SGA Announces Polo Club Proposal

 

By Noa Maltzman ’18, News Editor

Over the past few months, the Student Government Association (SGA) has been reviewing the Skidmore Polo Club (Skidmore News has previously reported on the situation in two articles, published earlier this academic year, that can be found here and here), but as of March 8, SGA has come up with a proposal.

The eight parts to the proposal are as follows:

1) For the next 4 academic years, the Skidmore Polo Club will continue as an SGA-affiliated club, and it will receive a $30,000 budget from SGA during that time. The budget is not eligible to be increased at any time for any reason, and the club will not be eligible to receive supplemental funding allocations at any time.

2) The team and its alumni will immediately begin the process of transitioning the program to an independent 501(c)(3). SGA will work in coordination with the Offices of Advancement and Leadership Activities, in addition to the team, to assist in this transition. By June 1, 2019, the team must be fully transitioned to this independent organization. SGA will amend the Polo Club’s charter to transition the Club to an unbudgeted status. SGA will administer the Polo Club's endowment, and transfer the annual interest from the endowment to the 501(c)(3), but no funding from the Student Activity Fee will be allocated to the Polo Club. The Polo Club will be eligible to receive administrative support and all other benefits associated with being a chartered club from both SGA and Skidmore College and will be able to compete on behalf of the Skidmore.

3) Mr. Orthwein and/or other willing and able supporters of Skidmore Polo will enter into a legally binding agreement with SGA, the Office of Advancement, the Office of Finance & Administration, and the Office of Leadership Activities. These supporters will act as guarantors and agree to cover any expenses above $30,000 that the team is unable to cover through its fundraising activity.

 4) SGA may be willing to establish a contingency fund to cover unexpected costs throughout the next four academic years in case of emergency to ensure that, in the event Mr. Orthwein is unable to perform the terms of the contract, emergency and/or horse care related expenses will be paid. In the event that the contingency fund is utilized, the Polo Club will be automatically dechartered. The debt must be covered, in full, by the end of each fiscal year.

5) SGA will require the Polo Club to increase its endowment to $200,000 by June 1^st, 2018, and $300,000 by June 1^st, 2021. SGA will administer the endowment in conjunction with the Office of Advancement and the Office of Leadership Activities. This is to create a sustainable source of revenue for the team that is dependent on neither a continuous donor base nor SGA’s willingness to fund the team.

6) Any other applicable requirements set forth by the Offices of Advancement, Student Affairs, and Finance & Administration to allow the team to compete on behalf of Skidmore College.

7) The SGA Senate will empower the SGA President, Vice President for Financial Affairs, and Vice President for Club Affairs to enter into a legally binding contract on behalf of SGA that satisfies the agreed upon terms with the Polo Club and its leaders, those individuals acting as guarantors, and Skidmore College via relevant offices and administrators.

8) SGA retains the right, by a 5/6^th majority vote by the SGA Senate, or by a determination of the SGA Judicial Board, to revoke the Polo Club’s charter for any reason afforded to those bodies by the Student Body Constitution or applicable SGA policies.

If the following conditions or events were to occur, it would trigger an automatic dechartering of the Skidmore College Polo Club:

1. The Polo Club's failure to achieve fundraising goals included in this agreement by the agreed upon dates. The SGA VP for Financial Affairs, will, having confirmed all fundraising benchmarks with the Offices of Advancement and Leadership Activities, and Finance & Administration, report such a failure to the SGA Senate, SGA Executive Committee, and VP for Club Affairs, and the club will automatically lose its recognition and support from SGA. 
2. The failure to successfully create an independent 501(c)(3), registered with the Internal Revenue Service, by the agreed upon date. 
3. A vote by a 5/6^th majority of the SGA senate or a determination by the SGA Judicial Board to revoke the club's charter for any reason afforded to those bodies by the student body constitution and applicable SGA policies. 
4. The failure of any Polo Club guarantors to pay an outstanding balance the club incurs and the club's inability to fundraise to pay the excess costs by the end of the fiscal year in question. 

This proposal was brought up for discussion at SGA’s weekly Senate meeting on Tuesday, March 10. It is currently unknown when, or if there will be a vote on this proposal. SGA President Addison Bennett ’16 commented, “I continue to hope that we will soon reach a point where all parties agree on a workable solution that ensures we are taking care of the financial risks, the administrative involvement, and the long term future of the program.”

The Importance of Play

By Brittany Dinger, '17

As we enter the season of tests, papers, presentations, and projects, it becomes all too easy to allow feelings of guilt to build during lapses between working or studying. As a result, we often couple fewer, poorer quality breaks with longer, less productive study sessions. This causes our work to suffer and our well-being to take a hit. However, there is a simple solution that many of us neglect: playing. Play is important for productivity, mental health, creativity, and overall well-being, yet few Skidmore students seem to do it.

Many of us consider it a good day when we’re able to exercise and finish our homework, but it’s unlikely that the cardio at the sports center really fits the criteria of playing. Although exercise is certainly a crucial component of a balanced life, slaving away at the gym alone is not a substitute for play. The members of Quidditch, Humans vs. Zombies, and any of our sports teams certainly have the right idea. One Skidmore senior on the varsity softball team, for example, values her sport as “the most fun part of [her] day” and admits that it “gets [her] energy up.” Although these are all great outlets, you do not have to be in a club or on a team to play. During the snow day, it was certainly a relief to see so many students leaving their books behind to lose themselves in the snow for a few hours by sledding, enlisting in snowball battles, building snow families, and constructing an igloo. As the icy conditions and negative temperatures hinder such activities, however, indoor options could include rock-climbing (such as Rocksport in town), dancing (anywhere, anytime), or gathering some friends for a dodge ball fight in the gym.

While spending a few hours each week in the toddler room of Greenberg Child Care Center for a psychology class, I find myself growing jealous of the incredible balance these two-year-olds have. They spend their days playing outside, reading books with student-helpers, and engaging in pretend-play by themselves or with others. Their seemingly endless energy and creativity during these bouts of play leads me to believe that, although few of us have the time to replicate the toddlers’ idyllic schedule, we could all certainly stand to take a page from their playbook.

Africa Focus Week

By Allison Trunkey '18

Last week, March 1-6, Skidmore celebrated Africa Focus Week, promoted by African Heritage Awareness Club (AHA). The Club hosted several events, namely the Taste of Africa Potluck on Wednesday a documentary showing of Mo & Me in the library on Thursday, and a public discussion of the spiritual practice, Voodoo, and a dance at Falstaff on Friday.

These events celebrated the nuance and beauty of African cultures, and sought to highlight the development of international recognition of African and Afro-Caribbean influences. As the week advanced, AHA events related progressively more to our own campus: Wednesday’s potluck celebrated rich African flavors and cooking traditions, Thursday’s documentary remembered a significant African icon who brought global recognition to African peoples, and Friday’s spiritual discussion and dance integrated African traditions directly into student life.

