Volume#66, Issue #1 by ESF Knothole

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September 23, 2011

Volume 66, Issue 1

Ecosystem, Restoration, and Design Goes to the Mexican Rainforest pg. 8

How to Make Beer pg. 11

Keystone XL Pipeline pg. 6

L’art du Déplacement pg.9

Our Friend Michelle pg. 13

Letter From The Editor

THE KNOTHOLE

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! Co-Managing Editors Heather Helman Sean Fagan Layout & Design Jennifer Louie Laura Mateya Alice Gallagher Editorial Staff Hilary Anne Coppola Alice Gallagher Advisor Karen Moore Printer Scotsman Press

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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To our lovely Knothole followers, Summer is finally coming to a close. Say goodbye to the days of unbearable heat and humidity. We are all going to miss them when we are walking (snowshoeing) to school in four feet of snow. But don’t despair! Fall is coming at breakneck speed. There is nothing better than drinking hard cider, apple picking, and pumpkin carving. I’m especially excited to bust out my sweaters, and taking bundled up strolls in the evening with friends. We have tried our hardest to serve up a spectacular issue for this new school year. We decided to start a brand new section for this year featuring a native species and, if it’s edible (which this one is)-how to eat it! Check it out on page 10. You’ll also find some excellent coverage of the yearly trip taken to Mexico with Professor Stew Diemont’s class as well as everything you never knew about parkour, both in the center spread. Here’s hoping you all find something you love about this issue, cause we’re awfully proud of our first attempt as co-editors to bring the ESF student body important and relevant articles, updates, and event coverage. NOW GO READ THE GODD*MN ISSUE!!! :) Love, Sean and Heather

Hurricane & Clubz.......................................................................p3 Around the Quad.........................................................................p4 Environmental News Keystone XL Pipeline.........................................................p6 Moving Planet...................................................................p7 Features Lessons of the Lacondon...................................................p8 L’art Du Deplacement.......................................................p9 Native Species Profile................................................................p10 Food & Beer Make-a-Danket...............................................................p11 Beer: It’s Whats for Dinner...............................................p11 Politics Lately.............................................................................p12 Editorials Real Guide to Living off Campus.....................................p13 Michelle Bachman: #$^@$#^.........................................p13 Press Release..............................................................................p14 Mindspill....................................................................................p16 Cover Photos: National Geographic (tar sands), Newsweek (Michelle Bachmann), Mark Madeo (parkour), Jane Zhu (Adolpho)

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Families Struggle in the Wake of Hurricane Irene Sam Brooks, 2013

n August 27, 2011 disaster O struck upstate New York. Hurricane Irene’s path cut up to New

York, destroying multiple cities and towns. Due to severe flooding, President Obama has announced parts of New York State as federal disaster areas. Fortunately for those affected, federal aid money will provide relief to dozens of communities. Governor Cuomo estimated one billion dollars worth of damage not including the flooding that happened around September 8th. Over Labor Day Weekend, families canceled last minute vacationing trips, and instead gutted their own homes along with neighbor’s homes. People in unaffected areas of upstate New York volunteered for relief projects in towns such as Schoharie, Middleburgh, and Prattsville. Churches formed last minute volunteer groups to help aid flooded communities. Stacey Midge, the Associate Youth Minister of First Reformed Church of Schenectady, volunteered with church members mucking out mud filled basements and cleaning salvageable items. She believes one of the most devastating scenes she witnessed while volunteering in Schoharie was watching the National Guard pry the wall off the Schoharie Church. Equally sad was watching her friends, who had lost their homes, crying. Schools planning to open after Labor Day Weekend did not open their first week

because too many students had been left homeless. Even as a two time volunteer for Hurricane Katrina and Rita and Wilma relief work, I never would have imagined devastation in my own home town and surrounding communities. I believe the affected communities in upstate New York look very similar to areas of New Orleans from 2005. Volunteers will always be appreciated, but as busy college students we may not have the time to de-

vote to volunteer projects. The hometowns of ESF students Victoria Reinhart and Kristin Doherty have been severely impacted by Hurricane Irene. Victoria and Kristin have begun a donation drop-box in the foyer of Moon Library. Items of need include clothes, mop buckets, brooms, canned food, cleaning supplies, and school supplies. If you wish to join this cause, you can find more information on Facebook by joining the group “Hurricane Irene Relief Drive.”

Photo from NYdailynews.com

Club Meeting Times

The Knothole Thursday’s 6pm, 12 Bray Hall

Papyrus Club Contact Dottie Klein (dmklei02@syr.edu)

Baobab Society Monday’s 4pm, 19 Moon Library

SEEC Monday’s 5pm, Moon Library

Bob Marshall Club Wednesday’s 7pm, 110 Marshall Hall

Syracuse University Outing Club (SUOC) Tuesday’s 7:30pm, 207 Hall of Languages (SU)

Engineers Without Borders Wednesday’s 7pm, Moon Library Periodicals Room

Undergraduate Student Association (USA) Wednesday’s 6pm, 145 Baker

Environmental Studies Student Org. (ESSO) Tuesday’s 6pm, 19 Moon Library Green Campus Initiative Thursday’s 7pm, 19 Moon Library NYPIRG (SU/ESF Chapter) Thursday’s 5pm, 732 South Crouse Ave. 2nd Floor

The Wildlife Society Wednesday’s 5pm, 110 Marshall Hall The Empire Forester (Yearbook) September 28th, 14 Bray @ 5:30 If you would like to include your club’s meeting time in the next issue of The Knothole, e-mail esfknothole@gmail.com. Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Around the Quad

“I Survived OL Week 2011” What the heck is a fob anyway?

