Campus Safety Reports: Feb. 28 to March 6

Incidents of Note:

• Friday, Feb. 28-Sex Offense: A sexual assault reported at 11:41 p.m. that occurred on campus in McClellan Hall. Report issued.
• Sunday, March 2-The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported at 1:05 a.m. a 911 call reporting an intoxicated male subject in a Case Center bathroom. Officers located the subject. The Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department dispatched. The male subject was transported to the Emergency Room for medical assistance. Report issued.
• Monday, March 3-Drug Law Violation: The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported at 11:17 a.m. the arrest of two students on drug charges in the city of Saratoga. Report issued.

Further incidents:

Friday, Feb. 28:

• College Violation: A loud noise reported at 12:13 a.m. in the hallway outside of a room in Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched reported that there was no noise detected. Subject vacated the area.
• Fire Alarm: A fire alarm reported at 1:38 a.m. in Palamountain Hall. Officers, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Unit-10 dispatched. Alarm activation was due to a faulty smoke detector in the chemistry lab. Report issued.
• College Violation: A loud noise reported at 3:03 a.m. in McClellan Hall. Officers checked the entire building, met with the reporting person and reported finding no disturbances.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 11:38 a.m. for Whitman Way. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Officer reported that the resident was rinsing out a very hot pan, thus causing a large amount of steam, which triggered the fire alarm. Report issued.
• Emergency Phone: Two males reported at 12:20 p.m. stuck in the elevator in Case Center. Officers and Unit-10 dispatched. Subjects were released without injury. Report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Property damage observed at 4:30 p.m. in McClellan Hall. A hole in the hallway wall was located and recorded, and a report was issued.
• College Violation: Officer reported excessive noise at 9:03 p.m. in a room in McClellan Hall. Officer reported that the resident complied with the request to lower the volume.

Saturday, March 1:

• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated male reported at 3:02 a.m. in a bathroom suite of McClellan Hall. Officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service dispatched. Saratoga Springs Fire Department Emergency Medical Service transported the subject to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 3:14 a.m. in the Sussman Village. Officers dispatched reported that the residents lowered the volume upon request.
• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 3:17 a.m. in the lobby of Wait Hall. Officers dispatched checked the area and found that the call was unfounded.
• Drug Law Violation: Officer noted drug paraphernalia at 2:49 p.m. and a strong odor of marijuana in the area at Jonsson Tower. Report issued.
• Harassment: Unwanted contact reported at 2 p.m. at an on-campus location. Complaint taken and report issued.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated male reported at 11:23 p.m. in the Wait Hall basement. Dispatched officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service. Subject was transported to the Emergency Room via ambulance. Report issued.

Sunday, March 2:

• Suspicious Odor: A gaseous odor reported at 12:35 a.m. near a dumpster in North Woods. Officers dispatched detected the odor faintly. Source unknown.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated female student reported falling down and hitting her head at 1:24 a.m. in Wait Hall. Dispatched all officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service. The subject was transported to the Emergency Room. Report issued.
• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 2:15 a.m. by a band in Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched reported detecting no noise from the band. Several rooms were requested to lower the volume of their voices.
• Campus Safety Assist: Desk officer received a 911 call at 2:42 a.m. on the Emergency Phone displaying Ladd room 207. Officers dispatched determined the call to have been a false activation. The Saratoga Springs police Department advised.
• Accident: An accident reported at 2:50 p.m. in West Lot. Dispatched all officers and the Saratoga Police. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: The smell of suspected marijuana reported at 3:15 p.m. at Moore Way. Officer dispatched. Situation unfounded. No odor detected.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:23 p.m. at the Sussman Apartments. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation caused by burned food. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:20 p.m. on the first floor of Wiecking Hall. Officers dispatched. Odor present but the source could not be located.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 11:34 p.m. on the sixth floor of Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched was unable to locate the source of the odor.

Monday, March 3:

• Campus Safety Assist: A welfare check requested at 1:14 a.m. of a parent's daughter in Wiecking Hall. Officer located and delivered the message to the student.
• Parking: An officer check requested at 11:53 a.m. on the vehicles in violation of the handicap zones at the Art Center. Officer ticketed the vehicles that were in violation. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: A strong odor of marijuana reported at 2:26 p.m. in a hallway of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer reported checking the entire area but could not detect any odor. Report unfounded at the time.
• False Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 4:55 p.m. in Case Center. Dispatched all officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. False activation of the pull station on the second floor. Report issued.
• Campus Safety Assist: Report received at 10:19 p.m. that students were stuck in the south elevator of Jonsson Tower. Officers and Unit-10 dispatched. Students were released without harm. Report issued.
• College Violation: Excessive noise reported at 10:22 p.m. in Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers reported that residents lowered the volume upon request.

Tuesday, March 4:

• Criminal Mischief: Food reported at 8:20 a.m. all over the stairwell in between Starbuck and Wilmarth Hall. The incident had occurred several times recently by unknown person(s). Report issued.

Wednesday, March 5:

• Criminal Mischief: Food reported thrown on the walls and in the staircase at 7:24 a.m. in Starbuck Center. Officer was dispatched to investigate and issue a report.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 12:43 p.m. at the Sussman Apartments J. Officers, maintenance and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation was due to a cooking error. Report issued.
• Suspicious Odor: Person(s) unknown reported at 5:03 p.m. smoking marijuana in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer reported that the subjects dispersed from the area upon his arrival.
• Suspicious Odor: A suspicious odor reported at 5:05 p.m. on the third floor of Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officer reported that a resident was burning incense. Report issued.

Thursday, March 6:

• Criminal Mischief: Damage reported at 7:59 a.m. to the wall on the second floor of Penfield Hall near a study room. Photos of the damage were taken. Report issued.
• Accident: A Property Damage Auto Accident reported at 8:54 a.m. in the Case Center parking lot. Report issued.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:25 p.m. in the Hillside B Apartments. Officers, Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation was due to a cooking error. Report issued.

NHL Super Six: Bruins on the rise

Posted by Katie Peverada

While the Buffalo Sabres long ago cemented their position as the best worst team in the NHL, the top six teams remain as jumbled as ever. With about a month left in the regular season, and with each team having 15-or-fewer games remaining, the St. Louis Blues lead the league with 99 points. However, sixth and seventh-place Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, are only seven points back in the standings.

1. St. Louis Blues: The Blues dropped the first two games after returning from the Olympic break, but since then they have gone a stout 8-0-1, losing to Dallas in overtime. Olympic-hero T.J. Oshie has shaken off the three-game slump he experienced upon returning from Sochi to put up eight points in seven games. Their upcoming four-game road trip will be a true test, as they face Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

2. San Jose Sharks: Antti Niemi backstopped Chicago's Stanley Cup win in 2010, but he still never seems to get the respect he deserves. Thanks to his stellar play in net (he's tied for the league lead in wins with 34), the Sharks have tied Anaheim with 97 points and created the most exciting division race in the Pacific. San Jose is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and has won six straight (including two shutouts from Niemi).

3. Anaheim Ducks: On Feb. 1, the Ducks were the top team in the league, fresh off an eight-game winning streak. But now, it's mid-March and they're suddenly the owners of two separate three-game losing streaks. They're a respectable 5-3-2 in their last 10, but if they want to take the Pacific from San Jose, they'll need to start giving Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry some help in the offensive end.

4. Boston Bruins: With eight-straight wins, the Bruins hold the longest active winning-streak in the NHL, outscoring their opponents 33-12 along the way. Strangely enough, nobody in Boston even cracks the top-ten in terms of goals or assists. But they do have three guys in the top-ten plus/minus ratings. The always-dependable Patrice Bergeron leads the league with a +32, while David Krejci (+31), Johnny Boychuck (+30), and Jarome Iginla (+28) all solidify the Bruins defensive, hard-hitting style. Furthermore, Tuukka Rask is in the top-five in every major goaltending statistic.

