Restaurant Review: Wheatfields

By Jessica Tetu '17, Contributing Writer

Perhaps my taste buds were used to the monotony of the Skidmore Dining Hall food; perhaps it was the palpable excitement about going out to eat; whatever the reason, I experienced a veritable culinary awakening at Wheatfields restaurant last Friday evening.

Located on the corner of Broadway and Caroline, across the street from Cantina, Wheatfields is an Italian-American restaurant that serves products from local farms.

If you have family coming in for Celebration Weekend, Wheatfields is a terrific choice and opportunity to impress family. In the evenings -- although Wheatfields is open for lunch as well, -- the restaurant boasts an intimate, warm ambiance that is both comfortable and upscale. Wine bottles and rustic brick decorate the walls as warm lighting illuminates art dedicated to, you guessed it, food. Although my colleagues and I walked right in and got a table, if you’re considering Wheatfields for Celebration Weekend, I recommend making a reservation well in advance.

Let’s get to the most important part. After a better-than-average crab cake appetizer and a delicious chicken Caesar salad (although I typically prefer my dressing with a bit more bite), I enjoyed a scallop dish with mushroom risotto. Easily one of the best scallop dishes I’ve had, the melt-in-your-mouth scallops tasted fresh and were cooked to a buttery perfection without being mushy. Additionally, the risotto had a delightful texture and packed a surprising punch of mushroom and garlic. My senses conflicted as I desired to devour the deliciousness but y wanted to savor every divine bite. After the first bite I was intrigued; by the last I was in love; by the time I left I was in a food coma.

Meanwhile, my friends chose two different steak dishes (the Sirloin Steak Frites and the NY Strip), and while both were quite good, the NY strip was undercooked despite my colleague’s specifications, and both were a bit chewy for my taste. It should be noted, however, that both of them enjoyed their meals and had they alerted our server to the cooking mistake, I am sure it would have been corrected.

After the main course, we enjoyed hot coffee and chocolate lava cake about which, I am unashamed to admit, I have fantasies on a fairly regular basis.

Service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was lively as couples, families and students indulged in Friday evening freedom.

Wheatfields also offers gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan menus for patrons with dietary restrictions. The price is surprisingly doable for such high quality food, although if you are a poor college student like me with limited disposable income, it’s a once-in-awhile treat. 

Big Show Interview: Kandace Springs

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

This Saturday Oct. 11, Chance the Rapper is going to take Skidmore’s campus by storm as he performs for our Fall Big Show. Not only will the show, part of the Verge Campus Tour, feature this well-known artist, but also the Sweater Beats and Kandace Springs.

This week, I had the opportunity to interview with Kandace Springs. Singing since she was 13 years old, a child of Nashville, TN, Springs was inspired by idols such as her father and Billie Holliday to pursue music from such a young age.  Springs hit the spotlight when Prince took her under his wing and on stage to perform alongside His Royal Badness, all without having released a song.

Since performing with Prince, Springs has gone on to release an album entitled, Kandace Springs, and tour with Chance the Rapper. She will continue on to work with Ne-Yo on his upcoming tour dates. Just last week, Springs appeared on The Letterman Show, making her first-ever television debut.

Despite a busy schedule, Springs was kind enough to accept my interview.

Q: You have grown up with music your entire life, but where do you believe your inspiration came from? Is there one particular moment that you felt music just clicked with you?

A: When I was 10 years old, my parents gave me a Norah Jones CD and by the time I turned 13, I was singing. When I was 13, my mom bought me a sheet music book and my first performance was back home in Nashville. I knew that music clicked with me when I was on stage. The reaction I got from the audience was overwhelming and that’s when I realized I wanted to be a musician when I grew up. My dad was a singer so he definitely inspired me as well but that Norah Jones CD propelled me even further. The first song I performed was a Jazz song by Norah Jones herself.

Q: What’s your favorite part about singing?

A: I think that singing allows people to express themselves through music. I personally enjoy seeing other people’s reactions to the music that they are listening to. It’s like painting a picture, when you first get out there; it is like a blank canvas and I am about to paint a picture for everyone when I start to sing. I also love when people know the songs and begin to sing along with me. I think that is really cool, I get an adrenaline rush out of it.

Q: Who is your musical inspiration?

A: Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, and Billie Holiday. I love their voices, especially Aretha Franklin—they all have this “gritty soul.”

Q: What has been the most difficult part about getting to where you are today?

A: The music business is not like a 9-5 job, you really never know what to expect. There have been difficult parts, sometimes it feels hopeless because they are so few people that truly make it, make it onto television, the big-time, etc. It’s all about meeting people and getting your name out there but at the same time, staying true to who you are.

Q: Could you further define “classic soul meets modern hip-hop”? What sort of style do you aim for? Where did that style originate?

A: My main goal is to keep soul alive. I have been influenced by a lot of Jazz artists including Billie Holiday and the other artists that I mentioned before. I want to bring a modern twist, that way I attract more contemporary people and younger listeners. I want everybody listening! That is what I am for…I want all ages to appreciate my music and sing along with me!

Q: Would you consider yourself a fan of older music rather than more contemporary music? If so, where do you draw your ideas from?

A: Definitely. I really like the older sound; it is more sophisticated, thought through and genuine. Back in the day, music was raw and real, there was no technology. I appreciate the younger, pop music—I want to blend the two together and create the best of both worlds.

Q: Are you excited to tour with Chance the Rapper? How did you begin to tour with him? How was your show at UCLA?

A: Yes! I am super excited. I am blessed to have this opportunity and am extremely appreciative of what is happening for me. The UCLA show was dope, seeing my face on the big screen was amazing and having everyone sing along was even better. I think it has been kind of random to get to work with Chance. The talent booking agency hooked it up and got us together. Chance is still new for me although he is super cool and fresh. In a few weeks I will be working with Ne-Yo as well, I’ve always loved his stuff, he is really musical and I am looking forward to that as well.

