Hearty minestrone soup to slurp while studying

As we get closer to the end of the semester, college students tend to dread an onslaught of work. With the ingredients and appliances available on campus, however, you can make yourself this nutrient-dense minestrone soup—in just 10 minutes. 

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper (seeds removed), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

8 ounces green beans (stems trimmed), cut into 2-inch pieces

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1/3 cup couscous

1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 can (15.5 ounces) beans, drained and rinsed

Salt

Flat-leaf parsley leaves

Shaved Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a three-quart microwave-safe dish, place oil, carrots, bell pepper, green beans and garlic; stir, cover and microwave on high for five minutes.

2. Add couscous, broth, tomato paste, navy beans, one cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

3. Microwave on high until vegetables and couscous are tender—approximately five more minutes.

4. Remove from microwave and—when cooled—stir in parsley and sprinkle with cheese.

Carbon-free dating

Couples seeking to break free from a cycle of boring dates can celebrate Earth Day on Saturday April 22—or any day, really—with an eco-friendly, alternative date. 

In addition to strengthening your relationship, these dates allow for quality time that benefits the environment and brings you closer to nature.

When planning your next date, take advantage of the warm spring weather by foregrounding outdoor activities. To incorporate some environmental activism, perhaps volunteer at a local park for the afternoon. Either with local organizations or on your own, couples can serve the community’s ecological needs by removing litter and tidying up nature trails.

If spending the weekend on an environmental cleanup mission does not sound like your ideal date, then seize the opportunity through dating and exercising. For an enjoyable afternoon without a carbon footprint, lead your date on a bike tour around campus, down Main Street or through one of the local parks. 

Those seeking refuge from increasingly warm temperatures can settle in for a relaxing outdoor picnic. To incorporate some more excitement, consider making a picnic to keep in a backpack as a break from such larger activities as a hike. Keeping with the theme of environmentalism, store and transport the food in non-disposable containers that you can later wash and reuse.

Although many of the eco-friendly date ideas highlight daytime activities, you can continue your environmentalist romance into the night by stargazing. To compound the grandeur of the night sky, consider—if feasible—leaving your cell phones turned off and experiencing the date unplugged. 

For couples seeking environmentally-friendly relationships, try reconfiguring standard dates—like shared meals—from an ecologically conscious perspective. When preparing your next home-cooked dinner, propose a trip to the local co-op or farmer’s market for your ingredients. To go the extra conservationist mile, walk or bike to the market and purchase as many in-season foods as you can. 

Focusing on a connection to nature, most eco-friendly dates find their settings outdoors. If, however, you and your date would prefer a climate-controlled activity sheltered from the elements, you can still limit your relationship’s carbon footprint. For environmentalists seeking indoor dates, consider trips to a local museum, gallery or public library. 

While some more exuberant couples might pursue wholly green dates from the get-go, couples who want to ease into environmentalism can begin by incorporating small, eco-friendly changes individually. 

To commemorate Earth Day, suggest environmentally-friendly dates that will strengthen the bond you have not only with your significant other, but also with nature. Especially as the seasons change, eco-conscious dates distinguish themselves as one of the most effective ways to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. 

Beyond the personal enjoyment, these green date ideas offer larger environmental benefits that enable couples—on the smaller scale—to do their part.

Local businesswoman uses decades of experience to open antique store

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Julie Meyers--formerly of Xerox and Not Dot Shop--owns Florence’s Perpetual Estate Sale on Main Street. Since opening, Meyers has enjoyed establishing a connection with student and local shoppers. (Annalee Bainnson/Assoc. Photo Editor)

Geneseo businesswoman Julie Meyers opened Florence’s Perpetual Estate Sale on Main Street in December 2016. Having previously worked at Xerox and Not Dot Shop, Meyers—who earned her Masters in business administration at Dartmouth College—has diverse business experience. 

“The idea [behind Florence’s Perpetual Estate Sale] is that the store is always changing and always open,” Meyers said. “Usually, when you see an estate sale or a garage sale, it only lasts for a weekend.”

Before opening her antique shop, Meyers served as a marketing executive at Xerox, where she oversaw strategy and development for 22 years. After getting into a car crash, however, Meyers took a leave of absence for several months. When she returned to Xerox, she had a new perspective on big business—thus, she decided to leave the company. 

“I have a certification in antiques that I got from St. John Fisher College, where they offered night classes and all sorts of certification programs,” Meyers said. “I had actually gone with my mother in the 90s to get the certification.”

To begin her antiquing career, Meyers initially worked as a co-op member at the Not Dot Shop, Main Street’s other vintage and antique retailor. Following two years at the Not Dot Shop, Meyers—whose inventory had vastly expanded—executed plans to open her own store. 

“Just from organizing and some of the other things that I was doing, I kept getting more inventory and needed more space,” Meyers said. “I constantly salvage and try to bring back items that I think someone could use and would love.”

In finding and collecting inventory for Florence’s, Meyers actually hosts estate sales, which—if they have enough to display—usually occur on the homeowner’s property. Once the on-site estate sale ends, Meyers returns to the store with anything that—for whatever reason—no one in the family wanted. 

“I’ll usually go to people’s homes when someone passes away, which is why most people have estate sales,” Meyers said. “I sometimes, however, also help older couples or individuals who are downsizing or organizing—just so that their kids don’t have to do it.” 

Using her past business and marketing experience, Meyers skillfully authors the necessary business plans and contracts while orchestrating estate sales. When organizing her sales, Meyers tries to begin by determining the seller’s objectives and goals. 

Although she does much of the work, Meyers receives assistance from family and friends, who sometimes run the register or watch the store when she goes to a sale. 

“If I’m running an estate sale, then I spend Monday through Wednesday—and sometimes the weekend—organizing, sorting, pricing, cleaning and advertising,” Meyers said. “After a sale, I go through the items and decide what should be moved to the store, disposed of or donated—then I bring back the leftovers.”

Since opening the store this past winter, Meyers’ favorite memories include helping students pick out and purchase gifts. Thinking about her favorite inventory, Meyers described the base and pedal from an early 20th century dentist office drill. 

“The gentleman at the tattoo parlor farther down the street purchased the pedal and is making it into a lamp,” Meyers said. “That’s what I love to see—something old and without much use being turned into something new and really cool.” 

Within the estate sale and antique fields, inventory and business ebbs and flows as the seasons change, according to Meyers. As spring approaches, she anticipates visits from out-of-town guests coming to Geneseo for commencement and move-out day. 

With a colorful business background and a passion for antiquing, Meyers continues to provide accessible items for people of all ages, including Geneseo students.

Intergenerational Black Lives Matter panel addresses 50+ years of struggle

The departments of history and black studies hosted an intergenerational Black Lives Matter panel in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on Monday April 3. During the discussion, former and current activists spoke on their experiences in the black freedom struggle.

