THE KNOTHOLE FREE
www.facebook.com/esfknothole
March 10, 2011
Volume 65, Issue 6
The Knothole chats with...
Joe Driscoll before his UK tour!
pg. 4 How Many Useful Things Can You Make with Baking Soda? pg. 7 pg. 5
ESF Students Protest Attacks on the
Clean Air Act Syracuse Theater Reviews pgs. 14-15
Buffalo Bans
Hydrofracking pgs. 8-9
THE KNOTHOLE
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Letter From The Editor
ave a great Spring Break ESF! LOOK FOR OUR APRIL ISSUE OUT APRIL FOOLS DAY (... and my final issue as lady chief!) And one more thing, if you find the time, drop us a line at either esfknothole@ gmail.com or better yet, check out our sexy new fan page at facebook. com/esfknothole. Let us know if you like the new look . . . and stay tuned for video interviews and color .pdfs! All of my love, Rosey Posey STUMPED by Sean Fagan, 2012
is the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry’s exclusive monthly student publication. The contents of the publication include recent and upcoming event coverage, interviews, editorials, opinion articles, political cartoons, artwork, poetry, club announcements, and much more. SUNY-ESF students are able to make submissions at The Knothole office in 12D Bray Hall (BraySpace) or by email at esfknothole@gmail.com before 6:00PM on Tuesdays the week before the next issue is published. The
Knothole meets every other Thursday at 6PM in the basement of Bray Hall. If you are interested in attending, please send us an email at esfknothole@ gmail.com so we can expect you! Editor-in-Chief Rose Dillman Layout & Design Jennifer Louie Rick Nelson Betty Jo Roby Editorial Staff Hilary Anne Coppola Shay Decker Heather Helman Advisor Khris Dodson Printer Scotsman Press
Inside Issue 6:
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he mission of The Knothole is to provide its readers with writings that are both stimulating and contemporary: to inform its students of clubs, events, and off-campus happenings, to challenge a world driven by progress to uncover the truth about current environmental policies and innovations, and to express such ideas, ingeniously and collectively. We are not a newspaper; we are not a magazine; we are not The Daily Orange. We are simply created by Stumpies, for Stumpies... and we like it that way. The views and opinions expressed are those of the writers only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publication’s staff or anyone affiliated with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry.
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March Events / Club Meeting Times ........................................... p3 EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Joe Driscoll ........................................... p4 Student Activism ........................................................................ p5 Sustainability: Recycled Fashion ................................................... p6 So Long Wood ...................................................... p6 Dose of DIY with Sandra ....................................... p7 The Hyrdofracking Debate: Where Will It End? ................... p8 / p9 Club Updates .......................................................................... p10 Health & Wellness: Rock Climbing ........................................... p11 App of the Month! ..................................... p11 Around the Quad ............................................................ p12 / p13 Theater ............................................................................ p14 / p15 MindSpill ................................................................................ p16
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Club Meeting Times • Alchemist Society: every other Monday 5:30pm, 331 Jahn Laboratory • Alpha Xi Sigma: every other Wednesday 5:30 pm, 315 Bray Hall • Baobab Society: Wednesdays 3:30pm, 12 Bray Hall • Bob Marshall Club: every other Wednesday 7:00 pm, 110 Marshall Hall • Empire Forester: Thursdays 4:30-5:00pm, 12 Bray Hall • Environmental Resources Engineering Club (ERE): every other Wednesday 4pm, 432 Baker Laboratory • Environmental Studies Student Organization
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Environmental Studies (ESSO): Tuesdays 6:00pm, Annual Spring Mixer
19 Moon Library • Green Campus Initiative (GCI): Thursdays 7:00pm, 19 Moon Library • Music Society: Fridays 5:30pm, 12 Bray Hall • Primitive Pursuits Club: Fridays 3pm, the Quad • SEEC: every other Monday 5pm, Moon Library • SUOC: Tuesdays 7:30pm, 207 Hall of Languages • Wildlife Society: every other Thursday 5:30pm, 111 Marshall Hall *If you want your club’s meeting time listed here, email us at esfknothole@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 22nd 4:00-6:00 PM 408 Baker All EST Undergraduates are welcome to discuss choosing options, minors and even, The Knothole, with faculty and upperclassmen. Delicious food and drink provided. And we mean Dino-licious . . . Brought to you by the Environmental Studies Student Organization, better known as ESSO. Questions? shdecker@syr.edu
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE
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KNOTHOLE EXCLUSIVE
An Interview with Joe Driscoll Jess Telano, 2011
Jess: Playing here in Syracuse, I've seen you a few times at Bull n Bear Pub, at the Wescott Community fair. How does it feel to cater to a local crowd? Joe: I love it man. I'm a Syracuse native, born and raised. And I love Syracuse; it's my biggest passion. I hope I die of excessive civic pride. It always drives me crazy that the University and the locals interact enough, so I really want
ESF Students Dance to Joe’s music http://www.facebook.com/joedriscollmusic
to give props to The Knothole and ESF for bringing Sophistafunk and myself, the local funky boys, into meet with the coolest people on SU. These are people we want to be talking to – the people here to save the planet. That's what our lyrics are about me and Jack[Brown] – just trying to make the world a better place. Jess: So in anticipation of our interview, I searched you on google and read the Joe Driscoll Wikipedia entry. It was an excellent portrayal of your career. Did you, yourself, write your own Wikipedia entry? Joe: (Laughs) No, I didn't… I'm slow on the internet… Wikipedia wasn’t something I was hip to in the beginning…and I think my old manager Trey might have wrote it but I don't know. I'm happy it's good. What did they say about me?
