Interfaith Retreat Brings Students Together at Silver Bay
Interfaith Retreat Brings Students Together at Silver Bay
sliddell@colgate.edu
Jan. 10–13, Colgate University students embraced an opportunity to connect, recharge, and explore spirituality in the serene setting of Silver Bay, N.Y., during a retreat organized by the Office of the Chaplains and hosted at the Silver Bay YMCA. Corey MacPherson, Colgate’s university chaplain and Protestant campus minister, explained the retreat’s goal: “The Office of the Chaplains aims to build meaningful relationships among students from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds. The interfaith retreat provided an opportunity to step away from campus and engage in new experiences with peers.” The interfaith retreat was thoughtfully designed to welcome students from all backgrounds. Special attention was paid to inclusivity, from hosting interfaith dialogues to accommodating diverse dietary needs, including Halal and Kosher meals. The retreat also provided access to a 24-hour prayer room and spaces for quiet reflection. Thanks to a generous donor, the retreat was free for all participants. Against the backdrop of snow-covered Lake George, mornings featured art projects like stained glass and fiber crafts, while afternoons offered activities such as pickleball tournaments, vertical climbing, and hikes with breathtaking views of the Adirondacks. Evenings provided space for group discussions, quiet prayer, or simply enjoying the starry skies on a constellation walk. Silver Bay on the shores of Lake George
“We aimed to create a space where trust and dialogue could grow naturally through shared experiences,” said MacPherson. “By participating in activities like rock climbing and pickleball or simply walking through the beautiful Silver Bay campus, students found ways to connect meaningfully.” Lindsey Chung ’26, one of the attendees, described the retreat as a much-needed pause during winter break. “Silver Bay had a much more laid-back and slow feeling compared to campus,” she shared. “I was free to do as much or as little as I wanted. With the snow on the ground, it felt peaceful and special — a place I’d come back to in a heartbeat.” Chung particularly valued the opportunity to meet other students with diverse perspectives. “At meals and activities, I had fascinating conversations about our faiths. It was interesting to hear others’ experiences and perspectives.” For Chung, the retreat was an experience worth recommending to her peers — and more are in the planning stages. “Especially during winter break, it’s a great way to recharge, try new activities, and engage with others seeking to discuss spiritual topics,” she said.
Wellness
StudentAn aerial view of the Silver Bay YMCA campus
An aerial view of the Silver Bay YMCA campus
Jan. 10–13, Colgate University students embraced an opportunity to connect, recharge, and explore spirituality in the serene setting of Silver Bay, N.Y., during a retreat organized by the Office of the Chaplains and hosted at the Silver Bay YMCA.
Corey MacPherson, Colgate’s university chaplain and Protestant campus minister, explained the retreat’s goal: “The Office of the Chaplains aims to build meaningful relationships among students from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds. The interfaith retreat provided an opportunity to step away from campus and engage in new experiences with peers.”
The interfaith retreat was thoughtfully designed to welcome students from all backgrounds. Special attention was paid to inclusivity, from hosting interfaith dialogues to accommodating diverse dietary needs, including Halal and Kosher meals. The retreat also provided access to a 24-hour prayer room and spaces for quiet reflection. Thanks to a generous donor, the retreat was free for all participants.
Against the backdrop of snow-covered Lake George, mornings featured art projects like stained glass and fiber crafts, while afternoons offered activities such as pickleball tournaments, vertical climbing, and hikes with breathtaking views of the Adirondacks. Evenings provided space for group discussions, quiet prayer, or simply enjoying the starry skies on a constellation walk.
“We aimed to create a space where trust and dialogue could grow naturally through shared experiences,” said MacPherson. “By participating in activities like rock climbing and pickleball or simply walking through the beautiful Silver Bay campus, students found ways to connect meaningfully.”
Lindsey Chung ’26, one of the attendees, described the retreat as a much-needed pause during winter break. “Silver Bay had a much more laid-back and slow feeling compared to campus,” she shared. “I was free to do as much or as little as I wanted. With the snow on the ground, it felt peaceful and special — a place I’d come back to in a heartbeat.”
