Volume66, Issue 2

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October 21st, 2011

OAKIE & OTTO CO-OP pg. 6

Volume 66, Issue 2

GCI GARDEN pg. 7

MIND & BODY pg. 8 THE STORY OF TROY pg. 4

DIY: MOSS TERRARIUM pg. 11

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 Hellman Sean Fagan Creative Editor Hilary Anne Coppola Layout & Design Jennifer Louie Alice Gallagher Laura Mateya Treasurer Frannie Monasterio Editorial Staff Alex Mottern Jane Zhu Brigitte Moneymaker Advisor Karen Moore Printer Scotsman Press

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he mission of The Knothole is to provide its readers with writings that are both stimulating and contemporary: to inform its students of clubs, events, and off-campus happenings, to challenge a world driven by progress to uncover the truth about current environmental policies and innovations, and to express such ideas, ingeniously and collectively.

We are not a newspaper; we are not a magazine; we are not The Daily Orange.

We are simply created by Stumpies, for Stumpies... and we like it that way.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the writers only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publication’s staff or anyone affiliated with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry.

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So, who else is excited for Halloween?

I don’t know why I’m bringing this up, since we (sadly) have nothing pertaining to this very important holiday here in Issue #2 of the Khole, but it’s 2 in the morning and Halloween is what comes to mind. So, seriously, who else is really excited? After a few hellish weeks of exams, lab reports, and the beginning of midterms, i’m sure we’ll all be welcoming an opportunity to dress up as whatever we want and escape reality for one joyous weekend. Halloween is one of those magical holidays that doesn’t really decrease in it’s appeal once you’re not a kid anymore-sure, it’s no longer socially acceptable for us to go trick or treating, but we still get to make cool costumes and party-hop with our friends.

Email us your crazy Halloween stories at esfknothole@gmail.com and maybe you’ll see some of the exploits in the next issue...mwahaha.

There is a load of good stuff in this issue that I think you’ll all like. Some personal favorites: DIY Moss Terrarium (p. 11), the inside scoop on GCI’s new garden (p.7), and our yoga-centered feature articles (p. 9). Check out the great coverage & photos from last month’s Westcott Cultural Fair as well (p. 10).

Fare well, fellow stumpies. Only 4 more weeks until Thanksgiving break!

Love, Heather

Inside Issue #3:

Op-Ed, Clubz.............................................................................p3 Political News

“Boycott Georgia”...........................................................p4

Saudi Women’s Rights.....................................................p5 Local Food

Oakie & Otto...................................................................p6

Local food study...............................................................p7

GCI Garden.....................................................................p7 Features Om..................................................................................p8 Tadasana..........................................................................p8

Trash Talkin’.....................................................................p9 Native Species Profile................................................................p10 Crafty Time Yeah!

Make-a-Danket...............................................................p11

DIY: Moss Terrarium........................................................p11 Around the Quad

Ask A Nut.......................................................................p12

Meet my bike..................................................................p12

Farmhack@ESF................................................................p13 Here & There

Frugal Life.......................................................................p14

Fall Trails Day..................................................................p14 Moon Library News...................................................................p15 Mindspill...................................................................................p16 Cover photos: Amnesty International, Jane Zhu, Shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot, fitsit360.com Created by: Sean Fagan

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Op-Ed

Test Files Frannie Monasterio, 2012

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ear Students: As you may know, the Alpha Xi Sigma Honor Society (referred to as “ΑΞΣ” from this point forward) offers a service known as Test Files. You may also be very familiar with the inconsistent schedule that has recently been exhibited. As a student organization, Test Files is a daunting task for us as to continue and maintain.

Previously, Test Files was managed by the Alumni Association and manned by the College Bookstore.

Located in the basement of Marshall Hall, Test Files was available during College Bookstore hours. The role of ΑΞΣ was to provide the stock of tests.

As per the ΑΞΣ Constitution, members were, and still are, required to donate five quizzes and/or tests from their academic roster in order to maintain Honor Society membership.

Up until this point, the quiz/ test material donations are still based on ΑΞΣ members. The complete re-

sponsibility of Test Files however, was recently inherited by ΑΞΣ to man and maintain. Our system for the past year or so has been for a member of ΑΞΣ to select shifts, provided in half hour increments, consistent to our posted hours to sit at Test Files. The ΑΞΣ Constitution was amended to ensure compliance and fulfillment of this service for the interest of the entire student body. As a club, and as fellow students we understand how important Test Files is to the student body.

Many of you have had the misfortune to experience the absence of an ΑΞΣ member during posted Test Files hours. As a club and as President of the Honor Society, we apologize for this inconvenience and we are appreciative of your understanding and patience in the matter. Since members of ΑΞΣ often have loaded schedules, it is difficult for us to ensure that each time slot is fulfilled. It is also challenging to track each and every individual

who signs up for a Test Files shift. We have done our best in the past (which included reminders in various forms including but not limited to email, announcements, and updates on our Facebook) to ensure that the posted hours are fulfilled in their entirety by at least one Honor Society member.

In the upcoming weeks, ΑΞΣ will be undergoing a series of infrastructure and Constitutional amendments to ensure consistent availability of the Test Files. In the meantime, we look forward to providing improved services, and are thankful for your continued interest in Test Files.

Additionally, we would like to stress that the responsibility of Test Files does not fall in the hands of those in the offices of USA or Student Activities. If you have comments and questions, I strongly recommend and encourage you to email ΑΞΣ at esfalphaxisigma@yahoo.com.

www.esf.edu

Club Meeting Times The Knothole Thursdays 6 p.m., 12 Bray Hall Baobab Society Mondays 4 p.m., 19 Moon Library Bob Marshall Club Wednesdays 7 p.m., 110 Marshall Hall Engineers Without Borders Wednesdays 7 p.m., Moon Library Periodicals Room Environmental Studies Student Org. (ESSO) Tuesdays 6 p.m., 19 Moon Library Empire Forester Wednesday, Oct. 26th. 6 p.m.

