Sports Wrap: Field hockey falls in NCAA semifinals

Posted by Audrey Nelson

The field hockey team's 19 game winning streak came to an end in Virginia at the NCAA Semifinal game against Bowdoin College. The Thoroughbreds lost 5-0 to the Polar Bear's, finishing their season with a 20-2 record.

Despite being down 1-0 at halftime, the Thoroughbreds finished the first half outshooting Bowdoin 9-5 with an 11-4 corner advantage. In the second half, the Polar Bears outshot Skidmore 18-12, though the Thoroughbreds held a 16-10 penalty corner advantage.

The team's dream season came to a close in Virginia, but left its mark with program records for most wins (20), a 19 game winning streak and a .909 winning percentage among several individual records.

Ice hockey

The men's ice hockey team will host a "Pack the Rink" game against Bowdoin College at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2. The first 400 fans will receive free T-shirts and admission. Students can ride a free shuttle bus to the ice rink for the 7 p.m. game.

During the game, the team will also be holding a can drive to benefit the "Skidmore Cares" program. The team will also hold the can drive at its game Dec. 4 against Colby College and on Dec. 7 against SUNY Plattsburgh.

On Nov. 23, the men lost a non-league game 6-5 against SUNY Potsdam. In the second period, the Thoroughbreds were down 4-1, but picked up speed with a goal by junior Jack Walsh at 0:54 in the second and a goal at 0:21 in the third by Nick Dupuis '12.

After the Bears brought the score up to 5-3, Skidmore battled back to tie the game at 5-5 with goals by Alex Radmin '13 at 9:12 and Brendan Cottam '13 at 9:51. Ultimately, Potsdam's Matt Rhymer '12 made the game-winning shot at 13:13.

The team hosted the Skidmore Invitational Hockey Tournament on Nov. 27 where the Thoroughbreds lost to Buffalo State 4-0.  Buffalo continued on to play Southern Maine where the team won 3-0 in the championship game. In its consolation game against 15th ranked Elmira College, the Thoroughbreds won 4-2. In the first period, Skidmore picked up two goals. Hunter Thayer '11 scored his third goal of the season followed by the 2-0 goal at 16:38 from first-year Aaron Beck, his first collegiate goal.

Vlad Gavrik ‘14 scored early in the second period to make it 3-0, but Elmira answered back late in the period when Rick Acorn '12 scored at the 19:17 mark to make it 3-1. Thayer scored Skidmore's final goal of the game at the 6:54 mark in the third period, while Mark Morikawa '13 finished up the scoring at 4-2.

Men's Basketball

Skidmore's men's basketball team won its game 87-78 against Hartwick College Nov. 30. The Thoroughbreds improved to 3-1, while the Hawks fall 2-3. With 5:37 left on the clock in the second half, the Thoroughbreds made 12 unanswered shots to secure the win.

Junior John Mantas began the streak with a 3-pointer, followed by a second 3-pointer from Melvis Langyintuo '12. Senior Jeff Altimar contributed two shots to the run and ended the streak with another 3-pointer.

Altimar added 21 points to the board while Langyintuo put up 20, and made eight rebounds. Terron Victoria '12 scored 11 points for the Thoroughbreds, and Gerard O'Shea '12 had a game-high eight assists.

Skidmore will host the Hilton Garden Inn Tournament on Dec. 4, and will face Bard College at 4 p.m.

Women's Basketball

Oneonta went on a 6-0 run, and Skidmore wasn't able to come back. In the second round of the Invitational, the Thoroughbreds lost 74-57 to SUNY Cortland. On Nov. 30, Skidmore made a come back win over Hartwick College 89-37. The Thoroughbreds improve to 2-2, while the Hawks fall to 3-2. Sophomore Logan Frederick scored 10 points and made 11 rebounds, while teammate Christina Gargiso '12 scored a game-high 15.

Four Skidmore players scored double figures in the game including first-year Jordyn Wartts (12), senior Christine Kemp (11), junior Jesse Kavana (11) and first-year Michela Ottati (10).

The women finished the first half with a 50-20 lead. The second half continued the same lead, finishing the game at 89-37.

Senate approves new Foundry Club

Posted by Kat Kullman

Charlie Engelman '11 and Jasper Goodrich '11 approached the Senate of the Student Government Association to charter the Foundry Club, a club dedicated to the casting of metal and non-metal materials.

The goal of the club is to teach students to cast metal and to expand the college's art scene and involvement in the larger art community.

Students at the college only cast once a year and need official club status to go forward.

The club would sponsor both on-campus and off-campus events, from visits to local casting venues to extra critiques from Skidmore professors out of class. During its trial period, the club has already attracted 30 regular members.

"We're trying to get people more interested in casting, but we also want to attract artists of different mediums. This would close the gaps between those in the art department. We need more dialogue in the art world, both here and off-campus," Goodrich said.

Goodrich and Engelman said they hope that this club will raise awareness about the casting process and bring a larger sense of community to the campus.

Goodrich and Engelman will hold a session in which students can cast with chocolate.

After a vote, the Senate unanimously approved the club's charter.

In other news:

The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to allocate funding from Falstaff's Operating Committee to Program Support. The money was transferred to Program Support, where it can benefit the entire school.

Preparing for the spring semester on campus and abroad: Playing Doctor

Posted by Adam Cohen

It's the first week back from our short Thanksgiving break — though it was more a tease than anything else — and it also happens to be the second to last week of the semester, so naturally most of us are having trouble doing work even though the workload is at its toughest.

At the same time, we're thinking about how badly we'd like winter break to come and are beginning to look forward to the spring.

This spring, I will be studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Now, I mean no offence to my loyal readers, but don't expect my column to be here while I'm gone.

But before I leave, I figured I'd give some advice on the spring semester — for those going abroad and those staying on campus.

First of all, for those going abroad, I think a commendation is in order, so congratulations! It's a big deal to spend an entire semester in a foreign place where you will most likely be less comfortable (at least in the beginning) than at home. Even if it is a domestic program, spending time in new area is a challenge.

It's kind of hard for me to discuss what to expect when abroad since I haven't done it yet; the best advice I can give is what I've been telling myself in preparation for going abroad.

The first thing that comes to my mind is to just relax. Don't think you're the only student who is worried, nervous, upset or intimidated — everyone going abroad is anxious in some form or another. It's natural.

But don't let it overwhelm you. Chances are, everything is going to be fine — we've all made the transition to college, it'll be easy enough to transition to college abroad.

Next, learn to take everything in stride. It doesn't pay to be unnecessarily worried over small things like whether you'll be able to tell time on a 24 hour clock, calculate currency values or learn a new language (things I admittedly think about).

When the time comes, trust your ability to pick it up. If there's anything college has taught me, it's that learning something new is not as difficult as it really seems. For instance, in my pursuit of a major, I studied everything from ancient Greek to art history to business, all with no intention of majoring in those areas. I may have forgotten a lot of what I learned, but I was nonetheless able to do it with enough studying.

And finally, don't forget to keep up with things you do at home. If you have a certain diet, try to keep up with it, or at least keep a similar schedule. If you exercise regularly, try to do that too — I bet there are a lot of cool things you can do to replace running on a treadmill. In Copenhagen, I'll most likely be doing a lot of bike riding or walking around the city to replace my usual fitness class.

Find things that work for you — with the bombardment of culture shock this could prove difficult, but finding a balance is key to your wellbeing and it is definitely achievable.