Chung particularly valued the opportunity to meet other students with diverse perspectives. “At meals and activities, I had fascinating conversations about our faiths. It was interesting to hear others’ experiences and perspectives.”
For Chung, the retreat was an experience worth recommending to her peers — and more are in the planning stages. “Especially during winter break, it’s a great way to recharge, try new activities, and engage with others seeking to discuss spiritual topics,” she said.
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- Colgate University and United Mexican States Strengthen PartnershipColgate University and United Mexican States Strengthen Partnership mcwalden@colgate.edu Colgate University and the United Mexican States have taken yet another step to advance their collaborative, scholarly relationship. On Sept. 23, 2024, Colgate voluntarily restituted 1,005 archaeological items of cultural heritage to the people of Mexico, adding to 67 pieces returned in 2023. The transfer was arranged by the office of Consul General of Mexico in New York H.E. Jorge Islas López — which received the pieces at the consulate in New York City — and staff at the University Museums at Colgate, under the leadership of Rebecca Mendelsohn, co-director of University Museums at Colgate and curator of the Longyear Museum of Anthropology. This project reflects the deep respect and understanding between the Government of Mexico and Colgate University. We are proud to see this collaboration strengthen our shared commitment to preserving Mexico’s rich history and honoring the millenary traditions kept alive by our Indigenous communities. We hope it inspires others to safeguard cultural heritage and broaden our collective understanding of history and museum practices," says H.E. Jorge Islas López, Consul General of Mexico in New York (2019–2024). The pieces, predominantly collected in Mexico during the 1950s, arrived at Colgate from various sources throughout the second half of the 20th century. Through the decades, Colgate faculty have used the collections — which include sculpture, pottery, and more — as teaching aids. Brian Baker, assistant preparator for Colgate University Museums, prepares a shipment of the restituted works for transfer to the Consulate General of Mexico in New York | Brian Baker, asistente de preparación de los Museos de la Universidad de Colgate, prepara un envío de las obras restituidas para su traslado al Consulado General de México en Nueva York. This voluntary return and accompanying agreements serve as an important recognition of the Mexican people’s right to control their cultural patrimony. “It is with profound respect that Colgate University returns these items to their home country,” Mendelsohn says, “with the understanding that they will be returned to as close to their communities of origin as possible.” In addition to this restitution, a landmark agreement between the University, the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, and the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) to establish an ambassador collection allows a subset of the collection, more than 900 fragmentary pieces, to remain at Colgate for educational use, with the permission of the Mexican government. This collection is intended to further the understanding of Mexico’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, as well as the importance of preserving and respecting it. Mendelsohn explains, “The idea of collaborating with communities and nations to obtain consent for the use of their cultural heritage as educational resources is a relatively new practice in the museum field. The University Museums at Colgate believe that obtaining consent for the use of cultural items and their digital counterparts is a profoundly important step toward decolonizing our practices and redressing past harms inflicted by past museum collecting practices.” The Consul General’s office, INAH, and Colgate launched their partnership in 2021, when Islas López contacted Mendelsohn to discuss pieces of Mexican cultural heritage he had learned were housed at Colgate University. The two agreed that the voluntary return of these items, which was also embraced by President Brian W. Casey and Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lesleigh Cushing, could open a new era of collaboration between the University and institutions in Mexico. “Colgate’s mission is to educate ethical and empathetic leaders for lives of service,” says Cushing. “We teach these lessons in the classroom, and we look for opportunities to model them through our interactions with local, national, and international communities. This partnership with the Consul General, INAH, and scholars from across Mexico exemplifies this commitment.” Since that initial phone call, the University has hosted Islas López and members of his staff for a review of holdings. Alejandro Bautista Valdespino, deputy director for the Registration of Movable Archaeological Monuments at INAH, visited the University last February to analyze the collections in detail. While on campus, Valdespino met with members of the faculty and the student body to discuss the finer points of Mexican art history, archaeology, and cultural heritage preservation efforts. “Although the objects were extracted from their original context without the adequate scientific control of a formal archaeological exploration, each artifact is equivalent to a line within the text of the story of our origins,” says Bautista Valdespino. “This successful case encourages INAH and other Mexican institutions involved in the recovery of cultural property to continue with the mission undertaken. Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Sept. 22, 2023 | Representantes de la Universidad de Colgate, el Consulado General de México en Nueva York y el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia se reúnen para discutir los planes de repatriación y el establecimiento de la colección embajadora. In addition to restituting items, the international collaboration developed as part of this project has opened the door to a wide range of academic collaborations. In January 2024, a delegation of Colgate faculty members traveled to Mexico to tour a series of that country’s colleges and universities. “We started thinking about not only having connections to Mexico that pertain to these efforts but also other types of connections that could go through the core of what we do, which is teaching and research,” says delegation member Juan Fernando Ibarra Del Cueto, assistant professor of political science at Colgate. “We have a range of scholars across several departments who do research on Spanish-speaking countries or subject matters that require knowledge of Spanish.” Relationships could also open the door for students to participate in off-campus study programs. “There is a lot to learn from this area, and it is worth our students being involved there and getting to know Mexico and the perspectives of the Mexican people,” says Joanna Holvey Bowles, director of off-campus study. For their part, the Colgate University Museums have set decolonization efforts and ethical stewardship of the collections in their care as a key strategic priority as Colgate moves forward with the development of arts, creativity, and innovation initiatives in its Third-Century Plan. Staff at the Longyear Museum of Anthropology and Picker Gallery play key roles in training a new generation of museum professionals through internship opportunities with the museums and collaboration with Colgate’s museum studies academic program. “I am grateful for the work — and goodwill — that everyone on campus and at the Consulate has put into this project,” says President Brian W. Casey. “I look forward to seeing our academic exchange continue in the months and years ahead.” La Universidad de Colgate y los Estados Unidos Mexicanos fortalecen su colaboración La Universidad de Colgate y los Estados Unidos Mexicanos han dado un paso más para avanzar en su relación académica y de cooperación. El 23 de septiembre de 2024, Colgate restituyó voluntariamente 1,005 piezas arqueológicas de patrimonio cultural al pueblo de México, sumándose a las 67 piezas devueltas en 2023. La transferencia fue coordinada por la oficina del entonces Cónsul General de México en Nueva York, Excmo. Sr. Jorge Islas López, quien recibió las piezas en el consulado en la Ciudad de Nueva York, y por el personal de los Museos Universitarios de Colgate, bajo la dirección de Rebecca Mendelsohn, codirectora de los Museos Universitarios de Colgate y curadora del Museo de Antropología Longyear. “Este proyecto refleja el profundo respeto mutuo a la base del entendimiento entre el Gobierno de México y la Universidad de Colgate. Nos enorgullece ver cómo esta colaboración fortalece nuestro compromiso compartido con la preservación de la rica historia de México y con honrar las tradiciones milenarias que mantienen vivas nuestras comunidades indígenas. Esperamos que inspire a otros a salvaguardar el patrimonio cultural y a ampliar nuestra comprensión colectiva de la historia y las prácticas museísticas”, expresó el Excmo. Sr. Jorge Islas López, Cónsul General de México en Nueva York (2019-2024). Las piezas, que fueron predominantemente recolectadas en México durante la década de 1950, llegaron a Colgate desde diversas fuentes a lo largo de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Durante décadas, los profesores de Colgate han utilizado las colecciones, que incluyen esculturas, cerámica y otros objetos, como herramientas didácticas. Esta restitución voluntaria y los acuerdos relacionados representan un reconocimiento importante del derecho del pueblo mexicano a controlar su patrimonio cultural. “Es con profundo respeto que la Universidad de Colgate devuelve estos objetos a su país de origen”, comentó Mendelsohn, “con el entendimiento de que serán restituidos lo más cerca posible a sus comunidades de origen”. Además de esta restitución, un acuerdo histórico entre la Universidad, el Consulado General de México en Nueva York y el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) estableció