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Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Volume 68, Issue 1
TV --- not know it
Cat-Bears,Wolves,Wizards, Compost
Meat’A’dillos & other Dankets Canada, Alaska & Australia
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 5:00PM on Fridays the week after Issue meetings. The
Knothole meets every other Friday at 5:30 pm 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 Gavin Cohen Meg Callaghan Layout & Design Gabrielle Alper Liane DeRosa Conn Fraser Treasurer Hui Lin Editorial Staff Emily Adams Yocasta Pichardo Christian Hill Jennifer Louie Corie Boolukos 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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To be reborn and start anew is probably one of the best feelings that one can ever experience. Unfortunately, by this time in the semester, that shiny-new feeling has almost completely warn away as school work, events and organization meetings start ruining your Breaking Bad or Dexter time. We might be in a pickle by midterms, but take this time to relax and have some fun reading the Knothole. Our legends, myths and overall fun have been scientifically-proven to alleviate headaches, worries and tummy aches. We have dankets, meat-a-dillos and cat bears, followed by comics, stuff you should know and vacation pictures - I mean study experiences - from fellow students. We may never know what the fox says (apparently they do something really crazy in Norway), but let’s just get over that and have fun in the K-HOLE. The Not So Love, Meg
Dangerous Cat/Bear. Image Credit: Google Images.
Inside Issue #1: Environmental news....................................3 Around the quad.........................................4 Represent....................................................5 $kool $p!r!t.................................................6 Body & soul.................................................7 ESF takeover..............................................8-9 Full bellies.................................................10 Nom nom nom..........................................11 Screech......................................................12 All your free time.......................................13 Articles continued......................................14 Quarterlife crisis........................................15 Mindspill...................................................16 Cover Photo: Kristen Carey, 2014
THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
Environmental News
Image credit: Mark Gurney
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The Legend of the Cat-Bear Meg Callaghan, 2014
his issue of the Knothole has been brought to you by CatBear, the newly identified species, the Olinguito. Described by the Smithsonian Institution as “a cross between a house cat and a teddy bear,” this Andean Mountain dweller is a member of the procyonidae family (think raccoon). The creatures have been dealing with mistaken identity for a while now – mainly incorrectly identified as olingos or kinkajous. Many have even been hiding in plain sight at zoos and museum collections.
With new DNA sequencing, Kristopher Helgen, curator of mammals at the National Natural History Museum, announced his identification of the species in mid-August. Other professionals in the field are not ready to accept the new species identification but say convincing evidence is piling up. Helgen and other scientists are as of yet working on an official Latin name for the tentative species, but the forerunner appears to be Bassaricyon neblina – as the animal tentatively falls under the Bassaricyon genus. Neblina, on the other hand, is an ode to the animal’s habitat. Meaning mist or fog, the name describes the fragile mountainous areas the animal inhabits. Long Live Cat-Bear!
US Fish & Wildlife Service Proposes to Delist Gray Wolves Corie Boolukos, 2015
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eginning in the early 1900’s and continuing well into the 1960’s, gray wolves were brutally exterminated throughout the continental United States—a senseless act based on faulty logic and unnecessary fear. Wolves were shot, trapped, clubbed, poisoned, set on fire, and injected with mange. The gray wolf population was decimated. Their historic range, consisting of a majority of the US, was reduced to slivers of land in Michigan, Montana, and Idaho. Their population decreased from several hundred thousand, to a measly 300 wolves. With the help of the Endangered Species Act placed on wolves in the 1970’s, as well as management and reintroduction efforts throughout the 1990’s, the gray wolf population has been steadily recovering. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their population within the US has increased to about 5,000 wolves, excluding Alaska. Although this number is merely a fraction of what the gray wolf population once was, the
US Fish and Wildlife Service plans to remove the gray wolf from the list of threatened and endangered species in the lower 48 states, discontinuing all federal protections for this iconic species. The removal of the gray wolf
from the list of threatened and endangered species has sparked controversy among scientists, the government, and the public alike. The central argument against this proposal states that it is too soon to remove federal protections from this still recovering species. According to an article by Collette Adkins Giese, of the Center for Biological Diversity, “Wolves occupy a paltry 5 percent of their historical range in the lower 48 states. There are still vast swaths of viable but unoccupied wolf habitat across the country.” Additionally, scientists continue to study the effects of hybridization on Public debate over delisting Gray Wolves from the Endangerd Species the gray wolf popuList affects the species itself, as well as humanity and other various lation, as well as disspecies and communities. Image credit: Joel Sartore
See Wolves, cont’d pg. 14
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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Around The Quad
Composting On Campus Gabrielle Alper, 2014
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omposting on campus has been around for quite a few years, and has grown very successful, causing a need to rebuild in an effort to handle waste from the Trailhead Cafe in addition to the waste on campus. Most students and faculty recognize the small green composting bins with the carbon filters that are scattered around campus (please refer to the map for specific locations). However, not many people know where the bins are taken, and what the finished compost is used for. The system is a ever expanding project of Green Campus Initiative (GCI), who makes and uses the compost. All of the small green compost bins are carried to the Old Greenhouses, beside which is the composting system. Once the food and other compostable material has been transformed into compost, it is brought to the GCI garden at Lafayette Field Station. The garden is used to grow vegetables and fruit, which is maintained by GCI members. The new compost system is going to be large enough to handle the waste from the Trailhead Cafe’s kitchen, as well as the green bins on campus already in place. Jin Kim, GCI’s Compost Chair and a junior in environmental studies, designed the plans for the new system, as well as GCI’s Treasurer
and Garden Chair Ross Mazur, a junior in environmental resource engineering. Mazur explains that new system will have four bins that will be passively aerated by pipes throughout the bins. They will be insulated to ensure that the material remains thermophilic during the winter, as there have been issues in the past with keeping the compost hot and active. Mazur also explains that the new system will not require any electricity. Due to the passive aeration of the system, there will no longer be a need for air blowers to circulate the air in the compost. Kim and Mazur spent the summer designing the system, which they believe will prove to be a great success. After doing extensive amounts of re-
search about different types of compost systems, they are excited to see the plan being made into a reality. Mazur is excited to see the specific productivity of the system, through monitoring variables such as temperature and rates of decomposition. Kim explains that the system just went through its first phase of approval from the physical plant. The physical plant even went on to say that they are willing to collaborate on the system, which Kim is both thrilled and excited about. Kim reports that some of the materials purchased for the system came from Habitat for Humanity. If you want to learn more about compost, or go see it for yourself, feel free to contact Jin Kim at jskim04@ syr.edu.
