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The Knothole
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November, 2015
Volume 71, Issue 1
Ohh the seasons are a changin’
Table of Contents
Section
Starfish, What Else Are We Missing?....................................................................... 2 Sunrise, Sunset.................................................................................................................. 3 Stumpy Spotlight............................................................................................................ 4 Weird Creature spotlight.............................................................................................5 #improveyourworld....................................................................................................... 6 Environmental News..................................................................................................... 6 Stumpy Spotlight............................................................................................................ 8 Poetry.................................................................................................................................. 9 Tesla .................................................................................................................................... 10 Chemical Free Life........................................................................................................... 14 Bad Jokes............................................................................................................................ 12 Second Glance.................................................................................................................. 13 Cultural Appropriation.............................................................................................. 14 Ask-a- Nut.......................................................................................................................... 15
Starfish, What Else Are We Missing? Rebecca Rolnick Of all the creatures in the fish tank of Centennial Hall, I am most fascinated with watching the starfish. I think most people know starfish from the brittle skeletal versions sold at tourist gift shops. Their life made into a token souvenir. But how alive they are! I never before knew that they have so many tentacle-like legs coming out of each arm, which they move in series, like a millipede walking in slow motion. It actually surprises me how fast they move. I don’t know how, but it knows where it’s going. And it’s so flexible.
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It can squeeze and bend into cracks or around rocks, even completely crawling over and temporarily enveloping a little snail on the glass, neither creature seeming to mind. And the corals: They’re animals, they’re alive too. So it just makes me wonder--what else are we missing? What else do we overlook, simply because it exists on a slower scale of life than us, a different dimension of time, than even that of the relatively fast starfish, which we tend to see as motionless? Rooted in the familiar soil, a fluffy cloud or distant airplane seems to flow gently across the sky, a white speck in a vast blue. But the pilot knows that they are really hurtling through the atmosphere at hundreds of miles an hour.
Sunrise, Sunset Shourjya Majumder I look out toward the lonely gray of the early morning. The sun has just barely risen, adding a light streak of blue to the sky. A bird cries out to greet it. The bird is accompanied by a harmony of other calls, ranging in pitches. The buds on the branches yawn and stretch their petals. Their aromatic scent is lifted by the fresh morning breeze and carried for miles on end. A rabbit emerges from its hole and twitches its nose, taking in its surroundings. When it sees that danger is nowhere to be found, it crawls out of its hole and begins to nibble on the flowers. The golden light of the morning sun dances on each and every exotic petal, attracting bees and flies of every sort. The everhappy flowers compete to reach the sun first. A deer family, on its early morning walk, takes a detour to have breakfast. A flock of turkeys, overstuffed, and the color of a dull living room carpet, wander over and begin to help themselves. The deer family pays no attention to them. Minding their own business, the two families eat in harmony. The sun has now reached its highest point in the sky, constantly bombarding the grassy field with intense waves of solar energy. Not much activity is seen at this hour. A lone bee searches for flowers to pollinate, the intense sound of its vibrating wings breaking the eerie silence. The rabbits have all retreated into their shady and moist burrows, patiently awaiting the cooler and crisper evening that will follow. The insects, however, seem to be immune to the extreme heat and humidity and busily go about their work, whether it be collecting food to bring back to the colony or simply exploring the outside world. The sky is a pastel shade of blue. Huge white water tanks challenge each other to a race to see who can be the first to float across the sky. They cheat however, as they are assisted by Wind. In its spare time, Wind laughs with the tree branches and runs with the long blades of grass. The whole place seems to have taken on a monotone rhythm. The flowers sway in formation to that rhythm,
