Concordiensis 2/1/24

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Men’s Hockey Defends Mayor’s Cup Against RPI, Women’s Faces Defeat

On Saturday, January 27th, Union’s Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams played against RPI in the yearly Mayor’s Cup at MVP Arena. In 2023, the Men’s team won the game 6-0, and the women’s team lost 1-3. Going into the game, the men’s team aimed to keep the cup in Schenectady, and the women looked to bring it back.

After the Garnettes sang the national anthem, President Harris dropped the puck for the women’s game at 3 p.m., and the women spent most of the first period in possession of the puck. Though the Women’s Garnet Chargers made 5 shots and won 11 face offs, neither Union or the RPI Women’s Engineers scored in period 1.

This changed coming out of the locker room when RPI scored within the first minute of the second period. The women also saw the first penalty of the game at 10:46 when #3 Kendal Davidson ‘27 received a 2 minute minor penalty. However,

Union was able to gain a power play when an RPI player made a 2 minute minor with 0:55 left in the period.

The women came out of the locker room determined to tie the game. Throughout the second and third periods, the women made 8 more shots on goal, including a power play beginning at 3:38 when an RPI player got a 5 minute major for cross checking #8 Allison Smith ‘24. In the last minutes of gameplay, the women fired 6 shots, but made no goals on the power play. In all, Goalie #31 Sophie Matsoukas ‘25 blocked 21 shots from the engineers, allowing the team to play an intense game against RPI.

After the Zambonis deep cleaned the ice and the Garnettes beautifully sang the national anthem, President Harris again dropped the puck at 6 p.m. for the men’s team. The first score of the game came from #28 Caden Villegas ‘25 at 17:43, assisted by #15 Josh Nixon ‘25 and #18 Ville Immonen ‘24. RPI made the second score at 11:10 in period 1, but at 10:36 an RPI player got a 2 minute minor, allowing for the Garnet Chargers’ first

power play. They did not score on this power play, but they gained another one when an RPI player got a 2 minute minor for high sticking at 49 senonds.

The men went into the locker room determined to gain an edge over RPI, and that’s what they did. RPI made the first score of the second period at 18:35 to take the lead, but #6 Cullen Ferguson ‘25 tied the game at 13:12 with an assist from Nixon. Minutes later at 9:07, Defense #26 Nathan Kelly ‘24 made his first collegiate goal to take the lead with assists from #14 Brandon Buhr ‘26 and #2 DJ Hart ‘27. RPI scored at 6:20, but at 2:06, #12 Carter Korpi ‘26 made the final score of the intense period with assists from Ferguson and #8 Chaz Smedsrud ‘24, allowing the men to go to the locker room 4 (Union) to 3 (RPI).

In period 3 at 11:53, RPI got a 5 minute major after one of their players injured #21 John Prokof ‘26. During this power play, Immonen scored at 11:17 with assists from Ferguson and #24 Nate Hanley ‘26, solidifying the team’s streak over

See CUP on page 2

Guest Lecture: The Enduring Legacy of MLK

On Wednesday, January 24th, the

tice and equality for all. To begin the talk, Johnson noted that he is a leader and catalyst for equality and justice. He remarked that it is important to commemorate the legacy of MLK at this time more than ever; MLK was only 39 when he died, and was still in the midst of a social and cultural upheaval that continues to the present day.

The speaker’s family migrated from the south to Detroit and this allowed his family to secure a stronger safety net for their loved ones. In 1909, the NAACP was founded in Niagara, Canada. Johnson emphasized that we, as a people, need to go together and provide love and nourishment for everyone. He also stressed that showing up is impor-

tant and that all voices should be heard and are equally important to the civil rights movement. The youth activists, he argued, set the stage for tomorrow and he cited voting as the most critical part of the democracy process.

The leadership of MLK, he noted, was that MLK was an ordinary individual who did extraordinary

things. However, it is important to recognize the other names that are relevant in this fight as well. The fight never stopped for African Americans and their journey for political and moral freedom, he also noted. When asked about how the legacy of the NAACP relates to the conflicts surrounding us today,

See MLK on page 2

CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Derrick Johnson spoke on the enduring legacy of MLK and his commitment to jus-
Rowan Ziegler Concordiensis
The Men’s hockey team lifting the Mayor’s Cup after their 5-3 win over RPI.

