A Hazer's Handbook

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

If you're on a sports team and you're thinking of giving your newcomers a harmless paddle in the rear (or a Coors Light), read on, as I tell you how to avoid the repercussions.

Let's face it: no one's perfect. So if some Johnny Freshman's mom calls the school to complain, go operation DTYD (deny til you die).

FYI: the nomenclature varies culturally, in some cultures it's known as The Shaggy, It Wasn't Me strategy (just in case you're abroad when the athletic dept. sends you an email implicating you).

Next, you're going to be called into Don Hastings' office. If your dad isn't a member of Seal Team Six and can't Zero Dark your ass, don't make the Blake Mistake or the Ringler Regret: admitting guilt and giving a play-by-play of what happened.

Remember: we're still denying.

So, when an avuncular Don Hastings tells you that he has footage of you hazing people, don't give in. He's lying. Yes, lying.

As any good criminologist (or anyone who's ever watched an episode of Law and Order, ever) will tell you: they're going to try to turn you guys against each other. Don't give in.

After you tell him that it's disrespectful to call this minor thing a "hazing incident," remind him that you maintain your innocence and that the Theater Department hazes all the time anyway. Or just tell him to bring it up at President Glotzbach's next Fireside Chat.

BUTTT, if they do have iPhone footage (or a blurry Instagram photo) of you giving some freshman a wine cooler, do what every man left standing in a mob movie does: make a deal and rat out everyone else.

Or, jump ship to the tennis team.

After joining the tennis team and engaging in your own consequence-less hazing scandal, you'll be on TV (hi mom!) admonishing other sports teams for THEIR hazing scandals.

If all of this fails, pray they'll just ban you from playing lacrosse in the spring; they'll take their punishment back.

Or, just don't haze next year. Happy summer, everyone!

Skidmore senior to start a placement service business in Beijing

Posted by Elizabeth Hopkins

This summer, Samuel Schultz '13 will embark on a plane to Beijing to start a summer camp placement service for Chinese students. Schultz plans to provide families looking for a summer camp in the United States for their child with a search utility that will suggest recommendations based on their child's interests. The service will be called Summer Destinations and will be based out of Beijing.

Schultz recently won the $20,000 first prize in the third annual Kenneth A. Frierich Business Plan Competition. This prize will enable Schultz to initiate his five-year plan to start Summer Destinations.

The service will specifically cater to a wealthy demographic of Chinese nationals, whose children have learned English. Families like these may be seeking to provide their child with a more immersive English experience, an opportunity to investigate interests, or gain a summer experience in a natural environment, outside of the city of Beijing. Schultz said that he aims to ensure that families "know of this opportunity and its positive aspects, and give their children the means" to attend a summer camp. "I created a foundation of connections in Beijing," Schultz added, which he hopes to use to facilitate the expansion of the business.

"The initial camp roster is comprised of established residential summer camps in the Northeast," Schultz said. He hopes to expand this roster annually to include more specialized camps in other parts of the U.S.

At Skidmore College, Schultz has majored in International Affairs and Asian Studies and minored in Business. "My academic experience has given me great preparation to begin this business," Schultz said. "It's great to finally be doing academic work that will have a tangible benefit on my future."

Past learning experiences and visits to China drove Schultz to seek Beijing as his starting place. He first traveled to China for studies in his junior year of high school. There he gained a solid grasp on the language and culture. During a recent trip to China this past summer with his father, Schultz met two children, who were both probably around eight or ten-years-old and natives of Beijing. In addition to Chinese, the kids spoke English and German. At such young ages, the kids provided Schultz with inspiration and sparked the idea to start Summer Destinations.

Promotions for Summer 2014 will begin in September or October as the application deadline is April 1 for most camps. Until then, Schultz will spend this summer preparing for his trip to Beijing, publicizing the service and establishing business connections. In the first five years, he will divide his time between Beijing, working there August through April, before heading back to the U.S. to check on progress at the camps.

The semester in review: Sports

Posted by Katie Peverada

Riding advances to IHSA nationals: With a second place finish at the Zone II championships, the Skidmore College riding team earned a return trip to the nationals, which will take place May 2-5 in Pennsylvania. Skidmore, who has won six IHSA national titles, finished first in seven consecutive shows to start the year.

Men's soccer team hires new coach: In January, after 13 years on the job, Ron McEachen announced he was retiring as the head coach of men's soccer. In March, the school named Jeremiah Kneeland as the new coach. Kneeland comes from Elmira College, where he was not only the head coach for six seasons, but also a 2005 graduate and three-year starter.

Women's tennis continues to be ranked among the best: Currently, the women's tennis team is ranked 19^th in the NCAA Division III poll, up one spot from their previous spot at No. 20. The team held the No. 16 spot before dropping a match to No. 3 Williams. The team will travel to RIT May 3-5 to play in the Liberty League Championships before the NCAA Championships May 10 and 11.

Frederick selected for Allstate Women's Basketball Coaches Association Good Works Team: Logan Frederick '13, captain of this year's women's basketball team, was one of 10 women honored for her outstanding volunteerism and civic involvement within the Saratoga Springs community. She is a volunteer firefighter/EMT, a tutor, and President of the Newman Club, just to name a few activities. Frederick was honored at the Division I Women's Final Four in New Orleans, April 7-9.

The semester in review: News

Posted by Andrew Shi

The Men's Soccer team was involved in a hazing scandal that received national attention. The hazing incident occurred during the Nov.30 "rookie night," an initiation event. Many of the players involved received points to their student record, had to pay fines, and were banned from playing spring sports. Several of these students were able to successfully appeal some of these punishments. An initial investigation by the Saratoga County District Attorney was dropped and the police investigation into the incident has also seemed to come to a tacit end.

On Tuesday, March 5, the campus went into lockdown after Lance C. Leonard made a threat to kill a Skidmore student. Leonard was arrested at 6:40 a.m. the next day in Atlanta City, N.J, and was believed to be on his way to Skidmore. Classes resumed as normal on Wednesday.

Several Scribner houses have neared completion. Currently seven are under construction and four are scheduled to open for the fall, providing much needed living space. Much of the junior class was upset that they would have to live in the dormitories once again. The other three houses are currently scheduled to open for next spring.

Skidmore experienced a 40% increase in applications this year. The administration does not plan on increasing the student body size. This will result in the College's acceptance rate to lower, which often serves as a indicator for a college's competitiveness.

William Spears, an architect from the firm Miller Dyer Spears, began to survey Case Center. He is tasked with renovating the building and questioned students, faculty and staff for what they wished to see in a new building. Blueprints for the news building have not yet been created. Case Center was last expanded and renovated in 2000.

Commencement Controversy:

The announcement that Cynthia Carroll would be awarded an honorary degree and speak at commencement received much attention from the Skidmore Community. Ms. Carroll, once rated the fifth most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine, is the outgoing CEO of Anglo-American, a mining conglomerate, and is also an alumna from the Skidmore class of '78. Students took issue with her and Anglo-American's environmental and social justice record.

A group of 40-or-so students interrupted April's faculty meeting to air grievances over the choice of Ms. Carroll as a commencement speaker. While many of the faculty present showed disapproval with their behavior, they lauded the students' commitment to taking action and having their voices heard.

Students were invited to a teleconference with Ms. Carroll and associates to hear her address the issues they had with her presence at commencement. A discussion amongst students and faculty followed the teleconference. President Glotzbach also sent out an email to the community to explain why he thought Ms. Carroll was an appropriate choice.