all of them staring to the core of the fiery red ball. Squirrels however, do not fully understand the concept of relaxation. They always seem to be in a hurry, running every which way, picking up a nut here, burying it down there. They appear to be in such a rush, that they even forget where they bury their nuts, allowing new trees to take root. Ironically, they stop dead center in a street at the time of an emergency, when a car or truck is passing by. I will never fully understand what goes on in their smooth little minds. The red light that is now emitted from the giant ball of gas washes onto the clouds, transforming them into bright red curtains. The wandering deer family returns to the same spot for their evening meal. The turkeys also come for dinner. After realizing the scarcity of food in their current yard, the birds decide to cross over to the neighbor’s yard to finish its meal. In single file the group, with heads held high, march confidently across the small depression to the opposite yard to dine in peace. All but one. He stands there, oscillating between going with his family and staying on the deer’s side. He paces back and forth, deciding what to do. One of the turkeys gives him a look. Very warily, the bird jumps over the depression to join his family... At night, the air becomes crisp and cool, dominated by the chirping of crickets and a chorus of frogs. The entire sky puts on a protective blanket. Fireflies play hide and seek between the stars. A lonely owl hoots in the distance, frightening all the mice that come out to play. The ink-black sky is dotted with stars as far as the eye can see. They wink at each other throughout the sky, making night almost as bright as day. The stars set the stage for the main event. A huge milky sphere, dotted with craters rises above all, overlooking the whole yard, ruler of the land. It rises even higher until it is directly over my house. It stares down at me, sending a shiny beam of light in my direction. I embrace it, listening to everything around me, the complex day that occurs all the time in my backyard. Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 3
Stumpy Spotlight Elle Donnelly Sitting on a high wooden chair in the second floor lounge of Centennial Hall, I am able to survey all that is going on around me. “People watching” is easily one of my favorite pastimes, not because I am nosy, but because I like to imagine what’s going on in other peoples’ minds. For example, what is the boy watching NASCAR thinking as the cars drive round and round? What kinds of shapes do the people lying on the hill see in the clouds? And what is the bearded boy in front of me thinking as I approach him to be the next Stumpy Spotlight star? Introducing, Zane Paradies: Sophomore in Sustainable Energy Management, guard on the ESF basketball team, and sneaker aficionado. He wore a nervous smile, so I decided to ease him into things. Stumpy Spotlight: Those are some fancy shoes you’ve got on! Zane Paradies: Oh, thanks! I actually have 15 pairs of sneakers. I like to keep up with the latest styles. SS: Wow, that’s a pretty impressive collection. So, I’ve heard rumors that you recently began watching The Office on Netflix. What character do you think most accurately represents your personality? ZP: Stanley, because I like to be sarcastic. I will often make blunt comments about the ridiculous things I witness. SS: Haha, I can definitely see that. What is the largest amount of pizza you’ve eaten in one sitting?
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ZP: Seven, maybe eight slices? SS: Is there any reason you ate that amount? ZP: I was just hungry… SS: What has been your greatest adventure? And don’t say eating 8 slices of pizza. ZP: I went to Tanzania this summer where my family, went on a safari, and drove around different parks. We also did a walking safari where we thankfully didn’t see any lions. I didn’t die, so that’s an accomplishment. SS: What was the craziest thing you saw while you were there? ZP: We saw giraffes “necking” which is how they fight. SS: What has been your most embarrassing moment? ZP: One time while I was trying to impress a girl, I fell out of a tree straight onto my back. SS: Was she impressed? ZP: She’s my girlfriend now, so I think so. SS: What superhero do you think deserves a movie that doesn’t have one yet? ZP: Luke Cage (AKA Power Man) is a regular guy who is super strong like the Hulk. He has a cool origin story which I think would make a good movie. SS: If you were president, what is the first law you’d like to have passed? ZP: There should be a law that all dining halls
should make food that is actually edible. SS: True, that food is certainly not like Mom’s home cooking. Speaking of moms, what is the best piece of advice your mom has given you? ZP: She has just told me to go for whatever I want in life because she’ll always be there to support me.