Thursday’s documentary, Mo & Me, follows Salim Amin’s poignant exploration of the life his father, Mohamed “Mo” Amin, influential Kenyan photojournalist and martyr. Amin exposed the suffering of the 1983 Ethiopian Famine to a global audience, prompting Live Aid’s “We Are The World” response, and launching him into worldwide prominence that lasted through his coverage of Idi Amin’s Uganda, and until his untimely death in a hijacked Ethiopian plane in 1996. For examples of Amin’s work, visit here, and for information on charity work done in his honor, visit here.

AHA Club, as it says on their Facebook page, is dedicated to increasing “awareness of African cultural practices and diaspora by sharing knowledge among the Skidmore and Saratoga Springs community” through interactive events and discussions. The Skidmore campus regularly offers opportunities to celebrate its own cultural diversity, and this focus week joins the ranks of past focus and awareness weeks organized through the Office of Student Diversity, including Culture Fest, Coming Out Week, Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, and Black History Month.

New Student Constitution Passes

By Noa Maltzman ’18, News Editor

On Thursday March 5, voting began for the New Student Constitution created by the Skidmore Student Government Association. The new constitution was created with the hope that “it will allow us [SGA] to more effectively do our job of creating programs and supporting the policies that build our vibrant campus life,” said SGA President Addison Bennett ’16.

To boost voting turnout, SGA offered many incentives, including giving out free hot chocolate at a voting station in Case, handing out free pens and entering all students who voted into a raffle for gift cards to Chipotle and the Skid Shop. A final incentive to get people to vote was the announcement that the residential dormitory or apartment complex with the highest percentage of voters would win a prize. SGA's push to encourage voting was necessitated by a self-imposed minimum turnout of 800 students. “In most regular elections, we get between 400 and 600 votes, so we wanted to raise the bar a bit, challenge ourselves to get more student voice, and show that this constitution is actually supported by a large amount of students,” Bennett said.

On Friday March 6, at the final show of Rey and Lemay, a comedy sketch group by seniors John Lee-Rey and John Lemay, Bennett and SGA Vice President for Financial Affairs Sam Harris ’15 went to the microphone. They mentioned how their original plan was to come up here and ask everyone to vote, but that they no longer needed to do that because they were proud to announce that 850 people had voted and that the constitution had passed. The constitution passed with 95.5% of the voters being in favor of the new constitution. The new constitution will go into effect the first weekday following this year’s commencement, May 18.

Majora Carter to present Skidmore’s Harder Lecture on March 10

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Urban revitalization strategist Majora Carter will discuss “The Department of Home(town) Security” when she presents Skidmore’s F. William Harder Endowed Lecture on Tuesday, March 10. Free and open to the public, the talk begins at 5:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall. A reception will follow the lecture.

Carter is also a real estate developer and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster.  She is responsible for the creation and successful implementation of numerous green-infrastructure projects and policies, and job training and placement systems.

After establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green for All (among other organizations) to carry on that work, she built on this foundation with innovative ventures and insights into urban economic developments designed to help move Americans out of poverty.

Her long list of awards and honorary degrees includes accolades from groups as diverse as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, John Podesta’s Center for American Progress, Goldman Sachs, and the MacArthur Foundation, which awarded her a “genius” fellowship in 2005. Her 2006 TED talk was one of the first six videos to launch its groundbreaking website. Carter is a board member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Andrew Goodman Foundation.

She earned a B.A. degree at Wesleyan University and an M.F.A. degree at New York University.

Skidmore’s annual F. William Harder Lecture in Business Administration was inaugurated in 1985 through the generosity of F. William Harder, a Skidmore parent who served as trustee from 1968 to 1980. The lecture brings together students and faculty with industry leaders to explore the current business environment and upcoming challenges.

Campus Safety Reports Feb. 27 – March 5

Friday Feb. 27 College Violation Wait Hall 12:09am RP reports a group of people being loud. Officer dispatched reports people were gone on arrival.

College Violation Penfield Hall 1:08am: RP reports a group of people being loud. Officer dispatched report students advised to quiet it down. They complied.

Accident Campus Grounds 11:16am: RP called stating she fell and injured herself on a campus walkway. Disp. Officer who took a report and filled out an accident report. Advised Grounds who salted the walkway.

Suspicious Activity Sports Center 6:00 PM: RP called to report a male acting in a suspicious manner. Disp. Officers who requested assistance from S.S.P.D. S.S.P.D. en route and subject was arrested.

Larceny From Buildings Penfield Hall 5:32 PM RP in office to file a report of larceny. Report taken.

College Violation Willmarth Hall 9:33 PM: RP reports loud music. Disp. Officer reports subjects will turn music down.

Saturday Feb. 28

Fire Alarm Sussman Apartments 12:27 AM: Fire alarm. Disp. Officers and Maintenance and advised SSFD.

College Violation Dayton Drive 1:10 AM: RP reports loud music. Officers dispatched.

Disorderly Conduct Spa 1:30 AM: RP states a male was yelling and screaming. Dispatched Officers report subjects separated and issue resolved.

Dating Violence Jonsson Tower 1:50 AM: RP reports people arguing. Officers dispatched. Non-student escorted off campus. Report taken.

College Violation Cane Crossing 2:47 AM: RP complained of loud noise. Officers dispatched.

College Violation Wait Hall 2:49 AM: RP complained of loud noise. Officers dispatch.

Fire Alarm Starbuck Center 7:20am: Fire alarm activated. Disp. Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD.

Fire Alarm Sussman Apartments 7:00 PM: Fire alarm. Officers, Maintenance and SSFD dispatched. Alarm due to smoke from cooking.

Graffiti Wiecking Hall 9:41 PM: RP reports graffiti on the second floor. Housekeeping dispatched.

Sunday March 1

College Violation Moore Way 1:08 AM: RP reports a noise complaint. Dispatched Officer reports loud music. Volume lowered.

College Violation Penfield Hall 2:09 AM: RP reports loud noise. Dispatched Officers report loud talking. Voices lowered.

College Violation Kimball Hall 2:18 AM: RP reports loud noise. Dispatched Officers report group of students talking. Voices lowered.

Falsely Reported Incident McClellan 2:59 AM: fire alarm. Dispatched Officers, Maintenance and contacted SSFD. Cause of activation due to false activation of pull station.

Fire Alarm Whitman Way 4:45AM: Fire alarm activation. Officers, Maintenance and SSFD advised. Cause determined to be from cooking error.

Criminal Mischief Wiecking Hall 12:35PM: Officer noticed fire door broken. Spoke with adjacent residents. Report generated.

Monday March 2

College Violation Dinning Hall 04:35 PM: RP called to report subjects smoking at the top of the stairs and when advised the smoking area is at the bottom of the stairs they became belligerent. Disp. Officer who reports no one in area at this time. GOA.

Fire Alarm Moore Way 7:15 PM: Fire alarm received. Disp. Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD. Student called stating alarm due to cooking.

