Thousand Islands as part of the Outdoor Nation challenge.
scene: Winter 2016
The ’Gate outdoors
Members of the Colgate community can often be seen jogging, strolling, and bicycling around town, but the stakes were raised when the university participated in Campus Challenge from September 6 to October 17. Created by the nonprofit organization Outdoor Nation, the challenge was part of an initiative to get people to reconnect with nature and spend more time outdoors. Participants earned points for their schools by snapping a photo to record the outdoor activity and uploading it to the Campus Challenge website. Everything from bird watching to skateboarding counted in this competition, which was open to all members of the Colgate community, so students, faculty, staff, and alumni from around the world were welcome to join. With more than 200 participants and 7,530 points accumulated by the time of the challenge’s completion, Colgate finished in the middle of the pack of 57 participating colleges and universities across the nation. “For a school of its size, Colgate was fairly competitive in the challenge,” said John Simoni ’16, who worked with Ben Harris ’17 to lead the challenge at Colgate. To draw attention to the challenge, Harris and Simoni hung a hammock outside of the Coop and encouraged people to enjoy the outdoors right there. They also hosted a slacklining event and an outdoor yoga class on the Quad.
Nick Knoke ’16 was the top Colgate participant. Having logged more than 100 entries, he claimed his spot as the most outdoorsy person at Colgate. “I value any time I have away from the hustle and bustle of modern life because it allows me to step back and digest my recent experiences,” he said. — Meredith Dowling ’17
Ciccone Commons
Colgate’s first residential commons, which opened its doors on Arrival Day 2015, has been named for Diane Ciccone ’74, P’10. Commons residents made the choice by popular vote after reviewing a slate of important names in Colgate’s history. “I am humbled and honored,” Ciccone said. “It not only recognizes my lifetime commitment to Colgate,
Students living in the first residential commons, named for Diane Ciccone ’74, P’10
Nick Gilbert ’18
work & play 8
Austin Sun ’18 took this photo of Kaitlin Abrams ’18 in the
but more importantly, it acknowledges the many voices of women and people of color in Colgate’s story — a story that will be woven into the historical fabric of the institution’s commitment to coeducation and inclusion.” Ciccone is a member of the first class of women to graduate from Colgate. After earning her law degree from Hofstra University in 1977, she went on to a career in law and journalism. She also became a passionate advocate for the Colgate community, both current students and alumni. A founding member of Colgate’s Alumni of Color organization, Ciccone served on both the Alumni Council and the Board of Trustees, chairing its legal affairs and insurance committee. She has mentored students via the Sister2Sister program and career services, and has supported the ALANA Cultural Center, establishing a library of books by authors of color. In 2014, she received the Wm. Brian Little ’64 Award for Distinguished Service. The Ciccone Commons is the first of four residential commons that will open during the course of the next several years. The system represents a new approach to “living the liberal arts” at Colgate: led by faculty directors, students not only live and enjoy free time together, but they also take classes and study side by side. “Residential commons allow classroom conversations to continue into the living room, while increasing the opportunity for faculty leaders to mentor students,” Interim President Jill Harsin said. Sophomore, junior, and senior students will play a crucial role in