Dear Colgate Community,
Halloween gave us a chance to show some communitywide creativity. There were clotheslines, chutes, and other contactless ways of dispensing candy, and I’ve attached a few pictures of Colleagues in Costumes for your amusement.
Unfortunately, there were some less desirable outcomes from last weekend as well. If you check out the dashboard and watch the president’s video message, you’ll note that commitment violations have gone from green to orange. That means additional testing for those who brought it about. It could also result in disciplinary action. Now, I need to remind you of an important fact:
The commitment to community health used to be just about keeping your roommates, teammates, and classmates safe, and that’s important. But, as you prepare to go home for Thanksgiving, it is now about preserving the safety of your own family. They are depending on you to keep your promises.
We must keep this in mind tomorrow as we adopt statewide guidance that allows for gatherings of up to 50 people. We are calling that Gate 4 — check out the details on the website. But if last weekend’s violations prove to be a pattern, we will need to move back to our own caps on in-person gatherings, reducing to Gate 3 or lower.
So wear a mask, maintain distance, and fight the fatigue — and I’ll talk to you on Wednesday.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
Planning your trip to the polls tomorrow? The Colgate Vote Project has collaborated with First Transit to modify regular Colgate Cruiser routes, making it easy to get a lift to the local polls on Election Day. Rather walk? The College Dems and Republicans, Students for Environmental Action, and Vote Project are cosponsoring a nonpartisan March to the Polls, open to all, at 9 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. Masks and physical distancing will be required, and each group will be limited to the first 25 participants who gather at the Coop.
A quick reminder that all students need to sign up for a departure time slot. You can find the form here.
Free drive-thru COVID testing will be available for anyone interested, Nov. 5, 3–7 p.m., at the Hamilton Police Department. Call 315-464-2582 and select 0 to set up an appointment. High call volumes may result in hold times of 45 minutes or longer. Your patience is appreciated. (If you leave a message for a call back regarding non-urgent testing, call backs may take up to two weeks.)
Extended mail services hours begin Nov. 4 and extend through Nov. 20 to facilitate students’ package retrieval and pickup of Let’s Get Checked test kits — by appointment only. New hours will be M–F, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sat–Sun, 8 a.m.–noon. Visit the mail services webpage to schedule your appointment. Many thanks to the staff and students who are making these extended hours possible.
Environmental Health and Safety staff thank you for your help during our recent state-mandated fire inspection and pass along a comment from the state fire inspector, who noticed our commitment to community health: “I would also like to acknowledge your efforts in combating COVID on campus. It was amazing to me how many students answered the knock on their door for a fire inspection with ‘Sure, hold on while I grab a mask.’ Good job, Colgate!”
Upcoming Events
Student Peer Listening Space
Oct. 28
7 p.m.
The ALANA Cultural Center is organizing a recurring opportunity for students to share perspectives, feelings, and voting and election experiences. These peer listening spaces will be held over Zoom on Wednesdays (11/4, 11/11, 11/18) from 7 to 8 p.m.
A Painting Practice: Strata, endurance, and witnessing the American landscape
Nov. 3
5 p.m.
Elizabeth Flood, visiting lecturer in painting, department of art and art history, presents A Painting Practice: Strata, endurance, and witnessing the American landscape as part of the F'20 AHUM Colloquium Series. All are welcome.
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