Weird Creature Spotlight Stephen Scaduto So I recently noticed a slight issue with the Weird Creature Spotlight: all I’ve ever covered are plants and animals! So this time, we’re going to broaden our horizons a bit and meet our first fungus (sorry it took so long, Dr. Weir). The name of this fungus is Hericium erinaceous, aka the “Lion’s Mane Mushroom” or the “Bearded Tooth Mushroom” (you just know something is going to be kickass when those are its two common names). The Bearded Tooth Mushroom is a basidiomycete (just like most “typical” mushrooms that one would think of) and is actually fairly common in North America. It usually fruits during the late Image Credit: rvannews.com summer and fall on beech trees. Aside from looking absolutely glorious (any man would be lucky to have a beard half as beautiful as this fungus), the Bearded Tooth Mushroom has several other properties that could make it very useful to humans. Like many mushrooms, the Bearded Tooth fungus is edible, and is considered a delicacy in Asia. It apparently tastes like seafood, and puts up far less of a fight than most fish. But the coolest thing about the Bearded Tooth Fungus is that it has shown neuroregenera-
SS: That’s very inspiring! My final question is: what is your favorite part of being a Stumpy? ZP: Just being a part of such a great community. Getting that small-school feel after coming from a small high school is really nice.
tive capabilities, due to containing hericenones and erinacenes compounds that act as nerve growth factors. Recent research has shown that after eating Bearded Tooth Mushroom regularly, both humans and rodents suffering from mild cognitive impairment showed significant improvements in cognitive function. These properties have garnered the Bearded Tooth Mushroom consideration as an Alzheimers and dementia treatment. And another study showed that the fungus can reduce anxiety and depression in post-menopausal women. Is there anything that this mushroom can’t do?? So if you’re in need of a fungus that can do it all, look no further than the Bearded Tooth Mushroom. Guys, do you need to look manly for a date, but can’t grow a beard? The Bearded Tooth Fungus has got your back!! Do you love the taste of seafood, but are allergic to shellfish? Give the Bearded Tooth Mushroom a try! Do you want to improve cognitive functioning in both yourself and your pet mice? Bearded Tooth Mushroom to the rescue again!! With its’ unbeatable combination of good looks and healing ability, expect to hear a lot more about the Bearded Tooth Fungus. Source: Lion’s Mane: A Mushroom That Improves Your Memory and Mood? –Paul Stamets, 2012 Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 5
#imporveyourworld Mike Merwin Fifteen years ago, the United Nations put together the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of time-bound targets for addressing poverty in all forms, as well as promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. Eight main goals were established, each with its own particular targets and indicators. For example, the goal “Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women” had a target of eliminating gender disparity in both primary and secondary education. The progress of this goal can be seen by studying indicators such as the ratio of literate women to men, and of girls to boys currently pursuing any sort of education. The deadline for the MDGs was originally set for the end of 2015. If you’re familiar with calendars, that means that there isn’t much time left. At this point, there’s been significant progress around the world, but most countries are still struggling to get their poverty rates down, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier this year, the UN basically realized that there is no way in hell the MDGs are going to be universally satisfied, and they put together a new set of even loftier goals – the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with another 15-year deadline. Now, there are sev-
Environmental News Katie Oran Captive Breeding Banned at Sea World In order to move forward with the construction of larger tanks at the San Diego Sea world, The California Coastal Commission set the condition of a ban on the captive breeding program. The New York Times reports that the new tank will have a surface area of 1.5 acres and 50 ft. deep and cost $100 million. The ruling also 6 • THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
enteen primary goals, and some have almost twenty different targets. Goal #1 is ending poverty in all of its forms everywhere. Now, by itself this seems like quite a far-fetched aim – currently, over one billion people are living on less than $1 per day. But when you consider the 16 other goals, it seems even more ludicrous. Fortunately, we can be optimistic with this – it’s calculated that if all developed nations donated 0.7% of their national incomes to development assistance, the SDGs would be entirely achievable. Shockingly enough, this is not so. Only about a third of that 0.7% has actually been contributed, and leading countries aren’t appearing entirely willing to commit to their share. Along with its more extensive (and maybe overconfident) objectives, the SDGs also touch upon more environmental concerns, such as climate action and clean energy. I’m sure a lot of people are with me thinking ‘yeah, that would’ve been nice fifteen years ago, muchachos’, but what are you gonna do? Frankly, these goals for worldwide sustainability are going to be very difficult to reach, especially with such emphasis on proper development of third-world countries. But who knows, maybe such high hopes will spur enough motivation in developed countries to really try and make it happen. In the end, it’s all about #improveyourworld.
