Skidmore College New Student Convocation Program, 2020

NEW STUDENT

CONVOCATION

Sunday, August 23 Two Thousand Twenty

PLATFORM PARTY Mary Lou W. Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Rachael Borthwick ’21, President of the Student Government Association Angelo Calbone, President and Chief Executive Officer, Saratoga Hospital Marc C. Conner, President Amon Emeka, Director of First-Year Experience and Associate Professor of Sociology REPRESENTATIVES FROM DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS Michael Arnush, Associate Professor of Classics and Associate Dean of the Faculty Lara Ayad, Assistant Professor of Art History Erica Bastress-Dukehart, Associate Professor of History Yelena Biberman-Ocakli, Associate Professor of Political Science Jennifer Bonner, Associate Professor of Biology Sarah DiPasquale, Assistant Professor of Dance Mary Kate Donovan, Assistant Professor of Spanish Julie Douglas, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Sandra Goff, Assistant Professor of Economics Catherine Golden, Professor of English Charlene Grant, Senior Lecturer of Spanish Margaret Greaves, Assistant Professor of English Timothy Harper, Associate Professor and Chair of Management and Business Lisa Jackson-Schebetta, Associate Professor and Chair of Theater Larry Jorgensen, Professor and Chair of Philosophy Nicholas Junkerman, Assistant Professor of English Eliza Kent, Professor and Chair of Religious Studies Christine Kopec, Senior Teaching Professor of Management and Business Rebecca (Beck) Krefting, Associate Professor and Chair of American Studies William Lewis, Professor of Philosophy Fabian Lopez, Associate Professor of Art Michael Marx, Associate Professor of English Sylvia McDevitt, Associate Professor and Chair of Biology Susannah Mintz, Professor of English Juan Navea, Associate Professor of Chemistry Tillman Nechtman, Professor and Chair of History Thomas (Pat) Oles, Associate Professor of Social Work Lucy Oremland, Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Javier Perez-Moreno, Associate Professor and Chair of Physics Daniel Peterson, Associate Professor of Psychology

Monica Raveret Richter, Associate Professor of Biology Minita Sanghvi, Associate Professor of Management and Business Paul Sattler, Professor of Art Jeffrey Segrave, Professor of Health and Human Physiological Sciences and Chair of Music Sonia Silva, Associate Professor of Anthropology Janet Sorensen, Associate Professor and Chair of Art Sarah Sweeney, Associate Professor of Art Natalie Taylor, Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science David Vella, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Dominique Vuvan, Assistant Professor of Psychology Erica Wojcik, Assistant Professor of Psychology Marketa Halova Wolfe, Associate Professor of Economics Melora Wolff, Associate Professor of English Mark Youndt, Professor of Management and Business Adrienne Zuerner, Associate Professor of French

Note: Commencement 2024 will be held on May 18, 2024.

PROGRAM WELCOMING REMARKS Mary Lou W. Bates Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Amon Emeka Director of the First-Year Experience and Associate Professor of Sociology Angelo Calbone President and Chief Executive Officer, Saratoga Hospital ADMINISTRATION OF THE HONOR CODE Rachael Borthwick ’21 President of the Student Government Association CHARGE TO THE CLASS OF 2024 Marc C. Conner President ALMA MATER Led by members of the Skidmore Vocal Chamber and String Ensemble (Lyrics and music are on the inside back cover of this program.)

Margaret Colligan ’23, soprano Madeleine Redpath ’22, soprano Rhea Fitzpatrick ’24, alto Caroline Stirewalt ’21, alto Brendan Higham ’21, tenor Ryan Messinger ’22, tenor Patrick Carter ’22, bass Atticus Rego ’21, bass JaeEun Kim, conductor

Joseph Dugan ’22, violin Emma Lin ’22, violin Kara Charles ’20, viola Yoni Hirshfield ’22, cello Michael Emery, director Evan Mack, arranger

HONOR CODE

I hereby accept membership in the Skidmore College community and, with full realization of the responsibilities inherent in membership, do agree to adhere to honesty and integrity in all relationships, to be considerate of the rights of others, and to abide by the College regulations.

CONVOCATION New Student Convocation represents both a symbolic and literal opening of the College. The principal purpose of Convocation is to welcome new students and their families to the Skidmore community and to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. But it also symbolizes much more. New Student Convocation represents one bookend — the other being Commencement at the end of one’s academic career — of a rich and fulfilling journey. The central message of Convocation is for students to embrace the intellectual and co-curricular challenges ahead and to become intentional, lifelong learners, two fundamental pillars of a rewarding education in the liberal arts.

THE ACADEMIC REGALIA The origins of the present-day ritual of the cap, gown and hood lie in traditions, both symbolic and practical, dating as far back as 600 years. In the early years of European universities, the everyday dress of both students and teachers was the garb of the cleric, since academic pursuits were then the province of the church.

In addition to its symbolism, the clothing also had an eminent practicality, having the ability to ward off the damp and cold of medieval buildings.

For hundreds of years these garments remained the common and, in fact, required dress of university scholars as one way of maintaining the humility expected of clerics. Occasionally, students of a particular college would adopt a special color to distinguish themselves, and gradually different colors came to be associated with certain ranks, degrees and faculties.

Finally, in 1895, a degree of standardization was reached on academic costuming in the United States by the Intercollegiate Commission, though many European universities continue to use distinctive caps and gowns differing from those worn in this country.

THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLION At its Commencement for 1987, Skidmore introduced a new element to its academic regalia — a presidential medallion and chain created in honor of then-retiring President Joseph C. Palamountain Jr. The piece was designed and fashioned by the late Earl Pardon, world-renowned jeweler, who retired from the Skidmore faculty in 1989 after 38 years in the College’s Art Department. In describing the piece, Pardon said that he consciously departed from the more traditional and somber design of such medallions to create a work of “opulence, color, and richness” to complement the festivity of academic occasions. Each of the 52 rectangles of the chain is individually designed, using a variety of materials to make a statement of color — gold of various hues, silver with enamel, abalone shell, ebony, ivory and semiprecious stones. Hanging from the chain is the presidential medallion, which bears an abstract “S.” BANNER TRADITION The tradition of class banners began in the late 1980s when President David H. Porter began holding Opening Convocation on Case Green. In an effort to build class unity and engender school spirit, the College created class banners, each in individual class colors, and distinguished representatives from each class carried them in the processional. The banners are used at various class events throughout the year. Beginning in the fall of 2005, members of the newest class sign their banner in affirmation of the Honor Code, and the banner is displayed on campus over the next four years.

ALMA MATER Words and Music by Henry T. Moore President, Skidmore College 1925–57

1. S k i d - m o re 2. S l ow

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Copyright MCMXLIV by Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

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