Campus Safety Reports Nov.7-Nov.13

Friday, November 7

• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 12:36 AM: RP called for loud noise in Kimball Hall. Disp. Officers who report the group was asked to quiet down and they complied.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 2:22 AM: RP stated there is loud noise on Whitman Way. Disp. Officers.
• BURGLARY - NO FORCE 11:32am: RP reports sometime between 2pm and 4pm yesterday person(s) cash from stolen from room in Penfield Hall. Disp. Officer. Report made.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 3:03pm: Report of missing pool sticks in Kimball Hall. Report made.
• BURGLARY - NO FORCE 9:12PM: RP reports money missing from room in Wilmarth Hall. Report taken.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 11:45 PM: RP reported loud noise on Moore Way. Dispatched Officers. Group dispersed.

Saturday, November 8

• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 12:26 AM: RP reported a noise complaint on Dayton Drive. Dispatched Officer who reports loud music. Volume lowered.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 12:50 AM: RP reports a noise complaint in Sussman Apartments. Dispatched Officer who reports loud talking. Subjects lowered volume upon request.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 2:15 AM: Officers heard loud music on Whitman Way. Occupants told to turn music down.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION CONTRABAND CONFISCATION 11:55 pm Officer reports confiscating a flask containing alcohol on Falstaff’s Pavilion. Alcohol dumped. Flask tagged and bagged.

Sunday, November 9

• FIRE-NON RESIDENTIAL 12:57 AM: RP reports seeing a small campfire behind Chapel. Dispatched Officer who reports students ran away and fire was extinguished.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY11:20 am - RP reports finding piles of human hair in the bathroom and hallway of Wiecking Hall. Officer and Housekeeping dispatched. Owner located. All is okay.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 11:35 am – RP reports an EXIT sign torn from the ceiling on the first floor of Wiecking Hall. Report generated.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 11:50 am – RP reports 2 suspicious people in Northwoods. Disp. Officer who searched the area. Subjects were gone upon officer arrival.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER7:46 PM: Fire alarm activation due to burnt popcorn in Sussman Apartments

Monday, November 10

• FALSELY REPORT AN INCIDENT 7:32am - RP reports finding a suspicious note stating regarding the denotation of a bomb in an academic building. Disp. Officer, SSPD, and nearby Police Agencies.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 9:20AM: RP reports unknown person entered apartment the day before in Sussman Apartments. Report taken. Found to be employee working on a problem in the apartment.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:40am - RP states the entire floor reeks of marijuana in Jonsson Tower. 12:04pm - Disp. Officer to conduct a walk-through. Officer states there is still a faint odor of marijuana by the elevators; however, he is unable to determine the source of the odor.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 1:00PM: RP reports suspicious odor in Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched, report taken.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2:09PM: RP reports person on bicycle with big bags on side in Case Center Green. Officer dispatched.
• HARRASSMENT – SIMPLE 2:20 p.m.: RP reports that an unknown male assaulted her boyfriend while they were having lunch at a cafe Saratoga Springs.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 2:20 p.m.: RP reports that an unknown male assaulted her boyfriend while they were having lunch at a cafe Saratoga Springs.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 04:43 PM: RP called to report a male playing a trumpet and yelling out about religion. Disp. Officers who identified the male and advised him to leave campus and not return.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 7:48 pm. Multiple reports of a burning odor around Campus. Advised Officers.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 09:46 PM: RP reports a suspicious odor. Disp. officers. Officers unable to location any odor. 11:15 PM: RP called back stating there is a suspicious odor. Disp. officer.

Tuesday, November 11

• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1:04pm: RP reports someone broke off her side view mirror on her car in west lot
• ACCIDENT 2:08pm: RP states he has accidentally backed into a pickup truck at the loading dock in Case Center Lot. Disp. Officer who responded and took a report.

Wednesday, November 12

• COLLEGE VIOLATION – NOISE 1:26 AM: RP approached a group of students being loud in Wilmarth Hall. They were instructed to lower the volume.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 8:09pm RP reports a rumor of someone building an explosive device in Northwoods. Disp. Officers who report locating the person who was building parts for a computer. No illegal activity occurring.
• CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY 8:40pm. RP reported observing two unauthorized males driving a college-owned golf cart in Harder Hall Lot. Disp. Officers who report locating the golf cart and males; identified as a students and reprimanded for their actions.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 08:26AM: RP called requesting a welfare check on her son in Rounds Hall. Officer dispatched and message delivered.
• PARKING 10:55AM: Officer reports booting a vehicle parked in Tower Lot due to it having numerous tickets for the same violations. Report issued.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY11:15PM: RP reports a suspicious activity in Howe Hall. Dispatched officers. Officers report speaking with a student who was upset. Situation alleviated.
• ACCIDENT 11:58PM: RP reports an auto accident at the bottom of Wait hill. Officers on scene. Officers report no injuries. Car was moved to West lot.

Women's basketball edged in season opener

The Skidmore College women's basketball team was held off by Trinity College, 65-62, Saturday evening in the second game of the 38th Skidmore Invitational Tournament at the Williamson Sports Center. The Thoroughbreds go to 0-1, while the Bantams move to 1-0.

Skidmore Freshman guard Kelly Donnelly posted a double-double, leading all scorers with 21 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. Angela Botiba added 12 points and nine boards and Amber Holgate chipped in with seven points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Thoroughbreds got out to a 10-2 lead to start the game, as Botiba and Donnelly rattled off four points each and Allie Keller added a layup. Trinity managed to pull within five just over six minutes into the half as Mackenzie Griffin converted on a layup and the ensuing free throw. Skidmore responded quickly, stringing together an 11-5 run and taking a 23-12 lead on a Donnelly jumper.

The Bantams continued to chip away at the lead and came back within two with a 12-3 run capped by a Melanie Mills layup, but the Thoroughbreds scored the final four points of the half to take a 30-24 lead into the break.

Molly McLaughlin hit a jumper to extend the Skidmore to eight, but Trinity put together a 10-4 run, tying the game at 38-38 on a Taylor Higgins 3-pointer. Skidmore responded with a 7-2 run with baskets from Migle Vilunaite and Holgate, but the Bantams hung tough, eventually taking a 56-52 lead with 6:18 to play after a pair of Mills free throws and three points from Higgins.

Holgate and Botiba provided a response for Skidmore, combining from 10-straight points to give Skidmore a 62-56 lead with 1:37 remaining. Sheena Landy's layup brought Trinity back within four with a layup and Kaitlin Lewis drilled a 3-pointer on the Bantams next possession to make it a one-point game. Bianca Brenz made two free throws pulling down a defensive rebound and made two more with 14 seconds remaining to put Trinity ahead 65-62. The Thoroughbreds had one last possession, but they could not find the shot they needed.

Higgins had a team-high 16 points for the Bantams to go along with five rebounds. Griffin had 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds and Christina Raiti had 10 points and five boards.

Skidmore shot 25-of-67 from the field and 2-of-8 from 3-point range, while Trinity was 23-of-60 from the floor and 5-of-14 from three.

The Thoroughbreds host the US Coast Guard Academy at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.

