Future of Skidmore College Solar Array Remains in Question

Posted by Rachel Kashdan

Update: The solar array was approved by the Greenfield Town Board in a 4-1 vote on Thursday night.

Skidmore College continues its efforts to turn the plans for a two-megawatt solar array on Denton Road into reality, and this task has not been simple.

Michael Hall, Special Assistant to Vice President Michael West and the solar project's spearhead, had already been exploring the possibility of bringing solar power to Skidmore for several years when Skidmore received a $2.35 million dollar grant from New York state one year ago. The grant came from New York State governor Andrew Cuomo's NY-Sun Initiative, which was established in 2012 as a state effort to increase its number of solar installations.

The College plans to build a 6,950-panel solar array on eight acres of land owned by the school. The array would be installed behind Skidmore's baseball fields on Denton Road in Greenfield. Skidmore has partnered with Dynamic Energy Solutions, which will build the solar plant and generate Skidmore's solar power for the next twenty years. The solar farm would satisfy about twelve percent of Skidmore's electricity demand, which Hall said would represent Skidmore's "first big move toward trying to reduce our electric carbon footprint."

Karen Kellogg, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Skidmore, says that this project would provide the opportunity to demonstrate to the community an "approach to a more sustainable energy future." She is also confident that the project would provide vast opportunities for curricular connections, and expressed her hope that Skidmore will be able to "develop courses that talk about everything from the planning stage to the implementation stage [of this type of project] and how [these projects] fit into the broader landscape of an alternative energy future."

The process to get the plan approved has been a difficult one, as some residents who live near the site have vehemently spoken out against Skidmore's proposal. Despite the fact that the homes closest to the solar array would be about 1,100 feet away, many of these residents are concerned that it will disrupt the peace of their neighborhood.

During town hearings on the subject, residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic, noise pollution, and visual pollution. Yet throughout the approval process, Hall has been adamant that these will not be issues. "You are not going to be able to hear it, you are not going to be able to smell it, it won't give up any radio waves... and we are going to plant however many trees are required to make it not visible," he stated. In addition to the trees, a six-foot high cedar fence would also surround the entire area and further conceal the solar array. Moreover, increased traffic due to the solar farm should not be a concern, according to Hall, as only a single truck will visit the site about four to eight times a year to maintain the panels.

Greenfield's Planning Board has already positively reviewed the project; but it is now up to the Greenfield Town Board to make its final decision on the fate of the project, with residents' concerns in mind. A hearing will take place on December 5th, during which the project team will answer the board's remaining questions and the proposal will be put to a vote. If the Town Board does not vote in favor of Skidmore's proposal, the project will almost certainly be ended.

Despite this, Hall declares that the team continues to be "cautiously optimistic" about the fate of the project. If approved by the Town Board, the next step will be to perform a "site plan review" with the Greenfield Town Planning Board, in which every detail of the project will be thoroughly examined before it is given the final green light. Hall's goal is to then begin building the solar farm in January.

Although the process to get the project approved has been long and trying for everyone involved, Hall says that the board members have been "very fair" and that Skidmore is appreciative of "all of their effort that has gotten us to this point...We're just hoping that this diligence continues and we'll get our approval." 

Responsible Activism Matters

Posted by Editorial Board

One of the most difficult aspects of attending Skidmore College is trying to navigate the charming side of the College and its corporate, institutional edge.

This week, a coalition of students formed to lobby faculty members, academic departments and college committees in hopes of convincing Skidmore to allow students to study abroad in Israel. Much like the state of Israel, they were a well-organized group, representing a small but omnipresent population in their society and hoping for formal recognition. 

The group (totaling about ten students) approached the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS), a committee of academic, administrative and student members that formulate and administer policy.

CAS might colloquially be known as the "exceptions committee"-when your GPA is short of the 3.0 necessary for studying abroad, CAS decides whether or not you go.

The aforementioned group of students lobbied CAS hoping that it would be willing to amend the policy, which prohibits students from studying aboard in countries on the State Department Travel Warning list. The students do not what the policy amended wholesale, but, rather, hope that students wishing to study abroad in Israel be permitted to do so,despite the fact that Israel finds itself on the Warning list (with the likes of Kenya, Mexico and Egypt, among others). CAS, though, could not make this change even if it felt that allowing students to study abroad in Israel was a prudent choice, as such a decision is under the purview of Skidmore's Risk Management office. 

Although students cannot study in Israel with a recognized study-abroad program, they can take a personal leave, study in Israel and have their credits transferred back upon return. Two students in the group have followed this route. However, personal leave only affords students 11 transferrable credits. So why not ask CAS to expand personal leaves to allow students to transfer back 18 credits? 

One of the students suggested that Catholic students would be allowed to travel to Rome, even if it was on the State Department Travel Warning list, and that the College's decision to prohibit travel to Israel was rooted in an anti-Semitic sentiment. An anonymous senior involved in the movement wrote in Skidmore Unofficial, "while some might say it is a security issue, this cannot be the sole answer," implying that there was a degree of discrimination toward Israel. 

To continue suggesting that the College's resistance to giving Israel the exception is anti-Semitic is not only erroneous but undermines what could otherwise be a reasonable argument: that students should be able to study in Israel as part of a recognized study abroad program. 

But this abrasive behavior that, often times, is more visceral than anything else seems to run rampant in many student activist movements on campus. 

In trying to actualize their ideals, many students-this Israel coalition, the Skidmore Labor Student Alliance and those who protested Cynthia Carroll-often try to negotiate with the CTM side of Skidmore when they need to reason with the corporate side of Skidmore. In an instance when the school has to weigh values-educational experience in other nations vs. student safety-there is very little wiggle room. 

But there's still some wiggle room.

When their needs aren't instantly met, these groups, instead of looking for alternatives or compromises, students, inhibited by their sense of idealism, resort to unsavory tactics-labeling, storming faculty meetings, trespassing. Activism on campus is completely necessary as there are plenty of examples of the school falling short.

However, sometimes we just need to know how big our "ask" can be. Instead of storming a faculty meeting to express their anger, Carroll protesters should have limited their scope of demands. Why not have Ms. Carroll sponsor a lecture series in business ethics? Concurrent with the Carroll protests, a small group of students were hoping to make an academic innovation: they wanted to add a business ethics course to the core curriculum for business majors. However, there wasn't enough money to hire a new business ethics professor. An ask like that might have ensured that the next miner-exploiting corporate CEO (as protesters framed Carroll) would not be a Skidmore alum.

Much of the circulating criticism of student activism is not heaped on those who participate but those who don't. There is a large quiescent majority. And there's nothing wrong with that. 

People who do not want to participate in social or political activism, or be involved in school events, don't have to. Their tuition is no worse than yours. Although, as those who wish to start a new club or initiative know, this inactive majority is always willing to sign a petition, not really do too much and, yet, feel like they have.

However, when they sign a petition, or they vote for SGA representatives, or they trust others to lobby on their behalf, it's up to campus leaders to do it the right way. Maybe we shouldn't question the large, apathetic majority; maybe we should question the small, organized minority who try to affect change. Because if we sign a petition, it means we're entrusting these students-that's what a petition is-to do it the right way.

Livestrong branders are concerned with making sure everyone has a yellow band on their hand, and we accept that our consumption is our endorsement of their mission statement. It doesn't mean that Livestrong should guilt others, or insinuate that they don't care about cancer.

So when you represent a large group on campus--whether you're SGA, SLSA, J Street U, a Cynthia Carroll protester-consider that students expect you to do the due diligence, not call powerless committees "anti-Semitic."

Skidmore Partnership to Grow Clean Tech Economy

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

John Rhodes, president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Association (NYSERDA) had to hop over mud to get from his car, which he parked in the Tang parking lot, to the Museum's front door. The mud is a result of workers digging along the Tang as part of the College's new geothermal projects, which utilize the earth's natural warmth to heat and cool College facilities. Upon completion, the geothermal projects will naturally generate approximately 40% of the College's energy.

