Concordiensis 1/18/24

Concordiensis T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F U N I O N C O L L E G E S I N C E 1 8 7 7

Volume CLIII Issue X

Thursday, January 18, 2024

concordiensis.com

Your Guide to Wicker’s Mental Health Services Allyson Bennett News Editor

About 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Luckily for Union students, mental health services on campus and online are free thanks to the Wicker Wellness center. The Concordiensis has prepared a guide on how to access these resources, including what is offered.

First, to schedule any appointment with the Wicker Wellness Center, students should call 518388-6161. All services within the wellness center are confidential unless a student poses a risk to themselves or others.

Students can schedule appointments with Wicker’s staff counselors for individual, group, drug and alcohol, and other types of counseling.

Students fill out a detailed intake questionnaire when they first start, and students can switch counselors if they want to. Wicker counselors cannot have long term counseling with students due to demand, but Wicker has partnered with UWill to allow students to seek free, long term counseling. Students can register on the UWill website using their Union email to take advantage of this option.

In addition, Union students can have medications prescribed and managed through the wellness center. A nurse practitioner, Angela Stefanatos, sees students on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons to both prescribe medication and manage ongoing prescriptions. Medications can also be delivered to the wellness center from an off campus prescription filler, but students will be charged a $5 service fee in addition to any copays from the medication. Students can also have their ADHD medications managed through Stefanatos, but students must provide a current letter of testimony from their home provider. Like with other services, Union students can schedule appointments with her by calling the wellness center. While this service is available, Wicker cannot test for ADHD or other learning disabilities.

On the weekends and after Wicker’s operating hours, students can also access mental health counseling. There is always a counselor on call, and students can call campus safety at 518-388-6911.

Campus safety will direct students to the on call counselor at the students’ request, no matter what time of day or night it is.

Notably, Wicker also has 6 therapy dogs available to walk and play with throughout the week. The dogs’ names are Ace, Eve, Hunter, Molly, Margo, and Sparky, and there are

Important Phone Numbers 518-388-6161: the phone number to schedule counseling appointments 518-388-6120: the phone number to schedule sick appointments 518-388-6911: Union’s campus safety phone number. After Wicker’s operating hours, students can call this to be connected to an on call crisis counselor.

518-388-6600: Union’s sexual assault resource hotline 518-388-6865: Union’s Title IX coordinator

Allyson Bennett | Concordiensis

Ace, one of Union’s therapy dogs, this past year. Students can take him and other therapy dogs for walks.

typically 2 available on any given day. Students can see them as they walk into the wellness center and are able to take them on walks during Wicker’s operating hours.

Students can check them out of the wellness center by going to the front desk.

In addition, Wicker does offer counseling services and physical check ups for sexual assault in-

stances. All conversations are strictly confidential, and Wicker does not require that Union students report any assaults to Union’s Title IX coordinator. Union will also grant students amnesty for any drug or alcohol violations that occurred at the time of the assault. Aside from scheduling an appointment, Union also has a sexual assault resource hotline at 518-388-6600 and a Title

988: the national suicide prevention lifeline 911: US emergency phone number

IX counselor who can be accessed at 518-388-6865.

Union wants to ensure that all students have access to mental health resources that they need, and the Wicker Wellness center provides plenty. Aside from prescription charges, all services are free and can be scheduled by calling 518-388-6161.

ACE Rolls the Dice at Casino Night!

Craig Efraiti Staff Writer

On Saturday January 13, 2024, ACE held its yearly Casino Night.

The event started at 10PM and ended at 2AM, with drawings given to winners at midnight and 1:30 AM respectively. The event draws a big crowd every year and was originally scheduled for last weekend, but was put on this weekend due to a snowstorm. The event featured different casino-style games like poker

and blackjack. Students were given $5,000 of fake money and then could trade the money in later on for a chance to win prizes such as Celsius cans and Union merchandise.

No real money was issued at this event, but the event is “a big tradition and we have been doing it for years. It allows students to take risks in a friendly way.” Kyra Graham ‘27 reports.

The event was able to offer the traditional games associated with gambling in a low-stakes, casual atmosphere. The aim of the event was to clearly allow students to have a

chance to gamble in an environment with no actual ramifications.

Students clearly took the time to develop strategies over time and develop a way to win without the pressures of real gambling. One student noted for blackjack to, “Always stay on 16 or higher” because it gives you the highest chance of winning. The event drew a big crowd over time and was able to cater to many students who simply wanted to have fun gambling in a friendly environment.