Beatlemore Skidmania 14: The Beatles Arrive in America A fall tradition at Skidmore explores globalization of The Beatles

Skidmore Music Professor Gordon Thompson and his students are heading into the home stretch before Beatlemore Skidmania 2014, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22, in the College’s Arthur Zankel Music Center. For this, the 14^th version of the annual event, Skidmore musicians will perform tunes from 1964 to showcase the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles going global by arriving in America. The show annually features a mix of a cappella groups, rock bands, and acoustic acts and their remarkably original interpretations of Beatles repertoire.

Said Thompson, “This year we celebrate the breakthrough of this important band into the American market. They had already achieved considerable success in Britain and Western Europe, but they had had very little success in the North American market. More fundamentally, they opened up the American market for British performers who had been largely treated as novelty acts up to this point.”

The program reflects this theme. Selections from the albums Hard Days Night, With The Beatles, and Beatles for Sale will be performed, as will the singles “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “This Boy,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “I Feel Fine.” (Please visit http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/music/courses/Skidmania/2014-Beatlemore/index.html to see the program lineup.)

As in the past, the production will serve as a fundraiser again this year. In 2013, approximately

$12,000 was raised from show proceeds and sale of such things as posters and T-shirts. Two thirds of that amount went to Skidmore Cares, the College’s community outreach program, and the other third was contributed to student financial aid.

Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Nov. 21, and at 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 22. (Ticket information follows.) The Saturday night show is reserved for a Skidmore-only audience. In recent years there has also been a live stream via the College’s web site to reach Skidmore alumni around the world. This year, first-year students in London will also have the opportunity to view the show over the web and there will be viewing parties for alumni in New York City and Boston. Boston-area alumni are welcome at Harvard Club – Back Bay, 374 Commonwealth Ave, from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 22, while New York City alums are invited from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Playwright Irish Pub, 27 West 35^th St. Admission to both events is $10 per person and $7 for young alumni. T-shirts and posters designed by students will be available for sale at each event. For more information, please contact the College's Alumni Affairs Office at 518-580-5610.

Over the years, Beatlemore Skidmania has morphed from a fairly casual, one-show songfest to a far more professional production staged three times over two days. This year’s show will feature more than 70 performers and “a much higher energy level among the bands,” noted Thompson.

Instead of this being a class project for his fall “Beatles Seminar” course, Thompson is working this year with a small group of students who are combining talents and their love of the Fab Four to produce the show. The 2014 Beatlemore Student Committee consists of Roslyn Wertheimer ’16, Noah Samors ’15, and Lisa Fierstein ’16. They are responsible for a significant number of show elements: selecting the line-up, choosing a poster winner, marketing, outreach, merchandise sales, stage crew, working with Skidmore Cares, and making sure the show runs smoothly. The three students are officially enrolled in an independent study, earning academic credit for an alternative educational experience.

Said Thompson, “In the past some students have said this is the most important educational experience they have had at Skidmore. It’s a hands-on look at putting together a show that allows students a chance to learn all aspects of a production, from the basic mechanics of recruiting performers and securing rights and permission for the music, to putting the performance together: balancing bands, a cappella, acoustic; the order and set-up of bands; and the quick exchange of performers. There’s a lot of planning involved to keep the show fresh and balanced.”

Tickets for the Nov. 21 and 22 Beatlemore Skidmania shows are $10 general admission, $7 for seniors, faculty, and staff, and $5 for students and children. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.skidmore.edu/zankel/

Posters are $5 and T-shirts, $15. They may be purchased in the Zankel lobby during the shows.

Almost from the start in 2001, Beatlemore Skidmania has been a fall performance tradition at Skidmore. It has typically attracted an enthusiastic group of students to audition, and audiences always include a solid mix of campus and community members. Thompson says, “I have only a general idea why it's been this successful. In part, it's become a tradition that people just expect. In part, the concert provides a context in which different student (and faculty) performers can share the stage.  In part, it’s the music, because the Beatles helped to establish the model that much of today's popular music follows. The intergenerational enthusiasm comes significantly from parents (and now grandparents) sharing their love of the music with their children (and grandchildren).”

Campus Safety Reports Oct.31-Nov.6

October 31, 2014 – Friday

• BURGLARY 11:00AM: RP reports possible burglary in dorm room of Rounds Hall. Officer dispatched, report taken.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 1:42PM: RP reports a burning hair/plastic odor in Art Center. Facilities on scene trying to locate the odor. Odor coming from hot wax in sculpture room.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION 10:47PM: RP called to report a large gathering in a room in Kimball Hall. Officers dispatched, report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 11:56PM: RP called to report a large party in Sussman Apartments. Officers dispatched, group dispersed, report generated.

November 1, 2014- Saturday

• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 12:11AM: RP called to report that he has called SSPD to advise of a large party off campus that is out of control. Officers advised.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 2:43AM: RP reports females are being too loud in Sussman Apartments. Officer dispatched, spoke with students who agreed to quiet down.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1:22PM: Officer reports graffiti in the north side elevator wall in Jonsson Tower. Report generated.
• LARCENY 5:00PM: Student reports her cell phone was stolen and is currently at an off-campus location. Report filed with SSPD.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 6:18PM: RP has wallet and requests to give directly to student. SSPD contacted & student contacted. Report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 10:43PM: RP caller reports excessive noise in Sussman Apartments. Students agreed to quiet down.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:51PM: RP reports a suspicious odor in Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched, report generated.
• LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION 11:21PM: Officer reports a Liquor Law Violation in Rounds Hall. Alcohol violation referral.

November 2, 2014- Sunday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION- 01:58AM: RP reports excessive noise on Whitman Way. Officers dispatched reports residents lowered volume upon request.
• LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION 01:33AM: RP reports liquor law violation in plain view in Penfield Hall. Report issued.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 12:53PM: RP reports a suspicious odor in Tower. Officer dispatched report no odor detected.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 08:03PM: RP reports a complaint of a suspicious odor emanating from the third floor of Jonsson Tower. Campus safety dispatched and no odor was detected.
• BURGLARY 08:32PM: RP reported items missing from his room in Penfield Hall. Investigation initiated and report issued.

November 3, 2014- Monday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION 12:16AM: RP reports excessive noise from third floor common area in Penfield Hall. Officers dispatched report group was located and instructed to lower the volume. All complied.
• FIRE ALARM 01:50AM: Fire alarm activated on Moore Way. Campus Safety Officers, SSFD, and maintenance dispatched. Burnt food determined to be cause. Report issued.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:05AM: RP reports odor of marijuana in Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched reports source of odor undetermined.
• HARRASSMENT 11:04AM: RP reports unwanted contact by student in Jonsson Tower. Report issued.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 12:40PM: RP reports permanent graffiti in stairwell of Jonsson Tower. Officer dispatched reports report issued and damage documented.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 08:56PM: RP reports a suspicious activity in Wiecking. Officers canvassed area for suspicious subject with negative results. Periodic checks made. No problems reported. Report issued.

