Colgate University Makes History with Single Day of Giving rtaurisano@col… Mon, 12/16/2024 - 16:53 The collective generosity of donors who gave nearly $2 million unlocked an additional $1.5 million gift from a group of challengers that is designated to support the Colgate Commitment, the University’s financial aid initiative devoted to access and affordability. Alumni Third Century Alumni Faculty & Staff Student

Colgate Students Build Community and Connections Through International Debate oaquije Mon, 12/16/2024 - 15:57 For the Colgate Debate Society, the opportunity to square off against top debaters from the most prestigious universities across the globe has become more than intellectual competition. It is a chance to build friendships and meet others from different cultures. That was one of the highlights for the Colgate squad when it competed in the Oxford Intervarsity 2024 (known also as Oxford IV), Nov. 9–10. The tournament, held at Oxford University, welcomed hundreds of students. Many came from U.S. or U.K. institutions, though various European countries and Canada were also represented. In all, 115 teams participated, including three teams from Colgate, each made up of two students. “The Oxford IV is known for being a particularly challenging tournament, mainly because of the diverse group of debaters and the complex topics that are chosen,” says team president Sophia Lee-Wlodek ’25, a biochemistry major from Los Angeles. During debates, students make their arguments using the style followed by the British Parliament. When a motion is made, one side argues in favor of it while the other opposes it. For instance, one of the topics was titled “This House Believes That Developed Countries Should Adopt a Generalist Education System Rather Than a Specialist Education System.” Other subjects covered economic matters of foreign nations, politics, and women’s rights. “Participants only have 15 minutes to prepare their speeches, and we’re not allowed to use any external sources — no books, no internet, and no AI assistance,” Lee-Wlodek said. Each team competed in five rounds against four other colleges. “We are a fairly competitive team, often being paired against some of the best teams in the tournament,” says team treasurer Boen Beavers ’26, a political science and Russian and Eurasian studies double major. “My partner and I debated against teams from Cambridge, Harvard, and Brown University.” One of Colgate’s three teams earned a first-place finish in one of its rounds. A team from Cambridge won the competition. The Colgate team prepares for tournaments by practicing two days per week, covering everything from the basics of British Parliament Debate to advanced techniques. The team welcomes debaters of all skill levels and offers opportunities for beginners who wish to compete. Alongside the Oxford IV, the team’s calendar includes the U.S. and world debate championships — Colgate will compete in the world tournament in Panama during winter break. “Spring semester, our biggest tournament, or one we focus the most on, is our home Colgate Open,” Lee-Wlodek says. “That debate is always a great opportunity for our members to learn how tournaments run behind the scenes.” Relationships formed around the world will come in handy. “Within the debate community it is easy to make friends with other students, many of whom are from different countries and cultures, academic disciplines, and walks of life,” Beavers says. “This has also allowed us to collaborate with debaters from other countries when we host our own tournament.” Campus Life News and Updates Student Left to right: Josephine DeBono ’26, Molly O'Brien ’27, Boen Beavers ’26, Bella Duarte ’28, Sam Wolff ’28, Ben Dokupil ’25, Andrew Ludwin ’27, Sophia Lee-Wlodek ’25

Institutional Statements and the Work of the University bcasey@colgate.edu Tue, 12/10/2024 - 10:30 A message to the Colgate community from President Brian W. Casey on the work of the Task Force on Institutional Voice. Read more. University Statements Faculty & Staff Student

