UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Transcription

the continental
spring 2008
POWER IN POLITICS
UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL
hamilton students
MAKE their mark
on CAPITOL HILL
europe on a
shoestring
at home
with joan
BEHIND
CLOSED
DOORS:
EXPOSED!
hamilton streakers bare all
SUMMER FESTIVALS
SENIOR ARTISTS OPEN UP
THE SALARY
SCANDAL
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
the continental | spring 2008 1
“Extremely Homemade”
J o n a t h a n Wo o d w a rd - Tw i s t i n g C l a y f o r 3 6 y e a rs
6 6 1 / 2 U t i c a S t re e t
C l i n t o n , Ne w Yo r k
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(315) 853-6873
2 the continental | spring 2008
the continental
spring 2008
on the cover
29 power in politics
96 europe on a shoestring
26 summer festivals
51 senior artists open up
35 battle of the sexes
42 behind closed doors
68 hamilton streakers bare all
70 at home with joan
on the hill
10 breaking new ground
11 history of the apple
12 may day controversy
13 bar mitzvah millions
14 cultural center
15 alternative spring break
17 activism on campus
talk of the town
18 best books you haven’t read
19 metal for the masses
21 buzzworthy
27 future of television
features
36 icollege
38 a tale of two students
style
47 spotted
48 online superlatives
49 what to wear
50 step by step tanning
56 room contest
59 mellow yellow
60 closing time
society
76 date party themes
76 people who like to do fun things
travel
78 life in senegal
84 deutschland with drew
87 incredible india
92 una vita bella
98 founder’s note
on contmag.com: exclusive photos, social commentary, weekly trends, and reviews
the continental
a student-run magazine based at hamilton college
KATIE CHILDS
founder and editor in chief
AMELIA BARRY
managing editor
art directors LAURA DEFRANK
director of photography LIZA RUECKERT
features editor KELSEY RICHARDSON
style editors LAURA COOK, WHITNEY KIMMEL
entertainment editor NICOLE T. DIETSCHE
news editor LILY NATHANSON
travel editor MELISSA KONG
society editor LEE SCHATZBERG
advertising directors BLYTHE WINCHESTER
advertising executives CAITLIN FENNESSEY, SOPHIA FRANCK
advertising designer SARA BRYANT, JEFF ESCALANTE
account managers JENN ANDERSON, LINDSAY WATERBURY, TOM GILLESPIE
copy editor KAITY HILL
senior editors Nico Drohojowski, Garrett Reeb
writers ALEXANDRA BOROWITZ, CELIA COAN, BRENDAN CONWAY, MAURA DONOVAN, JENNA FAIN,
CAITLIN FITZSIMONS, SCOTT FLAHERTY, DANIELLE FORTIER, RACHEL FRAZIER, SARAH GOODELL, MAURA KEARNAN,
AMANDA POOLER, LEIGHTON SMITH, ASHLEY STAGNER, LAUREL SYMONDS, ANDREA WEINFURTER, ALICIA WRIGHT
photographers SHELLEY HOY, JESSICA LEIBOWITZ, Alice Mann,
Isabelle Mckusick, Lindsay Waterbury, Photography society
contributors ELIZABETH FARRINGTON, ALLISON GASTON-ENHOLM, ERIC KUHN, DREW LAFIANDRA, WILL LEUBSDORF,
CHELSEA MANN, EMILY PALLIN, KATHRYN PLUMMER, Eric thomas
founding editor kate stinchfield
letters to the editor E-mail [email protected]
subscriptions Visit www.contmag.com to download a subscription form.
advertisers E-mail [email protected] or visit www.contmag.com to view our press kit.
sponsors Please e-mail [email protected] to find out how you can support this student publication.
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from the editors
H
amilton prides itself in being a liberal arts school that offers a
diverse range of activities to its students. This emphasis creates
a student body that is hyper-involved, participating in everything
from the Streaking Team to Alternative Spring Break. From the
cover to page 100 of this large Spring Issue, we tried to include as many
student perspectives as possible.
This issue exposes the many experiences that make life at Hamilton
unique for every student. Our readers selected five seniors from the Men’s
Rugby Team to grace our spring cover. Inside, the bare bodies of the Varsity
Streaking Team take freedom of expression to a whole new level. Four
art majors showcase the results of a year of work on their senior projects.
From India to Italy, we caught up with Hamilton students who are studying
abroad and learned how their perceptions of the world have been altered
by the experience of living in a foreign country. Comparing the different
viewpoints on campus, our article “A Tale of Two Students” brings together
students with different backgrounds to talk about life at Hamilton.
Clinton, New York might not be a hub of political activity, but students
have managed to find ways to stay involved in the race that is consuming our
country. The role of the “Millenial Generation” is discussed in the Features
section, highlighting the recent increase in the youth vote. Whether
campaigning or taking advantage of the Washington Program, students
have proved that our generation is more engaged in politics and determined
to make our opinions heard.
The faculty at Hamilton has joined the student body in being involved in
politics, but lately it is school politics that has their attention. After learning
that a popular professor had received a zero percent raise for the 2006-2007
academic year, we investigated and stumbled upon a scandal that has caused
a stir among the faculty.
The Continental strives to highlight as many Hamilton students and
perspectives as possible in the magazine. We have tried our best to open
your eyes to the different Hamilton experiences, but even with an expanded
100-page issue there is not enough room to include every perspective at
Hamilton. Enjoy.
Katie Childs and Amelia Barry
We want your
feedback on the
Spring Issue!
Email contmag@
hamilton.edu and
let us know
what you think.
our amazing editorial board
in this
issue
study
For over three decades, Hamilton students have participated
in the Washington Program.
During the semester away from
campus, students study, take
part in an internship, and learn
how to live in a modern city full
of history.
tour
Built in 1910, 11 College Hill
Road is home to Hamilton’s
president. Joan Hinde Stewart gave us an insider’s tour of
the beautiful house. See how
President Stewart’s love of all
things French is evident througout the home.
wear
With days to go until Commencement, seniors showcase
what to wear for every day of
Senior Week. Flip to the Style
section to see the best outfits
for Formal, Strawberries &
Champagne, and all of the traditional Senior Week activities.
visit
While studying abroad, Allison
Gaston-Enholm ’09 strolled
through the streets of her adopted home of Padova, Italy
and captured the best that the
city has to offer. She shares
her favorite things in the Travel
section.
www.shopclintonwine.com
on the cover
We let readers choose who appeared on the cover of our Spring Issue, and we couldn’t
be more pleased with the results: four fantastic covers and eleven smiling faces truly
representing the diversity of our student body. Photography Director Liza Rueckert shot
each of the covers, all of which are showcased on these pages. Hundreds of readers
participated in an online poll to select which cover they wanted, but in the end only
one could win…
The winner of our cover contest was the Men’s Rugby Team, who recently hosted
Nationals and had an impressive season. Seniors Andrew Gumbiner, Matt
Linden, Jon Milgrom, Justin Sherman, and Rich Bryan brought an easygoing attitude to our afternoon cover shoot, keeping everyone entertained while
we shot hundreds of photos. In the end, the photograph we chose for the cover
effortlessly demonstrates their camaraderie and fun personalities.
the continental
spring 2008
POWER IN POLITICS
UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL
europe on a
shoestring
at home
with joan
hamilton
students MAKE
their mark on
CAPITOL HILL
Marisa Clemente ’08 and Willy Cowles ’09 were a match made in heaven
for our cover shoot. Their chemistry was so good that we joked that their photos
were more characteristic of an engagement announcement in the New York
Times than a magazine cover. Willy is a member of the Crew team and a Writing
Center tutor. Marisa is an English major and Comparative Literature minor. She
works with Hamilton Alumni Leadership Training (HALT) and is also a Café
Opus Barista.
BEHIND
CLOSED
DOORS:
THE SALARY
SCANDAL
EXPOSED!
SUMMER FESTIVALS
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
the continental
spring 2008
POWER IN POLITICS
UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL
Adam Polonski ’08 was a natural cover model and began striking great poses
from the moment Liza began shooting (including a few choice shots with The
Daily Bull’s satirical version of The Continental, The Hessian). Joined by Megan
Brousseau ’08, the two easily bonded over the inherent awkwardness of campus
photo shoots. Adam is the Editor-In-Chief of The Daily Bull, a Writing Tutor, a
Student Assembly Representative, and part of Hamilton Alumni Leadership
Training (HALT). Megan is a biology major, an EMT, on the women’s soccer
team, a member of ATX, works in the Oral Communications Center as a tutor,
the Campus Campaign Coordinator for Teach for America, and teaches the lab
practical EMT classes.
hamilton
students MAKE
their mark
on CAPITOL HILL
europe on a
shoestring
at home
with joan
BEHIND
CLOSED
DOORS:
THE SALARY
SCANDAL
the continental
spring 2008
BEHIND
CLOSED
DOORS:
EXPOSED!
SUMMER FESTIVALS
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
THE SALARY
SCANDAL
europe on a
shoestring
at home
with joan
POWER IN POLITICS
UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL
EXPOSED!
SUMMER FESTIVALS
hamilton students
MAKE their mark
on CAPITOL HILL
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Britt Freitag ’08 and Emerson Sosa ’10 met for their first time when they
came together to shoot their cover for The Continental. Both were surprised that
they were nominated, but the enthusiasm and charisma they showed on the shoot
demonstrates why they are favorites among the student body. Britt is a theatre
major and studio art minor. She is a Senior Intern in Admissions, an Adirondack
Adventure leader, Captain for Varsity Women’s Crew, and President of the Zen
Meditation Club. Emerson is the Social Chair of La Vanguardia, the Social Chair
of TKE, a member of the Fencing Team, an Orientation Leader and Coordinator,
a Burke Library Reference Assistant, a Switchboard Operator, a POSSE scholar,
and he does the Hamilton College Ropes Course.
on the hill
breaking
new ground in
financial aid
a
s if the stress of applying to selective
colleges is not enough, most competitive students must also take into account the steep tuitions of the nation’s
top liberal arts colleges and Ivy League
universities. Just as there are entire
sections within Barnes and Noble devoted to SAT prep books and college
guides, there are also books devoted
to strategizing against the financial
atrocity that is the reality of higher education. Thankfully, financial aid
officers are working harder than ever to bring the most qualified scholars to their institutions with the least financial impact on hard-working
families. A new trend in financial alleviation is the “no-tuition” policy
that several top universities, such as Harvard, have adopted.
In 2004, Harvard University announced its groundbreaking financial aid initiative: any student whose parents’ income totaled to
less than $40,000 would have zero tuition costs. In return, the students
participate in a work study program.. An instant success, the income
threshold was then raised to $60,000 in March of 2006. With the update came additional, greatly reduced tuition prices for families within
the income bracket of $60,000 to $80,000. 26% of Harvard’s record
number of applicants (22,955) fell under the auspices and lower tuition initiatives. As Stella Lee, a junior at Harvard states, "The Harvard
Financial Aid Initiative allows low-income students to attend Harvard,
but the financial aid doesn't stop once the students arrive on campus.
[The school] has several programs that allow these students to integrate
fully into the Harvard community."
Two-thirds of Harvard University undergraduates are on some form of financial aid, with an
average package of $36,000 for the 2007-2008 academic year. With such a high number of undergrads
receiving such an impressive amount of aid, Harvard has tremendous financial resources. Cortni
Nucklos, a freshman at Harvard University, points
out, "Harvard is leading the way, and I believe other
colleges will follow suit." The university’s financial
aid budget is now over $100,000,000.
Several schools, namely Yale and Stanford, are
creating similar programs and setting no-tuition
thresholds. Yale has a threshold of $45,000 for notuition and $45,000 to $60,000 for reduced tuition.
Stanford’s policy is the same. As such excellent universities level the playing field for students of all socio-economic backgrounds, competition between
schools is increasing. Will other schools cave under
pressure and adjust their financial aid policies? The truth is, many are.
Recently Princeton, Davidson, and Amherst all moved to end student
loans. This allows for a greater budget for scholarships and other forms
of aid that hold the student less responsible for the cost of tuition.
As of yet, Hamilton does not have such a discounted tuition policy
that is similar to Harvard's. Yet, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid,
Monica Inzer, states, “We are committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need (through grants, work-study, and student loans)
of every student we enroll.” Hamilton has, however, redistributed its financial aid dollars. Starting with the soon-to-be accepted class of 2012,
Hamilton will no longer offer merit-based scholarships. This decision
allows Inzer and the officers to better distribute the $21,000,000 financial aid budget among all eligible students. An average financial aid
package of $29,000 is awarded to 50% of the students—keeping the
school socio-economically diverse.
Stella Lee notes, "Harvard's newly expanded Financial Aid Initiative gives the university a considerable boost in attracting students."
Adriane Medler, also a junior undergraduate student at Harvard, adds:
"So many colleges have a huge endowment, and more can be done. I
think Harvard's tuition policy is successfully expanding socioeconomic diversity on campus." What will Hamilton do now to keep up with
the visionary policies of Harvard? A letter mailed from President Joan
Hinde Stewart in January to the community of students, alumni and
parents expresses that to follow in Harvard's footsteps, we will "increase
our financial aid budget and make this a priority in the next capital
campaign." In the future then, it may be likely that Hamilton will move
towards a financial aid initiative very similar to Harvard's.
-caitlin fitzsimons ’11
the history of an apple
traditions from hamilton and kirkland ever-present during senior week
G
oing on two hundred years, the Hamilton College community pin by female members of the faculty.
has maintained traditions young and old. Especially
Why such an emphasis on the traditions of Kirkland College at
around commencement time, traditions at Hamilton hold commencement time? “Kirkland is a part of the past that needs to be
unforgettable memories for the graduating seniors. For one week, recognized,” Rabinowitz says. She notes that without these Kirkland
seniors are given time to spend together, creating those final bonds with traditions, there would be nothing else of the all-female institution that
Hamilton friends and making memories they will hopefully remember deserves more celebration.
after all of the Senior Week festivities.
Countering the women’s picnic, Apolon ’08 has requested with the
Kirkland College may only hold ten years on record in the Hamilton consent of the senior week committee and office of the Dean of Faculty
history book, but its impact on Hamilton’s campus is still celebrated that the men of Hamilton College have their own event, a carved ham
through a strawberries and champagne picnic for the graduating lunch with ale, appropriately called the Ale-Ham Lunch. In this way, the
women and their families. Started in 1978, the final year that Kirkland men of the college can recall the long history before Kirkland College.
College held a commencement ceremony,
“The old Hamilton has vanished just as
Strawberries and Champagne continues to recall
surely [as Kirkland],” Apolon points out. “The
some of the activities of Kirkland’s graduation, “Kirkland is part of the past
name remains but this is not the same school as
including an open mic that was once a part of
it was before.”
that needs to be
the actual ceremonies. Organized by the female
As May quickly arrives, seniors will soon
recognized.”
-Professor Nancy Rabinowitz
faculty, the picnic did gradually integrate the male
become nostalgic for the past years they have
faculty of Kirkland College who wanted to honor
spent on the Hill. Assistant Dean of Students for
their female students.
Campus Life and Director of Student Activities
Another well known Kirkland-founded commencement tradition Lisa Magnarelli ’96 recalls that senior week is a great time to reconnect
is the placing of a green apple by each Hamilton female on the podium with old roommates and friends while creating a common, individual
as they cross the stage. The ladies of the first co-ed graduating class experience to share as a class.
started the tradition in protest to the administration’s decision to
“Senior week is bittersweet,” Brian Greenleaf ’08 says, “At some
disband Kirkland College.
point in time you have to move on.” Each year new “traditions” are
Nancy Rabinowitz, the Margaret Scott Bundy Professor of introduced, as each class year has the opportunity to form its own
Comparative Literature, recalls the comedic scene at graduation as the events for the week. Finally, at the commencement ceremonies, each
faculty scurried on stage to remove the green apples after each woman, Hamilton graduate will receive his or her classic cane, uniting the class
having been trained in how to make the apple make the greatest thud and alumni alike. When another school year officially closes, the Class
against the podium, placed it on the stand. The apple placing has now of ’08 will step aside to let the bicentennial class tackle the academic
become more of a symbol of honor towards Kirkland College than of a rigor on the Hill.
resistance movement, and today, senior women are given a green apple
-alicia wright ’10
on the hill
few) and CAB booked Citizen Cope as the headliner. There was a lot of backlash after the event for the
difference in attendance between the openers and
the headliner. “There were only about 15-20 people
for the first four hours of the event,” commented
Paul Ryan. “Yet, there were between 700 and 800
for Citizen Cope. We need to have more continuity
between openers and the headliner acts.”
With last year in mind, IMF, CAB, and WHCL
came out with a survey this year to determine what
bands students most wanted to come to Hamilton.