Q: What are you looking forward to while touring?

A: I am looking forward to everything, to getting out there, letting people see who we are.

Q: What makes you nervous?

A: Nothing makes me too nervous. There is always the regular stuff that could go wrong, sound, etc but we have top-notch sound people working with us. I am blessed and thankful that everyone seems to appreciate the music. The band has rocked it out previously so I can’t wait to show Skidmore what we have worked so hard to achieve.

Q: How do you see yourself in a few years from now?

A: I really hope to have a household name, I want everyone to have our record and say, “Oh yeah, Kandace Springs, that cool girl… I love her, she’s my favorite.”

Q: What is one piece of advice that you can give to up and coming artists?

A: I spent time playing jazz and soul in a country town. People kept trying to make me do more pop, they wanted to change me. Don't let people tell you to change. You can be open-minded but don't change who you are for someone else’s opinion of who they think you should be. And never give up.

Men's Soccer Hones in on the Liberty League

 

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The Skidmore College men's soccer team hosted Utica College on Tuesday, October 8th  in their final non-conference contest of the regular season. Brock Bakewell ‘15 brought the score up to 2 -2 with his 5th goal of the season, assisted by Tim Sullivan ‘16. The score was still tied at the end of the last half. The head coach Jeremiah Kneeland made some after remarks. “It was our last non-conference game so for us it was important to come out with no injuries and build confidence and momentum.” Men’s soccer displayed a tenacity and strength that will carry on into their 3rd Liberty League match at Clarkson University this Saturday, October 11. They are currently 6-4-2 and have six more matches to go. If they finish in the top four in the Liberty League Tournament, they will go on to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Volleyball Team Splits Liberty League Matches

By Skidmore Athletics

The Skidmore College volleyball team won 3-1 in its first Liberty League game of the season over Bard College on Saturday, October 4, at St. Lawrence University. The Thoroughbreds lost to the host school 3-0 in the final match.

The Thoroughbreds split the first two sets with Bard (2-21, 0-8), before winning a close third and an easy fourth set for the win. Brittany Osborn ’17 had a team high of fifteen kills with eleven digs. Aria Goodman ’15 added fourteen kills and had a .361 hitting percentage. Kalle Fox ’18 continued her steady play with thirty-five assists and ten digs, while Clara Jones ’18 had five aces and eight digs. Marcela Familiar ’17 had a team high of twenty-two digs, with four assists and two aces.

Against St. Lawrence, Goodman had thirteen kills, eight digs, an ace, and two blocks. Fox racked up twenty assists and five digs, while Familiar had fourteen digs.

Skidmore will host Middlebury College on Wednesday, October 8, at 7 p.m.

Skidmore To Hold Ribbon-Cutting For Large Solar Electric Project

                                                WHAT:          Skidmore College will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of its large solar electric project located in Greenfield Center, N.Y. It is among the largest solar arrays in New York State and is an element of Skidmore’s ongoing investment in sustainable energy. This project is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative, which is dramatically increasing solar energy in the state and moving the solar industry in New York State toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.

WHEN:          Tuesday, October 7, 11:00 a.m.

WHO:             --Philip A. Glotzbach, President, Skidmore College

--Congressman Paul Tonko

--Janet Joseph, Vice President for Technology and Strategic Planning, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

--Additional members of the Skidmore community

WHERE:       Solar Field adjacent to Skidmore Castle Baseball Diamond

100 Denton Road

Greenfield Center, N.Y.

Contact:         Andrea Wise

Skidmore College

518-587-0741

awise@skidmore.edu

Directions to Solar Field Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

From I-87 south, take exit 15. Turn left off of the exit onto Route 50. Go through 3 lights. At the 4^th light, turn right onto East Avenue. Follow East Avenue up the hill. At the stop sign, turn left onto North Broadway. At the second right, turn right onto First Street. Follow this road, which turns into Clement Avenue after 2 blocks. At the 4^th stop sign, turn right onto Denton Road. Follow Denton Road under the railroad overpass. Look for the entrance to the solar array after the Skidmore College Castle Baseball Diamond facility.

From I-87 north, take exit 15. Follow the roadway toward the right off of the exit onto Route 50. At the 3^rd light, turn right onto East Avenue. Follow East Avenue up the hill. At the stop sign, turn left onto North Broadway. At the second right, turn right onto First Street. Follow this road, which turns into Clement Avenue after 2 blocks. At the 4^th stop sign, turn right onto Denton Road. Follow Denton Road under the railroad overpass. Look for the entrance to the solar array after the Skidmore College Castle Baseball Diamond facility.

New student sculpture celebrates the art of dance

Anyone who has visited downtown Saratoga Springs over the past year has seen them—the large sculptures of en pointe ballet shoes, each distinctly decorated. Some 30 of the sculptures are sprinkled throughout the city, and now the Skidmore campus has one of its own, located in front of the Dance Theater.

The sculptures are part of a public art project launched by the National Museum of Dance, located on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The project is designed not only to raise funds for the museum, but also to increase the museum’s profile and to celebrate the city’s rich tradition in the arts. Each sculpture was purchased by a sponsor, who worked with individual artists to carry out an agreed-upon design. The artists used a variety of media including paint, mosaic, metal, and collage.

The artwork for the Skidmore-sponsored sculpture was carried out by the college’s Pro-Arts student organization. “When I met with the Pro-Arts leaders to discuss the project, they jumped at the opportunity,” said Bob Kimmerle, Skidmore’s director of community relations. “Members of the club worked as a well-organized team as they proposed designs, created renderings, consulted with faculty, and then set to work applying the art. They did a great job.”

The sculptures start out as a blank slate—a five-foot-high, 90 lb. white fiberglass rendering of a ballet shoe. The Pro-Arts students, led by Madeleine Burkhart ’15, proposed a black and white design with abstract depictions of dancers in motion.