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Jess: They said you've been on tour with some distinguished artists, in particular Regina Spektor – a personal favorite of mine. Joe: I knew Regina back in the East Village days and we were all singer/songwriters at open mics together and bars… She's an artist beyond comprehension. Jess: Out of all the big names you've toured with, who's your favorite? Joe: I used to have a lot of fun playing with Trav McCoy back in the day Gym Class Heroes. In the early days, if anyone out there can find the album Who is Burnie Allen? Other people I've met, Cee-Lo Green.He's the coolest most down to earth guy. I spent a bunch of nights partying with him, which to me was like partying with a deity, you know, like meeting Shiva or something. The guy is an unearthly creature. Jess: So What's next for Joe Driscoll? Joe: Oh gosh, I'm really excited with everything that’s
• Student Life & The Environment
going on. I've had a lot issues getting the money together to make this album. I started up my own label. It's taken about three years to get my album together. It's finally coming out, Mixtape Champs. It's been a long time coming … There's going to be a French tour, a UK tour. We've just got some invites to Ireland and Spain for the summer... I've already finished my next album with a Ginean artist Sékou Kouyaté, a virtuoso on the kora. I went to Marseilles, France. I met this kid. He doesn’t speak any English, I don’t speak any French. We were left alone in this little French chateau for two weeks… at the end of the first week I was like, 'damn, I will move here'… We put an album together and that’s done. It's coming out in September. Joe Driscoll and Sékou Kouyaté two brothers from different worlds playing together, collaborating. To see the video of our Q&A live and online go to www.facebook.com/esfknothole
Joe Driscoll, http://www.facebook.com/joedriscollmusic
STUDENT ACTIVISM
ESF Students Send a Clean Message to Rep. Buerkle Jennifer Louie, 2013
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n Thursday, February 24, 2011, ESF and SU students from the local chapter of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) assembled near campus to raise awareness about the recent attacks on the Clean Air Act in Congress. For the last 40 years, the Clean Air Act has had a significant impact on America’s health. In 2007, the Supreme Court decision for Massachusetts v. EPA required the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. As one can imagine, big polluters have invested heavily in undermining both the EPA and the Clean Air Act ever since the Court decision. The rally called upon local legislators to oppose the undermining of the Clean Air Act; Representative Buerkle, and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer are the local representatives in Congress. “At the moment, the
Elton Wong (SU 2012), JP Tucci (2014), and Amanda Kaier (2014)
Clean Air Act is the only mechanism the United States Government has to regulate climate change related pollution. To lose this tool is to effectively allow climate change to go
unchecked. We urge Congresswoman Buerkle and the rest of the New York delegation to stand up for the Clean Air Act,” said Ted Traver, NYPIRG project coordinator.
“It’s Not About Abortion, It’s About Women’s Health” Ian King Strzelecki, 2013
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ednesday, February 23rd, Planned le”, condemning Congresswoman Ann Parenthood supporters flocked to Marie Buerkle of New York’s 25th disthe Federal Building in downtown Syr- trict for voting in support of the cuts. acuse to protest the recent budget cuts Their vibrant pink signs read “I Stand made by House of Representatives. The With Planned Parenthood” and “GOP bill, H.R. 1, specifically amendment 11, is Anti-Women”, while they stand by introduced by Representative Mike their counterparts who display “AborPence of Indiana’s 6th district passed tion Kills” and other anti-abortion in the Republican controlled House signs. While there was no violence, or 240-185. This amendment would pre- angry shouting between one another, vent federal money under Title X to be there seemed to be a disconnect. While given to Planned Parenthood to main- Planned Parenthood supporters did tain their operations. However the sup- have some abortion related signs, it port for Planned was the main Parenthood and staple of evits services has ery opposibolstered, and the tion sign, organization mainand seemed tains that they are to be their not going down only arguwithout a fight. ment; while Far outnone of the numbering their money proopposition, supvided by Title porters of Planned X can even Parenthood chant be used for “What do we want? abortion serFamily planning! vices. While Where do we want the proit? Planned Parchoice/proPhoto by Gabrielle Sant’Angelo enthood!” as well as life debate & Samantha Brooks “Shame on Buerkhas brought
Planned Parenthood attention over the years for their abortion services, these controversial practices are dwarfed by the many other services provided by clinic, and are not federally funded and therefore not paid for by the taxpayers. This fact about the bill seemed to be impossible to communicate to the pro-life crowd, which presents a serious problem. The services provided with federal money at Planned Parenthood include breast cancer screenings, pap and HPV testing, HIV and STD testing, contraception to anyone who needs it, as well family planning services. These services are not only widely utilized by the public, but they are provided for those who cannot afford health care and are all too often the people who need it the most. To support this bill is to oppose providing health care for those in need, it is not a pro-choice/ pro-life debate. If the federal government is truly shutting down Planned Parenthood to cut down on spending, I would sincerely hope that they would consider another option to reduce the deficit and prevent the loss of the only health care services many individuals can get, rather than put the health and welfare of a large portion of their constituents at risk.