banned the sale, trade, and transfer of captive whales. Environmental groups, who have been campaigning to ban Sea World’s practice of breeding and holding whales in captivity, lauded the decision. They argued that Sea Worlds’ current practices are inhumane and should be banned. Major public outcry came after the release of a documentary called Blackfish. Sea World hopes to use the tank expansion as
Environmental News
a platform to show that their practices with captive whales are humane, greatly impacting their current campaign image. El Niño Could Help CA Drought There is growing evidence that a large El Niño will cause a rainy winter in California, easing the drought that has been plaguing the state for the past 5 years. ABC 7 News in San Diego reports that scientists have found that there is a 95% chance that El Niño will occur this winter. Weather models showed a 60% chance of above average rain this winter season in the parched Southern California. Various government agenImage credit: onthesnow.com cies are planning for increase in wet weather and the potential of flooding and mudslides. Heavy rain will help to ease the drought, but will not undo the last four years of extremely dry winters. There needs to be an increase in the amount of snow that the Sierra Nevada Mountains receive in order to have decent recovery from the drought. BP Chief Says Oil Resources Not to be Burned The Guardian reported that British Petroleum’s Chief Economist said, “Oil is not likely to be exhausted,” and that, “What has changed in recent years is the growing recognition [of] concerns about carbon emissions and climate change.” He clarified that if burned completely, existing reserves of fossil fuels would cause
an increase in global temperature above the agreed upon 2 degrees Celsius rise in temperature. He stated that there is no longer any expectation that the cost of oil will increase in the future and there is a “substantial risk in the system of peak oil demand.” Using data from the carbon tracker initiative, he also touched on the concepts of unburnable fossil fuels as being “stranded assets.” 1/3 of Word’s Cacti Species Face Extinction An article from the Environmental News Network reported that nearly 1/3 of all cacti species are currently threatened. In a study published in the journal Nature Plants, researchers found that 31% of all cacti species are facing extinction. According to these results, cacti are now the most threated taxonomic group rising above mammals and birds. The rise of this threat is mainly caused by human activity. In 47% of the threatened species, illegal trade of live plants and seeds is to blame. The Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Inger Anderson, said the results “confirm that the scale of the illegal wildlife trade - including trade in plants – is much greater than we had previously thought, and that wildlife trafficking concerns many more species than the charismatic rhinos and elephants which tend to receive global attention.” Some other threats to the cacti are livestock herding, agriculture, residential, and commercial development. Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 7
Stumpie Problems Justin Coleman In the last issue I wrote about Stumpie problems—things that normal people do that drive an ESF student insane. While the levels of commitment to sustainability and trying to be as earth-friendly as possible can vary between students here at ESF, I think that we can all agree on the 10 commandments of ESF. It all started when I was making my pilgrimage to the recycling and return station. With my flock of committed recyclers and environmentalists following me, we were about to convert the large amounts of cardboard, plastic and aluminum bottles from my family business. As we were sorting things out, a flash of lightning struck the mountainous pile of aluminum. On top of all of the smoldering metal lay a printed parchment that was chlorine free, 100 percent post consumer waste recycled paper that was cut down from a sustainable harvest forest, with traditional, low energy, fuelling methods and transportation. Curious to read what the paper said I climbed the mountain. When I reached the top, I reached down and held it. I thought about the sweet smell of sustainability. After reading what was on the paper I realized that there were 10 different points to be made on the paper. After I saw this I knew I had to spread the word of what was written on it. I yelled them out from the top of the aluminum colossus in which I stood so the whole world could hear. I call them, the 10 commandments of an ESF Stumpie.