However, IMF, who refused to comment for this
article, was not pleased with the concept of having
a survey, nor were they happy that Eve 6 won. The
survey, members of IMF believed, would cause students to limit themselves to only the bands that they
recognized. According to Ryan, IMF wanted Ghostface Killah and Slightly Stoopid (which came in 2nd
and 3rd). An offer was put in for Ghostface Killah before
Eve 6, but Ghostface wanted more money than the May
Day budget could afford. Ghostface declined, and an offer was then put in for Eve 6.
There was another reason for not pursuing Ghostface Killah. As Ryan observes, “This event costs about
$50,000—can you really spend that much money on
an event when for the first four hours no one shows up?
When you’re doing this event, you should put your personal beliefs aside.”
734 students responded to the survey, in which 311
voted for Eve 6, 266 for Ghostface Killah, 63 for Hands Paul Ryan observes, May some Furs, and 8 for Candence Weapon.
Day is very difficult to plan.
One of the only reasons why Eve 6 is performing at
May Day represents the out- Hamilton is because of an agreement to the “90s packdoor union of IMF, CAB, age” with Stroke 9. Other colleges wanted Eve 6 for the
and WHCL, but within this same date, but Hamilton secured the band through this
group lays two organizations package. Eve 6 does in fact have a new drummer, but the
with different missions. IMF band maintains that they still sound the same, and that
(the Independent Music Fund) strives to bring rela- a new CD is “forthcoming.” They also have eight contively unknown and different musicians to campus, in certs booked between now and May 3rd at Princeton,
order to show students the
Washington State University
other kinds of music out
and Sienna College, among
“People
want
a
fun
show,
there. CAB (Campus Acothers.
something where they can
tivities Board), however,
Ryan
summarizes,
desires to entertain as many
“People want a fun show,
let loose and hear the songs
people as possible. As a resomething where they can let
they graduated from. If it’s
sult, combining the two orloose and hear the songs they
ganizations is difficult, and
graduated from. If it’s gogoing to be outdoors, it will
this year’s May Day is no
ing to be outdoors, it will be
be fantastic.”
exception.
fantastic. I’ve gotten tons of
Rumors have been
e-mails from people asking
flying around campus about the rift between IMF and if it’s open to the public. People are driving from over 4
CAB as a result of Eve 6 and Stroke 9 being the chosen hours away. Students need to remind themselves, what is
bands to play this year. However, contrary to belief, the point of May Day? IMF takes risks with their shows,
IMF and WHCL have not pulled funding from the and some are hugely successful and others aren’t. You
event; IMF did not have any money to pull, and WHCL have to think, ‘how much of a risk can we take?’”
is still providing the lights and sound and hosting the
IMF has attracted people and publicity for the
Battle of the Bands.
event, questioning why they should put in so much efThree years ago, when The New Pornographers fort into a concert that they don’t fully support. May
played at May Day, there was a lot of crossover for the Day was founded to bring all of the music organizations
two organizations, and the event was a success. How- together—but are we now past the point where it makes
ever, last year, IMF booked the openers (Asobi Seksu, sense to try?
Wooden Wand and The Vanishing Voice to name a
- ashley stagner ’09
the may day
controversy
a
from bar mitzvah
thousands,
to bar mitzvah
millions
Timothy Sykes turned the $12,415 he had been given at his Bar Mitzvah into several million. By the time he
graduated from Tulane University in 2003, he had already started a hedge fund, Cilantro Fund Management, LLC
that in 2006 was ranked the #1 Short-Bias Fund by Barclays for 2003-2006. But by the end of 2007, Sykes lost 35%
of his hedge fund, and so now, at 27 years old, he wants to regain the $1.65 million that he lost. He started “TIM”
(Transparent Investment Management), with the goal of repeating his original feat of turning twelve thousand
into millions. But this time, he is documenting his journey on TimothySykes.com. On May 1, Sykes debuted his new
site, which is much more than a blog. He has added Tim-TV, Tim-Radio and more. Eric Kuhn caught up with the
young, energized investor right before the new site launched.
Tim, let’s start at the beginning. You write in your book, “I have no
extraordinary talents and yet I was a millionaire by the age of 22.”
What inspired you to start investing your Bar Mitzvah money?
I was an injured high school tennis player who had already gotten into
college early, so I really had nothing else to do. The market was going
crazy so I thought I’d give it a try—and everything since has been trial
and error because there’s no mainstream guide for responsible financial
speculation; that is, until I got into the publishing business!
You say, “The digital world has created a new frontier where it’s every
man for himself—and there are few rules.” How well do you fit into
the hedge fund and investing business?
I don’t fit in, I’m not a value investor, I don’t like trading any of the most
popular plays—big technology stocks, currencies or commodities—
nor have I ever gotten comfortable with leverage. I am a short selling
penny stock trader, ironically a combination of the three most derided
niches in all of finance (maybe that’s why they work so well together,
as in negative x negative = positive). My colleagues think I’m a selfpromoting fraud, definitely due to my big mouth and all the press I’ve
received, much of it inaccurate. That’s why I’m so into blogging all
the details of my strategy and answering all questions because I have
nothing whatsoever to hide. I’ll never stop promoting because this is a
great sport, which, thanks to all the snooty, narrow-minded and boring
people in finance, isn’t as popular or respected as it should be.
You are certainly not conventional. Heck, you brought models on
CNBC. How do you come up with your ideas? What is your creative
process?
I base everything I do on cutting through all the industry stereotypes
and rules. Thanks to the success of the TV show “Wall Street Warriors”
in which I was featured, tens of thousands of people have contacted me,
mostly wanting to know more about stock trading and hedge funds. So,
I basically just have to speak my mind, showing everyone how fun and
understandable it all can be once you cut through all the BS associated
with making money in the stock market.
What features is your new site going to have?
My new site will be unlike that of every other financial media outlet or
blog—as it’ll be geared towards making this stuff totally transparent
and more importantly, fun! TIMtv and TIMradio will be online
videos and podcasts, some serious, some not, but all will be incredibly
educational without boring people to death or using highly technical
terms as is the industry habit. More importantly, TIMbucks will reward
users for posting comments, sharing their thoughts, links, and asking
questions—this isn’t a one man show; I’m just the community director.
I have little doubt that within a few years, my website will help produce
another multi-millionaire who will have benefited from my experience,
but will be able to take it to the next level, making me like Archie
Manning watching my sons win the Super Bowl!
You want to get college students involved with, and passionate about,
investing. How are you doing that and what has been the reaction?
Mainly it’s just showing them they can do this from their dorm rooms as
you don’t need a fancy office, connections or a lot of money—you just
need a few thousand dollars, an internet connection and a willingness
to learn. I’m trying to get people to understand trading is great not only
because of its ability to create great wealth but also because it teaches
great lessons. Surprisingly, the happiest I’ve been is when I’m in the
midst of the trading process itself, not when I’m spending my winnings.
This goes against superficial and inevitably harmful publications like
Trader Monthly, that encourage readers to try to make the most money
the quickest (so they can buy soulless products from their sponsors).
I’m glad my message of education first is reaching these students before
they get turned the dark side enters the picture.
What is your advice for college students who want to start investing?
Students should focus on financial speculation—trading stocks, penny
stocks, commodities and currency. Yes, it’s riskier, but c’mon, if you
have between $500 and $10,000, are you really going to be happy with
a few hundred in annual profits—at best—in well-diversified assets?
No, of course not.
Your wardrobe is a robe. If we went the moneyman’s closet, how many
suits would we find?
Yes, I prefer my robe, or just a t-shirt and boxers when it gets warm out,
but I do have two fancy suits from my previous superficial life. Tell me
this, what purpose does a tie serve? It’s always bothered me—I see it as a
time-wasting accessory, prison garb for corporate drones everywhere.
campus quietly debates cultural center
e
arly this semester at a Social Justice Initiative (SJI) Coffee
Hour, the members of the SJI called on Hamilton to
“demonstrate its commitment and respect for cultural and
intellectual diversity” by building a Cultural Education
Center within the next ten years. Although the Student Justice
Initiative declined to comment for this article, the proposal outlined
in The Spectator on February 2 calls for a new campus building that
would welcome all students, but provide specific meeting space for
multicultural organizations such as the Womyn’s Center, the Rainbow
Alliance, La Vanguardia, the Brother’s Organization, and religious
organizations. A key component of the proposal is the creation of a
Director of Multicultural Affairs who would work directly with cultural
issues at Hamilton. The building would be named after Hamilton
alumnus Bob Moses, a prominent educator and civil-rights activist.
Luvuyo Mandela ’09, President of the Brothers Union, hopes that
the Cultural Education Center would work similarly to the Science
Center; built for a particular group of students in mind, but welcoming
to all and educating the entire student body.
The SJI’s proposal has been sent to various campus offices and groups,
initiating a discussion about whether a Cultural Education Center is the
best way to improve student relations and accessibility on campus. The
lack of space on campus in which multicultural organizations can meet
often causes scheduling conflicts between student organizations. To
further the issue, the Womyn’s Center is slated for demolition during
the summer of 2009, leaving the organization with no specific location
in which to meet.
Since the proposal is still in the early stages of discussion, many
student groups and faculty members declined to share their personal
opinions about the Cultural Education Center. Reva Narula ’10, chair
of the Student Assembly Diversity and Disabilities Committee, explains
that the Student Assembly (SA) hopes that whatever the Hamilton
community decides regarding the Cultural Education Center, the
solution “celebrates commonalities rather than differences and that we
can find a way to address whatever differences there are on campus.”
Some members of SA, such as Greg Ray ’08, who was the SA
Facilities Committee chair for three years and is currently involved
with the Strategic Planning Committee, wants the SJI to work directly
with the SA in order to flesh out the details of the proposal and receive
the backing of the SA. Ray points out that the SA, which represents
the entire student body to the administration, has been involved in
other major campus construction projects and was instrumental in the
early discussions about the ELS renovations. While Ray is the first to
agree that the student government system can be confusing and not all
students feel represented by the SA, he reminds students that they always
have the opportunity to become involved in student governance. Most
importantly, the SA publishes the minutes of their weekly meetings,
providing an open discourse with students, something that is currently
lacking about discussions regarding the Cultural Education Center.
There are several other issues, regarding the actual Cultural Education
Center proposal that are necessary to explore. First, the multicultural
and minority groups will be housed in the Cultural Education Center,
but the rest of the student organizations will be in the new ELS
Student Union. It is unlikely that this marginalization of minority
groups will create an inclusive atmosphere on campus, a specific goal
of the SJI’s proposal. One Rainbow Alliance member notes that the
Cultural Education Center “would give students the opportunity
to hide from whatever problems they might have with the larger
“We have at Hamilton a
pattern of trying to solve
problems by putting up or
renovating buildings.”
-Professor Daniel Chambliss
community if they so choose, and this is a luxury [that students] will
not have in the real world. The center could be isolating, regardless of
its location, if students perpetually use it as a retreat.”
On the other hand, Margaret Scott Bundy Professor of
Comparative Literature Nancy Rabinowitz believes that the Cultural
Education Center, while not inclusive of all student groups, “might
encourage dialogue across groups that are now rather separate.” The
same Rainbow Alliance member quoted earlier, torn on the subject,
agrees with Rabinowitz’s views, stating that “the headquarters of the
various multicultural organizations are currently scattered and poorly
organized, and sharing a single building would help manifest their
common plight.” This conflict of sympathies demonstrates the campus’
difficulties in making a decision.
The second issue that arises regarding the Cultural Education Center
is how a new building will improve the cultural climate on campus
and help recruit and retain multicultural students. Eugene M. Tobin
Distinguished Professor of Sociology Daniel Chambliss fears that “we
have at Hamilton a pattern of trying to solve problems by putting up or
renovating buildings” and it would be better to first figure out through
inclusive campus-wide discussions if the Cultural Education Center is
the best solution before jumping to a multi-million dollar construction
project. Furthermore, Ray points out some of the logistical issues that
the proposal does not address. For example, the location is important.
Two solutions propose using either the current location of the AfroLatin Cultural Center or the 3rd floor of Bristol. However, neither of
these are highly trafficked areas on campus and perhaps will not give
the Cultural Education Center the prominence it deserves.
Furthermore, many students and professors have noted that a new
or renovated building will not be enough to welcome multicultural
students on campus; there has to be a budget behind the building that
will support programming on multiculturalism for the entire Hamilton
campus. Amy Tannenbaum ’10, a member of the Womyn’s Center,
hopes that multicultural organizations will be able to pool their financial
resources in order to promote multiculturalism and provide relevant
programming for the entire Hamilton community. Ray suggests it
may be more successful to spend money on diversity initiatives such as
recruiting and retaining multicultural students and faculty rather, than
an expensive building.
Without a doubt, the Student Justice Initiative is correct that students
of minority groups need to feel more welcomed and included on campus.
We can also be thankful to the SJI for repeatedly bringing diversity issues
on campus to a forefront, most recently with their proposal for the
Cultural Education Center. However, there are more issues regarding
both the cultural climate on campus and the SJI proposal than can be
covered in one article, so before any decision can be made regarding
the Cultural Education Center, we need to have an open and inclusive
campus wide discussion with students, faculty, and administrators to see
if such a center is the best solution for all Hamilton students.
-laurel symonds ’11
alternative spring break
hamilton students make
use of their spring breaks
to reach out to help
others in need
f
or some Hamilton students, spring break is not
just a break from upstate New York snow, but
also an opportunity to help those in need. This
year, sixty-six students volunteered to spend a
day or two in a jitney and travel down South
to help with various causes. And, at only $125
per trip, ASB is also a great opportunity to see
another part of the country. Any participant
will tell you it was worth every dollar and every
mile. This year, four groups traveled during the
first week of break, and another two groups went during the
second week.
I led a group of eight students along with co-leader
Cuffie Winkler ’10 on an environmental service trip in
Tennessee. The group worked at Cumberland Trails to
help with the development and maintenance of trails in the
park. Emily Johnston ’10 and Meghan Herman ’09 led an
outreach trip with eight other girls to Wilmington, North
Carolina, where they tutored children at a local elementary
school. There were also two construction-based trips the
first week. Kat Kenney ’08 and Mikhail Bell ’08 led a group
of eight to Hands On Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Hands
On rebuilds the community as a whole so the group got to work on
a range of projects from painting and dry walling, to planting gardens
and working in local community schools. Taylor Brady ’08 and Justin
Mulvey ’09 went with ten other students to John’s Island in South
Carolina to work with Habitat for Humanity.
On the second week, another trip worked with Habitat for
Humanity, but this time in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Maura Donovan
’09 and Julian Brody ’10 drove down with eight other volunteers to
work in a housing development that was created with donations made
by Oprah Winfrey and Jon Bon Jovi. Finally, there was one group of
students who traveled to Kentucky to Land Between the Lakes in
Golden Pond. Leaders Ben Van Arnam ’09 and Rachel Bigelow ’10
worked on the national recreation area with eight other volunteers in
their group.
Why would these students spend an entire week of spring break
to volunteer and help others? For those who went to Louisiana
or Mississippi, some believed that not enough was being done for
Hurricane Katrina victims. In Thibodeaux, Hamilton students were
able to work alongside families who would be living in the very houses
they were helping to build. They also got to see houses that had
already been built and were being used by deserving families. Biloxi,
Mississippi was one of the hardest hit areas during Katrina, but it is
sometimes overshadowed by New Orleans proper, and relief efforts
there, or anywhere, would not exist if it weren’t for the generosity of
those who volunteer their time. Hamilton students who participate
in ASB know how important and rewarding it is to be a part of this
rebuilding process.
Even more, if you talk to ASB participants, they’ll tell you that it’s
a blast. Sure, you put in a lot of hard work during the day, but then
there are the trips to restaurants in the surrounding area, as well as
opportunities to meet the locals and even nearby Hamilton alums.
For those volunteering on the Gulf Coast, a trip to New Orleans is
always on the itinerary. Even with ASB’s no drinking policy, the trip
down Bourbon Street is quite entertaining. After work, members of
the Thibodeaux group often played basketball or football with the
local children. One night, the other volunteers at the site got together
to barbeque dinner for the entire group. Meeting other volunteers and
hearing about their experiences also inspires students to continue
giving back, even after they return to school. And, after spending
anywhere from twelve to twenty-four hours packed into a jitney with
ten other people, you are bound to make some friends. Alternative
Spring Break gives Hamilton students the chance to strengthen their
own community by encountering people with common interests
whom they may never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
- maura kearnan ’08
activism alive
and well at
hamilton
I
n an election year, it seems as though every political event is viewed
under a red or blue light. This divisive atmosphere can be frustrating.
On the Hamilton campus, however, there are plenty of opportunities
to get involved with political issues in a non-partisan capacity.
