As a producer for CNBC.com, one of the most-visited business news websites, Paul Toscano '07 is at the heart of today's ever-changing economic issues.

Toscano is enthralled by his exposure to the economic crisis that began within a year of his arrival at CNBC.

In true Hollywood style, more than 200 community members walked down the red carpet and into the Hamilton Movie Theater as well as other venues throughout the village this weekend for the inaugural Hamilton Film Festival and Awareness Walk.

Along with a line-up of first-rate independent films, the two-day festival featured a 2K-charity walk that raised several hundred dollars to benefit the Hamilton Food Cupboard.

A Colgate University education can make a significant difference not only in graduates' starting pay, but also in salary potential throughout their careers, according to the 2009 College Salary Report.

The study released this week by PayScale, an online site that collects data on salaries for different professions, reveals which colleges offer the best return on investment.

Starting this fall, qualified military veterans can attend Colgate University tuition-free, thanks to an agreement between the university and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The university will take part in the new Yellow Ribbon Program, a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which makes earning a college degree more affordable for veterans.

While many budding musicians venture to locales such as New York City and Los Angeles to get a taste of the entertainment industry, Sophia D'Addio '06 found the perfect opportunity right here in Hamilton.

D'Addio, who plans on pursuing a doctorate in art history, jumped at the chance to spend a month as senior intern for the upcoming Chenango Summer MusicFest, which runs from June 17-21.

Ret. Gen. Colin Powell -- former U.S. secretary of state and one-time leader of 350,000 troops -- knows how to make an entrance.

"Sit down, you're making me nervous," barked the general in the good-natured tone perfected over five decades of Army leadership, politics, and diplomacy.

Having stared down world leaders and stood up to the four American presidents he served, Powell could hardly have been intimidated by the 50 students who rose in unison as he entered Golden Auditorium Friday.

Colgate University President Rebecca Chopp today announced that she will become president of Swarthmore College effective July 1, 2009. Chopp has been president of Colgate since July of 2002.

Combining wit, humor, and a willingness to say exactly what he's thinking, Dick Gregory spoke Tuesday night in Love Auditorium as the Brothers keynote speaker for Black History Month.

A well-known political activist, comedian, author, and personal nutrition advocate, Gregory talked  about "the world according to Dick," challenging students to think while continually making them laugh.

As students, with paintbrushes in their hands, looked at blank canvases, members of the Colgate Christian Fellowship (CCF) asked, "Where do you see beauty in the world?" and "How do humans contribute to or detract from that beauty?"

The 24 participants in the Open Canvas event, sponsored by CCF, were invited to reflect on those questions and through painting, respond.

Interested in learning a new language?

If so, you may want to choose a teacher who talks with their hands.

A study conducted by Colgate University Associate Professor of Psychology Spencer Kelly and two Colgate undergraduate researchers, Tara McDevitt '06 and Megan Esch '07, reveals that people understand and remember foreign words better when a gesture is associated with them.

This tax season, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, Colgate student are expected to help return $1.5 million dollars to more than 1,000 local tax filers.

"Last year, we passed the million-dollar mark. We're on track to top that, putting a significant amount of money in the pockets of those who need it the most," said Nicole Simpson, associate professor of economics, who oversees Colgate's VITA program.

Colgate's efforts to educate caffeine-hungry students about the pitfalls of pulling all-nighters and the need for more shuteye were featured this week in a Times Higher Education (UK) article.

The British magazine highlighted last year's "Come to Bed" event, which was part of a sleep awareness program sponsored by the university's Wellness Initiative.

Thanks to a $45,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Colgate University's Upstate Institute will develop and implement a program that provides free legal services to local low-income residents who are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

In conjunction with the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., a not-for-profit law office that provides legal assistance at no cost, the Upstate Institute will start working with new clients in spring 2009 for the Consumer Bankruptcy Law Project.

Johnston earned the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for ideas he set forth in his 2005 book, Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power, and Democracy (Cambridge University Press).

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Colgate University in April 2009 as part of the Global Leaders Lecture Series.

On Friday, April 3, Powell is scheduled to give a public talk at Colgate. More details about the lecture, including time and ticket information, will be released at a later date.

As a studio art major, Kathleen Kohl '09 has grown accustomed to receiving feedback about her artwork from classmates and professors. But, nothing quite compares to the critique she received last week.

That's because the critic peering at Kohl's latest creation was one of the most influential Chinese artists in the world.

