NBA Talk: Are the Lakers out?

Posted by Andrew Shi

As the final weeks of the regular season commence, NBA fans will be closely watching the Lakers and the Utah Jazz as they battle it out for the eighth and final playoff seed. Currently, the Lakers hold the spot but are only a half a game in front of the Jazz. The Lakers have seven games left and the Jazz have six. This could give the Lakers the opportunity to advance their lead over Utah, but the Lakers face a dramatically harsher schedule than the Jazz.

In the next seven games, the Lakers will have to play against the Grizzlies, Clippers, Hornets, Trailblazer, Warriors, Spurs and Rockets, in that order. Of these seven opponents, only two are currently ranked lower than the Lakers: The Hornets and the Trailblazers. Fortunately for the Lakers, all but two of their games are home, and one of those away games is against the Clippers, so they will still play on their own court.

The Lakers have not won a single game against the Spurs, Grizzlies or Clippers this season, which indicates these are three set-in-stone losses. History says they will likely lose to the Rockets, but both of their previous losses to the Rockets were away games. Their lone victory was at home and their next encounter is at home as well. They should be able to easily dispatch the Hornets, and they should be able to overcome the Warriors, who they're 2-1 against.

The Portland Trailblazers, though, is the other away game. The Lakers are 2-1 against them, but the two they won were home and the one they lost was away. Furthermore, their game against the Trailblazers is the second of a back-to-back night. The Lakers this season are 6-10 on back-to-back games, but the ones they've won have been against bottom seed teams and a Dirk-less Mavericks. Of the ones they've lost, one has been to the Trailblazers. It's generous to give the Lakers a 3-4 record for their last seven games, assuming they beat either the Trailblazers or Rockets, but more realistically it will be 2-5, with their two sole wins against the Hornets and the Warriors.

Now, the Jazz in their next six games have three on the road and three at home. Also, three of the games are against higher ranked opponents. The Jazz face the Hornets, Warriors, Thunder, Grizzlies and the Timberwolves twice. This season, the Jazz have gone 2-1 against the Hornets, and 2-0 against the Timberwolves. They are 1-1 against the Warriors, and 1-2 against both the Thunder and the Grizzlies. Against the Warriors, the Jazz won their match at home but lost away. This third game is away as well. A likely record for the Jazz is 3-3, but in their last game against the Grizzlies, depending on the standings, the Grizzlies may rest their better players as is customary for teams that know they are making the playoffs. Add in the fact that the Jazz are battling for a playoff seed and they could very well go 4-2.

In a realistic, best-case scenario for the Lakers, they will go 3-4 and the Jazz will go 3-3. That will leave the Lakers with a record of 42-40 and the Jazz at 42-40. A tie would give the Jazz the playoff berth by virtue of them winning this season's Jazz-Lakers series. It is highly unlikely that the Jazz will finish their last six games with less than three wins. If the Lakers wish to reach the playoffs they will need at least four wins. It's possible, but don't hold your breath.

Senior Gift and the change we don't wish to see.: Why The Office of Development should leave Senior Gift the way it is

Posted by The Editorial Board

Note: We originally attributed the proposed changes mentioned in the following editorial to the Office of Alumni Affairs. That was incorrect, it was the Office of Development that engineered these proposed changes. Our apologies.

Also, The Office of Development has as of now rescinded their proposed changes.

Senior Gift is one of Skidmore's few lasting traditions and, since 1980, has asked seniors to donate money towards a scholarship for a rising senior who is burdened with a significant amount of debt and does not enjoy any other scholarship. Generally, this rising senior is in good academic standing and has proven him/herself to be a valuable contributor to the community.

Senior Gift is arguably the first time the graduating class gives back to Skidmore. After being the recipient of all the college has to offer for four years: the education, professors, friends, events and general college experience, seniors, through this act of largesse, allow one student the opportunity to look back upon their time at Skidmore after that time expires, without being crushed by the financial realities of the Skidmore experience. It relieves them of the enormous debt that would have weighed them down upon graduation, hampering them from pursuing their own goals and hopes.

Recently, the Office of Development was able to secure alumni matching, meaning that each dollar donated by a senior is matched with a dollar donated by an alumnus. The Office of Development -however - is now contemplating and moving ahead with offering seniors the option of choosing a beneficiary to donate their senior gift to that is not a traditional scholarship fund. Seniors will have the option to donate money to the athletics department, sustainable Skidmore, office of campus life ( in which donations could fund other awards or clubs, for example), or the traditional scholarship fund.

The Office of Development's logic behind this drastic change is that, disappointed with the amount of senior donations, they hope this change will increase senior participation to 80% of the class.  The change then, seems economic; the thinking goes that athletes would be more willing to donate to the athletic department, environmentally-conscious students would donate to sustainable Skidmore, and those that did not necessarily fall under any of the new categories could still donate to the original scholarship.

This paper feels the need, however, to suggest that the Office of Development has underestimated the detrimental nature of this change and - most importantly of all - has forgotten the purpose of Senior Gift. Senior Gift is one of the few acts of solidarity a class truly experiences. A class may come together for school events, but these events are hardly conscious endeavors to better Skidmore and its students. Senior Gift is one of the few events that unite a class in the act of giving back. It is meant to foster camaraderie, to bind students in a final act of magnanimity and charity, in the hopes that it will set them on a philanthropic track for the rest of their lives. It is the opportunity for a whole class to come together, for each student to give just a little, but, as a result of their collective efforts, relieve a fellow student of their debt. Offering students a choice of preferences divides the senior class into their respective cliques that has defined them in their four years at Skidmore. Senior Gift will be reduced to nothing more than donating money - not to some worthy student in need of aid - but to the student's own individual taste, one that is already being funded by a multitude of other sources. This change will remove the benefit of seeing the tangible results of the seniors' generosity.

