The Roots of the Toilet Garden

by Vinny Prinzo

When I first arrived in Potsdam, I thought I had once seen it on a post card. There were beautifully kept older houses and businesses, a perfect little “all- American” town. On the first day of school I walked into town to see all Potsdam had to offer. I strolled down Market Street past The Bagelry and Strawberry Fields Music and continued down toward Little Italy Pizza when something caught my eye.
My eyes fell upon a plot of land with sunflowers planted in rows of old toilets. There were urinals placed on a shed wall with a massive big green plastic turtle placed in the center pointed toward the traffic of Market Street. I was intrigued and taken aback. My only reaction was laughter. I wondered to myself, how do the people of Potsdam feel about the “Toilet Garden”? I wondered why such a display would exist. I wondered what archaeologists in the future would think of us if they came across the Toilet Garden.

The Toilet Garden, I’ve come to find out is a protest against the town by owner Hank Robar. In late 2005, Hank Robar looked to rezone the plot of land for potential sale to Dunkin Donuts. Robar had hoped to have the property rezoned from residential to commercial but the Potsdam Zoning Board of Appeals would not grant Robar a special permit to do so (“How A Toilet…”). Following the denial of rezoning, Robar painted a shed on the property a combination of white, orange, red and purple, we assume, to protest the Potsdam Zoning Board (Jacobs, “Potsdam: toilet display flushes image down drain”). It is from then on Potsdam witnesses the growth of the property into Toilet Garden.

Former Village Board of Trustees member Helen H. Brouwer shared her thoughts in a 2008 Watertown Daily Times article, calling the Toilet Garden both “offensive and funny at the same time”. Brouwer also referred to Robar as the “chief vandal” in wake of reports of vandalism against the Toilet Garden. Brouwer goes on “I know its offensive to people, and that was his intent. It’s unfortunate he can’t be more positive to the community” (Jacobs, “Bulky waste’ case in court next week”). Robar has also drawn criticism from Mayor Tischler who stated, "It's just not an appropriate thing. It's not a good reflection on the village” (Jacobs, “Potsdam: toilet display flushes image down drain”).

In 2008, Robar’s Toilet Garden was targeted by Code Enforcement Officer John F. Hill calling the Toilet Garden “bulky waste” and “garbage”. Hill reported shards of broken glass from toilets were apparent throughout the Toilet Garden that could result in a fine for Mr. Robar. The village prohibits “garbage and bulky waste” from being left on a property for more than five days. Hill commented saying “If somebody got hurt there- if they got impaled- it wouldn’t just be Mr. Robar they’d be going after, it’d be me too for allowing it” (Jacobs, “ Bulky waste’ case in court next week”). I am unsure why anyone would be on Mr. Robar’s land long enough to be impaled, the Toilet Garden is private property. Last time I checked, Mr. Robar’s land was not a football field or a playground.

Robar claims that the Toilet Garden has been vandalized a variety of times and very little has been done to stop such actions. He believes that vandalism is chiefly responsible for the shards that Hill was concerned about. Robar insists that he keeps the toilets “good- looking”. Robar has stated that he has reported vandalism up to five times, a concern that he feels could warrant a surrounding of barbed wire around the Toilet Garden. He even went as far to offer a three hundred dollar award to anyone who could provide information about the vandalism (Jacobs, “Potsdam: toilet display flushes image down drain”). I am sympathetic to Robar and his issues with vandalism. It is Robar’s property.

Robar obviously feels that he has been singled out by the Village of Potsdam or else such a display would not exist. As the years have gone by, Robar’s display has intensified steadily but never faded, why is it that Robar has been so heated for so long? One would imagine that an initial protest would exist on the plot if it was simply unable to be rezoned but the display has stayed for years. An anonymous Toilet Garden supporter explained to me that Robar may feel that there was a protection of business interests that plagued the rezoning of his property. I am still unsure or how much validity this claims holds. I had heard the Village Zoning Board had specific problems with the plot.

I sat down with former Mayor and now Deputy Mayor Ruth Garner who explained to the zoning issues associated with Robar’s land and the potential construction of a Dunkin Donuts. The area that Robar had hoped to sell was an already congested area with two gas stations that already caused heavy traffic flow. The construction of a Dunkin’ Donuts not only posed issues for the Village of Potsdam but also the Department of Transportation. The DOT owns the sidewalks and curbs in the Village of Potsdam therefore they are subject to the codes the DOT outlines. The DOT could not allow anymore curb cuts in the area that Robar hoped to build on. Curb cuts are simply ramps that allow people to transition smoothly from sidewalk to road in cars, wheelchairs, or on bikes.

Another issue the Village Zoning Board had was the size of the plot. According to Village code the lot was appropriate for the construction of a doctor’s office, a small apartment complex, or a small business. The construction of an establishment such as a Dunkin Donuts or any similar establishment was prohibited under zoning code. Garner also questions if Dunkin Donuts ever had any real interest in the plot (Garner).

Robar has continuously called the Toilet Garden a piece of “art” while Village Code Enforcement officer has called the Toilet Garden an “accumulation of junk”. To clarify exactly what junk is, I turned to Webster’s Dictionary to find out.

Junk: discarded material or anything that is regarded as worthless (Webster’s).

Robar’s toilets fall into neither category. The toilets are not in dumpsters or appear to be discarded in any form. They are neatly arranged in rows. The toilets also do not fall into the category of “worthless”; they are, as Robar calls them, “artwork”. The toilets must have some meaning. Could Robar be some kind of artistic genius rebelling against the ways of traditional art to create a new form of contemporary art?

Robar could have been inspired by other “toilet artists”. Alamo Heights, Texas is home to “Potty Time”, a successful toilet seat museum. “Potty Time” displays over eight hundred decorated toilet seats and attracts over 1,000 visitors a year (“Photos: Trip Adviser…”). America’s growing interest in toilet- art could have influenced the creation of the Toilet Garden.

It is also completely possible that Robar could simply be environmentally friendly. Every year over seven million toilets end up in landfills across America. To combat wasting these toilets many have begun to use them to create works of art, a form of art known as eco- art. Toilets are often painted or made into flower pots much like the Toilet Garden (“Eco Art Day”). Should we be thanking Mr. Robar for being environmentally conscious?

Although Robar has continuously called the Toilet Garden a piece of art, it is to many residents an “eyesore”. I understand why many residents are unhappy and so are town officials. Eyesores commonly have been known to drive housing prices down in areas like Potsdam. Let’s say a neighbor of the Toilet Garden was trying to sell their house. How many of the potential buyers do you think would ask about the Toilet Garden? How many people would second guess buying a house next door? My guess is all of them would. In tough financial times like today, the last thing Potsdam needs is what some would consider an eyesore to drive housing prices down.

