As October winds down, Americans begin to anticipate Election Day. Every year on the second Tuesday of November, American citizens show up to vote, an act long perceived as their civic duty. This year’s election is slated to be particularly contentious, with many vital policies on the ballot, including abortion rights. The overturning of Roe V. Wade in June 2022 left access to abortion care in the hands of state governments. Furthermore, against the backdrop of a mostly conservative Supreme Court, the longevity of various civil rights acts are at risk. For example, hearings regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act approach in early November. Regardless of a person’s stance on these issues, voting is an American hallmark of making one’s voice heard. Though 2022 is not a Presidential election year, it is still crucial to vote at the local level. Whether you plan on voting via mail-in ballot or in person, here is everything you need to know to be voter-ready for Tuesday, November 8.
Read morePresident Biden Tackles Student Loan Debt Relief
Over the past few decades, student loan debt has been rising at an alarming rate. Today, the average college student has $25,000 in student loan debt. Since the 1980s, tuition at four-year colleges has skyrocketed, while Pell Grant relief from the federal government remains stagnant. It is rare that student debt borrowers graduate college with the ability to pay off that debt, and as many as one third of student borrowers fail to even graduate due to the financial burden of college tuition. On August 24th, President Biden followed through on his 2020 campaign promise to release a comprehensive plan to relieve student loan borrowers of some or all of their debt. The plan will strengthen and support the middle class.
Read moreThere’s No Place Like Student Housing: A Crisis on Campus
This summer, the unprecedented size of Skidmore College’s current first-year class caused challenges for college systems which were not designed to support such a volume of students. Issues associated with high enrollment numbers were amplified by the fact that during the summer of 2022, the College opted for a new system for housing management. The first sign that something was awry appeared — or rather, didn’t appear — in late April when the College was expected to open apartment applications as they had in past years.
Read moreCelebrated Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Delivers 2022 Steloff Lecture
On Monday, October 3, Skidmore awarded Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and invited her to give the annual Steloff Lecture, which has brought the Skidmore community together to celebrate the world’s best literary and artistic talent since 1967.
Read moreActivists Protest for Women’s Rights in Iran
On Friday, September 16, the morality police in Iran arrested and killed 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for incorrectly wearing her head scarf. Amini’s death was met with outrage and the first protests occurred outside Kasra Hospital, where Amini had been hospitalized and died. Thousands of people attended her funeral on September 17, and many women took off their headscarves in a show of their opposition to the mandatory hijab law.
Read moreTides Turning In Ukraine-Russia Conflict as Ukraine Counteroffensive Continues
In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the tide appears to be turning in favor of Ukrainian military forces, as their counteroffensive continues to regain lost territory in the northeast. Russian forces are on the run in parts of Ukraine that they had seized early in the conflict. Most recently, Russian troops have retreated from the Balakliya and Izyum area in the Kharkiv region and lost nearly all of the northern region of Kharkiv.
Read moreQueen Elizabeth: What Her Death Means for the U.K. and the World
Queen Elizabeth’s uncontested reign of seventy years and two hundred and fourteen days came to an end when the ninety-six-year old monarch died on September 8th at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II held a long and complicated reign, being loved and hated in equal measure. When she passed, her life was celebrated, ridiculed, criticized and analyzed. Tears of joy and tears of sadness have been shed.
Read moreFollowing Faculty Unionization Efforts: Administrator and Organizer Perspectives
The process of non-tenure track faculty unionization reaches its final stages with an election that will conclude on the 26th of September. Junior Jacob Smith speaks with Ruth McAdams, Teaching Professor of English and vocal advocate, as well Michael Orr, Dean of Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, about ongoing unionization efforts and the current election.
Read moreFurthering SGBM Discussions on Skidmore’s Campus: The Student Life Committee’s Visit to Wellspring
On April 13th, Skidmore’s Student Life Committee was invited to Wellspring’s grounds for a tour and conversation with the Executive Director, Maggie Fronk, about the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) resources that they offer to Skidmore students and the larger Saratoga community. Wellspring, located a 15 minute drive away from Skidmore’s campus in Malta, NY, offers free and confidential services to individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Given the prominence of conversations on campus surrounding the College’s SGBM and Title IX policies since last semester’s student walkout, the Student Life Committee’s visit to Wellspring was an opportunity to gather more information about the external resources available to Skidmore students. Fronk shared that this recent visit was one of the best conversations that she has had with students in a long time, marking the resurgence of partnership and trust between Skidmore students and Wellspring.