Brigitte Moneymaker, 2014

ie-dye, banana dancing, huggy T bear, and over-hyped college students running on three hours of sleep

– it must have been orientation week. This year’s freshmen, however, had a significantly different orientation experience than past generations of Stumpies, largely due to the $30 million hotel, I mean dormitory, now in place on the west end of campus. Not only did the class of 2015 start their college careers in ESF’s centennial year, but it’s also in the new Centennial Hall. The freshmen were not the only ones who were baffled and awed by the complexity that is the new residence hall. This year’s Orientation Leaders were also stuck in a position of knowing next to nothing while being questioned by hundreds of anxious new students and their parents. Affectionately nicknamed “Azkaban” by the OLs, Centennial

Hall’s many quirks definitely made the move-in process interesting. The morning consisted of being locked out of, and sometimes locked in, random hallways and rooms throughout the day. The only way to navigate in and around Centennial is to be in possession of a small red electronic key, known as a fob. These new devices are not just handy for being spotted as a freshman a mile away but are also the way to get into almost every room in Centennial and to work the elevator. The most advanced feature, albeit the creepiest, is that by tracking your fob activity, Centennial staff can tell who has been in specific parts of the building and at what time (as if cameras in the elevators weren’t enough to discourage random acts of vandalism). Despite all the intrusive security features, and some minor glitches with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, the new freshmen did not let

it stop them from enjoying the many perks of the dorm. Features including private bathrooms, a high definition TV in the basement with an Xbox, and an indoor bike storage facility are enough to make any upperclassmen, especially the ex-Skyhallers, green with envy. The minor road bump that is Hotel Centennial did not stop this year’s OLs from having the best possible time, banana dancing all over the place, with the freshmen. The new class definitely shows the stumpy spirit unique to ESF, who due in part to their close proximity to campus have already begun to integrate into campus life. Expect to see an influx of fobs at your next meeting, TGs and insomniac events, and get ready for a new generation of students at ESF, spawned from the depths of Azkaban, err, Centennial Hall.

The Juice Jam Journal Cayla Naranjo, 2014

went to Juice Jam last year when SuIFiasco per Mash Bros, Passion Pit, and Lupe headlined. I had a sweet time

then, so why not go and feed my inner rave child some electro house music. I knew of Avicii, but I wasn’t sure what order anyone was playing in or who was headlining. The only set I wanted to catch was Avicii’s. I arrived shortly after Avicii started playing. I had to use the restroom, so I ran to the Port-O-Potties. I looked at the floor finding a little rug. I looked up and there was potpourri hanging from the door in a bright orange bag… that I kept as a souvenir. I thought to myself, “Really? Fancy PortO-Potties?” Even the toilet paper was really good quality. I exited the bathroom, reconvening with some of my friends and joined the crowd. I figured I should try to get one good picture. So, I moved my way into the middle [of the crowd] and asked some tall guy to take a picture for “the newspaper”. He definitely thought it was for the Daily Orange but I didn’t tell him it was for the ESF newspaper. I couldn’t talk to any of the people in the crowd during the show because everyone was in the zone. I danced my way back to my friends again, swimming through neon biddies and bros. Avicii really brought it. The

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sun began to set behind the stage and literally 20 people there, but that show the weather was perfect. With fantas- was so much better than Juice Jam. tic music and lots of dancing, it was a The music was so on point! I continued great day. The house music was bump- to rage until about 1am; it was so pering, and there were thousands of peo- fect. He plays instrumentals similar to ple dancing having a great time. When Mimosa, O.T.T., and Lotus. I had such Avicii finished I wasn’t sure if there was a great time. There should have been so anyone coming on after him, so I left many more people there. along with half of the audience. I spoke to Brandon Robinson, an SU junior, about his thoughts on the show. He caught the beginning of B.o.B and said, “B.o.B played a great live show, he actually had a good voice but a majority of the crowd was gone once Avicii ended.” We wanted to keep the party going, so we decided to go catch Eliot Lipp at the Westcott Theater. I walked over to the Westcott Theater not knowing what to expect. DR. TEETH of Chemicals Of Creation, Synchronice and Silas Maximus opened for Eliot Lipp, who had live drums by Samples. There were Credit: http://www.nightdisco.net/

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Around the Quad

Recycling Dilemma Jason McCrea, 2012

ast year ESF was ranked by the Sierra Club’s magazine “Sierra” as the 45th greenest campus in the nation. The general response to this was the question: how can we improve? Simple answer: Recycle. GCI (Green Campus Initiative) conducted a waste audit of the first floor of Marshall Hall during the last week of April. In that week about 40% of the trash by weight could have been recycled or composted. In addition, we discovered a staggering 8 pounds of paper cups, 18 pounds of compostable material, and impermissible trash in the recycling bins. It was no secret to me that we all had some room for improvement with our sustainability practices, but these results were shocking. Institutional inadequacy and poor labeling schemes are just two factors that may have contributed to these abysmal results. The recycling facilities in classrooms and namely Marshall Auditorium (our largest classroom) are subpar, and the methods employed on campus to label recycling bins are confusing, inconsistent, and leave individuals with more questions than answers. However, you can lug your mug, go the extra mile (or couple feet) to compost and recycle properly, and make yourself aware of

the facilities available on campus for composting and recycling. Student initiatives can show the administration how implementing progressive strategies on campus could make ESF a leader in recycling, composting, and other sustainable practices.

Students should know ESF sends its common recyclables to OCRRA, excluding paper materials. More exotic recyclables can be disposed of on campus in various places. For example, there is an electronic waste receptacle in the front of Moon Library. To find a list of the rarer items accepted on campus refer to http://www.esf. edu/physicalplant/recycling.htm. Off campus recycling is also a critical part of living sustainably! If you live off cam-

pus and don’t have a blue bin, contact your landlord, as they should supply you with one. Blue bins are free in Onondaga County, so take advantage of this! Recycling is a lynchpin of the environmental movement. It is both an economic success and one of the most sustainable industrial processes. It saves trees, reduces CO2 emissions, and decreases oil consumption; recycling is an easy activity that goes a long way. The harsh realization that the earth has finite resources provides the impetus for recycling practices. Preventing the extraction of virgin material helps to alleviate stressors on these finite resources. In fact, it is extremely important that ESF has its own solid waste disposal policy, aiming for at least half of its waste to be recycled. I’d say this is paltry compared to what we should work towards, and we can easily accomplish much more. Currently ESF lacks a designated department to ensure the campus’s commitment to sustainability. If ESF had a sustainability coordinator, department, or even an office in the Physical Plant it could effectively help implement these sustainable initiatives on campus.

