Campus Safety Reports: Feb. 8 to 14

 Incidents of Note:

Saturday, Feb. 9-Liquor Law Violation: Officer requested assistance at 12:40 a.m. at a Falstaff's event for an uncooperative student who refused to give ID when requested, which is a violation of the College's policy. Student complied with the request when the other officers arrived and agreed to leave the Falstaff's event for the evening. Report issued.
Sunday, Feb. 10-Campus Safety Assist: Three unknown males reported at 12:45 a.m. running from the taxi without paying for the ride. Theft of services report issued. Photos from the cab to be delivered at a later date.
Wednesday, Feb. 13-Missing Person: Concern reported for a roommate at 1 a.m. who should have returned from a date by that time. An investigation ensued and the student was located safe and sound with the assistance from the Saratoga Springs Police Department.

Further Incidents:

Friday, Feb. 8:
Emergency Phone: Activation of emergency phone received at 12:03 a.m. from Cane Crossing. Officer dispatched reported the phone was reset and no one was in the vicinity. False activation determined.
College Violation: Officer noted excessive noise at 1:52 a.m. from a room in McClellan Hall while on patrol. Residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 3:50 a.m. from Dayton Drive to the Emergency Room. Officer dispatched completed the transport.
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 9:50 a.m. at Cane Crossing. Dispatched all units, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Cause of the alarm determined to be the excessive use of aerosol. Report issued.
Alarm: The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported receiving an alarm at 4:45 p.m. for the Skidmore Employees Federal Credit Union Office. Dispatched officer reported that an employee accidentally set off the alarm. Saratoga Springs Police Department advised. Report issued.
Accident: A person reported at 6:52 p.m. that his vehicle slid down Wait Hill into the North Woods construction site. Officer dispatched for assistance. No injuries reported.
Emergency Phone: Emergency phone activation received at 7:37 p.m. No response from the caller. Officers dispatched reported finding no one in vicinity. False activation reported.
College Violation: Excessively loud music reported at 9:30 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Dispatched officers reported that residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
College Violation: Officer reported a drug law violation at 10:01 p.m. in plain view in McClellan Hall. Report issued.
College Violation: Officer reported a drug law violation at 10:20 p.m. in plain view at Penfield Hall. Report issued.
College Violation. A noise complaint received at 10:42 p.m. at Moore Way. Dispatched officer reported that residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
Campus Safety Assist: An officer escort requested at 11:17 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Officer dispatched provided the escort.

Saturday, Feb. 9:
Campus Safety Assist: A welfare check requested at 12:35 a.m. for a friend at McClellan Hall after receiving concerning text messages. Officers dispatched. Subject located and appeared to be fine. Report issued.
College Violation: Excessively loud music reported at 1:10 a.m. at the Bridgman Apartments. Officer dispatched reported that residents complied with the request to lower the volume for the remainder of the night.
Fireworks: The sounds of fireworks reported at 1:30 a.m. at Whitman Way. Officers dispatched reported that subjects were gone on arrival and found no other problems.
College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 3 a.m. at Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched reported students from the same room playing a board game in the common area. Students complied with the officers' request to lower the volume.
Fire Alarm/Drug Law Violation: Fire alarm activation received at 12:21 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Dispatched officers, Unit-10, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Cause of the alarm was determined to be the burned food. Drug law violation found in plain view upon response to the alarm. Report issued.
Emergency Phone: An activation of the emergency blue phone received at 6:58 p.m. from Dayton Drive. Officer dispatched reported that the activation was due to a vehicle hitting it. Report issued.
Criminal Mischief: An officer reported at 9:50 p.m. finding a four-inch hole in a wall approximately one foot from the floor in Kimball Hall. Unknown perpetrator(s). Report issued.
Medical: Assistance requested at 8:23 p.m. at Wiecking Hall in rewrapping a hand in which the reporting person has had stitches. Officer dispatched applied first aid. Report issued.
Liquor Law Violation: Officers reported a liquor law violation at 10:09 p.m. in plain view at Wilmarth Hall. Report issued.
Medical: A person reported at 11:18 p.m. that her friend had been burned on a stove at Whitman Way. Officers dispatched reported transporting the victim to the Saratoga Hospital. Report issued.
Liquor Law Violation: A liquor law and tobacco violation reported at 11:30 p.m. in Wait Hall. Report issued.

Sunday, Feb. 10:
College Violation: Loud noise reported at 12:26 a.m. at Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched reported that the subjects lowered the volume upon request.
Criminal Mischief: Fire alarm activation received at 2:16 a.m. at Wait Hall. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Officers on the scene advised that a fire extinguisher was set off. Report issued.
Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 12:10 p.m. to the Saratoga Springs Emergency Room from an off-campus location. Dispatched officer completed the transport. Report issued.
Graffiti: Graffiti reported at 10:50 p.m. on the first floor lounge of McClellan Hall. Officer dispatched photographed the damage and issued a report.

Monday, Feb. 11:
Criminal Mischief: Report received at 7:32 a.m. of a hole in the wall of the second floor McClellan Hall lounge area. Photo taken and damage recorded. Report issued.
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 11:50 a.m. for Dayton Drive. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Cause of the alarm determined to be a cooking error. Report issued.
Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 5:50 p.m. in the Jonsson Tower basement. Officer located two subjects smoking. No drug evidence in plain view. Report issued.
Campus Safety Assist: A person entered the Campus Safety Office at 6:37 p.m. to report that a female was having an asthma attack and she has called 911. Dispatched officers and additional Saratoga Springs Police Department dispatched. Subject was transported to the Emergency Room. Report issue.d
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 8:23 p.m. at Dayton Drive. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Alarm activation due to a cooking error. Report issued.

Tuesday, Feb. 12:
Campus Safety Assist: Assistance requested at 1:16 a.m. with four males who will not voluntarily leave the Scribner Library at closing. Officers dispatched reported that subjects were gone upon arrival.
Alarm: Stopper alarm activation received at 1:45 a.m. at Rounds Hall. Officers reset the alarm box and found no one in the vicinity.
Campus Safety Assist: A concerned parent requested a welfare check at 3:14 a.m. of a student in Wait Hall. Officer dispatched made contact with the student and she in turn called her parent.
Campus Safety Assist: Assistance requested at 7:35 p.m. for a male who injured his knee at the Williamson Sports Center. Dispatched officer transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

Wednesday, Feb. 13:
Suspicious Odor: An odor of something burning reported at 12:10 p.m. on the second floor of Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched all officers and maintenance. Officer reported that there was a burnt ballast in one of the bathrooms and that maintenance will have the ballast changed by an electrician.
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 6:47 p.m. at a North Woods Apartment complex. Dispatched all officers and maintenance and advised the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was caused by cooking. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department was advised of the same.
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 8:19 p.m. from a North Woods Apartment complex. Dispatched officers and maintenance and advised the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was caused by cooking. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised of the same.
Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 9:22 p.m. on the second floor of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers who reported that there was a faint odor in the hallway. No odor found in the room.
College Violation: A noise complaint received at 11:41 p.m. in Kimball Hall. Dispatched officers reported the area quiet upon their arrival.

