You may be surprised that 714,153 Americans are taxed without representation. How is this possible? The answer is simple: Washington D.C. is not a state. Why isn’t D.C. a state? The answer to that question is complicated and is currently inspiring a heated debate in Congress.
Read moreHow the Liberty League Unanimously Chose to Promote the Spread of COVID-19
Does Skidmore only care about how outsiders perceive us or about what goes on? Do donations related to current or former athletes matter more than student safety? What drove Skidmore, as well as the other schools, to unanimously accept these objectively unsafe protocols? Although we will likely never find the real answer, these are questions that are important to ask. If you are also concerned about campus athletics, or if you believe that they should continue, feel free to contribute to this conversation.
Read moreWhy We Must Settle For The Two-Party System
Proportional representation would undoubtedly make other parties more competitive and gain more representation in Congress. But, altering our electoral method would be nearly impossible to implement into our current system of government. Additionally, it would generate extremist parties that would gain representation in government, as seen in eastern Europe. A two-party system may be inconvenient for distinguishing politicians in the same party, but it keeps extremists in check. There may be intra-party disagreement on issues, but that just means that voters need to understand that every politician is more nuanced than their party label.
Read moreIs The Weeknd Right? Should We Boycott The Grammys?
The Grammy Awards are the culmination of a years worth of music, and this years show was certainly unprecedented. Amongst COVID precautions, the show took place amongst years of controversy culminating in boycotting of the event by celebrities.
Read moreFinger Snaps: A Day On the River, a Haiku
Investigating Identity: Kwame Anthony Appiah Speaks At Skidmore
Appiah’s lecture enlightened me to the intensity of identity and the duty each person has to themself and others to explore their social stance. What does my presentation communicate to others? More importantly, what do I want it to communicate? How do I incorporate intersecting identities? By approaching social groups as tribes, I have gained a renewed sensation of belonging and community. Identity is a shapeshifting force that will likely be in flux for a while, if not permanently. Still, Appiah’s guidance granted me unexpected insight into the empowerment that is intertwined with identity.
Read moreBreak Day: A Reminder to Prioritize Self-Care
I realized that break days shouldn’t just be a school-scheduled once-a-semester occurrence. A break day can be your own creation. Think of something you’ve been putting off because you “haven’t had time” or something you love to do that school has eclipsed in importance. Take out the box of paints in the back of your closet, the journal on your nightstand with the wrapping still on it, the book you are “going to find time to read” but never did. Turn off your phone, shut down your computer, and do it! Take a day off, an hour off, or even just twenty minutes off, and do yourself a favor.
Read moreNext Year in Person: Reflections on This Year’s Passover
This Passover, I feel more in-tune with my Jewish identity than ever: I’ve never thought about my philosophical Jewish beliefs as much as I have lately, in this season of Pesach and the retelling of the Exodus. It’s special to celebrate joy and freedom, whether it’s yours or that of your ancestors. It makes us have hope and believe that we, too, will experience that in our lifetimes. We just have to work for it, and we do that by being a good person, and filling the world with love, respect, and kindness.
Read moreUpdates on the Saratoga Police Reform Task Force Dialogue Ahead of City Council Vote
Earlier this month, the city council published its first resolution to adopt Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force’s recommendations for police reform into city policy. Shortly after, they published another. Residents and activists were dissatisfied with the language used in the resolution, which prompted the council to reissue their response last week.
Read moreCreating Our Future Campaign: Thoughts From the Skidmore Community
With such a successful campaign, Skidmore students should understand how the funding will be used to advance college programs and improve campus facilities. In this article, I will detail each of the six Creating Our Future campaign priorities: building the Center for Integrated Science, scholarships and financial aid, the Tang, the Career Development Center, athletics, and the Skidmore Fund. I also reached out to students, faculty, and staff to gather their thoughts and opinions on the college’s funding distribution.
Read moreFinger Snaps: The Rest of the Day, A Haiku
It's Not Cancel Culture, It's Liberty
YAL is not any of the things it claims to be. It is riddled with hypocrisy and paradoxes, only wanting to further its own agenda by using dubious language and antagonizing those who are brave enough to call YAL what it really is: a platform for right-wing extremists and a license for hate speech. The rejection of YAL’s petition was not a violation of individual liberty, but rather an example of how individual liberty can be virtuously harnessed for the good of the greater community.
Read moreWhy We Don't Need Any More "Political" Clubs on Campus
I think the goal should be to create different areas for expression outside of the political spectrum. Many students are overwhelmed with the number of political events occurring daily, and as we become adults, we must stay on top of current events. This can be very exhausting. Clubs should be outlets for students to express their interests and find new passions and that we should shift our focus from trying to create political safe-spaces to just creating safe spaces.
Read moreFinger Snaps: Brunch II, A Haiku
What Exactly is March Madness?
I ask myself that question every year when I hear that this infamous time in College Basketball is approaching. Growing up with two brothers in a very sport- loving family, I have come to appreciate the casual basketball game on television, even following some teams that my family likes. But March Madness? I don’t think I have ever really understood it.
Read moreThe Myth of Liberal America
In Saratoga, and across imperial nations, aesthetics of inclusion often mask the continued exploitation of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Read moreCommunity, Tradition, and Celtic Music: Ida Mihok restarts Irish Dance club at Skidmore
Being a slim five percent Irish, heritage was almost certainly out of the picture. The remaining culprit was the prancing Celtic music her family has always listened to—along with, of course, her own being in the right place at the right time. Whether by fate or coincidence, though, one part of the story remains clear: when a then-seven-year-old Ida Mihok saw her first Irish dance performance in a local theater, she knew she had to try it herself. Eleven years later—with just as many years of dance experience in her back pocket—Mihok is a freshman at Skidmore, working to revive the school’s Irish dance club as its new president.
Read moreStudent Opinions on Biden’s First 100 Days
During his campaign, Biden made a bevy of promises not limited to a quick vaccine rollout, better healthcare options, an overhaul of the immigration system, new policies to combat climate change, and official administrative projects to promote racial equity. Is he successfully fulfilling his promises? And if not, what could he be doing better? Skidmore students answered these questions and shared their thoughts on the matter.
Read moreCollege’s Hidden Curriculum with Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack
At their kitchen counter, on their last afternoon together, sat two students who look the same, who inspire the same polite caution, and who might be championed under the same racial statistical umbrella. Yet, something crucial separates the two.
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