SUNY Budget Woes Michele Maciejewski

he State University of New York T College of Environmental Science and Forestry will see cuts in some of

its programs, but nothing likely to reduce the institution’s ability to serve students, faculty, staff and the community, college officials say. The state has cut spending in the past several years. Included in the state’s budget is funding to SUNY, public colleges throughout New York. This year alone, SUNY suffered over $280 million in cuts for its 64 schools’ operating budgets, according to an article published by Binghamton University. Students will see a small tuition increase, perhaps more classmates in their classes and fewer new library books. ESF will receive between $1.5 million to 2 million less in state aid, a 5 percent decrease from the 20102011 school year. State funding accounts for around two-thirds of the ESF budget; tuition provides the rest. The future of ESF, and all state-run

public institutions, is threatened by drastic cuts to its operating budget, and students will see tuition increases every year for the next five years. The “rational tuition” bill will increase the cost for a student to attend any SUNY school by $300 per year over the next five years. Inevitably, students, and the parents who support many of them, are concerned. The president of ESF’s Undergraduate Student Association, Eugene Law, sees the tuition increase differently. “At least we know it’s coming, so we can prepare for it,” said Law, a senior environmental resource engineering student, of the tuition increase. “Other students don’t see the big picture.” Law explains that since ESF is receiving less money from the state, funds are needed from elsewhere to ensure students still have access to services, and the increase in tuition is coupled with a decrease in some grants and college scholarships. “It’s like a double whammy,” he said.

Law used to receive a federal Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, worth $4,000 per year, for his undergraduate research. The aid he used to depend upon for two-thirds of his tuition has been cut, leading Law to take out the student loans he hoped to avoid. Moon Library, the campus library and study center, may see a reduction in services due to the budget cuts. Stephen P. Weiter, the library director, explains that while it is unlikely library hours will be cut, that depends on the SUNY union contracts being negotiated. One of the proposals would force workers to take unpaid days off. If this happens, the library may have to close one or two Fridays this coming school year, Weiter said. Moon Library has not updated services for the past several years and is likely to go without some needed improvements, he said. “There are a number of things we could do, like e-books,” said Weiter,

See Budget page 14 Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Environmental News

New Tar Sands Pipeline Causes National Controversy Gabrielle Sant’Angelo, 2013

urprisingly, even though we’re at an S environmental school, it’s shocking to learn that not many of us know about the new Keystone XL Pipeline, which may be constructed in the near future. The Keystone Pipeline transports synthetic heavy crude oil from Alberta, Canada all the way to Illinois and Oklahoma. The Keystone XL Pipeline will transport the oil even farther south, to Texas and other US Gulf Coast areas. There are two big differences between the Keystone Pipeline, first initiated by the TransCanada Corporation, and the Keystone XL Pipeline, which is supported by the same company. The original pipeline is 36 inches in diameter and has a minimum ground cover of 4 feet. It has been in operation since June 2010. WHAT IS THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE? TransCanada Corporation proposed the project of the Keystone Pipeline in 2005. The group stated it would transport approximately 435,000 barrels of bitumen (also known as tar sands, a type of petroleum deposit) per day. The sands contain a mixture of clay, sand, water, and petroleum. The scary part? TransCanada then proceeded to propose the transportation of 590,000 barrels a day of this thick, disgusting form of petroleum. In 2008 TransCanada proposed an extension of the Pipeline, renaming it the Keystone XL Pipeline. 510,000 barrels a day of oil will be transported and it will cost approximately $7 billion to construct. The Keystone Pipeline, including the proposed extension, will only provide 5% of the United States’ petroleum consumption needs. The Natural Resources Defense Council stated the following in March of 2010: “the Keystone XL Pipeline undermines the U.S. commitment to a clean energy economy.” Regardless, the National Energy Board approved the extension pipeline in March of 2011. However, construction has not been approved just yet.

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SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE PIPELINE: Luckily it’s not just environmentalists who are against the construction of the Pipeline. In June 2010, when part of the pipeline opened, 50 members of Congress spoke out against it. In their letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, they warned that “building this pipeline has the potential to undermine America’s clean energy future and international leadership on climate change.” On July 6, 2010, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman, advised the State Department to not allow Keystone XL, stating that, “this pipeline is a multibillion dollar investment to expand our reliance on the dirtiest source of transportation fuel currently available.” At the end of July, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency stated that the draft environmental impact study for Keystone XL was inadequate because it didn’t fully look at oil spill response plans, safety issues, and greenhouse

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

gas concerns. The final environmental impact report was released on August 26, 2011. It claimed that the pipeline would pose “no significant impacts” to most resources if environmental protection measures are followed, but that it would present “significant adverse effects to certain cultural resources”. The final decision for the Keystone XL Pipeline is expected by the close of 2011. For now, the Keystone XL Pipeline implementation is still up in the air but is getting closer and closer to being signed and constructed. Unfortunately, it looks like a grim ending for the fight against it, but hope is not lost. We all must be educated on the environmental degradation and impacts that this pipeline may cause. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: One of the major concerns is the pollution of air and water supplies as well as harm to migratory birds that cross the Sand Hills of Nebraska, which the pipeline passes through. In addition, the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the largest aquifers in the world, could be at risk. The Ogallala Aquifer spans 8 states, provides drinking water for approximately 2 million people, and supports $20 billion in agriculture. There is great concern that if the pipeline leaked, it would ruin drinking water and devastate the West’s economy. What is even scarier is that portions of the pipeline cross an active seismic zone that experienced a 4.3 earthquake in 2002. It seems environmental problems have already occurred to at least one portion of the pipeline. On May 11, 2011, Mother Jones produced an article titled “Will Latest Leak Kill TransCanada’s Pipe Dream?” In this article they discuss a portion of the pipeline bringing the diluted bitumen into North Dakota that spilled approximately 21,000 gallons (500 barrels) of the crude oil on TransCanada Property. According to the Michigan Messenger, this is the 12th leak since June of last year. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “it was predicted to spill no more than once every seven