To prepare for the assignment, the student artists worked with Joanne Vella and Deborah Morris of the art faculty The advance work even included a modeling session with dancers, arranged by the Dance Department, giving the artists an opportunity to study dance movement and make sketches. The artists used the sketches to produce stencils, which they then used to spray-paint the sculpture.

“Everyone in Pro-Arts learned a great deal about the process of making public works of art, and we are so thankful to be entrusted with the project,” said Burkhart. “With the collaboration of the community and administration, the Dance Department, Photo Club—which helped document the modeling session—and Pro-Arts, this work truly represents Skidmore's ethos.”

For original story, go here: http://www.skidmore.edu/news/2014/images/september/0922-en-pointe-sculpture.php

Skidmore goes into emergency lock-down

By Andrew Shi, Editor-in-Chief Additional reporting from Rebecca Shesser, Business Manager and Communications Director

At 7:03 A.M. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, students, faculty and staff received an email and text message declaring the campus was in an emergency lock-down while police searched for an armed suspect. A fourth message at 7:54 A.M informed that all classes and activities would be cancelled until further notice as the police searched for a parolee. At 8:14 another message announced that the suspect, Shane Harding, was in police custody on campus.

Harding, 25, of Schodack, NY is a level 3 sex offender who was released on parole in January after serving four of his six year term for raping a 17-old and menacing a police officer in 2008.

On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Troy police received a call that a man was menacing a woman. Harding allegedly pulled a BB pistol on a woman who was giving him a ride at his request. The woman was able to fend him off and Harding fled. Harding then acquired a second gun and forced a female acquaintance to drive to Hancock, MA, where he raped her and then forced her to drive him back to Rennselaer County. There, he forced a male acquaintance to drive him to Saratoga Springs, where he was dropped off at Skidmore College sometime during the night.

According to Director of Campus Safety Dennis Conway, several students  reported seeing a suspicious person, but only after Harding was arrested the following morning. Although unconfirmed, Harding reportedly spent the night in the back of a student's unlocked car in Scribner Village.

The following morning, the College was informed by state police that they suspected Harding was on campus, prompting the lock-down. Police arrived at approximately 7 A.M., although his presence was not confirmed until around 7:30 A.M. By 8:15, police had located Harding behind Wilson Chapel, on the edge of North Woods, and were able to place him into custody after a brief scuffle.

Harding was later charged with two counts of felony criminal use of a firearm, and two counts of felony kidnapping, and sent to jail without bail.

While the campus was reopened, the community was asked to avoid North Woods, especially the wooded area around Wilson Chapel, Falstaffs, and North Broadway in an email sent by President Glotzbach. For most of the rest of the day, police could be found around the area, searching for evidence with a canine unit. By Thursday morning North Woods was reopened.

Glotzbach cancelled his Fireside Chat scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to hold an open forum to update the college and review the emergency procedures. While taciturn about details due to the event being an ongoing police investigation, Glotzbach, along with Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun and Conway, assured the community that "we are safe."

Conway informed the group that Harding's presence was a mere coincidence. In a separate interview, he said that, "the State Police confirmed with me last night that the suspect does not have any ties to Skidmore." However, The Saratogian reported that Harding requested he be dropped off at Skidmore College specifically, and that police are still investigating the motive behind that request.

At the forum Glotzbach applauded the work of Campus Safety and the law enforcement officers. "I am pleased that our emergency procedures worked as designed, including our interactions with local law enforcement agencies."

Conway echoed Glotzbach's endorsement, saying, "we're pleased that our emergency procedures worked as planned and that the campus community responded appropriately and so helped us deal with this situation."

Skidmore Students also approved of the College's handling of the situation. "I'm so happy to go to a school where I know I will always be safe no matter what happens on campus," said senior Rachel Comp.

Still, as Glotzbach noted, "these situations are complex and we can always learn." Yet, it does seem the College is well prepared for these unfortunate circumstances. In an update provided Thursday morning by the College and published on its site, Glotzbach said, "the most important statement I can make is that our campus and members of our campus community are safe."

More details will be made available pending the police report.

Campus Safety Reports Sept. 19-25

Friday, September 19 2014

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 12:23 AM report of a noise complaint in Cane Crossing. Officers stated unfounded.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR: 9:06 AM report of an odor of natural gas in the Jonsson Tower Lot. No odor located.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER: 9:37 AM fire alarm activation received from Sussman Apartments H. Report generated, due to cooking.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR: 10:55 PM report of a suspicious odor in Wait Hall. Drug law violation referral and alcohol violation referral. Report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 1144 PM report of loud noise coming from North Woods. Officers dispatched, students complied.

Saturday, September 20 2014

• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: 12:21 AM: Individual discovered a hole in the wall of Starbuck Center by a stairway. Report made.
• FIRE ALARM APPARATUS: 12:16 AM: Report that the cover to the fire alarm in Jonsson Tower was accidentally bumped into and is emitting a small audible alarm. Officers dispatched and rectified the situation.
• NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINTS: 1:09 PM: Individual reports that during the previous evening some items were removed from his front lawn on Clinton St. and damage was done to this vehicle. RP advised to contact SSPD for follow-up report.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 9:28 PM Officer responded to a noise complaint in Jonsson Tower stating that a student was in the common hallway area playing a guitar. He was advised to lower the volume.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 11:41 PM Received a report of loud music in Northwoods Apartment Complex. Dispatched Officers report occupants were advised to lower the volume.

Sunday, September 21 2014

• COLLEGE VIOLATION: 12:09 AM Officers report an authorized party in Moore Way. Crowd dispersed without incident.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION: 2:35 AM Excessive noise complaint in Jonsson Tower. Officers report occupants complied with request to lower volume.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST: 4:20 AM SSPD informed of a motor vehicle accident property damage only hit and run. Campus Safety Officers canvassed area to SSPD
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: 8:24 PM Officer reports suspicious activity on the Perimeter road. A male non-student was asked to leave campus and complied without incident.

