Guantanamo Bay and CECOT: A Conversation with Michael E. Mone Jr. '90

May 7, 2025 Jude Gwak

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.

The YIMBY Movement: What Is It?

May 7, 2025 Oliver Tymann

The San Francisco skyline. Image courtesy of Marti Bug Catcher / Shutterstock.

In Marvin Gaye’s 1971 song Mercy, Mercy, Me (The Ecology), Gaye sings, “What about this overcrowded land, how much more abuse from man can she stand?” Gaye was tapping into a flourishing environmental movement of the ‘70s. This is where the “Yes In My Backyard” (YIMBY) has come in, a pro-housing movement that encourages new housing, urban development, and opposes density limits.

Skidmore Eliminates SILP and Expands Traditional Language Offerings

April 30, 2025 Alex Read

Outside a World Languages and Literatures Department office. Image courtesy of Alex Read ‘25.

On March 26, 2025, Skidmore College's World Languages and Literatures Department announced during a Zoom meeting its decision to eliminate the Self-Instructed Language Program (SILP) from the course catalog. SILP allowed students to study a language independently while meeting with an instructor for two hours per week.

A Conversation with SGA President-Elect Samantha Majiedt

April 29, 2025 Oliver Tymann

SGA President-Elect Samantha Majiedt’s (‘27) campaign poster. Image courtesy of Samantha Majiedt ‘27/

After an exciting election season, The Skidmore News was excited to sit down with the college’s next SGA President, Samantha Majiedt, to ask how she felt about her victory and her plans for the upcoming semester.

The Department of Education: What's Happening?

April 25, 2025 Casey Byrne

Over the past few months, the Department of Education has experienced many changes, some of which are causing concern for families, educators, and students across the United States. Among other responsibilities, the DOE is most known for ensuring rights to an equitable education, supporting schools, and providing grants and loans for higher education.

"She Gets the Job Done:" Chappell Roan Takes the Pop World By Storm

April 17, 2025 Bella Lagatta

Chappell Roan. Image courtesy of Rolling Stone.

Chappell Roan is the name on everyone’s lips in 2025. She’s known for her upbeat indie pop songs like “Pink Pony Club” and “Hot to Go!” as well as her slower, more introspective sapphic hits, such as “Casual” and “Good Luck, Babe!” But although she is seen positively by her fanbase, she faces controversy due to her media presence.

Proven Experience vs. New Perspectives: The SGA Presidential Debate

April 3, 2025 Sruti Ramaswamy

The SGA Presidential Debate in Gannett Auditorium. Image courtesy of Caleb Taran

Perhaps the most anticipated race of the season is for SGA President, as current President Josh Maxwell ‘26 runs against Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Samantha Majiedt ‘27. Although there have been debates for this position in previous years, none in recent memory has stirred this much excitement—or showcased two very different candidates.

Adelaide (2025) Review: The thin facade of “Family Values”

March 24, 2025 Caleb Taran

Sam Kasmin and Darren Aronofsky’s latest film has made controversial waves in the film industry. Beginning with a poorly shot, cheaply lit, and all-too familiar sequence reminiscent of an 80s risqué independent film, this meditation on privacy, surveillance, and the ultimate meaninglessness of conservative values has been criticized for its shameless exhibitionism and perverted sense of self-humor…but isn’t that the point?

Jazz Education As A White Boys' Club

March 17, 2025 Ashley Narsu

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?

The Road to Fair Contracts: Supporting Non-Tenure Track Faculty

March 6, 2025 Alex Read

Case walkway on a rainy March afternoon. Image courtesy of Caleb Taran ‘25.

On Tuesday, February 25, negotiating representatives from the Skidmore College Administration and the Skidmore non-tenure track (NTT) faculty Union reached a tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for fair contracts. Voting on the CBA will occur on March 17-18, and the agreement will pass if the Union reaches a majority vote.

AI Can’t Do This Anymore: The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence in Academia

February 28, 2025 Bella Lagatta

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.