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SUSTAINABILITY
Recycled Fashion: What Can You Do With Old Clothes? Sam Yurek, 2012
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lothing and fashion are one of the most demanding, ever-changing and leading industries in the world. Many people don’t realize how their personal clothing footprint significantly impacts the environment. The time and energy, pollution from factories and transportation miles, the natural resources being exploited, the chemicals and energy from the care of clothing, and the cradle to grave aspect are among so many other costs that society never truly observes. There are many practices that can be followed that will lessen one’s fashion footprint, such as shopping at or donating to secondhand stores. Goodwill, Salvation Army and Plato’s Closet are all great places to find used
clothing for cheap prices. Share a closet with a best friend or relative, it will expand outfit options to twice the size! Hold a clothing swap with friends and acquaintances. Better yet, show up at the next clothing swap held by our very own Green Campus Initiative. Unfortunately, the last one was held on Valentine’s Day and probably won’t resurface until Earth Week, so start picking through neglected clothes now! The refashioning of old clothes is another ideal way of creating something new to wear without spending any money or giving in to America’s ever-consuming culture. If interest is sparked for this craft check out the book, Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt, written by Megan Nico-
1. Turn a t-shirt inside-out and lay it on a flat surface. 2. Take scissors and cut off both of the sleeves on the inside of the seams. 3. Cut a larger hole around the neckline, to create a larger opening to the bag. (Make sure you leave at least two to three inches from where you cut off the sleeves and where you cut around the neckline to assure the bag handles will sturdy enough to sustain heavier groceries.) 4. Draw a rounded line at the bottom of the shirt to assure when you sew it together that you will have a symmetrical bottom. 5. Sew the bottom together and cut off the excess fabric. 6. Turn the bag right side out and view your finished shopping bag!
lay. There are endless designs to apply to clothing that has made its way to the shadowy bottoms of the dresser. Can’t formulate any ideas or have no supplies to help refashion old apparel? Join fellow ESF-ers in a re-fashioning workshop also held during this upcoming earth week, the third week in April. Remaking old garments in to other useful objects such as shopping bags, purses, scarves, blankets or anything imagined! Thousand of tutorials may be found online, but just in case time is short to browse the internet for hours looking for the perfect craft, here is an easy, practical reusable shopping bag tutorial!
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So Long Wood Jacob Romer, 2011
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nvironmental scientists are a dying breed. Better said, TRUE environmental scientists are a dying breed. Americans have become so obsessed with the image of sustainability, with our hybrids and blue recycling bins, that we have lost touch with what our own Earth has given us, the most diverse and renewable resource known
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to man: wood. May 2011 will mark the end of an era at SUNY-ESF, as the Wood Products Engineering Program closes its doors to undergraduate students by graduating most of the few students the program still has. Its long, proud history and many notable contributions to the field have come to symbolize a by-
• Student Life & The Environment
gone era. How has this happened? How has composting garbage surpassed the research of arguably the most plentiful, vital and renewable resource available on this planet? According to a recent report by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the increased
SUSTAINABILITY So Long Wood, con’t use of wood products will alleviate many of the world’s problems. “Increased use of forests and wood products can also provide broader social, economic and environmental benefits as well as contributing to climate change mitigation efforts,” the report stated. It stands to reason that SUNY-ESF is unaware of the critical role wood products will assume in the future. While European and Asian universities gloat of their progress, advancing the development of sustainable wood products, our programs are closing across the United States. As ironic as it sounds, wood isn’t sexy. At least, not sexy enough to pull in the crowds scrambling toward the environmental studies programs. The WPE 2011 class consists of two other students and myself. As ben-
eficial as three people per class may be, it is not the most efficient way to operate; when ESF talks about being ‘green’ and ‘sustainable,’ it actually refers to generating ‘revenue’ from ‘steady or growing enrollment.’ How has SUNY-ESF neglected the study of this carbon-neutral, sustainable natural resource? How can we be truly “green” if we cannot wisely utilize, and most importantly, wholly endorse a comparatively low-impact material? It should be the duty of SUNYESF to take a more proactive role in the training, education and development of scientists and engineers of wood products. It has strayed from its mission by allowing the near extinction of this once very prominent and productive program. With less knowledgeable pro-
fessionals in the forest products field, it only compromises the conservation of resources for future generations. Such short-sighted decisions contradict and undermine the very ethics that SUNYESF is based upon. It is a disheartening realization that such fundamental truths are only evident with proper recruitment, marketing and public image. As SUNY-ESF evolves, I hope it continues to seek the best solutions for the growing environmental problems, even if that means promoting and defending an unfashionable, but necessary science. Someday, SUNY-ESF may find itself as an outdated fad, oblivious to the actual “green” movement that is occurring elsewhere. Comments? Email jeromer@syr.edu
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http://www.squidoo.com/hydrofracking-and-updates
Above: From the documentary Gasland, a homeowner creates fire with a match to the faucet.