A Fresh Perspective: Sadler Dining Sarah Lynch, 2017
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or those of us residing in Centennial Hall, our food selection is dictated by those who run Sadler. Of course, there’s Ernie Davis or Graham if you want to walk your meal off and come to the door starving, but for those who don’t, Sadler is where it’s at. For freshmen especially, knowing your way around Sadler is essential: dining hours, dietary options, and the dessert menu. Weekends are especially tricky. Unless you want to
be continental, do not head over before eleven. Even more important is selfcontrol. How can we push away those inner demons urging us on? With the waffle bar, french fries, and chipwiches galore, what can we tell ourselves to justify denying such delicious food? What I like to do is think about whether I would want to take a bath in the food I am about to eat. Imagine a bathtub full of French fries and ketchup and syrup. Now imagine yourself
bathing in oatmeal and cantaloupe and bananas, reading some Thoreau. Hope that helped. The overall consensus of food at Sadler is positive. Vegetarians have fallafel and quinoa, carnivores have burgers, and there is even a taco bar! Freshman Celia Goodwin approved, “I find the variety surprising because yesterday they had chicken cordon bleu and one day they had quiche.” Additionally, many healthy
See Sadler, cont’d pg. 6
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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
Represent!
Quidditch - A Muggle’s Sport Jennifer Louie, 2015
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eads down, eyes closed. I’m focusing on deep breathing, waiting for the ready signal. “BROOMS UP!” Five of us are running pell-mell down the field, hoping we get to the balls before the other team does. Do I feel a moment’s hesitation? After all, I am a nonathletic homebody about to get myself mixed up in a game combining rugby, basketball/soccer, dodgeball, and capture the flag. To be perfectly honest, it’s only seconds in before I am feeling breathless and way out of shape, but I don’t want to stop. The excitement is as electric as the adrenaline rushing through my veins. It only takes one game: I am hooked, faster than you can say “accio!” Muggle Quidditch, simply known as Quidditch, has skyrocketed in popularity since its inception at Middlebury College in 2005. In fact, the International Quidditch Association (IQA) boasts a membership of over 900 teams in the US alone. I’m sure many people are as drawn to the
novelty of the sport and the spirit of the team as I am. ESF senior Holly Faulkner aptly expresses this: “My favorite part about Quidditch is the togetherness. You never have to worry
So what’s Quidditch like sans magic and wands? Each of the players has a specific role: 3 chasers on offensive who score with the quaffle, one slightly deflated volleyball; 2
The Syracuse University Quidditch Team, the epitome of team spirit, is available to SU and SUNY-ESF participants. Image Credit: Holly Faulkner.
about feeling left out and everyone is so friendly.” SU sophomore Ali Koskoris adds, “We want to improve and get in shape and stuff, but we also want to have fun.”
beaters on defensive who knock out players and vie for control of the bludgers, three volleyballs; 1 keeper guarding the goals; and 1 seeker who ends the game by capturing the snitch, which is a tennis ball within a sock attached to a snitch runner. Keep in mind, all of this takes place while mounted on a broom. And now I’ll repeat: yes, there are brooms and all seven players on both teams ride them. “It’s impossible to take yourself too seriously when you’re riding a broom,” says Nathan Heath, an ESF senior. It should be noted that Quidditch and the IQA stand for gender equality and inclusivity. One of
See Quidditch, cont’d pg. 6 Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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$KOOL $P!R!T Quidditch, cont’d from pg. 5 the rules of the co-ed sport requires action (or better yet, come out and at least two players identifying with play it) Sundays a different gender from at least two other players. Thanks to this rule, Joey DiStefano, Head Captain Muggles are no longer the underdogs in this historically of Syracuse Quid- wizard dominated sport. Image credit: Holly Faulkner. ditch and SU senior, can proudly from 1-3pm on the Women’s Building brag about the strong, tough “badass Field, and Mondays and Fridays from chicks” on the team. 5-7 on Skytop Field. These practices You can watch Quidditch in are open to everyone and consist of
Sadler, cont’d from pg. 4 alternatives are present to prevent the freshman 15. Another benefit of Sadler is the “feel better food pack,” which is an option for students who become ill. Three times a day meals will be delivered to student’s rooms containing “Instant oatmeal, Apple juice, Fruit flavored hard candy, Pudding cups, Microwavable soup, Crackers...” and much more, according to the Syracuse University Food Services website. Once the plague hits, Centennial, as well as other residence halls, will be prepared. From the Financial Aid Office: 2013 Surveying Scholarship Notice The New Hampshire Land Surveyors Foundation offers four scholarships to New Hampshire residents enrolled as a second, third or fourth year student in the surveying, civil engineering or forestry curriculum and planning on a surveying career. They are the: 1. Allen W. Plumb Scholarship: Forestry/ Surveying 2 or 4 year Program; 2. E.N. Roberts Scholarship: Civil Engineer/ Surveying 2 or 4 year Program; 3. Warner M. Plummer Scholarship: Survey/Survey Engineering 4 year Program: 4. Melvin E. Jenkins Scholarship: Forestry/ Surveying 2 or 4 year Program. Applications must be returned by November 1, 2013 to NHLSF, PO Box 689, Raymond, NH 03077 Attention Scholarship Chair or Please stop in the Financial Aid Office 113 Bray for more information and an application.