Francesca Zambello ’78 Announced as Colgate’s Inaugural Clifford Innovator in Residence jkellogg@colgate.edu Tue, 12/10/2024 - 10:03 Colgate will host Francesca Zambello ’78 as the inaugural Clifford Innovator in Residence in February 2025. Zambello is the artistic director of the Washington National Opera. She also served as the general and artistic director of the Glimmerglass Festival — transforming the lives of children and early career artists in all aspects of theater through her many apprenticeship programs. The Clifford Innovator in Residence is made possible through the generosity of J. Christopher Clifford ’67, H’11, Keena Clifford P’93, and Carrie Clifford ’93, and their support of Colgate’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Initiative. The residency will bring innovators from across different fields in the arts, entrepreneurship, pedagogy, and technology to share their knowledge and work with the Colgate community.   During Zambello’s residency she will workshop scenes from a new opera, O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky. The opera is based on the lives of two pioneering women in the arts, American Modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe and Mabel Dodge Luhan, a patron of the arts associated with the Taos artist colony in the early 20th century. Zambello will work with Colgate students, faculty, staff, and a team of professional artists to develop original music, text, and choreography for the new opera. Zambello’s team includes Christopher Tin, a two-time Grammy-winning composer; Jessica Lang, resident choreographer at Pacific Northwest Ballet and artist in residence at Sarasota Ballet; and Kelley Rourke, a librettist, translator, and dramaturg. Christian DuComb, associate dean of the faculty and director of the Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Steering Committee says, “Francesca Zambello is a terrific choice for Colgate’s inaugural innovator in residence. She is not only an internationally distinguished opera and theater director, but also an entrepreneurial leader in the performing arts.” He notes that Colgate students and faculty members will have the opportunity to participate in a process of collaborative creation with high-caliber professional artists and share their work with the University community. In addition, Zambello and her team will leave Colgate at the conclusion of the residency with new material for their opera, and Colgate will be credited for support in all future productions. “It’s an honor and a privilege for Colgate to be able to support this work — and for Colgate students to contribute to its development,” says DuComb.  Academics Arts and Humanities Alumni Third Century Arts Institutional News News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Bernstein Hall, a hub of creativity and innovation and the anchor of Middle Campus (Photo by Bernie Freytag)

Colgate in the Media: November 2024 kputman@colgate.edu Thu, 12/05/2024 - 15:27 Colgate University faculty, staff, and alumni regularly provide their expertise and contribute to national and regional media outlets shaping discussions around vital research and current events.  Mysterious ‘Dark Big Bang’ Could Explain the Origins of Dark Matter SciTechDaily, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie and Richard Casey ’24 New study reveals possible origins of dark matter in ‘Dark Big Bang’ scenario Phys.org, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie and Richard Casey ’24 New theory called “Dark Big Bang” attempts to explain dark matter Earth.com, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie and Richard Casey ’24 Commentary: Trump’s rhetoric is frightening and toxic Miami Herald, Associate Professor of History; University Professor, First Year Seminars Alexander Karn The corruption of MAGA comedy Salon, Associate Professor of History; University Professor, First Year Seminars Alexander Karn Explainer: Why is there a two-party system in U.S.? Geo News, Associate Professor of Political Science; Director, Public Affairs and Policy Research Initiative Sam Rosenfeld Labor consultant: Foreign workers crucial to future success of North Dakota and the nation Grand Forks Herald, W. Bradford Wiley Professor of International Economics; Chair, Department of Economics Nicole Simpson This Maine man lost his brother during WWII. He's still searching for answers. Portland Press Herald, Maine, Elmer (Pat) Wright, Class of 1942 Mark Murphy selected for Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame after 17 years atop organization Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mark Murphy ’77 How a Buffalo Bills fan became transformative Green Bay Packers leader WFRV Green Bay, Mark Murphy ’77 Meet John Krasinski's successful older brothers Paul and Kevin — their alternative career paths revealed Hello!, Kevin Krasinski ’95 Who Is Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wife? All About Lori Shapiro People, Lori Shapiro ’95 Maple Leafs’ Bobby McMann finding adaptation to NHL an ongoing process Toronto Sun, Bobby McMann ’20 The Boston Fleet’s roster is set for the start of the new season. Here’s a closer look at the players. Boston.com, Sydney Bard ’24 Ottawa Charge bring ‘relentless’ identity to nation's capital in 2nd PWHL campaign CBC Sports, Danielle Serdachny ’24 Faculty News Alumni News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff

Conservation in Action: Barbara Gonzalez Fuentes ’25 in South Africa Contributing Writer Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:04 Barbara Gonzalez Fuentes ’25 made the most of her summer in South Africa. Read more.  Research Career Development News and Updates Student Department of Geography Africana And Latin American Studies Program Barbara Gonzalez Fuentes ’25 on assignment at Gondwana Game Reserve

Colgate’s Planetarium Brings Ancient History to Life nhendrickson@c… Tue, 12/03/2024 - 08:44 For those looking to stargaze on Colgate’s campus, there are two options: look up on a cloudless night or visit the Ho Tung Visualization Lab on the fourth floor of the Ho Science Center. While both options offer a glimpse of the stars, the planetarium also offers something distinctive: views of the heavens over interactive, award-winning 3D models of ancient sites. Joe Eakin, technical director of the lab, began building the models in 2008 to accompany the content of a course called Astronomy in Culture, taught by Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy and Anthropology and Native American Studies Anthony Aveni. The class explored how ancient cultures integrated the stars into their traditions and everyday lives. Students would visit the lab to watch projections of site models that offered them an interactive visual of places they studied. Though the course is no longer offered, anthropology classes still take a seat in the lab to see their learning come to life. When sophomore Jude Ramanan visited to watch a show during his pre-orientation last year, he was intrigued. “I thought, ‘Hey, I’m a computer science major,’ so I figured I would see if I could apply to work here,” Ramanan said. Ramanan was hired as a producer and tasked with rebuilding the Teotihuacan model that Eakin had begun years ago. Ramanan began to teach himself the gaming software Unreal to turn the model into an interactive game. In October 2024, Ramanan, Eakin, and Rochester Institute of Technology intern Sam Larson presented their completed model at the Digistar Users Group Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. To their surprise, the team won the Most Original or Innovative Idea Award for their demo. “They were ecstatic. I was a little bit in shock because our demo was totally different from any of the others,” Eakin said. “All the others were astronomy-based. Some were interactive, but not in the same sense as ours because of the gaming features. I think people were excited to see it because it was the first of its kind to be shared with everyone.” Ramanan believes that their model challenges the traditional view of planetariums as theaters solely for astronomy, “Whenever people think of planetariums, they think of stars and black holes. Not a lot of people think of other subjects like archeology, history, or culture,” Ramanan said. “Joe calls us ‘the dome for all disciplines.’ We want to bring planetariums to all sorts of subjects and all sorts of different classes.” Teotihuacan, while lesser known than other Mesoamerican sites, was immense. The vis lab team hopes that the model instills a greater appreciation of the city in viewers as well as a better understanding of its proportions.   “Being able to show the model in an immersive space like this gives people a different perspective and hopefully gives them a sense of scale,” Eakin said. “The city is massive, probably 100,000 people lived there in its heyday. The pyramids are as grand as the pyramids of Egypt.” The group is now working on a planetarium show of the model that is accompanied by a narrative voiceover. The group hopes that the show will one day be uploaded to a shared database through which planetariums across the country will be able to display their work. “The show will go into more detail about how different Mesoamerican cultures aligned their cities with the stars and how they may have lived,” Larson said. Academics News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student An interactive 3D model of Teotihuacan, built by students and staff in Colgate’s Ho Tung Visualization Lab

Amelia Rastley ’25: Out to SEA in Fiji Contributing Writer Wed, 11/20/2024 - 13:45 Amelia Rastley ’25 spent her summer along the coast of Fiji conducting research on coral reefs with the Sea Education Association (SEA). Read more. Academics Research Student Department of Earth & Environmental Geosciences

