There seems to be a good-as-unanimous consensus that football—and by extension, the National Football League (NFL)—serves as a fundamental, thoroughly red-white-and-blue emblem of American culture, along with grill-branded burgers, guns, and violently orange-colored cheddar cheese. A zoom into the sports world reveals that the NFL has dominated attendance, television ratings, merchandise, and revenue for years now compared to other American sports, and thus is comfortably situated on its very own throne.
Read moreStudent Forums Open a Dialogue on Campus Safety Reforms
In the last year, the United States has begun to confront its connected past with racism and racial inequity. College students have been some of the most outspoken voices, with many from all over the country bringing their experiences with racial bias and prejudice to the fore. Many Skidmore College students have followed suit, but the College as an institution has a long way to go before it is considered “outspoken” in issues of racial justice. A central point of contention on campus has been the Skidmore Campus Safety Department and instances of racial prejudice.
Read moreWhy Mental Health Matters Now More Than Ever
When you get sick or scrape your knee, the immediate reaction is to take medicine or grab a bandage. But what about when you are having a mental health day; when your anxiety or depression is making you feel worse than a cold or a scraped knee could? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives more than any other time in history. Quarantine became the new norm and, for months on end, our mental health has paid the price.
Read moreThe War on Normal People: Revealing the Privilege of Education
The Skidmore student body prides itself on stepping outside of our bubbles to understand what it is like in the shoes of others. Another privilege that must be acknowledged, educational privilege, is one that we all share as students. The War On Normal People is a book that I believe every current college student or alum must read in order to better understand the experience and future of being “normal.”
Read moreOp-Ed: On the Accusation of Critiques of Israel Being Anti-Semitic
There is an entire history’s worth of politics and beliefs to consider when assessing the Israel-Palestine conflict because colonialism in Palestine did not begin with Zionism. When making educated, accurate critiques of the Israeli government’s policies, whether past or present, it’s not attacking Judaism or the faith of its people. It is our duty as part of this world system to understand all of its intricacies, and we cannot do that if we intentionally exclude the Israel-Palestine situation.
Read moreMaking the Internet a Diverse and More Equitable Place: How to Become an Effective Online Ally
Online abuse is real, harmful, and it is growing each day as technology becomes more advanced and as our society becomes more divided. It is important, now more than ever, that we are equipped to stand up for others and commit towards ending online abuse.
Just Accept it, The Cold is Coming: Tips for Conquering the Winter Blues at Skidmore
Unfortunately, winter is upon us and as much as I joke that I would do anything and everything in my power to stop it, I think it’s time to accept reality. Based of my personal experience, here are some ways I recommend keeping yourself sane during the winter months in Saratoga.
Read moreFracking and Flies — Oh Wait, There’s an Election Going On?: Reflections on the Vice Presidential Debate
Following the first Presidential debate, which can only be described as catastrophic, it was hard to anticipate what the mood for Wednesday’s Vice Presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence (R) and Senator Kamala Harris (D) would be.
Read moreLet’s Call the ‘Fox-Eye’ Trend What It Is: Racism
Circling around media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok have been videos of non-Asian people participating in the Fox Eye Trend. The fox eye trend consists of using eye makeup to make their eyes appear slanted upward, and many use their hands to pull their eyes slanted upward.
Why the WNBA Commands Our Full Attention Right Now
The WNBA is often overlooked in its efforts, both in terms of basketball, and their work towards a more equitable world. In the face of inevitable social revolution in the United States, I believe the players and coaches of the WNBA and the league at large deserve our full attention and support in their social justice initiatives.
Read more(OPINION) The Petersons & 'Blue Lives Matter': Students Reveal A Pattern of Racism among Skidmore Faculty and Staff
Recently, a ‘‘Back the Blue'‘ counter protest occurred in Saratoga Springs, and live footage from the action showed two Skidmore professors, David Peterson and Andrea Peterson--who work in the Art Department--standing with the Blue Lives protesters. I reached out to David Peterson in the hopes of receiving clarity from him on this decision.
Read moreJune, A Month of Many Celebrations: Caribbean Heritage and LGBTQIA+ Pride (Opinion)
This year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Pride and despite the political climate of our nation, a united community of people walked together with their masks on, safely advocating for Black lives and Queer liberation. June has become a celebratory month for both LGBTQIA+ Pride and Caribbean-American Heritage. As many people across the nation continue to march for Black Lives, recently, a spectrum of identities within the LGBT+ Caribbean community have come into view, and it is important to acknowledge how these communities clash.
Read moreOPINION: The Lawn Jockey Cannot Stand as a Symbol of Racism at Skidmore
I wrote the following letter to Skidmore President Marc C. Conner on Monday, July 27th. The previous summer, some friends and I noticed the presence of the Skidmore lawn jockey on the lawn of the Lucy Scribner presidential residence. I had never seen one where I had grown up, but was familiar with “lawn jockey” as a pejorative phrase and wondered if the same racist history applied to the object itself.
Read moreSkidmore's Complicity: "A Call For Change"?
Currently, as America fights against the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of many in our nation and across the world, another great fight is occurring: the demand for justice against several broken systems. The death of George Floyd has catalyzed a massive movement and as many communities join the fight for Black lives, students across the country continue to advocate for changes to our educational institutions in order to establish equity in our communities.
Read moreOPINION: Good Fundraiser, Bad Timing
Over the past few weeks, our social media feeds have been flooded with powerful, shocking and motivational news from the Black Lives Matter movement. I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, however, when I read about the Skidmore College Men’s Lacrosse team fundraiser for Harlem Lacrosse, on Instagram last week.
Read more#WhyDidDarrylDie: The Police Brutality Case that Strikes Close to Home
I first heard about the death of Darryl Mount Jr. in April of 2018. I remember the day clearly because I had come to the Saratoga Springs City Hall to interview Mayor Meg Kelly for a statement on the recent sightings of KKK flyers downtown. During our conversation, Mayor Kelly mentioned that she had been working closely with the local police department--particularly with the then-Police Chief Greg Veitch-- on preserving the town’s safety and ensuring that this would not happen again. It struck me during our interview that I needed to learn more about the city’s police department as our local authority of protection. After, I googled the Saratoga Springs Police Department and fell into the story of Darryl Mount Jr.
Read moreOPINION: The Rites of Black History Month
Skidmore College’s black community worked hard to do justice to the month and to themselves — albeit alone. Many look to Skidmore’s clubs and members of the black diaspora, such as UJIMA, The African Heritage Awareness Club (AHA), and The West Indian Student Association Club (WISA), to make ample effort to empower their voices.
Read moreOPINION: How Should Skidmore Rebuild Itself?
There’s been a tension building in Skidmore recently. Time and again these past few semesters, the administration and the wider community have found themselves in conflict. With the school’s operation mostly halted by the COVID pandemic, and the transition to a new president looming, now is a good time to consider what has been going wrong, and how things might improve.
Read moreOPINION: The Intersection of Border Security and Natural Beauty
The southern border is home to many unique and endangered species that know no borders. Their ecosystem and habitat spans from Mexico, across the Rio Grande, and into the US. A border wall would cut their habitat and have negative impacts on their survival rate. A binational park would create a sense of community and cooperation between the US and Mexico, which would hopefully continue South.
Read moreOPINION: How Well Does Your Favorite Music Platform Treat Its Artists? Pretty Badly, Actually
Tidal, Apple Music, and Spotify each pay their artists $0.0125, $0.00735, and $0.00473 per stream, respectively. In turn, artists would need 117,760 plays, 200,272 plays, and 336,842 plays per month (respectively) in order to be paid the national monthly minimum wage.
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