The next ACE event students can look forward to will be a late

night cafe, taking place in Wold Atrium on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

There will be food, drinks, art supplies, and a spectacular night of fun.

UENGAGE Scan the QR code to learn more about other fun campus events on UEngage!

Craig Efraiti | Concordiensis

See ACE on page 2 to see more pictures!

Sophia Habler ‘26 and Kristina Yuan ‘26 greeting attendees at the event.

Sci-Tech. page 5 Environmental Impact of Satellites

807 Onion. page 7 Wardrobe Resilience

We’re beautiful on the inside, too

News. page 2 Men’s Hockey Dominates the Weekend

Opinions. page 3 Thoughts on the New Mascot

World. page 4 Volcanism in Iceland

NEWS

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Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

ALLYSON BENNETT, NEWS EDITOR benneta2@union.edu

SOSA HOSTS HENNA AND KARAOKE NIGHT!

ACE CASINO (CONTINUED) 1

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2 SOSA INSTAGRAM

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Check out Union Students of South Asia on Instagram for more events!

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1. A student does a henna drawing on their hand. The henna tattoos are meant to symbolize health, joy, and celebration.

2. Pede, a Simosa, and Tamarind Chutney as served at the event. Each item orignated from Southeast Asia.

3. Friends drawing henna tattoos on one another’s hands.

Images Courtesy of Allyson Bennett

Men’s Hockey Dominates their Weekend Games

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Allyson Bennett News Editor

4 1. Students playing an intense game of poker.

2. More students playing another game of poker.

3. Ashlesha Bhagat ‘26 dealing cards to another student.

4. Students playing blackjack during the night.

Images Courtesy of Craig Efraiti

Always stay on 16 or higher.

- Union Student at the ACE Casino Event

On Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13, 2024, Union’s Division 1 men’s hockey team played against Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University, respectively. In the Clarkson game, the men dominated in a 5-1 win and in the St. Lawrence game, the men dominated in an overtime shootout.

In the Clarkson University game, the men dominated in the 2nd and 3rd periods with two scores in each period. John Prokop ‘26 assisted Ville Immonen ‘24 for one goal, and Tyler Watkins ‘24, Brandon Buhr ‘26, Cullen Ferguson ‘25, and Carter Korpi ‘26 also made scores, with Liam Robertson ‘24 assisting on two of the scores. Goalie Kyle Chauvette ‘26 made 34 saves against Clarkson to keep his teammates’ scoring streak strong. Union endured through 6 penalties lasting 12 minutes total to take home the win for the team.

The game on the 13th was also the Hockey is for Everyone game, where teammates and athletic staff

honored LGBTQ+ individuals who play hockey. To commemorate the game, Thomas Raimo ‘24, an openly LGBTQ+ Union student and singer, sang the national anthem.

Union’s game against St. Lawrence on January 13th was closer than the game in the previous night.

At the beginning of the first period, Ben Tupker ‘24 assisted Nate Hanley ‘26 in scoring the first goal of the game. The Garnet Chargers faced challenges later in the first period when John Prokop ‘26 amassed a 5 minute penalty, giving St. Lawrence a power play and the opportunity to score twice, leaving a 1-2 score into the intermission. After the intermission, Brandon Buhr ‘26 assisted Chaz Smedsrud ‘24 in scoring another shot, leaving the Garnet Chargers tied until the end of the game. Nate Hanley ‘26 scored the winning goal in the shootout in overtime, with Carter Korpi ‘26 also scoring in his shootout.

Union’s men’s hockey team plays at Dartmouth on January 19th, but returns to Albany to play in the yearly Mayor’s Cup against RPI on January 27th.

Rowan Zeigler | Concordiensis

The team celebrating after scoring.

Rowan Zeigler | Concordiensis

Liam Robertson ‘24 faces off.

OPINIONS

Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

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SOPHIA GLAZIER, OPINIONS EDITOR glaziers@union.edu

Let Charger Charge On Thoughts on the Mascot Craig Efrati Staff Writer

Courtesy of Union College Office of Communications and Marketing

Charger (the mascot) celebrating admissions decisions with students.

Courtesy of Union College Office of Communications and Marketing

Charger (the mascot) with Charger (the dog) and other Union students.

On Friday, November 3, 2023, Union College students gathered around the Schaffer Library to see their new mascot come to life. It was the first sighting of the mascot for the students who had been waiting for a long time. For myself and others, this was a riveting experience.

The new mascot was revealed to us as being named ‘Garnet Chargers’ and showcased a puppy named ‘Charger’ as well as a Garnet lightning bolt symbol.