ALLYSON BENNETT, NEWS EDITOR benneta2@union.edu

CUP

Continued from page 1

RPI. Despite Ferguson getting a 2 minute minor at 9:33, the team held off RPI from scoring again in the game. Throughout the game, Goalie #36 Kyle Chauvette ‘26 made 22 saves, helping his team keep the mayor’s cup in Schenectady. The final score was 5 (Men’s Union) to 3 (Men’s RPI).

Both Garnet Charger teams look forward to dropping the puck again at upcoming games. The women will drop the puck on Friday, February 2nd in Messa Rink at 6 p.m., and the men will drop the puck in New Haven, CT at Yale on February 2nd at 7 p.m. Tickets to games at Messa Rink are free with a student ID, and students can use declining dollars at the concession stands behind the seats. Away men’s and women’s hockey games are available to watch on ESPN+ for a subscription of $10.99 per month.

‘26

on the

successfully

MLK

Continued from page 1

Johnson stated that all different conflicts affect us and what can look like a war in Gaza one day leads to white supremacy and violence the next. He hinted that the Pittsburgh shooting targeting Jews and other acts of white supremacy are down the road with the conflicts present and encourage hateful and spiteful behavior.

This event was able to capture a wide audience and spoke well on the legacy of MLK, despite the event being rescheduled due to a snowstorm. Even with a delay in the speaker arriving, attendees stayed for the event and listened to the wise words Johnson gave around equality and justice. The office of Intercultural Affairs has more talks planned for the future, including an identity dialogue focused on: “Do all women athletes think the same?” scheduled for Thursday, February 1st in Olin 115.

with Men’s

Nixon

Allyson Bennett | Concordiensis
Women’s #31 Goalie Sophie Matsoukas ‘25 ready to guard the goal against RPI.
Craig Efraiti | Concordiensis Johnson engaged the audience with his speech.
Rowan Ziegler | Concordiensis Men’s #24 Nate Hanley
skates
ice
#15 Josh
‘25. Nixon and Hanley both assisted their teammates in
scoring goals during the game.
Allyson Bennett | Concordiensis
Women’s #25 Celeste Beaudoin ‘24 skates with the puck.
Craig Efraiti | Concordiensis Dani Brown ‘26 moderated the talk with Johnson.
Allyson Bennett | Concordiensis Students enjoying the game. ACE and Student Forum bussed about 200 students to the event, and in all over 5000 fans came to cheer the teams on.

SOPHIA GLAZIER, OPINIONS EDITOR glaziers@union.edu

Union’s Winter Midterm Madness

How Union Students are Feeling About This Term’s Midterms

Week 5 marks the official start of midterm season…I think. Naturally, Union’s ten-week schedule means that right in the middle of the term, week 5, is when midterms should take place. I use the word “naturally” because this is natural—basic math.

Yet, I spent this past week, week 4, binding myself to my tried-andtrue ISEC study space (which I will not be giving away, I’m not sorry) and burying myself in textbook quotes, class notes, and lecture

“What midterm(s) are you dreading most?”

This first question yielded a lot of the answers that I was expecting. Calculus, chemistry, and general math courses were the most dreaded of all, as they would be for myself.

Let’s just say there’s a reason why my chosen extracurricular is writing for the school newspaper and not devoting my time to math tutoring.

Due to this fact, I don’t have much advice for tackling these midterms, but I’m sure you guys will do great (as I support from a distance)!

Aside from the typical S.T.E.M. subjects, this question did present some surprises in terms of some of the classes respondents were fearing having to test in.

Humanities-centered classes like Political Theory seemed daunting for some, while Arts classes like History of Photography concerned others.

Now that I reflect on it, none of these classes really seem ‘easy’ to me, so I don’t think I can say that any of these exams will be a breeze, though I do wish these students the best of luck, and, if it’s any consolation, I’m sure they would do better than I could!

Midterms are a phenome-

slides for two out of my three courses this term. These past four weeks have been filled with content for me, and I definitely struggled to retain all of that information for the midterms that I’ve already taken.

