The rain started in the early dawn, and didn’t stop coming down until late after 6 p.m. Nonetheless, the Tang Teaching Museum, Student Government Association, and For Freedoms, now in rain-safe areas, registered Skidmore students to vote on Sept. 25.
The event was part of SGA’s new Votemore initiative to counteract the confusing time that is Midterm Elections, and took place all over campus. Most of the day was spent in Case Center in celebration of National Voter Registration Day, moving later to the Tang around 5 p.m.
According to SGA president Max Fleischman ‘19, “SGA's Votemore group registered...over 100 students,” some of who signed up for absentee ballots. For context, roughly 40 Skidmore students voted in the NY primary election.
Over at the Tang, students were invited to create yard signs, launching the Tang’s new exhibit For Freedoms, which is done in congruence to Give a Damn, which is currently on display until Sept. 30.
Students were given the option of four yard signs, and were invited to write what they “gave a damn” about — partaking in both art and activism. The options were: Freedom Of, Freedom From, Freedom For, and Freedom To.
However, the turnout at this event was a bit lower than expected. While this was, as Fleischman said, unfortunate, the Tang will continue to share its For Freedoms project for the rest of the semester.
Out of the students who did attend, Rose White ‘20 chose to write “Freedom to Make Art” on her sign. She decided on this topic because “art is something that's very personal to me in my life and I think freedom to make art is very important and allows people to express themselves."
Another student there was Barbara Kasomenakis ‘21 who chose Freedom From Elitist Language as her topic.
"Elitist language is something that a lot of self- prescribed liberals use on campus because it feels like a lot of people think they know what they're saying, but it's just spewing elitist rhetoric to seem more politically aware or knowledgeable," she explained.
The signs will now be installed outside the Tang, where students and visitors alike can find out what exactly Skidmore students give a damn about. The museum invites those who wish to partake outside of the Tang lawn to share images of their signs on social media with the hashtags #ForFreedoms and #TangMuseum.