The mascot pays tribute to Schenectady, Electric City, where Union is located, with its vibrant history of electricity from the General Electric company to the energy production present in the city today. The name may have seemed puzzling to many students at first, but is able to capture the city’s dynamic and rich history well and feeds into what makes Schenectady so unique.

Many students at the unveiling were concentrating on the dog Charger where it was observed that to the students, the cuteness of the dog mattered more than the name itself. However, many students had also regarded the change as impractical and unnecessary. I saw swarms of comments all over social media that criticized the school for its decision to impel a name change so quickly, launching the idea that the change was a mistake.

This name was a necessary move by the school to usher into a comprehensive branding update designed to strengthen the com-

The name may have seemed puzzling to many students at first, but is able to capture the city’s dynamic and rich history well and feeds into what makes Schenectady so unique. munication of Union’s uniqueness and the power of a Union education; it is a name that has the ability to win over the hearts and minds of many students and faculty. The very important fact remains that the college took student data over who they wanted and used a survey that broadcasted a fair representation of everyone’s feelings.

The mascot may not be what everyone wanted, but it is able to showcase the unique location of Schenectady while paying homage to the city in a respectful and sensitive manner. In the end, the students will decide the lasting impact of the Garnet Chargers’ name and identity, but I believe that this name will stick around for the ages. After all, Charger is the cutest puppy imaginable and what other school can compete with that?

However, in all seriousness, Garnet Chargers logo and mascot

is able to accurately bridge the gap missing between the old logo and its historical inaccuracy and a new logo that accomplishes the goal of catering to every student. We also have a better question to answer Union has existed since 1795, so how is it that we want to present our image? I believe that image is much more than a logo - it is the people who present the image.

Talk to us!

Concordiensis welcomes letters to the editor on its coverage and school-related issues.

Submissions are selected by the editor. Letters may be emailed to concordy@union.edu. The writer’s full name, class year and e-mail or phone number must be included, but only the name and class year will be published.

S.A.D. or just “sad”: Winter and Mental Health Sophia Glazier Opinions Editor

“Seasonal depression” is a term that’s been thrown around a lot lately. Often seen on social media, the term is defined as “depression or moodiness that comes and goes in a specific time of the year or period of time,” so eloquently by Urban Dictionary. As with most mental health/illness phenomena that find themselves in a social media surge, the term can (and has, in my opinion) lose its meaning completely.

Don’t get me wrong, seasonal depression is a real struggle for some people (though, the people who actually struggle with it probably know that it’s really called “seasonal affective disorder”). Less sunlight and shorter days during the winter season can cause, in some, the typical depression symptoms: little or no interest in once-beloved activities, feelings of guilt and lone-

liness, and low self-esteem. Once again, do not get me wrong, I recognize the legitimacy of this issue.

My personal gripe with the term’s popularity on social media comes from the people who aren’t quite using it right.

For instance, floating around our Union College campus, I have heard the direct words, “I just really can’t do my work today, it’s like I have seasonal depression.”

That is probably not true, I hate to break it to you. I don’t know what else was going on in this person’s life that might have contributed to that statement, but I do know that just not wanting to do your work because it’s cold and snowy out is not seasonal affective disorder (or “seasonal depression”).

Trust me, I’m most certainly one to make excuses about not doing a particular assignment. Usually, they tend to be along the lines of “I’m too tired, the work I do now will just be bad anyways, so I might as

It doesn’t make them feel better and it doesn’t magically cure their incurable mental disorder. well do it in the morning.” I’ve even pulled out a “This assignment is too hard, I don’t want to ruin my streak of work that I’m good at,” and, thus, the assignment gets put off. Let it be known that the work does get done…just maybe not as soon as it could be.

Regardless, I do feel that the “seasonal depression” term, diagnosis, excuse—whatever you think of it as—has been simultaneously overused and misunderstood.

I understand that this cold weather and dreary landscape can make it difficult for some people to want to get up and get on with their days. It

can even act as a causal influence of your procrastination when work is due, and I fully support that. Not necessarily saying that I support not doing work that has to be done, but if you want to blame it on the chilly weather outside your cozy bed, that’s fine by me. What I can’t say the same for is using this “seasonal depression” explanation when, in fact, that claim hasn’t even been diagnosed by or discussed with a medical or psychological professional.

