12/09/2023 Maroon-News

Good Nature Brewery Struggling Amid Mounting Financial Issues

By EmmEtt DoWD Staff Writer

Good Nature Farm Brewery, the local craft beer hotspot and favorite amongst Colgate students, has forfeited its operations to a court-appointed receiver after not being able to pay mortgage debts. As a result, owner and co-founder Carrie Blackmore ’08 stepped away from the business last month.

The future of the business, which houses an industrial brewery and a dining room with substantial outdoor seating, is not yet clear. Good Nature, located south of the Colgate University Townhouse Apartments on State Route 12B, was in the holdings of DCC Ranger LLC, a hedge fund registered in Albany, NY shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Blackmore. The debt reached over $4.5 million,

and DCC Ranger LLC has since filed a lawsuit against Blackmore.

DDC Ranger LLC could not be reached for comment.

According to Syracuse.com, the Supreme Court of the State of New York appointed George E. Shoup III of Development Specialists as a receiver to help manage the business on Nov. 2. Development Specialists now owns all of Good Nature Farm Brewery's assets, intellectual property, buildings, and product inventory.

At the time of print publication, George E. Shoup III did not provide immediate comment on the matter.

Blackmore, who felt like there was a lack of craft beer options in Hamilton, said she wanted to start her own business and bring a local, farm-to-table approach to Hamilton. She established Good Nature Brewing in 2010, providing beer to Hamilton

establishments like the Colgate Inn. Shortly after, the business began to grow, eventually leading to the opening and renovation of their current location in 2017, as well as a taproom located on Broad St. across from the Village Green which has since closed.

However, during planning, construction and renovation, the Good Nature Farm Brewery faced mounting obstacles. Blackmore commented on these difficulties and how her team was able to work through them.

“By the time [COVID-19] hit, we’d already been through

'Night of Light' Tree Lighting Ceremony Shares Holiday Cheer

from some of Colgate University’s a cappella groups and an appearance from Santa Claus himself.

The Night of the Lights event draws excitement from both the Hamilton and Colgate communities each year, according to students, residents and business owners. Steve

In addition to supporting local vendors, the Christmas tree lighting involves students from Hamilton Central School. The Hamilton branch of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization attended the event in order to raise money and awareness.

the wringer in ways that should have decimated us,” Blackmore said. “In fact, we never should have made it to our grand opening. During planning and construction of the farm brewery [location], we faced regulatory issues, construction delays and cost overruns — most of which cropped up when we were already so far along that we had no choice but to push on or lose our shirts.”

More tasks — like needing to construct a path to Colgate's Townhouse Apartments and having to install a significant wastewater treatment facility —

all had to be done in order to ensure that the Brewery did not have a negative impact on the Village of Hamilton, according to Blackmore.

More issues followed, including multiple fires, refrigeration failures and, eventually, the COVID-19 pandemic. Running with only a handful of employees, the business operated through initial pandemic lockdowns in 2020, driving and providing food and meals to University students and Hamilton residents.

Continued on A-4.

Michael Shellenberger Gives Controversial Climate Lecture

By Samantha Wotring Assistant News Editor

was because of his reputation as an environmentalist.

Hamilton marked the start of the holiday season with a tree lighting, food and music.

Ryan

Dugdale

By anaStaSia thumSEr Staff Writer

The village of Hamilton transformed into a picturesque winter scene on Friday, Dec. 2 for its annual Night of the Lights, marking the village tree lighting. The event featured wintertime decorations, hot chocolate, food from local businesses, a horse-drawn carriage ride, performances

Malecki, owner of Brake From the Grind and Tacocat Food Co., confirms that his favorite part of the night is connecting with local residents.

“I love seeing a lot of friends and families I know,” Malecki said. “I live outside of Hamilton and have been a part of this community since I moved here around 2006.

The outpouring of support [from the community] is what keeps me in business and helps me support more local farms, farmers, butchers, bakers and other artisans.”

“We made Christmas wreaths in our horticulture class, and so most of the money that we make from those wreaths goes towards buying more equipment,” FFA member Morgan Carven said. “The event is super fun, and we like getting more attention towards FFA.”

To add to the night’s holiday ambience, three of Colgate’s a cappella groups — the Dischords, Mantiphondrakes and Resolutions — performed classic holiday songs in front of the newly illuminated tree.

Continued on A-5.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Michael Shellenberger, founder and president of Environmental Progress, co-founder of the Breakthrough Institute and the California Peace Coalition, and former candidate for governor of California, gave a lecture and discussion at Colgate University titled “Climate Change and Sustainable Energy: How Practical is Renewable Energy?” The talk was sponsored by the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization and took place in person at Persson Hall as well as on Zoom for Colgate University alumni. Shellenberger was introduced by Professor Robert Kraynak, Professor of Political

“Michael Shellenberger was invited to Colgate by the Center for Freedom because he is known as a courageous voice in the debates about climate change and sustainable energy,” Kraynak said. Shellenberger began by talking about the effects of climate change such as natural disasters and the increasing frequency of heat waves and proceeded to discuss possible issues, with switching to solar and wind power and becoming vegans or vegetarians being two examples.  Shellenberger then transitioned, saying that global carbon emissions have actually been decreasing for the last decade and very few people die from natural disasters because of improved infrastructure.

Science and

Director of the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization. Kraynak stated that Shellenberger coming to Colgate

Continued on A-3.

TROUBLES ARE BREWING: Good Nature Farm Brewery in Hamilton has been struggling with small business issues since opening its current location in 2017, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Madison Country Tourism

IT'S LIT!:

Artist Adam Frelin Proposes Lighthouse Installation Above Colgate’s Little Hall

By Payton Gore Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, artist Adam Frelin spoke to the Colgate University community about his past and future works, including a proposed installation on top of Little Hall titled Beacon, turning the academic building into a lighthouse illuminating Taylor Lake.

“Having a lighthouse at a college or university carries particular resonance,” Frelin said in his proposal. “As a beacon, it symbolizes the act of searching

for meaning and purpose, allowing oneself to wander astray and helping us eventually find our way back home.”

Junior Sarah Fatzinger, who attended the lecture, noted that Beacon may connect with many students’ experiences at college.

“It can be so easy to get lost amongst the chaos as you try to find yourself while transitioning into this new world of expectations and opportunity. In this way, the symbolism of this temporary lighthouse above Little Hall really spoke to me,” Fatzinger said. “I think

the location is particularly interesting, as Little Hall serves as kind of the halfway point between upper and lower campus, as so much development happens between these years between being underclassmen versus upperclassmen.”

Junior Kayla Gutheil questioned some of the implications of the installation.

“The idea is pretty cool, but logistically, I feel like it seems a bit impractical,” Gutheil said. “Walking towards Little Hall, for example, wouldn’t it feel like you are getting blinded?

I think the idea would be way cooler on top of the [Colgate Memorial Chapel] because it is already such a symbol for Colgate and the lighthouse could add to that statement.”

As of Dec. 2022, the installation plans are still in the early stages of development before being approved by the University.

Frelin specializes in public art and has received many prestigious art awards and coveted spots in galleries and museums.

“While the sites I work in vary widely, my aim is to make art that compliments a place while also attempting to expand the meaning,” Frelin said.

Although Frelin has worked in many places with different mediums, he is drawn to public spaces.

“My choice to make artwork for outdoor locations and public places comes from a belief that art should be part of our shared world,” Frelin said.

Frelin started off the seminar by talking about how art can become an important icon, with examples of the Statue of Liberty in New York City and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) in Chicago. He then discussed some of his past projects, including his notable 2016 Breathing Lights project. Frelin worked on a team that received a grant to draw attention to a civic concern in the upstate New York cities of Schenectady, Albany, and Troy.

The civic concern Frelin decided to focus on was the 5,000 abandoned buildings in the area. The team installed lights that simulated a breathing effect

inside about 200 buildings. To see all the buildings takes around seven hours of driving and introduced more people to neighborhoods often avoided.

“A light effect that can go into these buildings is what we came up with. It should change in some way and should change in some way that is bodily,” Frelin said. “This was a massive twoyear project where we had over 100 events that went along with the installation itself that drew attention to these neighborhoods and issues of disinvestment, vacancy, and history.”

The project received considerable press coverage, including an hour-long PBS documentary. Fatzinger was impressed with Breathing Lights in particular.

“I found the art installation with the abandoned houses to be very interesting. The meaning behind this project carried a lot of weight, and I really appreciated the work they were trying to do and the message they were trying to send with it. I would have loved to have been able to see it in person,” Fatzinger said.

Frelin appeared hopeful in his presentation of Beacon, believing in the importance of art in college campus settings. During a question session, he also responded to the opinions of professors and students, allowing for their input into the project’s specific details amid its development.

Raider Rides and SHS Plan RideSharing Healthcare Partnership to Begin in Spring 2023

stations and any other destinations their drivers can accommodate.

our record three weekends in a row,” Klein said.

HEALTH HELPERS: Raider Rides, a student-run ride-share service, partners with SHS to offer transport to healthcare appointments. Instagram / @raider-

By LJ Coady Staff Writer

Raider Rides, a student-run ridesharing service, will begin offering healthcare rides in partnership with Colgate University’s Student Health Services (SHS) in the Spring semester of 2023. The rides can be scheduled for a healthcare appointment in any location and at any time.

According to current senior and Raider Rides CEO Jordan Klein, the healthcare rides will be the same as any other rides his group provides, just scheduled through Student Health Services.

“The way logistically it would work is we would be partnered with Student Health Services. So, ideally, [if] you know you need a ride to your doctor’s appointment at 4 p.m. in Syracuse, they have us on-call,” Klein said. ”I would get back to them with a driver who would then be set at [the times that the student needs].”

Raider Rides is an alternative to traditional cabs or Uber and Lyft-type services, all of which are virtually nonexistent in Hamilton. Currently, the company provides guaranteed rides to Syracuse Hancock International Airport, local bus

The healthcare rides and University partnership are a new avenue of business for the company. The collaboration was initiated by the university when Ruth Bridges, the administrative department coordinator at SHS, reached out to Raider Rides in early October 2022 with a partnership request. Senior Thomas Johnson, the company’s CMO and co-founder, noted that Student Health Services’ request marked a turning point for the business.

“The Student Health Center reaching out was a really exciting moment, and I think for all of us, too, because it was kind of like the first sign of support that we’ve got from the school itself [...] it was really encouraging,” Johnson said.

According to Klein, the business has taken off since its launch, and will continue to expand.

“We just had our best [holiday] weekend of business ever. We are only looking up, and we’ve beaten

Given the University’s location in rural Central New York, students who need advanced or specialized healthcare services are often forced to drive hours away. Many students do not own cars and are dependent on friends or Colgate transportation for rides. According to Klein, Student Health Services does use a shuttle for some transportation but needs more options.

