In continuing our recent coverage of the new General Education proposal that will dictate all-college requirements, we write on shortfalls in the requirements for language study. The Board agrees that learning a foreign language is important for global citizenship, but feels the proposal fails to make the case that foreign language “provides insight into cultural differences” and “provides an alternative means of perceiving the world.”
Read moreIdea Lab Offers Great Courses and Commitment to the Liberal Arts
There are plans to implement ideas like 4 year courses, more pop-up courses and varying condensed courses.
Read moreGeneral Education Revisions Still Require Review
Faculty have put up for vote The General Education Curriculum Proposal, which outlines changes to graduation requirements, on April 7. Despite various strengths, some well-intended sections are worded in such a way that may cause ineffective implementation. The Board recommends that the proposal undergo a clarifying revision, and be considered for approval in May.
Read moreCampus Bars Are Spreading and Skidmore Needs New Nightlife
Students have, by choice or by force, spent more time on campus or downtown at bars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Despite more students staying on campus, the number of events has declined.
Read moreCDC Conundrums
A number of improvements have been made over the last few years as the center has rolled out its “What’s NEXT” program, which is designed to engage students throughout all 4 years at Skidmore. These changes may seem significant, but they have not necessarily translated into job opportunities for students on a larger scale.
Read moreAdvancement Should Pay Attention To Athletics
Considering a complete renovation of the sports center is a quarter of the cost for the CIS, between roughly 15 to 30 million dollars, should the administration shift its most immediate efforts to the revamping of athletic and wellness facilities?
Read moreFighting a Sad Retreat of American Values
Americans must stand together now to oppose racism and authoritarianism. For colleges and college newspapers, that means we must stand in opposition to backwardness. Three Skidmore students are directly affected by the ban. .
Read moreAdministrative Talk of Tobacco Policy is Hot Air
It was after hearing from the administration that we now understand the dim future of public health on this campus.
Read moreMedia Underplayed Trump Support; We Helped
The Times did not fully cover Trump’s supporters because of a broader trend in the media to shift towards profit margins and away from providing universal service. The Times' actions line up with a recent pattern in media in which providers look for new readers, but only from the same group or types of people who already subscribe to them.
Read moreComey Has Rigged the System
The Director has compromised our justice system at a time when Americans are relying on it the most.
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SGA and Students Out of Sync
SGA election participation rates are abysmal and student don't know who their representatives are... Skidmore's SGA needs to improve its communication.
Read moreThe Tobacco Policy Has Gone Up In Smoke
This year, more than in the last couple, smoking on campus is seemingly on the rise. Although Skidmore does have a smoking policy that was instituted in November of 2013, the policy’s implementation and enforcement appears to be lost.
Read moreThe Potential Merits of a New Science Building
For a few years, there have been plans to tear down Dana Science center and rebuild it with a newer, more updated facility called The Center for Integrated Sciences. President Glotzbach in a recent interview told the Skidmore News he is hopeful...
Read moreThe Evolution of Skidmore Party Culture, What We Should Do About It
A lot has changed for Skidmore seniors since they became students in 2012, including the landscape of party culture. For a number of reasons, students are choosing to stay on campus to party, and are not entirely satisfied with the options available, creating a heightened demand for on campus events.
Read moreNo End in Sight for Facebook and Social Media
At this point, most of us have been on Facebook for longer than we can remember. Facebook’s popularity feeds off of curiosity, giving users the ability to learn by observation, but from a distance. What may have started as a curious experiment has become a conflicting realm where the real and virtual worlds bleed into one another. And while social media provides users with a convenient way to keep track of memories and stay in touch with friends, sites like Facebook and Instagram often distort perceptions of reality.
Read moreAre Students Actually Politically Aware?
With the primary election season in full swing, college campuses have not been immune to the heightened popularity—and polarization—of political discourse. Many Skidmore students began perking up to politics last semester, and have continued to follow the candidates. Although it should be appreciated that students are discussing politics at all, there are ways in which these discussions are unhealthy.
Read moreDoes Creative Thought Matter at Skidmore?
Creative Thought Matters (CTM) is confusing, ambiguous, and overused. Skidmore’s motto does successfully reach across campus, but it does so not by a strong understanding and integration in academic settings but through appearances on posters for photo and video contests, stickers, and T-shirts.
Read moreThe Learning Curve
Many students ponder whether they should attend graduate school or pursue a job. However, has the role of college transformed to push us towards post-graduation pursuits rather than appreciate the expansion of our knowledge during our time at school?
Read moreRequirements and Scheduling Hindering the Liberal Arts Experience?
When asked what the biggest adjustment for students coming to college is, most will tell you it’s freedom. This freedom translates to the ability to concentrate their studies in a particular field they find most interesting. The nature of a liberal arts college is to encourage students to explore various topics such as the natural sciences, humanities, and arts—regardless of a student’s major—to ensure they receive a well-rounded education. Enrolling at Skidmore is like clicking “accept terms and agreements” to this goal.
Read moreWhen Should We Start Drinking Like Adults?
When YOLO (You Only Live Once) became a part of our modern language, it seemed that college students used it as an excuse for getting drunk on weekends. This YOLO-culture perpetuated the unrealistic idea that what happens in college, stays in college.
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