The ghost of Compton's past

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

On April 12, senior Justin Tavarez, was arrested on theft of service charges, after failing to pay $23.80 for his cab ride, following a late night of drinking downtown.

Tavarez, who took a cab home with a "white female" student (according to the driver's sworn statement), fled the cab with a bag left behind by the last passenger. Tavarez relinquished the bag shortly after fleeing the cab, and following a stubborn night of rain, its contents-valued at $1150-were irreparably waterlogged. Thus, Tavarez was charged with grand larceny the following Tuesday.

Tavarez called the owner. "I didn't mean to steal your stuff, I'm going to graduate this year, the charge is serious and I could do jail time, I want to meet you to show you I am a good guy." states a police document.

Two days after the call, Tavarez, 22, was arrested at Burgess Caf?? on an added charge of witness tampering in the fourth degree, and forced to walk across campus in handcuffs, despite the dean of student's plea to have him arrested outside the public setting.

Tavarez was at the center of another investigation in 2010, when a late night brawl broke out between four Skidmore students of color, and several local diners-now infamously referred to as "The Compton's Incident."

Tavarez, who took a plea deal so as to escape college expulsion, contends that local diners initiated the brawl. "This guy got in my face and pushed me-it was just pushes, that's all. I never broke a plate over his head, but plates were broken and food was everywhere. They might as well have said I hit him in the head with a pancake."

"I'll never forget, ever," said Tavarez, "we were all leaving the courthouse the next day and some guy in an SUV drove up next to us, rolled down his window and raised his fist and screamed 'white power!' We all just looked at him like, 'what?'"

Saratoga Springs is very much a tale of two towns.

The first is an affluent, sunny, halcyon summer destination characterized by the white mansions and white linen suits-something out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

The other town is much less glamorous: economically depressed, with a local newspaper sensationalizing headlines to attract readers, hoping to avoid filing for bankruptcy for a fourth time. This town doesn't welcome Skidmore students. Its police-suppressed witness' statements at Compton's two years ago and they trumped up charges for "a hispanik" (as the cab driver's police statement reads).

But this story is also about two Skidmores.

It's about a large faction of students who quickly convicted Justin for his involvement in the "Compton's incident" and a small minority of students, who were there, and really know what happened.

It's about a pernicious schism between opportunity program students, who immediately stand out in contrast to those who are privileged enough to indulge in the Vineyard, the Hamptons and equestrian culture.

It's about one set of tours that visit Skidmore one week, segregated from another set of Discovery tours that visit the next.

It's about limousine liberalism and armchair progressivism, and professors who observe, "The best way to keep incidence of drinking down on campus is to raise your minority population. College means a lot more to them."

It's about concerted efforts at cultural awareness negated by a student crudely scribbling, "I love being white" on a dorm fa??ade.

Though Justin's experiences may not mirror your own, it doesn't make them any less real. We shouldn't depreciate the value of someone's harsh experiences or feelings of marginalization in this town or this school, simply because you haven't felt them.

In this country, suspects are innocent until proven guilty. However, through misreporting and sensationalism and without a trial by jury, two men in Boston have already been convicted in the court of public opinion. What's more damaging is that because of their ethnicity, some commentators suggest their actions may preclude progressive immigration reform-proof that the evil of few sculpts the face of many.

In some instances-such as the Steubenville rape case-we go as far as socially indicting the victim. Many called that young female victim a "slut", with little understanding or knowledge of the case-proof that we need to practice media literacy and skepticism, not because it's easy, but because it is hard.

Next time you hear a story, question it. Next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself: would I be paraded, in handcuffs, across the campus green or convicted before my trial had even begun?

Justin Tavarez is no saint. I know because he's my housemate. While I had heard legends of the "Compton's Incident", it wasn't until a few weeks ago, I found out that he was the student in question. I never would have expected it from a young man who keeps us up at night-singing Adele songs in the shower or keeping the lights on so he can read books about social history and Bobby Kennedy.

Like me, Tavarez has a unique affection for RFK, and, like me, he's from New York City. Like me, he exhibits a New Yorker's cynicism. Sometimes, it feels like the only difference is the color of our skin. Now I consider him one of my closest allies. What's sad: but for a housing snafu, we may have never even met. Like you, he would have remained crystallized in my mind as "that Compton's kid."

For many us, the only thing we truly know about the "Compton's Incident", is that we truly know nothing about the Compton's incident at all. I welcome your disagreement to what I've said; we're all entitled to our own opinions. We are not however, entitled to our own facts-especially when we have none.

Summer film preview

Posted by Sean van der Heijden

This summer is full of high-profile movies: Iron Man 3, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Great Gatsby, Man of Steel, and World War Z included. But if I were to make a list of the top three films I'm most looking forward to this summer, none of those would be on there.

Here are the top three movies I'm most looking forward to over the summer-as obscure as they may be:

3. Elysium: dir. Neill Blomkamp, staring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster.

Elysium is definitely the most action-centered movie on this list. Nevertheless, I've heard it's even more riddled with political ideology than Blomkamp's breakout hit, District 9. You can check out the trailer online, but the concept looks intriguing: it is the year 2154, and the poor are left on earth to starve and fight, while the rich live on the eponymous space station. Elysium hits theaters on August 9.

2. Blue Jasmine: dir. Woody Allen, staring Cate Blanchett and just about everyone else ever.

Woody Allen is known for putting together high-profile casts, but this one-which, along with Blanchett, includes Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K., and a bunch more-is just ridiculous. I've additionally heard rumors that it's one of Allen's best films in years, which means a lot considering how great Midnight in Paris was. Sony Pictures Classics has only released a short statement as to the film's synopsis, which is as follows: it is "the story of the final stages of an acute crisis and a life of a fashionable New York housewife." Blue Jasmine comes out on July 26.

1. The Bling Ring: dir. Sofia Coppola, staring Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, and Taissa Farmiga.

Sofia Coppola arguably hasn't had a great film since her Oscar-Winning Lost in Translation back in 2003, but this looks even better than that. Inspired by true events, it follows a group of teenagers who use social networking sites in order to find out where celebrities live and rob their homes. If that doesn't sound amazing, I don't know what does, and it's made even better by the fact that I remember hearing about this in the news. The Bling Ring comes out officially on June 14.

The harm in jumping to conclusions

Posted by The Editorial Board

In a small community, good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster. On April 19, this newspaper reported that Skidmore senior Justin Tavarez had been charged by the Saratoga Springs police department with grand larceny in the fourth degree and theft of service. It was later learned that a charge of witness tampering had also been added. Justn is the same student who, in 2010, pled guilty to misdemeanor assault.

Unfortunately, in a case like this, many community members who do not personally know Justin-nor the circumstance surrounding his arrest-have presumed his guilt, and now assume that his character is nothing more than the sum total of the crimes he has allegedly committed.

We find this to be saddening. In a community as small as ours, and in a community which purports and strives to value principles of justice and due process, we find it disheartening that Skidmore students have been so quick to assume Justin's guilt, and equally quick to ostracize. Regardless of his previous and alleged criminal activity, Justin is above all a Skidmore student, and no Skidmore student should have to walk on campus feeling marginalized or like the victim of prejudice. Justin's innocence or guilt ought to be determined in the fair courts of law, not the brutal court of public opinion, and until the legal system establishes beyond all reasonable doubt that Justin is guilty, he deserves the community's benefit of the doubt.