Thursday, Feb. 14:
Fire Alarm: Fire alarm received at 8:06 p.m. for the Hillside B Apartment. Dispatched officers and maintenance and notified the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was due to cooking.
Suspicious Activity: Concern reported at 10 p.m. about a subject conducting business on campus. Report taken and is to be forwarded to the proper college authority for a further follow-up if necessary.
College Violation: A large party reported at 11:58 p.m. at a Scribner Village Apartment complex. Dispatched officers reported located a large group of people inside and outside the apartment. Group dispersed without incident at the officers' request.

Senior Sentiments

Posted by JT Treadwell Pulp Editor ('13)

A Weekend With The Roosevelts: Film Forum Presents "Hyde Park on Hudson": Franklin Roosevelt struggles to balance personal and political life in Roger Miller's charming film.

Posted by Kathryn Butler This Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 PM and Sunday Feb. 17 at 3 PM, the Saratoga Film Forum will present Roger Miller's charming historical film "Hyde Park on Hudson." The film is set in June 1939, in which Europe is on the brink of war, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) is trying to balance personal and political skirmishes of equal bedlam in his summer home, Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York. Mitchell's movie centers around one turbulent weekend as the President hosts the first-ever visit of a British monarch, King George VI (Samuel West)and his wife Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Colman), who are desperately seeking America's support in the looming war against Germany. However, they are not the only guests during this weekend stay, and the tension in Hyde Park is not merely political. Seen through the eyes of FDR's distant cousin, close confidant and mistress, Margaret "Daisy" Suckly (Laura Linney), FDR's personal entanglements complicate the royal visit as his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams), mother Sara (Elizabeth Wilson) and secretary Missy (Elizabeth Marvel) contribute to a memorable weekend. Relationships are formed as others are tested, and Daisy gains new insights on the nature of love and friendship while providing a very human perspective on one of the most famous presidents in our history. Skidmore's American Studies Professor Gregory Pfitzer will follow the Sunday showing with a conversation about Roosevelt and Hudson River valley culture. History and American Studies majors will definitely want to attend, as admission is only$5 for students.

Men's swimming and diving wins Vassar College Sprint Invitational

Posted by Katie Peverada Jacob Nathan '15 swept the diving events to lead the Thoroughbreds to the title at the Vassar College Sprint Invitational on Feb. 9. As a team, Skidmore accumulated 495 points, soundly defeating New Paltz, which had 400 points, and host Vassar, which had 343 points. Nathan won the three and two-meter dives, while Charlie Bullis '16 came in third on the one-meter. Nathan was recognized as a Liberty League Performer of the Week for his efforts. Jesse Adler '13 contributed to the team victory by winning the 100-meter backstroke, claiming third in the 100 IM, and taking second in the 50-meter backstroke. Mario Hyman '16 won the 100-meter free and placed second in the 100-meter fly. Skidmore was very strong in the relays, with the team of Tim Brodsky '14, Logan Jones '15, Andrew Becker '13 and Hyman combining to win the 200-meter free relay. Becker and Brodsky added to their individual successes as they earned second place finishes in the 400 IM and 50-meter free, respectively. Skidmore is now looking ahead to the UNYSCSA Championship meet, which will be held at Ithaca College Feb. 20-23.

The greatest team you've never heard of

Posted by Katie Peverada

Last weekend, a Division I hockey team won its 38th consecutive game, extending the record even further past the previous best of 21 straight victories. The team is 30-0 and has only trailed in a game five times all season. Despite outscoring their opponents 168 to 127, this team is going unnoticed.
The University of Minnesota's women's hockey team is, arguably, the most underrated and dominant team the country has ever seen. Admittedly, the University of Wisconsin went 30-0-2 between 2010 and 2011, but that includes two ties. This Golden Gophers team is undefeated, having not even been pushed to overtime since their last loss a year ago, a 2-1 defeat to the University of North Dakota.
These women aren't just winning games because they get a lucky bounce from the puck. They are completely dominating. Their smallest margin of victory? Two goals, which has only happened twice against Wisconsin and in their most recent game, a 5-3 victory over Ohio State University.
Freshman forward Hannah Brandt is second in the nation in scoring, with 26 goals and 41 assists through 30 games played. Her 67 total points would, in any other year, put her in the running for the Patty Kazmir award (the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy Award in football or the Hobey Baker Award in men's ice hockey).
The only person in front of her? Amanda Kessel, junior forward from Minnesota. Kessel, the younger sister of NHL star Phil Kessel, has 40 goals and 49 assists through 29 games played. She leads the nation with 89 points in 29 games, which means she is averaging over three points a game. Kessel is threatening to break the scoring record that Natalie Darwitz set during the 2004-2005 season, when she scored 42 goals and added 72 assists in 40 games, good enough for 2.85 points a game. Darwitz, by the way, played for Minnesota as well.

Senior goaltender Noora Rooty heads up the defensive brigade, leading the nations with 28 victories and 10 shutouts, allowing just over one goal per game. With a win over Minnesota-Duluth on Feb. 2, Rooty set the NCAA career record for victories with 101. She even has one assist on the year. In any other year she too would be in the running for the Kazmir award. The team as a whole has only given up 11 power-play goals.

For a team averaging 5.6 goals per game while only allowing .90 goals per game, they are not getting nearly enough respect. Sure, the women's hockey world has recognized their hard work, as they have not been ranked below the top spot in the USCHO.com poll since March 5, 2012. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine has ranked the Gophers number one since March 13 of last year.

The Gophers are still at least eight games away from winning their second consecutive national title, but they looked poised to repeat. The team recently clinched the WCHA Conference title at the earliest point in the season a team has ever won it. With three players in the top 20 in the country for scoring, the defense playing lights-out, and the special teams unit scoring more short-handed goals than they are giving up, another title is very possible. It won't just be the women's hockey world recognizing their accomplishments. They might even make it on Sports Center.

Undeserved opprobrium

Posted by J. Galt

On Tuesday the Senate reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, an act originally passed in 1994 that expired in 2011 and was not renewed during the tensions of a divided congress.

The bill passed 78-22, but women rights groups were quick to point out that the 22 dissenters were Republican men. Memes and photos presenting these senators under titles such as "These 22 Republican Men who voted against The Violence Against Women Act" proliferated throughout the internet and left the undeniable impression that these 22 men were unapologetic misogynists.

Liberals today are quick to blame Republicans for the gridlock and inactivity in congress, for the deficit, the debt, the wars and every other problem ailing the United States. Figuring out who deserves blame requires thousands of pages of analysis and discourse, but much of gridlock and partisanship can be attributed to misunderstandings between the two main political ideologies, and organizations such as Planned Parenthood, which posted the aforementioned title, are not helping to diffuse the tension through vitriolic blood-rising half truths.