One could also argue that a Dunkin’ Donuts could also be considered an eyesore. Small towns like Potsdam pride themselves on small “mom and pop shops” and seem to shy away from corporate America (it seems only within villages). Once you go past Market Street, Potsdam has all the corporate American business you could think of like Wal- Mart, Subway. McDonald’s, Burger King and let me see… oh yeah, a Dunkin’ Donuts. It seems clear to me now that “Dunkin” was going to make its way into Potsdam regardless of what land it was to be built upon.

As referred to earlier, one anonymous source who has followed the story suggested that I look into competitors who might have influenced the village because they wanted to keep Dunkin out. The hard feelings from the Zoning Board’s decision in 2005 have obviously not died. Let it be known I am not passing judgment on any of the actions or motives of the Zoning Board or making claims of “injustices” against Robar. There are two sides to every story. Also, I am not suggesting that any one person or organization had any involvement in the downfall of Robar’s sale. I am simply establishing evidence of both sides so that readers can establish their own opinion on the matter.

I myself am still unsure of what to think about the Toilet Garden. In many ways I feel that the “Toilet Garden” is an expression of American ideals we cherish each and every day. As Americans we have the right to protest and free speech. What makes the “Toilet Garden” any different? I appreciate his passion.

When I first heard of Robar’s story, I was a strong supporter. I felt that Robar should have been able to sell the land if he had wanted. It is Robar’s land. He should be able to do what he wants with it. As I learned more of the facts about zoning, I began to become critical of Robar’s motives behind the Toilet Garden.

Zoning guidelines are put into effect to protect surrounding houses and establishments and to preserve residential areas from becoming overly commercial. The construction of a Dunkin Donuts would have affected multiple houses and caused even heavier traffic flow in an already congested area. I myself would not enjoy living next to a Dunkin Donuts. It is critically important to preserve small- town America and I support the Zoning Board’s decision. However, I will continue to enjoy the Toilet Garden for all it is worth. It truly is a work of art. I respect Mr. Robar’s passion and exuberance.

Sources

Booth, Sarah A.. "Potsdam, N.Y., economic developer to open coffee shop, wine bar. ". Watertown Daily Times. 11- 20- 09 .

Jacobs, Alex. "'Bulky waste' case in court next week". Watertown Daily Times. 11-20-09 .

Jacobs, Alex. "Potsdam: toilet display flushes image down drain". Watertown Daily Times. 11-20-09 .

Webster's New Pocket Dictionary. Cleveland: Wiley Publishing, 2000.
“Photos: TripAdvisor Marvels at America’s Wackiest Attractions”. Finance Yahoo. 10/19/09

“Eco Art Day”. CaptainOzone. 10/19/09 < http://www.captainozone.com/3/3home.HTML>.
Garner, Ruth. Personal interview. November 23, 2009.

Local Misconceptions

The students and residents in the town of Potsdam may have misconceptions on many problems that lie within the town. Such problems were brought up by us in the following four essays in many different ways. Thus the problems rest in front of our faces but in ways go unrecognized. Most students just see Potsdam as a backdrop, but the town has real world issues like any other town in America. It even has its own issues unique to a college town.
Juan Olivo: Clarkson University and SUNY Potsdam are two of the best colleges in the North Country. They both happen to be in the town of Potsdam. It is hard for the colleges to not have some type of rivalry. But what I wanted to know was if the town had any preferences between the colleges.
Alyschia Abold: The town of Potsdam is just a short walk for students from both SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University. While walking into town, students may have trouble due to the sidewalks. The safety of students and even residents is an issue.
Chris Boldt: When one hears the word "skateboarder", many things come to mind. How many of those are good things? Skateboarders are not here to destroy property or sue people. Skateboarding is more about self expression. One could even go as far as to call it a form of art. Though it is not conventional, it is still art.
Kanema Williams: The border crossing between two Mohawk reservations has been a site of conflict. In this essay, I look at the issues and the history.

Toilet Garden: Branches

by David Mulvihill

There are plenty of undiscovered, interesting, and even weird places and things to see in Potsdam, New York. Being a new and a clueless freshman at the university may get one’s brain flowing with questions about the events and things that go on in the town, and on campus. These questions are ones that only can be answered by interviews, personal experiences, and research. If you happen to discover a weird event or place, is it the only isolated event? Or is it an up and coming trend? And if such trends exist, why are they here and what meanings do they present?

My first week in Potsdam, New York was an exciting one. Fresh faces were crowding the town. The ending of summer was sweeping the town away, yet the warm weather switch was still turned on. A few friends and I decided to explore Market Street. As we ventured down Market Street, we peeked into a few of the shops, but they were all closed because it was around seven at night. We didn’t mind at all, and we had nothing better to do, so we kept on walking down the new quaint and little town. Everything looked like it could be in a movie, white picket fences, red brick buildings, nothing was out of the ordinary. My friend Jared was thirsty so we headed over to the nearest place that was open, Stewart's gas station. After picking up some snacks and drinks we decided we would do some more exploring.

Leaving the store, I noticed directly across the way, was a house with many toilets on the front yard. But it wasn't just a lot of toilets on the side of a curb ready to be thrown out, in other words you could tell that the toilets were positioned purposely on the lawn. This made me confused at first, but it was very humorous. Not only did this property have allot of toilets on the front yard, it had sunflowers coming out of each and every one. The property also included a multicolored garage with urinals attached to it, a scarecrow, and a giant plastic turtle.

It then struck me that this town isn't all quaint and perfect as I pictured it once before. There is something out of the ordinary! And behind every weird lawn such as this one, there must be a story! Are there other weird lawns like the one in Potsdam? And if so, what is the purpose of having them? Could it be a protest? As many questions filled my head, I sat and tried to sort each and every one out. Could weird lawns such as this be an up and coming trend? Why were these toilets randomly on someone's lawn? Do these toilets have a specific meaning? What does the owner say and think about the lawn? Was this lawn a form of revenge? How does the community feel about these toilets? These questions might be important to the community because it is not something someone may see every day. When someone is living in a town and is puzzled as to why there might be toilets all over a random lawn, one may want answers!