Green Campus Initiative Thursdays 7 p.m., 19 Moon Library NYPIRG (SU/ESF Chapter) Thursdays 5 p.m., 732 South Crouse Ave. 2nd Floor Papyrus Club Contact Dottie Klein (dmklei02@syr.edu)

Undergraduate Student Association (USA) Wednesdays 6 p.m., 145 Baker The Wildlife Society Wednesdays 5 p.m., 110 Marshall Hall Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB) Monday 5 p.m., 11 Bray

SEEC Mondays 5 p.m., Moon Library Syracuse University Outing Club (SUOC) Tuesdays 7:30 p.m., 207 Hall of Languages (SU)

If you would like to include your club’s meeting time in the next issue of The Knothole, e-mail us at esfknothole@gmail. com.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

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Political News

“Boycott Georgia” Jason McCrea, 2013

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:08 p.m. is listed as the official time of death.

10:53 p.m. Tuesday September 20th, the state of Georgia carried out one of America’s most egregious and reviling practices; execution of an innocent human being. Capital punishment (of which America is the last Western nation to still practice) is one of the harshest, most abhorrent and regressive practices in human history.

Listed with states like Iran, China, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the U.S. keeps great company amidst these harsh and repressive dictatorships and regimes. The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, and other venerable organizations and individuals all oppose the death penalty. These organizations, along with many others, have documented the case against capital punishment; it’s not a deterrent to violent crime, injustice, racism, cruel & unusual punishment, and so on.

This is all ideological warfare, but the case of Troy Davis typifies these arguments. Troy was picked up for the murder of an off duty white police officer who was coming to the aid of a homeless man. Troy was quickly found guilty of murder. The slaying of a white police officer in the 1980’s has a striking propensity to start a

witch hunt. Troy was convicted based solely on witness testimony - sans physical evidence or murder weapon.

During parts of his court proceedings, Troy did not have an attorney and was being represented by two lawyers with 80 other clients. In the year since, all but 3 non-police witnesses have, claiming coercion or otherwise,

Troy Davis was executed September 21, 2011 for the unproven murder of a white police officer. recanted. Jurors have said they would not have convicted him in light of new evidence disallowed in proceedings.

An alternate suspect [actual killer?] was implied by many, and was in fact one of three witness not to recant their testimony. Troy was granted a stay three times before finally being injected September 21, 2011.

Desmond Tutu, the Pope, R.E.M., His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and even Big Boi all spoke out in defense of Troy. The aforementioned individuals are only a few of Troy’s supporters. Worldwide, Troy’s case was enigmatic and garnered support everywhere it was told. His sister has often said, “‘I am Troy Davis,’ is said in languages he can’t understand,

by people he will never meet.” Troy has spent years on death row, and his case was riddled with injustices, inequalities, and lapses of justice. His execution mirrored this discrimination. Troy was originally scheduled to die at 7 pm, but a last minute reprieve was granted for the Supreme Court to decide to hear the case. Troy, however, was strapped to the table at 7 p.m., as scheduled, and never left that table conscious. The Supreme Court eventually did not agree to hear his case or grant a stay. Troy was then executed.

His last words were of nothing but respect and candor- a witness to his death quoted him as saying to the family of the police officer, ““He was sorry for their loss, but also said that he did not take their son, father, brother. He said to them to dig deeper into this case, to find out the truth. And then he said to the prison staff — the ones he said, ‘who are going to take my life,’ — he said to them, ‘may God have mercy on your souls,’ and his last words were to them, ‘may God bless your souls.’”

Barack Obama is “the most powerful man in the world,” and certainly has jurisdiction in this case. The official response was a claim that he should not interfere on state level conflicts, and specific cases such as this. Despite support from the Pope, Desmond Tutu, and countless others, as well as cries from NACCP leaders, and various others to intervene, Obama stood stagnant. This is an attempt to save face politically, and continues the precedent set by maintaining Guantanamo Bay, extraordinary rendition practices, unmanned drone strikes in 5 states in the Middle East, the murder of two US citizens abroad without due process under the auspices of being terrorists, the renaming and continued existence of troops in Iraq, and countless other heinous acts of state terror. Obama can sentence to death two American

See “Boycott,” page 5 Image credit: www.guardian.co.uk

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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Political News

Saudi King Grants Women More Rights Meg Callaghan, 2014

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n America, women find themselves living in a society where they have had the right to vote since the 1920s and feminism is an everyday term.

Despite this, there is still a great misunderstanding over women’s rights on a global scale. There are still areas around the world where the position of women in society pales in comparison to men. Finally the day is dawning for the women of Saudi Arabia. Well, the dawn is in sight, at least.

On Sunday, September 25th, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote, run in future municipal elections, and hold positions on the Shura, the consultative cabinet that advises the monarchy. Run by the Wahhabi sect of Islam, which adheres closely to values of purdah (the separation of men and women) and namus (the value of honor) the country has extreme regulations curtailing the liberties of females. Women require a male sponsor’s permission to travel or undertake in any commercial or economic activity. Women are legally segregated from men in all public places, in a style reminiscent of the American Confederate South’s “separate but equal” standards of the early- to mid-20th century. Women are not even allowed to drive within Saudi Arabia. Clearly, there is a disparity of liberty still existing in this country between the two sexes.

Image credit: saudiwomendriving.blogspot.com

Though this news concerning the future rights of women in Saudi Arabia seems astonishing to the eternal optimist, these new mandates must be taken with a grain of salt. The decree will not be taken into effect until 2015, the year of the next set of elections for the governing bodies of Saudi Arabia. With three years ahead of the Saudi people, there is still much doubt that these rights will ever come into effect. In 2001, the women of Saudi Arabia were granted the right to their own national identification cards, but that executive order never panned out.

