Why Dialogue May Be More Productive – Dan Curley

We Need To Talk – Molly O’Brien

Conflict Is Integral To Dialogue – Kali Block-Steele

Dialogue and Decision Making – Finding a Middle Ground - Warren Bianchi

Is it fair to equate the non-binding process of dialogue to the concrete ramifications of political debate and policy implementation? Is it appropriate, in other words, to present dialogue as a place to “make the change we want to see,” as SGA has done?

This whole thing? This is why I came to college.

The op-ed was split into two parts due to some combination of (a) it had to be released near enough to the event it was responding to, (b) the EIC is – gasp – a student and has other work to do, (c) the EIC gets a kick out of controversy, and giving the whole argument away at once doesn’t allow for such tensions to build. So think of it that way, and consider the pause he took between ‘I’ and ‘II’ to be a giant gathering of breath. Let him finish, clarify, then go for it.

Equally exciting is that Rick Chrisman is also getting in on the game. Read Rick’s latest op-ed, also released yesterday. In addition to being a great writer, he makes the case that perhaps the big bad Brendan and everyone he mortally offended the other evening are actually on the same page. My favorite part:

For whatever reason, the Editor values the experience of public discussion of issues over the sharing which occurs in dialogues. That is his preference. By the same token, for their personal reasons, the students prefer the dialogue as a setting for airing their grievances.  But people shouldn’t expect the private setting to meet the goals of a public event, or vice versa. The Editor makes a mistake when expecting dialogues to be other than—well, dialogues. And the students are mistaken when they haven’t recognized that the next step after dialogue is to bring their grievances to the level of a community arena where they can be deliberated upon publicly. Each has an indispensable place in the process, but they are not at all the same thing.

The comments should be interesting on this one. I’ll leave it at that.

Skidmore News is hosting a Skidmore Market this Friday from 11-3pm. It’s one of those things that just pops up and you walk in Case feeling like a fool for not having enough cash, so know, and don’t be caught broke.

In addition to the confections and works of the regular bakers and artists,  they’ll be selling TVs, mini fridges, floor lamps, a futon, kitchen appliances and lots of other college wares.

Yum dynamo hum.

Ladies?

Skidnews wrote an article about us. I thoroughly enjoy seeing my name on things, but it’s also kind of weird, for obvious reasons. The headline is “Skidmore Unofficial Exposed” because apparently up until now we have been anonymous? News to me. I’ve been signing my articles with my full name since we started. (Although on my last post, one of the comments was “Kevin you’re so funny,” so, yeah, fair enough.)

Anyway, they had us pose “naked” in front of the D-Hall holding signs in front of our crotches, which everybody thought was a great idea except for me. A lot of people have been telling me that I have the “least weird body,” though, so that’s good. The current Skidnews issue isn’t online yet, but pick up a print copy if you’re interested in finding out which of us has the biggest nipples. (Hint: It’s Kevin.)

UPDATE: here

I wasn’t at Speech Night so I don’t really have much to say about all this but can we all just take a deep breath or something. Jesus.

Much of what is currently being transmitted in the online postings of the Skidmore News is neither respectful nor open.  In some cases, the commentary has shifted from reasoned and passionate argument to personal attacks that have been received as indirect or direct threats.  Most troubling is that many of these comments have been posted anonymously, a choice that chills the climate and obstructs the honest and civil exchange of ideas and arguments.

Pforte’s column, which weekly tops SkidNews’s Most Commented list,  has sparked some serious discussion on campus the internet about privilege, reverse racism and anonymity on campus. I encourage you to carefully read over the comments on his work.

I shouldn’t need to reiterate my position on anonymous commenting but I was surprised by Kress’ email, it isn’t often you see College Presidents stepping directly into student matters like this.  Of course, as we know from Kress’ personal response to the editorials of Carl Strock in the Schenectady Daily Gazette, she isn’t afraid to show her face on matters like these.

(Kress’ entire email after the jump)

Dear Members of the Skidmore Community,

Over the past several months, I have spoken out on issues that I have seen as damaging to the health and wellbeing of our community.   Recent online posts in the Skidmore News in response to a student columnist who writes regularly about issues of race (and other social identities), and about related issues of privilege, have given me reason to do so once again.

In my message to the campus of January 20^th, I challenged us to be a community in which each of us has the capacity to question honestly and forthrightly our own assumptions—to be a community where we ask the hard questions, listen to hard answers and, if warranted, take steps to change.  I am deeply appreciative that many on campus have taken up the work of exploring what it means to build a community that truly reflects Skidmore’s ideals of mutual respect and inclusion.  To make real progress in these efforts, we must engage in these conversations respectfully, honestly, and openly.

However, much of what is currently being transmitted in the online postings of the Skidmore News is neither respectful nor open.  In some cases, the commentary has shifted from reasoned and passionate argument to personal attacks that have been received as indirect or direct threats.  Most troubling is that many of these comments have been posted anonymously, a choice that chills the climate and obstructs the honest and civil exchange of ideas and arguments.

Working toward the goal of creating a welcoming and inclusive campus does not mean we will all agree with one another; but it does mean that each of us will publicly own our beliefs, make a sustained effort to understand the beliefs of others, argue thoughtfully, listen with attentiveness, and respect our fellow community members.  One critical aspect of that respect is the understanding that even comments not intended to harm may be received as harmful—and that real damage can therefore result.  The chance for such misunderstandings is heightened considerably when we communicate opinions under the protection of anonymity.

We cannot build an inclusive campus without trust, respect, empathy, and open dialogue—key characteristics of responsible citizenship.  I ask that we demand, of ourselves and of each other, that we demonstrate the qualities of engaged citizenship as we continue this important work.

Sincerely,

Susan Kress
Acting President

First we’re labeled a bastion of anonymous racism by Danny Pforte ’13 in an Op-Ed that fails to distinguish between us and our anonymous commenters and then I’m quoted railing against anonymous commenting in Sandy Zhang’s look at the new Anonymous Confession Board. IRONY!

SkidNews is now an enjoyable, informative read and I recommend you spend this lovely Sunday reading the most recent issue, especially Jean-Ann Kubler’s article about the disbanding of the Wombats last semester.

Students interested in writing for the paper on a weekly or more intermittent basis are welcome to attend Monday’s meeting and eat FREE PIZZA.  More information on thefacebook.