2/19/21 Maroon-News

The Colgate Maroon-News The Oldest College Weekly in America

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Art Council Hosts “Redrawing Masculinity” Workshop C-1

Volume CLIV, Issue XVII

Students Voice Frustrations with Personal Vehicle Policy D-2

February 19, 2021

Women’s Volleyball to Start Spring Play S-1

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Virus Testing Non-Compliance Causes Concern

By Josie Rozzelle & Ethan Cherry Assistant News Editors

Increased COVID-19 testing of the on-campus community as a means to monitor infection rates and progress through Colgate’s gates of reopening faster was one of the major changes between the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. However, student non-compliance with testing appointments has caused concern amongst University administrators.

Vice President for Communications Laura H. Jack wrote in her Jan. 30 Colgate Digest email that more than 200 students had failed to appear for their scheduled round-two COVID-19 test that day.

“This means that our move to Gate 1 is in jeopardy,” Jack wrote. “To those who skipped today’s testing, I say this: As part of your Commitment to Community Health, you committed to more frequent testing this semester.

Violations of the commitment will be swiftly addressed. You said you would do this, and you can. A second arrival test is something you’ve done before.”

Jack informed the students who had missed their test on Saturday, Jan. 30 that they should be tested the following day, Sunday, Jan. 31, at the same time and location at which they were originally scheduled.

Community Health Student Compliance Manager Stacey Millard said that when testing concluded on Jan. 31, there were still 45 students who did not appear for their original scheduled test and had not made up their missed appointment. Additional testing was set up on Monday, Feb. 1.

“Students who were not compliant with testing by the end of the day Monday, Feb. 1 (as well as their parents) were sent a letter informing them that they would be required to complete the semester remotely if their test was not completed by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2,” Millard said. “All 45 students who missed their initial post-arrival testing appointments, and their parents, were issued a warning informing them that any further Community Health Violations (testing-related or otherwise) would result in a transition to remote status without further warnings.”

Most members of the administration agreed that the students who missed their tests likely either forgot or were unaware of their scheduled test time or location.

“Many students cited missing emails, losing track of time or their appointment card. We do understand that there is a lot to keep track of at the start of any semester; however, testing is an added responsibility that is an essential part of our plan to

ARRIVAL TEST: All students were required to test within 24 hours of their arrival to campus. The second round of testing occurred seven days later, and surveillance testing began the week of Feb. 8.

Colgate University Facebook

remain open and was something that all students committed to by signing the Commitment to Community Health and returning to campus,” Millard said. “While we empathize with the challenges of meeting various obligations, these are not permissible reasons to miss testing and are students’ responsibility to the University and to one another.”

President Brian Casey estimated that the students who repeatedly failed to go to their scheduled test received dozens of notifications.

“The final thing was, ‘If taking this test is something you don’t want to do, then you’re going to have to go home,’ because to be here means you’re part of a testing protocol. I think that final message

brought it home,” Casey said. “No one was sent home as a result of this because I think people complied. We’re just like, ‘Hey, if you want to be here you get tested.’

That’s the deal.”

All students on campus had been tested by the end of the day on Tuesday, Feb. 2, according to Millard.

Continued on A-5

Students Respond to 113 Broad Core Study Space Becoming a COVID-19 Testing Site

By Finn Schuemann Staff Writer

CORE TESTING: Signage directs students selected for surveillance testing to the Core study space within the 113 Broad Street Complex.

Valerie Deleon

At the start of the Spring 2021 semester, University administration informed 113 Broad Street residents that the Core study space in the residence hall would be used as a COVID-19 testing site. In response to the administration’s decision to establish the Core as a COVID-19 testing site, 113 Broad Street resident sophomore Margo Williams started a petition requesting the University reopen the Core study space for students.

“I’m disappointed with the decision that the administration came to because I do think there are lots of other better places on campus [for COVID-19 testing],” Williams said.

In an email sent by President Brian Casey on Feb. 2, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) attested that the Core space would be the most feasible location for a COVID-19 testing site on campus.

“Each of the possible alternative locations are being used to accommodate a return to campus this semester, including, for example, the Hall of Presidents (for a new dining venue) and Edge Cafe (also used for dining). I know that the EOC’s review was comprehensive and considered vehicular and foot traffic to the testing site, size of the room, ability to store items so as not to need to set up a testing site each day, proximity to the anticipated vaccine clinic and Student Health Services, among other particulars,” Casey wrote in an email.

113 Broad resident sophomore Anya Steinmetz explained that the Core is an integral study space for residents and was especially popular in the Fall 2020 semester.

“People would sit at tables with masks on, but it was a place to study with your friends, to see your friends, but obviously in a safe way. It was a nice place to go just to study too and do classes [on Zoom] especially because it’s a place where you can talk and you don’t have to feel weird about talking. But also, it’s not necessarily a loud place,” Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz explained the disappointment from students in response to the sudden decision of the Core becoming a COVID-19 testing site.

Continued on A-5

News

February 19, 2021

News A-2

The Colgate Maroon-News

VIRIDESCENCE: CBD-focussed store Viridescent Times Boutique merged with The Zen Den, a yoga and pilates studio, in December. The shared storefront is located at 27 Lebanon Street.

Viridescent Times Facebook

New Boutique Specializing in CBD Products Merges with Yoga and Pilates Studio

By Hannah Tupper Contributing Writer

Longtime friends Angela Westcott, owner of Viridescent Times Boutique, and Kriss Young owner of Zen Den, merged their businesses to now share one space. This decision came about as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and their joint-store opened on Dec. 4, 2020.

Westcott’s businesses specializes in CBD products in the form of candies, chocolates, capsules and tinctures, in which most of the products have less than five ingredients and are gluten-free and vegan. The boutique also offers drinks such as seltzer, coffee and teas, in addition to carrying candles, jewelry and clothing.

Westcott had her first experience with CBD back in 2018 after struggling with shoulder pain for a while and was surprised at how effective these types of products were for her.

After this positive experience, Westcott began researching ways to get into this type of business.

“I booked a trip to head back to Las Vegas in November 2018 for my first Cannabis Conference. I

decided I wanted to open my own CBD boutique but I wanted to do it the right way,” Westcott said.

It was also at this conference that she met a representative from the CBD Training Academy and led her to take an online certification course in order to properly be able to help her customers get the best fit product for them.

“Not all products are created equally. A product that might provide relief to one person might not be the best solution for their friend.

That’s where having a local resource becomes valuable,” Westcott said.

Westcott originally had a store in Earlville, five miles south of Hamilton, that officially opened in March 2019, but had to close in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I was devastated. In March, when I should have been celebrating my [first] anniversary I was completely shut down,” Westcott said. “[But] I didn’t give up. Like many small businesses, we adapted.

I dove into e-commerce and started contactless delivery and shipping.”

Following this closure, longtime friends and businesswomen Westcott

and Young decided to merge together to stay open during the pandemic.

“We often call and discuss our challenges and spitball ideas on how to grow or expand our businesses.

We are always pushing each other to keep thinking outside of the box.

I feel the pandemic has awarded us an opportunity to perfect our niche and to reinvent our brand,” Westcott said. “We are the definition of women supporting women.”

Young shared similar sentiments about her relationship with Westcott.

“I would often refer my clients to Angela and she would refer her customers to me well before this idea developed. It just made perfect sense,” Young said.

Young faced many challenges once the pandemic forced the studio to close, but similarly initially turned to online methods to keep her business open during the pandemic.

“It quickly became clear this wasn’t going to be just a speed bump for the studio. The Zen Den started offering live-streaming classes by donation. Instructors from all over the country who [used] to teach at The Zen Den pitched in

to help keep the studio afloat. We played with Instagram & Facebook Live, followed by Zoom and then Mindbody, the studio’s client scheduler software, finally launched their own live stream and video-ondemand capabilities,” Young said.

Both owners expressed that their pairing works and benefits both of their businesses, which share a common goal to offer natural remedies for health and wellness.

“Both of our businesses are very geared towards achieving health and wellness while maintaining homeostasis with your mind and body. So much of what we both do complements each other,” Westcott said.

Young, who originally owned the space herself, explained the set up of the building and how its organization shifted once the space became shared.

“27 Lebanon Street is a collaborative space; however, we are still two distinctly separate businesses. Upon entering you are walking into Viridescent Times Boutique which also serves as the lobby and front desk for The Zen Den,” Young said. “Moveable partition walls physically separate our spaces allowing

for privacy for both The Zen Den’s clients during classes and for Viridescent Times Boutique’s customers during consultations and while shopping.”

Sophomore Amber Hufford, who had recently heard about the boutique, expressed interest in visiting soon.

“As someone who has previously used CBD products and enjoyed them, I am very excited about this boutique and plan to visit soon,” Hufford said.

Westcott said she believes her products will be especially beneficial for university students.

“CBD is widely known to help with sleep, anxiety, depression, muscle aches and pains, joint pain, relaxation and focus. The list truly does go on and on,” Westcott said.

“After the last year, I feel like everybody’s health has become the main focus in our lives. CBD works with your body to provide overall homeostasis so that you can wake up and be the best you can be every day.”

Contact Hannah Tupper at htupper@colgate.edu.

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A-3

February 19, 2021

Former Congressmen Hold Discussion on Navigating U.S. House of Representatives

By Claire Bergerson Contributing Writer

Two former congressmen joined members of the Colgate Vote Project during a Congress to Campus Community Forum on Feb. 8 to discuss their experience campaigning and navigating partisanship in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bipartisan discussion featured former Republican representative from Vermont Dr. Peter Smith and former Democratic representative from Illinois Major General (ret) William L. Enyart. The event was hosted over Zoom by the Colgate Vote Project, with the help of the Stennis Center for Public Service and The United States Association of Former Members of Congress.

Co-Leaders of the Colgate Vote Project and juniors Eliza Lloyd and Samuel Adgie moderated the discussion, which was originally scheduled to take place over the course of three days during the Spring 2020 semester, but had to be rescheduled due to COVID-19.

“This event makes government a lot more personal, and I think that will really help students become more involved in the voting process. In relation to the election, this event is important to help navigate the issue of partisanship, which has become so obvious in our political process to the point where it’s nearly impossible to ignore it,” Lloyd said.

Colgate Vote Project member and first-year Brenna McConnell explained that the event is important to inform students about Congress’ responsibilities.

“There is generally an over-emphasis on the presidential election, but Congress is honestly just as important, if not more, in terms of passing policy that directly affects us as U.S. citizens and residents. After the results of this past election, serving as a sort of reset back to normal for the U.S., resolving political partisanship within Congress should be our focus and a concern of the average American,” McConnell said.

The former congressmen both discussed the significance of the event in terms of its bipartisan nature. Smith stated the event symbolizes the “inclusive[ness] of perspectives.”

Enyart expanded on this idea, stating “it also contains the message that we can disagree over policy without being disagreeable.”

Responses to the forum were overwhelmingly positive from both students and staff. COVE Director and Staff Advisor Jeremy Wattles stated that the discussion was “lively and in-depth.”

Several students interested in careers in politics said they also found the discussion highly informative and insightful. “[I enjoyed] hearing how [the representatives] rose the ranks,” first-year Nate Biller said.

Dean of the College Paul McLoughlin said he thought that the representatives were not the most memorable part, but rather the student organizers and student’s questions.

“It was the care with which both the student organizers and our guests demonstrated sincere respect for one another that stuck with me,” McLoughlin said.

The positive feedback for the forum was met with a desire for more bipartisan events

BIPARTISAN COVERSATIONS: Former Republican representative Smith, pictured top, and former Democratic representative Enyart, pictured bottom, engage in discusssion surrounding their experiences in Congress.

Ali Davis

with politicians at Colgate. McLoughlin highlighted the importance of these events on academic campuses specifically.

“We have to support bipartisan conversations if we are to appreciate and learn from multiple viewpoints. It is our civic responsibility to

listen, to learn (rather than influence or change) and to connect with others across differences as part of a healthy academic community,” McLoughlin said.

Contact Claire Bergerson at cbergerson@colgate.edu.

SGA Encourages a “Work Safe, Play Safe” Campaign While Senate Tries to Reform Vehicle Policy

By Annabel Morris Contributing Writer

Prior to arrival on campus for the Spring 2021 semester, Colgate required students to sign an updated Commitment to Community

Health (Commitment) to ensure the safety of all members of the Colgate community. In an effort to encourage compliance, the Student Government Association (SGA) has launched a “Work Safe, Play Safe” campaign on social media and through various mediums across campus.

WORK SAFE, PLAY SAFE: SGA lauches new social media campaign to tackle communication challenges with the Commitment to Community Health. Part of the Commitment places restrictions on car use.

Ali Davis

Following student concerns about clarity of the guidelines, SGA President and senior Amarachi Iheanyichukwu headed the campaign to inform students and get them excited to follow the Commitment to Community Health.

