Alpine Sport Shop: A Saratoga Native

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

Many students around campus know the name Alpine, but not for the ski shop that sits at the bottom of  Clinton Street hill right next to Skidmore. Down the big hill, at the first left is a wooden building with a retro sign out front that reads, “Alpine Sport Shop.”

The shop has been around since 1941 when Ed Taylor founded the store on Spring Street, by Skidmore’s old campus in town. In 1966, Thurlow Woodcock bought the store and moved it to its current location to accommodate Skidmore students, who once consumed most of the ski shops customer base. When Skidmore was all-women, Alpine Sport Shop made sure that they carried ladies apparel and catered to that demographic. Over the years, they have morphed their shop to adjust to the now co-ed college while still remaining a family-owned-and-run business since Woodcock purchased the store in 1966.

After opening the large wooden door, you step in to the ski-chalet-esque interior, greeted by their dog, Gilda, and a wood-burning fireplace accompanied by a large leather couch. Julia Lee, the granddaughter of Woodcock, said that, “we want people, especially Skidmore students, to know that our shop isn’t just for tuning, ski/snowboarding, but also for your winter apparel needs.” The shop is filled with clothing, aside from your typical skiing and snowboarding essentials. Their selection is vast and definitely caters towards the Northeast weather. Julia also reminded me that much of their collection is considered, “lifestyle.” Men, women and children would find all their winter needs in the Alpine Sport Shop—or if you’re a Skidmore student who has brought their own skiing and snowboarding equipment, you will be glad to know that they offer tuning in the downstairs portion of the shop.

If you are not one who brings their boards with them, then the shop offers daily rentals for only $39.95. Alpine Sport Shop caters to Skidmore students as well with their 10% discount and their bus services to various mountains including Okemo and Bromley. For an all-inclusive price, you receive a lift ticket and a bus ride to and from the mountain. More events are also listed on their website, www.alpinesportshop.com.

Alpine Sport Shop has also partnered with Skidmore’s Outing Club for a fundraising event taking place Sat., Nov. 8th in Ganett Auditorium at 7 pm where a Warren Miller movie called “No Turning Back” will be screened. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door and proceeds will go to Double H Ranch, a local organization for young kids.

To learn more about the event, visit the shop’s website, or look for posters around. If you attend, you also receive a free lift ticket to Sugarbush mountain!

What is The Dream Share Project? This is a program about chasing your dreams…

By The Career Development Center

The Dream Share Project is an inspirational documentary film and workshop that will be right here on Skidmore’s campus on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Spa.

In the film, two recent college graduates, Chip and Alexis, will take students on a road trip across America, as they seek information on how individuals have successfully chased their dreams. In their search they wanted to learn how others have discovered their passion, committed to a dream, and how they faced the inevitable challenges that occurred along the way. In their journey Chip and Alexis wanted to explore and find out exactly how they might redefine success for the Millennial generation.

According to CBS News, 55% of Americans are unsatisfied with their jobs with 18 to 24-year-olds being the most highly dissatisfied; plus it has been reported that 33% of the work force shows signs of depression (Families and Work Institute), so Chip and Alexis decided that they would learn ways about how others have followed their passion and then pass that information on to college students across America.

In their experience they were able to get advice from an Olympic skier, a slam poet, one of the original Latin Kings of Comedy, a Project Runway fashion designer, the CEO of a sustainable flip flop company, the founder of South by Southwest Festival, plus many, many more.

The Dream Share Project is an uplifting film that hopes to encourage people to live up to their fullest potential and reject societal pressures that keep telling us all to just “play it safe.”

First 20 attendees will also receive a free copy of Chip's book, “Build Your Dreams: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love”

Wired: A Breakdown of Caffeine

By Brittany Dingler '15, PHE

39% of college students drink coffee on a regular basis, a statistic likely inflated at Skidmore College, especially with the new renovation at our new “Burgbucks.”  Additionally, for those Skidmore students who have countless commitments, caffeine often appears to be the only way to get through an average day, let alone, week.  Indeed, this time of year is particularly trying for the caffeine lovers of the world, who are so tempted to substitute these stimulants for sleep .

Although caffeine can claim a few long-term benefits, such as decreased risk of dementia and depression (NPR), and obvious short-term effects like increased energy levels, some effects are concerning when it comes to higher intakes of caffeine.  Energy drinks, for example, that often contain over 200 mg of caffeine have been indicted for inducing fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and palpitations (Brown University, Health Promotion) not to mention irritability and to no surprise, insomnia.

So how much perk is passable?  According to Mayo clinic, healthy adults should limit themselves to 400 mg (about 4 cups of coffee) per day. Although it is certainly nice that Burgess stays open until 2 am during the week, keep in mind that it takes nearly 10 hours to fully breakdown an 8 oz cup of coffee (95 mg of caffeine).  This means that even if you are somehow able to fall asleep, your still-wired brain is less likely to slip into REM sleep (NPR) which means poorer quality sleep – a serious con for those of us relying on proper memory consolidation to get through mid-terms.  Good luck with midterms, but remember that although coffee is a solution to a present problem, there are other factors to consider before drinking that fifth cup.

