Healthful Hints: Getting acquainted with stress in college

Posted by Zoe Silver

"I just spent five hours in the library reading for my Government class. When I got back to my dorm, my roommate was coughing all over, but it's too cold outside to open the window, so I'll probably get sick too. I miss home and don't feel comfortable introducing myself when I go out. On the plus side, I've met some really cool people and last Friday at Falstaff's was amazing! I also think my Anthro professor is a genius."

…Sound familiar? 

This is the narration of many of our stories. Adjusting to life on campus is no piece of cake, but through the trials and tribulations of college life we all can, and will, find one happy place to call home: Skidmore. 

As a peer health educator, I am dedicated to making Skidmore a happy and healthy haven for us all. We each deserve the liberty to make our own decisions and it is my hope that we will also take on the responsibility of educating ourselves to promote our own health and the health of our peers. Adjusting, for first-years, and re-adjusting for everyone else can be a stressful experience. As college students, we are constantly put in situations that force us to choose our own paths: Will I get an A on my paper if I pull an all-nighter? How many cookies should I allow myself at D-Hall today? 

We govern our own bodies, relationships, academics, etc., so if we take the time to ease our stress and enhance our decision-making, we can ensure an awesome experience at school. 

Let's assume that stress is the most difficult part of our lives. A common example: "The walls suffocate me as I try to cram for my Econ exam tomorrow and my roommate's music is blasting, but I'm too shy to ask her to turn it down. My other roommate is still out. She's probably drinking… and I'll probably have to help her get undressed at 2 a.m. so that she doesn't stumble and fall. Meanwhile, my friends from home are mad at me for not calling them often enough. I feel like I'm going to explode!" Stress management is a really important tool in your first year and beyond. If you can learn it, you will be good to go. 

Before I get to strategies for stress management, here's a quick vocab lesson: A "stressor" is defined as an agent that causes stress. In the hypothetical situation above, the stressors include noise, relationships, etc. An excellent initial step to take in minimizing your stress should be to avoid the stressor. In other words, figure out how to remove stressful things from your life. This may mean learning how to say "no" when you've reached your limit, avoiding people who stress you out or taking control of your environment (perhaps by removing yourself from the loud room and making a cozy set-up in the study room). 

When we can't avoid the stressor, we can try to alter it or alter our reactions to it. Simply put, talk about it (come visit your peer health educator!) or confront it. Don't be afraid to assert yourself, and stay open to compromise. 

Unfortunately, sometimes this doesn't work out, in which case we can try adapting to the stressor. Try to look at the big picture and reframe the problem at hand. If you really can't get your roommate to turn down the music, think of it as an opportunity to take a break and re-center yourself. Try listening to the music and build your relationship with your roommate. This leads directly into a final option: accept the stressor. Sometimes things are completely out of our control and we just have to live with them.

Even when we can't control our environment or workload, we can control what we do with the rest of our time and how we deal with our stress. Until next time… remember to relax and enjoy yourself once in awhile. Keep a healthy lifestyle, get plenty of sleep and exercise frequently! All of these things will work to minimize the impact of the many stressors you face here on campus and beyond. Here's to a happy and healthy week!  

Jewish High Holy Day services held on campus: Co-Rabbis hold services to celebrate the Jewish New Year

Posted by Joanne Schwartzberg

Over the next two weeks, Rabbis Linda Motzkin and her husband Jonathan Rubenstein will be hosting a series of services, mostly taking place in the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater, to celebrate the Jewish New Year. All events are open to students and faculty, as well as to the general public.

The celebration of the Jewish High Holidays began Wednesday, Sept. 28 with a well-attended Rosh Hashana dinner sponsored by Hillel, a student organization that organizes activities through the Office of Jewish Student Life, located on the second floor of the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. About 80 students rang in the Jewish New Year with apples and honey, challah, brisket and potato latkes provided by Dining Services.

Following the dinner, the college and the local Reform synagogue Temple Sinai, for which Motzkin and Rubenstein are co-rabbis, came together for evening Rosh Hashana services in the JKB Theater. Donations for local relief efforts following Hurricane Irene also were collected at the services. About 10 boxes of food, clothing, and other necessities have been collected as of today from students and members of the Temple Sinai community. Donations are still being accepted during service hours at the JKB theater.

The Holiday continues with the services sponsored by the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, in conjunction with Temple Sinai, held in the JKB Theater. For more information, contact Coordinator for Jewish Student Life Lollie Abramson. For more information regarding services, Temple Sinai can be contacted at (518) 584-8730 or through its website at www.templesinai-saratogasprings.org.

High Holiday events at Skidmore Include:

Rosh Hashana

10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29: Rosh Hashanah Morning Services at the JKB Theater.

4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29: Tashlich ceremony at Congress Park.

10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30: Rosh Hashana Second Morning Services at Temple Sinai.

Yom Kippur

8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7: Kol Nidre Services at the JKB Theater.

10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8: Yom Kippur Morning service at the JKB Theater. Following services there will be a walk in North Woods with a discussion group.

