Club Profile: The Skidmore Accents

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

The Skidmore News had the chance to talk to Emily Kortright '15, the co-President of the Skidmore Accents about their lively and active all-female a capella group.

Q: Who are the Skidmore Accents?

A: We are an all-female a cappella group who pride ourselves on our eclectic set lists that include a mix of folk, rock, pop, rap, gospel, hip hop, and soul. More than anything, we are just a bunch of ladies who really love to sing and love each other just as much.

Q: When did the group begin?

A: The Accents have been around since 1980.

Q: What makes it such a unique group on campus?

A: In my opinion, what makes the Accents so unique are our quirks. We are such a diverse and wonderfully weird group of people who each add something special to the group. Plus, it helps that we genuinely love performing with each other and for other people. When you’re doing what you love with the people that you love, it really shows.

Q: What are the benefits from it being an all-female a capella group?

A: Being in an all-female a cappella group is pretty much like being constantly surrounded by your sisters. Honestly, it’s a blessing and a curse in that there is no bullshit. We all care about each other and know way too much about each other’s lives, so you can’t hide when there are things going on; we work through things together. It’s really an amazing dynamic because it just makes us closer and the music we sing together even more meaningful. I can’t speak for other groups because the Accents are all I’ve ever known, but in my experience, being in all-female a cappella means that you have a constant support group of people who will be there for you no matter what and also cry tears of joy pretty much every time you sing.

Q: What has been your favorite song performed to date? 

A: That’s hard, but probably my favorite song was the Salt-N-Pepa Medley we sang in my freshman and sophomore years. It was a combination of “Shoop,” “Push It,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “Whatta Man.” It was absolutely ridiculous and I don’t think we ever sang the entire thing through without completely falling apart, but somehow it always managed to sound great and was always a hit.

Q: Along with that, how do you choose what song to perform?

A: At the end of the semester we have Song Selection, which is where we decide what songs to bring back from the previous semester’s set list, and then we choose usually 4 or 5 songs from a pool that is made up of 2 songs from each girl in the group. We listen to every suggested song and have about a million votes and really intense discussions before we finally get down to the winning songs. It’s really a grueling process that is impossible to get through without some sort of food being delivered and someone shedding at least a single tear. I’m only partially joking.

Q: How can one get involved with the Accents? Is there a tryout process?

A: We hold open auditions every semester for any ladies who just want to sing, so if you didn’t get a chance to tryout this fall, come on out in the spring. We love meeting new people.

Q: When is your next performance?

A: Our next performance is our Halloween Mini-Jam with Pulse in Gannet at around 9 on Friday the 31st, but you can also hear us sing at Big Top this Saturday! Be on the lookout for posters and Facebook Events.

Skidmore Goes Apple Picking

By Noa Maltzman, Staff Writer

You might think that Photo club, Hillel, Women in Business and SkidEats have nothing in common due to their varying activities and goals; however they all had or are having an event that involves apple picking.

Both Hillel and Women in Business went apple picking on Sunday, Sept. 28.  After apple picking, Hillel posted on their Facebook page: “Apple picking was so much fun.” The fun didn’t stop there because following their return to campus, they went to the test kitchen where they baked apple crisp using the freshly picked apples. Not only did Hillel post on their Facebook page after apple picking but also Women in Business went to social media to discuss their success. WIB posted a picture of the group in front of the Saratoga Apple sign with a caption that read, “We had an awesome time apple picking today! #SkidmoreWIB.” 

In addition to apple picking, the co-president of Women in Business and founder of the club Lyssa Jackson ’16 said, “We [WIB] also ate cider donuts, bought fresh produce, and grabbed goodies like maple syrup, honey sticks, and other products like jam and maple candies.” Jackson also commented saying that WIB is, “incredibly supportive of one another and apple picking was a great bonding experience for a fall Sunday afternoon.”

Of these four clubs, Photo Club was the next to go apple picking. Due to the rainy weather the date had to be switched from Saturday, Oct. 4 to Sunday, Oct. 5. This change caused them to have a very small turnout of only four people.  Co-president Lauren Reilly ’15 said “because the group was so small, it ended up being a great bonding experience for the few members who were there.” Not only did Photo club pick apples, they took advantage of the setting and photographed their surroundings. “The orchards made for great landscape shots and backdrops for portraits,” said Reilly.

The last of these four clubs to go apple picking was SkidEats. They went apple picking on Saturday, Oct. 11. Just like Hillel, as they returned from their trip, SkidEats gathered to bake and eat apple pies and apple crisps.

If you missed the chance to go apple picking with these few but still want to go, keep your eyes open for notices about other clubs going apple picking or get a group of your friends together and go yourselves. Saratoga Apple, the local apple orchard, is only 16 minutes away and makes for a lasting memory and surplus of food to fulfill your fall apple-fix.

Trick-Or-Treat for a Cause

By Francesca Green '17, Contributing Writer

Trick-Or-Treat for The United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) started in 1950 when a group of children in Philadelphia went trick-or-treating with their pastor, not only for candy but also donations to send to UNICEF.

That first year they collected $17. Since that point, Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF’s popularity has grown exponentially and the program has raised more than $170 million to date. Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF has sent the UNICEF campus initiative at Skidmore supplies so students can participate in this nationwide effort. (Although Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is also in Canada and Hong Kong, the majority of its participants are found in the United States.)

This year will be the 64th anniversary of Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF and millions will participate: from NGOs and community-based groups to religious groups, elementary schools and college groups (like Skidmore’s own UNICEF campus initiative!). 

Here is an idea of what the money raised can buy: Only $1 is needed to provide potable water for a child for 40 days. $5 can feed a malnourished child for 5 days. 280 children can be vaccinated with only $10! And 100 children can be protected from malaria for $100. 

Our club will be going trick-or-treating on the 31st with children from local schools, churches, and we’ve even extended an invitation to faculty, staff and their families. Not everyone has to go trick-or-treating to participate or help out. We also have a website where people can donate whatever they can and every penny goes towards Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF and its cause. The website is: https://www.crowdrise.com/skidmorehalloween though people can of course also donate directly on UNICEF’s page online! Happy trick-or-treating!

Kashmir's Devastating Flood

By Janine Kritschgau '18, Staff Writer

Kashmir and neighboring areas are currently experiencing their most devastating flooding in recent history. Victims are struggling to find safety from the water, which has taken the lives of 460 people to date. Although the exact number of people displaced by the flooding is unknown, estimates near a million..