Madison County EMS Celebrates Anniversary tokeeffe1@colg… Wed, 11/20/2024 - 08:56 At an open house marking the one-year anniversary of the switch from the Southern-Madison Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) to Madison County EMS, county officials spoke about the smooth transition and expanded training opportunities for Colgate University student volunteers. The Nov. 11 event also allowed community members to meet first responders and see the physical improvements made to the ambulance headquarters in the village of Hamilton. “Our main goal was to make sure it was a good transition,” said Jenna Illingworth, director of Madison County Emergency Medical Services. “From what I’ve been hearing from the public, it has been pretty seamless.” Hamilton Mayor RuthAnn Loveless and Town Supervisor Eve Ann Shwartz echoed that sentiment, with the mayor saying the switchover went “remarkably well” while Schwartz pointed out how the county team “seamlessly followed in the footsteps of the SOMAC volunteers who served our community so well for 37 years.” Since SOMAC ended operations on Nov. 11, 2023, the county EMS has received roughly 1,000 emergency calls, a slight uptick from previous years. “The crew stays here the whole time. So they're out the door within two minutes. If they’re not, they get a phone call from me,” Illingworth said. The Hamilton EMTs also transport about 40 patients each month who require specialized care, traveling to hospitals as far away as Binghamton and Albany.  The first responders include 32 Colgate student volunteers, who Illingworth said bring an impressive level of commitment and energy. “They’re doing an awesome job, and it’s really been a lot of fun to watch them grow and turn into the providers they are today.” Two major changes since the county has taken over are the addition of a dedicated classroom space for students and staff and a new room, with two bunk beds and a computer station, that allows student EMTs to rest or do coursework while they wait for calls.  Michelle Ovchinsky ’26 is a neuroscience major from Millburn, N.J., who has been an EMT volunteer at the station for three years. She said having a dedicated training coordinator from the county — Morgan Pedersen — has been a game-changer. “With SOMAC, we really didn’t have a specific person who would work with the student training coordinators,” explained Ovchinsky. “But Morgan has been extremely hands-on and so helpful. She’s brought in a lot of training tools we didn't have before.” Logan Zamzam ’26 said his EMT skills and those of the other volunteers have definitely been boosted by the more formalized training. “We can do more interactive training rather than just lectures because we have the resources now,” he said. The molecular biology major from Grand Rapids, Mich., said he’s been on about 20 ambulance runs this semester, several that involved people suffering physical trauma after being in vehicle accidents. Ovchinsky said she’s learned about different types of care after responding to calls from rural areas outside the village. “Some people don't have proper access to health care so they wait until the last possible moment to call. So, you’re working with patients who are in a very serious health position,” Ovchinsky said. It’s not just the medical training that proves valuable. While both students are on pre-med tracks, Ovchinsky said there are other students with unrelated majors such as political science who benefit from volunteering.  “You're working with lots of people from different backgrounds who are at very different places in their lives. You really have to learn how to be personable and how to work well with them and work well as a team,” Ovchinsky said. Illingworth said that, early next year, she will open the new classroom to the public for courses on CPR, first-aid, and ways to help people who are bleeding badly. The Stop the Bleed class is especially important in the agricultural areas around Hamilton, she said, and participants will learn how to use tourniquets and other methods to stop any kind of bleeding prior to EMTs getting there.   Another overall benefit to the transition is increased flexibility. The Hamilton station has three ambulances, and, along with the 12 full-time employees and the student volunteers, there are a multitude of part-time and per-diem workers. Illingworth said that resources can be shared between the Hamilton station and the second county ambulance station in the Town of Sullivan. “It’s like a load share,” she said. “During very busy times we can share ambulances and crews from one station to the other if they are needed and are available.” Joe Hernon, who leads Colgate’s emergency management operations, said that from the University’s perspective, the transition has gone extremely well. “The county has been an outstanding partner in this entire process,” Hernon said. “We’re genuinely excited to see their great work and to continue collaborating as they expand their programs to support our community and students.” Campus Life Community Service News and Updates Student From left, Madison County EMTs Arianna Stolowitz ’26, Michelle Ovchinsky ’26, and Logan Zamzam ’26 attend the Madison County EMS open house.