4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8: Yizkor (memorial) and Neilah (closing) services, followed by a break the fast in the JKB Theater Lobby.

Celebration of the New' collaborative performance Oct. 2 at Zankel Music Center: Artists-in-Residence collaborate on flute and piano program

Posted by Julia Leef

A free public "Celebration of the New" concert featuring Senior Artist in-Residence Jan Vinci, flute, and Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Pola Baytelman, piano, is scheduled at 3 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

This concert will feature works by such American composers as Jennifer Higdon's "Flute Poetic," which was commissioned by Vinci and Baytelman for the opening of Zankel and premiered last fall.

Also to be performed are George Crumb's "Little Suite for Christmas," Lowell Liebermann's "Gargoyles," Mark Vinci's "Crow's Nest," Joseph Fennimore's "Old Soft Shoe," Katherine Hoover's "Medieval Suite" and Jennifer Higdon's "Flute Poetic," a three-movement sonata that attributes equal importance to the flute and to the piano. Its first movement was written expressly for Vinci and Baytelman.

Higdon taught herself to play the flute when she was 15 before beginning her formal musical studies at 18. She did not begin to compose music until 21, and since then she has become a major figure in contemporary classical music with a range of genres from orchestral to chamber and from choral and vocal to wind ensemble. She specializes in commissions and won the Pulitzer Prize for her work in 2010.

Vinci is a soloist as well as a member of the ensemble, most recently in the flute and harp duo Iridescence and for 10 years with Tritonis, a trio composed of a flute, guitar and cello. She has commissioned more than 20 words of new music since 1988.

The second performer, Baytelman, debuted with the Chilean Symphony Orchestra at 17, and has played with other orchestras since, such as the Chilean Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Pops.

For advanced reservations for the concert, visit www.skidmore.edu/zankel or call the box office at (518) 580-8381 for more information.

Kiki Smith photography show intrigues and surprises at the Tang: The travelling show is Smith's first photography exhibit

Posted by Rebecca Workman

For the first time, the photographs of sculptor Kiki Smith take center stage in "I Myself Have Seen It," an exhibition at the Tang Teaching Museum that will run until Dec. 30. The travelling exhibition, currently at its third of four venues, signifies Smith's focus on the body and displays her spin-offs on stories such as "Little Red Riding Hood."

Smith, the daughter of minimalist sculptor Tony Smith, is most acclaimed for her sculptures. While this is Smith's first photography exhibit, the artist has been taking photographs her entire career. Rachel Seligman, associate curator of the Tang Museum, said that photographs are tools in Smith's artistic practice. These photographs act as portals into Smith's complex thought process. Elizabeth Brown, chief curator of University of Washington's Henry Art Gallery, said that they "flow seamlessly into the next, just as Smith's work itself meanders from one focus to the next."

During a curator's tour at the Tang on Sept. 21, Seligman said, "[Smith] is not interested in making what is traditionally a good photograph." Starting with the layout of the exhibition itself, Smith has thousands of 4x6 photographs lining the bottom of the walls, forming a border to the exhibit. These 4x6 photos not only relate to each other, but also correspond to the works displayed above. In each cluster of the larger photographs, which are displayed in different forms, you may find that a piece of art has strayed toward the ceiling from its cluster (don't forget to look up.)

Many of Smith's photographs display her earlier work in other mediums. However, they are not used as a form of documentation. These photographs show Smith's work in a different light. They force viewers to look at her creations from different angles or by focusing on only a certain part of a sculpture. Smith skillfully uses light, angle, color and borders to capture the attention of the viewer and to express certain moods and messages. She has also mastered the use of foreground and background, as well as focus, in her photographs to convey specific points of view.

Although she has been generally recognized as a feminist artist, Seligman notes that, "while a lot of her work speaks to feminist issues, it is unfair to classify her as a feminist artist."

There will be curator's tour at noon both Oct. 25 and Nov. 15. Kiki Smith will be appearing at the Tang to speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. The exhibition will next move to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale, AZ.

Volleyball falls to Amherst, 3-2

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Skidmore College volleyball team suffered a five-set loss to Amherst, 3-2, in Tuesday night's matchup at the Williamson Sports Center.

The Thoroughbreds won the first set 25-18, dropped the second 23-25 and won the third 25-23 before falling in the final two sets, 14-25 and 6-15. They are now 9-4, while the Lord Jeffs improve to 9-2.

Skidmore was led by double-doubles from Kelley Vershbow '12 and Mallory Mendelsohn '13. Vershbow finished with 19 kills and 15 digs and Mendelsohn had 52 assists and 13 digs. Corinne Palmer '14 had 13 kills and three total blocks, while Olivia Glassman '15 tallied 13 kills and Sam Friedman '13 recorded 16 digs.

For the Lord Jeffs, KC Kanoff finished with a double-double with 15 digs and 14 kills. Cristy Meier tallied 18 kills, Callie Nelson recorded 45 assists and Kristin Keeno had a match-high 20 digs. Also for Amherst, Devin Pence had 13 digs and three service aces, Abigail Hunter recorded nine total blocks and Lauren Antion finished with eight.