Though, I know that not everyone’s course load is like mine, and some students are just now preparing for their own midterm purgatory.

Given that fact, I decided to take a school-wide survey, open to all students via the Concordiensis Instagram, on midterm preparation and what students are expecting this season. Without further ado, let’s dive into the questions!

non that I have historically always dreaded through both high school and college. While the timing and preparation of them never really gets easier, hopefully with the strategies and tips gathered in this article, you (and I) can begin to feel a bit more confident tackling the beast that is standardized testing.

Calculus, chemistry, and general math courses were the most dreaded of all.

“What’s your best midterm studying tip/ strategy?”

Studying for midterms in particular is rough for everyone.

Unless you’re that perfect person that actually started studying two weeks before the exam like the professor said to. Regardless, everyone has their own way of preparing for a lengthy exam.

My personal favorite, as I’ve mentioned, is finding a cute, absolutely silent study area and forcing myself to stay there until I feel prepared enough.

This sentiment was shared by many of the respondents in my Instagram poll, though there were some strategies that I hadn’t heard of.

For example, one response praised study groups for their studying success. Personally, they quite literally have never worked out well, but I’m glad they do for someone!

Another respondent mentioned the whiteboard walls in ISEC, which, again, as more of a humanities girl myself, I can’t say I’ve ever utilized, but I do hope it works well for whoever does!

Finding your own study strategy is quite the journey, and I’m glad that our respondents have found theirs.

Tune in to @concordiensis on Instagram

Concordiensis will be hosting a variety of surveys weekly to get opinions on a variety of matters containing college life throughout the week on our instagram! Participate to be featured in the next Opinions article and speak the truth about your life at Union! Your voice matters!

“What’s your favorite study snack?”

To be completely transparent with you all, I was the most excited for the responses to this question. I just think it’s a fun little prompt that people can tell a lot about a person actually.

For example, if you do like to munch on those sunflower seeds that we have at the campus store, I will be judging you. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of the Lay’s Dill Pickle chips, I’m an even bigger fan of you.

In a similar vein to my Dill Pickle chip obsession, one response cited Baked Lay’s (regular flavor) as their favorite study snack this midterm season. I’m going to be so honest, I am judging, but only a little bit. Do I understand the appeal of baked chips? No, I do not. But I’m so glad you found your thing.

Another respondent replied with a sweet treat of…chewing gum? First of all, are you okay? But, second of all, I get it, unfortunately.

Chewing gum is a great way to distract from the task at hand, while (for what seems like not long enough, for me at least) providing a refreshing flavor of anything from wintergreen mint to strawberry kiwi.

Additionally, I believe that snacking on gum (if you want to call that a snack) has been proven to support memory performance by increasing the amount of oxygen flowing to one’s brain. Increasing alertness while simultaneously decreasing stress levels, chewing gum proves its many benefits during midterm and finals season.

Whatever you’re snacking on this week, whether you take these suggestions as advice or not, enjoy what you love and remember: you

can buy it from our very own campus store (shameless plug).

In conclusion, there are so many strategies and combinations of tips and tricks available to help you conquer your midterms this season. If you already have your own reliable routine, that’s great, and I hope it continues to work for you! If not, you’ve found yourself in the right place, then!

I express my sincerest gratitude to those who participated in the various Instagram polls that brought this article together this week. If you didn’t get a chance to participate this week, there will be many more opportunities to join in the discussion by following our Concordiensis Instagram page, @ concordiensis. Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you there!

Increasing alertness while simultaneously decreasing stress levels, chewing gum proves its many benefits during midterm and finals season.

Talk to us!

Courtesy of @concordiensis
Our first Midterm question and invitation for students to speak their truths.
Courtesy of @concordiensis
Our final question: a fun survey of student snacking.
Courtesy of @concordiensis
Our second question, regarding study strategies, paired with Schaffer Library.

Modi Unveils Ram Mandir: Historic Inauguration in India

On January 22, 2024, India unveiled a newly built temple to Lord Ram in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant moment in the nation’s history. What makes this temple unique and noteworthy is its location and controversial history. The surrounding history sheds light on the religious conflict between Muslim minorities and Hindus in India, which persists today.