Over the past year, representatives from many student activist
groups have come together to create the Student Action Forum. Laura
Wright ’10, the SAV representative, believes that the “forum has proven
to be an efficient tool in inciting action by allowing many groups to hear
of what others are doing and by providing a forum for collaboration.”
In the fall, the action forum helped students get transportation
to war protests in Syracuse and New York City. They also arranged
on-campus protests against the death penalty and demonstrations in
support of the Jena Six. One of their most successful campaigns was
getting one hundred and fifty signatures in opposition to Lockheed
Martin’s involvement in an ethics workshop on campus.
This spring has also been full of events. Democracy Matters,
Students Against Violence, HEAG, and Amnesty International
cooperated to put together a Social Justice Week from April 12 through
the 18 It started off with a showing of Do The Right Thing, a Spike
Lee film, in KJ. Scheduled events were a sidewalk chalk expressionism
day by Students Against Violence and a voter registration drive by
Democracy Matters and the Hamilton College Democrats. Tables were
set up by SAV, STAND and Amnesty International to get signatures
for petitions and distribute information on Guantanamo Bay and
Tibet. Democracy Matters and HEAG both sponsored movies during
the week. Finally, the week wrapped up with a midnight vigil for the
soldiers killed in Iraq.
Wright explains that one goal of Social Justice Week was to “reach
students who might not notice individual events by framing many
causes in the context of a week of general awareness.”
After Social Justice Week, there are many chances for involvement
on the Hill right through the end of finals. HEAG ’s Green Week from
April 28-May 2 includes farmers’ markets, an afternoon of work on the
Community Farm Garden, and a Concert for Clean Elections and a
Clean Environment with Democracy Matters.
Democracy Matters will also be working on a huge voter
engagement drive called Hamilton Engage ’08. Group leader Kevin
Rowe ’10 hopes “to encourage students not only to vote in the 2008
election, but more importantly...to create a civically conscious and
active campus at Hamilton.” Amnesty International will continue
its campaign to close Guantanamo Bay; the group hopes for 200
signatures before the end of the semester. They are also working on
collaborating with the Womyn’s Center to raise awareness of women’s
rights across the globe.
Even though Hamilton’s non-partisan activism may not be as
noticeable as election debates, it is still very strong, and groups like
Amnesty International, HEAG, STAND, Democracy Matters and SAV
continue to encourage students to stay involved. Maybe we don’t live
in a bubble after all.
-maura donovan ’09
talk of the town
books
the best books
you (probably)
haven’t read yet
The River Why by David James Duncan
Philosophically enlightening and yet deeply humorous,
brilliantly written, yet unpretentious. This book changes the
way you think about fishing.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Though Irving’s humor (largely sexual) and subject matter
(New England and sex) can get redundant, this is arguably
the best example of his work.
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights
by John Steinbeck
Based on Malory’s Le Morte d’Artur, this novel was never
fully finished, though its incompletion adds to its charm and
ultimately its cynicism.
Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
A black, man-sized cat named Behemoth, a naked witch, and
Pontius Pilate. And it used to be banned. Need any other
reason to read this book?
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by
Jonathan Safron Foer
The lesser-known novel from Foer (after Everything is
Illuminated), this story follows a young, highly intelligent boy
whose father died in the World Trade Center attack. Rather
than dramatic, it is instead subtly affecting through Foer’s
unusual sense of humor and use of multimedia in the pages
of the novel itself.
Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis
The Eli to The Chronicles of Narnia’s Peyton, the Space
Trilogy is often underappreciated. Following a human captive
who is launced into space and intended as a sacrificial victim
on another planet, the novels combine spiritual quandaries
with well-known science fiction tropes.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of
the World by Haruki Murakami
The two halves of the title refers to parallel storylines that
alternate in every other chapter. Not only is it a book that
makes you rethink the way your mind works, but it’s fun to
try to figure out how the two stories fit together.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
Yes, that is “geek” as in “one who bites the heads off chickens.”
This novel is told from the point of view of Oly, an albino
hunchback, as she grows up with her circus performing
family: Elly and Iphy, the conjoined twins, Alphy, half-man
half-fish, and Chick, whose special powers cause him more
harm than good. Fantastically grotesque, endearingly sinister,
Dunn’s novel will haunt as well as touch.
- kaity hill ’09
talk of the town
music
metal
for the masses
T
he line outside of the Armory in Rochester waited in tense,
anxious excitement for the doors to open and Rockstar Taste
of Chaos to start. There is a good chance that the anxiety
was driven by the cold, but that didn’t prevent anyone from
waiting patiently to be allowed inside. In fact, there were so
many people there to see the show that the Wendy’s a quartermile down the road pulled out their rent-a-cops to make sure no concertgoers were parking in their parking lot.
Rockstar Taste of Chaos has always lived up to its name, and this year
was no exception. Created four years ago by Kevin Lyman as the winter
cousin of the annually successful Warped Tour, Rockstar Taste of Chaos
was created to bring together bands outside the usual Warped Tour
format—something with a little harder edge to it. Absolute pandemonium
ensues every night in the form of violently swirling bodies, flying shoes
and crowd surfers. There are rarely hard feelings, even if someone gets
punched in the face. If you’re there, it is understood that you are there for
the same reason as the other five hundred plus people in the room—the
music. Strangely enough, it is the teenagers who are the best behaved at
large-scale events like this. The only people I’ve ever seen start any sort of
argument are the twenty-something dudes who had a little too much to
drink.
So what does chaos taste like, exactly? Sweat, mostly. There is a point
at a concert where you can no longer listen with your ears. The decibel
level reached is so loud that sound bypasses your ears and resonates
through your frontal lobe and chest, sending your heart thumping madly
in time with the kick drum and your breathing into overdrive. This is the
only proper way to listen to rock music, and in the gutted interior of the
Armory, Taste of Chaos achieved that brain-rattling volume. A six-hour
metal-fest, this year’s RToC featured some of the best in today’s metal and
metalcore bands, including headliners Bullet for My Valentine, Atreyu,
and Avenged Sevenfold—all of whom have brand new material to test
out in front of a live, writhing crowd.
Originally called Jeff Killed John, Bullet For My Valentine has been
active since 1997, and their newest album, Scream Aim Fire debuted at
number four on the Billboard 200. BFMV is comprised of four angry
Brits—Matt Tuck on vocals and guitar; Michael “Padge” Paget on guitar;
Michael “Moose” Thomas on drums; and Jay James on bass—with a
bad habit of shooting their mouths off. The band was kicked off of an
American tour with Rob Zombie after Tuck commented on the BFMV
message board about poor tour conditions. Scream Aim Fire, the band’s
second studio album, is “a lot more up-tempo, a lot more aggressive”
according to Tuck. The new single, “Waking the Demon” hit radio
airwaves
in America in
April.
Atreyu received a
positive response to their new
material
from their most recent release, Lead Sails Paper Anchor. This
album, which is more melodic than the band’s previous albums, sent
the crowd into satisfied rounds of violent dancing, particularly when
lead vocalist and drummer Brandon Saller demanded that the crowd
shake their asses to “Falling Down.” Not exactly the same breed of
metalcore riffs and guttural screaming as BFMV, Lead Sails Paper
Anchor is a successful foray into the type of metal-tinged music
that is making a comeback in the mainstream. A Metallica for our
generation.
It has been two years since Atreyu—drummer/vocalist
Brandon Saller; vocalist Alex Varkatzas; guitarists Dan Jacobs and
Marc McKnight; and bassist Travis Miguel—has been on the RToC
tour, but they were clearly itching to get back. Jacobs claims in a
recent interview with Alternative Press that their newest album lends
itself to a more powerful live show that will translate well in the large,
arena-sized venues RToC uses. It’s clear that Lead Sails Paper Anchor
was well-received at RToC because Atreyu recently announced that
their participation on this summer’s Projekt Revolution tour. While
fans got to see some of Atreyu’s tricks while on the Taste of Chaos,
prepare for only bigger and better ones this summer as they rock
the Revolution Stage of Projeckt Revolution before big names like
Linkin Park and Chris Cornell.
Avenged Sevenfold has recently released their self-produced
fourth studio album, Avenged Sevenfold. Any time a band releases a
self-titled album, it is a signifier that they believe that the music created
for that album is what the band is all about. How does Avenged
Sevenfold—vocalist
M.
Shadows, guitarists Zacky
Vengeance and Synyster
Gates, bassist Johnny Christ,
and drummer The Rev—
feel about this assumption?
“I think what we wanted
to accomplish and achieve
with this album that we did
was to break open any kind
of pigeon hole wide open
and incorporate all sorts of styles of music that we love,” says Zacky
Vengance, a guitarist for the band. “And, you know, just [be] very
brave.” He says that sometimes their sound is misinterpreted, but
that they can’t be categorized into one genre: “Realistically, we’re so
much more than that.” Judging by the reception from the crowd,
their audience understands this.
About the tour, Zacky also says, “I’m really excited for every
one of the shows because the ticket sales have all been really strong
and knowing that thousands of kids are going to show up to see us
on a show that we’ve always
wanted to do and talked
about doing.”
While today’s metal and
metalcore bands are certainly
not like anything else from
earlier days, it’s clear to see the
influence. Bands like Bullet
for My Valentine, Atreyu
and Avenged Sevenfold are
the love-children of their
predecessors and the current cultural phenomenon that is bringing
metal to TRL, video games, and prime-time television commercials.
If you listen carefully, you can hear classic metal riffs, punk-tinged
lyrics and the commentary of a new generation of kids who are ready
to kick music in the teeth and look good doing it.
- nicole dietsche ’09
“I think we always have been
[brave, but] realistically, we’re
so much more than that.”
talk of the town
nicole dietsche ’09 uncovers
the most anticipated
entertainment releases
for the summer
buzz
worthy
talk of the town
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
release date - September 16
systems - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2
As Yoda would say: Jedi you are and new physics program you explore. You use, obviously,
the Force, to do some serious damage to the
bad guys.
Ninja Gaiden II
release date - June 3
system - Xbox 360
As the sequel to…coincidentally, Ninja Gaiden,
the game is more of a prequel as it focuses on a
younger version of Ryu Hayabusa as he learns
the nuances of butt-kicking.
Guitar Hero: On Tour
system - Nintendo DS
Because if you can’t go for more than a few
hours without some rock’n’roll, bring it with
you.
video games
Rock Band
system - Wii
Now all of you who have a Wii can play along
too, flailing your way into virtual rock godhood.
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
systems - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2
This is MTV Games and Harmonix’s attempt
to make Guitar Hero look less like Rock Band’s
neglected younger brother who no one lets out
of his room.
top pick: grand theft auto 4
Hide your children and run in fear, gentlefolks; the latest installment of the highly controversial Grand Theft Auto series was recently
released—April 29, to be exact. The new entry in the series promises a return to Liberty City, the game’s original setting, which hasn’t
been seen since GTA 3 debuted in 2002 followed by GTA Vice City in 2003 and GTA San Andreas in 2004. While GTA IV actually
reduces the overall area of land available to the players, it purportedly adds much more vertically, with players being able to ascend tall
buildings which, in prior installments, were closer to background pieces than to actual interactive buildings.
The main storyline of GTA IV centers around Niko Bellic, a character recently come to America following the promise of money.
Of course, nothing quite works out for Niko, and he winds up having to slog his way through the criminal underbelly of Liberty City in
order to achieve his American dream.
The game will feature all the classic GTA elements, such as carjacking, destructible environments, a plethora of weaponry, and
plenty of random passersby for you to…interact with. It of course expands many of these features, including a more complex carjacking
system, a new cover system for gun combat, a refined system for drive-by shooting, and overall enhanced visuals.
The truly interesting part of the coming of GTA IV will be in how it is received, politically. The GTA series has often been criticized
as being the primary inciter of youth violence in the video game world, with how it grants the player the ability to kill any given on-screen
character at any given time. It has especially been criticized by well-known video game critic Jack Thompson, who has called the games of
the series “murder simulators”. Will GTA IV be received by the opponents of violent video games with much wind and fury, but without
much practical effect? Or will GTA IV have enough controversial content to finally help the anti-video game lobbyists get a video game
legislation bill past the Supreme Court?
I certainly hope not.
- brendan conway ’09
talk of the town
music
top pick: weezer
release date: june 24
Remember the good old days of Weezer when it was all
about hash pipes, sweaters and pink triangles? Well, hopefully,
with the band’s return to their traditional album-naming (The
Blue Album, The Green Album), their sixth studio album, The
Red Album, will make us forgive Weezer for Make Believe and
make us forget Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo all
together.
Weezer has had a lot of difficulty as a band. Ignoring the fact
that Rivers Cuomo is apparently hell-bent on remaining mysterious and separating himself from the rest of the members of the
band, Weezer has had a tumultuous experience in the limelight.
The Blue Album, Weezer’s first album was so well received
in 1994 at the height of the emo movement (these days, it’s all
about post-emo) that when the darker Pinkerton was released a
few years later, fans were thrown into a crazed fit. Ultimately, the
album was deemed one of Rolling Stone’s worst albums of 1996,
but ironically is one of Weezer’s best-selling albums. Oh, the
finicky ways of fans.
After a bit of a hiatus, Weezer released the extremely successful Green Album (home to “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the
Sun”) and their worst album to date, Maladroit. In 2005, Weezer
released Make Believe, which can be summed up with a ‘meh.’
The only memorable song off the entire album, “Beverly Hills”
was vaguely reminiscent of earlier Weezer material, but with less
edge. It did, however, earn the band its first Grammy nomination,
so it’s hard to completely hate the album.
While fans have been waiting for Weezer’s new material, front
man Rivers Cuomo has graduated from Harvard, gotten married
and supposedly become a father. How will this affect The Red
Album? No one knows for sure yet, since Cuomo is extremely
secretive, but the album was produced by Rick Rubin (Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Justin Timberlake). Cuomo, has,
however, announced two song titles: “Ms. Sweeney” and “I’m the
Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” The first single from the album,
“Pork and Beans,” has premiered on California’s KROQ and is
now streaming from Weezer’s official site.
If “Pork and Beans” is any indication, The Red Album has
definite kick backs to the early days of Blue and Green, while
incorporating the good parts of Pinkerton and Make Believe. It
sounds like Weezer is ready to deliver.
10 Years
Division
release date:
may 13
things to know: 10
Years will be doing
some serious touring
on Projekt Revolution
this year, so it may be
a good idea to check
out the new album
before it explodes and
you’re left behind the
bandwagon.
Scarlett
Johansson
Anywhere I Lay
My Head
release date:
may 20
things to know:
She’s an actress. Can
she sing? I’m not sure
my ears have properly
prepared themselves
for this.
Dresden Dolls
No, Virginia
release date:
may 20
things to know: As
the follow up to Yes,
Virginia, the Dresden
Dolls once again
offer up prayers to the
punk-cabaret gods for
this release, which will
hopefully live longer
than Amanda Palmer’s
solo project.
Journey
Revelation
release date:
june 3
things to know: It’s
Journey. That’s about
it.
Usher
Here I Stand
release date:
may 27
things to know:
It’s Usher, and it’s unlikely he’ll disappoint,
especially if he’s been
doing lots of push ups
and sit ups in his time
off.
Queen & Paul
Rogers
Title TBA
release date:
september 1
things to know:
IT’S NOT QUEEN
WITHOUT FREDDIE! That said, it
could be good.
Dark Knight
release date - July
18
Heath Ledger, Christian
Bale, Michael Caine, Maggie
Gyllenhaal
Batman, Harvey Dent and
James Gordon versus The
Joker… ’nuff said.
go see it if: You like Batman or miss Heath Ledger.
Sex and the City: The
Movie
release date - May 30
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin
Davis
Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and
Charlotte are back together
doing sexy things in New York
City.
go see it if: You like… um…
Sex and the City.
Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull
Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf,
Cate Blanchett
Does this even need an explanation? Indiana Jones (Ford) needs
to go save the world from one
artifact of doom or another, this
time a shiny skull, and is accompanied by a sidekick or two, this
time his son (LaBeouf).
go see it if: You like action
movies, any Indiana Jones movie,
and/or Transformers.
Made of Honor
Patrick Dempsey, Michelle
Monaghan
Tom (Dempsey) decides he
might actually be able to swing
the monogamy thing when his
best friend Claire (Monaghan)
gets engaged and asks him
to he her ‘maid’ of honor. Of
course he agrees in order to
woo her.
go see it if: You like chick
flicks, Grey’s Anatomy, or weddings.
movies
top pick: ironman
The Iron Man movie is coming to theatres May 2, and it looks
wonderful. The movie trailers have all been very well received, possibly
because of the great special effects and the well-done action scenes. But
personally, I’m betting that it’s because Robert Downey Jr’.s portrayal of
Tony Stark, the alcoholic billionaire inside that fantastic suit of red and
gold, is nothing short of hysterically wonderful.