The Hunt is Here

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

As Oct. 24 nears, many students are more occupied with the rumors of The Hunt rather than the study day that classes are cancelled for. Students are aware of this longstanding tradition that is not affiliated with Skidmore and look forward to participating in or hearing about the crazy antics performed by students on this particular day.

Much controversy has been raised about The Hunt, so much so that Joshua Nelson, Director of Leadership Activities, felt obligated to send out an email to Club Leaders urging them to think twice about supporting the event. He asks these leaders to speak out against it in the “fight to create a better Skidmore—one where students don’t have to participate in sexual acts, get tattoos, or drink alcohol to feel a part of something.” Unfortunately, it appears that more students aspire to engage in this event rather than speak out against the masses and discourage their fellow students from partaking in this so-called “tradition.”

The Hunt is run by undisclosed members who gather their friends and put together this creative scavenger hunt that entices students to band together in teams of five to participate in acts that remain secrets forever. The Hunt was on sabbatical last year and has returned in full force for this semester, encouraging students to find teammates and submit their team name in order to participate this Friday. The Hunt definitely cares about the safety of the students, as they require a designated driver to be a member of said team.

Despite the variety of opinion on campus, The Hunt is all-inclusive and allows anyone to participate. They do not force students to do anything they are uncomfortable with. The Hunt is declared as a tradition, and traditions do not necessarily need to be followed by everyone.

Legal Scholar to Discuss Racial Justice and Incarceration

Michelle Alexander, a noted civil rights litigator and legal scholar, will give a talk titled “The New Jim Crow” on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College. The talk is open to the public free of charge.

Alexander is the author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (The New Press, 2010). The book, a New York Times best-seller, has been featured by national radio and television media outlets including NPR, Bill Moyers Journal, the Tavis Smiley Show, and C-Span Washington Journal.

“The fate of millions of people—indeed the future of the black community itself—may depend on the willingness of those who care about racial justice to re-examine their basic assumptions about the role of the criminal justice system in our society,” states Alexander in The New Jim Crow.

 Alexander currently holds a joint appointment at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. She was previously an associate professor of law at Stanford Law School, where she directed civil rights clinics.

For several years, Alexander served as the director of the Racial Justice Project for the ACLU of Northern California, where she helped to lead a national campaign against racial profiling by law enforcement. While an associate at Saperstein, Goldstein, Demchak & Baller, she specialized in plaintiff-side class-action lawsuits alleging race and gender discrimination. 

Alexander is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Vanderbilt University. Following law school, she clerked for Justice Harry A. Blackmun on the United States Supreme Court and for Chief Judge Abner Mikva on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  

Organized by Skidmore’s Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding, the event is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association Speakers Bureau; Office of Student Diversity Programs; Office of Intercultural Studies; Black Faculty and Staff Group; Student Academic Services; and Ujima, the college’s African/Caribbean cultural awareness club.

Club Profile: The Skidmore Accents

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

The Skidmore News had the chance to talk to Emily Kortright '15, the co-President of the Skidmore Accents about their lively and active all-female a capella group.

Q: Who are the Skidmore Accents?

A: We are an all-female a cappella group who pride ourselves on our eclectic set lists that include a mix of folk, rock, pop, rap, gospel, hip hop, and soul. More than anything, we are just a bunch of ladies who really love to sing and love each other just as much.

Q: When did the group begin?

A: The Accents have been around since 1980.

Q: What makes it such a unique group on campus?

A: In my opinion, what makes the Accents so unique are our quirks. We are such a diverse and wonderfully weird group of people who each add something special to the group. Plus, it helps that we genuinely love performing with each other and for other people. When you’re doing what you love with the people that you love, it really shows.

Q: What are the benefits from it being an all-female a capella group?

A: Being in an all-female a cappella group is pretty much like being constantly surrounded by your sisters. Honestly, it’s a blessing and a curse in that there is no bullshit. We all care about each other and know way too much about each other’s lives, so you can’t hide when there are things going on; we work through things together. It’s really an amazing dynamic because it just makes us closer and the music we sing together even more meaningful. I can’t speak for other groups because the Accents are all I’ve ever known, but in my experience, being in all-female a cappella means that you have a constant support group of people who will be there for you no matter what and also cry tears of joy pretty much every time you sing.

Q: What has been your favorite song performed to date? 

A: That’s hard, but probably my favorite song was the Salt-N-Pepa Medley we sang in my freshman and sophomore years. It was a combination of “Shoop,” “Push It,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “Whatta Man.” It was absolutely ridiculous and I don’t think we ever sang the entire thing through without completely falling apart, but somehow it always managed to sound great and was always a hit.

Q: Along with that, how do you choose what song to perform?

A: At the end of the semester we have Song Selection, which is where we decide what songs to bring back from the previous semester’s set list, and then we choose usually 4 or 5 songs from a pool that is made up of 2 songs from each girl in the group. We listen to every suggested song and have about a million votes and really intense discussions before we finally get down to the winning songs. It’s really a grueling process that is impossible to get through without some sort of food being delivered and someone shedding at least a single tear. I’m only partially joking.

Q: How can one get involved with the Accents? Is there a tryout process?

A: We hold open auditions every semester for any ladies who just want to sing, so if you didn’t get a chance to tryout this fall, come on out in the spring. We love meeting new people.