New Study Reveals Possible Origins of Dark Matter in “Dark Big Bang” Scenario Contributing Writer Tue, 11/19/2024 - 10:08 Recent research by a student-faculty team at Colgate University unlocks new clues that could radically change the world’s understanding of the origin of dark matter. Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie and Richard Casey ’24 have explored an idea put forth by two scientists at the University of Texas at Austin, Katherine Freese and Martin Winkler, suggesting that dark matter may have originated from a separate “Dark Big Bang,” occurring shortly after the birth of the universe. It is widely accepted that all the matter filling our universe (including dark matter) originated from one major event — the Big Bang. This corresponds to the end of the cosmic inflation period, when the vacuum energy that drove the very brief extreme expansion initial phase of our universe was converted into a hot plasma of radiation and particles. One of the most pressing mysteries is the origin and the nature of dark matter, which accounts for about 25% of the energy budget of the Universe today. While not yet directly detected in underground experiments, or observed in accelerators, the gravitational effects of dark matter have been firmly established on galactic and extragalactic scales. Moreover, dark matter leaves observable imprints on the electromagnetic afterglow of the Big Bang, the so-called cosmic microwave background radiation.   In 2023, Freese and Winkler proposed that dark matter, unlike ordinary matter, may have arisen from a distinct Big Bang event, which could have taken place months after the conventional Big Bang [1]. In this model, dark matter particles are produced via the decay of a quantum field that  only couples to the Dark Sector and is initially trapped in a false metastable vacuum state. In their recent study [2], Ilie and Casey explore and refine this Dark Big Bang model by determining all the possible scenarios for its realization that remain consistent with current experimental data. Most notably, their work uncovers a previously unexplored range of possible parameters that could explain dark matter’s origin. The study also determines the potential observable consequences of these new scenarios, particularly the generation of gravitational waves that could be detectable by future experiments. “Detecting gravitational waves generated by the Dark Big Bang could provide crucial evidence for this new theory of dark matter,” said Ilie “With current experiments like the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) on the horizon, we may soon have the tools to test this model in unprecedented ways.” The 2023 detection of background gravitational waves by the NANOGrav collaboration, part of IPTA, could be linked to a realization of the Dark Big Bang. As future experiments provide more precise measurements, the study’s findings could help refine our understanding of the parameters governing the Dark Big Bang and potentially confirm it as the true origin of dark matter. The implications of these discoveries could extend beyond dark matter, as they offer a new perspective on the early history of the universe and the forces that shaped its evolution. The search for answers to the mysteries of dark matter and its origins continues to drive research at the forefront of modern cosmology. [1] Katherine Freese and Martin Winkler,  Phys.Rev.D 107 (2023) 8, 083522 [2] Richard Casey and Cosmin Ilie, Phys.Rev.D (2024) 110, 103522 Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Alumni News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Student Department of Physics and Astronomy The Summer 2023 research group. L to R: Jared Diks ’25, Lance Chen ’25, Shafaat Mahmud ’26, Jillian Paulin ’23, Richard Casey ’24, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie

Jalabil Residency Brings Maya Weaving Culture to Colgate tmfonda@colgate.edu Mon, 11/18/2024 - 11:53 Oct. 17–31, the Department of History and Longyear Museum of Anthropology welcomed artists from Jalabil, a women’s weaving collective in Chiapas, Mexico, for a two-week residency. During this time, the visiting artists — Teresa Gómez Sántiz, Analí Gómez Sántiz, and Consuela Sántiz Gómez — shared their textiles, language, and culture with the Colgate community. In the Tseltal language, “Jalabil” means “weaving,” an art form that the women of Jalabil practice using traditional Maya designs and techniques. At a roundtable discussion held in the Center for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Teresa explained the origins of the collective, which was founded in 2014. “When we were girls, weaving was sort of like playing,” she said, adding that it was also a way to clothe themselves. But when the women first coalesced into a collective to sell their textiles, they encountered obstacles. “If we really wanted to sell our products, we needed to be willing to travel,” she realized, since the collective could not command fair prices at local tourist sites. It wasn’t until Teresa began traveling to other parts of Mexico, such as Expo events and markets in Mexico City, that the women of Jalabil began to find a better market. Professor of History Rachel Newman first met Teresa in 2007, when Newman was an undergraduate at Yale. During a summer research project in Chiapas, she was connected with Teresa to coordinate a language exchange — but the two soon became friends, desiring to continue their interactions in Spanish, instead. “When we met, I hoped that one day I could be a professor, and perhaps if I could achieve that dream, that it would be possible to invite Teresa and other artists to whatever campus I ended up at as guests,” says Newman. In 2022, when she was hired at Colgate, Newman connected with Rebecca Mendelsohn, curator of the Longyear Museum, to begin a collaboration for Jalabil’s residency. The team had support from many co-sponsors, including the Colgate Arts Council, the ALANA Cultural Center, the W. M. Keck Center for Language Study, and the Department of Africana and Latin American Studies. Several of the artists’ works have since become part of the Longyear Museum’s permanent collection, including a special donation made during a weaving demonstration: one of their looms. The loom is large, “several yards long, composed of a long collection of parallel threads which form the weft,” explains Darwin Rodriguez, museum operations manager. Using the apparatus, the artists align and design their textiles by hand, using wooden tools to pull them taut. At the conclusion of the residency, Newman is grateful for the friendship she formed in Chiapas and its impact. “On a personal level, this is the thing I’ve been involved with professionally that means the most to me,” she says. “And bringing artists like the members of Jalabil to our campus is absolutely essential to making Colgate a globalized place.” Arts People News and Updates Faculty & Staff Longyear Museum Department of History Africana And Latin American Studies Program The Department of History and Longyear Museum of Anthropology welcome artists from weaving collective Jalabil (Photo by Mark DiOrio)

Celebrating Languages and Cakes from Around the Globe sliddell@colgate.edu Fri, 11/15/2024 - 14:51 On Oct. 28, Colgate University’s W. M. Keck Center for Language Study was standing room only as students and faculty gathered for the “Double Your World” and “Cake Night” mixer, an event designed to encourage students to explore the connections between language studies and other academic fields. Co-hosted with Colgate’s Division of Arts and Humanities, the event attracted students from all majors and class years. Hovering around the cake table, students had the opportunity to share their academic passions while also sampling cakes from around the world — each baked and presented by one of Colgate’s eight international language interns. The mixer showcased how students at Colgate are “doubling their world” by embracing double majors that combine language studies with disciplines like natural sciences, math, and social sciences. In addition to helping students consider the range of language courses offered for the spring semester, faculty members spoke about the transformative role of language in broadening perspectives and professional opportunities. Senior Lecturer in University Studies Aleksandr Sklyar ’10 shared how a simple calendar problem during his sophomore year at Colgate sparked his lifelong passion for language. “As a student here, I was dead set on studying Hebrew but settled on Japanese due to a scheduling conflict with a history course I wanted to take,” Sklyar explained. “That choice, by chance, changed my path, and now I teach courses in both Japanese and Russian here at Colgate. Serendipitous moments like these can lead to new paths, and I hope you meet others tonight who inspire and open up new worlds for you as they did for me.” Similarly, Ben Horner ’25 and Anneliese Coleman ’27 shared how Japanese and Russian, respectively, have enriched their studies in physics, allowing them to approach scientific ideas through a cross-cultural lens. Horner reflected on the impact language has on collaboration in STEM. “In the sciences,” he said, “you can be a great researcher, but in the end, it’s all about effectively communicating with others and understanding what they want to communicate back to you.” Since beginning Japanese during his sophomore year, Horner credits the language with helping him to connect with other researchers on a deeper level. The annual “Cake Center” event, held for the first time alongside the mixer, added an extra layer of excitement — and sweetness — to the evening. International language interns prepared cakes from their home countries, each one a distinctive culinary introduction to a different culture. Laughter and conversation filled the room as attendees tried treats from Venezuela, Japan, Egypt, and more. Interns took turns introducing their cakes, sharing stories of family recipes and favorite cultural flavors, and, in some cases, acknowledging their culinary mishaps. “It seems making a traditional Chinese cake is just as difficult as learning Chinese,” joked Chinese language intern Joanna Qiao. Whether it was Kotomi Shimizu’s traditional Japanese daifuku or Alessandro Muzzi’s Italian apple cake that “didn’t turn out as planned,” the event offered a taste of international language, cuisine, and camaraderie to all. Academics Arts and Humanities Alumni News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures Romance Languages and Literatures Russian and Eurasian Studies Program Department of the Classics Department of German Jewish Studies Program Program in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

