Inside Skidmore’s Black Box Double Feature: An Interview with Tatsu Rivera and Gemma Siegler

Earlier this semester, Skidmore’s Theater Department presented a unique double-feature of two student shows: The Chaparral written and directed by Tatsu Rivera (‘22), as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel’s And Baby Makes Seven directed by Gemma Siegler (‘22). The shows were performed in Skidmore’s Blackbox theater, which is a small, versatile performance space that can be easily transformed into different sets. After attending the shows on the opening night, March 4th, 2022, I had the privilege of interviewing both Rivera and Siegler to gain insight into the creative processes behind the productions.

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Film Review: "The Batman" Is In the Eye of the Beholder

At the center of any superhero story is the tension between good and evil. The latest Batman film, inexplicably qualified as The Batman, strategically blurs those concepts, guiding audiences to consider the possibility that our hero and his enemy may not be so different after all. The Batman itself is about sight — what one can or cannot see, what one chooses to see or not see. Viewing the film follows a similar line of logic: either you choose to overlook its flaws, or they are glaringly obvious.

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Αθηνα, μου (My Athens)

I reach into the depths of my backpack and become engulfed by a sense of relief when I feel the sharp metal object. I begin to pull it out, or at least try to. The key gets tangled in the pages and pages of Greek grammar notes shoved into my backpack. It’s been two months and I still don’t know how to conjugate the verb “ειμαι.” The key finally makes its way up into the fresh air of Pangrati. As the cool key hits my sweaty hand, I realize that I cut my index finger…

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Little Baby

She doesn’t give the baby another look and leaves the room on swift feet, passing the maternity ward and not stopping till she exits the swiveling doors and collapses in the spiky grass outside the horrid walls that reek of death, even around life. There are light pink peonies, like the baby's hat, growing out of a small patch near a hospital garden sign. A monarch butterfly flaps its wings and floats in front of her and a gentle breeze wipes the tears from her face with a soothing whisper. It’s cruel how beautiful it is. As if nature itself refused to give her another look, to even regard her pain with a gray cloud or drop of rain. The flowers would keep growing; the flowers would keep living.

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The Sports Bans Continue: Oklahoma and Arizona

On March 30, the states of Oklahoma and Arizona joined the growing list of states which prohibit transgender women and girls from playing in female sports divisions. Both laws are rooted in the claim that trans athletes have an unfair advantage due to higher levels of testosterone before transition, and that this makes sporting competitions unfair. The vast majority of the individuals leading this charge against trans sport participation have no past history of caring about women’s sports or women’s rights in general. These are not unrelated, but part of a reaction to the last few decades of progress on LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights.

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Top Teams So Far: A Recap of the First MLB Games Back from Lockout

After a late start due to a lockout, Major League Baseball is back. Coming out of a major strike, the players organization recently agreed to a deal with the league, in which the MLB agreed to raise the bonus pool – the pool of money that funds the league’s bonuses and awards – from $40 million to $50 million. Despite the first two weeks of the season being canceled, the teams are back to their regularly scheduled programming. Here is a look at the top teams in each league right now.

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The Read Scare of 2022: Who benefits from new books being censored and why does it matter?

Conservative-driven book banning has seen a resurgence these past three months with new censorship debates popping up in schools, courts, and homes across the country. Book banning is not a new phenomenon nor is it a practice isolated to a single political party or ideology. This wave of censorship, however, has been particularly far-reaching in terms of its geographically expansive nature, the quantity of books banned, and the broader implications it has when it comes to banning books in 2022.

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A Reflection on Newman Club Holy Week Events

The Newman Club on campus, run by editorial board members, President Emily Theisen ’22, Vice Presidents Sophia Grant ‘22 and Hannah Charity ’22, Treasurer Mac Elizalde ’23, and Senior Advisor Emily Davis ‘23, hosted a plethora of events and outings in collaboration with Parker Diggory, the Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) during Holy Week, the week where Catholics commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jersaulem on Palm Sunday, the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, his crucifixion on Good Friday, and his resurrection on Easter During the Lenten season, Catholics fast, pray, and repent in preparation for Easter when Christ resurrected. The Newman Club members shared their reflections—their experience of being Catholic on campus and the close-knit sense of community—during this hallowed week.

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An Evening with Marty Baron at Skidmore

Esteemed journalist Martin Baron made an appearance at Skidmore College on April 7 in the Zankel Music Center for a Q&A. Skidmore’s very own faculty including Deputy Chief Diversity Officer Anita Jack-Davies, Sociology Professor Andrew Lindner, English Professor Linda Hall, and Political Science Professor Ron Seyb interviewed Baron. Baron recently retired in February of 2021 from his latest position as editor of The Washington Post, after almost five decades working in the field of journalism from his initial work with The Miami Herald upon graduating from Lehigh University in 1976.

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Furthering SGBM Discussions on Skidmore’s Campus: The Student Life Committee’s Visit to Wellspring

On April 13th, Skidmore’s Student Life Committee was invited to Wellspring’s grounds for a tour and conversation with the Executive Director, Maggie Fronk, about the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) resources that they offer to Skidmore students and the larger Saratoga community. Wellspring, located a 15 minute drive away from Skidmore’s campus in Malta, NY, offers free and confidential services to individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Given the prominence of conversations on campus surrounding the College’s SGBM and Title IX policies since last semester’s student walkout, the Student Life Committee’s visit to Wellspring was an opportunity to gather more information about the external resources available to Skidmore students. Fronk shared that this recent visit was one of the best conversations that she has had with students in a long time, marking the resurgence of partnership and trust between Skidmore students and Wellspring.

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An Interview with Erica Smith on Ujima’s Annual Fashion Show: Infiltrate

On April 16th, 2022, the Skidmore Club Ujima hosted its annual fashion show titled Infiltrate, which paid homage to the ballroom scene—a social and cultural movement spearheaded by queer brown and Black individuals. In alignment with Ujima’s mission to “bring awareness of African, African-American, and Caribbean cultures to Skidmore campus,” the show featured student models walking in three different “scenes” to celebrate the breadth and diversity of Black culture.

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Film Review: Go See "Everything Everywhere All At Once" At Once

Everything A24 touches turns to gold, and Everything Everywhere All at Once is no exception. The title itself is a mouthful, and the movie viewing demands similar patience and attention to detail. The directive duo known as Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, respectively) responsible for Swiss Army Man are made mightier by their partnership with the respected production house. In their latest film, the directors’ enormous ambition begets immense achievement. 

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