una colección embajadora que permite que un subconjunto de la colección, compuesto por más de 900 piezas fragmentarias, permanezca en Colgate para uso educativo, con el permiso del gobierno mexicano. Esta colección está destinada a profundizar en la comprensión del rico y diverso patrimonio cultural de México, así como en la importancia de su preservación y respeto. Mendelsohn explica: “La idea de colaborar con comunidades y naciones para obtener su consentimiento en el uso de su patrimonio cultural como recurso educativo es una práctica relativamente nueva en el ámbito museístico. Los Museos Universitarios de Colgate consideran que obtener ese consentimiento es un paso profundamente importante para descolonizar nuestras prácticas y reparar los daños causados por las prácticas de recolección de museos en el pasado”. La oficina del Cónsul General, el INAH y Colgate iniciaron su colaboración en 2021, cuando Islas López contactó a Mendelsohn para discutir piezas de patrimonio cultural mexicano que había identificado en la Universidad de Colgate. Ambos acordaron que la restitución voluntaria de estos objetos, respaldada también por el presidente Brian W. Casey y la rectora y decana de la facultad, Lesleigh Cushing, podría abrir una nueva era de colaboración entre la Universidad y las instituciones en México. “La misión de Colgate es formar líderes éticos y empáticos para vidas de servicio”, comentó Cushing. “Enseñamos estas lecciones en el aula y buscamos oportunidades para modelarlas a través de nuestras interacciones con comunidades locales, nacionales e internacionales. Esta colaboración con el Cónsul General, el INAH y académicos de todo México ejemplifica este compromiso”. A partir de esa llamada inicial, la Universidad recibió a Islas López y a miembros de su equipo para una revisión de los acervos. Alejandro Bautista Valdespino, subdirector de Registro de Monumentos Arqueológicos Muebles del INAH, visitó la Universidad en febrero pasado para analizar las colecciones en detalle. Durante su visita, Bautista Valdespino se reunió con miembros del cuerpo docente y estudiantil para discutir aspectos destacados de la historia del arte mexicano, la arqueología y los esfuerzos de preservación del patrimonio cultural. “Aunque los objetos fueron extraídos de su contexto original sin el control científico adecuado de una exploración arqueológica formal, cada artefacto equivale a una línea dentro del texto de la historia de nuestros orígenes”, señaló Bautista Valdespino. “Este caso exitoso motiva al INAH y a otras instituciones mexicanas involucradas en la recuperación de bienes culturales a continuar con la misión emprendida”. Además de la restitución de piezas, la colaboración internacional desarrollada como parte de este proyecto ha abierto la puerta a una amplia gama de intercambios académicos. En enero de 2024, una delegación de profesores de Colgate viajó a México para recorrer una serie de universidades mexicanas. “Empezamos a pensar en tener vínculos con México más allá de los relacionados con estos esfuerzos, sino también en otras conexiones que podrían integrarse al núcleo de lo que hacemos: que es la enseñanza y la investigación”, explicó Juan Fernando Ibarra Del Cueto, profesor asistente de ciencias políticas en Colgate e integrante de la delegación. “Tenemos una variedad de académicos en varios departamentos que investigan países de habla hispana o temas que requieren conocimiento del español”. Estas relaciones también podrían abrir oportunidades para que los estudiantes participen en programas de estudio fuera del campus. “Hay mucho que aprender de esta región, y vale la pena que nuestros estudiantes se involucren allí y conozcan México y las perspectivas del pueblo mexicano”, dijo Joanna Holvey Bowles, directora de programas de estudio fuera del campus. Por su parte, los Museos Universitarios de Colgate han establecido como prioridad estratégica los esfuerzos de descolonización y la gestión ética de las colecciones bajo su cuidado, a medida que Colgate avanza en el desarrollo de iniciativas artísticas, creativas y de innovación dentro de su Plan del Tercer Siglo. El personal del Museo de Antropología Longyear y de la Galería Picker desempeña un papel clave en la formación de una nueva generación de profesionales de museos a través de oportunidades de prácticas y colaboración con el programa académico de estudios museísticos de Colgate. “Agradezco el trabajo —y la buena voluntad— de todos en el campus y en el Consulado que han hecho posible este proyecto”, expresó el presidente Brian W. Casey. “Espero con interés que nuestro intercambio académico continúe en los próximos meses y años”.Faculty News News and Updates Faculty & Staff Longyear Museum Representatives from Colgate University, the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, and the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia gather to discuss plans for repatriation and the establishment of the ambassador collection | Firma del Memorando de Entendimiento el 22 de septiembre de 2023.