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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
drills followed by a scrimmage or two.
When I’m not consulting the official IQA rulebook, I’ll be on the pitch, clumsily scoring for my newest favorite SU/ESF team!
Body & Soul
Something to Meditate On Emily Adams, 2014
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lasses are in full swing, and professors are piling on the work like you’re a pack mule. On top of trying to get at least six or seven (preferably eight) hours of sleep and trying to maintain some sort of semblance of a social life, you probably barely have time to breathe, let alone find time for meditation or reflection. But so many of us find it necessary to watch a movie or a television episode (or seven) on Netflix to unwind after a long, stressful day. Hey, no one’s judging you. But here’s a realization: you can relax on Netflix and reflect at the same time! I explored the realm of Netflix to find the most inspiring and thought-provoking documentaries available. So take a break from the hundred pages of readings due tomorrow and watch
something that will leave you feeling refreshed, inspired, and awakened. I AM If you don’t already know who Tom Shadyac is, you might know one of the movies that he directed (think The Nutty Professor, Bruce Almighty, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective). But this movie is anything but a comedy. In 2007, Tom Shadyac had a bike accident and was injured. The symptoms of the concussion he received didn’t fade and he became severely depressed. He began to ask himself serious questions about what’s wrong with the world and wondered if there was anything we could do to fix it. So he gathered intellectuals, religious leaders and other influential people like Desmond
Tutu, Howard Zinn, and Noam Chomsky, among others, and asked them his burning questions about the world and human nature. Without giving too much away, the result is a beautiful demonstration of how compassion, democracy, and interconnectedness shape the world and everything that inhabits it. Tom Shadyac says about the documentary, “We started by asking what’s wrong with the world, and ended up discovering what’s right with it.” Samsara Samsara, directed by Ron Fricke, is truly an achievement. Shot over four years and in over twenty-five different countries, this documentary,
See Meditate On, cont’d pg. 11
The “T” That Should Not Be Silent Yocasta Pichardo, 2014 & Radka Yang, 2016
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n the inspiring words of former president John F. Kennedy, “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” It is fair to say that American society has never been, and never will be, completely homogenous. This country is defined by the belief that, although we may all come from different backgrounds, we are all equal. However, despite the progress made towards eliminating prejudice and discrimination against minorities, it continues to persist for one group in particular: the LGBT community. LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The first three letters represent terms that people use to identify themselves in terms of sexual orientation. These three terms are rather straightforward. The fourth letter, however, represents a term that is more difficult to understand for many people, largely because of a lack of education and advocacy on the part of trans people. As defined by GLAAD, former-
ly the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, transgender is “an umbrella term often used to refer to people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth*.” While everyone within the LGBT community faces certain adversity in our society, transgender people are the most overlooked, consequently facing greater discrimination than lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. For most people, it is easy to accept and understand that a man could be attracted to another man. It is much more difficult to grasp the idea of someone, for example, self-identifying as a man despite being born biologically as a woman*. (This is a fairly simplistic reading that makes the concept easier to understand, but it is not entirely accurate.) This heightened ignorance and lack of understanding can in part explain the statistics regarding transgender people and violence. A study conducted by the Anti-Violence Project showed that 40% of anti-LGBT murder victims in 2011 were transgender
women, and that transgender women made up 10% of anti-LGBT violence survivors. Trans women of color are the most highly targeted members of this community, and LaTeisha Green’s story is a sad reminder that these statistics affect real life people, very close to home.
LaTeisha Green. Image Credit: cnycentral.com
See Trans, cont’d pg. 14
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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ESF Tak
Alaskan Adventure Kristen Howard, 2014
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his summer I partook in another Alaskan adventure. While working for the US Forest Service, I got to know the true meaning of being Alaskan. Even the internship I had was different than being in the lower forty-eight. While making signs for an old gold and platinum mine, I was able to discover what it’s like to live in a 2,000 person town on an island that makes its money from commercial fishing, mining, and logging. Even though the “city” of Craig, Alaska is mostly filled with people who are not native to Alaska, nearly all have changed their perspectives to fit into the strange standards of living. Absolutely everything in Southeast Alaska is more expensive than you can imagine. Want to go to a bar? Bud Light is $5 per can. Want a bag of chips at the supermarket? $5 for a bag of Lays. Want a bag of grapes at the supermarket? Half of them are covered in mold and you’re paying $5 for the bag. In short: the people of Craig spend more on groceries than most people would ever imagine, but they have one thing that many Americans don’t - freshly caught fish.