Monday, September 22 2014

• TRESPASS: 8:15 AM report that a person was in the dumpster. Officer reports person gone on arrival
• ACCIDENT: 5:25 PM Individual filed a property damage auto accident report. Reports generated, photos taken.

Tuesday, September 23 2014

• GRAFFITI: 10:37 AM Officer reports being advised by a student walking to class that there is graffiti on the front of the building in Sussman Apartments. Officer reports locating the graffiti and has taken three photos.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: 11:09 AM Individual called stating there is a suspicious male walking around in the North Hall Lot looking at vehicles. Individual states he is acting very suspicious. Dispatched Officer reports finding the subject who stated that he is visiting someone in the Harder Hall. Subject was reunited with the employee.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER: 2:27pm: Fire alarm sounded in Sussman Apartments. Disp. All Units and contacted SSFD. Burnt food caused the alarm.
• LARCENY FROM BUILDINGS: 09:09 PM: RP reports a found glove went missing in the Dining Hall when the owner attempted to claim it. Report taken.
• SKATEBOARDING ON CAMPUS: 4:20 PM Individual called stating that there are skateboarders near the warehouse of North Hall. Dispatched Officers who report subjects GOA.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 9:28 PM RP called to report a noise complaint in Sussman Apartments. Dispatched Officer who spoke with occupants due to loud music and they have agreed to turn it down.

Wednesday, September 24 2014

• BURGLARY: 2:11pm - RP reports headphones taken from her room in Wilmarth Hall about a week and a half ago and wants to report it due to the posted Safety Alerts.
• BURGLARY: 2:38pm - In office at this time stating her passport is missing from her room in Howe Hall and believes it was stolen.

Thursday, September 25 2014

• SUSPICIOUS ODOR: 12:22 AM: RP stated that there is a suspicious odor somewhere on the first floor of Wilmarth Hall.  C/S Officer dispatched.  Results are unfounded.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE: 12:26 AM, complaint of loud noise in McClellan Hall. C/S Officer dispatched. They were advised to lower the level and complied.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3:03 AM: RP stated that there are two males leaving Dana and appear to be suspicious. C/S Officers dispatched.  No property damage noted.  Unable to location males.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 10:00am: RP reports someone opened and closed her door in Howe Hall last night. Report taken.
• AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT: 9:25 AM RP reports an inappropriate message on a website. Report taken.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 12:19pm: RP contacted Campus Safety to report two vehicles outside the solar gate with no one inside. Disp. Officer who reports no vehicles in area at this time.
• GRAFFITI: 12:55 PM RP called stating persons unknown have written all over the kitchenette with a black sharpie. Disp. Officer who spoke with RP took photos and report made.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: 4:47 PM RP called to report a student has advised her that someone has entered his room. Dispatched officer to Jonsson Tower.
• FIRE ALARM-ACCIDENTAL 5:11 PM: Fire alarm activation received in Sports Center.  Officers and Notified Maintenance.  Advised SSFD.  Officer reports no smoke or fire.  U10 states alarm is due to a pull station in rec gym.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 05:22 PM: Fire alarm activation received in McClellan Hall.  Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD.  Officer reports alarm is due to burnt food.

Restaurant Review: The Circus Café

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By Janine Kritschgau and Erin Silgardo '18, Staff Writers

            Our experience at the Circus Café was mixed. Service was exceptionally slow, as we waited roughly 40 minutes for a table (and an additional 40 minutes to be served). Our party sampled a variety of foods offered including; a chicken quesadilla, an order of fajitas, pan seared salmon, and a chicken breast sandwich. The menu boasts a wide variety of options, including Tex Mex, fish, burgers, and pasta dishes. Unfortunately, none of the dishes we tried were exceptional.

            The salmon was inconsistent and relatively expensive, priced at $18.99. The top of the pan-seared fish was burned, while the middle was gooey. In addition to the underwhelming presentation, the waitress was unaware of where the fish was from; therefore, leaving us in the dark about what we were consuming. The accompaniments were tasty, but nothing earth shattering; diced tomatoes to top the fish, jasmine rice, and a small vegetable medley decorated the plate but did not do much for our palates.

            The quesadilla seemed to be the most satisfactory of the entrees. The tortillas were somewhat overstuffed, as the ensemble quickly fell apart. This option was one of the most economical, with a cost of $9.99. The fajitas ($15.99) were quite pleasant. This dish comes in a sizzling cast iron skillet, although the responsibility of assembling the fajita is left to the diner.

            The chicken breast sandwich; however, was not very good. Instead of slices or a smaller piece, the chicken was about an inch and a half thick and sandwiched between two pieces of hard, French bread. There was little of the 'famous' pesto sauce and then there was a side of onion rings, which tasted like they had been taken out of a frozen bag. Normally, the sandwich comes with a side of the Circus Cafe's signature curly fries but on that particular Saturday night at 8pm, they were all out. For the price, it was not bad, costing $12.99.

            ​The one different and ultimately unique quality about the restaurant is that instead of bread, they serve popcorn. We will admit that was a nice treat.

Janine and Erin’s Rating: 2.5/5    

The Red Side: Free Case Walkway of Condoms

By Jacob Reiskin, Staff Writer and Arts Director

Condoms first. Questions later.

Photo by Jacob Reiskin

Last Friday, I was headed to the Post Office when I encountered a Vox club table outside of Case Center, next to Burgess Cafe. They were outside on that beautiful afternoon to hand out condoms, lube and dental dams. And, walking by, students were loudly told about their offerings strewn across the table. It was hard to miss their large and bright signs, the loud calls made sure that my afternoon was interrupted. It was as if everyone, including my professors’ children, wanted to hear about sex on their Friday afternoon.