The Thoroughbreds travel to Potsdam on Friday for a pair of Liberty League matches against Vassar and Clarkson.

Skidmore Athletics

New owners take over Sangwych shop in downtown Saratoga: Free delivery, now accepting Skidmore cards

Posted by Julia Leef

On Aug. 1, John Meyer, Jon Malm and Bobby Holt purchased Sangwych, the specialty shop located at 68 Putnam St. in downtown Saratoga Springs, from previous owner Ron Farber. In addition to free delivery, the shop is now accepting Skidmore student ID cards as payment.

According to its website, Sangwych provides "Brooklynese-style sangwyches" soups and salads. It also offers catering services for any event.

"Myself and Jon Malm have been with Sangwych since the beginning," said Meyer in a recent press release, "so we know how loyal our customers are and the great reputation Sangwych has, so we won't deviate from that base. But with the addition of Bobby and his experience as head chef at Gaffney's and Hattie's we will add to the already extensive menu with more daily specials, and, in the fall, we will be adding chicken wings and more homemade soups to the daily menu."

"I'm excited to be part of a successful business and to help it grow," Holt said in the same press release. "It's a new challenge for me with my own business and one that I believe has plenty of room for growth. We are a Brooklyn-style sandwich shop and we get weekly deliveries straight from NYC, like our fresh mozzarella, provolone and cannolis, etc. That sets us apart from the rest and we pride ourselves on building on the NYC reputation as the best sandwich shops in the world."

Sangwych hosts a menu of specialty sandwiches and subs, including award-winning Tuna Nachos, shrimp PO Boys, salads and standards. It also offers cannolis, homemade chocolate cookies and a variety of soft drinks.

Sangwych will be adding a daily burger special and at least two daily homemade soups. According to Malm, wings with specials will be available for Sunday and Monday night football.

The new owners are also looking to increase the catering side of their business. "At present, we do a significant amount of business with medical reps where we cater lunch for them when they put on a presentation at local doctors offices," Holt said. "We would like to do more of those, and we are also adding delivery service for local businesses and Skidmore, whether it's one sandwich or 20."

Sangwych is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit www.sangwych.com or call (518) 580-9800. 

Arabists address students before big move to Middle East: Expert opinion on the Arab Spring from Sumita Pahwa and Steve Negus

Posted by Brendan James

On Sept. 27 in Davis Auditorium, former Skidmore professor Sumita Pahwa and her husband, journalist Steve Negus, delivered a special lecture on the recent revolutions in the Arab world.

The couple shares an expertise in Arab politics, Pahwa through her academic research and Negus through his field reporting. Both are preparing to move to Egypt this year in order to follow the Arab Spring, the moniker for the wave of political changes sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.

Negus, a reporter who has spent 13 years in the region, focused much of his talk on the unlikely realization of the Libyan revolution that began this February. Having covered the events in Libya on the ground for different publications including "The Economist" Negus offered students both analysis and personal testimony on the delicate success of the revolution.

"Libya defied a lot of expectations," Negus said. He reminded the audience that many experts argued only soft dictatorships like Mubarak's Egypt could undergo such an upheaval, not a more repressive regime such as Col. Qaddafi's. Negus also stressed the anticipation for a country as large as Libya to quickly descend into tribal conflict, an outcome that it has still, if tentatively, avoided.

But Negus is still as cautious as anyone when it comes to the permanent stability of the new regime. "Right now the main danger would be if enough people with enough guns did not recognize the new centralized government," he said.

Next Pahwa took to the podium and shifted focus to the heart of the Arab world, Egypt. With her background in studying the country's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, she addressed the Islamists' status following the revolution that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak in February.

After providing a background of Egypt's religious and political history and the Brotherhood's place within it, Pahwa addressed the question of the group's involvement in the Revolution. According to Pahwa, generational and political divides within the group itself caused it to lag behind most of the secular protestors despite the Brotherhood's long reputation as Egypt's only political opposition.

During the question-and-answer session, topics included the new media climate in Egypt, the timing of NATO's intervention in Libya, and new approaches toward Islamism in the Arab world – some of which borrow from trends quite familiar to those attending Skidmore.

"You have these new sorts of Salafi [traditionalist] preachers, young ones, who are called ‘Salafi hipsters.' They hang out in coffee shops and try to connect to youth through that kind of fashion and lifestyle."

The thing to watch for now, Pahwa says, is what the Islamists try to do during Egypt's transition to democracy.

"Whenever someone is writing a new set of rules for a country after a revolution, everyone stands to gain a lot and lose a lot," she said. Liberal and secular groups are just as wary of the Brotherhood as they are of the army that has currently taken the reins of the nation. Completing her thesis at Johns Hopkins University on the Brotherhood, Pahwa has more than enough to research in Egypt's new political climate.

In a time of great change, uncertainty and potential chaos, Pahwa and Negus will be settling in to their new home in Cairo, ready for it all. "We will hopefully be there to catch some of the fun," Pahwa said.