Environmental News Continued from page 6

years.” The pipeline begins in Alberta, Canada at the Athabasca Tar Sands; the environmental degradation begins there as well. The Athabasca Tar Sands is the largest tar sands preserve in the world. Approximately 20% of the tar sands are extracted via openpit mining (extracting rocks or mineral through a borrow or pit) and 80% require in-situ extraction technologies (mining which injects water underground to bring up whatever it is that’s being mined to the surface for extraction). Unfortunately, the open-pit mining method will destroy boreal forests and muskeg (a type of wetland). The Albertan government does require the company to restore the land to the amount and quality that existed before. It seems as if the people of the United States are all against this pipeline. One may argue that yes, it creates jobs and may provide us with oil to help

sustain the lives we lead, temporarily.

in energy conservation, upgrading the grid, maintaining and expanding public transportation—jobs that can help us reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.” Hopefully, Obama will not help pass the implementation of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The environmental, human, agricultural, and even cultural impacts will be devastating if something goes wrong. Personally, it’s too much of a risk, and the world cannot afford it.

For more information: visit the U.S. Department of State, KeyCredit: Greenpeace.org stone XL Pipeline Project http:// At the same time, when www.keystonepipeline-xl.state. is it enough? Two major unions, the gov/clientsite/keystonexl.nsf?Open Amalgamated Transit Union and the www.tarsandsaction.org to help the Transport Workers Union, which rep- protest and watch videos; on the Reresent over 300,000 workers, stated, cent protests against the Pipeline at the “we need jobs, but not ones based on White House on September 3rd increasing our reliance on tar sands oil. Many jobs could also be created

“Moving Planet” Will Unite Eco-Activists Across Globe Jennifer Louie, 2013

n September 24, 2011, people all O across the world will participate in “Moving Planet” events. The idea be-

hind Moving Planet is both symbolic and political: the events are meant to demonstrate the solidarity of thousands demanding change from our world leaders to move beyond fossil fuels. 350.org, the environmental organization behind Moving Planet, is a global grassroots movement that was started to raise awareness and affect political change in order to significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The organization seeks to reduce carbon dioxide from 392 ppm (parts per million) to 350 ppm, an upper limit that many scientists agree is safe. This isn’t the first time 350.org

has organized global action. In 2009, 350.org coordinated a global day of action, including rallies and demonstrations in over 180 countries, to influence delegates attending the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Last year 350.org followed up with another day of action on 10/10/10, focusing on sustainable solutions to climate issues, like solar panel installations and community garden plantings. This year, event organizers are encouraged to plan actions that will fill the streets with crowds by sustainable means of travel. There are two Moving Planet events planned for September 24th here in Syracuse. In the morning, there will be a rally on the ESF Quad. ESSO (Environmental Studies Student Organization) will be coordinating a photo op starting at 10AM: everyone (including family and alumni attending the Fall BBQ weekend) is welcome to join, as we’ll be forming a huge “350” out

of the people attending. As the adage goes, the more the merrier! Immediately after this, guest speakers will discuss climate change, sustainability and energy efficiency in Syracuse. These will include ESF’s very own President Murphy; Andrew Maxwell, Director of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability in Syracuse; and Matthew Millea, Deputy County Executive for Physical Services. This will be a great opportunity to hear about sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives for both our campus and the City of Syracuse. In the afternoon, the Syracuse Peace Council has organized a critical mass bike ride, which will start at 3PM in Thornden Park. There’s a strong sense of community and optimism when hundreds of people flood the streets on their bikes, skates, and even on foot. What better time to demonstrate to our local communities and the world that we can employ local, sustainable solutions to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels!

“Moving Planet” (9/24/11) in Syracuse, NY: Rally on ESF Quad, 10AM Critical Mass Bike Ride (Thornden Park), 3PM Credit: 350.org

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Lessons of the Lacandon Jane Zhu, 2012

reeted by a sign that bellowed “Internet Café 8 pesos una media hora”, I questioned my arrival in the jungles of Mexico. Nauseous from my combi ride, I dizzily peered into this establishment to see a series of black monitors with unwavering hungry eyes, lost in the pixilated screens. Adjacent to this sight stood a tall display of brightly packaged cookies, éclairs, and other junk foods. This seemingly western 20th century interior was ironically contained in a hut erected by wooden planks and topped with bundles of straw. I was in the indigenous community of the Lacandon people in Lacanja Chansayab. The Lacandon people are descendants of the indigenous Mayans of Guatemala, who have fled the country in order to evade Spanish colonial conquest. A few days of the course Ecosystem, Restoration, and Design in Mexico was spent observing the way(s) of life the Lacandon in their habitat. Our professor, Dr. Stew Diemont, has been studying and learning with these people for a decade. He admitted to be stewed over with a wave of sadness upon his arrival this year. De-

velopment has enveloped the jungle; development worthy of the worthless pesos, the currency that has devirginized the territory that has once functioned without the concept of money. Money hungry were the owners of our cabanas and restaurants; large screen televisions and Coca-cola refrigerators plague these homes. Are we to spite the Lacandon and their desire to live with the comfort of westerners? The hand of globalization has reached the (what I naively thought to be impenetrable) dense and lush foliage of the jungle. At a steep cost to the traditional knowledge of care for the ecosystem, the Lacandon have skewed from tilling the land to making us quesadillas. One light of salvation that bathed me with the warm rays of assurance was Adolpho. Adolpho is a Lacandon man in his mid-twenties who was raised by a family, and in a Photo credit: Jane Zhu setting, that breathed into him a deep, information collected, we will conglomerintegral, and intimate understanding of his home terrain. His classroom was ate all of the valuable material into a field under the diverse canopy of lush trees, guide to the local plant communities that among the golden stalks of corn, above can be used in the school to teach future the complex tapestry of the forest generations. A battered VW combi escorted us floor, and every successional stage in gringoes out of the Lacandon jungle via between. The knowledge passed down a one-day-old dirt road. Next year, it will from his ancestors has been refined probably be paved over with asphalt, unand continuously developed over the recognizable as a once sacred land, home course of many generations. Adolpho to the Mayans. is the reservoir of this gradually cultivated philosophy of coexistence with nature. He is passing it down to his daughter; however, most of the children at the village school are no longer being taught this intimacy. One project our class is participating in is the making of a guidebook containing a few dozen-flora species native to the Lacanja jungle. We had the honor of accompanying Adolpho on a trek through the jungle. We solicited him for knowledge of the Spanish and Mayan names, fruit/seed/flower producing Adolpho using plants to alleviate ESF month, usage, and succession student Amanda Barnett’s reaction to stage, with our far from perfect ant bites. Photo credit: Jane Zhu Spanish speaking skills. With the