Think about your hometown. What if one of your neighbors had bright red dyed hair and skeletons hung up in their windows all year long? You would want to find the answer to why they do this because it is interesting, and out of the ordinary and even a little scary! Could it be that they are just too lazy to take down their Halloween decorations, and instead just leave them hanging all year long? Could the neighbors just like the color red? Could the neighbor be a doctor studying the bones of the human body with this skeleton hanging in the window? Later one may find out that the girls with bright red dyed hair and the skeletons hung up all year long were actually in fact, devil worshipers. Would you like to live in not only a town, but be neighbors with this kind of person? Even if you did live near these people, wouldn't you at least like to have the knowledge of what they are doing and if you are safe? Ok, so maybe these toilets are not to that extreme, but this still demands an explanation! I am a new person to the Potsdam community and I think it is only fair to know why a lawn like this in Potsdam, actually exists.

Before conducting my library and out of class research, I did not know all that much about this “toilet garden” in Potsdam. I had low goals for how much information I would find. The first bit of information I got was talking to upperclassmen and trying to figure out the basic questions such as who, what, when, where and how? Many stories were different. One student would tell me the toilets have been there for two years and another upperclassman would say six years. Some students said it was for revenge and others said it was art. This was a topic that interested me and one that I wanted answers to! But then I got one simple name from an upperclassman: Hank Robar, the notorious toilet lawn owner. This is the keyword that held me up during my library research, but after I got it, it all started to unfold. I found articles left and right! But enough of this, back to the story!

It all started in the year of 2005 over a coffee shop. It wasn't just any coffee shop, it was Dunkin Donuts, the national company that we have all known and loved for years. Well, Hank Robar wanted to sell his land to the nationally known company, not only to benefit himself, but the town of Potsdam. The only problem was zoning. The zoning board at Potsdam would not allow the land to be used as commercial property because It was in a residential zone, and neighbors and traffic would also be huge factors. “Dunkin Donuts offered to buy it. They wouldn’t give me a special use permit for it,” said Robar. (News 10 Now, para 2, 2008) . The idea was turned down on October, 13th, 2005 by the St. Lawrence County Planning Board. This is what happened:

i. Potsdam (V): Robar, rezoning. Zimmerman made the presentation of the staff report

The applicant is requesting rezoning from B2 to B1. Concerns include: (1) the rezoning would not be consistent with either the abutting B-2 zone nor the residential area (R-2 zone); and a potential high-traffic-volume use complicate the traffic situation in the area which was recently redefined by road and lane striping. Staff review recommends this be disapproved.

(Saint Lawrence County, CPB minutes)

After being rejected for his proposition, it seems that Hank Robar found better use for his land. What could be better than a Dunkin Donuts? Maybe ten toilets with sunflowers coming out of them, six urinals, a few scarecrows, a multicolored garage, and a big green plastic turtle! That is what you will find on present day on 82-84 Market Street. You would think this wouldn't be a huge problem, yet it gave the town something to talk about. Many people took it as a funny joke, but others not so much, which resulted in people kicking Robar’s “art” over. In 2008, Code Enforcement Officer John Hill said the toilets posed a safety risk, and that the toilets could hurt someone, “if they got into the broken shards and got impaled”. John Hill also stated that the property violated the village’s bulky waste law. (Jacobs). Robar was issued a ticket and was due in court. Lucky for Robar, the village failed to fill out the paperwork and the case was dismissed.

You would assume that all of this was done in protest of the board of trustees” decision not to rezone the property. Another way to look at it is “Protests disrupt the peace, stop business as usual, and cause disquiet” (Woliver). Robar claimed the village was singling him out with the bulky waste ticket. "As far as Mr. Robar being singled out, absolutely not. I think we’ll be going after everyone to meet the law," said Potsdam Mayor Ron Tischler (News 10 Now, “toilet display”). The mayor’s quote explains that Robar is not the only one being singled out and that there are sixty other properties in Potsdam that need cleaning up, ones that broke the code of bulky waste, another of which also happens to be Robar’s property. Still, Robar refuses to clean up, by using the excuse as “art” (web staff, Potsdam toilets). What a way to shake up quaint little Potsdam. But is this an isolated event, or are there other such properties and “protests” going on around the world? There could be many similar properties such as Hank Robar’s “toilet garden”!

A book called Weird New York by Chris Gethard, shows and explains weird places, events, and properties spread all throughout New York State. This book is great for its pictures, widespread research and findings of out of the ordinary things that might just be in your neighborhood! Chapter five is named “Personalized Properties and Visionary Environments” and it starts off speaking about the perfect home, a white fence, nice front lawn, and everything seems perfect, kind of like my vision of Potsdam New York. But Chris Gethard proves everyone wrong, with the fact that everywhere in New York is not so perfect, and there are other weird lawns such as Robar’s! Some of the weird lawns that Gethard illustrates are ones with old cars, stuffed animals, road signs, sculptures, and even houses! But the ones that jumped out and looked similar to Robar’s “toilet garden” were the lawns or properties named “The Garden at Sixth and B” located in Manhattan and “The Land of Broken Dreams” located in Liverpool.

These pictures in the book right show that Robar isn't the only one in the world with a weird lawn. “The Garden at Sixth and B” is also similar to Robar’s “toilet garden” because it was property that was seized by the city from previous owners because of taxes that were unpaid. The city now owned the land. Residents of the community took the chance and made this place interesting for people to go on a walk or enjoy nature, somewhere to get away from the city. The city tried to sell the garden to real estate, but the community refused to let that happened and fought for it, just like Robar when he was cited for “bulky waste”. A man named Eddie Boros took the opportunity to make this land interesting, yet weird to look at. What makes the “Garden at Sixth and B” so weird? It has tons of stuffed animals attached to a huge wooden structure! Some people find this interesting, funny, or even a little creepy. The mayor of New York City didn't like this property as well, just like Potsdam’s Mayor Tischler. Not only does “Garden at Sixth and B” prove that weird lawns are not an isolated thing, it also may show that this weird property could be another form of revenge or protest to make the mayor or community members mad because they couldn't get their full way. (Gethard,115-118)

“The Land of Broken Dreams” is a piece of property owned and maintained by a man named Bob Smith, located in Liverpool, NY. Although the book doesn't give much of a background as to why this property is here, it basically just shows that Smith likes to make his property known for the random pieces of art he produces. This is similar to the “toilet garden” because this property really doesn't have any meaning, basically because it is a bunch of random junk piled up. Some may see it as art, and others may not. The picture it shows mannequin legs, doll heads, birdhouses, a rocking horse, and other random items. Could this weird lawn serve a bigger purpose? Maybe it has some background information that either Smith or the author Gethard forgot to explain. Even without this info, we still learn that weird lawns exist in New York and they are not just a isolated thing, and that other lawns such as Robar’s are not just present in Potsdam, but all of New York. (Gethard, 115-118)

A national news article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal speaks about how there is a pet cemetery located in Nevada, and how the property next to it could turn into a fast food chain, “Carls Jr”. This relates back to good ol’ Potsdam because the same thing was happening to Hank Robar’s land. The owners of the property in Nevada wanted the property rezoned for commercial use, but a source says that the fast food joint will do no good for the area. Plus there is a cemetery there, people should use that area to be respectful, not to rush for food and to only litter all over the cemetery. This article shows that the event in Potsdam is not an isolated event, and that Hank Robar is not the only person that had to go through a rezoning crisis. (Choate, 21 Oct. 2009, “Proposal withdrawn for Carl's Jr.”).