10 commandments of an ESF Stumpie 1 thou shall recycle plastic, aluminum, paper, etc., and shall never leave a recyclable object in the trash. 2 Thou shall ride a bicycle, skateboard, or a similar mode of non-motorized transportation. 3. Thou must do what thou can to try and reduce and reuse. A used coat at a nice consignment shop has everything reduced and reused, without reducing a struggling environmentalists bank account. 4. Thou will spend a healthy amount of time outdoors, partaking in various activities. This can range from a simple nature walk to a multi day canoeing excursion. 5. Although there is no mandatory attire, Thou should wear the flannel shirt is practical and stylish, ranging in a multitude of colors and sizes. These holy garments are essential for factitious, and hard working folk as well. 6. Thou shall use an alternative form to portably contain varying amounts of liquid. Thou shall use a reusable bottle or container for water. 7. Thou must own at least one field guide that describes some sort of outdoor related flora, fauna, or other abiotic ecosystem such as soil. 8. Thou shall have a major that either contains the word environmental, the prefix bio, or is something referencing trees, natural, energy or something sustainability 9. Thou have accepted that they will never will be millionaires, but will always have a lot of good stories to tell. Thou will most likely have a way cooler job than the majority of the population. Thou shall make a difference in the world. 10. Thou shall tie-dye at least one article of clothing throughout their career at ESF. If thou didn't tie dye anything do you really even go to ESF? This is a serious question that thou must ask yourself.
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Quiet Hailey Smalley People tell me I’m quiet, but they don’t seem to understand that I’m entirely too loud for even myself, and that, when I stare out into space, I am not silent. Instead, my mind whirls, tumbles over itself, trying to turn words into sentences, sentences into unheard monologue, spinning a story, or an essay, or a conversation. When I smile and nod, not really listening, I am lost in my own dream, my being suspended between reality and my own imaginative concoction, exploring a place I have never seen, being a person I will never be, and when I retract into myself, turn myself from the mumblings of an ever chitchatting society, I am stepping outside of myself into myself. I am becoming an illustrator, an author, a scientist, a teacher, an explorer, an inventor, a scholar, and a leader. I become all. What people don’t understand when they tell me I’m quiet, is that I am never really quiet. I can’t get my mind to shut up, shut off. It keeps spinning out of control; wickets whirring, spickets spinning; a perpetual machine of incessant motion.
Steam Morgan Beatey Summer breaths on winter souls, Fingers tapping upon the glass, Drawing faces in the dew. He sits in wonder; he sits in wait, Painted visages staring back, Expressions frozen by his own debate. There is one that smiles, And one that frowns, And one that knows not what to do. For this boy, Who sits in silence upon the sill, Has yet to give it life. The eyes stare back, Silently beseeching and queer, As though asking: Why do you hesitate? And yet he leaves it be, Two eyes painted upon the glass, With an endless stream of possibilities. Most Coziest Dressed: Bridget Snover
I am never quiet. I am never still. I only ever shut my mouth so that I can hear my own thoughts over the roar of reality. Best Dressed Team
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AND THE BEST ELECTRIC CAR IN THE WORLD Liam Donaher I don’t want an electric car. Yes you do. No, IYes, and let me explain why. NOnce upon a time, only 2000 years after the birth of Jesus, a car company was founded in Silicon Valley, CA. Not only would it be the most recent car company success since the early 1900’s, but it would be the first to make exclusively electric cars, ever. Tesla Motor’s first car was not a boxy golf cart, nor was it some weird egg on wheels. It was a 2-seater sports car that went from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds, on top Tesla Model S of having a range of 250 miles (Syracuse to Manhattan on one charge). In addition to having the capability to charge from an everyday outlet, Tesla has also installed hundreds of charging stations around the country. Using these free charging stations (that’s right, free fuel for your car), along with home charging, the average tesla owner saves $2000 a year on gas. But the savings don’t stop there. Since electric cars only have a few dozen moving parts, they seldom need repairs. It’s impossible to change the oil or transmission fluid in an electric car because there is no need for them to begin with. The only thing you’ll need to replace on a regular basis is wind10 • THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
