News and College Life

Students playing in the Waddle Olympics at Duck Camp 4

On the first day of classes an animated student tells her friend a story of her summer adventures.

A triumphant student radiates with joy after conquering a rock face on a pre-orientation trip. The Outdoor Program offers First Year Program Pre-Trips to students, allowing them to experience outdoor adventure in the surrounding Adirondack Park before the fall semester begins. Students start their college experience exploring their new backyard, meeting new friends, and experiencing the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains, canoeing, hiking, and rock climbing.

A student waves to his friends as he traverses the University Quad on a zip line.  On the evening before the first day of classes, students had the opportunity to watch a movie under the stars, indulge in sweet treats, and participate in activities such as a zip line and an air tag game.

A student blocks the afternoon sun with an umbrella during the Student Involvement Fair.

Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies major Raegan White ’26 (right) had a purposeful work internship this summer as a bridal stylist assistant in New York City at Kleinfeld Bridal, home of "Say Yes to the Dress" fame. Here White, a Texas bride, and the bridal stylist celebrate the moment in which the bride declares that she is "committing" to  purchase the dress she's wearing.

An interesting fact about White's internship: “No bride is the same, and every appointment is a unique experience. At Kleinfeld, we meet brides from all walks of life. Many come in with insecurities or anxiety, and it’s our responsibility to create a welcoming space where they feel completely comfortable.”

A key takeaway from White's summer: “Rhetoric — the art of effective communication — is a skill I’ve come to appreciate on a much deeper level through my work at Kleinfeld. While I’ve studied rhetorical techniques in the classroom, this internship has shown me how essential they are in the real-world.”

What purposeful work means to her: “This work is purposeful because a wedding is one of the most important days in a person’s life. The dress a bride chooses is often tied to her identity, her values, and how she wants to feel in that moment. Helping her feel seen, understood, and celebrated isn’t just retail — it’s emotional, human work.”

Although approaching the finish of the college's annual employee BWell 5K is a positive and joyful moment for many who participate, it was especially meaningful for Associate Professor of Sociology Heidi Taylor, who triumphantly removed her shirt revealing her double mastectomy shortly before crossing the finish line. It’s a practice some breast cancer survivors use to normalize mastectomy to show the positive sides of healing.

An avid runner, Taylor was treated for breast cancer in 2021 and had to cancel many of her races in order to schedule various treatments and surgeries. But there was a short window between surgeries when she could fit in one race — and that just happened to be the 2021 college's BWell 5K.

“It meant so much to me. I was sort of nervous about it, and my friend [Associate Professor of History] Joe Hall met me and he raced to the end of it with me. And it just felt so victorious,” said Taylor.

And on this year’s t-shirt “celebration”?

“Last year I thought I would whip my shirt off and then I didn’t. But this year… I’m like ‘Just do it.’ So I think it’s good for awareness.”

At the BWell 5K, it’s not just about the finish line — it’s about who runs (and walks) beside you.

Bill Adams helps move his son, Mason Adams, into Maple Living Center during the Oliver Wilson Scholars move-in June 22.

Emily Sandoval gives the Kilter Board, an interactive climbing wall, a try during day one of the REP4 2025 Learner Design Summit July 23. 

Move in day for first year students.