In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire, which dominated Southeast Asia from 1520 to 1850, built the Babri Masjid mosque. While the Delhi sultanate had previously introduced Islam to the Indian subcontinent, Mughal rule solidified its influence. The 1947 British partition of India greatly shaped modern relations, including the division of the Muslim and Hindu populations into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Mass migration following partition led to approximately 1 million deaths, fueling territorial disputes and bitterness between the two countries, exacerbating religious conflict. In 1992, Hindu groups demolished the mosque, escalating tensions between Muslims and Hindus. The resulting riots claimed approximately 3,000 lives.

Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, has gained popularity among rightwing Hindus since Narendra Modi’s BJP party won the 2014 election. The reopening of the Lord Ram temple, a core BJP policy, concerns

many who see it as part of a rightwing agenda transforming India into a Hindu non-secular state.

India’s recent repeal of Kashmiri autonomy and embrace of far-right politics raise concerns for minorities. The reopening of the temple triggered unrest in other parts of the country, prompting fears among international observers of increased violence and religious disparities.

Sienna Chambial ’27, a Mathematics and Environmental Science major at Union from India, reflects, “I am a devout devotee of Lord Ram, but I have also witnessed this land dispute’s political unraveling after the Babri Masjid demolition. It makes me wonder if the temple controversy is truly in the past or if more issues lie ahead.”

With the temple’s reopening sparking unrest, international observers fear escalating violence and religious tensions within India. As the nation navigates this delicate phase, the global community watches closely, hoping for dialogue and reconciliation to prevail over division and strife.

The reopening of the Ram Mandir also reignites debates about India’s secular identity and the balance between religious freedom and communal harmony. The government’s stance on such issues and its approach to managing diversity will shape the country’s future trajectory and its standing on the world stage.

Furthermore, the temple’s inauguration serves as a reminder of the rich cultural and religious heritage of India, but also underscores the

I am a devout devotee of Lord Ram, but I have also witnessed this land dispute’s political unraveling after the Babri Masjid demolition. It makes me wonder if the temple controversy is truly in the past or if more issues lie ahead.

Sienna Chambial ’27

challenges of reconciling tradition with modernity in a rapidly chang-

Turbulent Start to 2024

According to CNBC, United Airlines forecasts a first-quarter loss due to the Federal Aviation Administration’s grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after an incident on Jan. 5 occurred on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, where a part blew out mid-flight. United earlier stated that they expected the planes to remain grounded until January 26; however, the FAA lifted its ban on Wednesday as it approved new inspection and maintenance checks for the plane, according to Reuters. Shortly after, Alaska Airlines resumed MAX 9 service on Friday. The grounding of the plane had impacted 20% of the airline’s fleet.

As a result of the FAA’s initial decision, United Airlines expects a loss of thirty-five to eighty-five cents per share for the first three months of the year. This anticipated loss presents a stumbling start to the new year for United Airlines, particularly when compared to their numbers for 2023. The company reported revenue of $13.63 billion in 2023, a 10% increase from the previous year. The year has just started, however, and only time will tell how the rest of it will unfold for the airline as well as the Boeing MAX 9 Aircraft.

According to analysts, United Airlines will need to implement strategic measures to mitigate the impact of the grounding and regain momentum in the coming quarters.

ing society. It prompts introspection among Indians about their collective identity and the values that define their nation in the 21st century.

French Farmers Protest

French farmers have recently been hit hard by a multitude of factors including falling incomes, environmental regulations, and competition for imports. This has resulted in them collectively turning to streets in and around Paris on their tractors to protest. While Paris is the most strongly hit, such protests are taking place all over the nation. According to the BBC, 15,000 police officials have been mobilized to keep the situation under control. Similar protests have also been taking place in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

According to Arnaud Rousseau, head of the National Federation of

Agricultural Holders’ Union, their goal is to provoke the government to find a quick resolution to their problems. The farmers plan on continuing their protests until additional resources are provided to help them deal with the falling prices of food. The farmers plan on preventing food from reaching supermarkets to demonstrate their discontent. Though the officials have warned them not to do this, the police have been given “no-intervention” orders. As of January 29, no signs of disorder are visible, but the situatin still looks grim.

