Untold Stories of War: "If All the Sky Were Paper" Performed on the Main Stage: Theater Review

Posted by Danny Graugnard

Andrew Carroll founded The Legacy project back in November 11, 1998. It was a national, all-volunteer project which aimed to seek and preserve wartime correspondence. Carroll tried to reach out to many people, asking them to preserve any letters they have received and sent to loved one in times of war. Letters collected were sent by soldiers and their families, and many date back as early as the American Revolution, each one revealing a personal narrative. With about 200 hundred letters, Carroll edited the book Letters of a Nation: A Collection of Extraordinary American Letters in 1991, and then edited War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars in 2001.

"If All the Sky Were Paper," written by Andrew Carroll, is based on his two books. The play activates the narratives told in these letters of wartime correspondence in a way that was delightful, endearing, sorrowful, and sometimes with a touch of dark humor.

We are taken through a journey with the narrator (presumably Carroll), played by Conor Mullen '14, as he tells us of the letters he found, pooled together, reconstructed and reimagined as the untold stories of the ones who wrote the letters. They are put together thematically; there were letters on censorship, of civilian casualties and more.

The play begins with the entire cast on the stage, where they will remain for its entirety. It was an uncommon and unexpected notion that works. With subtlety and impressive quick action; transitions between scenes were seamless, as actors changed costumes and persona right in the moment on stage, giving the play a dynamic feel that brought life into these letters. Each cast member, part of the ensemble, assumed new identities through monologues that were essentially the letters themselves. 

The set design doesn't change much, but what was most dynamic were the images projected in the background. With each narrative coming to life before us, photos of the people who wrote these letters overlooked the stage, driving the unique surrealism of watching the dead rise before you further and further. There are obvious technical hiccups that occurred when the images would scroll in the background, which was slightly distracting. At key moments of dramatic turning points, I found myself ignoring the images entirely.

In the end, the audience received a pleasant surprise when Andrew Carroll himself appeared on the stage for a quick Q&A session with the audience. When asked why he felt theater was the best medium, he replied, "we wanted to do something more theatrical. I love the the theater experience because you can change it. It made it possible for us to convey the stories in these letters with the focus on hope and reconciliation, and hopefully end romanticization of war."

By Andrew Carroll; directed by Larry Opitz; Danielle Turner, assistant director; Sonya G. Rosen '17, Michaela Whiting '16, assistant stage managers; costume designs by Patty Pawliczak; scenic, lighting, and projection design by Garett E. Wilson; Peter Kobor, assistant projection design; Kendall Gross '16, stage manager. At the main stage of JKB Theater. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes with no intermission.

WITH: Brandon Bogle '16, David Brummer '14, Will Clark '16, Ryan Crotty '15, Conor Mullen '14, Christopher Naughton '17, Christine Pardos '14, Patrick Stanny '15, Callan Suozzi-Rearic '14, Sarabell Wrigley '15, Evy Yergen '16.

A Rare Moment of Perspective

Posted by Jack Rosen

Skidmore is a place full of ideas. Every day we debate and discuss issues such as poverty, justice, the penal system, opportunity and equality, and we often read books that discuss such issues. We study one author who argues that those who find themselves in prison are fully deserving of their fate; then we read the work of another writer who suggests that the imprisoned are often the victims of circumstance. Yet the perspectives on poverty, prison and justice that we examine are almost always scholarly.

It is rare at Skidmore to hear the perspective of someone who has truly experienced the challenges of America's economic and penal systems. However, the upcoming lecture "From Parole to Prosperity" promises to be a rare exception. In an event co-sponsored by Bene-Faction, Shelters of Saratoga, The Skidmo' Daily and the College's Social Work department, Kelvin Davis will speak about growing up in Bed-Stuy, his twenty four year incarceration, the events leading up to it and his quest to prevent at-risk youth from succumbing to a similar fate. A truly charismatic speaker, Kelvin will offer attendees a perspective that cannot be found in impersonal academic articles.

The lecture will take place at 6 p.m., Monday, April 14in the Emerson Auditorium. After Kelvin speaks, there will be a Q&A followed by food and refreshments, generously donated by Esperanto. Those interested in attending are encouraged to come slightly early, as space will be limited and a high turnout is expected.

Speaking to Our Student Government

Posted by The Editorial Board

Our student government serves primarily to voice the opinions of the student body. They are our representatives, as well as the institution most capable of taking action in response to student concern. However, it appears as if recently there is some major disconnect between the general student population and the SGA, for they do not seem to be effectively adhering to the will of the students.

We might blame this on student apathy: a lack of willingness among students to communicate with the SGA, or attend public Senate meetings, or to propose resolutions. But this claim is an easy out - perhaps the SGA should be more actively reaching out to students so as to make better use of their time, and essentially, enact change aligned with student opinion. It is not the overwhelming sense on campus that the SGA is the most valid means of reaching the administration or of doing work of critical concern.

While the SGA at times expresses the sentiments of the student body, as with the recent decision to bring a resolution addressing minimum wage on campus to the Institutional Policy Planning Committee, these efforts, as exhibited by the IPPC's rejection of the aforementioned proposal to bring the resolution before the President's Cabinet, may not be the most effective way to aid the student body.  

In the most recent senate meeting, a great deal of time was allocated to the "Clothing Optional Campus" resolution.  It seems that the impetus of this resolution was not the student body, but instead, that of SGA members who wanted to codify a rule they personally ascribed importance to. First and foremost, Skidmore cannot legally become clothing optional as New York State ultimately prohibits this behavior. Due to both its motivations, and its implausibility, far more time than necessary was allocated to its discussion. Furthermore, two recent Senate sessions devoted time to the passage of an attendance policy as well as whether or not SGA representatives should purchase clickers for voting. Both are policies that deserved far less consideration than they received.

There are better and more urgent issues that the SGA can address to affect change on campus, such as their budgeting power and the management of club affairs. Where the SGA holds significant power is within the realm of club budgeting. Each year they review and revise every club's budget, cutting or augmenting based on the budget's niceties. This allows students to pay for the events and resources their clubs need to fulfill their roles in the student community.

Still, even once the SGA passes a budget, clubs must request permission to spend their funds on certain projects or items. It is understandable that the SGA would want to preclude students from spending hundreds of dollars on items or trips irrelevant to the purpose of their club, however, this micromanaging of club funds manifests itself in enormous inconvenience for students - for instance insisting that students drive lengthy distances rather than fly, even when the extra money is available in other sections of the budget.

Revisiting how budgeting works and sharing sovereignty over club funds with the clubs themselves is work much more important than the question of whether or not the purchase of clickers is worthwhile.  If the student body is unhappy with something (there's always something), the SGA should be the first to respond, and it seems that the current manner of delegating funds to different clubs is a major complaint across campus. Why, then, does it not seem as if the SGA is looking to make alterations to this system?  Or if these alterations are in the process of coming to be, why are more students not informed?

Another concern that was brought up during the April 1 Senate meeting by both senators and non-SGA members was a lack of communication between the SGA and the student body. While the Senate meetings, as public forums through which students may express their concerns, are an excellent way to keep in touch with the student body, the SGA might benefit from looking into ways to make the information discussed during these meetings even more accessible to students. It currently takes the SGA up to two weeks to publish their minutes from the meetings, and sometimes the agendas are not even put up onto their website.

Each year, many SGA candidates run on the same platform--communication--implying that each year the previous SGA regime failed in this regard. Students should receive more frequent updates, more general emails as to the nature and progress of their work. The SGA needs to remember that they represent the students, and are not there to merely pad their resumes - they serve to organize student interests and pursue them, to connect the student body to the administration and to act as a forum for inter-student communication.