In the comics, Tony Stark’s character has changed many times. At
one point, he was the brooding, dark figure with the weight of the world
on his shoulders, desperately trying to break his alcohol habit but unable
to do so. Then he was the exuberant playboy reveling in his shallow
lifestyle. The latter portrayal has shown up most recently and most fully
in the Ultimates, a series of comic books acting as a re-envisioning of the
Marvel Universe.
While the dark and brooding Tony Stark isn’t inherently bad, the
exuberant playboy is just more fun. And fortunately, most of the movies
made of the Marvel universe so far have been more in keeping with the
Ultimate universe than with the original, somewhat more campy source
material. The Tony Stark of the Iron Man movie looks to be the shallow,
quipping character that we know and love.
In terms of the plot, the movie focuses on Iron Man’s origin: Tony
Stark being kidnapped and forced to make weaponry, only to create the
first incarnation of the Iron Man armor instead. After that is where it gets
a bit fuzzier. Iron Man has never been a character known for his villains,
but according to the Internet Movie Database, Jeff Bridges is playing
Obadiah Stane, aka Iron Monger. While I would like nothing more than
to simply say this movie is wonderful and leave it at that, the villain-issue
does have me somewhat worried. After Spider-Man 3, in which an overabundance of rather poorly characterized villains ruined what could have
been a good movie, I am wary of the effect that a poor choice of villain
can have on a superhero movie.
In the end, I think it’s safe to say that more than most superhero
stories, Iron Man is about the hero, not the villain. Judging by the magnificent clips of Robert Downey Junior’s portrayal of Tony Stark, I feel
relatively safe in saying that I have high hopes for this movie.
- brendan conway ’09
talk of the town
tv on dvd
top pick:
psych
seasons 1& 2
If you have never watched Psych, you are seriously deprived. Playfully mocking crime dramas, Psych is centered on Shawn Spencer
(James Roday), who uses his photographic memory, “heightened observational skills,” and detecting instincts to convince people he’s psychic.
In the pilot episode, he does such a good job of convincing the police that he’s a psychic that he is roped into being a consultant for the Santa
Barbara Police Department.
The show, which premiered on USA network after Monk, has recently been moved to NBC because of its extremely high ratings. Psych
is successful for a number of reasons. First of all, the show premiered on a cable network, which often airs its new shows during the major
networks summer rerun slump. Also, the show is well-cast and the chemistry between characters is phenomenal. Dulé Hill (formerly of
West Wing) plays Shawn’s best friend, Gus, who is often unwillingly dragged along on cases; Timothy Omundson plays the head detective of
the police department, Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter, who hates Shawn with unbridled passion; and Maggie Lawson plays Juliet O’Hara, Lassie’s
partner and ultimately Shawn’s love-interest. Corbin Bernsen tops the line-up off as Henry Spencer, Shawn’s angry and disapproving father
and former police detective.
If this wasn’t enough to make you want to watch the show, it is so well written that you find yourself laughing so frequently that you really
shouldn’t eat or drink while watching: Shawn’s response to his father’s multi-colored, multi-print shirt: “Sorry, Dad, this is like a genocide of
color. Somewhere, a rainbow is weeping.” And it’s not just one-liners either. The writing is intelligent and witty and it’s definitely one of the
best television shows on right now.
Psych has something for everyone: murder, comedy, mystery, intrigue, singing, and psychics. It pokes fun at everyone and everything,
and now is the perfect time to catch up as the show starts its third season on USA in July. Plus, the DVD features special features such as webisodes of “Little Shawn and Gus” (animated episodes of the two characters as children), blooper reels and deleted scenes.
The 4400 Season 4
release date
May 6
4400 people, who have
been abducted by aliens, are
returned to Earth various
years later with new super
cool powers that scare the
buhjeezus out of good ole
normal people.
Monk Season 6
release date
July 8
Anal-retentive and OCD
does not even begin to cover
Monk’s dysfunctions, but he
does get the detecting job
done.
Weeds Season 3
release date
June 3
Because there’s really no
other way to survive suburbian house-wifery than
becoming a pot dealing
kingpin.
The Dead Zone
Season 6
release date
June 3
Based off of the Stephen
King novel (but potentially
better), Johnny Smith can
see the future with just one
touch (after getting in a horrible car crash and being in a
coma for years) and tries to
save those he sees in danger.
Burn Notice Season 1
release date
June 17
When the CIA fires you, apparently, they also kill you.
Michael Westen tries to find
out who burned him so he
can, well, kill him first.
talk of the town
summer music guide
What could possibly be better than standing outside getting a sunburn
and seeing some of your favorite bands play live, on the same stage?
Still thinking? Throw in a little aloe vera and you’re pretty much set.
Here’s all you need to know to make the tough decisions.
Lollapalooza
August 1 – 3, Chicago, IL
$TBA
www.lollapalooza.com
Created in 1991 as a farewell tour by Perry Farrell, lead singer for Jane’s
Addiction, Lollapalooza collects the best in alt-rock, hip-hop, punk and
whatever else people like and sticks them in one place. Often cited as
the Woodstock of the 1990s, Lollapalooza also does dance, comedy,
and crafts.
notable line-up: Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Flogging Molly, Miley Cyrus
Sasquatch Music Festival
May 24 – 26, Quincy, WA
$56.50 (single day) $154.50 (three day pass)
www.sasquatchfestival.
com
Held in the Gorge Amphitheatre,
voted Pollstar Magazine’s best
Outdoor Music Venue, Sasquatch
Music Festival plays host to possibly
the best Memorial Day Weekend
festival with acts spanning from
comedy-rock to indie to classic
alt-rock.
notable line-up: The National,
The New Pornographers, R.E.M.,
Flight of the Conchords
Bamboozle
May 3 – 4, East Rutherford, NJ
$49.50 (single day)
www.thebamboozle.com
Every year, over a hundred bands flock
to New Jersey to play on the same stage.
Genre is no problem as thousands of fans
crowd into the Medowlands for a weekend
of sweat, sun and music.
notable line-up: Snoop Dogg, Paramore, Panic at the Disco… and a
hundred more
Bonnaroo
June 12 – 15, Manchester, TN
$209.50 - $244.50 (four day pass)
www.bonnaroo.com
Four days of music in the middle of a field in
Tennessee, with alumni such as The Police
make this show a must-see if you can swing the
pricey tickets as well as some sort of sleeping
place. Bring a tent.
notable line-up: Pearl Jam, Metallica, Chris
Rock, My Morning Jacket…and dozens more.
talk of the town
the future of television
I
nternet. Television. Between the two of them, they pretty much
Which brings me to number three, scripted internet content.
have the market covered on your spare time. But with advances That’s right, there is television on your internet. Sure, it may not be that
in streaming time and the cost of producing a television show great, but it’s there. The best example of scripted content which would
each increasing exponentially each year, what can be said about ordinarily be on a television network is the show Quarterlife. It’s a sort
the mixture of the two? What about internet TV?
of soap opera about being in your mid-twenties. It’s melodramatic and
There are a few different ways of looking at internet televi- angst-y, and since the longest episode is about eleven minutes, ridicusion. First, we have the age-old (and by age-old I mean about lously addictive. All you have to do is load up a couple and start watcha year old) practice of watching your
ing, and before you realize it, you’re hooked.
favorite shows from NBC, CBS and ABC on I can watch every episode You can’t help but cheer every time Jed gives
the respective websites. It’s handy and takes
a puppy eyes look. Plus, every episode
in order whenever I want, Dylan
care of those nasty commercials. Score one
is right there for you. Right. There.
for the corporations keeping in control, but without waiting for a maraAnd that is why the internet actually
thon, and the only other
that’s not quite what I’m getting at here. The
makes a fair point here. Let’s face it. Television
show that lets you do that has all the good content: Lost, House MD, Heonly ways in which that’s really revolutionary
is
Law and Order, but that’s roes, How I Met Your Mother, etc. What the
is that it means you don’t need a TV to watch
just a fluke.
TV. Pour the champagne.
internet has is archiving. Quarterlife may be a
Second, then, is YouTube. I love YouTube.
craptastic show, but I can watch every episode
I could write sonnets to YouTube. But in and
in order whenever I want, without waiting for
of itself, YouTube isn’t really a form of television. It’s more like a really a marathon, and the only other show that lets you do that is Law and
long episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos, without the com- Order, but that’s just a fluke.
mercials, but plus some really creepy stuff. Plus, even here, copyrighted
We may need to give the internet some time to get its act together,
content sneaks in. YouTube has a tendency to host anything except for but it’s getting there. I mean, what’s not to love? Every episode availporn, which leads to a lot of illegal scans of TV shows and movies. And, able, you don’t have to buy a TV, and after all, there’s always YouTube.
well, funny as YouTube is, it’s not really known for its scripted content.
- rachel frazier ’09
features
from hill to hill
hamilton students are
making their mark on that
other hill‑ interning,
volunteering, and making
a name for themselves in
america’s capital the continental | spring 2008 29
features
the millennial generation
kathryn plummer explores
the power of the youth vote
Y
oung people’s participation 2015, it is projected that this generation will reach out to the Millennial Generation.
in politics has radically be about one-third of the U.S. electorate. Barack Obama, who is favored by Millennials,
shifted since the 1960s, Currently, they rival the size of the Baby has made this group the main focus in his
as has the way in which Boomer Generation.
campaign.
politicians and the media
Political scientists, reporters, and
Some of the new tactics that these
regard them.
Media politicians alike agree that there is something candidates are using include implementing
organizations, politicians, different about this generation’s civic face-to-face interaction, specifically targeting
and political scientists have engagement levels and attention to politics. the needs and concerns of the youth, going
accused today’s American youth of political After the Millennials became the majority of to local colleges and high schools, utilizing
disengagement, and blamed them for the the youth vote, there has been a large increase the Millennials as volunteers, and using
overall decline of voter turnout in past decades. in voter turnout among the youth. In 2004, networking resources such as Facebook and
And, for the most part, these accusations are more than 20 million 18-19 year-olds voted, MySpace to educate and energize.
true.
an eleven percent increase from 2000. During
These tactics have proven successful,
Voter turnout among the youth in the the 2006 midterm elections, the youth group according to the Super Tuesday exit polls
1980s and 1990s was the lowest amongst all turnout increased by 24 percent.
for the Democratic Primary. In every state,
other age groups. During those decades, the
Along with increased voter turnout, 68 the percentage of 17-29 year old voters has
youth turnout rate remained at an average of percent of college students have reported increased compared to the 2004 Democratic
35 percent, with
Primar y.
under 21 being The Millennial Generation is not only more interested in politics, Additionally,
the
lowest,
exit
polls
but more mobilized and heading to the polls.
while
older
show that the
generations
Millennials
averaged about
h a v e
20 to 30 points higher. Fortunately, however, to follow political news closely. The new constituted an average of 14% of Democratic
this long tradition of disappointment seems to generation is not only more interested in primary voters, up from a median of 9% in the
be changing with the rise of Generation Y, or politics, but more mobilized and heading to set of comparable contests in 2004.
the Millennial Generation.
the polls.
The Millennials have proven to be more
The Millennial Generation, today’s
In the 2008 election, candidates have engaged and active in politics and voting. Due
youth, includes citizens who are born between noticed the increased participation rates and to the size and shifting trend of the Millennials,
1979 and 1997, aged 17 to 29. In 2006, the have decided to implement Youth Outreach they will continue to be very influential in this
Millennial Generation was about 75 million Programs. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, 2008 election and monumental in elections to
strong, with 42 million eligible to vote. In and John McCain have all made efforts to come.
features
capitalcity
city
capital
o
ne of the common complaints
you will hear from students on
the Hill is that we are too isolated
from the real world in the “bubble”
of Clinton, New York. But for
over three decades, Hamilton has
offered students the opportunity
to spend a semester experiencing
post-graduation life off the Hill in
the nation’s capital.
For some students, the Washington, D.C. program is a major
draw before they even arrive at Hamilton. Matt House ’08 says, “I first
learned about the D.C. program as a prospective student. I was fairly
sure I would be a government major at Hamilton, and it was one of
the school’s draws for me.” Blake Hulnick ’09 was also considering
the program as a prospective student. He explains, “I had heard great
reviews from program alumni, some of whom are my parents’ age since
the program has been around for a long time.”
During the program, students spend
four
days
as full-time interns for
“It’s an experience politicians aorweek
government agencies and one
that you can draw day a week in an academic seminar with a
Hamilton professor who relocates to D.C.
upon for the rest of Despite the busy schedule, students are left
free time and no shortage of ways to
your life, no matter with
spend it. Hulnick has “seen almost all of the
what career field Smithsonians several times—including
the Postal Museum, though it is a good
you go into.” cure for insomnia.”
Through the program, students also
have incomparable opportunities to form
connections that will benefit them after graduation. House asserts
that his first post-graduation job came as a result of living in D.C. for a
semester. “In addition to interning for my future employer,” he says, “I
met [Capitol] Hill staffers who have moved on to other political work
in all parts of the country.”
However, the enticing sample of independent life in Washington,
D.C. is first and foremost for the students in the program. Students
spend a semester seeing how it will feel to live in an apartment, rather
than a dorm, and balance free time with a full-time job. Jordan Hummel
’09 explains that “living in an apartment, working four days a week and
balancing school—it’s a slight taste of the real world...It’s an experience
that you can draw upon for the rest of your life, no matter what career
field you go into.”
-celia coan ’09
features
the roadmap for iraq
I
The Responsible Course for Iraq
t isn’t necessary to rehash the whole comedy of errors leading up
to Iraq War. It’s clear that the Bush Administration lied and misled
the American people about the rationale for the invasion. It’s
accepted that the administration’s conduct in the early days of the
occupation was the very definition of incompetence, and turned
the Iraqi people against us. It’s a statistical fact that the life of the average
Iraqi has gotten worse since the invasion, from unavailability of power
to declining health standards. The real issue is what we do next. Do
we stay in Iraq for several more years, even 100 years, as presumptive
Republican nominee John McCain suggests? Or do we withdraw and
force Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country?
Republicans argue that George W. Bush’s Surge strategy is working,
that we shouldn’t get out because finally we are winning. This isn’t true.
While our troops have managed to reduce violence in some areas of
Iraq, the fact is the rate of violence in Iraq is incredibly high, still around
the “unsustainable” level of violence of 2006. In any case, the real goal
of the Surge wasn’t to temporarily reduce violence. The Surge was
supposed to create space for Iraqi leaders to resolve the Sunni and Shiite
The Democratic party recognizes that
there are no good solutions for Iraq;
only bad and worse ones.
in Iraq is beginning to unravel, and the only reason the situation isn’t
worse is because of the political intervention of Iran. The fact that we’re
dependent on Iran to maintain Iraq’s stability shows the illusionary
success of the Surge.
Meanwhile, our armed forces are strained to the breaking point
because of the lengthy deployments needed to maintain troop levels.
Troops are required to spend more and more tours in Iraq, with many
solider having their contracts of service extended against their will
under the stop-loss policy, leading to a drop in re-enlistments. The
majority of the army’s available manpower and equipment is tied up in
Iraq, decreasing our flexibility to respond to other emerging threats. The
simple fact is if they don’t get out of Iraq soon, we’re going to severely
damage our military’s ability to respond to multi-national threats like
Al Qaeda.
Many argue that we should stay in Iraq to fight terrorist groups
such as Al Qaeda, but that argument ignores the very nature of the
insurgency. Over 90% of insurgents are Iraqis, not the foreign fighters
who comprise the majority of Al Qaeda members. The goals of most
insurgents have nothing to do with global jihad; rather they are focused
on using violence to resolve internal ethnic grievances. Al Qaeda in
Iraq, even at its peak, was about 2-5% of the insurgency, and today
that number is even less because Sunnis cracked down on them and
eliminated most of Al Qaeda’s bases in the Sunni triangle. This illustrates
the fundamental truth about the war: we cannot win it, only the Iraqis
can.
The Democratic Party recognizes that there are no good solutions
for Iraq; only bad and worse ones. The only way to resolve this conflict
is through political, not military, solutions. Sunni and Shiite leaders in
Iraq must be forced to resolve their civil war and take responsibility for
stopping sectarian violence and providing security for their people. As
long as our troops are there, Iraqi leaders will avoid reconciling and
taking control of their own security. Along with a stronger diplomatic
effort in Iraq, both within Iraq and with Iraq’s neighbors, withdrawing
is really the only reasonable way we can end this war. The Democratic
Party’s stance on Iraq is based on one simple idea: be smarter and more
careful getting out of this mess than we were getting in.
civil war, which they haven’t done. There’s been no progress in resolving
the political problems at the heart of the Iraqi civil war, and therefore Will Leubsdorf ’10 is president of the College
the current reduction in violence will not last. Right now, the situation Democrats.
features
as the war in iraq heads into its fifth year,
both parties search for the best way forward
W
Stay the Course
ednesday, 9 April, marked the fifth anniversary of the
fall of Baghdad. For over a year, the administration
has implemented Operations Fardh al-Qanoon and
Phantom Thunder, collectively known as the Surge.