Even more recently women have been granted, by royal decree, the right that they should be allowed to work in public selling lingerie, but this too has not yet been enacted. These women,

however, have not been just standing idly by; they have taken the momentum into their own hands. Protests have been held throughout the country for years, one such protest was by Najla al-Hariri, a single mother from Saudi Arabia. As Hariri cannot afford to pay for costly chauffeurs, she breaks the law every day to drive her children to school, and countless women are following her suit in an increasing manner.

Through this political and social turmoil, many women are still optimistic that they will finally receive their proper rights in the Saudi government and gain more liberties through social acceptance.

A similar case in Texas, whose governor is applauded for seeing the end of hundreds of lives, took place recently. Cameron Todd Willingham was also a victim of state murder, despite new evidence exonerating him.

Mark Stroman was also put to death at the objection of one of his surviving victims. This illustrates that state murder doesn’t solve any problems; the victim argued that killing the man that wounded him would solve nothing and is inhumane. Countless other cases abound in the news- just dig a

little deeper like Troy had requested.

So much for justice.

Speak out, let the world know that we no longer condone heinous acts such as state sanctioned murder.

Innocent or not, taking another human life perpetuates the cycle of loss and pain. As a society, we shouldn’t even begin to fathom sending another person to death.

May you rest in peace, Troy Anthony Davis.

“Boycott,” cont. from p. 4 citizens abroad but can’t save a life domestically; it seems all we know as Americans is blood lust.

This case saw an innocent man murdered by the state of Georgia, implicating that anyone, especially those of color or an “unfavorable” ethnicity, could find themselves in Troy’s position. For some this may be seen as irrationally paranoid, but this case proves that the US injustice system can indeed murder an innocent man, and any one else who gets caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

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Local Food

Oakie and Otto’s Beautiful Love Child: A Co-op is Born Gavin Cohen, 2014

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o me, a food co-op used to be some- scure gourmet café is full of hipsters general student base yet, but they thing of a mystery. I knew it had to and foodies”). are working every week to bring this do with food, but what it actually did To my fellow Meat-atarians, dream alive. Mirrah also stated, “At and its purpose was elusive. That was however, do not be put off by all this the next meeting we are going to start until a friend of mine at Syracuse in- talk of vegan and vegetarian fare, the a small collective within the group to vited me to help her and a friend of O&O is looking into local farms who order some bulk food and distribute it hers with starting a food co-op here on raise free-range animals in order to amongst ourselves to get the feel for it campus. offer everyone options for local and and to get some experience on where

For all of you out there that do organic eating. This is what really we should go…we’re really still in the not know what a co-op is, it is a busi- matters for the co-op - getting into incubation stage.” As far as what Mirness owned and controlled rah hopes will become equally by the workers and of the Co-op in course those who use its services, or of this year, she had this in this case the members of to say: “I’d like to have the co-op. The term co-op rea physical space where fers to the word “cooperative” there would be a workand makes sense because eving-member structure eryone involved cooperates where students can get to co-operate. A co-op finds volunteer hours workits true identity from seven ing there…on campus, a basic beliefs that guide how café/grocery that would it runs. These values are: offer soups and sandvoluntary and open memwiches, and also fruits bership, democratic member and vegetables…that are control, member economic locally sourced and orparticipation, autonomy and ganic.” independence, education I used the term “ethitraining and information, cal eating” previously, cooperation, and commuand for the most part nity concern. This is what just glazed over it, but Image credit: Michelle Molloy it is important to step the good folks are trying to Delicious AND cute-that’s a good sign. accomplish here between us back and take a look at at ESF and our SU brethren; a student the mentality of eating right, not just this phrase. One might start by asking, run, ethical, and without a doubt, more in terms of healthy, but also ethically. “Hey, what is ethical eating anyway?” desirable place to get food on campus Organic, local, and if it all works out, Ethical eating can be looked at in sevcompared to the dining halls. everything that they offer will be within eral lights, by defining what part of the

A food cooperative could bene- these realms. eating process is deemed ethical. Take fit the student body of both universities I recently spoke with my pre- the simple banana for example, it is a in many ways. The dining halls offer viously mentioned friend, Mirrah, who delicious fruit, great for starting off the vegan and vegetarian options, but they at this moment is the student de-facto day full of wonderful chemicals that sometimes feel like more of an after- co-leader of this organization. She in- will go into your stomach and provide thought, and often fail to capture the formed me of the proposed method of some sort of nutrition, but where did potential of these types of food. They how they will inform their customers your banana come from? A farm in fall short not only in terms of taste, but about the food they will offer. “We have Chile, or maybe California? I can asalso in practice as to where the food this method called LOVE, L stands for sure you that it probably did not come comes from and how it arrives on your local, O stands for organic, V stands for from Syracuse. plate. O&O really wants to accentuate vegan, and E…err well E doesn’t stand So, let us take the least damagthese types of options and explore the for anything yet, but we will probably ing of the origins of this banana, Calipossibilities of offering the best experi- encompass it somewhere in-between fornia. ence for all the Foodies out there (the these options…” term “Foodie” defines someone who All of this as of now is very See O&O, page 15 loves food to the point of obsession/ much preparatory work, as the O&O perfection, as in the example, “this ob- still does not have anything for the

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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Local Food

Local food still wins Stumpie vote, despite new study Jason McCrea, 2012 t ESF, the paradigm is that local A food is one keys to a sustainable diet. From better nutrition content, to

a connection to the origin of your food, sustainable growing practices, and supporting local economies, local food is almost without reproach.

Weber and Matthews would assert a similar yet dissenting opinion.

Their recently published study, “FoodMiles and the Relative Climate Impacts of Food Choices in the United States,” provides an in-depth input-output lifecycle analysis of food production and the relative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated. Left out for scope of the study are impacts such as land use impacts, transportation to and from the market, and various other impacts.

The study concludes that despite other benefits, local food can only reduce a nominal 10% GHG emission from food production. The authors then suggest that shifting even one meal from red meat to other protein sources can have the same benefit, while moving from animal proteins to vegetable proteins reduces even more GHG emissions.