As a society, most prominently on social media, we continue to further perpetuate the stereotypes

around mental health each day by minimizing things like depression and seasonal affective disorder. By normalizing trends like seasonal depression, we actively dismiss those who have more serious mental disorders. Saying you have depression (seasonal or otherwise) when you really don’t doesn’t help individuals who do; it doesn’t make them feel better and it doesn’t magically cure their incurable mental disorder just because you happen to share a few symptoms. More often than not, people who implement mental illnesses seek to gain attention over others, adding symptom upon symptom to ‘one-up’ others who might actually be experiencing the disorder. In closing, I urge anyone reading to make an extended effort to think about those suffering from mental illness this season, and the next time you want to connect, sympathize, or rationalize on the basis of undiagnosed “seasonal depression,” I hope that you think twice.

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WORLD/BUSINESS

Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

SIENNA CHAMBIAL, WORLD/BUSNESS EDITOR chambias@union.edu

Recent Volcanism in Iceland: Union Professor Comments Sienna Chambial World/Business Editor

On January 13, an Icelandic volcano in the Reykjanes peninsula erupted near the town of Grindavik, spilling lava into the small town. This eruption comes in close succession of a previous volcanic eruption in the region that started on December 18 and lasted three days. While the population had been evacuated, the volcano has engulfed several houses in the town.

Professor Holli Frey of the Geosciences department, who is currently teaching ‘GEO-206: Volcanology’ talked to Concordiensis about this eruption, sharing valuable insights on the mechanism, history, and impacts of this recent volcanic activity.

Could you tell Concordiensis a little bit about yourself and your work with volcanoes, particularly in Iceland?

My field of Specialization within Geosciences is what we call Igneous Petrology and Volcanology. I am interested in how rocks form particularly how volcanoes form and why they erupt the the way they do, why they change their eruptive styles, and that type of thing. As part of my research, I get to visit different volcanoes around the world and I have done research in many different places.

I had the opportunity to visit Iceland in 2007 right before I started as a professor here, at Union College.

I was co-leading a group of 30 University of Michigan students and we spent 3 weeks in Iceland basically exploring different types of volcanoes. There was no active volcanism in Iceland at that time.

What can you tell us about the recent Volcanic activity in Grindavik?

Iceland is a land of contrast - you have the black volcanic rock and basalt, and you have the white snow and ice and glaciation. The combination of those two can make for a very explosive interaction when you have the fire and ice. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world because it’s a combination of both an oceanic hotspot and a rift zone. So there’s a lot of heat flow and a lot of magma that can make it to the surface, and it does.

The organization that is in charge of overseeing the volcanic activity in Iceland is the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). In the case of the impending eruption in Iceland, there were actually warning signs in October of 2023. There

was heightened seismicity, which was sort of the first clue. There were more and more small earthquakes and they were sort of in a linear array and Iceland was getting up to a thousand earthquakes a day. These earthquakes were increasing in frequency and there was also deformation observed. That alarmed the scientists and they said, “Whoa- an eruption is possible.” These warning signs began to escalate and by mid-November, they called for the evacuation of Grindavik, which is a coastal town of about 4000 people.

According to BBC, Volcanologist Evgenia Ilyinskaya that the peninsula could be entering a period of frequent eruptions. Would you agree with this?

I think that that’s definitely valid.

What we have observed is that there is heightened seismicity, so even when there aren’t 800 earthquakes per day, there are still 200 earthquakes per day. If the magma is close to the surface of the earth, it will find a way.

Given that not too far away there were major eruptions in 2020 and 2021 and you have magma that’s migrating through the system and taking advantage of the crustal weaknesses in coming to the surface and it also creates its own cracks so it’s just a matter of when and where. It will not be surprising if these kinds of eruptions keep happening for the next ten, fifty, or hundred years.

How has this eruption impacted Iceland and its people and what actions are being taken to overcome these?

This particular eruption is fairly localized. The town of Grindavik may never be the same because several houses were engulfed. As of Monday, the number of houses destroyed was more than a dozen.

But the flows have stopped so there

Ancient City Uncovered in Amazon Rainforest

According to the BBC, a huge network of ancient cities have been uncovered in the Amazon rainforest, changing what we know about the history of the locals. The city remained hidden from view for thousands of years because of the lush vegetation.

Located next to a volcano, the society might have been destroyed as the result of a volcanic eruption. Earlier believed to live in small nomadic settlements, this city demonstrates that ancient Amazonians may have had a few extremely large settlements. SC

How did you find out about this explosion?

This is funny. So, I don’t use social media, but I have friends and family who are active on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook. Often, I find out about eruptions from friends and family because they know I am a volcanologist.

