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

Residential Commons Host Trivia Championship sliddell@colgate.edu Mon, 11/11/2024 - 15:59 On Nov. 1, Colgate University held the inaugural Commons Cup Trivia Championship in the Edge Cafe, bringing together students from all four Residential Commons for a lively evening of intellectual rivalry and friendly competition. The event was part of the larger Commons Cup series, an annual commons-vs.-commons competition in which students earn points through attending events and academic challenges, aiming to secure the coveted Commons Cup by the end of the academic year. This new trivia challenge, packed with music, food, prizes, and questions curated specifically for students, provided yet another opportunity for attendees to earn points and showcase their Commons pride. Nine teams vied for prizes like pajama pants, blankets, and mugs from the Colgate Bookstore, and most importantly, year-long bragging rights as the smartest commons on campus. Notable organizers included Residential Fellow and organizer Meg D’Souza and Richard J. and Joan Head Chair in Philosophy David McCabe, who served as the event’s charismatic announcer. The trivia format featured three rounds of general questions followed by a high-stakes bonus round. In each round, participants answered four questions posed by McCabe — followed by a visual challenge requiring quick recall, wit, and teamwork. Participants encountered questions in diverse categories, including sports, Colgate history, science, literature, lingo, and pop culture. Questions spanned from the academic to the quirky: contestants had to calculate the exact middle date of a non-leap year (July 2) and rank culinary measurements like pinch, dash, and smidgen in ascending order (hint: smidgen is the smallest). No phones were allowed, only pen, paper, and teamwork. As each round ended and McCabe revealed the scores, cheers and groans filled the Edge Cafe, amping up the competitive spirit. The competition came to a thrilling conclusion with the bonus round, which allowed teams to wager up to 10 points on a single question: “Which city hosts twelve of the top twenty largest hotels in the world?” The correct answer — Las Vegas — led to significant shake-ups in the rankings as teams either soared or plummeted depending on their gambles. In the end, three teams emerged to claim their bookstore prizes and, of course, those all-important Commons Cup points. Team Six Pack of Ciccone Commons took first place, followed by Dart Colegrove Commons’ Order 66 (named for the infamous military command in Star Wars, playing in full stormtrooper and Jedi knight regalia) in second. Hancock Commons’ Terrific Trivia Team and the mixed-commons team Quizzly Bears tied for third. As the night ended, students departed with full stomachs (courtesy of snacks like chicken potstickers, mozzarella sticks, chips, and guacamole) and several prizes in tow. With the competition now an annual tradition, the countdown begins for next year’s teams to start studying and strategizing, ready to claim their spot as the champions of Colgate trivia. Residential Life Student

Sparking Meaningful Dialogue Among Colgate Community Members nhendrickson@c… Thu, 11/07/2024 - 13:54 On Oct. 29, the Dean of College Division (DoC) hosted its inaugural DoC Connects event. The event brought together Colgate students, faculty members, and staffers to engage in civil discourse and dialogue aimed at bridging generational, cultural, and societal divides — all while sharing a meal together. Dean of Students Dorsey Spencer, a main organizer, said that the event came out of efforts among higher education institutions to provide more spaces and opportunities for students to engage in dialogue. “People are afraid to engage in conversations where they might disagree, but that’s part of why you’re supposed to go to college — to be exposed to different ideas, whether you agree with them or not, and to be able to understand different perspectives,” Spencer said. Organizers assigned participants to tables at random, and then everyone enjoyed three rounds of conversation based on questions that covered a variety of topics, such as, “What are you most proud of as a person?” and “What do you think are the biggest challenges facing our campus community, and how can we work together to address them?” Organizers anticipated that students might not feel comfortable opening up to older community members — particularly those in positions of authority. So they tried to keep the environment casual.  “Putting it out there at the very beginning that we’re all equal, regardless of our status at the institution, hopefully eased some of the issues,” Spencer said.  The timing of the event was intentional. Spencer and his colleagues hope that the positive experience will help to maintain community as debate continues in the leadup to the election. “You might not agree on how to address certain things,” Spencer said. “But just because we disagree on different issues within society, that doesn’t mean we can’t be cordial or get to know each other and have relationships. I’m hoping that, by having the event a week before the election, people will get to a place where they’re okay with whatever the results are and act accordingly while still remembering that we’re all human. We’re all people in this Colgate community together.” Sophomore Jenna Galla appreciated the effort and noted the importance of such events, “Being able to understand each other and having a mutual understanding is what helps Colgate to thrive,” Galla said. Organizers will use feedback from participants to improve the event in the future. “Hopefully the word will get out and people will say, ‘Next time this happens, you’ve got to go,’” Spencer said.Campus Life News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Debate and Discourse