The project is just one in a slew of new initiatives that invest in renewable energy. It is also the type of project that is drawing attention from government officials hoping to grow the clean tech economy in New York State.

That's why Mr. Rhodes arrived at the College on Monday to announce a partnership between Skidmore and NYSERDA and the launch of New York Executive Clean Energy Leadership Program (NY EXCEL).

NYSERDA, founded by the State Legislature in 1975 and now operating under the auspices of the Governor Andrew Cuomo's Administration, aims to "help New York meet its energy goals: reducing energy consumption, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and protecting the environment," according to its website.

"We expect Skidmore to bring a variety of experts to act as business managers to a set of budding clean tech entrepreneurs, drawn from all sorts of sectors but who have the experience and the interest in the sector," Rhodes told reporters in a press conference at the Tang.

NYSERDA recently granted Skidmore $400,000 to create a new and attractive advanced training program to educate some of the State's preeminent business executives in clean technology, including renewable energy, an economy that State officials are hoping to increase.

NY EXCEL will accept 25 executives. Participants will undergo an intensive 30-hour classroom residency on campus in August. In addition to monthly, weekend courses, executives will return to Saratoga in January to promote their knowledge of clean tech and renewable energy.

"This program reinforces the idea that the Upstate New York region is one of the top places in the United States for clean energy. This program is critical to promoting our region on the national stage. Clean energy is one of the strongest components of our economy," Mike Tucker of the Center for Economic Growth, a non-profit that focuses on growing new economies in the Capital Region, told reporters, 

From the College's perspective, the partnership signals a potentially fruitful relationship between Skidmore and the State, both of which have made concerted, overlapping efforts to invest in renewable energy technologies.

"Clean energy, we think, is good business and we also think it's responsible citizenship; and that is something that we care very deeply about, both for our students-something they need to learn to take away from their education at Skidmore-and something we try to practice in our dealings with the larger community. We try to be a good citizen," College President Philip Glotzbach said in the press conference.

In addition to promoting a more eco-friendly approach, the goal of NYEXCEL is to increase job opportunities, and, thus, employment in New York State. 

F. William Harder Business Professor, Catherine Hill, who has been a leading force behind the partnership, also cited the moral underpinning that supports NY EXCEL. She invoked the recent cyclone in the Philippines; Hurricane Irene, which greatly affected the tri-state area; and super storm Sandy, which caused $80 billion in damage for New York State and New Jersey last Oct. 

"Sandy and Irene accounted for about 80 billion dollars in damages but none of that touches the inescapable loss of life, lives interrupted and lives ruined as a result of those tragedies. Now the cause is clear: it's not that any particular one weather event can be blamed on climate change, but I think I see a pattern and climate change is real and it is here and it is now and I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to do something about it." Hill told reporters gathered in the Tang's Payne room.

"NY EXCEL is going to help existing executives start businesses in the clean sector and grow jobs in New York...we're going to help them build clean tech networks, we're going to help them understand energy and gas markets and explore the often arcane structure of tax incentives and financing mechanisms. We live in an extremely exciting time for the clean tech business," Hill added.

My Food Stamps Challenge

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

Federal funding allocated to The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has now run out.

Money that was distributed to SNAP during the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which injected government dollars into the economy with the hope of pulling the American economy out of recession, ran out on Nov. 1.

The stimulus' end means that SNAP benefits-which extend to about 47 million Americans-will be cut by around 5%.

According to The New York Times, a family of four receiving the maximum amount of state benefits will decrease to $632 from $668. Thirty-Six dollars a month may seem trivial to Skidmore students (it sort of does to me, to be honest), but what if that was all you had?

SNAP benefits will drop from $200 to $189 for single SNAP beneficiaries. In more individualized terms, the cuts seem far less trivial.

"At the most basic level, the functionality of [SNAP] takes care of people at an absolute caloric level, but not at a social or cultural level. Because in more generous terms, it portrays what the problem is" said Social Work professor, Pat Oles. "A non-trivial number of working adults are on SNAP, and how do they deal with [the cut]?"

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'll begin a two-week food stamp challenge. Spending no more than $4.33 on food a day, as many individuals in New York State will now have to. The two-week period will begin Sunday, Dec. 2 and, much to my chagrin, I cannot accept food from anyone (friends: cancel your dinner parties!)

Even though I've been warned against conducting this experiment during finals, I imagine the stress of managing a slim food budget during exam week cannot be any worse than the anxiety that manifests from managing said slim budget while employed or worse, out of employment. Worse still, operating on this budget with kids.

"'Can I deliver a nutritional experience?' You'll have an eating experience far outside of the mainstream, normative eating experience," Oles warns me.

While I cannot replicate the authentic, emotional experience that many millions of Americans undergo each day, I will have to contend with a new, minimalist lifestyle and hopefully learn what it feels like to be reliant on the tenuous decisions of policy-makers.

Anyone care to join? Visit Food Stamped. Email me at ahodorle@skidmore.edu and follow me on Twitter: @alexhodorlee and #SkidmoreSNAPChallenge. 

Film Forum: Blackfish

Posted by Julia Mahony

Shamu, the star of SeaWorld, is an animal beloved  by all. An orca these colossal creatures regularly put on spectacular shows, entertaining hundreds of people. However, the  friendly story of Shamu is now a thing of the past. Gabriela Cowperthwaite's documentary, "Blackfish" tells the story of Tilikum, a 12,000 pound orca that infamously attacked and killed the head trainer at Orlando Florida's SeaWorld in 2010 and was implicated in two previous deaths.

SeaWorld's concern with maintaining its public image is evident in terms of who was willing to speak in the film. Witnesses to Tilikum's attacks and trainers appear on camera, while park executives refrained from on-camera interviews. Cowperthwaite makes it crystal clear that attacking humans is not a natural inclination of orcas, but that their secluded environment potentially leads to a kind of psychosis. In fact, there has never been a recorded incident an orca assault on a human in the wild. The whales are described by researches as very social, caring creatures, with thousands of miles of ocean as their usual stomping ground. Being confined nightly to dark and gloomy concrete pens is most likely the cause for Tilikum's destructive behavior. The CNN anchor Jane Velez-Mitchell poses the following question, "If you were in a bathtub for 25 years, don't you think you'd get a little psychotic?"

This documentary should appeal to students interested in biology, neuroscience, oceanography, and anyone who cares about the way humans treat the Earth and her animals. Many whales have accidentally hurt themselves in attempts to escape from their enclosures. One neuroscientist in the film avers that their brains may be even more advanced than ours. As a trainers says, "When you look into their eyes, you know somebody is home." 

"Blackfish" is playing at the Film Forum at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 21^st and Friday, November 22^nd, as well as at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 24^th . At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23^rd,the Film Forum is having a Meet the Artist event for Kyle DeCamp's latest multimedia piece, "Urban Renewal", which encompasses live performance, slide projection and mesmerizing sound.

Remembering Kennedy

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

President John F. Kennedy was not a major policy innovator, he was more than that--he taught us that being American isn't a dirty thing.

My grandmother always tells me that about doing her "J-F-K's" in physical education classes as jumping jacks were named after the 35th President of the United States. She tells me exactly where she was when an announcement over her elementary school PA system reported: "the president has been shot."

It's been fifty years since the assassination of John F. Kennedy and he's still relevant (if not for his long lasting contributions, then at least for his appeal).

Though conservatives have monopolized the phrase "patriot" in recent years, he reminds me that I'm proud of my American culture (though I recognize its misgivings).

He asked us what we could do for our country, a simple question, but one  many had never been asked. Years after her time in the Peace Corps, one advisor to the Clinton Administration admitted that she never had thought to get involved in her country, before Kennedy.

Kennedy certainly has his detractors. Skidmore History Professor Jennifer Delton observes, "after eight years of affable but old and heart-attack prone Eisenhower, Kennedy was young." However, Delton  admits, "his actual policies didn't match that image, but the image endures because we want the world back, a world where we are eternally young and eternally, naturally, nobly, powerful."