As students and members of the larger community, we understand the inclination towards judgment. Such judgments are naturally occurring and inevitable. They are an evil caused by our inability to know all things in all cases. Still, we seek to remind the student body that forming quick judgments-though effortless and often satisfying-neither aids in obtaining a deeper understanding of what has happened nor assists the individual in finding vindication in the public eye. Rather than enjoying the right to explain themselves and have his/her version of the story assessed on neutral grounds, the individual is confronted with preexisting bias. The individual is burdened not only with trying to convince others they are innocent but also just to get others to listen and consider their story objectively. Such a burden is tremendous, and tremendously unjust to impose.

We do not know whether Justin is guilty or innocent and the victim of an unusual and unfortunate series of circumstances. In a community that pioneers restorative justice, we must always assume the best in someone. The law will judge Justin Tavarez. Condemning fellow students for alleged crimes is not our prerogative, and as such, we must continue to treat him and those who have befallen a similar fate with the same humanity we award anyone else. We cannot accuse someone of violating Skidmore's values while infringing upon them ourselves.

"5 Broken Cameras" screens to great success in the Spa

Posted by Sean van der Heijden

On Tuesday, April 23, the Oscar-nominated documentary "5 Broken Cameras" was shown in the Spa at 7:00 p.m. Hayat hosted the event in conjunction with Social Justice Month.. The documentary, directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi, follows the struggles of one Palestinian village staging non-violent protests against the erection of a wall by the Israeli government. The wall, guarded daily by the Israeli army, runs right through village farmland and separates the people from the Israeli housing complexes built on the other side.

Although both an Israeli and a Palestinian direct this film, they tend to show the fighting from a Palestinian viewpoint, which I found intriguing. Scenes show the Israeli army shooting non-violent protestors of all nationalities, arresting children for no specific reason, and burning farmland in retaliation for the resistance movement occurring in the village. No side, though, is painted as inherently right or wrong, as Israelis and Palestinians alike resist the government's actions. When speaking of the Israeli army, Sofia Naqvi '14 commented, "I still don't think it's the enemy, I just think it's the other side." As difficult as it is to portray this objectivity in light of all of the destruction they are causing to his village, Burmat certainly tries to shed some light on both sides of the argument.

On a whole, this film opened my eyes to a new perspective of the Middle Eastern conflicts . There is just something so intimate about Burmat recording everything he sees with merely a small video camera. Burmat's recording becomes even more poignant throughout when, one by one, his cameras get destroyed while filming in the turbulent environment (hence the film's title). In response to the conflict, Naqvi said, "This movie just made it really personal." The style of the documentary and the hands-on filming process truly captures a personal approach to the conflict.

The film was followed by a lively discussion covering topics such as how the conflict is portrayed in the U.S. media and what impact it is having on the younger generations who are witnessing it firsthand. These issues are complex, but the documentary is so riveting in how it shows the struggle, that I would absolutely recommend it for anyone interested in the conflict overseas. As Naqvi pointed out, this documentary tends to deal with many issues regarding humanity rather than the countless political issues surrounding the topic, and for that reason it becomes all the more powerful. 

President Glotzbach addresses Carroll controversy

Posted by Andrew Shi

On April 25, President Glotzbach sent a four-paged email to the Skidmore community. The email addressed the controversy surrounding the choice of Cynthia Carroll, the outgoing CEO of Anglo-American, as one of two commencement speakers.

In the email, Glotzbach recognized that more should -- and would -- be done to gauge student opinion on future commencement speakers."Going forward, we will charge the Junior Class Officers to solicit their classmates more actively...In addition, I will confer with the Board of Trustees and members of the SGA leadership to see if there are other ways to include student voices more effectively in this process."

President Glotzbach also revealed that, at the request of students who attended last week's teleconference and subsequent discussion, the administration would explore the possibility of inviting a third commencement speaker. In a separate interview, Glotzbach confirmed that the administration is "looking into various options," but also emphasized that finding a speaker on such short notice was unprecedented.

The bulk of Glotzbach's email served as a defense of the administration's decision to invite Carroll as a speaker. Students opposed to her presence have argued that her work contradicts Skidmore's values of "environmental sustainability and social justice." Glotzbach disagreed, asserting that she stood for the same values and practiced those as CEO, just in a different, subtler, fashion. Glotzbach asked in his email if there is "just one ethically privileged way to change the world, or are there multiple legitimate, and therefore praiseworthy, pathways toward achieving the goals we all share?"

Glotzbach conceded that the mining industry was far from perfect and said that he believed Carroll would agree with him on this. He argued though, that under the tutelage of Carroll, Anglo-American vastly improved in both areas of student concern. Glotzbach adumbrated a short list of some of her achievements that spanned from improving Anglo-Americans environmentally-friendly standing in a list of 500 major companies by 39 places, to dramatically expanding "programs for HIV/AIDs prevention  and treatment among workers and their families in South Africa, improving the lives of more than 100,000 individuals."

Glotzbach continued to argue that while Carroll's work may not have been the kind of revolutionary change some Skidmore students expect, it was progress nevertheless. For Glotzbach, "developing and implementing such an efficacious plan for change usually requires analysis of systems and how to influence or reengineer them. Such work can be incremental or revolutionary. Often it is frustrating and slow." The argument, it seems, boiled down to 'is the world better off now than it was before the arrival of Carroll?' Glotzbach, in his letter, said yes.

Glotzbach argued that as much as creative thought matters, so does implementing grand schemes, and sometimes that implementation can only come in small doses. "If a person has a wonderful idea for a building, but that building is never constructed, it just remains a thought," said Glotzbach in the interview. He continued to say that, "Lucy Scribner wanted to construct a school that educated both the mind and hand."

According to Glotzbach, Carroll embodies the practice of creative thought and hand, and that she was able to achieve the environmental and social justice change she envisaged.

In his email, Glotzbach emphasized the hand portion, something arguably forgotten and ostensibly left out in Skidmore's motto "Creative Though Matters." Returning to the issue of Carroll and previous episodes of protest, Glotbazch said that while criticism from students has been appreciated, few plans beyond demanding that the administration do something have been proposed. "To protest you don't need all the answers... but at a certain point, especially when criticizing someone, 'what do you want to see happen' is a legitimate question."

Glotzbach then recalled the teleconference meeting where students from United Minds, an ad hoc club designed to protest Carroll, were asked by a faculty member "what do you want to happen."

Glotzbach "did not find the response to be compelling."

Up to this point, much of the protest against Carroll has just asked for her to be disinvited, but has avoided proposing solutions to prevent future situations. Although, as aforementioned, progress has been made in securing a larger role for students in their choice of commencement speaker in the future.

Currently, a petition is circulating that requests Carroll withdraw as commencement speaker. It is unclear how many have signed the petition, nor how many seniors have signed the petition, a distinction Glotbazch finds to be important, as "it is their commencement."

The protest of Cynthia Carroll as a commencement speaker is not unique to Skidmore College. This past semester, Swarthmore also faced a similar problem, as students opposed the choice of Robert Zoellick, who, among many things, was a foreign adviser to President George W. Bush during his 2000 election. The case of Zoellick is eerily similar to Carroll's current situation, as Zoellick is an alumnus of Swarthmore. Zoellick, though, after weeks of protest, rescinded his invitation and declined his honorary degree.

The episode received national attention, much of it unfavorable. The Washington Post interviewed Josh Wheeler, the director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, a legal policy group at the University of Virginia, who said that these kind of pretests were a form of censorship, and called "the ability of a small but vocal group to limit the choices of a much larger majority," the heckler veto."

In the same article, previous president of the University of Wisconsin Robert O'Neil, who experienced similar protests in the 1980, said, "what people see as evidence of political correctness is not what's going on. The harshest thing I see is that we engage more in self-censorship, but that's a long way from succumbing to political correctness."