Q: When is your next performance?

A: Our next performance is our Halloween Mini-Jam with Pulse in Gannet at around 9 on Friday the 31st, but you can also hear us sing at Big Top this Saturday! Be on the lookout for posters and Facebook Events.

Skidmore Goes Apple Picking

By Noa Maltzman, Staff Writer

You might think that Photo club, Hillel, Women in Business and SkidEats have nothing in common due to their varying activities and goals; however they all had or are having an event that involves apple picking.

Both Hillel and Women in Business went apple picking on Sunday, Sept. 28.  After apple picking, Hillel posted on their Facebook page: “Apple picking was so much fun.” The fun didn’t stop there because following their return to campus, they went to the test kitchen where they baked apple crisp using the freshly picked apples. Not only did Hillel post on their Facebook page after apple picking but also Women in Business went to social media to discuss their success. WIB posted a picture of the group in front of the Saratoga Apple sign with a caption that read, “We had an awesome time apple picking today! #SkidmoreWIB.” 

In addition to apple picking, the co-president of Women in Business and founder of the club Lyssa Jackson ’16 said, “We [WIB] also ate cider donuts, bought fresh produce, and grabbed goodies like maple syrup, honey sticks, and other products like jam and maple candies.” Jackson also commented saying that WIB is, “incredibly supportive of one another and apple picking was a great bonding experience for a fall Sunday afternoon.”

Of these four clubs, Photo Club was the next to go apple picking. Due to the rainy weather the date had to be switched from Saturday, Oct. 4 to Sunday, Oct. 5. This change caused them to have a very small turnout of only four people.  Co-president Lauren Reilly ’15 said “because the group was so small, it ended up being a great bonding experience for the few members who were there.” Not only did Photo club pick apples, they took advantage of the setting and photographed their surroundings. “The orchards made for great landscape shots and backdrops for portraits,” said Reilly.

The last of these four clubs to go apple picking was SkidEats. They went apple picking on Saturday, Oct. 11. Just like Hillel, as they returned from their trip, SkidEats gathered to bake and eat apple pies and apple crisps.

If you missed the chance to go apple picking with these few but still want to go, keep your eyes open for notices about other clubs going apple picking or get a group of your friends together and go yourselves. Saratoga Apple, the local apple orchard, is only 16 minutes away and makes for a lasting memory and surplus of food to fulfill your fall apple-fix.

Trick-Or-Treat for a Cause

By Francesca Green '17, Contributing Writer

Trick-Or-Treat for The United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) started in 1950 when a group of children in Philadelphia went trick-or-treating with their pastor, not only for candy but also donations to send to UNICEF.

That first year they collected $17. Since that point, Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF’s popularity has grown exponentially and the program has raised more than $170 million to date. Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF has sent the UNICEF campus initiative at Skidmore supplies so students can participate in this nationwide effort. (Although Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is also in Canada and Hong Kong, the majority of its participants are found in the United States.)

This year will be the 64th anniversary of Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF and millions will participate: from NGOs and community-based groups to religious groups, elementary schools and college groups (like Skidmore’s own UNICEF campus initiative!). 

Here is an idea of what the money raised can buy: Only $1 is needed to provide potable water for a child for 40 days. $5 can feed a malnourished child for 5 days. 280 children can be vaccinated with only $10! And 100 children can be protected from malaria for $100. 

Our club will be going trick-or-treating on the 31st with children from local schools, churches, and we’ve even extended an invitation to faculty, staff and their families. Not everyone has to go trick-or-treating to participate or help out. We also have a website where people can donate whatever they can and every penny goes towards Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF and its cause. The website is: https://www.crowdrise.com/skidmorehalloween though people can of course also donate directly on UNICEF’s page online! Happy trick-or-treating!

Kashmir's Devastating Flood

By Janine Kritschgau '18, Staff Writer

Kashmir and neighboring areas are currently experiencing their most devastating flooding in recent history. Victims are struggling to find safety from the water, which has taken the lives of 460 people to date. Although the exact number of people displaced by the flooding is unknown, estimates near a million..

A group of students from Skidmore has responded to the crisis by forming The Kashmir Flood Volunteers Action Committee (KFVAC). The group, led by Ben Hinks ’15 and supervised by Professor Biberman-Ocakli of the Government department, gathered for the first time Thursday, Oct. 9 to discuss fundraising strategies.

KFVAC has decided that all proceeds will be sent directly to Samir Ahmad—a former colleague of Professor Biberman-Ocakli—who is currently teaching in Kashmir. Ahmad will distribute the funds throughout the community to help victims buy necessary items. KFVAC hopes to wire the donation within the next two weeks.

The Committee has generated a plethora of fundraising ideas, but decided to focus on a few—namely, collecting money online. Donations are being collected through a webpage hosted by GoFundMe, which has already raised $1400, just $600 short of the goal amount. . Other students can participate in the fundraising by buying grilled cheese sandwiches made by the FeelGood Club (date TBD). KFVAC is also in talks with Esperanto’s, a local global foods restaurant,  who would donate a portion of its profits on a specific day to the cause, but as of yet the effort has been unsuccessful. Instead, the group is trying to set up a table at Celebration Weekend to collect donations and spread awareness about the issue.