Senior Eli Yadidi, Raider Rides CTO and co-founder, noted the burden this lack of transportation can place on students.

“[Student Health Services have] had to rely on the patient to just figure out their own rides,” Yadidi said.

“That’s been the major problem for [Student Health Services] — kids sign up for appointments, [health services books them], and then [the students] just can’t get there,” Klein added.

Senior Kiara Hills was very enthusiastic when informed

about the program, recognizing the key demand on-campus that it would fill.

“[I’m glad we have this program now], because there are a lot of students here who don’t have cars. They’re always trying to find rides to doctor’s appointments, and they don’t have rides, and then they have to spend hours trying to coordinate rides to their very important doctors appointments — it’s a very big concern,” Hills said.

Although Raider Rides is recognized by Colgate University and is listed on the break transportation emails students receive, the company has encountered some obstacles in getting risk management approval. Klein, Yadidi and Johnson are all confident that the program will be up and running early into the Spring 2023 semester.

Contact Payton Gore at pgore@colgate.edu.

LIGHTING UP LITTLE: Artist Adam Frelin discussed his past work across Upstate New York in addition to his current proposal which would add a lighthouse, entitled Beacon, on top of Little Hall. Colgate University

11/28 MONDAY

9:25 AM Case Library: Campus Safety received a report of an unusual voicemail left for a staff member; the matter was referred to IT.

11/29 TUESDAY

1:04 AM Andrews Hall: Campus Safety observed a policy violation while responding to a noise complaint (marijuana).

1:58 AM Parker Apartments: Campus Safety and SOMAC responded to an ill student and SOMAC transported to CMH.

9:50 AM Alumni Hall: Campus Safety and SOMAC responded to an injured student and SOMAC transported to CMH.

2:00 PM O’Connor Campus

BLOTTER COLGATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SAFETY REPORT

Center Parking Lot: While Campus Safety was on patrol, a vehicle was observed in violation of the parking policy and was towed.

6:58 PM Case Library: Campus Safety and SOMAC responded to an injured student and SOMAC transported to CMH.

11/30

WEDNESDAY

1:12 AM Bryan Roadway: Campus Safety, while on patrol, observed an intoxicated student who was evaluated and released.

9:33 PM Burke Hall: Campus Safety responded to an ill student and transported the student to CMH.

12/1 THURSDAY

12:12 PM University Court Apts:

Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was smoke from cooking.

12:18 PM University Court Apts: Campus Safety observed a policy violation while conducting room evacuation checks in regards to a fire alarm (failure to evacuate).

6:10 PM 180 Broad Street: Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was smoke from cooking.

12/2 FRIDAY

1:28 PM Alumni Lot: Campus Safety received a report of a stolen phone and the phone was recovered and returned to the owner.

8:24 PM Newell Apts: Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was from perfume spray.

Schellenberger Discusses Alternative, Controversial Climate Change Arguments

Continued from A-1.

“The cost of disasters everywhere is going down…our infrastructure is so much better… we’re so much better prepared,” Shellenberger said.

Shellenberger also criticized graphs from The New York Times and Financial Times about the increased number of hurricanes in recent years, saying they had not taken into account better technology used to track hurricanes.

“[They’re] grossly misleading,” Shellenberger said.

Shellenberger also stated that there is currently more coral on the great barrier reef than in the last 36 years and that the state of California is currently thinning forests with controlled fires because humans are using less paper than before.

Shellenberger believes the cause of ‘climate alarmism’ is the attitude about climate change in everyday people and in the media.

“[It’s the] change in the mental environment of journalists and all of us,” Shellenberger said.

Shellenberger then discussed the future of energy, specifically making a case for nuclear energy.

“If you really care about sustainability, the holy grail is nuclear power,” Shellenberger said.

Kraynak spoke about Shellenberger’s lecture and the ideas shared.

“In his lecture, he challenged the conventional wisdom on two major points: he argued that we are not in danger of imminent collapse or doom because we can adapt, but he also made the case that green energies such as wind,

solar, and thermal will not be sufficient to provide for our energy needs,” said Kraynak. “Hence, we will need nuclear power — which is the safest and cleanest type of energy that can provide for the voracious needs of modern industrial society.”

During the Q&A section of the talk, Shellenberger elaborated on his views about recycling plastics that were mentioned in the lecture portion of the talk. He stated that recycled plastics eventually end up in the ocean because recycling companies send their plastics to underdeveloped countries.

“Please stop trying to recycle your plastics,” Shellenberger said.

The Colgate University Director of Sustainability John Pumilio spoke against this claim by Shellenberger.

“Mr. Shellenberger is skillful at selecting isolated facts and certain truths and presenting them as [a] rationale for illogical conclusions,” Pumilio said. “This might lead one to believe, if untrained to think critically and independently, that throwing plastics in the landfill is better than recycling or that solar energy and electric vehicles are impractical solutions for a low-carbon economy.”

Kraynak found Shellenberger’s thoughts important to the conversation around climate change and the environment today.

“Shellenberger sought to inject a note of realism in discussions about sustainability, even pointing out that most recycled plastic bottles wind up being

sent to poor countries who simply dump them in the ocean,” said Kraynak “It is better for the environment to put plastic bottles in landfills in America.”

Pumilio, however, criticized other aspects of Shellenberger’s talk.

“I trust that most Colgate students who attended Mr. Shellenburger’s talk recognized that his heretical ideas are at odds with leading science and rational arguments,” Pumilio said. “While improvements can and need to be made in recycling, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, there is no bridge from these and some of the other arguments made by Mr. Shellenberger to his overarching conclusions. I think most Colgate students understand this.”

Kraynak believes that Shellenberger’s talk brought new ideas to the conversation circulating amongst the University community.

“His thoughts and insights were provocative and controversial to the large student audience that attended, and they asked many thoughtful questions about sustainable energy,” Kraynak said. “It was a memorable event for the Colgate community.”

Senior Rebecca Hance was especially upset with Shellenberger’s lecture given her experience as an intern at the Office of Sustainability.

“It felt like he was calling anyone who is rightfully concerned a climate alarmist,” Hance said. “I left the talk frustrated because most of the

NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 4

11:49 PM Russell House: Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was burnt popcorn.

12/3 SATURDAY

12:55 AM Andrews Hall: Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was steam from a humidifier.

1:05 AM Andrews Hall: Campus Safety observed a policy violation while conducting room evacuation checks in regards to a fire alarm (alcohol).

12/4 SUNDAY

12:29 AM 66 Broad Street: Campus Safety responded to a fire alarm and the cause was due to humidity.

1:07 AM Bryan Complex: Cam-

pus Safety responded to an ill student and the student was transported to CMH.

12:55 AM Oak Drive: Campus Safety, while on patrol, observed an intoxicated student who was transported to CMH by SOMAC.

2:28 AM West Hall: Campus Safety responded to an ill student and the student was transported to CMH.

2:43 AM West Hall: Campus Safety responded to an intoxicated student and the student was signed off by Campus Safety.

students I saw in the audience were there for classes outside of environmental studies or in unrelated majors, and so this might be the only time they engage with environmental studies at Colgate.”

Hance also questioned some of the problematic statements and claims made during the lecture, especially regarding climate change-related natural disasters, criticizing their lack of accuracy and presence in a university setting.

“Now, [students are] walking out of this talk with a ton of misleading information,” Hance said.

Some students in attendance at the talk joined Shellenberger

and the Department of Political Science professors after the lecture.

“Fifteen students joined Mr. Shellenberger and several political science faculty for dinner afterward, where a lively and engaging discussion of many social policies, from environmentalism to homelessness in American cities, continued for several hours,” Kraynak said.

Contact Samantha Wotring at swotring@colgate.edu.

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Shellenberger’s lecture discussing future energy solutions ignited strong opinions. Colgate University

Norwich Meadows Farms’ Zaid Kurdeih Discusses Religion and Sustainable Farming Practices

the land and animals with rights because he is a Muslim and abides by Sharia law,” first-year attendee Zora Rothenburg said.

The other Islamic idea that influences Kurdeih is tayyib, or all things good and pure made lawful unto you, according to the Quran.  Kurdeih explained how modernday pesticides and chemicals, which affect the chemical makeup of crops, complicate what falls under tayyib.

By Emma mccartan & roBErt “JErry” PfEifEr Staff Writers

On Monday, Nov. 28, Colgate University students had the opportunity to learn from the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York’s Farmer of the Year, Zaid Kurdeih in a talk titled, “Norwich Meadows Farm: A Conversation with Zaid Kurdeih.” The talk was sponsored by the departments of religion and environmental studies, the Upstate Institute and Colgate Community Garden. It was primarily in thanks to the outreach of Assistant Professor of Religion Chloe Blackshear, who specializes in the eco-halal movement, the philosophy of tayyib and the agricultural COVID response. Blackshear visited the Farm earlier in the semester with her Feasting and Fasting: Religion and Food class. During the conversation, Kurdeih discussed his sustainable farming practices which are influenced by his Muslim faith.  Kurdeih is a Muslim who was born in the United States but

grew up in the Middle East and, by all accounts, strives to implement his Islamic faith in his profession by following a halal lifestyle. Halal is a legal system that dictates what practices are acceptable for Muslims to do. A well-known example is that eating pork is haram — the opposite of halal — for Muslims. Kurdeih also discussed how his faith affects which crops he can grow, even if it is not something he will consume himself.

“For example, I couldn’t get involved in growing marijuana,” Kurdeih said. “Even though a lot of farmers are trying because it could be a salvation in terms of financials, I couldn’t do that. Marijuana to us is something that alters the mind, it’s not good for you, and therefore you cannot grow it. It’s haram.”

Halal does not only dictate what foods Muslims can eat but also contains rules about business practices, meaning Norwich Farms cannot buy products from or work with every agriculture company.

“I was very interested and intrigued when [Kurdeih] was talking about how the farm cannot take interest [and has] to treat

“The industrial age has changed everything. A hundred years ago, nobody would even have these conversations […] For us, from day one, I studied food science, so I was always looking into the chemical makeup of food because I was introduced to what could be in food that they don’t tell you about. So this whole issue of ‘pure,’ people are looking at it in the Muslim community much closer because, again, they are facing the same issue that everybody else is facing, which is: ‘what’s in our food?’” Kurdeih said.

Because of this, Norwich Farms avoids chemicals and only uses natural fertilizer. One example of this approach was a picture Kurdeih showed of watermelon leaves coated in clay. The clay detracts bugs from eating the leaves, a natural method that protects both the plant and the humans who eat the fruit.

Kurdeih then went on to explain how the Islamic belief that humans are put on Earth to create communal influences his farming practices.