The Hydrofracking Debate: Where Will It End? Sarah Martin, 2011
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he statewide moratorium on hydrofracking hasn’t stopped all action on the issue. Buffalo became the second city in the nation, after Pittsburgh, to symbolically ban hydrofracking last week. Though the Marcellus Shale doesn’t extend that far north and the controversial drilling technique may therefore not be a threat, city council officials felt the issue deserved some attention. The purpose of the city ban seems to be purely symbolic- to motivate other cities to follow suit in a (hopefully) regionwide show of support for a permanent ban. The bill’s sponsor, Joseph Golembeck Jr., told the Buffalo News he hoped that Southern Tier cities would soon follow suit. The northern border of the shale formation ends just south of Buffalo. The border region seems to be split on the issue. Speaking as a resident of a small, rural Southern Tier town, there are people pushing for cheap energy and more jobs, as well as some who aren’t willing to take chances
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with their water or turn their land into a drilling well-dotted maze. As you may know, experts have been split on the subject. Some, like Dr. Donald Siegel of the Earth Sciences Department at Syracuse University, see great potential and little risk involved. They point out that natural gas gives off fewer emissions than other fossil fuel sources, a valid point in a world growing more and more concerned about climate change. Others, like Dr. Tony Ingraffea of Cornell University, believe we aren’t ready for this sort of technology just yet. Dr. Ingraffea’s webpage prematurely mourns the loss of beautiful landscapes in Pennsylvania in the light of potential hydraulic fracturing. His view of the subject is that the technology may have great potential in the future, but not now. The drilling tears apart landscapes and comes with too much risk to be worthwhile. Drilling companies maintain that the processes they use are completely safe. Halliburton’s website reassures the reader with the reminder
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that “no one has more shale experience—and success—than Halliburton.” The website naturalgas.org, operated by the Natural Gas Supply Association, maintains that “at no point do fracturing fluids come into contact with drinking water,” and that the public is kept safe by state and federal laws followed carefully by drilling companies. On the other hand, there have been numerous complaints about water tainted by natural gas, and several organizations have been created to fight hydrofracking. A quick search on YouTube will bring up multiple videos of a match held under a running faucet resulting quickly in flames. Documentaries such as Gasland have also tracked the metaphorical smoking gun. While groundwater contamination is the dominant fear, other concerns include possible leaking of fracking fluid from containment pits as well as the simple destruction of formerly natural areas by roadways, parking areas, drilling wells, containment pits, and noise. According to FrackAction, hydraulic
Near Right: A group of students at Cornell University protest hydrofracking. Far Right: Dick Cheney, former CEO of Halliburton, speaks to the American Enterprise Institute. Halliburton is one of the largest and most well known drilling companies involved.
Left: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec09/FrackRally.html Right: http://hummersandcigarettes.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html
fracturing projects “have been linked to over 1,000 incidents of groundwater contamination across the U.S.” FrackAction also claims that due to exemptions and loopholes, the process is completely unregulated. Indeed, a Google search for the “Halliburton loophole” will turn up results from a wide scale of credibility, from blogs to newspapers, describing how it is that hydraulic fracturing is somehow exempt from portions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, and general EPA authority (specifics vary by source).
According to the EPA’s website, the use of “underground injections” and flowback should place the drilling process under the scope of both acts as well as any appropriate state regulations. The EPA is currently undertaking a study of the process and its possible impacts. They released a draft study plan last week, which is available for public viewing on their website. The NYS DEC’s website gives a very long description of the Marcellus Shale and its accompanying drilling projects. It touches very little on the debate surrounding the practice,
except to mention that the process was studied and found to be safe and legal. The DEC claims no cases of groundwater contamination “as a result of New York’s rigorous regulatory process.” Yet the Internet turns up tales of contamination complaints ignored by NYS DEC officials. Their truth, as well as the potential causes which range from corruption to simple understaffing due to budget cuts, has yet to be proven. It would appear that, for now at least, New York is stuck in a perpetual he said-she said. It is difficult to predict what will happen at the end of the moratorium, which officially lifts in July. Again, there seems to be no consensus on the facts. Some sources claim that there will be no new drill sites due to a lacking DEC budget. Some suggest that Cuomo will see drilling resumed, and others that he will continue the moratorium indefinitely. The EPA will have the final say, and their study’s deadline is not until December of 2012. That leaves us with almost two years of uncertainty. Until then, people must act as they see fit individually. What will you do?
http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/gas_wells_waste.html
Above: A hydraulic fracturing well site, including the drill as well as containment pits for fracturing fluids. Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE
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CLUB UPDATES
Don’t Frack with ESSO Shaylyn Decker, 2011
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he Environmental Studies Student Organization was awarded a grant last semester from Campus Progress, an organization run out of Washington D.C. dedicated to supporting student initiatives. The grant provides ESSO and the Syracuse University College Democrats with the means to begin a campaign in Syracuse -and the topic of choice is Hydraulic Fracturing. Many students at
ESF are familiar with the process; horizontal drilling into shale rock to extract natural gas, and we ask those who are interested in getting involved to join the campaign. ESSO member as well as many other students attended the Hydrofracking discussion meeting on February 14th. Guest speaker Joe Heath, a lawyer for the Onondaga Nation, discussed
his opinions on the process. He is against fracking and is very educated on the subject, going along with ESSO’s first goal of informing the ESF and SU campus of what the process entails. If you are concerned with the future of the natural gas in New York State, or have a strong opinion regarding hydrofracking (either in support or against), please contact shdecker@syr.edu for information on how to get involved. Or keep your eyes out for upcoming ESSO events around campus and the community. Join the discussion online http:// www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=gro up_152205504836934&ap=1 .