Stay updated on the cause by watching and reading the news and keep an eye out for KFVAC and their fundraising efforts as they strive to help out people who are in need.

The Skidmore Community Garden

By Jessica Kong '16, Staff Writer

The newest addition to Skidmore’s architectural and natural collection, the Skidmore Community Garden , sits cheerfully at the entrance of our campus. Rows of lush, healthy vegetation have been sprouting from the ground just steps outside of the student residence halls since last semester. Curiosity leads one to ask: where do the products of the garden go?

Eliza Hollister ‘15, an Environmental Studies major and current manager of the community garden on campus revealed it all goes to the dining hall. “All the vegetables that we produce, we sell to the dining hall. All the produce that is being grown here will end up in the dining hall in something that they cook, so the students and whoever else is eating there will be consuming the vegetables that are grown in the garden.”

Hollister began her work as the manager last November, breaking ground in front of Wiecking Hall by getting the soil ready for sowing. In the spring of 2014, she and a cohort of ‘green’ volunteers did some preliminary planting. Hollister elaborated on the first steps taken to create this lovely garden: “We couldn’t plant immediately because it was all new and we had to build the garden before we could plant in it. We started in little plant cells and we transplanted [them] to the garden. Some of the peppers were transplanted; we had some cucumber transplants.”

Look for spinach, squash, and carrots the next time you go to the Dining Hall. You may find that nearly every station incorporates some of this produce  in the food offered.

Luckily, anyone with a passion for locally grown food can help out, indirectly or more hands-on . The Skidmore Community Garden club maintains an active website (https://www.facebook.com/groups/skidmorecommunitygarden/) and meets every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., and help is always welcomed. “Now, it’s mostly harvesting and planting a few things for next year and maintaining what we’ve already got planted, but as the season goes on, our meetings will turn into planning for following years. Thus, if people are interested, there’s a huge amount of stuff that needs to get done. People can come and help out, and people have been coming which is wonderful.” Make sure to check out the Skidmore Community Garden  and even help by reaching out to Eliza Hollister and the “green-team.”

The Significance of Sleep

By Brittany Dingler '15, Peer Health Educator

In his June, 2013 Ted Talk “Why Do We Sleep,” Russel Foster – a circadian neuroscientist (think Bernie Possidente) – passionately fights for the importance of sleep not only as a resource for refreshing ourselves between action-packed days but also as preserving and enhancing our overall health and well-being.  More specifically, Foster digs in deep to the necessary effects of dozing-off, such as the stimulation of certain genes related to restoration and others that aim to conserve energy.  Foster also discusses how crucial cognitive processes tied to productivity require sleep, such as enhanced creativity and problem-solving ability.  This idea addresses the paradox of sleep for college students who spend their nights in Case Center (after being thrown out of the library) studying and writing papers that take away precious hours of sleep, when in fact sleep that is extremely essential to encoding the names and structures of amino acids or writing the sequel to The Fountainhead.

Doing your best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule by getting up at the same time every morning (even on the weekends, if possible) and starting to wind down around the same time in the evenings, can help to maximize energy levels during the day and improve your quality of sleep at night.  Additionally, creating an enjoyable and calming bedtime routine is an effective way of distancing yourself from the stressors of the day and preparing for a restorative slumber.   Lastly, to improve sleep quality at night, the Peer Health Educators recommend exercising early in the day, cutting off caffeine before dinner, and swapping out your electronics for a book so as to not disrupt the pineal gland’s normal, bedtime secretion of melatonin (essentially, the sleep hormone).  Although incorporating all of these changes at once may seem overwhelming, you’re likely to feel better after a few days with even just setting one or two goals for your sleep schedule.  Until then, get some rest and put down your iPhone.

Club Profile: African Heritage Awareness (AHA)

By Andrew Shi '15, Editor-in-Chief

The Skidmore News had the opportunity to interview, Nikhita Winkler, President of the African Heritage Awareness Club.

Q) What is the African Heritage Awareness club and why was it founded?

A) The African Heritage Awareness club (AHA) was founded for students who are of African heritage to have a place where they can build discussion and share their culture in a space with students who are interested in learning about African cultures. It was also founded with the purpose to bring more culture and cultural awareness to the Skidmore and Saratoga community, and to fill the gap in the education departments where there are not many courses representing Africa. 

Q) What is a typical meeting like?

A) A typical AHA meeting starts off with everyone in the room doing a dance (roll call) to get the energy going. Then there will be updates from events that have taken place during the weekends (we share pictures and videos), as well as E-board updates. We then spend some time discussing future events and ideas. The second half of the meeting is all about discussion topics and presentations of countries/documentaries. 

Q) Africa is a large continent. Is there a specific region that your club focuses on, or do you try to cover it all?

A) You are right. Africa is very large and then there are the other countries which are of African heritage/decent, making it even larger. We try to cover as many countries as we can, but it often depends on our members and which countries they represent or have sufficient knowledge about.

Q) When you raise awareness, are you focusing on a specific aspect of African heritage (e.g. cultural, political)?