General David Petraeus, who leads these efforts,
testified before Congress on Wednesday alongside the American
Ambassador in Iraq, Ryan Crocker. Together they delineated the
progress attained in the area: unprecedented legislation regarding
amnesty, budget, de-Baathification, and the electoral process; decreased
inflation and an impressive 7% economic growth rate; dramatically
increased participation of Sunni leaders in the security efforts and
provincial elections; and 90% drop in ethno-sectarian violence.
American casualties have likewise dropped by 70% since June 2007.
In the words of Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), “Gen. Petraeus returns to
Washington having led one of the most remarkably successful military
operations in American history. His antiwar critics, meanwhile, face
a crisis of credibility—having confidently predicted the failure of the
Surge, and been proven decidedly wrong.”
Untenable as protests of the Surge’s ineffectiveness may be,
they are far from silenced by the successes Petraeus has consistently
attained. Many Democrats bemoan the lack of instantaneous solution,
preferring instead to misremember Iraq as a country of great peace
and prosperity before the invasion. There is no “crisis of credibility,”
as there is no imagination, however fertile, which can create the
semblance of credibility in the first place. The historical precedents
for long-term military presence to ensure stability and development
are too many to enumerate here, but Japan and South Korea serve
as notable examples. American presence denotes neither continued
violence nor ever-escalating casualties; the current effort intends to
allow for the emergence of an organic system of government, approved
and instituted by the Iraqi people and temporarily entrusted to foreign
assistance.
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) recently observed, “The debate
over how much progress we have made in the last year may be less
illuminating than determining whether the administration is finally
defining a clear political-military strategy.” Petraeus has indeed
elucidated a strategy with characteristic candor and pragmatism.
Before Congress, he requested a 45-day period to evaluate the progress
of the troops; this period ensures greater prudence and circumspection
than a hasty withdrawal, and permits adaptability to the ever-changing
condition of those on the ground. A withdrawal policy operating on
a strict timetable lacks the flexibility so critical to effective military
operation; it prohibits capable leaders like Petraeus from performing
their duties optimally and fails to account for the unstable conditions
in Iraq, which could necessitate measures currently beyond our ability
to prognosticate. With unblinking frankness, Petraeus informed
the members of Congress that “progress, while real, is fragile and
reversible.”
This frankness remains unmatched by Democrats: Clinton says it
may or may not be irresponsible to leave the troops in Iraq, abandoning
her initial support of the conflict, and Obama suggests he would approve
prolonged occupation if success meant “no traces of al-Qaeda and no
possibility of reconstitution, a highly-effective Iraqi government, [and]
a democratic multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian functioning democracy.”
He pledges to remove the troops within 16 months while admitting
that America has the “responsibility to try to make it work as best we
can.” Presumably our best effort requires no more exertion than an
unrealistic 16-month period can contain. The contradictions inherent
in political stances that simultaneously undercut our military progress
and lament its lack of rapidity need no further remarking.
It is readily apparent that withdrawal now
would result in civil war, despite significant
improvements.
In passing this notable anniversary, we acknowledge how much
our multinational forces have accomplished—the evisceration
of recognized threats to global security, the deposition of Saddam
Hussein, and advancement against al-Qaeda’s powerful Iraq branch.
Moreover, as Newt Gingrich reminds us, “Any judgment we make
about where we are and what we must do in Iraq must be conditioned
by the courage and commitment of those who have volunteered to
protect us.” It is readily apparent that withdrawal now would result
in civil war, despite significant improvements. Therefore, let us not
endanger the safety of countless Iraqis and dishonor the valiant efforts
of those, American and otherwise, who have given their lives there by
willfully testing the reversibility of our hard-won victories; and let us
not be content with adherence to “a messy, sloppy status quo” Obama
seeks to cite in support of a precipitant withdrawal. Let us instead
continue to aim, under our skilled leadership, for a stabilized Iraq and a
long-term solution. Let us “cling to our guns” if with them lie the hopes
of those Iraqis venturesome enough to envision their nation without
dictatorship and ethno-sectarian violence.
Elizabeth Farrington ’10 is vice president of the Republican Club.
upthe
close
and personal
millennial
generation
students experience washington, dc
and the world of politics firsthand through internships
W
ith the election season in full swing, there has been an
impressive swell in participation among the younger
generations. Here at Hamilton, many students have
taken it upon themselves to become involved with the elections
by working on the candidates’ campaigns. From starting groups
to support the candidates to actually interning in the candidates’
offices, students such as Mariam Ballout, Alexandra Lawson, and
Matt House have been extremely busy. Alexandra Lawson first got politically involved when she
interned for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s Office of
Constituent Services and the Senator’s Congressional Office.
When Lawson spent this past fall semester abroad in Washington
DC, she decided to get involved with Senator Clinton’s campaign.
While working on the campaign, much of her work was dedicated
to what she called “visuals.” Lawson and a group of volunteers would
gather in a particular location with signs supporting the candidate.
Lawson was also involved with a great deal of canvassing. She
says that this was one of the most rewarding parts about working on
the Clinton campaign because she personally was able to interact
with people and listen to their concerns about the issues that were
most important to them.
Mariam Ballout first decided to get involved with the Obama
campaign after his keynote address in 2004. Since then she has
become the president of Students for Barack Obama at Hamilton,
made a Facebook group in his support, and participated in a 3-day
training session with Obama’s field director in New York.
One of Miriam’s favorite memories from working on the
campaign was canvassing in Milwaukee. She and her partner,
a student at NYU, spotted a street called “Hope Avenue.” They
gathered the entire group, and a few minutes before the polls were
starting to close ran through the streets screaming “One More
Block for Obama!” Many people started following and beeping
their horns of their cars in support.
“It was an empowering, heartfelt moment that none of us will
ever forget,” said Ballout.
Matt House has been involved with Senator Biden’s campaign
ever since he interned at with the New Hampshire Democratic
Party last summer. Most of the activities that House was involved
with were press-related. He arranged interviews for the senator,
wrote press releases and emails to supporters, and pitched stories
to the press. For House, the best part of working on the campaign
was that he was working for someone that he really believed in.
“It was great to have some small part in it, even if the campaign
never got off the ground politically,” said House.
Lawson, Ballout, and House all agree that their involvement
in their individual campaigns were some of the most rewarding
and influential moments of their lives. They aspire to continue in
politics, and hopefully they will encourage others to help make our
country a better place.
-danielle fortier ’10
features
battle of the sexes
higher grades. more graduates. greater success among women.
can the boys keep up?
W
hen I was applying to colleges two years ago, I made thirteen
campus visits, completed ten applications, and took the ACTs
five different times. With my college counselors, I weighed
my likelihood of receiving admittance into each school, considering
everything from my GPA to the impact that playing field hockey for
three years instead of the preferred four will have on my admittance. I
was no longer looking for that perfect fit; instead, I was simply looking
for any fat envelope to slide through the door and settle my nightmares
about living at home for the rest of my life.
This anxiety was almost unheard of for women around the time
that the Kirkland and Hamilton Campuses merged together in 1979.
This merge was a landmark move symbolizing the union of men and
women in academic equality. Who would have thought that almost 30
years later, it would be the boys who are struggling to keep up? Like
other liberal arts schools across the country, Hamilton College receives
more female applicants than males, and actually struggles to maintain
a boastful 50/50 male to female ratio. Upholding this ratio denies or
waitlists overqualified female applicants in favor of less qualified male
applicants.
Since 1982, women have surpassed men in graduation rates. In
2004, 58 percent of all bachelor’s degrees belonged to women. Some
studies even predict that by 2020, 156 women will receive B.A.s for
every 100 men. Furthermore, two-thirds of colleges report that they
receive more female applicants than males. But females aren’t just
applying to schools in greater numbers, they are dominating once
they get there. Studies also show that women get better grades, party
less, study harder, and are more involved on campuses and college
communities nationwide.
So why are these wonderfully accomplished women denied
admission instead of less qualified men into some of the nation’s
elite schools? Sadly, maintaining that 50/50 male to female ratio is
incredibly important. Once a school bends towards the 40/60 gender
ratio, the school immediately becomes less desirable. Even hardworking
female students aren’t willing to sacrifice social lives for good academic
standing. All it takes for a prospective student to refrain from applying
to a school is the realization that there are 20% less of the opposite sex
and thus must exert 20% more effort into satisfying the hormones on
the weekends.
As men keep slipping behind women in college graduation
ratings and grades, some people express concerns that females won’t be
able to find suitable partners, as the numbers might soon require that
the majority of women find a mate inferior to her academically. Even
as females have progressed academically, our social standing has not
improved; society is still locked in the frame of mind that males must
be smarter, more successful, and more accomplished than their females
spouses. Only time will tell if we’re ready for a female-dominated
business world, supported, rather than driven by, men.
-andrea weinfurter ’10
features
iCollege
chelsea mann argues that advanced
technlogy has made the college
experience more virtual and isolating
College as America used to understand it is coming to an end.
From my opinion as a current college student at Hamilton, I blame
technology. Cell phones, ipods, and social sites like Facebook and
Youtube are destroying the sense of community on the college campus.
I know, because I’ve watched students’ infatuation with these devices
lead them to choose the company of their computer screens and
earplugs over that of the physical eyes and ears of their friends. How
are students to be activists when technology prevents them from being
a student body?
One obvious sign of the resulting fragmentation caused by
technology is in dorm life. The dorm lounges around which social
life used to revolve are now quiet and abandoned today. Where are
the students? They’re on the phone. They’re surfing the net. They’re
downloading music. They’re texting their friends. They’re everywhere
individually, but no where collectively.
It is because of technology that college as America used to
understand it is coming to an end. Once upon a time, the MerriamWebster’s Dictionary defined college as “College: a group of persons
considered by law to be a unit.” Unhappily ever after, however, college
became more appropriately referred to as iCollege: a group of isolated
individuals virtually connected and considered thus by law to be a unit.
So welcome to iCollege, an institution founded by technological
components that have wreaked havoc on the relationships among
students. In order to fully understand its impact on college social life,
we will analyze a couple of bricks that went into the establishment of
the iCollege that prevails today.
Contributor number one: Facebook.com, the anti-social network.
As a sophomore, I conducted a survey for an article I wrote for The
Spectator entitled “The College Facebook Frenzy.” According to its
results, 31 percent of the 281 participants reported checking Facebook
up to six times a day, with a smaller handful admitting to nine checks
per day. I was no different; the site lulled me beneath its spell. I felt as if I
had become the Internet mother to a community of Facebook children
whose status I was constantly compelled to check. When I’d look at the
clock, I’d realize that, during the time I’d spent on Facebook, precious
hours had passed during which I could have been attending to more
academic work or to actually connecting with friends in person.
According to the free-thoughts survey section, Hamilton students
reasoned that the opportunity to stay connected with friends through
Facebook outweighed the consequences of using the site, such as its
potential to hinder academic success or career opportunities. There
was no awareness that “friending” on the screen detracted from the
substance of the relationship and potentially left people more friend-
less. This is what is to be expected from the assumption that viewing
recent photos, statuses, and wall posts of friends on Facebook qualified
as a substantive relationship.
At the end of the day, Facebook and other social sites like Youtube
and Myspace have done more than “poke” its users. They have turned
us into addicts, snoopers, and hermits. So collegians are less likely to be
collegial—they never congregate. They may be on the same page, but
they are never in the same room.
Contributor number two to iCollege: ipods, out of tune with the
world. Although I love music, I don’t love when ipod listeners choose it
over my company. Perhaps if I owned one, I’d feel differently. But as of
now, I would never want one. Living unplugged has enabled me to see
that a student’s ipod fever is more than musical: it’s socially isolating.
This is not to say that I am always against them. When I exercise, I often
borrow headphones to help motivate my elliptical workouts with fasttempo music or pop in a CD to pass the time on long plane rides or car
outings.
During my time at school, though, I have noticed a startling
number of students going about their day with white earplugs attached
as if they were an accessory intended to be worn until bedtime. At times,
I wanted to ask my peers, is this really necessary? Must you really listen
to music while walking to and from class or eating in the dining hall? I
am starting to miss the opportunity to talk to people on my way to class
or to the stranger standing behind me in the food line. Just last semester,
I encountered a boy from my Sociology class listening to his iPod while
preparing a salad next to me in the dining hall. He proceeded to strike
a conversation with me without removing his earplugs. Awkwardly, I
struggled to recount my weekend in a loud voice, competing with the
Green Day music blasting from his ears.
There are many more ways in which students can be considered
rude for plugging up their ears. On countless occasions, I have said
“bless you” when students sneezed in the library to receive no thankyou, or shouted their name while they were walking up ahead to receive
no response. Why no answer? They couldn’t hear me. Their ears were
plugged. But how was I to know their hooded ears were hiding a pair of
iPod earplugs? For all I knew, they were ignoring me. If only students
would unplug their ears and let me in.
Technology is the reason why college campuses have lost their
centrality in the broader place of society. Students have become so busy
behind the screen that they’ve faded from the public scene as activists
on campus. If students continue to capitulate to technology’s spell,
the world as America used to understand it could come to an end. In
addition to iCollege, we could have an iWorld on our hands.
a tale of two students
lightsider. darksider.
freshman. senior.
local. international.
features editor kelsey richardson gathered pairs of students with
differing perspectives to compare their hamilton experiences.
can opposites attract?
features
lightsider meets darksider
eve stevens & katherine koba
Hamilton College may be known for its overall community feel,
but in truth, it has two distinct communities. Confirming the existence
of these two unique sides of campus, Hamilton Admissions has gone as
far as to forbid the use of the terms Lightside and Darkside on campus
tours. Split by the main campus crosswalk, these two sides of campus
have much more than separate names—they boast different students
and their own vibe. To truly flesh out these Lightside/Darkside
distinctions we recruited Lightsider Eve Stevens ’09 and Darksider
Katherine Koba ’08.
Familiar with each other already, Eve and Katherine joked and
laughed throughout the shoot. Rendezvousing at the decidedly
Lightside Science Center, the two first discussed the stereotypical
understandings of the Lightsider and the Darksider. Without much
hesitation, Katherine characterized the two as “grungy hippies”
and “clean preppies” to which Eve agreed. But is the stereotype
accurate?
The two seem to think, that for the most part, they are. “I feel the
stereotypes are true and I like that,” Eve said. Katherine added that she
thinks the Darkside characterization is especially accurate. “It is more
self selecting than the Lightside—a lot of freshman get put on the
Lightside,” she said.
Eve and Katherine bonded over their appreciation for both sides
of campus, stereotyped or not. “I always feel that I fit in on both sides pretty
well,” Eve remarked. “I can identify with either (stereotype) sort of although
I actually don’t identify with the Lightside identity quite as much.”
Katherine agreed, hesitant to identify herself solely with one side
of campus. “All my friends basically live on the Darkside. That’s the
kind of people that have typically made up my circle of friends so I
guess I have to identify with it at the end of the day.”
The two then shared many favorite things from each side of campus.
Both admit that they love hanging out in the Darkside suites. “They are
a great social construction,” Katherine said. “The common rooms are so
conducive to spontaneous activity. Its nice to have that space when you
want to throw a party but don’t want to trash your room.”
On the Lightside, Eve confessed that she loves the Chapel and the
two agreed that the new Science Center has been great for the campus.
Both Eve and Katherine confessed, too, that they love long walks in the
Glen. Finally, Katherine added that she enjoys the waffle ceilings of the
Darkside.
Ultimately, both overwhelming agreed that the Lightside/
Darkside distinction was great but did not much matter. “I really like the
average personality of the average Hamilton student,” Eve commented.
“Everyone is easy going and I really like that.”
As for Admission’s anxiety over the Lightside/Darkside lingo, Eve
and Katherine think that it’s ridiculous. “I think [avoiding the terms
Lightside and Darkside] is developmentally disabled—can I say that?”
Katherine laughed. “Why hide it?” Eve concluded. “It’s great—just
like Star Wars.”
freshman meets senior
rd eisenhart & jack prior
There is a popular belief that four years in college converts students
into adults. Apparently, dragging your butt to class every day and sharing
your bedroom with a stranger teaches you what you need to know about
the real world. If this is true, Hamilton’s senior class should be a wealth
of knowledge to underclassmen. We recruited outspoken senior Jack
Prior and receptive freshman RD Eisenhart to test this theory.