Toilet art may be a new trend. Why? Because now there are even websites that show, what you can do with an old, unused toilet! The website “eight+ ways to reuse a toilet” is a website that shows what people can do with some toilets laying around that are no longer used for the bathroom. Since Robar owns so many apartments, the reason why he had so many toilets in the first place was because he needed to replace the older toilets in the apartments, with new ones for the new renters. Lucky for him he found a way to use them, just like this website tells you what you can do with an old toilet laying around! Some of the suggestions explain that you can turn a toilet into a vase, flower bed, flowerpot, a statue, a toilet chair, a toilet bicycle, a cooler, or even a cooking grill! This website is equipped with pictures, which is proof that weird lawns are not an isolated happening, even in Potsdam. Robar is not the only one with the idea of toilets with flowers growing out of the middle, so what if these “toilet gardens” really are becoming an up an coming trend? (“eight+ ways to reuse a toilet” )

Another national newspaper source from The Sun, located in Yuma Arizona speaks about zoning and property rights. This ties in with Hank Robar because the article tells about how if you own land, it is no one’s land, but your very own, and you should be able to do whatever you wish with it. “The idea that (the government can tell you what do do with your property) could happen would be inconceivable to the nation's founders, who believed government should have an extremely limited role in society, and telling people what to do with their private property certainly wasn't one of those things.” (The Sun, Prop Use Control) One of the items that the government is trying to ban in Arizona is the large garbage disposal crates. What would they think if they saw Robar’s land! But in the article it states that you may have one garbage crate if you happen to live in a rural area. If this is true, wouldn't that mean that Potsdam should allow some exceptions also? When Hank says that he was being “singled out” that could mean that the government just dislikes when people stand up for what they believe in. “The point is that no one questions the right of the supervisors or any other governmental body to limit the use of their property.” (The Sun, Prop Use Control). Is Robar wrong for testing the rights of the government to limit the use of his property? Could the case in court be dropped on purpose in court because the village knew that they were going to lose, and didn't want to look dumb in the media?

I wanted to see what other people thought about Hank’s “toilet garden”. In order to do so, I conducted some interviews that would help me with my research. Other people’s opinions matter because everyone has different points of view, just like the Mayor and Robar. One student who attends the State University of New York full time as a freshman is Paul Gordon. When asked about the “toilet garden,” he knew right away what I was asking about. “You would have to be dumb to drive by and not notice them,” Paul states. “They are interesting”. When asked if he knew why they were there, he had no clue, so I filled him in. “It’s a funny story, but it does not bother me at all. But I could see why some adults would not like the toilets” (Gordon).

But Ruth Garner, deputy mayor and former mayor of the village of Potsdam, had a different perspective on the “toilet garden” issue. Ruth has been part of this issue for at least ten years. She explained that if you live in, and belong to a community, that you should do your very best to take pride in it. Whether if it is walking down the street and being a friendly face, or being a passerby and you look at one of the old beautiful houses on Elm, or Market Street. These old beautiful houses are ones that have a lot of history and are prominent to the Potsdam community. “It’s sad that some people don’t take pride in their community or even property” (Ruth Garner, interview November, 23rd, 2009). She also explained that just because it is your property, that you can’t do whatever you want, because it also affects neighbors and everyone else. When asked about the toilets, she explained that there was no way that the property could be zoned and passed by the board. Traffic and residential areas were huge factors. When asked about the property she stated, “I lived in San Francisco for some years and the painted garage didn't bother me one bit, but the toilets are a little much” (Garner, 23 Nov. 2009).

No matter where you are located, nothing and no one is perfect. Some people may not agree on the same thing, and others may have different opinions on art, how to do their jobs, and even what their lawns look like. But one thing is for sure, if you look closely enough you may also find something weird in your very own “quaint, quiet, white picket fence, little town”. And who knows, if you happen to find something weird such as the “Toilet Garden” located in Potsdam New York, look into the story. What you find may be interesting, such as information on a protest, or different kinds of art. You might even come to find that these “Toilet Gardens” could be an up and coming trend, which means they are definitely not an isolated event!

Potsdam and Clarkson: Is there rivalry?

by Juan Olivo

The town of Potsdam thrives on the two colleges that inhabit it. Clarkson University is the private university that is known for its engineering program and its division one hockey program. Sitting at about a 2 minute drive from town is State University of New York College at Potsdam. The college is one of the many four year colleges in the SUNY system. The college is known for the Crane school of music and the teacher education program. But it is also one of the leading public liberal arts schools in the nation (usnews.com). Both colleges share the town and its resources. The stores in town takes Bear express and the Knight card, a debit card the schools provides for their students. Almost every store in the town accepts the card as a form of payment. The towns local Wal-Mart is the perfect place for students to replenish their dorm stock, although it does not take the debit cards. The town really relies on the students to shop and buy items from their local stores. Both colleges even work together to share and provide activities and clubs for the students that the other school may not have. For example, Clarkson Students can complete work towards their math undergraduate degree at SUNY Potsdam (Clarkson.edu). The Army’s ROTC program is coordinated by both schools, allowing SUNY Potsdam students the same opportunity Clarkson students receive, and the benefits the program offers can be used at either school (Potsdam.edu).

Both colleges have respectable academic programs and represent the town really well. That’s not to say there is not a rivalry between the schools. Both schools like to claim superiority in Potsdam. Obviously, students, alumni and parents of students will claim that their school is better. But the real, question is who does the Town believe is the best school in Potsdam? Being a student of SUNY Potsdam it is hard for me to say that Clarkson is a better college than Potsdam. SUNY Potsdam hires many townspeople to fill positions at PACES, Lehman dining hall and various cleanup positions. They keep the campus and the students going, and are an essential part to the campus. SUNY Potsdam also has a tuition that is a lot more affordable than the private education that Clarkson offers. Clarkson’s tuition is upwards of forty thousand dollars a year including room and board and meal plan (Clarkson.edu). The town isn’t a rich town known for its luxuries. The school operates on public funds, so it seems to me that the townspeople would find it easier to relate to the college because of its hardworking roots. While Potsdam might be the school with which the town wishes to identify itself, it is hard to argue with Clarkson’s reputation. The sports teams are top notch and academics wise, the school is always ranked as one the best in the nation (Clarkson.edu).