French President Emmanuel Macron is all set to meet European Union President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Thursday, February 1, to discuss measures across EU nations to help the farmers.

Adobe Stock
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya
Adobe Stock
A United Airlines Boeing aircraft.

GADGET REVIEW iPhone 15 Series: An Innovation

In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, Apple has once again taken the lead with its latest offerings – the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. These devices, sporting a sleek aluminum design and a spectrum of vibrant finishes, redefine what we can expect from a modern smartphone.

Design Elegance: The iPhone 15 series retains the signature Apple elegance with an aluminum build and color-infused glass back. The Ceramic Shield on the front adds a layer of durability, ensuring the device not only looks stunning but can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Mesmerizing Displays: Featuring Super Retina XDR displays, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus deliver an immersive visual experience. The 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch OLED screens offer vibrant colors, True Tone technology, and HDR support, providing an ideal canvas for consuming media or navigating through the latest apps.

Powerful Performance: Under the hood, the A16 Bionic chip unleashes a new level of performance. With a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, these devices handle everything from gaming to productivity tasks with remarkable efficiency.

Photography Revolution: The

dual-camera system on the iPhone 15 series introduces a photography revolution. The 48MP main camera, 12MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP 2x Telephoto create a versatile setup, ensuring every shot is a masterpiece. Night mode, Cinematic mode, and advanced video recording capabilities showcase Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging.

Connectivity and Security: The iPhone 15 series is 5G-ready, providing lightning-fast connectivity. Face ID, enabled by the TrueDepth camera, ensures secure authentication, while features like Emergency SOS and Crash Detection enhance user safety.

Charging Innovations: With MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W, Qi wireless charging up to

Navigating the Maze: Flood Fill in Micromouse Robotics

The world of micromouse robotics presents a unique challenge: maneuvering through complex mazes autonomously. Robots are required to be fully autonomous, navigating mazes without human intervention. The maze is a grid, and the robot starts at a corner with the destination located at the center. The challenge lies in the robot discovering walls and mapping the maze as it moves toward the destination.

The flood fill algorithm, often used in paint programs to fill connected areas with a different color, is adapted for micromouse robotics. The algorithm involves three key parameters: a start node, a target color, and a replacement color. In the context of micromouse robotics, the start node represents the robot’s current position, the target color signifies unexplored areas, and the replacement color indicates areas explored by the robot.

The maze is represented as a 2D array, initiated with zeros. Each cell in the array corresponds to a position in the maze. The robot can

face four directions, with an ‘orient’ variable used to store one of the four values (0, 1, 2, 3), indicating the robot’s orientation. Different wall configurations in a square are assigned unique numbers. The robot’s distance sensors detect walls to the left, right, and front, updating the maze array based on the detected configuration. A separate 16x16 array called the Flood array is created. Inspired by the water-pouring analogy, values are assigned to cells starting from the destination. Delve into the fascinating world of robotics with the Union College Robotics Club and their impressive micromouse! Crafted with skill and dedication by club members, this innovative project showcases the talent and passion within the Union College community. Join the excitement every Saturday from 12 noon to 1 pm as the Robotics Club gathers for their weekly meetings at ISEC 174.

JOIN ROBOTICS CLUB

Scan the code to join the Union College

15W, and fast-charging capabilities, the iPhone 15 series offers convenient and versatile charging options, keeping you powered throughout the day.

iOS 17 - The Heart of Innovation: Running on iOS 17, these devices are equipped with the latest features and security updates. Siri’s voice-activated commands and a suite of built-in apps elevate the user experience within the seamless Apple ecosystem.

Apple continues to set the standard for innovation in the smartphone industry, and with the iPhone 15 series, they have once again raised the bar for what consumers can expect from their mobile devices.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus stand as a testament to Apple’s commitment to innovation.

The Titanium casing is really sleek and I often find myself removing my phone case just to see it. The front camera has had some upgrades and I can see that in my selfies.Overall there isn’t much of a difference from the 14 Pro Max, but I like the new features and the C-Type charger is a flex.