This is a college campus, which comes with certain assumptions. One of those givens is that most students will party on the weekend, or during the week if we count the beloved “Thirsty Thursday.” With that partying and drinking may come sex. Now, given the near certainty of these assumptions, the school should do everything they can to make sure that students have access to information about making good decision and the tools to protect their health, i.e. condoms, lube and dental dams. They should have access to these services, at the Center for Sex and Gender Relations and the Health center anytime.

Shouting at college students is problematic. The uninvited push into students private life can be uncomfortable for them. It can feel as if they are not being respected. But, what really makes an act disrespectful? Respect is to allow others to maintain their personal space while being considerate of our own.

One way I think of this is the idea of being “sexiled.” All students should be familiar with what happens when your roommate comes back with a potential romantic partner. A good roommate will offer the room for the sake of the couple’s good time. It’s inconvenient, but you aren’t subjected to your roommate’s personal life. In this sense, not all students want to be subjected to sex as they walk along the Case walkway.  There are many reasons why students would feel uncomfortable. But, they may just feel as I do, that it is unwarranted and uncomfortable. The mission of Vox is very important but not all students may agree with the club’s approach to providing information about sexual health.

This intrusion may be problematic for the faculty as well. Employees of this school walk the same Case walkway that we students do. They are exposed to the same indecency, whether that is shouts about free condoms or a large picture of a dildo that appeared on a poster a couple years back. What’s more, some bring their children to campus for daycare. As professor, Tillman Nechtman, History department chair, asked me, “Should I have to explain to my son what a dildo is when I take him for chocolate milk in the cafe?” In most other workplaces, he wouldn’t. No employee would be allowed to post such a poster, not only because of the reasonable stance of most employers, but also because of the Human Resources law on sexual harassment, written in the Skidmore Employee Handbook, that protects employees. The college campus is still a workplace.

Let’s honor “creative thought” by allowing a diversity of ways of life. Is shouting and condom distribution on Case walkway necessary for the sexual wellbeing of the student body? We can respect each other and still try to stay safe in the bedroom.

Nekisha Quinney: New Assistant Director of Athletics

Nekisha Quinney has been the New Assistant Director of Athletics for the past month. I sat down with her to get to know her and see how her transition into the Skidmore community has been. As the new Assistant Director of Athletics, Quinney is responsible for a variety of things including managing the sports center, student employees, assisting the Associate Athletic Director with the management and upkeep of the athletic facilities, game day management, and much more.

Her time at Skidmore has been very busy, with no two days ever the same. For Quinney, getting to know the students is the best part about working in higher education. The students,along with the staff and faculty, have created a very welcoming community.

Quinney's main goal for the next couple of months, is getting to know Skidmore, the students, the history, the institutional culture, and assess how she can make a difference. Another goal for Quinney will be finding new ways to showcase the talent of our student-athletes. Skidmore’s student-athletes work very hard in the classroom and on the field/court. Quinney believes that our student-athletes deserve a crowd cheering them on in every game and match.

When not at Skidmore, she loves to cook and explore new places. And while she does not watch much television, Quinney loves Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy!

Editorial: On Cancelling Moorebid

By the Editorial Board

Although opinions vary across campus regarding the cancellation of the popular Halloween dance, Moorebid, the Editorial Board understands and supports the College's decision on this matter. When keeping in mind the welfare of Skidmore’s students, the cancellation seems to have been a necessary and inevitable choice. We do not believe that it is the school’s role to endorse dangerous behavior, or to provide opportunities for students to put themselves and others at risk.

As Joshua Nelson, Director of Leadership Activities, expressed in his Letter to the Editor, the school has made numerous changes to turn this event into a safer environment. However, year after year, the permeating culture of binge drinking, excessive drug use and reckless behavior surrounding Moorebid has persisted.

It is not as though there was no forewarning of this outcome. The possible threat of cancelling Moorebid has loomed over the student body for years. Each October, we have been given the opportunity to clean up our act--albeit part of the issue was a lack of adequate space. However, the College eventually recognized that their efforts to change the dance’s legacy of hospitalizations, assaults and destruction were unsuccessful. The Editorial Board therefore understands the inevitable cancellation of Moorebid.

However, we do take issue with the lack of any earlier forthright information. SGA has known about the decision to cancel Moorebid since last year. The majority of the student body was unaware of the cancellation until The Skidmore News broke the story. The administration finally acknowledged the cancellation with Nelson's letter, which was published the same week as our article.

This lack of transparency is in trend with Skidmore’s approach to unpleasant topics, excluding emergencies such as Wednesday's lockdown. Only after three full months of silence and badgering from students did the administration address this summer’s incident of a now-former Campus Safety officer’s arrest for sexually assaulting a young woman.

Important issues that are relevant to student life should be readily announced to the student body that they impact. Students should not be in the dark on the happenings of our own school, left to make sense of rumors. The recent State of the College Address would have been an ideal opportunity for the administration to announce that Moorebid was cancelled and explain their reasoning behind it. But the administration is not the only one at fault here; SGA had also known that Moorebid would be cancelled as early as last November, and it was a serious lapse of responsibility on their part to not inform the students.

The Board's final concern with the cancellation of Moorebid is that the College is tackling a symptom rather than acknowledging the main reason for a spike in hospitalizations during Moorebid. It is very possible that the hyper-abuse of drugs and alcohol during Moorebid is not due to the culture surrounding the dance but rather the culture attached to Halloween. By cancelling Moorebid, students will inevitably find alternative ways to party, at locations unstaffed by Campus Safety and the Skidmore College Emergency Medical Service. All things considered, the cancellation of Moorebid may have solved nothing and could possibly have exacerbated the issue at hand. Still, Moorebid could not have carried on as it has in past years, and with no easy fix available, the Board believes cancelling it was the best solution.