5. Chicago Blackhawks: The Hawks are an uncharacteristic 5-5 in their last ten games, including two losses to the surprising Colorado Avalanche, a team that sits ahead of them in the standings. Their play has been a bit lackadaisical of late against lower-tier opponents, but with convincing wins over Pittsburgh and Detroit in the month of March, the Blackhawks proved they still have that offensive-kick (they lead the league with 231 GF). And the return of Marian Hossa from injury isn't bad news, either. A showdown with the Blues on Friday will be a good indicator of where the Hawks truly are.

6. Colorado Avalanche: Nobody saw this one coming. With 14 games left to play on their schedule, the Avalanche are second in the Central, behind St. Louis but ahead of Chicago. This position comes on the strength of eight wins over their last 11 games and goaltender Semyon Varlamov's pads. Varlamov recovered from a rough outing against the Ducks (five goals on 24 shots) with a spectacular showing against Ottawa (38 saves on 39 shots).

New leadership slated for annual Solomon Northup Day: Skidmore College steps into new role

The story of Solomon Northup, a local African-American man abducted into slavery in 1841, is now known internationally thanks to the acclaimed Fox Searchlight adaptation of his autobiography Twelve Years a Slave. The film just garnered three Academy Awards-best picture, best supporting actress, and best-adapted screenplay-not to mention other accolades like a Golden Globe Award for best picture.

But a grassroots effort to raise awareness of this compelling story has been going on for the past 15 years, particularly Solomon Northup Day, an annual celebration launched in 1999 by Saratoga Springs resident and Skidmore College alumna Renee Moore.

The yearly tribute is now undergoing a change of leadership, as Moore hands the reins over to Skidmore College. The event will be jointly managed by the College's Black Faculty and Staff Group and the Office of the Dean of Special Programs.

Solomon Northup Day has traditionally been held on the third Saturday of July. In past years, the day's activities have included talks by experts and historians on a range of topics related to Northup's life, musical performances, readings and more. The event is typically attended by Northup descendants from around the country.

Last summer's Solomon Northup Day was held in the 250-seat Filene Recital Hall on the Skidmore campus and drew a capacity crowd. Through collaboration with Fox Searchlight, the program included film segments from 12 Years a Slave in advance of the movie's release as well as attendance by Lupita Nyong'o, winner of this year's Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as Patsey in the film. Nyong'o addressed the gathering, speaking about the emotional challenges she faced in portraying such tragedy and anguish.

"Given the success of last year's event, along with Skidmore's management capabilities and excellent facilities, it makes sense for the college to take over the organizing of Solomon Northup Day," Moore said . "I'm excited about the future prospects of the event, beginning this coming summer."

Moore's vision statement for Solomon Northup Day is to "bring to light all of the people involved in the struggle for freedom in the Americas and to encourage a better understanding of freedom and justice through the eyes of the African-American experience past and present, and to encourage youth participation in the struggle for freedom throughout the world."

"Skidmore is very pleased to continue and build on Renee Moore's important work in creating this Saratoga tradition. We think that over time, the event can attract not only more attention from the public but also from history scholars worldwide," said Skidmore's Dean of Special Programs Paul Calhoun,.

Call Me Honey

Posted by Lorraine Hoffman

I did not have a scary dream but I woke up terrified. ?My eyes widen in the dark and I start to cry as I slowly become aware of my body. Sweaty legs. Arms locked around a pillow. A blanket wrapped tight around my stomach. Aching neck propped up against a laptop. I was trying to contact you. Never once did you answer me. I sent desperate and long texts, glowing red to you. I received no response. You ignored pictures of my face that I sent. None of the tricks that used to turn you on worked anymore. I recklessly drove down a blue highway. I worked in a retail job where losers were better than me. And then I got a call from him. Not you but someone else. I walked out onto a porch that was colored with crayons and watercolors. The phone sat comfortably in my ear as I listened to him talk. He called me honey and said he wouldn't be coming to see me on Friday. He found something better to do. Someone better to do. I knew it was a green party and a blue road trip. Alcohol that he did not want to buy me would be there. I worked in my cold car in a parking lot at night. I worked in a trash pile outside of my retail job where losers were better than me. I sat in my sweet, candy colored bed. Cloud blankets trapped me against the wall. I smelled soft pink, addicting scents. Multiple layers of joy wafted up from my skin and sheets. I was happy for a moment until a terrifying realization came to mind. The scent I was giving off was the only thing good in life. The only pleasurable relationships I have is with myself. Except, I used soap.

So You Have Senioritis? : What to do next

Posted by Amber Charette

The results are in: you've tested positive for a diagnosis of senioritis. You may be wondering what comes next. Well, fortunately for you, the prognosis of senioritis is generally good. While you may be feeling symptoms of laziness, lack of motivation to complete work or apply to graduate schools and jobs, a sense of apathy in all things school-related and anticipatory anxiety over what happens after graduation, the truth is that treatment for this illness is quite effective. Patients usually respond well to treatment that includes some tips, advice, TLC and a good push out the door! If this last piece of the treatment sounds intimidating and just plain old cruel, that's because it is...but in the best way possible I'm sure (or at least I've decided to believe as a senior myself). With that said, I can't say that everything will go smoothly, you'll get into your top graduate school program or land an awesome job (since I'm in the same boat). I can, however, provide you with some friendly peer tips and advice on how to deal with this ever-common illness that seniors contract.

First off, try your best not to let the stress of searching for a job or getting into your dream graduate program get the best of you. After all, it is your last semester of your undergraduate experience. Be sure to take some time to just enjoy the last several weeks of the semester, including going to your classes to take in as much knowledge as possible. If you're unsure how to find things to do (which would concern me just a bit since you've been here for nearly four years at this point), check out some of the following sources: The Skidmore News, of course, The SOURCE, student announcements, the various bulletins around campus buildings and club email lists. Additionally, be sure to take part in all the senior-directed activities that will be taking place, including, but not limited to, the events planned for senior week.

Next, be sure not to forget that...well -- you don't have that diploma in your precious little hands yet. In essence, don't falter at the finish line: maintain some stamina and actually turn in those final papers, exams, projects, etc. But don't overwhelm yourself either. As an anxious over-achiever myself, I can attest that over-worrying is not the route you want to go during your final weeks as an undergraduate. And remember, this may be the last time that you ever have to go to school...unless, of course, you're like 99% of college students nowadays and have decided to venture on to a totally different career path than what your undergraduate degree is in. But really, on a serious note, your education is one of the best gifts you'll ever be given. Make sure you make the best of it, and don't let your senioritis symptoms take that away from you. 

One of the last pieces of advice is to try and spend as much time with your peers as possible. It's not every day (or everywhere) that you can be surrounded by such a vast amount of diversity in one community. Additionally, be sure to reminisce with your friends about all of the crazy, fun, unique and even stressful things you've gotten through over the past four years. Remember that your peers are likely experiencing the same senioritis as you, and talking about it with them can help ease your symptoms. 

Finally, be sure to take everything you've gained at Skidmore, and apply it to the real world. Use it to make a difference, become some one that others look up to and continue to aim for higher and better. Your undergraduate career may be nearing its end, but your life has just barely begun. Be sure not to miss any bit of it. And just to set the tone and makes things extra sappy, here's a quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off for you to examine: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Challenging the Human Condition: Middletown performed in Skidmore's Black Box Theater

Posted by Danny Graugnard

Middletown made me laugh, but it also creeped me out. It made me a little sad, too. And those are the reasons why I loved every minute of it.

From the minute the public speaker, played by the ebullient Peter Johnston '14, appeared from the darkness of the stage I was engrossed and eager to see more of the absurdity that was surely to unfold from this sharply dressed man's presence. Unexpectedly, the fourth wall was broken which created an uncomfortable intimacy in almost every scene that proceeded it. We have the Black Box Theater to thank for it's immersive nature.