“The fundamental goal of the ‘Work Safe, Play Safe’ campaign this semester is to provide a lot more clarity on the rules so there isn’t a lack of communication,” SGA Social Media Coordinator sophomore Kate Anderson said.

Using Instagram as their main platform, SGA has been posting often, using humor and simplified text to inform students about updated rules, policies and procedures with regards to each additional Gate of Reopening. Along with these informative posts, the SGA has also been promoting socially-distant and virtual events and activities around campus such as snowshoeing with Outdoor Education and Zoom panels for Black History Month.

Although adjustments have been made to the rules outlined in the Commitment this semester, students have voiced dissatisfaction with some of the updated policies, specifically to personal vehicle use procedures. This is one of students’ major concerns regarding the Commitment to Community Health, according to sophomore senator Andrew Liao.

“The main goal is not to allow students to travel with anyone they please, but instead just to allow direct family units to travel together because they are already exposed to each other,” Liao said.

SGA Senate members and other students involved in the campaign to change the car

policy claim a rule limiting one person per car is futile. First-year Tucker Cassady, who was involved in the campaign to change this rule, finds it to be a confusing rule.

“It’s an unnecessary limitation on the student body,” Cassady said. “The somewhat unsanitary conditions of the cruisers and the lack of desire to be in such an environment were strong enough claims to warrant a change.”

Data compiled on the University’s Health Analytics Dashboard shows quarantine and isolation box trending in a positive direction, with no new confirmed cases in the most recent round of testing, according to the Vice President for Communications Laura Jack’s Colgate Together Digest from Feb. 10.

Optimism about the safety of the Colgate community furthers students’ push for reform to the car policy, and, according to Liao, a change in this policy would be sensical and in alignment with how students already live on campus. “[The policy update] would have nearly zero implications as far as contact-tracing and health concerns– as those who are in a direct family unit are connected already,” Liao said. “There is not one person that we have talked to who has opposed the proposed solution. It is brought up nearly every day. Yet we have talked to administration and haven’t had any reciprocation for this concern.”

Contact Annabel Morris at amorris@colgate.edu.

February 19, 2021

The Colgate Maroon-News

A-4

Classroom Modulars Replace Fall’s Tent Classrooms

By Erin Knox and Lily Haynes Staff Writer & Contributing Writer

In the ongoing effort to combat educational disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colgate University Task Force on Remote Learning has implemented a series of temporary classroom modulars around campus to be used during the Spring 2021 semester.

The change in season in Hamilton made the previous use of classroom “tents” as temporary learning spaces nonviable. The trailer initiative is aimed at maximizing the number of spring courses that can be taught via in-person instruction, while also abiding by social distancing requirements.

Given the limited classroom space on campus, and the cleaning processes performed by the custodial staff before and after each class period, members of the Colgate Task Force, alongside Classrooms, Media and Events Director Mark Hine and Chief Information Officer Niranjan Davray came up with trailer installation and repurposing of space as a solution. In order to support faculty and students alike, a series of non-traditional learning spaces were converted to classroom use, including the Clark Room, Palace Theater, Thought Into Action and the Starr Rink.

“

Our students and faculty have been phenomenal in terms of dealing with the constraints of COVID-19, but we all also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the [ITS and CLTR] staff on campus who support our ability to teach, learn and grow together.”

- Douglas Johnson Associate Dean of Faculty for Curricular and Academic Affairs

The new trailers constructed around campus ensure a safe space for faculty who are able to teach fully in-person or hybrid courses during popular class times. Each modular holds more than thirty students, set-up with tablet chairs borrowed from other learning spaces, as well as projection and other various technological capabilities. President Casey commended both Associate VP for Facilities and Planning Steve Hughes and Associate Dean of Faculty for Curricular and Academic Affairs Douglas Johnson for their efforts in swiftly organizing and establishing an effective winter solution, noting the “increased flexibility” of the classroom trailers.

When asked about the planning and preparation that made the installation process possible, Johnson addressed the lengths the members of Facilities’ staff went to in order to ensure high standards of learning for both in-person and remote participants.

“ITS has had to fit dozens of classrooms with digital capture and projection equipment, as well as work with CLTR on faculty development opportunities related to technology use and remote instruction,” Johnson said. “Our students and faculty

have been phenomenal in terms of dealing with the constraints of COVID-19, but we all also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the staff on campus who support our ability to teach, learn and grow together.”

The modulars are serving as classroom settings for a wide range of subjects and departments. Department of Computer Science Chair and Professor Joel Sommers teaches a hybrid section of Intro to Computing I in the 113 Broad Street Module. Sommers said he was greatly appreciative for the opportunity to split his class of 74 students with ten remote participants into two in-person sessions during the week.

“The experience inside is actually quite good, I think, and I’m happy for the larger space that can at least handle half my class,” Sommers said.

Sophomore Jack Maguire, a student in Sommers’ Intro to Computing I, said his experience with the Module has been positive thus far.

“We have a big class so we’re pretty spaced out. When we’re in person I have no trouble hearing him [but] over Zoom, it can be hard to hear. I found no problems being in the trailer. It was warm. It has chargers. It’s like a regular room. I would [prefer it to Zoom]. Definitely,” Maguire said.

Sophomore Peyton Lee is a tutor for the Introduction to Neuroscience class taught in-person by Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Jun Yoshino in the 113 Module. Although her initial experience had some challenges, her subsequent class experiences echo Maguire’s.

“The first day, there was this air humidifier that was on and it was so loud and we could barely hear Professor Yoshino talk but then the other tutor turned it off and then it was fine. I was by the door for the first class which was open so I was a little bit chilly. I had to keep my jacket on the whole time but now I’ve been there for three classes and it feels pretty normal, like the setting inside feels like a normal classroom,” Lee said.

Junior Elizabeth Casey said that, although it feels like a normal classroom, there are some unique aspects that make it slightly more inaccessible.

“It’s a little darker than a normal classroom and because of the spacing it can be hard to see the screens, they’re pretty big and overall it doesn’t feel super different than a normal classroom,” Casey said.

Professor of the Humanities and Medieval & Renaissance Studies in the Department of English Lynn Staley also teaches a section of CORE 151 Legacies of the Ancient World in the 113 Broad Street Trailer. Staley noted the benefits of having a large space to teach in with heat and electricity, and windows that can open up when the weather gets warm.

“It’s wonderful to be teaching in person, and I’m grateful that Colgate met the needs of faculty and students,” Staley said.

Contact Erin Knox and Lily Haynes at eknox@colgate.edu and lhaynes@colgate.edu.

TEACHING IN TRAILERS: In dealing with changing seasons and COVID-19 restrictions, the University implemented new classroom modulars, including one outside 113 Broad Street.

Val Deleon

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February 19, 2021

The Colgate Maroon-News

A-5

Students and Faculty Respond to COVID-19 Testing Mishaps Continued from A-1 Associate Vice President for Campus Safety Dan Gough emphasized the importance of COVID-19 testing to maintain campus safety.

“The [county and statewide] infection rates right now are still significantly higher than they were in the fall,” Gough said.

“Because of the higher infection rates, it is exponentially more important that we identify positive cases and close contacts of positive cases as early as possible to control the infection on campus.”

The delay in results caused by those who missed their initial testing times prolonged the University’s universal quarantine and delayed progression to Gate 1.

“We had to wait for those 50 extra results to come in, so that added a day to the end of quarantine. I was originally scheduled to meet with the [Health Analytics Team] and look at those results on a Wednesday, and we had to move it to a Thursday because we weren’t going to have all the results back in time,” Gough said. “That continues to be the case for the rest of the gates. And the reason being is because we can’t accurately assess the public health status if people aren’t going to testing.”

A number of students who appeared at their scheduled time and were tested mistakenly received an email saying they had not, according to Millard.

“There were a small number of students who were tested and then received my message related to noncompliance,” Millard said. “This is the result of a delay in our testing provider’s system sending an update to our internal student checklist system. In every case it was rectified and their results were matched in both systems. In these situations, students are not responsible for any Community Health violation.”

Sophomore Matt King recalled feeling confused and concerned after receiving a notice from the University that said he had failed to fulfill his testing requirement even though he appeared at his allotted time and location and took his test.

“When I first got the email, I was freaking out and started to try and fix the problem while I was in class,” King said.

“I was pretty worried about the possible repercussions so I was emailing everybody I could to try and fix the problem.”

He remarks that, while stressful, the situation was resolved in a timely manner.

“The whole problem took place during both my morning classes, so I was not really able to focus on them. I first heard back from someone after about a half hour and the entire situation was resolved in about two hours,” King said.

As an additional measure to confirm the accuracy of the University’s testing records during surveillance testing and prevent a delay in matching records, students will now be asked to present their ’Gate Card when checking in for their test.

“That way, we can confirm a student’s test has been completed by their check-in status and their results rather than waiting for our testing partner to report the testing sample has been entered into their system,” Millard said.

Surveillance testing began the week of Feb. 8 with the University’s entrance into Gate 1. During Gates 1 and 2, all members of Colgate’s on-campus community will be tested every two weeks.

After receiving test results from the first week of surveillance testing, Jack reported that there were no new cases of COVID-19 in her Feb. 12 Colgate Digest email. However, Jack also wrote that not all students selected for this round of testing appeared for their appointment.

“About 10–15% of students skipped their testing appointments, so we will be missing crucial data when we do a complete review of this week’s numbers.

And, as we know, data drive our progress through the Gates,” Jack wrote.

Casey expanded on the importance of student compliance with surveillance testing.

“If 100 people aren’t [attending their surveillance test appointment] then the whole thing is worthless,” Casey said.

TESTING TROUBLES: Students check-in at arrival where University staff checked for completion of health education, Commitment signature and test results.

Colgate University Facebook Page

“That is how it goes. If a certain percent are not tested, then all the other tests are barely useful.”

Those who miss their scheduled surveillance test will receive a warning letter. Students will have a short window of time to make up their test.

“If testing is not complete in that make-up window, they will be asked to depart campus and to complete the semester in a remote learning format for the remainder of the semester without further warning,” Millard said.

The compliance rate for post-arrival testing in the Fall 2020 semester was considerably higher than the current rate, causing concern among administration members.

In terms of all violations to the Commitment to Community Health, Millard noted fewer reports of mask violations on campus than last semester. However, she also noted a number of increases in other violations.

“We are noticing an increase in violations at the Wendt where students are required to close-contact quarantine or isolate in place.

Because of the seriousness of these violations in terms of infection control, these violations are treated seriously. We have also seen more cross-residence hall visitation and in-room

gatherings this term than we did at this time last fall,” Millard said.

As of Feb. 14, commitment violations stood at low alert and was trending towards increasing alert on the Health Analytics Dashboard.

“We do plan to notify parents and families earlier as we follow up on Commitment to Community Health violations. Our objective is to mitigate the public health risk as swiftly and effectively as possible; we believe the partnership between students, the University and families will be the most effective way to do that,” Millard said. “Enforcement of the Commitment to Community Health is our obligation to all students.

Students’ obligation to one another and to the University is to comply with this Commitment so that we do not have to ask students to depart campus.”

Contact Josie Rozzelle and Ethan Cherry at jrozzelle@colgate.edu and echerry@colgate.edu.

Colgate University Turns 113 Broad Core Study Area into COVID-19 Testing Site Continued from A-1 “A lot of people drafted emails regarding why they don’t like the decision about the Core based on the social reasons, mental health reasons, educational reasons, and for health and safety reasons. People including myself were kind of concerned with the fact that there are going to be so many people coming everyday to this building to get tested for COVID-19 and then they’re going to be walking down the same staircase as us and touching the same door handle,” Steinmetz said.

Williams articulated that, despite the administration reaffirming their decision to have the Core be a COVID-19 testing site, it is best to come to terms with this new situation.

“I’m not planning to continue to pursue advocating for the change because I feel that [administration] answered the call and shut it

down pretty succinctly. I’d be wasting my energy to continue trying to make that change happen,” Willams said. “At some point, you adapt and you move on, and the culture changes. We’re not using that space anymore, so we’ll find other spaces on campus to see 113 [Broad] members.”

In light of the Core no longer being a study space, the facilities staff will install furniture, televisions, ping pong tables and pool tables across the four buildings of the 113 Broad Street complex for students to use. Currently, residents can use folding chairs and foldable tables set up on their floors.

Outside of 113 Broad is a modular classroom for students to study after 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays. On weekends, the modular classroom is available the entire day for studying.

In response to these accommodations, Steinmetz reiterated the Core’s significance as a place for studying and socializing for 113 Broad Street residents.

“I don’t think it’s accommodating enough,” Steinmetz said. “They finally put some furniture out in the common area right outside of my room, which included a foldable plastic long table and some folding chairs. They just added one or two small wooden tables, but that’s really not enough. People see the people on their floor every single day.”