- Dudrick Promotes Open Dialogue Following Duke Seminar on Civil DiscourseDudrick Promotes Open Dialogue Following Duke Seminar on Civil Discourse tmfonda@colgate.edu Last summer, George Carleton Jr. Professor of Philosophy David Dudrick was one of 20 academics who participated in Duke University sessions focused on promoting civil discourse on campuses across the United States. By exploring the value of open, face-to-face dialogue and strategies to cultivate intellectual sympathy among students, he deepened his commitment to address the divisive impact of polarization in higher education. First offered in 2022, the three-day seminar centers around the work of John Rose, a former instructor of ethics at Duke. His research on virtue ethics and political polarization informs the program, which features interactive exercises, guest speakers, and a curated list of readings on subjects including free speech and political polarization. “When we limit ourselves to a single perspective, we stray from the foundational values of a liberal arts education — chief among them, freedom,” says Dudrick. “True learning happens when students engage with diverse viewpoints and are encouraged to think critically about their own beliefs.” Joined by scholars from a range of institutions, including Stanford, MIT, and UNC Chapel Hill, Dudrick explored ways to address issues such as political correctness and free speech in campus settings. “In general, it seems like there is a recognition of the need for these kinds of conversations, the environment in which they can happen, and the training they require,” he says. Since attending the program, Dudrick has renewed his focus on fostering open, civil discourse in his philosophy courses, including Existentialism (PHIL 216) and the Philosophy of Religion (PHIL 226). He has, for example, been introduced to a technique where students are randomly assigned to argue for perspectives, encouraging them to inhabit viewpoints without the necessity to agree personally. “My objective is to make the classroom a space where students critically examine alternative perspectives and objections,” he says. “I’ve always valued this approach, but the seminar underscored how essential it is for meaningful learning.” This is the spirit behind Colgate’s own Statement on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression. At an institutional level, Dudrick has since shared these values as a member of the subsequent Task Force on Institutional Voice, formed to evaluate whether and when Colgate University should issue official statements on national or world events. “Dialogue requires more than just speech — it demands genuine, community-based conversations,” says Dudrick. This spring, the University will present a new Presidential Speaker Series, “The University and the Public Good: The Role of the American College in Our Time.” Focused on the state of higher education in America, the series will kick off with an interview between University President Brian Casey, Bret Stephens of the New York Times, and Goldie Blumenstyk ’79 of the Chronicle of Higher Education. The series draws on recommendations made by the Task Force on Institutional Voice, which calls on Colgate to see national and international unrest as an opportunity for deep learning and engagement. “This is the civil part of civil discourse — Civitas,” says Dudrick. “It’s about recognizing that we are part of a community and showing care for one another in the form of constructive conversations.” Dudrick’s explorations of best practices in promoting civil discourse at Colgate are supported through a planning grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Faculty News People News and Updates Faculty & Staff Philosophy David Dudrick, George Carleton Jr. Professor of Philosophy (Photo by Mark DiOrio)
- Warming Winters Spell Change for Antarctic PermafrostWarming Winters Spell Change for Antarctic Permafrost Contributing Writer A McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research project technician services the Lake Hoare weather station used in this study. Photo by Hilary Dugan Antarctica is like no other place on Earth. The continent has been locked in glaciers for 34 million years, with a mere 1% of the land surface free of ice sheets. “It’s Earth’s radiator, central to how the planet maintains livable temperatures,” said Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Geosciences Joe Levy. “The long-held perception is that Antarctica, unlike the Arctic, is very stable and its permafrost isn’t threatened.” Levy’s