer?
RM: Yes, I have a lot of passions. I've been writing about 40 years - poetry, prose, thoughts, children's stories and a couple books. I also have an organic garden in Vermont with an orchard, blueberry plants and raspberries. I built a post-and-beam barn last summer with the help of a former player. I like to be out in the woods and outside.
KP: You've coached at Middlebury, UVM, with the New England Revolution - how does Skidmore compare to all of those places?
RM: At Skidmore you get a different kind of young guy. They're more rounded in many ways and have a lot more interests. We have musicians, guys that build sets for productions and artists. At the other schools guys were pretty focused on just soccer. We have to be able to be flexible with everything they have going on.
KP: You graduated 10 seniors from last year's team and lost two Liberty League Honorable mentions. Yet you're 9-4-1 this year. Why?
RM: Last year we had some injuries, but this year we have a healthy freshman goalkeeper with ten shutouts. And the freshman class is the best class we've ever had.
KP: What makes the vibe of this team different from years past?
RM: We had good leadership last year and we do again this year. The guys are really together and there are no cliques - nothing going on.
KP: As a coach, how do you make sure your athletes are on top of their schoolwork?
RM: We ask anybody below a 3.0 to set up a meeting with SAS, and if they don't, then they're not going to train or play. Our overall team grade point average is above a 3.3. They're smart guys and they're good students. They find a great resource in SAS.
KP: How do you utilize your two assistant coaches?
RM: Greg Lloyd, a former captain, who takes care of all the everyday pieces that need to get done -- folders for games, does the fitness, a lot of recruiting pieces. Steve Freeman volunteers his services and works with our defense. We also have Jeff Gold, who works with our goalkeepers, and Peter McDonald who has done some scouting for us.
KP: What is your favorite part about coaching?
RM: I love the interaction with the players. I love to go out every day and smile and shake hands with them and find out how they're feeling. I just think the interaction with the players is the best thing and I love going out there.
Posted by Katie Peverada
KP: You were a player on the Puerto Rican National Volleyball team - how does that transfer to coaching?
HA: I say this as a joke but it's the reality to it. Once I couldn't play anymore, then coaching became the alternative. It's a natural progression - I could stay in the game, pass on a little bit of what I learned, and hopefully continue in that tradition of playing and coaching.
KP: You've been at Skidmore since 1995 - how did you end up here?
HA: It was a long road. My husband graduated from Cornell, where I was an assistant for several years, and then he came to work at Union College. So we were in the area, the position opened up, I applied and got the job.
KP: What is your favorite part about coaching here at Skidmore?
HA: It sounds a little clich??, but I enjoy the kids. I enjoy especially this time of the year as they're graduating. Even though I'll miss them, it is a fun and exciting new adventure that the seniors are getting ready to take on.
KP: You've been very successful throughout your time here, making 7 NCAA tournaments and winning 4 Liberty League tournaments. How do you see this year's team stacking up against past teams?
HA: This team is very similar to last year's, as we lost only a couple of players. One of the biggest qualities of last year and this year is that the team never gives up. We can get killed in a set and then we come back strong. We just don't seem to give up. We have good talent but it's just the never give up attitude that I really like about this team.
KP: Your coaching staff has won Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year seven times. How/why do you three work so well together?
HA: Our egos are very, very small. One of the assistant coaches is my husband and the other one has been with us for ten years now. There is very little ego. As the head coach I have the final word, but we talk as equals and they'll openly tell me "I think that's a bad idea" or "I think we have something better." We cooperate with each other very well.
KP: You just had 11 girls named to the Liberty League All-Academic team - what do you do as a coach to ensure the players are succeeding academically?
HA: They make sure themselves, I think. You ask questions, make sure they do the work, but ultimately they are the ones responsible for that.
KP: What is your favorite thing to do outside of volleyball and coaching?
HA: I actually eat out a lot! I enjoy it! I enjoy sewing and the neighbors' kids keep me very entertained.