While nostalgia has hit an all-time high (and yes, we have Instagram, which instantly gratifies our sensibilities, crystallizing our modern photos into the temporarily-immortal depths of faux-antiquity) Jack Kennedy seems to endure. His image does more than assuage millennial insecurities: he reminds us that politics was okay. He reminds us that it was okay to be a liberal.

Accepting the Liberal Party nomination in his 1960 Presidential campaign, Kennedy addressed conservative critics, saying, "if by 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid-reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people...if that is what they mean by a 'Liberal,' then I'm proud to say I'm a 'Liberal.'"

Kennedy also delivered us two of the most influential speeches in American history: the 1960 Inaugural Address, a bellicose speech that confronted the USSR, and the American University "Peace" Speech, according to Government Professor Ron Seyb.

Both speeches expounded  American ideals, and, when paired together, served as a barometer of growth during Kennedy's one thousand days as leader of the free world.

"There is little doubt that Kennedy grew in the office. His irenic American University Commencement Address-delivered only five months prior to his assassination-is often cited by his supporters as evidence of just how far Kennedy had traveled from his bellicose First Inaugural Address. And Kennedy did near the end of his life correct what many considered to be the more grievous moral failing of his first term, his failure to act aggressively to guarantee the civil and voting rights of African Americans, by presenting to Congress civil rights legislation that would end discrimination in public accommodations" said Professor Seyb.

Kennedy nailed down the narrative. He built America around the idea of capitalism versus communism, the United States of American against the Soviet Union, good versus evil. He foiled another nation against America, to create a greater sense of belief.

"In the election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln said the question was whether this nation could exist half slave or half free. In the election of 1960 and with the world around us, the question is whether or not the world will exist half slave or half free?" he told us in the first televised Presidential debate.

He understood rhetoric and used it as well as any President in American History. He had a particular aptitude for the complexities of international relations and understood that  sometimes nations have to go to war with other nations, but he never had the audacity to create a war within our own borders (i.e.: the war on drugs or the war on poverty).

He led us through the "maximum hour of danger" and promoted the America's height. And he killed just in time to not to disappoint us. His death eternalized that short, hopeful moment of time for which we will always yearn and strive.

My Friend, the Rapist

Posted by Matt Choi Our daily lives are saturated with bad news, whether it comes from TV, word of mouth or the Internet.  The question most people ask themselves, if they bother to dwell on the news at all, is what if someone I love was there when that mass-shooting/ rape/ armed robbery/ bombing occurred?  Empathy with the victim is the initial reaction to most cases.  A question no one ever asks is what if I knew the perpetrator?  We always wonder what we would do if something bad happened to someone we love, but we rarely ask what happens when someone we love does bad.

Recently, I found out that one of my oldest friends has been accused of rape.   He was the most intelligent and most trustworthy of my friends.  He was one of very few people who I felt comfortable telling my exact emotions to at any one time.  He was also apparently capable of carrying out a heinous crime. I'm still trying to reconcile the person I knew with the person accused.  I don't have many answers but I've since reflected on my attitude towards criminals and anti-social behavior.

I think my change in attitude is best explained by looking at how I used to react to bad news. Last year, I was disheartened by a friend's continued relationship with a guy who had said some terribly racist things.  "Write him off," was basically what I told her. "You cannot, and should not, associate with people who behave like that."  I believed, and still do to a large extent, that when people do something wrong banishment is a suitable punishment.  Having experienced racism at times in my life, my anger stemmed from my natural empathy with the victims.  It bothers me, especially at Skidmore, when people easily assimilate back into everyday life after being guilty of racism, violence, or whatever.  I think people have a responsibility to show that members of a healthy society cannot engage in this behavior and expect to be accepted by others.

But since my friend's accusation I've realized that a lot of this concept is reliant on the belief that criminals, or people who engage in anti-social behavior, are totally separate from the rest of the society. I, and I think most of America, conceptualize criminals as belonging to some far off class of people. This is why we don't worry too much about locking them in our plentiful prison complexes.

But when these people become our loved ones it becomes impossible to hide them away in some other section of society.  Even though my opinion of my friend has changed drastically for the worse, I still feel a lot of the same levels of attachment towards him that I did before his crime.

I care deeply about a rapist.

I'm not condoning the terrible thing he did, but to follow the advice I gave last year and banish him from my life is as impossible as banning my own blood from my veins.  I think punishment and banishment have places as tools of justice, although I now question whether these should be justice's main tools.  Certainly other countries have developed modes of justice that focus on treating the criminal as a part of society.  If this sounds like a nebulous recommendation, it's because I'm still figuring out my feelings and am by no means an expert on criminal justice. I just urge people to think next time you hear some bad news: what if I cared about the criminal rather than the victim?  You may find yourself looking at our attitudes towards justice differently.

Saratoga Reads to bring novelist Khaled Hosseini to the Spa City

Khaled Hosseini, whose three novels have made him one of the best-selling authors of our time, will visit Saratoga Springs as a special guest of Saratoga Reads, in celebration of the community reading program's 10th year.

A highlight of the visit will be An Evening with Khaled Hosseini on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College. The event, open to the public free of charge, will offer a discussion moderated by Joe Donahue, of "The Book Show" and "The Roundtable" on WAMC Northeast Public Radio, and will also include a question-and-answer session and book signing. Ticketing through the Zankel Music Center box office will begin in mid-January.

"This is a rare opportunity to see one of the world's most widely read and beloved authors in an unscripted and intimate conversation," said Tabitha Orthwein, chair of the Saratoga Reads board.

"An event of this caliber would not be possible without the support of our generous event sponsors, "added Orthwein. The sponsors include Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs Public Library, Skidmore Student Speakers Bureau, and Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

Hosseini is an author of special significance for Saratoga Reads, which began a decade ago with the selection of his first novel, The Kite Runner, for community-wide reading and discussion. The program has returned to its roots this year by naming Hosseini's third novel, And the Mountains Echoed, as the book of choice for 2013-14. Both of these selected books achieved bestseller status in the U.S. and have been widely read internationally, as has another novel by Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Hosseini's first two books, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, have sold more than 38 million copies worldwide and have ben published in more than 70 countries. The Kite Runner, which spent more that five years on the New York Times bestseller list, was made into a major motion picture.

All of Hosseini's novels draw heavily on his native Afghanistan and its struggles with foreign invasions and social, religious, and cultural turmoil.

"In 2004 we began our journey of reading together with Khaled Hosseini's debut novel, The Kite Runner," said Orthwein. "Now, to mark the milestone of our 10th year, we return to that familiar voice as we read And the Mountains Echoed. But what a bonus this time around, with the opportunity to engage in conversation with Hosseini himself when he visits Saratoga Springs to celebrate with us!" 

Liberty League honors Thoroughbreds

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Liberty League announced on Monday their annual end of season honors, and Skidmore's team success was reflected on the lists. There are fourteen different athletes representing Skidmore, including one Player of the Year and eight First Team honors.

Volleyball: Corinne Palmer '14 topped off her stellar Skidmore career by earning a spot on the All-Liberty League First Team for the second time. Last year, Palmer was named both the Player of the Year and an All-American, in addition to her First Team honors. Palmer's sophomore year she was on the Second Team. Palmer has also been on the Liberty League All-Academic Team every year she was eligible. She led the team in blocks, kills and, hitting percentage.

Field Hockey: The field hockey team had five members earn Liberty League honors, including player of the year Kelly Blackhurst '14. Blackhurst was also named the Offensive Player of the Year and received First Team honors for the fourth time in her career. Blackhurst, who netted 65 points (26 G, 13) is Skidmore and the Liberty League's all-time leading scorer. Blackhurst was also selected as the 2013 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III North Atlantic Region Player of the Year for the second time in her career.
Jenn Hanks '16 was also selected to the All-Liberty League First team because of her stellar defensive work. Hanks led the League with seven defensive saves, netted five goals, three assists and earned Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. Hanks was an All-League Honorable Mention last season.
Krista Lamoreaux '17 rounded out the Thoroughbreds on the First Team on the strength of her strong two-way play. Lamoreaux netted six goals and four assists and was second on the team amongst field players in minutes played and was fourth on the team with 22 shots on goal.
Dani Degregory '16 led the conference with 15 assists and was second with 18 goals, earning her a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team, adding to her strong freshman campaign last year in which she was voted an All-League Honorable Mention.
Sam Skott '15, this year's Liberty League Tournament MVP, netted a career-high 13 goals and four assists for 30 points, which was also third on the team. Skott scored the game-winning goals in the semifinals and final.