Emilia Pérez vs the Internet

February 20, 2025 Penelope Winterbottom

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.

A Complete Unknown: New Bob Dylan Fans, New Jackets, and New Sunglasses

February 12, 2025 Jasmine Sam

Timothée Chalamet plays Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s *A Complete Unknown*. Image courtesy of *CNN Entertainmen*t.

A 19-year-old boy drops out of college and travels from St. Louis County, Minnesota, to New York City with a guitar and a case of harmonicas. That same night, he has his first gig at Cafe Wha?---a club described as “a subterranean cavern, liquorless, and ill-lit.” Dylan is called the “voice of a generation,” and he goes on to change the future of folk music.

Large-Scale ICE Raids Target Sanctuary Cities Across the Country

February 7, 2025 Erick Maganda

An immigration raid in Castalia, Ohio, in June 2018. Image courtesy John Minchillo of Associated Press.

In the months running up to the election, Donald Trump ran on an unyielding immigration agenda that advocated for mass deportations, the militarization of the southern border, and the revocation of birthright citizenship. Two weeks into the new administration, President Trump is attempting to keep his promise of sanctioning mass deportations.

“Tik-Tok": This App’s Time is Running Out

February 6, 2025 Bella Lagatta

The message that was displayed on the front page of TikTok on January 19th, following its nationwide ban. Image courtesy NPR.

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok, a video-sharing social media app, has gained immense popularity among users of all ages. Users can share a diverse range of videos on TikTok, including lip-syncing, dancing, video edits, cosplay, and product promotions through the app’s TikTok Shop. Despite its popularity, however, the U.S. government has expressed concerns about how the app may compromise national security.

California in Flames: Fires Erupt Across the State

January 24, 2025 Bella Lagatta

Two firefighters battling a blaze. One points towards a house, which is engulfed in flames. Image courtesy of CNN Weather.

Los Angeles residents woke on January 7th to see a world engulfed in relentless, all-consuming flames. California is known for its wildfires and the state’s dry climate and vegetation, brought on by now-common drought conditions, make perfect kindling for fires to rapidly spread over large swaths of land.

SGA Fall Semester in Review

January 21, 2025 Josh Maxwell

An SGA meeting this past fall. Image courtesy of Josh Maxwell ‘26.

The Student Government Association (SGA) had a very busy fall semester. From passing important legislation to representing students in College-wide discussions to hosting fun and informative events, the more than 75 members of the SGA worked hard to serve the student body.

My Roommate, the Griffin: Confessions of a Mythological Pet Owner

January 19, 2025 Emrah Jusufoski

Arlo the Griffin—a mythological creature— sitting on the bed of a dorm room. Image courtesy of Meta AI.

You know that feeling when you’ve smuggled a goldfish or hamster into your dorm, hoping to avoid the RA’s radar? Imagine that, but on a mythical level. As in, my pet isn’t even supposed to exist. Meet Arlo, my majestic—and slightly feral—griffin, currently residing in a makeshift nest under my bed. Sounds insane, right? Welcome to my life.

McCaffery-Wagman Center to Open on January 21st

January 14, 2025 Sruti Ramaswamy

Construction on the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center this past semester. Image courtesy of *Skidmore Athletics*.

On December 9, President Marc C. Conner announced the official opening of the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center on January 21st, 2025. This long-awaited project was possible due to the generosity of the McCaffery-Wagman-Wachenheim families and by the additional support of Skidmore alumni and families.

Taylor Swift and the End of an Era

January 14, 2025 Casey Byrne

Taylor Swift, performing at one of her concerts in the Eras Tour. Image courtesy of Gotham Magazine.

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour came to an end on December 8th, 2024, after almost two years. Her three-and-a-half-hour-long concert prominently featured all eras of her music from her eighteen-year career. Swift has not only left an impact on modern music and performance but also a lasting economic impact on all the cities she’s visited.