To begin the event, students took turns reading the platform published by the Movement for Black Lives. In this decree, the group advocates for propelling the United States toward the democratic ideals that the U.S. has yet to fully achieve. Responding to sustained violence against the black community, the group calls for an “end to the war” against marginalized peoples. 

Leading the discussion were former activists from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Jennifer Lawson and Freddie Green Biddle who spoke on their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Co-founder and co-director of Black Love Resists in the Rust—a Buffalo-based activism group—Shaketa Redden described her modern grassroots efforts in transformational organizing. 

In introducing herself, each woman included an overview regarding how she first became involved with activism and protests. Sharing similar backgrounds, Lawson and Biddle both provided snapshots of early organizing for the Civil Rights Movement in the South. 

“I did not spring from the womb as an activist,” Lawson said. “I was, instead, a typical, silly, little girl enjoying the filtered experience of my all-black—extremely segregated—community in its own little world. Parents normally tried to shield us from lynching and things like that, but they couldn’t.”

Recounting her own experiences with childhood segregation, Biddle foregrounded the importance of education and voting rights. For Biddle, Civil Rights became a family affair, as her father and brother grew interested in the movement as well.

“During 1962, I had a brother who had just completed a tour in the navy and tried to enroll in the University of Mississippi … but was not allowed in,” Biddle said. “At the same time, SNCC was pushing voter registration in the norther part of Mississippi and we became very active.”

As a younger activist within the contemporary movement, Redden pursued civil rights studies from an early age. Before co-founding her own organization, she found inspiration at the 2015 National Convening for the Movement for Black Lives. 

“Two years ago, I went to the National Convening for the Movement for Black Lives and we had sessions on healing, development and organizing,” Redden said. “There, I learned what it means to feel some resemblance of being free beyond being consumed by constructions of white supremacy.” 

Within the framework of the black freedom struggle, electing people accountable to the community has always distinguished itself as a barrier to progress. Across generational divides, the presenters unanimously agreed on the essential and crucial power of political education. 

“One of the most important things for the movement is the question of what it means to engage in a democratic process,” Redden said. “We need a deep commitment to political education: debate, strategy and development of ourselves in a world we understand.” 

In comparing the current black lives movement with the Civil Rights Era, certain strategic parallels—like the use of nonviolence—have endured. On the issue of coping with the challenges of organizing, however, both SNCC activists emphasized how practices of self-care have evolved.

“One thing I’ve learned that I wish we had integrated is caring for yourself and figuring out how the movement fits into your larger life plan,” Lawson said. “Pay attention to the larger context in which your life fits and use your skills to contribute to the world and become the best you that you can be.”

Refugee women discuss personal experiences, challenges

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The Center for Community and Women’s Action Coalition marked Women’s History Month with an event focusing on refugee women. While three women spoke live about their experiences, the presenters also read anonymous accounts. The event concluded with a question and answer session between the students and the speakers. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

Geneseo’s Center for Community and Women’s Action Coalition hosted a discussion on the stories of refugee women in Bailey Hall to celebrate Women’s History Month on Sunday March 26. During the event, moderators shared anonymous accounts from female refugees, which was followed by a live panel where panelists presented their stories.  

Emphasizing the experiences of female refugees, the discussion featured both live speakers as well as the stories from women who did not feel comfortable attending in person. Among the women who presented their stories live at the event, two out of three came from the Geneseo community. 

Speaking about her experience as a Bosnian refugee, Alma Omerhodzic—now living in Fairport, New York—emphasized her volunteer work with current Muslim refugee professor of art history Lynette Bosch. 

Bosch also discussed her journey as a young refugee coming from Cuba and French major senior Nathalie Kalumbwe—now living in Rochester—offered the perspective of a Congolese refugee. 

Before the live panelists spoke, the moderators read anonymous refugee stories of women from Russia, Honduras and Thailand. While the narratives differed in specifics, each account featured a common theme: exigency that forced them to escape their home countries. 

After hearing the stories from women who did not want to speak publicly, participants assembled in a circle to facilitate a group discussion with the panelists. First, the panelists shared their experiences by addressing a question about the most challenging aspect of coming to the United States. 

“I came here as a teenager, so I might have a different experience,” Kalumbwe said. “But my main challenge was that before, I never thought of my race ever. When I came to America, I faced the compartmentalization of being a minority and the intersectionality of being female.” 

In their responses, Bosch and Omerhodzic—now adults—acknowledged the difficulties of coming to the U.S. and having to assume the responsibilities typically shared by parents. Specifically recounting their transition in the U.S., both women addressed the notion of a lost childhood. 

For much of the discussion, panelists drew comparisons between their lives before and after coming to the U.S. Explaining their cultural connections, each woman described the extent to which she has maintained an identification with her roots. 

“I do not feel like I have lost my culture,” Omerhodzic said. “In fact, I have learned more by working really hard to connect to my roots. I am who I am, but that does not make it so that I cannot belong here because almost everyone in America comes from a different background.”

Upon arriving in the U.S., refugees often seek support through either familial connections or community organizations that create networks of assistance, according to Bosch. Considering the fact that many refugees arrive knowing no one, such organizations often catalyze the assimilation process.  

“The refugee center signed you up for welfare and food stamps and you would receive six months of assistance,” Bosch said. “After that, however, there was an expectation that the adults would find work and children would attend school.”     

As a takeaway, the panelists emphasized getting involved with refugee communities and encouraging education on immigration issues. For students, action demands acknowledging privilege and making use of resources. 

Both globally and in the American political climate, the issue of accepting refugees has distinguished itself as a point of contention. When addressing the politicization of refugees, the speakers—specifically highlighting the Trump administration—expressed ambivalence. 

“As a Muslim, I have never felt more connected to America because this has forced new communication and connections,” Omerhodzic said. “With all the bad, I am also seeing good things, so I feel that the bad does not represent the majority of this country as I see it.”

Kalumbwe expressed similar optimism.

“I think it is a nightmare, but I am not actually afraid,” she said. “I have felt specifically overwhelmed by the support of this community.”

Vegan veggie pizza bites for healthy snacking

Are you tired of eating the same boring vending machine snacks everyday? To break the mid-semester monotony by try making mini hummus and veggie mini pizza bites. Using ingredients available on campus, this recipe—which makes two servings—will leave you feeling both healthy and full. 

Ingredients:

1 medium zucchini

1/4 cup hummus 

5-7 mushrooms, chopped

1 small red pepper, chopped

1 tablespoon basil, chopped

Directions:

1.    Slice zucchini into four 1/4-inch-thick pieces. 

2.    Spread a teaspoon of hummus on the top of each zucchini piece.

3.    Sprinkle the mushrooms, red pepper and basil on top of the hummus. 

Tip: swap in or add any toppings of your choice

English professor spearheads Safezone training

Associate professor of English Alice Rutkowski coordinates the Safezone program and will offer a Safezone training course in the fall. She currently teaches in the English, women’s and gender studies and American studies departments. Her research interests include LGBTQ+ studies and Civil War era literature. (Keith Walters/Campus Photographer)

Associate professor of English Alice Rutkowski has an extensive and significant presence within the Geneseo community. In addition to teaching courses in the English and American studies department, she has expanded her work to the women’s and gender studies department, where she will teach a Safezone “training the trainer” course in fall 2017. 