This is not to say the SGA has done no good. Events this year have been executed well (Moorebid has been more successful this past year than in years prior). The divestment and minimum wage resolutions, even if outside the SGA's jurisdiction, exemplified the SGA championing the student cause. Moving forward, the SGA needs to prioritize its goals but also remember why they're there: to serve the students. Communication is a perennial issue. Budgeting and club funding is another, recognized by each club board as well as the students that participate within them.

The SGA has recently suffered a depreciation in their status on campus, due to their pursuit of matters beyond their control, and consequently, their mismanagement of responsibilities that lie within the parameters of their power. The Editorial Board feels that to regain their prestige, the SGA must re-evaluate its role on this campus - they must take a closer look at their prerogatives and responsibilities, and thus take steps to return themselves to being the champion of the students.

Unforgettable Performance of Cabaret Troupe's Little Shop of Horrors

Posted by Gwendolyn Plummer

When I was about twelve years old, my best friend's mom sat her and me down on the couch after school and told us she had found an old VHS in the basement. It was one of her favorite movies, and she was adamant that her daughter and I watch it immediately. So, we got comfortable on the couch with snacks and blankets as her mother popped in a VHS of Little Shop of Horrors.

Since that day, Little Shop has been one of my absolute favorite films. My best friend and I watched it at least twice a month and we used to walk around singing the songs to each other when we had nothing else to do. As expected, when I found out that this semester's big Cabaret Troupe production was going to be Little Shop, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I practically planned my entire weekend around attending the show and warned all of my friends beforehand that I would be singing along the entire time. I sat down in my seat in Filene excited and a little bit dubious - would a school, student-run production of one of my favorite movies live up to my ridiculously high expectations? As it turned out, I was in for a surprise.

Firstly, I was unaware how fundamentally different the musical actually is from the movie. The endings are completely different. In the movie adaptation, Seymour saves the day, allowing him and Audrey to live happily ever after "somewhere that's green," and as the camera pans out, a little Audrey II is seen growing ominously in their front garden. However, in the musical, Seymour is too late - Audrey dies, Seymour has to feed her to the plant, and eventually he gets eaten as well. Although this ending shocked me, it didn't upset me as much as it might have. After doing some research I learned that the original ending of the movie was the same as the musical, but it had to be changed after test audiences were displeased with the unhappy ending.

Aside from my initial shock over the ending, it took me until about halfway through the first act to warm up to the play, although that was due to my own bias and not a reflection on the production itself. Having seen the film countless times, I was  expecting the musical to be exactly the same. Obviously, that expectation was not met - yet in the best way possible.

At first, I was a little uncomfortable with the differences between the movie and the musical. But halfway through the first act, right around Cody Webber's big number as the sadistic dentist, I found myself smiling, laughing and singing along, completely immersed in this production that I had originally tried to resist. What had first made me uncomfortable about the production was the fact that the characters were not exactly the same characters I was used to seeing on the TV and I was having a hard time seeing them in that way. It took me some time, but I soon came to realize how well cast the production really was. In particular, Mark Thurner was practically a flawless Seymour. He was a perfect combination of wonderfully awkward and self-effacing, truly capturing the essence of the self-conscious but hopeful young man who suddenly finds himself thrust into money, fame and moral degradation. I felt that his portrayal of Seymour was the most on-point and in-depth of any. He truly was the star of the show. Cody Webber was also absolutely hilarious and somewhat frightening as Orin the dentist. He and Mark seemed to be impeccably cast in my opinion.

The production itself was completely hysterical, even funnier live than the actual movie, with some important moments of sincerity and seriousness. The pit orchestra (which was all freshmen) was extremely remarkable. For something entirely student run and student directed, Little Shop of Horrors was massively impressive, as most Cabaret Troupe productions are.

Although I went into Little Shop of Horrors with certain prejudices and expectations, the production exceeded all of my preconceived notions and blew my prejudices out of the water. The show reminded me of why I love Little Shop of Horrors so much and simultaneously showed me why a live production can have so much more life than a film.

Blurbs Overheard

"The wet spot is fine, just stop talking about it."

"It is shocking how many people are talking to themselves right now."

"Yesterday, I woke up at 2:00, took a 3 hour nap during the day, and fell asleep at 9:00. All I've done today is stand in different parts of my room."

"She socialized a lot yesterday, so she'll be out for a couple of days now."

"I said to myself, 'I need to read 90 pages of this book right now' and then I fell asleep."

"It felt like they were our dog-walkers taking us on a walk."

"They are Skidmore royalty. They are an integral part of my life here."

"All I want is an STD, preferably HIV or Chlamydia; they're the cutest."

Anna Graves '14 Details Saratoga Sleep Out Event: To take place tomorrow at Congress Park

Posted by Jesse Shayne

The Skidmore News sat down with Anna Graves '14 to talk about tomorrow's Sleep Out event at Congress Park, which she helped organize. 

Q: What is the name of the event?

Anna: It's called Saratoga Sleep Out, which is working with Captain Youth and Family Services, Shelters of Saratoga, and Code Blue; it's all of those groups getting together to bring awareness of the homeless population.

The Sleep Out is going to be going from 1 p.m. on Saturday. The sleep out part starts around 8 or 9 p.m. People will get together to hang out and sleep out. The next morning they will be feeding people. It's a big community event.

On April 17 there's a fundraiser for the program. The reason we did the Sleep Out before is to bring homeless people in to talk about their experiences.

Q: What was your involvement with the event?

Anna: So Captain's whole thing is to bring awareness. I was like 'why aren't we sleeping out?' People do it. The National Homeless Coalition in D.C. does it all the time, and they'll sleep out for four days at a time. People come out and freak out because they do it in the middle of winter.

I was like 'well why aren't we just doing this? It's not that hard.' Sadly, because we weren't going to do it in the bitter cold no one is particularly interested because it's such a busy time for Skidmore kids. But community-wise it's a huge deal.

We had to get permits from the City, and the City and the government have been very supportive of this kind of awareness.

Q: So you're trying to promote awareness of the issues around homelessness in Saratoga? Or across the U.S.?

Anna: We're only thinking about Saratoga County. The definition of homelessness isn't just living in the street, but having an unstable home. That's why a lot of these youths are qualified as homeless but they just don't have a supportive home or are being abused or have some issues at home. This is in order to bring awareness to that larger issue. Also, the majority of the backs of hotels in Saratoga are just like homeless shelters. We're not just putting people in Saratoga shelters. They're sleeping in the places that we're sleeping too because we don't have anywhere to house them.

A big piece of it is that Saratoga is a tourist town, and for us to have such a large homeless population is a problem. That's why the event is at Congress Park, because that's where people walk around. That's a big part of our city.

Q: Can you tell me more about the groups that are sponsoring the event?

Anna: Shelters of Saratoga has really strict rules. Captain Youth and Family Services only have like eight beds, and the people who go there have to be under 21. Code Blue only operates when it's 10 degrees or less outside. When they went to the Mayor and City Council, City Council was like 'we don't have enough homeless people to fill Code Blue if we build this.' They have thirty beds and it's been overflowing every night that it's been 10 degrees or less. There's a huge population of people that need them, and people have just been pretending that the problem doesn't exist.

Q: Can you tell me more about the fundraiser?