Women's Soccer: The women's soccer team had five members earn end of year recognition from the Liberty League, including two on the First Team.
Christine Bellotti '14 has three game-winning goals, trying her for third in the League, and finished second on the team with five goals to earn a spot on the First Team. Bellotti, who has started every game for the Thoroughbreds this season, led the team in shots with 42.
Arena Manning '16 leads the Thoroughbreds in scoring, netting five goals and one assist for a team-leading 11 points. Manning's three game-winning goals tied for third in the conference.
Gab Lawrence '14, named to the Second Team has backstopped the Thoroughbreds all season long, notching nine shutouts along the way to make it 19 in her career. Lawrence's goals against average (0.48) and save percentage (.869) were second and third in the League, respectively.
Kelsey Russell '14, who anchors the Skidmore defense and has started all 17 games this season, earned a spot on the Second Team.
Morgan Governale '16 received honorable mention for her part in contributing to both offense and defense. Governale started all 17 games, scoring two goals and adding one assist while also helping the tight Skidmore defense.

Men's Soccer: The men's soccer team had two players earn All-Liberty League First Team honors and two players receive honorable mention in a season that saw them return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Adam Beek '15 earned his second-straight First Team selection after registering 16 points (6 G, 4 A). Beek also added four game-winning goals for the Thoroughbreds, tied for second in the League.
Brock Bakewell '15, the team's leading goal-scorer with 12, also received a First Team nod. Bakewell's 12 goals were tied for first, and five of those goals were game-winners, also tied for first.
Andrew Blake '14 led a Skidmore defense that only allowed 0.91 goals per game and received honorable mention for his efforts. Blake also tallied one goal and one assist.
Adebare Oyeniyi '17 also received honorable mention, netting two goals and assisting one other in his freshman campaign. One of Oyeniyi's tallies was a game-winner.

Junior class helps lead field hockey to Final Four

Posted by Katie Peverada

When I first arrived to interview the junior class of the field hockey team, it was utter chaos. With their flight to the Final Four less than 12 hours away, they had something far more important to take care of: helping each other pick out their outfits for the banquet they would be attending while in Virginia Beach.
When it seemed that it would never come to an end and they would miss their flight, Sam Revera spoke up and said, "Guys, the plane can't leave without us."
Revera may have been joking, but she was right.
Meet the junior class of the Skidmore College field hockey team. All eight of them. Together, they have scored 56 goals and 128 points. In net, they have combined to play 98.9% of a possible 4,340 minutes over the past three seasons. Since they've set foot on campus, they've won two Liberty League Championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament every year. Their record since they've been at Skidmore is 51-11.
But one of those losses came in last year's Liberty League semi-final, a feeling they weren't used to.
"As freshman, we just walked into a Liberty League championship. We didn't really realize how big of a deal it was until we didn't have it" co-captain Pauline Searles said.
Revera added that this year, they had the mentality of "It's going to happen. It's not getting taken from us again."
And it wasn't, as they beat William Smith 4-3 for the League title. But they made it very clear that they aren't done, and by Sunday afternoon they intend to be 53-11 and National Champions.
"We pretty much always have that as our goal," Revera said about winning a National Championship. At the beginning of each year the team comes up with new individual and team goals, but the goal of a championship is always there.
Collectively, they have all taken on a larger role both on and off the field, and they continue to push each other in all aspects of the game.
"Freshman year we didn't earn it. We weren't really playing as much, but this year it feels like we all played our part," Mel Webb acknowledged.
The girls felt that lately the team has been playing some of its best field hockey of the season. In the first two games of the NCAA tournament, they throttled Keene State 11-1 and then edged the number three-seed in the tournament, Middlebury College, 4-3.
"There's definitely a new energy. We're playing to earn everything," Amy Beck, a goalie on the team, said.
Despite the obvious importance and impact of the junior class in this year's success, they were quick to shower their coaches and teammates with praise. The coaching staff, is headed by coach Beth Hallenbeck, who is assistated by Lauren Winchell and volunteer Wes Chella. Winchell and Chella provide insight and a calming presence, with Winchell working closely with the goalies. The players lauded the individual attention that the coaches are willing to give them.
"With Beth, she's trying to push you, but Lauren can cheer for you while Beth is pushing you" Beck said.
Chella takes on the role of a spinner. He is able to take every situation and make it a learning experience.
"Wes always has this in-depth analysis of every situation," Sam Skott said.
The junior class was just as effusive about their fellow teammates as they were about their coaches, particularly the senior class. Co-captain and defenseman Annie Weis, the player they all view as the backbone of the team, leads the defense. Meanwhile, Skidmore's all-time leading scorer Kelly Blackhurst leads the offense and the mindset.
"Knowing how much she [Blackhurst] wants it makes," Beck started, "...Me want it" Webb finished.
The way that Webb jumped in and finished Beck's sentence is telling of how powerful and instrumental the junior class is to the team heading into the weekend.
The team is made up of 21 individuals, but all of them contribute to the process, with eight of them coming from one class. It's not that dissimilar from their process of choosing each other's outfits
But as individual as their outfits for the banquet ended up being, the team was just as excited to be wearing matching travel suits on the plane.
"We're going to look so cool on that airplane in matching clothes. I love when we're matching," Beck said.
"When everybody is on the same page, we just all work wonders," Searles said.

The Thoroughbreds take on Salisbury University in the NCAA Division III semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m. You can watch live here: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2013/11/22

Fourth Annual Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition underway: Students will compete for over $25,000 to help kickstart their own businesses

Posted by Julia Leef '14

The semester has been busy for the 47 students participating in the fourth annual Kenneth A. Freirich Business Plan Competition, which is designed to help students develop and execute their own business plans with over $25,000 in prize money.

Freirich is a member of the Class of 1990 and president of Health Monitor Network. He started his first business as an undergraduate and returned as the College's first entrepreneur-in-residence in October 2010, challenging students to present new business ideas. Their presentations and ideas inspired him to launch a full-fledged business plan contest to support student innovation.

Participants will undergo a total of four workshops this semester before the submission date on Wednesday, Jan. 22, which will cover writing a business plan, using a business canvas model and a four-part workshop on business financials that will take place in December. These workshops, according to Management & Business Lecturer Paula A. Tancredi Penman, are to help participants who are not business majors take advantage of all the resources available to them for this competition.

"This is not for business majors only, it is for all students to try and compete," Tancredi, who took over as a coordinator for the competition in September, said. "The resources are so amazing for these students."

Tancredi said she first became acquainted with Freirich in her two years of consultation work for the Health Monitor Network. Although she has been present for the last three competitions, this year marks her first official involvement in it.

There are 31 total intents to compete in this year's competition, according to Tancredi, who noted that there seem to be more students working together than in previous years. Business plans this year vary from a way to find the best local bakeries and coffee shops as rated by professional bakers to gaining financial support for students otherwise unable to go to college, customized clothing and matching students' creative services with small, local businesses.

Last year's winner, Sam Schultz '13, used his prize money to create a placement service that will match Chinese youths with residential summer campus in the Northeast. He is currently living in China and running his program. Runner-ups Alexander Nassief '16 and Brianna Barros '16 established the Dominican-based Rum Dogs, Inc., and used their prize money to "implement a proprietary method for aging rum in barrels submerged in the Caribbean Sea and produce a premium brand, called Black Cap Rum, for the Dominican market," according to the College website.