The Safezone program attempts to “increase awareness and acceptance of sexual diversity, while providing a resource network for individuals with questions or concerns related to sexuality.” Having joined the Geneseo faculty in 2003, Rutkowski coordinates the Safezone program. 

Before her teaching career, Rutkowski earned her master’s degree in women’s studies and English. Continuing her education, she then completed a doctoral degree in English. In her dissertations, Rutkowski focused on female writers of the Civil War and reconstruction era. Since then, she has found a secondary research interest in LGBTQ+ studies. 

“My interest in LGBTQ+ and trans studies has really sparked over the last 10 years,” Rutkowski said. “During that time, I’ve been working with a lot of students on various advocacy projects.” 

Back in 2013, Rutkowski hosted the first LGBTQ+ committee at Geneseo to address the need for all-gender bathrooms and expanding the Safezone program. From these committee meetings, the Safezone program—having seen an increase in interest—developed into a three-hour workshop for “potential allies.” 

“Every semester, we offer usually four open trainings for Safezone certification,” Rutkowski said. “In addition to the two faculty and two student trainings, any group of six or more can request their own certification training.” 

Within the current Safezone program, between 35 and 50 trainers organize and execute the certification workshops, according to Rutkowski. Concerning student trainers, however, the program suffers from frequent turnover each fall, after many students graduate. 

“We used to bring in the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley to train the replacements for graduating student trainers,” Rutkowski said. “It seemed to me, however, that the students who were trained in the process needed and wanted more practice in facilitating difficult discussions.”

To combat the problem of student trainer turnover, Rutkowski proposed a class that would, over the course of a semester, “train the trainer.” Planning to offer this course every fall, Rutkowski believes that this solution will allow students more time to practice, read and think about the material. After completing the course, students will have the opportunity to move into leadership positions—including outreach and programming—for credit. 

“During the next year, I’m hoping that a more robust process and network will come from the class,” Rutkowski said. “After a few semesters, I hope to see the course giving the program more structure.” 

In addition to her Safezone training class, Rutkowski will be co-teaching an American Studies course with associate professor of history Justin Behrend in the fall. Like Rutkowski, Behrend shares a similar research interest in the Civil War and Reconstruction periods of American history. In their joint-American Studies class, the two will lead an examination of the legacy of slavery, primarily foregrounding black authors and artists.  

Rutkowski’s passion for LGBTQ+ studies have made a huge impact in providing a safer environment within the Geneseo community. Considering the current political climate, Rutkowski’s efforts are vital to upholding Geneseo’s standards of being a tolerant, welcoming community for future students.

BSU Annual Soul Food Dinner celebrates female accomplishment

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Geneseo’s Black Student Union hosted their annual Soul Food Dinner with the theme, “A Phenomenal Woman.” Freshman Amber Mayo (pictured above) participated in one of the dance performances during the Soul Food Dinner. (Annalee Bainnson/Assoc. Photo Editor)

Geneseo’s Black Student Union hosted their sold-out Annual Soul Food Dinner in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom on Saturday Feb. 25. While enjoying dinner, attendees watched theatrical, musical and dance performances from BSU club members.    

“We put on this event every year to express ourselves and demonstrate our culture,” sociology major junior Zakiya Rose said. 

To highlight the accomplishments of black women, the BSU executive board chose the theme “A Phenomenal Woman” for this year’s event. At the door, club members collected tickets, handed out flowers and thanked each female attendee for “being phenomenal.” 

For dinner, attendees enjoyed soul food staples: southern fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams, collard greens, peach cobbler and more. As they ate, audience members heard both the Black National Anthem and a reading of Maya Angelou’s poem—and inspiration for the night’s theme— “Phenomenal Woman.” 

“I really enjoyed the play and performances,” biology major sophomore Sydney Alexander said. “They really helped make the event a completely engaging experience. Anyone who couldn’t come or didn’t get a ticket this year should definitely come next year.” 

Although the dinner featured nearly three hours of student-run entertainment, the play—written and performed by members of BSU—distinguished itself as a favorite among audience members. Foregrounding the family drama that unfolds in the wake of a mother’s death, the play emphasized the theme “A Phenomenal Woman” by showcasing the resilience of three sisters. 

“My favorite part of the night was the variety of the acts performed,” history major senior Juliana Thompson said. “Between the acting, singing and dancing, we really experienced the whole package—however, I think that the play was the highlight.” 

As a culmination of their Black History Month events, the Annual Soul Food Dinner signifies one of BSU’s largest and most highly anticipated events. 

Throughout the month of February, the e-board coordinated both celebratory and informational events, including a screening of Nick Cassavetes’ film, John Q. BSU also sponsored a sweatshirt day on Saturday, for which they encouraged the community to wear hoodies in remembrance of Trayvon Martin. 

“I am so happy with the way that this event went,” communication major junior Alisa Mentor said. “The whole night went off without any major problems, and it’s really great to see so much support coming from the community.” 

While Black History Month came to an end on Tuesday Feb. 28, both BSU and Zeta Phi Beta—a historically black sorority—have events and programs planned throughout the rest of the semester, according to sociology major senior Emonnie Bennett. 

Zeta Phi Beta will host a concert on Friday March 3 at the Knight Spot to raise money for the March of Dimes, according to Bennett, who served as the 2016 BSU president and who choreographed dances for the 2017 dinner. 

Additionally, the sorority will host a Blue Allure Fashion Show at the Lederer Fine Arts Gallery this coming April.

Anthropology professor spreads passion, knowledge of primates

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Associate professor of anthropology Barbara Welker has traveled near and far to study eating habits of primates, specifically howler monkeys. Geneseo alumni and former student of Welker, Keenan Taylor, is pictured with the skeleton of a primate. (Courtesy of Barbara Welker)

Associate professor of anthropology Barbara Welker contributes her expertise to Geneseo in behavioral ecology—within the framework of physical anthropology—among primates. 

In her fieldwork, Welker pursues the primates of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. At Geneseo, she dominates the biological anthropology department, specifically with her popular human ecology class. 

While completing her master’s degree, Welker collected data on recess monkeys in Puerto Rico for her advisor, who studied primate relationships between mothers and infants. Using the data that she collected, Welker then examined maternal activity budgets among the monkeys. 

Upon graduating from the University at Buffalo, she completed her doctoral dissertation in Costa Rica, where she investigated feeding selectivity in howler monkeys. 

“I work with malted howler monkeys,” Welker said. “And I do behavioral ecology, specifically feeding ecology.” 