Honestly, it doesn’t feel much different than the older phones. The Action button is definitely a big plus for a photgrapher like me, it helps me access the camera faster so I don’t miss out on clicking and saving the most important moments in life. The battery life is on another level, and though it feels the same in my hand, the features elevate my experience and elate me.

Aaradhya Sharma (Aru) ‘27

With a perfect blend of design, performance, and cutting-edge technology, these devices redefine the smartphone experience. For those

looking to step into the future of mobile technology, the iPhone 15 series is undoubtedly a worthy investment.

Research Opportunities in the Physics Department

The Physics and Astronomy Department at Union College offers a vibrant research program for students. This summer is set to be no different as the department has already revealed many potential research opportunities for students. It is a long-standing tradition of the department to hold weekly colloquiums (typically on Thursdays of every week) where speakers from other institutions or Union College present their research to students and faculty alike.

In one such session held in early January, the department introduced students to the research projects that would be available in the summer. The potential projects span across a diverse range of subfields, from Quantum Mechanics to Astrophysics to Biophysics. Most students likely ought to find something that piques their interest. Furthermore, the projects also vary between Theoretical and Experimental work in the respective sub-fields. For instance, one project is aimed at modeling the dynamics of rotating stars, while another one is aimed at

APPLY NOW

exploring the relationship between Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics.

The research experience is further deepened by the requirement of drafting a research proposal, which must be approved by a committee. Most research programs have a duration of six weeks, but some of them go up to eight weeks. During this time, the research students hold regular meetings with their research supervisors, work with Laboratory Equipment, engage with software, or perform elaborate calculations. Many of these projects result in the publication of a paper in an established journal.

In addition to college research fellowships, there are also several external Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) to which upper-class students usually apply. This allows undergraduates to apply to prestigious institutions such as Los Alamos in New Mexico. Thus, there are several opportunities to gain headway into research in the upcoming summer break. The exposure to such diverse research avenues not only enhances students’ academic and professional development but also fosters a passion for inquiry and discovery.

Social Media Grapples with Deepfake Challenges amidst spread of AI

In a significant shift in the EV(ElecSocial media platforms like X are grappling with the proliferation of deepfake content, particularly explicit AI-generated material featuring celebrities like Taylor Swift. In response, X has implemented measures such as blocking searches related to Swift to mitigate the spread of such content. This highlights the ongoing struggle to combat the dissemination of deceptive and harmful deepfake content across online platforms. Ashlesha Bhagat

Robotics Club!
Noor Fatima ’27
Adone Stock
Different screen options available in iPhone 15.

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

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

Staff Writers

Craug Efrati ’25

Louis Savarino ’25

Contributing Writer

Brian Hernandez ’27

Nabeel Naqvi ’27

Photographer Rowan Ziegler ’27

Veer Kundalia ’27

Secretary Aaradhya Sharma ’27

Social Media

Veer Kundalia ’27

Finance Chair

Candice Nguyen ’25

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

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Concordiensis is printed by School Paper Express, Wappingers Falls, NY

STUDENT IN’FORUM

This week, Student Forum discussed a change to club funding requests. I will update on these changes once it is put to a vote. Additionally, Forum once again brought up the topic of commencement requirements and potential changes to commencement accessibility for students of all academic standings. A vote of sentiment was held, and I will update on the change in policy, or lack thereof, once an official vote is held by Student Forum. Finally, we hope you attended the hockey games this past weekend to support our Garnet Chargers!! Good job to all who played!

Stay warm everyone!

– Mariel :)

The above information was collected and compiled from the minutes of Student Forum’s meeting on 1/23/2024. It has been compiled for the benefit of the readers of the Concordiensis by Mariel Silpe (silpem@union.edu), Secretary of Student Forum.

REAPPOINTMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE

A reappointment review committee has been formed for Matthew Golebiewski, Processing and Records Management Librarian, Schaffer Library. Members of the campus community are invited to offer written or oral testimony to committee members.

Matthew Golebiewski, Processing and Records Management Librarian, Schaffer Library

Joanna DiPasquale, Chair, Library (dipasquj@union.edu)

Lindsay Bush (Library)

Sarah Schmidt (Library)

OUR EVENT PICKS FOR U

Identity Dialogue: Do all Women Athletes Think the Same?