Senior Gift is just as much about tradition and the senior community as it is about philanthropy. This newspaper asks that the Office of Development does not tarnish one of Skidmore's few worthy traditions. There must be better ways to raise the money needed to finance Skidmore's other activities.

Liberty League honors five Thoroughbrds

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Liberty League has honored five Skidmore athletes for their performances last week. The following five were winners of this week's awards:

Women's Tennis:
Nataly Mendoza '13 was named the Performer of the Week after going undefeated against Vassar College. Mendoza won the number one singles match with scores of 6-1, 6-3, and then teamed with Lee Ford '14 as the number one doubles pairing to win 8-4
Caroline Hobbs '16 earned Rookie of the Week after winning 6-4, 6-4 at number six singles against Vassar College.

Softball:
Cassie Fishkin '16 pitched all seven innings against Cazenovia, striking out four and allowing one unearned run on four hits. She also had a homerun against Cazenovia and was five for 13 at the plate on the weekend, which included two games each against Cazenovia and Utica.
Carol Brown '13 earned Performer of the Week for her work at the plate in games against Utica and Cazenovia. Brown had five hits in 12 at-bats, earned four walks, hit in two RBIs and scored four runs.

Men's Lacrosse:
Matt Ohara '15 was named to the Honor Roll for his performance against Vassar. Ohara scored a career-high five goals, forced one turnover and scooped up one groundball in the 14-4 Thoroughbred win.

Commencement speaker controversy : Cynthia Carroll misrepresentation of Skidmore

Posted by Luke Conley

Recently, there has been heated debate over one of the individuals that Skidmore's board of trustees has chosen to speak at commencement: Cynthia Carroll, Skidmore alumna and former CEO of the mining conglomerate Anglo American, a corporation with an absolutely dismal social and environmental record. Supporters have painted Ms. Carroll as an important figure in the advancement of women in the corporate world and a proponent of positive change in the mining industry. Both claims are, at best, dubious.

Perhaps more disturbing than the choice of Ms. Carroll as a speaker is the administration's dismissive response to student outrage, as well as their disregard for the mountain of evidence against Ms. Carroll and her company. Only now, after repeated hounding of administrators and an unequivocal statement that students will not accept the "father-knows-best" attitude, has a genuine dialogue begun.

The administration has been presented with a great deal of data condemning Anglo American's activities in the pursuit of profit during Ms. Carroll's time at the helm. In 2007, she became CEO, in addition to joining the oil company British Petroleum as part of, among other things, their Safety, Ethics and Environmental Assurances Committee - the Chairman of which was recently forced to resign due to outrage over BP's infamously disastrous handling of the Deepwater Horizon spill.

In Sept. 2009, the Ghanaian National Coalition on Mining condemned AngloGold/Ashanti for allegedly burying forty people alive.[i] In 2010, the company received the Ghanaian EPA's worst possible environmental rating.[ii] In Jan. 2011, The Berne Declaration and Greenpeace awarded the anti-accolade "Public Eye Award" to AngloGold/Ashanti. Daniel Owosu-Korentang, President of nominating organization WACAM, stated upon the presentation of the "award" that mining waste contaminated the only available sources of water for villagers and that "local residents were occasionally tortured in the company's guard house; some cases resulted in fatalities."[iii] Mr. Owosu-Korentang, recently told students that that such issues remain major problems for locals, despite dialogue with AngloGold/Ashanti.

I could, regrettably, go on and on.

There are those who suggest that Anglo American's actions do not reflect directly on Ms. Carroll. It is true that accidental fatalities have decreased during her time as CEO. This does not, however, invalidate the overwhelming evidence that much of Anglo American's activity is harmful to the environment and to the human beings who live near their mines. Ms. Carroll was chosen as a speaker because of the unique position she occupies in the business world. She is where she is because of what she and her company have done. This is not who we, as students, want to represent Skidmore.

The administration faces a much deeper choice than whether or not to bring Ms. Carroll to commencement. They must decide on a fundamental level what kind of institution they are running. Prospective and current students alike are told constantly that Skidmore fosters global citizenship, civic engagement and personal integrity. Parents are told that they are entrusting their children to an institution that will foster not only their intellectual growth, but also their commitment to social justice. Ms. Carroll's honoring flies in the face of all that.

Whether to bring Ms. Carroll to commencement is ultimately the board of trustee's decision. But they must have no illusions about what that decision means. To present Ms. Carroll with an honorary degree and ask her to impart wisdom to our graduating class is an active endorsement of all the indefensible things that her company has done in the pursuit of profit. It is a clear statement that money is more important to this institution and in adult life than justice. And it is an unequivocal admission that all the talk we hear about creative thought, social responsibility and the encouragement of activism is just that: talk, and nothing more.

