Photo essay: Colorful foliage and talents on display this fall

October 3, 2023

As the leaves begin to change and color the skies and walkways of campus,  the Skidmore community continues to demonstrate its endless passion for creative pursuits — whether these be attending the inspiring world premiere of “The Unhealed Wound” by former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rita Dove and Grammy Award-winning composer Richard Danielpour, performing at the yearly Arts Quad party, or simply taking a moment to relax on a hammock. 
 
The semester has also featured stimulating conversations about important topics, including complex issues surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border. Alumni returned to campus for Homecoming Weekend and also recently unveiled its  new outdoor tennis courts at the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center and held its first-ever competition there.  

Here are some scenes from Skidmore’s vibrant fall semester so far. 

A range of engaging courses are underway. Here Associate Professor of Computer Science Aarathi Prasad leads a Mobile Computing course.

 

A favorite fall tradition, Skidmore students enjoy the opportunity to borrow artwork from the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery’s collection to hang in their dorm or apartment as part of its Roommate art-lending program. Oliver Frontini ’26 and Chella Sawyer ’24, above, were among those to camp out overnight in order to improve their chances of getting a favorite piece.  

The L.L. Bean Boot Mobile paid a visit to campus, selling merchandise at its pop-up shop on Skidmore’s South Park Lawn. Alice Yi ’25, left, and Purl Twigg-Smith ’25 were among those to check out the company’s offerings.

Rita Dove, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former U.S. Poet Laureate, and Richard Danielpour, a Grammy Award-winning composer, came to Skidmore as the 2023 McCormack Visiting Artist-Scholar Residents. The two collaborated to create the Skidmore-commissioned song cycle “The Unhealed Wound,” which premiered at Skidmore's Arthur Zankel Music Center.

Dove (above) and Danielpour both participated in classes with Skidmore students. 

The talents of Skidmore students were on full display during the annual Arts Quad Party in September. Yej Rodriguez ’24 and Mina Dickson ’25 were among those to enjoy the festivities.

Like every fall, new and returning students participated in Club Fair as they explored more than 100 student clubs, connect with fellow students, pursue their passions, and discover new ones. The Skidmore Sonneteers (above), a popular a cappella group and one of Skidmore’s oldest clubs, used some humor as they worked to recruit new members.

Catie O’Rourke ’27 and Anna Damore ’26 pet Pascal, who was brought to campus by Tbreds Raising Pups, a newer club that allows students to help to raise guide dogs. 

Alumni returned to campus for an excitement-filled Homecoming Weekend. As part of a program organized by Friends of Skidmore Athletics, they toured the Skidmore College Athletics Hall of Fame, which weclomed a number of new inductees over the busy weekend.

Everybody needs a quiet moment, too, and a hammock on Case Green is a perfect place to enjoy the fall and some changing leaves.