Criminal Mischief Dana 6:19 PM: RP states suspicious activities occurring in some labs and would like periodic checks. Notified Officers.

Fire Alarm Sussman Apartments 9:32 PM: Fire alarm received. Disp. Officers, Maintenance and advised SSFD.

Suspicious Odor Wait Hall 8:30 PM: RP reports a suspicious odor. Disp. Officers who report subjects GOA.

Tuesday March 3

College Violation Moore Way 12:06am RP reports loud base. Officer dispatched.

College Violation Cane Crossing 12:18am: RP reports loud music. Officer dispatched and advised resident to lower volume.

College Violation Penfield Hall 1:21am: RP reports people being loud. Officer dispatched.

Suspicious Activity Dana 9:25am: RP to report of a couple of suspicious incidents. Disp. Officer. Report made.

Wednesday March 4

College Violation Penfield Hall 1:34am - Report of loud noise. Officer reports students playing tag. They have now dispersed. Area quiet at this time.

Suspicious Odor Jonsson Tower 10:47 PM: RP called to report a suspicious odor. Disp. Officer who was unable to determine the source of the odor at this time. Odor dissipated.

Thursday March  5

Graffiti Penfield Hall 9:14am: RP reports graffiti on a poster. Disp. Officer who took photos and report made.

How Likely was it for Boston to Win Nine Championships in Thirteen Years?

By Derrick Yam '17

Coming off of the most recent Super Bowl victory for the New England Patriots, Boston fans took full advantage of the opportunity to boast about their incredibly successful sports teams. But is it really that impressive for Boston to win nine combined championships among the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins over 13 years? In MA204 with the great Professor Dr. Michael Lopez, we used the computer software “R” to find out. In order to conduct this simulation, we had to make certain assumptions. It is essential that we inferred that each team, out of the 30 teams in the NBA, MLB, and NHL, as well as the 32 teams in the NFL, had an equally likely chance of winning. There are numerous variables that people want to attribute to winning percentage, such as payroll, and the previous year’s performance. Nevertheless, a scatterplot of payroll and winning percentage presents convoluted and indefinite results. To the right is an example of the correlation between money spent and wins in the MLB in 2009. Although the least squares regression line displays a positive correlation, the regression coefficient which proves the strength of the relationship is very weak—in fact, the value was less than .4 (For those of you who are not familiar with statistics, a regression coefficient value of 1 indicates a perfect relationship, and a value of 0 indicates no relationship at all). Similarly, accounting for the previous year’s performance offers just as inconclusive tendencies. For instance, following the Red Sox World Series Championship in 2013, the team pulled off a .438 win percentage in 2014 and did not make the playoffs. Following this analysis of variables and deciding on an equal chance of winning for all teams within each league, we ran the simulation. In “R,” we ran 100,000 trials of 13 years, with the probability of each Boston team winning a championship for each of those 13 years, to be 1 in 30 for the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics, and 1 in 32 for the Patriots. Our results proved that Boston is truly a professional sports powerhouse (no bias at all, as I am a resident of Massachusetts). Our simulation gave us an average number of championships within those 13 years to be only 1.70271, and the probability of winning 9 championships to be 4 out of 100,000—or .00004%. The simulation did not give any possibility for winning nine championships in 13 years. What this proves is that Boston truly did accomplish an incredibly challenging feat. Now, further studies can be made accounting for certain underlying variables, or considering that there are only twelve cities in the United States with four professional sports teams. However, this does not diminish the task that Boston has completed. Boston has the best sports team in the world, and I am 100% not partial to the tremendous state of Massachusetts.

Skidservice Celebration

Thursday night at the Spa was a memorable one. A variety of clubs dedicated to improving the local and broader community were represented at Skidservice Celebration on March 5, 2015. This event was sponsored by the Office of Community Service programs and NRHH, the National Residence Hall Honorary. Free pizza was served and tickets were handed out to all purveyors for entrance into a Chipotle raffle. Live performances by some of Skidmore’s best talent, including the Accents, the Stomping Soles, Rithmos, Ujima, AKT, and the Gospel Choir entertained a crowd curious about what community outreach opportunities our campus has to offer. Julia Diamond ‘15, a sociology major, was at the event to share information about Fight Club. Fight Club is a campus mediation service provided by students trained in conflict resolution strategies. They offer a safe and confidential space for their fellow peers who are going through difficulties in their interpersonal relationships and would like to come to a resolution. Said Diamond, “I just love watching people work through things logically and knowing that I helped them do that.”

Students participating in one of this year’s Alternative Spring Break programs called Safe Passage were present at the Celebration to fundraise for their service trip to Guatemala, as well as to recruit any individuals interested in participating in the future. In March of 2015, a handful of volunteers will be journeying to this South American country to mentor 4th and 7th grade Guatemalan children through an afterschool program. They have been meeting regularly throughout the spring semester in preparation for their trip; during these meetings, the volunteers have been planning lesson plans for the children. Jessa Henschel ‘17, a psychology major, shared her excitement about being able to reach out. Said Henschel, “We’re going to be doing team building activities, leadership activities, and teaching some of our own skills to the kids.” They are still fundraising for the trip and have a place online for supporters to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/Skidmoreinguatemala

Club members from Skidmore’s branch of UNICEF were promoting an iPhone app called the UNICEF Tap Project. This app tracks how much you play with your phone, and donates a day’s worth of clean water to deprived areas for every fifteen minutes you don’t touch your device. Jamie Scherzer ‘17, studio art and business double major, vice president of UNICEF, spoke about how much of a difference a little more clean water can make in some places. Scherzer explained, “Water-borne diseases are a huge problem. Sometimes all people have access to is really dirty water and they get ill from it. Also, governments in some countries that have water crises are making water a private utility, and so they’re putting even more restrictions on the access to local clean water.” To learn more about the Tap Project and to download the app, visit http://www.unicefusa.org/mission/survival/water/tap-project.

Jingling Zhang ‘17, a psychology and business double major, is a member of NRHH who was at the Celebration. Zhang said, “I think Skidmore has a lot of community service clubs, and some of them I had never known before. I definitely checked out some new clubs tonight.”

Other clubs that were represented at the Skidservice Celebration were Saratoga Mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sister, Feel Good, Benef-Action, Her Campus, Active Minds, Newman Club, and Feedmore.

Editorial: Educating Students on Sexual Misconduct

By The Editorial Board

As an educational institution, Skidmore is required to teach its students - not only about history or science, but also about how to be good global citizens. We are put in various situations that require us to act as responsible students and members of a community. Standards are set by the school: follow the honor code, abide by drinking and drug laws, respect one another - yet Skidmore does not do enough to discuss sexual assault. It seems that students have been producing the most conversation. Between hearsay emails and Facebook groups - it is clear that the reigns are in the hands of the student body, not the administration. Granted, there are green posters that are in every room on campus; however, those green signs are often overlooked and simply state the steps one can take in managing sexual assault, post-occurrence. Most students are well-versed in the AOD policy. They understand preventative measures one can take to avoid acquiring points here and there because the AOD system is written in chart form and placed within all residential hall bathrooms. Unlike sexual misconduct, the AOD policy is driven into our minds.

