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Venezuela After Chávez

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Former Venezuelan president and giant toe Hugo Chávez

Tomorrow, Model EU will be sponsoring a panel discussion on Venezuelan and regional politics in the wake of socialist President Hugo Chávez’s death in early March. The panel will include Professors Aldo Vacs (Government), Maria Fernanda Lander (Latin American Studies), Violeta Lorenzo (Foreign Languages and Literature), Mehmet Odekon (Economics), and Jordana Dym (History).

This is a veritable powerhouse team of international affairs scholars here at Skidmore, and the discussion is sure to be lively and interesting. Definitely worth checking out for those into that sort of thing.

Wednesday April 17, 8:30pm @ Gannett

Hugo Chavez Documentary Screening

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Chavez and friend

Tomorrow, United Minds and Raices will be screening the No Volverán: The Venezuelan Revolution Now! This documentary examines the tenure of populist leader Hugo Chávez and the so-called “Bolivarian Revolution.”

Chávez has ruled Venezuela for over a decade. In that time, he has presided over a hilariously mismanaged economyrampant crime, and a crippling brain drain. Earlier this month, he secured a fourth term in a contested (and sketchy) election, and he has vowed to “deepen the Revolution” in the coming years.

A discussion will follow the screening, and a representative of Hands Off Venezuela! will be in attendance. I’ve watched part of the documentary, and though it’s fairly obvious Chávista propaganda, it’ll definitely foster a good, robust debate about Latin American politics, leftism, human rights, and the future of democracy in the region.

Wednesday October 18, 7pm @ Spa

(via Facebook)

Boyers in Lapham’s Quarterly

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

English professor and editor of Salmagundi, Robert Boyers, has been published in jack-of-all-trades literary magazine, Lapham’s Quarterly. The essay–titled “Between the Lines“— is a real doozy, examining the relationship between politics and the novel.

“Politics, in novels we can admire, must always pit ideas against the world as it exists, or might conceivably exist, and allow at every turn for contradiction and irresolution. Irving Howe got it right when he spoke of “the vast respect which the great novelist is ready to offer to the whole idea of opposition, the opposition he needs to allow for in his book against his own predispositions and yearnings and fantasies.” To think of politics and the novel without bearing in mind that commitment to “opposition” is to miss more or less entirely what is central to our great and familiar subject.”

The essay is basically a summary of Boyers’ “Political Novel” class. Even if you’ve taken it, you should still read the essay, because it’s very good.

(via Lapham’s Quarterly)

Roosevelt Campus Network to Hold First Meeting, Drastically Change US Policies

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

I Am America and So Can You!

I knew this kid in high school who played a bunch of D’n'D, always won at Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments, and was in Model Congress. Through an incredible display of imagination and skilled manipulation of his peers - crafts no doubt perfected during his other hobbies – he ended up drafting a bill to mandate a new safety policy in all public schools. The bill was successfully passed in the Model Congress Championship, and while that isn’t the same as D.C., he’s now at Harvard, so that must count for something.

The point is, you’re never too young to be writing the policies that affect your life. Really, look at these 10 policies written by your peers. These are actually legitimate solutions to legitimately troubling issues, and if these policies don’t end up on Capitol Hill, the kids who wrote them certainly will. How do you get in on the action? Check out the first meeting of the Roosevelt Campus Network. Lemme riff for a second:

The Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, a national student initiative, engages young people in a unique form of progressive activism that empowers them as leaders and promotes their ideas for change. [...] students identify pressing issues facing their towns, counties and states. Taking advantage of the unique resources on their college campuses, they engage in policy research and writing and then connect the fruits of that research to the political process, delivering sound, progressive proposals to policymakers and advocacy groups.

In other words, you learn how to make your pet political issues stand a chance against the big, bad, old white men of the current political system. Dope. See that part about “taking advantage of the unique resources on college campuses”? That’s the moneyshot.

Don’t despair kiddies!

Thursday 10/6 @ Ladd 206

Bitch at your Congressperson (with class)

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

The EAC writes…

Hey, folks. Great news…Obama’s headed for the White House. But voting last week was just the democratic bare minimum. Now is the time tell those newly elected politicians what to do.

The EAC wants to make it easy for you to call up your politicians. Go here to find your new representatives in Congress. Let them know what policies you want to see enacted in the next few months. You, the constituent, get to tell them what the most important issues are to you. Stop by Case Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to make your voice heard. We can help you find contact info for your new (or incumbent) representative, and then it’s up to you to decide what important issues you want to talk about. Don’t worry, we’ll have a few talking point on issues such as the economy, environment, energy, and education prepared in case you need a little push towards inspiration. Time to call your public servant to task.

One Day ‘Til Judgement Day

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

People have never cared so much about the color of a state, nor the political endeavors of hockey moms as they do now. We’ve all heard way too much about this election, and I for one am ready to see a picture other than Obama or McCain on the cover of the Times. But, complacency is no longer an option. Many of us have gotten so invested in the potential outcome that the idea of an opponent winning will determine the extent to which we drink whiskey on a daily basis.