[i] http://www.twnafrica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183:ncom-condemn-anglogold-ashanti-aga-for-allegedly-burying-alive-40-small-scale-miners-&catid=50:ncom&Itemid=75

[ii]http://www.epaghanaakoben.org/rating/mines/2-3

[iii] http://www.publiceye.ch/en/news/press-release-january-28th-2011

Singing from the Heart: The Drastic Measures harmonize philanthropy and talent

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

If you have never heard of the Drastic Measures, you're missing out.

And if you have heard them, you know exactly why.

One of the most talented groups on campus, a cappella group Drastic Measures (founded in 2003), is slowly achieving stardom and national recognition following a successful run in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

Dean of Campus Life David Karpf is among the Drastics' many fans: "Drastic Measures is a great example of what we hope to see in our students--using their passion and talent while contributing to the common good and maintaining a sense of purpose in their co-curricular life."

"We were never the popular group," sophomore and Drastics musical director, Jack Mallory admits. Mallory, an Atlanta native who attends Skidmore on a Filene scholarship, boasts an impressive pedigree: he has six years of classical vocal training.

Similar to an NCAA athletic tournament, entry into the ICCA's entails competing against some of the finest varsity vocal talents across the nations and the world-including the Harvard Callbacks, the Clarkson Ultravioletones and The Rusty Pipes of Resselaer-to name a few.

In February, Drastics surpassed local Hartford vocal outfit Trinity College, doing well enough to advance to the Northeast Quarterfinal. In the quarterfinal they fell to one of the regions preeminent vocal programs, Northeastern University.

However, paper statistics and ICCA brackets belie the Drastics' work ethic and integrity. "The goal [at ICCA's] wasn't to win-well no, it was to win." Mallory admits. He describes winning at ICCA's as one of his best moments with the Drastics. Mallory gesticulates rapidly with his hands, trying to reproduce an image of the Drastics huddled together. His hands wave up and down in front of his face, as if suppressing the air in front of him as he remarks, "total elation."

Every member of the Drastics has had to audition and commit to practicing for five to six hours a week (nine to ten in preparation for ICCA's). What's more, their hard work is matched by compassion: the Drastics are the only charity a cappella group on campus.

"Every year we choose a charity," Mallory explains. "This year we chose Wait House." All proceeds from concerts (the preferred nomenclature is "jams") go to Wait House, a non-profit, which provides housing for homeless adolescents in Warren and Washington Counties.

Last semester, Drastics also partnered with a Ugandan children's group, raising $1,000 for the traveling choir.

What is even more impressive is the group's autonomy-their accolades and organization are student-driven, with no faculty or voice coach. Many of the schools they compete against are large universities with immense budgets and faculty, but Drastics has relied on trust and chemistry. "The situation couldn't be any better than it is" Mallory says.

Camaraderie ebbs through the group, as a starry-eyed Mallory enthusiastically explains how his group mate, Sam Kastner, contributes to musical direction despite a lack of time. "The kid never has free time. He's a double major in physics and music and a head tour guide." Kastner, a sophomore, is described as "directing from within", choosing songs and melodies that he thinks suit vocalists, not the other way around.

Moreover, Mallory and Drastics President, Gabe Glissen-Brown, have a vision for the program's future. Where most groups sing pop songs, Drastics has been devoted to more classic tunes. The goal for Drastics is to modernize while, "retaining musical quality" and "applying musicianship to this new showbiz-y type of a cappella" says Glissen-Brown, a junior.

In addition to enhancing the showmanship of an already talented group, Mallory envisages a time when Drastics receive a larger audience. "You want to elevate it from people seeing their friends to people seeing a show," Mallory concedes. "National perception [of a cappella competition] is not high. I hope we can change that perception-at least at Skidmore-because we put a lot of time into it." Mallory adds, "There's definitely more to come."

Current Members include: Dan Plumer, '16, Duncan Gregory, '16, Katie Martucci, '16, Eli McCormick, '16, Jack Mallory, '15, Sam Kasnter, '15, Tory Waldron, '15, Lindsey Kellstrom, '15, Harrison Lipton, '15, Gabe Glissen-Brown,'14 Allie Chipkin, '14, and Christine Pardos, '14. Abroad Juniors: Will Zhang, '14, Emily Streim, '14

The Drastic Measures' recently hosted "All Pull Together," a charity concert featuring nearly every A capella group (and other musical groups) on campus. Their final performance of the year is on April 25, at 10.30 p.m., in The Wilson Chapel. 

Film Forum: Lore: A young girl grapples with her identity and beliefs as she treks across post-war Germany

Posted by Kate Butler

After the Allied victory and the arrest of her SS officer father and loyal Nazi mother, 14 year-old Lore (Saskia Rosendahl) takes responsibility for her four younger siblings and guides them across a broken Germany to find their grandmother in Hamburg. Already burdened with the responsibility of caring for her young siblings and struggling to survive, Lore also grapples with the harsh truth and consequences of her parents' beliefs-and her own. The arrival of Thomas (Kai Malina), a mysterious, young, Jewish refugee determined to help Lore and her family for his own reasons, only exacerbates her inner turmoil. After reluctantly allying with a person she has been taught to hate in order to protect her family, Lore is forced to question her convictions and contend with her growing desires.
Lore stands out as a hauntingly intimate, unsettling, and unforgettable view of the Third Reich.
After the Sunday, April 7 screening, there will be a panel-led discussion with Rabbi Linda Motzkin of Temple Sinai, psychiatrist Robert Flynn, and Skidmore's own Professor Matthew Hockenos of the History Department. Take a study break and don't miss out on this special "Film and Forum" afternoon!
Lore will be shown in German with English subtitles at the Saratoga Film Forum at 320 Broadway this Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
Admission is $5 for students.