“This is our basic belief: God placed us on Earth for multiple reasons but one of them is to basically, as the English translation says, ‘may you husband it.’ So what does that mean? Settle it or build upon it. We are here to, in the best possible way, build and create community,” Kurdeih said.

Good Nature Brewery Faces Debt Amid Ownership Changes

Continued from A-1.

“We still had a business to run, so we pivoted hard,” Blackmore said. “We went down from about 40 employees to two and a half. We closed our downtown location, changed our business model, added online ordering and offered grocery items from local farms to our community for pick-up and delivery. We ran food deliveries to the Colgate and Hamilton communities when dining halls were shut down and folks were afraid to go to the store.”

With growing financial issues, the Brewery eventually attempted to make financial deals with banks to receive more funding with minimal success.

“I was really sad to hear about the trouble the Brewery is going through, and honestly I had no idea that this was all going on,” sophomore Cullen Williams said.

“The Brewery is such a staple of Colgate and Hamilton and I know so many people who love going there.”

The lack of businesses in the Hamilton area makes the loss of the Brewery even more disheartening, according to Williams.

“It’s unfortunate because there really aren’t that many restaurants and businesses here in Hamilton. Learning that one of the most loved and popular restaurants here is struggling with funding and debt is hard because we should be supporting the small community

At the event, Kurdeih’s spirit of community extended into Colgate’s classrooms. Julie Dudrick, associate director of the Upstate Institute, explained how this talk exemplifies Colgate’s intention to showcase a range of perspectives to students through speakers on campus.

“People who live around [the University] always think of Colgate as having a monopoly on knowledge, right? […] So they’re often quite honored when we want to include them in the process of educating students and saying that we value different types of knowledge and different sources of knowledge. And so not only are we here as researchers to contribute to a collective thought and collective knowledge, but we’re also here to teach each other,” Dudrick said.

Students from Visiting Assistant Professor of religion and Jewish studies Chloe Blackshear’s class got another taste (literally) of Kurdeih’s work on a trip to Norwich Meadows.

“The students sampled vegetables they’d never tried before and also said they were the most delicious things they’d ever eaten,” Blackshear said. “The sheer variety of produce there is really incredible. We were also able to witness the river right by the land that’s used for irrigation. We also heard a lot about the amazing titration of nutrients they use, since it’s all organic, but [each crop] has a different regimen for watering and nutrients that’s really precise [and] that’s really cool to learn about.”

Blackshear echoed Dudrick’s sentiments on developing a University community that extends past the physical boundaries of the campus.

“I think it was really wonderful for students to see that this was

right in our backyard,” Blackshear said. “This was half an hour away, it was a really short trip on the bus, [but] they hadn’t realized it was there.”

Kurdeih’s talk contained a range of information, overlapping the disciplines of religion and environmental sciences. It provided insight into not only how Islam affects Kurdeih’s farming but the dynamics of religion and environmental impact in today’s changing ecosystem. For some students who attended, it introduced them to a new area of study.

“I would love to take an Islam class and learn more about the laws and practices of Islam and how they influence the lives of Muslims across the world,” Rothenburg said.

Yuka Aoyama, a junior, asked the final question:

“Do you feel more connected to your religion now that you are participating in agriculture?”

Kurdeih responded. “When you’re faced with reality it can be difficult to stay faithful.… We are now in a better financial position than ever before, which can also make you fall harder.… COVID and floods were difficult, but for the most part, we’ve been able to handle ourselves. However, doing things like high tunneling [a method to protect crops that have difficulty growing in New York’s ecosystem], crop breeding, and other things would be more difficult if money became more difficult.”

that we have,” Williams said. “I hope there are ways we can help them out because I think it is important that we hold on to the few restaurants that we have here.”

Blackmore wrote in a Nov. 6 message posted to the business’s Facebook page that as of Nov. 7, all inquiries regarding the business would officially be handled by the receiver.

“I’m laying as low as I can right now,” Blackmore wrote. “I’m tired.”

As of December 2022, Good Nature Farm Brewery remains open and operational with an uncertain future.”

Contact Emmett Dowd at edowd@colgate.edu.

Contact Emma McCartan and Robert “Jerry” Pfeifer at emccartan@colgate.edu and rpfeifer@colgate.edu

FARMING AND FAITH: Zaid Kurdeih discussed how his Islamic faith impacts the techniques and principles he uses while farming. Norwich Meadows Farm

OWNERSHIP OBSTACLES: Good Nature Brewery founder, Carrie Blackmore, sits amongst barrels in the Brewery’s early days. Instagram / @goodnaturebrewing

Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives and Student Health Services Host Sexual Health Fair

“It was informative. Colgate is pretty solid on [sex education],” Pallares said. “It’s available, it’s free, it’s accessible.”

The fair was a collaboration between the nonprofit arts organization Visual AIDS, the LGBTQ Studies Program at Colgate, Haven and the Student Health Center, as well as various student organizations. Gorshkov considered the collaborative nature of the project to be indispensable to its success.

century about the consequences of HIV/AIDS.

“We found out that a lot of people from Generation Z do not know anything about HIV and AIDS,” Gorshkov said. “It’s to raise awareness among the student body that those medical conditions are still present and that we have to be mindful that some people still get them.”

health programs at Colgate University could become more comprehensive and accessible in the future. First-year Boen Beavers offered an opinion on improving education on safe sex practices and maintenance of sexual health.

by Sophie KarbStein Staff Writer

The Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives and Student Health Services held a Sexual Heath Fair on December 2 in the O’Connor Campus Center (Coop). The fair included STI/STD testing, provided by the Q Center, an LGBTQ youth organization at the Syracuse-based healthcare nonprofit organization ACR Health.

Dr. Lyosha Gorshkov, the director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives, explained that the objectives of the fair were focused around educating students about how they can prevent themselves from contracting STIs, including HIV/AIDS.

“We’re here to provide students and everyone who is interested with resources on STDs, STIs,

HIV prevention and AIDS prevention,” Gorshkov said.

In fact, Gorshkov considers education and awareness initiatives like this fair to play a critical role in HIV/AIDS prevention.

“Sex education is the key to prevention,” Gorshkov said. “The preventative care is to give you the tools on how you can secure your body, how you can prevent certain things from happening, and if they happen, what steps to take not to freak out, because [HIV/ AIDS] is not the death sentence it was.”

First-year Brian Pallares found that events at Colgate including the fair and the Sex Museum that took place earlier in the semester were indeed helpful in teaching him about sexual health, attitudes towards sex education and the availability of STI testing options.

“You cannot combat certain things on your own, and you definitely cannot take the task to educate the campus alone,” Gorshkov said.

The sexual health fair was part of the Colgate HIV/ AIDS Awareness Week hosted by the Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, organized to coincide with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. Other events during the week included panel discussions on facts and myths of HIV and past lessons from the history of HIV as well as a film screening of Day With(out) Art 2022, produced and published by Visual AIDS.

Although Colgate hosted the Visual AIDS film screenings in previous years, this is the first time that Colgate organized a whole week of events centered around HIV/AIDS awareness. According to Gorshkov, the overall purpose of the week was to help educate students who did not experience the AIDS epidemic of the late 20th

Hamilton Holidays Begin With Tree Lighting Ceremony

mation about AIDS/HIV, STI testing and sex education to students. Instagram / @colgate_lgbtq Continued from A-1.

Senior Jane Flynn, president of the Colgate Resolutions, shared her group’s positive experience performing at the event, which they try to participate in every year.

Singing holiday songs at the tree lighting is such a fun experience that the Resos get to be a part of,” Flynn said. “We love seeing the Hamilton and Colgate communities get together for such an amazing holiday tradition and were so excited to spread our love of music with everyone.”

While the event primarily attracts Hamilton residents and young children, several university students attended the event for some holiday cheer. First-year Cailen Geller remarked that the event was well-attended and successfully

meshed the Hamilton and Colgate communities together.

“I really liked the hot chocolate stand and the community that showed up,” Geller said. “It felt very cozy and wholesome. The lights were super pretty, and the decorations created a great holiday spirit.”

Overall, the annual Night of the Lights tree lighting provided much-needed enthusiasm and community in the midst of a Hamilton winter, according to Colgate students.

“The event was great, especially considering the time of year it takes place,” Malecki said. “No matter the colder weather, we always have great support in Hamilton whenever we are there.”

Contact Anastasia Thumser at athumser@colgate.edu.

Though Gorshkov and the Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives hosted this week because of the historical significance of HIV/AIDS to the LGBTQ+ community, Gorshkov wished to clarify the fact that HIV/AIDS affects everyone, no matter their sexual identity.

“HIV/AIDS always was labeled as a ‘gay disease,’ and HIV/AIDS are still more present in particular demographics,” Gorshkov said. “But it’s related to our mission to make sure that people understand that HIV/AIDS is a common universal issue, to diminish and deconstruct some stereotypes.”

Regarding future events on sexual health education at Colgate, Gorshkov has plans to expand the frequency of initiatives hosted by the Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives.

“There are so many aspects of our health and our sexuality that could be pointed at during this period of time, but of course, it should be a constant education. Not only one day, not only one week,” Gorshkov said.

The student body was also optimistic about how sexual

“I know of a lot of different programs that are in operation, but as with anything else, there’s always more work to be done,” Beavers said. “I think that they could have worked [sexual health education] into the orientation training, or similar to the sexual harassment and violence program, they could have made it a mandatory thing.”

Ultimately, Gorshkov, too, is confident that sexual health education at Colgate — and future sexual health fair programming — will only improve. Gorshkov is also enthusiastic about upcoming sexual health fair programming moving into next semester and next year, hoping that more and more students will attend these relevant events.

“I’m so excited about our collaborations, because so far it’s worked out beautifully,” Gorshkov said. “This is an event for everyone, because the goal of our partnership is to make students aware about not only HIV/AIDS, but about other STDs, [too]. This is about your body health.”

ALANA Announces Bishop Edwin C. Bass as MLK Celebration Keynote Speaker

by annabel morriS Executive Editor

The ALANA Cultural Center released the itinerary for Colgate University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration week on Tuesday, previewing the event that will take place from Jan. 23 through 29, 2023. As a “proud Colgate tradition,” the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration celebrates the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. King each year at the beginning of the spring semester.

Bishop Edwin C. Bass ’71 will serve as the keynote speaker, delivering his address on Thursday, Jan. 26. Bass established a lasting legacy during his time at Colgate, participating in a sit-in in 1968 and helping to create the ALANA Cultural Center, according to the Dec. 6

email. In addition to his legacy at Colgate, he has served on the board of numerous communitybuilding organizations such as the St. Louis Transitional Hope House and Grace Hill Economic Development Corporation.

