With the adoption of a new curriculum within Geneseo’s general education requirements, Geneseo Learning Outcomes for a Baccalaureate Education (GLOBE), the administration is now offering opportunities for students and faculty to speak directly with those creating and implementing the changes campus-wide. 

The Willow Project is an oil venture proposed by ConocoPhillips in late 2021 at the end of the Trump administration. This venture would give the private oil company full reign over vast oil and gas reserves in Alaska. ConocoPhillips proposed extracting a 23 million-acre area on the state’s North Slope, conveniently the largest tract of undisturbed public land in the United States. The extraction would result in CO2 emissions that are 99.7% higher than any other industrial site, meaning the negative impact this extraction will have on its environment is unfathomable. 

Safe Zone is a program at SUNY Geneseo, and many other institutions, in which designated personnel provide training for those who are wanting to become better allies to the LGBTQ+ community. They hold training sessions throughout the year in order to provide information and workshops for those who are willing to expand their knowledge and help create a more positive impact on the community.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Associate Professor Kodjo Adabra of the French Department held a book-signing event for his new memoir, The Power of an Untamed Mindset. The event was not merely a book signing; rather, it was a celebration of the collective human experience and the lasting impact of the relationships that are fostered here at Geneseo. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Geneseo hosted its fifth annual Diversity Summit with the theme of “Campus Climate: Learn, Engage, Take Action.” The event was organized by the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) and the President’s Commission on Diversity and Community (co-chaired by Director of Residence Life Sarah Frank and Chief Diversity Officer Robbie Routenberg), with several services provided through Student Association (SA) funding and Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS).

On Friday, Feb. 24, the Geneseo Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted a Webinar with Sybrina Fulton in honor of Black History Month. Fulton is the mother of Travyon Martin, who was murdered in 2012, and the co-author of the 2018 docu-series Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. During the Webinar, Fulton offered poignant insights on how she has been able to empower others and encourage action in the wake of an unimaginable and horrific tragedy. 

A new pending club is starting at SUNY Geneseo for those who identify with having a disability, hopefully beginning at the end of Spring 2023. 

On Feb. 15, 2023, Payton S. Gendron, the man who shot 13 and killed 10 people at Buffalo Top’s, was charged with a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Gendron pleaded guilty to the 15 charges against him during that trial. The trial occurred at the State Supreme Court in Erie County. 

On Feb. 3, 2023, a routine Norfolk Southern 150 cart cargo train traveling through Ohio experienced a complete “mechanical failure,” catalyzing one of the worst derailment disasters in modern times. In the accident, 38 carts were derailed in total. 

On Friday, Feb. 10, The Chronicle of Higher Education listed SUNY Geneseo as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. scholars for their 2022-2023 ranking. Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences D. Jeffrey Over and Professor of Geological Sciences Scott Giorgis were the two Geneseo recipients of the Fulbright Scholar awards this year. 

Between Mar. 22 and Mar. 24, the Student Association (SA) will hold its biannual referendum vote, which determines whether or not the mandatory activity fee remains “mandatory.” Given how many expenses go into a college education, many students feel wary about what they allocate their money to. Junior English major Ralph Velasquez, the current SA Vice President, implores you to consider saying “yes.”

Throughout the month of February, members of the Geneseo Student Senate have begun to address the issue of students missing important mail due to a lack of notification of when paper mail is delivered to their on-campus address. The senate members, as a response, have proposed for the mailroom to send students notifications of paper mail in addition to notifications of package deliveries.

On Feb. 6, Kristen Fisher officially became the new director of community mental health services after being approved by the Livingston County Board of Supervisors. As a mental health professional with an impressive resume and optimistic goals, Fisher is enthusiastic to step into this role and advocate for mental health services in Livingston County. 

Friday, Mar. 24 will mark the return of one of Geneseo’s most revered events, the Insomnia Film Festival. The festival, which takes place of 24 hours with the goal of creating an original short film, was a staple for nearly a decade before the pandemic; its founder, Geneseo’s senior instructional designer, Joe Dolce, eagerly anticipates the event’s return.

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, SUNY Geneseo faculty and staff held a transcribing event in honor of Fredrick Douglass’s chosen birthday. During the event, which took place on the Geneseo campus and at various locations globally, people transcribed the letters of Mary Ann Shadd Cary —an abolitionist activist, journalist, and newspaper editor.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, a Chinese balloon spotted flying across the United States was shot down by the U.S. Federal Government.

Geneseo staple Crickets had a grand re-opening recently after moving from Main Street to Center Street. Crickets has been a staple restaurant in Geneseo for years, with students frequenting their quaint café for years. 

On Tuesday Jan. 24, Associate Professor Kodjo Adabra of the Geneseo French Department published his memoir, The Power of an Untamed Mind. Through the careful detailing of his life experiences, Adabra cultivates a compelling text that he is ready to share with the world—and, more specifically, with the Geneseo community. 

During the week of Jan. 30, the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, also known as Crows, hosted their annual Deep Freeze fundraiser event. This is an annual event that takes place every year at the beginning of the spring semester around Jan. or Feb. This year, the organization for which the fraternity was raising money was Foster Care to Success.

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Chief Diversity Officer Robbie Routenberg and professor of communication Meredith Harrigan hosted the Cultivating Community Series, an opportunity for students to discuss diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) on campus. According to the SUNY Geneseo website students and faculty gathered to discuss “What does equity-centeredness look like, sound like, or feel like to you?”