Now, back to Skidmore. For those who will still be here for next semester, I've got just the same basic tips as always, but some more seasonal advice.

The beginning of the spring semester is anything but spring. There's a good chance there will be at least a foot of snow on the ground when you return from winter break.

And once you're back on the small campus with that kind of weather, Skid-plague will probably rear its ugly head again. Take precautions against sickness — it's worth your effort. Eat right, even if it means facing the cold to go to D-Hall or go food shopping, rather than eating Ramen for a week straight.

Go to the gym once or twice a week -- I'm sure a run on the treadmill will thaw out your toes. Or, if you prefer, check out the town in the snow; Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area is a beautiful place to be in the wintertime. Go for a snowshoeing expedition in the North Woods!

If you're going to stay indoors, being snowed in is a great excuse to get some homework done — after your sledding and snowball fight.

Once the weather warms up, you know the drill: get outside ASAP. I'll definitely miss that part of the spring semester at Skidmore. And have a great fun day! I hope to see some great pictures.

So goodbye for now, or as they say in Danish, farvel. Be well, and enjoy the upcoming semester!

Adam Cohen is a junior Peer Health Educator who knows more about your body than you do.

Italian commedia; high excitement

Posted by Julia Leef

According to director Alma Becker, excitement was high on opening night of the fall 2010 Mainstage production of Carlo Goldoni's "The Servant of Two Masters," which opened on Nov. 19 in Skidmore's Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater.

The show continues to run Dec. 2-5. All performances are at 8 p.m. except Sunday matinees, which are at 2 p.m.

"The company had been longing for an audience to interact with. The actors love communicating directly to the audience and engaging them with words, songs and lots of comical bits," Becker said.

Indeed, the reactions of audience members feed the actors' energy in this play and boost the overall performance. Feedback from the audience is as much a part of the show as are the regularly scripted lines.

"On opening night a director is always thankful and pleased when that first big laugh is heard or there is applause mid-way through a scene. That says the audience is enjoying the performances," Becker said.

"The Servant of Two Masters" combines the culture of Venice with the comedy of the play's style, with a few dashes of modern, even localized humor thrown in for good measure.The play is very fast-paced and the actors handled the quick changes and flow of the scenes with an ease and familiarity that spoke of long hours of rehearsals and hard work.

The cast portrayed its characters well, each with distinct personalites. One could determine the characteristics of the stock characters, characters with pre-determined personalities and behaviors, that the actors were imitating.

The storyline contains plot twists and turns, with the occasional exposition scene to help facilitate the audience's understanding of the play. Occasional interactions with the audience incorporate its members into the play, making this an engaging and delightful performance.

Tristan Schaffer-Goldman '11, who played Truffaldino, spoke about the joys and necessities of having a live audience. "The energy we receive from the audience fuels us. With an audience we not only rediscovered how funny this show is, but also found moments we didn't even realize were there," Schaffer-Goldman said.

Jaime Martinez-Rivera '11, who played Florindo, considered learning the art of commedia to be an invaluable experience. "The fun part of commedia is that, unlike ‘traditional' theater, everything is on the outside. You start with movement and voice because the psychology is irrelevant. A character is feeling exactly what he's telling the audience," Martinez-Rivera said.

The pre-show performance put on by LoCo, the Lobby Company, also made use of audience interaction. The pre-show performance took place a half hour before "The Servant of Two Masters" to excite the audience for the main performance.

LoCo engaged in a variety of improvisational games that involved interjections from the audience. LoCo continued to entertain audience members during the intermission by talking with people while remaining in character.

Although the two weekend showings were interrupted by Thanksgiving break, Schaffer-Goldman remains confident that the cast will be able to maintain the energy from past performances and will bring a fresh burst of creative energy and perspective to the Dec. shows.

A question-and-answer session that followed the performance on Nov. 20 provided for the benefit of prospective students attending the Performing Arts Open House event.Audience members had the opportunity to speak to the cast and crew about performing in "The Servant of Two Masters." This promised a great opportunity for incoming students to learn more about the arts offered at Skidmore.

The cast welcomes everyone to join in and be a part of the last few performances of this modern-day Italian commedia.

Beatlemore jam fills Zankel

Posted by Julia Leef

There was a full house at the Helen Filene-Ladd Hall of the Arthur Zankel Music Center on Nov. 21 for the 10th annual Beatlemore Skidmania.

The 24 acts included student bands, individual musicians and a cappella groups, which performed a variety of Beatles songs. Participants included groups like The Accents, The Hand-Me-Downs, Drastic Measures and George Martian.

Professor Gordon Thompson, the host of the event, spoke highly of the excitement the bands brought to the stage. "The a cappella groups, the acoustic ensembles and the bands all made remarkable contributions to the program. Perhaps as importantly, they brought excitement and energy to their performances. Every time a new act came on stage, you could feel the power they brought to their music," Thompson said.

The sounds of the Beatles reverberated throughout the concert hall, mingling with the cheers of the audience. Some audience members even joined in singing the songs.

A band composed of faculty members, with student accompaniment, followed up the student performances. Everyone gathered onstage for the concluding number "All You Need Is Love." The performers invited the audience to sing along as the 10th Beatlemore Skidmania came to an end.

Unlike previous Beatlemores, students primarily completed this year's preparations. Thompson had his freshman seminar handle the auditions, selecting acts from among 43 applicants. The students also designed the fliers, posters and T-shirts. According to Thompson, this enabled students to "put into practice ideas they had seen in their readings about music scenes."

Amanda Boehmer, the concert and events manager for Zankel, visited Thompson's seminar to teach the students how to run a concert, especially since Beatlemore Skidmania, which was usually held in the old Filene Music Building, was held in Zankel this year for the first time. Having the concert in Zankel allowed for more crowd control, as it provided limited and assigned seating. "Being in Zankel is different. It's a bigger space, it's a more formal space," Boehmer said.

Preparations for this event included hours-long sound checks, setting up specific microphone layouts for each act and adjusting the accompanying volume levels and monitor mixes. Shawn DuBois, the Zankel technical director, and his tech crew handled these tasks.

Ticket distribution and advertisement were ongoing efforts. The event continues to be publicized through clips of the concert posted on the Skidmore website.

Boehmer also distributed surveys to audience members to collect feedback about what could be improved in the years to come. "I think it's really helpful in future events when you understand who's coming," Boehmer said.

Already plans are being made for next year's concert and several new possibilities are being discussed. An intermission may be included in next year's performance. In addition, some have suggested spreading out the performances over two days, which would give the musicians and tech crew more flexibility. Those involved also hope to circulate ticket information sooner next year.

Thompson's seminar students chose to donate the concert proceeds to Skidmore Cares, a campus-wide endeavor that collects food items, money and school supplies and delivers them to local service agencies during the holiday season.

"Thus, all of the money from ticket and T-shirt sales will be going to Saratoga's food pantries, soup kitchens and other services that assist the less fortunate among us," Thompson said. With the cash ticket sales, Thompson's students donated over $5,000 to Skidmore Cares.

T-shirts were sold at the event and signed by the members of the performing bands. All of the performers signed and auctioned off one of the T-shirts. These T-shirts are still available at half price. Thompson's students are continuing to raise money for Skidmore Cares online and through Skidmore ID sales.

Boehmer talked about the importance of seeing so many different people brought together for this one event. "It's a really moving thing. I mean, this is why we do what we do. To bring people together through music," Boehmer said.