In an email from Assistant Director of Residential Life Amanda Stewart to 113 Broad Street residents sent Feb. 12, Stewart explained that the Office of Residential Life will provide new furniture and recreation equipment, such as study tables, chairs, foosball table and air hockey tables, expected to be installed in lounges and basement lounges on Feb. 24.

Williams showed concern that students might study and socially interact with each other in bedrooms and put each other at risk as a result of the Core no longer being a study space.

“I think students are going to be going in and out of one another’s rooms far more often as a result of this, which makes the students who are most nervous about COVID-19 in a really tough position. Particularly if one person is not nervous about getting COVID-19 and wants to have people over because they have nowhere else to be social, or to do schoolwork with a classmate and their roommate doesn’t want that,” Williams said.

Contact Finn Schuemann at fschuemann@colgate.edu.

Commentary

February 19, 2021

Commentary B-1

The Colgate Maroon-News Volume CLIV, Issue XVII • February 19, 2021

Lauren Hutton • Emily Rahhal Editors-in-Chief

Kelsey McGeough • Celine Turkyilmaz

Sustainability: Carbon Neutrality Is Great, but What’s the Next Step?

Executive Editors

By Anya Steinmetz

Miller Downer

Staff Writer

Managing Editor

Kirby Goodman

Multimedia Manager

Nick Francoeur Business Manager

Jace DeMar • Alena Maiolo Copy Editor

Ellie Lawrence Senior Editor

Greta Ferdinand • Lalana Sharma News Editors

Amarachi Iheanyichukwu • Eva Wen Commentary Editors

Marissa Volkman

Arts & Features Editor

Ignacio Villar

Bakers Dozen Editor

Zach Schiller • Aaron Silverstein Sports Editors

Tommy Williams

Head Photography Editor

Ali Davis • Grace Feingold • Jared Rosen Photography Editors Assistant Editors

Ethan Cherry • Nicole Dienst • Josie Rozzelle • Hanna Murphy Michelle Shannon • Amanda Fuchs • Raymond Hua Sophia Zanussi • Jessica Argento • Ani Arzoumanian Elizabeth Shaw • Hunter Firment • Aaron Notis

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Colgate students often hear about how the University has achieved carbon neutrality, but what does that really mean? It is comforting to hear that Colgate is doing something positive for the environment, even if you do not know the exact definition of it. However, it is important to understand what it means for our school to be carbon neutral.

It can be argued that universities and other institutions should actually strive to be carbon negative; but for now, we need to first understand what carbon neutrality is, how Colgate achieved it and what steps Colgate is taking to make even more sustainable progress possible on campus.

For an institute to be considered carbon-neutral, its net carbon emissions must be zero. This means that the amount of carbon a source emitted must be equal to the amount of negative carbon emissions by the source. Removing carbon emissions from the environment entails owning or purchasing carbon offsets.

These can be in the form of forests, solar panels, wind farms or anything else that replaces a source of carbon emissions. In simpler terms, based on a metric created by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person emits 8,887 grams of carbon dioxide per year by driving their car. For a person to make their car-based carbon footprint neutral, they could plant 1,306 trees over the next 10 years. Those 1,306 trees would sequester 8,887 grams of carbon dioxide. That person could also avoid burning that same amount of fossil fuels by replacing 3,000 lights with LED light bulbs. A person can avoid burning fossil fuels through solar power, wind turbines, light fixtures and recycling. A person can also make efforts to sequester carbon emissions through plants as they actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon neutrality does not mean that institutions are not emitting any carbon dioxide, it simply means that the net carbon emissions are zero.

Colgate has only made efforts to protect the environment a priority in approximately the last decade. In 2011, Colgate established its Climate Action Plan which included the goal of making the campus carbon neutral by 2019. To achieve this goal, the University had to make important changes in its regular everyday functioning.

Changes were made in recycling, composting, light fixtures, water and

electricity consumption, switching the paper sources and even creating “low mow” areas on campus regarding gardening. The school also implemented no idling policies, trayless dining in Frank and encouraged employee commutes through biking or carpooling.

Small changes such as switching to “low-flow” showerheads in residence halls reduced 90 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Changes such as these add up in reducing hundreds of metric tons of carbon dioxide. Colgate also invested in reworking the entire heating plant on campus to accommodate more carbon-neutral biomass. Previously, it has burned fuel oil which is one of the largest contributors to fossil fuel emissions. Lastly, Colgate invested in forest sequestration in Patagonia Sur, Argentina. This source offsets 5,000 tons of carbon. About one third of Colgate’s carbon offsets are from the Patagonia Sur source. This entire project was vital for achieving carbon neutrality but it came at a cost. About $8 million dollars were spent on reworking Colgate to accommodate the carbon neutrality goal. However, about $7.3 million of the budget was spent on upgrading the heating plant. Colgate made the vital investment to achieve carbon neutrality and has set an example for colleges across the country to do the same.

Colgate’s dedication to the environment has made an incredible impact. However, there is still more that can be done. In 2017, Colgate published its Bicentennial Plan for a Sustainable and Carbon Neutral Campus. This plan laid out ways that Colgate can continue to be carbon neutral through campus operations. There is also a strategy of increasing knowledge regarding climate change among the students on campus. This is likely to increase sustainable behaviors through individuals. Colgate’s Office of Sustainability currently offers programs such as Sustainability 101 to learn about adapting sustainable practices for PE credit. The Office of Sustainability also holds events like 13 Days of Green and has committees that encourage sustainable behaviors by students. The work that the Office is doing is ensuring that Colgate sticks to its sustainable plan. To strive for carbon negativity would mean that students need to put in the work to be sustainable in their everyday lives.

It is time for students to take control to strive for further sustainable achievements at Colgate through their behavior.

Contact Anya Steinmetz at asteinmetz@colgate.edu.

Want to write about sustainability on campus? Have a political opinion you need to share?

Email us at mncommentary@gmail.com!

The Colgate Maroon-News

B-2

February 19, 2021

Former President Trump’s Impeachment What’s Left

Being Right

The Impeachment Upholds Democracy

Where Has My Party Gone?

By Chase O’Brien-Steele

By Marc Moreira

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

This past week, the Senate convened to hear evidence, and eventually, vote, in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. The trial had been anticipated since the House formally submitted impeachment articles against Trump in the waning days of his presidency. The articles accuse Trump of “incitement of insurrection” against the U.S. government, referring to his speech on Jan. 6 before the U.S. Capitol riots. On Saturday, the Senate voted to acquit Trump, with a tally of 56-44.

Both sides had compelling arguments. The Democrats, however, were always on the offensive.

To impeach Trump, 17 Republican votes were required in order to fulfill the two-thirds majority needed to convict the President. For the Democrats, it wasn’t enough to show video evidence of the horrifying events of Jan. 6. Their case rested on their ability to demonstrate that Trump enabled the violence through his inflammatory rhetoric, thus endangering the safety of lawmakers in the Capitol, and as an extension, American democracy.

Besides six swing votes, the Republicans remained loyal to Trump, even now that he’s out of office. Many alleged the hearings were unconstitutional, as Donald Trump is no longer president and thus can’t be impeached. Others dismissed the Democratic efforts of impeachment as simply unnecessary given Trump is no longer president. Finally, there are those Republicans that simply don’t believe Trump is to blame for what happened in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6.

No matter the side of the aisle, one can’t help but marvel at the Democrats’ persistence in bringing down Donald Trump. A primary motivator for the Democrats to impeach Trump, even if he presently can’t do anything to damage the country, is the possibility of a campaign in 2024. If impeachment succeeded, Donald Trump would have no longer been eligible for a second term in addition to losing the benefits that former presidents have historically enjoyed, such as Secret Service protection. A Trump campaign in 2024, let alone a victory, would derail all that the Democrats have worked for in the past couple of years. However, with his acquittal, it’s possible that Trump runs again in 2024.

Impeachment was always extremely unlikely, perhaps impossible in our current environment.

Nevertheless, the exercise in democracy that these trials represent is heartening. Holding a president accountable for his actions while in office will always be necessary for the upholding of democracy. While Trump is a private citizen now, he wasn’t on January 6. Leaving office doesn’t mean Trump escapes from accountability for his actions and words. Regardless of the result, the intentions of Democrats, and Republicans too, sustain the Democratic principles of this nation.

Contact Chase O’Brien-Steele at cobriensteele@colgate.edu.

The last Gallup poll conducted when Donald Trump was still president saw him at an approval rating of 82% among Republicans between Jan. 4 and Jan. 15. Of the 50 Republicans in the Senate, had 82% of them voted to acquit Former President Trump on the charges of impeachment, 41 Senators would have voted to acquit. Since 43 voted to acquit, President Trump would seem to have a higher approval rating within the Republicans in the Senate than the party. Nevertheless, the seven Senators who voted to convict the President not only demonstrated the popularity of President

A SOURCE OF DIVISION: Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial has proven to be a contributor to the growing tensions in the Republican Party.

The Guardian

Trump within the Republican Party, but they also must be in tune with the rest of the country.

Gallup also found that in the same period, 50% of Americans self-identify as Independents, with the split between Republicans and Democrats being even. That coupled with another poll saying how Americans think the U.S. lost more ground than made progress with President Trump, the Republican party is in a complicated spot. Republicans should focus on moving past President Trump and try focusing on building the future of the party. Besides the norm that once the president leaves office, they no longer are the head of a party, President Trump himself is so unpopular amongst Americans that it would serve them better to distance him from the party.

Republicans also showed a disgusting double standard that leaves us further unpopular. With Senator Ernst saying comments such as “they won’t get their norms, they won’t get anything” after being asked about witnesses, it gives Democrats and Americans reason not to want to cooperate with them. The impeachment also shows how some prominent Republicans would be more willing to work with Q-Anon conspiracy theorists than with regular centrists. The political maneuver to make the Republican Party so small that only the most fanatic Trump supporters can be identified amongst them would only ensure that a Republican never wins the White House again.

Personally, I believe the House managers presented an extremely well-done case as to why President Trump should be convicted. The lawyers who represented President Trump were ill-prepared to answer questions, provided irrelevant comments and I find it hard to believe an impartial juror would find their case compelling.

What is even more compelling was that lead impeachment manager Representative Raskin was able to make his case just a month after he lost his son. Republicans should feel embarrassed that President Trump could not get better lawyers.

A second impeachment trial of President Trump highlights the growing divides in the party of the consequences for its future. The party should have committed to its plan after their loss in 2012 in building up the base of the party: reaching out to minority groups and working on issues affecting the middle class.

Contact Marc Moreira at mmoreira@colgate.edu.

What You Need to Know About the O-Shot

By Graci Galvez Staff Writer

In last week’s Minus the City, I mentioned how Dr. Jennifer Lincoln spoke on the phenomenon of the O-shot. Before then, I had no idea this was an actual medical procedure, and I’m sure that I wasn’t alone in this. So let’s talk about whether the procedure is a miracle vaginal healer or indicative of the failures of sex-ed.

As some might already know, the O-shot procedure involves the injection of plasma rich platelets, or PRP, taken from your own blood, into the clitoris, the clitoral hood and inside the vagina, into the vaginal walls. The procedure is said to increase overall arousal in that area, making it easier for women to orgasm both through clitoral stimulation and vaginal penetration.

The same concept–using your blood as medicine–is a popular trend. Kim Kardashian’s

blood facial, or the “Vampire Facial,” involves the injection of your own blood into your face, which is said to rejuvenate the skin.

PRP therapy is also used by athletes for its healing properties, allowing them to quickly recover from various injuries.

In these cases, PRP displays restorative results, but is the inability to orgasm vaginally something that needs to be restored? Can a vagina really be broken in need of healing?

The use of PRP to improve sexual satisfaction was initiated by Dr. Charles Runels, who says the idea struck him after an encounter with a “beautiful, tall” patient who explained having a tough time achieving any sort of arousal. Dr. Runels told his patient about the idea and she allowed him to perform the procedure on her. That night he received a text from her saying she was absolutely dumbfounded by the results, having orgasmed within a

couple of minutes of using a vibrator on medium speed. He was completely elated and surprised that her results were so quick, given this type of therapy usually takes 8 weeks to “do its job”, while her results took a couple of hours.

Runels claims the O-shot is backed by medical science, although there is no peerreviewed literature on the use of PRP to “bring back” orgasms in women. Runels says there have been studies done to support it; there are a total of three studies done, one of which was only done on 3 women, which does not even seem like a legitimate study.

And still, these studies focus on the effect of PRP on inflammation due to vaginal mesh, not on orgasms. The one study conducted

by Runels himself involves 11 women with different diagnoses, 64% of which noted some form of improvement. Dr. Jen Gunter, another OB/GYN committed to debunking sexual myths, explained her amusement at

the fact that Runels renamed his office as “Medical School” in this paper, and not to mention, misspelled the word dyspareunia several times.