A group of students from Skidmore has responded to the crisis by forming The Kashmir Flood Volunteers Action Committee (KFVAC). The group, led by Ben Hinks ’15 and supervised by Professor Biberman-Ocakli of the Government department, gathered for the first time Thursday, Oct. 9 to discuss fundraising strategies.

KFVAC has decided that all proceeds will be sent directly to Samir Ahmad—a former colleague of Professor Biberman-Ocakli—who is currently teaching in Kashmir. Ahmad will distribute the funds throughout the community to help victims buy necessary items. KFVAC hopes to wire the donation within the next two weeks.

The Committee has generated a plethora of fundraising ideas, but decided to focus on a few—namely, collecting money online. Donations are being collected through a webpage hosted by GoFundMe, which has already raised $1400, just $600 short of the goal amount. . Other students can participate in the fundraising by buying grilled cheese sandwiches made by the FeelGood Club (date TBD). KFVAC is also in talks with Esperanto’s, a local global foods restaurant,  who would donate a portion of its profits on a specific day to the cause, but as of yet the effort has been unsuccessful. Instead, the group is trying to set up a table at Celebration Weekend to collect donations and spread awareness about the issue.

Stay updated on the cause by watching and reading the news and keep an eye out for KFVAC and their fundraising efforts as they strive to help out people who are in need.

Editorial: Following-up on Safety Alerts

by The Editorial Board

Skidmore College vigilantly addresses safety concerns on this campus. Students are often promptly alerted when a harmful incident has occurred, and we are usually aware of when our safety is in jeopardy. According to Skidmore’s annual Safety Report, every time an incident is “considered a threat to the students or employees,” the college issues out a “timely warning.” However, after students receive that initial notification, the Editorial Board finds that the updates tend to end there. We believe that there is a lack of follow-up from the administration to students regarding issues of safety in the aftermath.

For example, what happened to the armed criminal on campus two weeks ago? Why did he come to Skidmore in the first place? Considering the amount of rumors that spread at the time of the lockdown, the silence from the administration after the fact has fallen heavily.

In another recent instance, two students were assaulted on campus about a month ago. Campus Safety alerted students of the attack in a curt email, but we have heard nothing since that initial email. What happened to the assailants?

Sometimes, after a sexual assault has been reported, fliers are posted throughout campus, alerting the student body to the date and location of said incident. What happens to those perpetrators though? And what about those thefts of laptops from dorm rooms? Were those thieves ever caught?

How are we to know that any of these concerns are being addressed, and consequently, how can we as a student body feel safe in our own community?

These are the kinds of questions that the school leaves us in the dark to speculate. To remedy this, the Board asks that at regular intervals after the incident that prompted the initial alert, the student body receives an update with information on the kinds of safety concerns listed above; perhaps two weeks after the event, then a month and so forth until the problem has been resolved.

We recognize that in many situations, the College cannot legally release details, or in some cases, they just don't have details at all. Furthermore, there can be a need to respect privacy, particularly in cases of sexual assault. We do not necessarily ask that all explicit details be released. We would just appreciate knowing if, when, and how any progress has been made to ensure that our campus is a safer community. Even a note stating that the College is still looking into the matter would be appreciated.

Beyond assuring students of their safety, knowing that safety concerns on campus are taken seriously and handled effectively would encourage more victims to feel comfortable reporting incidents, thus ensuring a safer environment. Currently, the amount of sexual assaults reported is far below its actual occurrence rate, with about 60% going unreported, according to the national average. If Skidmore proved that coming forth with an assault would ensure justice, or at least demonstrated that they will actively handle the issue, students would perhaps feel safer in reporting crimes.

The board is not asking that students be alerted to every crime, but if a matter is serious enough to elicit a text, email or poster on every door, students ought to also be reassured that the party responsible is being held accountable. Keeping us in the dark will only generate harmful rumors, fear and a sense of vulnerability. Even a short email could help alleviate some of those concerns.

The Literal Rise and Fall of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships

By Mia Merrill, Sports Editor The 45th artistic gymnastics world championships was held from October 3rd to 12th in Nanning, China.  I don’t know of anyone else who was excited as I was. It is safe to say that gymnastics is not a widely viewed sport, and so to those who understood my alternate cheering and moping this week, I thank you.

Gymnastics competitions can go one of two ways: the consistent gymnasts from the countries with the most well-funded programs hit their routines and win, and specialists—gymnasts who concentrate on only one apparatus—help boost the team score. Or, because gymnastics is a sport about balancing on thin objects, holding yourself up with your core muscles for long amounts of time, and defying the laws of physics, the top qualifiers slip and fall and someone else gets the medal. It’s a brutal sport to do and see.

This would be an extremely long article if I went through all the details of each all-around and event final, but there is a cheat sheet at the bottom of this article that lists winners and medal counts by nation.

The main events of the competition were the men’s and women’s team finals. This was the first international team competition since the 2012 Olympics. China and Japan were very close throughout the men’s final, and the gold ultimately went to the home team of China, the reigning Olympic champions. Japan, who also won the silver in 2012, was awarded silver again, and the US won bronze. The US bronze is a major accomplishment after their fifth place Olympic finish.

The US women’s team won the gold, adding to their 2012 Olympic win and 2011world championships win. The US won by 6.693 points, which is a huge margin for gymnastics. Most competitions are won by one or two points, and some are won by just a few tenths of a point. As for the other competitors, China won silver, and Russia bronze. China’s silver is huge for the women’s team, who did not make the podium at the last Olympics.

Kohei Uchimura of Japan won the men’s individual all-around for the fifth consecutive time. Uchimura was the 2008 Olympic all-around silver medalist, the world all-around champion in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014, and the 2012 Olympic all-around champion. Uchimura, the 2011 world floor exercise champion and the 2013 world parallel bars champion, is one of the most talented and successful male gymnasts of all time. Max Whitlock of Great Britain, the current European pommel horse champion, won the silver in the all-around, and Yusuke Tanaka of Japan won the bronze.

The major upsets of this world championships came in the women’s individual all-around and balance beam finals. This all-around marked the first in which Olympic champion and three-time world and European champion Aliya Mustafina of Russia has participated in and not made the podium in four years. Fans and critics expected Mustafina, the 2010 world all-around champion, to defend her 2013 bronze medal.

Simone Biles of the US defended her gold medal to no surprise. After becoming the first African-American to win the women’s title in 2013, Biles is now the first woman in twenty years to win the title for two consecutive years. Biles is a four-time US national champion and a six-time world champion—and she’s only seventeen, in case you wanted to feel inadequate.

