In response to the scrutiny of the local community, the Skidmore News Editorial Board drafted and sent a response letter to the Saratogian disputing all of the slanderous press covering this year’s nothing but modest 4-20. The response letter was printed in the Sunday Saratogian, but in case you missed it check it out here:

This letter is in regard to articles published on April 21, 23 and 24:

In business, no news is often good news; in the newspaper business, good news usually means no news. But that doesn’t mean newspapers should sensationalize events. 420 is not exclusive to Skidmore College. It’s a national event, both on and off college campuses.

The blanket portrayal of Skidmore students as a group of stoners is distressing; we’re not. Assigning a reputation to a school based on the behavior of less than 5 percent of its student body is a misleading and damaging generalization.

Accusing Skidmore of being the source of the Saratoga drug trade is irresponsible and willfully ignorant of the true problem. To hear the Saratoga Partnership for Prevention blame Skidmore for high school and middle school drug use is absurd. Correlation does not equal causation.

Now, more than ever, the media and community are painting students as irresponsible children — juvenile delinquents even. Saratoga Springs residents don’t seem to want us involved in their community, but they’re happy to take part in our events. Skidmore does so much more for Saratoga than we’re recognized for. It serves as a focal point for arts events and academic lectures. Its athletes work with youth to teach them teamwork. We don’t do these things for the recognition, but it would be nice to see them publicized with at least the same fanfare negative events receive.

We are active, valuable members of the community and it’s unfair to taint the reputation of the college with biased reporting. We are more than the people up on the hill who get blamed for Saratoga’s problems.

Skidmore News

Editorial Board