Did these 22 men vote against "The Violence Against Women Act?" Yes. Did they do it because they hate women? No.

They voted against the act because an amendment was added to the bill, which would allow tribal courts to try non-Native Americans who were accused of raping a Native American on a reservation. The logic behind this amendment was that Native-American women are twice as likely to be raped as a White woman, and most of the rapists are non-Native Americans, but because of the issue of sovereignty of tribal reservations, tribal authorities are unable to act against the non-tribal rapists. Under this revised act, they now can.

The dissenters voted against the act because they were troubled by this amendment, not because they don't care about the victims.  They were concerned about the legality of empowering the tribal authorities to try non-tribal members in their courts as a possible violation of due process.

Whether the dissenting senator's qualms are warranted, or if the amendment holds up to constitutional scrutiny, the senators did not vote against the act because they hate women, but out of concern for the law. Some might believe that the law is clearly flawed if it does not protect a certain demographic of women and that any amendment, constitutional or not, is more just than then the existing law, but that opinion does not vindicate the animadversions directed at these senators on the basis of misogyny. Organizations like Planned Parenthood may not be explicitly stating that these Senators voted against "The Violence Against Women Act" because they hate women, but by contriving these half-truth bulletins they leave no reasonable observer without such an impression. This will only create acuter divisions between liberals and conservatives, which in the end will just hamper political, economic and social progress.

NBA Talk: This year's dark horses

Posted by Andrew Shi

The Nuggets currently hold fourth place in the West, in front of the Grizzlies and Warriors, yet more playoff chatter involves the latter two. The Nuggets just ended a nine game winning streak, starting it off with wins against the Thunder, the Pacers, the Rockets and Bulls, all current play-off contenders, yet no one seems to notice.

The Indiana Pacers are third in the East redeeming themselves after a loss to the Nuggets by trampling the Heat, the Bulls and the Hawks, the latter two in back-to-back games, and yet no one considers them a threat.

Both of these teams have been playoff contenders in recent years, and both are positioned to hold home-court in the playoffs, yet between the two teams, only one player will appear in the All-Star game on Feb. 17:Paul George of the Pacers. Perhaps that's why the two teams lack publicity; they lack the perennial All-Stars that play for the big name teams, even the ones that are ranked below the Nuggets and Pacers such as the Celtics, the Lakers, the Nets and the Grizzlies.

What's odd about that is that many of these players, including Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala, Kenneth Faired and Danilo Gallinari of the Nuggets and David West, George Hill, Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger (pre-injury) of the Pacers, are all capable of putting up All-Star worthy numbers, but sacrifice the statistics that gain them the attention of the fans who vote for the starters of the All-Star game to provide their teammates with a better look on shots. Similarly, neither team has a designated go-to scorer, which means that no single player is recording twenty-plus points.

This lack of a star, though, is what makes these teams that much better. The pressure to carry the team is spread amongst five or six players who by no means could single-handedly lead a team too, but have now played together for long enough that their team chemistry redeems a lack of superstardom and allows domination of the courts.

Both of these teams are currently excelling at their respective winning strategies. The Nuggets are currently third in the league for most points scored per game, but 5th in points allowed. Clearly the focus of their game is on their offense. This probably seems obvious, but there is a distinction between the Nuggets' type of basketball and that of the Pacers, who are 28th in the league for points allowed, but have the second best defense. While they may be trailing in points scored per game, by focusing on preventing their opponents from making their shots, they can afford to take and make less of their own. It should also be noted that the Nuggets and Pacers are respectively first and second in rebounds.

While neither team has an obvious superstar that gains their teams the publicity necessary to put teams on the radars of the press or potential new fans, other NBA teams are certainly watching nervously as these two teams push for their first championship.

Right now only five teams are being seriously considered as championship contenders: the Heat, the Knicks, the Spurs, the Thunder and the Clippers, with the additional possibility of the Bulls once Derrick Rose returns. NBA fans should prepare to be shocked as the Nuggets and the Pacers, two dark horses, compete as veritable challengers in the offseason.

Photographer Gregory Crewdson to give Malloy Lecture Feb. 22 at Skidmore

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Photographer Gregory Crewdson will present the Malloy Visiting Artist Lecture at Skidmore College on Friday, Feb. 22. Free and open to the public, the illustrated lecture will start at 6 p.m. in Filene Recital Hall, in the Filene Building.

Crewdson is known for producing "large-scale, elaborately constructed photographs taken in and around the town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where the Crewdson family has forever had a small log cabin in the woods," according to a 2008 New York magazine story.

His work has been included in many public collections, most notably th e Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum ofAmerican Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. A retrospective of his work, spanning his career from 1985-2005 was shown as a traveling exhibition from 2005-2008 at major museums around Europe. Another traveling exhibition was featured in February 2011 at the Kulturhuset Museum, Stockholm, followed by Sorte Diamant, Copenhagen and Berlin, among others.

His many awards include the Skowhegan Medal for Photography, a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Fellowship, and the Aaron Siskind Fellowship.

Skidmore's Malloy Visiting Artist Lecture Series annually brings to campus a distinguished contemporary artist of international stature. The series is endowed by artist Susan Rabinowitz Malloy, who earned a B.S. degree in art from Skidmore in 1945.

Lights out for Skidmore Unplugged

Posted by Elizabeth Hopkins

Skidmore Unplugged, an annual three-week long competition to reduce energy usage in the College's dorms begins on Monday, Feb. 8. This year the Sustainability Office, in conjunction with the S-Rep program and numerous clubs on campus, will host a number of events to spur Skidmore's competitive spirit and alter the overall organization of the event.

Numerous clubs on campus will get involved in the competition. Lights will go out for The Skidmore News for one week as the online newspaper hosts a blackout in honor of Skidmore Unplugged.

S-Reps will urge fellow residents to "Do It in the Dark" and "Keep Calm and Unplug," creative slogans that Sustainability Fellow Rachel Willis has developed to inspire enthusiasm in participating students. A number of creative advertising techniques have been developed to keep students informed of the event, including Facebook invitations, flyers and bathroom readers.

S-Reps will be handing out commitment cards in their dorms in an effort to connect more directly with residents. The cards are designed so that students can check off whether they have made efforts to reduce their environmental impact by turning off lights, unplugging electronics and using the stairs instead of the elevator. The promise of a free Chipotle gift card awaits their efforts if they turn in a completed card to their S-Rep.

"Chipotle highlights sustainability in local operations," Willis said. Indeed, the company has historically expressed much enthusiasm for Skidmore Unplugged and has been willing to support the Sustainability Program in its endeavor. In the past, Chipotle has awarded the winning dorm with a free burrito party. This year, the prize will go to individuals.

Clubs on campus have agreed to host festive events during the three-week period, including the Outing Club and North Woods Stewards, who will take students on a moonlit walk in the North Woods this coming Wednesday. Shaman and Healer Ray Crist will visit Wilson Chapel Sunday, Feb. 17 for a yoga demonstration. The improvisational comedy group Awkward Kids Talking will host Improv in the Dark on Feb. 23, and Lively Lucy's will join in the fun with some music in the dark on Feb. 28.