Salmon, halibut, shrimp, and crab are the most popular dinner meats you’ll see around Southeast Alaska. Most permanent residents spend all summer going out on boats to fish and fill their freezers for the winter months. With the extended sunlight hours in summer most people take time off from work to go out on their boats. On occasion, some Southeast Alaskans don’t have enough money for a boat (Break Out Another Thousand). Many residents of Alaska rely on hunting for most of their protein. Some people even trade their hunts for seafood. Tongass National Forest’s geologist, Jim Baichtal, holds the record for largest Sitka Blacktail deer in all of Alaska (as well as record numbers 3-8). He avoids fishing so much that he’ll sign over his fishing rights to friends and they’ll sign over their hunting rights to him. Most Southeast Alaskans will go hunting for Sitka Blacktail deer or mule deer. Some others go for black bear, but that depends on how long the berry season lasts. There are also some hunters that go out for moose. Personally, I’ve never tasted a more lean and delicious
Final Captain’s Log: A Look Back Nick Hlat, 2014
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reetings from... Syracuse! Yes, I have returned from my voyage down unda’. After a 17 hour flight, 3 transfers, and two months of suffering from severe PAD (Post-Australia Depression... it’s real), I have returned to the glorious state of New York and more importantly, Syracuse. To bring you up to speed, last semester I traveled to the gorgeous city of Melbourne, Australia to study abroad. In this last and final Captain’s log, I will attempt to summarize the whole experience. Through the SUNY system I was able to enroll at the prestigious (at least it sounded that way) Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The process that got me there involved an entire year of prepa-
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ration, mounds of paperwork, and a hefty bank loan (all of which were 100% worth it). The academics were far less challenging than I had predicted, so naturally I took up some extra-curricular activities. This included 1) joining the Surf Club, a sport to which I am now determined to keep improving on;
THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
meat than Image Credit: Kristen Howard moose. Aside from hunting and fishing, Southeast Alaska is filled with amazing natural wonders. Glaciers, vast forests, and pristine rivers cover the landscape. For me, the most amazing past of the Southeast was the wilderness areas. Because I was involved in making a film (Meaning of Wild, http://www.meaningofwild.com/), I was able to travel to some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the country. This past summer gave me enough adventure to last a lifetime. Each ESF student would gain valuable information from going to Alaska and learning about a completely different way of life.
A New Zealand Landscape. Image Credit: Nick Hlat
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An Amazing Time Spent in Canada Adebukola Abiola, 2014
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ummer of 2013 is one of the best summers that I have ever experienced. During this time I had the chance to intern in Calgary, Alberta in the country of Canada. Not only did I gain lab
Image Credit: Adebukola Abiola
experience, I also gained memories and new friends that would last a lifetime. For my internship, I worked for Dr. Roger Saint-Fort of Mount Royal University. I had two lab-mates that worked on projects for Dr. Saint-Ford in the laboratory. There were other major professors and post-docs who worked for Dr. Roger Saint-Fort in the laboratory as well. I completed several tasks and skills pertaining to water analysis and environmental science. Such tasks included the following: ni-
trogen tests, chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis, sulfate tests, phosphorus/phosphate tests, total nitrogen tests (TKN), total phosphorus tests, pH tests, turbidity, serial dilutions, measuring of microbial entities, and recording the data concerning all such tests. I had brushed up and learned a number of laboratory techniques as well as refreshed my memories concerning some that I had learned in the past. We obtained the water samples needed for water analysis from New Brighton, Tuscany, and Weed Lake. I also had the chance to visit the largest mall in North America, the East Edmonton Mall. This mall had an amusement park complete with rides and an arcade, and it also had a water park with water rides and slides with an indoor pool. The mall also had an ice skating ring as well as hotels that were literally connected
to the mall so one can spend multiple nights in that area, a weekend or an extended vacation of shopping. Talk about shopping until one drops! During my time in Canada, I tried a Canadian dish known as Poteen for the first time. I absolutely loved it! Poteen is a meal of French Canadian origin that consists of the following: French fries with gravy and melted cheese curds on top. It tastes phenomenally delicious. I also had the chance to visit the Banff Mountains in Alberta with my uncle and cousin. We rode the gondolas, took some breath-taking pictures, visited Lake Louise in Alberta, and visited the Dinosaur museum in Drumheller, Alberta. I truly enjoyed all of these experiences and I hope to return to Canada again in the near future.
Image Credit: Adebukola Abiola
2) making sure to FULLY enjoy the Melbourne nightlife: this meant a lot of $10 boxed wine known by the locals as “goon”; and 3) planning an array of ridiculous trips that eventually brought me to New Zealand, the Great Barrier Reef, and the surfing town of Byron Bay among others. These extra-curricular activities in turn lead me to tap into a person I never thought I could be. This new person I became did some pretty wild things. He learned how to surf, hiked to the top of a sacred New Zealand volcano (Mt. Doom), skinny-dipped in potentially shark-infested waters at 3
dit: Kristen Howard
in the morning with the entire surf club, stumbled the twilight streets of Melbourne wearing traffic cones as hats with his British housemate, scuba dived at THE GREAT BARRIER REEF with fellow ESF-er Anna Butler, hosted 6–count em’ 6– ridiculous house parties (4 of which the authorities were in attendance at as well), experienced the unreal Whitehaven Beaches, attended a live Aussie Rules Football game...... The list goes on. At each breath-taking point, I met the most amazing people with whom I experienced some unforgettable memories. It pains me less to write a few cheesy sentences than it is to have to write this article and remember the people and times that
came and went all too quickly. Yet, it must be done in hopes that upon reading this, it can remind you of the forgotten yearning, to really feel what it means to be alive. So for those of you that have been following since the first Captain’s log... it’s been real. For any new readers, this is a call to get off your butts and GO SEE THE WORLD. As Alexander Supertramp would say… “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” Captain. Out.