If you do your research, all the signs scream “don’t do it.” But one can’t help but wonder, “then why does it exist? Why is it so popular and why do women continue to have the procedure?” Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies Meika Loe says it all points to the failure of sex-ed curricula.

“Since we don’t have comprehensive sex-ed, profit-making ventures like the O-Shot do this work for a pretty penny, once again turning women into medical guinea pigs,” she said. “I find this to be a troubling reality. It reinforces our medical quick-fix culture, raises gendered insecurities, exploits sexual consumerism and doesn’t help us make progress structurally when it comes to major gaps in sex education.”

Contact Graci Galvez at ggalvez@colgate.edu.

February 19, 2021

Arts & Features

Arts & Features C-1

The Colgate Maroon-News

Local Artist's "Living in Limbo" Exhibition Tackles Border Crisis

By Rose Corcoran Staff Writer

At the Hamilton Center for the Arts, local nature artist Bill McLaughlin’s “Living in Limbo: Portraits from the Border” exhibition provides an achingly poignant glimpse into the plight of migrants stranded at the border due to the Trump administration’s "Remain in Mexico" policy, which demands that asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border be returned to Mexico to wait for the duration of their immigration proceedings. The profits from the exhibit, which director Kathy Herold states has been extended to February 20, will go directly to the non-profit migrant aid group Border Angels. In December 2019, McLaughlin traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, where he spent several weeks working with Hugo Castro of Border Angels to visit shelters, meet migrants, listen to their stories and ask permission to include them in his collection of retratos con dignidad — portraits with dignity.

As portraits, these photographs are intended to reflect the strength and power of the migrants, rather than simply photographing human suffering for documentation purposes. The portraits are arranged such that as you make your way through the winding corridor to the back of the gallery, the faces look out at you from all sides, creating a crowd of migrants around you as if to place you in Tijuana with them. All of the photographs are black and white, underpinning the collection with sophistication and significance. A myriad of faces looked upon the viewers from the walls — solemn-faced young couples, smiling, hopeful children, a mustached young man with his chin lifted in pride and a bundled-up trio huddled in anguish by the gates closed to them. Looking at these migrants, one experiences the depth and spectrum of what it means to be human.

“I hope that they will come away recognizing themselves in these photographs. It's really that simple. They have risked their lives and sacrificed everything to make this journey. If we can see

ourselves — our hopes, our dreams, our fears — in them, then this project will have been a success,” McLaughlin said of his goal for viewers’ connection to his work.

A significant source of inspiration for the exhibition was the severity of this border crisis and how migrants are portrayed in the media.

McLaughlin, a longtime activist for environmental and human rights issues, applied his artistic abilities to his activist passions to create this exhibition. His work intentionally presents the migrant experience in a raw, dignified and empathetic manner to connect us to the people victimized by the “Return to Mexico” policy.

He simultaneously strives to strip away and criticize politics. The portraits allow us to view the migrants in a more intimate way than an average photograph, and that sense of closeness forces us to consider the political decisions that led to the migrants’ current position in Tijuana.

Migrants were too often “otherized” and painted as a threat by the Trump administration's rhetoric. McLaughlin says that during his time in Tijuana, he experienced kindness from the migrants that is starkly at odds with the harsh, narrow-minded depiction of them in the media. They shared meals with him, made sure he had a blanket in his tent, invited him to chat over a cup of coffee and shared their personal stories. McLaughlin encountered many migrants who traversed over a thousand miles of treacherous terrain to flee brutal gang violence, suffocating poverty and rampant political corruption. These migrants have risked everything for the small chance of survival and success in the United States and are resigned to prolonging the danger of their journey — yet they still have the capacity to be hopeful and kind.

“This is a humanitarian crisis created not by hurricanes or earthquakes, but by the callous stroke of a pen. And now, made exponentially worse, by a deadly pandemic,” McLaughlin declared.

PORTRAITS FROM THE BORDER: Bill McLaughlin looks to capture migrants stranded at the U.S. Mexico border due to Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy with dignity.

Grace Feingold

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: The exhibition draws upon McLaughlin's activist sensibilities.

Grace Feingold

Because of the perils they fled in their home countries, especially gang violence in crime-ridden cities like Tijuana, there are many more migrants who did not consent to being photographed.

However, those who did want to be photographed were eager. The children, noted McLaughlin, were so excited for their portraits that they dressed up as best they could and struck dramatic poses. Their bright faces and boundless, youthful energy was at odds with the desperate, exhausted conditions surrounding them.

It was the image of a child that finally pushed McLaughlin to go to Tijuana. He saw the harrowing photograph of 32-month-old Angie Valeria

and her father Oscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, both of them drowned and lying face down in the Rio Grande after trying to enter the United States.

They, like the migrants photographed for “Living in Limbo,” took the risk of that journey because they believed so strongly that the lives they left behind were more dangerous than the uncertain future in front of them. They believed that their families could and should have more than the lives they were born into, and seeking asylum here presented a chance to fulfill that truly American dream.

Contact Rose Corcoran at rcorcoran@colgate.edu.

Colgate Arts Council Presents Virtual "Redrawing Masculinity" Workshop

By Paulina Prosnitz Contributing Writer

Thirty-five Colgate community members spent a rather unconventional Wednesday evening this week drawing male figures in various levels of nudity over Zoom. Redrawing Masculinity, a two-hour workshop sponsored by the Colgate Arts Council, commenced on Feb. 10 with an introduction from Associate Professor of LGBTQ Studies Danny Barreto. The three artists leading the workshop were Briden Schueren, Paul Richmond and James Allen. In addition to providing technical advice and conversation points, the artists in turn also served as the models for the participants to sketch.

The organizers and leaders of the event repeatedly emphasized the workshop’s inclusivity, survivor-centrism and presence as a safe space for compassionate discussion. A representative from Haven was on hand and made available for private messaging should the need arise.

The workshop began with introductions by each artist, followed by instructions for how to draw the human form, ensuring that even the most inexperienced of participants could follow along. The easy banter and abundant laughter between the three artists immediately revealed to the participants the deep level of friendship between the three men. The participants were made up of students, faculty, alumni and members of the local and nationwide Colgate community.

The first set of poses entailed the artists posing one-at-a-time in three two-minute

MASCULINE FORM: Three artists posed nude while discussing their sexual identity and experiences of gender to foster both art and reflection on what masculinity means.

Grace Feingold

poses. The second set of poses increased the amount of time to three minutes, but shorted the amount of poses to two. In the third and final set of poses, each artist posed once for an admirable length of five minutes.

Senior Jake Gomez reflected on the unique nature of the workshop.

“You would think that drawing three men posing nude, live on Zoom, would be awkward and uncomfortable. It wasn't. The way that the workshop was paced and delivered created such a relaxing, safe and welcoming environment," Gomez said. "As we proceeded through the different phases of sketching the three men posing, they would carry along a conversation about how societal expectations concerning masculinity have affected them in their lives... because what was centered was the conversation, the fact that the three of them were posing nude was not jarring or uncomfortable.”

“Everybody’s drawings are valid, it’s all good, even if you make us look ridiculous we still love you, and in my case, you’re probably accurate anyway,” joked Paul Richmond. A long-time resident of Monterey, Calif., Richmond is an internationally recognized visual artist and the Associate Art Director for Dreamspinner Press.

The discussion revolved primarily around the artists’ experiences as members of the LGBTQ community. The artists shared stories from their childhood about coming to terms with their sexuality, their experiences coming out and the

various times they’ve encountered moments of conflict with their masculinity.

Richmond opened up the conversation to participants, inviting anyone to share their own experiences of conflict with their gender or sexuality.

“If you’ve been made to feel like you didn’t measure up to any particular societal standard that would be a perfectly good story to share,” Richmond said.

Many participants felt comfortable sharing their own experiences of friction with gender and sexuality, ranging from childhood memories to on-campus stories. The conversation even covered the notorious gendered floor division in Colgate’s own Trudy Fitness Center.

In the workshop’s final 30 minutes, participants were invited into three breakout rooms in order to continue discussions with the artists on a more personal and intimate level. By the end of the session, closer bonds had been formed between everyone on the Zoom call and any preliminary hesitations or discomfort about the subject matter had almost certainly been quenched.

Sophomore Lucy Bischof was especially appreciative of the workshop experience: “I really loved how open Paul, Bridon and James were with sharing their experiences, and the discussion aspect of the workshop was super interesting.

As someone with little art experience, I didn't feel behind and it was a very welcoming space.”

Contact Paulina Prosnitz at piprosnitz@colgate.edu.

The Colgate Maroon-News

C-2

February 19, 2021

ALANA Hosts Chinese Calligraphy Workshop

By Shannon Ayres Staff Writer

The Organization of Asian Sisters in Solidarity (OASIS) and the ALANA Cultural Center hosted an evening workshop on Chinese calligraphy in honor of the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10.

The event was led by Fulbright scholar Abby Hsu, hailing from Taiwan, who taught the attendees about traditional calligraphy. Each attendee picked up a bag from the ALANA Cultural Center, which contained paper, brushes, an ink stone and an ink stick.

Hsu walked attendees through the different materials in the calligraphy kits and explained the different styles of each item. Some of the paper we were given was much thinner, almost resembling tissue paper. Hsu told us that the thinner the paper, the more exact the artist’s calligraphy can be, as the ink dries faster. She also explained how to identify different qualities of ink: expensive ink has an earthy smell to it whereas cheap ink has a chemical odor.

Additionally, Hsu presented a video about the traditional ink making process. The ink is made from pine soot, collagen from animals as well as incense or different organic materials for preservation. Examples include clove, white sandalwood, oriental sweetgum or pearl dust.

YEAR OF THE OX: Abby Hsu, top left, teaches traditional calligraphy alongside the history behind the Lunar New Year.

Grace Feingold

The session began by placing a small amount of water on the inkstone, and then rubbed the ink stick in a circular motion against the stone in order to transfer the pigment of the water. This process takes increasingly longer if a darker pigment ink pigment is desired, as we spent a good 30 minutes rubbing our ink sticks. Personally, my ink was still very light but I think I added too much water.

Junior Faith Christenson commented on the ink making technique, “It was a tedious process trying to balance the ink properly so that it would be optimal for the calligraphy, and yet it was kind of relaxing too.”

While preparing the ink, Hsu also introduced us to the history behind the Lunar New Year and the different animals. The traditional story is of The Great Race. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor made a calendar that pictured the first twelve to reach the Heavenly Gates. The story details how each animal crossed the river and reached the gate: first came the rat, followed by the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and finally the pig.

After finishing the ink-making process, Hsu detailed traditional Chinese messages for the Lunar New Year as well as how to write “ox.”

At the end of the lesson, Christenson reflected on her reasons for attending the event: “In general, I wanted to learn more about the holiday and be able to celebrate it along the way.

I thought attending one of the calligraphy events would be perfect! So much can be learned about culture through art forms and ways of expression.

This is especially true for the practice of Chinese Calligraphy. It is a beautiful art form and I enjoyed being able to use it to help welcome the Year of the Ox.” Contact Shannon Ayres at sayres@colgate.edu.

LGBTQ+ Student Listening Sessions Bring Student Concerns to Light

By Maya Karkhanis Contributing Writer

The Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives held a series of listening sessions that sought to identify issues affecting LGBTQ+ students at Colgate on Feb. 2, Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. The sessions focused on allowing a conversation to take place about the LGBTQ+ community’s experience on campus.

According to Tiffany Lane, the director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives at Colgate, the event was held “to give students an opportunity to voice their needs and concerns.”

The topics of the event varied from the need for more social spaces and more LGBTQ+ content in courses outside of LGBTQ studies and women’s studies, to how people can support the LGBTQ+ community outside of Colgate.

According to Lane, the most important issue affecting LGBTQ+ students at Colgate is the lack of visibility for transgender and non-binary people, as these students report feeling isolated and a lack of belonging.

“We have a small out trans population on campus, making it challenging for some students to connect with others with similar identities,” Lane said.

When asked how Colgate students can be allies to their peers in the LGBTQ+ community, Lane answered: “[Students can educate] themselves about issues impacting the community, get involved on campus to advocate for change and use their privilege to help underrepresented groups on campus.”

There are several ways students can take these actions on campus. The Office of LGBTQ+ Initia-

tives offers a variety of programming for students to become educated about the LGBTQ+ community and to learn how to offer support. A popular program is the LGBTQ Studies Program, which offers courses and a minor in LGBTQ Studies.

These classes can help students obtain a greater understanding about the LGBTQ+ community, including its history in different cultures.

Colgate also has resources for student members of the LGBTQ+ community who are seeking help or a place on campus that can better understand their experiences and identity.