Throughout the competition, participants will have access to help from alumni and current faculty, including Larry Peck '92, who met with the competitors to speak about "The Investor's Mind." Management & Business Executive in Residence Colleen A. Burke and Visiting Associate Professor for Management & Business David Marcinko are both running workshops this semester. Tancredi emphasized the good that attending these workshops will do for students, even if they do not make it to the final round.

"There are so many professors and faculty and staff who lend their time to this in ways I don't even know how in order to help these students and I'm so grateful for it," Tancredi said. Competitors also received aid from Communications and the Advancement Office, which works with Freirich to form the judging panels.

The judging panels consist of Freirich himself and six experts, primarily alumni, who will then go on to mentor the six finalists. These experts will include entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, accountants, lawyers, executives and members of the Department of Management and Business.

"The entrepreneurial spirit at Skidmore amazes me," Tancredi said. "And the fact that there are so many opportunities on campus--this competition is just one of them--you can get so much real experience, and I think this is one of those premiere experiences that students have access to."

The presentation of the first round projects will be at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Tang Teaching Museum. From these participants, six will be chosen to revise their plans for the final presentation on Friday, April 11.

NBA Talk: Where Rondo could go

Posted by Andrew Shi

Recently there has been news of a Knick's attempt to trade for the Celtic's Rondo. While Rondo would be a great fit in the Knick's starting lineup, the pieces for a successful trade are not there. Celtic's GM Danny Ainge also seems adamant that Rondo will not be traded, but for the right price Ainge would probably trade his own kids away.

Two other teams have recently been brought up as prospective destinations for Rondo: the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Houston Rockets is an unlikely fit for Rondo as James Harden essentially plays the point. Rondo fits best in a lineup where the accompanying shooting guard can cut and shoot on a dime (think Ray Allen). A Rondo-Harden backcourt would be redundant and a poor use of Rondo's talents. What Houston really needs in its starting lineup is a second shooting guard.

The Lakers would be a more interesting fit for Rondo. Kobe is also a player that likes the ball in his hands but his play with Nash last year was a bright in an overall failed experiment. The Lakers also currently have a 2014 first round pick to give away and many expiring contracts that the Celtics would likely be willing to pick up in exchange for dumping heftier contracts onto the Lakers along with Rondo. Yet, as rumors have it, the Lakers are unwilling to pick up cumbersome contracts with a highly anticipated 2014 free agency.

It's unlikely that Rondo, if traded, will end up in New York, Houston or LA, but there are still a few places that could use the services of Rondo and may be willing to trade away the pieces necessary for him.

Dallas right now has the fire power that is keeping it afloat in the Western Conference but it is currently fourth in points allowed at 104 per game. Rondo is widely regarded as the top, if not one of the top defensive point guards in the league. He would be a huge upgrade over Maverick's current point guard, Jose Calderon, who is at times more porous than a sponge. The Mavericks also have a 2014 draft pick to give away, one that could be very high if the Knicks continues to play worthy of the gutter. However, Calderon's current contract is for four years at a grand total of $29 million which is something the Celtics will be very reluctant to take on. Perhaps if the Celtics can trade a few additional burdensome contracts to the Mavericks, such as Wallace's in exchange for Shawn Marion's expiring contract, the two teams may be able to work something out.

The other team Rondo may be destined for is the Sacramento Kings who tried to sign Calderon this past summer. Currently the Kings have Grevis Vasquez playing point. While Vasquez is a top distributor and led the league in assists last year, he is still a tier below Rondo. The Kings are ready for a push for the playoffs, and Rondo will expedite the process. The Kings have already given their 2014 draft pick away, but they have plenty more in the future to give for Rondo. Vasquez is also on an expiring contract which will entice Ainge.

Point guard is the deepest position in the NBA and it will be difficult to move Rondo. Much also depends on Rondo's ability to bounce back from his torn ACL and play at the same level he has in years past. Otherwise, his depleted stock may just keep him in Boston for the time being. However, Rondo (at least pre-injury) was a top five point guard and an All-star, and there will be plenty of teams looking into his services in the weeks to come.

Gophers' historic winning streak comes to an end

Posted by Katie Peverada

Last year, I wrote about the University of Minnesota's women's hockey team and their historic 38-game win streak, a record at the time. The team went on to end the season undefeated and earn their second-straight national championship. Dating back to the 2011-2012 season, the Gophers had won 49-straight games and started this season with 13-straight wins too. But on Sunday afternoon, the historic winning streak ended at 62-straight victories. Facing off against the team that had given them their last loss all the way back on Feb. 17, 2012, Minnesota fell to the University of North Dakota 3-2.
To say The Streak (as it has become known in the college hockey world) was impressive is an understatement. They annihilated the previous-best Division I women's hockey winning streak of 21 games (owned by Harvard) and did the same to the men's record of 30 games (by RPI and Cornell). They almost doubled the previous best 32-game unbeaten streak, which counts ties, of the University of Wisconsin women's team and trumped the men's record of 38-straight unbeaten games held by RPI.
More impressive than the streak itself is how, for 639 days, the Gophers repeatedly dominated their opponents in nearly all aspects of the game. Minnesota outscored their opponents 311 to 63. During the 2012-2013 season - the meaty part of The Streak - the team led the nation in team offense with an average of 5.3 goals per game. Boston College was second with 4.3. During the three seasons that The Streak spanned, the Gophers have remained in the top five of team offense. Their highest scoring game was an 11-goal performance against Colgate University in 2012.
But, as all sports fans know, defense wins championships. In the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the Gophers finished first in team defense nationally. In 2011-12, they only gave up 1.32 goals per game and followed that up in 2012-13 with an even stouter .88 goals per game. And through the first 14 games of the 2013-14 season, Minnesota sits at a very respectable fifth place, allowing only 1.43 goals per game.
So as impressive as the team offense was, so too was the team defense. When the defense was tested, it responded well. While only three of the 62 games went into overtime, Minnesota was obviously on the winning end of all three, including a three-overtime thriller against North Dakota in the NCAA quarterfinals in the 2012-13 season.
Only six of Minnesota's games were of the 1-goal-margin-of-victory variety, clearly in part due to the minuscule goals allowed per game and offensive output seen above. Every other victory was by at least two goals. They made national powerhouses look helpless.
The average margin of victory throughout The Streak? 4.25.
Minnesota trailed entering the third period only once during The Streak, which again can be either be attested to their outrageous offense or their stalwart defense.
While their team performance throughout The Streak was remarkable, the individuals that make up the team are some of the best in the world. The current US Olympic roster contains four players from Minnesota who were a part of The Streak, two of whom - Amanda Kessel and Lee Stecklein - will return next year after taking this year off to focus on Sochi.
Defensively, goaltender Noora Raty, a member of the Finnish national team since the age of 15, registered 20 shutouts in the 46 games she appeared in during the streak. Raty was the top goaltender in the nation in 2011-12, as she was first in goals-against-average (1.35) and third in save percentage (.942). Raty was even better the next season, registering a .964 GAA, a .956 save percentage and backstopping the Gophers to their second-straight national title.
Offensively, during the 2011-12 season, Minnesota had two players in the top ten in the nation in scoring in Jen Schoullis and Kessel. During the 2012-13 season, Kessel won the Patty Kazmir award and led the nation with 101 points (46 goals, 55 assists) despite missing three games due to injury. Fellow forward Hannah Brandt was second in the nation with 82 points (33 G, 55 A), and defenseman Megan Bozek was ninth with 57 points (20 G, 37 A).
Some were concerned that coming into this season, the Gophers would have trouble replacing the players lost from last year's team. But Amanda Leveille has taken over in net for the graduated Raty and is currently the sixth ranked goalie in the nation (1.43 GAA, .942 SV%); not bad for a goalie who only had three career starts coming into the season. And Minnesota is still producing offensively, with Brandt, Rachel Bona, Kelly Terry and Sarah Davis all sitting in the top ten in scoring.
The Streak might be over, but Minnesota is poised to win their third-straight National Championship. Even after their loss on Sunday, Minnesota remains in the top spot of the USCHO.com poll, a spot they have held since March 5, 2012.
Something that might last longer than the 639 days The Streak lasted is the impact that it has had on the world of hockey. Yes, there has been an increase in attendance at games and a boost in recruiting for a team that already had unprecedented depth. Perhaps the most telling evidence - sadly - was when the team was finally featured on Sportscenter last week. Minnesota scored two goals over the final 2:02 against St. Cloud to preserve their streak. Admittedly, it was a short clip that most people brushed off.
But in a world where what Tom Brady is wearing at his press conference takes precedent over one of the greatest feats in North American sports history, the Gophers finally received the acknowledgement they deserved.
Unbelievable.