Lee rocks the Egg: Let's Talk About Rock

Posted by Eli Cohen

On Nov. 4 neo-soul artist Amos Lee played at Albany's unique venue The Egg, delivering an electric two-hour show in the three-fourths sold out concert hall. With a new album, "Mission Bell" to be released in Jan., Lee made sure to keep a diverse set list, with many brand new songs as well as fan favorites.

The crowd was a much different age-range than would be expected at such a show. While there were plenty of attendees who looked to be fresh out of college, the majority of concertgoers were middle-aged. This perhaps has to do with Lee's blues/soul style, which was complemented by his new tracks that fall more under the country category.

As smoothly-seamed as the set list's grouping was, it was still very clear what the order of the show was meant to be. The first half of the show was filled with new country tracks. These songs felt decidedly weak and powerless when compared to the rich, well-developed sound that his previous songs have contained.

One factor that marked Lee as not only an artist, but also an entertainer, was his easy, unassuming relationship with his audience. But let's face it — with many of today's pop-culture "musicians" (yes, I'm looking at you, Ying-Yang Twins, Little Wayne and 30H!3), having entertainment value is often seen as more important than actual musical ability.

However, Lee seems to possess both the poise and balance that allows him to interact freely with the audience, even when faced with the most frustrating problems, such as bandmates not showing up when cued. "Well," Lee sighed soulfully (and all the women swoon), "I guess that means it's story time."

He proceeded to give an earnest, detailed account of what exactly went into the making of his latest record, neither shying bashfully from its flaws nor feeling any need to boast or glorify attributes. "Nice of you to join us," Lee said as he watched his bandmates file sheepishly on stage and pick up their instruments. Lee calmly finished his story before launching into a soulful rendition of his audience-requested "Black River."

For all of this good, there were several very weak aspects of the show. Lee's best-known song, "Sweet Pea," did not generate as much energy as it should have. "Sweet Pea" is a long song where the beauty lies in the simplicity, both lyrically and musically. However, Lee's attempt to change up the song for his new tour left much to be desired. It's not that it is a bad thing to change a song for a live audience; Lee simply just did not go far enough.

Overall, as predicted, Lee did not disappoint. His passion for his craft is palpable when in the same room. I guess that means it's story time.

Eli Cohen is a junior who likes to talk about music.

Kanye West falls short: Hip-Hop Weekly

Posted by Jenna Postler

Chances are good that you've heard about it, read about it and probably even listened to it all by now: Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." How could you have accomplished all of these things since its release on Nov. 23? The answer is simple. It leaked.

Kanye West's newest album leaked a solid two weeks early on Nov. 9. Consequently, all the big names in music have had a chance to review it. Given all its hype, West's extremely favorable reviews are not surprising. Critics and fans alike expected this album to bring back the sound that we heard from his 2007 album, "Graduation."

I don't agree. Unlike widely respected critics, I don't think that West's new album is revolutionary or even amazing. This is partially because it sounds repetitive. There, I said it; West's new album already feels old to me, and I've owned it less than a week.

Five of the 13 tracks on the album (counting interludes) should sound familiar. Fans will recognize his first two singles, "Power," featuring Dwele, and "Runaway," featuring Pusha T, as well as three tracks from West's popular "G.O.O.D. Friday" series. I had already downloaded "Monster," featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver, "So Appalled," featuring Swizz Beatz, Jay-z, Pusha T, Cyhi The Prynce and RZA, and "Devil In A New Dress," featuring Rick Ross, which West personally released for free as part of the weekly program.

I expected what new material was left on the album to be spectacular. Fans thought that West would completely leave behind the auto-tune that filled "808s & Heartbreak," but, alas, this did not happen.

Unfortunately, while some of the unreleased tracks were amazing, a few fell short. "Gorgeous," featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon, attempts to exploit Cudi's immensely popular slow, methodical voice on the chorus, but just ends up being boring.

However, West does push himself artistically in this new album. With "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," West takes a theme and runs with it. He reinvents himself as both classier and more complex.

On one of the best tracks of the album, "All Of The Lights," and its interlude, West teams up with Elton John for a hauntingly stunning piano orchestral mix.

Easily featuring the largest number of artists on the album, "All Of The Lights," delivers five minutes of solid talent. The song features Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Tony Williams, The-Dream, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, Ryan Leslie, Drake and Ken Lewis.

West also trys to bridge genres, employing the talents of folk artist Bon Iver on two tracks. West samples and remixes Bon Iver's "Woods," to suit his needs for his own track, "Lost In The World."

The first 60 seconds of the song is comprised entirely of Iver's "Woods." West's background as an extremely gifted producer comes into play in the track as he takes the mellow folk song and mixes in tribal drums and hip-hop beats to create a spirited, interesting and unexpected track.

While I do respect the views of those behind Rolling Stone, XXL Magazine and the collective ratings of Metacritic, a strong determinant in album quality is how long you can listen to the album without becoming tired of it. In the past, I have listened to West's albums on and off for months, but the way things are going now, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" may need to retire a lot sooner.

Jenna Postler is a sophomore from rural Vermont who knows what's hip (hop).

Editorial: Make library competitive

Posted by the Editorial Board

In the past Scribner Library has played host to mobs of panicked students during the last weeks of the semester, but this year is different. Increasing academic challenges and a growing student body crowd more desks for longer hours. For the library to continue serving the campus as well as it has in previous years, administrators need to come up with creative solutions to keep up with increasing use of the library.

Throughout most of the semester, the library perfectly meets studying demands. Cozy window seats and partitioned desks let students immerse themselves in their work, while study groups find homes in study rooms and a social first floor. Exhibits and the Special Collections Room make the building a location for purposes other than writing papers, and the students employed at the Office of Information Technology and the Writing Center provide help to their peers throughout the year.

But during the most academically demanding weeks of the semester these services only go so far. During these weeks the library needs to do more than just close the doors an hour later at night. They should pilot a semester-long program of leaving just the first floor of the library open all night during midterms and finals weeks, accommodating the many students who would utilize late-night access to computers and printers. We predict that if given a chance, a plan like this would see desks filled until far later than 2 a.m.

Instead of locating the Office of Student Academic Services in the distant and administrative Barrett Center, students should be able to find peer tutors right where and when they study. Administrators can replace one of the building's arbitrarily placed classrooms with space devoted to SAS and begin to employ students on-call during evening hours for their peers' department-specific needs, augmenting the increasingly overbooked Writing Center.

With student demand for study rooms always high – and, at this time of year, reaching a fever pitch – administrators should reconsider placing department offices in a building already bursting at the seams. They should look to relocate the incongruously placed Art History Department, repurposing those offices and classrooms to better suit students' needs.

For students experiencing undue amounts of stress during this time of year, a trained student or professional counselor should be available to help until the library closes. The college should not only help students in distress between nine and five, five days a week. Having counseling services available at night for those students in need will ensure that, at this time of year, students are not alone in moments in crisis.

But the changes that could help the library more effectively serve students do not have to entail large-scale changes of rearranging space and paying new staff. The college could further promote collaborative and supportive learning by encouraging students to advertise casual study sessions on the downstairs white board, so that any classmates might feel comfortable stopping in for a quick question. They should consider covering the walls with a constantly evolving cycle of pieces by the college's talented artists, rather than arbitrarily chosen pieces from the college's art collection. The library might even consider installing options for refreshments – be they as exciting as a late-night coffee bar or as mundane as a vending machine – to accommodate the hundreds of students studying late into the night.