Meeting in the busy Diner, Jack and RD were chatting and joking
around almost immediately. Jack took it upon himself to lead the
discussion interview style, admitting that as a senior intern, these were
the kinds of questions he wishes he could ask. First he started out with
the basics. He asked RD about his potential major (world politics with
a concentration in international law), his living situation (Dunham
basement), and his feelings about freshman year. RD’s response to this
last question was short and sweet- “great and exciting.”
Jack and RD went on to find unlikely bonds over embarrassing
freshman moments. Turns out both of them suffered through the
experience of being EMTed. “That was a rough night for me,” RD
admitted. Jack, agreeing, laughed as he remembered crying and
repeating, “I don’t want to die” en route to the hospital. “The worst
part,” he commented, “was that my friends had written all over me.”
The unpleasant memory launched Jack into an advice giving
session—some serious, and some not so serious. First on the list is “wear
shower flip flops.” Admitting that he pees in the shower almost daily,
Jack stresses that it is a college necessity. More seriously, however, Jack
recommends that RD “try as many things as possible that are socially
acceptable at Hamilton before you leave.” Much of the crazy stuff you
can get away with on campus,” he comments, won’t be appropriate
when “you’re twenty five and living in your parents’ basement.”
Then there was one final question from RD—are you ready to
leave Hamilton? Admitting that he “doesn’t even want to go home for
the summer,” RD wonders how Jack feels about leaving in just a few
weeks. “I always thought at 20 or 21 that I’d be more mature and have
everything together,” Jack remarked, “but I don’t.” He has plans to go
to Boston for school and get an apartment with his girlfriend. “All this
makes me feel older than I am.”
Turning to RD, Jack concluded: “Four years at Hamilton has made
me much more comfortable with myself—I hope I’m ready for what
comes next.”
features
all-american meets south american
anthony carello & mariana vinacur
With the buzz of diversity discussion on campus this year,
there has been new attention paid to the experiences of Hamilton’s
international students. While Hamilton’s student body becomes more
diverse each year, there are still concerns that the campus environment
is not as welcoming to some students as it is to others. We decided
to investigate this issue by going to the source—Hamilton students
themselves. We brought Mariana Vinacur ‘09 from faraway Argentina
and Anthony Carello ‘09 from nearby Syracuse together to compare
their unique experiences as members of the Hamilton community.
Having met their freshman year in Dunham, Mariana and
Anthony chatted with ease throughout their meet and shoot. They
were quick to reminisce on both the exciting and awkward memories
from their first year at Hamilton. Mariana first reflected on her bold
decision to forage so far from home.
“I was the only one that left from my high school,” she told
Anthony, and had “never visited Hamilton before I applied... I was like,
‘Why not?’” she laughed.
Anthony, on the other hand, “applied to all schools near by.” “I
wanted to stay close to home but also wanted to be far enough away to
detach myself, too,” he explained.
Despite their unique experiences in getting to Hamilton, both
agree that freshman year is difficult for everyone. “We were all new
freshman year,” Mariana commented. Anthony admitted that it has
been a lot easier for him to come here knowing that he can visit his
family whenever he wants. “I actually go home pretty often,” he
remarked, “and it’s nice because my parents get to see me play in my
soccer games.”
While Mariana admitted to missing home often, she does not feel
that being from Argentina has hindered her experience at Hamilton
in any way. “It is exotic to say I am from Argentina,” she laughed.
“Sometimes people think I am lying.” She does recognize, however,
that having been to the U.S. before has been a major help. “I have a
house in Florida,” she explained to Anthony. “That made my transition
much smoother.” The best part of being from far away, according to
Mariana: “I get to bring my friends home to Argentina and I love that.”
While their perspectives on Hamilton are quite different,
Anthony and Mariana discovered that their love for the school is
very much the same. “Hamilton has such a good blend of academics
and community,” Mariana said. “A lot of places can get you a good
education but everyone here looks for friends and something that will
last beyond Hamilton years.”
“Hamilton has a great community feel,” Anthony agreed, “much
better than if you were to go to a big state school.” And while Anthony
sees his family “pretty often” and Mariana much less so, both have
come to see their friends on campus as family.
“I have great friends at home,” Anthony explained, “but it’s just
not the same as living with people everyday. You get much closer with
people here.” Echoing Anthony’s sentiment, Mariana said, “I think of
my roommate as my sister.”
Despite their differences, the two feel very comfortable here at
Hamilton. “As corny as it sounds,” Anthony remarked, “Hamilton is a
home away from home.”
“Hamilton is a home away from home,” whether you are originally
from Central New York or Argentina.
features
behind closed doors
B
by katie childs ’08
ob Paquette is not a man of few words. He is well-known on campus for being outspoken,
defined equally by his boisterous personality and his intellect. It is not surprising that
Paquette—a tenured history professor at Hamilton—has been outspoken about one issue
that faculty hardly ever talk about publicly: salaries. Last spring, Paquette received his
annual salary letter but there was something absent from the letter … a raise. In a letter
dated May 25, 2007, Dean of Faculty Joe Urgo wrote to Paquette, “Bob, despite your publications in
2006 and your efforts at teaching effectively, I cannot see clear to increasing your salary in 2007-2008.
While we were disappointed in the outcome of discussions surrounding the Alexander Hamilton Center,
it is incumbent upon us all to handle such disappointments in a professional manner.” These words
set-off discussions amongst faculty about the policies and processes surrounding salary determination,
and the reaches of academic freedom. In the process, an interesting mix of faculty banded together,
leftover animosities over the failed Alexander Hamilton Center (AHC) were revealed, and students
were once again left in the dark about what’s really going on at Hamilton behind closed doors.
features
Determining Salaries
Zero-percent raises are usually given in an effort to warn an
Salaries are based on three factors: teaching, scholarship, and underperforming faculty member. But as Williams noted, “Bob
service. During the spring semester, faculty members write a self- Paquette has not gone to sleep. He is very active. Why would you
evaluation and a personal statement that they submit to their department punish him?”
chairs. The chairs read the reports and write assessment forms for each
Urgo maintains that a zero percent raise is not a punishment, but
faculty member in his or her department. Typically, the Dean will meet a standard, although many faculty members disagree. “A zero percent
with chairs to discuss the reports before determining raises, but there is raise in this economic situation functions as a pay cut and it is a pretty
no formal procedure or requirement to meet with chairs. “I met with serious step to take,” said Professor Margaret Gentry. “Whatever he
those chairs where I had questions,” said Urgo, although he did not meet had done in terms of scholarship or teaching seemed to be trumped by
with the chair of the history department. Salary letters were previously concerns about his relationship with the College. I’m concerned that
not reviewed by the president; last year, however, President Joan Hinde one area of one’s professional life erases the teaching and scholarship.”
Stewart reviewed each salary letter. Raises for the 2007-2008 academic
year ranged from zero-to-seven percent, with most faculty members The Role of Collegiality
receiving a three-to-four percent raise.
In 2006 Dean Urgo published an article entitled “Collegiality
“Salaries are recompenses,” said Stewart. “We try to reward merit, and Academic Community” in Sympoke. Collegiality is buzzword
so there are going to be tough decisions and relative decisions to be amongst higher education circles, relating to the cultivation of positive
made.” Salary letters are sent out at the end of May and include the relationships among colleagues. Examples of collegiality include
faculty member’s raise for the upcoming academic year and a short serving as an effective advisor for students and being respectful of
message from the Dean of Faculty, although many professors described other professors. Paquette’s outspoken nature has at times run against
their letters as vague and the reasoning less than transparent.
the ideas of collegiality among his colleagues and the administration.
Although these personal differences are rarely discussed publicly, it is
The Exception...?
easy to see why collegiality would come into play in this instance.
In the spring of 2007, Paquette predicted to his co-founders of
Urgo recognized that collegiality was becoming a fourth pillar
the newly-founded Alexander Hamilton Institute, Professors Jim in personnel and salary decisions at some schools, but believes that
Bradfield and Doug Ambrose, that he would not receive a raise in collegiality should be incorporated within the three main factors for
response to his vocal criticisms
salary determination at colleges
of the administration about the
like Hamilton. Still, the faculty is
AHC. At the time, Bradfield and
“The zero was meant to provide a divided on this issue: “One of the
Ambrose laughed it off. “I told
sticking points of collegiality, is
chilling effect.”
him he was crazy,” said Bradfield.
that there are no criteria for what
-Professor Bob Paquette
“My view was that the College just
good collegiality is and what bad
wouldn’t do that thing. And I was
collegiality is,” said Professor
dead wrong.”
Robin Kinnel. “Even if it is
Based on the three criteria for determining salaries—teaching, measurable, it would come after teaching and scholarship.”
scholarship and service—it is difficult to understand why Paquette
The basic role of collegiality is accepted by most faculty members,
would be one of the few singled out for a zero increase. His classes are but its ties to salaries are new and somewhat unsettling. “Urgo is the
popular and he receives positive evaluations from students. “In 27 years first to raise these kinds of issues in a salary letter and somehow tie a
here, maybe on two occasions I have cancelled a class. My students lack of collegiality to pay raises,” said Professor Tim Elgren.
know I am in my office seven days a week,” said Paquette. “So it’s clearly
“I don’t think being critical of the administration or Board of
something else that bothered them.” Paquette has also been consistent Trustees constitutes non-collegiality,” said Williams. “If we’re not free
in his publishing and is respected for his research. This leaves only the to criticize the Dean when he does something wrong, Heaven help us!
third criterion—service.
We’re in real trouble then.”
Urgo claims that service (or lack thereof) was one reason
for Paquette’s zero percent raise. He believes Paquette acted Faculty Support
unprofessionally during the debate of the AHC charter. The failed
News of Paquette’s zero percent salary spread through the faculty
AHC has taken form in the Alexander Hamilton Institute in the village during the summer and fall of 2007. “It just seemed puzzling to the
of Clinton. In the aftermath of this debate, the administration was faced senior faculty that were there that Paquette would get a zero raise,
with resentment from conservative alumni who supported the Center especially in the wake of his conflict with the administration because
and the resignation of one of the College’s most loyal trustees, Carl it looks punitive,” said Professor David Paris, who previously served
Menges ’51, who now financially supports the AHI. Paquette was the as Dean of Faculty. By November, a group of 17 tenured professors
chief architect of the AHC and the failed attempt to bring it to campus had gathered to informally discuss the allocation of a zero percent
left him bitter and frustrated with the administration.
raise.
Urgo, Paquette, and Bradfield met on August 16 and again in the
Supporters of Paquette include a diverse sampling of the faculty,
fall to discuss the reasoning for Paquette’s zero percent raise. Paquette who are mostly drawn together for the sake of principle rather than
also submitted six requests for a fuller explanation of how his salary was personal reasons. “The amazing and amusing thing to me is that this
determined. On each account, Paquette felt Urgo dodged the issues and incident has brought together the most conservative and most liberal
could not specifically state what actions were deemed unprofessional. faculty members,” said Williams.
Urgo contends that he supplied Paquette with plenty of answers and
“Bob [Paquette] and I rarely agree on anything politically, but I certainly
that Paquette is just unwilling to hear them. “Often people say they’re would never approve of anyone being penalized for being outspoken,” said
not being told something when really they just disagree,” said Urgo.
Professor Esther Kanipe. “I believe in freedom of speech.”
The 17 senior faculty members met with Urgo on December 17
The Zero Percent Raise
for almost two hours, but everyone walked from the meeting unsatisfied.
A zero percent raise is highly unusual. “It’s all very strange because “We gave the Dean every opportunity to answer our concerns, and he
this sort of thing never happens,” said Professor Jay Williams ’54.
chose not to,” said Elgren.
features
Hamilton History
Hamilton’s recent history has highly influenced
today’s campus climate, making it impossible to
understand this new salary incident without taking a trip
down memory lane. “Hamilton is a deceptive looking
school,” said Professor Bonnie Urciuoli. “It looks like a
beautiful place and it looks simple, but it’s complicated.”
In 2002, the Womyn’s Center invited Annie Sprinkle,
a self-described prostitute-porn star turned sexologist, to
campus for a lecture on sex toys. Paquette protested the
lecture, stating that it violated New York State obscenity
laws. “Academic freedom is not an absolute,” stated
Paquette in a September 25, 2002 interview with the
Associated Press. “I would have to conclude that this
administration is both intellectually and morally vapid.”
Later that same year, a faculty member discovered
President Eugene Tobin had plagiarized some of his
speeches and Tobin subsequently resigned. “The Board
of Trustees likedTobin very much and they didn’t
want to lose him,” said Urciuoli, who noted that some
board members are said to have strong views about the
faculty members that brought Tobin’s plagiarism to the
forefront.
In 2004, the Kirkland Project for the Study of
Gender, Society, and Culture invited Susan Rosenberg
to teach a writing class entitled “Resistance Memoirs:
Writing, Identity, and Change.” Rosenberg was a member
of the radical Weather Underground, and was in the midst
of serving a 58-year prison term for weapons possession
when President Bill Clinton pardoned her in 2001. After
vocal criticism of Rosenberg on the Hill and off, she
stepped down from the appointment.
A few months later, scandal would again rock the
campus. The Kirkland Project invited Ward Churchill,
a professor at the University of Boulder, to speak at
Hamilton. Professor Ted Eismeier did a simple Google
search on Churchill and discovered that Churchill
had written an essay that compared the victims of the
attacks on the World Trade Center to “little Eichmanns.”
Everyone from New York Governor George Pataki to Fox Ward Churchill’s invitation to speak at Hamilton in 2005 was
News personality Bill O’Reilly weighed in on the incident a lesson in academic freedom. Above, a student signs a
and the event was eventually cancelled due to security poster supporting the Kirkland Project.
concerns.
At the March faculty meeting, the faculty passed a motion by a
In 2006, Paquette, Bradfield, and Ambrose introduced
the charter for the AHC with enthusiastic fanfare and support from vote of 69-20 to have the Academic Council report to the faculty next
the administration. During the fall of 2006, however, debates over the year on the process for sanctions related to salary decisions, as stated in
the Faculty Handbook. “If anything comes out of this, hopefully it’s that
governance structure for the Center derailed the project.
Paquette’s account of Hamilton’s recent history is summarized the administration has learned that this is a very dangerous thing to do
in his article, “The World We Have Lost: A Parable on the Academy,” because it does have consequences which are not good,” said Williams.
which is published in the May 2008 issue of The New Criterion. In
the aftermath of the disintegration of the AHC charter, Paquette The Ripple Effects
Not surprisingly, receiving no raise for the 2006-2007 academic
claims he was viewed as “intransigent, paranoid, perhaps even mentally
unstable.” In response, Paquette states that “paranoia means irrational year has done little to silence Paquette. “To think that a zero will in
fear. Hamilton College’s recent history, he points out, makes his fears any way silence me is laughable,” said Paquette. “The zero was meant
to provide a chilling effect, but I can make up the difference with two
eminently reasonable.”
speeches about the Alexander Hamilton Center. And if they do it again,
I will give 10 speeches. And if they do it again, I will give 20 speeches.”
Next Steps
Although Paquette is free to discuss this issue publicly and has
Most faculty members interviewed for this article stressed the
need for more communication between the faculty, administration, waived confidentiality, the administration and members of the faculty
and Board of Trustees and a greater degree of transparency. “The are limited in what they can divulge in the public sphere.
“This is not being done for Bob Paquette,” said Paquette. “This is
institution is a work in progress that requires good communication
being done for a principle.” Most parties involved would agree.
among all parties,” said Kinnel.
Visit contmag.com for more information on this issue and the debate surrounding the Alexander Hamilton Center.
features
jared
solomon
style
Hometown:
Philadelphia
Major:
Philosophy
CLASS YEAR:
2008
Signature Style:
casually chic
How would you define your sense of
style?
Generally, I like to be comfortable. I’ll basically
wear anything that defines comfort, so a lot
of sandals. I do like jackets and ties when the
occasion calls for it, but I would say that my
staple outfit of comfort is jeans and a white
T-shirt.
Do you have any specific influences that
you draw from, or even a style icon?
I actually don’t. I like to keep it unique. I don’t
really study or draw from anything; I just wear
what I think looks good and feels good.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I like Hugo Boss a lot, specifically for their
shoes, ties and belts. Steve & Barry’s is also
a favorite. Express is great, but I also like the
Salvation Army for thrifty finds. I pretty much
shop anywhere.
Any wardrobe staples or accessories that
you can’t leave the house without?
That’s a tough call, but it’s between my
Rainbow sandals and underwear. I can’t leave
the house without that – not the same pair,
though!
What is your idea of the perfect,
everyday outfit?
spotted
My favorite outfit, that I could wear everyday,
regardless of the occasion, would be
comfortable jeans, sandals, and a sport coat.
It’s a classic for anything.