This nominal decrease in GHG emissions should not be overlooked, however. A large enough population

shifting to local food can make a significant impact. By buying local, your money stays within the local economy, improving various aspects of local living, and can have an even larger impact if the funds are allocated with the best of intentions. I think the authors have overlooked the cascade effect of a more vibrant local economy. The benefits of the sustainable methods practiced by local farmers, maintaining soil quality, growing in-season and regionally appropriate crops, all inevitably support the economy as well as the people who make up society.

Ultimately, one seems to find that this inability to factor in unquantifiable benefits or costs is the problem with analyses such as Energy Return on Investment and other inherently capitalistic methods of analysis. Capitalism is a dominant and destructive force.

While these types of analyses move in the right direction, ideological liberation is needed. Leaders borne from ESF need to be able to think outside this rigid discourse. Viewing nature as a commodity is entrenching our current misaligned relationship. Creating momentum behind a movement which values the soil, air, water, and people in a way unfathomable to those on Wall St. or Capitol Hill, is one of the best

ways to move towards a truly equitable society.

The real take home message within this discussion is that choices less cosmetic, and more difficult than typical dualities of organic/conventional, local/not local must be made if a real and heavily quantifiable change is to be seen. Genuine lifestyle changes need to be made which can foster real progress instead of an acceptance of the lesser of two evils.

Ultimately these small steps and changes in lifestyle are some of the best tools to reduce environmental impacts. Buying any item with a consciousness and understanding of what that products’ real human and environmental costs are is essential. This understanding at the heart of a new way to view human impacts can begin to shape a practical, sensible, and more reputable way forward. These are merely small steps of an effort to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

Larger efforts must accompany them.

To read the study mentioned in this article, visit Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) and search for “FoodMiles and the Relative Climate Impacts of Food Choices in the United States” or use this link: http://pubs.acs.org/ doi/abs/10.1021/es702969f.

GCI Garden’s First Year Land was acquired at the a Great Success Lafayette Laura Mateya, December 2011

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t began with an idea: a seed. In March of 2011, members of Green Campus Initiative (GCI) began plans for a campus garden, several months later the garden’s first growing season has culminated in a bountiful harvest.

The kale is “huge and very healthy,” remarks Danielle Kloster, the new garden chair for GCI. Corn, carrots, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash are just a few of the annual and perennial plants grown this year. “It has been a good year overall for farms and gardens,” says Kloster, whose agricultural experience has taken her from local farms such as Grindstone Farm in Pulaski, NY all the way to Africa. She takes over from Justin Heavey, now a graduate student at ESF, who coordinated the establishment of the garden last year.

Road Experiments Station, where a campus agroforest garden began as a senior project in 2010. The project transformed a patch of uncultivated land into a lush garden teeming with over 100 edible species using innovative and organic agricultural At the GCI Garden with ESF student volunteers Rose Petersky ‘15 (right) Image credit:Laura Mateya practices (see gar- and Danielle Kloster ‘12 (left). den blog below). “is about using natural inputs instead The GCI garden is an extension of that of chemical ones.” For example, a thick, idea, focused on the short-term pro- leafy cover plant is grown in the southduction of crops, but also benefitting west corner of the garden which is very from the vision of a garden managed good at drawing up large quantities of with sustainable principles. nutrients into its leaves.

“Being organic,” says Kloster, See GCI, page 15 Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

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Something to Meditate On: The Sound of Om Jane Zhu, 2012

ver since the sound of Om escaped E my lips for the first time, a sort of stillness engulfed my racing mind.

Chanting Om paralyzed my thoughts and led me to a higher consciousness.

What was it about this one simple syllable that was able to transform my entire being? It is a tiny, humble seed that contains a powerful and majestic tree.

Om is the oldest and most chanted mantra in the most sacred of places. Single syllable mantras are known as bija (seed) mantras, and Om means “unstruck sound”. It is the sound that is not made from two objects striking against each other, such

Laura Briel, 2014

as bow and strings, waves against rock cliffs, or leaves in the wind. There is an energy that pulsates through the word Om that resonates on its own. It is believed that the universe is made up of this vibrating, rippling, pulsating energy, and Om is the sound from which it is created. This sound is considered the sound of existence.

Om is an integral part of the practice of yoga. The word yoga is Sanskrit for “to yoke”, meaning to unite.

United is the body and mind, and united is the waking consciousness to its source. When chanting Om at the beginning of yoga practice, the entire

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

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adasana, or Mountain Pose, is a basic standing posture and is therefore the foundation for all others. Physically, it helps to create space within the body allowing internal organs to work more efficiently. Regular practice can drastically improve respiration, digestion, and circulation. Mentally, it leaves a yogi invigorated and motivated, making it perfect for an early A.M. yoga session.

Getting Into Mountain Pose:

Stand erect with the bases of your big toes touching, heels slightly apart. Do not lock your knees and let your arms hang loosely at your sides.

Lift and spread the toes and balls of your feet, then let them drop to the floor creating a wide, solid base.

Practice distributing your weight evenly around your feet, not just on your toes or heels. You should feel stability from all four corners of both feet. Strengthen this base by rocking back and forth, side to side. A strong base is essential to Tadasana. Gradually slow your swaying and come to a standstill. Feel yourself being supported by the floor.

Now comes the recognition and toning of several core muscles.

Start by breathing deep and steady. Inhale slowly and flex your thighs without hardening your lower belly. Your kneecap will rise when you contract your quad, which is a sign that you are

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body reverberates with its resonance.

An almost eternal humming takes over both the physical and psychic entities. Our consciousness clears as the vibrations dissipate into silence, and we become ready for meditation. This stillness is the transcendent state of unshakeable consciousness. Chanting Om will allow one to seek the Divine within oneself.

My true self lies within the right side of the heart, and I have gotten closer to it with every Om I chant.

erect. Press your shoulder blades into your back, then widen them across and release them down the back. Your shoulders should be parallel to your pelvis.