No. 12 Middlebury hands No. 3 Skidmore first loss

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — After the Thoroughbreds moved up from No. 5 to No. 3 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association standings today, the No. 12 Middlebury College field hockey team handed No. 3 Skidmore its first loss of the season, 3-1 in a non-league game.

The loss leaves the Thoroughbreds 8-1, while the Panthers improve to 3-2.

Skidmore had a pair of penalty corners in the first 20 minutes, but could not capitalize. The Panthers struck 23:44 into the game, with Hannah Clarke netting her first of the season. Lauren Greer carried the ball 50 yards down the field in transition, drawing two defenders as she neared the goal. Greer quickly slid a pass to her left to Clarke, who ripped a shot into the back of the cage.

Just 2:30 into the second half, the Panthers had another great opportunity as Greer found Clarke in a situation similar to the first half goal. Skidmore goalie Haley McDougall '15 made the save with help from teammate Jackie Slocombe '12, who made a defensive save on Clarke's follow-up attempt.

Middlebury made it a 2-0 game when Charlotte Gardiner earned her third of the year at the 39:33 mark. Greer sent a shot in that tipped a defender's stick, before finding its way to Gardiner for the finish.

McDougall denied Greer's attempt for a second goal in the 49th minute, coming out to make a save as she stacked her pads. The Skidmore keeper again received some defensive help at 51:30 when Ellen Kolman '14 earned a defensive save on a shot from Catherine Fowler.

Skidmore got on the board at the 55:26 mark with Caylyn's Sullivan's '12 first of the year. Slocombe sent a pass into the circle, that which Sullivan finished with a sweeping motion to make it a 2-1 game. The Thoroughbreds rode momentum for the next 10 minutes, but could not tie the game despite a pair of penalty corners.

Middlebury sealed the game with 2:43 remaining when Greer connected on a reverse stick shot high into the cage after taking a feed from Alyssa DiMaio.

Middlebury held a 17-7 shot advantage in the game, while Skidmore held a 6-4 edge in penalty corners. Becca Shaw finished the contest with four saves to earn the win, while McDougall made 10 stops for Skidmore.

Skidmore Athletics

Further toxicology results of Alexander Grant released: District Attorney alarmed by ongoing lack of information concerning Grant's death

Posted by Julia Leef

On Sept. 23, the Saratoga Springs Police Department released new information concerning the toxicology report of 19-year-old Boston College sophomore Alexander Grant. The results indicated that alcohol was involved in his death, though there are still several unanswered questions regarding the case.

In the first week of March Alexander Grant, an honors student from Briarcliff Manor High School, came to visit some high school friends at Skidmore College for the weekend. After he disappeared from a party on March 5 at 146 Church St., Grant was not seen for three days. On March 8 his body was discovered about a mile away from the 146 Church St party. He is believed to have suffered from hypothermia and drowned.

Following his death, the Albany Medical Center screened his blood for nearly 100 drugs. All tests came back negative. On Sept. 14, an independent lab in Pennsylvania returned the results of testing for additional drugs, bringing the overall total to 600. All of these also came back negative, thus indicating that Grant had not taken any narcotics immediately prior to his death.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy, III, said that the absence of drugs was a great relief to both the investigators and to Grant's family. "What concerns us more, however," he said in a statement released on Wednesday, "is that the toxicology, in its absence of information, actually leaves us with more questions than answers. We still don't know what affected his body to such a significant degree, which then led to the circumstances that caused his death."

Murphy also stated in a later interview that as some drugs have a very short lifespan, it is possible that the drugs had already dissipated from Grant's system at the time of the testing. However, as there is no evidence to support the theory at this time, it remains purely speculation.

Police estimate that Grant left the party between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. There remains no record of his whereabouts until 1:15 a.m. when he broke into a medical office at 3 Care Lane, wearing only his boxer shorts, a shirt and one sock. He was bleeding from cuts he received from entering the building. Grant remained there for an hour and then departed the premises.

Although the results of the toxicology report were not immediately released according to the wishes of the Grant family, last Friday the report revealed that Grant's blood alcohol content at the time of testing was 0.11 percent, 0.03 percent higher than the legal driving limit for adults.

In addition to his BAC, Grant's VAC (vitreous alcohol content), was 0.16 percent. VAC is determined from eye fluid, and lags behind the BAC. From this information, investigators have drawn the conclusion that Grant's actual BAC was higher than 0.16 when he left the party.

According to Murphy, toxicology reports generally take about 18 months to process. However, due to the small number of labs in New York state, it is not unusual for cases to be delayed. With 10,000 cases a year in Saratoga county, and 62 counties in New York, it is no wonder that the results from March are just now being released.

Despite the findings of the autopsy results, there are many questions that remain unanswered. In a statement released on Sept. 22, the Grant family expressed a desire to uncover the cause of Grant's behavior on the night of his death. "We view it as our solemn responsibility to do everything in our power to better understand this tragedy, and will continue our labors in this regard for as long as it takes to obtain the answers to which we are entitled."