A) We focus on raising cultural awareness and then we tune into specific issues about which to raise awareness, such as media advertising of Africa in America. We tackle issues and concerns as they come or as the topics arise during conversations in our general meetings. In addition, we hope to start collaborating with certain departments, such as the Anthropology department, to give students a more integrated experience of our native cultures which they learn about in class.

Q) What kind of events do you host, and what events can we look forward to seeing in the future?

A) We just performed during Peace Week in the Gannet Auditorium Lobby as an introduction to the screening of "Sweet Dreams," which is a documentary film about Rwandan women and their uprising after the Rwandan genocide. We played drums and did some cultural dancing as well as a presentation on Rwandan History. We also hosted a Game Night on Case Green, where we played traditional games with free pizza and African music. For the rest of the semester we plan to have two movie nights, our main event (AHA Festival), a themed Falstaff party, and an Africa in Focus Week. For the spring semester we will have similar events, but instead of a main event we will have a Charity month. 

We also plan to have African food served in D-hall, give African Drum and Dance workshops and bring in some speakers. In addition to our own events, we hope to collaborate with other clubs. 

6) Is there anything else you would like to the student body to know about the African Heritage Awareness club?

A) We are a new club, and we are not only a cultural and performing club, but also a club that aims to raise money through our activities for a charity we will donate to. We welcome everyone to join in on one of our meetings and enjoy the warm energy we share and hopefully learn something new about the largest and richest continent on earth. 

AHA meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the ICC (second floor of Case).

Restaurant Review: Wheatfields

By Jessica Tetu '17, Contributing Writer

Perhaps my taste buds were used to the monotony of the Skidmore Dining Hall food; perhaps it was the palpable excitement about going out to eat; whatever the reason, I experienced a veritable culinary awakening at Wheatfields restaurant last Friday evening.

Located on the corner of Broadway and Caroline, across the street from Cantina, Wheatfields is an Italian-American restaurant that serves products from local farms.

If you have family coming in for Celebration Weekend, Wheatfields is a terrific choice and opportunity to impress family. In the evenings -- although Wheatfields is open for lunch as well, -- the restaurant boasts an intimate, warm ambiance that is both comfortable and upscale. Wine bottles and rustic brick decorate the walls as warm lighting illuminates art dedicated to, you guessed it, food. Although my colleagues and I walked right in and got a table, if you’re considering Wheatfields for Celebration Weekend, I recommend making a reservation well in advance.

Let’s get to the most important part. After a better-than-average crab cake appetizer and a delicious chicken Caesar salad (although I typically prefer my dressing with a bit more bite), I enjoyed a scallop dish with mushroom risotto. Easily one of the best scallop dishes I’ve had, the melt-in-your-mouth scallops tasted fresh and were cooked to a buttery perfection without being mushy. Additionally, the risotto had a delightful texture and packed a surprising punch of mushroom and garlic. My senses conflicted as I desired to devour the deliciousness but y wanted to savor every divine bite. After the first bite I was intrigued; by the last I was in love; by the time I left I was in a food coma.

Meanwhile, my friends chose two different steak dishes (the Sirloin Steak Frites and the NY Strip), and while both were quite good, the NY strip was undercooked despite my colleague’s specifications, and both were a bit chewy for my taste. It should be noted, however, that both of them enjoyed their meals and had they alerted our server to the cooking mistake, I am sure it would have been corrected.

After the main course, we enjoyed hot coffee and chocolate lava cake about which, I am unashamed to admit, I have fantasies on a fairly regular basis.

Service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was lively as couples, families and students indulged in Friday evening freedom.

Wheatfields also offers gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan menus for patrons with dietary restrictions. The price is surprisingly doable for such high quality food, although if you are a poor college student like me with limited disposable income, it’s a once-in-awhile treat. 

Big Show Interview: Kandace Springs

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

This Saturday Oct. 11, Chance the Rapper is going to take Skidmore’s campus by storm as he performs for our Fall Big Show. Not only will the show, part of the Verge Campus Tour, feature this well-known artist, but also the Sweater Beats and Kandace Springs.

This week, I had the opportunity to interview with Kandace Springs. Singing since she was 13 years old, a child of Nashville, TN, Springs was inspired by idols such as her father and Billie Holliday to pursue music from such a young age.  Springs hit the spotlight when Prince took her under his wing and on stage to perform alongside His Royal Badness, all without having released a song.

Since performing with Prince, Springs has gone on to release an album entitled, Kandace Springs, and tour with Chance the Rapper. She will continue on to work with Ne-Yo on his upcoming tour dates. Just last week, Springs appeared on The Letterman Show, making her first-ever television debut.

Despite a busy schedule, Springs was kind enough to accept my interview.

Q: You have grown up with music your entire life, but where do you believe your inspiration came from? Is there one particular moment that you felt music just clicked with you?

A: When I was 10 years old, my parents gave me a Norah Jones CD and by the time I turned 13, I was singing. When I was 13, my mom bought me a sheet music book and my first performance was back home in Nashville. I knew that music clicked with me when I was on stage. The reaction I got from the audience was overwhelming and that’s when I realized I wanted to be a musician when I grew up. My dad was a singer so he definitely inspired me as well but that Norah Jones CD propelled me even further. The first song I performed was a Jazz song by Norah Jones herself.