-laura cook ’10
senior brings a casual ease to everyday looks
style
most likely to turn heads
Best Semiformal Attire
Website: www.unique-vintage.com
Description: A unique vintage boutique
with great 60s and 70s inspired apparel, fun
separates and flashy cocktail dresses. Just
like looking through the racks at a vintage
store, you really have to search through
the website to find what you want. Don’t
get discouraged though, the finds are well
worth the extra effort!
Editors’ Pick: 60s Style Silk Ombre Tunic
Dress ($88)
most likely to be bling bling
Best Accessories
Website: www.naughtysecretaryclub.com
Description: Naughty Secretary Club is the place for funky
retro jewelry and crazy accessories. The items on this site also
make great gifts for friends. Aside from purses and jewelry,
they have home goods like mirrors, journals and magnets to
add a little spice to your home and outfits.
Editors’ Pick: Frost Gigi ($29)
most likely to...
most likely to not break the bank
Nothing gets us through exam week
or the first day at a new job like a
care package. Especially when it
contains new clothes. To help make
picking out your pick-me-up easier,
Style Editor Whitney Kimmel ranked
the best online sites for spring and
summer clothing and accessories.
most likely to put some pep in your step
Best Overall Value
Website: www.
francescascollections.com
Description: This one-stopshop has everything you need for
summer. Francesca’s Collections
has great staple items and signature
pieces for an incredibly reasonable
price. You really can’t go wrong
on this website. Whether you’re
looking for a jacket, some new
jewelry or a weekend-dress this is
by far the one site we recommend
above all others.
Editors’ Pick: Amber Waves
Dress ($38)
Best Shoes
Website: www.solestruck.com
Description: Search by brand, color, size or style. If you can’t
find a new pair of shoes here, we’d be surprised. Whatever
occasion you’re looking for, SoleStruck is sure to
have a distinct choice that will complete
any outfit. They feature brands like
Rocket Dog, BCBG Girls,
Camper, Palladium and more!
Editors’ Pick: Seychelles
Social Climber ($74.95)
most likely to save the world
Best Eco-Friendly Clothing
Website: www.superluckycat.com/about.html
Description: These one-of-a-kind pieces are eye-catching and bold. Super Lucky
Cat recycles old clothing to make something new by cutting apart rejected clothing
and sewing matching fabrics, colors and patterns together. Express your unique sense
of style while helping keep the world clean – who could ask for more?
Editors’ Pick: Tri-Color Scarf Blouse ($49.99)
style
what to wear
from day to night at the beach
ViX Brown Jewel Bathing Suit
$46
bluefly.com
Solid Crinkle
Tissue Tunic
jcrew.com
$39.99
To give you a jump
start on summer style,
we’ve compiled a few
items that can easily
take you from a day
at the beach (or on the
Quad) to an evening
out with friends.
Lux Knit Mesh
Strap Dress
urbanoutfitters.com
$58
Big Buddha
Kayla clutch
piperlime.com
$35.00
Virginia Johnson Giant Tote
shopbop.com
$175
Tory Burch Logo Flip Flops
bloomingdales.com
$45
Day
Keep things light during the day with a simple bathing
suit and sheer cover-up. Flip flops and an oversized
tote filled with your favorite magazines, a good book
and your iPod are all you need to look beach chic.
Dolce Vita
Adrianna sandal
shopdolcevita.com
$115
Night
If you don’t have tons of time between sipping
poolside margaritas and dinner, pack a lightweight
dress, clutch and a pair of sparkly sandals to throw
on over your bathing suit for a quick switch.
style
step by step
Although often made fun of for producing a “fake bake,” the concept of sunless tanner
is novel in the sense that it does for your skin something that can normally only be
achieved by spending hours in the sun. And let’s face it—in this day and age, we all
know that the damage UV-rays cause is not worth the naturally sunkissed skin. So this
summer, follow Style Editor Laura Cook’s advice about the best sunless tanners around
so that all you have to bring to the beach is your SPF.
Clarins Self Tanning
Instant Gel
This formula is unique, as it is a
gel as opposed to a lotion or mist.
It’s lightweight and non-oily, and
promised to work with your skin’s
natural melatonin to produce the
best looking tan for you. Our tester
liked that it was light and not messy at
all, but didn’t like that it takes almost
two hours to see results. All in all, she
approved, but it wasn’t her favorite.
Jergens Natural Glow Daily
Moisturizer
This daily moisturizer is a self-tanner
that builds gradually, and works best
if applied everyday for approximately
two weeks. Although it’s initially
frustrating not to see instant color, it’s
rewarding in the long run as it appears
the most natural, and is practically
guaranteed not to streak. It’ll give your
skin exactly what it advertises—a
natural glow, but not an extreme
bronze. Our tester liked it a lot.
L’Oreal Paris: Sublime Glow
Moisturizing MicroFine Mist
This sunless tanner is in the form
of an extremely fine mist, which
is sprayed on the skin from an
aerosol can. The application process
is practically fool proof, as it is
guaranteed to not streak and dries
in less than a minute. Even better, it
won’t turn your hands an orange tint
typically seen from applying a lotion
or cream, and shows up on the skin
almost immediately. Our tester gave
it a perfect ten.
St. Tropez Instant
Tanning System
Although a little bit more of an
involved process than either the
MicroFine Mist or Jergens lotion,
this procedure provides more of a
long-lasting treatment. The system
itself consists of three steps: a body
polisher to slough away dry skin
cells, a body moisturizer, and a tinted
self-tanner that does work instantly.
Although a little bit more expensive
than the other products, the included
polisher is a nice way to smooth and
soften skin, and guarantee an a very
even tan. Our tester approved.
style
stories with us, showing that art is not only a
reflection of personal style
Four of the nine senior ar t maj
or
s shared their personal
… but of personal experiences as well.
ar t imitating life
by whitney kimmel ’08
photographs
by liza2008
rueckert
the continental
| spring
51 ’08
style
the inspiration: personal history
andrew decristoforo
One of the first things Andrew mentioned was that he normally
doesn’t share a lot of information about his pieces. Their abstract
quality forces the viewer to work to understand their puzzling
meanings, giving each one a greater significance for the viewer. Each
of his pieces tells a story about his life and reflects his personality
and sense of self. Although he claimed, “I just wear normal clothing
… well, normal I think,” he and his art both subtly hide their true
depth. His intriguing pieces present the viewer with a unique
challenge before yielding their meaning, while his clothing modestly
reveals the accomplished artist and athlete behind his “normal”
appearance.
the inspiration: family heritage
style
aliya robbins
Although Aliya’s ceramic pieces are often glazed in the rich colors she
frequently chooses to wear, her works have a more personal meaning. She
grew up in a family who was very interested in Asian art and as a result, has
a deep appreciation for it as well. Her pieces reflect an Eastern influence
on ceramics and capture the balance between fine details and artisan
imperfection found in similar Japanese styles. Aliya’s pieces are elegant and
pensive like the culture she drew inspiration from. Although she has never
been to Asia, she hopes to go there someday. In the meantime, she has
indulged her interest with countless courses on Asian art and history while
her project pays homage to both Eastern culture and the shared heritage of
her family.
the inspiration: redefining perfection
denroy thomas
Denroy’s piece, entitled “Fallen,” is a series of clay sculptures offset in a
dark wooden frame that reflect on the nature of human imperfection.
His emotional pieces are meant to evoke deep feelings from his viewers
as they contemplate their own moments of failure and success. Denroy
stressed that imperfection is a natural part of life and his pieces are
about accepting that very human part within us all. When asked about
his style, he admitted he is a perfectionist who pays attention to details
because looking good is the first step to feeling good. He revealed that
this idea is the basis for his own sense of style, noting, “When I’m at
my worst, I tend to look my best.” His outward expression of perfection
(just look at his matching shoes and shirt!) is a way to manage the daily
highs and lows of life.
style
the inspiration: childhood memories
erin shapiro
Erin’s large-scale installation based landscape art draws from her childhood. Her works were inspired by the forts she built as a young girl and are made almost entirely
from natural products. She even had her neighbors collect leaves from her own backyard to cover her pieces, making the link between her art and childhood even
stronger. She explained to us, “All my work deals with childhood memories and the interaction the viewer has with the piece.” It is no wonder, then, that the materials
she chose reflect the deep personal bond she has with her work. Like her art, her clothing is youthful and nostalgic,
butcontinental
it is her art that |is the
true extension
the
spring
2008 55of her
personal style and unique life experiences. Her work is fun and expressive, not unlike the childhood that inspired it and the person she has become.
style
home sweet home
And the winners are … Eric Petscheck ’08 and Elena Wood ’10!
We polled the campus to find out who had the hottest Hamilton
cribs and these two proved they have style. Eric’s room looked
more like something you’d find in a modern hotel suite than
a Babbitt suite. The rich color scheme, soft lights and tasteful
decorations set his apart from other contenders. Turn the page to
see how Elena transformed her Bundy room.
style
room
ink your en
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o
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Do
ave be
should h s one of the
da
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Elena’s creative use of space
(and swing!) makes for a
great place to kick back and
relax or party with friends. We
loved her bright color scheme
and laid back vibe.
style
mellow yellow
Yellow is one of this season’s hottest colors. Set yourself
apart from the pastels and make a bold statement with
bright yellow prints and accent pieces. The bright color
sets the tone for spring and summer while giving you a
little extra glow to get you through the day. Whether
you’re a guy or girl, funky or preppy, this is a color that
can’t be missed.
closing time
four years,
millions of memories,
one final week to enjoy it all
photographs by liza rueckert ’08
style watch
Brightly colored dresses
and comfortable
heels are the perfect
combination for dancing
the night away at the
Senior Formal.
senior advice
“We come to this college,
make friends with people,
and come to fully
appreciate them ex post
facto. In the words of
Robin Williams in
‘Dead Poets Society’:
Carpe Diem.”
-Michael Vivieros ’08
“closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from...”
-semisonic
on the way to senior formal
Sunday, May 18
6: 15 PM
senior advice
“Internships are a good
way to understand what
you want to do, and more
importantly, what you
don’t want to do.”
-Ryan Murphy ’08
“closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
-semisonic
going to the wine tasting
Tuesday, May 20
1: 00 PM
relaxing before block party
Tuesday, May 20
5: 00 PM
style watch
Senior Week is full of fun activities, and it demands
versatile outfits that can take you from mimosa morning
to lawn games, happy hour to the Last Chance Dance.
Take a cue from seniors Ryan Murphy, Katie Plummer,
Manny Rosario, and Emily Tang and you will have great
looks for every Senior Week event.
“closing time - time for you to go ou
senior advice
lawn games
Thursday, May 22
10: 00 AM
“Don’t sacrifice your
social life for homework.
Go out with your friends
to the Pub and just
wake up an hour earlier
to do the reading.”
-Amanda Pooler ’08
ut, go out into the world.”
-semisonic
strawberries & champagne
Friday, May 23
11:30 AM
exposed
society
l
eo Streakface* showed up first for my draws people to the team is the idea of stepinterview in Opus with two members ping out of their comfort zones and the
of the Hamilton Streaking Team. He adrenaline rush they get from streaking.
was alone, and after introductions,
Many of us have seen the streakers bequickly said that he would be right fore. This year, they famously streaked at a
back. A few minutes later, he and hypnotist show and in Commons, but those
his counterpart Sans Clothing reap- have not been their only streaks this year, and
peared, completely naked, spare for luckily for all of their fans, they will streak
backpacks and ties. Grinning, they sat down again.
on the high stools and looked down at me,
“Accepted Students Day is usually a fair
their shocked, interviewer. However, their bet,” said Sans Clothing.
comfort with their own nudity helped me
Leo Streakface added, “It weeds out the
become comfortable as we began the inter- conservative kids…it’s great when you can
view about their passion—streaking.
really see the parents’ faces.” As he said this,
The Hamilton Streaking Team, despite several adults walked by and gave him and
its lack of official funding is, as Sans Cloth- his naked friend close looks. Some acted as
ing puts it, “a very Hamilton experience… though they had seen this before.
nowhere else that you go are you going to be
Even more interestingly, I was appresented with a streaking team.” They both proached after the interview by a 1978 alum
agreed that streaking is all about Hamilton who asked what I had been doing talking to
as a community, as opposed to “a few crazy “those two naked gentlemen.” I tentatively
people,” which is why the streakers wear replied that they were on the streaking team,
masks to hide their idenand I waited for the pretities (presumably, also to
sumably him to wonder
prevent getting identified We streak to win.
aloud what had hapby the campus po’).
pened to his alma mater.
When asked if it was
Instead, he said exuberever awkward being naked around other antly, “I used to streak here back in 1978!”
people, Sans Clothing responded, “AbsoThat is only one piece of proof that the
lutely not. It’s just like a naked club.” Leo liberation and adrenaline rush of streaking
Streakface continued, “Knowing someone has been popular on the Hamilton campus
naked is like knowing a different aspect of for a while, and hopefully, for years to come.
their personality.”
If you feel intimidated by the bare-bottomed
However, the streaking team has run streakers you see occasionally, don’t be—
into many obstacles. For example, as Leo join the team! Sans Clothing told me that
Streakface puts it, “[The team] got caught by the ideal streaker is someone with a “willingthe police—the real police. I think they got ness to step out of their comfort zone.” He
charged with public nudity.” But that does also added, “There is an open invitation to
not, and will not, stop these determined dis- everybody.”
robers.
As we said goodbye, he said, “We’re in it
“It’s very liberating, very freeing,” Leo for the win. We streak to win.”
Streakface told me. He explained that what
- alexandra borowitz ’11
*names have been changed for privacy
society
joan
at home with
president stewart opens up about life on the hill
and gives us a tour of 11 college hill road
11 College Hill
Built in 1910; home
to Hamilton’s presidents since 1955
Style: Queen Anne
Art: mostly classical
and 19th Century
Personal Style: President Stewart’s love
of all things French is
evident throughout
the home
society
O
n a recent sunny spring afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet
with Hamilton’s President Joan Hinde Stewart at her home at 11
College Hill Road. How many of us drive up the Hill each day and
stare at the house, a charming combination of a rustic cottage and
Queen Anne style? But let’s face it: no one really gets to see much
more than this routine view except for seniors who gather there for concentration
dinners and brunches. Here’s a private look inside the house.
In 1910, Hamilton’s Professor of Law, Frederick Davenport, built the house
to be used as his family’s summer home. The summer cottage provided the
Davenport family with over forty years of leisure and tranquility until 1955 when
the professor gave the house to President Robert McEwen as the new official
abode for the college’s President. For over half a century, the house’s inhabitants
have worked with the college to keep it impeccably maintained so that its proud
history can be kept alive.
My first surprise was a carriage house near the back entrance. And before
even introducing myself to President Stewart, I met the famous Elihu Vedder
statue “Fountain with Standing Boy.” Vedder originally created the fountain and its
statue for the Rogers Estate back when its patio was used for more stately purposes.
The statue is so beloved that Physical Plant encases it with plexi-glass to protect it
from the severe Clinton winters.
The interior aesthetic is even more impressive than the exterior. The sitting
room is spacious and welcoming. Its natural tones and classic appeal direct focus
to the many pieces of artwork that adorn the room. It is not commonly known
to the student body that Hamilton’s president has unlimited pemission to borrow
art from the Emerson Gallery to display in the house. President Stewart typically
decorates the house with classical and 19th century art, but ultimately she prefers
works that hold meaning for the college.
One such piece, her most cherished work of art in the house, rests above the
mantel: a portrait of Samuel Kirkland. Painted posthumously in 1873 by Augustus
Rockwell, the painting illustrates the lasting legacy
of Kirkland, who died in 1808. Atop two bookcases
stand several Romantic 19th century bronze statues
by Antoine Bayre. President Stewart also shares her
home with an elderly inhabitant: a fantastically grown
Christmas cactus that is over fifteen years old. It has
been in the house longer than President Stewart and
even has its own caretaker! Next to the cactus is an
elegant piano that was built in 1928. After many years
of both love and abuse, the college gave President
Stewart the piano because its keys could not take any
more long hours of practicing.
My favorite room in the house is the grand
kitchen. Done in a dark, warm mahogany and red, the room is invigorating with its
Provincial-style hanging pots and pans rack and expansive Viking stove. Best of all,
President Stewart has a plasma TV, so she can watch any of her favorite black and
white films while she dines on whatever specialty her culinary enthusiast husband
concocts for dinner. It is endearing to know that after a long day’s work, President
Stewart enjoys these smaller pleasures.
One thing is certain: President Stewart has many passions and luckily, they
incorporate into her multifaceted role at Hamilton. President Stewart states that
her two passions are higher education and 18th century French literature and
remarkably, she is able to integrate these great loves into her life on the Hill. President
Stewart’s class with Professor of English John O’Neill explores 18th century French
and English literature. President Stewart reflects, “The student response to the
coursework is so enriching. I am able to read through the lens of student familiarity,
which is one of the most gratifying aspects of my job.” 18th century French literature
is alluring to her because it was not a part of the era’s literary canon—its acclaim is
very recent. President Stewart is devoted to furthering her scholarly career through
raising the awareness of often overlooked, immensely gifted female French writers.