One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, was at the party on March 5, but does not recall seeing Alexander Grant, although he is certain the young man was there. The student remembers that there was not an excessive amount of alcohol at the party, and believes that Grant may have been intoxicated before arriving at 146 Church St.

The Saratoga Springs Police Department recently reaffirmed the immunity originally offered within a week of Grant's death. This immunity encourages students who may know anything pertaining to Grant's death to come forward, saying that they will not be prosecuted for engaging in minor offenses at the time.

"We're not interested in charging or prosecuting anyone for that kind of offense in this particular circumstance," Murphy said. "We're more interested in getting the information from them because we're still putting the pieces of the puzzle together. There should be no fear about getting charged or arrested or prosecuted."

Saratoga Springs police said Wednesday that they are following all leads in pursuit of more conclusive answers regarding Grant's behavior on the night of his death. Some of these leads involve students who have come forth to speak to the police, which will hopefully reveal new information.

Murphy emphasized the importance of sharing information. "People who saw anything should call the police and feel comfortable about reporting what they saw," he said. "I'm just hopeful that people think about that incident that night if they were there and feel comfortable coming forward, and that they know that they won't get in trouble for coming forward."

In honor of his memory, Grant's family founded the Alexander Maxwell Grant Foundation. They will also be sponsoring a 5K run at Boston College on Oct. 8. More information about this event can be found at alexgrant.org.

SGA election results in

Posted by Julia Leef

On Friday Sept. 24 by SGA President Jonathan Zeidan '12 released the results of the fall semester Student Government Association. Two proposed changes to the SGA constitution were passed, and 813 voters elected 11 students to vacant positions.

The Class of 2015 elected the following first years to its administration: Soraya Attia '15 (president), Noam Yossefy '15 (vice president), Nile Nair '15 (treasurer) and Jarred Green '15 (social chair). Ben Polsky '15, was selected to represent the class of 2015 on the Senate.

Attia focused her platform on issues concerning dorm wireless, limited library hours and utilizing Case Green for more college events in the upcoming semester.

Also elected to the Senate was Sean O'Brien '13 who will be representing Scribner Village. O'Brien said that he would promote more artwork for the walls of Scribner in addition to softer toilet paper and block parties.

Elected for the junior class were Julia Hutson '13 as class secretary and Will Wygal '13 as class social chair. Hutson campaigned to organize more junior-sponsored events, while Wygal promoted new themes for the Junior Ring and expressed a desire to support school music talent.

Finally, Skylar Sasson ‘12 and Luke Conley '14 were both elected to fill the two vacant positions of senator at large.

Thoroughbreds rock Liberty League by 13

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

POTSDAM – John McCarthy ‘13 led the Skidmore Thoroughbreds to the Liberty League Golf Championship qualifier Sunday afternoon, with a tournament-course record of five under par 67 at the par-72 Potsdam Town and Country Club Golf Course.

Skidmore earns the right to host the Liberty League championship in April. The match-play event will include Rensselaer, Rochester and Clarkson with the winner claiming the league's automatic NCAA Division III berth.

Skidmore easily won the event by 13 strokes after rushing out to an 11-stroke lead after day one, and holding off Rensselaer on the second day. The Thoroughbreds (583) had three of the top five golfers in the field, while the Engineers (596) had two of the top five. The University of Rochester came in third overall among the team scores with 616, followed by Clarkson (623), St. Lawrence (625), Hobart College (627) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (783).

McCarthy shot a 74 on the first day, but blistered the course to a tune of 67 on day two, including six birdies and just one bogey. Teammate Garrett Colgan ‘13 led the field after the first day, shooting one-under, but shot one-over on day two to take second overall and finish the tournament at even-par.

Coming in third was Rensselaer's Grant Rosener, who was consistent with a pair of 73's, and teammate Brandon Mader came in fourth, two strokes behind Rosener. Rounding out the Liberty League all-stars was Skidmore's Zach Grossman ‘15, who tied for fourth with Rosener at 148, four-over par in the two-day event.

Playing outside of his team's top five, Rochester's Tyler Scarborough shot a 149 over two days to make the Liberty League Second-Team and come in sixth overall. Also, Skidmore's Anthony Dilisio ‘13 made second-team honors.

The Thoroughbreds will play in the GolfWeek Division III Invite Oct. 9- 11 at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla.

Skidmore Athletics

EAC hosts event for Moving Planet: Skidmore's Archimedean enviromental group attempts to 'Move the Planet'

Posted by Michael DuPr??

The relative silence that usually marks a weekend afternoon on the Case Green was interrupted this Saturday by music, dance and students organizing for climate action.

The goal of the day was to support a transition from fossil fuels to other forms of energy.  "Today, Moving Planet, is an international day of climate action.  We are urging leaders to sign legislation to fund clean energy," said Gabby Stern '13, EAC member and steward of the Skidmore Student Garden. 