Willis, whose efforts have been pivotal in involving clubs on campus outside of the S-Rep program, commented, "Sustainability isn't just about turning off the lights. It's about building positive relationships and a community."

Willis hopes that this year the exciting inclusive atmosphere of the competition will encourage students to beat the average 4% decrease in energy usage of past years. "My goal after the competition is to show that it was a worthy event," she said.

Beginning on Monday, students will have access to each residence hall's electricity use at www.buildingdashboard.net/skidmore/ and be able to view ongoing events on the Skidmore Unplugged Facebook page. 

Column: Greetings from a Spanish student

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos from Spain! I am happy and very lucky to be studying abroad for the semester in Madrid, where it's not quite as snowy as it is at Skidmore right now (snow is a rarity here, instead of a dreaded eventuality), but we still have to bundle up all the same.

Classes at Skidmore and in Madrid begin roughly around the same time, and although the majority of my courses are held at the program center, I am attending a post-modern literature class at the University of Madrid (or la Universidad Aut??noma de Madrid-UAM for short). While my particular course is an English one - I am an English-Spanish double major, after all- the general structure of the university in Madrid and its classes, is a lot different from what I've experienced in the United States.

One of the most startling differences, at least coming from Skidmore where the personal connections between the professors and the students were a big draw for me in my initial college search, is that here the professors are scholars first and teachers second. This creates an entirely different dynamic between the professor and the student than the one present at Skidmore.

In Madrid, it is the student's responsibility to attend class and learn the material provided. Attendance is not taken, and a missed class is considered a loss on the student's part. Grades are also weighted differently here, with usually 80% or more of the student's grade determined by the final exam. In theory, a student could miss every class, show up for the final exam, and pass the course, provided he or she shows a comprehensive knowledge of the material. More often than not, this understanding of the course requires a regurgitation of the professor's presentation and opinion of the information, rather than original thought from the student. Creative thought does not matter here.

It is not uncommon for a professor to come to class half an hour late, or to not even come to class at all. That said, students may not come in late themselves, and it is considered insulting to leave in the middle of class, even if it is just to use the bathroom, something which some professors at Skidmore will excuse. Yawning and stretching are also considered rude and may offend the professor.

On the other hand, sometimes students will hold conversations while the professor is talking. While smaller classrooms may be slightly more intolerable of this, in large lecture halls the professor will keep talking, and any information missed is the students' loss. All in all, the atmosphere at the UAM is a professional one that encourages and demands responsibility on the students' part.

There exist several other differences between Skidmore and the UAM. The University of Madrid is much bigger, for instance, and divides its academic buildings according to subject of study. I attend class in the 'Filosofia y Letras' building, for example. Each has its own cafeteria, which makes it a great place to mingle with students of similar interests. The cafeteria serves as a student center, similar to Case Center, the likes of which doesn't really exist on campus otherwise.

The timing of the semesters is different as well, and I find myself missing Skidmore's month-long winter break. In Madrid, students receive a break at the end of the semester around the same time as in the United States, but they spend much of this time studying for finals that begin in January. In fact, students often hand in final papers and begin preparations for next semester's courses at the same time, as there is no break between finals and the first week of class.

One other aspect of the UAM that Skidmore students may find interesting, especially in light of the ongoing debates about whether or not Skidmore should be a smoke-free campus, is the fact that students are permitted to smoke inside the buildings.

The ban on smoking indoors is something that only happened in Madrid about two years ago, and a few leniencies still persist in the enforcement of the law. As I said before, even though there are non-smoking signs on the windows and doors of the buildings, students will often light up anyway, usually next to the entrances and exits, but inside nonetheless.

The class structure might be a bit different, but the students are the same-cheerful and energetic, at least now at the beginning of the semester before the workload starts to sink in. Good luck to you all as the papers start to increase and as Saratoga starts to exhibit its wonderfully smothering winter weather.

Un abrazo,
Julia

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

Reel Talk: "Side Effects": Steven Soderbergh's film is an intriguing, complex psychological thriller

Posted by Sean van der Heijden

Steven Soderbergh has decided to end his career with what can only be described as a pharmaceutical, psychosexual thriller that deals with several morally ambiguous characters, all revolving around one horrible incident. Out of fear of giving away the intelligent, twist-filled plot written by Scot Z. Burns, that's really all that I can say. However, I can tell you that Soderbergh's confidence in directing shows in the final product. He is able to convey a sort of quiet chaos with his frequent close-ups, and by shifting in-and-out of focus throughout the screen, he was able to draw attention to the many small, yet important details of the film.

The real strength of this film is not necessarily the story itself but how it is presented. By releasing only one small piece of information at a time, we are kept waiting through interviews, court hearings, false trails, and many psychiatrist visits until, finally, everything comes together into one neat conclusion. While the entire film is very subdued, the viewer is rewarded in the end if they have paid attention to the details provided.

Of course, the story would not have turned out so well without the impressive performances that carry it all the way through. Rooney Mara is once again stunning as Emily Taylor, a woman who starts taking prescription antidepressants to cope with her husband's release from prison. Without giving much away, Emily is far more complex than she first appears, a complexity that Mara plays this perfectly by retaining a dark mysteriousness about her throughout the film. She truly steals every scene she's in and displays such a range of emotions that, at times, it's difficult to tell what her character is actually thinking. This is unfortunate for Channing Tatum, who does a fine job playing her loving and sympathetic husband trying to make everything right after being released for insider trading but who doesn't have close to enough material to compete with Mara.

Jude Law, on the other hand, is arguably an equally crucial figure as Dr. Jonathan Banks, Emily's psychiatrist whose career is launched into a scandal when his patient is involved in a tragic accident after taking an antidepressant that he prescribed. His sanity slowly unravels as his decisions come back to haunt him and he eventually has to cross several moral boundaries in order to get his life back on track. Law displays this frustration with expert skill, giving one of the best performances of his recent career. The same can be said for Catherine Zeta-Jones, who,as Emily's former psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Siebert, gives a delightfully complex performance, and does it brilliantly despite her lack of screen time.

To give away any more would be to say too much, as the film is so perfectly structured thatit is difficult to discuss without giving away the whole thing. All I can add is that "Side Effects" is not as simple and straightforward as it may appear. It is a complex labyrinth of characters and their motives, and the consequences of their actions. Despite taking a while to get started, it is truly a spectacular, thrilling and intricate journey that should not be missed.

Overall: 8 out of 10.

Dr. Danilo Petranovich delivers a new perspective on Lincoln's stance on slavery

Posted by Alex Mintz

"Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever..." wrote Thomas Jefferson in his "Notes on the State of Virginia," published in 1785 and in reference to slavery. 75 years later, Lincoln decided justice in the United States had slept long enough.