http://www.iowaswaterandlandlegacy.org/home.aspx
Don’t Be Afraid to Look that Gift Horse in the Mouth Elizabeth Miller, MPS Environmental Studies 2011
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Google search for “green infrastruc- efits of green infrastructure. Great news, right? But Rodriguez ture” and “Syracuse” returns more Within this larger context, Rodri- realized quickly that findings like these than 20,000 results. At the recent State of guez focused her thesis research on green aren’t enough on their own to get green Syracuse forum, much of the talk focused infrastructure in Syracuse’s Near Westside infrastructure practices winning against on green infrastructure projects planned for neighborhood. Using a super-comprehen- the status quo. There are significant policy the Onondaga County. At ESF, students sive type of life-cycle analysis, a method challenges too, including figuring out how can take courses that explore the benefits called “emergy analysis,” Rodriguez com- to communicate and collaborate with poliof things like green roofs, rain barrels and pared traditional stormwater management cy makers to turn positive data into meanporous pavement. practices –for example, a cement channel ingful policy. There is a lot of momentum be- that carries water away from a site – to This realization inspired Rodrihind green infrastructure in Syracuse at the “green” practices like rain gardens. guez to venture to the other side of the moment. But Barbara Rodriguez isn’t con- “When you measure the impacts Dome and enroll in the Executive Masters tent to just take other people’s word for it. of those two strategies in terms of their to- of Public Administration (EMPA) program Rodriguez, a second year Master’s student tal resource use, the impacts beyond just from the Maxwell School at Syracuse Uniin the Department of Landscape Architec- the materials and include transportation, versity. This policy-oriented program, ture, asks “just how sustainable are these construction, and maintenance, you really combined with the visual communicaurban stormwater management practices?” understand just how sustainable green in- tion tools that she relies on as a designer, Rodriguez, originally from Santiago, Chile, frastructure really is,” says Rodriguez. will give Rodriguez a leg-up in promoting came to ESF on a scholarship from her green infrastructure in Rust-Belt cities, country’s government to study ways and also back home in Chile. to measure the benefits of green infra In July, Rodriguez will return to structure. Over the last two years she’s her consulting job at the Center for Innobeen involved in two interdisciplinary vation in Building and Materials, a pubresearch projects looking at various dilic agency in Chile, though she hopes to mensions of green infrastructure. continue to collaborate with researchers The first, the Urban Long Term and professors from Central New York. Research Area project – or ULTRA –is Rodriguez will be discussing her run by the Center for the Urban Envithesis research, as well as the ULTRA ronment at ESF and uses a systems-apand CCE projects, on Friday, February proach to find ways to increase quality 25 at noon in Moon Library. Her lecof life in Rust-Belt Cities like Syracuse. ture, “Assessment of Green InfrastrucThe second project works with the Corture Practices for Stormwater Managenell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and Rodriguez, a designer by trade, uses visual images to com- ment,” is part of the Graduate Student her advisor, Emanuel Carter, to develop municate the ecosystem services provided by green infra- Association’s “Standing on the Shoulguidelines for city residents on the ben- structure, such as the porous pavement shown here. ders of Giants” student speaker series. Image by Barbara Rodriguez
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Forest, 2012
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reetings fellow Earth-lings/lovers! I’m sure you know that they don’t call this place the Third Rock from the Sun for nothing; rocks are some of the coolest things ever! Some are meant for building. Some are meant for breaking down. Some are meant for pets, but others are just meant for climbing! But beware of its danger! This phenomenon has captivated my life for the past year to the extent of causing me to ignore schoolwork and other “important” life activities. Now it ceaselessly interrupts my thoughts and encapsulates my dream-world with its severely sweet sensations. Oh yea, then there’s the chance of dying, but wait, don’t flip the page! If done correctly, there is little room for fatal mistakes. Traditional climbing uses various pieces of protection (cams, nuts, ropes) which are placed manually into perfectly made cracks/houses and catch you in your harness if you end up slipping or need to let go. Don’t worry too much - if you used the tools correctly, and your belayer is paying close attention, you will be hung somewhat comfortably by the rope. This is the most electrifying way to do it, but also the most expensive and dangerous. Going with SUOC this spring will eliminate the cost while clear-headedness will prove to be a worthy help in this fun. The Shawangunks has some elite cliffs that must be tried! A slightly less intense climbing sport would be the art of sport-climbing. This involves following routes up a cliffside where drilled bolts provide steel holes and therefore confident protection against falling all the way to the ground. For this kind of climbing, limited equipment is needed and costs much less! Red River Gorge, Kentucky is my spring break destination because it offers mostly spectacular sport climbs. Perhaps the most fun and social of the climbing is called bouldering. This takes only shoes, chalk, a crash pad, a boulder, and the desire to reach the top-out. Generally these climbs are short enough that when you fall on the mat, you’ll escape with little pain. Well, that is to say if your arms aren’t on fire! There are heaps of boulders within a relatively short distance that invite interesting camping spots, like Nine-Cornered Lake, S. Adirondacks. All in all, the fact remains that rock
HEALTH & WELLNESS climbing is the best thing ever. It makes you stronger, it makes you smarter; it makes you live, and it rarely makes you die. There are some fools (and heroes) that have tried monster walls without gear and have fallen to their demise, but is it sick to say it would be one exciting way to go? Anyways, I hope you discover the joys of monkeying around in this fantastic fashion. Remember, we’re on this rock for some reason, but if that’s not true, then just make one up!