Anna: It's on April 17 [at Punam Den]. Doors are 7:30 p.m.. North & South Dakotas and Queen Ambrosia are playing. It's just a way to bring money to all three of those groups because they're all really underfunded. Code Blue is running fully on donations. It's kind of been taken over by a church. They're trying to be a separate organization. It's a big event for people to know who's who and talk about the issue.  

SGA Discusses Minimum Wage With IPPC

Posted by Danny Graugnard

When the minimum wage in New York State was raised to $8 per hour, Skidmore College chose not to. The issue was a hot topic for debate and many discussions and actions were held among students, such as the petition on change.org, particularly by those are still being paid $7.25 for their on-campus job. Recently, SGA has met with the IPPC in order to propose raising the wage for these students, and are working with them to do so.

Based on the conversation with IPPC, it was determined that it wouldn't cost the College too much money for it's next fiscal year if the wage was increased. The issue however, is that IPPC hasn't determined if wage compression is pertinent at the moment, but for now, the goal is raise the minimum wge of students from $7.25 to $8. The pay roll for students that are already at $8 will not see a relative increase.

Research is being conducted to understand how to increase the wage without having an adverse effect on the budget. The College is looking at how other private institutions are working on their budgets to meet the higher minimum wage. Mary Lou Bates, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, could not be reached in time for this article's publication.

Although the matter is currently at a stand still, SGA and IPPC will be meeting again on April 18th to touch base and decide how to move forward.

Skidmore's Annual Earth Day Festival: Kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m.

Posted by Jesse Shayne

Not sure if you want to attend Skidmore's annual Earth Day Festival this Saturday? Confused as to what exactly the event entails?

Well, for starters, Earth Day will feature the most popular band to grace Skidmore with its presence this semester (based on Facebook likes)--BadBadNotGood. The experimental jazz trio, based out of Toronto, dabbles in hip hop, and has collaborated with Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean. Their unique sound, mixing elements of new age jazz with classic hip hop beats and samples, stole the spotlight at South by Southwest Festival earlier this year. Check out this video to get a sense for their style.

Ava Luna, a soul pop quintet based out of New York, will also play on the Case green stage before jetting off on a European tour following the release of their second album, Electric Balloon--which received a 7.7 (a highly respectable score) from Pitchfork.

But that's hardly all. Five more bands, including Skidmore's battle of the bands winner, Queen Ambrosia, are set to play. Slothrust (New York), Endangered Speeches (Boston), The Rooks (New York) and Zula (New York) will round out the exciting lineup.

Earth Day will also feature a number of "Earth-centered" activities, including a petting zoo, tie-dye, silk-screening, gardening, bike repair, a bonfire and s'mores. Oh, not to mention free Chipotle, Ben & Jerry's and Comfort Kitchen burgers, as well as a beer garden for those who have a campus event card in hand.

In the spirit of sustainability, there will also be a clothing swap (from 1:30-4:30) at the event. Wondering what to do with your old clothes? In need of some new summer essentials but too broke to foot the bill? Now is your chance to capitalize on your peers' impressive stylistic tendencies and generosity.

So come celebrate the Earth, good weather and the end of the semester with impressive grooves and free food, Saturday, from 1-9 p.m. on the Case green.  

NHL Super Six: President's Trophy comes down to the wire

Posted by Katie Peverada

The NHL regular season will come to an end on Sunday, and there are still playoff spots to be decided, four in the East and two in the West. But all the teams in this week's Super Six have claimed their berth. Boston continues to roll in the East and remains three points ahead of St. Louis for the Presidents' Trophy. The West is a bit of a different story, as several teams in last week's Super Six are currently on two-game losing streaks. The Blackhawks, though, have once again cracked this week's rankings.

1. Boston Bruins: There's not much left to say about the Bruins that you don't already know, but one fun fact is that they're the only team in the league this year who has at least 30 wins on home ice. The Bruins are the most consistent team in the league in several aspects, which is why they are the best team. They have defense, offense, goaltending and not a slate of injuries to their stars. Even their lines are consistent, with their top line combining for 188 points through 79 games. Their 53 wins are more than the lowly Sabres have points (51). Their goal differential (+84) is 16 higher than St. Louis'. Even if the Bruins sit their top players in their last few regular season games, they can still win the Presidents' Trophy - backup goaltender Chad Johnson hasn't lost a game since giving up one goal in a Dec. 28 loss to Ottawa.

2. Los Angeles Kings: The Kings, 7-3 in their last 10, have three games remaining: two very winnable road-games against Calgary and Edmonton and their final game at home against Anaheim. It won't make a difference which team they face in the first round - Sharks or Ducks - they'll still rely heavily on Jonathan Quick and their stalwart defense. The Kings are second-best in the league in terms of limiting the other team's shots, giving up only 26.5 per game. They're first in the league in goals against per game, giving up a stout 2.05 per. But their offense needs to pick it up, as they're only averaging 2.39 goals per game.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Sure, a team making a jump from outside the rankings to the third spot may seem unrealistic, but when a team wins three games in a row, including a 4-2 win over St. Louis, without players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Johnny Oduya and Michael Handzus in the lineup, you have to give them credit. Chicago has had to show their incredible depth lately as a result of injuries to key players. Corey Crawford has been solid through all of the injuries, and the playoff-returns of Kane and Toews will thrust the Hawks back into the conversation. A tough test comes Wednesday against Montreal, but they face Washington and Nashville in their last two. Wins in all three would prove vital, as they could leapfrog Colorado for the second spot in the division, which would mean home ice in their first-round matchup.

4. Colorado Avalanche: No matter what happens to the Avalanche in the playoffs, first-year coach Patrick Roy should win the Jack Adams Award. Roy has taken the second-worst team in 2012-13 and turned them into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Colorado has won 50 games for the first time since the 2000-01 season, which also happens to be the last time they won the Cup. The one knock is that the team is still young and inexperienced. Plus, they will need to come together and find a way to win without Matt Duchene and limit the opponents' shots on net, as they give up a rather high 32.7 a game. Semyon Varlamov, as good as he's been this year, can't do it all.

5. St. Louis Blues: The Blues just broke the franchise record for wins in a season (52), but they also dropped games against the injury-riddled Blackhawks and Avalanche, and squeaked out a 2-1 win over Buffalo. They're playing as if they don't care if they win the Presidents' Trophy, which is okay, but Anaheim is only three points behind them for the number one seed in the West. T.J. Oshie, David Backes and Alexander Steen are doing fine offensively, but St. Louis' biggest strength heading in to the postseason will be its defense, which gives up a mere 26.5 shots per game, tied for second in the league. And Ryan Miller is doing fine in net with a 2.56 GAA, but interestingly enough, the goalie they gave up, Jaroslav Halak, is sporting a 2.29 GAA up in Washington.

6. San Jose Sharks: The Sharks lost to Nashville 3-0 at home. This continues a scary trend of losing against teams that won't even make the playoffs, as ten of their 12 home losses this season are against non-playoff-bound teams. As of now, the Sharks are destined to play the Kings in the first round, which is not good, since the Kings are 3-1-1 against the Sharks this season. One concern might be the number of minutes Antti Niemi has played in goal this season, as he is third in the league with 3,650:42. When every game matters for a team, a fresh goaltender is key.

Skidmore, MCLA split softball doubleheader

Posted by Katie Peverada

The Skidmore softball team overcame an error-filled 11-2 loss in their first game against MCLA to win 7-3 in the second on Thursday afternoon. With the split, Skidmore's record moved to 7-11 while MCLA's went to 5-13. The doubleheader was intended to be at MCLA, but due to problems with the field was played at home instead.