Q: What’s your favorite part about singing?

A: I think that singing allows people to express themselves through music. I personally enjoy seeing other people’s reactions to the music that they are listening to. It’s like painting a picture, when you first get out there; it is like a blank canvas and I am about to paint a picture for everyone when I start to sing. I also love when people know the songs and begin to sing along with me. I think that is really cool, I get an adrenaline rush out of it.

Q: Who is your musical inspiration?

A: Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, and Billie Holiday. I love their voices, especially Aretha Franklin—they all have this “gritty soul.”

Q: What has been the most difficult part about getting to where you are today?

A: The music business is not like a 9-5 job, you really never know what to expect. There have been difficult parts, sometimes it feels hopeless because they are so few people that truly make it, make it onto television, the big-time, etc. It’s all about meeting people and getting your name out there but at the same time, staying true to who you are.

Q: Could you further define “classic soul meets modern hip-hop”? What sort of style do you aim for? Where did that style originate?

A: My main goal is to keep soul alive. I have been influenced by a lot of Jazz artists including Billie Holiday and the other artists that I mentioned before. I want to bring a modern twist, that way I attract more contemporary people and younger listeners. I want everybody listening! That is what I am for…I want all ages to appreciate my music and sing along with me!

Q: Would you consider yourself a fan of older music rather than more contemporary music? If so, where do you draw your ideas from?

A: Definitely. I really like the older sound; it is more sophisticated, thought through and genuine. Back in the day, music was raw and real, there was no technology. I appreciate the younger, pop music—I want to blend the two together and create the best of both worlds.

Q: Are you excited to tour with Chance the Rapper? How did you begin to tour with him? How was your show at UCLA?

A: Yes! I am super excited. I am blessed to have this opportunity and am extremely appreciative of what is happening for me. The UCLA show was dope, seeing my face on the big screen was amazing and having everyone sing along was even better. I think it has been kind of random to get to work with Chance. The talent booking agency hooked it up and got us together. Chance is still new for me although he is super cool and fresh. In a few weeks I will be working with Ne-Yo as well, I’ve always loved his stuff, he is really musical and I am looking forward to that as well.

Q: What are you looking forward to while touring?

A: I am looking forward to everything, to getting out there, letting people see who we are.

Q: What makes you nervous?

A: Nothing makes me too nervous. There is always the regular stuff that could go wrong, sound, etc but we have top-notch sound people working with us. I am blessed and thankful that everyone seems to appreciate the music. The band has rocked it out previously so I can’t wait to show Skidmore what we have worked so hard to achieve.

Q: How do you see yourself in a few years from now?

A: I really hope to have a household name, I want everyone to have our record and say, “Oh yeah, Kandace Springs, that cool girl… I love her, she’s my favorite.”

Q: What is one piece of advice that you can give to up and coming artists?

A: I spent time playing jazz and soul in a country town. People kept trying to make me do more pop, they wanted to change me. Don't let people tell you to change. You can be open-minded but don't change who you are for someone else’s opinion of who they think you should be. And never give up.

Restaurant Review: The Circus Café

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By Janine Kritschgau and Erin Silgardo '18, Staff Writers

            Our experience at the Circus Café was mixed. Service was exceptionally slow, as we waited roughly 40 minutes for a table (and an additional 40 minutes to be served). Our party sampled a variety of foods offered including; a chicken quesadilla, an order of fajitas, pan seared salmon, and a chicken breast sandwich. The menu boasts a wide variety of options, including Tex Mex, fish, burgers, and pasta dishes. Unfortunately, none of the dishes we tried were exceptional.

            The salmon was inconsistent and relatively expensive, priced at $18.99. The top of the pan-seared fish was burned, while the middle was gooey. In addition to the underwhelming presentation, the waitress was unaware of where the fish was from; therefore, leaving us in the dark about what we were consuming. The accompaniments were tasty, but nothing earth shattering; diced tomatoes to top the fish, jasmine rice, and a small vegetable medley decorated the plate but did not do much for our palates.

            The quesadilla seemed to be the most satisfactory of the entrees. The tortillas were somewhat overstuffed, as the ensemble quickly fell apart. This option was one of the most economical, with a cost of $9.99. The fajitas ($15.99) were quite pleasant. This dish comes in a sizzling cast iron skillet, although the responsibility of assembling the fajita is left to the diner.

            The chicken breast sandwich; however, was not very good. Instead of slices or a smaller piece, the chicken was about an inch and a half thick and sandwiched between two pieces of hard, French bread. There was little of the 'famous' pesto sauce and then there was a side of onion rings, which tasted like they had been taken out of a frozen bag. Normally, the sandwich comes with a side of the Circus Cafe's signature curly fries but on that particular Saturday night at 8pm, they were all out. For the price, it was not bad, costing $12.99.

            ​The one different and ultimately unique quality about the restaurant is that instead of bread, they serve popcorn. We will admit that was a nice treat.

Janine and Erin’s Rating: 2.5/5    

Club Profile: FeelGood

By Andrew Shi '15, Editor-in-Chief

The Skidmore News sat down with Nina Orlando '16, Co-President of FeelGood, to discuss what the "grilled cheese club" is all about.