After Zoellick cancelled his appearance, "many students on campus...said amongst themselves that they are disappointed a vocal and misguided minority ruined an opportunity to hear Zoellick speak," wrote Daniele Charette, a student at Swarthmore, in The College Fix, an online Newspaper.

It is still unclear how many students support or disagree with the choice of Cynthia Carroll. But only once in recent years has a commencement speaker cancelled, and it was due to sudden family matters. In 2001, students protested against the invitation of Joseph L. Bruno a past republican majority leader of NYS senate and alumnus from the class of '52, but Bruno still delivered his commencement speech. Glotzbach has promised to make the process more transparent in the future and will update the community on the search for a third commencement speaker. Cynthia Carroll is still expected to speak at commencement and receive an honorary degree. Commencement is scheduled for May 18.

http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/13126

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-11/lifestyle/38461290_1_college-campuses-ben-carson-robert-zoellick

The semester in review: Features

Posted by Elizabeth Hopkins

Skidmore Unplugged, an annual three-week long competition to reduce energy usage in the College's dorms, took place from Monday, Feb. 11 to Monday, March 4. This year, the Sustainability Office, in conjunction with the S-Rep program and numerous clubs on campus, hosted a number of events to spur Skidmore's competitive spirit and alter the overall organization of the event. The ultimate winner of the competition was Wilmarth Hall, which recorded a 9% decrease in electricity use.

On Wednesday, Feb. 13, Skidmore students and faculty gathered at the Surrey Williamson Inn to hear selections of poetry and prose read to members of the College community at the Megan Rogers Annual Festival. Professors and students participated in this celebration of literature.

Celebrated feminist, author, social justice activist, and editor Gloria Steinem visited Skidmore College to deliver the keynote speech on Thursday, Feb. 21. She gave a personal lecture that focused primarily on social change and the need for reforming contemporary heteronormative and sexist ways of thinking, particularly in Western society.

The Tang Museum at Skidmore College hosted We the People, a series of events focusing on topics ranging from "Slow Democracy" to corporations to the U.S. Constitution. The spring semester's series of events opened on January 24 and closed on April 4.

Students organized and planned Social Justice Month, which took place during the month of April. Among the events that student coordinators hosted were a series of films covering a wide range of social justice topics, a fair trade market, and a talk from a North Korean defector.        

April was also Autism Awareness Month. Psychology Professor Rachel Mann Rosan and students of Skidmore College arranged an event-filled calendar to raise awareness. A number of professors visited and gave enlightening lectures on autism from psychological, scientific and social perspectives. Students also organized a film screening of Temple Grandin, three different panels featuring parents of children with autism, and the Second Annual Autism Awareness Informational Fair, which was hosted by Saratoga Bridges, the Parent Network of the Capital Region, and the Skidmore Psychology Department and presented by Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC.

Ashley Reynolds '14 was named a 2013 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic and social responsibility. Reynolds was among 180 students nationally to receive the award, which recognizes college students for their efforts to explore social issues and work toward positive change. Reynolds has helped at a number of agencies, including the Saratoga Center for the Family, the Center for Hope, Shelters of Saratoga, and has participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. In addition, Reynolds extended her work abroad to Thailand where she worked with the agency Grandma Cares.

Samuel Schultz '13 won the $20,000 first prize in the third annual Kenneth A. Frierich Business Plan Competition. The competition funds students with winning business proposals to implement their plans. Schultz will start a business that helps parents in China connect with summer camps in the United States. His business, Summer Destinations, will be located in Beijing.

Philosophical perspectives of autism spectrum disorders

Posted by Kate Butler

April is Autism Awareness Month. Philosophy professor Susan Parillo introduced Skidmore's series of events and lectures to raise awareness on April 9 with a discussion of philosophical views on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). As a philosopher, Professor Parillo claimed to be "better at asking questions than answering them," and chose to approach issues surrounding ASD from a different perspective than a traditional scientific and psychological viewpoint. She is concerned with the validity of the scientific approach to autism and its explanatory power, and seeks to evaluate the ethics of how to address ASD and approach the issue "from the perspective of what is owed" to those with disabilities.

Parillo's research focuses on Theory of Mind philosophy, which helps to explain the reasons why those on the spectrum have the issues and behaviors characteristic of the disorder. Theory of Mind is a mental concept that enables a person to understand that others think differently, or as Ms. Parillo put it, to "read others' minds." It's necessary for normal social interaction, for imagination, even for successful lying and pretense. Those with ASD lack these abilities in varying degrees, which impairs their social skills.

Core social deficits differ in severity depending on a person's place on the autism spectrum. Currently, there are five diagnoses grouped under the umbrella term of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but in the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) to be released in May, the diagnostic criteria will change. Separate diagnoses, including Asperger's, will no longer exist, replaced instead with the blanket term Autism Spectrum Disorder. A doctor will have to determine the severity of someone's condition and what services he or she requires and receives. Parillo fears that without the Asperger's diagnosis, people with the disorder will "fall through the cracks," and not receive adequate support due to their relatively mild impairments. Some people with Asperger's also fear losing a sense of community and identity associated with the diagnostic term.

In the final part of her discussion, Parillo focused on the fundamental question: should Autism be cured or embraced? This quandary forms the foundation of debate within the ASD community, and has the potential to affect peoples' lives and futures. Viewpoints on this issue differ greatly. Some large organizations are committed to completely curing and preventing the disorder while other groups, like Aspies for Freedom, claim that Asperger's is not a disorder but an alternative wiring of the brain, and oppose any attempts at "normalization."

The crux of the issue, and the heart of Parillo's talk, centers on the important connection between a person's identity and the disorder. For many individuals with Asperger's and higher functioning autism, and for their friends and parents, the idea of eliminating the disorder amounts to eliminating who they are. Since this disorder can be such an integral part of someone's identity, many don't consider it impairing. Ms. Parillo raised the question whether these people, like her own friend with ASD, Katie, would want to be cured.

Parillo admitted, "I ache for Katie," but knows Katie does not view her traits as a disorder and does not suffer from the social anxieties that others do. Parillo contrasted to Katie's happiness her own weaknesses and social anxieties, exclaiming, "I spin my wheels all day long-who's disabled, who's broken?"

Although those on the spectrum who are higher functioning could be harmed by a "cure-all" mindset, Parillo acknowledged that there are still others on the low functioning end who do suffer from more severe impairments and emphasized that society has an ethical responsibility to embrace efforts to help them. The obligations of improving peoples' quality of life and helping them to reach their fullest potential necessitate research into interventions, support, and, perhaps, even "cures" to offer them the best chance to flourish.

Parillo asserted that the issue isn't whether or not to cure autism. Rather, it is how to provide the best help and support by evaluating each person's needs on a case-by-case basis instead of a "cure-all" approach.

"We're talking about people," said Ms. Parillo. "Remember that everyone is an individual. We need to embrace each other as human beings; we're all just people." 

Men's soccer team investigation seems to finally come to a close

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee/Contributing Writer

What began as a very public lambasting for the Men's Soccer Team by the college's administration in late February and continued to be an ongoing investigation into the events of what is being labeled "rookie night," seems to finally have come to an end.

In his Feb. 21 email, addressed to all members of the Skidmore community, President Glotzbach described the events of Nov. 30 as a "team initiation," and "hazing and underage drinking."