Reel Talk: Zero Dark Thirty : ?Zero Dark Thirty? is a slow-paced thriller with an explosive ending.

Posted by Sean van der Heijden

I feel the need to frame this review by saying that I hated Kathryn Bigelow's other collaboration with Mark Boal, 'The Hurt Locker.' I mean, seriously, I hated it-it's one of my least favorite movies ever. With that in mind, I was hesitant about seeing 'Zero Dark Thirty', mainly because I thought it would turn out just as bad, but I couldn't have been further from the truth. It was incredible.

One aspect that made it such a fascinating film was simply the gravity of the topic Bigelow chose to deal with: the hunt for Osama bin Laden. At certain points in the film, there was so much tension that you knew something terrible was about to happen-and, oftentimes, this tension would explode into a horrifying catastrophe or a shocking breakthrough. This uneasiness is due to Bigelow's exceptional handiwork with the camera, as everything is presented in a realistic, almost documentary-like style.

And, believe me, you will need no convincing to feel the reality of the situation. Mark Boal's screenplay, although at times rather choppy in its display of events, has incredible dialogue and boldly immerses you in the film. More than once, I forgot that I was watching a movie. This is in part because many of the events did happen, if only slightly differently, and you can trace them through time all the way from September 11, 2001 to May 2, 2011, when the hunt finally came to an end.

However, the biggest factor in the film's success is Jessica Chastain, who gives a stellar performance as Maya, the CIA agent who dedicated ten years of her life to track down bin Laden. Her dynamic ability to be subtle yet appear to be under great amounts of stress deserves to be applauded. Also, she never looked as if she was acting, which is incredibly hard to do. Even in some of the greatest performances, you realize that it is just an actor on set saying their lines with emotion. The thing is, Chastain didn't even look like she had lines to say-she just blended in perfectly with the atmosphere of the film, speaking up when she needed to, and doing it perfectly.

Another performance that stood out was Jennifer Ehle as CIA agent Jessica, who fiercely tries to assist Maya in her search for potential terrorists. She, too, was flawless and completely immersed within her character. Jason Clarke's treacherous CIA torturer Dan was also a fascinating character as he was able to switch so quickly between being nice to being downright scary. Lastly, Mark Strong's CIA leader George makes a bold entrance into the film and keeps the momentum going throughout.

Overall, despite the fact that the first 45 minutes of the film literally consist of Clarke and Chastain's characters brutally torturing various people in an attempt to extract information, 'Zero Dark Thirty' quickly accelerates from there and turns into a tense, dark search for one man that gives an interesting perspective into how our government functions. Everything from Greig Fraser's vibrant cinematography to Alexandre Desplat's haunting score is exceptional, and even if you didn't like 'The Hurt Locker', this film is definitely worth the watch.

'Zero Dark Thirty' came out on Blu-ray and DVD on March 19.

Men's lacrosse beats RPI

Posted by Katie Peverada

Mike Perlow '13 netted three goals and an assist as the Thoroughbreds beat RPI 8-6 on Wednesday to improve to 2-1 in Liberty League play and 4-6 overall. RPI fell to 1-2 in the league and 5-5 overall.
RPI opened the scoring, but the game remained close throughout the first quarter. Perlow scored with 1:40 left to put Skidmore up 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. When the second quarter began, the Thoroughbreds came out ready to play as they scored the first three goals. Kevin Mulvey '15 put one in at 3:24, his second of the game, to make it 6-2. RPI would add one before the half to make it 6-3 going into the break.
RPI scored the first goal of the second half to make it 6-4 and then answered a goal by Matt Ohara '15 with two more to make it 7-6 at the 13:28 mark. Just when it looked like Skidmore's lead was about to fall, a timely Perlow goal sealed the 8-6 Skidmore victory.
Perlow was the leading scorer of the day with three goals and one assist. Mulvey and Ohara each added two goals and an assist, while Jon Hoeg '13 tallied a goal and Bryan Connolly '13 added an assist. In goal, Matt Diaco '14 stood strong and made eight saves, while Taylor Best '14 added five groundballs and Brock Bakewell '15 had six.
Skidmore is back on the road against Hamilton College on April 10.

An Evening with the Ballets Russes: This Weekend at Zankel: The Dance Department and Orchestra present Les Sylphides, Fawn, and Firebird

Posted by Zoe Dartley

This Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. the Orchestra and Department of Dance will present "An Evening with the Ballets Russes" in the Arthur Zenkel Music Center. The performance will feature three ballets from Sergei Diaghilev's The Ballets Russes, a traveling Russian ballet company. The ballets include Les Sylphides, choreographed by Michael Fokine with music by Frederic Chopin, L'Apres-midi d'un Faune, choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky with music by Debussy, and Firebird, created by Mikhail Fokine with music by Stravinsky. 

Skidmore ballet and modern dancers will be performing the program. It is staged by associate professor Denise Warner Limoli and conducted by composer, conductor, and electronic musician Anthony Holland. Limoli designed the production, sets by Garrett Wilson, costumes by Kim Vanyo, and lighting by Shawn Dubois. Lainie Oshlag, '16 is performing in Firebird. For her, the experience is unlike anything she has done before: "Working with a live orchestra is like no other experience I've had. Their energy moves the dancers, making the performance magical."

Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to reserve yours for this unforgettable experience. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and the Skidmore community, and free for students and children. 

Riding team heads to IHSA Zone II finals

Posted by Katie Peverada

Seven Skidmore riders earned the right to compete in individual classes at next week's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone II Finals after their performance at the regional IHSA event this past weekend.
Seniors Flavia D'Urso, Julia Mazzarella, Emily Keefe and Sandrine Couldwell will all be competing in individual classes. They will be joined by Rachel Comp '15, Kyle Olson '14 and Bettina Salfeld'14.
Several Skidmore riders will also be competing in the team competition. In addition to her individual events, D'Urso will also be competing in the team competition. She will be joined by Olivia Cameron '13, Madeline Frank '13, Emory Wonham '13, Natalie Williams '15, Michelle Fu '15, Jessica Stoukides '16, and Kenna Newton '13.
The IHSA Zone II finals will be held in Greenvale, N.Y. on April 7.

"The Mythic Figure" exhibit to open at the Saisselin Art Center's Schick Art Gallery

This Thursday, April 4th from 5:30-7:30 PM the Saisselin Art Center's Schick Art Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for their new exhibit, "The Mythic Figure." The exhibit will include works based on the figure by sculptors William Tucker and Ed Smith and painter Pamela Avril. It is curated by Vissiting Assistant Professor of Art (Scultpure) John Galt.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For information, contact Rebecca Shepard at 580-5049

SGA Elections divide Skidmore: April Fools Edition

Posted by Andrew Shi

Skidmore is a divided college, and this partition is hardly more evident than during election season. Still, SGA presidential candidates have toured the campus, promising to bridge differences and end the gridlock that has crippled SGA in the past year.

Nothing has yet indicated this promised reconciliation. Instead the parties seem as alienated from one another as ever.

"I can't even remember the last time I sat on the blue side," Jacob Stevens '15, a registered hipster, laments. "I barely even go to Global anymore, I just receive too many dirty stares."

Peter Norton '14, the presidential incumbent and nominee for the "I wore your Granddad's clothes before it was cool" party has of recent raised partisan oration. He has accused SGA officials of the Grand Off-Campus party (GOP) of obstructing deals that would allocate funds to the art and music programs.

Aubrey Lopez '14, The GOP presidential candidate and owner of five lacrosse sticks, including two semi-automatics, has responded by charging the Norton administration of earmarking funds to favorite constituents and giving preference to his own party members.

"We don't even have a football field," Lopez reminds. "You have a $44 million music center."

In a recent rally on Wachenheim Field, Lopez promised that, if elected, she will see an increase in spending on sports programs.

"Athletics is an imperative of the Skidmore community, and if we underfund our sports programs we will begin to see our athletic prowess fall in comparison to our rivals. Already the Norton administration is undermining our athletic abilities by diverting funds to purchase markers and glitter. Instead of keeping our athletic forces strong, he is promising free M&Ms with the soft-serve machine which will likely quadruple current tuition rates. Norton is utterly incompetent. What SGA needs is a person who understands how the economy works and how to responsibly manage a budget, someone who understands business, someone who has taken five business classes."

Free M&M coverage has been a pressing issue in this year's debate. After the Integrity Board found the National M&M Care Act constitutional this past June, GOP officials have promised to see the act repealed.

"It's un-Skidmore that I have to see my tuition money go to pay for someone else's M&Ms," Lopez told supporters at the same rally.

A recent Gallup poll showed that Lopez lead Norton by a single point as of March 24. Candidates have now focused attention on the undecided and moderates, heavily campaigning in Dana Center, and the Government and History Departments.

"To be honest, I won't even watch the television anymore, I just can't stand these campaign commercials. If one of these candidates promised that I could just watch the Big Band Theory  without a single political ad, they could have my vote," Jennifer  Berkovich' 14, a Biology major, said.

"All this polarizing vitriol is truly sickening and I probably won't even vote, I just don't care enough about politics," Jack Griffin' 15, a Government and English double Major, said.

Election boffins expect that as Skidmore approaches the last week before the election, the prevalence of campaigning will only worsen for the undecided as candidates pour money into bombarding them with advertisements.

"I don't even know what SGA does," Griffin admitted.

President Norton will be holding a rally in Zankel on Monday, April 1. Lopez is expected to meet foreign dignitaries at RPI on Wednesday, April 3.

Campus Safety Report: March 22 to 28

Incidents of Note:

Further Incidents:
? Friday, March 22-Campus Safety Assist: County 911 Dispatched reported at 5:37 p.m. receiving a 911 call traced to Perimeter Road. Officers and the Saratoga Springs Police Department canvassed the area with no reported problems observed. Report issued.
? Tuesday, March 26-Forcible Sex Offense: Report received at 4:41 p.m. of an incident of sexual misconduct which occurred in a campus dormitory early in the morning on Sunday, March 24.
? Thursday, March 28-Campus Safety Assist: A 911 call received by the county at 11:03 p.m. from Kimball Hall. The call was open and they did not speak with anyone. Dispatched officers to the dormitory to make a check. Saratoga Springs Police Department also dispatched an officer. Check made of the building with negative results. Officer contacted the person on their cell phone who stated that they were in the Scribner Library and had dialed 911 in error. No problems reported.