An opening ceremony will be held on Monday, Jan. 23 featuring Professor of Political Science Nina Moore, junior speaker Kwabena Owusu Ansah, the Safety Fourth Band, the Colgate Resolutions, the Wolfpack dance group and Sipsam dance group. Students and members of the Colgate community can also participate in events such as a social justice summit and a day of service, among other events that focus on King’s legacy and influence.”

Contact Annabel Morris at agmorris@colgate.edu.

Contact Sophie Karbstein at skarbstein@colgate.edu.

TEACHING AND TESTING: The Sexual Health Fair provided infor-

MLK SPEAKER: Bishop Edwin C. Bass ’71 will give ALANA’s MLK Jr. celebration keynote.

Volume ClVI, Issue XI • DeCember 9, 2022

Ethan Cherry Josie Rozzelle eDItors-In-ChIef

Annabel Morris eXeCutIVe eDItor

Aaron Silverstein managIng eDItor

Jesse Harris multImeDIa manager

Aaron Notis Andie Cook Copy eDItors

Dylan Shi speCIal projeCts manager

Ryan Dugdale Sophie Mack news eDItors

Fabrizio Montisci Commentary eDItor

Kristen Quinonez • Tate Fonda arts & features eDItors

Ana Mashek • Lucy Hudson baker’s Dozen eDItors

Ryan Stuzin • Sloan Martin sports eDItors

AssistAnt Editors

Lola Carino • Samantha Wotring

Heather Holm • Amy Grunther

Cooper Lowell • Drew Fischer

BusinEss MAnAgEr

Sydney Henderson

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Prior to coming to Colgate, I had never heard the words Choate, Andover, Exeter or Deerfield. It wasn’t in my vocabulary. I admittedly didn’t even know boarding school was really a thing outside of Harry Potter. Or maybe Connecticut. To my surprise, private school is in fact a thing, and pretty prominent within the Colgate student body. According to Colgate’s admitted class profile for the class of 2026, 41 percent of Colgate students attend private high schools. For reference, only 12 percent of Americans attend private schools, according to the Brookings Institution.

Colgate has one of the highest concentrations of wealth when compared to other private  universities in the United States. Based on millions of anonymous tax filings and tuition records reviewed by The New York Times in 2017, Colgate University ranked sixth in the highest proportion of students from the top 1 percent of income to the entire bottom 60 percent. The investigation found that 22.6 percent of Colgate’s student body comes from the top 1 percent of earners, while only 13.6 percent of students came from the bottom 60 percent of earners.

This is all to say it’s not necessarily shocking that the majority of students attending Colgate are well-off, which makes sense when taking note of the fact that tuition, room and board now costs upwards of $80,000. And after four years, that totals to over $320,000, with additional increases in tuition each year. That’s a lot of money. Well, at least to most of us anyway…

Strolling through parking lots at Colgate, you’ll see an abundance of BMW’s and other higher-end cars. Looking at the license plates, it’s easy to imagine what fancy suburb from which large city each student is from. It seems that the majority of the student body here comes from similar places, despite the diversity in region, state or even country. The similarity, of course, being the economic background of the neighborhood or town people grow up in.

Admittedly, it’s pretty clear Colgate is a bubble of wealth. A pocket of BMW’s and Canada Goose jackets in the middle of relatively poor and rural surroundings. I can’t help but feel Hamilton locals resent seeing Colgate students go shopping for their next mixer at Price Chopper or Dollar General.

Whatever diversity you may see on this campus – in terms of race, gender, religion or native country of origin – it is more often than not adjoined by the fact that the person of the differing identity is also rich. Therefore, how diverse is the majority of this student body, really?

It makes sense business-wise for Colgate to accept so many high income students. Faculty, staff and services are expensive and need to be paid for. Money can be provided with an influx of wealthy students able to keep up with high tuition costs. This may make sense for the university in a business sense, but may not be the best in terms of equity.

What is being done about it? Despite how bleak you may think this lack of economic diversity may sound, Colgate has taken some ambitious steps to change things. Colgate has recently increased the amount of grants it gives out, which are preferred over loans since recipients of these grants do not have to pay them back. In the Class of 2026, 41 percent of students received financial aid, with approximately 11 percent of students receiving Pell Grants and 13 percent of new students being first-generation. The Colgate Commitment, established in 2021, says that students with family incomes under $80 thousand dollars will be able to attend Colgate tuition free. Students with family incomes between $80,000 thousand and $125 thousand spend an average 5 percent of their income toward tuition, and those between $125,000-$150,000 will spend 10 percent of their incomes on tuition. Those with family incomes above $150,000 can make claims and are awarded money based on the families perceived ability to pay.

I think much more can be done with this, especially with the explosive growth of Colgate’s endowment over the past six years. For reference, in 2017, Colgate’s endowment was $822 million, by 2019 the figure had grown to $934 million, and currently it stands above $1.2 billion. This is a 50 percent growth in funds. It is unknown where this money is coming from, or what stocks are being invested in. Regardless, I’m sure a tiny portion of the $1.2 billion could be set aside for increased financial aid for an even larger amount of Colgate students.

According to the Colgate commitment, $1.5 million was awarded to students in the first year of Colgate’s no-loan initiative. If push comes to shove, how unrealistic would setting aside an additional $10-20 million per-year for grants really be? This endowment fund is our money, as far as I’m concerned, so we might as well put it to some good use.

Contact Michael Naness at mnaness@colgate.edu.

Graphic by Ethan Cherry

Kanye, Elon Musk and the Cost of Free Speech

By LJ Coady Staff Writer

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution establishes the right to speech free of government interference. It is a right we love, a right we mock and a right we abuse every day. The limits of free speech have been debated and defined since the right was established, but negotiating the bounds of free speech on social media has proved exceptionally difficult.

Not all social media was created equal, and certain platforms receive more of a spotlight. Twitter, the famously preferred communication method of former President Donald Trump, has been making even larger waves than usual in the free-speech sphere since it acquired a new owner.

According to Fox News, Elon Musk recently bought Twitter (as one does) and has suspended Kanye West, for tweeting a picture that included a swastika. Kanye already had a widely-published history of making and posting anti-Semitic comments, perpetuating the violent history of targeting Jewish people and communities. This is simply the latest example of Kanye using his extremely public platform to spread his discriminatory views, an unfortunately common behavior for rightwing media personalities and celebrities.

How much is Musk to blame? Per the Washington Post, Elon Musk has established himself as a supporter of extreme free speech, which is a nice way to say he has allowed white supremacists and transphobic bullies back on Twitter - consequences to humanity be damned. Politico reported that his actions have garnered support from the Right, despite the repercussions of lax content moderation.

Under our current understanding of the First Amendment, hate speech is a protected type of free speech- but free speech has its limits; even Musk will occasionally enforce restrictions when Twitter users cross the line from hate speech to directly inciting or encouraging violence. However, Musk has proved unwilling to restrict most perpetrators of hate speech: post-Musk Twitter has seen a sharp rise in discriminatory and hateful tweets, creating an environment ripe to more violent calls to action from extremists.

Free speech has long been limited when it “incites imminent lawless action.” Imposing restrictions on what people are allowed to say is

By RiChie Rosen Staff Writer

a slippery slope, and what to consider violence is not always clear cut. However, it need not be given a platform or publicity. People are not inherently anti-Semitic or racist or sexist or holding any other kind of prejudice. Attitudes are taught and reinforced until they are socially acceptable. Hate speech is not illegal, but it should be unacceptable.

When “free speech” infringes on another’s right to safety and freedom from persecution, where do we draw the line? Where does the GOP draw the line? We should not be defending a system where Kanye’s threat to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” is only worthy of a slap on the wrist. In our technologically-connected 21st century world, there needs to be a broader understanding of what it means to incite imminent violence. Kanye and other extremists can tweet whatever they like, but Musk should be held responsible for enforcing the repercussions of their actions.

None of this is not to say that social media should become a liberal echo chamber, just that people need to be critical toward the types of speech they glorify. Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences, nor should it be. When to limit free speech is a question for both sides of the spectrum, and the left is not free from criticism. Twitter is absolutely guilty of pushing aside the Hunter Biden controversy to the benefit of Democrats. The difference between that and the resurgence of fundamentalist bigotry on Twitter is simple: Hunter Biden’s laptop is not threatening thousands of people’s well-being.

Are threats to the life, liberty and happiness of minority groups really worth defending all speech as equally valid and worthy of being heard? And is social media, public spheres owned by non-governmental entities, really held to the full extent of the First Amendment? Regardless, Elon Musk is no hero. He is not riding in on a white horse to save us from mythical authoritarian democrats who would silence all opposition. Musk is threatening democracy by allowing the proliferation of hate, and he must stop providing a platform for verbal terrorism. It shouldn’t all be on his shoulders, either: when will we start recognizing the need to update laws on what speech is violent, and what isn’t?

Contact LJ Coady at lcoady@colgate.edu.

Trump Shows Us His True Colors... Again

By MiChaeL hanRatty Staff Writer

The guardrails are off at Mar-a-Lago. Less than a month after announcing his third run for the presidency, Donald Trump hosted one of the more ill-fated meals in recent memory. Axios was the first to report that just before Thanksgiving, the former President dined with Kanye West at his Florida estate. Kanye brought a friend along, too: white supremacist Nick Fuentes, a major promoter of the 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville and the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

The mere fact of the dinner is disgraceful: no politician should countenance Kanye’s virulent anti-Semitism or Fuentes’ white supremacism. Though the two are free to say what they believe in our American system, they also must deal with the consequences of their words. That consequence should be total ostracization from the political process–not a personal audience with the only official 2024 presidential candidate.

It’s telling that during the dinner, Trump reportedly told Kanye not to run for president because he would siphon away Trump’s voters. Hillary Clinton was rightly lambasted for calling Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables” during the 2016 campaign. But for followers of West or Fuentes, the term fits. Any candidate should be deeply concerned about receiving the passionate support of selfproclaimed racists and bigots. Instead, Donald Trump actively courts them.

Though some Republicans were initially hesitant to speak out about the dinner for fear of inciting Trump’s rage, condemnation was near-universal once Kanye praised Hitler just days after. That’s not much of an accomplishment, though. Saying that Nazism has no place on the American right is, quite literally, the lowest bar possible. But to divorce Kanye’s hateful ideology from any broader narrative about Donald Trump is to be willfully ignorant about who Trump really is. Time and time again, he has shown himself to be concerned about one thing above all else: himself. As President, his actions after the 2020 election showed us that he was willing to take down the Republic with him. Now, once again a candidate, he’ll do anything for a few votes–even if it means giving voice to a rabid anti-Semite who,

Trump added in a post on Truth Social, “has always been good to me.”