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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Full Bellies
Autumn: Central New York’s Season of Charm Liane DeRosa, 2014
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entral New York is home to many farmers and fall-enthusiasts awaiting the season of harvest. The smell in the air, the changing colors of leaves, and most of all those once-a-year food items give the season of fall their special excitement and festivities. Not only does autumn bring thrilling, outdoor activities to consumers, it represents the livelihood of many small-scale agricultural producers in New York State.
Image Credit: fineartamerica.com
Before you buy your harvest decorations from the convenience of CVS, consider the impact you have as a decision-making consumer. I spoke with some fall-enthusiasts, and they
Make-a-Danket
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safe hay rides, and stress-relieving pumpkin smashing! • Chuck Hafner’s Haunted House, North Syracuse – The haunted house opens October 18th, but the farm is open now, featuring pumpkin-picking, pony rides, and a farmers market with an assortment of vegetables and flowers. • Pumpkins at the Hollow, Syracuse – This humble farm is familyowned and has great Halloween fun. It has one of the largest pumpkin patches in Syracuse, ice cream, and face painting shacks. It is locally known as Cards Corners. • Great Syracuse Oktoberfest, Liverpool – Each year the event takes place in a different location; this year it’s located on Long Branch Road in Liverpool on October 6th from 11am to 7pm for only $3 admission. Enjoy great German entertainment, food, and don’t forget those beverages (Old World Geműtlichkeit!).
See Autumn, cont’d pg. 11
Vegan Pumpkin Tart with Pecan Crust
arts are fun and delicious, especially when pumpkin flavored. Not all dankets are tarts, but all tarts are dankets. Give this creative turn on pumpkin pie a try – Vegan Pumpkin Tart with Pecan Crust. Let us know how you enjoyed the recipe at esfknothole@ gmail.com (Remember to go local as much as possible throughout this recipe, and keep organic and fair-trade options whenever you can.) Ingredients For the crust: • ¾ cup pecan halves • ¾ cup rolled oats • ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 pinch salt • ¼ cup vegetable oil • 3 tablespoons real maple syrup For the filling: • 1 cup soy milk • ¼ cup arrowroot powder
believe that we can’t stress enough the sense of empowerment and pride among community and local farming. Here are some of our favorite farms near Syracuse, sporting the charm and quaintness of autumn this year: • Abbott Farms, Baldwinsville – Abbott Farms hosts a series of fall activities for a considerably low price. As a four-year returnee to Abbott Farms, I can guarantee a memorable experience with apple-picking, pumpkin-picking, corn mazes, and their signature Schmapple fritters and apple cider. In only a fifteen minute drive, you can experience a cider press demonstration. • Our Farm, The Golubs, Manlius – This farm has specialty events such as hay rides, personalized pumpkins (name engravings), and a giant catapult for pumpkin smashing. This family-owned and -operated farm has been a local favorite since 1998, serving the community with clean petting zoos,
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1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree/ medium sized baking pumpkin ½ cup real maple syrup 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions 1. Set rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 inch pie plate. Set aside. 2. Spread nuts over a baking pan. Toast for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the smell of nuts fills the kitchen. Set aside 16 pecan halves for garnish. 3. Combine oats, flour, remaining pecans, 1/2-teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a food processor bowl (or mix by hand if you’re feeling strong). Pulse until mixture becomes a coarse meal. 4. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Whisk together oil and 3 tablespoons maple
THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
syrup, and mix into dry ingredients to form soft dough. Press mixture into prepared pie plate. Crimp edges. Bake for 10 minutes, and set aside to cool. 5. Blend soymilk and arrowroot in the food processor until the arrowroot is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth, about 15 seconds. 6. Add pumpkin, 1/2-cup maple syrup, ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2-teaspoon salt, nutmeg, and cloves; process until thoroughly blended. 7. Pour filling into baked crust, and smooth the top with a spatula. 8. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and the outside inch of the filling is set. Don’t worry if the center is still soft; it firms up as the pie cools. Transfer pie to a wire the rack. 9. Gently press toasted pecan halves into hot filling in 2 concentric circles. Cool to room temperature, and then chill until set, about 3 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
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College Carnivore: Meat-a-dillo Andrew “Mangus” Timmis, 2014
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’m a man who really loves to eat and cook meat. I’m also a man who has watched a lot of Epicmealtime, which has fueled my imagination with a plethora of crazy dishes to make and devour. While making these dishes, I had a thought: “Why not share my creations with the world?” So, for my final year here at ESF, I would like to share with you my adventures as a college carnivore. To start off, we are going to do one of my favorite dishes, the meatloaf. The basics of meatloaf are simple but you can add a lot of variety with your seasoning choices. This shall not be an ordinary meatloaf though, for with a little imagination and bacon, one can create the mighty Meat-a-dillo! Here is how I did it. Ingredients: • 1lb of ground beef • 1lb of ground meatloaf mix (they didn’t have pork at the time) • 1 egg • a packet of thick cut bacon (mmm) • a jar of queso cheese • 1 ¼ tsps of salt • 1 tsp black pepper • 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs (can be plain or seasoned) • 1/4 cup dried, chopped onions (or fresh) • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce • 1/4 cup of mustard (I used sweet
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and spicy) 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper powder
Making the meal: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grab a large bowl and add the ground beef and meatloaf mix and begin mixing them together with your hands (wash them beforehand). 2. Next, crack the egg and add it to the meat, as well as the breadcrumbs and onions. After, add the season-
The Meat-a-dillo, pre and post oven time. Image credits: Andrew Timmis.