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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

L ’ a r t d u D é p l a c e m e n t L ’art du Déplacement, literally means, “The Art of Moving”, but many know this discipline as Parkour. The word Parkour is actually made-up, and comes from the French word “Parcours” which means route. It is a method of movement that is mainly focused on getting from one place to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. This quasi-commando system involves leaps, vaults, rolls, and landings designed to help a person avoid or surmount what lies in his or her path. It is a method of overcoming any obstacle that obstructs ones path, be it a physical barrier, or a mental obstacle. Parkour was inspired by the system “Le Methode Naturelle” (the natural method) that was created by a former French naval officer by the name of Georges Hérbert. Hébert traveled throughout the world, and was most impacted by his travels to Africa. During his visit he was incredibly impressed by the physical development and skills of indigenous tribes he met. He noted, “Their bodies were splendid, flexible, nimble, skillful, enduring, and resistant, but had they had no other tutor in gymnastics but their lives in nature”. On May 8, 1902 Hébert was stationed in Saint-Pierre Martinique. That day there was a volcanic eruption from Mount Pelée. Hérbert coordinated the escape and rescue of over seven hundred people. During this brief experience he saw how people were unable to climb, run, or help each other, and was forced to watch as many died. This experience had a profound effect on him, and reinforced his belief that athletic skill must be combined with courage and altruism. He eventually developed this ethos into

his motto, “étre fort pour étre utile” (“be strong to be useful”). The fundamentals that Hébert set in place were used as the base of Parkour. They include walking, running, jumping, quadrupedal movement, climbing, equilibrium (balancing), throwing, lifting, defending, and swimming. Also are the senses that he felt to be absolutely necessary: - Energetic or Virile sense: energy, will power, coolness, courage, and firmness - Moral Sense: benevolence, assistance, honor, and honesty - Physical Sense: muscles and breath

Credit:Laurent Filoche

Parkour, founded on the principles of “Le Methode Naturelle”, was then created in the Parisian suburb Lisses by a group of friends that used their imaginations to play, run, and jump together. They were led by a young man by the name of David Belle. David received the majority of his fundamentals from his father, Raymond Belle. Raymond, who was trained in “Le Methode Naturelle,” was an acrobat and hero fireman. David was raised by his mother’s father because he and his father’s temperaments clashed, but was told of his fathers fearless exploits-“Spider-Man stories, and Tarzan stories” David says-and was left wishing

to emulate his father. But these young people started to call each other “Traceurs” which means to trace. They have lots of stories of playing follow the leader through various cityscapes. These days any practitioner of Parkour is referred to as a “Traceur”. Parkour has no explicit glossary, but Traceurs often recommend learning a few basic maneuvers, while always staying safe and never doing anything dangerous or risky in the beginning. These movements include the cat leap, the precision jump, the roll, the safety vault, and the wall run. There are many others, but these offer a great foundation and enforce the rule of “Safety First!” All of the movements learned are meant to be able to be strung together, for instance, one could say, “Alright, so I will precision from this rail to the next, safety over that ledge, then wallrun up that wall.” The end-goal is to be so adept that the movement recedes into one’s awareness so they can be performed without reflection, much like any martial art out there. Musicians often say that a beginner needs to first learn his instrument, then needs to learn about music, then needs to forget everything and learn how to play. This is a paradigm that fits parkour as well, especially because both art forms are at their best when improvised. For more information on The Art of Movement, consult the interwebs, particularly parkourgenerations.com or feel free to come and join one of the free classes in Syracuse. All fitness and experience levels are welcome. For more information contact Syracuse Parkour on facebook or meetup.com, and ask for Trystan.

-Clause, B-team leader

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Native Species Profile

Know your native species!

he Knothole is pleased to announce a brand spanking new feature beginning this year: our Native Species Profile, which introduces a different native species in each new issue. Based on the Knothole staff’s deep love for all things food, it’s a pretty safe bet that most of the species will be wild

edibles. Expect recipes, pictures, identification tools, harvesting guides, and more. Many of us come to Syracuse for the sole purpose of gaining a higher education; finding time to learn the landscape that’s right under our noses while we are memorizing facts and figures for classes can be a daunting task.

Fiddlehead Fern Soup Jane Zhu, 2012

ocally foraged and inherently delicious, the cute-as-heck fiddlehead fern is a delightful crunch on your palate! Described as alien-looking, fiddlehead fern is an unfurled baby Ostrich fern whose spiral head resembles the end of a violin, hence its name. Available for picking for 3 transient weeks in the month of May, fiddlehead fern can be used for many yummy recipes. Its flavor mirrors that of green beans, with a hint of artichoke and asparagus. Local restaurant Strong Hearts Café cooked up a delicious fiddlehead fern soup this past spring. Here is an adapted recipe for their soup:

Identifying fiddlehead ferns in the wild

(Adapted from macphailwoods.org) Heather Helman, 2013

atteuccia struthiopteris, also known as the Ostrich Fern, is the most common type of fiddlehead fern. Look for tightly curled fiddleheads emerging from a fibrous clump in the springtime. The fiddleheads are a dark,

Ingredients 4 cups fiddleheads, fresh and cleaned 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups milk or cream ½ teaspoon lemon zest Salt, pepper, and paprika, to taste Boil the fiddleheads over high heat until they are almost tender and turn a pale green color. This will take 5-8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Chop into any preferable size. Sautee onions in a saucepan with butter. Add chicken stock; when boiling, add fiddleheads. Cover and cook until fiddleheads are thoroughly tender, about 5 minutes. Add milk or cream, and reduce heat. Don’t let soup boil or milk will curdle. Stir in some lemon zest. Season the soup to taste with salt, pepper, and/or paprika. Enjoy your locally foraged fiddlehead fern soup!

