Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently published an essay entitled “We Must Pace The Frontier,” arguing to slow the development of AI. Despite being primarily rooted in his ethical beliefs, he focuses primarily on the “operational security” of the systems, not the physical or ethical reality. He does not mention the environmental impacts of AI, nor does he discuss concerns about intellectual property and creativity. AI has many positive implications for the future of humanity, but it is destroying the planet we live on and diluting the cornerstones of human expression that are art and writing. Pacing the development of AI is necessary, but Amodei’s assertion that the first step in slowing down is to introduce “embedded evaluators”—auditors that work purely within companies to ensure they are compliant with subjective ethical rules and non-existent regulations—is biased and, if implemented, would be ineffective. Instead, the development of AI should be contingent on our ability to fix the many problems that come with it in real time. AI has too much potential for good for society to completely abandon it, but at its current rate of development, it is impossible to prevent the irreparable harm it can cause.
Read moreIn Our Age of Genocide
Graphic by Faith Benton
There is an art in dissecting a genocide.
It involves the composition of long lists of possible instigators, the identification of the breaking point, the acquiescence that one cannot determine the precise moment in time that produced the now-certain result. To perform an autopsy, the coroner must distance himself from the body; the victim’s human identity must remain untouched by the emotions of the examiner so that cause of death may be accurately reported. Dissection of a genocide requires the same separation.
Read moreIn Defense of Arrogance
Actor Timothée Chalamet, photographed at the Oscars. Image courtesy of NewsPlus.
In a novel celebrity scandal, Timothee Chalamet has found himself in opposition to major performing industries after making a sweeping assertion that “no one cares” about art forms like ballet and opera. The trouble with Chalamet’s barbs is that they are marked by the exclusivity of the environment he has grown accustomed to.
Read moreIf This Is Leadership, What Are We Preparing Students For?
45th and 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump. Image courtesy of USA Today.
When racist behavior from leadership is normalized, students learn it’s compatible with power. This reshapes democratic engagement. One reason as to why this behavior has become so normalized is based on the Overton Window political theory.
Read moreFLEX No Better Than Bus
A FLEX van. Photo courtesy of CDTA.
For two months, FLEX has been the primary form of transportation for Skidmore College to Saratoga Springs. FLEX, a swipe-to-pay minibus that accepts Skidmore ID cards in lieu of payment, charges the standard bus fare of $1.50. Despite the CDTA’s optimism that FLEX would reduce waiting times and increase ridership, the implementation of the new system has resulted in several accessibility concerns and safety risks.
Read moreI Wish My Professor Understood Burnout
A Skidmore student facing a blackboard with mathematical calculations written on it. Image courtesy of Skidmore College.
College students spend most of their time on campus listening and noting what professors have to say through one-sided lectures and presentations. These educational settings are helpful for information retention but , it would also be beneficial for professors to be more aware of burnout among undergraduate students.
Read moreContext Behind the Senate Vote on the Committee of Institutional Accessibility
Case Green in the summer. Image courtesy of Flickr.
Last week, the Skidmore SGA Senate voted on a proposal to create a Committee on Institutional Accessibility. The resolution needed a ⅚ majority to pass and failed in a 12-6-1 (yes-no-abstain) vote. The decision to vote against this legislative change should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to accessibility. We all agree that the lack of accessibility is a serious issue that the college must address. We agree on the facts: Skidmore College has a great deal of work to do to become ADA-compliant, which is the minimum standard for accessibility.
Read moreSGA Votes Against Forming New Committee on Institutional Accessibility
Construction material at the bottom of the Barrett Center ramp, which was reported by students to be there for two weeks. Image courtesy of Evvy Shoemaker ‘28.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, proposed resolutions were presented for the Student Government Association (SGA) to dissolve the Subcommittee on ADA and form a new Committee on Institutional Accessibility (CIA). Currently, accessibility initiatives within SGA are handled by the Subcommittee on ADA, overseen by the Committee on Institutional Diversity (CID). If this resolution was passed, it would have allowed the CIA to function independently, have a seat on the SGA Executive Committee, and give the Vice President for Institutional Accessibility greater access to Senate and the administration.
Read moreIsrael Attacks U.S. Ally
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (not pictured) at Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar September 16, 2025. Image courtesy of Reuters/Nathan Howard.
On September 9, 2025, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility containing Hamas negotiators in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Qatar is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States and houses the Al-Udeid Air Base, a key U.S. military base. Nonetheless, Israel did not warn Qatar of this strike.