In her recent research, Welker examined the role of color vision regarding food gathering among primates. An analysis of the history of color vision reveals that the trait most likely evolved as an adaptation for eating and for distinguishing young, viable leaves, according to Welker. 

Before her color vision research, Welker focused her studies on the chemical differences between trees—a factor in feeding selectivity for monkeys. Pursuing the question, “Why would monkeys eat from some trees and not others?” Welker ultimately isolated a chemical deterrent and published her findings. 

“I’m interested in feeding selectivity specifically, which focuses on how animals choose what to eat,” Welker said. “I really feel like I’m mostly an animal behaviorologist.” 

In addition to conducting her own research, Welker has led field instruction programs, schools and student-driven projects in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 

Although she has had an expansive and successful career as a primatologist, Welker did not always intend to study biological anthropology. In fact, when she started in her anthropological program, Welker planned to specialize in archaeology. 

“I went back to school for anthropology to become an archaeologist, but I got side-tracked in primatology,” she said. “I imagined myself up to my elbows in dusty pots as an old lady and decided that I would really rather be a primatologist.” 

When she decided to change her course of study, Welker enrolled in physical anthropology classes; that was when she began to learn about primates. Having completed her dissertation, Welker—using her past field experience—first taught courses at UB and Buffalo State College. 

After a semester of adjunct teaching at Geneseo, Welker spent six months doing research and returned as a full-time faculty member in 1998.

Like most anthropologists, Welker has dedicated a considerable amount of her career to research—often, in the form of field work at remote sites. As a primatologist, Welker’s pursuits in the field entail following and observing her research subjects: the malted howler monkeys.

“One of my most interesting field experiences with my monkeys was me not giving them enough credit for being as cognitively advanced as they are,” Welker said. “They started eating a new kind of fruit one day, and they led me to the same kind of tree on the other side of the home range—like they knew where it was and were just waiting for it to flower.” 

When working in the field, Welker—who lives in the forest while researching—typically follows the monkeys for 12 hours per day. After planning her research protocol, Welker begins the process of data collection: going out and monitoring every species and documenting individual behaviors within groups. 

“Doing field work is a very regimented task,” she said, “Sort of like being in the military.”

In the past, Welker took students to pursue research on the volcanic islands in Lake Nicaragua. Currently, she is working with the study abroad office about the possibility of field courses in Northeast Peru. 

With an exciting variety of traveling experiences, Welker is far from your typical anthropology professor.

GCAB hosts magical Harry Potter themed night, delights fans

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Geneseo Campus Activities Board teamed up with Geneseo Late Knight to host a night full of wizardry. At this event, attendants were able to eat themed snacks, create themed crafts and listen to the Harry Potter soundtrack. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

Geneseo Campus Activities Board and Geneseo Late Knight joined forces to host a Harry Potter themed event in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom on Friday Feb. 17. While enjoying themed snacks, students created Harry Potter-centric crafts and engaged with other fans. 

“Originally, we planned this night as our Siblings’ Weekend event,” communication major junior Sarah Jane Phillips said. “When that got cancelled, we decided to go through with a Harry Potter themed weekend anyway.” 

As GCAB Special Events co-coordinators, Phillips and communication and political science double major sophomore Maddie Walker worked with the Student Association in planning the Siblings’ Weekend activities. 

“We chose the Harry Potter theme because it was perfect for kids—they love Harry Potter,” Walker said. “Even though the siblings couldn’t come, we decided to keep the theme because we felt like it would serve the campus’ needs.” 

During Harry Potter night, students gathered for the main event: completing crafts inspired by the novels and movies. At one station, GCAB provided materials for students to make their own magic wands—similar to those used by the franchise’s iconic witches and wizards. Besides crafting wands, students decorated and designed pride-banners for their Harry Potter house—Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.

Taking inspiration from Pinterest boards and past Halloween parties, Phillips and Walker decorated the ballroom with mostly homemade themed décor. To heighten excitement, members of GCAB wore Harry Potter-style wizarding robes, as provided by Phillips’ family. Playing in the background, the theme music from the films’ soundtracks set the mood for the evening and foregrounded the magical atmosphere. 

“We’re very excited to still have the opportunity to put on this event for the campus,” Walker said. 

In addition to the crafts and decorations, the food—Harry Potter cupcakes and butterbeer, a staple synonymous with the fictional universe—helped establish the night’s theme. After completing their crafts, students could pose for photos in front of a backdrop painted to look like the train platform that transports Hogwarts students to and from school. 

“This night is a great chance for students to get together, listen to good music and bond with other Harry Potter fans,” Phillips said. 

Carrying the motif, the weekend of Friday Feb. 17 also featured a stuff-a-bear event with Harry Potter themed animals and a screening of the Harry Potter prequel film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. 

Geneseo’s shopping district contributed by hosting a “Chocofrolic” festival on Saturday Feb. 17, which was the most anticipated event of the weekend, according to Phillips. 

 Harry Potter night was a thrilling night that allowed students to embrace their enchanting side.

On how to determine real vs. fake news

Geneseo’s reference and instruction librarians hosted a workshop addressing fake news—a problem in academia and mainstream society alike—on Tuesday Feb. 14. Mainly addressing professors, they emphasized strategies for helping students evaluate news sources. 

“We wanted to hold a workshop that will help formulate a strategy for addressing these potential needs,” head of instructional services Brandon West said. 

Beginning with a group exercise, reference and instruction/exhibits and programming librarian Tracy Paradis asked participants to define the differences between bias and perception. When selecting sources, students need the ability to engage with these concepts in a meaningful way, according to Paradis. 

With this activity, she emphasized the need to gather multiple perspectives and discussed the reasons for bias. In the real world, bias often consists of incomplete information that is intentionally used to sell a product. 

“I commonly find that students are really quick to look for bias in articles and then use that to determine the article’s reliability,” Paradis said. “Instead, I try to impress that the issue is more complicated than that.” 

To help students differentiate between bias and perspective, Paradis suggests the definition exercise and what she refers to as a “jigsaw” exercise. During a jigsaw exercise, students assume and act out different roles or characters, each of whom has a unique perspective on the given situation. 

By completing the jigsaw exercise, students should come to understand that considering multiple points of view together creates a more complete story than having just one perspective. Applying the lessons from the jigsaw exercise to their daily media consumption, students can benefit from consulting multiple sources that address the same story or issue. 

After exposing themselves to several perspectives, students possess the ability to develop their own frame of reference. Within the framework of their own paradigm, students then can examine similarities between their sources and match the underlying facts to multiple narratives. 

“It’s really easy to think one source of news is always biased toward a particular side, and sometimes students automatically judge an article based on its source,” West said. “What we should do, however, is evaluate our own biases and how they relate to a specific article.” 

When trying to determine a source’s credibility, we should avoid relying on objective evaluations, according to reference and instruction librarian Allan Witt. 