Without puffing your front ribs forward, lift the top of your sternum straight up towards the sky, widening your collarbone. Keeping your shoulders wide and your spine straight, elongate your neck so that the crown of your head rises toward the ceiling. Stay in this posture for 30 seconds to 1 minute, breathing deep and steady. To intensify this posture, try going through all prior stretching and flexing with eyes closed.

flexing correctly. Next you will engage your sit bones (literally the bones on which you sit). Rotate your thighs inward to automatically widen your sit bones. Once you’ve done this, lengthen your tailbone towards the floor so that it rests between your sit bones.

Your core is the group of muscles around your stomach and is where you maintain your body’s balance and control. Contract your core muscles to increase stability. Keep your posture

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Benefits of Mountain Pose: • Improves posture • Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles • Increases awareness • Steadies breathing • Increases strength, power, and mobility in the feet, legs, and hips • Firms abdomen and buttocks • Relieves sciatica • Reduces flat feet • Develops strength and flexibility simultaneously, especially in the spine • Relieves tension, aches, and pains throughout the body • Improves blood circulation • Encourages healthy digestion and elimination • Expels dullness and depression • Harmonizes the body and mind

Trash Talkin’ at the Westcott Cultural Fair

Brigitte Moneymaker, 2014

hile the act of recycling and comW posting seems like second nature to those of us who attend such an en-

vironmentally conscious school, to others it may not be so simple.

Two weekends ago, I volunteered with Green Campus Initiative to help direct trash depositing at the Westcott Cultural Fair. This duty entailed standing by a trashcan and compost bucket, and enlightening people on the proper way to dispose of their waste. The volunteers were supposed to receive a flyer that indicated what could and could not be recycled or composted, but the person before me seemed to have walked off with the last one. Instead, I got the lowdown from a neighboring station and soon I was right in the middle of the action.

The majority of trash I encountered that weekend included plastic water bottles, beer cups, paper containers, corn on the cob, and apple remains from various food vendors. The usual routine went as follows: random person starts approaching with indiscernible trash items, I would creepily stare at them from afar until they were close enough to see what they were holding, then quickly open the compost bucket or recycling bag depending on their items and thank them for keeping the fair clean. Some people would simply deposit their stuff and walk away,

others actually paused to ask about the differences in receptacles. One man tried to argue with me that because there was still beer in his cup, it was not recyclable (I think that was more the leftover beer talking than him) but nonetheless I told him to come back when he had finished his drink and then he could recycle it.

The kids were especially intrigued with the ESF compost bucket at my feet. One particularly ambitious toddler tried to take food out of it instead of putting anything inside.

I would be more grossed out, but I have to admit I went dumpster diving few times to save some beer cups that people snuck in behind my back. The problem was that only the #1, 2, and 5 plastics could be recycled, and one vender thought it would be fun to only use #6 beer cups. The table of guys

Image credit: Jane Zhu

selling art prints across from my trash station seemed to think it was hilarious when I went shoulders deep in the trashcan to pull out a beer cup, only to look and discover it was a #6 so I had to throw it away again. Some fair-goers who saw me do this might have thought I was going rogue, but I quickly tried to explain the different types of plastics as effectively as I could.

One other issue was that GCI wanted some paper products to go in the compost bucket as well (as a source of carbon). Some people thought this meant that all recyclables go in the bucket. This was not helped by the fact that the high-tech recycling container was actually a plastic bag tied around the trashcan, which went almost unnoticeable if volunteers were not available to hold it open to fair-goers.

When my shift ended, it was pretty apparent that the general public had no idea what composting was, or even how to recycle properly. Unfortunately, this also included an ex-ESF faculty member - it was a bit awkward.

Even so, the fair was a great experience and I have received a lot of praise from community members for steadfastly holding onto a not so glamorous, but definitely important, position at the event. Next year I encourage more volunteers to spend a few hours trashtalkin’ at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, and see how many drunk people you can convince that beer is, in fact, compostable.

Image credit: Jane Zhu

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

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Native Species Profile

Get to Know the Eastern White Pine: History, Ecology, and Diseases Hui Xian Lin, 2013

P

inus strobus, also known as Eastern White Pine, is a moderately shade tolerant, long-lived, fast growing tree and one of our most valuable native species. Pinus comes from the root of a Greek word meaning “pine or fir tree,” and strobus comes from a Latin word meaning “gum yielding”.

When logging occurred in the Adirondacks in the 1850s, loggers knew that coniferous trees floated in water.

They cut down softwoods such as the Eastern White Pine because they can grow very tall and straight. White Pine grows on sandy soils and shorelines, and the wood is very valuable. This makes the white pine a good choice for timber production on mills.

Two pests that affect the health of white pine are White Pine weevil and Blister Rust. White Pine weevil, Pissodes strobi, is a native insect that kills the leaders (the leading branch) of pines and spruces such as P. strobus, which results in a loss of height. Blister Rust, Cronartium ribicola, is an introduced fungus disease that can also kill off Eastern White Pines.

There’s something to appreciate about Eastern White Pine (or Pinus strobus as there are many common names and only one Latin name known to all) once you begin to understand the largest tree in the northeastern forest.

Culture & Identification Sean Fagan, 2012

W

hite Pine has a great local cultural significance in Onondaga County. It is known as the Tree of Peace between the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk peoples. A summary of the story behind the White Pine could never truly do the story justice, so I encourage you to learn more by visiting the Onondaga Nation’s web-

site at: http://www.onondaganation.org/ aboutus/history.html.

IDENTIFICATION OF EASTERN WHITE PINE: Foliage: Needles are deep blue-green in color and come in bundles (fascicles) of five needles, and are 3-5 inches long.

The crown of the tree tends to be arranged in a feathery and layered appearance. It also smells great!

Cone: Range from 5-8 inches long and usually have resinous droplets. Unarmed.

Bark: When young, the bark is smooth and a steel grey color. Older individuals develop ridges on the bark.

White Pine Tea Sean Fagan, 2012

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old season is coming! Welcome to the days of lectures filled with coughs, hacking, and runny noses. But don’t fret, white pine has got yo’ back! White pine needles are packed with tons of vitamin C and vitamin A. The best part is, they can be harvested locally and made into a simple tea.