Levine Concludes Road to the White House Series omiller1@colgate.edu Tue, 11/12/2024 - 14:53 On Monday, Nov. 4 — the night before the U.S. Presidential Election — Colgate welcomed Peter Levine to close the 2024 Road to the White House Series, which featured various political voices to encourage civic engagement and civil discussion among Colgate community members during the 2024 presidential campaign. Levine is associate dean of academic affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor of citizenship and public affairs at Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. Despite the timeliness of his visit, Levine took a step back from the gravity of the current election. Instead, he chose to focus on a new framework for understanding political motivations and identities based on what he calls “idea networks.” His model of political beliefs is a more comprehensive alternative to the most common mechanism, the left-right spectrum. Rather than fitting an individual onto a political map, every individual personifies their own unique and complex political map — that is to say, an elaborate web of ideas, in which beliefs are connected and backed by explanation. Levine claimed that complexity of ideas, independent of content, is generally a positive sign; individuals with less developed idea networks may be more difficult to engage with in productive conversation. “Structures indicate how interesting or easy it is to talk to and connect with someone about issues, regardless of whether or not you agree with them,” Levine said. Levine drew five key conclusions from his proposed framework: “People are more capable of democracy than standard models suggest.” Mapping our idea networks may lead to much-needed introspection. We can evaluate and improve discussions by modeling them as networks. Large groups may be able to develop shared models.  We can use idea network models to improve understanding of public and moral opinions. As a professor, Levine is particularly interested in applying these improvements to education systems. He believes that this more comprehensive framework will open doors to improve discussion and discourse in the classroom. Students at Colgate might consider how to navigate the recent election results through Levine’s spectrum-rejecting, idea-centric approach to political identity and discourse. As polarization contributes to national disarray, Levine believes, it may be time to adopt a new attitude: one that embraces disagreement, understanding, and empathy. Levine argued that the spectrum model leads to polarization and enmity. “When we understand people as being a point in space, it leads to disappointing results.” The current political climate — in which polarization prevails — promotes disunity and prevents productive conversation. Yet the political mapping metaphor persists because it is easy, according to Levine. It allows people to say that, since their political adversaries have different views, then “they must be coming from a different place.” Although the metaphor is not completely false, it has custom validity and is reductive. As an example, Levine pointed out that Kamala Harris and J.D. Vance “actually agree about a lot of things,” yet they sit on opposite sides of the left-right spectrum. Levine considers the polarized perspective to be borderline offensive because it implies that “people are stupid and they hate each other.” Levine’s alternative suggests that political opinions are based on dialogues, communication, and relationships. Individuals have sincere reasons for their beliefs, not just rationalizations.  This lecture was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science Kella Lecture Fund. Campus Life News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Debate and Discourse

A performance of the opera Pushed Aside: Reclaiming Gage, on Matilda Gage’s efforts — alongside those of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton — for women’s right to vote, made its way to campus on March 24. The post Opera Explores Untold History of Upstate New York’s Women’s Suffrage Movement first appeared on Colgate University News.