Instead of gauging credibility based on evaluation tools, students need to recalibrate themselves to employ a sustained evaluation of journalism based on ethics. To consider journalistic ethics, Witt suggests looking for multiple credible sources, verified citation, limited bias, context and fairness given to both sides of the argument. 

“This approach allows us to talk about the relationship between bias and perspective and balance, whether there are two sides or more than two sides,” Witt said. “It gives us an opportunity to approach new sources in a more effective way.” 

Introducing her library guide on fake news, reference and instruction librarian Sue Ann Brainard said that articles can have a liberal or conservative perspective and still comply with journalistic ethics. 

To equip professors with the tools for educating students on fake news, the library guide offers resources and follow-up activities, including videos and quizzes. 

“For me, the biggest thing was deciding if we teach students about the container—CNN, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed—or the journalism,” Brainard said. 

In agreement with the other librarians, Brainard decided to foreground the journalistic oath of ethics, which includes the intent that an author has in mind when generating content. Ultimately, the workshop concluded with a summarizing message: be sophisticated news recipients and refuse to accept information at face value.

Local writer speaks on life journey, experiences

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Christine Green is a freelance writer and newspaper columnist that has a past comparable to a “labyrinth.” Green studied archaeology and anthropology before becoming a writer. (Ellayna Fredericks/Staff Photographer)

Newspaper columnist and freelance writer Christine Green spoke during All-College hour at the MacVittie College Union on Wednesday Feb. 15. To frame her speech, Green foregrounded her unique career path, starting with her beginnings in archaeology. 

“[Green] is a real champion of books and reading,” associate professor of English Lytton Smith said. “Including not only the pleasure of reading, but the necessity to read.” 

Describing herself as a freelance creative writer, Green currently hosts writing workshops and contributes profiles of writers for the Democrat and Chronicle as part of the USA Today network. 

As a student at the University of California at Berkeley, however, Green studied anthropology and later pursued graduate studies in archaeology. 

“I’ve had a journey of randomness from the dirt to a desk, which is somewhere I never imagined myself to be,” Green said. 

Beginning her address, Green established her theme for the afternoon: thinking of life as a labyrinth, rather than a road or a maze. 

During her weekly meditation sessions at her home in Brockport, Green often employs labyrinth canvases, which is a common feature of meditation cultures throughout the world. Meditation seeks to inspire a sense of peace. While roads point in a singular direction and mazes evoke confusion, labyrinths remove the chance of “wrong” decisions, according to Green. 

“People can use walking a labyrinth in prayer or to find a sense of peace,” Green said. “Something that makes labyrinths so neat is that you can’t get lost in them. In a labyrinth, you can’t make a wrong choice because you will always end up in the middle.” 

To characterize her adult life, Green compares her journey to a personal labyrinth. Using her background in archaeology as fodder, Green focuses much of her writing on what she calls her “imagined past.” In her work, she tends to highlight either aspects of the family life that existed prior to her birth or the events that happened during her early childhood. 

“On a personal level, I basically bathe in nostalgia,” Green said. “I have several pieces of a past that I have never experienced, yet I still feel they are a part of me.” 

Reading an excerpt from her piece “Powder Blue,” Green—reiterating her love of the past—told the story of herself as a young girl. The piece included her looking at an old polaroid and imagining the world within that photo. 

As advice to aspiring creative writers, Green suggested focusing on the world that existed before them—or, at least when they were too young to remember. 

“With my writing, I’m trying to unlock the mysteries of life pre-Christine so that I can understand today’s Christine … addressing these experiences helps heal past wounds,” she said.  

After having her first child, Green moved from Virginia to New York, where she found fellowship with other parents via online blogging. Once she published her piece “Ghost,” Green began blogging for D&C and submitting her work to creative writing journals. 

In her current D&C position, Green specifically addresses the works of writers who have committed themselves to social justice issues. Green participated in the Pink Door Writing retreat as a literary fellow during the summer of 2016. Within this artistic community, Green received praise from the other participants for crafting pieces that held substantive value in the larger society.

Regarding her expansive career, Green insisted that—though she has not finished her journey—she has settled in closer to the heart of the labyrinth. 

“Every time I read my writing, I give breath to my stories because … they’re alive; they’re more than just letters and words,” she said.

Salsa Night teaches students historical culture through dance

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Geneseo Late Knight and the Spanish Club teamed up to host a “Salsa and Salsa” party to teach traditional Hispanic dances and spread an appreciation of the culture. (Elizabeth Jacobs/Staff Photographer)

Geneseo’s Spanish Club gathered at the Knight Spot to celebrate their culture with a “Salsa and Salsa” party on Saturday Feb. 4. Featuring traditional dance lessons, a DJ and snacks, the club gave students the opportunity to demonstrate their Spanish dance skills. 

“Last semester, we asked [Spanish Club] members what four things they wanted to see happen this spring,” Spanish Club co-president and Spanish and education double major senior Leinni Mejia said. “They wanted to learn more dances.”

With roots dating back to Eastern Cuba around 1920, salsa is a social dance particularly popular in New York. Salsa embodies Latin American influences, particularly from the Afro-Cuban and Cuban Son traditions. Mejia said that she emphasized the Spanish Club’s mission to foreground common cultural practices and traditions, which students might otherwise miss while away at college. 

“In Caribbean countries, the salsa dance carries a lot of history,” Meija said. “We are trying to transmit [this history] through multiple generations.” 

To assist the e-board in their planning, Geneseo Late Knight graduate assistant Molly Cole provided club members with her supervision and guidance. Cole chose three dances for the students to learn: salsa, vachata and merengue. Although not professional dancers, Geneseo area coordinator Christopher Rivera and his girlfriend Jess McCallops volunteered to lead participants in learning the night’s dance routines.  

Once the participants followed Rivera and McCallops’ instruction, the dancers—accessorized with Hawaiian leis and roses—independently danced to traditional Spanish music. When they needed a break from the night’s rigorous activity, dancers could enjoy the tortilla chips and salsa served by the e-board members and the Geneseo Late Knight staff on the sidelines of the makeshift dance floor. 

Holding bi-weekly meetings, La Casa Hispanica—the Spanish Club—unites students who share an interest in learning more about and celebrating both the Spanish language and culture. To explain the club’s mission, e-board members math and Spanish double major junior Marisol Fernandez Huerta and Spanish and education double major senior Katherine McCormack spoke of the members’ dynamic interests.

“We want people to enjoy the language and the culture,” McCormack and Fernandez said. “By learning more about both, they can have a greater appreciation for both.” 

As a Spanish exchange student from Moncellier, France, English and Arabic double major senior Lucia Gonzalez relates personally and reiterated the importance of cultural organizations like La Casa Hispanica at Geneseo. 

“We meet up and talk about the culture because it provides a way for students to have opportunities for celebration in such a small town,” Gonzalez said.

Senior studies in Seoul

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Senior international relations major Nora McKenna studied abroad in South Korea last semester for a total of four months. During her time in Seoul, South Korea she noted the different teaching approaches as well as the prominence of Internet culture.