About the eruption that happened in early December, I think it was one of my parents who actually texted me because they had visited Iceland and were looking at a lot of current events in the news. This recent eruption, I think it was a friend of my husband’s who texted him. It was a faculty member at Union who told us “It’s happening again.”

60-SECOND WORLD

11 Killed in Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Courtesy of the AFP - Getty Images

A volcano in Iceland destroying homes in Grindavik, Iceland.

...the flows have stopped so there are a number of people who could return to their homes. The question is, is it viable to return to the homes? are a number of people who could return to their homes. The question is, is it viable to return to the homes?

And this is always a question after eruptions.

It’s a personal choice whether the people are going to go back or not. You can try and stop the lava but there is too much pressure behind the flow of lava and it generally overtops or undermines barriers.

So, once the lava starts moving into an area until it stops, there’s really nothing you can do. Obviously, it’s devastating.

But the last Icelandic eruption that had a more national scope was in 2010. The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 actually shut down the Keflavík airport for two weeks and caused great havoc, particularly in northern Europe since that airport is a hub when you are flying to the UK. So, eruptions in Iceland can cause a lot of damage to homes and concerning air traffic.

Frequent eruptions near the air-

port and major tourist attractions like the Blue Lagoon will cause these places to be closed if there is danger to human health which can come in the form of ash and the form of volcanic gases and pollution coming from the volcanoes.

Any final remarks on this eruption or volcanoes in general? Is there anything that makes this eruption stand out to you?

Every volcanic eruption has a unique character to it and volcanologists are trying to understand why eruptions happen they are getting much better at reading the signs of unrest and making the appropriate remarks to government officials who are then evacuating people. The number of fatalities as a result of eruptions is generally decreasing as we learn more and more about volcanoes and can communicate that risk better to government officials.

Days after the biggest exchange of prisoners between the two countries, Ukrainian governor of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin, reports a Russian missile attack in one of the country’s eastern towns, Pokrovsk, killing 11 people including 5 children and injuring 8 others.

According to Aljazeera, Filashkin declared S-300 missiles to be responsible for the series of attacks, of which one hit a house of a family of six.

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At Least 34 Dead in Colombia Landslides According to CNN, a landslide in Chocó, a northeastern area in Colombia on January 13 has left at least 34 dead. The death toll also consists of multiple children.

The landslide came down a road between the cities of Quibdó and Medellín as a result of 24 hours of heavy downpour. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, along with other departments, has been mobilized to assess and respond to the situation.

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Lai Ching-Te becomes Taiwan’s President, China Unamused According to Reuters, the recently elected Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-Te is set to face a difficult four years in office on being China’s least favorable candidate for the position. Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative, won despite China’s warnings to not vote for him. This comes shortly after China’s President Xi Jinping’s comments on ‘reunification’ with Taiwan being inevitable in his New Year’s Address.

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SCI-TECH

Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

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KSHITIJ AGARWAL, SCI-TECH EDITOR agarwak2@union.edu

Space Battle: Tech and Environmental Impact of Satellite Kshitij Agarwal Sci-Tech Editor

In the ever-evolving cosmos of satellite internet, spearheaded by titans like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, we are witnessing a revolutionary shift in our connection to the digital world.

However, amidst the meteoric rise of these celestial networks, it’s crucial to ponder the environmental ripples and the potential impact on our terrestrial internet speeds.

SpaceX’s Starlink, a brainchild of Elon Musk, has already catapulted into the stratosphere, offering global satellite internet service in over 60 countries. Its diverse plans, from residential to maritime, cater to a broad spectrum of users, each contributing to the expanding tapestry of Starlink’s footprint in the sky.

For a monthly fee, plus a one-time hardware cost, users tap into the Starlink network, albeit with a recurring cycle of satellite replacement every five to six years.

Contrasting this is Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper, still incubating in its developmental nest with no satellites yet orbiting our blue marble.

Kuiper’s ambition to rival Starlink’s offerings is palpable, with plans to leverage Amazon’s enormous economic engine to undercut the market, potentially reshaping the satellite internet landscape.

But beneath this celestial ballet lies a more terrestrial concern: the environmental implications.

The proliferation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) beckons questions of space debris and the Kessler Syndrome – a dystopian scenario where cascading collisions create an impenetrable shell of orbital rubble. Each satellite, a potential hazard, also casts its shadow on Earth in the form of light pollution, interfering with astronomical studies and altering our view of the cosmos.