Rock Climbing!
Thoughts? Email kpmahler@syr.edu
Go Mobile, Buy Local:
A Review of the “Farmshed” iPhone App
Hannah Fish, 2013
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he title of this piece is the tagline for the new iPhone app Farmshed, which gives information for everything from local CSAs to green markets and vineyards. The app determines your exact location and allows you to browse through a list of farms and businesses located in Central New York. Most ESF students probably know about the Syracuse Real Food Co-op, but Farmshed gives you over 20 new natural foods markets to select from. Not all of them are in Syracuse, but none are farther than an hour drive away in Ithaca, NY. Want to try a new restaurant? Farmshed will give you the hours, phone number, website link, and a short description of the restaurant, not to mention a Google Map with directions of the restaurant. For those who are over 21, there is a list of over 20 local wineries and distilleries to visit, some of which have even received national awards. For a free iPhone app, Farmshed is a very easy-to-use resource. If you’re looking for other “Green” apps for your iPhone, go to the iTunes store and check out their “Go Green” App Store
http://www.farmshedcny.com/
Essentials. iRecycle gives you locations to recycle various types of materials, and Zero Carbon is a free app that spells out how to reduce your carbon footprint, based on diet, transportation habits, and other factors.
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE
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AROUND THE QUAD
Q&A With Laura Crandall
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Jess Siart, 2012
aura Crandall, the new director of student activities, graduated from ESF in 2005 with a degree in environmental and forest biology. She got her masters degree in higher education at Syracuse University. While attending ESF, she met her husband, a fellow ESF student who majored in environmental science. They recently added to their family with a daughter, Avery, who is three months old. Laura said she hopes to balance work and family life and use what she learned from ESF and SU to help current students.
navigate. There are very different students there as well. Do you think your history with ESF will help you relate to current students better? I understand what it means to be an ESF student. It hasn’t changed since I left.
What do you do here at ESF? I am the director of student activities, so I oversee all of the student organizations as well as USA, the Undergraduate Student Association and I also plan major events, such as orientation and convocation. I’m also going to be working with leadership training, so that’s one of the things ill be focusing on as well as more support for transfer students. Have you held this type of position at another school? Well I’m an ESF alumnus so I’m familiar with how ESF operates. I went to Syracuse University for my masters and at the same time I worked for different offices there. I’m really familiar with how orientation and move-in works, which will be good when the new Centennial Hall opens. I’m also familiar with housing because I worked with housing as well. What has it been like being on both sides of Forestry Drive? It’s been an adjustment. When I went to SU for school and work it was confusing because I was writing papers in a very different way than I would as a biology major. It’s such a big university and there are so many more offices than what ESF has, so I had to learn how to
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want to find ways to meet with students hopefully this semester, about what they think should be change. I’ve heard there’s a need to do more transfer services. I want to hear from transfers and hear what they were lacking and how we can fix their struggles. There’s some need to change orientation a bit, whether it be a different structure or a total revamp, but I don’t think it’s possible until the following summer. There’s some need to do more structured leadership training whether it be leadership workshops for any student who wants to become a leader or students who are already leaders who want to get more formalized training. I don’t want to do anything based just on what I learned at SU because ESF is such a different culture and experience. I want to hear from students as to what they want. Do you have any goals for clubs and organizations? I’m going to try to meet with all the club presidents. I want to make sure there are leadership training and workshops to get new incoming presidents and officers ready before the end of summer and then have refresher training in the fall. I want to get to know what their missions are and who their advisor is and just let them know who I am and put a face with a name.
Photo by Rick Nelson, 2011 The traditional events like TGs, Morning Munches and the Spring Awards What’s your favorite part about ESF? Banquet have remained similar. I love My favorite part is the students and how students drive the university here how much power and influence they and that they really plan and execute all have. I got into higher is because of all of their own events. To understand that the awesome opportunities I had here. is really helpful and it’s allowed me to I was in USA, Alpha Xi Sigma and I jump right back into it. was an ambassador and an orientation leader. You don’t always find that at Are there any changes you’d like to other schools. It’s almost like a family make? here. This semester, I’m just going with what’s been going on. Once the summer passes, I’ll better understand where things have changed over the years. I
• Student Life & The Environment
AROUND THE QUAD
Wait, Where’s Papa Johns? Candi Finger, 2011
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Gs usually start with a line at the door, followed by a line for beer and a line for pizza. Not this TG! There will always be a line for beer when dealing with college students, but there were just as many people hanging out watching Joe Driscoll and Sophistafunk while eating burritos as there were students
waiting for beer. Most TGs offer pizza and a photo slide show of the clubs recent events. The burritos were an awesome change from the usual pizza and live music beats a photo slide show any day. This was probably the only TG that I have been to where it seemed that people had come for the entertainment
and not just the alcohol and food. After the kegs were kicked and the burritos were consumed, everyone was still dancing and having a great time!!! Thanks to The Knothole’s staff for putting on one of the best TGs I have been to here at ESF!!! Photos by Samson Lau, 2011
ESF Offers Course to Celebrate 100 Years Jess Siart, 2012
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s part of ESF’s ongoing celebration of its 100-year anniversary, the college is offering a special course, the ESF Centennial Seminar. The onecredit course is made up of eight lectures held Mondays and Wednesday Feb. 14 through March 9 and is open to students, faculty, alumni and the public. The topics of the seminars pertain to aspects of ESF history from various perspectives and highlight ESF’s teaching, research and future. ESF
faculty or emeritus faculty will give the lectures. The course was first proposed by students on the ESF Centennial Committee last fall, said Betsy Elkins, Library Director Emerita and Co-Chair of the ESF Centennial Committee. The committee then collaborated with the Outreach office to discus potential speakers and begin the process of making the series an official course in conjunction with the department of forestry and natural resources management.