Larisa Iordache of Romania won the silver in the all-around, an incredible accomplishment after struggling in international all-arounds for many years. Iordache is the current European floor exercise champion. Kyla Ross, a member of the gold-winning US women’s “Fierce Five” 2012 Olympic team and the 2013 world all-around silver medalist, won the bronze.

In the balance beam final, frontrunners Yao Jinnan of China and Iordache both fell off the balance beam, and finished in eighth and fifth place, respectively. Ross, the 2013 beam silver medalist, finished in sixth. Biles won her fourth gold of the championships on the beam, after winning the bronze in 2013. Mustafina, the 2013 world balance beam champion, won the bronze medal. Some critics have expressed annoyance at Mustafina’s bronze, claiming that her performance was not worthy of the podium and that she only succeeded because others failed.

But that is the nature of gymnastics: one person’s success depends heavily on another’s failure. Some say that Ross would not have won the bronze in the all-around if some of the top eight qualifiers, like Mustafina and Jinnan, had not fallen in their last event. In the 2012 Olympics, McKayla Maroney of the US won the silver on vault after falling, because almost all the other competitors also fell. That’s what makes gymnastics such an exciting sport to watch. And it is sure to be just as exciting at next year’s world championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Medal Count:

Women’s:

United States: 7

People’s Republic of China: 4

Russian Federation: 4

Romania: 2

People’s Democratic Republic of Korea: 1

Men’s:

Japan: 6

People’s Republic of China: 3

United States: 3

Brazil: 2

Croatia: 2

Russian Federation: 2

Ukraine: 2

France: 1

Hungary: 1

People’s Democratic Republic of Korea: 1

The Netherlands: 1

United Kingdom: 1

Results – Men’s:

Team: China, Japan, USA

Individual all-around: Kohei Uchimura (Japan), Max Whitlock (Great Britain), Yusuke Tanaka (Japan)

Floor exercise: Denis Ablyazin (Russia), Kenzo Shirai (Japan), Diego Hypolito (Brazil)

Pommel horse: Krisztian Berki (Hungary), Filip Ude (Croatia), Cyril Tommasone (France)

Still rings: Liu Yang (China), Arthur Zanetti (Brazil), You Hao (China)

Vault: Ri Se-gwang (North Korea), Ihor Radivilov (Ukraine), Jacob Dalton (USA)

Parallel bars: Oleh Vernyayev (Ukraine), Danell Leyva (USA), Ryohei Kato (Japan)

Horizontal bar: Epke Zonderland (The Netherlands), Kohei Uchimura (Japan), Marijo Moznik (Croatia)

Results – Women’s:

Team: USA, China, Russia

Individual all-around: Simone Biles (USA), Larisa Iordache (Romania), Kyla Ross (USA)

Vault: Hong Un-jong (North Korea), Simone Biles (USA), Mykayla Skinner (USA)

Uneven bars: Yao Jinnan (China), Huang Huidan (China), Daria Spiridonova (Russia)

Balance beam: Simone Biles (USA), Bai Yawen (China), Aliya Mustafina (Russia)

Floor exercise: Simone Biles (USA), Larisa Iordache (Romania), Aliya Mustafina (Russia)

Walsh named Defensive Performer of the Week

Skidmore College women's soccer sophomore goalkeeper Deirdre Walsh was named the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week after registering back-to-back shutouts against conference opponents. Walsh made five saves in the Thoroughbreds (5-4-2, 2-0-2 Liberty League) 1-0 win at Bard and turned away four shots in Saturday's 1-0 win over Clarkson, improving to 5-1-2 on the season. She has conceded just one goal in four conference games this season, posting a .975 save percentage and a 0.33 goals against average in those contests. Walsh ranks fourth in the conference in save percentage (.860) and goals against average (0.76).

Skidmore hosts league-leading #11 William Smith at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.

Field Hockey Edges Williams, 3-1

By Skidmore Athletics The Skidmore College field hockey team battled to a 3-1 non-conference win against Williams College on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Wagner Park.

The Thoroughbreds (10-3), who beat the Ephs (7-5) for the eighth consecutive time, secured their tenth straight 10-win season and their 18th straight winning season. Skidmore has won ten games in 17 of the last 18 seasons.

Williams jumped out to a 1-0 lead 25 seconds into the contest, as Alex Bennett picked out Caitlin Conlon alone in front of goal, and she slotted home a shot from ten yards.

Dani DeGregory ’16 provided Skidmore's response just over a minute later with her 21st goal, collecting a loose ball at midfield and dribbling past the lone Ephs defender, before converting on the breakaway.

Sam Skott ’15 doubled the Thoroughbreds lead in the eighth minute, lifting a close range shot over Williams goalkeeper Margaret Draper into the back of the cage. Jenn Hanks ’16 netted her third in goal in as many games in the 19th minute, scoring on a penalty stroke.

Skidmore nearly extended its lead from a penalty corner in the 26th minute, but Draper made back-to-back saves to keep her team within two at the break.

The Ephs mounted the pressure late in the second half, but Skidmore goalkeeper Amy Beck ‘15 came up big, making three of her four saves in the final 15 minutes to seal the win.

The Thoroughbreds outshot the Ephs 14-6 and had an 11-6 edge in corners. Draper finished with six saves in goal for Williams.

Skidmore closes out its non-conference schedule on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at SUNY Oneonta.

Women's basketball hosts Supplemental Day Hab

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 8th the Skidmore College women's basketball team worked on passing, dribbling and shooting with 13 people in Supplemental Day Hab. Several teams host clinics throughout the school year to teach Saratoga Bridges Supplemental Day Hab participants about their sport. Students and participants create friendships established through clinics and are reinforced when they see each other on campus for games and other clinics. This gives a deeper sense of community for both groups. Additionally, students develop an understanding of how to teach their sport to others who might not have any prior understanding of the game, and learn to adapt the sport to be accessible to people of varying abilities. "We look forward to seeing the ladies on the court and on campus this season," said Winnie Pino, a Saratoga Bridges Supplemental Day Hab instructor. "Thank youand good luck!"

Pianist Baytelman to present the work of Jewish composers in Oct. 26 recital

Pola Baytelman, distinguished artist-in-residence in the Skidmore College Music Department, will celebrate the music of Jewish composers with a piano recital on Sunday, Oct. 26, the latest in Skidmore’s Jacob Perlow series of events.  