November 4, 2014 –Tuesday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION 12:15AM: Excessive noise complaint on Whitman Way. Dispatched officers report condition corrected. Noise level lowered by residents.
• FIRE ALARM 09:22AM: Fire alarm activation received on Cane Crossing. Dispatched officers, maintenance, and SSFD. Source of activation determined to be a humidifier. Report issued.
• LARCENY 08:00PM: RP reports items of clothing taken from the third floor storage room of Wilmarth Hall. Investigation initiated and report issued.

November 5, 2014 - Wednesday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-Skateboarding 7:48PM: Officer reports skateboarders at the loading dock in Case Center Lot. Officer requests the two subjects to leave and they complied.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-Noise 11:18PM: RP reports a noise complaint in Penfield Hall. Officer reports subjects in area talking.

November 6, 2014 - Thursday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 2:38AM: RP reports noise complaint in common area of Wilmarth Hall. Students told to quiet down.
• FIRE DRILLS 10:26AM: Fire alarm testing conducted. Found to be a good drill. In Greenburg Child Care Center
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 08:26PM: Fire alarm activation received in Sussman Apartments. Units dispatched, due to cooking.

VOX Presents Sara Alcid

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor 

Many events regarding sexuality, sexual assault and gender equality have surfaced over the years. Within the last year, it featured most prominently in the Supreme Court case known as Hobby Lobby. These various themes are becoming increasingly visible in in everyday life. The Skidmore chapter of Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, is presenting a lecturer Tuesday, November 18th at 7 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium. Her name is Sara Alcid and she is a queer feminist activist and writer. She hails from the D.C area and is knowledgeable on these topics as well as the politics behind the fight for equality. Alcid has an academic background in Gender and Sexuality Studies where she brings together her strong knowledge of the subject with the practical modern perspective. Her work spans from the intersection of environmental health and reproductive health to dating as a feminist.

Alcid will be joining the Skidmore campus for an evening discussion titled, “The Politics of Sex and Reproductive Justice.” The description is as follows: “Where are today’s unprecedented attacks on birth control and abortion coming from? Join Skidmore Vox and feminist writer and activist, Sara Alcid, to explore the roots and nuances of the “war on women” through a reproductive justice and positive sexuality lens. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby, we must examine the stigma surrounding birth control, why it exists, how it relates to America’s campus sexual assault epidemic and impacts the LGBTQ equality movement. Attendees will leave this interactive presentation with a deep and intersectional understanding of the politics of sex and reproductive justice, plus the ability to apply it to other areas of feminist activism.”

Vox wanted to address these issues because of their current relevance and because of multiple incidents that  have involved the Skidmore community including the off-duty Campus Safety Officer.  At the end of last year, the club discussed bringing in a lecturer (Sara Alcid will be their first) to promote Vox’s mission of mobilizing student advocates and promoting healthy sexual lives.

This lecture will not just be geared towards female equality, but gender equality as a whole, which is in line with Vox's mission statement that focuses on gender equality and healthy sexual lives. Alcid, in accordance with Vox, has structured her discussion to involve talk about the treatment of women, Hobby Lobby decision, birth control accessibility and the stigma over reproductive rights.

The event will not just inform the students but will also educate Vox on these matters so that they may enhance their own discussion on  on Skidmore’s campus.

Check around for posters regarding the event!

Club Profile: Feedmore

By Jessica Kong '17, Staff Writer 

Matthew Weale ‘16 and Alexandra Hagney ‘16 are bringing relief to the local homeless population with help from Skidmore College. Feedmore is a local  hunger relief program that collects uneaten, yet perfectly edible food from the Skidmore College dining hall in order to supply vulnerable populations with a hot meal and a gesture of compassion.

Weale, a Mathematics major and Computer Science minor, explained what drove him to bring Feedmore to our campus: “When I first came to Skidmore, I was overwhelmed by the number of homeless people living in the streets, especially given the climate that we live in. It’s pretty treacherous. Also, working in the Dining Services really exposed me to the amount of food waste that was going on in the Dining Services.”

Weale was scrolling through Twitter one day when he came across a post about a similar program. Combined with his observations of the disheartening number of homeless people in Saratoga and his experience of working with Dining Services, he took the steps to assuage a  problem that had been troubling him for over two years. He contacted Hagney, a Business and Dance major, who was also having qualms about the amount of food being thrown away on campus.

Hagney says her interest in joining Weale were for the same reasons that inspired Weale to initiate the program. “Over two years in and out of classes, I’ve had peers do projects about issues on campus, one being food waste - but no one has really done anything about it. So once we started looking into other schools that were doing exactly what we wanted to do, we realized how easy it was. It was just about getting the right amount of people together, talking to the right people, and so we took on the initiative to do it. Coming from my background at home, I've always been involved with the community and Saratoga has been great to me so far, so why not give back a little bit?”

Every Tuesday and Friday morning at 9 a.m., the Feedmore club meets at the Atrium to work with Dining Hall staff members to collect the excess food into containers and drive it to the Saratoga Soup Kitchen on Circular Street.

Hagney says they have received a heartwarming response from student volunteers so far, but hopes for an expansion of the effort. “We had a lot of kids come that were just as passionate about it. There were freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors. We don’t necessarily know them, but we were able to connect with them on this common issue that we want addressed. It’s open to anyone. If you want to come down once, great! You made a difference. If you want to come down every Tuesday and Friday, that’s even better. We take as many people as we can, whoever wants to help. It’s definitely open to the entire community, so hopefully once we start going more, we’ll get more donations and more colleges involved.”

Weale says moving forward will require publicizing their work to the student body. “Going forward, I hope to open the eyes of the college community in realizing how much food is going to waste, whether it’s just the Dining Services planning to throw it away and Feedmore saving it before it’s thrown away, or it’s people just taking way too much food and then not touching it - which I think is another problem, but that’s something we can’t do anything about. I would like to ask more people to get involved. It's a really easy cause and its helping so many, and as we get into the winter and get to sleep in our warm dorms and go to the dining hall and eat great food, there’s still people out there five to ten minutes away who are struggling to get a hot meal on their plate or even a bed to sleep in. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for people to give back and to realize how lucky they are here at Skidmore as well as the things that we could do through our college to help out the community. Don’t be afraid to get involved!”

Check out the Feedmore Skidmore Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FeedMoreSkidmore?fref=ts) for more information.

Reel Talk: ‘Interstellar’ is a technical marvel and a beautiful film

By Sean van der Heijden

Christopher Nolan’s latest film, ‘Interstellar,’ has, as usual, divided fans and critics. Some are calling it pretentious, familiar storytelling, while others are saying it is a bold, unique film unlike any ever made. While you really have to watch it to find out, the film concerns a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in order to find another habitable planet while, back at home, earth is slowly wasting away.

The one thing that I can say about ‘Interstellar’ is that it is the most well-made film I’ve ever seen. Every shot is pure perfection—a work of art—and the visual effects are utterly stunning. Black holes, wormholes, and other space oddities are depicted here like never before—they actually had to invent new software based on the works of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne in order to achieve their vision. Other technical components, such as Nolan’s direction, a fantastic (but way too loud) score by Hans Zimmer, and striking cinematography from Hoyte Van Hoytema, all help add to the epic vision of space Nolan wanted to convey.