Director Dan Shure '14 said, "Having the production done in this particular space brings these characters and ideas into focus in a intimate way. The play features some direct address and contemplation on theater as a medium, so having the audience be so close together and doing it in a 3/4 round set up intensifies the theatricality of the play and forces the audience to closer examine what it is to be an audience member."

Indeed, the Black Box put me in the unique position of being close to the action on stage, as I sat stage right. I was surprised, shocked even, to find myself reacting to the actors and their behaviors. I leaned in as the librarian tried to show us the contents of the book she was reading from a few feet away. The flashlight from the cop shone on my face for a brief moment while it lingered on another audience member's face for a moment after, which made me sympathize with his growing discomfort. It was these kinds of moments when I felt involved in Middletown's dark, tense atmosphere that shockingly squeezed a few good laughs from me. One can't help but wonder how it manages to do that without making the humor feel out of place or awkward, given how disturbing the dialogue can be.

The dialogue is the most peculiar quality of Middletown; the short, vague language implants suffocating tension and dark undertones, found in-between the lines of dialogue. These characters that use this as a vehicle for inducing this tension have an astonishing ability to convey the little aspects of human nature through short, "sweet" dialogue. You don't need to look further than the interactions between Mrs. Swanson, played by Lily Donahue '15, and John Dodge, played by Zac Uslianer '14, for a more perfect example.

John Dodge is quick to criticize himself, "Just years of stuff. Sort of a metaphor for, yeah, no-just years of stuff, gunk... Whoah. I stood up too quick. My whole life, I don't think I ever stood up at the right speed. All life long, John Dodge in the wrong. 'All life long,' wow, that's hard to say."

Mrs. Swanson struggles to keep up with John's focus on himself, while interjecting her own presence, "Well, what am I supposed to say?... Are you alright?... We haven't known each other long, but do I seem different?" The dynamics between these are the essence of human nature in Middletown, and it's frankly disturbing, yet reflective.

 A few simple words make a lot of thought provoking conclusions. At times, it was blunt and morbid. Other times, it was cheerful and light.

"Good for you, dear," said the genteel librarian, played by Alexia Zarras '14. She maintains her cheery energy, "I think a lot of people figure, 'Why bother? I'm just going to die, anyway.' Let me just find the form." The morbidity in her dialogue is sandwiched with gracious mannerism, creating a jarring yet interesting syntax.

The production was also aesthetically delightful. I was quite impressed with the sound design in Middletown, which created an atmosphere that suited the tension and dark undertones of the play, but at the same time was never abrupt or distracting. The sound of crickets and wind really stood out during scenes that took place at night amidst that horrifying tension. The space scene was the centerpiece of the play aesthetically, as the lights projected the beautiful cosmos on the background and the sounds of the spaceship created a beautiful scene to watch. All which for a moment, helped disillusion the fact that we were in Black Box.

Will Eno's desire is to challenge us to face the deepest truths of human nature and expose the anxieties that we feel when we interact with each other, but acknowledge the fact that we do so for the sake of connecting with others. Middletown certainly challenged my perspective on everyday life with everyday people, be it a mechanic, a librarian, or a doctor. I will say that one may find it useful to maintain an open mind when experiencing Middletown. The play may be hard to digest for those of us who strive to find concrete meaning behind dialogue, because there isn't always an exact intended meaning to grasp in Middletown. In other words, if you prefer Mary Poppins over something that will actually make you ponder and challenge you on the human condition, then this play isn't for you. Nonetheless, I still encourage the typical Broadway enthusiast (tourist) to catch a production of Middletown for the sake of trying something new instead of watching Wicked for the third time. It's more about the dialogue and the way you interpret it yourself rather than simply watching the performance. That isn't to say the stage dictions weren't just as thought provoking as the dialogue. For example, it was quite fascinating to watch the landscaper, played by Xavier Hatten '14, pile rocks on top of the "Emergency" sign in a particular order, which may symbolize the audiences' struggle to find an understanding of the events that are transpiring from the experience.

Middletown

By Will Eno; directed by Daniel Shure '14; costume design by Lena Wellhoefer '14; lighting design by Mark A. Baird; sound design by Daniel Shure '14; stage manger, Gabrielle Nieporent '14

Williams triumphs over men's lacrosse 9-5

Posted by Katie Peverada

In the second half, the Skidmore College men's lacrosse team gave up a two-goal lead and seven unanswered goals to a potent Williams College on a cold Wednesday night at Wachenheim Field, eventually losing 9-5. Though the score does not indicate it, the game was very competitive, as each team was seeking its first win. The loss dropped Skidmore to 0-3 on the season and Williams moved to 1-1.
Play in the first half was very close, but Skidmore got the scoring started under five minutes into the contest when Henry Thomsett '16 put the Thoroughbreds up 1-0 with his second goal of the season. Thomsett found himself behind the Williams net with the ball and was able to work his way through several Williams defenders to fire a shot into the net as he fell to the ground. Williams quickly returned the favor and gained the lead. Joe Kinney scored with a shot from the left wing and then, taking advantage of a lackadaisical Skidmore defense, Thomas Fowler drove uncontested towards the net for an easy shot and goal. With time winding down in the first quarter, Skidmore took a timeout that would prove profitable, as Quinn Hawkins '14 was able to score the equalizer with a shot from the right side of the circle.
The second quarter was much of the same, with neither team able to get into a rhythm. Kevin Mulvey '16 scored the first of his two goals to open the second quarter scoring, firing a shot from in close on the right flank. Kinney responded again for Williams, getting a shot off through traffic that Matt Diaco '14 was unable to stop. Skidmore, though, would add two more goals before the half, as Mulvey streaked down the left side and fired a shot from the top of the circle. Then, with 13 seconds remaining, Mulvey again drove down the left side, this time feeding Seth Berger '14 in front of the net, who was able to put the Thoroughbreds up 5-3 going in to the half.
Williams came out for the second half warmed up and ready to break the game open. Williams poured on the shots in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter and the defense limited Skidmore to just one shot on goal. It was Williams that was able to find the back of the net first when Bryson Gilbert-Bono scored with 5:07 left on the clock. The Ephs added one more goal before time ran out and entered the fourth with the score tied but a huge advantage over the Skidmore offense.
Two straight goals from William's Conor Roddy, the first of which would prove to be the game winner, and one apiece from Anthony Evans and Fowler cemented the win for the Ephs. Skidmore did not go away easily, as they continued to press the Williams defense, but again only one of their shots was on net.
The Skidmore defense did all it could, as it faced 37 shots, 24 in the second half, and Diaco registered 11 saves. But the Thoroughbred offense never got going in the second, registering just two shots on goal. Williams also controlled the ground balls, picking up 32 to Skidmore's 25, and proved to be stronger in face-offs and clears. Mulvery finished with two goals and an assist, while Berger had one goal and one assist, and Hawkins and Thomsett both had a goal each.
Skidmore will travel to Brown University on Tuesday, Mar. 11, where they will look to beat Bates College for their first win of the season.

Divestment & Disagreement

Posted by Quinn Martin

Skidmore's recent foray into a more serious divestment process and the trials and successes therein has been well documented. A brief review of other college's sustainable efforts helps to put Skidmore's environmental efforts in context. It is from observing the various sustainable efforts that other institutions of higher learning have implemented and the results of those sundry endeavors have that we are best able to learn where we're succeeding and where we could be doing more. Looking at the opposition many colleges and universities face while attempting to divest indicates that there's a substantial rift between undergraduate concern surrounding climate change and administrative action.

While divesting from fossil fuel companies is the largest stride a campus can make in order to reduce their carbon footprints, there are many other factors that determine the impact that a campus makes on the environment. The "College Sustainability Report Card" notes that Skidmore does well in eight out of nine various categories, garnering A's and B's. However, in the "Shareholder Engagement" category, we obviously suffer, earning a D.  