Free and open to the public, the recital will begin at 3 p.m. in the Arthur Zankel Music Center on the Skidmore campus. The audience-friendly program features selections by Mendelssohn, Schoenberg, Schoenfield, Milhaud, and Schulhoff.

Baytelman has earned acclaim for her performances and recordings of Latin American and American composers – which represent her native Chile and her adopted home. The upcoming concert provided her a chance to explore her roots, said the pianist, who is Jewish. “I have been considering this project for quite a while now. It represents the culmination of an exploration of my roots. I have a recording of works by Latin-American composers, and my new CD, released in April, consists of music by American (US) composers, the US being my adopted country. Working on a project that would include Jewish music seems to be a natural path to follow,” Baytelman said.

She made her debut with the Chilean Symphony Orchestra at the age of 17 and has since performed with numerous orchestras, in the US and abroad. After graduating from the University of Chile’s National Conservatory, Baytelman earned a master’s degree and an artist diploma from the New England Conservatory in Boston as a pupil of Russell Sherman under a Fulbright grant. She earned a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Texas, Austin, where she studied with Nancy Garrett.  She has also worked with Claude Frank and Menahem Pressler.

An active recitalist with a broad repertory that ranges from the 18th to the 21st century, Baytelman has toured extensively in China, Europe, Hong Kong, South America, and across the United States. She is well known for her performances of music by Spanish and Latin American composers, particularly the music of composer Isaac Albéniz. Baytelman has performed Albéniz’s monumental Iberia throughout the U.S., and recorded a groundbreaking CD of Albéniz’s work in 1998 (Elan).  She is also the author of a book on Albéniz's piano music published by Harmonie Park Press in Michigan.

Highly respected as an artist and educator, Baytelman has taught master classes in mainland China, England, Hong Kong, and throughout the US. She is a sought-after judge for international competitions in both Europe and U.S., as well as presenter-recitalist in conferences in the U.S. and abroad. Her Skidmore faculty colleagues chose Baytelman to present the Edwin M. Moseley Faculty Research Lecture-Recital in 2006, the highest honor Skidmore faculty confers on a colleague. Her latest compact disc Celebration of the New - American Composers was just released by Albany Records. Baytelman’s recording of Robert Schumann’s Humoreske (2002 Centaur) was listed by American Record Guide as one of the top three performances of the classic work.

A generous grant from the estate of Jacob Perlow—an immigrant to the United States in the 1920, a successful businessman deeply interested in religion and philosophy, and a man who was committed to furthering Jewish education—supports annual lectures and presentations to the Skidmore and Capital District communities on issues broadly related to Jews and Judaism.

Campus Safety Reports Sept. 26-Oct.2

INCIDENTS OF NOTE:  

• Wednesday, October 1 2014: INFORMATION RECEIVED ON KIDNAPPING: 5:30 AM received information concerning a suspect wanted by the NYPD that may be in the Saratoga Springs area. Advised all Officers and On-Call supervisor. Lockdown put in place. Investigation by outside Police Agencies ensued. Suspect captured on campus. Evidentiary investigation ensued.

Friday, September 26 2014

• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 2:40pm - RP reports a suspicious odor in Wait Hall. Disp. Officer who confiscated items. Report made.
• EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TESTING 3:59pm - Campus Safety in conjunction with the Communications Office conducted a semi-annual test of the Emergency Management Systems and found all to be operational at this time.
• FIRE ALARM-ACCIDENTAL 9:03pm - Received a fire alarm for the Sports Center. Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 10:46pm - RP states there is a suspicious person at the Spa in Case Center who is making students feel uncomfortable. Officers who located subject and will be escorting him from the area.
• LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION 10:47pm - Officer reports an alcohol violation. In Jonsson Tower Report made.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 10:53pm - RP reports damage to the sheetrock at the base of the wall of Kimball Hall. Photos taken. Report made.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 11:05 PM Noise complaint in Sussman Apartments Officers who report area is quiet at this time.

Saturday, September 27 2014

• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 1:15 AM: RP reports loud noise in Wilmarth Hall. Dispatched Officers who report no noise at this time.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF- 2:07 AM RP reports a male hitting something with a baseball bat in Cane Crossing. Dispatched Officers who confiscated the bat. Report made.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 2:59 AM: RP reports loud noise coming from first floor of Wait Hall. Dispatched Officer who reports GOA.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 3:24 AM: Officer reports graffiti on north elevator walls of Jonsson Tower. Photos taken. Report made.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3:20 AM: RP reports that when he came back to his room he found a male sleeping in his bed in Jonsson Tower. Dispatched Officers. Officers unable to locate individual. Subject GOA.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 6:45am: RP reported finding a male sleeping on the floor in classroom in Ladd Hall. Disp. Officers who identified the male and escorted him from the building.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 08:58 am - RP reports a suspicious vehicle outside Harder Hall. Officer dispatched. Vehicle found to be unoccupied. Officer checked the area for owner but were not able to locate subject. Officer cleared. Officer rechecked the area at 10:05 am and the vehicle was gone.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 7:22pm - Fire alarm received from Sussman Apartments. Officer, Maintenance and advised SSFD. Alarm was due to a burning candle. SSFD advised and continued response. Alarm reset.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 8:07pm - Fire alarm received from Sussman Apartments. Officer, Maintenance and SSFD.  Due to cooking. Alarm reset.
• GRAFFITI 8:55pm - Officer noted graffiti in the stairwell of Jonsson Tower. Photos taken. Report made.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 9:14pm - RP reports a hole punched in the wall of Wiecking Hall. Photos taken. Report made.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 9:54pm - RP states there are three males that appear to be sitting on the apartment roof at Dayton Drive. Officer who reports subjects GOA.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 10:44pm - RP states there is a large gathering of students congregating on Tower Greens who may have alcohol. Officers who report no problems at this time.  Group is playing a game with no alcohol present.

Sunday, September 28 2014

• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY- 12:18am - RP states there is a person dressed all in black with a hood on just standing on the hill overlooking the parking lot in Northwoods. Officers searched both Northwoods and Sussman Village to no avail ~ subject GOA.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 4:50 PM: RP states the Woodlawn street sign is missing and requests Campus Safety keep a look out for it in case it appears on campus.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 9:20 PM: RP reports there are two older males rummaging through recycle bins in Northwoods Apartments. Officers dispatched. 9:44 PM: Officer reports several students picking through trash dumpsters for a lost item. Students were asked to stop and clear out and complied.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:53 PM: RP reports a suspicious odor in the basement of Wait Hall. Officer dispatched. Unfounded.