Seventeen students are officially registered for the course. The courses are titled: Robert Marshall, Trends in Environmental and Forest Biology, Models for Community Engagement and Professional Collaboration, ESF’s Energy Resources, American Wildlife Conservation Foundation and ESF in the Future. The seminar may be offered again in the fall semester as part of the end of the centennial celebration, Elkins said.
Music Lovers Love Coffee Haus Ian Barin, 2013
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ave you ever seen a room full of music loving, guitar playing environmentalists before? Trust me, it’s a fun sight and always the perfect formula for a great time! And if you were one of the many people who attended the February 10th Coffee Haus sponsored by Alpha Xi Sigma Honors Society, then you would know just what I’m talking about. Being a singer-songwriter myself, it’s one of the most exciting experi-
ences to play for your fellow ESF peers and professors. As a performer, I find Coffee Haus’ to be my favorite venue for open mics. I develop this overwhelming joy, seeing the flood of recognizable faces in the crowed of Stumpies, when I step onto the Nifkin stage. Playing songs that were written from the heart and soul, sharing some of the deepest thoughts and revelations in the form of words and music, and listening to the creations and inspirations
of others shared in there performances, that is what Coffee Haus’ are all about; communication in its simplest form. Think you have what it takes to join the Coffee Haus line-up? Or just want to try something new? All are welcome to participate. Don’t miss all the fun! See you at the next Coffee Haus, February 24th at 7PM in the Nifkin Lounge. And don’t forget to bring your reusable mug!
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE
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THEATER
I’d Walk Through Fire, But Go Without Dick? Rose Dillman, 2011
The SU Drama department takes on the original anti-war comedy
Ly s is t ra t a
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n Friday, February 18th, I attended the opening night of the SU Drama department’s production of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, directed by Stephen Cross. Having read the play in high school I was intrigued to find that such a storyline had made it all the way to the Hill. Surviving more than two millennia, this play couldn’t be any more relevant to today. For those living under the avalanche that is your backyard as students in Syracuse, our nation is at war. Is there an end in sight? Well, currently our government continues to throw trillions of dollars at it, while they pass legislation to cut federal funding for SUNY schools and Planned Parenthood. Solution? Not in the least. Well what did Ancient Greece do to end the Peloponnesian War? Oh, right. The women of Greece abstained from sex until both parties aligned with their white flags... painfully erect. Sounds crazy? You’re god damn right it was. As I entered the dark theater the cast was already in full character. A sea of sexually frustrated zombies hobbled clockwise around the set as the audience found their seats. Once seated, I began watching the reactions of others as they entered the room. A visual orgy was assembling before me as it became more and more difficult to decipher actor from audience member, creating an intimate and interactive atmosphere in the theater. The play as a whole was analougous to a circus-- minus the elephant shit. Big ups to Megan Camp for her righteous way of repurposing each actor’s garb so uniquely, and from seemingly Top (left to right): Andrea Nevil, Maiya Gibson, Alani Kravitz, Amy Larson items one would find in their garage. I’m talking ‘tetas’ made from McGuirk, Kendall Cooper, Caroline Wolfson, Isaura Flores, Julie Grant. old cheerleading pom-poms and throbbing penis rocket ships. Tree Left: Sean Coyle, Mara Dale, Milly Millhauser, Joseph Fierber Right: Daniel Burns, Julie Grant. trunks. Garden hoses. Thanks SU Drama, for brining to the stage the timeless poPhotos by Michael Davis litical masterpiece that is Lysistrata!
Syracuse Stage Only A Stones Throw Away: ESF Goes to RENT Jennifer Louie, 2013
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hanks to a filled-to-capacity Connective Corridor bus, running slightly behind schedule, my friends and I reached Syracuse Stage promptly at showtime. In my limited theater-going experience, I’ve never known a show to start exactly on time but I was disappointed to belatedly learn that every performance at Syracuse Stage is preceded by a “prologue,” insights about
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the play from a cast member an hour before the show. The venue, Archbold Theatre is relatively intimate, seating about 500 people. Our free tickets were for seats only a couple rows away from the action. We were so close I could see tears in the actors’ eyes and my friend delighted in the fact that she briefly made eye contact with an actor during the performance. I might have been in the minority that night because I had not previously seen Rent: neither the Broadway musical nor the film adaptation. I didn’t anticipate that the performance would leave me breathless; I had chills running down my spine and my arms were covered with goosebumps during most of the performance. I was blown away by the talent and
• Student Life & The Environment
pleasantly surprised to discover that a number of the actors were none other than students of Syracuse University’s Drama Department. Prior to this experience, I thought that Syracuse Stage was far away but, in fact, the theater is only a couple of stops on the Connective Corridor bus from Sadler Hall. Knowing now that Syracuse Stage is easily accessible by bus and offers an interactive experience, I will definitely check out other productions in the near future.