The explanation for Skidmore's poor mark in Shareholder Engagement is a single, scant sentence: "A member of the college administration determines proxy votes". This category judges how colleges go about their shareholder proxy voting process, which allows an institution to vote on shareholder resolutions that could potentially make positive environmental impacts.  Perhaps what's most disturbing is that this problem isn't unique to Skidmore-approximately 51% of all colleges who submitted data to "The College Sustainability Report Card" garnered a grade of D or F in the Shareholder Engagement category.

In order to go about rectifying this problem, perhaps we should take a look at a school that's doing this right. Oberlin earns an A grade, as they've formed a comprehensive committee comprised of five students, one faculty member, one administrator, and one college staff member that makes suggestions to the college's board of trustees. Oberlin values the input of its student body, and its proxy voting process represents the multi-faceted concerns of the entire college community. This kind of collaboration and transparency is what we need as we go forward: students not only bring concerns to the administrations, but work with the administration in order to make a change.

Unfortunately, no matter how much the student body pushes, the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the administration. Hopefully the higher-ups value divestment as much as we do. Recently, Bates' student body saw a very similar student-driven push towards divestment. The Bates Energy Action Movement (BEAM) drafted a petition to the Board of Trustees that called for  " [divestment from] corporations engaged in the extraction and refinement of coal." In January of this year, the president vetoed the movement, stating that divestment would harm the college's endowment, resulting in: "... a reduction in resources [that] would affect critical college priorities, including financial aid, faculty and staff salaries, and support for academic programs. In short, divestment would potentially threaten core aspects of the college's mission". Why are learning and living suddenly mutually exclusive?

At this point in Skidmore's venture towards divestment, we've been relatively lucky. The administration appears to value student input, and be open to working towards a mutually beneficial goal. Perhaps the largest question that I have is why so many "liberal" institutions of higher education rely on fossil fuel companies that are far from socially and environmentally responsible. On October 3rd of last year, Drew Faust, the President of Harvard University argued against divestment, stating that the endowment existed as a tool to ensure that future students were well educated, not as "an instrument to impel social or political change." A similar statement was issue by Christina Paxson, President of Brown University. These chilling sentiments remind us that undergraduate ideals are often met with opposition. Students need to be engaged in every step of the decision making process. For us, this may mean more transparency in the form of a student presence in the making of shareholder decisions. All we can do now is stay vigilant, and hope that we're allowed to practice what we preach. 

At Institution of Higher Learning, Student Wages Low

Posted by Alex Hodor-Lee

An online petition is circulating among students, demanding that the College raise its minimum wage standard commensurate with New York State's newly passed minimum wage laws.

Amanda Seres '14, the SGA Senate secretary posted the petition on Change.com and it has since been disseminated through Facebook.

In her petition Seres writes, "Although nonprofitmaking institutions may elect to abide by the New York State minimum wage standards, Skidmore College is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitmaking institution and has elected exemption from coverage under the minimum wage order," continuing "Skidmore College work study students are therefore exempt from the state minimum wage order and may be paid less than the new state minimum wage."

Seres called the College's choice not to pay work-study in line with the newly designed minimum wage legislation "deplorable."

In March 2013, the New York State legislature and Governor Cuomo struck a deal that will see the state's minimum wage increase to $9 by the end of 2015. Seres cites the new legislation as rationale for increasing student work-study wages.

Approximately 18 percent of the Skidmore population is currently earning federal work-study dollars, says Lisa Lessard, who is assistant director of the office of Financial Aid. The Federal Work-Study Program is a mechanism of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and, as such, requires that Colleges pay students in accordance with the federal, not state, minimum wage.

Concomitant with state efforts, a national debate is ensuing with Democratic politicians and the White House in an ongoing attempt to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. However, their initiative is impeded by Republican leaders, who contend such a move would result in large-scale job loss. If the federal minimum wage were raised, it would require Skidmore College and nonprofit institutions across the country to meet the new standard.

Aside from students enrolled in Federal Work-Study, approximately 31 percent of the student population recieve Skidmore work-study dollars-the distinction is that these students (often writing center tutors or professors' or department assistants) are not tied to need-based programs.

"Each year approximately 1,300 students are employed through the Student Employment Program." Lessard says. "Skidmore offers 10 Hourly Pay Levels for students ranging from $7.25, the Federal minimum wage and going up to $10.50."

Nick Masiero, a freshman, buses tables in the dining hall. An entry-level position, not uncommon for freshmen, Masiero makes $8.25-one dollar more than the federal minimum wage.

While that figure seems generous, it doesn't reveal how many students are paid below the current State minimum wage, "Approximately 24% of students earning federal and Skidmore work study dollars are currently at a pay rate less than $8.00 per hour."

"So if you are tutor making $9.00 per hour right now, that may seem like a lot of money because it is significantly higher than [federal minimum wage]." Seres observes. "But in reality, you are making $9 per hour because the college deemed that the skill level required for your job merits pay of $1.75 per hour above the minimum wage, so with the minimum wage raised, all other students deserve raises accordingly."

Though Seres wrote the petition, she has had support from her colleagues in the SGA and issue will likely come to the Senate floor next Monday.

"We on senate started thinking about the issue of minimum wage. I wrote a resolution for support to increase minimum wages. We believed Change.org was the best medium to get students involved and noticed," Senator Britt Dorfman '14, told The Skidmore News.

Seres calls support like Dorfman's "invaluable" because "administrators are much more regularly accessible to [The SGA's Executive Committee] members than with regular students."

Other colleges, similar to Skidmore, have similar student wage structures. Vassar College does not meet New York State's minimum wage standard, minimum wage is $8 per hour (though students cannot earn more beyond the $10 an hour ceiling). Middlebury's minimum wage--effective Jan. 1--is $8.75; their wage ceiling is $10.55. At Swarthmore College, students minimum hourly wage is $8.80, though their student-earning ceiling is $9.44 per hour. At these Colleges the wage ceiling is lower, but the floor is higher.

Since being published on Friday, the petition garnered close to 300 signatures; the end goal is 2,000. (On Wednesday night someone in the Washington, D.C. area anonymously paid to promote the page, boosting it to the front-page Change.com users who have signed a petition related to income inequality or labor/wage issues.)

Many students are dependent on work-study programs and Seres' petition reveals a human element not captured in the very technical debate over raising the College's minimum wage.

"Skidmore's diverse socioeconomic environment includes students who require federal work study as part of their financial aid packages and whose on-campus employment is their primary source of income," continuing, "Some students go days without substantial meals while they wait for their biweekly work study paychecks to arrive."

Those who signed the virtual petition were allowed a space to publicly post their reasons for signing. Many students blasted the College. Some cited their financial hardships, while others invoked legal rationale.

But in signing, one person wrote simply, "The right thing to do."

Campus Safety Reports: Feb. 21 to 27

Incidents of Note:

• Friday, Feb. 21-Campus Safety Assist: The Saratoga Springs Police Department reported at 8 p.m. that a student had been arrested at an off-campus location.
• Monday, Feb. 24-Sex Offense: A sexual assault reported at 10:30 a.m. that had occurred at an off-campus location. Investigation is on-going.
• Monday, Feb. 24-Sex Offense: Report received at 3:50 p.m. of a confidential complaint of a sexual assault that occurred at an on-campus location. No other information was provided.

Further Incidents:

Friday, Feb. 21:

• College Violation: Noise complaint reported at 12:22 a.m. for the Hillside Apartments B. Officers reported hearing loud music, which the students agreed to lower.
• College Violation: Noise complaint reported at 12:31 a.m. for the first floor of Wiecking Hall. Officers reported loud talking and that the students quieted down.
• Suspicious Odor: A cigarette odor reported at 4:08 a.m. in the hallway and lobby of Jonsson Tower. Officer reported detecting an odor but being unable to determine a source.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 10:52 a.m. from the Sussman Apartments K. All units dispatched. Alarm was due to cooking and was reset.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 1:24 p.m. at the Sussman Apartments H. Officers reported the alarm was due to cooking. Alarm reset.
• College Violation: Noise complaint reported at 11:28 p.m. at the Sussman Apartments J. Students agreed to lower the music.