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However, with a myriad of fascinating, beautiful, and delicious species right in our backyards, getting to know native species is rewarding and, at the rate of one per month, pretty easy. So, without further ado…read on and get to know the Fiddlehead Fern! See you next month for another local delight.

Sketch by H. Helman

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

rich green and covered with a brown, paper-like covering. This type of fern thrives in moist flood plains-you’ll likely find them in shaded stream areas and other places that are cool with high humidity.

Food & Beer

Make-a-Danket!

ream of broccoli soup…perhaps the quickest and easiest danket ever!

Mmmm...broccoli dankets.

1. Allow ½ gallon of water to reach a rolling boil, and then add a little bit of salt. 2. Cut and collect the individual florets from 2 decent sized heads of

broccoli. Leave some stem but not much. 3. Boil broccoli for 4-5 minutes… no more no less. 4. Strain broccoli and keep the remaining liquid in a side pot (you won’t need most of the water so don’t worry about collecting every last bit). 5. Add broccoli to blender and fill with about a cup of heavy cream or half and half. Blend until creamy. 6. Use the reserved water from the boil to reach desired consistency. 7. Add salt and pepper to your liking, and dig in.

-recipe courtesy of Master Chef Aubrey Schmidt

Beer - It’s What’s for Dinner Pedro, 2012

ince I’m a chemistry student and finally able to drink legally, I thought it would be pretty sweet to elucidate some folks about the magical liquid that is beer. But I’m not talking about the crappy stuff that you get at frat parties sponsored by some 30-something year old dude with shady facial hair. I’m talking about the good stuff. The history of beer is a long one, dating back to around 8,000 years ago, when it originated in the ancient city of Babylon. From there beer made its way to Egypt, where Pharaohs enjoyed it thoroughly. From Egypt, beer traveled on to Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, throughout the rest of Europe, and eventually made its way across the ocean to the amazingly awesome country that is AMERICA. Currently, the American beer market is dominated by a small handful of companies (Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Pabst Brewing Company). These businesses focus on the cheap, mass production of beer, leading to less-than-average taste and more-than-average lameness. During the past 15-20 years, however, an increasing number of socalled “microbreweries” have begun to dot the landscape of the American beer scene. In New York State alone we have a number of microbreweries including the Brooklyn Brewery, Ithaca Beer, Cortland Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing, Roc City Brewing Company, and my personal favorite, Brew-

Photo credit: Gavin Cohen ery Ommegang. But this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the total number of US microbreweries is concerned. Now to leave the history lesson behind and head into my territory: the creation of beer. Beer is incredibly simple to produce; all it really requires is a big pot to boil water in, an air-tight container, an air-lock, and patience. There are hops and malt in there, too – can’t forget those guys. “So what’s the first step?” one might ask. Well, first you have to “mash” your malts. Pause. Too far. What is malt? Gooquestion, students. Malt is made of barley or another grain that has been germinated and dried. This process makes

sugars more susceptible to extraction during the mash. Mashing involves steeping the aforementioned malts in ~140-160o F water – it’s basically a big pot of tea. This temperature allows enzymes present in the malts to further break down the complex sugars leading to shorter, easily consumable sugars. Once this has been going on for about an hour, all enzymatic activity is halted by increasing the water temperature to ~170o F. This step is known as “sparging” and ensures that as much of the sugar is removed from the malts as possible. From here, you go into the boil. This step involves boiling the product

see Beer page 15

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Politics Lately

Remembering 9/11, ten years later Gabrielle Sant’Angelo, 2013

he 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks fell this year on a festive Sunday, with the day’s scheduled events-Juice Jam, a show at the Westcott, and more-tinged with remembrance and sadness for the horrific tragedy that struck the United States a decade ago. For most of us, this day ten years ago we were just elementary and middle school students who didn’t really grasp the concept of terrorism or the attack that hit the country. Now being in college, I think it’s safe to say we understand. What is unique about this September 11th is the memorial that is now being constructed where the Twin Towers once stood. The construction of the memorial and whether or not to have it open to the public was a hard decision for the city of New York as well as for all the victims of 9/11. Many also wonder if it is even too soon to do anything with the site, for many New Yorkers still feel the repercussions everyday from the attacks. For many people this site is filled with sadness and for these individuals the city without the World Trade Center is something they wish not to see. Many of us have a connection to the Twin Towers and the 9/11 attacks. Unfortunately, my father, John Sant’Angelo, had many close ties to the World Trade Center. I asked him a few questions regarding these ties and how he feels 10 years later. My dad had worked in Manhattan for 14 years for several computer companies at the time the attacks occurred. He explained that is was not uncommon for him to have meetings and presentations in the towers with

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clients and co-workers. One of his clearest memories about the towers was that during his presentations he had to stand due to the buildings swaying back and forth because they were so massive. When asked if he lost anyone, he told me he lost many friends, and that it is still painful for him to discuss. Upon being asked how he felt about the new memorial being constructed, he answered, “It is worthy of a memorial? Absolutely, there is no doubt about it. I think that it will be different for them to design a memorial that will satisfy everyone.” I then asked him, “Will you go to the memorial?” He replied, “I don’t know yet, I’ve never been back. I have been to the city before, but I don’t want to see the space where they once stood. There are too many bad memories, and I have lost too many friends.” The site has become the National September 11th Memorial and Museum which is a non-profit organization. People will be able gather here to remember those lost in the attacks,

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respectfully visit the place where there was tragic loss, and celebrate our country’s freedom. The landscape architecture firm Handel Architects will design the memorial in a very appropriate and peaceful manner. Two pools will be constructed where the twin towers once stood. Around the pools the names of those who have perished will be engraved. The site will also be covered with a forest of trees separating it from the busy streets of Manhattan and making is a serene and thoughtful place. I am in agreement with my dad that this memorial is something the city definitely needs. It’s important to create a memorial for something so traumatic, so the city is not forever scarred. This memorial seems that it will be successful, although it’s obviously impossible to satisfy everyone, especially in a city as big as New York. However, it will give a sense of peace to a place that suffered a very destructive and violent act. It still seems that even after 10 years or more, people affected by 9/11 or associated with it in any way may never go back to the site. The memorial will most likely garner many out of state visitors. 9/11 is one of the most difficult topics to discuss for almost anyone. I hope that the victims, and families and friends of the victims, find peace and a sense of closure with the establishment of the new memorial. After ten years New York is still recovering, but it does seem that the healing is progressing. The city’s scar is slowly fading, and those affected by the attacks have found solace in watching their city heal itself and rebuild. Remember, peace is the answer.