Asking the town which one it favors more is a difficult task, because it means asking the town which school they rather not have around. The schools have two very different reputations. Clarkson is known as the lavish, rich and high quality private school. SUNY Potsdam is the public school that prides itself on providing an education for anyone willing to learn and really represents the Potsdam community and North Country as a whole. Clarkson continues to bring the town integrity and respect academically. But Potsdam the town can identify with Potsdam the college because of its students. I hate to generalize but Potsdam students tend to come from hardworking backgrounds. Potsdam parents don’t tend to make a lot of money and going to a public college is really the only way a parent can pay for college. Clarkson University’s tuition is definitely upwards of forty thousand dollars including room and board. The town can easily side with Clarkson and go with the upscale school that is building a prestigious reputation. But my hunch is Potsdam is the college that represents the working class of the town. Most residents of Potsdam have either graduated from Potsdam or Clarkson and have settled down in the town. Both schools have been in the town for a very long time, and I am sure that it would be hard for citizens of the town to imagine the village without either school. From the student perspective, it pretty cool to have another college that collaborates with my college to make sure my experience is fulfilling as it should be.

But I still believe that because our school is more about the college experience than just the academics that are school is better than Clarkson. I’m sure that there are students from both schools that will say that the other is better so it would be really difficult to say which school are better and which the town favors more. Now this may seem like a trivial debate between students in town, but it goes far deeper than that. A town showing favoritism to one school is a big deal because the town can than become an uncomfortable place for some students. To me the question is important because I would like to know what the citizens of Potsdam think about the schools in their village. I think that it is important to dig into this topic because being a student I always wondered if the cashier at Wal-Mart categorized Potsdam students as delinquents because they went to a state school. Or if she thought about how spoiled some Clarkson students are, when they checked out their purchases. To me it is interesting that more people don’t compare the colleges more, or there isn’t a bigger rivalry between the schools and their sports teams. I want to know if the community really has any prejudices against either school.

I also believe it is important for the community to know where their neighbors stand on the issue. The town could be really shocked in the results that are found. It could also change the perspective of most of the town because it could make the town realize they were being impartial to one school. I believe the town could be better off knowing if they favored one school more than the other. My research will clear up any hard feelings shared by the schools and the Potsdam community, hopefully resulting in a way for the schools to improve themselves. Through my surveys asked to the town merchants and maybe being able to clear up some issues between the schools.

The situation between both schools is something that is seen throughout the country. Schools all over the nation deal with rivalries like this. Schools in Florida like Florida State and the University of Florida. Duke and UNC is a popular rivalry (nbcsports.com). And even in our state Columbia University shares rivalries with Cornell and New York University. Even in the North Country there is a rivalry between the power house St. Lawrence University and SUNY Canton. To me the school rivalries are essential to the college experience because it adds a sense of pride to the college you go to. Being able to attend sporting events and root for your team is great. But being able to root for your hockey team while they rip up SUNY Canton is rewarding.

While hitting the streets of Potsdam to do research I noticed the large number of stickers stating that “Bear” or “Knight” is accepted at the store. Most of the town’s established stores accept both and not just one. I decided to hand out my surveys to several business owners in the area. Some owners took my survey and welcomed it while others decided to brush it aside. In my survey I asked several questions about the colleges and their opinion on both colleges. The survey covered numerous issues and even got a little touchy. I was able to ask eight different merchants from the Town if they believed there was even a rivalry to acknowledge, and three quarters of the town said there was not a rivalry. I found this surprising because given the close proximity of the schools I thought the town would notice some tension. I also introduced people to a situation that asked “which student would they rather have in their store”. Every person answered that it did not matter which school the student was from. I was surprised that most people would not prefer to have students from Clarkson University, the private school, in their store. I even asked the town if one school had to move from the town which would have a greater impact, and the results were split fifty/fifty, with half the town stating it did not matter and the other half saying Potsdam College would have a bigger impact. At first I was surprised at the answers, but I realized there are more Potsdam students and the Crane school of music has lots of students that rely on the music stores in town. So far my assumption that Clarkson was more valued by the town was incorrect. I asked the town if they thought that either school had a party school reputation. And most answers were that neither had a party school reputation, but Potsdam got two votes while Clarkson received one. Then I asked the town if it mattered that one school was private and which school was better for its students in the long run, with the consensus was that it did not matter, but two owners did answer that a private education was more valuable. The final question asked if you would associate yourself more with either school, and five of the merchants responded by saying that they indentified themselves with Potsdam College. While the other three merchants answered that they associated themselves with neither school. I was not too surprised to hear that, because although I believed the village valued Clarkson more than Potsdam, I knew that Potsdam had the students that most citizens can relate to, given that it is a state school.

My research has opened up my eyes on the village of Potsdam. I learned some things that I did not know before. As I draw my final conclusions on the issue, I begin to see that although Clarkson has the mystique of a private university in the north east, Potsdam College is a better representation of the town as a whole. I also realized that even though both institutions might be different, the students have the same goal, and that is to attain a higher education.

Works Cited

Army ROTC - clubs - SUNY Potsdam." Welcome to SUNY Potsdam - SUNY Potsdam. Web. 4 Dec. 2009. .

Best rivalries: Duke vs. UNC - College basketball- nbcsports.msnbc.com." Sports News Headlines - NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA, NASCAR - Scores, Game Highlights, Schedules & Team Rosters - nbcsports.msnbc.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2009. .

Clarkson University: Accolades." Clarkson University: Personal. Rigorous. Connected. A Place Like No Other. Web. 11 Nov. 2009. .

Clarkson University: Tuition and Fees - 2009 - 2010 Academic Year." Clarkson University: Personal. Rigorous. Connected. A Place Like No Other. Web. 04 Nov. 2009. .

Mathematics REU." Clarkson University: Personal. Rigorous. Connected. A Place Like No Other. Web. 11 Nov. 2009. .

SUNY College--Potsdam -." Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report. Web. 11 Nov. 2009. .

Sidewalk Safety in Potsdam

by Alyschia Abold

Have you ever walked down the sidewalks of Potsdam and wondered when the last time they were touched for maintenance was? My concern is that the Potsdam sidewalks are unsafe. I walk the sidewalks at least 4 times a week, and within those four days, I always end up tripping at least once. While I’ve been here in Potsdam, I have also witnessed a person fly forward off of his bike because the sidewalks were uneven, He was okay thankfully. Not only should I be concerned but the community should be as well. In the winter, the town has their own system and people have their own opinions on how the sidewalks are during this time. Residents, children, and students use the sidewalks daily, and this could become very hazardous and dangerous if we do not fix most of the problem right now. Many people have their own views on the sidewalks, and the town has their own system in which they may or may not work on the sidewalks.