Thursday, February 1, 7:00 p.m.

Organizer: Office of Intercultural Affairs

Location: Olin 115

Climbing at The Edge

Thursday, February 1, 7:00 p.m.

Organizer: Outing Club

Location: The Edge

Patriot Acts

Thursday, February 1 - Saturday, February 3, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 2, 2:00 p.m.

Organizer: Theater and Dance Department

Location: Yulman Studio Theater

Discussion on Free Will & Determination

Friday, February 2, 12:50 p.m.

Organizer: Philosophy Club Location: Reamer 410

Zuzu African Acrobats

Friday, February 2, 10:00 p.m.

Organizer: A.C.E.

Location: Memorial Chapel

K-Pop Club Photocard Making Saturday, February 3, 3:30 p.m.

Organizer: Kpop Club

Location: Breazzano Great Room

Cricket Practice

Sunday, February 4, 1:00 p.m.

Organizer: Union Cricket Club

Location: Memorial Field House

K-Pop Dance Workshop - Untie

Sunday, February 4, 6:00 p.m.

Organizer: Kpop Club

Location: Henle Dance Pavilion

CRIME & FIRE LOG

1/1/24, 8:53 a.m. / Ceramics Studio

Vandalism to college propertygraffiti spray painted on wall - date/ time of occurrence unknown. Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

1/6/24, 1:12 a.m. / Davidson House

Vandalism to college propertywindow on door damaged - date/ time of occurrence unknown. Open Investigation.

1/7/24, 10:53 a.m. / Achilles Center

Vandalism to college propertygraffiti spray painted on U statue - incident occurred at 12:53 a.m. on 01/07/24. Open Investigation.

1/7/24, 9:41 a.m. / 1501 Devine Street

Vandalism to college propertygraffiti spray painted on exterior wall - date & time of occurrence unknown.

Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

1/11/24, 12:15 p.m. / On-Campus Residence

Stalking and fondling reportedReferred to Title IX.

Closed. Referred to Title IX.

1/11/24, 11:29 a.m. / On-Campus Residence

Stalking reported - Referred to Title IX. Closed. Referred to Title IX.

1/13/24, 11:02 p.m. / Davidson House

Alcohol violation - underage consumption. Closed. Referred to Campus Judicial

1/13/24, 2:09 p.m. / Alumni Gym

Vandalism to college propertysoap dispenser damaged - date/ time of occurrence unknown. Closed. No suspects or witnesses.

1/13/24, 9:01 p.m / Reamer Center

Theft of personal property

- unsecured scooter stolenoccurred on 01/12/23 between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Open Investigation.

1/14/24, 5:20 p.m. / Facilities Lot

A Vandalism to college propertymirror on college behicle brokendate/time of occurrence unknown. Open Investigation.

1/15/24, 8:01 a.m. / Wold Science Center

Vandalism to college property - graffiti found inside of elevatordate/toime of occurrence unknown. Closed. No suspects or witnesses

W and M Track at NYU D-III Invitational February 2, 5:00 p.m. New York, NY

W Hockey vs. Brown February 2, 6:00 p.m. At Union

M Basketball vs. Rensselaer February 2, 7:30 p.m. Rensselaer, NY

W Basketball vs. Vassar February 3, 2:00 p.m. Poughkeepsie, NY

M and W Swim vs. Ithaca February 3, 2:00 p.m. Ithaca, NY

At

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W Hockey vs. Yale February 3, 3:00 p.m.

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Disclaimer: Following article is 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.

Midterms are on the rise for some and about to end for others, making this time an odd limbo for everyone on campus. But still, we endure. We here at Concordiensis are also going through it, and this is a guide to make sure you won’t age a million years by the time this week is done.

Plan Ahead! — Nobody likes to hear it, take it from a routine procrastinator, but the chance of you forgetting you had a midterm for a class is a lot lower when you plan ahead. Pick your poison! Notion, Google Calendar, and Todoist are all wildly popular for their ability to structure every aspect

of your day, from the haphazard study plan to chronicling all of your syllabi. The gigantic Excel spreadsheet with all your deadlines is also incredibly helpful, as daunting as it may seem initially, and that satisfaction of checking off all the things you had planned for the day is unbeatable.