shield-wiping fluid and the tires. Tesla has done away with the clunkiness of mechanical parts, and uses the space for more innovative technology. Such as leaving the space completely empty. The next car to hit the Tesla showrooms would be the Model S sedan, and the extra space in the front of the car where an engine usually occupies is converted into a second trunk. Would you ever believe a sedan having the same storage space as a minivan? Shut the frunk door. Not too long ago, the Model S was termed “the top-rated car we’ve ever tested” by Consumer Reports, recently breaking their scale at 103 points, beating the previous record of 99 (held by an earlier version of the Model S). Peruse these other features of the Model S and decide for yourself if you’d agree: 1. Safety- Another scale broken here, earning the Model S a 5.4 star rating, acing every safety test the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had. Even with a panoramic sunroof, it doubles the require roof safety rating, and this time it literally broke the machine that tests for roof strength. 2. Speed- Step on the “gas” pedal and count to 3. You’re now going highway speeds. The highest model goes 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. It
can also get up to 130 mph. 3. Charging/Range- Have fun driving your Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, or BMW i3 for 90 miles before it has to be recharged for 8 hours. Even after 300 miles of driving, a Model S takes only 30 minutes at a free Supercharging station to get back on the road. 4. Quietness- no internal combustion means no noise; most sounds come from the outside air and the tires running along the road. 5. Wireless updates- Since all controls have input from the computer, new software can be downloaded wirelessly into the car Tesla Model S overnight like an update for your smartphone. So some days you’ll wake up and your car will have better handling, or an improved interface for its 17” touchscreen. Tesla is even testing out software that, by a press on a button on a smartphone, your car will pull itself out of your garage to pick you up at your front door, with the radio tuned to your favorite station and the temperature at just the right level. It seems the only complaint people have about the Model S is the price. It starts at $75,000 and has a lot of other tempting options that bump it even higher. However, you can’t forget
about the $7,500 incentive the government provides you to offset the upfront cost of buying an electric car. Plus, depending in what state you buy it, you might get a few extra thousand off in state incentives. Factor in the lack of dealership markups (all cars are designed and sold directly from the tesla website and delivered to your home), next to zero maintenance, and gas savings, the car becomes almost affordable for most people. Still think it’ll be years until you can afford one? Well worry not, because Tesla is on schedule to release the Model 3 in 2017, a smaller sized car starting at only $35,000 (not even factoring in all the incentives). The Model S is safer, speedier, and sexier than every other street car, and almost every one of its parts is manufactured right here in America. It’s not just the best electric car in the world, it very well may be the best car in the world. This is the vehicle of the future. Make it part of your future. Oh, and it doesn’t burn holes in the ozone either.
To design your custom Model S, visit my.teslamotors.com/models/design An extraordinarily written article about the ventures of Tesla Motors can be viewed at http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/06/how-tesla-will-change-your-life.html Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 11
Title Simplicity Over Toxicity: A Guide to a Chemical-Free Lifestyle Miranda Cordiale Since it’s time for No-Shave November, I’m making this one for those special bearded men on campus. Are you tired of itchy beards? Is your beard dry and straggly? Then fear no more! This quick recipe will solve all your beard problems in a chemical-free way. What you will need: 1 part Hemp oil 1 part Almond Oil 15 drops of Essential Oils A Small Glass Jar
Mix together the hemp oil and almond oil in a small glass jar. Then mix the essential oils together based on your scent preference. Remember that a little goes a long way, so make sure you do not apply too much oil, or your beard may appear to be greasy. If you want a woodsy, lumberjack smell, try pine, sage, sandalwood, and cedar wood. These woodsy scents usually mix well with citrus or grassy smells. The beard oil made to test this recipe was lemon sage scented. Beard tested, Mike Merlin approved.