Several scores of Skidmore students took part in the festivities. The day's events included a clothing swap, music, petitions for a statewide ban hydrofracking on and the aerial picture to send to the international organization 350.org. The event also provided food and drink from Saratoga Apple, postcards to send to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and information about what action Skidmore was taking for clean energy and water equality.

Opposition to the natural gas extraction method called hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, was a major motif of Saturday's rally.  Hydrofracking is a process in which water and other chemicals are pressurized and injected into the ground to release pockets of natural gas that are trapped in shale. 

"This is a water equality issue," said Eliza Sherpa '12, the vice president of the EAC.  "The Watersheds of New York City and Syracuse are protected against hydrofracking.  All New Yorkers deserve the same rights," Sherpa said.    

Students, some of whom were being exposed to the issue for the first time, held signs that read "Ban Hydrofracking," "I Vote for Clean Water" and, of course,  "Get the Frack Out."

Event organizers encouraged participants to sign a petition to be presented to Governor Cuomo.  The position cited health concerns and other potential damages and advised the governor to enact a permanent ban on all hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas in New York State. 

Sherpa spoke with conviction and optimism about the EAC's changing focus. "This year, we are becoming more campaign oriented.  We are mobilizing Skidmore to be part of this political movement.   Hopefully we are building up the youth movement in New York and the country," Sherpa said. "Show that we are going to fight," Sherpa added.

Not everyone felt called to action by Saturday's gathering on the Case Green. "Students like these pledge to be changing the world, but are really just conforming to politicized movements that they know little about," said Michael Kraines '12.  "I hate to see my friends joining," he added.

As the event drew to a close, interested students continued to arrive.  "As a latecomer, I am a little disappointed by the turnout.  The event is for a great cause and I am fully supportive.  I hope that people will be convinced to act," Ripley Sager '12 said.

Thoroughbreds advance in ITA Women's Tennis

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

GENEVA ' Skidmore's Nataly Mendoza ‘13 and Melissa Hirsch ‘14 have advanced to the USTA/ITA Northeast Regional women's tennis singles quarterfinals at William Smith College.

Mendoza has also moved into the doubles quarterfinals with Lee Ford '14. Tory Engros '12 and Molly Nolan '14 are also in the doubles quarterfinals for the Thoroughbreds.

The tournament continues Sunday afternoon with the championships on Monday.

Mendoza opened with an easy 6-0, 6-0 win over NYU's Ramya Pokala and then beat Paige Aiello of The College of New Jersey 6-3, 6-2. She won her third round match 6-2, 6-1 over Natalie Santiago of Vassar.

Hirsch also cruised past her first opponent, winning 6-0, 6-0 over Marissa Rotondo of St. John Fisher. She then beat Deborah Wu, who retired with Hirsch winning the first set 6-4. Hirsch won her third match 6-0, 6-7, 6-0 over G. Murphy-Goldberg of Mount St. Mary.

Mendoza and Ford won their first doubles match 8-3 over Santiago and Schapiro of Vassar and then beat a team from Rensselaer 8-1.

Engros and Nolan won 8-1 against a team from Stevens and 8-3 over Murphy and Young from St. Lawrence.

Skidmore Athletics

What's all the Fracking Fuss?: Lois Gibbs Encourages Action Against Hydrofracking

Posted by Roz Freeman

On Monday, Sept. 19 in Gannet Auditorium, Lois Gibbs spoke on hydrofracking, community organizing and the importance of holding the government accountable for issues of environmental injustice. It was a talk that left the majority of the audience deeply moved and inspired to act.

Professor Eric Morser of the history department introduced Gibbs. He started off the talk with an activist tone, encouraging students to live through deeds and not only words. "Think of yourselves as citizens of the community," Morser said.

Lois Gibbs spoke to the audience directly, drawing them in as she told her personal, heart-wrenching story of how, in 1978, she became involved in fighting for environmental justice with the infamous Love Canal chemical and health disaster in Niagara Falls.

After the catastrophe, Gibbs' young children became sick with illnesses such as epilepsy, asthma and urinary track infections. After Niagara Falls Gazette reporter Michael Brown wrote an article about the toxic waste dump site in town, Gibbs realized that the chemicals in the water were to blame. In 1953, a piece of land with 20,000 tons of toxic waist was sold to the Niagara Falls School Board for $1 and was disregarded.

"How dare they! How dare they made a decision about my little girl or boy living or dying!" Gibbs yelled. The current trends in hydrofracking mirror the serious reality of water poisoning in Niagara Falls.

"These close-to-home painful situations are the ways we will find out about fracking. They knew they were being poisoned," Gibbs said.

Lois went on to explain the finer points of hydrofracking. To extract natural gas from shale below the earth's surface, companies drill a vertical well that turns horizontal as it hits the shale. A mixture of water and chemicals (companies are not obligated and therefore do not disclose all information about which chemicals are used) is pumped down the well to break out the methane bubbles from the shale. The gas companies do not remove all of the water and chemicals — at least 30 percent is left in the ground, poisoning the water and the land.