Posted by Eric Stumpf
The Saratoga Film Forum will screen Christopher Ford and Jake Schreier's "Robot and Frank" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Nov. 2. The film will also run at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov 3.
Winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at Sundance, "Robot and Frank" presents its own quirky take on sci-fi. Frank Langella stars as the eponymous character, a fairly grumpy retiree set in his ways. He gets along all right, finding comfort in his love interest Jennifer (Susan Sarandon).
But Frank's son Hunter (James Marsden) worries about his ability to live at home and, rather than place Frank in a nursing home, decides to buy him a robot. The robot is a fully functional humanoid specifically programmed to improve Frank's health.
Comedy and drama ensue as the two interact and adapt to each other's presences. The film also acts as a cautionary tale about technology - Frank takes advantage of the robot in order to satisfy an old habit of jewel thieving (Think "The Intouchables" meets Ray Bradbury meets "Entrapment").
I've always loved sci-fi, especially that specific genre of "in the near future." This film tackles the idea beautifully by implementing simple ideas and new technologies that fit the story perfectly. "Robot and Frank" goes further than the grumpy-old-man story line might imply, and gives beautiful allegories about aging and accepting new things instead.
Frank Langella excels in his role, and placing him opposite an expressionless robot only solidifies his powerful acting. The robot itself is also quite fantastic in both voice (Peter Sarsgaard) and movement (dancer Rachael Ma).
Adam Ross of the Aristocrat states "... a marvel of the highest order. "Robot and Frank" manages to seamlessly blend comedy, science fiction and drama into a film that is hilarious, truly original and utterly heartfelt."
Fear the future or yearn for it - but either way this film is a must see.
Relevant Majors: Sciences, Dramatic Arts and Psychology
Stay tuned for next week's review of "Arbitrage," coming to the Film Forum on Nov. 8.
Posted by Maddy Tank
First year student Camilla Busby held an exhibit in the Case Center Gallery this past week. Her work focuses primarily on the human body, exploring the shape and contour of the figure in all different forms.
Busby blends oils to create textural illusions that echo the feel of the body itself. Her other featured works depict surrealist settings, portraiture, and still life studies.
Busby's artistic training includes a summer program at the Rhode Island School of Design, and a semester at Kunsth??jskolen Schoolin Holb??k, Denmark where she studied drawing and oil panting during her gap year between high school and college.
The majority of the paintings in Busby's show were created during her time in Denmark, while the others were completed during the latter half of her gap year in her hometown of Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut.
Camilla plans to pursue a studio art major with a concentration in painting during her time at Skidmore College. Camilla's work will also be featured in the upcoming Case Gallery show in late November, sponsored by AidsBenefit, which will be focused on the durability of the human body.
Joshua Aronson, associate professor of applied psychology at New York University, will discuss "Stereotype Threat and Its Implications for Colleges and College Students" in a free public talk scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5 in Gannett Auditorium. A reception will follow.
Aronson collaborated with Claude Steele of Stanford University to publish a 1995 landmark study on "stereotype threat," which they described as a performance-inhibiting phenomenon that occurs when students confront negative expectations of the particular stereotypes assigned to them.
"Being targeted by well-known cultural stereotypes can be very threatening," Aronson says on his webpage (http://joshua.aronson.socialpsychology.org/). "It engenders a number of interesting psychological and physiological responses, many of which interfere with intellectual performance and academic motivation."
Aronson earned a B.A. degree in psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and master's and doctoral degrees in social psychology at Princeton. His awards and honors include a Career Award from the National Science Foundation; being named a fellow by the Society of Personality and Social Psychology (2011); a teaching excellence award from the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (2009); and receiving NYS's Daniel E. Griffiths Research Prize.
Aronson's work has shown how stereotype threat depresses the standardized test performance of African American, Latino, and female college students.
"Changing the testing situation, even subtly, to reduce stereotype threat can dramatically improve standardized test scores," Aronson said.