Friday, March 22:
? Suspicious Odor: Suspicious odor reported at midnight at Jonsson Tower. Officer observed a drug law violation. Report issued.
? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 12:10 a.m. at Dayton Drive. Dispatched officer reported that the resident lowered the volume upon request.
? Liquor Law Violation: Campus Safety assistance requested at 1:05 a.m. to check on a report of loud music at McClellan Hall. Dispatched officer requested assistance for an intoxicated subject. Liquor Law violation observed. Report issued.
? Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 10:52 a.m. from Bolton Hall to the subject's residence as she is feeling ill. Officer provided the service. No medical attention requested.
? Medical: An injured student reported at 10:55 a.m. at the Sasselin Art building. Dispatched all units and notified the Emergency Medical System. Subject transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
? Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 1:34 p.m. to the Saratoga Emergency Room. Officer completed the transport. Report issued.
? Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 10:35 p.m. in Wait Hall. Dispatched officer reported no odor source detected. Call unfounded.
? Liquor Law Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:30 p.m. in Jonsson Tower. Officer reported observing a Liquor Law violation. Report issued.
? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 11:58 p.m. at Dayton Drive. Officers reported that subjects lowered the volume upon request.

Saturday, March 23:
? Campus Safety Assist: A transport requested at 1:05 a.m. to the Saratoga Hospital. Officer dispatched provided the transport. Report issued.
? Campus Safety Assist: A personal safety escort requested at 1:12 a.m. to North Woods from Case Center. Officer provided the service.
? College Violation: Excessive nose reported at 1:20 a.m. in Penfield Hall. Residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
? Drug Law Violation: A drug law violation reported at 1:27 a.m. in the south stairwell of Kimball Hall. Report issued.
? Suspicious Activity: A suspicious white male of approximately fifty years of age reported at 10:12 a.m. wearing a green hoodie and standing at the entrance to the North Woods parking lot. Officers investigated and identified the subject as a student's father. No further problems reported.
? Criminal Mischief: Damage reported at 1:55 p.m. located to the kitchenette and the basement of Wiecking Hall. Unknown perpetrators at this time. Damage recorded and report issued.
? Medical: A lacrosse coach reported an injury at 2:09 p.m. during the men's lacrosse game at the Williamson Sports Center field with an ambulance en route. Officers responded to the assist. Report issued. Subject was transported to the Emergency Room.
? Liquor Law Violation: Loud music reported at 10:48 p.m. coming from the Oak apartments. Officers dispatched reported observing several college violations. Report issued.
? Liquor Law Violation: While on patrol at 11:26 p.m. in the South Quad, an officer reported observing a liquor law violation at Wiecking Hall. Report issued.
? Liquor Law Violation: Officer reported a live band playing loud music at 11:44 p.m. in the Dogwood apartments. Officers requested that the band and the large group disperse. Subjects complied. Liquor Law violations also observed. Report issued.

Sunday, March 24:
? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 2:03 a.m. from an adjacent room in Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched reported that the subjects lowered the volume upon request.
? Medical: County 911 dispatcher reported an Emergency Medical System at 4:45 a.m. en route to Jonsson Tower for a female who had just called requesting assistance. Officer was dispatched to her room. Subject transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
? Criminal Mischief: A hole reported at 11:17 a.m. in the wall of Kimball Hall in addition to broken glass on the floor. Dispatched officer recorded the damage and issued a report. Unknown perpetrators at this time.
? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 11:05 a.m. from the Saratoga Emergency Room to the campus. Dispatched officer completed the transport. Report issued.
? Campus Safety Assist: A female reported at 2:52 p.m. placing flyers on College-owned vehicles in the North Hall parking lot. When she noticed the reporting person she immediately exited the area. Dispatched officer reported checking the area to no avail. The flyers were removed and a report issued.
? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 9:50 p.m. to the Saratoga Emergency Room. Officers dispatched completed the transport. Report issued.

Monday, March 25:
? Fire Alarm: Fire alarm received at 5:01 a.m. for Ladd Hall. All units and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department informed. Source of activation determined to be housekeeping machinery.
? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 12:21 p.m. to the Emergency Room. Officer dispatched completed the transport. Report issued.
? Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 2:32 p.m. for Wilmarth Hall. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Officers on the scene reported that excessive hairspray use near the smoke head on the third floor had set off the alarm. Report issued.
? Graffiti: Graffiti reported at 10:58 p.m. in the north elevator. Unknown perpetrators at this time. Housekeeping contacted for its removal. Report issued.

Wednesday, March 27:
? Reckless Endangerment: Report received at 11:45 a.m. of a tire falling over on a College-owned dump truck while the truck was being driven on campus.
? Campus Safety Assist: A request received at 4:25 p.m. to locate a student in the Scribner Village apartments. Dispatched officer was unable to locate the student at the time. Officers planned to attempt to locate the student throughout their respective shifts. The student was later located on Thursday, March 28.
? Medical Assistance Calls: An officer requested at 8:14 p.m. to check on an ankle injury at the Janet-Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. Dispatched officer and Saratoga County Emergency Medical System. Officers on scene at 8:17 p.m. followed by the Emergency Medical System. The injured person was referred at 8:30 p.m. to the Medical Center for proper treatment. Officers cleared the scene at 8:35 p.m.