"Hydrofracking is supposed to be the solution to climate change, but methane is the second most potent greenhouse gas," Gibbs said. She also explains that fracking does not help the U.S. with energy independence, as we are sending most of the hydrofracked natural gas abroad, often to Asia.

Gibbs did not shy away from calling this a political battle. "New York City, Syracuse and Buffalo's watersheds are frack free. That's where the New York State votes are, that's where they decide not to poison," Gibbs said.

Gibbs encouraged the audience to continually ask New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo about fracking. "Make it politically right for the politician to do the right thing." Gibbs ended by crying out, "Let's go out an kick some butt, because that is what it takes."

During the Q&A period, Gibbs gave some tips on organizing and getting people to care about the issue. She told the audience to ask others what they cared about, and then use it toward the environmental organization. She emphasized the power of youth, campus movements and the importance of supporting each other's initiatives.

Students reacted to the talk with both criticism and sympathy. "I was hoping the lecture would have had a little more information on the specifics of hydrofracking, but that information is pretty accessible online, so I see where she's coming from," said Andrew Lloyd '12. "I think it's awesome that the school was able to bring a speaker with such an impressive resume. If nothing else, this lecture inspired me to go out and find out more about the hydrofracking question."

Organizations that are currently fighting against fracking include Frack Action, Capital District Against Fracking, Water Equality and Environmental Advocates of New York. Anyone can become part of the anti-fracking movement. "Once fracking poisons the water, it is a disaster," Gibbs said.  

Rosencrans' OT goal pushes No. 5 Skidmore past No. 18 William Smith, 1-0

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Annie Rosencrans '12 scored 7:27 into the first overtime to lift the No. 5-ranked Skidmore College field hockey team to a 1-0 win over No. 18 William Smith in Friday afternoon's Liberty League contest.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in league play and have now won 23 straight home games, 16 straight against Liberty League opponents and 29 straight regular season games. The Herons fall to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in the Liberty League.

With 7:40 remaining in the extra period, Skidmore earned a corner and Jackie Slocombe '12 sent a pass to Kelly Blackhurst '14 who then slid it to Rosencrans, who blasted a shot past William Smith keeper Taryn Little for her 7th goal of the season and fourth game-winner.

The Herons had a scoring chance at the end of the first half, earning a corner to extend the period, but Margaret McConnell's shot was sent just wide to end the half in a scoreless tie.

Skidmore opened the second half on the offensive but were unable to get one past Little. William Smith came on strong in the last five minutes of regulation, but Thoroughbred goalie Haley McDougall '14 came up with two big saves to down the stretch to help send the game to overtime.

In the overtime, Skidmore was able to control the momentum offensively, getting off three shots before Rosencrans scored off the corner to end it with a 1-0 victory for the Thoroughbreds.

McDougall made four saves to record her third shutout of the season and improves to 6-0. Little finished with 12 saves for the Herons.

Skidmore hosts Rochester in another league matchup, tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.

Skidmore Athletics

St. Lawrence nips Skidmore in OT, 1-0

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS-- Stephanie Sayward broke a 0-0 tie late in the second overtime, to lead the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team to a 1-0 Liberty League win over Skidmore College, Saturday at Wachenheim Field.

The loss ends a five game win streak for the Thoroughbreds, who fall to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in Liberty League play. The Saints improve to 4-2-1 and 1-0.

Sayward collected a loose ball that got behind Skidmore goalie Meghan Sleezer '12 and a Thoroughbred defender and then calmly scored from about 12 yards out at the 1:06:10 mark.

The goal ended a five-game Skidmore shutout streak.

Sleezer finished with four saves. St. Lawrence keeper Abby van Geldern had seven saves, including one in the second overtime. The Thoroughbreds outshot the Saints 18-6, including a 3-1 advantage in extra time.

Skidmore is at Liberty League leader William Smith College on Sept. 30.

Skidmore Athletics

Volleyball opens LIberty League play with 3-1 win over Union

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Skidmore College women's volleyball team beat Union College 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20) in the Liberty League opener for both teams, Friday night at the Williamson Sports Center.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 9-3, while the Dutchwomen are 8-6.

Kelley Vershbow '12 had a match-high 20 kills in addition to 13 digs for Skidmore. Carolyn Bottelier '13 contributed 15 kills and 10 digs, while Olivia Glassman '15 also had a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Glassman also had three key aces. Setter Mallory Mendelsohn '13 had 50 assists and nine digs and Sam Friedman had 21 digs.

For Union, Eve Richards had 16 kills, 13 digs, two aces and six blocks. Casey Tepper added 11 kills, three aces, and 12 digs, while setter Mackenzie Westfall had 37 assists and eight digs.

Skidmore hosts Amherst College in a non-league match on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Skidmore Athletics

No. 1 St. Lawrence downs Skidmore, 2-0

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

CANTON - The Skidmore College men's soccer team suffered a 2-0 defeat to No. 1 Saint Lawrence in Saturday's Liberty League matchup.

The Thoroughbreds fall to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the league, while the Saints remain unbeaten at 7-0 and pick up their first league win of the season.