While team initiation can be a benign activity, which the anti-hazing handbook of the NCAA-the governing body of college athletics-calls "elements of any culture," and "meaningful experiences in which no one becomes a victim," hazing has been taken very seriously by colleges after a string of recent hazing-related deaths.

Troubling to some student-athletes close to the situation was that the email-publicly rebuking the men's soccer team to an audience of their professors and peers-was sent at 6:38 p.m. that evening, a mere 23 minutes after the beginning of the team's meeting with the athletic department in which they first learned of the investigation.

"The athletic department gave us letters about possibly getting suspended. I was totally out of the loop; I had no idea," recalls one senior member of the men's soccer team.

Following the meeting, players received a letter from Donald Hastings, Associate Dean of Student Affairs. The letters ordered a time and a date for each player to individually meet with the Dean. One student-athlete said each individual was punished on the basis of a ten-minute discussion about their respective involvement in rookie night, adding, "I did get a little upset."

When asked, Hastings, due to confidentiality protocol, could not confirm the details of his meetings with students but said that, when meeting with students in similar circumstances, "the average meetings lasts no less than 30 minutes." Hastings also said that during these meetings, he always asks students for their story, and if a student denies certain charges, he takes that into consideration, and often gives them the benefit of the doubt. "If a student tells me they weren't drinking, I believe them," Hastings said."

In addition to canceling the team's spring season, the college administration also dispensed hefty athletic bans to players said to have been involved. Each member was sentenced to a four-match game ban for the upcoming fall season. The two captains, going into their junior and senior years this fall respectively, received nine-match game bans in addition to the forfeiture of their captaincy.

Furthermore, members of the team have received academic punishments for their involvement in "rookie night." Many upperclassmen received points on their student account as well as a fine-varying from 100 to several hundred dollars. First-years had a less severe $25 fine, and at least one has enrolled in a mandatory alcohol education course. Every member of the team is now expected to write a letter of apology to the administration. Additionally, every player on the team was banned from competing in any sports season this semester.

All students are given the option of appeals, usually on the condition that the respondent felt the punishment was inappropriate for their action. At least three members of the soccer team who also compete for Skidmore's lacrosse team have had their bans lifted. Other members of the team are also in the process of appealing, although Hastings revealed that at this point in time all appeal processes were coming to a close.

Skidmore's "rookie night" has garnered some national attention, making headlines in the Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Gate. The episode was also covered in Saratoga Springs' local newspaper, the Saratogian. When asked how the incident found its way into print, one reporter at the Saratogian replied that the newsroom "was sent a press release from the school."

"It caught my editor's eye. A small college in upstate New York? When do you ever hear of a non-violent hazing incident that didn't involve forced drinking?" said one representative of the Wall Street Journal.

At this time it's still unclear who the victims were on Nov. 30, or what prompted the investigation.

Five members of the men's soccer team opted not to partake in "rookie night". This leaves uncertain if rookie night was a hazing incident if members were not forced to participate in the "bonding experience," as one player called it.

With punishments being rescinded and Saratoga County District Attorney Jim Murphy opting not to pursue criminal charges, members of the men's soccer team said they were slowly winning vindication.

On March 23, members of the team (and at least one Skidmore student who is not on the team) received an e-mail from the Director of Campus Safety Dennis Conway indicating that their contact information had been passed along to Saratoga County Police investigators.

Some student-athletes said this e-mail was the conclusion to a four-month long investigation, and litigious battle with the college administration.

The carefully worded e-mail also stated, "[Campus Safety] will not assist in these interviews." Furthermore, Mr. Conway wrote, "This email is sent as a courtesy to you and in no way are we advocating that you agree to being interviewed by the police. That choice is yours," emphasizing the school's decreased role in the investigation.

Two days later, players received an email from Saratoga PD Investigator Glen Vidnansky. In his email Mr. Vidnansky wrote, "I am assigned to investigate the incident that involved the Men's Soccer Team and underage drinking."

As of late April, student-athletes on the men's soccer team have not been further questioned, and those who declined to respond or comment to Vindansky's email were not emailed again. It appears that the police investigation, too, has come to an end as well, with no charges being filed.

Campus Safety Report: April 12 to 18

Incidents of Note:

? Friday, April 12-Theft of Services: Reporting person advises at 11:40 a.m. that a student was arrested for failing to pay for a cab fare last evening. Report issued.  (http://www.skidmorenews.com/news/skidmore-student-charged-with-grand-larceny-1.3031875#.UXWfHo6D020).

? Saturday, April 13-Campus Safety Assist: Students reported at 12:45 a.m. throwing construction cones at vehicles at Thomas Terrace. Dispatched officers reported a search of the area with negative results. No permanent damage recorded.

? Thursday, April 18-Complaint: Concern reported at 3:08 p.m. with the Saratoga Springs Police Department arrest procedure of a student. Report issued.

Further Incidents:

Friday, April 12:

? College Violation: Extremely loud music reported at 1 a.m. coming from an adjacent room at Whitman Way. Officer dispatched reported that the resident lowered the volume upon request.

? College Violation: Loud noise reported at 1:10 a.m. coming from an adjacent room in Wait Hall. Officer dispatched reported that resident complied with the request to lower the volume. All guests departed for the evening.

? Medical Assistance: Reporting person with an injured right hand wrapped in ice requested the Skidmore College Emergency Medical System for evaluation at 1:20 a.m. The SCEMS was dispatched and treated the subject. Campus Safety officer transported the subject to the Saratoga Hospital Emergency Room. Report issued.

? Larceny: Subject reported at 11:23 a.m. that her backpack had just been stolen at the Williamson Sports Center. Dispatched officer issued a report. No known perpetrator at this time.

? Suspicious Activity: A suspicious male reported at 5:41 p.m. sitting in a parked truck in the North Hall parking lot. Officer dispatched located and identified the subject who presence on the campus was legitimate.

? Suspicious Activity: Subject reported at 7:39 p.m. that an unknown black male entered her unlocked room in Jonsson Tower and appeared to be under the influence. The man left abruptly with no further disturbance. Report issued.

? Medical: Assistance requested at 9:36 p.m. for a female who is ill in Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers and notified the Skidmore College Emergency Medical System. Officer dispatched transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

? Criminal Mischief: A hole reported at 10:39 p.m. in a wall of Wait Hall. Dispatched officer recorded the damage and issued a report. No known perpetrator.

? Campus Safety Assist: Two subject were reported at 11:40 p.m. attempting to go through the fence at the Scribner Village construction area. Dispatched officers were unable to located the subject as they fled the area.

? Campus Safety Assist: A lot of subjects reported at 11:47 p.m. walking to an off-campus party via Clinton Street. Officers reported that they have monitored the area. Students returned safely.

Saturday, April 13:

? College Violation: A possible party reported at 12:18 a.m. in the Pine Apartments. Dispatched officers spoke with several residents who complied with the request to lower the volume. A second call was received at 1:15 a.m. Dispatched officers reported an unregistered party, games of mass consumption and contraband confiscated. Report issued.

? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 12:41 a.m. at Whitman Way. Dispatched students complied with the request to lower the volume.

? College Violation: A loud banging noise reported at 12:56 a.m. in the basement of McClellan Hall. Dispatched officers were unable to detect the noise. No problems reported.

? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 1:01 a.m. in the Macrury Apartments. Dispatched officers reported that students complied with the request to lower the volume.

? Criminal Mischief: While conducting a call at 4:51 a.m., officers noticed debris smeared all over the walls of the first floor in the McClellan dorm. Damage recorded. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 7:42 a.m. from the College to the Emergency Room. Officer dispatched completed the transport.