These are the weeks where the library emblemizes the academic engagement and commitment to learning that makes the college increasingly competitive among fellow liberal arts institutions. The college needs to listen to students now, more than ever, and make the changes that will facilitate, rather than impede, those students' academic success.

Smackdown' at Wilson Chapel

Posted by Tegan O'Neil

Saratoga Smackdown: The Expendable Jane McCrea and the Soldiers of Fortune" contemplates the meaning of war by juxtaposing elements of childhood innocence with violence. Nov. 13 marked the first day of this latest installation in Wilson Chapel as part of the year-long "Theater of War in a House of Peace" program.

The artist, General Howe, created the work to draw parallels between the Battle of Saratoga that occurred in 1777 and the current conflicts transpiring in the Middle East.

According to Howe, the purpose of the exhibition is "to spark thoughts about the question, ‘How are we, as Americans, responsible for the expendable deaths in Iraq and soldiers of fortune in the Middle East today?'"

During the Revolutionary War, the British hired Native Americans to terrorize the people living in the Saratoga Springs area. One of these acts included the scalping and murder of a woman named Jane McCrea.

Not only was McCrea an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, but she was also a British loyalist. Despite the fact that McCrea was a loyalist, her cause became a rallying point for the colonists and the atrocious event bolstered support for their side.

Just as Native Americans were hired to kill colonists by the British during the Revolutionary War, the U.S. has hired independent contractors to fight in the Middle East. The U.S. has also hired mercenaries from all over the world to fight the wars.

Howe's former student, Stefani Mladenova '14, invited him to display his work at the college. Mladenova had Howe as an art teacher at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education (BSGE) in Astoria, Queens, and was familiar with his work dealing with warfare.

Howe had previously set up installations of battle scenes with toy soldiers located where battles had occurred around Brooklyn.When Mladenova learned about the "Theater of War in a House of Peace" series, Howe's work immediately came to mind.

"When I heard about the organization I thought about his work. I thought it was important for the Skidmore community to see the effects of war and what war constitutes. I thought it would be interesting to hear what Skidmore has to say about war," Mladenova said.

Planning for the project began in early Oct. when Howe visited the college to take pictures of the campus and envisioned his site-specific exhibition. He incorporated Skidmore imagery into the hand-colored silkscreen prints that now line the walls of the Wilson Chapel.

The windows of the dormitories, the lanterns illuminating Case walkway and the student mailboxes are a few of the Skidmore motifs woven into his work.

Mladenova also has work on display in the Wilson Chapel. Her portrait of Jane McCrea is flanked by the work of fellow classmate Christina Gomez '14, also a former student of Howe. Gomez's painting of Jane McCrea is titled "Mysterious Woman" because there are many differing accounts of the legendary Jane McCrea.

In addition to the Wilson Chapel exhibit, Howe set up various installations around campus that are site-specific to Skidmore. A battle scene constructed with toy soldiers was erected on Case Green. Drawings of squirrels dressed in military clothing were glued to the water tower in North Woods. A scalped Bratz doll lies outside of Wilmarth Hall.

"The whole community is the art project. Anyone who sees the installations or comes to the Chapel is a part of the project whether they know it or not. The art has a life after you've made it," Howe said.

Men's basketball sets records with 7OT win

Posted by Audrey Nelson

The men's basketball team tied for the longest game in NCAA history on Nov. 23 in its away game against Southern Vermont with seven overtimes. The Thoroughbreds won 128-123, setting a record for the longest game in NCAA Division III history. The previous division record was five overtimes, accomplished four times.

"We were just grinding it out. I mean the kids stepped up. It's remarkable," Skidmore coach, Joe Burke said.

The game tied for longest match with only two other games in NCAA history.  On Dec. 21, 1981, The University of Cincinnati beat Bradley University, setting a seven-overtime record in Division I. For the Division II record, Black Hills beat Yankton on Feb. 18, 1956.

The teams were tied at 59-59 after regulation and by the final whistle had combined for 166 rebounds, marking another NCAA all-division record. Junior John Mantas put 27 points on the board for Skidmore, while teammate Melvis Langyintuo '12 scored 18 points and made 21 rebounds.

Southern Vermont's Taeshon Johnson ‘12 scored 39 points, and senior Lance Spratling added 31 for the Mountaineers. Spratling played for all 75 minutes, another record in this historic marathon. Burke said of Spratling in an interview with The Associated Press, "He's an incredible athlete. He still had some pop in his step at the end. Unbelievable."

Langyintuo sent a game-tying free-throw with one second left in the first overtime, setting the game into the second overtime. The Mountaineers pushed the game into its third overtime, and Skidmore's Jeff Altimar '11 kept the Thoroughbreds alive with 10 remaining seconds on the clock to send the game into its fourth overtime. Junior Terron Victoria took the teams into the fifth overtime with a shot in the final two seconds of the period.

A scoreless fifth OT led to the sixth, where Southern Vermont stayed ahead until first-year Eli Johnston scored his only points of the game with a 3-pointer in the remaining 10 seconds to send the match to its final OT. The Thoroughbreds put up 16 points in the last period for the five point win.

In an interview on ESPN's First Take, Burke said, "I kept telling the guys after every overtime this is why you play the game, this is fun. And I think by about the 5th or 6th overtime, they started looking at me like I was crazy. I believe it was in the 6th overtime I told them, is it thanksgiving yet? And they all got a chuckle out of it."

"It was completely a battle of wills and both teams refused to give in," Burke said. "We won the game, but really there are no losers in a game like that. Both teams played till complete exhaustion." The Thoroughbreds will face Bard College on Dec. 4.

Calmly dealing with the post-turkey blues: What Would C. Do? Advice From An Anonymous Friend

Posted by C.

With last week's grubfest I'm sure a few of us are feeling a bit weighed down. Hopefully it was all worthwhile, and if not, at least your jaw got a great work out.

As for the next few weeks, informally referred to as hell weeks, stress induced anxiety may lead to a lack of munching or a D-Hall overload, depending on your personality. Whether you substitute a solid meal with a huge latte or stock up on the offerings at Burgess, make sure to eat things that will make you feel good.

I'm not going to tell you what to eat, what the healthy alternatives are or to make sure you eat the colors of the rainbow at every meal - you can look that up online - but I do believe in giving yourself a compliment everyday, or whenever you feel down.

We all have those days when we look in the mirror and are not content with what we see — thank you Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! — but we must keep in mind that even those girls have flaws and dog days too.

Learn to love the flaws you have and work it: dance naked in your room, wear something sparkly, be generous with yourself and the compliments you give. If you're feeling really generous, reward your flaws with a guilty pleasure once a week.

Whether you wear sexy lingerie while taking a final exam or study naked, confidence in yourself can be that extra push to success which will make you proud of the work you accomplish.

Dear C.,

Over Thanksgiving I realized I don't want to be with my high school boyfriend anymore. We have grown apart, but he seemed very happy to see me. I don't think he realized how unhappy I was. My question is — should I break up with him now so I'm not stressed out during finals, or wait until I go home and give it a second chance?

—Time (not) on my side

Dear Time (not) on my side,

I'm sorry for your loss of love and gain of stress, especially during this unfortunate time. However, some good things do come to an end and it's great that you're perceptive as to why the relationship is failing.

Consider how much of a burden the relationship is causing you — are you losing sleep, notice your mind wandering or feeling a growing anger and resentment toward him? If so, you don't want to leave a relationship on bad terms, especially if you had deep feelings for him and would like to remain friends.