Club Profile: FeelGood

By Andrew Shi '15, Editor-in-Chief

The Skidmore News sat down with Nina Orlando '16, Co-President of FeelGood, to discuss what the "grilled cheese club" is all about.

Q: What is FeelGood, and when was Skidmore's chapter founded?

A: We make gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and give them to students and faculty in exchange for a donation that goes towards the sustainable end of world hunger. We started at Skidmore in Fall 2012, but didn’t become an official SGA club until Fall 2013.

Q: Does Skidmore's FeelGood chapter donate to a specific charity, and if so, why that one?

A: FeelGood is a national organization and we are one of 24 chapters on college campuses across the country. FeelGood has 4 partner organizations, but we choose to donate all of our money to The Hunger Project because their goal is to empower local people and organizations to end their own hunger. They believe in partnership, not charity, and so do we.

Q: How often do you sell your grilled cheeses and where?

A: We will be selling our grilled cheeses on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-3p.m. on the 2nd floor of Case Center next to the SGA Information desk. We hope to start selling in the beginning of October!

Q: Do you have any future plans to expand your enterprise, perhaps by increasing hours and days in which you sell grilled cheese?

A: We are always thinking about expanding in the long term, but that’s easier said than done, so for right now, we are sticking to 2 days a week. Hopefully in the future we can grow!

 Q: Do you sell anything besides for grilled cheeses, and do you raise money by any other means? 

 A: We sell t-shirts, FeelGood sunglasses and grilled cheese shaped USB flash drives at our delis. We also have a ton of cool events! We put on a benefit concert, had our Flags for Hunger event, had a movie screening, and co-sponsored a bunch of other club’s events. We are always brainstorming ways to raise more money. Keep an eye out for new FeelGood foods we might be selling!

Q: Since the inception of Skidmore's chapter, how much money has FeelGood raised?

A: We have raised about $5,000 since we started.

 Q: How many people do you have working for FeelGood?

A: Our e-board is made up of 7 students and a bunch of dedicated members. Our Deli couldn’t operate without all of our amazing members.

Q:  Is there anything else you would like the student body to know about FeelGood?

A: If you’ve even seen someone dressed up as a grilled cheese walking around campus, that was us. Be sure to stop by our deli in Case on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! We have so many cool new recipes!

Craving Coffee? What's the Best on Campus

By Noa Maltzman '18, Staff Writer

This past Monday was national coffee day. Perhaps if you had time to celebrate you would have indulged by going to a local coffee shop downtown. Unfortunately, since national coffee day fell on a Monday it is likely that most people had class , work, other obligations and were not able to make it downtown and therefore have to settle for on-campus coffee.

You might not think that all on-campus coffee is bad but maybe you were wondering, such like the person who posted on Yik Yak asking, “Happy National Coffee day. Which shitty on campus coffee should I have to celebrate?”

On campus, there are three main options for coffee. These options are the Atrium Café, Burgess and the dining hall. At limited hours you can also get coffee at the Spa and the library café.

For those not on the meal plan, the dining hall probably serves the most expensive cup of coffee you will ever buy unless you also get food with it. To enter the dinning hall it cost at least $7.49. This might be a lot to pay for a cup of coffee but unlike any other place on campus you do get unlimited refills as long as you don’t leave. 

Some might not mind the dining hall coffee but others, such as a person who posted on Yik Yak do mind it.  A particular Yak read, “Dhall coffee doesn’t stain clothes because it is essentially water.”  This blurb illuminates some students’ distaste for what is being served within the infamous dhall.

If $7.49 is more then you desire to spend, you might want to try getting coffee from another location around campus.

Over the summer, Burgess underwent a renovation and now serves Starbucks coffee but the question remains, is it worth the extra money or should one get the cheaper coffee from the Atrium Café? To test this,  I decided to purchase a regular iced coffee from both locations.

At Burgess,  I bought a 16-ounce iced coffee and the total cost before tax was $2.30. The wait for the coffee was just a few minutes due to the line of students waiting for their fair share. After the coffee was ready, one can head over to the close-by counter and add milk and sugar to their drink.

A much cheaper (less then $2) 16-ounce iced coffee was then purchased from the Atrium Café. Here, one is given a cup filled with ice and you are allowed to fill it with coffee yourself. The experience here was much different than Burgess as the wait was non-existent as no one else was in line. Continually, the Atrium Café also has a much greater selection of milk and sweeteners including flavored options that one can add.

After evaluating the coffee, it’s been determined that if you want unlimited coffee - go to the dining hall, if you are on a tight budget or short on time go to the Atrium Café, and if you want to have an experience closest to going to a local coffee shop go to Burgess. Hope you all enjoyed national coffee day, I’m sure caffeine will be needed for the upcoming weeks!

Blue Side: Climate Change: A “Hot” Topic

By Noah Tananbaum, Contributing Writer

Two weeks ago, the largest climate change rally in history marched through the streets of New York City. The 300,000+ protesters were lobbying against the consistent global inaction on the issue of climate change. The march preceded the United Nations summit on the topic, which took place over the course of the following week. At the summit, President Obama asserted, “For all the immediate challenges that we gather to address this week—terrorism, instability, inequality, disease—there’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate.” It is time for us to move past the climate change debate and begin taking serious action to counteract its already alarming effects. Readopting a cap-and-trade policy is one such solution.

The debate on climate change is over, and has been, for quite some time. For the past several hundred thousand years, CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases remained at levels of 280 parts per million (ppm). Since the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, that amount has increased at an exponential rate and, at the current rate, will soon surpass 400 ppm. The correlation between the onset of the Industrial Revolution and higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is clear, and the effects of this increase are deeply troubling. Many members of Congress, primarily Republicans, still discuss whether climate change is a legitimate phenomenon and, more significantly, whether the changes are a result of human behavior. Climate change is a real occurrence, supported by scientific results. We should not longer be expected to give credence and time to those who fail to accept the facts.