newly published study in Antarctic Science, however, reveals that Antarctica is changing in ways that will alter its influence on global climate and ocean patterns. The study started as a senior class project in 2023. Levy asked students to read a paper about the effects of warming Arctic winters on permafrost and then look for evidence of similar trends in Antarctica. “Existing Antarctic research all focused on summertime warming,” said Levy. “No one thought we needed to look during the winter. The average temperature is -30 Celsius, after all.” The class analyzed publicly available wintertime data from 10 automated meteorological stations maintained through the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, part of the National Science Foundation’s LTER Program. “You don’t have to go to Antarctica to be an Antarctic scientist, thanks to the amazing data they collect and publish,” Levy said. “My students loved digging into these nearly real-time data sets and being part of the discovery process.” The students did indeed find consistent evidence of rising winter temperatures in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. At 1,900 square miles, the dry valleys comprise Antarctica’s largest ice-free region. “They’re our laboratory for understanding Antarctica’s land-based processes, including how water and dissolved nutrients run off the soil into the Southern Ocean,” Levy said. “They’re also a model for how Antarctica could function in a future with drastically less ice.” The class’ findings inspired Levy and Gavin Fowler ’24, now a graduate student at the University of Chicago, to dig deeper. Fowler, who coauthored the new study, created the code to organize and analyze a massive amount of meteorological information: 30 years of soil temperature, air temperature, wind speed, and infrared radiation data collected by the 10 LTER stations. “We were blown away to find that not only were winters getting warmer — the rate of warming is greater in winter than summer,” Levy said. When the permafrost can’t freeze as deeply in winter, more melting and erosion can occur in summer whether summertime temperatures are increasing or not. “Think of scooping ice cream that’s frozen through. Then think about ice cream that hasn’t been in the freezer long,” Levy said. “It’s softer and a lot easier to scoop. You reach lower levels and expose them more quickly. Then they melt more quickly.” Hurricane-like winter windstorms are known to push warmer air across the dry valleys. When Levy and Fowler removed wind from the data, however, they still saw “background warming.” “This demonstrates the air is getting warmer in winter independent of local weather in a particular valley,” Levy said. “For geoscientists, this is a wake-up call. We need to think differently and put aside preconceptions about Antarctica’s stability,” Levy said. “Students were instrumental in this project because they didn’t bring those preconceived notions.” Over time, Antarctica may evolve from a cold desert reminiscent of the Martian landscape to an ecosystem akin to Arctic tundra. Levy projects that the first permafrost could completely thaw and vanish from Antarctica as early as 2130. “In geological terms, 2130 is remarkably close,” he said. How this evolution will influence Earth’s climate, oceans, and life in temperate zones over the coming decades will be an important topic for further research. Levy’s own near-term next steps include using satellite remote sensing and a network of ground sensors to learn how widespread wintertime warming is across the continent and confirm the rate of warming in locations outside the dry valleys. “This project confirms in my mind that the change is inevitable. That means the coming loss of a very special place,” Levy said. “But if we hadn’t realized what’s happening to the permafrost now, we would’ve been blindsided by the time the effects are significant.” “Antarctic scientists do what we do to prepare people everywhere for what the future holds,” Levy said. “The more we know about how Antarctica is changing, the more we can prepare. Now we have a date, and we can plan for what comes after the thaw. That makes me hopeful.” — Meghan McDonald Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Faculty News Research Alumni News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Department of Earth & Environmental Geosciences A McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research project technician services the Lake Hoare weather station used in this study. (Photo by Hilary Dugan)