Skidmore had a solid start in field and at the plate the first game. The defense allowed only two base runners in the first two innings, and the offense plated two runs in the top of the third inning when Abby Shea '15 hit a two-out, two-RBI single. However, the Trailblazers returned fire with a nine-run bottom half of the inning. Lauren Fortunato '17, who went two and two thirds innings in the loss and allowed five runs, was unable to keep the MCLA bats quiet in their second trip through the lineup.

MCLA, on the strength of a three-RBI double from Jennifer Sicisnki, scored five runs before the second out was recorded. MCLA pitcher Rachel Quackenbush then helped herself out when she smacked a three-RBI double to center field to put the score at 9-2 heading in to the top of the fourth. After Skidmore went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth inning, MCLA added two more runs in the bottom half of the frame. Facing the dreaded 10-run mercy rule, the Thoroughbreds tried to rally in the top of the fifth, earning a hit-by-pitch and two walks to load the bases with two outs. But Quackenbush was able to get the Cassie Fishkin '16 to ground out, ending the game at 11-2.

Fortunato, who gave up five hits and five earned runs, moved to 2-5 with the loss, but did have two stolen bases in the game. Shea, Lauren Gorstein '17 and May-Lin McEvoy '16 had the only three hits for the Thoroughbreds. Quackenbush allowed two runs on the three hits while striking out six.

In the second half of the doubleheader, Skidmore came out a different, more resilient team. The Thoroughbreds loaded the bases in their first at-bats, though they didn't plate any of the runners. Fishkin and the defense then got to work. Shea played a part in all three outs of the bottom of the inning, as she ranged to her right to grab a floater, threw a girl out at first, and started the execution of a perfect rundown between second and third, one of two in the game.

MCLA did add two runs in the bottom of the second to grab the 2-0 lead, but fortunately the roles from the first game were reversed. Fortunato singled to start the inning and then advanced to third on Gorstein's hit two batters later. Fishkin then tallied an RBI-single which was followed up with a MacKenzie Whiting '16 scorcher that caromed off the third-base bag down the left field line to tie the game. Britney Osborn '17 then hit a sacrifice fly deep to leftfield to put the Thoroughbreds up 3-2. MCLA responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Skidmore defense executed their second successful rundown of the game to end the inning.

With runners on first and second and one out, Skidmore took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning when Lila Rosenfeld '16 singled home Whiting to make it 4-3. McEvoy then singled to right, scoring Osborn, to make it 5-3 and end the game for pitcher Amanda Meczywor. Skidmore then tapped relief pitcher Quackenbush for two more runs before the inning was over. Sam Skott '15 laid a sacrifice bunt to score Rosenfeld and then McEvoy scored on an error, with a majestic slide into home. Fishkin, with the run support and defense behind her, allowed only three hits the rest of the way.
Fishkin scattered eight hits and three runs over all seven innings to move to 5-5 on the year. Offensively, the Thoroughbreds received at least one hit from every bat in the lineup and had six different players with RBIs. Fortunato and Whiting registered two hits apiece, while McEvoy went 3-4, stole one base, scored a run and had an RBI.

Skidmore will travel to Rochester this weekend for Liberty League play, facing RIT in a doubleheader on Saturday and then the University of Rochester on Sunday.

Band Profile: Pooch

Posted by Jesse Shayne

Pooch, a dance-punk group formed at the beginning of this year by seniors Jon Benbeniste (guitar/vocals), Dan Alpher (bass/guitar/vocals), Wyatt Gordon (drums) and Will Kencel (guitar/bass/keyboard/vocals), isn't your average Skidmore band. Their prolific set of original songs is too deep and unique for them to be considered a party band, despite the fact that the majority of their performances this year were at house shows. So, even while they do enjoy playing for a packed off-campus house, they don't write songs for the sole purpose of entertaining an audience.

"I would hear kids talking about the ideal kind of band to play at a party...they're like: 'you play this many covers and this many original songs,'" said Benbeniste, who created Pooch last summer while at home in Los Angeles. "I don't want to say we're less of a college band because that's such a pretentious thing to say when you are a college band. But it was more like I wanted to start a band and I'm in college...I still want to form it to what the audience likes, but that becomes secondary."

Despite Pooch's sound being tagged as "minimalist" on their Bandcamp page, their music is anything but simple. As an avid Radiohead fan, Benbeniste became interested in combining electronic and analog instruments last year after playing a few solo shows using a keyboard, a loop pedal and a guitar, under the moniker "Ben Ben."

"I remember I played a Tom Yorke (of Radiohead) song, and I...noticed how it starts out completely electronic but ends completely analog...That seemed pretty cool...the chords are the same, the melody is the same, but it sounds different because it started with guitars, bass and drums, and ends with keyboards, drum pads and samples," he said.

With his drum pad, synths and guitar, Benbeniste wrote the band's debut single, "Nothin' at all," last summer. The song starts out electronic, with a 4/4 drum-pad backing and some syncopated keyboard chords, but then quickly takes its multi-dimensional form as Benbeniste's voice and bass enter the mix.

In the song Benbeniste triumphantly sings about and captures the sense of ironic apathy harbored by Generation Y, with a chorus that simply repeats: "I don't care bout nothin at all." Contrasting the upbeat tempo and bright, high-end major chords, the song alludes to the dark side effects of self-medication and overstimulation: "Happy Birthday! Dude that was last Thursday, you should ease up on that stuff / I don't blame you in fact I'd do the same if I had it just as rough." In his charmingly indifferent cadence, Benbeniste sings about his experience as part of a generation that, despite it's self-proclaimed importance and uniqueness, really has nothing new to offer: "Every morning feels like I'm conforming to somebody else's plan / Am I too young, too dumb, too high, or too drunk for me to understand?" Ironically, while Benbeniste's song alludes to the lack of originality found in today's youth, his musical sensibilities lie within the echelon of new-age electronic music, a style hasn't been around long enough to lose its novelty.

About two-and-a-half minutes into "Nothin' At All" comes a fiery guitar interlude that breaks up the dominant electronic harmonies. Distorted to sound like an 8-bit videogame melody, Benbeniste's guitar solo wreaks havoc for a solid minute, paying homage to all of the 90's kids who recognize and long for the days when video game music (and life) was that simple. Here the core aspect of Pooch shines through--complication hidden in layers of simplicity.

"I think, or at least hope it seems really simple, but actually a lot thought goes into the music," Benbeniste said.

Pooch's music can't be categorized into any one label, and in simplest terms it still combines at least two genres. Benbeniste refers to Pooch as "dance-punk" and "electronic-rock," which brings to mind some of the great acts that pioneered new-age electronic rock in the late 90's and early 2000's--groups such as LCD Soundsystem that remain timeless and have inspired albums as recent and as acclaimed as Arcade Fire's Reflektor.

Benbeniste said that the most distinctive characteristic of Pooch is the personal nature of the lyrics: "I just feel like after HAP (a group featuring members of Skidmore's class of 2013) left there weren't any other bands singing about themselves... I wanted to start a band and play these songs I write about my life and have a group of people who would be down to play them with me," he said.

Kencel praises Benbeniste for his ability to offer coherent songs to the group, laying out his vision for his bandmates while still granting them freedom to improvise. "I have never worked with someone who has such a full concept of a song before bringing it to the band," he said.

Kencel and Benbeniste are both music majors--although Kencel doesn't consider himself to be a typical music major given his bass performance concentration--and claim that their classroom knowledge of music theory allows them to better communicate parts, which certainly might explain how the band is so prolific despite only existing for a few months.