Thursday, March 28:
? Criminal Mischief: A report received of two eggs thrown at 8:06 a.m. at the front door of a North Woods apartment complex the previous night. Report taken.
? Trespass: An officer requested at 1:09 p.m. to ask two people at the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall to leave the campus. Dispatched officer reported locating the two individuals and asked them to leave or be subject to arrest for trespass.
? Stalking: A student reported at 1:25 p.m. that her ex-boyfriend has been harassing her. Dispatched officer interviewed the reporting person. Report made. Investigation is ongoing.
? Campus Safety Assist: A welfare check requested at 9:40 p.m. on a student in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer located the student, who stated that she was fine at the time and does not wish to speak with anyone.
? College Violation: A loud noise reported at 10:59 p.m. in Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched officer reported that the subjects in the room were playing a video game and would quiet down.
? Criminal Mischief: Criminal mischief reported at 11:30 p.m. in the north stairwell between the first and second floors of Kimball

BREAKING: Discovered that Quidditch team not actually capable of magic: Club revealed to be spinning a dangerous web of lies and deceit (April Fools Edition)

Posted by Julia Martin

A lengthy undercover investigation of Skidmore's own Quidditch team reveals that the club members are actually physically incapable of performing any truly magical acts. The investigation has been underway for over 3 years, and it was confirmed just a few days ago that the members of the Quidditch team are not in fact wizards and witches, but rather students with an affinity for running with a conventional broom stick between their legs.

"It's been a long time coming," said the undercover reporter, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of backlash, "but I finally caught those suckers. I only wonder how long they thought they could keep up the charade. I think it's a hard truth to swallow, but something the Skidmore Community needs to know."

The case was finally cracked open when our reporter broke into the storage shed used by the morally corrupt club, and discovered the quaffles and bludgeons to be old, deflated and quite frankly poorly cared for, dodgeballs.

When we cornered and questioned about the incident, Quidditch team president, Lindsey Thomas '13, appeared nervous and quickly diverted the question with a few of her own questions, "How did you guys even get into my house? Are you eating my Cheerio's right now?"

The final clue in the SkidNews' investigation was the discovery that the "snitch", the flying gold ball that grants instant victory to its captor, is actually a small person who runs aimlessly around campus during each match.

"I asked myself this, if the team members were actually capable of magic, why would they need or want a small human to run around with a tennis ball in a pouch hanging from their backside?" our reporter asked, "The act seems both humiliating and inefficient in comparison to the use of an actual magical snitch. That's when all the pieces came together."

The group of pathological liars were last seen living their lie on the grass field outside of Wiecking Hall, as if they hadn't done anything wrong. 

Failing pizza shop owner locates ideal pizza at Skidmore College : April Fools Edition

Posted by Lisa Fierstein

Steve Lorenzo, a local New York City pizza shop owner is looking to revamp his failing pizza business named Scoiattolo's Pizzeria.

His aim was to locate the perfect pizza by sampling pizzas at various college dining halls in the state of New York. Last week, Lorenzo stepped foot into Skidmore's acclaimed Murray-Aikins Dining Hall with his taste buds ready to find the best pizza for his shop.

Seven sizzling pizzas sat confidently at Supremo's Pizza Station on the Red Side of D-hall when Lorenzo entered. After months of searching, Lorenzo hit the ultimate pizza jackpot.

"Yes!" Lorenzo exclaimed. "I have never seen such delectable pizza. And what's most impressive is that the main ingredient is Creative Thought."

Lorenzo met with the Director of Dining Services to work out logistics, and bought each one of Skidmore's Pizza Chefs. Lorenzo Megabused the Pizza Chefs to his New York City shop, where they will start work on Monday, April 1^st. Lorenzo feels confident that this new team of highly skilled Pizza Artists will advance his business.

In the meantime, Skidmore Dining Services is actively working to find new talented pizza chefs, so students can expect to be deprived of pizza until a new staff is hired.

Skidmore Dining Services is well known for their culinary excellence, and now Lorenzo's pizza shop will own a slice of this greatness. 

Thoroughbred basketball star to enter NBA draft?: April Fools Edition

Posted by Andrew Shi

At 6-4, he would by no means be a towering figure in the NBA, but his naturally athletic abilities and superb understanding of fundamentals has led senior Mike Pannozzi to be invited to visit several NBA teams including the New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats and Phoenix Suns.

In this past season, Mike Pannozzi averaged a double-double, leading his team with 15 points and 13 rebounds per game. He led the league with an average 6.2 blocks per game, and  averaged five assists and three steals. From the field he shot 56% and hit 43% of shots beyond the arc. He also shot 92% from the free throw.

"Mr. Pannozzi has demonstrated himself to be a dangerous sharpshooter, but what he really brings to the table is a defensive prowess. An average of 13 rebounds and 6.2 blocks will translate very well into the NBA," said a representative from the Phoenix front office.

"He's the kind of player we'd like to see on our team as we rebuild."

"I've spoken to several teams; I think they wanted to gauge my possible interest in their teams," Pannozzi said. "To be honest, I haven't even decided whether or not to join this year's draft."

But that doesn't mean agents and teams aren't giving him a push. "Why wouldn't you want to play for the NBA. You get to do something you love and make millions doing it, and a player like Pannozzi will certainly be making millions," said Derek Fagan, a prominent NBA agent who recently spoke to Pannozzi.