A few weeks ago, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology convened to discuss the Obama administration’s agenda to combat climate change. During the hearing, Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-IN) argued that the existence of climate change is in scientists’ best interest so that they may continue to publish new writing on the subject. As a result, the Congressman stated, we should ignore their evidence. This is a remarkably ignorant argument. Attempting to explain away extensive research corroborated by thousands of scientists as motivated by greed is insulting to their profession and intentionally obtuse. While it is plausible that a handful of scientists may exploit this issue for money, it is unreasonable to think that the scientific community as a whole would be behind such a conspiracy. Scientists, more than anyone, understand that climate change is in no one’s best interest.

Because those in power have yet to come to a full consensus on the scale of the problem, discussions of a solution are delayed. Fossil fuels release pollutants and higher levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Pollution is a cost to society that polluters often choose not to factor into their cost-benefit analysis because they are first responsible for their own bottom line. Companies need to be incentivized to decrease their pollution levels. To do so, pollution should be treated by the government as a negative externality.

Despite the fact that it was originally a Republican idea, in recent years the GOP has been dismissive of the policy known as cap-and-trade. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, sulfur dioxide from power plants had the dubious side effect of returning as acid rain, destroying vast stretches of the environment. The first Bush administration developed the concept of cap-and-trade, permitting companies to produce a fixed amount of pollution before a cap, a financial sanction, kicks in. If the company does not reach their emissions cap, then they can trade their remaining carbon allowance on the free market. Each year the company’s cap decreases, incentivizing these companies to pollute less over time. Given that cap-and-trade worked 25 years ago, there is no reason to believe that it won’t work now.

It would be naïve to think that our economy and energy industries can abandon fossil fuels overnight. But to be willfully uninformed of a phenomenon that occurs with increasing frequency and is supported by overwhelming evidence is the height of ignorance. It is time to stop demonizing facts as ideological or partisan points of view. Rapid changes in our climate are taking place and it’s our fault. We can either continue arguing over this or we can acknowledge that there is a problem and focus our energies on finding a solution.

Yik Yak: A Story of Anonymity

By Ryan Davis '17, Contributing Writer The Internet Collides with Our Social Spheres and Our Daily Lives

This fall, a new social networking application has flooded iPhones and androids alike called Yik Yak. Seemingly out of nowhere, this app has gained popularity across all social spheres on college campuses. The reason: Yik Yak promises anonymity to publish whatever you want, and have it be read and remarked upon by your college peers. This at first might not seems so different from the normal Internet, with social sites such as 4Chan promising similar anonymity. However, never before has this sort of anonymous micro blogging been available so easily to anyone with a smartphone and the will to share their thoughts. There’s no need for a username or password, just download the app, enter your mobile phone number, and begin publishing 200 character statements about anything you want, and no one can easily tie it back to you. What has made the app take off on college campuses is that it is designed to only shows posts that were writen in your geographic area. You can even set it to only include posts made on your college campus, although Skidmore has yet to be added to the expanding list of supported colleges and universities.

The system is interactive for both publishers and readers. Users can anonymously respond to posts written by others or simply up or down vote them. A post or comment is deleted after five negative votes, a rudimentary self-policing system. If a user’s comments are consistently downvoted, their profile may be suspended. If a comment shares personal information about someone or targets another person, other users can report their comment and its author can be banned from the community. Even so, a lot of damage can be done before a troublesome user is reported.

This whole system might at first seem kind of terrifying. After all, we’ve seen what troubles anonymity on the Internet has brought before. We all remember cyber-bullying episodes as far back as middle school. Cable news loves to scare parents with mention of the terrible things written on message boards by so-called trolls, or the power that hacktivist group Anonymous wields as a loose conglomerate of nearly untraceable hackers. While Yik Yak isn’t completely lawless, some people might argue that its anonymity provision is not enough, and that users must be identifiable to maintain accountability. Yik Yak’s local focus increases the potential damage of cyber bullying.

I have found these fears to be completely unfounded at Skidmore. Yik Yak is a breath of fresh air in the often-demonized realm of anonymous Internet publishing. At Skidmore, it is a vibrant and honest community.

The pages of Yik Yaks from the Saratoga area are dominated by the Skidmore College student body. What we say reveals a lot about who we are as people. Reoccurring themes range from loneliness and self-doubt, to stress over schoolwork and idiosyncratic events in our day-to-day lives. Despite relatively lenient repercussions for offensive posting, Yik Yak is a very calm and non-aggressive place. Posts are almost never negative toward specific students or groups. I’ve never seen one. Instead, there is a sense of unity from the unrelated nameless posts. Scroll through for five minutes, and I guarantee you’ll read about some little thing that you believed no one else did or saw or encounter a question you were afraid to ask. The lack of forks in dining hall or the fact that we are all a little embarrassed by the South Quad dorm bathrooms where your whole floor can hear everything are just a few examples.

There are many posts with a more serious tone. On weekends you’ll find many posts about those lonely or bored on Friday nights. Sometimes people question their self worth and vent self-esteem problems. If you were too scared to acknowledge that you felt lonely at night up here in the great white north, on Yik Yak you’ll find that you’re not alone. Nameless writers commonly inscribe things we might not even remark to our close friends for fear of embarrassment or seeming needy. The sheer volume of up votes and responses that these posts often garner is a testament to the fact that people are actively reading. For the first time in a long time, I feel that anonymity on the Internet has made me feel closer to those around me. That is an amazing thing.

This is not a perfect community. There are still the occasional negative comments, and there is a negative trend of making fun of the “white girl” stereotype and its associated iPhones and pumpkin spiced lattés. Sometimes people will copy the top comment from another school’s Yik Yak pool for up votes and self-satisfaction. Yik Yak is not a paragon of anonymous humanitarianism on the Internet by all means. It is a tool and it reflects those who use it. I can’t speak for everyone who uses the application globally; my experience has reflected positively on the Skidmore community.