Monday, September 29 2014

• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST- 12:09 AM: Received 911 call from Kimball North Entry. Dispatched Officers who report no one in the area and no emergency exists in the area at this time.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 12:42PM: Fire alarm activation received. Disp. Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD. Due to cooking in Sussman Apartments, report generated.
• AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT 2:45 p.m.: RP reports receiving harassing/annoying messages from an acquaintance. Report made.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – OTHER 5:30PM: RP reports students on balcony of Jonsson Tower. Report made. Balcony closed.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – OTHER 05:07 PM: RP observed a couple of people who may be smoking marijuana outside Wilson Chapel. Officer who reports subjects are rolling their own cigarettes with regular tobacco.
• BURGLARY - NO FORCE 05:30 PM: RP in office to file a report of a missing camera in Kimball Hall. Report made.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 08:38 PM: RP called stating that she could hear yelling coming from a bathroom while she was in the 2nd floor hallway of Ladd Hall.  Officers who report no one in either bathroom.  Unable to locate any problem.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:43 PM: RP reports a suspicious odor near Scribner Library.  Officer who report the odor has dissipated and no one is in the area currently.

Tuesday, September 30 2014

• WELFARE CHECKS- 1:31 PM 1:31pm: RP request a check be made for daughter living in Sussman Apartments as she has been feeling ill and cannot be reached. Disp. Officer who reports Student is fine and is calling her mom.
• TRESPASS ENTERS WITHOUT PERMISSION- 4:05 PM RP called stating there is a person going through the recyclables in Northwoods. Officers who identified and warned subject off campus and told not to return.
• WELFARE CHECKS- 10:12 PM RP called requesting a welfare check for her son in Rounds Hall. Officers who located student in his room.  He states that his phone is dead but will return the call when phone is charged. Called parent and advised her.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY- 8:01 AM RP States the door to room in Rounds Hall is wide open and neither occupant is there. A call placed to both occupants went right to voicemail. Dispatched Officer who reports locating once occupant asleep in bed and the other occupant was reached successfully by cell phone at this time
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY- 2:58 PM RP called stating there is a couple walking down Clinton St carrying something like a sleeping bag. Officers checked the area to no avail. Subjects GOA.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY- 1:00 PM RP advised of an incident which occurred last week in the Northwoods and Falstaff’s lot making her feel very uncomfortable regarding a strange male existing the Northwood trails at Falstaff’s Lot and thought she should report it due to todays incident. Report made.

 Thursday, October 2, 2014

• SUSPICIOUS ODOR- at 11:20 AM RP called stating there is an odor of gas in the area of Case Center and the Library. Dispatched Officer and Maintenance who report they are unable to detect any gas odor at this time. RP was advised to contact Facilities or Campus Safety immediately if the odor returns.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER – at 11:43 AM Fire alarm sounded. Dispatched officers who report alarm caused by cooking. SSFD advised. Report made.
• AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT- at 2:10 PM RP received an e-mail from an unknown person that was critical of a coach
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER- at 4:26 PM Fire alarm received from Sussman Apartments. Officers dispatched, maintenances and advised SSFD. Due to cooking.
• NOISE- 8:04 PM Officer dispatched to noise complaint in Sussman apartments and reports call was unfounded. No excessive noise found.
• NOISE- 10:37 PM RP reported loud music and excessive noise from Sussman Apartments. Officer responded and residents of apartment complied in turning down noise.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR- 10:38 PM, RP reported a suspicious odor. Officer checked and was unable to determine the source.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE- 11:34 PM Officer dispatched to loud noise disturbance call relating to an encounter from earlier in the evening of same nature near Sussman Apartments. Officer reports unregistered party. Report made.

Skidmore Rolls Past Bard for Liberty League Win

By Skidmore Athletics  

The Skidmore College women's soccer team broke into the Liberty League win column, with a 1-0 win at Bard College the night of Tuesday, October 7.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 4-4-2 overall and 1-0-2 in Liberty League play. The Bard Raptors are 4-8-1 and 0-4.

After a scoreless first half, Emily Saliterman ’17 scored her sixth goal of the season at 59:10, when she forced a turnover at the top of the box and caught the inside top right corner.

Skidmore outshot Bard 25-11 and had a 4-2 edge in corners.

Goalie Deirdre Walsh ’17 had five saves for her third shutout of the season.

Skidmore will host Clarkson University on Saturday, October 11, at 3 p.m.

Glens Falls Community Fighting Back for Reproductive Rights

Presenting an evening of political theatre that flips the “pro-life” movement on its head GLENS FALLS, NY (Sept. 15, 2014): MOM BABY GOD, Madeline Burrows' one-woman show based on her two years undercover at anti-choice conferences taps into the smoldering political conflict in the US surrounding reproductive rights is leaving audiences around the country inspired and galvanized to action. MOM BABY GOD is pleased to present a one night only performance in Glens Falls, NY on Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 pm at the Charles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students. To purchase tickets call 518-480-4878 or visit mombabygod.com.

Glen Falls has become a microcosm of our nation’s reproductive rights debate. Life-sized statues of Jesus and Mary loom over the sidewalk opposite the city’s Planned Parenthood, which is seeing a growing presence of anti-choice protesters. This ostentatious showing of anti-choice sentiment hasn’t gone unanswered. Resident Enid Mastrianni saw the “tremendous amount of passion and anger aroused amongst the women of Glens Falls who have relied on Planned Parenthood for over forty years” and acted, joining Get Your Girl On, a local organization founded by Joy Kaczmarek that supports women’s access to health care. Get Your Girl On is bringing the nationally acclaimed performance, MOM BABY GOD to Glens Falls to unite the area’s pro-choice community. All proceeds from the performance will go directly to the Planned Parenthood Glens Fall Health Center, providing financial support for women seeking reproductive health care as well as improving security and privacy for their patients and staff.