Colgate Students Experience Novel Production of Nosferatu omiller1@colgate.edu Thu, 11/07/2024 - 08:10 When asked to imagine a theater stage, most people would conjure images of a playhouse, a music hall, or perhaps a black box. Joshua William Gelb imagines the 8 sq.-foot closet in his East Village apartment. Since March 2020, “this modest space, with all its physical limitations, has transformed from a mere storage unit into the digital performance laboratory we call Theater in Quarantine (TiQ),” Gelb says. For a Halloween treat, Colgate students became the first in-person audience for TiQ’s production of Nosferatu: A 3D Symphony of Horrors, a silent vampire film starring Gavin Price, Nicole Baker, and Gelb himself as the titular vampire. The performance migrated from New York City to Brehmer Theater and capped off a visit that was programmed by the Department of Theater and co-sponsored by the Film and Media Studies Program and the Department of Art. In Nosferatu, TiQ bridges classic and innovative theater approaches with a unique closet stage and iconic, old-school 3D glasses. Students arrived at Brehmer Theater on Halloween night and geared up in silent disco headphones and 3D specs to view the livestream on an 8x14-foot screen, just as if they were watching on YouTube from home. TiQ’s recipe for a spooky Halloween show: a bone-chilling monologue whispered into each audience member’s ear, campy costumes, and jump scares of nightmarish vampire attacks. But students were in for an even bigger surprise at the conclusion of the live stream. Gelb stepped from behind the curtain, still in his gothic vampire makeup, and invited the audience backstage, where the performance had taken place. They watched Nosferatu again, this time from a never-before-seen perspective: straight across from the closet.  From this vantage point, the creativity behind each mind-boggling illusion was brought to light. For example, Gelb clipped himself via harness to small handles drilled into the closet walls, where he perched creepily above the other actors. The TiQ team changed “sets” in mere seconds during brief moments of text-filled screens. TiQ is a testament to Gelb’s creativity and resilience. When COVID-19 put the theater industry on pause, he was undeterred and decided to improvise. From his closet, he played with all sorts of ideas — gravity-defying illusions, environmentally reactive choreography, reimagined classics, and original pieces. He engaged in more than 100 remote collaborations and performed for audiences all over the world. Gelb imposed four rules on himself to, “maintain the impression of theatricality,” and he shared them with Colgate students during a pre-event lecture. Liveness: Performances must be given in real-time to maintain “immediacy.” One Take Only: “No tricks, no editing,” and no director yelling “Cut!” Whole-body Visibility: TiQ embraces the “perpetual wide shot.” No close-ups that might disrupt the illusion of being part of a live audience.  Frame Preservation: Contain the body within the closet — that’s your stage. The rules and creativity paid off. Gelb earned recognition from the New Yorker, NPR, and All Things Considered, as well as a feature in The New York Times. Despite its birth in the pandemic era, TiQ is just getting started, Gelb says. “Almost five years later, long after theaters have reopened and pandemic precautions have diminished, TiQ remains active, albeit in a period of reinvention. We still produce digital work, but we’ve branched out also into hybrid productions, experiences for both in-person and remote audiences.” The result is a unique, game-changing take on performance that explains and expands what it means to be theatrical. Arts News and Updates Student Department of Theater Department of Art