Moreover, the fiery re-entry of these mechanical messengers introduces novel elements into our atmosphere. SpaceX’s Starlink, for instance, contributes aluminum particles, subtly altering Earth’s albedo. This uncontrolled experiment raises eyebrows in the scientific community, underscoring the need for regulatory oversight and international cooperation to manage these impacts.

And then there’s the question of

internet speed. In a world tethered by fiber optic cables, the satellite internet lags in speed and reliability.

Yet, it’s a beacon of connectivity for remote and rural areas where traditional internet is a distant dream. As we embrace this new age of satellite internet, we must weigh the convenience against potential environmental consequences.

Intriguingly, this space race between Starlink and Project Kuiper is not just a story of technological prowess but also of environmental stewardship. As they weave their networks across the sky, the responsibility to mitigate the impact rests heavily on their shoulders. The light trails of satellites in the night sky are a stark reminder of our expanding digital footprint in the celestial realms.

The unfolding saga of Starlink and Project Kuiper offers a glimpse into a future where internet access is as boundless as the stars. Yet, this advancement should not eclipse the need for environmental mindfulness and regulatory prudence. As these constellations expand, they must navigate not just the physical space of LEO but also the moral space of environmental conservation and

Courtesy of SpaceX

Lower Earth Orbital (LEO )

global connectivity. In this celestial dance of progress As stewards of both the digital and natural worlds,

we must tread carefully, ensuring that our reach into the cosmos does not outspace its consequences.

GADGET REVIEW Digital Notetaking on an Ipad Shehrbano Syed Contributing Writer Owning

a subscription to a note-taking app comes at a price - $15 a year for Notability and $10 for a permanent one on GoodNotes.

Unlimited notes, colorful pens and hundreds of templates.

Adding on to that, the cost of an iPad and an Apple Pencil - $600 for an iPad and $100 for the pencil itself - is quite an expensive endeavor, but hey, at least you’re “saving the trees” with your digital notes.

In a classroom setting, twothirds of the students are often found staring into the blue light of their devices, a constant tapping on

60-SECOND SCI-TECH

the white pencil. Despite my previous criticism of the cost (I own an iPad myself), there are certain advantages to this process. The 10.9inch screen, compared to thick notebooks, novels, and textbooks, along with the weight of 461 grams as opposed to the numerous kilograms of stationery and textbooks, make it a more convenient option.

Imagine forgetting your book at home, looking around to see if someone else is in the same boat as you, but instead, they are staring back at you with their PDF versions of the book.

My advice, considering the limited space in our dorms, the need to buy hardcover textbooks, and the burden of carrying a backpack

Apple ends Samsung’s 12 year reign and becomes the world’s largest smartphone maker by volume

Pros of Digital notes -searchability -accesibility -collaboration -portability during a long walk, is to invest in an iPad. Digital versions of the books are always half the price, not to mention the possibility of finding a free PDF version. You could pay for it in installments, and take advantage of the student discount from Apple. With the trimester system we have, I don’t fancy having to spend hundreds of dollars every ten weeks on notebooks and textbooks, and neither should you.

Global CEOs Predict Job Cuts this year due to Generative AI, PwC Survey Reveals at Davos Forum

Courtesy of College InfoGeek

An example of how you can take notes on an iPad!

Apple Vision Pro to have 3D Disney mpovies, Pre-Orders Start this Friday, January 19th at 5pm PT

New Earth-Sized Planet HD 63433d Found in Ursa Major: A Young, Hot World Offering Unique Insights into Evolution

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NOTICES

Thursday, January 11, 2024 | concordiensis.com

ASHLESHA BHAGAT, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF bhagata@union.edu

*** ATTENTION ***

Concordiensis Editors-in-Chief Ashlesha Bhagat ’26 Zahra Khan ’25 News Editor Allyson Bennett ’26 Opinions Editor Sophia Glazier ’27 Sci/Tech Editor Kshitij Agarwal ’27 World/Business Editor Sienna Chambial ’27 807 Editor Adithi Chellappan ’27 Photo Editor Kavita Trivedi ’27 Contributing Writers Epephanie Laboy ’27 Secretary Aaradhya Sharma ’27 Social Media Veer Kundalia ’27 Finance Chair Candice Nguyen ’25

ELECTION RESULTS FOR WINTER EDITORS It is our pleasure to announce, introduce, and warmly welcome the new editors for the Winter Term of the 2023-2024 academic year: Opinions Editor:

Sophia Glazier ’27

World/Business Editor: Sci-Tech Editor: 807 Editor:

Sienna Chambial ’27

Kshitij Agarwal ’27

Adithi Chellappan ’27

Photo Editor: Kavita Trivedi ’27 All five candidates possess strong skills, work ethics, and passion in Concordy. They have contributed and grown immensely in the Fall Term. We cannot wait to see what they have to offer in the Winter Term!