Sexual assault does not have the same set of educational measures instituted. The preventative measures are not discussed enough; therefore, students lack education on this matter. We are programmed to comprehend what is considered “right” or “wrong,” yet at an institution where “wrong” has consequences, it seems only fair that students be educated on sexual misconduct, just like they are with the AOD policy. Due to the nature of offenses and the less concrete sanctions, the sexual assault policies are much harder to find than the AOD policy. Rather than being posted in bathrooms around campus, the sexual assault policy lives online in long-form PDF. Students don’t know the repercussions of violating sexual misconduct policy

The editorial board was in agreement that Skidmore should emphasize preventative measures in the domain of sexual assault within the first year experience.

Skidmore has increased programs this year including that of the Social Norms Campaign and “The First 6 Weeks.” Employing all of these aspects are fantastic, but their focus centralizes around addressing broad themes of alcohol education and only briefly detail sexual and gender-based misconduct and do not mention sanctions.

Yes, if you investigate Skidmore’s, “The First 6 Weeks” webpage you will see a statement that, “Skidmore College is committed to promoting a campus environment where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and exploitation are not tolerated;” however, these few paragraphs are not satisfactory enough to be claimed as a “discussion” about sexual assault.

The editorial board believes that added discussions across campus through lectures, debates and mandatory class sessions would emphasize better behavior on campus. The board felt that the fourth credit hour of the Scribner Seminar would benefit from devoting a mandatory class session to sexual assault. Many times that fourth hour is disregarded, but it can be used for something better - a look at sexual assault and certain preventative measures.

Skidmore should make the campus more aware of preventative measures when it comes to sexual assault. Campaign posters for various other first year programs are in surplus, so why not add another component? If Skidmore can inform us of the repercussions of drinking under the age of 21 (which we all know is illegal), than Skidmore can inform us of sexual misconduct--preventative aspects and potential consequences for violated Skidmore’s code of conduct. Creating posters is always a creative, yet captivating way to catch a student’s attention, or adding a mandatory fourth credit hour conversation on the matter would benefit students facing such a tough topic. Perhaps if Skidmore worked harder to make these policies more apparent in our everyday life, then sexual assault would decrease. “Racy readers” might further some knowledge regarding the matter, but they can only be so effective. Despite their quick read - they do not do enough to establish methods for informing students about preventative measures. Skidmore needs to take charge and stop the problem at the root.

As students approach the “real world” it is necessary that we are able to have discussion about topics such as sexual assault, and it is necessary that Skidmore help to furnish these talks. Discussions like these would lead to students becoming respectful and intelligent citizens in their own communities.

For more information on sexual misconduct policy:

Investigating Sexual Misconduct: Skidmore's Policy (Part 1)

Also, we encourage participation in an on-going gender and sexual based misconduct survey being conducted by the Office of Health promotions.

Men's Basketball Set for NCAA First Round

By Skidmore Athletics

The Skidmore College men's basketball team will continue its run at a national championship when it takes on Wesleyan University in the NCAA Division III Tournament first round on Friday, March 6, at 5:30 p.m., at Johns Hopkins University. Skidmore captured its third Liberty League title in five years with a 68-64 win over Clarkson in Saturday's championship game. Junior guard Erik Sanders was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, after scoring 25 points on 8 of 9 shooting against the Golden Knights. Senior forward Connor Merrill had 14 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, and junior guard Aldin Medunjanin added 13 points and four boards. The Thoroughbreds shot 53.3 percent (24-45) from the field, marking the seventh time this season that they have shot over 50 percent. Medunjanin, who was named the Liberty League Player of the Year, holds a conference-best 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. He ranks second in the conference in assists per game (4.1), third in steals per game (1.7), sixth in scoring (14.8 ppg), and seventh in 3-pointers per game. He has averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game over the last nine games. Merrill's shot-altering ability has played a vital part in Skidmore's defensive success this season. The four-time All-Liberty League selection has blocked four or more shots in eight games this season, averaging a league-best two blocked shots per game. He has also been a key contributor at the offensive end of the floor, leading the conference in field goal percentage (48.6 percent) and ranking ninth in scoring (14.1 ppg). Sanders, who was named to the All-Liberty League Second Team, has made a habit of getting to the basket, as indicated by his 133 free-throw attempts this season. He ranks second on the team in points per game (14.3), assists per game (2.2), steals (26) and 3-pointers per game (1.4). Freshman guard Royce Paris has been the team's unsung hero down the stretch, averaging 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in Skidmore's last 10 games. He tied a career-high, with 19 points in the Thoroughbreds 69-53 win over Clarkson in the final game of the regular season to help Skidmore clinch its first regular season conference title. He also contributed eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the championship game. He is averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game off the bench this season. Skidmore, which is currently riding an eight-game win streak, has established one of the nation's top defenses this season. The Thoroughbreds rank fifth out of 417 Division III teams in field-goal percentage defense (37.6 percent); 11th in blocked shots per game (4.8); 19th in defensive rebounds per game (28.3); and 39th in scoring defense (62.3 ppg). Skidmore has held its opponents to under 40 percent shooting in 16 of 27 games. The Thoroughbreds are 16-2 over their last 18 games.

Investigating Sexual Misconduct: Skidmore's Policy (Part 1)

By Jacob Reiskin '17, Co-Editor-In-Chief

This article marks the beginning of a multi-week series that will detail sexual assault and the conversation surrounding it at Skidmore. This first week will focus on the College's protocol for responding to sexual misconduct, including its reporting and hearing process. In the coming weeks, my co-editor, Billie Kanfer, and I, will publish on a weekly basis, articles addressing the handling of sexual misconduct.

First, I want to detail the process, as David Karp, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Mariel Martin, Director of Student Diversity Programs/Title IX Deputy Coordinator outlined to me.

Once a student files a case of sexual misconduct with a source obligated to report (such as Campus Safety), whether it be an inappropriate note or a rape, the report is sent to Martin. Her job is to enforce Title IX law, which was created and is overseen by the federal Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. The law is intended to eliminate gender discrimination at institutions of higher education. To uphold the law, Martin is responsible for investigating any incident. She explained, “A trained partner and I act as neutral fact finders.” Both Martin and Karp are trained in investigating sexual assault and receive training at least one a year.

The investigation is a very in-depth process that will go as far as evidence allows. Sometimes victims do not say enough to conduct a full investigation; therefore, ending investigations quickly. However, if victims are forthcoming, then all relevant people, including witnesses and the person accused are interviewed. If hard evidence exists—such as a rape kit, cellphone records, or door swipe records—it is collected. All of this information is then compiled into an investigation report which will eventually be handed over to the sexual misconduct committee in advance of a hearing. The report will highlight agreements and disagreements between the reporting individual (student making a claim) and the responding individual (student that has been accused). Both students are allowed to voice their opinions on the report prior to the hearing. By highlighting these agreements and disagreements, the hearing board is better able to question the reporting and responding students when the hearing occurs.