Be honest, let him know that you notice the drift and would like to put things on hold until you can sort things out in person.

If you feel a break up is necessary, consider the consequences. Will your mind feel clear or cloudy with uncertainty that you made the wrong choice? Also think about him: if he, too, has final exams and still feels the relationship is strong, he will be affected by the break up, which might impact his studies.

Although he might have seemed happy, chances are he did notice your unhappiness, unless you're a budding starlet; he is probably experiencing the same insecurities you are. Even so, you are entitled to your own happiness and you are not responsible for his. Step back and consider what you want, the consequences and be honest with him. You might be growing apart from your high school sweetheart, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost.

—Stars and hearts, C.

Email me at SkidWWCD@gmail.com with questions. Privacy is guaranteed. Advice can remain unpublished upon request.

Reevaluating the library hours

Posted by Mariel Kennedy

With the approach of the end of the semester and the ominous cloud of final exams hanging overhead, many Skidmore students are flocking to the library for extended study sessions. A question on several students' minds this semester is whether the library will have enough space for the student body with this year's overpopulated first-year class.

Normally, the library closes at 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and at 10 p.m. on the weekends. During finals (Dec. 5 – Dec. 20) the library extends its hours, closing at 2 a.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

"We track library usage with gate counts that measure traffic through the library front doors and headcounts 90 and 30 minutes before closing. We also look at the academic calendar and the library usage patterns each fall and spring as well as over the year as a whole. This information helps us determine when the library is likely to be used most heavily," said John Cosgrove, access services and humanities librarian.

Hours are extended during finals to meet demands of the student body while not putting too much additional pressure on library staff that need to work later to keep the facilities open.

Colleges such as Duke and Boston University boast libraries that never close, an option that Cosgrove believes would be unnecessary at Skidmore.

"Several years ago we stayed open until 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m. for an entire semester and there just was not enough late-night traffic to continue those hours," he said.

Even with the surplus of students in the freshman class, Cosgrove believes the recent patterns of usage do not show enough students regularly using the library late at night to warrant a change in hours.

"The targeted approach to extended hours seems to work pretty well to meet overall student demand for the library," Cosgrove said.

Most 24-hour college libraries are part of larger universities, while smaller schools that claim to be open 24 hours only offer a small section of the library all night, Cosgrove explained.

"We do not currently have a space in our library that could be locked off from the rest of the building and provide 24 hour study space," Cosgrove said.

Students are not the only members of the Skidmore community who would be affected by changing library hours.

"We do not have the staff to keep the library open 24 hours. Also, we rely very heavily on student staff to keep the library open. Those students have midterms and finals too."

Though many students feel they would benefit from extended library hours, Caitlin Allen '12 believes the current library hours work well .

"Personally, I need sleep during finals and the latest I'll stay at the library is 1:00 am. A 24 hours library is unnecessary, because most students won't stay too late. Case Center is open, and the school doesn't need to spend the extra money putting faculty [in the library] too late," Allen said.

Gabby Carboni '14 agreed, saying, "Sometimes it's a good thing that the hours are 8 a.m-1 a.m., because then I can't stay there all night. When I have a lot of work, I probably would stay all night. Depending on how much work I have and what kind of work it is, I sometimes stay in the library for a solid 5-6 hours. I prefer studying there than in my triple, which can feel crowded. "

With a busy part of the semester coming up, upperclassmen seem worried about space in the library more than the hours. Allen is concerned about crunch-time space.

"The library seems to be overcrowded at all times, especially during finals," she said.

The library staff understands student concerns regarding space, and classrooms in the library are often opened for students to allow for more space during finals.

For students who cannot find space in the library, or those who prefer a less crowded environment, Case Center, Student Academic Services and residence hall study rooms are alternative options for space to hit the books.

Putting a vegan spin on your treats: A Sprinkle In Time

Posted by Katie Lane

I love butter. I do. I'm not ashamed. The smell of butter melting in a saucepan, the taste of buttery shortbread melting in my mouth, those cold chunks of yellow magically disappearing into a bowl of sugar, flour and vanilla.

That being said, I'm always curious to try new things and I've been learning a lot about the health benefits of veganism. I tried the vegetarian thing for a while (two months to be exact), so I can pretty much guess that I will never be one to give up my milk and eggs for good, but it's always nice to know that just in case I ever change my mind I could still have plenty of delicious things to eat.

I brought these bars to my a capella group, The Drastic Measures, and nonchalantly placed them on the table, as I usually do with my Sunday rehearsal snacks. However, I decided to keep their true identity a secret to test the stigma about cardboard-like, tasteless vegan desserts. One by one, the Drastics tried and were mostly delighted by these interesting cookies.

Mr. President Bryce even said, "these are so buttery!" before discovering that there was not a pinch of dairy in them. When he found out the truth, he quickly retracted his statement and tried to insist that they weren't so good after all. I know your true feelings, Bryce.

I certainly have become a bit of a convert for vegan baked goods. While I will never permanently trade in my butter for Earth Balance Buttery Spread or my eggs for flax seed and applesauce, I have eaten some pretty amazing vegan treats.

Last year, I even blogged about the perfect vegan chocolate cookie, proclaiming it to be the single best of its kind I had ever eaten. These bars don't quite meet that high standard, but they are certainly intriguing to the taste buds. The maple syrup flavor comes through quite nicely and the chocolate adds just enough sweetness. They aren't too dry but they hold together nicely — a great afternoon snack or tea cookie.

Do you have a kick-butt vegan recipe? I'd love to learn more! Send it to me at klane@skidmore.edu, and I will cheerfully be your taste tester.

---

Chocolate Drizzled Maple Wedges

Ingredients:

•½ cup canola oil

•1/3 cup maple syrup

•1 teaspoon vanilla

•pinch of salt

•2 cups unbleached flour

•½ cup powdered sugar, plus more if needed

•1½ tablespoons unsweetened

•cocoa powder

•3 tablespoons hot water

•1 tablespoon light corn syrup

•1 oz. chopped unsweetened chocolate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8" or 9" round cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the oil, the maple syrup and the vanilla.

Combine the flour and salt and add to the creamed mixture, blending thoroughly with your hands until the dough holds together. Press into the cake pan and bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.

In a small saucepan, stir together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, water and corn syrup and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat.

Placing the unsweetened chocolate in a small, heat-proof bowl, pour the hot mixture over the chocolate.

Let stand for several minutes, until the chocolate has melted. Stir until smooth, cool until drizzling consistency.

Drizzle the chocolate over the bars using a pastry bag or a Ziploc with one corner cut off.  Let cool before slicing with a sharp knife.

Admins assess ride policy: Students share opinions on safety concerns

Posted by Sarah Barry

Students have a wide array of opinions regarding the safety and effectiveness of the revised Free Ride Policy and the administration is in the process of assessing its effectiveness.

The Free Ride Policy with Saratoga Taxi became ineffective on Sept. 5, 2010 in favor of free rides back to campus courtesy of CDTA.

"The current plan is to assess the late night bus program in the spring semester and make a determination at that time. We will, once again, look for student input in the assessment," Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun said.

From Sunday to Wednesday students can take a free cab back to campus as long as they are within the designated downtown areas, which Saratoga Taxi identifies as locations between Skidmore College and Crescent Street, East Ave and West Ave, the Wilton Mall, Skidmore College Boathouse and Skidmore College Stables.