To use Maya Angelou’s words, “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Football coach Dennis Green put it more prosaically in an epic press conference rant: “they are who we thought they were.”

To their credit, many Republicans have accelerated their pivot away from the former president in recent days. Mitch McConnell, in his characteristically understated way, said in a press conference that anybody who would dine with West and Fuentes is “unlikely to be elected president.” Speaking out is the right thing to do. It’s the politically advantageous thing to do, too. Voters sent Republicans a clear message in the midterms: “Go sell crazy someplace else. We’re all stocked up here.” Republicans who articulated an optimistic conservative message of liberty and opportunity dominated: Governors Mike DeWine of Ohio, Brian Kemp of Georgia and Ron DeSantis of Florida each won resounding victories in competitive states. Conversely, a New York Times data analysis found that candidates who won their primaries on the strength of a Trump endorsement underperformed compared to all other Republican candidates by an average of 5 points across the board, and 7 points in competitive districts. Another Trump campaign is sure to be a spiteful, grievance-laden affair. Voters won’t buy it. For Republicans to nominate him again would be a unique combination of dumb and just plain wrong.

Successful Republican leaders have shown time and time again that it is possible to excise the most odious elements of the American right from the conservative movement. Ronald Reagan told the hateful John Birch Society that they had no home in his GOP. George W. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” stood strongly against the seedy populism that Pat Buchanan had re-introduced during the 1990s. A clean break with Kanye, Fuentes and anybody willing to listen to them is possible, and after the developments of the past few weeks, it’s sorely needed. Republicans need to stand together and deliver a clear message: ours is an inclusive party fighting for every single American. It’s a message that Donald Trump can’t–and won’t–deliver.

Deference to the Small-Town Life

It was pretty strange over Thanksgiving break to go from the dreariness of Hamilton to the breakneck pace of Los Angeles after not being home for three months. And I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way.

When you’ve spent a long enough time away from somewhere, upon returning you notice things that you probably weren’t aware of before you left – things that blended in with everything else. That was definitely the case with me. I enjoyed looking at a big city with a fresh pair of eyes. On the car ride home my face was literally plastered against the car window like a five-year-old. But it didn’t take long for the grandeur of everything to get overwhelming and then, ironically, boring. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed being home and catching up with family and friends, but that was where the happiness was; I never felt a sense of contentment from simply being back home.

Maybe not everyone feels the same way that I do, but I felt like this was something worth writing about because most Colgate students come from hometowns that are larger and have more to offer (at least in a material sense) than Hamilton. I remember the first couple weeks I was here, a home friend and I would constantly whine about how much better the food was, or how much we missed driving a car, or how such and such was better; basically trying to nitpick out grievances because it was easy to pick on small-town Hamilton.

What I don’t think either of us understood then was that you simply cannot compare a town like Hamilton to a big city like Los Angeles, Chicago or New York. Of course, there is not going to be the same volume of things to do. Of course, the food is not going to be as good. Of course, the overall atmosphere is not going to be one of constant, buzzing activity. Hamilton does its best to provide the students of Colgate with some aspects of big city life, and I would say that, for the most part, it does a pretty good job with what it has.

Hamilton is at its best when it is taken in slowly. Unlike big cities, where I feel like the days go by in abrupt starts, up here the days seem to have a natural, unimpeded flow to them. Like the rolling hills that surround the town, each one peacefully acquiesces into the next. Hamilton is quiet, not in an eerie way, but rather, a tranquil one. Traffic isn’t really a thing up here, and the irritating, alwaysthere background noise that seems to be a staple of every metropolis is missing too.

There have been early mornings when I emerge from my dorm to the sounds of almost nothing — maybe a lone breeze rattles some leaves. The quietness goes hand in hand with a sense of mental clarity. It’s refreshing to be able to hear yourself think. And there is the nature that surrounds Hamilton, which is probably the most tangible aspect of what makes the town so incredible. I think we can all agree that it does not disappoint. To describe it would require me to pull out almost every nature cliché in the book. I feel like if you are outside here, there is a picturesque scene from almost any frame of reference. We take small stuff like this for granted. College is stressful,

Contact Michael Hanratty at mhanratty@colgate.edu.

and at some point, we all have to go face-toface with the trials and tribulations that it brings our way. Hamilton’s peaceful backdrop makes things just a little bit easier.

Not everything is perfect of course. It is starting to get obscenely cold up here and sometimes the feeling of disconnect from larger “society” can be pretty jarring. Some nights when I’m sawing through a piece of chicken at Frank I’ll reminisce about food back home. But I can look past that stuff. What can’t be overlooked are the moments of near-unbelievable serenity that you can only get from a small town.

Picture this: you leave Case-Geyer Library at midnight, you’re haggard, exhausted, battered down by the day, but as you head towards Donovan’s Pub to pick up your late-night order, you see the picture-perfect postcard of a scene. Snow flurries dance under the lamps that spill light across the surface of Taylor Lake. The air is cold and sharp and quiet. And at that moment you think: “I could get used to living like this.”

Contact Richie Rosen at rrosen@colgate.edu.

Bri LiddeLL Staff Writer

Colgate’s Department of Theater presented Martyna Majok’s “Sanctuary City,” at the Brehmer Theater in Dana Arts Center from Nov. 11 to 15. The play, directed by Professor of Theater Adrian Giurgea, starred first-year Dani Makielo as G, sophomore Jorge Rochet as B and sophomore Graham Johnson as Henry. Sometimes hopeful, sometimes heart-wrenching and always poignant, the play tells the story of friends B and G (short for “boy” and “girl”) as they fight to survive as undocumented immigrants in post-9/11 America.

Due to their undocumented status, B and G face hardships and uncertainty at every turn, from exploitation in the workplace to domestic abuse to anxiety over being detained in the nightmarish Fishkill Correctional Facility. However, despite these challenges, B and G’s lives are made bright by the love and support they provide for one another. The two share everything with each other, from hopes and dreams to the fur coat that they use

as a comforter on their twin bed. In one scene, huddled together under the coat, B and G repeatedly exchange a simple phrase with one another: “It’s cold.” While this line is referring to the harsh Newark winter, it also references their status as immigrants in a world that seems determined to ice them out.

While at first, B and G’s bond appears unbreakable, the dynamic of their friendship shifts when G’s mother unexpectedly obtains citizenship, thus passing citizen status onto G herself. Suddenly, G’s citizenship has opened up a whole new world for her while B finds himself trapped in his lack of citizenship, plagued by anxiety, uncertainty, and limited opportunity. While G and B strive to remain friends, the shift in their dynamic is clear and the strain on their relationship only grows.

Just one of the ways that the play conveys these growing tensions is through its ingenious staging. While the set itself consists of only a simple white and black frame, sparse props such as a heap of clothes or a bottle of wine and a canvas backdrop onto which images connected to the

‘Sanctuary City’ Harsh Realities of the American Dream

storyline were projected. The way these elements are used makes their impact far greater than the props themselves. Using the projections, for instance, the stage is transformed time and again, often shifting multiple times a minute in order to keep pace with the rapidly changing scenes.

In one moment, the screens might be displaying the misty streets of Newark; in the next, it might be filled entirely with B and G’s dialogue written out in scrawling handwriting. Each backdrop appears carefully selected and timed with the events of the play to enhance the intensity of the characters’ are experiences.

“I was blown away by the simultaneous simplicity and power of the staging,” sophomore Becca Ryan said. “Even though there were very few physical props on stage, the ever-changing backdrop conveyed a sea of emotions and a whole world within B’s bedroom.”

Perhaps one of the most memorable scenes took place towards the end of the second act when G and B attend their senior prom for one last night before G leaves for college. Dressed in their ordinary clothes but

with their respective white tuxedo and shimmering black dress pulled over the top, B and G danced the night away to early 2000s classics like Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”. At one point, their wild dancing takes them into the audience where they continue to jump and thrash just inches from those seated on the aisle.

Exhausted, the two collapse on the subway ride home and have a drink together while talking about their friendship. In a moment of passion, the two come up with a plan to solve B’s citizenship problem: they will get married. One pinky promise later, the plan has become real and, in B and G’s minds, will solve all their problems by granting B citizenship and keeping their relationship strong while G is away at college. This hope, however, cannot last.

In the second half of the play, B and G’s relationship takes a turn for the worse as hidden love, festering resentment and lifelong secrets all come to light. While it would be a tragedy to reveal too much about the revelations and irreversible decisions reached by characters during this climax, what would be an even greater

tragedy would be to not commend the incredible performance of sophomore Graham Johnson in his role as Henry. While Henry, an acquaintance of B, only emerges as a character in Act II, he quickly takes center stage as a main character and becomes a driving force of conflict for the remainder of the play. Expertly garnering the audience’s pity, respect and ire in equal measure, Johnson keeps the audience conflicted and on the edge of their seats, ultimately forcing the show to its uneasy resolution.

As audience members trickled out of Brehmer Theater after the show, the ongoing hardships of the characters lingered with them. The tension foreboding among the audience members can perhaps be attributed to one simple fact: “America has not fixed itself and America has not corrected the problem,” said Majok.

“The characters are fighting for their lives and for their dignity in a country with a policy that does not want them. It’s an impossible situation.”

Contact Bri Liddell at sliddell@colgate.edu.

Dancefest 2022 Showcases Students’ Creative Talent

ALLie KAvALAusKAs Staff Writer

With over twenty dazzling performances, there was certainly no shortage of talent at Colgate University Dancefest 2022. From ballet to lyrical to hip-hop and more, Dancefest showcased a wide variety of dance styles and students’ hard work in a variety of groups. All the different styles were brought together by one spectacular show, as first-year and Dancefest attendee Felicia Paul emphasized.

“I feel like I saw lots of different things, but it was all one show, and I thought that was really cool because there were so many different styles of dance and everyone was really good at all different things.”

Dancefest began with a performance featuring the majority of the dance groups, giving the audience a glimpse of the individual performances that were to come.

Following the opening number, the Colgate Ballroom Dancers took the stage. Their impressive lifts and smooth movements started off the showcase strong. Their second performance, later in the show, continued to demonstrate their incredible lifts and passion for dance.

The Colgate Dance Team performed two high-energy routines that combined elements of hip-hop and ballet. In contrast, the Colgate Tap Troupe showed off the lyrical side of tap with a moving, dramatic routine followed later by a faster-paced, hip-hop inspired routine. FUSE Dance Company, which strives to incorporate a variety of dance styles with a contemporary basis, were beautiful to watch, especially with their stunning signature move. The audience also enjoyed inspiring, contemporary-jazz routines from Groove Dance Troupe and Shock Dance Group. Meanwhile, the

dancers in the Colgate Dance Initiative performed an elegant ballet routine, as did the Colgate Ballet Company, whose eyecatching costumes in their second dance made them even more stunning to watch. The LatinAmerican Dance performances featured a hip-hop routine to popular Latin-American songs and a second salsa routine.