According to Aronson, much can be done to boost students' achievement and enjoyment of school by understanding and attending to these psychological processes. He asserts that we must fight the power of stereotypes and prejudice that foil the academic aspirations of young people subjected to suspicions of inferiority.
In a profile published on the NYU web site, Aronson said his research focuses on the psychological reasons for the gap between minorities and whites in terms of academic achievement and enjoyment of school.
Aronson said he traces his interest to his childhood, during the time of de-segregation.
"I had friends who were black and Latino who were tremendously smart, but once they got into the class they were not so smart," Aronson said. "I remember being puzzled by that and wondering why it happened."
Aronson's visit is co-sponsored by the offices of the Dean of Faculty, Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Skidmore Faculty Network.
Posted by Kristina Kassis
As a 19-year old woman attending one of the most rigorous Liberal Arts schools in the nation, it may seem like I am truly privileged. However, I view my education not as a privilege, but rather as a right that anyone, regardless of any factors that make them different, should possess.
So naturally, the October 9 shooting of 14-year-old Malala Yousufzai, a school student and education activist from the town of Mingora in Pakistan, has left me, along with much of the world, shocked, deeply saddened and above all, outraged. It is devastating to know that today there are still people out there who will try to kill a child for voicing her beliefs.
It is even more devastating to know that these very men have eluded capture for so many years. I am certain I can speak for many when I say that the U.S and other nations should continue to band together to eradicate the Taliban once and for all.
Since the age of 12, when the Taliban invaded her region and closed many all-girls schools, Yousafzai has been active in advocating for women's education. In fact, Yousafzai apparently started speaking about education rights as early as September 2008.
"How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education!" Yousafzai exclaimed to her audience in a speech that was widely broadcast in both print and on television throughout the region.
At only 11 years old, Yousufzai decided she wanted to be a politician. She wrote a daily blog detailing her life under the oppressive regime and even made a documentary about her plight in 2009 in conjunction with director Adam B. Ellick.
Hearing a girl so young speak out for what she believed in, and speak out against an oppressive group, is inspiring to say the least, but also eye-opening. The plight of women in Pakistan is something few would know about if it weren't for Yousafzai's brave attempts to share her struggle with the world. That is why she received the country's highest honor for bravery, an honor she most definitely deserved. I did not personally know Yousafzai, but I am infinitely proud of her and pray everyday for her swift and full recovery.
On October 9, the Taliban may have silenced a revolutionary voice, but not permanently. Perhaps as a testament to her unfailing tenacity and perseverance, Yousafzai is already writing and communicating with her doctors. By eliminating Yousufzai's voice, the Taliban thought they would strike fear in the hearts of people worldwide struggling to obtain education, but it seems like their attempts have achieved just the opposite.
The attack has created a surge of support behind Yousufzai. In fact, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched a United Nations petition in Yousafzai's name, using the slogan: "I am Malala." This petition demands that all children worldwide be in school by the end of 2015. Brown said he would present the petition to Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari in November.
I applaud Gordon Brown's efforts and the efforts of all activists who have stood by and continue to stand by Yousafzai during her recovery, but again, I do not think this is enough and I do not think Brown's goal is realistic without the complete eradication of the Taliban, which will require help from many nations.
We must band together as a global community to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.
The U.S and other nations have already been working hard for the past 11 years to eradicate the Taliban, and I believe these efforts must continue until everyone can stand up for their rights without fear of persecution for their beliefs.
Until then, I will stand by my own belief that EVERY child, boy or girl, deserves an education and hope for a brighter future. I am not simply a woman. I am not simply a student. I am Malala.
Posted by Zoe Dartley
John Cariani's Almost, Maine, as directed by Larry Opitz, was entertaining, charming and generally heart-warming. The show captured the exhilaration, sorrow, joy and uncertainty of love, and it was clear that the audience was actively immersed in the play's emotional roller coaster.
Almost, Maineflowed seamlessly scene-to-scene. The play's transitions added to its romance and charm with soft lighting and music selected by James Kuzio '15 and Opitz. The play's staging was just as thoughtful - since there were never more than three people on stage at a time, actors were able to fully utilize the intimate black-box stage. Blocking could have been difficult, given the minimal amount of space provided in the theatre.