MOM BABY GOD has quickly moved from the campus of Hampshire College, located in quaint Amherst, Massachusetts, to a national platform. The play's stand-alone quality as a piece of art fills seats with theatre critics and activists alike, while its provocative content and immersive portrayal of American girl culture at the mercy of the War on Women engages new audiences from all walks of life. Jaclyn Friedman, editor of Yes Means Yes and founder of Women, Action & the Media describes MOM BABY GOD as “a tour-de-force performance” that is “life altering and silly at the same time.” Gwen Tulin, a Chicago theater artist and audience member says, "I haven't seen anything that made me feel such a strong call to action since the original Laramie Project." It’s clear that MOM BABY GOD is on to something: reestablishing theatre as a tool for political change. MOM BABY GOD has seen its share of conflict: At the show’s New York premiere last October, Students for Life of America Executive Director Kristan Hawkins sent a member of her organization to the performance equipped with spy-glasses to illegally videotape the event. In her ‘exposé’ of MOM BABY GOD in the National Review, Hawkins called the footage "...too vulgar to release to the general public" and other right-wing media outlets have published reviews condemning the play - despite having never seen it or read the script. "We suspect that Hawkins quickly realized she would be in gross copyright infringement should she release the footage," says Burrows. "That, and people would actually see what the play is about."

Now on the heels of a successful national tour, Burrows and her team are emboldened by the positive receptions they’ve received with each successive performance and are excited to lend their voices to grassroots movements for reproductive rights and Glens Falls is no exception. Get Your Girl On will lead a peaceful Pro-Choice Voices rally on Saturday, October 11 at noon. The demonstration will begin at the Civil War Monument at the intersection of Glen and South Streets after which the participants will walk to Planned Parenthood. Burrows is ready: "It's about time the pro-choice movement pushed back; we've been stumbling and failed to notice just how close we are to losing the rights to control our own bodies. I couldn't be prouder to stand at the helm. Bring it on."

MOM BABY GOD is written and performed by Madeline Burrows and features lighting, projection and sound design by Allison Smartt. Emma Weinstein is the director. To schedule a review, or for more information and other press inquiries, contact Allison Smartt at mombabygod@gmail.com.

The Blue Side: The Inevitability of Marriage Equality

By Jeremy Ritter-Wiseman '15, Columnist Since the demise of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013, marriage equality has been on a meteoric rise to become the national standard. DOMA, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Since then, bans on gay marriage have been ruled unconstitutional in district and state courts across the country. Additionally, U.S. Appeal Courts in four circuits have concomitantly affirmed the unconstitutionality of the states’ bans. Opponents of gay marriage have retained hope, appealing to the Supreme Court to overrule the circuit courts’ rulings. They had retained this hope at least until this past Monday.

By refusing to hear appeals from the Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts, the Supreme Court might have tacitly legalized gay marriage in America. With the ruling on Monday, gay marriage bills are now able to move forward in the five states of Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. With these states added, the tally is 24 states and the District of Columbia which now recognize same sex marriage. Furthermore, the ripple effect of the ruling may lead to the more states recognizing same sex marriage and could well expand to 30 states within weeks, covering a majority of Americans.

The public is growing weary of arguments against gay marriage. While there was little reaction to Monday’s ruling, challengers decried judicial activism, which would delegitimize the ruling. Perhaps most vocal, Texas Senator and presidential hopeful Ted Cruz was quick to admonish the court, calling the ruling “judicial activism at its worst.” While Cruz is not wrong to remain alert to the consequences of judicial activism, he should tread carefully when it comes to rulings on civil liberties.

Many arguments against the “redefinition” of marriage and the Supreme Court’s ruling echo arguments heard during the civil rights movement. Those who opposed the ruling on Brown v. Board of Education, which ended segregation in public schools, also lamented judicial activism as playing an irresponsible role.

Current arguments against same-sex marriage are as baseless as the ones made in response to the civil rights movement. In a recent example, Judge Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court addressed the only “rationale that the states put forth with any conviction” as being “so full of holes that it cannot be taken seriously.” This seems to be the consensus on most claims that decry gay marriage as a detriment to society.

Many also cite religious beliefs in defense of upholding “traditional marriage.” During his campaign for the Republican nomination in 2011, temporary frontrunner Senator Rick Santorum defended his opposition to same-sex marriage by placing himself as the victim. He stated, “So now I'm a bigot because I believe what the Bible teaches.” He’s right – Santorum is not a bigot because he believes in what the Bible teaches him. He does, however, represent the epitome of bigotry when he imposes his intolerant beliefs on others by advocating for anti-gay marriage laws as a politician. The United States was founded on a fundamental separation between church and state and should thus discount any and every religious argument against gay marriage. These arguments nevertheless persist, necessitating the need to further devalue them in court.

The near future bodes well for marriage equality. Soon same-sex couples in two-thirds of the country will likely be able to marry freely. Despite small hiccups since Monday’s ruling, like Justice Anthony Kennedy’s decision to block an appeals court ruling that struck down a gay marriage restriction in Idaho, marriage equality’s inevitability was proven further in the lack of outcry from the Republican Party. Although Congress is currently out of session, a landmark ruling like Monday’s would be expected to invoke fervent attacks, such as those offered by Senator Cruz. However, the GOP was uncharacteristically quiet, potentially suggesting a conscious decision to capitulate in the fight against marriage equality. Republicans are undoubtedly aware of their disparate views on social issues and the negative affects they may have on national elections prospects.

With an unspoken surrender by the Republicans, and with a majority of states soon likely to recognize same-sex marriages, it will prove unlikely that the Supreme Court would overturn a lift on marriage restrictions in the states. However, instead of simply refusing to hear appeals on lifting the ban to marriage equality, the Supreme Court should affirm a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, as there are many states, primarily in the Deep South and Midwest, where lifting of restrictions seems distant. Nevertheless, the momentum of the national gay rights movement does not appear to be ceasing. Now tacitly backed by the highest court in the country, the movement will inexorably result in marriage equality becoming the law of the land.

Editorial: The Benefits of Big Show

By the Editorial Board

Skidmore's Student Entertainment Committee (SEC) funds, organizes, and hosts a musical act every year to perform for the student body at our annual Big Show. There is always a significant amount of debate surrounding the event and choice of performer. In past years, SEC has brought us the Dirty Projectors, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Dead Prez, and Mayer Hawthorne. Since the announcement of Chance the Rapper as this year's Big Show performer, the student community has voiced strong opinions, both positive and negative, about the choice of the prominent rap artist. The Editorial Board would like to take a step back from the heated debate and recognize the positive community aspect of the Big Show.

Big Show enjoys one of the highest turnout rates of the year, regardless of the performer. This year, SEC planned to sell just under 2000 tickets. As a point of comparison: Gannett Auditorium, frequently half-filled when we host distinguished lecturers, seats 271. At a school where sports games, lectures, and student performances frequently struggle to draw a big crowd, it is nice to have an event that students will turn out for. When all of your friends and classmates are purchasing tickets, it is hard to resist the urge to plan to attend. Even those people who complain about the choice of performer will likely show up. Rarely does Skidmore host an event attended by the majority of the student body. There is an energy and excitement to standing in a crowd with your classmates, and to be able to discuss it with everyone in the following week.