Fine-Tune Your Study Habits

— That Pomodoro method of scrolling your phone for 25 minutes and reading one passage for 5 minutes does nobody good and is very, very unhelpful. Try locking your phone for just thirty minutes (which is barely any time at all if you think about it), and look at your book. Try sounding things out, maybe even teaching the concepts to an imaginary class if it’s a subject like economics,

biology, or history. If what you’re grappling with is more problembased, like physics, chemistry, or math— I am so sorry to say this, but the only way you’re ever going to improve is understanding the concept and then doing a million practice problems until you are certain that you have the topic down pat. It’s foolproof for a reason!

Put Down the Celsius — I love it, you love it, we all love it. Is it as good as sleep on your third all-nighter this week? As much as your exhausted brain wants to say yes to that question, you know in your heart that that fact is not true. There is no way the brain is functional after the fifth Red Bull/ Celsius/Quadruple Shot/Insert Caffeine Here and absolutely no

sleep, even though your hands are jittery and you can physically feel your neurons firing. Even closing your eyes is beneficial for your body, so make some time (even if it’s fifteen minutes) to let your body get some rest instead of camping out at the library. It’ll go a long way, I promise.

These three tips are just tiny things that you can do to make midterms ever so slightly more bearable, and a small way to go to help your body from collapsing on itself due to stress, so make sure you take a bit of time to unwind after this storm is over.

Although midterm season is daunting, and sleep seems like a distant memory, you got this. With that, we wish you all the best of luck this midterm season!

Dealing with Midterms: The Go-To Guide Let the Laundry Wars Begin!

Picture this: An overflowing hamper full of dirty clothes. It’ll be done tomorrow. And then, in the blink of an eye, tomorrow is here. You decide it’s time. You lug the basket to the laundry room— conveniently located in the most inconvenient spot, and what do you find? I am absolutely certain you guessed it before reading the next bit— all the washing machines are taken. With the gnawing regret of not having dealt with this sooner and an impending deadline on the way, you lug your basket of laundry all the way back to your room. Forgetting about it, how blissful.

And now you can’t, because guess who has no more clean clothes? You take your copiously overflowing hamper down, and voila! With the grace of all the powers in this universe, you finally find an empty machine, and frantically dump all of the clothes in, slamming the door shut. Thirty minutes of peace— the gratification of having finished your task (or at least set it in motion). You head back, and just as you are about to start working on something productive, your alarm goes off. With a heavy heart and weary steps, you run back to the laundry room, and would you look at that? None of the dryers are empty because two out of four

of them are out of order. Luckily, one of them has only a minute to go, so you stand there awkwardly. Finally. The timer goes off, but the owner of the clothes is nowhere to be seen, and now you face just another trial on the way to clean laundry— do you take out their clothes and dump them on top of the dryer, or are you going to wait, risking your wet clothes becoming mustier?

As you confront this tedious decision, just about to reach in and empty the dryer, it seems that the universe has observed your pain, and the person comes in, graciously saving you from having to commit an egregious and wee bit shameful act. At last! You toss your clothes in, allowing the dryer to do its job. After sixty minutes, you pull out your clean clothes with utmost joy, and as you blissfully fold the warm fabric in your hands, you are at peace. Clean clothes for the week! You have victoriously won the hard-fought battle, but will you win the war a mere week from now? The battle has only just begun, dear reader.

The cycle of laundry never truly ends, does it? But amidst the chaos and frustration lies a peculiar sense of accomplishment. It’s not just about clean clothes, it’s about conquering the chaos, one load at a time. And maybe, just maybe, finding a little peace amidst the spin cycle of life.

Adithi Chellappan | Concordiensis
The Battleground.
Adithi Chellapan 807 Editor

Snow Embraces Union College

Veer Kundaliai | Concordiensis A sunset and snow embraced Union’s Campus on January 22.
Veer Kundaliai | Concordiensis
A view through a window of Union College dusted in snow on January 22.
Kavita Trivedi | Concordiensis

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