ings: salt, pepper, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, mustard, and the cayenne pepper (remember- you don’t have to use the same seasonings I do, or in the same amount). Once it has all been added mix it all together by hand, making sure everything is mixed well into the meat. 3. Prepare a baking sheet by covering it with a large sheet of tinfoil and spreading cooking spray or vegetable/canola oil so the meat won’t
Meditate On, cont’d from pg.7 according to the official website, “explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience.” What makes this documentary stand out from the rest is its unique nonverbal narrative approach. The concept of non-verbal narrative may seem strange at first, but it’s exactly this that allows for the individual to embark on a meditative journey, using the stunning visuals as a guide. Happy Directed by Roko Belic, this doc-
stick while it’s baking. Personally, I’m a fan of virgin olive oil. 4. Place the meat on the sheet. Now comes the fun part: molding your meat! I make sure to keep a good size chunk of loaf on the side and begin shaping the body, which is basically loaf shaped. I then make the arms, legs, long tail, and the head. In the body, I push it down and create a sort of cavity, which is then filled with a couple scoops of queso, and I use the saved piece of meat to cover it up. Make sure to seal it up well so the cheese won’t escape. 5. Bacon time! Place the strips along the body, cutting the pieces to fit. I use the smaller pieces to cover his head and appendages.
6. Place your ‘dillo in the oven to cook for 1 hour. Keep an eye on it and carefully pour out extra grease when it builds up (into a proper container of course).
Autumn, cont’d from pg.10 umentary attempts to tackle the age-old question about what makes people truly happy. It is a collection of interviews featuring people of various cultures and scientists that study human happiness. This documentary will make you re-examine what makes people happy, and it subtly points out that at any given moment, there are a thousand things that can make you happy; but only if you choose to acknowledge them. Bottom line: find joy in the little things.
• LaFayette Apple Festival, LaFayette Fairgrounds – On October 12th LaFayette will put on its 40th annual festival where over 500 high quality vendors and craft salesmen meet from around the state. LaFayette’s apples are renowned in Upstate New York as the region with the best applepicking. It’s located 25 minutes south of Syracuse on route 81. Most of this information can be found on http://events.visitsyracuse.org and http:// syracuse.com. Get out and join the fun with these local farms in the Syracuse area!
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
11
All Your Free Time
The Television Revolution
Ascending
Netflix Originals
R
Cyndi Jacobson, 2017
I
t’s hard to imagine that the world was almost on the brink of chaos nearly two years ago. In a dark, miserable land, the enraged people of an unjust society rose up against a once trusted ally in order to take back their happiness. Do you recall where you were when it happened, when Netflix prices jumped to an unholy level? The company implemented a 60 percent price increase, which in turn, caused thousands of subscribers to depart from their contracts and abandon the DVD delivery and instant video-streaming platform. It was hard to imagine that Netflix would rise from the ashes and transform into the
recently, Ricky Gervais’ Derek. The pay-off from their decision is obvious though; Netflix stock has boomed and 14 Emmy nominations went to their Original Series. With more series on the way and additional seasons for House of Cards and Orange is the New Black in production, more success for Netflix is theirs for the taking. Subscribers have flocked back to reap the rewards of instant-video watching-gratification. But what does this mean for broadcast and cable television? No longer are subscribers forced to wait for reruns to air randomly on their cable stations. Now they can simply stream Breaking
As Netflix popularity has grown, the company has not only spread to multiple devices, but now creates its own original shows. Image Credit: Todd Haselton/Netflix.
glorious phoenix and media machine that it is today. Showering millions of dollars into a number of ventures, like Hemlock Grove and Orange is the New Black, two new Original series released exclusively on Netflix this year, the media outlet climbed out of the pit of despair to stand higher than all other streaming platforms, and even broadcast and cable channels. Maybe Netflix acknowledged that “there’s always money in the banana stand” when they pushed to fund expensive projects like Arrested Development and House of Cards, and more
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Bad or Once Upon a Time from their televisions, phones, and computers instantly. Especially in the case of this year’s Netflix Original Series, customers have an entire season of new television at their fingertips on the night of the premiere. These programs release all episodes at once, giving subscribers the opportunity to watch the shows at their leisure (or marathon them in a weekend, no?) It’s not as though every program on Netflix is an A-rated cinema
See Neflix, cont’d pg. 14
THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
Nick Whites, 2016
ustling leaves, the subtle creak of branches rubbing in the wind, a unique cohesion of creatures, and the root of it all, a tree. A single tree stands, selflessly providing shelter, shade, and safety. An organism of near infinite compassion, the same tree might harbor young avian offspring, a fleeing squirrel, or even a fledgling scholar seeking a moment of solace from their studies. It is through the compassion of trees that all of these organisms can find security and well being. One needs only to reach for a tree’s outstretched limbs to find consolation and understanding. Climbing a tree can be as much a mental activity as a physical one. When climbing a tree, an individual faces a mental challenge unlike any other. Tree climbing, similar to rock climbing, requires a unique variety of active problem solving, in which the climber finds grips to safely ascend while maintaining balance and composure. However, unlike rock climbing, ascending into a tree is a much more dynamic task. Trees, like most living organisms rarely remain unchanged in their environment, and while a tree often remains in the same location for the duration of its life, it is still constantly changing. The branches can sway or snap as a climber grabs hold. Wind gusts can shake leaves, obstruct progress, and cause nuts and seeds to fall against a climber. Disgruntled birds can harass climbers in the tree as they approach a nest. It is the plethora of unforeseen and unpredictable obstacles that require a climber to think dynamically and either push through or alter their course as obstructions impede their ascent. It is often unlikely that the route a climber chooses before beginning an ascent will be identical to the final course of action. It is through the puzzle of finding an alternative route that a climber can often find, not only
Cont’d on next page (pg. 13)
Screech
Underground Noise Seen Causing Vibrations Conn Fraser, 2014
I
t’s a crushing drone, grainy yet indistinct. The shrill stop of machinery or the unsettling pulse of blood rushing in your ears invokes a sensation of exhilaration and discomfort. The vibrations rattling into your ear never seem to cease, until it all falls out into a pulsing beat as you uncontrollably tap your foot. It’s noise, and it comes in a variety of hues, ranging from artsy late ‘80s noise rock like Sonic Youth to harsh grey kafka-esque screeches and howls from the modern group White Suns.