Ingredients: Water White pine needles Fire

credit: http://homesteadingthebackforty.blogspot.com/

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Directions: 1. Harvest the pine needles (a good fistful). Do not harvest needles from a pine growing in the city, as the needles accumulate unhealthy chemicals from urban air pollution.

Go to a more rural place… you can enjoy the scenery along the way.

2. Fill up a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil on the stove.

3. Add the white pine needles and boil for 10 minutes.

4. Pour yourself a cup and enjoy. Feel your body healing.

Make-a-Danket

Crafty Time Yeah!

B

asically, fall equals pumpkins. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, but most importantly, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. This is an autumnal version of everyone’s favorite indulgence. Trust me, these will be sure to land you in the pumpkin patch if you know what I mean.

Ingredients: 3 cups flour 2 eggs 2 sticks of softened butter 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 12 oz bag of chocolate chips 2 cups brown sugar 2 tspns baking soda 1 tspn ground cinnamon ½ tspn ground ginger ¼ tspn ground nutmeg 1 tspn vanilla extract

-recipie courtesy of Baker Extraordinaire Jane Zhu

Directions: Using a mixer (or a whisk and biceps), beat the butter until smooth. Add in the brown sugar (a little at a time!) until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, and then mix in the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. In a different bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and spices. Slowly add the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chocolate chips (if there are still any left...). Scoop the cookie dough onto cookie sheets and bake them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 18 minutes. Don’t forget to let them cool before you indulge/get busy in the pumpkin patch.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

11

AROUND THE QUAD

Ask a Nut

Hey Nut, You’re everywhere right now. You’ve got the public appearances. The column. The adoring fans. What’s next for America’s favorite Nut? -Wonders If The Future Holds Many Nutty Endeavours WITFHMNE, You want to know what’s coming next? I’ll tell you what’s next. Question #2.

Nut Hey Nut, Can you play the tuba?

-Jimmy Jimmy, That depends...how skilled do I have to be at the tuba to say I play the tuba? I can blow the horn with all the enthusiasm in the world but I wouldn’t hold my breath for a melody. So, to answer your question and sum this all up, yes. Yes I do play the tuba.

Just not very well…

Nut Hey Nut, What are your thoughts on time travel?

-When Would Be A Better Time

Meet My Bike Michele Maciejewski

Meet Jacqui Kenyon’s bike The Rider: Jacqui is a senior magazine and geography major at Syracuse University, shown below inside of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

The Ride: Jacqui’s bike is a 2008 Schwinn Roxie 7-speed cruiser in Pearlescent Pink. She has recently installed a new, comfier seat.

The Reason: Jacqui knew that she wanted a bike for quick trips to school from her off-campus apartment. She chose a cruiser to keep her back upright, even with a heavy bag on. The bike has 7 gears, perfect for tackling hilly Syracuse terrain.

The Retrieval: Jacqui purchased her cruiser at a bike shop in Philadelphia after dropping her sister off at college.

It was love at first bike.

The Route: Jacqui’s best trip happened on a crisp fall day last year. While enjoying the changing leaves on her ride home so much, she passed her own street and ended up wandering around the University neighborhood instead.

WWBABT, I used to not have any, but a quick Google search has constructed my entire opinion.

I Googled time travel under the news section and I found a link to an article saying that scientists have determined it is impossible. My opinion on that is that Science is a load of garbage and anyone with half a brain would know to never listen to a scientist about the world around us. There aren’t any shopping malls in the lab, so how would they know what real life is like?

Nut

Send your burning questions to askanut@gmail. com... Do it, you won’t!

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Image credit: M. Maciejewski

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Image credit: M. Maciejewski

Meet Cherissa Dukelow’s bike The Rider: Cherissa is a recent transfer to the undergraduate conservation biology program at SUNY ESF. The Ride: Cherissa’s bike is a vintage Ross Professional Grand Tour road bike.

The Reason: Cherissa came to SUNY ESF from a community college west of Philadelphia. She had lived at home and commuted to school before transferring, so Cherissa knew she’d need a bike to make the trip to ESF’s parking-starved campus.

The Retrieval: Cherissa owned a mountain bike in high school, but it was recently stolen. Her boyfriend’s Aunt saved the day and lent her the current road bike she has been using while at ESF. The Route: Cherissa can be seen riding her Ross along Euclid to school.

She says she’s using the bike mainly to commute, but since she’s new to town, Cherissa plans to go on exploration rides as far into winter as possible. “I’ll see how unpleasant it is,” Cherissa said.

AROUND THE QUAD

Farmhack@ESF Heather Helman, 2013

T

his past September, an event held at ESF drew together a multitude of disciplines with a straightforward yet difficult task: address problems that exist in current farming methods, and solve them. Farmhack exists predominantly as a blog with farming design ideas on the National Young Farmer’s Coalition website, but in recent months has taken to the streets with events similar to the one held at ESF. Farmhack@MIT took place last spring, and prior to that there was a Farmhack workshop held at the National Young Farmer’s conference.

At ESF, Farmhack invaded Nifkin Lounge, where five groups spent the entire day planning, designing, and drawing their chosen projects. Group members ranged from students from a variety of disciplines, farmers, professors, and more. This collaborative approach has been a hallmark of Farmhack events so far, with project ideas being pitched early in the day and groups forming around the projects they want to work on the most.

ESF senior Leanna Mulvihill interned this summer with the National Young Farmer’s Coalition, and was responsible for organizing the event in Nifkin.

Once Mulvihill was told about Farmhack, she knew that it would be a great event to bring to ESF. When asked why farming is important to her, she laughed, saying, “That’s such a big question…basically, to make good food happen, you need a sustainable food system!” Mulvihill experienced farming firsthand over the summer while working on a USDA certified farm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and says this only strengthened her views of farming’s importance.