In any case of sexual misconduct, the goal of the policy is to stop the behavior, especially if the reporting student reports repeated abuse. The second goal is to “remedy the behavior,” meaning that reporting (and responding) students should be guided through the aftermath of an event, whether they need counseling, law services or other help, including housing relocation or class changes. The last goal is to prevent the behavior from happening again, so if necessary, students are removed from campus before hearings occur. This also explains why green posters go up on campus, so students can be aware that misconduct is happening and that the college is responding. These posters are required by the Cleary Act in order to make sure students are aware of dangers on campus so that they can take action to protect themselves; such as locking their doors or avoiding dangerous situations.

To achieve these three goals, there will be a hearing where both students are allowed to voice their concerns. The hearing board is made up of trained faculty who have been selected through a willingness-to-serve process. Martin noted that all members undergo a six-week intensive training process in the fall. In addition, as of October 2014, students are allowed to have a lawyer (or any advisor, friend, counselor they choose) present in the hearing room, so long as the lawyer does not speak—this would make the hearing too much like a court case. Students are also allowed specific accommodations. For example, if they desire, students are not forced to look at each other during the hearing. A screen can be placed between the reporting and responding sides of the room. These hearings tend to be incredibly adversarial because according to David Karp, “nearly 100% of responders deny responsibility.”

This leaves the board in a tough place. “Most cases come down to word vs. word,” Martin said. So to find students responsible, the boards use a preponderance system. Students can be found responsible beyond reasonable doubt (99.9% sure), clear and convincing (75% sure), or confident (51% sure). The board, after deliberation, reaches a level of confidence to determine culpability, but does not share their confidence level with either student. However, even if a student is found responsible at the lowest level, only 51%, they are still assigned sanctions the same as if they had be found responsible beyond reasonable doubt, a standard practice dictated by the Justice Department. As a comparison, the U.S. justice system must find those charged guilty beyond reasonable doubt in order to convict. This is important to understand because these hearings are not court cases. Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun underscored that the objective in these cases is simply to establish whether a responding individual has violated Skidmore’s code of conduct. “We are establishing responsibility by the lowest standard, which has been critiqued, but we are trying to find a basic breach.”

If students are found responsible, they are assigned sanctions by the hearing board, although Calhoun is responsible for reviewing suggestions of suspension and expulsion. As explained in the sexual misconduct policy:

Sanctions preserve individual and institutional safety and integrity and, whenever possible and appropriate, help offenders repair the damage to the individual and community for which they have been found responsible. Individuals found to be in violation of sexual and gender-based misconduct offenses involving penetration will likely face a recommended sanction of suspension or expulsion. Individuals found to be in repeat violation for sexual and/or gender-based misconduct offenses will likely face a recommended sanction of suspension or expulsion.

When asked about whether students should be expelled for all violations of misconduct (as Student Government Association President Addison Bennett suggested in his recent open letter), Calhoun responded with ambivalence: “The big question is what should we do [to respond to those found guilty of sexual misconduct] and we don’t have an answer at this time.” She continued, “I’m taken by how varied the answer is in our community… there is an assumption that all victims want a bright line. It’s a very nuanced issue though.” She explained, “it’s discussed in a very binary way, but when we have conversations in the community, it’s not this.”

When asked what the chief misconceptions of sexual misconduct are, Martin responded, “why are institutions of higher education handling this?” Martin explained that members of the Skidmore community are always held accountable to the code of conduct and when they violate it, they are held liable, whether it be rape or theft. Students always have a right to file outside complaints and students will do what’s best for them. Although, responding individuals may be better off having their cases heard on campus. As Karp said, “the criminal justice system does not often [file] charge[s] because there is no evidence.” This stresses why Title IX boards are so important: They pose the only real likelihood of consequences for perpetrators of sexual misconduct. Martin made clear that students are encouraged to file complaints with outside bodies if they desire and that the school will direct reporting students to whomever they would like to talk to, including the police. She stated that “for some, not filling complaints may be the best option, for others, it’s pursuing their case through the justice system.” She put her role best: “my job is make folks aware of the options and resources.” And she emphasized, “this is an administrative policy that is well vetted and up to par with all federal standards.”

After spring break, we will publish the next piece on individual stories of sexual assault and how the hearing process worked out. We hope this series encourages discussion of this incredibly important issue.

Theater Review: The Penelopiad

By Andy Shi, Managing Editor

You're left with the unsettling knot in your gut that you have misunderstood not only one of antiquity's most famous works, but the nearly three thousand years of history subsequent to its first telling. That, of course, was the intent of The Penelopiad, Emily Moler '15's rendition of Margaret Atwood's famous feminist work, itself a reinterpretation of Homer's The Odyssey.

The Penelopiad tells the story of Penelope, Odysseus's wife, during her husband’s twenty-year absence—a story that Homer himself only offers snippets of during his epic. The play follows Penelope's story from her marriage to Odysseus to her faithful attempts to delay remarriage to one of the many suitors who come to her while Odysseus is lost at sea and presumably dead. The story ends with his return, although not under the joyous circumstances found in the original.

While Penelope narrates the play, it eventually becomes clear that the story is not about her, but rather her 12 handmaids—the ones who are hanged in The Odyssey for licentiousness, connivance with the suitors, and betrayal of Penelope and Odysseus. However, in this rendition we learn the handmaiden's connivance with the suitors was instead reconnaissance at Penelope's request so that she could thwart their plots against her and keep them behaved. Their promiscuity was not depravity, but sexual assault, misperceived by Odysseus's son and faithful maid, Telemachus and Eurycleia, respectively. Rather than the opportunistic whores they're made out to be in The Odyssey, in this retelling they are epitomes of loyalty, innocence, and martyrdom. Their sacrifices are made to buy Penelope time while Odysseus takes his time returning, making a one-year pit-stop with the beautiful enchantress Circe and a seven-year dalliance with the nymph Calypso.

Thus, the 12 maids not only sacrifice their bodies for Penelope but also their lives for a guilt borne by Odysseus. Penelope, too, is guilty, culpable for not only allowing their torture, but encouraging it so that she can remain faithful to a faithless man.

The lugubrious Penelope was wonderfully played by Lily Donahue' 15, who deftly carried the narrative through its hour-and-half-plus run and movingly delivered some of the most heart-wrenching and dismal scenes. She displayed an immense comfort with the focal role and did justice to the leading lady.

Special attention must also be given to Evy Yergan '16, who portrayed the arrogant Odysseus and provided the much-needed comic relief along with the brutish and boisterous suitors, most notably Antinous, played by Rebecca Zipursky '15. Their caricature male behavior—exaggerated ball-scratching, nose-flicking and Neanderthal-like swagger—was some of the show's most memorable and enjoyable moments.