Want to live a chemical-free lifestyle without the hassle of making everything yourself? Check out my etsy shop online at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChemicalFreeBliss, or email me at my gmail account, mirandacordiale@gmail.com and I would be happy to custom make all your health and beauty needs.
Bad Joke Corner Steve Scaduto Who told the gorilla that he couldn’t go to the ballet? Just the people who are in charge of that decision Professor: What is the definition of hydrophobic? College student: the fear of utility bills
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What weapon can you make from Potassium, Nickel, and Iron? A KNiFe What’s the internet’s favorite animal? The lynx
A Second Glance Isabella Kaplan As the first day of autumn just passed, I wanted to do something different today. I decided to fall back deep into ESF’s past and focus on a very special student. Every present Stumpie, either for a class, to eat lunch or enjoy Insomniac events, has been in our beautiful Marshall Hall. However, did you know who this building was named after? In fact, it was named after Louis Marshall, and also honors his son Robert (Bob) Marshall. Louis Marshall was born in Bavaria in 1856 and immigrated to Syracuse, New York. He became a Civil Rights lawyer and Constitutional Delegate. With his position in politics he used power to fight for minority rights as well as wilderness rights. He preserved miles of wilderness in the Adirondacks and Catskill Forest. Bob Marshall Bob Marshall followed in his Credit: http://flatheadbeacon.com father footsteps. Bob Marshall was known as a zealous man and through his position in the Forest Service he heavily lobbied congress on the behalf of wilderness. He also cofounded the Wilderness Society, which helped him achieve his dream of preserving 109 million acres of land and influenced Congress to pass the Wilderness Act. As a crusader, lover and explorer of the wilderness he soon became known as the “Champion of
Preservation”. But why do we care so much about the Marshall family? As Stumpies we should care for, and thank, Louis Marshall for he is the reason ESF exists. He fell in love with the Adirondacks and pushed Syracuse University to develop a Forestry school, our beloved ESF. And who was one of its most exuberant students? It was of course, no other than Bob Marshall. Known by his classmates as the man who was “always doing something no one else would ever think of doing”, Bob loved spending his time in Cranberry Lake and the Adirondacks. When he was on campus he was running on the cross country team and playing lacrosse. He also was a class leader, a member of the honors society, Robin Hood Club, and the Secretary of the Empire Forester. His class named him the Champion Pond Hound for all he did. Even after his death he continued to influence ESF by giving part of his Bob Marshall Endowment Fund Louis Marshall. to support Credit: www.wilderness.net management fellowships. So the next time you go into Marshall Hall, think of the Louis and Bob Marshall legacy. Special thanks to Jane Verostek for giving me access to the archives!
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Our Culture is Not Your Costume (What is Cultural Appropriation) terms of culture, cultural appropriation can Yocasta Pichardo be defined as the act of a person outside of an ethic group taking up characteristics of an ethThese days, it’s not uncommon to see a person nic group’s culture without permission, such as in full “Indian” attire, wearing an enormous wearing an article of clothing that is not associfeathered headdress and fringed faux mocated with their own personal culture. casin shoes. Nor is it unusual to see a person And I know you may be wondering: what is this with “warpaint” colored all over their face at a person talking about? I show my appreciation party, football game, or any other leisure event. to the culture by dressing up and using parts of We’ve all seen this, and it is not okay. By their culture in my everyday fashion. What you dressing this way, you are disrespecting entire are thinking about is cultural exchange. Culcultures and the people who are part of them tural exchange is great. Oxford dictionary deby their heritage or beliefs. fines this as “a temporary reciprocal exchange I personally have never seen a person at a of representatives, students, or artists between leisure event costumed as US military personcountries, with the aim of fostering goodwill nel, with a gaudy faux Purple Heart attached and mutual understanding.” As you can see, to their uniform. In fact, if you search “US these definitions differ because it is a two way military purple heart costumes” on Google, the street when sharing culture (not just one group results show images of genuine purple medals taking