During the fall 2016 semester, international relations major senior Nora McKenna spent four months studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. As a visitor in a completely new country, McKenna reflected positively on her acculturation.

Before leaving, McKenna prepared for Seoul with some basic research including crime rates, popular tourist destinations, critical Korean phrases and vaccination requirements. Although she had no formal education in Korean, McKenna understood that she would bridge the language gap by picking up on important sayings when consulting with students who had also traveled to South Korea in the past.

“I wanted to experience Asia with the help of college students,” McKenna said. “The language barrier would make traveling alone challenging.”

While studying in Seoul, McKenna shared an apartment with another girl from Geneseo and two French students who were also spending the semester abroad. Adjusting to her new surroundings, McKenna found herself “lost for an entire month and a half”—she was not entirely confident navigating the city until October. 

Amidst her travels, McKenna noticed the superior cleanliness of the subway, in addition to the Koreans’ habit of taking photos wherever they go. In comparison to America, McKenna highlights the pervasiveness of Internet culture in South Korea. The Internet serves as a hub for Internet cafes that allow patrons to pay $10 for 11 hours on one of the company’s rows of computers. 

“Nothing came as too much of a shock, but everything that seemed weird slowly became normal,” McKenna said. “You slowly get used to the way of life there and the assimilation was kind of easy because they have a decent amount of things, like menus and public transportation signs in English.” 

To earn credits toward her international relations degree, McKenna pursued mostly international relations electives and political science classes at the host school in Seoul. Her favorite course at the school focused on globalization and Korean development. 

As opposed to the classroom atmospheres at Geneseo, McKenna noticed that South Korean professors favored lectures over discourse and classroom participation from students. Assessing the overall learning style she observed in Seoul, McKenna characterized the approach as less of an emphasis on creative freedom and more of a demand on the focus of the material covered during class lectures. 

Beyond attending classes, McKenna engaged in the tourist activities that South Korea has to offer and dedicated her recreational time—at least five days a week—to finding new museums and areas for exploring. 

Although she felt like four months did not give her long enough to experience everything that she wanted to, McKenna made friends that are native to the area who introduced her to something of great importance: traditional South Korean food. Some staples of Seoul cuisine include various soups, white rice, kimchi and Korean barbeque. 

“All of the places stay open so late,” McKenna said. “There is such a huge eating out culture that I never found an empty restaurant.” 

Reflecting on the highpoints of her time abroad, McKenna noted visiting the demilitarized zone—or DMZ—between North and South Korea as one of her favorite and most memorable experiences in Seoul. 

Before embarking on the all-day tour, participants must sign a waiver acknowledging the weight and significance of their surroundings. Throughout the day, participants have the chance to see North Korean soldiers and propaganda villages up-close, creating an immersive learning experience about the deep tension between the countries, according to McKenna. 

After spending an entire semester in South Korea, McKenna’s adventures helped erase the stigma about Asia being difficult or inaccessible for studying abroad. 

“I think that the best way to learn about something is to visit the place,” she said. “You can read about it, but actually experiencing the environment is completely different.”

Museum studies course provides valuable interactive experience

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Museum studies is a hands-on course that gives students experience and knowledge to continue in the art history field, as well as an appreciation of museum layouts.

Visiting art history assistant professor Alla Myzelev describes her 300-level museum studies course in one word: dynamic. Through the elements of studying theory and gaining hands-on experience, students can learn in a variety of ways in ARTH 378. 

By combining seminar and laboratory instructing styles, Myzelev guides the class through discussions on academic articles, which provide the foundation for students to complete their own independent projects. At the end of the semester, everyone in Myzelev’s class will create personal miniature exhibitions that will be displayed at all of Geneseo’s on-campus galleries and studios. 

Belonging to both the department of art history and the museum studies minor, Myzelev’s course introduces students to museology—the study of owning, operating and organizing museums—from the theoretical and practical lenses. 

For anyone interested in taking this course, Myzelev would recommend an interest and background in not only art history, but also humanities or history as a broader discipline. 

“People potentially interested in this career path can take the class to explore what they could do and then do an internship,” Myzelev said. 

By taking museum studies, students can expect to learn an appreciation for the structure and the design that constitutes a museum layout, as well as the fundamental rationale behind that plan. While the course’s theoretical component addresses the function of museums and galleries in society, the practical component allows students to experience trying to execute the work of assembling displays for themselves. 

Combining their art history backgrounds with immersive and interactive learning opportunities, students participate in independent and team-based projects. 

“After taking this class, the students will never be innocent visitors to a museum again,” she said. 

In addition to their miniature exhibitions, class members will spend this semester working on an Emmeline Bear exhibit for the Milne Gallery and writing exhibition reviews based on what they have studied. 

Explaining the importance of practical experience and hands-on projects, Myzelev emphasized that after the taking this class, students can mention such projects on their resume, making them more competitive for internships and graduate school applications. 

To accomplish their larger group projects before the deadlines, students must work after hours and outside of class, especially to prepare the Emmeline exhibit. 

Although the class only meets twice a week, Myzelev maximizes their time together by avoiding strict schedules. Instead, she opts for “free flowing and flexible classes” with several components: discussion, analysis, experience and observations of the relevant works of others. 

To allow for the incorporation of different and dynamic learning experiences, Myzelev resists simply lecturing students—she prefers inviting guest speakers to discuss local galleries and taking field trips to nearby destinations like the George Eastman House in Rochester and The Livingston Museum and Archive History. 

Having taught museum studies in previous semesters, Myzelev recalls positive student feedback and experiences, including individuals who have gone on to pursue museum studies degrees at New York University and Georgetown University. 

From the perspectives of past and current students, Myzelev excels in encouraging internship opportunities and the pursuit of various careers within the vast fields of art history and museum studies. 

“Already I can see how this class is going to be incredibly helpful for my understanding of museums and their missions and roles in society,” art history major junior Victoria Elliott said.

Panel discusses effects of Trump presidency, mobilizing resistance

Geneseo’s chapter of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality hosted a presentation and panel discussion entitled “The Trump Presidency: What It Is and How to Fight It” on Thursday Dec. 1. Borrowing its title from Leon Trotsky’s Fascism: What It Is and How to Fight It, the meeting addressed the nature of our president-elect’s administration and the ways in which establishment Democrats have responded. Additionally, the presentation discussed the broader implications of the 2016 election results and the ways in which Trump’s adversaries can mobilize their resistance.

To introduce his exploration of the implications that Trump’s presidency might carry, the president of IYSSE senior history major Josh DeJoy opened his presentation by assessing the nature of the president-elect’s administration. Describing the strongly right-wing cabinet appointments, the presenter highlighted failings in such choices for these positions.

While the pick for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, missed appointment as a federal judge in 1986 because of racist comments, Michael Flynn—who is tapped for national security advisor—considers Islam an ideology, rather than a religion, thereby stripping it of First Amendment protections.