Read moreAn Upcoming Production at Skidmore, “A Nice Indian Boy”
Arham Hashmi ‘23 is currently directing the first South Asian play to ever be performed at Skidmore: "A Nice Indian Boy" by award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Madhuri Shekar. It is a comedic play about an Indian man named Naveen, who expresses to his family his wants to marry another man through a traditional Hindu wedding. The play utilizes comedy to address deeper themes of queerness, heritage, and marriage within the context of the traditional Hindu culture.
Read moreSkidmore's SGBM Conversation: Alexandra Brodsky Visits The Center
On Monday, February 28th, a civil rights attorney at Public Justice Alexandra Brodsky spoke at Skidmore’s The Center. Her talk was focused on Title IX, sexual justice, and student activism - all prominent topics on campus following last semester’s walkout against the College’s Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) and Title IX processes.
Read more#FreeBritney: Britney Spears Goes to Court
Britney Spears is immersed in an ongoing trial over her 13-year conservatorship that officially ended on November 12, 2021. According to a Deadline article, there is a mini-trial set for July 27th, 2022 to further examine illegal activity, such as surveillance and total control over Britney’s personal finances, that occurred during the conservatorship.
Read moreHank the Tank: A Loveable Thief?
He’s on the run from a criminal past. Police are scrambling to find and catch him before any more damage is done. But who is this dangerous perpetrator? Why, he’s a five-hundred pound black bear named Hank the Tank! And it turns out, he might not be that dangerous after all.
Read moreTensions Rise in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
I asked my brother, Nathaniel, how he was getting acclimated to his new school. “It’s a ghost-town, Stephanie,” he replied, “everybody left.” My brother was referring to the American embassy kids who had left.
Read moreThe Center: A New Landmark for Diversity Conversations at Skidmore
This semester, Skidmore has signified its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), by launching a new hub on campus to house these conversations and related offices. Located at the heart of campus, on the second floor of Case Center, The Center opened its doors to the Skidmore public on Friday, September 24th.
Read moreWildfires and Toxic Fumes Are Swallowing the United States
Wildfires have been ravaging the California ecosystem for years now. Unfortunately, wildfires do not just affect those who can see their flames on the west coast. At different times within this past year, the eastern half of the United States watched in awe as skies filled with smoke, blanketing the country in gray and red hues.
Read moreOne of Saratoga's Last Historically Black Organizations in Danger of Vanishing
The Frederick Allen Lodge is located within Saratoga Springs, NY in the Beekman Street Arts District: 69 Beekman St. It has historically been a fraternal organization that did charity for the Black community. Nowadays, it still holds those values and exists as a prominent social club and gathering space for the Black population in Saratoga Springs.
Read moreMeet the Saratoga Commissioner of Finance Candidate: Minita Sanghvi
On June 1st of this year, Skidmore College Business Professor Minita Sanghvi announced her decision to run for Commissioner of Finance for the Saratoga Springs City Council. As the first openly gay candidate, Sanghvi announced her candidacy during Pride Month.
Read moreMeet the Saratoga Mayoral Candidate: Heidi Owen West
Heidi Owen West, a local business woman in Saratoga Springs, announced her candidacy for mayor in March of 2020. She is running under the endorsement of the Saratoga County Republican Committee, but is personally an Independent. In her interview with The Skidmore News, West emphasized her role and skills as a local business woman, which she believes will make her an effective city leader.
Read moreMeet the Saratoga Mayoral Candidate: Robin Dalton
In her interview with The Skidmore News, Commissioner Dalton detailed her plan for implementing effective communication between the community and city hall, supporting the city’s police and fire services, and advocating for nonpartisan elections in Saratoga Springs.
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