Note: all positions will be re-elected in mid- to lateWinter Term during the General Elections, which will be effective starting Spring Term.

Concordiensis is the official student newspaper of Union College since 1877 and is published on Thursdays; weeks 2-9 during Fall, Winter and Spring terms.

Website: concordiensis.com Email: concordy@union.edu

Mail: Concordiensis Box 2577 807 Union Street Schenectady, NY 12309 Letters to the editor: concordy@union.edu Listing submissions: concordy@union.edu For Advertising Opportunities: concordy@union.edu Concordiensis is printed by School Paper Express, Wappingers Falls, NY

From, The Editorial Board

OUR EVENT PICKS FOR YOU NSAM Day of Action: Wear Sparkles Thursday, January 18, 12:00 p.m.

Organizer: It’s Up to U Location: Reamer Tables Howe Caverns Trip Sunday, January 21, 9:00 a.m.

Organizer: Geology Club Location: Howe Caverns

Beuth House Council Meeting Monday, January 22, 1:00 p.m.

Organizer: Beuth House Location: Beuth House Wold Meeting Monday, January 22, 1:00 p.m.

Organizer: Wold House Location: Wold House Seminar Room

SWE Headshot and Resume Review Sunday, January 21, 2:00 p.m.

Organizer: Society of Women’s Engineer Location: ISEC 387

Club Volleyball Practice Thursday, January 18, 8:30 p.m.

Organizer: Volleyball Club Location: Viniar Athletic Center

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CRIME & FIRE LOG 11/2/23, 7:47 p.m. / Garnet Commons Theft of personal property - money taken from wallet - theft occurred on 10/29/23.

Open Investigation.

11/4/23, 12:03 a.m. / Fox House Alcohol violation - underage consumption.

Closed. Referred to Campus Judicial.

11/5/23, 5:35 a.m. / Park Place Arrest - male observed pulling on vehicle door handles - taken into custody by SPD. Closed. Subject arrested.

11/5/23, 12:25 a.m. / Davidson House Vandalism to college property dispenser ripped off wall - date/ time of occurrence unknown.

Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS W BASKETBALL

64 U ni on

0

48

Cl a rkson

W HOCKEY

U ni on

4

Cl a r kson

M BASKETBALL

77 U ni on

81

Cl a r kson

M SWIM

11/6/23, 7:42 a.m. / West College Vandalism to college property ceiling tiles damaged - date/time of occurrence unknown.

Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

138 156

11/6/23, 8:07 a.m. / Davidson House Vandalism to college property window pane damaged Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

W SWIM

11/8/23, 10:53 a.m. / Wold House Arrest - male observed pulling on vehicle door handles - taken into custody by SPD. Closed. Subject arrested.

11/8/23, 2:28 p.m. / ISEC Theft of personal property - air pods stolen from room - occurred at 10:00 a.m. on 11/08/23.

Open Investigation.

11/10/23, 8:24 a.m. / Davidson House Vandalism to college property lounge table damaged - occurred on 11/10/23.

Closed. Referred to Campus Judicial.

11/12/23, 8:10 p.m. / Schaffer Library Theft of personal property unattended laptop taken from student area - occurred on 11/12/23 between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Open Investigation.

11/13/23, 10:13 a.m. / Schaffer Library Theft of personal property reported - incident occurred on 10/22/23.

Open Investigation.

U ni on

H a r tw i c k

134 130 U ni on

A m he r st

NEXT WEEK IN SPORTS W Basketball vs.

Vassar January 19, 5:30 p.m.

At Union

W Hockey vs.

Dartmouth January, 5:30 p.m.

At Union

M Basketball vs.

Vassar January 19, 7:30 p.m.

Utica, NY

M Swim vs.

Middlebury

January 20 1:00 p.m.

Canton, NY

W Swim vs.

Middlebury

January 20, 1:00 p.m.

Canton, NY

Talk to us!

Concordiensis welcomes letters to the editor on its coverage and schoolrelated issues. Submissions are selected by the editor (including from comments posted to our social media pages) to provide a variety of opinions and voices and all are subject to editing for accuracy, clarity and length and to remove personal attacks. Letters may be emailed to concordy@union.edu. The writer’s full name, class year and e-mail or phone number must be included, but only the name and class year will be published.