Student-run groups such as Lambda and Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) as well as The ALANA Cultural Center, the Counseling Center, Haven, the Office of Equity and Diversity and the Shaw Wellness Institute offer supportive environments for members of the LGBTQ+

community. Additionally, some regional resources (not affiliated with Colgate) include ACR Health, CNY Pride, The Cortland LGBTQ Resource Center, The Transgender Health Services Network of CNY and many more.

It is clear that Colgate has more work to do before all LGBTQ+ students feel comfortable and included on campus, but local resources and University-sponsored events such as the Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives Listening sessions can aid in this endeavor. The Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives can be found in East Hall, for those who would like to become more involved in helping support the LGBTQ+ community on campus.

Contact Maya Karkhanis at mkarkhanis@colgate.edu.

Math Enthusiast Ben Orlin Uses Drawings and Jokes To Make Learning Math Fun

By Emma Gutmann Staff Writer

Colgate’s Math Club and Math Department welcomed author, teacher and avid math enthusiast Ben Orlin Feb. 9, who emphasized the importance of creating an inviting environment within which students can learn mathematics. He also discussed demystifying the subject’s reputation as dark magic and the resident storm cloud in the curriculum.

Orlin began his lecture by explaining how adults and children alike tend to shun math after they encounter a topic that is difficult to understand right away because it makes them feel brainless. He went on to argue that intelligence is only one of the thousands of factors that goes into excelling in math: the time you devote to it, your background and other contextual factors also contribute.

Throughout the lecture, Orlin encouraged attendees to open the virtual chat to share stories of times they felt particularly vulnerable learning something challenging. Both math majors and professors divulged stories of prior and current math battles that made them feel inadequate.

“Some of my professors chimed in and talked about how they’d had moments or taken classes where math made them feel stupid or unconfident in themselves. It seems obvious in a way... but I thought it was really nice to share that with each other. It was reassuring to hear that others had similar experiences — having some hard times with math and still carrying an enthusiasm and love for it,” junior Emma Hart said.

Through passive media such as books and videos as well as active work like puzzle-solving, math popularizers like Ben Orlin and well-known Youtuber 3Blue1Brown work to engender joy and intrigue and expunge shame and fear in students of any age.

Splitting his time as a writer and a teacher, Orlin discussed how he modulates between different techniques to effectively inspire learners depending on the setting. Speaking about his writing, (he notably published his text Math With Bad Drawings in 2018), Orlin highlighted his painstaking efforts to correctly punctuate his sentences and cartoon dialogues so as to create the optimal experience for readers. As a teacher, he fluidly refashions his plans to respond to that particular set of students’ struggles and adapt to their needs.

“If I had to talk to a young student struggling with math, I would tell them that A) math gets way more fun as you go along and feels way more meaningful, and B) that it’s a difficult subject and taking a second to understand something is totally okay. I would also recommend that they consider what they like about math. For me, it was the word problems and games, but I had to seek that stuff out on my own,” Vice President of the Math Club and junior Isabelle Sapountzis said.

Orlin found that students are often not responsive to textbook problems because they do not reflect math in real life. Now, the big projects he assigns are based on problems present in the real world, which allows students to get creative about the messiness of math’s art and science.

MATH WITH DRAWINGS: Orlin uses cartoons to teach math in a digestible way.

Grace Feingold

“I think our math majors are well aware of this — math is a lively subject and can be approached and appreciated in many different ways. It does involve a lot of active learning and by that, I mean struggling with problems and discovering the ultimate truths. This is true for both pure and applied math. Some of the best moments come after the truth dawns upon you. What Ben described in his talk would not surprise our math majors too much, but it can be a refreshing perspective for other people,” Assistant Professor of Mathematics Joe Po-Chou Chen says.

Orlin continues to uplift people through his talks and teachings by asserting that students’ struggles are not contingent on their intelligence

and, with patience and effort, answers will come.

He explains that there is no defined milestone in one’s math career where complexity falls away and clarity shines through unwaveringly because the beauty of mathematics lies in problem-solving.

“I think my favorite thing about Orlin’s book was when I understood the joke. I would never imagine in my freshman year of high school laughing at a math joke because I thought I was really bad at math. Understanding these jokes gave me a bit of satisfaction because I felt like my years in math finally paid off,” first-year Alina Vu said.

Contact Emma Gutmann at egutmann@colgate.edu.

The Colgate Maroon-News

February 19, 2021

C-3

The 'Gate Plate: Crusted Lemon Chicken Piccata

By Kristen Miquel Staff Writer

The beauty of living with a plethora of other students is that when it comes time to cook dinner, it is easy to delegate tasks, which makes the process easier. While it can be tempting to pop a frozen dinner in the microwave if you have too much homework, including your housemates in the cooking process is actually a great strategy to motivate yourself in the kitchen; more hands-on deck means each chef can tackle an individual part of the recipe, making the prospect of producing a full course meal on a school night a little less daunting. Besides, it allows for a fun group activity with the reward of a delicious dinner.

I encourage you to try this approach with your friends or family next time you want to cook something that seems more complicated!

SERVES: 2-5 people

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOK TIME: 20 minutes

EASY TIPS: Not a fan of broccoli? You can substitute it for any other vegetable of your choice. You can also save leftover vegetables to put in salads or sandwiches the next day!

INGREDIENTS: For the Chicken: 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, halfed ½ cup all-purpose flour Salt & pepper 4 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup lemon juice 2 lemons, thinly sliced ½ cup chicken stock ¼ cup white wine 2 tablespoons butter ¼ cup capers 3 slices of bacon, cooked and sliced ⅓ cup fresh parsley, for garnish

For the Pasta: One box of your favorite pasta (or other grain) Water, for boiling For the Broccoli: 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets 4 tablespoons olive oil 4 cloves garlic, chopped, Salt & pepper

INSTRUCTIONS: 1) Heat a large pot of water for the pasta. When it begins to boil, add the grain of your choice, let it cook, then drain with a colander and rinse.

2) Preheat the oven to 475°F. Add aluminum foil to a sheet pan, and spread the chopped broccoli florets out. Douse in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, then cook for up to 25 minutes, or until crispy.

3) Dredge the prepared chicken breasts in flour, salt and pepper. This will help to ensure the chicken is tender when cooking.

4) Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook each piece of chicken until it is almost cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let rest.

5) In the same skillet, add the chicken stock, wine, lemon juice and butter, and let simmer. Add the capers and bacon after a few minutes.

6) Add the chicken and lemon slices and allow to cook for 5 minutes in the sauce. This will help finish cooking the chicken, as well as allow for it to soak up the sauces.

7) Serve with pasta and broccoli, and garnish with parsley.

8) Enjoy!

Contact Kristen Miquel at kmiquel@colgate.edu.

1. “Go and Come Back,” by Fleeting Joys Many compare Sacramento’s own shoegaze duo Fleeting Joys to genre progenitors My Bloody Valentine, and frankly, the comparisons aren’t far off the mark. This being said, it’s not like it’s a bad thing to be akin to musical revolutionaries.

2. “The Big Gloom,” by Have A Nice Life Have A Nice Life manages to break through genre walls in unimaginable ways, effortlessly molding a unique sound with elements of post-punk, drone and shoegaze. While initially slipping under critical radar, the group’s 2008 album Deathconsciousness has in recent years come to garner a cult following with many praising its masterful use of lo-fi production and poetic lyricism.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER: Cooking recipes with a lot of moving parts can be daunting, but dividing up the responsibilities among friends leads to a faster, delicious and less intimidating outcome!

Kristen Miquel

7. “Be Glad You Create Anything,” by K15T A master at new wave production and progression, K15 prides his ability to blend jazz with contemporary EDM sounds, such as house and jungle.

8. “I Don’t Love Me Anymore,” by Oneohtrix Point Never Oneohtrix is the textbook definition of neo-psychedelia in its incorporation of ambient and sound collage characteristics that serve to create an increasingly lush and avant-garde soundscape.

9. “Inglan Is A Bitch,” by Linton Kwesi Johnson Jamaican dub poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson has long portrayed the experiences of being an African-Caribbean in Britain, tackling intersectional issues of classism and racism for the past 40+ years in the form of Jamaican patois performed over dub-reggae.

3. “South,” by Wu-Lu & Lex Amor Wu-Lu inexplicably and chaotically experiments with genre-defining characteristics of industrial hiphop, psychedelic rock and punk to create new-age rebellion anthems.

4. “Helmut,” by Cities Aviv Cities Aviv is the enigmatic project of Memphis-based Gavin Mays, a notable name in plunderphonics and experimental hip-hop. While many claim his 2020 album Immortal Flame to be ultimately disappointing, “Helmut” remains a standout track insofar as it perhaps best encapsulates Mays’s efforts in delving into much more abstract territory.

BY Miller Downer

Contact Miller Downer at mdowner@colgate.edu.

10. “Jesse James,” by Mushkilla & Dampé Mushkilla and Dampé are forerunners in current efforts to resurrect and modernize UK garage, springing (like many of their contemporaries) from London-adjacent communities with their own interpretations of how the sound could evolve.

11. “Don’t Tell (feat. Headie One),” by Hamza & Headie One Belgium-based rapper Hamza Al-Farissi, has long dominated the French Belgian charts as an important name in the French hip-hop and R&B scene. Headie One acts as an interesting foil to Hamza on this track, in some ways aiding Al-Farissi in his efforts to break into a larger audience.

5. “Alright,” by Jos Following the contemporary sounds of Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail is newcomer Josef “Jos” Kuhn, a 19-year-old bedroom pop and slacker rock artist from Nashville, TN.

12. “Blasé,” by Kiina & Goya Gumbani Goya Gumbani made his way to London by way of Brooklyn, eventually collaborating with Scottish producer Kiina to create The Lesser-Known, a meditative stream-of-consciousness project.

6. “Lucy Pearl,” by Bug Beach Bug Beach is an up-and-coming project that simultaneously branches into electronica as well as atypical art pop. In some ways, a comparison to a much calmer Glass Animals seems inevitable.

13. “i tried,” by slowthai slowthai’s recently released TYRON proves that Northampton’s foremost voice is here to stay in the rap game, building upon his already impressive discography. “i tried” is an impressive pivot for the typically unapologetic and boisterous Brit, using his platform to open up honestly to his listeners.

D-1 Baker’s Dozen

Baker’s Dozen

february 19, 2021

The Colgate Maroon-News

Health and Safety Services Learn all about health and safety services’ operations on campus, and the Colgate community members behind it all

Enforcers or Protectors?

Student Opinions on Colgate Campus Safety By evan robinson Contributing Writer

Ever since I arrived on Colgate’s campus in the Fall of 2018, enforcement of Code of Student Conduct violations by Campus Safety has been a divisive issue. The first upperclassman I met, only a day or two into my first-year orientation, told me and my friends to “watch out for Campo” before telling us about the great professors, the bitter cold and the joy of 3 a.m. Frank runs. Apparently, this was one of the first things that Colgate first-year had to know.

I guess my friends and I didn’t take these words to heart because over the next few months, we had plenty of interactions with Campus Safety officers, some great and some, not so much.

Over the past three years, I’ve learned that there is a fine line with some officers between helping students make better (and safer) decisions, and “looking” for ways to report students for Code of Student Conduct violations. It is this fine line that creates discontent among some students and fosters the divided perception between Colgate Campus Safety’s role as protectors versus enforcers in the eyes of the student body.

I’ve had some great experiences with Campus Safety officers, even when the interaction was prompted by an infraction. In those instances, I really felt like the officers had my best interests in mind and were ready to impart some words of wisdom. Junior Lydia Proskauer shares my sentiment. When I spoke to her last week, Proskauer praised Campus Safety

and the Colgate disciplinary policies, in particular, the medical amnesty policy that allows students to call for medical assistance without the fear of retrospective disciplinary action. Fellow junior Chase Hoyt echoed this, saying that there are some students who might not be here if it weren’t for this medical amnesty policy and the quick and thoughtful action of campus safety officers.

versity in Washington, D.C., and recalled that the Campus Safety there worked in tandem with the city police department, resulting in what was often a heavy-handed disciplinary approach.

“At Colgate, it is clear that the Campus Safety officers really care about the community. They aren’t here to get students in trouble, they are here to keep them safe,” Hogan remarked.

Tommy Williams

“At Colgate, if something goes wrong, I wouldn’t hesitate to call Campo [Campus Safety] immediately. I don’t know if I could say that about Campus Safety programs on other campuses,” Hoyt said.

In addition, Proskauer praises Campus Safety for their commitment to helping students out in any way they can.

“I’ve never heard of anyone else’s Campus Safety giving people rides in the cold or helping them go to pick up [their] packages,” she said.

Junior Thomas Hogan spent his first-year at George Washington Uni-

However, some students have had some more negative experiences which have colored their opinion, as well as the opinions of their peers, on the role of Campus Safety here at Colgate. Junior Max Foote recalls an incident in which he felt obliged to take responsibility for an empty alcohol container, one that was not his, thinking that this admission would be seen favorably by the officer and result in a slap on the wrist. To the contrary, he was written up and had disciplinary action taken against him.