Interestingly enough, Almost, Maine is written to be performed with only four different characters. In Opitz's version, twelve different actors rotate between parts. Every actor had their own unique energy, and it was interesting to see a specific actor change in adaptation to their different characters.
Notable performances included Olivia Nielsen '13 and Alex Orthwein '13 as Marvalyn and Steve in "This Hurts." Orthwein portrayed a man with a self-proclaimed mental "deficiency" that causes him to be immune to pain. Nielsen plays Steve's neighbor who (by smacking him over the head with an ironing board) helps him feel.
Will Hoeschler '14 and Will Clark '16 also impressed the audience with their performance in the vignette "They Fell." Hoeschler and Clark played two friends who realize they have literally and metaphorically fallen for each other.
The only noticeable flaws in the play's near perfect run had to do with Cariani's writing, which could at times be kitschy and predictable. However, Almost, Maine is so endearing that this is barely noticeable, especially due to Opitz's direction and the talent of his cast.
Whether erupting in laughter or cooing in sympathy or sorrow, the audience had all the right reactions. Almost, Maine captured its audience, not only by tearing at their heartstrings, but also through empathetically depicting realistic romance.
Posted by Mohannad Aljawamis
"The Freshman Fifteen" has quickly become one of the most popular and most commonly used expressions for teasing and unintentionally warning first-year college students in the United States and Canada of the number of pounds that they often put on as a result of the new lifestyle of college.
While the phrase seems to mock the naivety and inexperience of newcomers, the idea actually remains true and very prominent amongst college students. Studies show that most first-year students experience a weight gain at some point during their first semester.
Although this may seem frightening, it is important to recognize that you have control over "The Freshman Fifteen." The frequency and assertiveness of this term may imply that it is a definite occurrence, but if you know the causes of this phenomenon you can easily avoid it not only in your freshman year, but also throughout your entire college experience.
Step One: Know the Causes
When dealing with an unfamiliar issue, learning and understanding are critical to coming up with a solution. You must be able to discern fact from fiction. While you may believe that "The Freshman Fifteen" is out of your control, what you eat is an essential factor in working to lose or gain weight.
Skidmore College offers its students an all-you-can-eat dining hall, in which the food is delicious and there are plenty of options to satisfy a wide variety of tastes. The range of foods and the attractive display often makes it very tempting for students to go for seconds and unintentionally over-eat. Further, because the dining hall works with such a massive quantity of food and patrons each day, the nutritional value of the food does not always seem to be a priority. It is much easier to prepare french fries than baked potatoes and the accompanying condiments.
However, food is only one part of the story. There are several factors that one must consider when it comes to weight control in college life. Alcohol can be a large part of the social scene, and many students drink large quantities without realizing its effect on their weight. A standard size Margarita has around 550 calories. A Long Island Iced Tea has 543 calories, more than are found in a Big Mac from McDonald's. Most shots and beers contain around 100 calories per serving. Without addressing the quantity of sugar in most common mixers, a college drinker can consume somewhere between 400 and 1000 calories in a night of drinking.
Additionally, sleep deprivation can also cause weight gain. While sleep seems to be a time where we shut down, unbeknownst to some, our bodies are still functioning and processing our food intake from the day prior. Lack of sleep causes low levels of leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism.
Step Two: Take Action
As we depart from the halfway point of the semester, it may become clear to some students that "The Freshman Fifteen" is not a joke. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and keep them in mind every day.
It is important to work out regularly, make dietary choices with nutrition in mind when eating in the dining hall, organize your schedule, and get enough sleep. Additionally, students should feel free to contact one of the College's Peer Health Educators, who have been educated on this phenomenon, and are well outfitted to help students in need. Health Promotions is located on the first floor of Jonsson Tower in Health Services. You can also contact Mohannad Aljawamis, a current Peer Health Educator, at maljawam@skidmore.edu.