The acting, too, was very good. Everyone is at the top of their game, from Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine, to supporting actors like Casey Affleck, David Gyasi, Wes Bentley, John Lithgow, Ellen Burstyn, and (surprise!) Matt Damon. An additional standout was Mackenzie Foy, who plays McConaughey’s daughter and expertly sets up the emotional tension for the rest of the film.

So why are there so many detractors for this film? There really aren’t, it’s just that they are being very vocal, and for two reasons: first off, Nolan critics are always fast to point out his heavy use of expositional dialogue and overcomplicated plotlines. Both exist here, but for the most part are handled well. Secondly, the plot itself isn’t as grand as the ideas Nolan grapples with here. I don’t agree with every plot choice Nolan made—some parts were made overly dramatic for no reason, and small parts could have been cut—but thought the overall plot was pretty original and well thought-out.

Additionally, critics have pointed to the science in the film: while it’s mostly sound, a lot of it is very complex, and they do bend the rules a bit for plot purposes. I didn’t find either of these to be an issue, and everything was explained in pretty simplistic terms. Also, the film does happen in the future, so holding its world to the limited science of our world seems unfair.

It’s hard not to be moved by this film’s message, too—by its vision of the future, and by the urgency with which it pushes us forwards. Yes, it makes you feel tiny compared to the vast frontiers of space yet to be explored. But it also makes you hopeful—it makes you feel that, no matter what direction we are heading in as a society, there is always the possibility for change. For this, any issues with the film can easily be overlooked.

Overall: 9.5 out of 10.

Technology Disruptions in the Classroom: What Gives?

by Janine Kritschgau '18 Technology use in the classroom is getting out of control. I enjoy my social media just like most Generation Xers, but I have not reached the point of being addicted to texting, Facebook, and online shopping the way others seem to be. Unfortunately, the situation is getting dire. Just walk into any classroom and take a close look at its students. You will see them checking for status updates on their phones under tables or hidden behind books and computer screens. You’ll find students using iMessage to text their friends from laptops, and search for the hottest deals on a new sweater.

Educational institutions are struggling to balance the benefits and pitfalls of allowing students to use technology in class. Laptops can be useful for recording lectures, taking notes, and doing research, but can also simultaneously impede the classroom experience. Professors are taking sides; some are prohibiting the use of any sort of device during class, while others trust that students are using technology for educational purposes.

I am sorry to have to burst the bubble, but I rarely see the latter taking place. Even students who use computers to take notes often get distracted at least once, wandering onto social media.

Some students are agitated by professors cracking down on technology. Claiming that since it is their education, these students believe they have the right to shape their own classroom experience. But what they do not understand is that their behavior not only negatively affects their own academic experience, but also hampers the environment for everyone else. The truth is that glancing around the room to find students checking their Facebook, Yik-Yaking, or texting is distracting to other students and to the professor.

Professors aren’t blind. When they catch a student getting distracted, some pause the lesson and reprimand the student, often giving a short talk about how they feel disrespected and annoyed. Some go so far as to collect all cell phones in the class. No matter how dramatic the reaction, one thing is obvious; it’s a total waste of time, and therefore money.

The average student, taking four courses that meet on average twice a week, will attend 224 classes within the academic year. With tuition rates hovering at about $60,000, each class costs about $270. By this logic, every minute a professor has to spend scolding students and lecturing about respectful decorum in the classroom is worth just under $5. Considering some classes are as short as 55 minutes, wasting even a moment disrupting the classroom experience is shameful. Students in my classes, beware: the next time you cause a major disruption, you owe me a Starbucks.

Editorial: On Skidmore’s Sustainability Ventures

by The Editorial Board Skidmore College is making some great steps towards improving its sustainability. The school is on its way to achieving geothermal heating and cooling for 50% of buildings on campus. Palamountain Lot hosts an electric car-charging station. As of this past October, 12% of Skidmore’s energy is solar powered. The school is phasing in water-refill stations all throughout campus, and LED lights are being installed as well.

The future is looking very optimistic for Skidmore’s campus. However, the Editorial Board would like to see Skidmore tackle some more fundamental, albeit less exciting sustainability issues.

For example, Skidmore College has no LEED-certified buildings on its campus, which is highly uncommon for a school with the amount of funding that Skidmore has, paired with its focus on sustainability and environmental concerns. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification granted by the Green Building Certification Institute. The different levels of certification rate how efficiently and sustainably a building is designed, constructed, maintained and operated. A LEED certified-building would certainly boost Skidmore’s appeal for prospective students interested in attending a sustainable campus. It would also be a drastic improvement for the overall quality of Skidmore’s buildings.

Skidmore’s most recent building ventures, the new student apartments, have been somewhat unimpressive in regards to sustainability. The Northwoods Apartments were completed in 2006, with one further addition in 2011, and Hillside Apartments were completed in 2012. These projects are so recent, yet the quality of the buildings leaves much to be desired. Walls in the apartments (not to mention in dorms as well) are poorly insulated and the windows so porous that residents can often feel drafts from the outdoors. This also means that heated air is leaking out, which is a waste of energy. The windows are relatively small and feasible fixes that could ultimately save both energy and money, not to mention make the apartments more comfortable to live in.

The Board would like to see Skidmore elect to spend its money on basic, necessary improvements, like stronger windows, rather than spend millions of dollars on flashier improvements. Geothermal engineering and solar panels are both highly beneficial, but the less flashy improvements are equally meaningful.

The Board also has a suggestion for improving the Skidmore Unplugged energy-conservation venture. As of now, Skidmore Unplugged is a project solely for students living in dorm buildings, measuring the amount of energy spent in each residential hall over a course of 21 days. Whichever dorm decreases its energy the most receives a water-refilling station in their building. We believe this project should be a more campus-wide endeavor. It would be useful to let students living in on-campus apartments also gain an understanding of how much energy they are expending. Either at the end of each month or at least at the same time as Skidmore Unplugged, residents should receive fake energy bills, letting them understand how much energy their building has been consuming. This way, residents can at least have some idea of how much energy they are either wasting or saving, and Skidmore Unplugged will not be excluding a large percentage of the student body.

Overall, Skidmore College definitely has sustainability in mind in its future-planning. We only suggest that the College look at some more immediate concerns, ones with the potential for simple but highly beneficial changes.

Blue Side: America’s Problem with Guns

By Noah Tananbaum, Staff Writer Earlier this year, a troubled citizen killed six people and injured 13, before committing suicide. This event has since become known as the Isla Vista killings. While mass shootings are statistically rare, this type of story has sadly become all too familiar to the American people. The topics of gun rights and gun control have always exerted enormous influence over the American people and have been the instigator of many a debate.

Perhaps it is due to the nature of how our country was formed, but America, unlike every other Westernized country, has had an unprecedented level of gun-related violence. Each year, more than 30,000 people are killed due to gun violence in this country which, broken down, translates to roughly 30 people killed each day because of the prevalence of guns. Although there is no national gun registry, there are an estimated 283 million guns owned by regular U.S. citizens. Total U.S. population is approximately 316 million. These figures reflect an undeniable truth: guns are a deeply rooted aspect of our culture.