From Thursday to Saturday night the CDTA bus system runs a night loop back to the college from 9 p.m. to 4:15 a.m. the next morning.

The college made the change to the bus system due to environmental and economical concerns.

"The free taxi ride program…was not supporting our efforts to be a more ‘green' campus. Additionally, the change to the late night bus saved the College approximately $20,000 annually," Calhoun said.

Despite the positive effects of the modified Free Ride Policy, many students still yearn for the old policy.

"I think that Skidmore is jeopardizing our safety to save money. Bus stops aren't always safe to wait at, especially late at night, and the route is pretty limited," Ellen Andiorio '12 said.

Other students have alternative concerns regarding student safety. "I think free cabs really cut down on student drinking and driving. I think that the school can be naïve about how prevalent drunk driving is," Kyle Perry '11 said.

Despite these concerns, some students say that it is important to have some form of free transportation, be it by taxis or the bus.

"I prefer the taxi system; I think it's easier only because there isn't a wait, but as long as there's some form of transportation I think it's fine," Lauren Parra '13 said.

The number of students using the late bus fluctuates, but oftentimes the buses transport large numbers of students back to campus.

"CDTA averages about 150 students a night, and some nights the buses carry as many as 350 students. The students are generally well behaved with no major incidents occurring between students and operators," Margo Janack from CDTA said.

Thus far neither the college nor the CTDA bus system has encountered any problems from the new late night rides. Students have utilized the system without abuse thus far.

"CDTA's decision to operate Route #473 Jefferson Street later at night in Saratoga has worked out very well so far. Skidmore students are taking advantage of the expanded service hours and are very appreciative of our service," Janack said.

The school is working to smooth out any issues with the new system and plans to gather student feedback and suggestions during the spring semester.

"I haven't had any formal feedback from students. When I check in informally, students seem to think that things are going fine. However, it will be an important part of our assessment next semester to get student feedback," Calhoun said.

Junior Ring planners emphasize safety: Campus Safety to officers enfornce increased security, no re-entry

Posted by Audrey Nelson & Bradley Morris

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 5 the Junior Class Council will host a Disney themed Junior Ring Week. The week's events will lead up to the main event, the semiformal dance, which will be held in the big gymnasium in the Sports Center on Saturday, Dec. 4.

"Our slogan for this year's Junior Ring is ‘Junior Ring 2010: Where the Magic Happens,'" Junior Class President Melvis Langyintuo said.

Events began on Dec. 1 with the Tree Lighting Ceremony, where several of the college's a capella groups performed.

Continuing with the Disney theme, the Swimming and Diving team's meet against Union College on Dec. 3 was dubbed Finding Nemo. The men's hockey match against Bowdoin, which also took place on Dec. 3 was called Ice Princes.

In response to the events that occurred at Moorebid Ball on Halloween, Director of Campus Safety Dennis Conway said that Campus Safety officers are collaborating on ways to make the semiformal a safer event. "We are going to increase the presence of security officers," Conway said.

The administration and Campus Safety have made efforts to relocate social events to locations that promote increased security. "We are not going to have anymore events in Case Center. Any event like Moorebid Ball will be moved to the Sports Center, as the layout [of Case Center] makes it harder for security," Conway said.

Conway did not disclose the number of officers that would patrol the semiformal dance.

An ambulance will be stationed outside the Sports Center in case there is a need for immediate medical attention.

This year's semiformal will also instate several restrictions, including a no re-entry policy, to monitor student alcohol consumption.

Campus Safety officers will confiscate any packages, bags or bottles, and there will be a mandatory coat check on the main floor.

"We had a meeting with a group of people from my staff. We're going to have student workers and several of our officers at the event. EMS will be on-site for this event in case anyone gets exhausted," Conway said.

Drinks and snacks will be provided inside. There will also be a beer garden to serve those of age with a campus-event card and a proper state ID.

Quality control, not polity control: Talking Points

Posted by Tyler Reny

Have you heard the new gem from Roger Ailes? During an interview with the Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz, Ailes went off the rails, calling the executives of an opposing news organization, "Nazis," with a "kind of Nazi attitude," who "don't want any other point of view." No, ironically, Ailes is not an angry liberal berating Fox News. He is the chairman of Fox News, fuming at NPR over its recent high profile firing of Juan Williams.

At the time of his discharge, Williams was working both as an opinion commentator for Fox and a senior news analyst for NPR. He apparently overstepped his boundaries on the Bill O'Reilly show in late October when he proclaimed that Muslim men wearing traditional garb on airplanes worried him. While it would possibly break egalitarian social norms to admit it, I would guess that the vast majority of Americans would agree with Williams' statement.

What troubles me is not Williams' words but NPR's poor choice of action. While Williams may be the world's dullest news analyst, and may deserve to be fired, NPR's attempt to maintain political correctness thrust it into the spotlight and allowed conservative bloggers, politicians and Fox to portray the organization as something it is not – a partisan news organization that silences opposing points of view.

Fox News immediately offered Williams a sordid 2 million dollars to provide more of his dull opinions and to prove that Fox is both "fair and balanced" and morally superior to NPR. Ailes then went on a media stint to sell Fox's moral superiority by making the level headed and not-at-all-over-the-top Nazi comparisons (never mind that fascism is a radical right-wing ideology).

The spat couldn't be occurring at a worst time. NPR has been bogged down recently in an ongoing spat with Glenn Beck, the alcoholic-cum-mormon-cum-libertarian-entertainer-cum-religious-crusader, over money that George Soros, the billionaire liberal philanthropist, gave to the network. In addition to the $1.8 million dollar gift to NPR, Soros gave Media Matters, a media fairness watchdog group, $1 million to hold Fox accountable for the "false and misleading information they so often show." As if Soros' contribution wasn't enough ammo to prove NPR's "liberal bias," the Williams firing made him so giddy he almost cried…again.

Conservative politicians, ever a fan of Beck's programming, agree. Last week, House Republicans' first action after returning from break was a vote to de-fund the network. Thankfully, Democrats overrode the attempt. Eric Cantor, part of the Republican House leadership, cited NPR's actions as proof of its liberal bias. While fighting to cut funding for NPR has been popular ever since the Nixon administration, the conservative Tea Party base is again lighting fires below Republican leadership to cut the flow of tax dollars to the "liberal mouthpiece."

Nobody, except for maybe Rachel Maddow, ever points out the fact that NPR's bias tends to reflect who is in power in Washington. An independent watchdog group, FAIR, did a study of NPR programming in 2003, and actually found that Republican sources outnumbered Democratic sources by 3 to 2, capturing the top seven spots in frequency of appearances. I imagine that if the study was done today, they would find that Democratic sources would outnumber Republican sources.

NPR is built around gathering and analyzing the news, rather than using it as a springboard for opinions and commentary, as both Fox and MSNBC do today. We need to recognize this crucial distinction and help prevent Congressional Republicans from cutting quality programming. Democrats in Congress will hopefully continue to stymie efforts to de-fund NPR and they deserve our full support.

While NPR clearly should have just let Williams's contract expire and avoid this whole controversy, it didn't. Fox News won. Juan Williams got a massive paycheck. And the media got a new controversy to report. Let's hope it stops there. I don't want NPR to disappear. What if I have car troubles and Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers are gone? Glenn Beck certainly couldn't answer my automotive questions.

Tyler Reny is a senior government major who enjoys good food politics and jazz.