Pannozzi, who's an education and dance major, doesn't share this dream that so many other young men do. "I've always wanted to teach. I always assumed that after graduation, I would take up a job at an elementary school teaching third graders  their basic multiplication tables."

When asked about the rumors that he would likely be a first round pick, and could possibly be a top ten pick, Pannozzi said, "There's a lot of good players and it's an honor that I'm considered in such a high regard, but I'm just not sure if the NBA is for me."

"When I make my decision, the Skidmore Community will be the first to know," Pannozzi affirmed.

Mike Pannozzi led his team to the Skidmore intramural championships, where they won by fifteen. Pannozzi was awarded MVP.

Skidmore to offer "Why Creative Thought Matters" class in upcoming semester: April Fools Edition

Posted by Alex Mintz

Skidmore College's motto "Creative Thought Matters," or "C.T.M.," is well known by the student body on campus. Often uttered before committing questionable actions during questionable hours of the weekends, "C.T.M." has become something of a go-to phrase for students about to engage in "out-of-the-box" activities. Skidmore College has ideas on how to change the meaning of "C.T.M."

The College plans to offer and perhaps eventually require a class called "Why Creative Thought Matters." This class will be geared toward guiding students into understanding exactly what creative thought is and what it is not. After identifying creative and uncreative thinking, students will begin discussing why and how creative thought is used, and how it can't be used.

Dr. Prudence Day III, Associate Professor of Philosophy, will be teaching the class. "I hope that students will learn the right guidelines for creative thinking -- where they can or can't gain inspiration and what they should never think." Dr. Day's edgy curriculum on creative thought is currently being approved by the board of directors.

Butch Ray-Nathan '15 expressed his excitement for the class. "Too many people leave C.T.M. up for grabs. It's tossed around like hot potato, and the freshmen get confused. It will be good to set up clear guidelines so we don't have to face the confusion."

Isaac Goldstein '14 also expressed his interest. "I'm glad to see some guidance and order will be given to the upcoming underclassmen. Some of their crazy so-called 'creative' ideas were beginning to look like a threat to good, well-established and tested creative ideas."

However, the new course offering has already seen a bit of controversy. Rachel Meadow '14 commented, "What?! Are you serious? Is this a joke?" Another student said, "This is the stupidest... I can't. Words don't describe my outrage."

Even some student clubs are joining the opposition. The Orwellian Club plans to hold a "Creative Thought Police Protest" on Apr. 4 at 1 p.m. When asked for details about the protest and his opinion on the latest addition to the curriculum, Club president Stewie MacFarland '13 merely replied, "Ignorance is strength."

Chip the Dog, controversial face of Cookie Crisp Cereal, selected as 2013 commencement speaker: April Fools Edition

Posted by Julia Martin

Students, professors and parents are outraged over the selection of Chip the Dog, the former face of Cookie Crisp Cereal, as the 2013 Commencement speaker. In a public statement sent out via e-mail on Thursday, members of the administration explained their decision:

"Chip has revolutionized the cereal industry. Cookies for breakfast?! The idea is both progressive and creative-two qualities we believe Skidmore students should embody. Chip was the face of Cookie Crisp Cereal for over a decade, and is one of the most successful dogs ever in the cutthroat and prejudice industry of cereal. Chip can also talk, a rare ability for dogs."

Students however, are enraged by the decision. Ben Harrison '14 said his anger stems from Chip's promotion of a poor product: "That little dog is always talking about how it tastes just like cookies and milk-that's the last time I listen to a dog! That stuff's nasty! It's confusing too, man, sometimes I'd forget what time it was because I'd be eating cookies in the morning, but usually I eat cookies at nighttime, so then I'd get confused about whether it was the morning or nighttime."

Parents have also cited Chip's multiple run-ins with the law as further reasoning why the dog shouldn't address the student body. Chip's most recent offense, public urination, landed him three nights in a NY state pound.

Chip explained that his recent arrests were products of his frustration over his unemployment, "In 2005 I was replaced by Chip the Wolf, because they told me I wasn't edgy anymore. His name isn't even Chip, it's Larry!" After taking a few moments to closely watch a nearby squirrel, Chip continued, "After I got laid off I got pretty koooOOOOOOOoooky, mainly because I was really lost. I needed some time to find myself again." Chip then chased after a squirrel before we could ask any further questions.  

Students reportedly plan to continue to protest the decision, while members of the administration expressed hopes that the student body would "throw them a bone."

Skidmore students definitely understand the rules of polo: April Fools Edition

Posted by Julia Martin

Skidmore students are noticeably riled up about the upcoming Polo match this weekend. The Skidmore News spoke to a few students who were particularly enthusiastic about the sport. Our investigation showed that not only do students have a firm grasp on the concept of the sport, but also have great personal interest in the Skidmore Polo Team:

"Is that the one where you can't let the balloon touch the ground?"- Jacob '15

"My grandma plays that every Saturday with her old friends." -Christina '14

"What I don't understand is how the horses jump through those hoops. The horses are so big and those hoops are so small!" -Mark '12

"Horses smell weird, (laughter) am I right?!" -Amy '16

"I buy all my khakis there." -Ted '13

Spring Break in Spain

Posted by Julia Leef

Saludos!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Un abrazo,
Julia

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