There are many different thoughts about the sidewalks of Potsdam. The perspectives of two students I interviewed seem to be around the same. Students I spoke with also feel as if the sidewalks are annoying and at times unsafe. This is because at some points there isn’t enough room for two people to walk side by side when another person is coming the opposite way. Also, if there is a biker, skateboarder, or person on a scooter, there isn’t enough room for the person walking. They also feel as if every few feet you have to avoid something in the sidewalk, whether it is a hole, puddle, or uneven cement blocks of the sidewalks.

In an interview with Bryan Abbio, a junior here at SUNY Potsdam, I was fond that many students may have the same thoughts I do. For example, his first thoughts about the sidewalks are that “at times they are unsafe because of the uneven pavement.” Thus, he stated, “the sidewalks are not maintained well enough and could use some maintenance.” When asked about the different seasons and the different effects the seasons have on the sidewalks, Bryan had some interesting points. During the fall season, Bryan said, “the sidewalks are covered with leaves that become wet due to rain, then pose a hazard until someone complains to the highway department to clean up.” On the other hand, in the winter time, Bryans’ observation was that “it even poses a bigger hazard due to the ice problem. They do not put down salt, they use sand which doesn’t really work for traction.” In his opinion, snow, ice, and other hazards pose obstacles which could be dangerous. Furthermore, his advice was that people need to give themselves enough time to travel slowly.

Miranda Sereno, a freshman at SUNY Potsdam, shared similar thoughts about the sidewalks. Miranda’s first thoughts were “the sidewalks are uneven which is a safety hazard.” Miranda believes the sidewalks should be wider so that it is easier for walkers, bikers, skateboarders, and people on scooters to maneuver, especially at once. For example, when there are more than one or two people on the sidewalk at once, at times there isn’t enough room. During the different seasons, Miranda feels as if the leaves and snow pose hazards. She stated, “when you can’t see where or what you’re stepping into you could rotationally hurt yourself.” Furthermore, Miranda feels that we need to take our time while traveling on the sidewalks and that the community should pay more attention to the sidewalks as a safety hazard.

When it comes to the weather changes, the students also had a lot to say. Although Potsdam doesn’t get a lot of snow, ice and frigid temperatures come into play. Students stated that your average footwear doesn’t come in handy. Bryan recommended a good pair of boots or a studded bottom type of footwear, due to the slippery surfaces of the sidewalks. In addition to Bryan’s view, Miranda also said that boots should be worn for safer walking.

Potsdam is not the only town that has this problem. An article in the New York Times, titled “City Hall Argues for Sharing Sidewalk Injury Liability,” By Jennifer Steinhauer states that New York City is basically having the same problem. In November 2002, the city had many sidewalk injuries that they would pay for in a law suit, even though the homeowners were responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks.

On the Village of Potsdam website, there was a letter that was sent to the public on November 16, 2005. This letter stated that before the first snowfall, residents needed to assure that they parked their cars three feet from the sidewalk. This is because the plows will not be close to hitting the parked vehicles. As long as they are three feet from the sidewalk, the plows can plow the snow safely. Also, the plow for the sidewalks is a little bigger than the actual sidewalk. Another statement in this letter is that cars cannot be parked in the street or overhanging the sidewalks between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. because this is when the plows will be working. It also stated that anyone who didn’t follow these statements will be ticketed, and their car could be impounded (Village of Potsdam. 2005).

In an interview, Bruce Henderson, head of the Public Works Department in the village of Potsdam, said that “the town does not own the sidewalks themselves, the residents do.” For example, how many square feet your house is, determines how much sidewalk you cover. Basically every resident is responsible for their stretch of sidewalk outside of their house, depending on the square footage. Throughout the different seasons, the town does take certain actions to try and keep the sidewalks clean and free. In the fall, Henderson stated that “as long as residents rake leaves and brush to the curb, the town will pick them up.” On the other hand, in the winter Henderson stated that “the town takes care of the snow by plowing, and there is about 32 to 36 miles of sidewalk in Potsdam and it takes them about five to seven hours to plow them.”

Safety is a big concern to Bruce Henderson and the members of the Public Works Department. Henderson said “he takes all problems and safety hazards seriously.” For example, the community has complained in the past about the sidewalks being too narrow and small. In the year 2005, new specifications for sidewalks were made. From then on, any sidewalk that needed maintenance was to be five feet wide, compared to four feet.

Although there are many problems with the sidewalks of Potsdam, there is only so much we can do. The community as a whole needs to take care of the sidewalks. Thus, residents need to keep up with the maintenance of their own stretch of sidewalk. If need be, the department of Public Works is there to help, and will help whenever there is a problem. As a community, we need to take our time, think smart, and report any problems we may see with the sidewalks of Potsdam.

Works Cited:

JENNIFER, STEINHAUER "City Hall Argues for Sharing Sidewalk Injury Liability." New York Times 13 Nov. 2002: 8. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2009.

Sereno, Miranda. Personal Interview. 5 November 2009.

Abbio, Bryan. Personal Interview. 9 November 2009.

Henderson, Bruce. Personal Interview. 10 November 2009.

Regan, Marie. "Welcome to the TOWN of POTSDAM". 10/27/09 .
- http://www.vi.potsdam.ny.us/Parking/pdf/onstreet.pdf

Works Consulted:

"Paying for Lack of Sidewalk Safety." Perspective (08889732) 19.11 (2004): 5. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.

ROMANO, JAY "Patching Cracks Before They Grow." New York Times 11 Sept. 2008: 2. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.

Skateboarding is not a Crime

by Chris Boldt

A skateboard can be a means of transportation, entertainment, or even possibly self expression. It’s mostly about self improvement: the main goal is to get better as an individual and maybe try to be better than your friends. Skateboarding is really about fun. It has now become almost a sport.

There are two places where skateboarding is “accepted” in Potsdam. One of these two is on the SUNY Potsdam campus, near the Maxcy Hall basketball courts. This place is less than ideal. It consists of a rail or two and if we’re lucky, a ramp. The other place is Fall Island Park, or “falls”, as most people call it. These are the only two places where skaters can go and not expect to be thrown out after about 15 to 35 minutes. Though most of the other places are not marked with signs, police are often called to kick the skaters out.

