Three weeks ago, I flew down to Atlanta to visit a friend at the University of Georgia (UGA) and watch a football game. The UGA Bulldogs are one of the most high-profile teams in college football, with an enormous fan base and high rank. That weekend, the Bulldogs were slated to play the UMass Amherst Minutemen. Given the records of both teams, it was expected to be a blowout in favor of Georgia. The final score was 66-27 Georgia, but the UMass offense put up an admirable fight. Amongst UMass’s tenacious offense, one player stood out in particular — Andy Isabella. I could hear Georgia fans behind me talking about how fast and crafty he was, making him difficult to cover. An old man sitting to my right was cursing him every time he made a catch: “That damn Isabella.” His presence on the field was unmistakable, and everyone around me noticed. In that game, Isabella — a senior math major from Ohio — received over 200 yards and scored two touchdowns, including an impressive 75-yard touchdown.
The Sophian
You all may have noticed a bunch of service dogs on campus. Some of them are from Diggity Dogs, a training program for service dogs that I voluntarily foster for. Some of them are people’s personal service dogs. Either way, the general public doesn’t really know a lot about service dogs, so here’s a brief explanation of what they do and some do’s and don’t when you see a service dog on campus!
Interfaith dialogue happens because of a desire to communicate openly and compassionately within a diverse community. It can be defined as an egalitarian and symbiotic coming together of different religious groups to openly discuss their beliefs. According to the World Council of Churches’ definition, interfaith dialogue aims for “cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions” and typically sits at the intersection of organized discussion or debate and taking action.
Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a deadline for life on the planet should development and industry continue at its current rate. This struck a paralyzing fear in many hearts, despite the clear call to action it was intended to be. Right now, that impulse to shut down must be overridden by intentional decisions to be transformative and active in the service of environment.
Smythology episode 8: Finals on the mind
Are you lonely? If you’re a college student, the answer is likely to be yes. A 2017 survey on 48,000 university students found that 64 percent of them felt “very lonely” in the past 12 months, and reports of depression and anxiety have been increasingly on the rise in America.
If you’re South Asian, or South Asian American or friends with someone from either demographic, you’ve probably heard about Netflix’s latest addition to the political comedy genre: “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.”
Jackie Richardson ’21 | Associate Editor
Of all the labels Smith students use to either playfully or seriously describe themselves, none has a greater potential to make or ruin a budding friendship or crush more than your astrological sign. Most people here go even deeper — they want your moon, your ascendant and even your whole chart. For the uninitiated, here’s your astrology primer so you at least have the basics down the next time someone asks you.
Patience Kayira ’20 | Editor in Chief
On Fri., Nov. 16, students, faculty staff and community members gathered in the Carroll Room for Smith’s African & Caribbean Students’ Association (SACSA) Annual Charity Dinner. This fall, SACSA ran a fundraising campaign to help Project Kesho,a Ugandan- and Tanzanian-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing and improving access to educational opportunities for children in these countries.
Claudia Olson ’22 | Assistant Features Editor
Sleep! This may seem obvious, but sleep is essential, especially during finals season. Memory, concentration and energy, components essential to academic success, all improve with a consistent sleep schedule.