The presenting of designs began in the evening, and the five presentations proved to be interesting, innovative, and all incredibly different from one another.

The projects ranged from problems with individual farming tools, such as a modified truck beds used for mulching, and Remay, a felt material used to protect plants, to problems with conventional farming as a whole. The most extensive presentation tackled the problems head-on, quickly addressing the issues being faced with resource depletion and Peak Oil, and presenting a potential research project of indigenous land management that could be much more sustainable in the long run.

Some of the projects were refreshingly close to home, such as the group that worked on the Syracuse Public Library’s

Farmhack organizer Leanna Mulvihill (far left) with one of the groups.

Image credit: Amanda Barnett

farm out in Cicero. The Library Farm allows residents to “check out” plots the same way one might check out a book from the library. The site, however, has a variety of problems, including a lack of water, limited funds, etc. The possible solutions of how to develop drip irrigation on such sites seemed relatively easy to implement, though perhaps not very conventional. Ideas included attaching irrigation systems to rain barrels on site, building a hand-pump system, or collecting rainwater runoff with old billboards.

In a way, “Forest in a Field,” the indigenous land management project presented, was equally close to home. The presenters made a point of mentioning that the methods they were describing for land management, while commonly associated with the swidden agricultural system of Central America, was also used in our own temperate climate by the Onondaga Nation. The contemporary model introduced is reliant on natural succession and ensures that every stage of succession produces something of use.

Mulvihill is optimistic that some of the ideas formed at Farmhack@ESF will be pursued in the coming weeks and months. “I’m certainly encouraging the teams to pursue them,” she says. Money is always an issue but there are countless numbers of grants, as well as individual investors, willing to fund good ideas. One important new grant from the USDA was announced at Farmhack@ESF. This grant focuses specifically on food systems.

This event is only one example of the work that the National Young Farmer’s Coalition is doing on a national scale to help farming and those involved. This organization bases its work around three main ideas: helping young farmers expand their social networking with one another, fighting for better policies to help famers, and facilitating skill sharing and peer-to-peer learning.

For more information on the National Young Farmer’s Coalition and what they do, check out www.youngfarmers.org as well as www.farmhack.net.

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

13

Here & There

Forced to be Frugal:

Living on a Budget as a College Kid Adrienna Maxwell, 2012

M

ost of us in college are under some sort of financial pressure – whether it be from our student loans, tight budget, or part time job, it’s all stress inducing. Having lived in Syracuse for two and a half years, I’ve taught myself how to have a good time, even when the money is tight. This valuable knowledge should be shared, so here are some tips for living frugally and happily during your college years!

FOOD: As a college kid living off campus, I am always looking for ways to cut down how much I spend on food. The most obvious way to do this is to actually BUY GROCERIES: Think about it – a daily candy bar and a sandwich combo from the Gallery amounts to $30 a week! Limit the nights out to dinner to once a week maximum.

A great alternative is having a potluck with your housemates and good friends. My roommate and I have what we call fry nights, and they are as delicious as they sound. Before you know it you have greasy fingers, a smile on your face, and twice the money in your pocket as you would have had if you had gone out to eat.

CLOTHING/LAUNDRY: This part is easy – do your laundry when you have enough laundry that it actually fills the washing machine. If you

really want to save money, throw all your laundry together and just do the whole cycle with cold water to avoid any color mishaps. Or just let it pile up and bring it home with you when the parentals pick you up for a weekend. They This pig is officially empty.

Image credit: Treehugger.com won’t mind. Also,

There are free campus shuttles most clothes really do not need to be that also operate on Centro busses that washed after every single use, barring go on several different routes in and any major stains or spills. And finally, if around the University neighborhood. you need to shop for some new clothes And if you can walk to where you need I highly recommend the local Salvation to go or you love to ride your bike, do it!

Army and the other thrift stores like On a final note, when you need to travel Cluttered Closet. Buying used clothing outside of Syracuse, take a look at SU is not only cheaper, it’s better for the or ESF’s ride boards; there’s nothing environment. Plus, it’s way more fun like saving money and gas. to sift through all the crazy clothes at ENTERTAINMENT/GOING thrift stores!

OUT: For some free entertainment TRANSPORTATION: When it with your fellow Stumpies, I highly comes to getting around Syracuse, your recommend the Insomniac events, the knowledge of the bus system will keep free movie Wednesdays, and a variety the costs low. The Connective Corridor of other free events (which always have is one of the most useful transportation munchies!) alternatives– it can take you downtown Going to the movies costs $12 a person for free instead of paying $15 for a cab. now, so instead of that why not have a A plus is that it goes through some inmovie night in with some close friends. teresting parts of Syracuse like Clinton See Frugal, page 15 Square and Armory Square.

Fall Trails Day Samantha Brooks, 2013

F

all Trails Day is a unique day in the Eastern High Peaks of the Adirondacks. The Day provides hikers with the ability to thank those who work on trails and park maintenance all year round.

Since 1986, trail crews have been working hard with volunteers to give something back to the Adirondacks. Bob Marshall Club (BMC) participated in Fall Trails Day this year, in a slightly different way than usual.

After suffering much damage from Hurricane Irene, the Eastern High Peaks had to be shut down for about a week and a half. This has never happened

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in the history of the Adirondack Park.

Over one hundred volunteers signed up for the Fall Trails Day this year, leaving the Bob Marshall Club unable to officially participate. Using club money, they bought their own trail tools such as mattocks and folding handsaws to help clean the trails leading to the Ampersand and Cascade Mountains.

All day, through the rain and the cold, BMC helped clean multiple ditches and clear away brush that had fallen on the trails from the storm. Cleaning away the debris lessens the likelihood of erosion on the mountain during the spring

THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

season. If drainages are cleared before snowfall, then the snowmelt in the spring will run right off the trail, rather than developing into a stream. A noticeably drier trail will encourage hikers to stay on the designated paths and avoid excessive erosion.

Through the great efforts of many volunteers on the weekend of October 1st, the ten most commonly used trails have been cleared. The Bob Marshall Club had thirteen participants and is proud to have contributed to such a great cause, albeit unofficially.