Roughly 40 students and a few professors crowded into the Pohndorff Room in Scribner Library on Thursday night, for a lecture presented by Dr. Danilo Petranovich of Yale University. The lecture dismantled the popular belief that President Abraham Lincoln's actions to end slavery during the Civil War were not driven by political necessity, but were influenced by a high-minded moral stance on the issue.

Petranovich took an unconventional stance on the deeper reasons behind the actions of the 16th president of the United States, stating that Lincoln's primary driving force during his pre-presidency was to change the way Americans viewed slavery. Citing speeches in which Lincoln denounced slavery as a "monstrous injustice" and "vast moral evil," Petranovich sought to demonstrate that Lincoln was a leader in a moral revolution within the Union.

"Lincoln sought not to widen the anti-slavery notion but to deepen it," Petranovich said. He began by examining Lincoln's pre-presidency politics. Unlike abolitionists who attempted to convince Americans that slavery is immoral, Lincoln used rhetoric that would appeal to Americans who already had abolitionist ideas.

"It was not enough for Lincoln that the anti-slavery north hate and oppose slavery, but that they hate and oppose for the right reasons - this was important," Petranovich said.

"Lincoln was crafting a unionist message to change the minds of the northerners. Moralistic attacks were not likely to win over the southern slave owners, and Lincoln knew this." Referencing speeches from Lincoln's days in Congress, Petranovich argued that Lincoln alienated the north from the south as to create a situation in which he could initiate emancipation on his own terms. "Lincoln was crafting a unionist message to change the minds of the northerners. Moralistic attacks were not likely to win over the southern slave owners, and Lincoln knew this."

"[Lincoln] promoted morally radical and destructive public agitation," Dr. Petranovich said, "with little to promote the cause of peaceful emancipation.
This moral strategy was, of course, controversial in 1857, and involved the deliberate risk of civil war."

In Petranovich's closing remarks, he highlighted the fact that Lincoln was fully aware of the dichotomous nature of his oratory and that this was intentional. Lincoln demanded moral justice and abolition of slavery in the United States, and was willing to pit his enemies against one another to create a situation in which he might push his ideologies through the political system.

Petranovich attempted to demonstrate that Abraham Lincoln was a master politician who fought for his principles in subtle ways. In contrast to the traditional viewpoint that Lincoln emancipated the slaves for political or wartime purposes, Petranovich argued that Lincoln had a moral desire to free slaves, and pursued a one track path to alter the nation's views of slavery and ultimately complete his goal.

Dr. Petranovich is a lecturer at Yale University and Duke University. He received his Ph.D. from Yale, where he focused his studies on American national culture and Abraham Lincoln.  

Murray-Aikins delivers a delicious taste of the Chinese New Year

Posted by Kate Butler

On the evening of Feb. 7, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall transformed into a Chinese buffet in honor of the Lunar New Year. As students streamed into the dining hall between huge oriental fans and ribbons, enticing aromas filled the air.

Community members heaped their plates high with a variety of Chinese food, from typical favorites, like crackling hot veggie egg rolls and crispy sesame beef, to the more sophisticated whole roasted salmon with plum sauce and Chinese tea eggs. Excited students helped themselves to bunches of oranges and clementines and endless mountains of rice. Individual folded containers of lo mein, bowls of soup and noodles, and strategically placed bowls of fortune cookies added to the festive, buffet-like atmosphere, as did the live instrumental music that piped through the hall.

With so many tantalizing choices, it was difficult not to taste a little of just about everything; multiple students went back for seconds-and thirds.

Despite the lengthy line at the popular Diner station, which served favorites like fluffy pork buns, egg rolls, drunken chicken, and gingered veggies, many students persevered, albeit often nibbling in the meantime.

By the end of the meal one student moaned, "My tummy is gonna explode!"

But many made a valiant effort to taste the desserts anyway, gamely devouring delicate almond cookies, airy coconut cake, and honey-sweet green tea cupcakes. More than one student had to be rolled from the room. Just kidding-well, maybe.  

Skidmore's future in technology

Posted by Paulina Phelps

More so in the last decade than ever, technological innovations have been utilized in higher education. Many of the innovations are not themselves advanced, but the embracement of them is what is most progressive.

This new employment of technological innovations has abated the concept that technology is disruptive in higher education. Colleges and universities are communities based on collaboration and innovation, which can be fostered through experimental applications of technology. Skidmore has contributed to this trend as shown in its utilization of technology in the classroom.

Director of Academic Technologies at Skidmore, Beth DuPont, speaks on behalf of the department; "We have encouraged faculty to incorporate technology into the classroom in many different ways, which are not always common knowledge."

As a result of this encouragement and the wave of technological innovations in higher education, Skidmore faculty have become more acquainted with and have employed technology much more often. A key identifier that faculty are more comfortable using technology is the increase in content on Blackboard (almost all professors have their syllabus available online). Another change is the introduction of clickers into the classroom setting. These remotes, used to answer multiple-choice questions, are given to every student in the class and are often used by professors that teach larger lecture-style classes.

Technological enhancements have been made not just in the classroom but also throughout campus. A few of them include improving the televisions in the library so students can pull up content onto the large board instead of everyone huddling around one computer. In addition a television screen was installed in Case Center, which broadcasts campus happenings from weather to sports.

Given the innovations that have been made, Skidmore continues to think toward the future. For example, when it comes to creating Skidmore online courses Skidmore's registrar, David DeConno says, "While the college is following the national conversation regarding online and hybrid courses, we do not offer courses of that nature at this time." Skidmore does accept online courses for transfer credit from other schools, though, as long as the programs are certified and meet Skidmore's requirements.

Some professors have even utilized certain technological programs in their classes. For example the Art History department looks at art from the Web Gallery of Art, a virtual museum that makes art more accessible for students.

Developments such as these should be used among all disciplines. Programs like Skype, which allow for people to communicate from all over the world, should be used in classes. Currently, Skidmore's class, "Islam and the West, Correcting Misperceptions in Person," allows students to communicate directly with students enrolled in Middle Eastern universities via skype, and so far the class has been a success.

The Internet is criticized for replacing physical interaction, however programs like Skype contradict that notion, and make face time more accessible. Crossing thresholds and physical boundaries is what programs like these are doing and what curious-minded students should follow.

Furthermore, just as Skype would allow us to extend the classroom outside of Skidmore, so too would a system in which schools in the New York Six (a consortium of six schools in the New England area which includes Skidmore, Hobart and William Smith College, Union College, Hamilton College, St. Lawrence University, and Colgate University) offered online classes to all students of the consortium. Through the creation of this system, students would have the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes with a wide variety of professors, fostering Skidmore's high regard for creativity through collaboration and community based learning.

Campus Safety Reports: January 20 to 31

Incidents of Note: Sunday, Jan. 20- Campus Safety Assist: Person reported a large tree at 11:53 a.m. that had fallen due to high winds, blocking the Perimeter roadway. Officer and Grounds personnel dispatched. Traffic control completed and tree removed. Report issued.