“Hey, turn your skateboards off!” Most teenagers know that this exclamation makes no sense, but it is exactly what was shouted at a group of skateboarders while they were “cruising” down a SUNY Potsdam campus road. Though there are no signs that say “NO SKATEBOARDING”, it is extremely difficult to make it more than an hour on campus with a skateboard when school is not in session. Students are allowed to use a skateboard as a means of transportation and nothing else. So many times have I been to SUNY Potsdam to skate and within 15 minutes of arrival been told by a University Police officer that I have to leave. It is annoying and unfair. We aren’t breaking anything or hurting anyone, why is it so wrong for us to skateboard? If someone actually was hurting the campus or defacing it in any way, it would be understandable for us to be asked to leave. Skateboarding is not a crime.

Police officers, teachers, and other adults don’t seem to respect skateboarders as people. They seem to see them as brat kids who are always up to no good. This image may cause unfair treatment to skateboarders just because they have a hobby in common with drug users and people who vandalize property. Why do people get this predetermined image?

Skateboarders have throughout history been seen as punks or misfits, but today skateboarding is starting to become more mainstream. Around the early 1950s skateboarding was known as “sidewalk surfing” and it was something surfers did for fun when the waves were flat. It grew increasingly popular and soon companies started making decks from compressed wood. Even when it first started, skateboarding was controversial. Surfers were calling skaters “posers” and telling them that they should learn to surf before they started skateboarding (Wikipedia).

Skateboarding became even more popular in the 1970s with the invention of polyurethane wheels. These were an extreme improvement from the metal roller skate wheels that were being used before. It became less common to slide out and skateboarding was even more like surfing. Skaters could now make sharp turns without falling down. Now any flat surface or incline was just waiting for some creative skater to come make art with different aerials and maneuvers. Each skater uses their own style to create a certain flow and react to their environment as it comes at them. Even today, skateboarding is still changing and will most likely continue to change for many years to come.

As one would imagine, after this large growth in popularity, there needed to be some laws imposed. In Norway, between 1978 and 1989, skateboarding was banned completely due to the high number of injuries (Wikipedia). Skaters were forced to build ramps in the forest to avoid the police. This is just one example of a more extreme response to the rapid growing popularity of skateboarding. In an interview, one Clarkson University student said that he has been chased, yelled at, or spoken to by Clarkson Campus Security or SUNY Potsdam University Police over one hundred times in the past year. A 19 year old SUNY Canton student was once stopped in downtown Potsdam for longboarding on the side of the road. He was then frisked by the town police. They said that their probable cause was that he was skateboarding on the shoulder of the road. This is not fair. What if it was a nerdy kid on his way home? I’m sure he would not be searched. Personally I have had run-ins with both of the universities’ police forces and the town police. Usually they are all relaxed about the situation, but that is not always the case. There was once, during the summer of 2008, when a few friends and I were very cautiously approached by the town police (while trespassing on high school grounds). They came jogging towards us with their hands on their guns and showered with curse words and hollow threats. Though we were trespassing on school property, there’s no need to yell.

These are the stories that are in most skater’s minds when they think of police. A Clarkson University was asked what comes to mind when someone says “Campus Police” and he replied, “[They are] people being given a small amount of power and then abusing it and thinking they are state police. No respect towards anyone.” He was referring to the Campus Security at Clarkson who are not actually “police”. Though the two colleges in Potsdam are the best places to skate, it isn’t very easy to stay long enough to get some decent footage of a trick you’ve been working on for days, weeks, months, or even years. These confrontations are hardly ever serious and unless the police find drugs or other contraband they simply take down your name and tell you to leave.

The stereotypes are very strong. Though skateboarders have their own way of dressing, this does not mean that people should all assume that they are always up to no good. For example, in the movie Observe and Report, skateboarders are shown wearing beanies, jeans, and t-shirts while defacing public property, a “NO SKATEBOARDING” sign. Today, skateboarders are seen quite often wearing tight jeans, flat brimmed hats, and t-shirts. This may put a bad image in some people’s heads, but really most skaters are good people. Popularity just isn’t their goal.

Drugs also come to mind when most people think of skateboarders and their lifestyle. Though drugs do have a place in some skateboarding communities, not all skateboarders are drug users. From what I’ve seen it is mostly the poser younger kids who think that doing drugs makes them “cool” who create that image. The only drug that is present in the skateboarding community is marijuana. A true skateboarder usually does not use it because it makes them feel tired and lazy, but some do. If you get stoned before you skate and you have the average reaction to marijuana, you won’t even want to lift your legs. How is anyone going to land a fakie tre flip stoned out of their mind? I’m sure it’s been done, but it is not ideal.

These common misconceptions about drugs and a hunger for mischief cause many people to be afraid of skateboarders. I find that they see them coming and refuse to make eye contact or some other neglectful action. Most skateboarders do not wish to be popular, but they don’t want to be pushed out of everywhere they go.

Police are not the only opposing force to skaters. Store owners also often ask skaters to leave their property. “You can’t skate here.” Those are very common words in places such as the Clarkson Inn or North Country Savings Bank.

This brings me to another point. Many people are worried about lawsuits. “No skateboarding” signs are posted in a few places around town. For example, North Country Savings bank is a great place to skateboard, but now, there is a “no skateboarding” sign. If we aren’t there during business hours, who is it going to hurt? We aren’t the type to try to get hurt and sue someone. I’m sure it happens and those signs are some sort of protection, but why enforce it? Let the kids skate and if someone tries to sue, use the sign as a defense.

Skaters are usually pretty closed-minded about ideas about law and accusations of their effects on the community. In one article it says that skaters are usually unaware of the wax that they leave behind on most metal, wood, or concrete surfaces. Also the noise made by skateboards can be very bothersome to the surrounding community (Robson). When attempting a trick such as a kickflip, if the board does not fully rotate and lands upside down, it makes a loud cracking noise.

For these reasons and others, police often must respond to complaints about skaters’ trespassing or disturbing the peace. Most times the officers are kind and simply ask the skaters to leave. Other times, they seem to have a little bit of a power buzz and act irrationally. Yelling, swearing, and other actions of this type are not all that uncommon, but in the end, there is usually not a drastic outcome. Police seem to be somewhat prejudiced against skaters, but they may have good reason. Officer Wolfe from SUNY Potsdam Campus police said that he is only trying to prevent an accident. This is understandable, but if there are kids skating in a completely deserted area, why then do they need to leave?

The people of the community also influence the view of skateboarding. Bad experiences with the wrong people are what cause most prejudices against skaters today in Potsdam and the surrounding area. There is a difference between a punk and a skater and most people cannot distinguish them.