Hamilton-area Gardeners Learn More About Peter’s Glen tokeeffe1@colg… Mon, 11/04/2024 - 16:12 How do you remove nasty, invasive weeds that have an intricate root system that can stretch up to 70 feet?  Very patiently and deliberately, Landscape Project Manager Katy Jacobs told 30 community members who gathered at the Hamilton Public Library for an update about the Peter’s Glen project on Colgate University’s campus.  Jacobs, a landscape architect at Colgate who is leading the project, said her team had to dig 6-feet deep to remove the Japanese knotweed plaguing the hillside from Frank Dining Hall to the Dana Arts Center — the focal point of the work that began in February.  The project, made possible by a gift from Peter L. Kellner ’65, will provide an important new linkage between Upper and Middle campus and significant infrastructure improvements to better handle stormwater. It also includes heated stairs along a cascading stream, new plazas where students can gather, and more open views of the beautiful Chenango Valley. Jacobs said she is excited for campus and community members to see pathways installed and plantings begin over the next several weeks.  About 130 trees will be planted this fall, she said, in just the first phase of additions that will eventually include 500 trees, 593 shrubs, 4,562 container plants, and 1,000 bulbs. Ninety-five percent of everything planted is native to the Northeast, with a couple of exceptions for trees — the Norway spruce and London planetree — that already are on campus and thriving.   “Everyone will soon be able to get a real sense of the layout and vision for this,” Jacobs said.  What visitors won’t see is the major underground work that is such an integral component of the project. Improvements include new, larger pipes laid under the slope and subsurface chambers installed under Whitnall Field as part of the Bernstein Hall project to collect stormwater.     The work will result in improved stormwater treatment and prevent overflows that at times plagued the current system. Jacobs’ talk was organized by the Hamilton Area Gardeners’ Club and its president, Michelle Coluzzi, who said she is excited by the idea of a new place for campus and community members to walk and enjoy nature. Susan Bauman, another club member, said she learned a lot about the intricacies of the project from Jacobs, who spelled out how her team has to be extremely careful as they dig into the hillside and handle not only the existing stormwater pipes but also sanitary and telecommunications lines, some of which extend into the Village of Hamilton.  The construction team also had to install straw wattles and build soil terraces to prevent erosion after the existing trees, shrubs, and overgrowth were removed as part of the prep work. Seeing the hillside undergo such a dramatic change can be a shock, but Jacobs shared recent site photos that already show expanded views of the Chenango Valley. “We’re turning a stormwater nightmare into a beautiful landscape feature,” she said.  Landscape architects at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates designed the project, which is scheduled for completion in late 2025.Third Century News and Updates Faculty & Staff A concept rendering of what the bottom of the new campus glen will look like once complete. This view is of the area in between Ryan Studio and Dana Arts Center.

On Bias and Belonging: Suchi Reddy, Artist-in-Residence rtaurisano@col… Wed, 10/30/2024 - 15:13 Throughout this academic year, Suchi Reddy, Colgate University’s 2024–25 Christian A. Johnson Artist in Residence, is hosting a series of community conversations on bias and belonging in artificial intelligence (AI), centered on ways bias impacts our lived experience.  A New York City-based architect, designer, and artist, Reddy plans to use the information from these conversations to create a textile that will represent what people think and feel about the ideas of bias and belonging, both in their personal and communal experiences. She will use the new TC2 digital loom in Colgate’s recently opened Fabulation Lab, located in Bernstein Hall on the new Middle Campus, to create the woven artifact. The final product will be exhibited in the Clifford Gallery this spring. At the first event on Oct. 23, attendees discussed their earliest life experiences with bias and belonging. Margaretha Haughwout, associate professor of art, introduced Reddy to the students, faculty, and staff in attendance, as a “down-to-earth artist.” Reddy’s work “engages material innovation and interactive technologies in the service of expressing ideas around the power of community,” Haughwout said.  Thanks to her architectural training, Reddy has a spatial and experience-oriented approach to art. “I relate primarily through space,” she said. “I'm always thinking in terms of how our environments are not just these passive containers for us.” According to Reddy, our physical environments have a greater impact on our human experience than we may realize, being intertwined with our emotional, psychological, and cultural experiences. With this project, she endeavors to collect information about this dynamic human experience and transform it into art. Reddy is collecting more than words to inspire this project. “Even if you don’t say anything, I can see that you’re thinking about your experience,” she told the audience. “This energy will be part of the work too. What you're sending to me now will be the colors and the patterns that create this textile. So when you see it, just know that you're a part of it, even if you don't recognize yourself in it.” Reddy also hopes to understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is already integrated into our lives and what sort of biases shape our interaction with it currently. She believes our influence on AI will be either good or bad — not neutral — and we should be thoughtful about the ways we are moving forward with the technology. She hopes that AI will reflect our human-ness, eventually. “I can imagine when we don’t exist anymore and all that’s left is what we made, I would hope that it reflects us in the most complete way possible.” The series is presented by the art department and the Christian A. Johnson Foundation. The Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation Artist-in-Residence was established in 1986 as a challenge grant to support the arts at Colgate University. The residency program permits one or more artists to become part of the Colgate community every academic year. The conversation series continues on Nov. 14 in 207 Little Hall, from noon to1 p.m. For more information, visit cliffordgallery.org/events.Arts and Humanities Third Century Arts News and Updates Faculty & Staff Department of Art 2024-25 Christian A. Johnson Artist-in-Residence Suchi Reddy leads a conversation on the bias and belonging project she is creating at Colgate (Photo by Mark DiOrio)