Saturday, Jan. 26- Suspicious Activity: Unwanted phone calls reported at 8:40 p.m. for a former roommate at Whitman Way. Officer contacted the former roommate. Calls were deemed unwarranted and no message was left. Report issued. Trace to be placed if continued.

Sunday, Jan. 27-Accident: Officer reported a two car automobile accident at 12:48 p.m. off of Clinton Street. Vehicles were pulled into the Tang lot afterwards. Officers and the Saratoga Springs Police Department on the scene. Reports issued. No personal injuries reported.

Monday, Jan. 28- Animals: A bat reported at 6:09 p.m. in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer captured the bat and turned it over to the Bat Control COmpany. No human contact made. Report issued.

Further Incidents:

Sunday, Jan. 20:

Power Outrage: Unplanned power outage at 12:10 p.m. Appropriate procedures implemented. Report issued.

Alarm: Fire alarm activated at 1:07 p.m. in the Tisch Learning Center. Dispatched officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Cause of activation due to a faulty smoke detector. Report issued.

Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 4:10 p.m. from a Hillside Apartment. Officers, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and maintenance dispatched. Cause of activation determined to be from a burned candle. Report issued.

Drug Law Violation: Officer observed marijuana in plain view at 5 p.m. in an apartment at Whitman Way while on a service call. Drugs and paraphernalia was confiscated. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 9:29 p.m. on the second floor of Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched but were unable to determine the source of the odor.

Monday, Jan. 21:

College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 1:35 a.m. at Wilmarth Hall. Officers reported that a group of 15 loud students in the lobby dispersed.

Medical: A request for counseling contact for a depressed person was received at 9:53 a.m. from Jonsson Tower. Officer provided assistance to the subject.

Larceny: A student reported stolen items at 5:30 p.m. from her room in Kimball Hall. Officer issued a report and initiated an investigation.

Tuesday, Jan. 22:

Criminal Mischief: Damage reported at 1:35 a.m. in the east stairwell inside a doorway of McClellan Hall. No known perpetrators at this time.

Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 10:26 a.m. from the Hillside Apartments. Dispatched all officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Burned food determined to be the source of the activation. Report issued.

Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 5:53 p.m. at Cane Crossing residence. Dispatched all officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Fire alarm activation due to candle burning. Report issued.

Suspicious Activity: Suspicious activity reported at 7:34 p.m. by a solicitor at Moore Way. Dispatched officer reported the subject vacated the area prior to his arrival.

Wednesday, Jan. 23:

Missing Person: Person reported at 9:05 a.m. being unable to locate a friend for seven hours. Campus Safety notified officers, the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the Office of Residential Life regarding the missing student. Missing persons protocol immediately initiated. Subject located. Report issued.

Medical: Person requested an officer at 8:56 p.m. for a medical assist at Kimball Hall. Dispatched officer transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 9:12 p.m. on the fifth floor of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer located the room with the violation. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: Suspicious odor reported at 9:40 p.m. at Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officers reported no odor detected.

Thursday, Jan. 24:

Alarm: Fire alarm received at 8:52 p.m. for Howe-Rounds Hall. Dispatched officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Burned popcorn was determined to be the cause of the activation. Report issued.

Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 10:26 p.m. for a female student from Whitman Way to the Emergency Room. Dispatched officer completed the transport. Report issued.

Friday, Jan. 25:

Theft of Services: Two males reported at 3 a.m. exiting a taxi and fleeing without paying the fare. Pictures to be turned over to the administration. Report issued.

Criminal Mischief: Person brings in a discharged fire extinguisher at 7:30 a.m. to Campus Safety. The fire extinguisher was replaced from its original location at the Penfield fire lane.

Campus Safety Assist: Police agency requested a background check on a former student at 11:02 a.m. Information forwarded. Report issued.

Medical: Report received at 7:08 p.m. of a patron at a Williamson Sports Center game who has fallen and possibly broken her leg. Dispatched officers and 911 contacted. Subject was transported for medical assistance via the Emergency Medical System. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 9:16 p.m. on the ground floor of Wait Hall. Dispatched officers reported no drugs present. Signs of marijuana usage present. Report issued.

College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 9:10 p.m. at Wiecking Hall. Officers checked the reported area and found no violation.

College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:11 p.m. at Dayton Drive. Dispatched officer reported two apartments' residents complied with the request to lower the volume. No further problems reported.

Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated male reported at 11:12 p.m. at the Zankel Music Center. Dispatched officer requested Emergency Medical Service assistance. Subject transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

Drug Law Violation: A suspicious odor reported at 11:27 p.m. on the first floor of Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched officers located the source and issued various violations for drug and alcohol use. Report issued.

Saturday, Jan. 26:

College Violation: Loud music reported at 12:01 a.m. at a residence at Dayton Drive. Officers dispatched reported a small gathering. Subjects complied with the request to lower the volume.

College Violation: Students reported screaming at 2:16 a.m. outside of a dorm room at McClellan Hall. Dispatched officers reported the area clear upon their arrival. No other problems reported.

Campus Safety Assist: A student's wallet was reported found at 5:24 p.m. downtown. Subject located and was requested to pick it up at the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Report issued.

Larceny: Larceny of a North Face ski jacket reported at 6:22 p.m. from a dryer in the Jonsson Tower laundry room. Report issued. No known perpetrators at this time.

Graffiti: Officer reported graffiti at 7:27 p.m. in the Jonsson Tower north elevator. No known perpetrator at this time. Report issued.

Graffiti: Officer reported graffiti at 8:30 p.m. in the eighth floor stairwell of Jonsson Tower and the south elevator. Unknown perpetrators at this time. Report issued.

Drug Law Violation: A suspicious odor reported at 9:18 p.m. on the second floor of Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched reported several drug and liquor law violations in plain view. Report issued.

Liquor Law Violation: Officer reported at liquor law violation at 9:38 p.m. in plain view at Rounds Hall. Report issued.

Liquor Law Violation: Officers reported a liquor law violation at 10:58 p.m. in plain view at Howe Hall. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:01 p.m. on the first floor of McClellan Hall. Officers dispatched reported no odor detected.

College Violation: Loud music reported at 11:24 p.m. at Dayton Drive. Dispatched officer reported the subjects lowered the volume upon request.

Sunday, Jan. 27:

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 12:55 a.m. at Wilmarth Hall. Officers dispatched reported no odor detected.

College Violation: Noise complaint reported at 2:58 a.m. at Jonsson Tower. Subjects complied with the request to disperse from the area.

Medical: Medical assistance requested at 6:38 p.m. for a friend at Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched who evaluated the subject and transported her to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

Criminal Mischief: Officer observed at 10:23 p.m. that the stop sign at the Williamson Sports Center parking lot entrance had been damaged and was lying on the ground. Grounds contacted and report issued. Unknown perpetrators of damage.

Monday, Jan. 28:

Campus Safety Assist: An escort requested at 1:25 a.m. from the West parking lot to a residential hall. Officers dispatched completed the personal escort.

Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:07 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Dispatched all units, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Activation due to a cooking error. Report issued.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 6:08 p.m. at Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer reported the source of the odor could not be confirmed.

Alarm: Security alarm received at 6:35 p.m. for the Sasselin Art Building gallery. Dispatched officer checked the area with negative results. Area secured.

Tuesday, Jan. 29:

Menacing: An officer requested at 11 a.m. to accompany a meeting with students to take a report for the Office of Residential Life. Dispatched officer interviewed the subjects. Investigation initiated. Report issued.

Campus Safety Assist: Subject reported having an asthma attack at 7:04 p.m. at the Williamson Sports Center. 911 contacted. Subject transported to the Emergency Room for medical attention.

Graffiti: Officer reported at 8:56 p.m. that while conducting the North Quad safety check he noted several acts of graffiti. Officer photographed acts and issued a report. No known perpetrator(s) at this time.

Wednesday, Jan. 30:

College Violation: Noise complaint reported at 12:47 a.m. at Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched and located the disruptive room. Upon issuing a noise warning they observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Officers confiscated the items and issued a report.

Accident: Reporting person stated at 1:35 p.m. that she was directed by Health Services to come into the Office of Campus Safety to file an accident report of falling on the ice on campus last night. Dispatched officer. Report made.

College Violation: Loud music reported at 9:28 p.m. in North Woods. Dispatched officer reported locating the loud apartment and asking the student to turn the music down. The student complied without further incident.

Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 10:20 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Dispatched officers reported it was unfounded at that time.

Medical: Report received at 10:50 p.m. of a person who approached the main desk at the Williamson Sports Center breathing hard. Campus Safety assistance requested. Dispatched officer attended to the person's needs.

Thursday, Jan. 31:

Suspicious Odor: Call received at 12:18 p.m. stating that someone in the suite above the reporting person's office in Rounds Hall is smoking marijuana as he smells a strong odor of marijuana in his office. Dispatched officer investigated and made an incident report.

Aggravated Harassment: Reporting person came to Campus Safety at 3 p.m. to document a complaint on a housemate in the Village Apartment complex.

Suspicious Odor: Suspicious odor reported at 10:49 p.m. at Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer reported the call to be unfounded.

Skidmore celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day: A large group of girls from throughout the community were the beneficiares of Skidmore's celebration

Posted by Katie Peverada

Some were dressed in shorts and t-shirts, while others went with jeans and sneakers. Just looking at them, you would think the group was dressed for an average Saturday of wherever mom or dad took them. However, the group of about 120 girls stormed the courts of Skidmore on Feb. 2 in order to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. No matter their attire, all were ready to participate in the festivities.
Seven years ago, Skidmore College established a day of clinics in order to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the monumental Title IX amendment. Every year, almost all of the women's athletic teams participate, allowing each girl who attends the opportunity to take part in several sports.
This year, the tennis, lacrosse, softball, soccer, field hockey, and volleyball teams all participated. The girls, who were in grades three to eight, spent 20 minutes at each station. Some of the girls were first time participants in the sport at a station, while others were seasoned veterans. Each group had varying skill levels, but each group brought high levels of enthusiasm. After the clinics, the girls shared lunch with Skidmore student-athletes, who were as equally as excited to share their experiences and inspire the younger girls.
The participants may not have had an in-depth understanding of what they were celebrating, but they were the beneficiaries of what National Girls and Women in Sports Day is all about. Started in 1987 to remember Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball player, NGWSD is intended to raise awareness of women's athletics and achievements in sports.
There continues to be an ongoing struggle for equal access for women in sports, but events like this one at Skidmore, in communities across the country, are working to continue to chip away at the barriers. If the success of Skidmore's event is any indication of what is going on around the country, then the sports world is in good hands.

A Whirlwind of Passion and Tragedy: Film Forum Presents Anna Karenina: Joe Wright's theatrical adaptation of Tolstoy's opus is like nothing you've seen before.

Posted by Rebecca Green This Thursday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m., the Saratoga Film Forum will present the epic drama "Anna Karenina," based on Leo Tolstoy's great Russian novel.

Joe Wright's theatrical adaptation of Tolstory's opus begins with Anna's journey to Moscow to help save her brother's marriage. The wife of Count Karenin (an imperious Jude Law), and the mother of two children, Anna (Keira Knightley) hopes to advise the genial Oblansky (Matthew Macfadyen) against his compulsive adultery and betrayal of his wife, Dolly (Kelly MacDonald). However,Anna's life is turned upside down when she meets the charismatic Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and falls hopelessly in love. The affair becomes the scandal of Moscow high society, and when Karenin discovers the infidelity, his unrelenting rage and scorn torments Anna, culminating in a dramatic finale.

Unlike other film and theatrical renditions of "Anna Karenina," Wright beguiles the moviegoer with much more than a love triangle. His vision, sharpened by Tom Stoppard's screenplay, depicts many scenes in an old Russian playhouse, and he lavishes attention on Tolstoy's peripheral and often extravagant characters. Wright pays close attention to Anna's in-law Kitty (Alicia Vikander), once herself besotted with Vronsky, and to Kitty's slow-growing romance with a country landlord, Levin (Domhnall Gleeson from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"). The swift set transitions on the playhouse stage, which transform it from government hall to office to bedroom suite to horse track in the blink of an eye, work their own kind of magic, too.

As if the glittering magic of Wright's depiction of Anna's tragic story isn't enticing enough, History, English, and Art majors alike should be compelled to see this screening. Admission with Student ID is $5.

The body experiment

Posted by Mohannad Aljawamis

We aspire for perfection in our bodies and our physical appearances. We size up our bellies, our muscles, our height, our hair, and our general appearance. Our mindset creates a need for comparison between what we think is "better," and our own poor bodies that are never shaped the way we want them to be.

Negative body image may not be the most controversial health issue among college students, yet this results from its obscurity, a taboo concept that many people refuse to talk about. We unknowingly experience body image as a problem because our surroundings, including the media, have normalized the body experiment, in which starving women and steroid men are yearning for perfection. Hence, it becomes normal to set unrealistic goals for our bodies and to start experimenting.

The Media Effect

Visual material has a tremendous influence on human beings. Pictures of plank-thin models and flawless men are presented consistently through every media channel. The media creates an unrealistic image of the healthy body. This image then becomes "normalized" and any alternative image is viewed as inferior.

Think of TV ads that use top models to promote their products while stressing health and beauty as their underlying message. Not only does media create unrealistic standards for viewers, but it also mistakenly redefines health and beauty through specifically sculptured portrayals.

Beauty is a highly subjective concept. People have different predilections. We do not need to have identical appearances to fit the media's standards. Media is mostly used for commercial purposes and could not care less about personal image. Additionally, the term "healthy" is not defined by a certain height or weight. A healthy body is one that is nourished by a balanced diet, physically active, has a generally strong immune system and is fully functional. Therefore, media may not monopolize healthiness through specific appearances.