? Campus Safety Assist: An injured male reported at 10:17 a.m. at an event at the Polo field. Officer transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

? Medical: A male reported at 3:34 p.m. having difficulty breathing due to an injury suffered while in a performance at the Dance theater. Advised the Skidmore Emergency Medical System. Report issued.

? Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 3:42 p.m. at Moore Way. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. Activation was due to burned food. Report issued.

? Suspicious Activity: A suspiciously-acting male reported at 3:46 p.m. on the third floor of the Sasselin Art building. Officer dispatched reported that the subject was gone on arrival.

? Medical: Skidmore College Student Emergency Medical System reported at 11:02 p.m. that a female student was possibly in need of medical assistance in the Spa. Officers dispatched. At 11:23 p.m. the subject was transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

Sunday, April 14:

? College Violation: An officer requested to speak with residents at 12:56 a.m. concerning excessive noise at Cane Crossing. Officers spoke with the residents who agreed to lower their volume.

? Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department requested officer assistance at 1:06 a.m. with two intoxicated subjects located downtown. Officer provided assistance. Report issued.

? Intoxicated Subject: Officer requested at 1:43 a.m. to respond to an intoxicated female in Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched officers requested the Skidmore Emergency Medical System and an ambulance. Subject was transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

? Intoxicated Subject: An unconscious female reported at 2:56 a.m. in the ladies bathroom in Case Center. Dispatched officers requested the Skidmore Emergency Medical System and an ambulance. subject was transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.

? Moving Violations: Officers reported observing a black sedan at 12:27 a.m. driving recklessly on Perimeter Road. Vehicle was identified and ticket issued. Report issued.

? Parking: Officer reported booting a vehicle at 8:54 a.m. in West Lot for parking violations and driving recklessly. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 5:17 p.m. to the Emergency Room for a male student. Officer dispatched provided the transport. Report issued.

? Medical: A student reported that his roommate had cut her finger at 8:41 p.m. in the Bridgman Apartments and requested medical assistance. Officers and the Skidmore Emergency Medical System dispatched. Subject received medical treatment from the Skidmore Emergency Medical System. Report issued.

? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 10:27 p.m. in Wait Hall. Officers dispatched reported that residents complied with the request to lower the volume.

? Criminal Mischief: Officer reported a fist-sized hole at 10:46 p.m. in the lobby wall of Wait Hall. Damage recorded and report issued. No known perpetrator at this time.

Monday, April 15:

? Criminal Mischief: A 'Do Not Enter' sign reported at 6:16 a.m. pulled out of the ground near 5 Dayton Drive. Grounds notified for a replacement. Report issue.d

? Criminal Mischief: A hole reported at 9:13 a.m. in the wall on the second floor of Penfield Hall. No known perpetrator at this time. Dispatched officer issued a report and recorded the damage.

? Campus Safety Assist: Assistance requested by a parent at 11:30 a.m. in contacting her daughter at Whitman Way. Officer provided assistance. Report issued.

? Parking: Student's vehicle booted at 3:15 p.m. at the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater for excessive tickets. Report issued.

? Parking: Vehicle towed at 3:15 p.m. near the Sasselin Art building for excessive tickets and for parking in a handicapped spot. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Person in Campus Safety office at 12:40 p.m. from Whitman Way to be fingerprinted for a state certification in teaching. Service provided.

? Campus Safety Assist: Person in Campus Safety office at 12:45 p.m. from Moore Way to be fingerprinted for a state certification in teaching. Service provided.

? College Violation: Loud guitar playing reported at 11:19 p.m. at Cane Crossing. Dispatched officers reported checking the area and finding the subject gone on arrival.

Tuesday, April 16:

? College Violation: Loud music reported at 1:03 a.m. coming from the first floor of Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched and residents lowered the volume upon request.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 6:06 a.m. to the Emergency Room. Officer completed the transport. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 2:06 p.m. to the Health Services office from Palamountain Hall. Transport completed. Report issued.

? Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 10:21 p.m. at the Hillside Apartments. Officers and maintenance dispatched. Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation was due to a cooking error. Report issued.

Wednesday, April 17:

? College Violation: Loud noises reported at 1:25 a.m. coming from the volley ball court in Northwoods. Officer checked the area with negative results.

? Parking: Officer reported booting a vehicle at 10:45 a.m. in the Arts Quad B lot as it is unregistered with the College and has received nine previous violations. Report issued.

? Accident: Reporting person stated at 11:05 a.m. that someone had scratched his car while it was parked in the Palamountain parking lot. The subject refused police involvement at this time. Report issued.

? Larceny: Person reported at 5 p.m. that her IPad Mini was taken from a hallway in the Dance Theater. Report issued. Police involvement was declined at this time.

? Campus Safety Assist: An officer requested at 5 p.m. to conduct a welfare check on a student in McClellan Hall. Dispatched officer located the subject. Report issued.

? Larceny: Person reported at 6:30 p.m. that his Facilities portable radio was taken from the first floor hallway of Howe Hall. No known perpetrators. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: A 911 call reported at 9:36 p.m. with an open line in Kimball Hall. Officer called the number and ascertained that all was okay and that the call was made in error. Report issued.

? Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 10:32 p.m. at Cane Crossing. Dispatched all officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation was due to burned food. Report issued.

Thursday, April 18:

? Suspicious Odor: A strong odor of incense reported at 2:20 a.m. burning in a dorm room in Wait Hall. Officers dispatched reported that several rooms were interviewed but the source could not be located.

? Parking: Officer reported a vehicle booted at 4 a.m. in the Jonsson Tower lot for excessive tickets. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transportation requested at 9:19 a.m. from Health Services to Wilton Medical. Dispatched officer completed the transport. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: Transportation requested at 9:38 a.m. for medical assistance. Officer dispatched completed the transport. Report issued.

? Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department informed Campus Safety and College officials at 2:49 p.m. of information regarding an arrest warrant for a student. Report issued.

? College Violation: A noise complaint received at 10:14 p.m. in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer reported no problems upon arrival. Students stated that they were watching the game and apologized for getting that loud.

? College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 10:45 p.m. in Howe Hall. Dispatched officer reported speaking with a few residents and requested that the music levels be turned down.

? College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:09 p.m. for the first floor of Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched officers reported that the subject complied with the request to lower the volume.