from the other). And as a result of it beand their recipientes. However, doing the same ing a give and take system, cultural exchange for “native costumes” results in a relentless is willingly sharing culture while cultural flood of images showing non-Native American appropriation is not. Understanding the differpeople dressed in unauthentic Native Amerience between the two is important because it’s can attire, creating a mocking costume of tradi- usually the dominant group that takes aspects tional clothing and practices. of the minority group’s culture without permisTraditional clothing is one of the most imporsion, contributing to a system of oppression by tant facets of a culture, and of the entire identi- allowing the already privileged to take from ty of members of that culture. Native American underrepresented cultures, without contributheaddresses, or war bonnets, were only worn ing to further discussion or appreciation of that by the bravest and most powerful warriors culture. and chiefs. Each feature on a Native American For the majority of this piece I used the exheaddress is given to the warrior after a brave ample of Native Americans, but this affects all act is committed, usually in a battle or war. underrepresented peoples. Other examples are Every feather was earned, just like each medal non-Indians wearing a Bindi or non-Mexicans on a US military personnel’s jacket is. So why donning a sombrero and sometimes even false is it acceptable to wear a store bought feathmustaches and tans. ered headdress to a football game and not the My advice for you is simple: if you are not part latter? of an ethnic group, do not wear anything that The Oxford dictionary defines appropriation as is associated with traditional aspects of that “the action of taking something for one’s own people’s culture. use, typically without the owner’s permission.” I want to emphasize the “without permission” aspect of the definition. When putting this in
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Co-Managing Editors Grace Belisle Isabella Kaplan
Head Layout
Terrance caviness
Treasurer
Mark Tepper
Layout Staff
Mark Tepper Scott Przybyla
Editorial Staff Katie Oran Isabella Kaplan Grace Anderson LJ Jerome
Writers
Steve Scudato Yocasta Pichardo Isabella Kaplan Miranda Cordiale Elle Donnelly Liam Donaher Katie Oran Mike Merwin Justin Coleman Shourjya Majumder Rebecca Rolnick Hailey Smalley Morgan Beatey
The Knothole is a monthly SUNY-ESF publication composed by the student body. It is rooted in the spirit of ESF, and branches out into the broader community to inform and inspire. We hope to provide an eclectic mix of art and articles which spark discussion, inspire creativity, and increase awareness
Advisor
Karen Moore
Ask-A-Nut
Dear Nut,
With traces of water recently found on Mars, do you think it would be in our best interest as a country to fund research to build a space settlement there, perhaps if we built a couple Space KFCs or Space Wal-Marts? Or, do you think we should direct our interests towards saving our own planet from climate change? Sincerely, Ghost of Carl Sagan Dear Ghost of Carl Sagan,
Image Credit: Robert Benner on Flickr
If there’s anything that life has taught me, it’s that running away from your problems is always a far better idea than actually trying to solve them. The problem with trying to save our own planet is that it would involve actually making significant changes to the way we live. We’d have to reduce our energy consumption, make more products with renewable materials, and begin to live more unselfishly in general (ugh). I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a lot of work to me. As such, our best bet is definitely to abandon Earth as soon as possible. As far as what to do once we get to Mars, I think you’re on the right track with bringing in KFC and Wal-Mart, but we can even take it a step further. Figuring out reliable food production and medical services are cute and all, but I think we should really focus on importing the things that make our world wonderful today. Things like bureaucracy, partisan politics, and Nicki Minaj songs should be among the first things that we establish on a Mars settlement, as they truly are the backbone of our society. At the end of the day, trying to save our planet and slow climate change is probably possible, but it’s just soooo much work. Especially when we could just relax and watch Netflix instead. The best solution is to look towards space settlements. And there’s no reason that we should have to stop with Mars, every time we bleed one planet dry, we can just move on to the next! I hope that answered your question Ghost of Carl Sagan, see you on Mars! -Nut Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 15
16 • THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment