Dear Colgate Community,
I am standing in today for Vice President Jack, who sends her greetings and reminds you to watch President Casey’s video for updates on testing results.
Despite the overwhelming situation we have all been undergoing since March, I have been delighted to be back on campus this semester. Attending many of my classes in person has certainly been a welcome return to form.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but as the semester has gone by and as we have reached new Gates, I have found many of the activities I was once able to enjoy have not changed too much. I am still able to hang out and get food with my friends — though physically distanced and with masks. I am able to work out at Trudy once again, and the mask requirement seems to come second nature while there at this point. The commitment to safety, while also allowing me to enjoy my favorite aspects of Colgate, has certainly made a dark year seem much brighter. Not to mention, the fall foliage is just as beautiful as always.
As we enter Gate 3, I am looking forward to seeing more of my friends and peers and being able to host small groups of people. The transition to where we are now has not always been easy, but we have made it here with our collective efforts to keep ourselves and our community safe.
Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to make this transition as safe and enjoyable as possible. (And thank you, President Casey, for the Flour and Salt vouchers in our mailboxes.)
Liam Higgins ’22
Take Note
It’s homecoming week (sort of)! Though it won’t be the traditional homecoming that our Raider teams and the entire Colgate community anticipate every year, show your Colgate spirit and enjoy some of the activities taking place this week. We are also excited to unveil our new athletics identity.
New York election law states that, if you do not have four consecutive hours to vote, either from the opening of the polls to the beginning of your working shift, or between the end of your working shift and the closing of the polls, you may take off up to two hours, without loss of pay, to allow you time to vote if you are a registered voter. You may take time off at the beginning or end of your working shift, as your employer may designate, unless otherwise mutually agreed. You must notify your employer not less than two days, but not more than 10 days, before the day of the election that you will take time off to vote.
Virtual TIAA appointments for Nov. 10 and Dec. 3 can be scheduled online at TIAA.org/schedulenow or by calling 800-732-8353. Virtual Fidelity appointments for Oct. 20, Nov. 16, and Dec. 15 can be scheduled online at fidelity.com or by calling 1-800-642-7131.
Current students who are enrolled in both Duo and Google 2-Step by 11:59 p.m. on October 31 will automatically be entered to win a pair of AirPods headphones. Five prizes will be awarded, so enroll today!
As we mentioned last week, Colgate does not dictate the nature of your personal travel. However, with the holidays approaching — and with an understanding that your choices about personal travel and the resulting potential need to quarantine may impact your ability to perform your job duties — Colgate encourages employees to review travel page updates, posted today.
Students seeking to remain on campus throughout the winter recess must receive approval. If you have not yet requested approval, you may do so by completing this form through Friday, Oct. 23. Please note that, due to cleaning, sustainability goals, and to better provide support services, students who remain on campus may be asked to move into vacant rooms during the winter recess to consolidate the number of residence halls in use.
The biweekly podcast 13 features Colgate community members answering 13 questions about their work. This week, Associate Vice President Dan Gough joins host Dan DeVries for a conversation about campus safety and the University’s COVID response. Find 13 on your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher.
A Closing Thought
Gloved-hands-on learning: Colgate senior Anna Brown conducts 3D scanning of a piece from the collections at the Longyear Museum of Anthropology.
Upcoming Events
Pumpkin Painting
Oct. 17
Noon
This annual Fall Fest tradition is back. Come paint a pumpkin and enjoy some Gilligan’s ice cream.
Career Exploration Week: Health and Wellness Industry Panel
Oct. 20
5:30 p.m.
Hear from alumni who work in health and wellness. Learn about the very basics of the industry and how their liberal arts degrees supports their work. This panel is part of the Career Exploration Week.
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