"My style is better suited for bands than for ensembles," said Kencel. His music resume certainly backs that claim; Kencel has been in six bands at Skidmore and has become somewhat of a campus celebrity as a result.

Gordon is an unselfish and well-composed drummer, but when it's his time for a fill he knows how to lay one down. Given the electronic elements of Pooch, Gordon's kit is not always the only source of percussion; some songs start out with or end with a drum-pad backing, but as in the style that Benbeniste prefers, Gordon carries the bulk of the rhythm.

Alpher's bass is what makes Pooch songs danceable. In most Pooch songs Alpher's parts are solid--nothing too fancy--but at the end of every measure Alpher lets loose a funky fill, on which he self-reportedly thrives.

"His fills are my favorite part of the music," said Kencel.

Pooch has a plethora of shows left over the last month of college following their recent release, the Talk Too Much/Telephone EP that Benbeniste recorded in Los Angeles over spring break. The band wants to stay together after college, and Benbeniste hopes that Pooch will deliver him success in the music world, either as it continues performing or when it ultimately provides a solid addition to his resume. As the band rides the coattails of modern electronic equipment into the next generation of music, they take with them a bit of Punk's past and offer a bit of Pop's future; whether they're playing Pixies covers or synth arpeggiator-backed originals, Pooch is sure to make its audience happy from the main-stage in Zankel to the darkest and grungiest of basements.

You can see Pooch play tonight at Putnam Den, at 8 p.m. along with some other local (non-Skidmore affiliated) bands. 

Faculty Discuss the Next Academic Year, Finances, and Skidmore in China in April 4 Faculty Meeting

Posted by Emily Singer

The Skidmore College faculty discussed upcoming changes and studies on the school in their monthly faculty meeting on April 4. The faculty listened to the College's plans for refinancing its $74.4 million debt, the latest statistics from Admissions for the Class of 2018 and voted to terminate the Skidmore in China study abroad program.

President Philip A. Glotzbach opened the meeting by calling Head of Finances Mike West to speak of the American Association of University Professors faculty assessment and data statistics, focusing on the salary data of professors, associates and assistants. West provided visual graphs which indicated that the College provides the average salary and benefits for faculty in comparison with our peer aspirant schools. The salaries of the faculty indicated that we are at a median level (nine out of 18) for full professor compensation benefits, not including retirement.

Glotzbach then discussed the College's efforts to refinance. Glotzbach stated that the College is currently $74.4 million in debt and will refinance $41.5 million over the next 10 years, which will ultimately save the school several million dollars. On the Moody's rating, the school has an A1 rating, which is very good for an academic institution, according to Glotzbach.

Regarding Admissions, the College received just over 8,700 applicants, a five percent increase in applicants from last year, and of these students, 34 percent self-identified as of color, 1,700 were international and 42 percent of accepted students will be on some form of financial aid.

37 percent of the students who applied were accepted, which, according to Glotzbach, is a larger number than most years due to the large size of the current graduating Class of 2014. Therefore, the school is accepting more students than usual to make up for the deficit in the fall. The first-year class, however, will not be exceed 700 students.

Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Beau Breslin announced the 60 new full-time faculty hired, which every current faculty member helped play a role in selecting.

Peter von Allmen, representing the Committee on Education Policies and Planning, said revisions to the all-college requirements are still underway. He then brought to the faculty a vote on terminating the Skidmore in China program, which cost the school too much money with few students interested. The faculty almost unanimously voted to terminate the program, thus beginning a search for a new program in another country.

The meeting closed with a discussion on changing the language of the Faculty Handbook concerning tenure and promotions. During this talk a governance reform proposal was posed, suggesting a new method of having more efficient, equitable and effective committees. The new committees would be restructured to work better for faculty, enabling greater changes to be done in a timely manner. 

What is Public Health?: Public Health Awareness

Posted by Amber Charette

 You may have seen the many bright red, rectangular shaped stickers placed around campus the past couple of weeks that say, "This is Public Health". And while many of you may be aware of and understand what falls under the realm of public health, others may be unsure.

To begin with, the World Health Organization says that public health "refers to all organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health and prolong life among the population as a whole." But what are "organized measures"? The answer is essentially anything done to help improve the health and wellbeing of people (and animals!). If this definition leaves you still confused, just think of public health as this: it's everything! From the sidewalks you walk on, to the roads you drive on, to the bike paths you cycle on, to the food you eat, the exercise facilities and options in your community, the grocery stores you shop at and the healthcare facilities around you, the list goes on. Stop and think about what things have helped to keep you healthy your entire life and you'll find that there are many factors.

While much has been done to improve the public health of everyone, there is still a lot of room for improvement. For instance, did you know that the current generation is the first to be less healthy than the generation before it? This is startling news for many to find out for the first time-and it should be. Much work needs to be done in areas such as physical education, nutrition, mental health and education in general to help change this fact. It is important that everyone care about public health, as it affects all of us. My personal advice on how you can contribute to improving society's health and wellbeing is to find something that interests you and that you are passionate about. Maybe this involves volunteering at an animal shelter, a soup kitchen, a hospital or a nursing home. With will, there really are no limits.

If this has sparked your interest in learning more about the topic of public health, another a great website to look into is the Public Health awareness page. Earlier this week, a public health fair was organized in the Tang to help celebrate National Public Health Week, which is April 7-13th (this week!). The EX-131: Intro to Public Health class, along with several other on-campus and off-campus clubs and departments, took the time to showcase what public health is all about. Another website that may be interesting and/or useful is: http://www.nphw.org/. It provides information on public health, and how you can become involved in helping out in your own community not only this week, but also every day. And if you need some motivation to care a bit more, just consider what sort of world you want to live in, and the changes you want to see. While spreading awareness is great, it's purposeless unless it aids in getting people to act.

Afghanistan Elections to be Focus of April 15 Skidmore Talk

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A political anthropologist who has written two recent books about Afghanistan will lecture on that country's recent elections April 15 at Skidmore College.
"Elections Are Not What You Think They Are: Youth, Intervention, and the Future of Afghanistan," will be discussed by Noah Coburn of Bennington College. Free and open to the public, the talk gets under way at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in Filene Recital Hall, in Filene Hall on the Skidmore campus. A reception will follow.
He explains, "After 13 years of NGOs, international troops, aid money and diplomacy, the intervention in Afghanistan appears to be winding down. The 2014 elections will mark a clear point of transition. What lies ahead, particularly for the youth of Afghanistan? What is the impact of aid on governance structures? Looking particularly at youth participation in the recent elections, this talk will examine the legacy of the intervention in Afghanistan and in particular the ways in which elections have reshaped the political landscape."
Coburn just returned from monitoring the presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan for Chatham House. He previously worked as a specialist for the United States Institute of Peace in Kabul, Afghanistan, as well as a researcher for the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Between 2006 and 2008, he spent 18 months doing research in an Afghan village on the Shomali Plain.
He is the co-author (with Anna Larson) of Derailing Democracy in Afghanistan (2014, Columbia University Press), which, according to the publisher, "builds an in-depth portrait of Afghanistan's recent elections as experienced by individuals and communities, while revealing how the elections have in fact actively contributed to instability, undermining the prospects of democracy in Afghanistan." Coburn also wrote Bazaar Politics-Power and Pottery in an Afghan Market Town (2011, Stanford University Press), the first long-term on-the-ground study of Afghanistan since the arrival of allied forces in 2001. The author reveals the ways in which the international community has misunderstood the forces driving local conflict and the insurgency, misunderstandings that have ultimately contributed to the political unrest rather than resolved it.