Rethinking Thanksgiving: Comfort Food as a Holiday Tradition

Posted by Brittany Dingler

From a reductionist perspective, (ignoring for a moment Americans' propensity for overindulgence) food is crucial to survival.  However, even before McDonalds came around, Ben Franklin recognized this temptation and the consequence it can have on our lives - an understanding that prompted his advice "eat to live, don't live to eat." Following this advice is much easier said then done, of course, as self-medicating qualities of comfort food exist.  As a result, we eat for stress, for comfort, in celebration, in boredom, in sadness, and in happiness. This wheel of carbohydrate-fueled contradictions, however, is consistent in one message: we eat our feelings.  Never is this concept more prominent than during the holidays when, at some point or another, every major feeling on this wheel is experienced.  So it is no wonder that overeating has come to be expected and accepted come late November.  Perhaps then, this could be the ideal time to tackle the underlying issues and find a way to dissect the physical feelings of hunger from our emotions. 

            The first step to tackling this issue is to understand that overeating, especially at Thanksgiving, is not truly our 'fault.'  After we eat comfort food a vicious storm of hormones and neurotransmitters arises where positive, addictive feelings afforded by ghrelin (the "hunger hormone"), serotonin (the "happy hormone"), and dopamine (the "reward hormone") come together in celebration to help (temporarily) alleviate the preceding stressors which caused us to seek consul in the form of food.  As a result, we tend to create an addicting cycle of self-reinforcement for our eating behaviors.  Psychologically speaking, the most toxic component of this cycle is our propensity to become angry with ourselves when we've eaten the 'wrong thing' or even too much of a good thing. Ironically and sometimes painfully, this stress and anger often pushes us to eat more. 

            Taking this back to the Turkey-Day dinner table here are some considerations. We should ask ourselves how this cycle ever gets triggered initially.  We're home with family and taking some much-deserved time off from our biggest stressor as college students: school.  Although these are ideal ingredients for us to attain that romanticized holiday happiness we long for all year, our eating behaviors are one indication that our bodies and brains are dealing with additional subconscious stressors of which we are largely unaware.  As a result, we only pay attention to the positive feelings associated with this family time; we focus on the annual touch football game, catching-up with cheeky cousins and over-sharing aunts, and talking to parents about how no, really this is what I want to major in.  We're distracted, having fun and dodging bullets and are therefore not entirely tuned in to our feelings (and why should we be?).  But come time for Thanksgiving dinner that evening, after most distractions have largely disappeared, the stress is still there, screaming for chemical relief, which can now be conveniently found in the form of cornbread, stuffing, and casserole.  In all,  when considering the predictable package of emotional ups and downs that hail the holiday season, coupled with a nationally shared awareness of how good we feel as we devour our third and fourth servings, can anyone truly be surprised that overeating has become a cultural norm for Thanksgiving? 

            So what do we do? How can we separate our feelings of hunger from feelings of emotion? We must change how we view food.  Instead of using pumpkin pie as Prozac we should work to tune into the relationship between our mind and body, thereby creating a healthy divide between feeling and fueling.  In essence, if we can learn to change our relationship with food we can create a healthier relationship with ourselves.  Some simple tips to control our cravings integrate common sense with mindfulness strategies.  To start, eat small, healthy snacks throughout the day to prevent yourself from getting too hungry.  The trifecta previously mentioned of ghrelin, serotonin, and dopamine is particularly sensitive to low blood sugar, which often leads to grumpy, cranky feelings that could spark a whole host of stressors in the presence of friends and relatives.  Second, ask yourself - before you plop four servings worth of sweet-potato casserole on your oversized dinner plate - just three simple questions regarding why you want to eat it.  One: are you actually hungry?  If yes, try drinking a glass of water first; we often confuse feelings of hunger with signs of dehydration.   Two: are you eating because it tastes good?  Studies show that all you need is a bite or two to make cravings vanish!  Three: are you eating because it feels good?  Even just acknowledging where our emotions are coming from allows us to rethink what and how much we eat.  As soon as we realize when we're eating for emotions rather than  for hunger, we allow ourselves the strength to lean back from the dinner table and find that we can actually find more comfort in family and friends than in food.  As a result, we are better able to consciously acknowledge our stressors, a simple level of awareness that allows us to be more present, so that we can enjoy the holidays in a healthier, happier way.   

Campus Safety Reports: Nov. 4 to 14

Campus Safety Reports

Incidents of Note:

• Saturday, Nov. 9-Suspicious Activity: Reporting person observed a five-pound bucket of whey protein filled with rocks and numerous BB shot holes at 6:04 p.m. in the Falstaff's Parking Lot. Report issued.
• Sunday, Nov. 10-Criminal Mischief: Officer reported observing five male subjects at 3:50 a.m. throwing unknown objects at the windows of Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched identified the subjects. Report issued.
• Tuesday, Nov. 12-Trespass: A female subject located at 11:06 p.m. sleeping in the Tisch Learning Center. Officers escorted the subject from the secured building.

Further Incidents:

Friday, Nov. 8:

• Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported an emergency call at 12:12 a.m. regarding a verbal altercation at the Sussman Apartments. Subjects were located and the situation was resolved. Report issued.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated female reported at 2:44 a.m. in Wilmarth Hall. Subject was alert and responsive. No medical attention necessary.
• Emergency Phone: An emergency blue light activated at 9:51 p.m. at the Sussman Apartments with no caller response. Officers dispatched reported no one in the area and a probable false activation.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:42 p.m. at Dayton Drive. Dispatched officers spoke with residents who complied with the request to lower the volume.
• Drug Law Violation: Fire alarm activation received at 11:51 p.m. at Cane Crossing. Dispatched officers who reported that the alarm activation was due to marijuana smoke. Report issued.

Saturday, Nov. 9:

• Campus Safety Assist: Report received at 12:20 a.m. of someone vomiting in Jonsson Tower. Assistance requested. Dispatched officers checked the area and reported that the call was unfounded at the time.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 1:55 a.m. at Cane Crossing. Dispatched officers who found the source of the noise to be a loud television. Residents complied with the request to lower the volume.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated female reported at 2:34 a.m. in Kimball Hall. Dispatched officers requested the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service. Report issued.
• Campus Safety Assist: Transport requested at 4 a.m. to the Saratoga Emergency Room. Officer dispatched completed the transport. Report issued.
• Larceny: Reporting person came to Campus Safety office at 1:24 p.m. to report a larceny from her room in Kimball Hall. Report taken.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported finding a washing machine door damaged and broken off at 3:31 p.m. in McClellan Hall. No known perpetrator. Report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer found wall damage at 3:38 p.m. at the Colton House. Investigation pending.
• Accident: An accident reported at 4:49 p.m. in the Sussman Village. Officers dispatched reported that a utility cart had overturned on a steep hill. No personal injury. Report issued.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:08 p.m. for the Hillside B Apartments. All units, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department notified. Activation was due to a cooking error. Report issued.
• Campus Safety Assist: Officers reported unsafe driving at 9:25 p.m. in Case Lot. Officers confronted the driver and found him rude and argumentative. Report issued.
• Medical Assistance: Student reported at 9:58 p.m. that he had injured his foot playing basketball and requested an evaluation from the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service at Howe Hall. Officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service dispatched. Subject evaluated.
• Campus Safety Assist: A male subject reported at 10:49 p.m. being carried into Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched canvassed the area and the building. No subject located.