Holiday cheer hits Saratoga

Posted by Sarah Barry

The holiday season in Saratoga Springs is celebrated throughout the downtown area. Almost all the shops and restaurants don festive window displays, and wreaths and trees line the streets and buildings. In addition to the decorations, Saratoga holds annual events to celebrate the season.

Each year on the Thursday after Thanksgiving, Broadway hosts the Victorian Street Walk. This is the 24th year of the event, which will take place on Dec. 2.

"Everyone participates in the Victorian street walk," said Linda Ambrosino, owner of the store G. Willikers on Broadway.

Downtown Saratoga stops all traffic on the street and all events are open to the public.

"We have entertainment from the Victorian street walk, but we also have our own entertainment. We have our own face painter and Mrs. Claus comes and reads if it is not too crowded," Ambrosino said.

G. Willikers will also have hot cider and cookies for the event.

Businesses have a variety of local entertainment outside the shops, including some of Skidmore's a cappella groups. The Bandersnatchers, the college's all male a cappella group, will perform outside of Soave Faire for the Victorian walk.

Aside from its participation in the walk, Soave Faire has special holiday sales in appreciation of its customers, but it also fundraises for local groups during the holidays.

"We're just starting our 38th year, we're one of the oldest on the block," said Lynn Soave, one of the store's co-owners. "We have a holiday promotion as a thank you for our customers, but we also utilize the time to focus on fundraising and gathering donations. There are a lot of people in need right now."

Soave Faire tries to donate to several local charities including the Estherville shelter and the empty stocking program.

Impressions of Saratoga will also participate in the Victorian Street Walk, and the store is covered inside and out with holiday decorations.

"It's my first Victorian Street walk in the store and I'm very excited about it," said Jamie Onderdonk, who works at Impressions. The Skidmore Accents, an all female a cappella group, will perform outside the store on Thursday.

"Music plays and everyone working will be dressed up in Victorian clothing. We're also having cider and cookies," Onderdonk said.

Participating businesses provide an itinerary of events and locations, but the list is also available online at http://www.saratoga.com/holiday/victorian-streetwalk.cfm.

Another attraction that runs in conjunction with the Victorian Street Walk is the Saratoga Festival of the Trees, which runs from Wednesday Dec. 1 through Sunday Dec. 5 and commences with the lighting of the trees on Wednesday.

This is the 15th anniversary of the tree festival and the celebration will be held for the first time in the new Saratoga City Center.

"The event is a fundraiser for the Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. All trees are decorated by community individuals or local groups and businesses," said Earline Johnson, a festival committee member.

"There are floor trees, table top trees and arrangements all decorated — some by kid in schools, some by groups and individuals," Johnson said.

Many of the trees have specific themes; one tree decorated by Saratoga Hospital is themed "The Night Before Christmas" and comes with a wooden fireplace, teddy bears, tree skirt and wooden chair.

Volunteers are essential to the Festival of the Trees fundraiser, and everyone is welcome.

"We love having anybody who is free to come; many hands make light work. There are well over 200 volunteers over the five days. It's a kick off to the holiday season and we're so excited to be celebrating the 15th year in the new city center," Johnson said.

The large windows of the new city center allow for a view of the trees from the street. On Thursday the City Center invites everyone from the Victorian Street Walk to come in and see the trees, and each of the five days holds a different event — such as senior day and family day — for the community.

Holiday festivities run throughout November and December downtown. For further information visit http://www.saratoga.com/events.

A Ticket to Virginia: Field hockey advances to the Final Four

Posted by Gabe Weintraub

Annie Rosencrans's last-minute, gamewinning goal against Eastern University on Sunday, Nov. 14 put an exclamation point on a record-breaking weekend for Skidmore field hockey, extending the team's school-best 19-game winning streak and lifting them to the NCAA Final Four.

This Saturday the Thoroughbreds travel to Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va., where they will take on No. 4 Bowdoin College in a national semifinal. Should they emerge victorious, the team will face the winner of No. 1 Messiah College vs. No. 2 Ursinus College, and fight for the right to call themselves national champions.

Skidmore finished the regular season ranked No. 5 after earning their third consecutive Liberty League title. They have not lost since Sept. 3, falling 3-0 at SUNY Cortland. They have since gone on to win 19 consecutive games, earning a 20-1 record and setting a school record for victories in a season.

"I think the fact that we did lose early was really key for us in a lot of ways," Head Coach Beth Hallenbeck said. "We came into the season knowing we were very strong, but losing early really made us reexamine what we needed to do differently, how we needed to step up our game and be ready for future opponents and, obviously, it seems to have worked."

"Our goal from the preseason was to get to the Final Four and to win an NCAA championship," said senior co-captain Christine Kemp, "but I don't know that we all believed in it right away. After a couple games something clicked and we all stepped our game up and our confidence and really started believing that we could get where we are today."

Kemp is one of nine seniors on the team, a considerable number for a Division III college team, according to Hallenbeck. "I think they've been a huge part of it," she said. "There's a lot of experience on the team and there's a lot of urgency in this group. This is the final chance."

As Liberty League champions, Skidmore has qualified for the NCAA tournament for the last three years. 2008 saw a young Thoroughbred team lose in the first round to Eastern, and last year the team's championship hopes were dashed by a loss to Tufts University in the quarterfinals. Skidmore last made it to the semifinals in 2001, the team's only Final Four appearance.

For seniors like Kemp, this weekend represents the final shot at the biggest prize of them all, a national title. "This is their legacy," Hallenbeck said, "they're going out in the best way possible."

In a season of team records, Kemp has set several of her own. A first half assist against Eastern on Sunday gave her the program record for assists in a single season, and she is the first player in school history to score 200 career points. Kemp has been named a First Team All-American in both of the last two seasons, and this year she has already been named to the All-Liberty League First Team and earned Liberty League Tournament MVP and offensive player of the year honors for the third time. Given a strong performance in the Final Four, Hallenbeck believes Kemp will be a serious contender for the national player of the year.

Kemp attributes her personal accomplishments to her teammates, saying "I wouldn't be anywhere without them. We all make each other play so well." Those teammates, and the other seniors in particular, have earned no shortage of individual honors themselves.

Seniors Liz Catinella, Lauren McCarthy, Claire Superak and Julia Sarni were all named to the Liberty League All-Tournament team. Catinella, McCarthy and Superak all received Liberty League First Team honors, along with junior Annie Rosencrans and first year Kelly Blackhurst. Blackhurst was rookie of the year, setting school rookie scoring records with 19 goals and 5 assists for 43 points. Catinella was defensive player of the year and became Skidmore's all-time leader in shutouts and wins. Hallenbeck was coach of the year.

"Contributions have come from so many different members of this team," Hallenbeck said, "so while there are certain people who we tend to rely on, it's always interesting to see who is going to step up every game and really offer up something important."

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the year, according to Hallenbeck, is that the team maintained its intensity for every single game. "In the past we've been able to get up for certain games," she said, "but there have been lulls, and maybe we'll lose a game that we shouldn't, but that never happened this year."

"It came down to heart this weekend," Kemp said. "We did not back down and had a ‘refuse to lose' mentality. If the other teams scored then we put on the pressure defensively, and offensively we always found a way to score right back."

Kemp had a dramatic game-winning goal in overtime against The College of New Jersey on Saturday in the second round of the tournament at Thoroughbred Field.

"I think the fact that we hosted the regionals last weekend was really in our favor because the crowd was tremendous," Hallenbeck said. "We had two extremely competitive games, and when that's the case it's really nice to have the support from the sideline."