Yik Yak should not be overlooked as another Internet trend. Twitter, another micro blogging site, was perceived to be a fad when it came out. Now, it is a thriving community and a powerful communication tool with a diverse user base including governments, celebrities, and maybe your roommate. It is frequently cited in news articles as a source for public statements. Yik Yak has the same potential for growth and influence.

Whatever the fate of Yik Yak might be, I think it is a fascinating mirror of the student body here at Skidmore. The posts show us that the people we walk by each day on Case Walkway are more like us that we could have ever imagined. We have the same fears and idiosyncrasies. We have the same desire to talk to someone cute who walks by or to reach out when we are lonely. Yik Yak is a physical representation of those inherently human qualities that we all share, but are so rarely acknowledged. Yik Yak is funny, it is endearing, it is vulgar, and it is untamed and untested, but the people who use it are honest. As its users, we must decide where it goes from here.

Over Sixty Students Participate in Climate Change March

By Jessica Kong, Staff Writer

On Sunday, September 21, over sixty members of the Skidmore Environmental Action Club (EAC) -- an environmental sustainability advocacy group --journeyed to New York City to participate in one of the largest displays of social support for the environment to date. The trip from Skidmore College was proposed and organized by Amanda Paskavitz '17, Vice President of EAC. The People's Climate March was inspired by a growing awareness of the need to minimize the damaging impact of unchecked fossil fuel usage. The event was timely set before the momentous United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Paris, France next year.

Connor Crawford '17, member of the EAC and event coordinator for the on-campus Sustainability Representatives (S-Reps), spoke about the mission that nearly a half million global citizens took up when they walked from Midtown to the Far West Side. "We want America and people around the world -- because the People's Climate March didn't just happen in New York City -- to show the United Nations that we very much support CO₂ emission restrictions on a large scale."

They marched for a common vision, but everyone had a unique stride. Zia O'Neill '17, another member of the EAC and education and outreach coordinator for the S-Reps, spoke about the diversity of the people she walked with. "It wasn't just radical collegestudents and kids getting together. There were three-generational families." Crawford added, "There were a bunch of grandparents that said 'I'm marching for my grandchildren.'"

O'Neill continued, sharing what she thought was the most powerful moment of the March. "There was a moment of silence for indigenous communities and frontline victims of climate change. At 12:58 p.m. there was a moment of silence and everyone raised their hands. And then you just heard this sound from thirty blocks away and it hit you and you just screamed at the top of your lungs."

And the corporations are listening. In NYC on the following Tuesday, September 23, The United Nations Climate Summit hosted a gathering of political and corporate leaders from around the world and concluded upon a firm, intensive plan of action to cut down global emission levels.

Crawford believes that everyone can and should do their part to make this historic new sustainable vision a reality. He explained, "we don't want it to end with the march. We don't want this march to be this huge event and everybody expect a culmination of changes to occur. We want to bring the ideas that were represented at the People's Climate March back to Skidmore and continue to get the community involved with environmental movements on campus."

Lockdown on Skidmore College Campus

By Jacob Reiskin, Arts Director and Staff Writer This is a developing story.  Check soon for updates.

Suspect is in custody.  Lockdown has been lifted.

4:00 PM:The President's office has invited the campus community to an open forum in Gannett Auditorium at 5 p.m. today for an update on the situation and a review of our emergency procedures.  Northwoods is still being searched by a strong police presence.  Students have been asked to stay away from the area.

10:12 AM: Staff and faculty may report to classrooms. Campus Safety requests that everyone keep an eye out for suspicious items that may be evidence

9:57 AM: Classes to resume at 11:15 AM. The Dining Hall is open. Campus Safety requests that students, staff and faculty stay out of North Woods.

9:18 AM: The Skidmore News has put in a request for a comment from the President's Office.  Awaiting confirmation.

9:16 AM: 

9:04 AM:  Campus is still in lockdown for evidence search with all classes and activities still called off.

8:58 AM: Campus Safety confirms that the suspect is Shane Harding and that he is in custody.

The Saratogian has confirmed that Harding, wanted in Troy for sexual assault has been arrested on the Skidmore College Campus.

Harding, 25, is wanted for allegedly violating parole in connection with an attack described to them by an alleged victim. Harding was declared a Level 3 sex offender after a 2008 conviction in Rensselaer County. Troopers say he may be in possession of a handgun.

Photo of Suspect (Published by The Times Union):

Skidmore News reported the last lockdown in 2013

8:20: Fire fighting personnel seen leaving Sussman village.  Connection still unknown.

8:14 AM: From Skidmore Alert Email:

Suspect in custody on campus - Campus remains closed until police conduct evidence search.

8:09 AM: Fire truck has been spotted near the Sussman Apartments.  Connection to lockdown is unknown.

8:08 AM: Police appear to be dissipating from Wilson Chapel Area.  Police patrols still circling campus.

The Times Union has posted an article on the lockdown with the suspect, Shane Harding, 25 shown.

Police have now converged on the perimeter of North Woods, near Wilson Chapel.  No word on any findings.

Saratoga Police and State Troopers are patrolling campus in large numbers, with a report that entrances are being blocked.

As of 8 am this morning, classes have been canceled and email updates continue to stream to students.

At 7:04 an email went out to all students announcing a lockdown on campus, as seen below

Blurbs Overheard

 

“Alcohol: making you passionate about things you don’t care about.”

“You seem depressed, you should hold this crystal.”

“He was just smiling and smiling. He had so many teeth.”

“Bitch, my love goes 16 credits deep.”

“You like adjectives too much.”

“Part of why we have sex is because we’re afraid of dying.”

Fridge Poetry 1