America was founded in a blaze of revolution. The men who fought in the Continental Army were ordinary citizens, not trained members of an organized military. Americans have since inherited the notion of having an armed citizenry in order to protect against a potential dictatorial government synonymous to the regime of King George III. While this scenario will unlikely ever manifest into reality, it is important to respect the Constitution and all Americans’ rights to defend themselves. However, it is crucial that the clauses of the Constitution be applied to the changing circumstances of our constantly modernizing world.

When the framers wrote that “the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” could they have possibly envisioned the types of deadly weaponry that would evolve from advancement and new technology? Would they endorse the civilian use of such items? When conservatives are posed this hypothetical they generally utilize the oft quoted line that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” While technically true, Americans put guns in a special category, one that is apparently immune to reform, unlike other categories of objects that can kill us. The primary purpose of automobiles is transportation and yet, given what we know concerning the potential dangers of cars, the government has restrictions regarding driving laws in order to make the road safer for all. These laws are not controversial. Yet, when these types of preventive measures are implemented with regard to firearms, there is uproar.

No rational person wants to remove all guns from society. The right to defend oneself is an important one, and law-abiding citizens should be able to exercise it. The process of purchasing a firearm however, should not be as straightforward as getting a Milky Way at CVS. The vast majority of gun shows are able to sell guns without having to perform background checks. Since the guns are part of interstate commerce, the argument is that the federal government cannot regulate these transactions. Consequently, in 33 states private gun owners can sell their products at these shows and buyers are not subjected to background checks. In fact, 30 to 40 % of guns are purchased without a background check. In 2013, the bipartisan Manchin-Toomey Bill, was defeated on the floor of the Senate. It would have required universal background checks.

While Republicans’ beliefs on this subject are no doubt sincere, they are clearly informed by the influence and financial support that stems from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA keeps a list of candidates who would be more sympathetic to their interests. If a candidate does not support their extreme pro-gun position, then the NRA will pour money into their opponents’ campaigns in the next election cycle in order to unseat them. No special interest group should have that level of power in the political process. This type of behavior completely undermines the concept of democratically elected leaders. Our elected officials are supposed to represent the will of the people. When 80-90 % of the country supports universal background checks and the U.S. Congress strikes down a bill that proposes them, our government is not working the way it should.

Adjusting for population size, America’s rate of gun homicides is 6.6 times greater than the gun deaths in Portugal, one of the most violent countries in Western Europe. No other modern, westernized country comes anywhere close to our rate. Believing in the integrity of the Second Amendment and supporting common sense gun reform do not have to be mutually exclusive. Many conservatives argue that criminals will get their hands on guns regardless of the restrictions and therefore there is little point in enacting tighter restrictions. This argument is utterly lacking in logic. Drivers can get drunk and then get behind the wheel and yet this does not mean that we should not have laws against driving while drunk. If gun reform approaches do not work then different strategies should be pursued, but doing nothing is the wrong response. America cannot afford to sit idly by while year after year, 30,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence.

In Response to “The Red Side: Free Case Walkway of Condoms”

As of January 2014, states across our nation have enacted more abortion restrictions in the past three years than in the entire previous decade. Over 200 targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) laws have served to greatly reduce the number of reproductive health care facilities serving women. Attacks against reproductive freedom are now constant, and the work of activist organizations has seldom been so critical. The mission of Skidmore Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood is to mobilize student advocates of reproductive rights, educate about sexual health, and provide students with the tools to lead healthy sexual lives. We recognize the imperative need to offer students an opportunity to engage with these issues—even in a short conversation over free condoms on Case Walkway. Although we often partner with, and certainly support, other groups on campus, we are, first and foremost, a reproductive rights group. In his October 3 article “The Red Side: Free Case Walkway of Condoms,” Jacob Reiskin seems to have confused us with another campus group, mistakenly implying that we have previously advertised with images of sex toys. We have not.   We have no intention of making students or faculty uncomfortable with the distribution of free condoms, and we apologize if we have done so. We are certainly open to constructive criticism to help us create a safer, more welcoming space for students to engage.

At each of our monthly Free Condom Fridays we distribute roughly 500 condoms to students. We also supply dental dams and other safe sex barriers. Since we began Free Condom Fridays with the founding of Vox four years ago, students have shown great enthusiasm for this event. Through Free Condom Fridays we have connected with students that—according to their own testimony—would not have otherwise further participated in reproductive rights activism. We do our very best to have some sort of dialogue with each and every student who comes to our table. Free Condom Fridays are an educational tool as well as an opportunity for us to provide students with contraceptives entirely free of cost, recognizing that education would be meaningless without access.

It is critical that our club maintain a visible presence on campus if we are to be useful to the student body. With over a hundred clubs on campus, it would be easy for the resources we provide to go unseen and unbeknownst to many students. Regular events in common areas, such as Case Walkway or the Dining Hall Atrium, are how we connect with the student body.

Finally, we are disturbed by the insinuations of Jacob Reiskin’s title “The Red Side: Free Case Walkway of Condoms.” To imply that the work of Planned Parenthood, or even more broadly, the dissemination of free condoms, is a partisan issue contradictory to Republican or conservative values, is both misinformed and misguided. Skidmore Vox has noted support from both the Skidmore Democrats and the Skidmore Republicans. Furthermore, Vox is a deliberately nonpartisan organization. It is unfair, in our opinion, to offhandedly label the “red side” as anti-Planned Parenthood—even anti-free condoms.

We hope that students will continue to be supportive of and engaged with our club, and we certainly invite any suggestions for change and growth. We meet every Monday at 7:00 pm in Ladd 207. All are welcome.

Signed,

Skidmore Vox Executive Board

Inside the Mansion

By Noa Maltzman '18  and Janine Kristchgau '18, Staff Writers

Having traveled to 70 countries in her lifetime, Michele Riggi can assert with total confidence “there’s not one city in all those places like Saratoga.” Fresh off of a 17-day adventure around the world, including visits to Nepal, China, and Hawaii, Riggi returned home for another special adventure—Halloween at her own home.

For the past 11 years, Riggi and her husband have hosted incredible Halloween festivities, which include cash hidden in chocolate bars, free donuts and cider, petting ponies, a pumpkin weight guessing contest, and incredible decorations. Riggi cannot be missed during the festivities, as she wears an ornate custom-made Cinderella gown. To go along with the Cinderella theme, she also borrows a carriage from the Great Escape amusement park which she places outside her home.

Although Halloween is their trademark event, the Riggi Family is involved in Saratoga life throughout the year. Michele, a former ballerina herself, is the President of the Museum of Dance here in Saratoga Springs. Her son-in-law, David Zecchini, is the owner of various popular restaurants including Forno and Boca Bistro. The family has very generously supported the community, and recently made a donation of one million dollars to the local YMCA to expand their facility.

But what the family is most well-known for is their home on North Broadway. The home has become a hallmark of the upscale residential area that borders downtown. Cars frequently pull over to take pictures of one of the most elaborate properties in the area. The Pallazzo Riggi is home to Michele, her husband Ron, and their famous pets. The interior of the home is equally manicured as the exterior—flowers cover tables, chandeliers hang in various different rooms, and the foyer hosts incredible fresco walls. The Riggis did not build the house for themselves; instead, they built the house with the love of their dogs in mind. At the time that they moved in they only had 13 dogs, a pack that has more than tripled in size since. 