Read moreMamdani Is In The Lead. Does He Know What This Means?
Candidate for NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference. Image courtesy of Brendan McDermid // Reuters
Something unusual is developing in New York City: a tense dynamic between Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, the two leading candidates competing for mayoral office. And despite Donald Trump’s efforts to sway voters towards Cuomo, Mamdani has continued to eclipse Cuomo in nearly every poll, with Emerson College’s most recent findings placing Mamdani in the lead by 29 points.
Read moreHonor their Coverage
On August 25th, multiple Israeli strikes hit Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. This resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, 5 of whom were journalists who have worked with Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and more.
Read more$80,000 for What? Why It's Time to Take Ownership of Our Education
The college entrance during the summer. Image courtesy of Skidmore College.
It’s 8:28 a.m. on course registration day. You’ve got your Student System page open, fingers ready, and the WiFi barely hanging on. It’s frustrating. We’ve all been there. But what if, instead of asking what’s wrong with Skidmore, we started asking what more could we be doing as students?
Read moreGuantanamo Bay and CECOT: A Conversation with Michael E. Mone Jr. '90
Flags fly in front of Camp Justice in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, on April 18, 2019. Image courtesy of AP News.
On April 24th, I had the pleasure of speaking with Skidmore alum Michael E. Mone Jr., who received a bachelor’s degree in Government from Skidmore in 1990 before receiving his Juris Doctor from Boston College. I discussed the similarities between Guantanamo Bay and CECOT prisons, as well as the rhetoric of the administrations that use them, with Mr. Mone.
Read moreJazz Education As A White Boys' Club
Part of the Arthur Zankel Music Center’s main lobby. Image courtesy of Caleb Taran ‘25.
Skidmore College is a predominantly white institution (PWI); this much has always been clear to the student body. We strive to be inclusive, diverse, and knowledgeable about our privilege, yet still have a ways to go, particularly within the music department. The Skidmore jazz faculty consists of undeniably educated and talented white men, but are they aware of the weight this holds?
Read moreAI Can’t Do This Anymore: The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence in Academia
Image courtesy of eSpark Learning.
AI is a constant presence in today’s technology-driven society. I have Grammarly installed on my MacBook, and I’ve seen the AI Preview at the top of my search pages. There are many facets of my life where AI’s impact can be felt. However, AI should not be used (or at least not heavily relied upon) in academia, especially at the college level.
Read moreEmilia Pérez vs the Internet
Actress Karla Sofía Gascón, pictured posing at the Cannes Film Festival in which Emilia Pérez won Jury Prize and Best Actress Award. Image courtesy of Stephane Cardinale-Corbis / Getty Images.
Oscars season has officially begun. This year's prizewinner seems to be Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez with 13 nominations. A few months ago, these nominations wouldn’t have raised any eyebrows. But to many who watched the film afterward, the Academy seemed to be behind on the conversation surrounding it.
Read moreHistory from the Bottom Up at Skidmore
A recovered image from the Black Chronicles exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, taken 125 years ago in England. Image courtesy of The Standard.
Through my experiences as a history major at Skidmore, it has become clear to me that the college places an importance on exploring history “from the bottom up.” Within the Skidmore History and American Studies Departments, the voices so often ignored and overlooked throughout history are thrust into the limelight.
Read moreSkidmore's Lack of Recognition on Indigenous People's Day
A display, featured as part of the temporary exhibit, “First Saratogians",” at the Saratoga Springs History Museum. Image courtesy of The Saratoga Springs History Museum.
October 14th is designated as Columbus Day, a federal holiday celebrating the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Despite the growing national movement towards greater recognition of Indigenous heritage, however, Skidmore College, unfortunately, has remained silent.
Read moreIs Skidmore Truly Connected to Our Local Community?
Bullet, a cat at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. Image courtesy of Emrah Jusufoski ‘28.
As students at Skidmore College, we often find ourselves immersed in the academic bubble. Between classes, clubs, and campus events, it can be easy to lose sight of the community that surrounds us. But when I was assigned to volunteer at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, I knew this would be doing more than checking off a box for my grade.
Read moreResponse: Wesley Yang Withdraws from "Are We All Fundamentalists?" Conference
Earlier today, The Skidmore News reported that Wesley Yang, an outspoken transphobe, was scheduled to speak at “Are We All Fundamentalists?” a conference being held to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Salmagundi magazine. Following a number of appeals to involved parties, including the Salmagundi editorial board and President Conner, we have received confirmation as of 5:00 pm that Mr. Yang has withdrawn from the conference.
Read more