After a scoreless first half, St. Lawrence scored twice in the first 7:55 of the second half to take control. Jamal Samaroo and Sam DeMello scored for the Saints.

Skidmore goalie Nick Peterson '12 finished with 11 saves, while Brian Abernethy made one in the shutout victory.

The Thoroughbreds were outshot 28-4.

Skidmore hosts No. 9 Hobart on Sept. 30 at 4 p.m.

Skidmore Athletics

Thoroughbreds remain unbeaten with 7-0 win over Rochester

Posted by Skidmore Athletics

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Lauren Tobias '12 scored three goals to help lead the Skidmore College field hockey team to a 7-0 win over Rochester in Saturday's Liberty League matchup at Thoroughbred Field.

The No. 5-ranked Thoroughbreds improve to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in league play, while the Yellowjackets fall to 6-3 overall and 0-2 against Liberty League opponents.

Skidmore has now won 23 straight regular season games and also extended their home-winning streak to 24 games and their Liberty League winning streak to 17.

Tobias tallied her first goal just less than eight minutes in, deflecting Annie Rosencrans' '12 shot from the top of the circle past Rochester goalie Madison Wagner to make it 1-0. Ceilidh MacNeill '13 made it 2-0 at the 30:02 deflecting home a crossing pass from Rosencrans for her fourth goal of the season.

With a two-goal lead at the half, the Thoroughbred offense came alive in the second half, pouring in five goals from four different players. Tobias picked up her second of the game at the 36:44 mark, taking a pass from Kelly Blackhurst '14 in front of the goal and hammering it home, then less than 10 minutes later she recorded her third goal of game and ninth of the season, send home a pass from MacNeill to make it 4-0.

Blackhurst kept the offense rolling at the 51:51 mark, taking a pass in the center of the circle from Caylyn Sullivan '12 and lifting it to the top shelf for her team leading 11th goal of the season. Anna Wahl '13 recorded her first goal of the season, scoring on a rebound of the keeper's pads in the 59th minute to make it 6-0 and freshman Sofia San Marco '14 capped the scoring at the 61:49 mark with her first collegiate goal.

Haley McDougall '15 recorded three saves to post her third consecutive shutout and improve to 7-0 on the year. Wagner finished with 12 saves and Darragh Kerr had a defensive save for the Yellowjackets.

Skidmore outshot Rochester, 29-4 and held a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners.

The Thoroughbreds are at No. 8 Middlebury, Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

Skidmore Athletics

A little night music: Kristian Bezuidenhout and the Graf Fortepiano dazzle at Zankel

Posted by Kristin Travagline

On Sunday Sept. 18 renowned pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout brought the nineteenth century to Skidmore College during the unveiling of a ca. 1826 original Graf Fortepiano. The special concert took place at the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

Ms. Brooke Allen, whose family has been in possession of the instrument for nearly 200 years, has recently loaned the piano to the college. Edward Swenson, emeritus professor of music at Ithaca College, gave a pre-performance talk on Conrad Graf, the foremost fortepiano builder in Vienna during the early nineteenth century.

Swenson himself is a fortepiano builder and expert of Graf pianos and recognizes their distinctiveness. "Anybody who works on pianos, the minute you get inside one of these instruments you see the absolutely uncompromising excellence of the workmanship and the materials. There's not a smudge of glue anywhere, there's not anything that offends the eye when you look inside. Hammers are perfectly made. It takes your breath away," he said.

Immediately after, the concert was underway. The first half of the performance featured Mozart's Sonata in F Major and Sonata in B-flat Major on an Anton Walter Fortepiano restored by Richard Hester, appropriately, as Mozart is one of Bezuidenhout's favorite composers. "His writing for the piano is so perfect, so incredibly refined and subtle, I find it my favorite," he said.

Bezuidenhout began his studies in Australia, completed them at the Eastman School of Music, and now lives in London. He is a guest professor at the Schola Cantorum in Basel and the Eastman School of Music. In 2007 he was awarded the Erwin Bodky Prize and the Deutschlandfunk Forderpreis. He is Artistic Advisor for the Constelation Center, Cambridge, MA.

Before playing the first note, Bezuidenhout's hands lingered steady just above the keys in a reverential manner. From the instant he began, Bezuidenhout's demeanor physically embodied of the music. His eyebrows pulsed up and down. At rapid moments in the score, he held his face close to the keyboard. During slower moments, his head fell back into the air, as though luxuriating. He did not even seem to look at the score.

Bezuidenhout's control over Mozart's multifaceted material was quite apparent in the Allegro Asai of Sonata in F Major. The piece began with a playful exchange between fast playing and light high notes, which seemed to exemplify the difference between prancing and running.

The second half of the show began with a short introduction of Schubert's Four Impromptus played on the Graf piano. Bezuidenhout explained how the following pieces functioned as four essays in piano sound and texture. He then asked the audience to take note of the plumy base tones, woody tenor tones, and the glittering, crystalline passagework. By all accounts, Bezuidenhout's performance gave Schubert's pieces their due.