Sunday, Nov. 10:

• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 12:23 a.m. at Cane Crossing. Officer dispatched spoke with students who complied with the request to lower the volume.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated subject reported at 12:08 a.m. at the Sussman Apartments. Officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service dispatched. Subject transported to the Emergency Room via ambulance. Report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported finding three holes at 3:45 a.m. in the wall of the Penfield stairwell. Damage recorded. Report issued.
• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 11:18 p.m. on the third floor of Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched reported noting no noise upon their arrival.

Monday, Nov. 11:

• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 2:40 a.m. on the second floor of Kimball Hall. Dispatched officer reported that the call was unfounded at the time.
• Campus Safety Assist: An escort requested at 11:33 a.m. from a room in Wilmarth Hall to Health Services as the reporting person was not feeling well. Officer completed the transport. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: A burned rubber odor reported at 7:59 p.m. in the Williamson Sports Center. Officer dispatched requested that maintenance examine the dryer. No smoke or fire reported.
• Drug Law Violation: A suspicious odor reported at 9:17 p.m. in Kimball Hall. Dispatched officers who reported a drug law violation. Report issued.
• Suspicious Activity: Report received at 11:44 p.m. of a male voice yelling in Wiecking Hall. Officer dispatched reported locating the subject and that he was fine. Report issued.

Tuesday, Nov. 12:

• Trespass: Report received at 6:33 a.m. that a female subject was issued a trespass warning at Palamountain Hall. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: A gas odor reported at 4:35 p.m. at the front door of Jonsson Tower. Notified Unit-10 and an officer. Maintenance reported detecting no odor at the time.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:13 p.m. on the eleventh floor of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer who reported the call was unfounded.

Wednesday, Nov. 13:

• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at midnight at Whitman Way. Officer dispatched reported hearing no noise. An additional noise complaint received. Officer spoke with residents who complied with the request to lower the volume.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 4:46 p.m. in the Sussman Apartments. Dispatched officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was due to a cooking error. Report issued.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 10:57 p.m. on the first floor of Kimball Hall. Dispatched officers, who reported detecting no noise. Call unfounded at the time.

Thursday, Nov. 14:

• College Violation: A loud noise reported at 12:39 a.m. on the floor above a dorm room in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer reported that the resident complied with the request to lower the television.
• Complaint: Unauthorized subjects reported at 4:40 p.m. parked in the Childcare loading area by the entrance to the Williamson Sport Center. Officers dispatched contacted the owners and the vehicle was removed. Report issued.

Harvest Festival

Posted by Rachel Dyckman

The Skidmore Traditions Committee holds numerous events throughout the year such as the tree lighting ceremony, Chocolate Milk Day, and the bonfire. The latest addition to the list of Skidmore Traditions is the Harvest Festival. Do you like eating delicious local food while listening to folk music performed by talented groups such as the Bandersnatchers? If so, you are sure to enjoy the Harvest Festival!

The Harvest Festival took place on Thursday, November 7th on Case Green at 8pm. The Skidmore Traditions Committee will be teamed up with the Sustainability Committee to promote sustainability and environmental awareness on campus. It is a great event for students to learn more about what both the Traditions Committee and Sustainability Committee does, and to help educate students about the benefits of locally produced food while fostering a sense of community amongst students.

Food at the event was provided by Comfort Kitchen, a Saratoga Springs restaurant that uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and which is an active proponent of the farm-to-table movement, advocating for local, seasonal produce to eliminate the need for lengthy transport, minimizing the burning of fossil fuels. There was also Eco-friendly giveaways at the festival.

SGA Senator and head of the Traditions Committee, Lauren Scauzzo '15 explains, "Tradcomm's first event isn't until the Tree Lighting Ceremony in December. I wanted to have an event that brought the Skidmore community together a little earlier in the school year, and Harvest Festival was the product of this idea. When a fellow Senator who chairs (the) Sustainability Committee reached out to me about collaborating for Harvest Fest, I was really excited. It's the perfect opportunity to promote sustainability on campus in a really fun and engaging way."

The Harvest festival is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the crisp fall weather and take advantage of the green before the inevitable snow and frigid temperatures descend on campus. What better way to enjoy the fall season and celebrate local food than to share a delicious, locally grown meal with friends while listening to great music under the stars? 

Men's Soccer to Launch "Save The Bees" Campaign

Posted by H.L. Shmencken

After falling to defeat at St. Lawrence University in the Liberty League Championship, many members of the Skidmore men's soccer team suddenly found themselves with a lot of free time. Thus, an announcement is expected to come from the men's soccer headquarters regarding their latest initiative: Save The Bees. 

Rumors spread in the dining hall Sources close to the situation revealed to The Skidmore News that members of the men's soccer team have organized a tightly-knit coalition to raise awareness for one issue affecting us all: the extinction of bees.

Junior, Robert Smukler, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told The Skidmore News that the goal of the operation is to "stop the extinction of bees."

The announcement should come as no surprise: recently appointed head coach, Jeremiah Kneeland, has made it his personal mission to engender his players with a strong affection for wildlife and social action.

In August, Kneeland traveled to Nigeria to recruit prospective student-athletes and raise awareness for endangered Zebras as part of his latest campaign, Halting All Zebra Endangerment (also known as, "Operation: H.A.Z.E.").

Many members of the team have expressed moral outrage, as sophomore benchwarmer, Jessie Evensky, said in an interview with ESPN U, "I'm morally outraged."

Defender Mike Lemnios, also a sophomore, has been a hugely impactful bee activist since high school. He attributes his bee affection to a "powerful" documentary he watched several years ago.

Sophomore defender Andrew Pertsov is also an active member of the cause. Despite his passion for bees, he refused to comment in a phone interview, but did breathe into the receiver for long enough to fog up the The Skidmore News headquarters.

Senior, Andrew Blake tucked his chin into his left shoulder and lambasted apathetic students and offered a rallying cry, "I literally am not exaggerating when I tell you that bees just do so much for us."

Andrew's right: bees contribute to our society greatly. It's approximated that one-in-three bites of food would not be possible without bees and their pollinator powers. Moreover, they have a significant impact on our economy: more than $15 billion a year in U.S. crops are pollinated by bees" according to

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the nation's preeminent environmental advocacy groups.

In fact, beekeepers, such as David Hackenberg, who was featured in the 2009 film Vanishing of the Bees, have apiaries (a fancy word for bee farms) where they maintain 2400 active bee colonies, according to the Hackenberg Apiaries website.

Hackenberg and other beekeepers ship thousands of bees across the nation from Florida, to Calif., and then they ship the little guys to the east coast in time to for blueberry season in Maine and Cranberry season in Mass. After about six months, they drive the bees (via tractor trailer) back to Florida.

Bees are crucial to certain industries. According to the NRDC, "every year, California almond growers must import honey bees from other states to pollinate their $2.3-billion-a-year crop, using about half of all honey bees in the United States."

However, in 2006, many beekeepers across the nation experienced a mass disappearance of bees. Suddenly, bees were not returning to their hives, or were dying. The nation-wide phenomenon alarmed many beekeepers and stakeholders. Researchers and scientists have labeled the mysterious disappearance "Colony Collapse Disorder."

A report, released by NRDC, cited global warming, toxic pesticide use, habitat loss and parasites as possible causes of CCD. However, there is no consensus in the scientific community about why the mass disappearance is occurring. In one instance, a beekeeper checked on his beehives in the morning, only to find that all 3,000 of the bees inhabiting the hives had disappeared.

It's estimated that CCD has killed more than 10 million beehives in North America since 2007. According to U.S. News and World Report, academics are now identifying pernicious pesticides as the primary cause of colony collapse disorder.

If we don't start raising awareness and changing our ways, CCD may begin to sting us. As the bee population vanishes, food prices rise-so enjoy your $12 grapes, because that might be where we're headed.

For now, Skidmore Men's Soccer team is working their hardest to fight CCD and raise awareness. "We'll probably make some t-shirts on Fun Day," said freshman attacker Nick Masiero, who added, "but only after we finish cleaning the locker-room."