Editorials

The Real Guide to Living Off-Campus Heather Helman, 2013 and Sean Fagan, 2012

ast year, it was landlord woes. This year, everything in the apartment is broken 90% of the time. Finding an attractive, well-priced apartment with a decent landlord is no easy feat, and often turns into more of a balancing act than anything. As (relatively) seasoned veterans of the off-campus housing process here in Syracuse, we felt it would benefit the underclassmen who have just started looking for housing for next year as well as the rest of the campus if we shared some bits and pieces of the wisdom we’ve obtained over the past few years. Tip #1: There’s a world beyond Euclid Yeah, it’s called Westcott Street! No, but seriously. Euclid Avenue and its more well known side streets like Ackerman and Lancaster have their merits, and their fair share of perfectly fine housing. But, the grass is always greener on the other side of Westcott Street. Literally, there’s less

trampled grass and more living grass, less garbage, and way prettier gardens in the Westcott neighborhood. Also, the neighborhood over there may be further from campus but they’re closer to the Syracuse Real Food Co-op, the Westcott Theater, Graby’s, the Cluttered Closet, and Alto Cinco, just to name a few. Seeing as how it still only takes maybe ten minutes maximum to ride your bike to campus from the Westcott neighborhood, living a little farther from school really isn’t bad at all. Tip #2: Don’t count on getting your security deposit back When you sign a lease, you’re inevitably going to shell out a lot of money. First and last month’s rent, maybe a nonrefundable fee or two, maybe the cost of rent again in the form of a security deposit. If you’re really lucky, you might even end up paying all of the fees just listed! It doesn’t seem

so bad because you’ll probably get the security deposit back when you move out…right? Well, no, not necessarily. Some landlords are a lot nicer about this than others, and it helps to ask around while you’re looking at apartments so you have an idea of who’s going to totally screw you over and who’s not. But just be forewarned: Some landlords will squeeze every last penny out of you in the form of “cleaning” or “repairs” after you move out-even if your apartment was spotless and there were only a few stray nail holes in one or two rooms. Tip #3: Know which side of the street to park on…or better yet, have a driveway This sort of seems like a nobrainer. But you’d be amazed how many parking tickets will accrue over the period of a few months of trying to remember to switch sides everyday at 6 pm in the University neighborhood.

See Off-campus page 14

Michelle Bachmann: #!@!$!%!^! Sean Fagan, 2012

or any of you who have been following the Republican presidential race, you have read and seen the insanity. However, I think we can all agree on whose star shines the brightest… that’s right, I’m talking about our good friend, Michelle Bachmann. Michelle has served our Congress for about four years now. It seems the only thing that she should get complimented for accomplishing is being a woman in politics (which we need more of) and having lovely bright blue eyes. Moving on from the pleasantries… I seriously question her political motives and why she thinks that she would be qualified to be President of the United States of America. This is someone who claims to be a patriotic American, but still gets basic American history wrong. Let’s not even get started on her platform of anti-homosexual sentiments. If you didn’t know, her husband owns a clinic that performs faithbased therapy in an effort to convert gay men into heterosexuals. This practice is not accepted by the American Psychological Association, as they do not list homosexuality as a mental illness.

I cannot forget to mention that she is also opposed to so-called “big government,” yet her husband didn’t seem to feel guilty accepting about $170,000 from Medicare for the clinic since 2005. She also wants to axe the entire Environmental Protection Agency. This act would set back all of our environmental progress since the agency was founded back in 1970. She has also gotten good at spitting straight rhetoric and offering absolutely no real solutions of her own. She has backed down multiple times when asked tough questions instead of giving her thoughts on the topic. The least she could do is admit she doesn’t know enough to give a good answer… about anything. What scares me the most about her is her willingness to be so open about bringing her faith and strong religious affiliations into her political positions. She considers herself pro-life and believes in life from the moment of conception. She simply doesn’t believe a woman should have the power to make decisions about her own reproductive rights. I am a strong believer in

Photo credit: tumblr.com leaving religion out of politics. It is simply a toxic mix, and history has continually proven this time and time again. In short, Michelle Bachmann would use her power as President to limit the rights of certain groups of citizens and the reproductive rights of woman. I hope people see this for what it really is, the woeful “big government” that Michelle so avidly advocates against. Let’s face it; she’s all talk and no game. All I suggest is to please educate yourself before you vote. I realize we all have different opinions and thoughts on issues, but the last thing we need is a president that strays too far from the center.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

Press Release

392 & Rising

Increasing Carbon Dioxide Concentration and Climate Change yracuse, NY - Saturday, Sept 24 from S 10:00 to 11:00 am there will be a rally on the Quad at the SUNY College of En-

vironmental Science and Forestry (ESF) campus to call attention to the dangers posed by an ever-increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and the impact on climate change. The rally will take place during the Annual ESF Alumni & Family Fall BBQ Weekend. Community participation for the 350 rally is welcome. Please note that the BBQ is an advance sale ticket event and due to the SU Football Game there is no parking on campus. The rally is being held in association with Moving-Planet.org, which is organizing an international series of events on Sept. 24 to bring attention to the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which add CO2 to the atmosphere. In 1959, the first year data on CO2was collected, the CO2 concentration was 316 parts per million (ppm). Today it is 392. Atmospheric CO2 is accelerating upward from decade to decade. For the past ten years, the average annual