807 UNION ST.

Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

07

ADITHI CHELLAPPAN, 807 EDITOR chellapa@union.edu

807 ONION STREET

Disclaimer: Following article is satirical, and meant to be a humorous and exaggerated expression of perspectives of campus culture for entertainment purposes. This article is not intended to offend readers or stoke controversy.

SONGS OF THE WEEK

Wardrobe Resilience 101

Navigating Winter with Style

By Adithi Chellappan 807 Editor

In the midst of the winter storms of Schenectady and the recent snow squall (a mere beginning when there is certainly more to come), here is your beloved Concordy’s guide to not get blown away by the violent gusts of wind and snow on the way to your 8 AM’s, because we all know you are still asleep on your way to class. With the snow and wind on the rise, we all need to do our best to prevent getting swept off our feet, because the wind is not stopping anytime soon. You may find this somewhat unbelievable, but I assure you, it’s a mere threestep process (with maybe a million little steps along the way, but hey what fun is an easy guide?) All you will need are the following: Suit of Armor An efficient suit of armor con-

sists of many bits and pieces, carefully layered with one another– maybe even erring on the side of caution– so be sure to add as many as you can. The suit of armor begins with thermals, and then a sweater or sweatshirt, sweatpants or jeans, another pair of jeans or sweatpants, and another sweatshirt (for good measure, of course). And then, because that is absolutely not enough, you will need a nice thick fleece jacket, maybe even two because, as I mentioned earlier, you can never truly have enough. And finally. To complete the glorious suit of armor that we have designed, all you will need is a windbreaker to withstand the elements. And voila! You have now designed the perfect blend of outers to handle Schenectady winters.

Sensibly Noisy Shoes You know that phenomenon when you’ve just walked in snow and then you reach your destination,

Adithi Chellappan | Concordiensis

The Nott in the Snow.

and now you have squeaky shoes?

That, my friend, is a sign of success.

That glorious squeakiness is a sign of success. Now comes the very important question of socks– you pick the most warm and fluffy pair of socks, of course! Length is certainly a factor here, and in my opinion, the longer the better. Once you have acquired the appropriate pair, you may begin choosing your shoes.

Stay away from sneakers and short boots, for that is a recipe for disaster given the six inches of snow we are destined to get at one point in time or another. The longer the heel/ distance from the ground, the better, and waterproofing is what gives us the wonderful squeakiness that makes walking indoors an absolute delight, so keep that in mind.

Incredibly Fashionable Accessories Accessories! My favorite part, quite frankly. The main three in discussion are hats/beanies, gloves,

and scarves. Now, the more the better is what I always say, but do what you will. For hats, the most important factor is warmth– so get out those fluffy beanies with the pom-poms on top! Yes, one may look somewhat childish but hypothermia will not be getting the best of you, so who is the real winner? As for gloves– yes we love our screens so get those fancy gloves that allow you to use your phone simultaneously. I believe they should have given the Nobel Prize to whoever came up with that glorious invention. Lastly, scarves: you guessed right, the more the better! Not only are they phenomenal accessories to up your look, but they also add extra layers between your skin and the frigid cold. And there you have it, a sure-fire guide to not get blown away by the horrible squalls of the winter, because trust me– you can never get safe enough, and nobody wants a free flight to who-knows-where!

Adithi Chellappan | Concordiensis

The Snowy Walk to Reamer.

1. JASMINE - Renao 2. Northern Attitude (ft. Hozier) Noah Kahan 3. Never Be Like You (ft. Kai) Flume 4. Forever Only - Jaehyun 5. Leave the Door Open - Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak All Images Courtesy of YoutubeMusic

08

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Thursday, January 18, 2024 | concordiensis.com

KAVITA TRIVEDI, PHOTO EDITOR trivedik@union.edu

From a Weak Start to a Rebound Triumph

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

The men’s basketball team huddling during the game. They won, against Bard College (78 - 69).

The women’s basketball team huddling during the game.

The women won against Bard College 62 - 34.

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Men’s #23 Aren Cummings ‘26 with the ball, as #5 Tanner Tedesco ‘27 looks on, hoping to obtain the ball.

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Women’s #15 Morgan Schultz ‘27 shooting out as #22 Jelena Perovic ‘26 watches on.

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Women’s #35 Maddy Mandalicini ‘24 bounces the ball down the court.

Men’s #22 Edward Baptiste ‘24 shoots the ball as #32 Brendan Reid ‘27 and another teammate eagerly wait to get ahold of it.

Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

Men’s #12 Matthew Garside ‘27 shooting as #33 Jack Plesser ‘27 eagerly watches on.