Self-esteem

Media may not always serve as the main source of negative body images. Peers, culture, and mentality play significant roles in how we feel about our bodies. Self-esteem is an individual's evaluation of their worth. Positive self-esteem means that you believe you are capable and worthy of happiness. Take a moment to think about your positive traits, and think of a good body as being a healthy body not the perfect media display.

Having a positive body image means that you perceive and accept your body parts as they truly are. You appreciate your natural, unique body shape and physical appearance. Set for yourself some realistic goals in areas that you would like to improve. Maybe you would like to include more vitamins in your diet that improve your skin. Or maybe you would like to adjust your exercise schedule to gain muscle. Setting new goals is completely fine, but in order to have a positive body image you should be proud of your individuality and uniqueness.

NBA Talk: One star too many

Posted by Andrew Shi

When it was announced over the summer that Steve Nash had been traded to the Lakers for four future draft picks, teams throughout the league shuddered at the thought of having Nash, as effective as ever, joining the premier Los Angeles team. Then, when Dwight Howard was traded to the Lakers, most everyone expected the Lakers in the finals.

The Lakers line up was formidable: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. Even former all-star Antwan Jamison had joined the team to come off the bench. It then, of course, came as a surprise when the Lakers quickly accumulated a losing record. They now sit at 10th place in the Western Conference with a 23-26 record and 15 games behind the first ranked San Antonio Spurs.

In defense of the Lakers, they have been plagued with injury, and when they have played together they have shown dominance, but recently coach D'Antoni regulated Gasol to come off the bench because he and Howard show ill compatibility. Although not entirely his fault, Gasol is so far producing numbers well below last season, from 17.4 points to 12.8 points per game, and 10.4 rebounds to 7.9. His rated player efficiency has plummeted from 23.3 to 15.91, from eighth place last season to 112 this season. To be fair, he's not the only one on the Lakers to see their ratings drop. Dwight has gone from fourth 36th and Nash has travelled from 33rd to 92nd. The only star of the show to demonstrate any consistent efficiency is, of course, the perennial all-star candidate, Kobe, who has moved one place up to 11th with a score of 22.88 from 21.4. Still, there seems to be some unknown factor that is hindering their domination. D'Antoni thought it was Howard and Gasol. Perhaps he was correct, in which case an obvious answer is a trade.

Pau Gasol is a highly valuable player, but not more so than a healthy Dwight Howard and likely worth a lot more in a trade than off the bench. The Lakers aren't getting any younger, Gasol is 32, Steve Nash is 38 (and turns 39 on February 7th) and Kobe is 34, and has said in the past that he plans to retire at 36, when his current contract expires. Howard was meant to prudently empower the Lakers with youth. Trading Gasol could do more of the same.

There are three teams that the Lakers should target in a trade for Gasol.

One: Gasol for Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Hornets and a second-round pick. Anderson is a sharp-shooter from the three and of recent, the most-improved player. Coming off the bench for the Hornets he has a player efficiency of 19.46, rating him at 36.

Two: Gasol, Jordan Hill and a second round pick for Josh Smith and Johan Petro. Josh Smith has rumored to wish for a trade. Smith and Howard were childhood friends and are still close. It's likely that their chemistry would be much stronger than Howard's with Gasol

Three: Gasol for Bargnani. Bargnani, the once coveted big man that was to save the Raptors has consistently expressed contempt for his team and a desire to be moved. How well Bargnani would work in Los Angeles is an unknown. Throwing a bunch of stars together clearly doesn't work and a similar problem as the existing one may emerge. Yet, Bargnani does have unbelievable potential and, on paper, a Howard-Bargnani frontcourt might very well be the best in the league.

The Lakers may also want to consider trading Gasol for much lesser forwards from teams that are currently rebuilding and could use the prowess of Gasol and in the process gain some high draft picks. Look at Cleveland Cavalier's recently obtained Mareese Spreights, or the Sacramento King's Jason Thomas.

All in all, management should consider trading Gasol. As of late though, the Lakers have gone on an inspiring win streak that is tepidly igniting the hopes once held at the beginning of the season. Perhaps it would be best to follow this season through, and hold off any trades until the summer, when Howard's contract expires, and the knowledge that Gasol can still be there to hold down the frontcourt will be more comforting than ever.

Welcome back, NHL: The professional hockey season is finally underway

Posted by Katie Peverada

For most people, Christmas 2012 took place on Dec. 25. For myself and other hockey fans, it took place on Jan. 6. I awoke that morning to the greatest present a girl could ask for: hockey. The lockout of the National Hockey League came to an end in the wee hours of the morning on Jan. 6, marking the resolution of a 119-day labor dispute, which began on Sept. 15. The true time between games, though, was 235 days, with most players, outside the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings, not having played in front of a crowd in an even longer amount of time. This, of course, left fans, coaches and owners worried about the level of play that would be seen. Predictably, it was going to be fast-paced, as the condensed 48-game schedule would magnify any losing streak, but what would the play be like? Would the NHL be the same in such a short season? The short answer is yes.

For one, the scoring got of to a record-setting pace. Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks started the season with four multi-goal games in a row - breaking a 96-year-old record. He now leads the league with nine goals. The Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek opened his season with a five-point game in a win over the Philadelphia Flyers and then, five games later, with another five points against the Boston Bruins. Vanek leads the league in points with a total of 19 through eight games played.

The goaltending thus far has also been superb. Martin Brodeur recorded his 120^th career shut out, ensconcing himself even further into the record books. In seven games played, the Ottawa Senators' Craig Anderson is the owner of a 0.99 goals against average. Jaroslav Halak of the St. Louis Blues has already posted two shut outs in five of his starts. And the Dallas Stars' Kari Lehtonen has, arguably, already made the save of the season, sweeping his glove hand behind his back to snatch a puck destined for the back of the net.

The Chicago Blackhawks started the season off by winning six straight games before losing in a shootout, and still have not lost in regulation or overtime. The San Jose Sharks' seven straight victories placed them in second. Teams expected to be competing for Lord Stanley, like the Flyers and the New York Rangers, find themselves in the basement of the league. Teams said to be too young or lacking talent are right at the top, as the perennially bad New York Islanders are sitting pretty at fifth in the Eastern Conference, and the Edmonton Oilers three straight number one draft picks are finally paying off.

Even the officials have gotten off to a fantastic start. If you sit down to watch a game, you can expect to see icings called much more closely than in years past. On the face-offs, they're taking a stand and not hesitating to kick players out for trying to get an advantage over their opponents with a tie-up.

But there has to be somethingmissing from the 82-game season, right? Wrong. As always, some teams are failing to reach expectations while others are exceeding them. Of course, some players are off to a burning start. Is there a goalie controversy? The Vancouver Canucks have one. An unproductive superstar? See Ovechkin, Alexander. Contract holdouts? P.K. Subban has that one covered. A cutthroat battle for the playoffs heating up in February? Check.

This lockout-limited season is playing out quite nicely, and fans are getting everything they would get in a regular season. Except the thirty-four missing games.