This is too important to let slip by. Don’t let what happened to the Georgians happen to you. If you believe you’re a registered voter here in Saratoga Springs, and are turned away at the polls (@ the ICC in Case Center), you have options:

  1. Request a Court Order by calling the Saratoga County Board of Elections @ 518-885-2249 and asking for Bill Frucci. A judge will be on-call so they can make an executive (that is, judicial) decision on the validity of your voter status.
  2. Fill out an affidavit (paper) ballot available on the site of the polls.
  3. If you’re not registered, locate one of the election inspectors at the polling place and ask them what to do next.

I’m tired of hearing about all of this voting business. Skidmore Unofficial is tired of posting about it. So, with one last plea, VOTE!

After you vote you can head over to Case Center where the people who brought you that series of Debate watching parties (Skidmore Dems) will be hosting an Election results party. (fbook).

SYRA: Rich Lowry for Skidmore

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Following such memorable speakers as Harvey Mansfield, who spoke about “Manliness,” and John Ashcroft, the only person on campus to ever confuse Barack Obama for Osama bin Laden, the Skidmore Young Republican Assembly (yeah…they’re a thing) will present this year’s first speaker, Richard Lowry, this Wednesday.

Don’t know Dick? Well, he has been the editor of “America’s most widely read and influential magazine and web site for Republican/conservative news, commentary, and opinion,” the National Review, since 1997. As a frequent guest on Fox News, as well as author of an Anti-Clinton book Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years, it should be no surprise when Lowry states his endorsement of McCain, nevermind his support for waterboarding. Keep in mind, this guy is famous. No big deal, but he is currently ranked as Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World.”

Show up prepared to hear some genuine, “out-of-the-box” conservative agenda that your socially liberal mind hasn’t been exposed to since you’ve arrived back in our 900-acre “Obama bubble.” Rich Lowry will speak on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in Gannett Auditorium @ 8:30pm.

A (long) letter from the EAC

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Dear Readers,

I cannot tell you how psyched I am that the first three conversations I overheard in the D-hall Friday morning were about the VP debate Thursday. In fact, I felt that heady elation that I usually only associate with snow days and good sex. I feel we are at a watershed moment, that America, and our age group in particular, are reengaging in a national dialogue, are sitting up and taking notice, are investing themselves in candidates and in issues. And come November 4th, I get the sneaking suspicion that young peoples, that students, will buck the stereotypes of apathy and malaise sometimes assigned to ua and vote.

So vote. Please vote. Vote til your ballot-checking fingers bleed. Vote like its going out of style. For our nation’s highest offices, for members of legislatures large and small, for your town planning board, for the next open seat in SGA, VOTE. Vote like its American Fuckin’ Idol.
Click to continue »

Maverick McCain Causes Much Mayhem

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

The Film Appreciation Troupe  will be screening “Why We Fight,” a film by Eugene Jarecki. Although Maverick himself may not be appearing on campus, you should prepare yourselves for a riveting 98 min run time (assuming you’re in Davis—3pm Sunday, Oct. 5—and not in Norway where they only have to sit through 55 min of Maverick mayhem) of gut wrenching, arm not reaching above your shoulder entertainment. Thanks to those wonderful folks at Wikipedia, here’s a brief synopsis:

“Why We Fight describes the rise and maintenance of the United States military-industrial complex and its fifty-year involvement with the wars led by the United States to date, especially its 2003 Invasion of Iraq. The documentary asserts that in every decade since World War II, the American public was told a lie, so that the Government (incumbent Administration) could take them to war and fuel the military-industrial economy maintaining American political dominance in the world. Interviewed about this matter, are politician John McCain, political scientist and former-CIA analyst Chalmers Johnson, politician Richard Perle, reporter William Kristol, writer Gore Vidal, and public policy expert Joseph Cirincione.”

Click here for trailer

Master Debaters

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

Did you watch last night’s debate? Congratulations, you astute, politically aware citizen. Also, you’re a moron. See, there was no point in even tuning in at all – and we mean beyond what the “thoroughly disillusioned” (his words) and “totally annoying” (our words) kid on the ACB is whining about. Anyone with the internetz knew who was going to win 11 hours ahead of time. Check it out…

(Not picking up what we’re putting down, here? Check the screenshot’s time and date, chief.*)

For those of you who care about having your say on such issues as the fate of the global economy, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s creepy shit-eating grin, and the career of attractive albeit frighteningly ill-prepared hockey moms, voter registration continues on campus for the next two weeks. The table, sponsored by Skidmore Democrats,  has been outside of Case all week and is trying to make its hours a bit more uniform, so any time you can offer would surely be appreciated.

Email Mariale Renna, Skidmore Dems Secretary, at mrenna@skidmore.edu with whatever time 12-4 Monday through Thursday you can offer.

*Insult to injury addendum: Gentleman Johnny hadn’t even decided on whether or not he would attend the debate at 10:16 AM. Yikes.