The sports world comes together in wake of Boston bombings

Posted by Katie Peverada

On Saturday, the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3, a victory that moved the Red Sox to 12-4. This victory meant more than most, though. It was important victory as it helped begin the healing process for the city of Boston after tragic events at the Boston Marathon just five days before.
Sports have long been used to help cities and people move on after tragic events. After the Sept. 11 attacks, a major sporting event did not take place in New York City until Sept. 21. But just as with the recent events in Boston, the various professional leagues had decided that postponing games was the right decision, which it was. But eventually, on Sept. 21, people realized that sports and athletes hold a great healing power.
The first game on Sept. 21 was played between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. It held huge significance in the National League playoff race, so it would have been emotional to begin with, with players and fans alike staunchly holding true to their fandoms.
But something different happened.
The Mets fans and the Braves fans came together. The bitter rivals were cheering together in the stands, waving American flags, and collectively erupting when Mike Piazza hit a towering homerun for the Mets to put them ahead 3-2, the eventual final score.
This past week in Boston, the same thing happened.
On Wednesday, during the Bruins' game against the Buffalo Sabres-the first game in Boston after the marathon bombings-the crowd of 17,565 came together to sing the national anthem. The game was played, though, with each fan cheering for their respective team. The Bruins lost 4-3 in a shootout, and Buffalo fans in the arena rejoiced that their playoff hopes were still alive. But after the game, both teams came together at center ice and raised their sticks in a salute to the fans, and the fans returned with chants of "USA! USA!"
The Braves and Sabres fans weren't necessarily cheering for a Mets victory or a Bruins victory. They cheered for the perseverance of the effected people, but also for a return to normality, something desperately needed. They cheered for the Braves or Sabres not only because Boston fans wouldn't want pity any day of the week, but because it was the normal thing to do.
For people to return to rooting against the Mets on Sept. 21 or continue to boo the Bruins on Saturday shows what sports do in the aftermath of a tragedy: they return people to normality.
Sports gather people together in one place to cheer on teams or individuals competing for a victory. Playing or watching or cheering for sports gives an outlet, no matter how trivial it may seem, for people to be normal again.
After the Sandy Hook shootings, the soccer community came together to help over 1,000 kids from Newtown return to an activity that gave them joy. Names like Landon Donovan, Christie Rampone, Mia Hamm and Cobi Jones were all present and playing soccer with the kids. For these stars to play with the kids allowed the kids to see that being normal and playing sports again was okay.
So whether it's a fan in the grandstand watching Piazza's homerun shoot into the sky or a little kid at the Sandy Hook soccer clinic, sports and its athletes allow people to heal. Sports allow all people-old and young, fans of the Royals or Red Sox, Mets or Braves, Bruins or Sabres-to see that while yes, they are being rooted against, they're also being rooted for.

Liberty League honors three

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Liberty League honored three Thoroughbreds for their performances last week. Nick Petrella '15 (baseball), Jimmy Sherpa '14 (tennis) and Nataly Mendoza '13 (tennis) were all selected for their hard work.
Petrella was named to the Honor Roll after he threw a complete game shutout to help lead Skidmore to a 6-0 win over Vassar College. Petrella scattered six hits and four strikeouts across the seven innings, while only walking two batters. It was Petrella's team-leading fifth win of the season.
Sherpa was named to the Honor Roll after he won his match at the number one singles spot to help lead Skidmore to a 6-3 victory over the University of Rochester. Sherpa also teamed with Jonah Epstein '16 to steal a win at the number one doubles spot.
Mendoza earned her fourth Women's Tennis Performer of the Week as she led Skidmore to an 8-1 victory over the University of Rochester and to a 9-0 victory over Ithaca College. Mendoza, playing at the number one singles spot, won both of her matches and then teamed with Lee Ford '14 to earn two victories at the number one doubles.

Live below the line

Posted by Lauren Bosche Now that Social Justice Month is in full swing, I thought that I'd write to share an important event with the Skidmore community. Live Below the Line, according to the organization's homepage, is "a campaign that's changing the way people think about poverty-and making a huge difference-by challenging everyday people to live on the equivalent of the extreme poverty line for 5 days."

An incredible amount of people-almost half the world, or over three billion people-live "below the line" their whole lives, and they don't have a choice. On April 22, I'll take the challenge myself. I'll have $7.50 to pay for all of my food from Monday to Friday. I have chosen to forgo my current standard of living to witness firsthand, in one aspect, how much of the world goes through life, and share my experience with others. My blog will serve as a testament to my efforts in eating and drinking on $1.50 a day.

This challenge will present a particularly rough transition from the variety of foods I have the fortune of eating here at Skidmore. I'm on the dining hall meal plan as I live in a residence hall. However, for the week of the challenge, I won't step foot into the dining hall, unless I'm grabbing a cool glass of water-I'll be preparing all of my food in my residence hall "kitchen" (aka the microwave and refrigerator).

I plan to head over to the local Price Chopper in the next week-with $7.50 in my pocket-and purchase the staples that will get me though the week. I'll have my calculator in hand as I comb the aisles, looking for items that will keep me under budget. For many people that live below the poverty line, access to clean water isn't reliable. Fortunately, I'll be able to drink unlimited tap water in the challenge.

As I've pledged to take the challenge, my family and friends have donated to the charity of my choice. I chose the Rainforest Foundation because I have a passion for sustainability, and I'm fascinated by human interaction with the natural world. I had never heard of the foundation before, but after doing a little research I knew I wanted to support RF because of their unique position in supporting indigenous communities while preserving the rainforests of the world.

For more information on participating in the challenge go to https://www.livebelowtheline.com/us

And to keep up on my own progress please visit my profile page on Live Below The Line at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/laurenbosche

NBA Talk: First round predictions

Posted by Andrew Shi

The playoffs have already commenced, so these predictions do have the benefit of witnessing two days of games, but there are bound to be surprises as players fall to injury left and right. Without further ado, the predictions, starting with the East.

Eastern Conference:

Heat(1) vs. Bucks(8):

The Bucks, between Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, have a more impressive backcourt, and this season's breakout of Larry Sanders gives them a much better center than whoever the Heat decide to play there. Still, the Heat have Lebron James, who gets better every year and led the Heat to their best season yet. The Heat also have a substantially improved bench with the additions of Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Chris Anderson.

Prediction: Heat sweep the Bucks

Knicks (2) vs. Celtics (7)

The Knicks have also had a breakout season, with a deeper bench and a deadlier Melo. The Celtics, on the other hand, have lost Ray Allen. The other two members of the Celtics' original Big Three are years beyond their prime and All-Star Rajon Rondo is out with a torn ACL. You can never count the Celtics down and out, and Garnett is still the most frightening man to play against, but it doesn't look good for them this year.

Prediction: Knicks win in six

Pacers (3) vs. Hawks (6)

The Pacers' defense is tougher than ever and Paul George made his first All-Star appearance, and deservedly so. The Hawks, meanwhile, lost Joe Johnson and trade rumors concerning Josh Smith have seemed to depress his playing at times. The Hawks have been inconsistent and a victim of one-too-many injuries.

Prediction: Pacers win 5-1.

Nets (4) vs. Bulls (5).

First time since 2007 that the Nets have seen the playoffs, and, after several shaky moments in their season, they managed to clinch fourth. Much rides on the performance of Deron Williams, who had an unusually lackluster season for a player of his caliber. Meanwhile, the Bulls exceeded expectations  without Derrick Rose. The Bulls have proven tenacious, and once overlooked players are now coming up big (read: Jimmy Butler, Nate Robinson).  Without Derrick Rose and a less-than-100-percent Joakim Noah, everything indicates that the Nets will move on to round two, but the Bulls have proven throughout the season that they can still compete with the best. If any team is to make an upset in the East, it's them.

Prediction: Bulls win in game seven.

Western Conference:

Thunder (1) vs. Rockets (8)

An interesting match-up as James Harden returns to battle old teammates. But not even the skill of Harden will be able to overcome a now play-off experienced team with a much deeper bench than before.

Prediction: Thunder in five, and that's being generous toward the Rockets.

Spurs (2) vs. Lakers (7).

Both of these seeds surprised me. For most of the season, I expected the Lakers to perform better than they did, and the Spurs to play worse than they have. For some reason, the Spurs just won't age and the Lakers were never able to mesh into the team that was to supposedly take on the Heat. Some say that without Kobe, Dwight will be able to take over and lead the team to victory; I say otherwise.  The Lakers will put up a worthy fight, but won't be able to overcome the perplexing skill and chemistry of the Spurs.

Prediction: Spurs win 4-2.

Nuggets (3) vs. Warriors (6).