art piece in Russolo’s time, noise has evolved to become a whole new frontier of music. Like punk in the ‘70s and ‘80s, before it went commercial, the genre was widely listened to by certain “fringe” individuals who, rather intentionally or not, rejected pop culture. The sounds and atonality that are presented to the listener aren’t intended to be likeable. Initially, it’s the sort of art form you need to work at. Like certain abstract paintings, someone exposed to noise will skeptically ask why it’s so highly touted in some scenes. That’s a valid question and is part of the reason the sub-sect of music is so appealing: it’s abrasive and offputting, yet minimalist in its production and above all thought-provoking due to its conception and popularity. Noise music is a lot like free jazz, which in the 1950s was many jazz artists’ way to take Kim Gordon walking over her bass during a Sonic Youth live pertheir music back to a formance in the Netherlands, 1991. Photo by Rien Post more visceral and primi Emerging out of the futurist tive sounding stage. Songs were ten art movement, during which Luigi Rus- times the length of conventional tracks solo pieced together a noise orchestra and featured 4 times as many members much to the dismay of his audience in in some cases. This setup made record1914, it was intended to mimic the ca- ings attention-grabbing and live percophonous sound of machines and in- formances something out of this world. dustry so pervasive in cities back then. Noise embraces distortion, unbelievWhile it was more of an experimental ably high mastering, hisses, white
noise, and guitar feedback to create a very full sounding track. Comparing it to a cup of black coffee, which may initially assault the senses, underneath is a spattered mosaic of tastes and smells, creating an intricate experience for the drinker to pick apart and study. The artists attempt to break down conventional song structure or any structure at all for that matter, reducing your focus to the sonic textures. Aside from harsh noise, which is a constant and pure form of noise music, “college rock” bands like Pavement, Archers of Loaf, and Pixies use distortion and feedback intermittently, as well as lo-fi production methods. Ignoring the obvious creativity required to use something caustic like unwanted noise for catchy hooks, these bands embraced the DIY attitude, effectively giving major record companies the middle finger. This mindset is what occasionally keeps creative control with the artist, instead of letting a contract from a group of rich bigwigs control the sound of the band. Nowadays, noise is still fairly underground, with a strong scene in Japan, including the likes of Merzbow and Incapacitants. Over here in the states bands like Yuck and Roomrunner are continuing to flesh out the garage rock aesthetic of the 1990s. With such an underground scene, subgenres are popping up all the time, so hop on the internet and give noise a try.
Ascending (cont’d from pg. 12) solutions to ascend a tree, but also solutions to external problems. Whether it is stress from academic studies, social relationships, or simply personal quandaries, trees and tree climbing can function as a way of understanding and resolving problems. The act of climbing offers a form of focused distraction from external issues. While concentrating on a route, a climber often must set aside external thoughts and issues to ensure
maximum focus for a safe ascent. During the time while external problems are set aside, a climber can develop a combination of focus and mental elasticity fostered by climbing a dynamic structure. Once a climber returns to an external problem, either while in the heights of the tree or back on the ground, the developed dynamic focus can then be redirected to assist with the external issue. Additionally, if there is not a particular problem, the focus de-
veloped while climbing can also be used to relax and collect composure. There are few nicer or more serine places for a climber to reside than in the braches of a large tree. Through the ascension of its supportive limbs, trees can help one dynamically ascend through one’s own problems. Assisting to find resolution, an organism of near infinite compassion supports an organism of near infinite potential, a harmony of nature and man, a tree and a climber.
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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Articles Continued Wolves, cont’d from pg. 3
ease that have spread throughout the population in the past that may reoccur due to climatic changes. These factors may inhibit population growth and potentially decrease the gray wolf population. The removal of federal protections from the gray wolf, combined with these other potential population reducing factors, could have detrimental effects on the gray wolf population. Arguments in support of the gray wolf delisting derive mainly from livestock producers who complain of wolves preying upon their animals. According to Giese, wolf attacks on livestock occur, but are rare, and individuals are compensated for their losses. However, they are not compensated for coyote or other predatory attacks, bad weather, or disease, which account for more livestock deaths than wolf attacks. Additionally, there are multi-
Trans, cont’d from pg. 7
LaTeisha Green was a trans woman that was born in raised in Syracuse, New York. She declared her identity early in her life; her family accepted and supported her. Unfortunately for her, her peers were discriminatory and ignorant. So as a result, she lived an unpleasant academic life. Like many trans people, she was ridiculed and received abuse from her peers. On November 14, 2008, she was shot and killed by Dwight DeLee. The case was labeled as manslaughter via hate crime. as there was an enormous amount of evidence. Witnesses have testified stating that DeLee referred to Green as a “f*ggot” sometime before the murder. Also, DeLee mistakenly thought that Green was a gay man. This was an important piece of
tudes of ways to protect livestock from the wolves, rather than allowing the landowner to kill them. Also, some individuals worry about the decrease in deer and elk populations since the increase of the gray wolf population. However, it is, and has always been, the wolf’s ecological role as predator to hunt these species, among others, and keep their populations in check. If these populations become out of control, the remaining ecosystem would be negatively impacted in a variety of ways. Some individuals simply believe gray wolves no longer require federal protections, as they are strong animals that are capable of thriving on their own. Although this statement may be true, should individuals be permitted to kill this species as they have so brutally done in the past?