Saturday, Feb. 22:

• Criminal Mischief: Fire alarm activation received at 2:21 a.m. at Wiecking Hall. Alarm due to a discharged fire extinguisher. Alarm reset.
• Disorderly Conduct: An unruly spectator was escorted from the Mens' Basketball game at 5:15 p.m. at the Williamson Sports Center.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported finding a hole at 9:35 p.m. in the east entranceway wall of McClellan Hall. Report taken.
• Suspicious Activity: Suspicious activity reported at 9:51 p.m. in McClellan Hall. Officers dispatched.

Sunday, Feb. 23:

• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 7:05 a.m. at 1 Moore Way. Alarm was due to a humidifier and was restored.
• Suspicious Activity: An unknown male was reported at 7:22 a.m. laying on the floor of his room in McClellan Hall. Officers spoke with the male who said he had fallen asleep in the wrong room. Report taken.

Monday, Feb. 24:

• Accident: Reporting person stated at 10:10 a.m. falling on some ice on the walkway between Starbuck Center and McClellan Hall. Reporting person advised of the injury. Accident report completed.
• Accident: A person reported at 3:45 p.m. slipping and falling on the ice while walking down the Cane Crossing Roadway. Accident report completed. Medical attention provided by Health Services.
• Campus Safety Assist: Concern reported at 4:15 p.m. for an unwanted person possibly visiting the reporting person on campus. Report issued. Appropriate contacts were made and procedures put in place.

Tuesday, Feb. 25:

• Campus Safety Assist: A cigarette receptacle reported smoldering at 5:32 p.m. outside of Case Center. Officer requested that the reporting person place snow inside to extinguish the items. Officer arrived on the scene and reported that no smoke or fire was detected. Facilities asked to empty the receptacle.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm received at 9:16 p.m. at the Sussman Village. Dispatched officers and Unit-10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation due to a cooking error. Report issued.

Wednesday, Feb. 26:

• Criminal Mischief: Report received at 7:19 a.m. that the candy machine was tipped over on its face in the lobby area of McClellan Hall. Officers dispatched.

Thursday, Feb. 27:

• Accident: Reporting person in the Campus Safety office at 11:50 a.m. to fill out an accident report as she had slipped on ice and fell on Tuesday, Feb. 25, near the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:14 p.m. at Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officer.

Men's lacrosse falls to SUNY Potsdam in double OT

Posted by Katie Peverada

The men's lacrosse team took on SUNY Potsdam in a non-conference matchup on Saturday at Wachenheim Field. Despite starting strong, the team saw their 7-3 halftime lead disappear in the third and fourth quarters, and SUNY Potsdam was able to score the game's final five goals en route to their 8-7 double overtime win.
Skidmore opened the game with goals from Kevin Mulvey '16 and Quinn Hawkins '14 before Potsdam was able to find the back of the net to make the score 2-1 at the 3:32 mark of the first period. In the second period, Skidmore jumped to a 5-2 lead on the strength of Hawkins' third goal of the game. Hawkins added one more goal before the half to make it 7-3 Skidmore--but it would prove to be the last Skidmore goal of the day.
The third period produced only one goal, as Ed Doherty of Potsdam put the ball past Matt Diaco '14 and swung the momentum in the Bears' favor. With the score 7-6 in the final minute, it appeared as if the Thoroughbreds would hold on for the win, but a late man-up opportunity for the Bears allowed them to tie the game at 7-7 and force overtime.
The first overtime produced no goals for either team, but Diaco made two key saves to keep the Thoroughbreds in the game. Even though Skidmore had 18 turnovers to Potsdam's 19, one of their 18 led to the game-winning goal. Potsdam controlled the turnover and put their game-winning play in place before Jon Woodworth found the back of the net from in the circle.
Hawkins finished with four goals and one assist, while Mulvey added two goals and two assists. Taylor Best '14 won six of eight face-offs for Skidmore, while Sam Christiansen '15 and Brock Bakewell '15 each scooped up five ground balls. Diaco finished with eight saves.
Skidmore will take on Williams College Wednesday, March 5 at Wachenheim Field in a non-league matchup.

Hymn

Posted by Allison Smith

The organ loudly plays the tune for Hymn #122 in our pew books.

"Phhsst! Evie?" Says a woman sitting behind my mom and me.

"Yes? Who is that?" Replies my mom as she turns around and away from me.

"Me, Mrs. Garcia."

"Oh hi."

"Do you know who is going to be the host for Coffee Hour next week?"

"No one signed up?"

"And no one signed up for today either."

"Well I made a little sign to put up telling people sorry, but if no one signs up then there is no coffee."

"That was a smart idea."

"Except can you guess what happened to it?"

"No, what?"

"As I was walking out to the car, a little drop of water went PLOP and fell on my sign."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"That's so frustrating!"

"I know! That one little drop of water went PLOP and smudged the ink everywhere."

"That's terrible."

"Now we can't use the sign."

The Pastor signals for us to all stand up and sing.

"It will be left over donuts for us after the service." She turns again to say behind her, like it is a secret.

"Oh no I cant eat too many of those donuts!"

"Me neither! My trainer told me how many calories were in one little munchkin."

"Don't tell me!"

"It was horrifying!"

"I bet!"

"I will never eat one of those donuts again, they are terrible for your body!"

"Neither will I!"

"You should try my trainer sometime.  He keeps me in such good shape.  Hilary, how long would you say I've been going?"

I do not respond because I am singing.

"Well I have been going for a few months and I've lost about five pounds!"

"Good for you Eve!"

"Yes but not as much as Hilary, look at her!"

"Really? Hilary have you lost weight?"

"Hilary, lift up your shirt a bit so Mrs. Garcia can see your waist now.  She has such a thin waist!"

"Oh wow I can actually see just by looking at her!"

"Right?"

"Hilary you look so good!"

"She lost about ten pounds this year."

"That's amazing."

"I think she is coming into that eighteen year old body. You know that body you get as a teenager? She is finally growing into it."

I mouth a few words silently to myself.

"Good for you Hilary." Mrs. Garcia whispers in my ear.

"Yes, well she is finally losing all that baby fat from her face too."

"Yes, she is turning into quite the beautiful teenager."

"She really is. Look at my girl."

"I mean, a beautiful young woman. My apologies."

"Yes, and look at all the color in her cheeks! She wears no make-up."

"No make-up?"

"None."

"You're brave Hilary! I can't leave the house in the morning without my face on."

"Well, its good to see some color in her face."

"Oh yes is she finally feeling better?"

"Yes, she is. Thank you for your prayers."

"How long was she sick for?"

"About two weeks."

"That's so long!"

"Wouldn't you say two weeks, Hilary?"

"Really? That's a shame."

"Yes, she had every sickness known to God, the poor little thing."

"I'm sure!"

"The flu, a cold, a tonsil abscess... can you believe it? A tonsil abscess!"

"The poor little thing!"

"You know that George Washington died from a tonsil abscess?"

"The poor little dear!"

"My poor baby!"

"Well she looks much better now, and so thin too!"

"I just got the bill from the hospital, telling me how much it was for her to be there for just a few hours while she was sick."

"Hilary, tell me, was it worth it being sick for that long to lose all that weight?"

"Just guess how much that silly bill was. Just guess."

"Was it worth going through all that pain to be so thin now?"

"I mean luckily we have insurance, Steve gets great insurance with his new job."

"Do you know if it was worth it?"

"But anyway, just guess! It was ridiculous."

"You don't know if it was worth it?"