Coburn's talk is scheduled in conjunction with Saratoga Reads, whose current book of choice is And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.

Campus Safety Reports: March 28 to April 3

Incidents of Note:

• Saturday, March 29-Lost/Missing Property: An American Flag reported missing at 7:05 a.m. from the main field of the Williamson Sports Center. At 2 p.m. the flag was found hanging between the second and third floor in the stairwell of Jonsson Tower. The flag was returned to maintenance.
• Sunday, March 30-Sexual Misconduct: Reporting person arrived in the Campus Safety office at 1 p.m. to report unwanted sexual contact an an off-campus location. Report conducted.
• Tuesday, April 1-Trespass: An email was received at 3:50 p.m. reporting that an unknown middle-aged white male was using expensive equipment in a secured lab in the Dana Science Center. Investigation pending. Report issued.

Further Incidents:

Friday, March 28:

• Intoxicated Subject: Reporting person called at 12:23 a.m. on behalf of her friend who was intoxicated and wanted someone to evaluate her. Campus Safety and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service dispatched.
• College Violation: A loud noise reported at 12:30 a.m. in Penfield Hall. Officers were dispatched, spoke to the resident and requested that the volume be lowered.

Saturday, March 29:

• College Violation: Officers on patrol noted at 12:35 a.m. that several subjects were standing outside an apartment at 4 Cane Crossing being loud. Officers broke up the large party within.
• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm sounded at 9:38 a.m. for the Sussman Apartments J. Dispatched all units and notified the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Alarm was due to burnt food. Alarm reset.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported a hole at 11:30 a.m. in the wall of Penfield Hall adjacent to the telephone closet. Report made.
• Criminal Mischief: A window was discovered broken at 1:30 p.m. in the Surrey Inn. Officer and Unit 10 dispatched.
• College Violation: A band reported at 5:20 p.m. in the Wait Hall basement. Officers dispatched. At 5:29 p.m. officers reported finding two people in the basement playing electric guitars. They were asked to turn down the volume and complied with the request.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported at 9:25 p.m. finding a button in the Wiecking Hall elevator that has been damaged. Report made.
• College Violation: A party reported at 10:24 p.m. on the fifth floor of Jonsson Tower. Officers dispatched and partygoers dispersed. Report made.
• College Violation: A loud noise reported at 11:23 p.m. at Wiecking Hall. Officer dispatched and reported advising a student to turn down the music. The resident complied with the request.
• College Violation: A loud party reported at 11:57 p.m. coming from the area of Dayton Drive. Dispatched officers to check on the location.
• College Violation: While doing rounds, officers heard a loud noise at 10:15 p.m. coming from a room in Wiecking Hall. Officers reported finding an alcohol violation.

Sunday, March 30:

• Intoxicated Subject: A possible intoxicated subject reported at 12:30 a.m. in Case Center. Dispatched officers who reported that the male was sleeping, not intoxicated.
• Intoxicated Subject: Reporting person called in an intoxicated subject at 1:30 a.m. on the first floor of Case Center. Dispatched Officer Fiorini who found an unconscious subject and requested the Emergency Medical Service.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated subject reported at 1:23 a.m. in the basement of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service.
• Disorderly Conduct: A fight reported at 1:47 a.m. between a male and a female outside of Jonsson Tower. Dispatched officers who reported that both subjects left the area as they approached.
• Intoxicated Subject: An intoxicated subject reported at 2:30 a.m. in Wiecking Hall. Dispatched officers who requested the Emergency Medical Service.
• College Violation: Officers dispatched at 3:21 a.m. to the Wait basement for a loud party. Officers broke up an unauthorized gathering.
• Criminal Mischief: While on patrol at 8:43 a.m. an officer discovered that a stop sign was down on the Case Center roadway with the post broken in half.
• Criminal Mischief: While on patrol at 9:04 a.m. an officer discovered that the direction arrow signs on North Broadway had been broken down from the post.
• Criminal Mischief: Two large holes reported at 10:15 a.m. on both of the second floor landings in Penfield Hall. Officer was dispatched to document and issue a report.

Monday, March 31:

• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported finding a large dumpster tipped over at 2:44 a.m. at 7 Dayton Drive. Campus Safety will notify Grounds in the morning. Photos taken.
• Criminal Mischief: An exterior window reported broken at 6:46 a.m. in rehearsal room A of the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. Officer was dispatched to investigate and document the incident. Unit 10 dispatched.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 10:57 p.m. at 5 Dayton Drive. Dispatched officers who reported that they had spoken with students, who have now dispersed.
• College Violation: A noise complaint reported at 11:36 p.m. on the first floor of Penfield Hall. Dispatched officer who stayed in the area for a few minutes until it quieted down.

Tuesday, April 1:

• Drug Law Violation: Loud music reported at 12:06 a.m. in Wait Hall. Officer dispatched reported that the subject lowered the volume upon request. Drug paraphernalia found in plain sight in the room while performing the service call. Report issued.
• Harassment: Reporting person sent an email at 6:04 p.m. about a possible sexual harassment. Investigation initiated and report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Two holes reported at 9:09 p.m. in the wall on the second floor lounge of Wait Hall. Officer recorded the damage and issued a report. Unknown perpetrator(s).

Wednesday, April 2:

• Fire Alarm: Fire alarm activation received at 1:18 p.m. at Moore Way. Officers, Unit 10 and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department advised. Activation determined to have been caused by an overheated blow dryer. Report issued.
• Parking: Officer requested a tow truck at 1:36 p.m. to tow a vehicle parked in the handicap spot in Case Center Lot. The vehicle has had numerous tickets for various violations. Report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Officer reported criminal mischief at 5:35 p.m. regarding two holes kicked in the walls of Penfield Hall. Damage was recorded and a report issued.
• Larceny: A larceny of clothing reported at 8:47 p.m. from Jonsson Tower. Report issued.
• Criminal Mischief: Report received at 10:16 p.m. that someone had damaged the fire extinguisher on the second floor of Penfield Hall. Dispatched officer reported it as a fire hazard as someone had glued the extinguisher case. Report issued.

Thursday, April 3:

• Parking: Officer reported booting a vehicle at 1:24 p.m. in West Lot as it had numerous tickets for various violations.
• Suspicious Activity: Report received at 7:55 p.m. of a black truck and a male that has gone in and out of one of the Sussman Apartments H. Dispatched officer who located an employee who had been working in the area. All was okay.

IPPC Subcommittee on Student Affairs Announces New Smoking Policy

Posted by Danny Graugnard

A new policy on smoking was announced today by the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee which prohibits anyone from smoking within designated areas on campus. These smoke-free areas include most of central campus and the surrounding buildings, which are indicated in purple on the Smoking Policy Map (the smoke free areas are a rough estimation and precise parameters will be released in the Fall). The policy will go into effect in the Fall 2014 semester.

The purpose for the ban, according to an email sent out to the student body by Student Government Association President Sam Harris '15, is to reduce the exposure of second hand smoke to non-smoking members of the College community, as well as to visitors. The policy specifically states that smoking is prohibited within all College facilities, College-owned vehicles, and within 25 feet of all facilities.

The policy does indicate that smoking will be permitted in areas facing the loop road and that individuals may smoke in their own vehicles, even when they are parked on campus. In addition, although the policy does not appear to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, it mentions that users should be mindful of their surroundings. 