A late-season injury to Danilo Gallinari certainly dampened expectations for the Nuggets, but an equally dilapidating injury to Warrior David Lee has brought the Warriors down even further. While Wilson Chandler has proven capable of filling in the hole left by Gallinari, the Warriors will be at a lost without Lee. Their one hope is the injury-prone and former first-draft pick Andrew Bogut, because the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry alone won't be able to carry the Warriors.

Prediction: Nuggets 4-1

Clippers (4) vs. Grizzlies (5)

Like the Lakers, I had at the beginning of the season expected the Clippers to place higher than they did. Still, this is the team I have pulling the upset, if any do, and reaching the finals. They're explosive, young, experienced and could easily have the best bench in the league. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, didn't seem to lose much with the Rudy Gay trade, but certainly didn't gain anything either. In a starting five matchup, the only position where the Grizzlies visibly come out on top is with center Marc Gasol, although Deandre Jordan is getting better with every season and is a daily feature on the highlight reel.

Prediction: Clippers win in six.

Skidmore student charged with grand larceny

Posted by Julia Martin

Justin J. Tavarez, a 22 year-old Skidmore College student, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, after allegedly stealing a black leather bag out of a Saratoga Taxi cab in the early morning hours of April 12.

According to the Saratoga Wire, the bag contained three pool sticks and billiard accessories and held  a total estimated value of $1,150. The bag was left in the taxi by a previous passenger who contacted Saratoga Taxi the next day in search of the bag. According to court documents the contents of the bag were recovered, but in a destroyed condition.

A person is guilty of grand larceny in the fourth degree when he or she steals property valued at greater than one thousand dollars.

Tavarez was also charged with misdemeanor theft of service, after allegedly fleeing the taxi without paying the $23.80 fare.

According to the Saratoga Wire, in 2010 Tavarez plead guilty to misdemeanor third-degree assault as part of a plea deal, after allegedly smashing a plate over a man's head inside Compton's Restaurant on Broadway in December of 2010. The deal dismissed two felony charges that had been brought against him under the hate crimes statute.

Tavarez was ordered to pay $348 to cover the medical expenses of the victim and released on conditional discharge. Skidmore College imposed sanctions required that Tavarez complete 100 hours of community service and attend conflict resolution training sessions.

A full description of the 2010 sentence can be found at: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Man-sentenced-in-diner-brawl-1333406.php

For his more recent offence, bail was set at $250 cash or $1,000 bond. Tavarez will return to Saratoga Springs City Court on May 2.

For the full story visit: http://saratogawire.com/article/1060/130417-skidmore-student-charged-with-larceny/

Skidmore's reputation on the line, again: The need for students to be wary as 4/20 and Fun Day approach

Posted by The Editorial Board

The onset of spring brings excitement to the student body not only because of the warm weather after a dreary and prolonged winter but also the occurrence of events like Fun Day and Earth Day, the latter which will be celebrated on 4/20 this year. While these events are part of Skidmore's traditions and are two of the more enjoyable events of the semester, they also often serve as an impetus for drug and alcohol abuse .

As these events approach we should consider  the substance abuse that has occurred in the past during these events and more recently in our community. Furthermore, we need to consider what we want these approaching events to look like and how we want them to reflect on ourselves and our college.

Last weekend there were seven reported alcohol and drug related hospitalizations, a large spike from normality. The causes of these occurrences can be attributed to a variety of factors: the "Big Show," where The Dirty Projectors played, the warm weather of spring, or even  "senioritis." While last weekend was an unfortunate semester low-point as far as substance-abuse goes, it raises greater concern for what may occur in the next few weeks as we approach  highly anticipated events like Fun Day, Earth Day and Spring Fling. In an email sent to students earlier this week, the Dean of Student Affairs, Rochelle Calhoun, spoke specifically of 4/20, a day widely recognized as a celebration of cannabis, and admonished students of the consequences of being caught in possession of illicit substances.

This year's 4/20 marks the four-year anniversary of the marijuana-related imbroglio which was photographed and reported by The Saratogian and consequentially skyrocketed Skidmore to No.2 on the Princeton Review's Reefer Madness list. Currently, Skidmore sits at No.4 and the College is working hard to shed this "druggy" reputation.  

This newspaper doesn't delude itself into suggesting that student's remain law-abiding, but that they consider the potential ramifications of their decisions. As Calhoun pointed out in her email, "even when we do not intend it--we represent the communities to which we belong. As student members of the Skidmore College, your actions will always represent the entire student body."

Specifically, this newspaper asks that students be safe. That is, of course, the primary concern. But we also ask that students remain conscious -- in all possible interpretations of the word -- of the impact of their decisions and how their actions will reflect Skidmore.

Fall Fun Day was a deemed a success, and there is no reason why the upcoming events shouldn't either. As long as students don't embarrass themselves, they won't embarrass the school.

Enjoy the upcoming events, it has been a long winter and the student body certainly needs these times to unwind and relax as the final onslaught of work approaches before finals. But be responsible, and hopefully Skidmore can see itself fall back a few slots in next year's Princeton Review list. There is really no good reason why the College is 11 places ahead of the University of Vermont in the Princeton Review's reefer madness rankings.  

Red Sox returning to form

Posted by Katie Peverada

The MLB season is young, with most teams having played about 14 games, or eight percent of their season. The Atlanta Braves turned heads with their 10-game winning streak and the Miami Marlins continue to make headlines for their lack of attendance. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox are quietly plugging along and sit atop the American League East with a record of 10-4. It must be a fluke, right?

Everyone from Sports Illustrated to Bleacher Report tabbed the Red Sox to finish last in the AL East this year, just as they did in 2012 while in the midst of yet another manager controversy. They aren't even supposed to be in the running to have another monumental collapse like they did during the 2011 season. And the last time they made the playoffs? 2009.
The 2013 Red Sox look different. The roster has been completely overhauled. There are only four players remaining from the 2007 World Series roster, and only one player remaining from the 2004 World Series roster. The Red Sox, for what seems like the first time ever, don't have a bona fide superstar like Adrian Gonzalez. The closest thing to one is 37-year-old David Ortiz, who is currently on the disabled list. The motto going into this season, especially after the past few years of missing the playoffs and media scrutiny, has been "We can only go up from here!"

And they have.
New manager John Farrell is a far cry from last year's Bobby Valentine fiasco. Farrell, a former Red Sox pitching coach, is similar in temperament to Terry Francona, the man who led Boston to those 2004 and 2007 titles. His calm approach to the game has been a welcome presence and has enabled the new players to mesh with the old. Fans are hoping he is their new Francona.

It also helps that the bats are alive again and the pitching has returned to form too.

Last year's 27th ranked pitching staff (4.70 ERA) is now second in the league (2.66). Two big reasons behind that improvement is the reemergence of aces Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. In 2012, Lester and Buchholz threw 4.82 and 4.56, respectively. This year, both have an ERA below 2.00. Newcomer Ryan Dempster is doing what he was brought in to do, which is eat up innings with quality starts. He also happens to be leading the team in strikeouts with 25. Offensively, Shane Victorino, another new addition, leads the team with .333 average, and Dustin Pedroia is not far behind with his .315. Hopefully, whenever he returns, Ortiz can put up the same numbers that he has put up the past two seasons (.318 average, .415 on-base percentage). And in the field, they are second-best with two errors on the year.

And in the media? The Red Sox are hardly even being mentioned. For once.

The Red Sox are off to an auspicious, unexpected start, and it is far too early to be making any predictions. But when October rolls around don't be so surprised if the Red Sox are battling for a playoff spot. Things are already looking up for the Boston Red Sox.