"Three thousand dollars!"

"No?"

Amen. The congregation sings.

The Left

Posted by Lorraine Hoffman

Every late afternoon Peach makes a decision.  Peach decides if she should drive straight through her town or turn left onto the back roads to get to her house.  Today Peach instinctively turns left after passing the farm stand where policemen sit in the dark.

The initial downward slope into the woods encourages Peach to drive fast.  She tightens all her muscles and her hands ring-out the steering wheel as she turns on the familiar curves.  Fog prevents her from seeing more than a few feet ahead of the car.  Ice frozen on the road from last night's rainstorm causes the car to pick up speed.  Peach makes no attempt to slow down.

An overwhelming tight and anxious emotion clouds up over Peach from her gut.  Peach is reminded of the boy she met a few months ago.  She remembers sitting in the back of her hot car, attempting to make out his features in the dim light cast on his face by a nearby streetlamp.  They were breathing on each other's necks before she could define his nose. 

Peach sighed, almost moaning, and brought her attention back to the road. Peach narrowed her eyes and pushed a little father down in her seat.  Peach dared herself to drive faster.

The street seemed to have no end and Peach felt full.  Her previous overwhelming tight and anxious emotion turned sour and heavy.  Peach stopped breathing. Peach lost control of the car.  The car was maneuvering the road all on its own and Peach started to cry.

 Peach forgot about the boy she met a few months ago and only noticed the upright, sturdy trees that passed her by.  She admired their confidence.

With every desperate breath and teaspoon of tears lost, Peach felt increasingly empty.

The four-way intersection where Peach needed to turn right caused her to remember where she was.  Peach clenched her jaw and stopped the car.  Physics wanted Peach to fall forward but her seatbelt locked and choked her back.

Peach could not move.  Peach was stuck in the cross section of two empty streets.  Peach grabbed her cell phone desperately and turned it around a few times in her hands. The screen reflected Peach's wet face.  She scrolled through her contacts and old text messages.

Peach lifted her head.  She looked forward and then right.  If she drove straight then she would be going towards the house of a boy she met a few months ago. If she turned right then she would go home. Peach hunched down over her phone and hesitantly began dialing the number of a boy she met a few months ago.

Bright white lights slowly filled the car.  Peach instinctually raised her head and looked left, directly into the attractive lights.  She pressed the call button on her cell phone as the lights hit her car.  Peach was pushed to the right.  The lights took away her sight, violently cradled her body and shoved its way down her neck, replacing the breath in her lungs and filling her hungry stomach.

Peach thought of the boy she met a few months ago and hoped he was thinking of her as the lights crumpled her up.  The lights stopped its rampage once Peach was stuck with her back against a stiff, reliable tree.

Peach rubbed her cheek against the tree trunk and it felt soft.  Before her swollen insides forced her to sleep, Peach smiled still thinking about the boy she met a few months ago.

Professor Gregory Pfitzer Delivers 57th Edwin M. Moseley Faculty Research Lecture: Reexamining the way we see history

Posted by Kate Cavanaugh

"I'd like to meet that guy, Greg," said Professor Gregory Pfitzer of the American Studies Department as he took the podium to deliver the 57th Edwin M. Moseley Faculty Research Lecture last Wednesday, Feb. 26. Professor Pfitzer is "that guy Greg," but he modestly sidestepped the flattering introduction given by Dean Breslin by joking that the complimentary speech was meant for someone else. Breslin quoted other faculty members who lauded Pfitzer as an "erudite scholar" and "a yes man in a world full of people ready to say no."

Each year, the Skidmore faculty chooses one of its members to deliver the Moseley lecture on his or her scholarly and creative work. Why then, did Pfitzer's lecture titled, "The Unpopularity of Popular History: A Scholar's Pursuit of Non-Scholarly Things," focus on the theme of unpopularity?

Over the course of his academic career, Pfitzer has found himself drawn to new and less canonical approaches to the past, including a scholarly examination of popular culture and history. To be called a " popular historian" at Harvard, where Pfitzer earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization was, in Pfitzer's estimation, like being called "yellow" in the Old West. Prioritizing "popular" history over the enduring mainstream narrative was, well, unpopular.

Pfitzer followed his bliss anyway, and his scholarship attests to the fact that significant cultural and historical nuance can be understood through an examination of popular American forms. Though Pfitzer has written four books on a range of topics within the field of cultural history, his talk on Wednesday focused mainly on contrasting the production of mid-19th century pictorial history projects.

He began by explaining that in the 18th century, pictures were thought to detract from "the triumph of the word." In the 19th century, however, pictures began to make their way into works of history, increasing in prominence and influence until people grew uneasy about the "tyranny of the pictorial" and the "myths of nationhood" perpetuated. Pfitzer closely examined the depictions of several historical scenes in John Frost's Pictorial History of the United States (1844) and Jesse Spencer's History of the United States (1858) in order to understand the dynamics between writers, illustrators and publishers and how those dynamics influenced the larger relationship between words and images in American historical texts over time. Pfitzer demonstrated how representational choices have since shaped the collective memory of important historical events.

One example that Pfitzer discussed was the famous picture of George Washington crossing the Delaware River painted by Emanuel Leutze.

in 1851. There are historical accounts which position Washington at the rear of the boat for the actual crossing and dispel the myth that there were icebergs in the river. Yet the iconic image of Leutze's painting (with Washington at the front of the boat and icebergs all around) was drawn, engraved and reprinted in Spencer's History of the United States. The heroic image became popular enough to "crowd out other competing conceptions of the event, either visual or literary."

The parallels that Pfitzer drew between 19th century skepticism of the overuse of pictorial narrative and modern-day apprehension surrounding the overuse of popular social media outlets and the emphasis on visual literacy undoubtedly resonated with the audience at the lecture.

Pfitzer was grateful for the opportunity to pause at the twenty-five year mark in his career and assess what he has done so far. He was delighted to share his work with his colleagues and to have his two children and his wife in attendance.

One of his primary goals for the lecture series, though, is to reach the students. "When you study popular culture in your classes, it's not just 'fadish.'" Pfitzer said. He sees himself as an academic who uses academic tools in order to "deconstruct nonscholarly things." He believes that the constant fluctuations in popular culture often make it a "better barometer" for particular historical moments, and he believes that popular forms-Disney, rap music, images, or his mother-in-law's thoughts on American history-are material worth studying. Professor Pfitzer sees his scholarship not as a scandalous deviation from the norms of academia, but as a work of public history. "It's exciting to think that we can each be our own historian," Pfitzer said.

Proprioception and Phantom Limbs: : The pliability of body image at the neuronal level

Posted by Brittany Dingler

Proprioception is our central nervous system's awareness of the position and orientation of the different parts of our body in space, and in relation to one other. This vital ability is crucial, not only for allowing broad, gross movements, and small, incredibly fine-tuned coordination, but also for communication with our brains to provide constant distinctions between what is "self" and "non-self." This ability to distinguish our body from others may seem unimportant but a phenomenon known as Phantom Limb Syndrome shows the necessity and extent of proprioception.

The aptly named Phantom Limb syndrome describes the sensory perceptions one feels for a limb or digit that no longer exists. Essentially, because of our bodies' fine-tuned proprioceptive abilities, an amalgamation of precise signals provide feedback that we receive as touch and, from there, categorize further into sensations of pain, arousal, or a general tingling. Perhaps an abstract concept in the main, as the majority of the population has no personal context for such an intangible notion, the phantom limb phenomenon speaks volumes of how touch actually works and how, as hard as it is to believe, it truly is all in our heads. 

This ability for phantom limb to be experienced by anyone illustrates the pliability of body image. We are a compilation of what we think we are, a malleable sum which can change at any given moment. To wit, our body image, our multi-faceted perception of ourselves, does not, it turns out, have to do with the physical 'flesh and skin' body at all. 