Sophomores Orli Sweifach and Aliza Reinstein were surprised and somewhat distressed when Campus Safety officers went through their belongings during a routine Fire Drill inspection, seemingly looking for an unprompted violation.

Reports circulated on social media last semester charging that a male Campus Safety officer had made female students in the Townhouses uncomfortable when he entered their building unannounced without wearing a face covering, an incident which was investigated by the University.

In addition, Proskauer mentioned that, although she feels like Campus Safety officers do their best to be fair and protect students rather than get them in trouble, “it often depends on the mood of the officers, the time of day and the officers’ opinions of the particular students they are dealing with.”

Similarly, Foote said he thought that Campus Safety’s enforcement of infractions is not always commensurate with the gravity of the violation.

“If anything, some ‘major’ infractions are maybe not enforced enough. The fact that marijuana possession equates to four points on your record whereas possession of a fake ID equates to only one is ridiculous, in my opinion,” Foote said.

Yes, students understand that marijuana is an illegal substance in the State of New York, however, for minors, so is alcohol.

Some students would argue that a student binge drinking hard liquor is much more of a safety concern than a group of friends taking a walk on the Ski Hill and smoking a joint, however, this seems to be a concern that is associated with Campus Safety but which, in reality, stems from Colgate’s disciplinary policies.

Ultimately, upon a closer examination of student experiences with, and perceptions of, Colgate Campus Safety, perhaps the issue lies with Colgate’s Student Code of Conduct and the points system, rather than with the Campus Safety officers who are simply trying to do their job.

Hoyt concluded, “People can have their gripes with certain officers and certain policies but, at the end of the day, they do good work here and they do it in arguably the best way possible.”

Contact Evan Robinson at egrobinson@colgate.edu.

February 19, 2021

The Colgate Maroon-News

D-2

Students Critical of Personal Vehicle Policies

Tommy Williams

By sophie naylor Contributing Writer

In an effort to learn from the fall semester and prevent COVID-19 cases from spreading across campus after the winter break, restrictions and guidelines have been updated for the spring semester. While shorter periods between “Gates” and more options for meals during the universal quarantine were widely supported by students, changes to student vehicle policies has upset students across campus.

Modifications were made to personal vehicle policies this semester in order to allow students to drive and park on campus after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

What has students concerned, however, is the enforcement of a policy that was seen as more ambiguous last semester — the ban on passengers in personal vehicles.

In an email sent out in December, Vice President and Dean of the College Paul McLoughlin II detailed some policy changes for the spring semester and seemed to put emphasis on personal vehicle restrictions.

“Because enforcement of roommates or indirect family units is impossible, compliance with the Commitment to Community Health still requires one person per vehicle,” McLoughlin wrote.

The stricter policy seems to be the result of violations in the fall semester that resulted in new cases on campus.

Later in the email, McLoughlin wrote, “Of note, the only case of confirmed spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the fall semester was associated with sharing a vehicle.”

In the context of the pandemic, students primarily use their cars to get groceries. Senior Jacob Licker says that not allowing students to drive with passengers is a serious inconvenience.

“A friend of mine [is] the only person with a car in a four-person apartment. And usually... they would all do the shopping together… but now she’s the only one who can do the shopping for the apartment unless people want to take tons and tons of grocery bags on the cruiser,” Licker said. “It’s also really hard to do all the shopping yourself or to have to do all the driving yourself.”

Students without access to personal vehicles have a variety of ways they can get groceries, but their feasibility is questionable. Last semester, Licker was deemed a close contact and had to quarantine in his apartment with his roommates. Their options for groceries were limited to Instacart and individual store delivery programs.

“Instacart was so overwhelmed, it’d be days before we could get orders. And Parry’s has a $5 delivery fee, and you have to buy at least 20 bucks of groceries,” Licker said.

Beyond being both a financial and timely inconvenience for students, Licker says that the no-passengers policy raises accessibility concerns. As temperatures drop and students who live down the hill need to get to their classes, getting from the apartments to campus becomes dangerous.

“There are people… walking down to the Parker apartments, in like negative two degree weather at, like, 8:30 p.m. when it’s dark and snowing, and it’s just frustrating that if you don’t have a car you’re pretty screwed there,” Licker said. “It’s kind of, I’m going to use the word ableist here, to assume that everyone has the energy, the ability, the resources necessary to hike up the hill for in-person classes. And Lord knows remote classes don’t hold the same salt as in-person [ones] do.”

In normal years, Licker said that it was protocol for students with cars to drop others off in the lot behind Lawrence, cutting down on exposure to harsh weather conditions.

While campus cruisers are meant to serve this purpose, some students have concerns about their safety. Campus

cruisers are supposed to be running at reduced capacity in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions; however, Licker finds that they’re often overcrowded.

“Even the Express cruisers which go directly from Parker up the hill were full, you know, and we’re talking [pre-COVID-19] full, not [post-COVID-19] full. I’ve seen cruisers standing room only,” Licker said. “There’s no way you can be six feet apart, unless [it’s] one person per row… and it’s just not enforced, it’s not doable.”

Aside from their crowdedness, the inconsistencies with the cruiser schedules also makes them unpopular. Elisabeth Hartke, a first-year who brought her car to campus, described her frustration with the shuttles.

“You have to plan because… they’re late all the time, or they’re early or they just don’t show up. So you’re depending so much on that, [even] when I have [a vehicle] that I can depend on to be reliable.”

Students from different years seem to have the same willingness to follow additional guidelines while driving if it means that they can have passengers.

“If I’m living with my roommate anyway, I don’t see why we cannot drive in the same car to go grocery shopping, because we share a bathroom, we’re around each other without masks on. We could have our masks on in the car if that’s such an issue,” Hartke said.

Licker made a similar argument.

“If I’m allowed to sit buddy-buddy next to someone who lives all the way across campus in a completely different unit on a cruiser [that is] supposed to be at 50% capacity, but they’re overwhelmed right now... I don’t know why I can’t drive someone two minutes down the hill with the windows open six feet apart, or drive my literal roommate to go to the grocery store.”

With the introduction of more frequent testing, Hartke thinks that the passenger restrictions are too harsh.

“If you both tested negative, [they should] have something where I could request to take this person… in my car,” Hartke said.

Licker feels that the no-passenger policy is focusing on the wrong aspects of student life.

“It feels like the university is creating structural regulations to keep students in line, but really lacking in actual enforcement of the regulations that make a difference, you know, [like] mask-wearing policies, or social distancing,” Licker said.

As of the time of publication, the no-passengers rule is effective for the entire semester.

Contact Sophie Naylor at snaylor@colgate.edu.

Brian Bain: Life as a Campus Safety Officer During a Pandemic

By William Apostilica Staff Writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt made a serious impact on the college experience for all students. Many national universities have shut down their campuses due to the rise of cases, and there are few schools that have in-person learning in a safe environment. Colgate has excelled in the returning of students back to campus; however, they could not have done it without the help of Campus Safety.

Brian Bain is a campus safety sergeant at Colgate and has been a well-appreciated member of the team for seven years. During the pandemic, his work has become much more intense, as his staff is responsible for ensuring that the community abides by the Commitment to Community Health.

Sergeant Bain is originally from South Jersey and has lived in upstate New York for fifteen years. Before his employment at Colgate, he worked with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in the Corrections Division as a Corrections Officer.

“Colgate is a special place,” Bain said. “The family atmosphere makes it a fun place to be, whether working, attending sporting events or just visiting.”

Before the pandemic hit, working as a sergeant already included many different duties and responsibilities. Some of these entail making checks and securing buildings on campus, assuring the safety and security of all students, faculty and staff members, as well as responding to emergency situations on campus.

“Assuring that our students have the safest four years of their college career,” Bain said, is the ultimate philosophy behind his work.

Now with the pandemic, Bain is also responsible for attending online events to build a stronger rapport with the students and community members. The stress of COVID-19 has undoubtedly been a heavy weight during this time, yet Bain always pushes forward with a smile at work.

To him, the students make the added stress worth it. “[My personal favorite part of the job is] interacting with students and building stronger, professional relationships with them,” he said.

Aside from working as a sergeant, Bain enjoys being outdoors in his free time — and Colgate is the perfect place for a stroll on a beautiful warm or cold day. His favorite spot on campus is at the top of the steps outside of Persson Hall, looking down toward Taylor Lake. At the bottom of those steps, Bain notes that Donovan’s Pub is his favorite place to grab a bite on campus.

During the spring and summertime, Bain spends his free time fishing. In the colder months, he finds most of his time outside being spent in the woods deer hunting. He recently owned a couple of racehorses, which raced throughout the year in New York and New Jersey. The pastime is ideal as he enjoys watching horses race and being around horses in general — and the outskirts of Hamilton, N.Y. certainly have excellent spots for horseback riding.

Although this college year has been like no other, Bain is confident that things will improve, and the community is doing what they can to move through the Gates

Printed with permission of Brian Bain

of Reopening. While it is saddening that a majority of the 2020-2021 academic year has taken place remotely, thanks to Sergeant Bain and the other campus officers, Colgate has been able to move out of the universal quarantine and begin establishing a more open campus.

“We are still doing our best,” Bain said, and with time, he feels confident Colgate will progress and create a more normal college experience for students.

Contact William Apostolica at wapostilica@colgate.edu.

The Colgate Maroon-News

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february 19, 2021

Becca Overton: Coordinating SOMAC

By Megan herbruck Staff Writer

You may see them in their tactical pants and P-95 masks on calls in your residential area. They’ll have two bags, a stretcher, a stair chair, a clipboard and at least three providers responding to a call.

In times of sickness, overindulgence and medical emergencies, Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) is a reliable resource for the Colgate and Hamilton Community. The team of paid staff hired from the community and volunteers from the Colgate campus is prepared for any emergency and always ready to help people in need.

The 40 student volunteers in the program are led by a team of three training coordinators and three student coordinators, including Becca Overton.

Becca Overton, a junior concentrating in neuroscience and minoring in biology, is in her third year of volunteering at SOMAC. As a first-year on the pre-med track, Overton joined the SOMAC student program for the opportunity to give medical care to people in need. In her first year of volunteering, Overton was a student observer with SOMAC while enrolled in an emergency medical technician class. Now, in her third year, Overton has taken on the role of student coordinator.

“My role as student coordinator includes managing the student program which consists of around 40 students. I manage disciplinary

issues and act as a liaison between the student program and the community volunteers,” Overton said.

In her role, Overton also attends monthly board meetings with other representatives where she reports on the activities and performance of the student program.

“We interact with the Hamilton community on a daily basis… We often see people in what they would call the worst day of their lives [and] to be able to save someone in this situation is an incredible feeling,” Overton said.

Outside of calls, Overton volunteers on “stand-bys” for Colgate sporting events and the Farmer’s Market in town. In the past, SOMAC has also volunteered with Hamilton Elementary providing first aid tips and fun activities.

On campus 911 calls, Overton explained, Campus Safety is almost always on-hand.

“We interact with them on many calls and they have been an extremely helpful resource for us,” she said. Campus safety assists with unlocking gates, doors and providing demographic information. Oftentimes they are the first on scene, so SOMAC volunteers and Campus Safety have worked on stream-lining communication to provide the most efficient, effective care.

The SOMAC student program has gone through many changes since the spread of COVID-19. The program has increased its health protocols in an attempt to keep providers safe on potential COVID-19 calls, according to Overton.

“We have had to implement rules relating to cleaning the ambulance, wearing N95’s

Printed with permission of Becca Overton

and other sanitation rules,” she said. Sanitation equipment that has been added to the SOMAC protocols include UV light treatment and ozone treatment for all ambulances. Other rules limit the number of people allowed in the station at a time and require all student employees to wear masks while on shift.

Overton has found solace in the SOMAC workplace throughout the pandemic, as the day-to-day work has stayed relatively similar.

“This has been a place where I can return to my typical duties and feel like things are almost normal. This is something that I treasure greatly,” Overton said.

Outside of SOMAC, Overton enjoys spending time outside, hiking and running. She holds a research assistant position studying circadian rhythms in undergraduate students in relation to mood disorders in Professor Krista Ingram’s Biology lab. Overton is also the wellness chair in her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.

She is also excited to be starting a new

position as a vaccine distributor for Colgate this spring semester.

After graduation, Overton plans to combine her passion for both research and her drive for patient care.

“My long-term goal is to eventually attend graduate school and either specialize in emergency medicine or neurosurgery,” Overton said. “I love going to SOMAC everyday and interacting with students and community members. It is a time where I can be among people who enjoy doing what I do: medicine and giving back to the community. Over time it has become a part of who I am and integral to my character,” Overton said.

Contact Megan Herbruck at mherbruck@colgate.edu.