And finally, I will leave on this note: wolves are a keystone species. By keeping other species populations in check, as well as assisting in the feeding of other species that feed on the remains of their prey, gray wolves are an integral part of a balanced ecosystem. Without wolves, our own human population would most likely feel the negative impact of their absence. Wolf populations may never achieve their historic population or range; however, they will never be given a chance to do so if federal protections are taken from them before their recovery is complete. We must remember – this world is their home, too. Public commentary on the proposal
evidence toward the case because in New York there are no laws that protect the rights of individuals based on gender identity. Therefore, it would have not been categorized at a hate crime if DeLee identified Green as transgender. DeLee was sentenced with 25 years in prison in July 2009. In July 2013 Dwight DeLee was released from prison, after only servicing five years of his sentence. This case was overturned because there was confusion over the hate crime aspect of this case. CNY for solidarity states that “there doesn’t seem to be much argument about the fact that LaTeisha Green was shot and killed by DeLee, and the jury believed it was a hate crime,” which is just outraging. Unfortunately, cases like
LaTeisha Green’s case are not rare for trans people. In order for this to stop occurring, New York needs to pass legislation that protects the rights of individuals based on gender identity, such as the Gender Expression NonDiscrimination Act (GENDA). Passing this act adds gender identity and expressions as a characteristic of a hate crime and would be the start to a long list of aspects that need to change in order to make trans people feel safe and accepted by our society. *When it comes to terminology and
very popular in recent years, offering the aforementioned leisure of easy and instant access to customers’ favorite shows and movies. In an age where instant availability is almost expected, Netflix may prove to be a formidable television outlet against the traditional format we’ve grown accustomed to. Technology is ever changing, and television must
evolve, too. Who knows- in the twilight years of our lives, we may tell stories to our grandchildren about the pending apocalyptic demise of a DVD service turned media supergiant. Only, for better or worse, they’ll be too distracted by instant-access media to give our stories a second thought.
to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species has been extended through October 28, 2013. To submit a comment taking action against this proposal, please visit earthjustice.org.
definitions in the larger LGBT community and in the transgender community specifically, there is usually no one right answer; many people have differing opinions on how such words should be used. A good rule is to simply do your best to be respectful, and if a member of the community in question asks you to change your language, do so without challenging them.
Netflix, cont’d from pg. 12 and television spectacular. Then again, the same can be said of the shows featured on cable television as well. The question at hand is not whether instant-streaming platforms will overtake conventional broadcast stations, or when they will do so, for that matter. It is already happening. Hulu (Plus), Amazon Video, Crackle, and many other outlets like Netflix have become
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THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
QUARTERLIFE CRISIS
By:
Joe
016
ly, 2
eil y O’R
Ask-a-Nut
D
ear Nut, I’m having this serious problem, and I need your advice. You see, I’m really bored all the time, and I just want to go somewhere! Is there anywhere you could suggest me to go and how to get there? I don’t think it’s healthy for me to continue my adventures in my mind to worlds unknown. I’ve heard that this isn’t the healthiest of things for me to do. -Person Sitting Yearningly in Centennial Hall Often Dear PSYCHO, What’s not healthy about embarking on mental adventures? I mean, all kinds of people over the years have
done it. The well-known actor Heath Ledger did. Apparently, his adventures were pretty incredible, especially during the filming of The Dark Knight. They say that as he partook in the role of the Joker, Ledger would just lock himself in his room for hours on end. This was to help him get into the mindset of his character, so we’ve been told, but we all know he was embarking on some pretty sweet mental adventures in there. And anyway, it’s not like going on those had any negative impact on him. Sure, he developed anxiety, depression, and a nasty drug habit that “accidently” killed him, but I can ensure you, my friend, that he had some pretty great times going to unknown
worlds in that mind of his. So keep it up! Continue going to those unknown worlds in your mind – Nut Have any burning quandaries or embarrassing inquiries?
Email The Nut at esfaskanut@gmail.com.
Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE •
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M
i
n
Day One
d
s
p
i
l
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Counterclockwise from Top Left Underwater pictures by Ashley Huehn, 2017. Top Right - Goldfish by Kristen Carey, 2014
Tom Hartman, 2016
Day one; a newborn sun Bar the door on memories And now let’s have some fun Our minds sail off choppy seas Stand tall, stillness finds your knees And now let’s do as we please
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Forest’s floor bristles with fur Life carpets the thawing ground It’s just like her; for a color blur Heat erupts, a chorus of sound Everything lost has been found Heavy hearts have lost a pound
THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment
The sun’s rays, a new coat of paint Melts the pain, darkness’s drain Kicking a new path with no complaint ‘Cause there’s a fresh day to be slain And as we peek at day two Another life begins anew