This Gestaltist idea may have significant implications as we continue to learn how to best take advantage of our nervous system's capacity and propensity for artificial incorporation. Specifically, the ability to override and manipulate the interaction between our somatosensory cortex (essentially the "body-sensing" center in our brain) and our proprioceptors (the neurons responsible for sensing all changes in body position) may provide more opportunity to return to more normal levels of sensation in areas often affected by missing limbs, like intimacy. Such discoveries would be extensions from the understanding of what happens for some foot amputees during sex as a result of the proximity of the brain regions responsible for foot and genital sensations (Kalat, 2012). Ramachandran and Blakeslee (1998) believe this to be a result of neuroplasticity, such that the 'genital regions' moved over into the 'foot region' after detecting the available neuronal real estate. On a more practical level, this neuroplasticity behind the coupling of phantom limb sensations is crux to phantom limb therapy, rapid advancements in the function of prosthetic limbs and specifically, our ability to adopt a new body part as our own. 

SGA Spring Elections

Posted by Julia Leef

The first round of the Student Government Association spring elections will take place on Monday, March 20 for open positions in the Executive Committee and Inter-Class Council to be filled for the fall semester. Students interested in running or who would like to self-nominate should attend the information session on Monday, March 3. The self-nominations will be due at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 and there will be a mandatory meeting for self-nominated candidates at 5 p.m.

Following the meeting, candidates will have the opportunity to campaign and collect signatures until Tuesday, March 18. Speech Night, which will give the candidates an opportunity to speak about their platforms, will take place at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, the night before the elections begin. Although previously non-candidates were not permitted to voice support for a particular candidate, a new rule will allow non-candidates to share original content made by the candidate in support of their campaign, according to Vice President of Communications & Outreach, Madeleine Kanazawa '15

The SGA Executive Committee includes the SGA President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Budget & Finance, Vice President for Student Life, Vice President for Club Affairs, Vice President for Communications & Outreach, Vice President for Diversity Affairs and the Senior Class President.

The members of the Inter-Class Council consist of all the presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers and social chairs for each class year, with the exception of the incoming first-year class, whose elections will take place during the fall semester.

The second round of spring elections will begin two weeks after the first round concludes and will be for the positions of Senator-at-Large, the Speakers Bureau Chair, the Traditions Committee Chair, the Student Entertainment Committee Chair, Student Life delegates and any remaining open positions from the Spring Round I elections. Students seeking more information are encouraged to speak with Miles Calzini '16 and Elizabeth Reisen '16, who are the election coordinators for this election. 

On Reclaiming "News"

Posted by The Editorial Board

Last Sunday, the Editorial Board sat down to write an editorial on the identity this newspaper holds on Skidmore's campus -- the niche we occupy -- and we found that we could not do it. We were unable to label anything cohesive about our purpose as a student-run newspaper that made us unique or gave us a particular sense of character.  While admissions will gladly tell you, "there is no typical Skidmore student," we felt as a publication, that it was important to have some sense of identity that made us into a more accurate representation of the Skidmore community. The problem lies, then, in creating a publication that is generally appealing to a collective that refuses to label itself to begin with.

Despite the lacking selection of news sources in print on Skidmore's campus, the student body has an extensive array of potential forums from which to gather their "news." Yes, we have The Skidmore News, but this is just one of a few  of the news sources for students. Skidmore Unofficial, one of the most popular online resources, gives commentary on Skidmore life, but also offers general listings of activities on campus. It is an essential and easy way to stay informed as to what is happening and when in any given part of Skidmore's community.

The Skidmo' Daily, Skidmore's only in-print news source, offers satire born of the Schools' daily life, which tends to be just offensive enough to render it witty and amusing, without making substantial affronts to any particular group of students. Skidmore's so called "Gaping Asshole", definitely mildly more insulting in the jabs it takes at the Skidmore community, is also a satirical news source. There are even widely visited blogs that seem to get a great deal of airtime among students: Everyone Dresses the Same, a collection of photos of students wearing unintentional matching outfits, Skidmore Sleepsmore, students sleeping in various places on campus or, "Shit Skidmore Students Say," giving an account of all the most absurd quotations overheard around campus. For creative writing, art, and photography, students turn to Folio, BARE and Line.          

Despite the evident amusement embodied in all of these forums, they do not seem to give, in the broadest sense, news. So, what is it about The Skidmore News that doesn't seem to be reaching students? Have they simply lost interest in a more neutral, factual news source? Would they rather read Skidmore Unofficial's "weekend updates?" And is this the sort of thing we should be publishing instead? It seems that the inability to identify the Skidmore community in any particular way poses a difficult problem in terms of presenting objective news that does, in fact, reflect the current student body.

We have become the MySpace or the blackberry, of news sources, effectively "one-upped" by more exciting, newer projects. So how do we best access a student body that seems so all over the place in terms of what it seeks in a publication? The Skidmore News is attempting to represent what is essentially unrepresentable, and in doing so; we seem to have lost our prestige on this campus. We are an online newspaper, primarily attempting to communicate objective news, with few more defining characteristics than that. This is our attempt to ask you, seekers of news, what it is that we are lacking. Whether it be more lyrical work, more opinion pieces, more angsty jabs at SGA, we want to know. Perhaps we should focus more on a specific facet of Skidmore, be it clubs or classes. While we do not wish to alter the fundamental characteristics of our publication, we do want to better provide for a collective of students who seem to have a range of interests that is ever evolving. We want input from the students - we want to know how to more accurately cater to the things they care about, without losing our integrity as a journalistic paper. We are, however, at a loss for where to begin.

Suggestions/Commentary Welcome: skidnews@skidmore.edu

This Year's Juried Art Reception: Getting to know the artists

Posted by Gwendolyn Plummer

On Feb. 6, Skidmore's Schick Art Gallery unveiled this year's Juried Art Reception. Regarded as one of Schick's most exciting and highly anticipated events of the year, this year's gallery was no disappointment. Annually, a selection of art in every medium is presented to a prestigious guest juror. This year the role was fulfilled by Sanford Mirling, professor at Middlebury College and co-founder of Collar Works Art Space in Troy. Out of the 215 submissions that were presented before Mr. Mirling, 67 pieces were selected, nine of which were award winners.

Winnie Vaughan '14 is a studio art major and received the Schick Art Gallery award for her series of paintings centering on the role of the listener.

"Making and producing art has always felt like an extension of myself," Vaughan said. "Thinking about this role, I began to realize that no matter how well we know a person, our perception of someone will always be slightly different than someone else's because we are all unique and inherently experience the world differently."

In order to capture this sense of ambiguity and haziness, Winnie said she first photographed some friends as they spoke to her, a process during which many of them talked about personal issues and things that they had not shared with others. After taking photographs, Winnie then painted her interpretation of them. She said that she chose painting as her medium due to her long-standing love for it.

"I love how expressive [painting] can be, whether it is through brush stroke, color, composition or some combination of the three. Nothing is ever set in stone, either. For me, painting is all about building up layers and letting parts of it be transparent. I have always been inspired by human relationships and how we learn about ourselves through others," Vaughan said.

Kate Biel '15 is a studio art major and winner of the Renee Vandewater Award for her photograph entitled Lillian. She said she prefers photography as a medium for her own expression.

"Photography is exciting because it holds a reality effect that's powerful through manipulation," Biel said. "The medium itself holds a complex dichotomy between artistic influence and representation of life. [The winning photograph] came from a series of six that stemmed from my interest in dolls and how they represent our ideals and expectations of femininity - taken from a sinister standpoint."

Juror Sanford Mirling said that he did not understand the narrative put forward in her work, yet he kept attempting to and loved that.

"[I'm inspired by] reading, meditation, hiking, snippets of conversations with friends, the news, as well as artists themselves," Biel said.