Is there a way to settle this dispute? Most people in the past have said the best thing to do would be to build a skatepark where kids can go to keep them off the streets, stair sets, and ledges of different buildings. There have been a few petitions for a Potsdam skatepark sent around in the past ten years, but all of them have failed. I personally have signed one of them, but they were not very public. Other solutions could be clearer laws or setting aside places that already exist and making them designated skateboarding areas. Clearer laws would help skaters know for sure when they are doing something wrong, but caring would be up to them. Designated skateboarding areas would have the same effect as a skatepark, but if the town did decide to go through with that, it would most likely end up being some place that no one wants to go anyway.

Why are skaters seen as delinquents? What causes the stereotypes about skateboarders? What can be done about these problems? The best thing to do would have a group of skaters sit down with police and policy makers to decide on an agreement. That way, everyone could negotiate to get what they want.

Bibliography
Works Cited
Anonymous Interview. Personal interview. 10 Nov. 2009.

Carranza, Andrew. Personal interview. 27 Oct. 2009

Robson, Scott. "Skateboarding Laws." EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. .

Wolff, Timothy. Personal interview. 5 Nov. 2009.

Works Consulted
Abell, Justin. "Skateboarding." Timmy Abell Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. .

Cave, Steve. "Skateboarding: A Brief History." Skateboarding | Skateboard trick tips, pro skaters, skateboard reviews, skateboard help and more about skateboarding!. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. .

Green, Penelope. "When Skaters Grow Up." New York Times 22 Apr. 2009: D1. Print.

Ryan, Patrick. Extreme Skateboarding (Extreme Sports). Mankato: Capstone Press, 1997. Print.

"Skateboarding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .

"Texas Tech Police Chief Denies Trying To Run Down Skateboarder." KWTX-TV Waco [Lubbock] 25 Nov. 2009: n. pag. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6738625.html. Web. 1 Dec. 2009.

Encyclopedia of Recreation & Leisure in America Edition 1. (Scribner American Civilization). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. Print.

Akwesasne Territory

by Kanema Williams

The Akwesasne Territory has always been difficult area to control; its location straddles the United States and Canadian Borders (Pertusati pp.67). The problem with this is that although the land is a Mohawk Reservation, the United States and Canadian Customs both have facilities within this Mohawk territory, making it difficult for the people of this community to travel peaceful from place to place. These custom facilities exist because Akwesasne extends close to two Canadian Provinces (Ontario and Quebec) and one American state which is New York (Bonaparte, Border Crossing Rights). The people of Akwesasne have a history of problems with both the United States and Canada, from being harassed at ports for some Mohawks history of being potential smugglers, to legal disputes regarding regulation of their land and tariffs.


Issues that are present today and that are being negotiated between the Mohawk Nation and the Canadian government is the possibility of the Canadian Border Service Agency officers carrying firearms at their post on Cornwell Island (a portion of Akwesasne Territory), which lead to the closing of the bridge that connects Akwesasne to Canada. On June 1st, 2009 people of Akwesasne and their supporters gather on Cornwell Island at the Canadian Customs Building for a peaceful protest; elected officials and the majority of the Akwesasne Nation disagrees with CBSA officers being armed (Rourke and Wanamaker 2009). That same night CBSA officials vacated their post on Cornwell Island and moved to the other side of the bridge on Canadian territory. People of the Mohawk nation don’t want the CBSA officers to have firearms on their land because of many harassment issues they have had in the pass with them. Some believe that having these Canadian officers carrying firearms will lead to another violent form of intimidation, and an easier way to harm or kill someone just because of a misunderstanding or over reaction. For example when passing through any custom facilities an individual is asked to empty their pockets, and if an individual was to make a wrong gesture while doing so he Customs officer would be tempted to pull out his or her gun as a reflex. These concerns were given to me through a brief conversation with my roommate’s family a few weeks ago.

The issues on Akwesasne were presented to me when one day my roommate was on her way to pick up her check from the Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE); she was stop and pulled in by the U.S Customs. She was pulled in because she had a large amount of money that was giving to her by AMBE, the officer later asked her why she had that amount of money and went searching through her contact information in her cell phone. It is normal for a person to be asked questions and to empty their pockets, but there was no reason for that officer at the custom facility to go through her information in her cell phone. My roommate later filed a complaint, but no legal actions have been taken in informing that officer of is wrong doing so far.

The issues involving Akwesasne and the United States can be extended throughout history; after the American Revolution, the border between America and Canada was drawn between their land, and they were told that the border would not affect them and that it only applied to non-natives (Bonaparte, Border Crossing Rights pp.1). “The imposition of the border at Akwesasne resulted in radical changes that continue to the present day. Both the United States and Canada began to assert authority over their respective ‘halves’ with legislation that enforced elective form of governments and restrictive membership rolls on both sides of the territory. This undermined the authority of the traditional leadership and resulted in the loss of aboriginal...” (Bonaparte, Border Crossing Rights pp.1). In this essay about border crossing rights, the author explains that even though Native Americans were promised that the border would not affect them, it does; from indirect policies imposed by the United States to the “treaty rights of the Mohawk nation under the Canadian constitution” (Grace-Kabos, 1997). As stated in an article written by Linda Grace-Kabos for the Cornell Chronicles, although Native American can cross the U.S-Canadian border freely and it has been recognized since 1928, paying customs duties and tariffs has not been established. She cited a situation that involved a Mohawk professor crossing over the U.S-Canadian border carrying several goods across, and was charged $361.64 in duty. “He informed customs officials that he had the following items in his vehicle: one washing machine, 10 blankets, 20 Bibles, articles of used clothing, a case of lubricating motor oil, 10 loaves of bread, two pounds of butter, four gallons of milk, six bags of cookies and 12 cans of soup” (Grace-Kabos, 1997). Although the average person wouldn’t carry these things in his/her vehicle, the professor was trying to express his rights and prove his point that even though the border between the United States and Canada shouldn’t affect Native Americans it does and they are not able to travel “freely” across borders on their own land; the professor refused to pay the fee and later brought this issue to the attention of the Federal Court of Canada.

There are many issues that can be established within treaties created between these nations, including the United States. But to me the overwhelming issue is that even though this border was created centuries ago, there are still many controversial issues regarding it and these nations have not come together to negotiate them and establish a centralized understanding.

Overall I believe that the Mohawk Akwesasne Nation has not been given the respect or complete title of being a nation, since the United States and Canada are always trying to impose laws within the Mohawk territory. This controversial issue can come to a closure if the Mohawk nation is heard and given the respect that a strong nation needs in order to be established. If the Customs of the U.S and Canada cause problems for the Akwesasne community, then there is no reason for these facilities to remain on Native American territory; they can operate effectively on their own soil, leaving fewer problems to be resolved.