The Riggi’s pack of dogs has now grown to 41, given the recent addition of Boo, a deaf rescue chihuahua. Taking care of this many dogs is very time-consuming, so the Riggis have a special housekeeper who spends the day looking after them. “These dogs are kept better than most people,” Riggi says as she explains how it is particularly hard to take care of a group this large. “They [are like potato chip]—you can’t just have one.”

At the start of each day, the dog bedding is changed and each of the four dog bedrooms are cleaned. Then it is time for them to be fed. The feeding of all 41 dogs takes about an hour-and-a-half, as each dog gets fed individually to prevent any fighting for food. The Pallazzo Riggi orders and cooks 100 pounds of organic meat every three weeks. The broth from the meat is mixed with grains before each portion is frozen. This food diet is satisfactory for most dogs, and even helped some lose weight. After the feeding is done, it is time to give some of the older dogs their medications. Keeping track of all the medications and making sure that they always have some left is one of the hardest parts for Michele Riggi about having this many dogs.

The Riggis go to great lengths to ensure the happiness of each and every one of their dogs. One of the eldest dogs, for example, refuses to eat the chicken based meals and instead will only eat McDonald's cheeseburger patties. Every other day, Riggi goes to McDonald's to get eight cheeseburgers for him.

Keep an eye out at the Riggi house as she is now  installing her Christmas decorations. For those who  missed all the pumpkins in the yard and Halloween decorations, do not worry because she plans on bringing them back next year. She even has ideas on how she can make Halloween at the Riggi’s even better and bigger for the following years.

Michele dreams of a Halloween Block Party, in which the entire block be closed to traffic, to make the festivities even bigger. In addition, she is considering changing her iconic costume: from Cinderella to something new. Although she is not sure what that costume will be, there is no doubt it will be lavish-just like everything else Riggi.

Sports Culture and Participation at Skidmore

By Mia Merrill, Sports Editor Last week, Skidmore students were asked to take a survey about sports culture and participation. The survey, which was available for six days and received seventy-one responses, tried to pinpoint why students do or do not want to join athletic teams at Skidmore. Does it have more to do with the sports themselves, or sports culture? Does this culture spread good vibes around campus, or does it alienate non-athletes? Are there students who think that we do not have a sports culture? Are there athletes who feel like a school-wide punch line to a bad Division III joke?

The survey tried to pack a lot into a little without losing the attention of its participants. Of course, it started by asking students if they would join a team, given the athletic abilities to compete, and found that 67 percent of participants said they would, while 33 percent said that they would not. Of the 67 percent who would join a team, 91 percent said that they like team sports. Of the 33 percent who would not join a team, 82 percent said that they like team sports.

The survey found that 52 percent of participants said that they believe our sports teams are competitive enough to win, while the remainder thought otherwise. Skidmore students, athletes and otherwise, might see this figure as uplifting, although the majority is slim. Regardless of your personal opinion on the nature of team sports or sports culture, there’s nothing wrong with some good old school spirit.

Although the survey did not specify the aspects of sports culture that would influence a student’s choice, 61 percent of participants said they do not like the sports culture at Skidmore. Much of that aversion can be explained by the 46 percent who feel that the sports teams here are exclusive and would not expand their social group. Thirty-nine39 percent of participants, though, do like sports culture here, and believe that the sports teams are inclusive and would expand their social group.

Participants were also asked to reflect on the sports houses, the foremost sources of off-campus parties. of participants think that the sports houses fill a social void on campus that fraternities and sororities would otherwise fill. Twenty-three percent of participants think that sports houses are inclusive, most likely because they often host open parties. An additional 28 percent of participants think that the sports houses are exclusive, a different question from whether or not the teams themselves promote exclusivity. Fifty-one percent of participants neglected to comment on the inclusive or exclusive nature of the sports houses. One participant commented that the sports houses “create weird group mentalities, and perpetuate potentially negative sexual health-related mindsets,” but added that if those mindsets could be adjusted, the houses would be “important to have.” Another participant said that the houses “propagate the binge drinking and hazing culture that the sports teams currently have.” One participant referred to the house occupants as “pigs.” Residents of the sports houses declined to comment for fear of framing their house in a bad light.

In some ways, the sports houses are no different than an apartment full of friends with similar activities or majors, “like any other group of friends that share an interest,” as one participant said. But it is clear from the comments in this survey that the opinion of the sports houses is not so cut-and-dry.

There are always more questions that could be asked about sports at Skidmore, but perhaps this survey will encourage more critical conversation about our sports culture.

Career & Internship Connections 2015

By The Career Development Center

Career & Internship Connections 2015

CIC events are located in New York City (January 6), Washington DC (January 7) , Los Angeles (January 8), and Boston (January 9).

Students!  Please be sure to check out this year’s Career & Internship Connections Program on The Career Development Center’s website.

Deadline to Apply: December 1

Come in and get your resume and cover letter reviewed by a Career Coach between 12 – 4 PM Monday thru Friday in the Career Development Center.

This is an opportunity to be pre-selected for interviews with major companies in New York City, Boston, DC and LA taking place during winter break.  The deadline to apply for pre-select interviews is Monday, December 1; but all students looking for opportunities in one of these four cities are encourage to attend the Open Forum in the morning (9:30 – 11:30 am). Token: cic2015

Over 250 employers combined will be participating in one or more locations. If you are selected for an interview you will go online and select an interview time. Even if you are not pre-selected it is worth the time to attend the Open Forum in the morning.  In the past over 30% of students attending the morning sessions were invited back to interview in the afternoon.

For more information, please contact The Career Development Center, (518) 580-5790/CDC@skidmore.edu.

 A Sampling of Employer Participants (by location):

New York City

AIG

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

AllianceBernstein

Americares

APPRISE

AXA Advisors, LLC

Washington DC

Advantage Sales & Marketing

Alliance Bernstein

Anti-Defamation League

Atlantic Media

Bursun-Marsteller

Los Angeles

Authors Marketing Pro

Beach Cities Health District

Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show Production

FDIC

Front Row Media

Boston

AIG

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Fund for Public Interest

Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Initiative

United Planet

Blurbs Overheard

"I may be taking a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school, but I'm no child." Overheard in Case "You're going to have to start converting your money to more concrete things. Like diamonds." Overheard in Sussman

"Buttholes are forever." Overheard outside Joto

"My mom periodically sits me down and tells me that I'm going to die from my diet, and I still don't fuck with eggnog." Overheard in Northwoods

"There was a ship running from Canada to America filled with Ulysses and gin." Overheard Off Campus

"There is nothing about me that screams." Overheard Off Campus

Tryptich

Klonopin Prescribed for anxiety and morning sadness, it sets you in a sort of halo but leaves the pebble in your heart.

She Told Me

"spend time in my shoes" but pride will have me barefoot unrepentant child

On Studying

See how her cheeks blush so feverishly, hands tremble as she paces and sighs repeatedly.

Some would call it love, but she knows it’s only the amphetamines.

Skidmore receives anonymous bomb threat

By Andrew Shi, Editor-in-Chief

Skidmore Update 12:26:

Police and Campus Safety teams have completed their sweep of all academic buildings and all buildings are now open. Classes will begin in some buildings at 12:20 p.m., and in others at 1:25 p.m.

Classes will begin at 12:20 p.m. in the following buildings: Scribner Library, Palamountain, Tisch, Bolton, Harder, and old and new Dana.

Classes will begin at 1:25 p.m. in Zankel, JKB, Filene, Case Center, Saisselin, Ladd, Sports Center, Dance Center, and the Tang Museum.

These buildings have been thoroughly inspected by Campus Safety and police teams with a canine unit. Neverthless, Campus Safety asks that you be attentive to your surroundings and to report to them any items of a suspicious nature you may see.

Skidmore Update 11:31

Six academic buildings have been cleared to open at noon with classes to start at 12:20 p.m.: Scribner Library, Palamountain, Tisch, Bolton, Harder, and old and new Dana.

All other academic buildings remain closed. These include Zankel, JKB, Case Center, Saisselin, Sports Center, Filene, Tang, Dance Center, and Ladd. Classes in these buildings remain cancelled for the time being.

Skidmore Update 11:04:

Employees may return at noon to the following buildings: Palamountain, Tisch, Bolton, Harder, and old and new Dana.

Skidmore Update 11:01:

Classes will resume at 12:20 in Palamountain, Tisch, Bolton, Harder, and old and new Dana.

Skidmore Update  9:17:

Classes are delayed until further notice because of a bomb threat.  Anyone who has arrived on campus (students, faculty, and staff) and does not have a place to go is welcome to join people in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall, regardless of their meal plan.  All academic buildings (places where classes are taught) remain closed, including Case Center (which is attached to Ladd Hall), Scribner Library, and the Williamson Sports Center.  Greenberg Child Care Center has been cleared and remains open.  Academic buildings will be inspected by a K-9 unit.

All updates can be seen here: http://www.skidmore.edu/alert/

Skidmore Update 10:10:

At approximately 7:30 this morning, a student found a note outside an academic building that said a bomb had been placed in an academic building. Campus Safety was immediately notified and the Emergency Response Team ordered the cancellation of classes and the immediate closure of all academic buildings, including Case Center, Scribner Library, and the Williamson Sports Center. Police started sweeping the buildings with a canine unit.The Emergency Response Team expects to be able to soon clear several academic buildings and resume classes in those buildings. We expect to be able to will provide a list of these buildings shortly.

Skidmore Alert 10:01:

K-9 units continue to work their way through buildings. More information soon. According to Joshua Woodfork, Executive Director of the Office of the President, "police have checked 5 buildings so far."

Skidmore Alert 9:36:

Police continue to sweep academic buildings with canine unit. Classes scheduled to start at 10:10 a.m. have been cancelled. Students may stay in dorms or go to Dining Hall.

Skidmore Alert 9:16:

Buildings will be inspected by a police canine unit. Greenberg has been cleared. Classes delayed until further notice.

Skidmore Alert 9:14:

Buildings will be inspected by a police canine unit. Greenberg has been cleared. Classes delayed until further notice.

Skidmore Alert 9:01:

Employees in non-academic buildings may stay in place. Please monitor Web site for more information.

Skidmore Alert 8:59:

Employees who are in academic buildings should go to the Dining Hall. This includes Case Center, Scribner Library and Williamson Sports Center.

Skidmore Alert 8:56:

Employees who are in academic buildings should go to the Dining Hall. This includes Case Center, Scribner Library and Williamson Sports Center.

Skidmore Alert 8:29:

Academic buildings the focus of the inspection at this time.

Skidmore Alert 8:20:

Bldgs being checked due to anonymous bomb threat. Bldgs will reopen after inspection. Do not touch suspicious items.

Award-winning graphic designer Chip Kidd to lecture Nov. 13 at Skidmore

Award-winning graphic designer and author Chip Kidd will talk about the importance of visual communication when he lectures Thursday, Nov. 13, at Skidmore College. His talk, titled “! Or?: Let me be perfectly clear. Or mysterious,” begins at 7:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The talk is co-sponsored by Skidmore’s Visual Literacy Forum and Northshire Bookstore, which will host a book-signing session following the talk.

Kidd writes and designs from several locations: New York City; Stonington, Conn.; and Palm Beach, Fla. He has worked for Alfred A. Knopf since 1986, designing book covers that have helped “create a revolution in the art of American book packaging,” according to his web site (www.chipkidd.com). His awards include the National Design Award for Communications, as well as the Use of Photography in Design Award from the International Center of Photography.

The author of two novels, The Cheese Monkeys and The Learners, Kidd is also the author of Batman: Death by Design, an original graphic novel published by DC Comics and illustrated by Dave Taylor. Kidd has written several books about comics, including Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz and Jack Cole and Plasticman (with Art Spiegelman). In addition, Kidd is the co-author and designer of True Prep, the sequel to the Official Preppy Handbook.

Kidd’s 2012 TED talk, “Designing books is no laughing matter. Ok, it is” (http://www.ted.com/talks/chip_kidd_designing_books_is_no_laughing_matter_ok_it_is) has almost 1.3 million views to date. The TED web site calls it “one of the funniest talks from TED2012, in which Kidd shows the art and deep thought of his cover designs.”

Skidmore’s Visual Literacy Forum is under the auspices of Project VIS, an initiative to advance strategic, pedagogical, and liberal learning goals in visual literacy and communication. An Andrew Mellon Foundation grant supports the initiative.

Campus Safety Reports Oct. 24-30

October 24, Friday

• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1:11AM: RP discovered a "no parking sign" on the ground near the Dining Hall. Report taken.
• ACCIDENT 5:55AM: RP reports the gate to Northwoods from Wait Hill was damaged by an unknown vehicle. Officer investigated incident and generated report.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 10:05AM: RP reports aggressive behavior towards a Skidmore vendor. Report generated.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 8:45PM: RP reports hall light on second floor damaged. Report generated.
• CAMPUS SAFETY ASSIST 6:18PM: RP reports being lost in woods. Officer dispatched and SCSO contacted for assistance. Students located, report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 10:03PM: RP reports loud noise. Upon arrival, students agreed to lower music. Report generated.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 11:01PM: Fire alarm activation received. Officers dispatched, due to burned food. Report issued.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 11:29PM: RP reports loud noise. Officer advised residents to turn off the stereo for the night.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 11:52PM: RP reports loud noise. Officers dispatched. Officers report loud music.

October 25, Saturday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 12:16 AM: RP reports a noise complaint in Sussman Apartments. Officers broke up registered party. Report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 1:27AM: RP reports a noise complaint in Sussman Apartments. Officers broke up party, report generated.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 2:24AM: RP reports loud music. Officer reports loud TV on Whitman Way.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 7:12PM: Fire alarm activation received. Units dispatched, due to cooking in Sussman Apartments.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 8:19PM: Fire Alarm activation received on 12 Whitman Way. Dispatched units, due to steam from shower.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 9:23PM: RP reports two light covers outside Barrett Center have been smashed. Officer dispatched, report generated.
• CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 10:40PM: Officer reports light cover removed & damaged. Maintenance dispatched, report generated. In Wait Hall.