The remainder of the groups continued to bring electrifying energy to the stage. Sipsam dance group took the stage by storm with what appeared to be the largest group of the night and wowed the crowd with their wellcoordinated, synchronized K-pop choreography and a surprise costume change. Melanated also commanded the stage with an African social dance and hiphop routine that impressed the audience with its synchronization, groove and rhythm. Another hip-

hop group, DDT, featured pop songs and exciting choreography. One final hip hop and mixedstyle pack of dancers, known as WolfPack, showed off a unique dance that combined hip-hop with more expressive, while still electric, elements. Another unique routine was an Alice and Wonderlandinspired dance that brought lots of color, whimsy and fun with its choreography and costumes.

No matter the style or size of the group, the Colgate and Hamilton community supported every performance, as Paul noted.

“It was really nice to see a lot of people in the Colgate community and people from Hamilton come to support the dancers and just get really involved and really excited about it.”

First-year Sara Sexton has danced for most of her life and performed with the Colgate Ballet Company, Dance Team and Dance Initiative.

“It was so nice to see so many people at Dancefest to support all the amazing dance groups on campus! Definitely looking forward to the next one!”

The audience certainly enjoyed  the show and it was evident through the incredible performances that the dancers certainly worked hard and love their art. The outstanding attendance at Dancefest attests to how excited the community is to experience that passion through the showcase. First-year Ellie Meunier was truly inspired by the dancers.

“It made me really want to join a dance group,” said Meunier.  Dancefest will return again in the spring with more awe-inspiring and electric performances in store for the community.

Contact Allie Kavalauskas at akavalauskas@colgate.edu.

FIGHTING THE UNKNOWN: Sophomore Jorge Rochet and first-year Dani Makielo star in the Colgate Theater Department’s play, “Sanctuary City.”

Yana Biryukova and Tatiana Stolpovskaya

The

‘Gate Plate Book Review: The Epic of ‘Shantaram’

Homemade Cherry Pie

INSTRUCTIONS

:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Assemble dough into a 9x2 inch pie baking dish. If using a homemade pie dough, pre-bake the dough until just lightly brown (about 15 minutes).

3. Make the filling: In a bowl, stir together the cherries, sugar, vanilla, lemon, and cornstarch. Cover the mixture and let sit for about 30 minutes in the fridge.

roBerT “Jerry” pfeIfer Staff Writer

By Izzy Thorpe

Contributing Writer

INGREDIENTS:

Homemade or store bought pie dough (I recommend Pillsbury brand)

5 cups pitted and halved dark sweet cherries

⅔ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons unsalted, cold butter

1 egg for an egg wash

13 BEATS: FIRST SNOW

BY FELICIA PAUL Staff Writer

Hamilton has already seen its first couple of snows; puffer jackets and warm boots have made their way back onto campus. This week’s 13 Beats features songs that are the perfect backdrop for the snowy days ahead!

1. “Dark Red,” Steve Lacy

“Only you my girl, only you babe,” repeats Lacy throughout “Dark Red,” emphasizing his desire for his lover to stay with him. The song is centered around overthinking and yearning, which highlights the intense feelings he still has for his lover. The emotional meaning, emphasized by the references to red lipstick (in the title), coupled with some smooth bass give the song a cozy and dark winter feeling.

RIYL: Tyler the Creator, Mac Miller

4. Pour the cherry filling into the assembled pie dish. Save 2-3 tablespoons of juice.

5. Reduce the juice: Pour the 2-3 tablespoons of juice into a saucepan, and cook over low heat until thickened. Cool, then pour over the mixture.

6. Finely cube 1-2 tablespoons of cold, unsalted butter and evenly dot over the filling.

7. Arrange a lattice for the top or simply place a sheet of dough over the dish, cutting 2 slits for the steam to release. Finish by lightly brushing the pie with egg wash.

8. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling starts to bubble up around the edges.

9. Remove from the oven, and cool for at least 2 hours. Enjoy!

Contact Izzy Thorpe at ithorpe@colgate.edu.

2. “cardigan,” Taylor Swift

Consistent with its title, “cardigan” provides the listener with a warm and fuzzy listening experience. Swift croons about her lover treating her like “a cardigan under someone’s bed” and how he “put [her] on and said [she] was [his] favorite,” illustrating how special he made her feel. The slow piano makes the song sound magical, like snow falling outside a window.’

RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Ray, Billie Eilish

3. “Left for Denver,” The Lumineers

The Lumineers embed their signature raw sound in this song about a family leaving and growing apart. The snowy, nostalgic image of Denver holds significance for the band, as it’s where their fame began.

RIYL: Vance Joy, Mumford & Sons

4.”Fuzzybrain,” Dayglow

“There’s rain outside, steady winter, my heart feels like such a mixture,” croons Sloan Struble in this track about feeling confused when it comes to his love for a girl. Guitar strums give the song a calm and fittingly “fuzzy” sound.

RIYL: COIN, Hunny

5. “Anymore,” Ella Mai Ella Mai’s earthy R&B voice gives her music a particularly rich feel and is highlighted in “Anymore.” Lyrics like “you won’t feel my touch anymore ‘cause we ain’t in

“Shantaram” is an award-winning novel published in 2003 based on the authentic epic experiences of the author Gregory David Roberts in India. Shantaram is the Hindu name given to Roberts (the narrator) by the relatives of his close friend, guide and side-kick Prabaker in a remote village. Shantaram means “man of God’s peace,” the meaning of which is left up to interpretation. Prabaker also gives Roberts a more casual name, Lin or Linbaba, which he goes by throughout the story. Shantaram is a one-of-a-kind novel that tells a story very similar to how an epic like the Iliad or the Odyssey would but makes it seem autobiographical by describing the world in immense detail and using the first person.

In both the story and real life, Lin or Roberts, the narrator, is an Australian convicted of a 19-year sentence in 1978 for heroin usage and armed robbery. Roberts is an inmate at Pentridge Prison but extraordinarily escapes in broad daylight and flees to India with a fake passport. Roberts remained on Australia’s most-wanted list for nearly ten years. Other aspects of the novel are debated, but these have documented evidence. “Shantaram” takes place within this period of time as most wanted, but the narrative is centered on unrelated experiences unique to India. According to Internet Archive, in an interview with Murali K. Menon of the Indian Express newspaper, Roberts explained the book’s genre intention:

love anymore,” form this powerful break-up anthem. The inclusion of piano along with the bass makes the song jazzy and wintry.

RIYL: SZA, Kehlani

6. “blind,” ROLE MODEL

“Cause I’ve never seen someone quite like you,” professes ROLE MODEL about his lover in the chorus of “blind.” The song depicts ROLE MODEL falling in love with someone over social media — a common occurrence when you can’t see them in person, whether due to a snowstorm or another reason.

RIYL: Jeremy Zucker, Wallows

7. “White Winter Hymnal,” Fleet Foxes

“White Winter Hymnal” is echoey, nostalgic and full of references to the beauty of winter. Lyrics like, “I was following the pack, all swaddled in their coats with scarves of red tied ‘round their throats,” make the listener want to put on a warm coat and embrace the snow. The track highlights the passage of seasons, making it almost fairytale-like and magical to listen to.

RIYL: The Lumineers, The Head and the Heart

8. “Come Over,” Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan sings of the life he envisions for himself and his lover in this warm folk anthem. “I’m in the business of losing your interest and I turn a profit each time that we

“With respect, ‘Shantaram’ is not an autobiography, it’s a novel. If the book reads like an autobiography, I take that as a very high compliment, because I structured the created narrative to read like fiction but feel like fact.”

Lin begins the story under the guise of a simple tourist interested in local life who arrives in then Bombay (now called Mumbai), India. Lin gradually falls in love with the country and engages with all the native activities that Prabaker recommends. Unfortunately, Lin gets robbed on the way back from a bar in the slums. With all his money stolen, Lin is required to move out of his hotel and in with his kind friend Prabaker in the slums and get a job as a tour guide and drug hook-up for foreigners. On Lin’s first day in the slums, an enormous fire erupts from one of the slum tents engulfing many others, and although his instinctive thought is to flee, he decides to help his new community members put out the fire. Afterward, with the first-aid experience he gained from his life as a heroin addict, he helped heal many wounded people in the aftermath of the fire and became a renowned and cherished local doctor. In the beginning, he also met with an American woman, Karla, who had long assimilated into Indian life. He instantly fell in love with Karla after she saved him from being hit by a vehicle. This initial connection spirals into a deep love that would last the entirety of the book. These two events spiral into various wild but detailed and riveting adventures ranging from involvement with gangster life, life in India’s Arthur Road Prison,

speak,” sings Kahan, as he shows how much he wants his lover to “Come Over” and spend time with him.

RIYL: Caamp, Dean Lewis

9. “No Idea,” Don Toliver

Maybe it’s the fact that “No Idea” trended on TikTok in the heart of winter 2019 and 2020, but the song has an undeniable winter energy. Don Toliver yearns for his lover to come back because “since [she’s] been gone [he’s] been just okay.”

RIYL: Trippie Redd, Post Malone

10. “The Night We Met,”

Lord Huron

“I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met,” sings Lord Huron, emphasizing the loss he feels after a break-up and his desire to go back to the happier memory of meeting his significant other. Jessica Maros’ vocals at the beginning of the track give it a calm but haunting feel.

RIYL: Caamp, Fleet Foxes

11.”Baby Came Home 2 / Valentines,” The Neighborhood

Jesse Rutherford sings about a couple losing contact in this two-part song. Lyrics like, “You can call me up, phone works two ways, you know,” exemplify the longing that Rutherford feels for

relapse into opioid addiction, forced prostitution to weapons smuggling with the Mujahideen in the SovietAfghan War.

“Shantaram” has recently been adapted into an Apple TV+ series that has long been awaited since prominent actors such as Johny Depp and Russell Crowe showed great interest at the time, and Warner Bros. purchased the rights in 2003. The series has also been applauded on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, respectively, with audience scores of 7.8 and 81 percent. However, Rotten Tomatoes critics have given it much less praise, with a 56 percent score. The first episode was released on October 14.

“Shantaram” can be convoluted and contains a daunting 936 pages, but it definitely is one of the most interesting books I have read. The book can pointlessly stall with cliché and long roundabout quotes and memories made to seem autobiographical but that are obvious fairy-tale fiction. I sometimes found the melodrama worthwhile as sometimes they encompassed descriptions of Indian life that give unique insight from a foreign perspective, but mainly the plot points and explosive scenes of action, and much of the character interaction, were definitely worth the wait. I recommend this book to fiction and non-fiction readers because it contains elements of both. “Shantaram” definitely serves as a unique and worthwhile read.