Q: What is FeelGood, and when was Skidmore's chapter founded?

A: We make gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and give them to students and faculty in exchange for a donation that goes towards the sustainable end of world hunger. We started at Skidmore in Fall 2012, but didn’t become an official SGA club until Fall 2013.

Q: Does Skidmore's FeelGood chapter donate to a specific charity, and if so, why that one?

A: FeelGood is a national organization and we are one of 24 chapters on college campuses across the country. FeelGood has 4 partner organizations, but we choose to donate all of our money to The Hunger Project because their goal is to empower local people and organizations to end their own hunger. They believe in partnership, not charity, and so do we.

Q: How often do you sell your grilled cheeses and where?

A: We will be selling our grilled cheeses on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-3p.m. on the 2nd floor of Case Center next to the SGA Information desk. We hope to start selling in the beginning of October!

Q: Do you have any future plans to expand your enterprise, perhaps by increasing hours and days in which you sell grilled cheese?

A: We are always thinking about expanding in the long term, but that’s easier said than done, so for right now, we are sticking to 2 days a week. Hopefully in the future we can grow!

 Q: Do you sell anything besides for grilled cheeses, and do you raise money by any other means? 

 A: We sell t-shirts, FeelGood sunglasses and grilled cheese shaped USB flash drives at our delis. We also have a ton of cool events! We put on a benefit concert, had our Flags for Hunger event, had a movie screening, and co-sponsored a bunch of other club’s events. We are always brainstorming ways to raise more money. Keep an eye out for new FeelGood foods we might be selling!

Q: Since the inception of Skidmore's chapter, how much money has FeelGood raised?

A: We have raised about $5,000 since we started.

 Q: How many people do you have working for FeelGood?

A: Our e-board is made up of 7 students and a bunch of dedicated members. Our Deli couldn’t operate without all of our amazing members.

Q:  Is there anything else you would like the student body to know about FeelGood?

A: If you’ve even seen someone dressed up as a grilled cheese walking around campus, that was us. Be sure to stop by our deli in Case on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! We have so many cool new recipes!

Craving Coffee? What's the Best on Campus

By Noa Maltzman '18, Staff Writer

This past Monday was national coffee day. Perhaps if you had time to celebrate you would have indulged by going to a local coffee shop downtown. Unfortunately, since national coffee day fell on a Monday it is likely that most people had class , work, other obligations and were not able to make it downtown and therefore have to settle for on-campus coffee.

You might not think that all on-campus coffee is bad but maybe you were wondering, such like the person who posted on Yik Yak asking, “Happy National Coffee day. Which shitty on campus coffee should I have to celebrate?”

On campus, there are three main options for coffee. These options are the Atrium Café, Burgess and the dining hall. At limited hours you can also get coffee at the Spa and the library café.

For those not on the meal plan, the dining hall probably serves the most expensive cup of coffee you will ever buy unless you also get food with it. To enter the dinning hall it cost at least $7.49. This might be a lot to pay for a cup of coffee but unlike any other place on campus you do get unlimited refills as long as you don’t leave. 

Some might not mind the dining hall coffee but others, such as a person who posted on Yik Yak do mind it.  A particular Yak read, “Dhall coffee doesn’t stain clothes because it is essentially water.”  This blurb illuminates some students’ distaste for what is being served within the infamous dhall.

If $7.49 is more then you desire to spend, you might want to try getting coffee from another location around campus.

Over the summer, Burgess underwent a renovation and now serves Starbucks coffee but the question remains, is it worth the extra money or should one get the cheaper coffee from the Atrium Café? To test this,  I decided to purchase a regular iced coffee from both locations.

At Burgess,  I bought a 16-ounce iced coffee and the total cost before tax was $2.30. The wait for the coffee was just a few minutes due to the line of students waiting for their fair share. After the coffee was ready, one can head over to the close-by counter and add milk and sugar to their drink.

A much cheaper (less then $2) 16-ounce iced coffee was then purchased from the Atrium Café. Here, one is given a cup filled with ice and you are allowed to fill it with coffee yourself. The experience here was much different than Burgess as the wait was non-existent as no one else was in line. Continually, the Atrium Café also has a much greater selection of milk and sweeteners including flavored options that one can add.

After evaluating the coffee, it’s been determined that if you want unlimited coffee - go to the dining hall, if you are on a tight budget or short on time go to the Atrium Café, and if you want to have an experience closest to going to a local coffee shop go to Burgess. Hope you all enjoyed national coffee day, I’m sure caffeine will be needed for the upcoming weeks!

Club Profile: J Street U

By Billie Kanfer '16, Features Editor

Noam Yossefy was kind enough to talk to The Skidmore News about being the President of J Street U's Skidmore chapter.

J Street U at Skidmore is a student-led advocacy club that organizes school-wide educational discussions, leadership workshops and supports a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nearly two years ago, a handful of (predominantly Jewish) students realized that there was not a proper forum for discussing the ongoing conflict and addressing its emotional impact on Skidmore students.

