Colgate Together Digest

Hello, Colgate Community. 

As of midnight on March 16, we had:
0 students in isolation     
0 employees in isolation 
0 students in close contact quarantine 

Yesterday, we had:
8 students in isolation
4 employees in isolation
37 students in close contact quarantine

All of this is taking place as we are making great strides in vaccination. How is that possible? Vaccines are not cures; they are preventatives. And, unless you have the J&J shot, they take five weeks to bring you to the greatest level of protection. Also, nationwide, the prevalent form of COVID is the highly transmissible B117 variant. This virus is going to spread, even here, especially if we welcome guests or if we travel.

It’s easy to be lulled by some sunny days. Yesterday’s mid-70s almost made me forget that it was 35° just last week. In March, we might have been lulled by those amazing numbers into thinking COVID was in the rearview mirror. But we can’t put away the sweaters, or the masks, yet. We must finish strong. We know how. Please remember your commitment to the community — stay put, stay safe.

Take care, and I’ll talk to you on Monday.

Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications

Take Note

On April 14 at 5:30 p.m., please join Niki Keating from the Colgate Counseling Center and a First-Gen Colgate Alumni Panel, including Jenn Dias ’15, Enrique Nunez ’19, Morgan Beatty ’20, and Humberto Ochoa ’17 for a discussion on impostor syndrome and ways to work through it. Imposter syndrome is an experience that can affect anyone and arise at different points in a student’s college career (and beyond). Learn how to identify short-term strategies to manage the discomfort of imposter syndrome, develop networks to foster supportive relationships, and gain inspiration from Colgate alumni experiences and strategies. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome. Sponsored by First@Colgate, OUS Scholars Offices, Career Services, and the Counseling Center. RSVP

The Max A. Shacknai COVE will collect donated items in residence halls, as students move out for the summer, and redistribute them to local nonprofit organizations. We are seeking help to collect, sort, and organize donations — shifts are available May 10–14. Please sign up by April 30 to assist us with this important effort. All abilities are welcome. In 2019 we collected and redistributed more than $59,000 worth of items to 44 local agencies. This could not happen without the help of volunteers like you. 

The ALANA Cultural Center and the Department of Theater invite all Colgate community members to view a filmed theatrical performance of Citizen James, or the Young Man Without a Country, streaming now through April 21. Written by Assistant Professor Kyle Bass, Citizen James is a compelling one-man show that introduces us to 24-year-old James Baldwin at a critical moment in his life. 

Entrepreneur Weekend, taking place this weekend, is a celebration and recognition of entrepreneurship at Colgate, featuring innovative student ventures, leading entrepreneurs, and the Entrepreneur of the Year. Recent recipients of Colgate’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award will share their insights during a moderated conversation. Four ventures from the TIA Incubator will pitch the sharks for cash prizes.

Relph Benefit Advisors, Colgate University’s employee benefit consultant, will be presenting Medicare 101 on April 20, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The presentation will include general information such as enrollment deadlines, coverage choices, and coordination of benefits. You may wish to attend the session if you are planning to retire in the next year, you are turning 65, or you are helping a loved one as they retire. If applicable, your spouse or domestic partner may attend as well. To attend please complete the Google doc. Those who sign up to attend will receive an invite with a Zoom link. 

As members of the global community, we are living in a time of crisis and change, and we are all affected in some way. As members of the Colgate University community, we have stories to share to help ourselves and future generations understand these historic moments, even as we look to the past to understand how the University has weathered other crises. The Colgate University Archives invites you to share your experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a form that is meaningful to you, so that your stories can be preserved.

Why do members of the Colgate community want to receive a COVID-19 vaccination?

Play Video: Colgate Community Members Tell Their Stories