October 26, 2014, Sunday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 12:10AM: RP reports a noise complaint. Officers report small gathering, groups dispersed.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 12:35AM: RP reports a noise complaint. Officers report a gathering, group dispersed.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 1:20AM: RP reports a noise complaint. Officers report breaking up a gathering.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 4:36AM: RP reports noise complaint. Officers report group lowered their voices.
• FIRE ALARM-ACCIDENTAL 11:48AM: Fire alarm activation received. Units dispatched, due to steam from shower.
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER 5:10PM: Fire alarm activation received. Units dispatched, due to cooking.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 7:07PM: RP reports a suspicious odor of gasoline in stairwell. Units dispatched, unfounded.
• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 11:41PM: RP reports excessive noise. Officers requested music lower and residents complied.

October 27, Monday

• ANIMALS 11:59AM: RP advised rabbits and a cat in room in Sussman Apartments. Officers dispatched, 6 rabbits located and 1 cat. Report generated, resident spoken to.
• LARCENY 4:19PM: RP in office inquiring about lost and found for a bag left in the Chapel. Report taken.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 6:57 PM: RP advised C/S of a suspicious man near Sussman Apartments. Officer dispatched, gone on arrival.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 10:41PM: RP called to report a suspicious odor in Wait Hall. Unfounded.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 9:09PM: RP reports a male in a red pickup truck that appears to be going through dumpsters near Sussman Apartments. Subject gone on arrival.

October 28, Tuesday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION 10:12AM: RP observes chair on the covered walkway. Officer contacted Maintenance to remove. Report generated.
• SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2:32PM: RP request an Officer to take a report on a suspicious phone call. Report generated.
• SUSPICIOUS ODOR 5:10PM: RP reports odor of gas. Units dispatched, possibly from CDTA exhaust. Units will follow up.

October 29, Wednesday

• COLLEGE VIOLATION-NOISE 12:23AM: RP reports loud noise in Sussman Apartments. Units dispatched, lowered volume.
• AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT- 10:13PM: RP in office to file a report about unwanted contact in Wait Hall. Report taken.

October 30, Thursday

• FIRE ALARM-OTHER- 4:33PM: Fire alarm activation received. Units dispatched, due to cooking in Sussman Apartments
• FIRE ALARM-OTHER- 5:44PM: Fire alarm activation received. Units dispatched, due to cooking on Cane Crossing.

The Blue Side: You Better Recognize (Palestine)

By Jeremy Ritter-Wiseman, Contributing Writer It is time for the United States to recognize a Palestinian state. The deadly summer conflict in Gaza, which killed nearly 2200 Palestinians and over 70 Israelis, highlights the urgent need to resume negotiations in hopes of achieving a comprehensive solution. To achieve this however, both sides need to be equally recognized and legitimized. How can the U.S. hope to negotiate a “two-state solution,” when it only recognizes the sovereignty of one of the proposed states?

In international law, state sovereignty is largely determined by four prerequisites agreed to by signatories at the Montevideo Convention in 1933. Signed by the U.S., the Convention stipulates that to achieve statehood, a proposed country must have a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the ability to enter into diplomatic relations with other countries. Palestine certainly fulfills the first two requirements. Even the CIA World Factbook has exact numbers for the populations of Gaza and the West Bank, and most of the world recognizes established Palestinian borders, hence the outcry following each set of new Israel settlements built within those borders. Moreover, the Palestinian Authority unquestionably exhibits a legitimate parliamentary government that holds elections and has demonstrated the ability to enter into diplomatic relations with other sovereign nations, having established embassies and missions worldwide. If Montevideo is the precedent, there should be no reason Palestinian sovereignty should not be legitimated.

Standing in the way of wholesale recognition of the State of Palestine is most of the Western world. Recently though, there have been movements towards Western recognition of Palestine. Last month Sweden became the third country in Western Europe (next to Malta and Cyprus) to recognize Palestine after the Prime Minister was moved to action by the conflict in Gaza over the summer. The formal recognition followed remarks made by newly elected PM, Stefan Lofven in his inaugural address, in which he noted that any two-state solution “requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful coexistence.” Added, a symbolic vote was recently cast in the British House of Commons on whether to recognize a Palestinian state. Following debate, 274 MPs voted for recognition while a mere 12 voted against. Although the vote was purely symbolic and therefore non-binding, it represents growing support for Palestinian statehood among Westerners and increasing resentment towards Israel’s brutal tactics in Gaza and ongoing occupation of the West Bank; Chairman of the U.K.’s select committee on foreign affairs Sir Richard Ottaway lamented that the last straw for him was Israel’s recent September annexation of 950 acres in the Etzion Bloc of the West Bank.

Despite these recent advancements, the U.S. unwaveringly remains Israel’s most crucial ally. Although relations became somewhat strained during the summer conflict, the U.S.’s promised $3.1 billion dollars in annual military aid to Israel is consistently renewed. This near unconditional support proves problematic when trying to mediate negotiations.

The U.S. provides foreign aid in form of economic assistance for the Palestinian government too, although it is highly conditional. The conditions on Palestinian aid reflect the U.S.’s obstinate position towards Palestinian statehood and its consequential inability to be an impartial mediator. For instance, the Senate draft version of appropriations for State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs for fiscal year 2015 stipulates that no “Economic Support Funds” be released to the Palestinian government, if the Palestinians “obtain the same standing as member states or full membership as a state in the United Nations,” or initiate a International Criminal Court-sanctioned or any other authorized investigation “that subjects Israeli nationals to an investigation for alleged crimes against Palestinians.” How can the U.S. expect respect as a mediator when it has foreign aid laws that wholly discourage Palestinians from pursuing justice or gaining international legitimacy? The UN has already moved to recognize Palestine’s sovereignty by upgrading its UN status from “non-member” to “observer,” and there have been legitimate claims that Israel is guilty of war crimes and should be subjected to international investigation and prosecution. To deny aid based on the perusal of these national rights is unethical and undoubtedly affects the ability of the U.S. to be an unbiased arbiter in any negotiations.

Moreover, whether it is due to a sincere passion to unconditionally support the state of Israel, or whether it is at least partially due to the undeniably influential Israel lobby in D.C., Congress continues to unyieldingly support Israel and is thus utterly opposed to Palestinian statehood. Therefore it would be naïve to expect the U.S. to recognize a Palestinian state anytime in the near future. Nevertheless, progress can be made in reforming biased laws like those in the appropriations bills, especially if the U.S. retains any hope in being the primary mediator in negotiations.

The U.S. needs to play a more prominent role in holding Israel accountable. Shelling of UN schools, continued settlements that violate international law, and collective punishment that goes against the Geneva Conventions, must all be condemned by the U.S. Further, aid to Israel must be used as leverage, instead of providing an annual allowance with no strings attached and that is void of any accountability or oversight. Lastly, the U.S. must begin to respect the notion of a Palestinian state that has more than legitimate claims to sovereignty, and thus the right to pursue justice in the International Criminal Court. Negotiations thus far have been depressingly fruitless. If the U.S. is to mediate a resolution, it must become impartial and recognize the mutual sovereignty of both countries. Otherwise, a peaceful two-state solution will be improbable, and conflicts like this summer’s will only continue.