Instead of flipping through the television channels to find the latest take on the presidential campaign, more than 400 people packed into New York City's Axa Equitable Center Monday night to hear election analysis firsthand from a panel featuring Colgate alumni in the journalism field.

Newsweek chief political correspondent and senior editor Howard Fineman '70, who has interviewed every major presidential candidate since 1984, told the audience of alumni and friends that "this has been an election of a lifetime to cover."

Even though the most significant impact from climate change has been in polar regions, a new report co-authored by assistant professor of biology Catherine Cardelús may debunk the notion that tropical plants and animals remain unaffected by global warming.

The research conducted by Cardelús and four other scientists was published in this week's issue of Science magazine, and media outlets around the world have reported the team's findings.

Traveling around the world as a Thomas J. Watson fellow, Adam Hermans '07 has been able to combine his passionate interest in animals with his love for film.

And now, Hermans is back home talking about the yearlong adventure.

Even though first-years had barely stepped foot on Colgate's campus last week, Adam Zimmermann '10 didn't waste any time getting the Class of 2012 fired up to vote.

Recognizing a golden opportunity, Zimmermann, president of Colgate's Student Association for Voter Empowerment (SAVE), decided to integrate a voter registration drive into Link orientation meetings.

What's a Colgate University degree worth?

A study released Wednesday by PayScale, which was reported in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, may shed some light on that question.

Colgate football players hope their strength and endurance pay off for charities that help fight rare diseases.

At the "Lift for Life" fundraiser Friday, about 35 players will compete against each other in lifting and skills competitions.

Spend three weeks in Japan as part of a Colgate extended study course that provides you with access and interactions that no tourist could begin to imagine.

Check.

Fly home to Utah, spend one jet-lagged day asleep, and then drive to Colgate, passing through the flooded cities of Iowa on the way.

Check.

Colgate President Rebecca Chopp and Dean of the Faculty Lyle Roelofs have announced the appointment of Dr. Keenan Grenell as the university's Vice President and Dean of Diversity. The following is drawn from the message shared with the Colgate community.

Grenell comes to Colgate from Marquette University, where he served as Associate Provost for Diversity since 2005. An accomplished leader in higher education, Grenell led diversity efforts at Auburn University prior to moving to Marquette. His career as an administrator and faculty member is distinguished by his commitment to community, collaboration and scholarship. View his full bio here.

Standing on a platform draped with a Colgate banner, President Rebecca Chopp along with a group of alumni and university friends rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning, officially kicking off Colgate Day. (To watch the event, click here.)

From coast to coast and around the world, Colgate faithful are sporting their favorite maroon gear in celebration of the university's love affair with the number 13.

At a time when many small-town movie houses have gone dark, the Hamilton Theater -- once on the brink of closing -- is thriving now more than ever.

The movie theater remains a fixture of Hamilton in an era of mega-multiplexes and Netflix, according to The Post-Standard (Syracuse).

Casey Sprock '86 knows the feeling of loneliness and confusion that many young gay and lesbian students feel as they struggle with their sexuality -- often times keeping it a secret.

So when Sprock was invited to share his coming out story and experience as an openly-gay professional with Colgate students, he jumped at the opportunity.

Instead of having to fight through rush hour traffic to make it to work, Ruthia Yi '07 travels down a dirt road to her "office," a small village in Togo that lacks running water and electricity.

As a Peace Corps volunteer, Yi teaches residents about soil conservation methods and the pressing need for reforestation. She also promotes HIV and AIDS awareness for those living in the remote village.

The life of an acclaimed sports journalist is filled with many interesting opportunities and experiences, but it would be a mistake to think that these can be achieved without hard work and persistence.

By day, Jamal Patterson '97 works as a sales executive for an orthodontics company. By night, Patterson trades his business suit for boxing shorts as he trains for his next match as a mixed martial arts fighter.

It's a double life, of sorts, that caught the attention of The New York Times.

"It was the best experience of my life."

That was the simple text message that Jesse Winchester '08 had sent to the Colgate athletics department after his NHL debut on Saturday night.

Winchester, a dominant force for the Raiders hockey team the past four years, jumped directly to the NHL after being signed by the Ottawa Senators three days after the Raiders season ended.

Buried under a mountain of debt and living off a fixed income, the Alsheimer family of Earlville received the best news of the day from Colgate senior Rachel Tibolt: they'll receive more than $8,500 dollars in tax refunds.