Upcoming Productions: The Miracle Worker: 3/23-4/23 The Clean House: May 4 - 22
Syracuse Stage 820 East Genesee Street Syracuse NY, 13210 http://www.syracusestage.org/
THEATER
Antony and Cleopatra: Great Shakespearean Tragedy or Will Ferrell Comedy? Kieran Siao, 2011
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yracuse Shakespeare Festival (SSF) is very well intentioned as a nonprofit organization bringing theatre to the greater Syracuse area, but their latest production, Antony and Cleopatra, which ran until February 26th at the Syracuse Fair Grounds simply missed the mark. Tucked neatly inside the Art and Home Center at the New York State Fair Grounds, the New Time’s theatre is quite a nice performance space for small community theatre. The house set in a dinner theatre style provided the appearance of a full house despite the mere forty patrons in attendance. Keeping in mind that SSF is a community theatre organization, the set quality was wasn’t bad dividing the stage into distinct and clashing lands; Rome and Egypt. The tall gray roman columns alluding to the Roman Senate contrasted well against the vibrant colorful décor of Cleopatra’s Palace. If only the rest of the show could have been as nice. Now, if you paid attention in your high school ancient world history class you would know that Mark Antony was a powerful General and one of three men to rule the Roman Triumvirate following the assassination of Julius Caesar. However, given Nathan Faudree’s performance as the male title character, one might surmise he was barely competent to lead an ultimate frisbee team, much less a legion of soldiers. Faudree’s performance was laughably terrible. He rushed through his lines, swallowing half of them so the audience couldn’t understand what he was saying. Lines that were coherent were all delivered in the same arrogant frat boy tone that allowed no one to take him seriously. His “Old School-esque” attitude, in addition to being a large distraction and quite irritating com-
Photo by Meghan Schaetzle
duction continued to spiral into the bizarre, dropping all hints of the original tragedy in its second act. Anthony’s acting was completely over the top and largely consisted of loud, unnecessary grunts to express sadness and pain. To cut a long story short and to sum up Faudree’s performance, when Antony met his demise at the tragic climax of the play, the audience snickered. Though this specific performance was irritating and awkward at best, that isn’t to say that SSF isn’t a jewel of a program in and of itself. The fact that it brings Shakespeare to life for families in Central New York who might otherwise not be exposed to the arts is quite admirable. Additionally for the low admission price of $5 it provides students a reason to get off the hill for the afternoon. Though you could have received the same theatrical value from this production by popping in a DVD of Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, future productions through this organization would be foolish to miss.
pletely killed his chemistry with the other characters. Alisa Kimbrough’s stand alone portrayal of Cleopatra was quite refreshing. She dynamically played the role on many levels and was overall quite charming and an absolute firecracker. However, when sharing a stage with Antony, her character regressed to a whiny teenager. The pro-
Photo by Meghan Schaetzle
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE
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House on the Hill Hilary-Anne Coppola, 2012 They’re tearing down the hill by building it up- backhoe the road and foundation, test the well, pour the gravel. Mountains of discarded soil mark the edges of a long scar covered by the clean gauze of winter. When I walk over the scabbed, sloping earth, I feel like a parasite, expecting the sudden slap of my unwelcome host to rebuke me. The hill never made me feel this way before. Half a mile and up the ridge was a circle of short grass, mowed in the middle of six acres of two-foot high grass. That six acre field was home of the meadow voles I tracked in winter, the nesting grounds of the red-winged blackbirds and was filled with the spit bugs who were so much fun to find, tiny and green and naked. In the circle at the tops of the hill, with trees on two sides, you can see the blindingly bright ski slope, the hops farm down the road to the south, the next door neighbor training his prize-winning barrel-racing quarter horses. Small fallow deer always dot the backyard hillside next to the horse corral, surrounded by a tall metal fence and freedom. If I walk up the hill during the day, my dog anxiously waits underneath the locust tree at the bottom of the trail, hoping I come back home soon. But though I’ve had adventures on during the day, the hill is most alive at night. When the horses and dogs are asleep, the field and woods simmer with energy. Owls are the strangest to hear- they’re only supposed to make appearances in movies. Wild deer make soft footsteps along the edge of the trail, the coyotes yelp during every season, and the crickets never shut up in summertime. In the night, during the moon’s dream show, everything on earth swims and gives light in return, with each undulation. On the hill in that softness, you can believe all good ideas and dreams will come true, no
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matter what strange noises are coming from the woods. Moonlight in early summer… that was unpolluted. And now the moon doesn’t matter to me. Neither do the blackbirds and their grass perches, or the vole tunnels. I let myself imagine it will all be gone now, I am obsessed with the scar snaking up the hill, the pits and mountains that have replaced the mowed circle. It will all still be there- living, but that new house will
be grinning through the windows, daring the moon to give more light than the 60 watt bulbs. The furnace will know that no meadow mouse tunnel could be quite this cozy, and no blade of grass could be as rain-proof as the roof on this house. The hill won’t die, the moon won’t stop bathing the earth, and the snow won’t give up healing bruises. But I know that house will always be laughing at all of them.
Right: “On the edge of the Mayan Ruins” by Luke Sarrantonio, 2011 Below: “Chanterelle” by Ginero Falco, 2012
Mind Spill
• Student Life & The Environment
Spill on us at esfknothole@gmail.com