“Beyond possibly the most right-wing cabinet in history, Steve Bannon—co-equal with the chief of staff—has come to the fore of Trump’s administration and lets the alt-right see him as ‘their guy’ on the inside of the White House,” DeJoy said.

Having previously served as the executive chair for Breitbart News—an internet platform for the opinions and concerns of the far-right movement—Bannon, now appointed to chief strategist and senior counselor, joined Trump’s presidential campaign team as the chief executive officer in August.

Hailed as a mouthpiece for the alt-right, Bannon crafted many speeches that Trump made in the latter half of his campaign, including a Florida address in which the president-elect likened himself to a personal savior who will “suffer” for the voters—if they support him.

To explain potential vehicles for resisting the Trump administration, DeJoy cautioned the audience against relying on establishment Democrats to champion any movement of significant intransigence, even the outspoken liberal Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

“We cannot effectively prosecute a fight within, through or by association with the Democratic Party who spent the entire campaign criticizing Trump in apocalyptic terms, but have now prostrated themselves before him,” DeJoy said.

Acknowledging an element of validity in President Obama’s well wishes toward the president-elect and an aspect of truth in the assertion that Trump’s success will correlate with American success, DeJoy foregrounded the degree of danger that such statements also carry.

Critiquing Sanders and Warren for so quickly transitioning from rallies for political revolution to openness for collaboration with the Trump administration, DeJoy emphasized the threat of the idea that political leaders can hold popular opposition in abeyance, so long as the person in power claims to help the common citizens.

An examination of polling data characterizes the 2016 presidential election as an election for change. By refusing to validate or to even address the concerns of a suffering working class, the Democratic Party set the stage for a victory by Trump, whose “Make America Great Again” slogan proposed a referendum on the state of the country, according to DeJoy.

To convey the legitimacy of a socialist movement against the impending administration, DeJoy implored his audience—and any concerned adversaries—to turn away from the Democratic Party, which he labeled “a trap,” and turn toward the working class.

Criminal prosecutor turned professor discusses political views

Although he began his career as a lawyer, lecturer of business law James Quinn has always enjoyed serving as an instructor and conductor of presentations. During Quinn’s 35 years of practicing corporate law, he most enjoyed conducting training sessions for business people. Quinn remembers such experiences fondly in 2010, when he retired but still considered himself “too young not to stay active.” As a young lawyer, Quinn spent more time in court early on in his career, where he worked as a criminal prosecutor. Quinn gained an appreciation for and new insight on human nature during his time in this position.

Transitioning from the criminal to the corporate field of law, Quinn acted as a general counsel for Carestream, and later spent 20 years at Kodak in Rochester. Since beginning his career as a professor of business law, Quinn has employed real life examples from his work experience as talking points in his lectures.

On the Geneseo campus, Quinn’s reputation carries with it a widespread myth: many students have come to believe that in 1969, Quinn received a personal invitation to the inauguration of President Richard Nixon. Hanging on his bathroom wall, Quinn does have an invitation to the Nixon inauguration, but did not receive this as a personal honor—rather, Quinn’s father-in-law, a senior military officer, had kept the memento.

To dispel rumors of his association with, and even affinity for, President Nixon, Quinn joked that even if he had personally received an invitation to the 37th inauguration, he probably would have declined and steered clear of the event. Indeed, the invitation has earned its place on the bathroom wall as a joke, emphasizing his distaste for Nixon, according to Quinn.

While Quinn does not reflect on President Nixon favorably, he identifies the current president, Barack Obama, as his favorite. Quinn regularly uses The New York Times, Politico and MSNBC to stay informed on events such as those leading up to this past election.

Reflecting on his favorite topics to cover in class, Quinn distinguishes alternative dispute resolution (mediation) and employment law—which he will teach this spring—as two top contenders. To reiterate the importance of employment law, Quinn connects the worker-boss dynamic to his strong convictions about diversity and inclusion, which he believes can advance with the right kind of legislation.

“The relationship between a person and the company for which he or she works is maybe the second or third biggest relationship that a person has, aside from marriages and parents,” Quinn said.

Having worked as both a lawyer and professor of law, Quinn maintains an interest in government; he shares the widespread feelings of concern and anxiety felt by many Americans following the election of President-elect Donald Trump.

Although he does not support Trump, Quinn acknowledges the logic behind TIME’s nomination of him as Person of the Year, and laments that Trump has gotten to a position where he can consider himself among the biggest and most influential global figures.

“No matter how you feel about who won and who lost [the 2016 presidential election] and no matter what Mr. Trump might try to do when he takes office, every person has the ability to decide when they wake up every morning how they want to treat other people and commit to honoring diversity and inclusion,” Quinn said. “There’s nothing the president can do to change that.”

Guest panel lends insight into solitary confinement

Students from the Edgar Fellows Program hosted a solitary confinement panel discussion on Nov. 21, where participants learned about the practice of isolating inmates in a cell for 22-24 hours a day. Panel members included professor of sociology William Lofquist, Jail Administrator for Allegany County Chris Ivers and former convict Victor Pate. Lofquist began the discussion by expounding a summary of mass incarceration within the United States. He explained that the amount of inmates in prison is a policy choice and that since the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, the U.S. has chosen to employ a policy of mass incarceration.

In order to establish the point that the amount of imprisonment at any time or place constitutes a policy choice, Lofquist introduced his argument by debunking the adage “you do the crime, you do the time.” This notoriously trite proverb wrongfully defines crime and criminals as staple constructs, thereby implying that crime requires punishment and that no other viable policies exist.

Challenging the assumption that crime drives punishment, state and federal prison populations have drastically increased over the past 40 years, meaning that U.S. legislators and law enforcement officers have undergone a dramatic change in how they respond to crime. Furthermore, although the U.S. holds 5 percent of the world’s population, we account for 22 percent of the incarceration population in the world.

“Especially when compared to our so-called ‘peer nations,’ the U.S. sets itself apart in a totally different category,” Lofquist said. “It’s almost as though we have a whole other policy—because we do.”

Reflected in the popularity of television shows like “Orange is the New Black,” policy choices in favor of mass incarceration have normalized imprisonment. As a result, it has become visible in American politics, economic policy and popular culture.

“Ex-cons have become commonplace in our society,” Lofquist said. “This would not have been true in past generations.”

Distinguishing a point of origin for the shift toward mass incarceration, Lofquist directed the audience to the end of the Civil Rights Movement, from which mass imprisonment policies came as a response to the threatened endurance of white supremacy.

Although the 40-year increase in rates of incarceration plateaued following 9/11, mass incarceration practices have survived. They have been especially catalyzed by the discretionary and racially discriminatory War on Drugs.

Addressing the use of punishment in jails, Ivers—who is the administrator of a 164-person prison facility in Allegany County—described the bar-free housing unit that his inmates inhabit. In addition, Ivers explained the complicated use of “administrative segregation”—or solitary confinement—as a means of both punishment and protection of at-risk populations, which includes both transgender and mentally ill prisoners.