Meet the Woman Behind Campus Safety: Gert Neubauer

Printed with permission of Gert Neubauer

By ANA MASHEK Contributing Writer

You might recognize Gert Neubauer from posters around campus that invite students to “meet the smile behind the mask.” As Associate Director for Campus Safety, Neubauer is behind nearly every

move of the Campus Safety department — she currently oversees their daily operations, which include patrol, investigations, the dispatch communication center, gate card concerns and parking.

Neubauer is nearing the four decade mark of service at Colgate. She started working within the Campus Safety department as a patrol officer in July of 1983 and has climbed the ranks ever since. Although Neubauer grew up near Hamilton and attended a two-year community college where she studied criminal justice, she says, she had “no real knowledge of Campus Safety at a college campus” at that time.

In her final semester in college, however, Neubauer interned for the college’s campus safety department where she caught her first glimpse into this field of work.

After graduation, Neubauer left to work for an insurance company as a clerk reader for a year and a half. This gig was “just something to hold [her] over until [she] found this job” at Colgate, she said. However, becoming a campus safety officer wasn’t Neubauer’s ultimate plan. Her original intention was to serve as a state trooper, but she “just happened to fall into [Colgate] through a friend of [her] husband’s.” She even considered transitioning into a state trooper career after her first years of working at Colgate, but she ended up “really enjoying it and chose to stay.”

Colgate appeals to Neubauer for a number of reasons. She’s able to stay close to her large local family, and she claims cities aren’t her style anyways. She appreciates being able to recognize people within the Colgate community and knowing what department they’re in, and the opportunity to get to know students is another important factor for her.

In fact, she considers the interactions with students the most rewarding part of her job. When asked about her favorite part of her position, she mentioned the rapidly changing nature of the profession — she’s seen the department transition from “typing reports up on the typewriter” to using the computer software systems of today. She also mentioned that “the age of our clientele never changes,” which is something that “keeps [her] young.”

Neubauer placed an emphasis on the enjoyment she draws from “just being able to help someone out.” She explained that it could be as simple as sitting down to talk with and reassure someone about a parking ticket because it’s “really no big deal… we’re just trying to get people to comply.” If Neubauer’s not able to be of immediate help, she “know[s] where the resources are that can help.”

COVID-19 wise, some things have changed within the Campus Safety department, while

others, like Neubauer’s handling of the daily operations, have not.

“We work with [Colgate’s COVID-19] task force to make any COVID-19 [related] decisions, policies… We make things happen,” she said.

While Colgate’s patrol officers need to be on higher alert of behavior violations due to the Commitment to Community Health, the department is more active in other areas, too.

“It could be as simple as working with SGA to find some additional classrooms that could be open for studying, or it could be working with others within Colgate’s Emergency Operations Center to set up the surveillance testing areas,” Neubauer said.

On her down time, Neubauer and her husband enjoy maintaining and hiking on their 17 acres of property. Additionally, the two have a dog and a sports car and like to go to car shows and dinner with their friends.

When reflecting on her Colgate career, Neubauer is pleased with the experience: “If I had to do it again, I certainly would.”

Contact Ana Mashek at amashek@colgate.edu.

Read more about health and safety issues at Colgate in next week’s investigation into the policing of Greek and non-Greek spaces on campus

February 19, 2021

Sports S-1

sports Maroon-News

NCAA Selection Committee Early Reveal Analysis

INSIDE:

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It’s Time to Give Superstar Steph Curry the Respect He Deserves S-2

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Women’s Volleyball Set to Start Spring Play

By Jack Schoen Staff Writer

The Colgate Women’s Volleyball team will begin its schedule on Feb. 19 with a match against Army. The team was ranked as the second-best in the Patriot League preseason poll, behind only American University. Led

by Head Coach Ryan Baker, the Raiders are poised to make a serious run in the Patriot League tournament and perhaps even walk away with a championship banner.

The Raiders have a healthy mix of young talent and decorated veterans.

The team’s returning players include senior outside hitter Alli Lowe, who was both Patriot League Player of the Year in 2020 as well as Preseason Player of the Year for this season. But the team is far from senior-heavy. When asked about the current construction of the team, Coach Baker noted how he continues to be impressed by not only his starting seniors, but the improvement of sophomores and juniors from last season as well. Additionally, the team’s contributions from their freshman have greatly exceeded his expectations.

Coach Baker went on to mention

that he was really encouraged by the way that the team has come together, and that he is shocked by how quickly his newer players have adjusted to the team’s culture and being a student-athlete in general.

But clearly, this season will be very different from any of the previous Coach Baker has led. As with any program or event, athletic or otherwise, this season will be greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Patriot League has placed each team in a division with other opponents that are closer geographically, as overnight trips have been banned. As a result, Colgate will only be permitted to play Army, Lehigh, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Bucknell and they may not be able to test their skills against some other top Patriot League schools. For instance, American and Navy were ranked first and fourth respectively in the preseason poll, and the Raiders would only be able to play them in the Patriot League tournament.

Coach Baker noted how these kinds of scheduling alterations could be a kind of double-edged sword for the Raiders.

“Not seeing [other top teams] in the regular season could be good or bad.

The good side is it may help us in seeding for the Patriot League tournament, but you also lose the opportunity to play some high-level teams during the season,” he said.

The new scheduling guidelines are also especially awkward for the Colgate team because it is the most remote University that plays Patriot League Volleyball. Coach Baker even joked that, as a result of the new rules, teams may be more tired playing Colgate when they travel to Hamilton but everything evens out as his team might be more tired when traveling to away games.

All of these factors make the season trickier, but it certainly does not make Coach Baker any less excited about his team, nor does it make him less thrilled to even have the opportunity to play at all. Many other institutions were forced to cancel their seasons altogether, but the Patriot League is moving forward with their season, giving the Raiders a chance to play and hopefully win. For that, Coach Baker and his team are extremely lucky and grateful.

“For any collegiate student to have some sense of normalcy

STARTING UP: Women’s Volleyball will begin their season on Feb. 19. The team is coming into this season ranked second by a Patriot League poll. @Colgate_VB

during a pandemic is incredibly challenging,” Baker said. “I’m so proud of Colgate and the Colgate students and the whole Colgate community.”

With that opportunity to practice and play, Colgate hopes to compete for a championship this year and Baker clearly believes that his team is more than capable of accomplishing their goal.

“I think we have a program that can certainly battle for a championship.

The question is do we have a program that can handle the ebbs and flows of a pandemic, the ebbs and flows of the uncontrollable. I think that [any] team that can manage all of the uncontrollables this season has a fighting chance.

I think this program and this group of women can certainly be one of the best this year,” Baker said.

Contact Jack Schoen at jbschoen@colgate.edu.

Looking Ahead to the 2021 NFL Offseason As Tom Brady Reigns Supreme, Quarterback Centered Offseason Begins

By Josh Belgrad Staff Writer

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now crowned as Super Bowl LV champions, attention is quickly turning from Tom Brady’s seven rings to an offseason that is expected to

have a lot of moving parts. Thus far, the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions have already swapped quarterbacks, and J.J. Watt has announced that he will part ways with the Houston Texans.

If these early transactions are any sign of what is to come, this NFL

SUPER BOWL LV: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the Super Bowl LV, and now fans look to see who which quarterbacks grab attention during the offseason.

The New York Times

offseason will be an active one with many stars on the move.

Looking at current quarterbacks who could move teams this offseason, none loom larger than Deshaun Watson. After being told he would be consulted on the search for the Texan’s next head coach and general manager, none of Watson’s suggestions were even offered an interview.

This reportedly has caused Watson’s anger level with the franchise to jump to a 10 and could lead to the star quarterback becoming the third franchise cornerstone to leave the team in the past year, following wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive end J.J. Watt. With Watson on the trade market, his likely destinations include the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets, the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins.

All of these teams could upgrade at quarterback this offseason, although the Dolphins did just draft Tua Tagovailoa in the first round last year.

The other big name quarterback that has demanded a trade and will

likely be on the move this offseason is Carson Wentz. The former second overall pick had a messy situation in Philadelphia this past season after getting sacked 50 times, the most of any quarterback in the league, even though he only played in 12 games. His ineffective play and loss of confidence resulted in him being benched in favor of rookie second round pick Jalen Hurts. Despite the firing of Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, Wentz has no desire to stick around for a new coaching staff and is reportedly still determined to get out of Philadelphia. Wentz’s most likely suitors are the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. With Phillip Rivers announcing his retirement, the Colts are in dire need for a new franchise quarterback for their playoff ready roster and are a top landing spot for Wentz, due in part to Colts head coach Frank Reich previously serving as Wentz’s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

In addition to the teams already mentioned, the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Washington Football Team are franchises that could surprisingly add one of the previously mentioned quarterbacks, or take a QB in the draft. This year’s draft class for quarterbacks is shaping up to be one of the deepest draft classes ever, with the possibility of having five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the draft alone. From Trevor Lawrence to Justin Fields and Zach Wilson alongside Mac Jones and Kyle Trask, there are several possibilities for teams to find their signal caller of the future this April.

This NFL offseason will have major implications on the makeup of the league next season as several teams vie to contend for Super Bowl LVI. For some teams, a couple of key additions or one special quarterback could turn championship aspirations into reality.

Contact Josh Belgrad jlbelgrad@colgate.edu.

The Colgate Maroon-News

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February 19, 2021

It’s Time to Give Superstar Steph Curry the Respect he Deserves

By T Brewer Staff Writer

Let me preface everything by saying this: I’m a huge Steph Curry fan. I can still remember watching his Davidson team in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where Curry won over fans as the “baby faced assassin” who drained 25-footers like they were layups and led the underdog Wildcats in their thrilling Elite Eight run.

Going into the NBA, there were big questions around his small frame and durability. Early on, it seemed these concerns were legitimate. Curry, although exciting, endured multiple injuries to his ankles, and many thought that his size and style of play just might not fit into the NBA game. However, this all began to shift in the 2012-2013 season, Curry’s fourth in the NBA. That year, he played 78 games, averaged just under 23 points and hoisted up almost eight threes a game, an astonishing number at the time.

That year, Curry was snubbed from the All-Star team, and critics were quick to point out that the Warriors style of play would never lead to championship success. By this point, Steph had found his perfect backcourt partner in Klay Thompson, a combination that was quickly dubbed “the splash bros.” Overnight, they became every kids’ favorite team. Nobody had ever shot the ball like they had. They had the ultimate green light and as soon as they stepped across half court you knew the ball had a good chance of going through the net. They became a champion for the people. A critically acclaimed, universally beloved team that was destined to follow in the footsteps of the ones before them (the seven seconds or less Suns, Run TMC Warriors, etc.), yet ultimately fall short of a championship.

We all have the luxury of knowledge now that we did not have back then. Nobody understood how Stephen Curry, a skinny, shoot first guard who was barely recruited out of high school would become the most influential basketball player of

his generation. The Warriors proved to the endless line of doubters that they were good enough to be champions in 2015, Curry’s first MVP season.

The next season, Curry put together one of the greatest individual seasons in the modern NBA. In averaging 30 points, seven assists and five rebounds, all while shooting 11 threes a game and bolstering shooting splits of 50/45/91 from the field, three-point line and free throw line respectively (ridiculous), Curry led his team to a record-breaking 73 regular season wins. If Draymond Green doesn’t get suspended for Game five of the NBA finals and a couple of more plays go the Warriors’ way, Golden State would have beaten Lebron’s Cavaliers for the second straight year and would have unquestionably been proclaimed the greatest team of all time.

What happens next is well documented.

Steph Curry decides to be the most unselfish superstar in NBA history and recruits Kevin Durant to the Warriors, a player who was probably a better overall offensive player than him and reduce the two-time defending MVP’s shot attempts. Of course, it didn’t matter, and Steph still proved to be one of the most valuable players in the league as the Warriors cruised to two more championships in 2017 and 2018.

Everybody began to follow the lead of the Warriors. Shooting became a priority, three-point attempts have boomed and clunky, rim-protecting big men have become a thing of the past.

In 2013, Roy Hibbert was seen as one of the most valuable players in a playoff series against LeBron simply because he was a big body that could cause havoc at the rim. Two years later, he was literally unemployable, as the Pacers (along with everybody else) were beginning to play a lineup that emphasized spacing and versatility to keep up with the gold standard that was the Warriors. The Roy Hibberts of the world should hate Steph Curry.