"I have three children, so this money is going to make a huge difference in my life," Jennifer Alsheimer said with a look of relief on her face as Tibolt helped her fill out tax forms inside the Hamilton Public Library.

Next time you watch the presidential candidates speak, pay close attention to their unspoken language--signals such as facial expressions, posture, and hand gestures.

What the candidates don't say could actually speak volumes about them, according to psychology professor Carrie Keating, an expert in facial characteristics and gestures.

As Colgate University junior Jeremy Bennett '09 studies in London this semester, he's getting a real-life lesson in personal finances.

Every fish and chips dinner, hostel stay, and souvenir is taking a big bite out of Bennett's wallet. He and thousands of other students studying abroad can blame the weak U.S. dollar, which is making a semester overseas more expensive.

The Colgate 13 has been singing the praises of Dean William Griffith '33 for decades. With his passing on November 19 at the age of 95, Colgate 13 alumni -- or "Crusties," as they are called -- wanted to do more. They decided to express their love for "Griff" and his mentorship with an endowed memorial scholarship that could benefit future members of the a cappella group.

Inspired by the sacrifices of war veterans, a group of Colgate University sophomores has launched a letter-writing campaign aimed at spreading holiday cheer to local veterans.

"They need to know that we care about them," said Clarissa Polk '10, co-founder of 'Gate Embrace. "We're asking the campus and central New York communities to embrace those who've fought for our country."

"To have Susan Marshall on campus is a really big deal."

Richard Lindzen, the Alfred P. Sloan professor of meteorology at MIT, attracted a sizeable crowd for his global warming discussion at Colgate University last week. Lindzen's visit to campus was sponsored by Colgate's Center for Ethics and World Societies.

By disproving scientific statements regarding the negative impacts of climate change, he attempted to show that global warming poses no imminent threat.

A year and a half ago, Colgate University music professor Laura Klugherz received a letter from a film company interested in using a piece of her music for an upcoming documentary about World War II.

Klugherz didn't think much about the request. In fact, she tucked the letter away in her files.

Students and faculty will not be the only ones working in the Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology next week.  

Two Tibetan monks from Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, N.Y., will be creating a sand mandala in the reading room on the library's third floor. (See this webcam to watch them work).

Colgate Hunger Outreach Program's Local Food Fair drew involved students, interested community members, and the Swinging Gates to The Loj last week for a fresh and delicious feast made entirely of food produced in the Hamilton area.

Liz Whitehurst '08, community coordinator at The Loj, a college theme house dedicated to the environment, said students went shopping at the farmers market in Hamilton the weekend before and then worked together to prepare the food.

Colgate University was fortunate enough to host the internationally acclaimed author and Australian Man of the Year, Tim Flannery.

After reading Flannery's The Weather Makers as part of my first-year reading requirement, I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with him to discuss the currently escalating issue of global warming, which he writes about in his book.

Colgate University's annual Native American Arts and Culture Festival will be held at the Sanford Field House on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Colgate campus was brimming over the weekend with hundreds of guests who flocked to informational sessions, concerts, exhibitions, athletic events, and numerous other Family Weekend events.

An exhibition with a poignant message about driving drunk will be displayed at Colgate University from Oct. 22 to Nov. 12 in the Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology.

This weekend, Colgate's Upstate Institute will host a series of events honoring four abolitionists who helped pave the way for freedom.

The celebration will culminate with the induction of John Brown, Lydia Maria Child, Wendell Phillips, and Sojourner Truth into the National Abolition Hall of Fame (NAHOF).

The Office of Public Relations and Communications is moving to a new platform for posting and distributing stories that appear on www.colgate.edu.

When Bryce Gadway '07 looked through his e-mails recently, he read the usual notes from friends and family, but little did he expect to come across a message that would declare him the winner of one of the nation's most prestigious physics awards.

"It was quite a surprise to get the message; I couldn't believe it. I'd been nominated by Colgate's physics department, but I didn't know when I would actually find out if I'd won," said Gadway, who graduated last May with a physics-astronomy degree.

A student with a passion for video worked closely with a student who loves the outdoors on a special project that shows a sampling of what life can be like at Colgate.

Sam Torrey '09 was one of 18 students who took part in the Upstate Institute Field School this past summer.

For Jessica Kahn '08, who took the LSAT test last weekend, Thursday's law school fair came at a great time.

 Looking for another way to discover what life is like at Colgate? Jump online and take part in the 'gatelife blog.

The Hamilton Movie Theater has gone digital, which for lovers of indie films and documentaries, is very good news.