Off-campus Continued from page 13

The Syracuse Police are really oddly vigilant about giving out parking tickets. Also, since the correct side to park on alternates based on whether or not the day is an “odd” or “even” day (already confusing), there’s the occasional double “odd” day in a row (October 31st and November 1st, for example). Rest assured, the police officers are well aware that this makes things extra con-

Budget Continued from page 5

who remains optimistic. “We may just miss that wave and ride the next one.” The library is combating the budget crunch by subscribing to fewer e-journals and buying fewer books, among other sacrifices. If the library is only able to purchase an expected 1,000 new books this year, library staff will have to be more selective. Weiter says his staff will only purchase the books people request. One unique aspect of ESF is its relationship with Syracuse University. ESF has always encouraged students to take many required general courses and some elective courses at SU through an “accessory program.” ESF President Cornelius

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rate of increase is 2.04 ppm. This rate of increase is more than double the increase in the 1960’s when the rate was .88 ppm. 350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. <http://www.co2now.org/> Schedule: 10:00 - 10:20 am - On the ESF Quad, the number 350 will be formed by participants to symbolize the importance of getting the CO2 concentration back to 350 ppm. In case of rain the number 350 will still be formed outside but the presentations starting at 10:20 will be moved to Marshall Auditorium. Note for media: The 3rd floor of Bray Hall will be available to shoot from for photos of the human 350 figure. 10:20 am - Neil Murphy, President of ESF will speak on the dangers of the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the impact on climate change. 10:30 - 10:50 - Andrew Maxwell - Director City of Syracuse Bureau

of Planning and Sustainability and Matthew Millea - Deputy Onondaga County Executive for Physical Services will present on City and County efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 10:50 - 11:00 am - Samuel Gordon, CNY Energy Smart Communications Coordinator will talk about personal commitment and ask people to take the ENERGY STAR Pledge. Participants will be able to sign paper copies of the pledge stating their commitment to reduce emissions through energy conservation actions. The rally is cosponsored by The Environmental Studies Student Organization of the State University of New York , College of Environmental Science and Forestry as part of the ESF Alumni & Family Fall BBQ activities scheduled that day. GreeningUSA and CNY Energy Smart are organizational partners for this rally. For a full schedule of the Annual ESF Alumni & Family Fall BBQ Weekend activities visit: http://www.esf.edu/ alumni/fallBBQ/.

fusing and they wait in anticipation for the day you trip up and move your car on a double odd day. The moral of the story? Get a driveway. Tip #4: Get to know your neighbors Let’s face it, sketchy things happen. If you get to know your neigbors well, you can all keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Last year one of my neighbors chased a bunch of kids out

of my backyard when we weren’t home. She said they were gathered around our bicycles ogling them. They also come in handy when you don’t have a few ingredients for cooking. And finally, it helps to know where there are local families living. If you throw a party be mindful and keep the noise down as much as possible. You’ll feel like a better person in the end.

B. Murphy Jr. explained that this year, students may find themselves locked out of a course at SU if their academic advisor deems the classes unnecessary. Murphy, in his 11th year as college president, says the college is reducing the program by 10% this year. “We’ve had to exercise controls to minimize that cost,” Murphy said, adding, “If students didn’t feel the impact last year, they won’t feel it this year.” Law agrees. Law explains that he has always been able to take courses he needed at SU. The general courses required for Law’s major and many others at ESF will be increasingly taught on campus. ESF faculty may be expected to teach more general edu-

cation courses. According to Law, for the past several years, members of ESF’s faculty have been asked to teach more classes in general. “That deficit affects our education,” said Law, who added that there are at least six teaching positions that have not been filled. Anne Lombard, Dean of Student Life and Experiential Learning, explains that the majority of cuts will probably be in staff salaries and benefits, because eliminating any one student service probably wouldn’t make that much of an impact. “We wanted to minimize as best we could the direct impact to students,” Lombard said. But as long as the lights turn on, ESF will keep running.

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Beer Continued from page 11 of the mash, now called “wort,” for 60-90 minutes, depending on the type of beer being brewed and how much original volume one starts with. Now, here is where my favorite part comes in. HOPS! Hops are added to the boil at various times and in varying amounts, thereby changing the taste and aroma of the beer. Hops added early during the boil impact the taste and bitterness of beer whereas hops added later in the boil tend to add different aromas to

the beer. Once the boil is complete, the wort is then cooled to ~60-70o F. This temperature is near-perfect for pitching yeast (different yeast strains impart different flavors in your beer, depending on temperature). Once the yeast is in the wort, the little microbes can go to town on all the available sugar in the wort, producing both alcohol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is released by way of an air-lock so that an anaerobic en-

vironment is maintained. Otherwise, if oxygen is introduced, we get vinegarytasting brew (and that is a no-no). Well, that’s about all there is to brewing beer. All that’s left to do after fermentation is complete is to add a little more sugar and then bottle. The little extra sugar is how your beer becomes carbonated – it just takes about 3 weeks to a few months. Thanks for reading and may your glass always be full.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

COMPOSTCOMPOSTCOMPOST//Here’s Where:

YES, YOU CAN COMPOST...Fruit & veggie scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, breads & grains, eggshells, nutshells, meat, and dairy products. Please, no paper products, even the ones labeled “compostable.”

We paddled side by side On the twin ponds Surrounded by rocky peaks, Gracefully Upheld by white birch columns

A mastery of beauty in mineral soil Which enshrines the dead, Wraps seed against its breast While the columns stay in place, tempered By the wind

A branching colonnade, blending green Into the slopes Each body peeling to show pink flesh Underneath thin, stretched scars

Around reeling vessels White bodies glow against air Waiting at the edge For how long will you hold up the mountains? -Hilary Anne Coppola, 2012

We struggled through the stream’s current Welcomed by Fallen pillars Buried beneath the kayaks Remnants of past nations They reached for one another Stripped bone on bone Branching still Holding water and earth together With delicate arms

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Photo by Samantha Brooks, 2013

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