Like any event, there are components that could be improved. Maybe it would be advantageous to have a widely-publicized vote within the campus community to select the top choices for Big Show performers. But with such a diverse community represented at Skidmore, settling on a single artist that appeals to everyone is nearly impossible The budget for Big Show is enormous, disproportionately larger than what it costs to bring other big name speakers or performers. We could question whether we want to spend this huge sum on one event or break it up to bring several different performers who may appeal to a wider variety of musical tastes.

There are several other aspects of the Big Show that could be improved, too. SGA has planned an excellent Oktoberfest weekend, including a Big Show after-party at Harvey's, but there is no post-show event for those under 21. Furthermore, the event was not widely publicized-- it was primarily word-of-mouth. Getting the word out about this great event, with more flyers and posters, would help build hype on campus before Saturday.

At the end of the day, there will never be a consensus about the performer and no event is flawless. Chance is a huge name and should put on a great show. Big Show is a chance to see your community assembled in one place and party with your peers. We're looking forward to it.

The Skidmore Community Garden

By Jessica Kong '16, Staff Writer

The newest addition to Skidmore’s architectural and natural collection, the Skidmore Community Garden , sits cheerfully at the entrance of our campus. Rows of lush, healthy vegetation have been sprouting from the ground just steps outside of the student residence halls since last semester. Curiosity leads one to ask: where do the products of the garden go?

Eliza Hollister ‘15, an Environmental Studies major and current manager of the community garden on campus revealed it all goes to the dining hall. “All the vegetables that we produce, we sell to the dining hall. All the produce that is being grown here will end up in the dining hall in something that they cook, so the students and whoever else is eating there will be consuming the vegetables that are grown in the garden.”

Hollister began her work as the manager last November, breaking ground in front of Wiecking Hall by getting the soil ready for sowing. In the spring of 2014, she and a cohort of ‘green’ volunteers did some preliminary planting. Hollister elaborated on the first steps taken to create this lovely garden: “We couldn’t plant immediately because it was all new and we had to build the garden before we could plant in it. We started in little plant cells and we transplanted [them] to the garden. Some of the peppers were transplanted; we had some cucumber transplants.”

Look for spinach, squash, and carrots the next time you go to the Dining Hall. You may find that nearly every station incorporates some of this produce  in the food offered.

Luckily, anyone with a passion for locally grown food can help out, indirectly or more hands-on . The Skidmore Community Garden club maintains an active website (https://www.facebook.com/groups/skidmorecommunitygarden/) and meets every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., and help is always welcomed. “Now, it’s mostly harvesting and planting a few things for next year and maintaining what we’ve already got planted, but as the season goes on, our meetings will turn into planning for following years. Thus, if people are interested, there’s a huge amount of stuff that needs to get done. People can come and help out, and people have been coming which is wonderful.” Make sure to check out the Skidmore Community Garden  and even help by reaching out to Eliza Hollister and the “green-team.”

Reel Talk: Gone Girl is very dark but immersive and incredibly well done

By Sean van der Heijden, Staff WriterDavid Fincher’s latest film adaptation, Gone Girl, is based on the wildly successful novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn. After his wife’s disappearance leaves many people believing he is the culprit, a man must piece together various clues in order to figure out what happened, and while the whole case quickly becomes the attention of the media. Intense, disturbing, and full of twists, Gone Girl starts off slowly, but becomes impossible to look away from by the end.

A lot of credit must be given to the two leads—Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike—who play Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple whose marriage slowly unravels until, on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing. Affleck plays his character very smugly the whole time, but—in contrast to a lot of anger at his initial casting—he is the perfect fit for the role: ambiguous, confident, and on edge, he leaves you wondering about his character’s motivations.

The movie, however, belongs to Pike, whose character becomes stronger as the movie progresses. She goes through an impressive range of emotions in the film, acting sweet, angry, seductive, tough, devastated, and disturbing—frequently all in the same scene. She’s shockingly good and incredibly engrossing throughout.

The supporting characters, too, are all great. Neil Patrick Harris especially stands out as the creepy ex-boyfriend of Pike’s character, and Tyler Perry can actually act as the know-it-all lawyer of Nick’s. Carrie Coon provides some dark comic relief as Nick’s sister, Margo, and Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit are very convincing as detectives of the case.

As I walked out of the movie, the only thing I knew for sure was that it was very well done. Fincher directs with precision and confidence, the cinematography is dim and moody, the editing between past and present perfectly timed and intense, and the score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross pulsates brilliantly throughout, bringing out the dark undertones of Flynn’s sharp screenplay.

This is a film that warrants so much discussion—not only in trying to figure out what the truth is, but also considering the critiques on marriage, the media, and police investigations. It may leave you feeling a little empty, a little gross, and a little confused, but Gone Girl is thought-provoking and definitely worth seeing. It’s also totally crazy and insane.

Overall: 9 out of 10.

Issues of Safety at Skidmore College and the World Beyond: A Discussion of Youthful Idealism & Harsh Realities

By Ryan Davis '17

There’s been no shortage of discussion regarding this year’s safety concerns at Skidmore. We’ve been getting a steady volley of emails from Campus Safety informing us of various dangers and crimes committed both on and off campus. Last week’s lockdown was probably the most dramatic of these cases.

In general, discussions that have taken place among students fall into one of two categories: Are there more safety reports this year at Skidmore due to an increase transparency? Or is the increase in reports a sign of the outside world changing for the worse? I wish to respond to the latter. What is the nature of this often-pessimistic world, and how are we to respond as a community? The question of what kind of world we live in is one that varies widely depending on who you ask. I don’t have concrete answers, only thoughts on the problems of our generation, and how we can respond to them.

I know I’m not alone in admitting that recent local acts of violence have left me a bit spooked. The recent assault just off campus that hospitalized two students has me checking my back a bit more often than I would have last year. The fact that one of the assailants involved was a Skidmore student troubles me even more. The string of burglaries on campus has me locking my door even when I’m just walking down the hall, and the lockdown has me valuing the quiet mornings we typically spend tired, groggy, and without fear. Having had such a quiet freshman year last year, these occurrences seem so uncharacteristic of our community. For the first-years, who have no prior experience at Skidmore to base their opinions off of, each new safety report must be more worrisome than the last.