Articles Continued

What’s New at Moon?

Jane Verostek, Associate Librarian @ Moon Library

E

very summer Moon Library strives to make improvements in preparation for the fall semester. For this fall we now have - - · A new scanner. Located next to the public printer on the main floor of Moon Library is a touch-screen with

a scanner attached. This scanning service is free and is a great option for scanning items from reserve, journal articles and more. After scanning you can save to a USB. · A second public copier. · A new print release station for all

public computers on the main library floor. Be sure to ‘release’ your print job after you have sent it to print. · We are also always improving our collection and access to electronic resources – be sure to check us out at www.esf.edu\moonlib

Frugal, cont’d from p. 14

es don’t have covers Sunday through Wednesdays. Drink specials abound on Thursday nights, on the hill as well as downtown, and Faegan’s flip night special makes any Wednesday night fun!

The bottom line is for you to realize that you do not have to be restricted by your wallet. Money cannot

buy happiness, although spending it wisely can certainly open up more opportunities in your life because there will be more to go around. And who doesn’t want to stretch their dollar for all it’s worth in today’s economy?

I know I do, so get out there and stop spending!

O&O, cont. from p. 6

work to get you a banana. And I do not mean just boring old work but the force times distance kind of work that needs a whole lot of energy to continue its process.

The ramifications of this process are about as infinite as the process itself, but for the sake of driving the point home I will rattle off the most prevalent. The carbon dioxide emissions from all of the trucks, planes, refrigerators, factory lines, and migrant workers is enough to leave me gasping for a breath of fresh air. The pesticides that were used on the bananas to kill bugs also do a great job at killing other things, including us. They get washed off by sinks, by rain, or by other pesticides and end up polluting the water

table and subsequently polluting your body.

Another consequence of purchasing this food from distant places such as California, are the ramifications for the local farms around our area.

The local economy is being threatened as globalization moves forward in leaps and bounds. This is just one of the countless examples of issues raised in support for ethical eating.

Oakie & Otto love you, so love them back! If my article interested you or left you longing for more, the Oakie & Otto Food Co-op loves new faces and would greatly appreciate lots of support. So show your face and bring some elbow grease down to the basement of Hendricks Chapel, Sundays at 5 pm.

GCI, cont. from p. 7

ing season, according to Kloster, was to lay down cardboard boxes. The physical barrier prevents weeds and the cardboard naturally decomposes into a carbon source for the plants. It was also discovered that laying out small containers of beer level with the soil is good for keeping slugs out of the bok choy (Chinese cabbage).

The garden is currently approved by the ESF Climate Change Committee on a trial basis with the hope that student support will allow it to develop into a sustainable student enterprise, much like People’s Place in Hendrick’s Chapel. Rose Petersky, a freshman Environmental Science ma-

jor, is one volunteer who looks forward to cultivating the garden as she continues to develop her career at ESF. The ideas and enthusiasm of potential volunteers like Rose are the only “limiting nutrient” that will determine the future of the GCI garden.

For more information on both the GCI and Agroforest garden, and directions to the garden, please see the blog at http://edibleecosystems.info/ gardenblog/. You can drive, bike, or take the NOB Hill bus.

To get involved, please contact Danielle Kloster at dpkloste@syr.edu

Who wants to deal with that annoying screaming kid in the row behind you kicking your seat anyway? Red Box and Netflix are my alternatives of choice.

And if you are into the bar scene, going out on an off night is the best thing you can do for your wallet - most placThat banana may have been grown in a banana monoculture sprayed with countless pesticides and then picked by migrant workers or possibly a giant banana combine harvester (I am leaning towards the former of the two in terms of realism), and then shipped to a banana facility 200 miles from the farm. The fruits would be kept in giant, banana-focused refrigerators with hundreds of thousands of bananas and then eventually loaded onto banana delivery trucks that will probably drive them to a banana cargo plane. That plane will then fly across the country to load the countless crates of bananas onto more trucks that will drive to campuses just like Syracuse. That is a lot of The leaves will then be cut and used as green manure for other crops. A generous amount of compost was also received in April from the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) in support of the project. In the future, ESF’s own compost system (another successfu GCI project) will also become a nourishing resource to draw from.

One practice that will not be heard of in association with the garden is the use of pesticides. Natural approaches to weed control, such as mulching, are being used instead.

Another method used this past grow-

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •

15

Mindspill

Image credit: Hilary Coppola

Sensitive Plants Speak to us with levity and fuel our curiosity.

Speak to us with passion drawn and receive you coughing and a yawn.

Be your boldest, let candor reign, We’ll drink the knowledge like champagne.

But, if the lecture grows mundane, beware We may all go insane.

-Mel Pav Dorm Room “FRESHMAN!” How can they tell when I walk on the street?

By sight, sound, or smell – sweat and old bed sheets?

With nowhere in mind I turn back and travel, Dragging my feet as I step over cracked gravel, Climbing Mount Olympus to reach its peak, Reached the top dehydrated, panting, and weak, To the fourth floor and left around the corner, Paid no mind to the crowd in the hall, heed the warner, There’s a bandanna around my door knob…

I enter and realize the reason for the mob, I hear strange noises – like two people fighting, Did I just hear, “Please keep biting”?

Unsure of what I just heard and saw, I close the door tight as I proceed to withdraw, What I must do now is some heavy appraising, I watch the moon as it watches me gazing.

-Pedro Untitled Telephone poles Streetlight glow Plastic crates And up-side-down Trashcans.

Curbside vellons Pavement junkies Rubble Crumble Street-side Ruins

SPILL YOUR MIND: esfknothole@ gmail.com

Sub-urban Wasteland Latenight empty Parking lots, Spiritual Blood Clots.

Half-moon Half-awake, Half-night Half-broke -Isaac Black

Seathriftdreamscapes... and lichen, Hilary-Anne Coppola send us your art,poetry, photographs,

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