And one would be remiss to not give due consideration to the production staff. The stage (designed by James Barber '15), with its chipped edges and faded mosaics, invoked the Attic amphitheater where the original Odyssey might be presented. Costumes, skillfully designed by Alli Green '15, aided greatly in delivering the Hellenic authenticity, and along with carefully cued music (Margo Chanin '16) and lighting (James Kuzio '15), generated a powerful experience for the audience.

The Penelopiad was a masterfully mixed cocktail of humor, intelligence, and tragedy. The terrible fate of the 12 maids, unjustly vilified, has echoes in a contemporary world that is encountering its own transforming social narrative. Those marginalized, silenced, and slandered—blamed for crimes they did not commit, but were in fact the very victims—are speaking up. The justice which the 12 maids call for, delivered from the dark shadows of Hades where they have been abandoned, is perhaps finally being heard in the twenty-first century.

The Penelopiad ran from Feb. 27 to March 4 in the Black Box Theater. Congratulations to Ms. Moler and the cast and crew for a smart and dazzling performance.

Reel Talk: Spring Film Preview

By Sean van der Heijden

With the awards season just having come to an end, the spring isn’t exactly known for it’s good releases. However, things have been changing lately—last year, both Wes Anderson’s, The Grand Budapest Hotel and critical darling, Under the Skin premiered in March. This year too, there are a couple of promising releases that may have gone under your radar:

3. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter: dir. David Zellner, starring Rinko Kikuchi

This one’s a bit odd. Based on a true story, it’s about a lonely Japanese woman who discovers a copy of the film Fargo, and then heads to the U.S. to hunt down the large case of money that appears in the film. Kikuchi was mesmerizing in Babel all the way back in 2006, and looks just as haunting and atmospheric in this. It opens in limited release on March 18.

2. Ex Machina: dir. Alex Garland, starring Domhnall Gleason, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac.

About a researcher who gets involved in an artificial intelligence experiment and must evaluate the human-like qualities of a female robot, this film looks like a cross between drama, sci-fi, and psychological thriller. It’s getting really positive feedback right now, and looks way smarter than it’s making itself out to be. Ex Machina goes wide on April 10.

1. While We’re Young: dir. Noah Baumbach, starring Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Amanda Seyfried, and Adam Driver.

Centered on a middle-aged couple (Stiller and Watts) whose lives get upended upon meeting a much younger couple (Driver and Seyfried), this movie looks like a witty, hilarious dramedy. Dealing with the generation gap between the two couples, Stiller and Watts—who’s won raves for her performance—slowly descend into childish hipsters as their relationship with the younger couple grows. This one comes out on March 27.

Other wide releases include the Kenneth Branagh adaptation of Disney’s Cinderella and the Liam Neeson thriller Run All Night, both of which come out on March 13. The Will Ferrell-Kevin Hart prison comedy Get Hard comes out on March 27, and Furious 7 premieres on April 3. Another promising sci-fi thriller, Self/less, opens on the April 17, and is definitely one to check out. Lastly, the Blake Lively romance The Age of Adaline comes out on April 24 and definitely looks like a decent date movie.

The Replacement

Photo Credit: Couch, France, 1740-50, Accessed through ARTstor

By: Anonymous Contributor

Slam the door crashed behind him as he walked out, leaving behind a faint echo that reverberated through the cramped, but nearly empty studio apartment.

With a sigh of relief she sank down into the old couch and shut her eyes, replaying the events of the day. Slowly, a crooked, malicious smile appeared on her lips as she applauded her efforts in the conversation that just ensued.

You see, she had been trying to master the art of manipulation for the past five years, and after hours of endless fights and arguments, she realized that she had succeeded. This had been a tough test of her abilities, but she applied all of the knowledge and tricks that she had mastered and she had succeeded, and it felt good. No, it felt more than good—it felt magnificent.

Her eyes sprung open and she looked around the room as if in deep thought. Slowly, she lifted herself from the rustic couch, as it was not an easy couch to lift oneself out of. She stared longingly at the rips in the seams, and the stains that reminded her of the long years they had spent together. Spaghetti sauce, wine, and soda created its own pattern on the fabric that nearly covered the surface of the cushions.

Walking to the kitchen, she tied her long hair in ponytail and opened a drawer to grab a knife. She held it before her eyes as if inspecting it for any imperfections. She twisted it in her hands and then looked back toward the couch.

Heading for the homely thing, she held the knife high above her head. When she arrived at her destination she brought her hand down fast and hard into the upholstery. Repeatedly, she stabbed the knife in the cushions, the arms, the pillows and the back of the couch. Her eyes emitted a type fierce rage that would make you want to run away. She didn’t stop menacingly slicing the couch until the thing was nothing but scraps of stuffing and fabric and pieces of wood scattered about the room.

Just as she finished cleaning up the mess, her husband burst through the doors completely out of breath. He stared at his wife questioningly after he saw the empty spot where his beloved and precious couch once sat. Just as he was about to speak, three men burst through the door behind him carrying a new, lovely leather couch, and placed it down where the ugly old one used to sit.

The Six Mental Stages of Winter: A Steady Decline from Childlike Wonder to Bitter Disgust

 

Photograph: Winter:Time of the Hawk, Romare Bearden, 1985, collage on board. Accessed through ARTstor.

By: Marie Civitello, ’17, Contributing Writer

1. November: By day, you greet the first chilly notes of winter with excitement. By night, you dream of sleigh bells, jolly fat men and singing snowmen dancing under geysers of hot chocolate.

2. December: You frolic through the freshly fallen snow, clambering over gargantuan snowbanks as if they were the grassy Austrian hills of “The Sound of Music.” Merry Christmas, winter!

3. January: Smiling with effort at the towering grayish snow piles around campus, you attempt a half-hearted snow angel but realize this is impossible in four feet of snow.

4. February: Staring in bewilderment at the snow falling sideways outside the window, you count the number of days since you last saw the sun on your swollen, frostbitten finger nubs.

5. March: Snowed in for five days, you begin to worship an orange—the only object remotely resembling the star you have heard (apparently) exists at the center of our solar system.

6. April: Crazed and vitamin D deficient, you burst outside as soon as temperatures soar to 40 degrees. Wearing nothing but a Hawaiian shirt, you run through campus screaming in rabid glee.

The Newest Clubs on Campus

By Noa Maltzman ’18, News Editor

Last March a group of students began working to start a UNICEF club here at Skidmore. The UNICEF Campus Initiative became an official Student Government Association (SGA) club on Feb. 3 this year, but it was after a lot of time, work and dedication from the club leaders.

“Starting a club is just as everyone says it is, it’s hard,” said Monica Villegas ’16, who is the current president of Amici D’Italia. Amici D'Italia is another group that is in the process of working to hopefully become an official club here at Skidmore.

Villegas who was born and raised in Italy speaking Italian wanted to start Amici D’Italia “because I want people to learn about the Italian culture and know it as I know it.”