With the understanding that human existence requires social interaction, Ivers emphasized that inmates assigned to administrative segregation still receive one hour of television and recreational time, as well as policy-driven interaction with officers. This is designed to prevent the loss of trust and strike-backs.

In terms of policy options for improvement, however, Ivers suggested mental health reform, good pre-trial release programs and early-intervention programs that target behavioral modification.

During the conversation, participants also heard from solitary confinement survivor Pate, who works with the New York Campaign for Alternatives to Solitary Confinement. Pate advocates for the end of such practices.

“[Solitary confinement] is no way to treat people,” Pate said. “You can’t treat people inhumanely and expect them to come out humane. Instead, they often come out of isolation even worse.”

Dance for Kindness movement uses global flashmobs to promote acceptance

Thirty Geneseo students and community members celebrated World Kindness Day through the Dance for Kindness movement on Sunday Nov. 13 by executing an eight-minute dance routine on the MacVittie College Union patio. During the event, warm temperatures and bright sunshine allowed for a large audience of both students and families to congregate outside the Union and to enjoy the well-rehearsed performance.

After a week of divisiveness among both the campus and national communities due to the election, the Dance for Kindness event brought together participants and spectators to celebrate unity and optimism.

This was the fifth annual Worldwide Dance for Kindness Flashmob, organized by physics major sophomore Emily Verhaeg. The college’s student-driven performance shared commonality with the other Dance for Kindness initiatives happening globally, as all participating groups used the same song and dance during their individual events.

“I think that Dance for Kindness was a great event, especially because the country is so divided right now,” participant communication major sophomore Annie Renaud said. “I hope the event reminds people to take the time out of their day and do small acts of kindness for one another.”

Created to commemorate World Kindness Day, the large and varied group introduced their routine with a “flashmob,” in which the dancers assumed a specific kindness position for two minutes.

Geneseo’s flashmob imitated a hug, giving people passing by the opportunity to recognize what kindness looks like. Immediately following the flashmob, the participants—all clad in coordinating orange T-shirts—erupted into a musically accompanied dance that lasted for an additional five minutes.

The Dance for Kindness celebration encompassed more than 48 countries and upward of 93 locations in 2015. This movement enabled approximately 12,000 dancers to participate globally.

Despite their physical separation and geographical distance, all groups partaking in the Worldwide Flashmob share unity in their common goal: the promotion of positive self-expression, kindness, teamwork, leadership and togetherness on both local and global scales.

To participate in the Dance for Kindness, interested groups must fall under a group leader, who is in charge of registering the team and receiving an email with a protected link to the association’s “Learn the Dance” page. This page features a tutorial video, the year’s agreed upon songs and contact information for the choreographers.

Grassroots organization Life Vest Inside seeks to empower the world through acts of love and kindness like aiding a charity partner. Beginning in 2012, Life Vest Inside has sponsored Dance for Kindness as a globalized vehicle for celebrating World Kindness Day.

“Life Vest Inside is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to empowering, inspiring and education people of all backgrounds and helping them realize that every single person is worth the exact same amount as the next,” Verhaeg said. “Because of this, everyone should treat each other with the kindness they would treat their favorite people with. Instead of fighting hate with hate, we can fight it with love and kindness, which are so much more powerful.”

When Orly Wahba—CEO of Life Vest Inside and Director of Kindness Boomerang—founded the organization in 2011, she intended to use philanthropy as a means for encouraging generosity and kindness, which, she maintains, keeps the global community afloat during hardship.

“The purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves—beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion, and realize that we are citizens of the world and that kindness is the common thread that unites us all,” according to Life Vest Inside’s website.

Lawyer conducts lecture on history, future immigration policy

Students filled a crowded lecture hall on the evening before Election Day 2016 to attend the Geneseo Campus Activities Board event, “Immigration Law & Policy Post Election & Trumpism, viewed in the historical context.” During this presentation, Karen Yau—former workers’ rights lawyer and current immigration advocate—discussed the history and modern-day implications of immigration law in America.

Serving as the director of outreach and capacity building at the New York Immigration Coalition, Yau addressed her topics of nativism and xenophobia with two main theses: that the American immigration system has always had a foundation based on racial and class assumptions and that this broken system has deep rooted, fundamental flaws.

Before allowing the audience to ask questions, Yau delivered a presentation outlining an abridged history of the United States immigration law and policy. This provided a snapshot of today’s immigrant population—nationally and statewide—and touched on the possible effects that both major party presidential candidates could have on the system.

Beginning her presentation with a photo of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Yau implored the audience to consider the flaws of even America’s earliest vehicle for immigration; on the docks of Ellis Island, inspections for health and public charges only applied to third class passengers.

“It was—and still is—a symbol of liberty and freedom around the world,” Yau said of the photo capturing the Statue of Liberty, which is an icon of independence synonymous with the American Dream for many immigrants.

Condensing hundreds of years of complex policy and reform surrounding immigration, Yau provided an overview that spanned from the 1790 Nationality Act to President Obama’s proposed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and for Parents of Americans.

To shift our focus from historical information to the present-day implications of such policies, Yao presented a photo of a sculpture titled “The Immigrants,” which was featured in New York’s Battery Park. The inscription at the statue’s base reads, “Dedicated to the people of all nations/who entered America through Castle Garden/In memory of Samuel Rudin/1896-1975/whose parents arrived in America in 1883.”

Explaining the demographics of modern-day immigrant populations, Yau zeroed in on New York State. Twenty-two percent of all people have immigrated here, most commonly from China, Jamaica and Mexico. Of the New York State immigrant population, 20 percent have arrived without documentation, most popularly from Mexico, Ecuador and China, but 15 percent of the undocumented population speaks English as their primary language. This figure indicates that they grew up in the country as Americans.

Supporting her second thesis that our broken immigration system presents seemingly insurmountable obstacles for prospective immigrants, Yau detailed three key grievances: the difficulty or near impossibility of obtaining legal immigration status, the issue that non-naturalized immigrants do not have a guarantee to legal representation and the problem with the long period that immigrants must wait to legally reunite with their families.

Within the framework of this year’s election, Yau defines “Trumpism” as the product of nativism and political expediency, but Yau also points to the earlier Brexit decision as evidence for demonstrations of nativism throughout the modern Western world. This reiterates that the problem is neither new nor isolated to America.

Describing how students could assist in the fight for immigration advocacy, Yau made several suggestions: vote, encourage lawful and eligible permanent residents to apply for citizenship, volunteer at voter registration drives and engage in the civic and political process as an educated electorate.

In her concluding remark, Yau gave her audience some food for thought, mentioning her own children to portray a very realistic notion. “What does it mean to nine or 11-year-olds, who watch television every night, and see the current political conversations?” Yau asked.