Contact Robert “Jerry” Pfeifer at rpfeifer@colgate.edu.

his lover who has grown apart from him. The song is slow and eerie as it switches from singing to an echoey spoken-word poem.

RIYL: Arctic Monkeys, The 1975

12. “Snow on The Beach,” Taylor Swift

High-pitched bells and resonant vocals adorn lyrics about snow and falling in love in “Snow on the Beach.” “Tonight feels impossible, but it’s coming down no sound it’s all around,” belts Taylor Swift, as she describes the magic she feels as she’s falling in love. Lana Del Rey’s ethereal voice shines through at moments during the song, complementing Swift’s bright tone.

RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Lorde

13.”Annabelle’s Homework,” Alec Benjamin

“She just smiles and says ‘Thank you for the geography,’ ‘cause that’s all it meant to her,” sings Alec Benjamin about a girl who only talked to him for help on her homework. The slow and steady guitar and bass accompany the school’s reference-filled lyrics.

RIYL: Conan Grey, Cavetown

Contact Felicia Paul at fpaul@colgate.edu.

Izzy Thorpe

FOREIGN LANGUAGE AT COLGATE

By Joe MussoMeli

Contributing Writer

One of the most influential programs for not just Colgate University's linguistic community, but for both Colgate and the Village of Hamilton, has been the Foreign Language Program at Hamilton Central School (FLP@HCS). In this program, Colgate students volunteer to teach French, Arabic, Chinese and German to HCS second-graders six times a semester. Within each of the four language groups, there are two program coordinators, a faculty advisor and a multitude of Colgate student volunteers, all of whom work together to design a foreign language program for these young students.

"One of the most important aspects of the program is how it has provided these second-graders with not just the opportunity to learn new languages, but to hear them and be exposed to them as well," said program coordinator Rachel Amann-Burns. "The program allows students to become more worldly and be exposed to different languages and cultures that they might not have been exposed to before at all."

Amann-Burns is one of the program coordinators for the FLP@ HCS and has been a staunch supporter of the collaborative program

By Maya alBright Contributing Writer

Distinguished Professor of Japanese and Linguistics Yukari

Hirata is a native Japanese speaker, speaking English as her second language. Despite her apparent mastery of English, evident through conversation, Professor Hirata insists that she’s still learning.

When asked about what sparked her interest in studying language, Hirata said that she’s fascinated by the process of thought necessary to learn it.

“Language isn’t just in my life – it’s been my life, basically… learning a second language really doubled my world, literally… you are inspired, you are thinking differently,” Hirata said.

For Professor Hirata, language isn’t just about mechanism; there’s Google Translate for that. Instead, it’s really a lifestyle.

Hirata first came to America to study abroad without knowing a word of English. A doctoral graduate of the University of Chicago, she now serves as Colgate University’s Harrington and Shirley Drake Professor of Japanese and Linguistics, the Chair of the Department of East Asian Languages &

and its impact on both the University and Hamilton communities.

"The program has been running since 2005, and was started with a desire to increase language exposure and multi-cultural discourse across both Colgate and the community of Hamilton," Amann-Burns said. "We realized that there were so many students at Colgate [who] were taking or knew another language, and the students and faculty wanted to share this knowledge with the wider Hamilton community in order for our campus and surrounding [area] to become more global and culturally exposed."

In addition to fostering language and cultural exposure to the broader Hamilton community, many are proud of the program for its impact on HCS. However, perhaps the most critical impact has been the program's effect on the children who participate in it. Many of the second-graders had not been exposed to a wide variety of languages before the program. Yet, after participating in it for just a semester, the second-graders have historically become much more adept at their language of choice in the FLP@HCS.

"Teaching children language at such a young age is the most important time to do so," said program coordinator Julie Dudrick. "It provides a foundation for linguistic knowledge

Fostering Community: Foreign Language at Hamilton Central A Love for Learning Languages

Literatures, and the Director of the Linguistics Program.

Adjustment to a new language and culture came with a learning curve, to which Hirata rose to the challenge.

“Just to be surrounded by the culture and having friendly contexts was important for me to improve my language,” said Hirata.

During her time as a student, Hirata studied accents and phonetics to satisfy her own personal interests. But it was not until her PhD program that Hirata came to understand that how you speak affects one’s interactions socially in both implicit and explicit ways.

As for the benefits of learning in a classroom setting, Hirata had some succinct takeaways.

“[By] taking classes you receive a tool to search for questions more systematically,” she said.

Even during her time as a student, Hirata was interested in how people spoke in English and Japanese, and what the different types of speech could mean.

“As a second language learner you get very self-conscious,” Hirata said. “I was hoping that my specialization in phonetics would help second language learners learn their second language better.”

and brain development for younger students in addition to the cultural exposure the children are receiving."

The FLP@HCS not only shapes the exposure and experiences of its second-grade participants, but also dramatically alters the experiences and understanding of the Colgate volunteers. Many Colgate language students often find their passions enhanced through their participation in the program by not only having the ability to practice their language of choice, but by benefiting others through it, as well.

"I got involved in the program through my Arabic professor, Amany Ahmed," said sophomore and FLP@ HCS volunteer Simon Khairallah. "I was eager to participate and thought it was a great way to give back to the Hamilton community. Also, I thought it was cool that languages like Arabic were being taught. Having the opportunity to give back to the Hamilton community through the language I have learned at Colgate is a great opportunity to not just further my own practice of the language but [also] educate others who want to learn."

Additionally, each session is planned ahead of time, with each day typically focusing on a specific topic for the children before the topic transitions into an activity where their newfound knowledge can be applied.

“[On] one typical day, we may be teaching them about food and how to order at a restaurant,” Khairallah explained. “To teach the class, we would run through a list of vocabulary words and phrases. Then we may pretend we are in a restaurant and have them use the words they learned to order food off of a menu we made. With little kids in particular, it is important to maintain their engagement and make the class fun, so we try to cater our activities to things that would interest them.”

The ability to teach others and see the impact of one's teaching details the reciprocal relationship between the University and the town of Hamilton. FLP@HCS has fostered a community where Colgate students can teach young

children foreign languages, exposing them to different languages and cultures and drastically expanding their worldview and global prowess. Through participating in this program, Colgate students get to experience the effect their language teaching skills have had on the Hamilton students as the children gradually improve their linguistic skills over the course of the program. "I would recommend this program to anyone interested in languages," Khairallah said. "It helps others and helps you learn the languages as well through teaching. If you want to practice getting better at a language, teaching others to learn how to speak it is a great opportunity!"

Now, as a Professor of Japanese, Hirata began to notice the same mistakes and pitfalls among her students, and asked herself how she could help improve those expected weaknesses. She hoped her research would be the answer.

Hirata’s research includes computer-assisted training for the acquisition of second language speech. A program, designed by Hirata herself, works by taking input and returning it as speech in order to help students hear elements of Japanese language which aren’t necessarily present in English.

After identifying some of the mistakes that students particularly struggle with, Hirata’s program allows students to pay attention to specific parts of words to help develop an ear for the target language.

“It’s a hard thing in a classroom where you have to pay attention to the vocabulary and the meaning and there’s so much going on, but with the computer you’re just focused on listening,” Hirata said.

A new program developed by Professor Hirata uses these foundations of language (visual and auditory multimodal perception), such as tone and pitch, in order to help students achieve this native level of understanding, or at least

something close to it. This particular program maps out language in a more spatial way, according to Hirata, so that students can visually see high and low tones in words.

Teaching Japanese to students has also given Professor Hirata a new and exciting perspective on language acquisition.

“Along the way you get to teach culture as well as language, which is an inseparable part… you raise another person in the same student,” Hirata said.

This cultural and personal transformation is a part of language learning which is often overlooked by the general public who, according to Hirata, tend to see language as a means of conveying a message

or participating in a negotiation. Rather, cultural knowledge is needed to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds.

For Hirata, it only takes learning one new language to change your life; not by simply memorizing, but recognizing and appreciating the interconnectivity between culture and language.

“You find out a certain part of yourself that you didn’t know about,” she said. “If you get to the depth of one language (besides your language), that really changes your life.”

Contact Maya Albright at malbright@colgate.edu.

Contact Joe Mussomeli at jmussomeli@colgate.edu.

TUTOR TIME: Sophomore Simon Khairallah talks with Hamilton Central School students.

ALL THINGS LANGUAGE: Yukari Hirata, Professor of Japanese and Linguistics, pictured above. Colgate University

Colgate University

Colgate Volleyball Concludes Terrific 2022 Season

By Sloan Martin Sports Editor

With another great season in the books, Colgate Volleyball has now firmly established itself as a volleyball powerhouse. The Raiders finished the season 24-6 overall, with a 14-2 record in the Patriot League. More importantly, though, the Raiders took home their second-straight Patriot League Championship after defeating No.3 Navy 3-2 at Cotterell Court. The team concluded its season on December 2 in a hard-fought loss to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After their excellent regular season, the Raiders earned the No. 1 seed in November’s Patriot League Championship, which gave them a bye into the semifinals with a home-court advantage. There, at Cotterell Court, they met the competitive, gritty, fourth-seeded Loyola Maryland Greyhounds. In the

semifinal, ‘Gate dominated their opponent with a 3-0 sweep – seven different players recorded at least one kill. The Raiders matched up with the third-seeded Navy Midshipmen in the finals, winning in a fivegame stunner.

“We were so successful because of how much everyone on our team was willing to give. Winning another championship was our goal from the very first day of the preseason, and to see that happen again as well as be a part of a team with such a great culture and commitment to each other is so special,” said junior libero Taylor Cigna, who earned All-Tournament honors.

Cigna recorded a team-high 19 digs against Navy, building on her stellar performance against Loyola Maryland. Joining Cigna, sophomore setter Syndey Jones also earned All-Tournament honors and junior middle blocker Harper Snyder earned Patriot

League Tournament Most Valuable Player. Snyder racked up 10 kills in the crucial game against Navy, adding to great performances from graduate student setter Julia Kurowski and sophomore outside hitter Abby Shadwick, who had 15 kills apiece.

Moving on to the esteemed NCAA Tournament, ‘Gate traveled to the Petersen Events Center to match up against No. 6 ranked Pittsburgh in the first round. This match marked Colgate’s secondconsecutive appearance in the tournament in two years. The Raiders battled through three sets against the tough opponent but ultimately came short of victory.