The founding members of UNICEF wanted to make it an official club on campus for many reasons. One of their main reasons was that UNICEF USA requires that any UNICEF Campus Initiative be an official club on its respective campus. Another reason was so they would have their own funding and because they felt, “people might not want to be a part of something that is not already established [as an official club] because they fear that the club might disappear one day and their active participation might not be recognized later on,” said Alexandra Palthey ’16, UNICEF Club President.

“Being an SGA club gives you SGA's full support, commitment, and backing. The club also gets a budget through SGA funds,” said Megan Schacter ’17 Vice-President for Club Affairs, when she was asked about the advantage of being a full club.

The process for becoming a club begins when those hoping to start a club meet with the Vice President for Club Affairs. After this meeting, the club fills out an intent to organize form and works to collect 300 signatures from members of the student body. Recently Big Brothers Big Sisters was in the D-hall Atrium tabling to get people to sign their name on their club list in hopes of helping them to become a club.

Once the club has the 300 signatures, they meet with the Club Affairs Committee (CAC). Here, they explain issues like why they want to start a club and their plans for the club. The CAC then votes to put them on an eight-week trial period or not. During this time, they function as a full SGA club. Four weeks into the trial process, the club leaders meet with the Vice President for Club Affairs for a check in meeting to discuss how things are going. Then, at the end of the eight weeks, the club goes back to CAC to prove that they are ready to be a full club. CAC then votes to endorse the club to senate or not. With or without the endorsement, the club can then go to senate, where the senators vote on whether to provide a charter.

Amici D’Italia just ended their trial period on March 4. During their trial period, they hosted bi-weekly meetings and a showing of the best foreign film of 2014, the Italian film “The Great Beauty.”

This isn’t how the process has always been. During Schacter’s term as Vice President for Club Affairs, she has been working to change the process. “This year, I lengthened the trial period to eight weeks from the original four weeks, in order to give groups more time to prepare and strengthen themselves before coming to CAC and Senate for charter approval.”

Additionally, Schacter said that she is working to change the current polices; so that on the same day Senate approves the club charter, they will also approve the club’s budget. “This will eliminate any lag time between when a group is chartered and when they receive their budget,” said Schacter.

UNICEF’s process for becoming a club took a longer then usual and differed from the typical process described above because when they began the process of becoming a club, “we went to SGA asking to be a club, and they assigned us under Benef-Action, citing that we are a community [service] club,” said Anh Vu L Nguyen ’17, a co-founder of UNICEF at Skidmore. The founders of the club though soon realized that Benef-Action was pretty different in their approaches and aims compared to UNICEF, so UNICEF club founders want back to SGA in late April to become their own official club. SGA told Unicef to come back in the fall though, as they were too late in the year.

At the beginning of this school year, UNICEF got to meet with the CAC and SGA and begin a trial period for their club. The trial period lasted almost the entire fall 2014 semester, and during this time the club hosted many events and collaborated with other clubs. “One of the most successful series of events that we did was the Halloween week,” said Nguyen.

Not only did UNICEF have to prove that they could host events and operate as a club during their trial period, but they also had to show that the club could be sustainable. “We had a change in leadership, and that showed that there were people other than the e-board then who want to be with the club,” said Nguyen.

Hard work by the UNICEF leaders paid off and the club became an official SGA club in early February, but it is currently unknown if hard work will pay off for Amici D’Italia, like it did for UNICEF, and if SGA will vote in favor of making them a club.

Securing Its Future or Shooting Itself in the Foot? China’s Strict Censorship and Its Returning Students

by Niki Deininger '15

Over the last few weeks—on the Internet, in college classrooms, and in business offices—Chinese citizens are sighing in frustration at what many believe to be the Communist Party’s toughest censorship regulations in decades. Taken out of context, the government’s clampdown might not seem out of place. Yet, considering General Secretary of the Communist Part of China Xi Jinping’s continued efforts to snuff out Party corruption, including last month’s ousting of former provincial party leader Su Rong, tighter censorship reveals a heightened sense of state instability. While the country’s economy and private sector may continue to grow miraculously, the substantial increase of state limitations on foreign-educated citizens may ultimately shoot the Communist Party in the foot.

For several weeks now, stricter controls on Internet use, academic curriculum, and business applications all seem to be a result of the Party’s fear of outside influences threatening the legitimacy of the Chinese government. Amid state investigations to root out corruption--an endeavor that has already implicated thousands of government officials, including 70 high-ranking party members--Xi Jinping is seeking to maintain stability by tightening the leash on censorship. And the number of restrictions is still growing. In addition to expelling all Google services last year, as of last month, bloggers and chat-room visitors are required to register their full names on websites, as well as provide written affirmation that they will not challenge the political system. In the weeks to come, new regulations may require foreign companies to hand over intellectual property and products under the guise of “security checks.”

While some Western observers may shake their heads at this turn of events, many others are more struck by China’s nontraditional model of development and growth. China’s support and effort to fuel economic activity, Xi Jinping’s campaign against corruption, the country’s greater availability of educational opportunities abroad, the government’s encouragement for innovative ideas and technology, and China’s growing middle class all seem to suggest that democracy is somewhere in their attainable future. Classic modernization theory in particular asserts that a prominent middle class will lead to democracy. However, the government’s recent crackdown on censorship quells hopes of a China that can embrace civil liberties, such as free speech, in years to come. China’s model of development differs from that of more liberal democratic countries. The government’s desire to remain firmly in control is troublesome and clashes with the country’s rapid economic growth in the private sector and its increasing number of foreign-educated middle class citizens.

In addition to China’s astounding economic growth over the years, the United States’ desire to accept international students into U.S. colleges and universities, combined with China’s surplus of knowledge-seeking students has created a profitable market for an American education. While Chinese students have continuously represented the largest number of international students studying in America, the rate of Chinese student enrollment is still on the rise. In 2014, Chinese student enrollment surged 17 percent from the previous year, reaching a total of 274,439 students, about 31 percent of all international students studying in America. Yet unlike in past years, more American-educated Chinese graduates are returning home for employment. According to the Ministry of Education, in 2011, 187,300 Chinese graduates returned home after completing their studies. However, a year later, that number skyrocketed to 272,900 graduates. Part of the explanation for this drastic increase lies in how difficult it is for Chinese citizens to obtain a U.S. work visa. These figures also highlight China’s tremendous economic growth, its expanding private sector, and the opportunities for skilled jobs that come with economic growth.

With more and more American-educated Chinese graduates returning home to join China’s blossoming private sector, its bilingual, bicultural workforce has the potential to pump new ideas and innovations into China and spur further economic development. While this is good news for the Communist Party’s hopes of maintaining sustained economic growth, the consequences of encouraging students to return home with foreign Western ideas could pose a real, tangible threat to China’s attempts to stifle political dissent. The Chinese government refuses to let in information it deems threatening to the nation, and yet it wants to encourage innovation in the private sector from its foreign-educated citizens. China cannot have both, or else it will set itself on a collision course with democracy.