Curry is now 32 and leading a Warriors team that finds themselves in an interesting rebuilding situation with a lot of questions. Will Klay come

STEPH CURRY: Despite changing the game of basketball for the better, Steph Curry has not received well-deserved respect from NBA fans across the country. back and play in his old form after all his leg injuries? How many more years in Golden State does Draymond have left? Will James Wiseman develop into the game-changing big man people think he can be? Thankfully for Golden State, there is one player they will never have to worry about: Stephen Curry. So far this year, he has dragged a middling team to a record above .500 and a playoff spot. Yet again, he is averaging 30 points, shooting 44% from three and reminding everybody that he is still the most exciting, “oh my gosh I have to watch what he is going to do tonight,” player in the NBA. With all of this, I saw a top 10 MVP list for the season so far, and Steph Curry was not on it. I get that he has already won two, and his team probably isn’t going to be good enough for him to win another one. But Paul George was on that list, and not Steph Curry. I repeat, Paul George. And that comes back to my whole point, that no matter what he does,

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Steph Curry will always be unbelievably and inexplicably disrespected. He literally changed the NBA in ways that no player, not Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Lebron or anybody else, has even come close to. The league looks like a different game than it did just 10 years ago, and that is because of Curry. I saw a clip the other day where Dwight Howard was openly talking about practicing his three-point shot. It isn’t like he changed it for the worse either. I dare you to come up with something that gets you more excited in an NBA game than when Curry gets hot and nails one of those step back 30 footers for his 10th three of the game.

Even if you don’t want to admit it, I don’t think you could. So, even if you don’t want to, turn on a Warriors game sometime, and watch the guy who changed the game of basketball, before it’s too late.

Contact T Brewer at tbrewer@colgate.edu.

The Battle Out West for MLB Supremacy

By Cam Cobey Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are the best two teams in Major League Baseball in 2021. The two teams, located just 120 miles apart on California’s coast, will be battling it out in the same division in 2021 with only one team taking home the NL West crown.

Not often do we see the two best teams in baseball in the same division.

Only twice since 1981 have there been two 100 plus win teams in the same division. Those were the Seattle Mariners

and the Oakland A’s in 2001 and the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in 2018; those were both historic years. I would not be surprised if the Dodgers and the Padres both end up with more than 100 wins in 2021.

The Dodgers are coming off a 2020 World Series Championship, albeit in a weird, shortened season due to COVID-19. They deservedly won though, notching their first World Series since 1988, after going to the World Series in both 2017 and 2018 and coming up short.

The Dodgers were a very good team last season, and they only got better this offseason.

TREVOR BAUER AND THE LA DODGERS: Bauer, arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball hopes to lead the LA Dodgers to another World Series win in 2021.

True Blue LA

They added 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball. He is receiving the two highest singleseason salaries in MLB history at 40 million in 2021 and 45 million in 2022. Bauer posted an MLB best 1.73 ERA in 2020, making him a very rich man.

The Bauer addition makes the Dodgers pitching staff easily the best in baseball if not one of the most formidable pitching staffs in MLB history. They have threetime Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, one-time Cy Young winner David Price and proven young guns Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Dustin May. Their bullpen is experienced and extremely talented as well, led by Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol.

The talent extends beyond the Dodgers bats as well. They have the best outfield duo in Major League Baseball with Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, the 2018 AL MVP and 2019 NL MVP, respectively. They have the second-highest projected WAR (wins above average) for a duo in 2021.

The Dodgers are scary good. That’s all I can really say. They are not satisfied with just one World Series Championship. Going after Trevor Bauer and improving an already elite team shows that the Dodgers are hungry to go back-to-back for the first time since the Yankees did it in 2000.

Some may be scared of the Dodgers, but LA’s foes down the coast in San Diego aren’t intimidated in the least. The Padres are typically not one of the powerhouses of the MLB. The Pads had a phenomenal season in 2020, going 37-23 and finishing with the third-most wins in baseball. Before

that, they hadn’t had a season above .500 since 2010. There’s something in the water in America’s finest city.

The whole vibe to this team is awesome.

They are one of the younger teams in baseball, and this team was so fun to watch in 2020.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is the most exciting player in baseball. There. I said it. This guy is an absolute joy to watch. He is just 22 years old and has put up incredible numbers in his first two seasons in the majors, showcasing his ability to both flash the leather and hit absolute nukes.

He finished fourth in MVP voting in 2020 and is appointment television every time he takes the field. He’s surrounded by the likes of Manny Machado, still one of the best third basemen in the game, as well as a legit 1-9 that includes Wil Myers and Trent Grisham.

The Padres pitching staff is also incredible.

GM AJ Preller acquired two of the biggest names on the pitching market this offseason, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish, cementing the Padres as a top two pitching staff in Major League Baseball. It seemed like the Padres were grabbing every big name that was out on the market this winter, and they are not shying away from their big brother up North in LA. They want to win this division and prove they are the best team in baseball. It is going to be an exciting battle to watch all year, and these teams will be going all out to win the divisional crown.

Contact Cam Cobey at ccobey@colgate.edu.

February 19, 2021

The Colgate Maroon-News

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NCAA Selection Committee Early Reveal: An Analysis

By Hunter Firment Assistant Sports Editor The NCAA Basketball Selection Committee revealed on Saturday, Feb.13 the top 16 seeds that would enter the NCAA Tournament as a top four seed if the tourney began today. The committee’s selections convey what the top of the bracket would look like for March Madness, giving fans and analysts a little foreshadowing into what the committee will be looking for come March.

The breakdown by conference is as follows: the Big 12 led the way with five teams in the top 16 seeds in the early tournament reveal, while the Big 10 were a close second with four. Meanwhile, the South Eastern Conference (SEC) had three squads, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), West Coast Conference (WCC), Big East and American Athletic Conference (AAC) all had one team apiece.

This conference breakdown is not surprising considering the strength top-to-bottom of the Big 12 and Big 10 this year, as well as the emergence of the SEC. Despite the down year for normally dominant Kentucky, the resurgence of Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama from the SEC has led the conference to a great year. The surprise from the breakdown would definitely be the lack of ACC squads. Perennial powerhouses Duke and North Carolina have cooled off, leaving just Viginia (UVA) in the top 16 seeds. The argument could be made that Florida State, ranked 17th in the country, were snubbed from the reveal, but their losses to Georgia Tech, Clemson and Central Florida probably account for their absence in the seeding.

The number one seeds would be Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State. Obviously, given their undefeated starts to the season,

Gonzaga and Baylor are the top contenders in the big dance. Both have veteran presences and the top defenses in the country. Michigan and Ohio State are the best of the Big 10 and have talent all over the court. Being paired with any four of these squads would be a near death sentence for any team in the country.

The two seeds from the reveal would be Illinois, Villanova, Alabama and Houston.

Of the four, Illinois would most likely be the most dangerous team, given their success in a packed Big 10 conference. They are challenged night-in and night-out and have risen to the challenge. Villanova is getting into the heart of their Big East schedule, but should fare well heading into the tournament. Alabama was the hottest team in college hoops just a couple weeks ago, but losses to Missouri and Oklahoma have brought them back down to earth. They will still be a dangerous team in the tournament, and can hang with anyone in the country. Meanwhile, the Houston Cougars will be a bit of a wild card heading into the tournament, as they have not faced many real challenges, but have dispatched all but one of their opponents. They can score the basketball, but we will not know whether or not they can go toe-to-toe with the big dogs until they enter the dance.

The three seeds would be UVA, West Virginia, Tennessee and Oklahoma. West Virginia and Oklahoma just battled in a 91-90 double-OT victory for the Sooners in one of the best games of this college basketball season. Oklahoma is on the rise, and will be a tough matchup for anyone in the tournament. Tennessee is a team that can really defend, but are beatable, as they have struggled against the top of the SEC. Their latest 78-65 loss to Louisiana State (LSU) shows just that. UVA is a well-coached team that has the

EARLY REVEAL: The NCAA announced the top 16 seeds, the top four in each division for March Madness, the annual NCAA tournament that will take place next month.

Patrick Gorski / USA Today Sports

ninth-best defense in the country according to Bart Torvik’s metrics. Tony Bennett’s team won the last NCAA Tournament in 2018-19 and will look to make another deep run in March.

The four seeds would be Iowa, Texas Tech, Texas and Missouri. Iowa is the headliner of the group. They have the best defense in the country, according to Torvik, and will have the best player in the country at their disposal in Luka Garza. Texas Tech and Texas are dangerous squads from the Big 12 that both have talented backcourts.

Meanwhile, Missouri is an up-and-down team that will matchup well with teams that are guard-heavy. Their duo of Xavier

Pinson and Dru Smith can hang with any backcourt in the nation.

With the reveal of the Selection Committee’s top 16 seeds, many people are making their predictions for who will fill out the rest of the bracket. However, regardless of who else finds themselves in the mix, we know that the tournament will be filled with talent and should be as entertaining as any “Big Dance,” in recent history. Also, there is a squad from Hamilton, New York that may just be a Giant Killer in the making Contact Hunter Firment at hfirment@colgate.edu.

Love Him or Hate Him, Tom Brady is the Undisputed King of Professional Sports

By Heath Newman Contributing Writer Let me be clear: the changes brought abBefore Super Bowl LV, I thought that I could already read the headlines: “Mahomes Bests Brady to Solidify Himself as the Next Great One.” I thought, contrary to everything that I’ve ever known about football, somehow Brady would be defeated. I thought, even though he has been at the helm of all my heartache and animosity towards New England sports, that Brady would come up short. I thought wrong.

As unsurprising as it was devastating, his Tampa Bay Buccaneers handily won the game, paradoxically forcing me to hate Brady even more while gaining undeniable respect for his greatness.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Steelers football is the lifeblood of the city. The cult of Steeler

Nation borders on the religious: the faithful traveling to fields near and far to see their team play. Our Sunday services are held first in church and then later on the gridiron, amidst a sea of black and gold. My team has given us countless memories, including six Super Bowl wins and a variety of legendary players. This 2020 season, like all that came before, was supposed to be “our year.” But history tends to repeat itself, much to the chagrin of NFL fans everywhere. And this year was no different. It ended with, excuse me while I tear up a bit — Tom Brady hoisting yet another Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP award.

His seventh ring has diminished the last glorious bragging right of Pittsburgh fandom that I cherished so deeply — the Steelers six championships had been the most in the NFL for over a decade. Now, I must come to terms with the new normal: Brady is greater than any franchise in football.

THE KING: Tom Brady poses with the trophy after winning Super Bowl LV along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Feb. 7.

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Many names come to mind when I think of the world’s most prolific athletes to date: Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Serena Williams, Lionel Messi. All of them have accomplished more in their respective sports than anyone else, yet their legend now pales in comparison to that of Tom. With 10 Super Bowl Appearances, seven Super Bowl Championships, five Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVP Awards, 14 Pro Bowls and countless quarterback records, he is undoubtedly the most decorated football player ever. In fact, if his 21 NFL seasons were to be split into thirds, he would have the career accolades to fulfill three Hall of Fame-caliber careers.

However, Brady’s greatest triumph is his ability to remain the best player on the field even at the age of 43. Brady’s agelessness is best exemplified when compared to other fabled quarterbacks. I can vividly remember the great Peyton Manning in his final season, hobbling around the field, barely able to throw the ball at 39 years old. It took John Elway his entire sixteen-year career to make five Super Bowl appearances, a total that Brady has equaled since turning 37.

Not to mention, he won four out of those five. Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback at the helm of my Steelers since as long as I can remember, is now on the verge of retirement at age 38. This past season, as he visibly struggled to run and throw over ten yards, I was even calling for his job. As all of these legends and more have come and gone at the hands of time, Tom Brady remains alone at the peak of the NFL mountain. From there, he looks down on his subjects.

My excuse for Brady’s accomplishments has long been the team for which he played: The New England Patriots. At every opportunity, I would

scream “He’s a system QB!” or “Bill Belichick is the real reason they always win!” Maybe Brady heard me, because after all of that unparalleled success in New England, he chose Tampa Bay, a team who had been among the most mediocre in the league since their last Super Bowl victory in 2003. Why would he do that? I maintain he did so for two reasons. First, although he is the best, he is also extremely egotistical. If we connect the dots, the initials of Tampa Bay are TB. Does that look familiar? Second, this move was done to show all of his doubters that he can win anywhere, with anyone, at any time. Prove us wrong he did.

For the sake of argument, I’ll play devil’s advocate. Many would urge me to consider the controversy surrounding his career, how he is the ultimate “cheater.” Fine, let’s go with that. Take away the Super Bowls he won amidst Spygate (2007). He’s been to seven since and won four of them. Take away his Deflategate Super Bowl (2015). He’s been to five since and won four of them. This would leave him with four “legitimate” rings, putting him in a category with the likes of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. Neither of them come close to Brady’s success in their illustrious careers. You see, Tom Brady does not belong to a category, he is in a league of his own.

For whoever reads this and thinks I found pleasure in spending my time writing about all of Tom Brady’s wonderful accomplishments, you’re wrong. I simply wanted to put the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate to rest. Tom, you have officially solidified yourself as such, now please, for the sake of many football fans’ sanity, retire.

Contact Heath Newman at hcnewman@colgate.edu.