In the Patriot League, Kurowski and Shadwick earned All-League honors. Kurowski dominated the Patriot League this season, and is one of only two players in Patriot League history to earn Patriot

League Player and Setter of the Year in the same season – a truly incredible accomplishment. She has now achieved Patriot League Setter of the Year three times and is Colgate’s only player to ever earn the honor. Having now racked up over 4,000 assists in her collegiate career, Kurowski also broke Colgate’s all-time assists record in the 2022 season. Certainly, Kurowski is a driving force for the team’s success, but many others also stepped up along the way.

“The most important thing that led us to a championship win was being a team: a team is a group of people who have unconditional love for each other. This season was about having an unstoppable collective, and it took us to another incredible season,” Kurowski said.

Junior opposite hitter

Gillian Hauschild further this sentiment of the importance of teamwork:

“This season we had a really special team and coaching staff that felt like a family. We all bought into the shared goal of winning another Patriot League Championship and reminded each other every day of that goal through our hard work and support for each other on and off the court,” said Hauschild.

Credit also goes to Patriot League Coach of the Year Ryan Baker, who won the honor for the fourth time in his Colgate coaching career. Under Baker, Colgate is 49-7 against league opponents since 2019. Moreover, Baker has pushed the team to nine appearances in the Patriot League Championship. Off the back of such a successful season, Colgate Volleyball has much to be excited about next season.

Contact Sloan Martin smartin@colgate.edu.

RESILIENT RAIDERS: Members of the Colgate Volleyball team celebrate on Cotterell Court after their second consecutive Patriot League Championship win on November 20. Olivia Hokanson/Colgate Athletics

Prepping for the College Football Playoff

By Drew Fischer Assistant Sports Editor

On Sunday, December 4, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee released their final rankings for the 2022 season. Made up of 13 members, the committee is typically composed of athletic directors, former coaches, former players and respected members of the media. This year, the committee decided that the University of Georgia, the University of Michigan, Texas Christian University (TCU) and The Ohio State University were the four teams that earned the coveted spots as semifinalists in the CFP. After each semifinal matchup, the victors will face off in the National Championship, hosted at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA on Monday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. Immediately, several storylines stick out for this year’s clashes on New Year’s Eve.

#2 Michigan vs #3 TCU

In the CFP’s first slot at 4 p.m. EST, the undefeated Michigan Wolverines will face off against the TCU Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl located in Glendale, Arizona. Coming off of a 34-11 defeat in last year’s CFP semifinal against last year’s National Champions, Georgia, Michigan will hope to use its recent playoff experience to its advantage.

This season, the Wolverines (130) cruised to a victory in the Big

Ten Championship against Purdue and knocked off the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus by a score of 45-23. Initially, Michigan was led by Blake Corum – one of the country’s most dynamic running backs who recorded 1,483 yards and 18 touchdowns and faced a seasonending surgery after a left knee injury against Illinois in mid-November. In his absence, running back Donovan Edwards stepped up at the end of the season to produce 872 yards and 7 touchdowns, including roughly 400 yards combined against Ohio State and Purdue. At the quarterback position, Michigan is led by J.J. McCarthy, the only quarterback in the CFP that is not in the Heisman Trophy conversation, which is awarded to the country’s most outstanding collegiate player.

On the other side, TCU (12-1) comes off their first defeat of the season against tenth-ranked Kansas State. With a previously unblemished record, the Horned Frogs failed to convert from the one-yard line in overtime and fell to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship. Despite this defeat, TCU’s resume and victories throughout the season earned them a spot in the CFP.

Under first-year head coach Sonny Dykes, who came from Southern Methodist (SMU) in Nov. 2021, TCU beat five ranked opponents during the season. In these victories against Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Texas, quarterback Max Duggan paced the Horned Frogs. On the year, Duggan recorded

3,321 yards passing, threw for 30 touchdowns, had only four interceptions and also rushed for six touchdowns. TCU is also led by running back Kendre Miller who ran for 1,342 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season. In this first matchup, Duggan and Miller will look to pace the Horned Frogs yet again and lead his side to victory against a stout Michigan defense aiming to rectify last year’s semi-final loss.

#1 Georgia vs #4 Ohio State

In the second matchup of the CFP, the reigning champion Georgia Bulldogs will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes, who narrowly slipped into the field after a late-season loss to Michigan. At the Peach Bowl, the matchup will kick off at 8 p.m. EST in a game that sees Georgia play their third game of the season in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Georgia returns to the CFP after last season’s dominant display in wins over Michigan in the semi-final and Alabama in the championship. After convincing victories against #1 ranked Tennessee and #11 ranked Oregon, Georgia is firing on all cylinders heading into this year’s semi-final.

Led by Stetson Bennett, last season’s CFP Offensive MVP award winner, a balanced rushing attack of Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards and a stellar defense, the Bulldogs will look to attack the Buckeyes early and often in Atlanta.

On the year, Bennett has thrown for 3,425 yards and 20 touchdowns, putting him in the conversation for

the Heisman trophy. As a veteran leader on the Georgia squad, Bennett will be expected to lead the team to another title by putting up points against the Ohio State defense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Georgia has benefitted from the return of star defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. In his last six games, Carter has compiled 24 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles, helping to lead Georgia’s defense to yet another stellar season.

For the Buckeyes, a bid into the CFP was a sigh of relief after losing to Michigan. With USC’s loss in the PAC 12 Championship to Utah, Ohio State enters the CFP field by a very slim margin.

Prior to the loss against Michigan, however, Ohio State looked like a well-oiled offensive machine and a force to be reckoned with. After defeating fifth-ranked Notre Dame and thirteenth-ranked Penn State in the regular season, quarterback C.J. Stroud will look to bring the Buckeyes’ aerial attack back to its midseason dominance.

In the time off before the semifinal, the key for Ohio State is getting healthy. Though one of the country’s best wide receivers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been ruled out for the season due to a hamstring injury. Also, injured Buckeye running backs still have a chance to get healthy for the game. Against Michigan, the Buckeyes were without their two leading rushers in Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson and were forced to start DeaMonte Trayanum – a converted linebacker. Suppose the Buckeyes want to compete against Georgia. In that case, the team must rest and recover, focus on spreading the ball to Biletnikoff award finalist Marvin Harrison (awarded to the best collegiate wide receiver in the country) and prevent Georgia from big offensive plays that quickly change the trajectory of the game.

Contact

The Sports Editors’ Week 14 NFL Picks

Stuzin: New York Jets (+9) at Buffalo Bills

It feels as if one of us picks the Jets every week, but they truly are one of the most exciting teams to watch right now. Despite a crushing loss against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13, the Jets still seem to have good morale going into this away matchup against the Bills. The last time these two teams faced off, the Jets came away with a shocking victory, and who’s to say they can’t do it again? Since replacing QB Zach Wilson with Mike White, the team has seen a dramatic change in the passing game: White has 684 yards in the air in two games, a number Wilson never saw in any two-game span. Additionally, wide receiver Garrett Wilson is making a statement that he should be Offensive Rookie of the Year (he finished Week 13 with eight receptions and 162 yards). There is no denying that the Bills continue to consistently steamroll competition, as QB Josh Allen continues to put up MVP numbers (3,406 passing yards and 25 TDs on the season, ranked third and second, respectively), but I see no reason the Jets can’t cover this spread.

Fischer: Cleveland Browns (+6) at Cincinnati Bengals

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the biggest week’s biggest story, the return of DeShaun Watson after an 11-game suspension, was overshadowed by the Browns’ defense and special teams. With three non-offensive touchdowns, which included a fouryard fumble return by Denzel Ward, a sixteen-yard interception return by Tony Fields II and a seventy-six-yard punt return, the Browns cruised to victory against the struggling Texans. Earlier this season, the Browns defeated the Bengals in dominant fashion by a score of 32-13. In that game, Nick Chubb rushed for 100+ yards and 2 touchdowns. If the Browns want to maintain their recent success against the Bengals, Chubb will need to have a similarly dominant day and Watson must reignite the Browns’ passing game.

In his short, yet stellar young career, Joe Burrow has compiled an 0-4 record against the Browns. Even coming off a sensational victory against the Kansas City Chiefs that saw Ja’Marr Chase return to the lineup to lead the Bengals in receiving, I see this matchup being a close affair between division rivals with key playoff implications.

Martin: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (Over 53 Points)

Instead of picking against the spread this week, I am taking over 53 total points at Ford Field. This NFC North matchup presents a perfect opportunity for a high-scoring affair. Both the Vikings (unsurprisingly) and Lions (surprisingly) have been very competent on offense. In Minnesota, star playmakers Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook pose a challenge for any defense. With Kirk Cousins as a reliable decision-maker, the Vikings have an easy time giving the football to their studs and letting explosive plays happen. On the other side, the Lions are one of the hottest offensive teams in the league right now and are actually favored in this game against the 10-2 Vikings. Lions running back Jamaal Williams has a knack for finding the endzone, and currently leads the league with 14 touchdowns this season. The Lions are 8-4 on the over/under this year, which speaks to their underrated offense as well as their mediocrity on defense. Games at Ford Field this season have averaged 59.0 total points, and have hit the over in six out of eight games. Moreover, four of the last five games between the Vikings and Lions have gone over the total points line.

Silverstein: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5) at San Francisco 49ers

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the battle of sixth and seventh rounders. Tom Brady, the greatest football player ever to grip the laces, is a four-point underdog to Brock Purdy, also known as Mr. Irrelevant, the last player picked in this year’s draft. Don’t get me wrong, the 49ers are stacked with talent on both sides of the ball, and Purdy did well to step in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo and secure a victory over a very strong Miami Dolphins team. But, the kind of a player and competitor Brady is, coupled with his vintage, goatly comeback on Monday night versus the Saints tells me there is simply no way he loses this matchup. Yes, Brady’s Tampa offense has not looked all that pretty this year, but their defense ranks fifth in points allowed per contest, and if this one is low-scoring and close, number twelve is going to find a way to get it done. Give me a very close game and a very possible Buccaneers win in San Fran on Sunday.

Notis: Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) vs. Carolina Panthers

The NFC South has proven time and time again that it cannot compete in the NFL. Leaving Week 13 without a team above .500, there’s no future where any team in this division makes it to the Super Bowl. The Carolina Panthers are no exception. After dropping quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Panthers are without offensive firepower or organizational direction. Coming off the bye, Carolina will have rest but zero momentum. The Seahawks have continued to shock the league and need to have continued success to top the 49ers in the NFC West. A strong Week 13 performance from quarterback Geno Smith and the Seattle defense toppled the Rams. The Panthers have no reason to win and the Seahawks have every reason to dominate. If the Seahawks win by three or fewer points it should go down as a loss on their record.

Contact Ryan Stuzin rstuzin@colgate.edu

Drew Fischer dfischer@colgate.edu.

BULLDOGS BLOCK: Defensive back Christopher Smith celebrates after returning a blocked field goal 95 yards for a touchdown. Jason Getz / Dawgnation