"School spirit is key in any team's success," Kemp added. "The more they're into it, and the more energy they bring, the more we can get into it in return. At the end of the games we take a ‘victory lap' and slap all the fans' hands and their smiles, excitement and words of encouragement is one of the best feelings."

That home-field advantage will unfortunately be absent in Virginia, but fans can follow the action online with live scores and highlights at NCAA.com.

Even with the biggest games of the season yet to come, the attitude as the team heads to Virginia is one of jubilation. "It's honestly hard to describe," Kemp said. "I just look at my teammates and want to hug them forever. I'm so proud of everyone; everyone is so proud of each other."

Hallenbeck echoed that sentiment, saying "This is a really special group. Their chemistry and their camaraderie has made it really easy for me. They're a very cohesive group. They want to do well. They're talented but they work hard and I think that's the key to success. They recognize that nothing comes without hard work, and that's really paid off for them this season."

For the seniors, this weekend represents the culmination of all their work from the last four years. "There's an incredible amount of talent on this team, and I think the leadership that the seniors bring really ties all that together," Hallenbeck said. "They've improved steadily through their four years, and it's all possible for them now."

Go gently into that good night: Daydreams

Posted by Rick Chrisman

Dear students,

I see you on the way to classes, I see you coming out of the Dining Hall, I see you laughing with friends, I see your faces sometimes a little vacant, sometimes crestfallen, often thoughtful, mostly lively. I see you and I say to myself, You are paragons. Yes, paragons. Every student, each and everyone of you, are paragons, I say!

Paragon — a model of excellence and perfection — Webster's Third. Well, maybe you are not total excellence and perfection—yet. More like potential excellence. You are, let us say, buds of pure potentiality, hard on the heels of excellence and perfection, as good as gold yet to be burnished. You certainly have the look of it to me, the look of a great capacity, a great destiny and the look of pursuing it intently, not about to let it escape you.

And why not, after all? You landed here triumphant from your schools, flags flying, admitted to this prestigious college (and probably many others for that matter) and acknowledged for strengths that you have earnestly cultivated, strengths for which your families and friends and teachers and supporters have cheered you.

Now, for a change, you have some real scope and you can finally accelerate without impediments or deterrents of any kind. You find yourselves exhilarating in the full flush of all the great things that the human mind and body are capable of doing and feeling.

So far, I have only reported what I see of you in the daytime, which is the only time I see you — or you me. But there is also another world to be explored and discovered, namely, the Night, where an entirely other education is to be had. Yes, thank goodness for the Night! It provides respite from the exactions of the sunlit world, respite from the intellectual sun's exposure of our weaknesses. Fortunately, the moon rules the Night, when the normal rules don't apply and our daydreams of love have sway.

Except for a big problem: Day inhibits Night's call. It seems to take some kind of kick to rid ourselves of the Day's over-regimentation, especially, I think, for students because you live where you work (who else in society has to cope with that?). Your rationale is that, because you work hard in the daytime, the antidote is to play hard at night. Nothing new about that. It's been that way since the neighbors of medieval Heidelberg University complained about mobs of drunken students careening down the village streets.

But how did we wind up with 11 students hospitalized on the night of the Moorebid Ball? It's one thing for people to try to annihilate Reason's glare, but to annihilate one's whole self (and one's living environment in the bargain)? Maybe Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest and wine and festivity, was paying some of you back for two-timing him with Four Loko!

Or was Moorebid a collective reenactment of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? I certainly accept that youth is wholly experimental, but, clearly, love is to be found only within and not outside of our mortal bounds. Jekyll didn't survive his experiments, you remember. Was his such a desirable fate?

The way I see it, you are paragons, and I hope you know it. What you don't know yet is just what you are paragons of! Maybe that makes you nervous. But the answer is coming. In the meantime, you are in flight, aloft, flung toward the excellences and perfections of truth and love.

Rick Chrisman is director of Religious and Spiritual Life, teaches occasionally in the Religion and Philosophy departments and suspects art is the one true religion.

Talking about the big issues

Posted by Jean-Ann Kubler

The spirit of creative thought has taken a new form at the college: an interdisciplinary series of panel discussions.

A series of topical panels, collectively called "Intersections," began Nov. 2 with a discussion of religion in the Spa. The second panel, which focused on gender, took place Nov. 17 in Emerson auditorium.

Most panels include a combination of faculty, staff and students who are engaged in that installation's topic. Future panel topics will include class, sexuality, race and nation.

"The discussions aren't linear. The panelists speak for about 10 minutes each, discuss a related topic of concern and then encourage audience participation," said Winston Grady-Willis, an associate professor of American studies and director of intercultural studies at the college who organized the majority of the Intersections series.

The series is co-sponsored by the Committee on Intercultural and Global Understanding, the Bias Response Group and the Committee on Diversity Affairs

The goal of the series, according to Grady-Willis, is not only to spark conversations about each individual panel's topic, but also to encourage attendees to talk about the topics in relation to each other.

As an American studies professor, the Intersections topics relate strongly to Grady-Willis' discipline. "American studies is very interdisciplinary and most of the courses that are taught in the department deal with every single one of these issues, if not all of them," Grady-Willis said.

Other members of the American studies department have been involved in the formation of Intersections. Allison Dell Otto '12, an American studies and gender studies double major, and professor Beck Krefting, will serve on the sexuality panel in February.

Contributions to the Intersections panels are not limited to the American studies department. Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Rick Chrisman served on the religion panel along with Rabbi Linda Motzkin, a Jewish chaplain, Imam Ghengis Khan of Schenectady and Marla Segol, assistant professor of religion.

Future panelists will include professors from the English, religion, history, economics, management and business, Spanish, sociology and anthropology departments, staff from health promotions and admissions, and students from the junior and senior classes.

Audience participation is as much a part of the Intersections series as panelist contributions. During the religion discussion, panelists spoke for about 40 minutes, followed by an additional 40 minutes of questions and comments from the audience.

"The first panel took place on election night, right in the middle of midterms, and we still had about 55 people turn out and participate in a really engaged way," Grady-Willis said.

The panels encourage audience members to share their insights and personal anecdotes in relation to each topic. A first year student at the religion panel commented on her feelings of isolation as a practicing Muslim student that embraces a secular culture.

"It was a powerful moment," commented Grady-Willis, "And even more powerful and great a moment was afterwards when each of the spiritual leaders on the panel spent between five and 10 minutes talking with the student about resources and individuals she could contact on campus."

Discussions are not necessarily Skidmore-focused. Conversation about each issue may begin at the college level and then extend to national and global issues, depending on the preferences of the panelists and audience members.

"It's very much a group dialogue," Grady-Willis said.

Grady-Willis said he was impressed with the turnout at the religion panel, and the audience for the gender panel filled Emerson Auditorium.

"Even if audience turnout is not as high in the future, due to overscheduling or any other factors, I'll be satisfied as long as the panels produce substantive conversations and encourage the audience to connect the dots between the different topics," Grady-Willis said.

The next four panels will take place throughout the academic year, culminating with a capstone lecture presented by Cornel West of Princeton University in April.

While there are not currently any plans for Intersections beyond this year, Grady-Willis believes the capstone lecture might shed light on additional topics worthy of panel discussion.

"As an amputee, I'd like to see some discussion of ability and disability in the future," Grady-Willis said. Issues such as age and privilege are also potential topics for future panels.