Correction Appended: November 15, 2013

In a previous version of this article, Alex Hodor-Lee, a senior defender, was listed as the Treasurer of the "Save the Bees" campaign. However, he has since been kicked out of the organization. Though, sources close to the situation suspect he may be reinstated. 

Look out for more in our series of "Athletes doing good stuff"! Next week: "Men's LAX to Global Warming: Chill with that, Bro"

Typhoon Haiyan strikes the Philippines, Skidmore begins to respond

Posted by Andrew Shi

Earlier this week, Typhoon Haiyan swept through the Philippines, obliterating whole cities and villages in its path. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported 4,460 deaths as of Thursday, Nov. 14, but exact numbers will not be determined until remote cities are reached and reviewed. While the magnitude of death is staggering alone, an estimated 11 million Filipinos of a population of  98 million have been affected and approximately 900,000 displaced.

Unfortunately, casualties of the storm may grow as repercussions of the typhoon including the proliferation of disease and shortages of food and clean water worsen. With destroyed infrastructure and a paucity of clean water, those in the directly affected areas may resort to drinking water contaminated by effluent. The tropical weather of the Philippines only exacerbates the incubation and spread of disease. The New York Times reports that those affected are at risk of lethal diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, malaria, dengue fever, typhoid fever, bacterial dysentery as well as polio, which has to this point been eradicated from the Philippines for 14 years. Already insanitary environments are worsened by the decaying of the dead bodies which have only begun to be buried in mass graves.

Major news outlets report that there is a severe lack of clean water, food and medication being provided by operating aid organizations. There are also reports of anarchy and fights over what limited supply there is.

The UN estimates that it will need $301 million to provide thorough aid to the Philippines.

While the number is dauntingly large, a few dollars, sometimes as low as $1, can purchase a single vaccination. One vaccination can save a life.

Skidmore College has a strong tradition of coming to the aid of others, from the victims of Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina to those of the earthquake that shattered Haiti.

Monday night, a small vigil was held outside the Murray-Aikins dining hall by Cleo Gordon '15 and several other students along with members of the Office of Student Diversity Programs clubs.

On Thursday, an email was sent out to the Skidmore Community by Richard Noel Chrisman, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, asking the community to consider donating money to organizations dedicated to aiding the Philippines. Among the organizations suggested were: the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Direct Relief International, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Food Programme. An additional article by The Times offers a larger selection of potential charities and NGOs.

Later that same day Sofia Naqvi '14, a student representative of  the Office of Student Diversity Programs and President of Hayat, sent out an email to club presidents. "We, as a united Skidmore community, can act. We can make a positive effort to help. We have the resources, the means, the people power to do something about this," Naqvi said in her email. 

Her email purposed a fundraiser of some sort and solicited co-sponsors as well as general ideas. Naqvi recommended a benefit concert/performance with tickets sold at the door. Responses were quick and supportive of the idea. 

Naqvi's email echoes many of the sentiments espoused by Skidmore's annual Social Justice Month which the College is currently half-way through. In the spirit of the month, if nothing else, it seems only appropriate that Skidmore pursues all avenues to providing aid to those devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. 

Skidmore Cares begins another holiday season of community support: Donations for various organizations will be collected on Dec. 6 at the Scribner House

Posted by Julia Leef

In the eighth year of its inception, Skidmore Cares hosted a luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 12, to emphasize the importance of the many charitable services performed by local organizations during the holiday season.

The program, started by President Phillip A. Glotzbach and his wife Marie in 2006, includes over 50 faculty, staff and student volunteers. Several student groups are also involved, including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Benef-Action, Beatlemore Skidmania and the Student Government Association.

"We always look forward to this event to bring everyone together to meet everybody," Marie Glotzbach said in her presentation of the program's accomplishments. "We began this program to provide the Skidmore community with the notion of responsible leadership."

Skidmore employees who promote and organize the event also collect donations. These "cheerleaders" include members from Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Finance and Administration who are responsible for donating various items to their respective programs, such as canned goods or school supplies. In addition, the Beatlemore shows will raise funds through ticket sales and collections at the concerts on Nov. 22 and 23.

The recipients of the 2013 Skidmore Cares program are the Corinth Central School District, the Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County, the Franklin Community Center, the Latino Community Advocacy Program, Mary's Haven, The Salvation Army, the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, the Saratoga Springs City School District PATHS Program and Shelters of Saratoga.

"Skidmore College enhances the meaning of the Skidmore Community coming together and makes a positive difference in the lives of many families in the Saratoga County," Marie Glotzbach said.

There will be an Open House from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 for Skidmore employees and their families, which will be designated as Skidmore Cares Friday. Canned goods and school supplies will be collected on this day in a sleigh on the front yard of Scribner House, and all donations will be received at the Scribner house. There will be no on-campus collection of donations.

The Discovery Tour: are we prioritizing a diverse student body? : The Admissions' funded program that looks to attract under-represented potential student groups

Posted by The Editorial Board

 Diversity: it's a 'hot' word in college campuses and admissions offices. The Princeton Review ranks colleges in terms of "Lots of Race/Class Interaction", "Most Religious Students", and whether or not a school is "LGBT-Friendly" -but carefully avoids using the term diversity. It's ironic then, that colleges are making great efforts to create and advertise campus diversity, when it's a concept impossible to assign a singular definition.

Since the early 90's, the College has hosted the Discovery Tour. It's a three-day, all-expenses paid tour of the Skidmore campus and community. It's goal? To enroll as many underrepresented and underserved students as possible, according to Mary Lou Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.

In the past the invite-only program was exclusively for students of color. Since 2012, Admissions has begun to extend the invitation to small quantities of international students as well as white students from low socio-economic backgrounds. In the spring of 2013, approximately 600 students were invited to participate in the tour. Of the 134 attendees, six were from either Puerto Rico or Costa Rica, and four were white students from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Members of the tour attend classes, tour the campus, attend academic and performing art forums and student panels and have dinner with various faculty members. The students are assigned student hosts, which Admissions attempts to select from a variety of student groups on campus (including the Student Government Association, Athletics, and Residential Life). Any student invited who cannot make the tour will be entirely funded by admissions to visit the campus at a different time.

The College's Strategic Action Plan in 2005 aimed for 20% of the student body to be students of color. In 2003, approximately 12% of the student body comprised students of color. Currently, approximately 23% of the student body comprises students of color. Eight percent of the student body is composed of international students.

With 53% of the attendees of the spring 2013 Discovery Tour enrolling in the college, the tour does seem to be contributing to a growing geographically, racially, ethnically, culturally and socioeconomically diverse student body-further distancing the Skidmore student body from its "white from Westchester" stereotype.

But what does the tour mean for our campus community?

In the 2011 Graduating Students of Color Exit Interviews prepared by the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding, several students cited that they chose Skidmore after attending the Discovery Tour. Several students also stated that they found the tours to feel segregated and exclusionary, a concern that Bates says Admissions is sensitive to and has worked to address. Other students noted in the survey that the tour offered a false sense of diversity on campus. Bates stated that the tour is not meant to mislead potential students, and that Admissions states at several junctures of the Discovery Tour that the student body is approximately 78% white. The 2013 Graduating Students of Color Exit Interviews is not yet available through The Office of Student Diversity Programs.

The Skidmore News believes a diverse student body enhances the educational and social experiences of a college. It also applauds Admissions recent efforts to fund international students and students specifically from low socio-economic backgrounds. In the future, this paper hopes to see the Admissions office continue to reach out to students geographically and socio-economically diverse.

But it's not enough for Admissions to make the effort to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to enroll in the school. It's an ugly truth, but the Skidmore student body can often feel like it is divided into isolated groups rather than one cohesive unit. If we as Skidmore students place great importance on a dynamic and diverse student body, one way to become involved is through hosting a prospective student on the tour, as the Discovery Tour program is largely dependent upon volunteer student hosts. Being a meaningful member of a college community means working to not only improve the college in the present, but also in the future.