The new smoking policy has been discussed and reviewed for two years, beginning with a survey of 615 participants between 2011 and 2012. It then opened up to a college-wide survey with 1000 participants that included students, staff and faculty. The IPPC also factored in advising from the Safety in the Workplace Committee. Although the policy focuses on making part of the campus smoke-free, the IPPC subcommittee on Student Affairs has suggested to the IPPC that the entire campus be smoke-free by 2017; steps and further discussions are underway which will determine if this will pass.

In an earlier interview, Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun stated that the College will put up signs for the smoke-free locations, and that while the enforcement of this new policy will mostly be placed on the individual, a student with multiple violations will go before the Integrity Board.

When asked how the College would aid those who would have to change their smoking habits or quit entirely by 2017 should a smoke-free campus policy pass, Calhoun admitted that the current level of support on campus is minimal, but that the College will work to amend this with help from its peer health educators and Health Services.

"If we want to be pro-active and supportive," Calhoun said, "we need to do more on campus."

Men's and women's soccer teams to host seventh annual Soccer Without Borders camp: All proceeds to go to Soccer Without Borders

Posted by Katie Peverada

On Monday, April 14, the Skidmore men's and women's soccer teams will take to Wachenheim Field with kids from the Saratoga Springs community for the seventh annual spring break soccer camp.

Each year the proceeds from the camp go to Soccer Without Borders, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization founded in 2006 that uses the game of soccer to bring education to underprivileged communities around the world.

Andrew Blake '14, who with Jenna Spooner '14 has led the organization of this year's camp, estimated that 60 to 70 kids will attend the week-long event.

Blake said it's a very busy week for the College soccer teams, and efforts to have at least eight players there at all times takes a lot of scheduling around students' classes.

The kids who attend spend four hours each morning of their breaks doing soccer-related activities.

"We try to hone in on their soccer skills," Blake said, "but it's just a lot of fun and it's a good way to spend their April break." Blake added that the kids always seem to have a good time and enjoy the chance to learn skills from collegiate athletes they look up to.

In addition to enjoying the Skidmore facilities and learning new skills, the kids will also learn about the power of soccer in general and how it connects people across communities and across the world.

"I think soccer as an international sport is widely recognized," Blake said. "Being that a lot of areas that are big on soccer are simultaneously impoverished areas, it's very in line to use a soccer camp to help people."

The camp also offers Skidmore College players the chance to use their sport to contribute to the SWB organization. The mission of the organization is to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change in communities around the world.

In addition to helping the under-served communities in the United States and abroad, the camp also gives the Skidmore athletes a chance to give back to the Saratoga Springs community.

"It's a little bit hard for Skidmore students in general to integrate into the community," Blake said. "I think it's a good way for us to integrate with the community members in a positive way."

The all-volunteer effort has proved fruitful in years past, with the camp donating around $5,000 each year. And this year, the camp has teamed up with Positive Tracks, a non-profit organization based in New Hampshire that will match the money Skidmore College raises.

Besides the suggested donation fee of $75 to $100 for children enrolling in the camp, kids have the chance to donate their old soccer equipment, such as old cleats or balls, to be sent to children in Uganda.

The week-long camp provides an opportunity for participants from Skidmore and the Saratoga Springs community alike to give back and have fun while doing so.

"[The kids in the community] all have a really good time and really look up to Skidmore athletes," Blake said. "You get a chance to appreciate that when you're working with them."

For more information email soccerwoborders@gmail.com, or click here to register for the camp.

Skidmore Junior Named a 2014 Newman Civic Fellow: Emily Durante '15 granted recognition for her work

Emily Durante '15 has been named a 2014 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic and social responsibility. The award recognizes college students for their efforts to explore social issues and work toward positive change.

As a double major in Environmental Studies and Geosciences, Durante has focused her civic work on environmental issues, particularly those related to transportation networks. She is known both on the Skidmore campus and in the surrounding community for raising awareness and initiating projects related to environmental concerns.

On campus, Durante has led efforts to mobilize and coordinate student environmental organizations and to create a bike-share program, which she currently manages. She is one of three students serving on the Campus Sustainability Subcommittee and is helping to develop a strategic plan for sustainability at Skidmore.

Durante is also active in Saratoga Springs, where she has worked with the local Cool Cities initiative (a nationwide alliance of cities working to reduce global warming), helping to pass an anti-idling ordinance for vehicles. She is currently working with the Saratoga Springs Planning and Economic Development Department on a project to expand trail systems. Employing skills she acquired in the college's GIS Center, she is assisting the city's Complete Streets initiative with a mapping project to improve sustainable transportation.

"I hope to pursue a career in urban planning and continue to create accessible, sustainable mobility in our cities," Durante said.

President Philip A. Glotzbach wrote in nominating Durante for the fellowship: "Emily has gone straight to the root of environmental problems associated with local transportation by pushing for long-term options that reduce environmental degradation and improve public health...we look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in her remaining semesters at the College." 

Information booth for SGA Round II elections available in Case Center on Wednesday, April 9: Students interested in running for remaining SGA positions may ask questions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Posted by Julia Leef

The Student Government Association will host an information booth from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, outside of the SGA office for students interested in running in the Spring Round II elections, which will take place next week.

The available positions for this round of elections consist of roles that were not filled during Round I and include the Vice President for Communications & Outreach, the Vice President for Diversity Affairs, the Traditions Committee Chair, the SEC Chair, the Speakers Bureau Chair, the Late Night Chair, Sustainability Senator, Student Life Delegates and approximately 20 Senator-at-Large positions, according to current Vice President for Communications and Outreach Madeleine Kanazawa '15.

Of the available positions, only the two vice president positions require at least one prior semester's worth of experience on the Senate. Candidates must hand in their self-nomination forms before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11.

Candidates will film short videos explaining their campaign, which will be posted to the Skids Scribner Facebook page, as well as to the SGA website by Sunday, April 13. They will be shown during Speech Night on April 16, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the Spa.

Elections will be held for the entirety of April 17, and the results will be announced the following day. Any positions that remain open until the Fall Round I elections will be put up as Willingness-to-Serve positions, for which students must go before the Senate to be approved.

Club Conversations: Falstaff's Operating Committee

Posted by Julia Leef

Falstaff's Operating Committee

Noah Samors and Kyle Salzman: Co-Chairs of Falstaff's Operating Committee

Could you guys briefly explain, in general, what the Falstaff's Operating Committee is?

Kyle Salzman: So, Falstaff's Operating Committee is the committee that was set up several years ago to operate Falstaff's after the dissolution of the Pavilion corporation, which was a contracted out extra-Skidmore corporation that operated Falstaff's when it was a bar, which dissolved when they changed the drinking age. The FOC ran for a while and then a few years ago, probably five or six, it became defunct. No one was sitting on the committee but it still existed, it still drew money from the student activity fund and accumulated a budget.

The two of us, through our work with Lively Lucy's [Salzman is a member of Lively Lucy's and Samors is the president] spent a lot of time in Falstaff's and wanted improvements for the space for our club's purposes and so we started investigating how to go about that. And through that and in talking with Robin Adams [associate director of Leadership Activities] we found out about the FOC, and we formed the committee and refilled the seats and started having meetings and figuring out what to do with the committee, what direction we wanted to take the space in, because it had been unstructured for such a long time.

So, essentially the committee's purposes as it stands right now, although we're still in the process of reforming how it functions, are to revamp the space physically, just because it has been deteriorating for so long, and a lot of that renovation we've already begun and have completed some of it. And then our second priority is to try and reinvigorate the way the space figures into every day student life. Having more events up there--

Noah Samors: A lot of variety as well.