A Note from The National Residence Hall Honorary Program

Hi Everyone, 

    The National Residence Hall Honorary and The Office of Community Service Programs are hosting an event, SkidService Celebration, in the Spa on Thursday, March 5th to honor and recognize service and leadership on our campus. 

    Eleven service clubs or groups on campus are coming together to share information about themselves and their upcoming events. There will also be seven performance groups, free Esperanto's pizza, raffles for group memorabilia, and a raffle for a chipotle gift card. 

    ​So come join us in learning more about these amazing groups, while enjoying free food and good entertainment! 

If you would like to know more about the event, find us on Facebook here.

We look forward to seeing you there!  Gavin Berger and Kate Bridgham

Co-Presidents of NRHH 

Women's Basketball Wins First Ever Liberty League Title

By Skidmore Athletics The Skidmore College women's basketball team secured the program's first ever Liberty League Championship on Saturday afternoon in Canton, N.Y., with a hard fought 67-62 double overtime win over top-seeded St. Lawrence.

“The amazing journey continues for us,” said Skidmore College head coach Darren Bennett. "I'm so happy for our entire team and program. We were the absolute picture of resilience today. Coming back from a double-digit second-half deficit and pushing through two overtimes was awesome.”

Senior guard Molly McLaughlin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, after tallying a game-high 21 points. The Saints were led by Allison Cady's 18 points and 10 rebounds.

“Molly McLaughlin was something else on both ends of the floor,” Bennett added. “Fifty minutes, not a minute of rest, and she was able to make great decisions for our team and hit huge free throws down the stretch.”

Skidmore heads to the NCAA Tournament after earning the automatic bid with a 17-10 overall record. Kelly Donnelly ’18 (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Angela Botiba ’15 (13 points, 16 rebounds) added double-doubles to land All-Tournament Team honors. Meanwhile, St. Lawrence finished the year at 20-7 Saturday's loss continues a league nine-year streak in which the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament has failed to win the automatic bid.

Skidmore finished the game with a 61-54 rebounding advantage, and shot 17 more free throws than St. Lawrence, which settled for perimeter jumpers throughout the game. The Thoroughbreds managed to earn the win despite a 1-for-19 mark from behind the arc, as the Saints weren’t much better at 6-of-34.

The Saints put together a 10-point run to snag the early lead, as the team had eight different players chip in on the offensive end in the half. Kara McDuffee and Cady led the way with a combined 14 points, and Samantha Godfrey hit a key three and Olivia Mathieu scored on a contested layup to keep the home team on top. Despite Skidmore struggling to score with an 8-of-34 mark from the floor, the Saints missed a few opportunities to stretch the lead, taking a 29-19 lead into the break.

Kaelyn Kohlasch hit a three early in the second half, giving St. Lawrence a 13-point lead, but Skidmore refused to cave, with McLaughlin hitting several jumpers from the elbow while continuing to involve Botiba in the post. The Saints held the lead throughout the entire second half, until back-to-back jumpers by Donnelly and Amber Holgate ’16 tied it at 46-46, with 1:51 to play. Skidmore had the best chance to win the game in regulation, but McLaughlin's last-second three hit iron and sent the game to overtime.

The Thoroughbreds never trailed in the first overtime, but never lead by more than two. McDuffee's layup with 41 seconds left tied it at 52-52, answering a bucket by Botiba. After Holgate missed for Skidmore, Kohlasch had two open looks from three to win it, including one at the buzzer, but failed to convert.

Skidmore finally built some separation in the second overtime, using a 7-0 run capped by a McLaughlin layup to take a 59-54 lead with 2:03 left. Cady answered right away with an and-one, keeping the lead at 59-57, but that would be the last field goal by the Saints. McLaughlin converted free throws down the stretch, leading the Thoroughbreds to the program's first Liberty League title.

“Amber Holgate came off the bench with a huge and-one to give us the overtime lead [and] was incredible,” Bennett added. "Botiba inside, Donnelly with her ability to get to the rim and hit the mid-range shot, everything just clicked for us today. It was a lot of fun to be a part of it all.”

Cady and McDuffee both posted double-doubles, earning All-Tournament honors. Cady finished with 18 points and 10 boards, while McDuffee compiled 10 points and 14 rebounds.

“Our goal was to minimize their 3-point shooting, keep them off the free throw line, and, lastly, keep them off the offensive rebounds,” Bennett said. "We did those things, and were able to hold off an incredibly talented and well coached team. I've got so much respect for Dan and his team. His two seniors, Kara McDuffee and Allison Cady, are great leaders and class acts. We are enjoying this experience and look forward to continuing our journey into our first ever NCAA tournament.”

Skidmore, which knocked off St. Lawrence for the third time this season, will play St. John Fisher College at Tufts University on Friday, March 6.

American String Quartet returns to Skidmore for string festival; will participate in College’s Beethoven project March 7

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The world-renowned American String Quartet (ASQ) returns to Skidmore College for the third time as artists-in-residence during the weekend of March 7-8 for the 11th annual Skidmore String Festival, which is part of the college’s ELM Chamber Music Residency. The ASQ will also participate in Skidmore’s continuing Beethoven project while on campus.

The festival features a performance by the ASQ at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in Arthur Zankel Music Center. Tickets are on sale in advance. A second concert, the festival finale, features ASQ and Skidmore faculty joining the student performers. Scheduled for Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m., also in Zankel, the festival finale is free. Saturday’s concert by the ASQ is will feature an all-Beethoven program as the concert is part of Skidmore’s ongoing Beethoven project in which six internationally renowned guest artist are presenting the full cycle of Beethoven’s 16 string quartets over the course of two years. The ASQ will perform the Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2; the Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74; and the Quartet in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and the Skidmore community, and free for students and children. For ticket information for the March 7 American String Quartet Concert, please visit the Skidmore College web site, http://www.skidmore.edu/zankel/

Festival activities include individual and group coaching with the dynamic quartet and Skidmore faculty. Michael Emery, senior artist-in-residence at Skidmore, invited established high school string quartets to join Skidmore students for a weekend of individual, non-competitive coaching with members of the ASQ and Skidmore faculty as well as a performance in the Arthur Zankel Music Center’s Helen Ladd Concert Hall.

Internationally recognized as one of the world’s foremost quartets, the ASQ is celebrating its 39^th season this year. Quartet members are Peter Winograd (violin), Laurie Carney (violin), Daniel Avshalomov (viola), and Wolfram Koessel (cello). Over nearly four decades of touring the quartet has performed in all 50 states and appeared in the world’s most important concert halls. The group’s presentations of the complete quartets of Beethoven, Schubert, Bartók, and Mozart have won widespread critical acclaim, and its MusicMasters Complete Mozart String Quartets, performed on a matched set of instruments by Stradivarius, are widely considered to have set the standard for this repertoire.

In addition to quartets by European masters, the ASQ performs works by American composers and also champions contemporary music. The quartet has commissioned and premiered works by distinguished American composers Richard Danielpour, Tobias Picker, and George Tsontakis, among others.