 Another studio art major that was featured in the reception, Joe Klockowski '14, uses his art to focus on digital technology and the media age. Both of his pieces featured in the show, one oil painting and one digital media piece, centered on this idea.

"Both of these pieces were influenced by the same idea: interaction and experience, how digital technology is transforming the way we interact with and experience the world," Klockowski said. "I find the juxtaposition of these two experiences, the digital and the natural world, to be extremely interesting."

In particular, his painting interface combines these two inspirations by digitally interfering with a scene of nature.

"My goal is to create a visualization of the contemporary landscape, a landscape where people no longer intimately interact with nature but rather they interact with it through a digital interface such as digital photography or online images," Klockowski said, further stating that his work addresses the question, "What does it mean to interact in a digital culture?"   

One of the featured ceramic artists is studio art major Madeline Johnson '14. She stated that she prefers ceramics as her way of expressing herself.

"There is an immediacy and tactility to this medium which is so instantly satisfying and pleasing to work with," Johnson said. "I drew inspiration for my piece, Spheres, from all over the place - sea urchins, coral, microbes, architecture, aliens, fruits and Pac-Man."

Her art is, Johnson said, more often than not, unplanned in its beginning stages.

"That's the fun part, starting with an idea and then winding up with something completely different and discovering how unpredictable, unexpected, yet welcome these changes can be. Starting with Pac-Man and winding up with a ball of spikes is not something I could have predicted," Johnson said.

The gallery will remain up through March 16, open for the public to explore the works of these talented Skidmore students. 

In Response to Skidmore's Gaping Asshole

Posted by Katie Peverada

Dear Skidmore Gaping Asshole,

'Sup? Thank you for your ponderings on the Quidditch team. I know we were all very upset about the ridiculousness taking place on the Library Green, so thank goodness you addressed it. There are, though, a few flaws with your insults.

While your suggestion of using recliners instead of brooms was comforting (pun fully intended), it contained highly inaccurate and false information. First and foremost, La-Z-Boy 3000s don't exist. Although if you were slyly hinting that Quidditch players should not even be "flying" on anything and rather just running around, which they would be doing on La-Z-Boy 3000s', then bravo to you for such a witty and intellectual thought.

I also find fault with the fact that you think chairs are way easier to brand. I believe that brooms would, in fact, reach a larger audience than recliners. You see, the world population in 2013 was fairly equal (1.01 man for every woman - hard to believe that when we go to Skidmore, am I right!?!?). I thus argue that a large percentage of those women would be more inclined (once again, pun intended) to purchase a broom as opposed to a recliner. Second, I believe that men located in countries whose cultures don't revolve around reclining in chairs and throwin' back some brews would recognize brooms more than armchairs and thus purchase the broom out of recognition. My point is, you're trying to tell me a Swiffer (which I see as the hybrid of brooms) has less brand recognition across the world than an armchair (and I say world because we all know the best Quidditch players are from England and other parts of Europe). My point is, I think that if you were to send a SurveyMonkey out to the world, more people of both sexes would indicate they want to purchase a broom than some made up armchair, like the La Z Boy 3000.

Also, your insinuation that the game is determined in the clouds is false. Find me one example in a Harry Potter Quidditch match where the game ended in the sky, unbeknownst to the spectators. The game is sometimes won in the trenches, in battles between beaters and bludgers that the normal observer doesn't even notice (kind of like football!).

And on a side note, the governing body of Quidditch is not QUIFA. It's the Department of Magical Games and Sports, of which I postulate the IQA is a subsidiary. Get your facts straight, SGA.

But let's give credit where credit is due. These kids are out there getting their 60 minutes in when they could just be sitting "anonymously" behind a computer screen like yourself. 

Finally, a victory for women's ice hockey

Posted by Katie Peverada

After the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jaques Rogge, threatened women's ice hockey with elimination. Apparently, people were growing tired of watching the U.S. and Canada duke it out for the gold medal, having faced each other in three out of four finals since the beginning of women's hockey at the Olympics in Nagano in 1998.
This year's final, of course, was no different, as the U.S. and Canada squared off once against last Thursday in Sochi for the first spot on the podium. Uh oh, not again, right?
Wrong. The game proved to be the best of the tournament, as Canada won in overtime, coming back from a 2-0 deficit with under four minutes to go in regulation. The game made a statement: women's hockey is here to stay.
A few days before the game, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Rene Fasal, held a press conference in which they addressed the words of Rogge. Both men are important figures in the world of ice hockey, and both agreed that women's hockey was here to stay. But they shouldn't have to say it at all.
The critics don't think it's fair that these two teams keep winning the medals at the Olympics (and at the annual World Championships), outscoring and outshooting their opponents by monumental numbers. For example, the U.S. beat Sweden 6-1 and outshot them 70-9 in the semi-final.
But do they even watch other Olympic events? The speed skating powerhouse that is the Netherlands took home 23 medals, even sweeping the podium in four events. And since 1980, Germany has taken home 55% of all gold medals in the luge, and Russia has taken 54% of the gold medals in figure skating.
Do they even know the history of the men's hockey tournament at the Olympics? Men's ice hockey began in 1920, with Canada facing the U.S. in the first-ever gold medal game. Canada won that match, and the next four, meeting the U.S. three out of the four times. And it's not like the games were close. In 1920, Canada outscored their opponents 27-1 and the runners-up scored 29 goals in their quarterfinal match. Sound familiar? The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" wouldn't have been so politically and socially important if the Soviet Union hadn't just won four gold medals in a row. Nobody complained about that dominance. The IOC waited it out and let the other countries catch up. It gave the other teams in the tournament time to catch up to the traditional powerhouses.
Luckily that's what the IOC and IIHF have realized they need to do with the women's tournament.
The women's game needs time to grow. This was only the fourth women's ice hockey tournament in the Olympics. In 2013, there were 87,230 female ice hockey players registered in Canada and 65,700 in the U.S. Finland had a respectable 4,787, and Sweden and Germany both topped 3,000. Those numbers appear decent, but when compared to the 66,636 male players registered in Finland, or the 64,214 men of silver-medal winning Sweden, it's clear: there aren't a whole lot of women playing ice hockey, yet.
The U.S. and Canada are doing their jobs to build the game off the ice, spending time and money by sending coaches to these countries to help infuse the game. And the progress is evident, as Finland, Sweden and Switzerland have all proved in the past year that they can give the U.S. and Canada not only a hard game, but also a loss, often on the strength of strong goaltending. The best goaltender in the game, Nora Raaty, is from Finland, and several other European goalies play in the collegiate ranks.
But even if they weren't doing that work off the ice, their game on the ice would be enough to keep the game around.
Anybody who watched the heart-stopping, heart-breaking gold medal game saw not just the best women's game of the tournament, but also the best hockey game of the tournament. There was an unforgettable Canadian comeback from 2-0, a hit post that would have brought the gold back to the U.S. and questionable calls that gave Canada the game-winning power play and made Marie Philip-Poulin the hero for Canada the second Olympics in a row.
The U.S. women were left in tears, inconsolable and appearing ungrateful for their silver medals. Their four years of hard work and passion to get to the big stage was for nothing. They left their humanness on the ice, something fans can respect and the men can learn from.
Unlike the men's game, there is no coasting like the "show" the U.S. men put on in their embarrassing bronze medal game loss to Finland. The women's bronze medal game between Switzerland and Sweden was riveting.
Unlike the men's game, there is nothing else. There is no Stanley Cup or multi-million dollar deal to go back to. This was it.
Taking away the one moment for the women to shine and show how good they are would be nothing short of a crime. The Olympics is it for them. If the women's ice hockey tournament disappeared, the best-played hockey of the Olympics would be gone. The fights that (literally) take place whenever Canada and the U.S. square off will never get old.
And as Bettman and Fasal noted, the parity in the women's game is not far off. People just need a little patience and soon they will see the passion from more than just the U.S. and Canada. There will be other dogs in the fight.