Salzman: Yeah, and also being able to use it during the day and just have it be a space that's more integrated with campus life.

Samors: Falstaff's is the one student space on campus, because Case Center isn't really a student space. Students hang out here, but it's filled with faculty. Falstaff's is designated for student use, and we want to turn it into a student, not necessarily a bar, but just a student venue, a student club, a student area that people can hang out and do homework and all that, but that is a process that we're trying to figure out how to best move forward. Like we said, we are a newly re-formed club and because it's been so stagnant for so long we need to redefine what we do. And the next step is getting more student involvement in the project.

Looking ahead at your plans for turning Falstaff's into an area more fitting as a student venue, do you see any physical changes to the building as a possibility?

Samors: We've actually painted the interior. We've re-floored, we got new flung, we're getting new carpet and furniture pretty soon and we're getting a new sound system. We have a new countertop in the back to replace the old bar that takes up less space and is more functional as a serving space for the possibility of one day turning into a full bar, but we don't see that happening for a while.

So basically the way we're planning on doing that is working with clubs a lot more and helping them put on events. We're not entirely sure what our role will be with that, but we want to promote events. We're thinking about daytime coffee houses, maybe even an art showcase. We're very much open to suggestions of possibilities.

Salzman: Regarding physical renovations, we've already pretty much gone over what we've done so far. We've looked at a couple of other things for the future, although we've done so much already with the space that more physical renovations would be a long-term thing, but we're looking at doing a little bit of minor modification of the space to maybe shrink the kitchen a little bit and add more storage area for clubs that use the space regularly to keep equipment or supplies or anything like that. But you know, the way we see it, I think, and the place we've arrived at as a committee, too, is that the space didn't need a lot of work to become a more livable space for students. It just needed sort of a facelift, which is what we've gone and done.

Samors: We're hoping in the long-term that the space will continually change in some way, physically. That doesn't necessarily mean repainting it or remodeling the floor, but we're really hopeful that we can find practical art installations that students themselves have created and that can be put into the space to change it just a little bit, because it is a student space. We have Case Gallery, and that's like the one space you can show artwork. We're hoping that we can find a way to showcase student artwork as well in Falstaff's, but again that's a process that we need to further explore.

So who else besides you two is on the committee?

Salzman: It's the class secretaries, the Vice President of Club Affairs, one rep from Lively Lucy's, that's Noah, one rep from SEC, two Willingness-to-Serve people and the VP of Financial Affairs. And Robin Adams sits on the committee as well as an advisor.

Are there positions that you're looking to fill?

Salzman: Both of the Willingness-to-Serve positions are filled. One of them I fill and the other one is filled by Frasier Glenn '15, and the other positions are part of the duties of elected officials for other areas of SGA. And so there aren't really a lot of opportunities to get on the committee, which is something that we have struggled with a lot because a lot of the people who are on the committee don't have a lot of time to give to it because it's an additional duty that's tacked on to their other priorities. And so we'd like to get more people involved who want to be there for FOC, but we just haven't really figured out how to go about that yet, whether we start a subcommittee that draws from the student body on a volunteer or vote basis, or whether we just have more open forums for the student body to come in and discuss what they want with the space. So there aren't a lot of opportunities right now for people who are interested to get involved other than just talking to us.

Samors: Which is a very good way to get involved, I have to say. We love conversation about this space, and it's always good to hear from somebody else what they want. We've been working on this space for so long through Lively Lucy's because that's what we're involved in, so we do honestly have somewhat of a skewed vision for this place. We try to keep that on the back burner because we're very aware that we see it through our eyes and so we want more student involvement. And another good way for students to get involved is joining clubs. We're planning on having a club presidents meeting in Falstaff's in April at some time just to meet with all the clubs and talk about what they want with the space and how to make it work for them.

Can people email you or how would you recommend students get in touch with you?

Samors: We have a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Falstaffsoperatingcommittee), and that is probably the best way, just because multiple people have access to that as opposed to our personal emails. But for the time being I'm also not opposed to getting personal emails.

Salzman: Yeah I mean personal emails are definitely a good way for people to get in contact with us. I don't think it's feasible for that to be the way for us to connect to the community, just because there are too many people for that to work for us. If everyone is sending us emails that's a problem. But for the moment it's very okay to email either of us with questions or comments.

Do you foresee any challenges that you'll face, whether in the physical renovations themselves or in letting people know your plans for Falstaff's?

Samors: I think the biggest challenge is going to be redefining Falstaff's in the student mind, because whenever I talk to anyone about Falstaff's, all they can think about is that one time they were really drunk freshman year and they went and it was a time. They had a good time, maybe, maybe not, but it's not just that space. Lively Lucy's throws a lot of events, we throw events every Thursday, and so this is part of the struggle being on both clubs.

Just redefining the way people view the space is definitely going to be the hardest challenge because everyone comes in with this notion. But it looks entirely different, and so we're hoping that the remodeling will promote a different view on it. It doesn't look as grungy as it used to.

Do you foresee any difficulties in the location of the building? Buildings like Case Center have a more central location on campus. While Falstaff's isn't too far away, compared to Case Center it is far away from the dorms, for example.

Salzman: I think one of our big goals especially for the sort of daytime use of the space is to make it a very comfortable place to be. The thing about the dorms is that they're very nice, and when I was living in the dorms certainly I didn't have problems with it. But there's no really homey sort of hang out atmosphere in the dorms, and I've always found Case Center to be sort of sterile and not particularly the place I'd like to sit down and relax and spend a Sunday afternoon in. And I think if we achieve that the seven-minute walk is not going to be a big deal. That is another part of the perception of Falstaff's that we're trying to alter. It seems really far away but it's not actually that far away. It takes a few minutes to walk there. If it's worth it, the people will come.

You mentioned the presidents' meeting sometime in April. Are there any other upcoming events for either this semester or next semester?

Samors: Well Falstaff's is entirely booked the rest of the semester. So it's somewhat difficult to get online and find the schedule, but we're probably going to post the schedule on the Facebook page of all the different events that are going on in there. And so that's a good way for people to start seeing what the space can do, because there aren't all those grimy dances that the freshmen go to. There are plays going on there. Rochelle Calhoun [dean of Student Affairs] is directing, or producing, the bias incident report-inspired play. Those are the events that are already scheduled. We've talked about a few possibilities. One thing that we're trying to work for is Fun Day Sunday brunch. The Sunday after Fun Day, maybe one or two o'clock in the afternoon, we could serve food and drinks and have people come and eat and recover from the Fun Day weekend.

Salzman: In the short term we're going to try and have, in addition to the presidents' meeting, a community forum, just where we tell people what we've done so far and what our plans are for the space and try and get some feedback from the student body regarding how they see the space and how they want it to move forward.

And there are numerous concerts. I know it's booked pretty much all Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but there's nothing really planned, I think, for any daytime slots for the rest of the semester. And the other nights of the week I doubt have many events planned. So we do have room to develop some other things to go on in the space.

Anything else you want to talk about?

Samors: There's a full kitchen. There aren't a lot of kitchen supplies, but there's a full kitchen. And I know there's a co-op, a group of kids who do a potluck, so maybe if they wanted to do a potluck in Falstaff's, they could see if the space was available one night. Students can go on there and reserve the space, I'm pretty sure. We just want students to use the space more. If anyone has any suggestions, please send us a message.