I am the co-founder and president of J Street U at Skidmore this year, but the club is always looking for new board members interested in advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

J Street U is still a new club at Skidmore, but our ultimate goal is to serve the campus as a reliable source of information regarding the conflict. We've collaborated with several clubs, including Hillel, Hayat, Interfaith Council, and International Student Union, and have been sponsored by the Government and International Affairs departments and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Although the organization is mainly directed towards American Jews, it is our goal that the club will attract a more diverse pool of students who want to discuss current events or conduct informal debates and discussions.

Although we are a young club, we've helped bring speakers and expert panels from the region to the Skidmore campus and have held student and professor-led educational programs about the logistical aspects of the two-state solution and Secretary Kerry's 9-month plan. This semester, we are presenting the Skidmore community with excellent resources, including a debrief of this summer's unfortunate events and first-hand accounts from activists on both sides.

To hear more about our upcoming events or get involved, check out J Street at Skidmore on Facebook or e-mail nyossefy@skidmore.edu.

Restaurant Review: Char Koon

By Janine Kritschgau '18 and Erin Silgardo '18, Contributing Writers

If offbeat is your style, you have to pay a visit to Char Koon. Sandwiched in between ‘The Circus Café’ and another shop sits a little Thai and Chinese combo restaurant that most would miss if they were not looking for it. Eating at Char Koon is somewhat of a bizarre experience. Upon entering, the first thing you’ll notice is the offbeat décor -- scratched floors, teal and pink booths, horse posters, and some sort of sparkly candy cane hanging on the back wall.

Although the atmosphere is nothing short of unique, the menu looks familiar. Variations of lo meins, fried rices, wonton soups, and dumplings are offered: the essentials in any American Chinese restaurant. There is a bit of something for everyone here, including extensive vegetarian options and a few spicy dishes for the adventurous eaters out there. In the interest of appealing to the masses, we tested popular items.

The vegetable lo mein is satisfactory. Not too salty, with a good noodle to veggie ratio. Served piping hot, this dish won’t disappoint. But maybe it would take more than a good heap of noodles to make you a believer. Enter the steamed dumplings which are exceptional. These pockets of perfection are accompanied with a kick of something a little different --a soy sauce infused with some mysterious herbs and spices. What makes this appetizer even better is the large serving (eight dumplings for $5.50). The total damage for this enormous serving of Chinese food? A mere $15.05.

As for the Thai menu, the shrimp in the Pad Thai was pink and tasted like it had just been caught while the noodles were mixed with the peanuts and coriander which gave an unusual but fresh taste to the food. The spring rolls were crispy, although a tad oily . Still, the array of vegetables and thin, clear noodles mixed in together made the rolls worthwhile. In the end, the Pad Thai and spring roll combo was just under $20.

If you are intrigued by the delicacies of this establishment but are not interested in the funky atmosphere, or simply aren’t up for the walk, Char Koon even delivers!

Your Brain on Meditation

By Brittany Dingler, '15, Peer Health Educator

       Generally, meditation is a mindfulness-based practice in which an individual sits quietly, focuses on breathing, and tries to clear their mind of any distracting thoughts or worries. Some meditators even choose to supplement their meditation practice with repeated mantras (think “ohmmm…”) or visualization (“imagine you’re a stick, floating down the river of zen”). Though often viewed as a wacky, spiritual practice reserved only for yogis, hippies, and monks, meditation is a critical tool that has recently gained more support as a source of daily restoration for CEOs and doctors as well as an effective, supplemental treatment for chronic mental and physical diseases. For now, however, let’s just take a moment to focus on meditation as a tool for combating the everyday stress and anxiety of college life. 

       When in a situation known to induce cortisol-driving symptoms, such as sitting down to start your homework in the evening or preparing for a big presentation, taking a few minutes to meditate allows you to tackle stress mindfully. This mindful approach involves taking a minute to sit, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing rather than how many Organic Chemistry problems you have. As you focus on your breathing, your respiratory rate and pulse rate should start to decrease, thereby allowing you to override many of the cortisol-driven symptoms of stress experienced just minutes before. Additionally, you are more likely to have an increased level of attention and concentration – helpful, right?

       The long-term effects of meditation are also worth noting. For example, in Health Psychology (2012), Shelley E. Taylor argues that meditation has been shown to outcompete other, unhealthy stress behaviors we might typically resort to, such as over-eating, self-medicating with marijuana or alcohol, or general avoidance of the stress-inducing situations. Furthermore, Grant and Rainville (2009) found that meditation and other mindfulness strategies can help with pain and may even offer some analgesic effects. 

       So how does this work?  How do a few minutes of sitting quietly and breathing create such profound physiological and psychological changes? For these answers, we must turn to neuroscience – specifically, the principles of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the phenomenon in which our brain anatomy moves around gray matter and synaptic connections in order to facilitate certain, repeated habits (such as juggling and playing the ukulele) or to regain lost functions from a traumatic brain injury. Meditation also shows neuroplasticity. For example, in 2011, Hölzel, Lazar, et al. found that an eight-week meditation program, in which participants meditated for only 30 minutes each day, lead to increased gray matter in the left hippocampus (the center for learning and memory), the tempero-parietal junction (activated during arguing, empathy, and compassion), and a decrease in gray matter in the amygdala (a small region responsible for perceiving threats and stress). In other words, the pre-frontal areas targeted during meditation overlap with those that provide the functions necessary to being productive, happy college students.