The idealist in me wants to focus on how these are isolated incidents, and that by-and-large, Skidmore is a safe campus. Last week’s lockdown was an incredibly rare occurrence, and it was handled very well by Campus Safety and state law enforcement. Therefore, I believe that we cannot lose faith in Skidmore’s community due to fear. That ever-darkening world outside Perimeter Road can only taint our experiences here if we allow it to. Fear is toxic. Panic leads us to mistrust and be wary of strangers. A little caution is a good thing, but I worry that students will become terrified of meeting new people around campus, and our community will turn bitter.

I believe that Skidmore students are some of the kindest people I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. If we remember that we are a community, we can better maintain the safe and welcoming atmosphere that makes our campus so special. There will always be danger in the world. If we stand together, though, we can ensure that the campus itself is a safer place, simply by being aware and being there for one another.

However, it’s not quite that simple. What I have just said is a manifestation of youthful idealism. I grew up in a small town roughly the same size as Saratoga Springs, and I’ve always seen these kinds of communities as safe havens. I feel as though writer Matthew Arnold described this feeling best in his poem “Dover Beach:” “We are here as on a darkening plain / Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight / Where ignorant armies clash by night.” Published in 1867, the poem represents the world as it was 150 years ago. The present is very different, and yet still very much the same. There are global terrors to fear, such as Ebola, Russia’s recent military campaigns in Ukraine and Crimea, and the Islamic State. As college students growing up in this world, I fear idealism might not be enough. It is hard to stay positive about the state of our community when the outside world seems to be falling apart.

Maybe, as I’ve heard some people suggest, we do need armed guards at educational institutions. Maybe we do need road checkpoints, thicker doors, and a campus that is harder to access. Maybe such measures are the only ways to keep students safe. But I hope that it never comes to that, that we are stronger than the struggles we may face, and that with that strength, recent safety incidents may remain isolated, and stop occurring. If anything, I hope that discussions of how we as a community will respond to recent safety concerns will help bring us together, and make us stronger.

The Significance of Sleep

By Brittany Dingler '15, Peer Health Educator

In his June, 2013 Ted Talk “Why Do We Sleep,” Russel Foster – a circadian neuroscientist (think Bernie Possidente) – passionately fights for the importance of sleep not only as a resource for refreshing ourselves between action-packed days but also as preserving and enhancing our overall health and well-being.  More specifically, Foster digs in deep to the necessary effects of dozing-off, such as the stimulation of certain genes related to restoration and others that aim to conserve energy.  Foster also discusses how crucial cognitive processes tied to productivity require sleep, such as enhanced creativity and problem-solving ability.  This idea addresses the paradox of sleep for college students who spend their nights in Case Center (after being thrown out of the library) studying and writing papers that take away precious hours of sleep, when in fact sleep that is extremely essential to encoding the names and structures of amino acids or writing the sequel to The Fountainhead.

Doing your best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule by getting up at the same time every morning (even on the weekends, if possible) and starting to wind down around the same time in the evenings, can help to maximize energy levels during the day and improve your quality of sleep at night.  Additionally, creating an enjoyable and calming bedtime routine is an effective way of distancing yourself from the stressors of the day and preparing for a restorative slumber.   Lastly, to improve sleep quality at night, the Peer Health Educators recommend exercising early in the day, cutting off caffeine before dinner, and swapping out your electronics for a book so as to not disrupt the pineal gland’s normal, bedtime secretion of melatonin (essentially, the sleep hormone).  Although incorporating all of these changes at once may seem overwhelming, you’re likely to feel better after a few days with even just setting one or two goals for your sleep schedule.  Until then, get some rest and put down your iPhone.

Club Profile: African Heritage Awareness (AHA)

By Andrew Shi '15, Editor-in-Chief

The Skidmore News had the opportunity to interview, Nikhita Winkler, President of the African Heritage Awareness Club.

Q) What is the African Heritage Awareness club and why was it founded?

A) The African Heritage Awareness club (AHA) was founded for students who are of African heritage to have a place where they can build discussion and share their culture in a space with students who are interested in learning about African cultures. It was also founded with the purpose to bring more culture and cultural awareness to the Skidmore and Saratoga community, and to fill the gap in the education departments where there are not many courses representing Africa. 

Q) What is a typical meeting like?

A) A typical AHA meeting starts off with everyone in the room doing a dance (roll call) to get the energy going. Then there will be updates from events that have taken place during the weekends (we share pictures and videos), as well as E-board updates. We then spend some time discussing future events and ideas. The second half of the meeting is all about discussion topics and presentations of countries/documentaries. 

Q) Africa is a large continent. Is there a specific region that your club focuses on, or do you try to cover it all?

A) You are right. Africa is very large and then there are the other countries which are of African heritage/decent, making it even larger. We try to cover as many countries as we can, but it often depends on our members and which countries they represent or have sufficient knowledge about.

Q) When you raise awareness, are you focusing on a specific aspect of African heritage (e.g. cultural, political)?

A) We focus on raising cultural awareness and then we tune into specific issues about which to raise awareness, such as media advertising of Africa in America. We tackle issues and concerns as they come or as the topics arise during conversations in our general meetings. In addition, we hope to start collaborating with certain departments, such as the Anthropology department, to give students a more integrated experience of our native cultures which they learn about in class.

Q) What kind of events do you host, and what events can we look forward to seeing in the future?

A) We just performed during Peace Week in the Gannet Auditorium Lobby as an introduction to the screening of "Sweet Dreams," which is a documentary film about Rwandan women and their uprising after the Rwandan genocide. We played drums and did some cultural dancing as well as a presentation on Rwandan History. We also hosted a Game Night on Case Green, where we played traditional games with free pizza and African music. For the rest of the semester we plan to have two movie nights, our main event (AHA Festival), a themed Falstaff party, and an Africa in Focus Week. For the spring semester we will have similar events, but instead of a main event we will have a Charity month. 

We also plan to have African food served in D-hall, give African Drum and Dance workshops and bring in some speakers. In addition to our own events, we hope to collaborate with other clubs. 

6) Is there anything else you would like to the student body to know about the African Heritage Awareness club?

A) We are a new club, and we are not only a cultural and performing club, but also a club that aims to raise money through our activities for a charity we will donate to. We welcome everyone to join in on one of our meetings and enjoy the warm energy we share and hopefully learn something new about the largest and richest continent on earth. 

AHA meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the ICC (second floor of Case).