President Stewart recently announced that she will take a sabbatical next spring
to immerse herself in research of these writers, exploring the correspondences
between the female writers’ aging processes at a time when only 10% of the female
population lived past the age of sixty.
President Stewart’s love of all things French is evident in the small touches that
make up her home. A blue and white Provincial tile proudly displays her address
next to the back entryway. A vibrant painting evoking the Impressionist style, “The
Tuileries” by John Supplee ’69, hangs over the staircase and reinforces
“I truly love this house.
My greatest hope is
that it is comfortable
and welcoming for the
community which so
generously allows me
to live in it.”
-President Stewart
President Stewart’s love of all things
French is evident in the small touches that
make up her home.
President Stewart’s love of French spirit. Adjacent to the magnificent painting
is a 19th century French parasol President Stewart found at an antique store.
President Stewart has also purchased two tranquil Bruce Muirhead paintings,
which are done in a trompe l’oeil style. These paintings pull together the old and
new pieces of art throughout the house.
President Stewart’s taste also has remarkably snazzy touches. She is selfproclaimed “chandelier-obsessed” because they instantly jazz up any room. She
has installed two whimsical chandeliers, one in the foyer and the other in the
dining room. President Stewart’s collection of hand-painted eggs also reveals her
eccentric taste, and allows her to commemorate the countries she travels to. These
small yet personal touches blend perfectly with the house’s classic aesthetic.
President Stewart remarks, “I do not want anything too idiosyncratic in the
house because the privilege of living here is merely a mandate from the College
to be a good steward.” President Stewart continually emphasizes that her greatest
disappointment would be letting the College down if she made the house too
reflective of her personal tastes. She is committed to restoring the historical aspects,
like the portico that was rebuilt last summer, and the home’s antiques. She admits,
“I truly love this house. My greatest hope is that it is comfortable and welcoming
for the community which so generously allows me to live in it.”
- jenna fain ’09
society
girls just want to have fun
three seniors share their favorite sorority party themes
1
2
My favorite Alpha Theta Chi date party is
our annual Fire and Ice party. The Fire and
Ice party, which gets its name for having ice
luges and flaming shots, offers an occasion
for people to dress up in more formal attire,
as opposed to the usual weekend uniforms
of jeans and t-shirts. However, it also allows
for some creativity—one year one of my
friends dressed up as ice while her date was
fire. Switching up the scene from beirut to ice
luge also allows us a slight change of scenery,
which is desperately needed in the long winter
months at Hamilton.
-katie plummer ’08 Looking back on Pi Beta Chi’s date parties
of the past, I would have to say the most
memorable one is ‘Mai Tai’ of 2006, my
sophomore year. My first experience of PBX’s
annual event was nothing short of remarkable.
The premise behind the party is to have a
friend pick your date and bring you one of his
ties to wear that night. When he shows up at
the party he announces, “that’s my tie!” The
party involves fun games and an overall good
time!
-jenna lally ’08
3
Kappa Sigma Alpha’s Rave was by far my favorite party of the year. The mix of techno and
popular favorites kept everyone dancing the
entire night. Whether you wanted to relive
your days abroad by indulging in the Eurotrash vibe or a typical Hamilton night in ELS’s
Basement—the party offered something for
everyone. And of course, the Rave wouldn’t
have been complete without strobe lights,
glow sticks, smarties, and jello shots.
-whitney kimmel ’08
people who like to do fun things
If you are wearing a bandana on your arm you
are a human, and if you are wearing one on your
head you are a zombie. Most Hamilton students
are aware of this by now. Humans vs. Zombies is a
fairly new game at Hamilton College brought here
by the founder of the People Who Like To Do Fun
Things Club, Andrew Boddorf (also known as the
Commander in Chief of Fun). Boddorf says he created the club this semester to “get people out and
about.”
People Who Like To Do Fun Things currently has 30-40 members and is a network of people
who like to (who’d have guessed?) play games such
as Humans vs. Zombies. Since the club is new, Humans vs. Zombies has been their biggest project,
but they have many ideas including an all-campus
snow ball fight, a water balloon fight, a game of
capture the flag, and a game of Assassins. Boddorf
plans to keep building the club up.
The club was founded after the success of the
first Humans vs. Zombies game. In this year’s round
there were 120 players, and the club now owns approximately 60 Nerf guns. Players who don’t have
Nerf guns, can use rolled up socks. Players register
on the game’s website HvZhamilton.com and one
player is assigned the role of original zombie. So far, there have been no broken bones or significant injuries. However, one human did lock himself in a closet for two hours and politely told campus safety not
to open the door while the zombies set up their sleeping bags outside.
Next year Boddorf wants to try and use Humans vs. Zombies to raise money for charity. He
hopes to have Zombies sponsored for the number of humans they kill, similar to fundraising run/walks.
It is hard not to notice the presence of Humans vs. Zombies on campus, and it is likely that we can expect
more interesting and exhilarating activities from the People Who Like To Do Fun Things.
- sarah goodell ’11
travel
an
unexpected
life
living in senegal,
junior eric thomas reflects
on the transformative
experience of studying
abroad
I
had no idea. Nobody on this trip did, and I asked. The fact is, not
one person out of a group of 22 really knew what they were getting
into when they came to Senegal, West Africa to study abroad with the
School for International Training.
Oh sure, we’d all read the handbooks and leafed through the glossy
brochures in our respective study abroad offices. Some of us, bored at
home with a long break before the February start date, had even gone to
SIT’s website and looked at pictures from past years.
But those smiling faces in front of natural wonders and with cute
African children don’t really do justice to the experience. Three days ago,
I was singing “Shout” by Otis Day with my classmates in a tiny village
west of Thiès because the people there wanted to hear American music.
Two weeks ago, I was working in a bronze forge with fourteen members
of the same extended family. Six weeks ago, I was in the mountains near
Kedougou, on the borders of Mali and Guinea learning a language spoken in only a handful of villages.
And two months ago, I was getting off a plane from Paris, alone
staring into a sea of faces behind a barricade; hustlers and mothers with
their children, cabbies and businessmen, musicians and imams, all pushing into the sweltering night. When I think back, two and a half months
feels like two and a half years, and even doing laundry on the roof beside
the sheep pen has become routine.
I have a friend who told me that going to the “developing world” with
SIT would totally change my life. She was in Nicaragua last year, doing
the same thing, and came back dying to tell me what Senegal would be
like. I am sure we all know people like this (in fact, I fear I am becoming
one). The people that come back from abroad and can’t wait to tell you
all about it, and how they grew as a person and learned so much about all
these other “beautiful people.” They are our friends and classmates, but
hearing (or reading) about their experiences can get tedious.
But they are right: it is impossible to study abroad anywhere and
not have the experience change you. You can study almost any discipline, and you can travel to every continent, but you will come back
thinking differently.
continued on page 83
travel
“It is impossible to study abroad anywhere
and not have the experience change you.
You can study almost any discipline, and
you can travel to every continent, but you
will come back thinking differently.”
travel
“The teranga is everywhere. This
is the Senegalese word for
hospitality, and you won’t be able
to avoid making friends.”
continued from page 79
If you come to West Africa, you will be frustrated by some of what
you see. It won’t ever feel normal or comfortable to throw plastic bags
into the street instead of the garbage. The hustlers at Sandaga Market
won’t ever stop hassling you, no matter how proficient you become in
Wolof or French. And if you are a girl, you won’t ever be able to walk
with your head uncovered into a mosque, or convince any number or
Senegalese men that you don’t actually need a husband.
But you will be moved by the hospitality of the people here. You
will drink gallons of Atayah, tea that came to the region with Arab traders
centuries ago, along with Islam and certain salutations.
You will dance, and listen to Djembes and Koras, and probably understand better how Caribbean rhythms and the Caribbean in general
are forever linked to West Africa through the dark past of the slave trade.
You will listen to a lot of Youssou N’Dour.
You will play with the most adorable children in places where cars
can’t reach, and talk to village elders that can remember not one, but two
world wars, and the days when citizens of Senegal’s four communes were
French citizens.
The teranga is everywhere. This is the Senegalese word for hospitality, and you won’t be able to avoid making friends. In villages where the
people bathe in the Gambia River and sleep in mud huts, they will share
everything they have with you. And you will share everything with your
classmates.
Programs like SIT’s in Senegal pull students from places as different as Western Washington and Hampshire, Northeastern and of course,
Hamilton. These students make lasting friends, not just with people here,
but with each other. And they ought to because they have a lot in common…none of them knew what they were getting into.
And you won’t either, not after listening to your annoying study
abroad friends, or reading this article. But think about it anyway. Go
abroad. Go explore.
travel
deutschland
with drew
alumnus drew lafiandra misses
hamilton. badly. from a bar in the land
of beer and leather, he penned this
love note to the student body.
m
y dear Jamiltonians and Hamiltoes.
You probably don’t notice it on your
walk down Martin’s Way, or while
you shotgun UCs in your South quad
(Oh? You live in South? That’s so
cool!). But this guy here—he kind of
misses you.
Last year I left our sacred plains of Academia and came to the
Fatherland a.k.a. Germany; Deutschland; Dutchington; the Land
of Beer and Leather—whatever jiggles your pudding. I received a
Fulbright grant to teach English in German high schools, improve my
own language skills, and, unbeknownst to my students, frolic around
Bavaria in leather duds tasting local brews from modest, liter-sized
sample glasses.
Just like on the Hill, you fall into a schedule and I’ll be jiggered
if I can fall out of it. I wake up earlier than a milkman (that’s right, a
milkman) and I actually have to get ready in the morning. I actually
shower, groom, eat breakfast, pack my briefcase (thank you Salvo) and
leave the apartment when it is still dark out. At what point did the era of
Bacchalian Tuesdays abandon this poor twenty-four-year-old German
major?
I know, I know. You’re saying, oh bananas! That’s how it is outside
of this resort on the Hill? Well, yes and no. Though your post-college
experience may differ from mine, I work four days a week with Fridays
off and have a grueling three-hour work day. On long weekends, I travel
as far as my paychecks take me, which is usually to the Turkish single’s
night on the first floor of my apartment building. But sometimes, I
take the hour-long train ride to visit classmate Andy Mention ’07 in
Munich. There is this great deal in Germany: when traveling in only
one Bundesland (e.g. Bavaria, a state), you can buy a pass for only €27
(approx. $4582 American), and up to five people can travel with it for
the whole day. The catch, of course, is finding four Germans to split the
ticket. Those of you who have spent any time in this wonderful country
will note that the natives are great people. They lead the modern world
not only in low greenhouse emissions, but also in being some of the
weirdest, most awkward people to walk the earth. The fact that the
German language has no word for ‘awkward’ alone makes conversing
a relatively hilarious endeavor. Anyhoo, my best experience whilst
“training” around was splitting the ticket with four blond fillies that
were studying—you guessed it, English. I was like, holler?
So after all of this, it doesn’t sound like I miss you all that much.
Well, there my dear friends, you are wrong. Being able to find some
broham at four o’clock Monday morning and drinking a celebratory
I-just-finished-my-Anthro-final bottle of whiskey will never be matched
here. Dressing up as Severus Snape to frighten little children and adults
just isn’t appreciated here. Grinding with biddies at the ELS Rocky
Horror party won’t happen anyplace other than Hamilton—trust me
on that one. Hamilton holds a painfully permanent place in my heart.
I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night thinking that I have
once again crashed on the sofa in the Fireplace Lounge, but wake up to
realize that I am actually wearing clothes, negating the possibility of the
former scenario. I then go to the Hamilton website and I see what y’alls
are up to. Shout outs to Greg and Magda: Watson fellows I presume?
Also, to the Curling team: Respect.
So the next time you whip out your key to shotgun some brewdogs
or beerhammers or whatever the devil you kids call them nowadays,
remember that somewhere in Germany there is a kid who is missing
the hell out of it. In the meantime, there are four blond German women
trying to get into my apartment. Toodles.
travel
incredible india
back on the hill after a semester in india, matt arnold
sat down with travel editor melissa kong to answer all of
her questions about life in this remarkable country.
Melissa Kong: Describe a typical day for you in India.
Matt Arnold: It’s tough to say, because we never stayed in one place.
My study abroad group traveled all over Northern India. For the first half
of the program, we took classes at a hill station in the Himalayas called
Mussoorie, where we had four hours of Hindi class every day and then
evening lectures were given by Professor Lisa Trivedi on ethnography
and the history of India. For the second half, I stayed with a homestay
family for a month in the city of Jaipur, in the desert state of Rajasthan.
There, we had Hindi class every other day for about three hours. We also
had lectures from various guest speakers for about three hours a day at the
University of Rajasthan. Living with my homestay family was probably
one of my favorite parts of the trip, because I had a lot of free time to
spend with my homestay sisters. Sometimes, I would just go out and
purposefully get lost; I really learned a lot about the city that way.
MK: What was your best moment while you were abroad?
MA: In the middle of the trip, I had a four day break where two of my
friends and I took a train to a city called Jodhpur. We were just exploring
the city one day and accidentally got lost. That’s when we met a family
that kept asking us to come inside their home. We were skeptical at first
because that doesn’t really happen in America, but I realized that they
just wanted to meet us and share their home. They took us up to the
roof of their house and told us incredible stories about the city. That
moment, that view, was one of the most memorable parts of the trip
for me. It was the moment when I realized how incredibly open and
friendly the people of India were. I ended up making really great friends
this way throughout my trip.
MK: Would you change anything about the trip if you could?
MA: I wish there was less structure in the program and more time
to either explore or be with my homestay family. Time spent in the
classroom was invaluable, but I learned the most on the trip when I had
the time to just wander.
MK: Do you think you changed at all during your time in India?
MA: While I was there, I winded up getting really attached to the
country, and by extension, I got really attached to the idea of traveling.
My abroad experience was thrilling—I was constantly put in situations
where I had to improvise, and those are invaluable growing experiences.
I was very much a homebody before I left, but now I have a strong urge
to travel and see the world.
MK: What was your transition like when you came back to Hamilton?
Do you feel differently about life on the Hill?
MA: I experienced really intense culture shock. It was interesting
because I didn’t have that culture shock when I went back to my home
in Syracuse for a month before I came back to Hamilton in January. It’s
hard to describe, but as you can imagine, Hamilton and India are pretty
much as different as cultures get.
MK: Tell me a bit about the culture in India.
MA: The culture is a lot more community-based, and their religions play
a much bigger role in their lives. It is hard for me to imagine growing up
in that culture and not thinking about how religion plays into everyday
decisions. The city of Varanasi, for instance, was an amazing example of
the close tie between religion and lifestyle. There
continued on page 91
travel
“Be in the moment—take your experience day by day.
If you do, you will learn invaluable lessons.”
travel
“I was very much a homebody before I left,
but
now I have a strong urge to travel and see the world.”
travel
is a certain sense of peace and empathy that exists among and between
the people of India. In Hindi, it is common to call a stranger “brother”
or “sister.” Everyone is involved in their community. Despite general
global perceptions, society in India—particularly in large cities—is
influenced by both class and caste. Though the caste system generally
determines occupation, class structures are still important.
MK: What advice would you give to another Hamilton student
preparing to study abroad in India?
MA: Be respectful of the other culture, and constantly remind yourself
that you are a guest of their country. Don’t impose your own cultural
ideas or expectations on others. One general rule that I followed kept
me out of trouble during my time in India: When situations get really
intense, just smile through it and dispel any tension that may arise with
locals. You must be forgiving and just smile through things.
MK: What kind of student do you think would get a lot of value out of
studying abroad in India?
MA: Someone who has had very little experience traveling and
exploring new cultures would get the most out of it. You should
definitely be open-minded. Get used to the idea of being comfortable
with being uncomfortable. Be vigilant about not having the things you
might take for granted back home, like constant access to sanitary water.
Finally, try not to think about home too much. Be in the moment—take
your experience day by day. If you do, you will learn so many invaluable
lessons.
una vita
bella
allison gaston-enholm
shares her favorite things
about studying in padova,
showcasing the best that
italian life has to offer.
photographs by jessica leibowitz
travel
family
The highlight of my study abroad experience has
been living with my Italian family. My homestay
brothers and I play basketball, sword fight, and
watch the Simpsons. They especially like borrowing
my iPod and listening to American music. (Their
favorites include ACDC and Green Day).
travel
gondola rides
Padova is right outside of Venice, making it the
perfect place for day trips. I generally try not to be a
tourist, but I did take a gondola ride when another
Hamilton student came to visit. We were sung to
and everything!
the food
I can’t talk about Italy without mentioning the
fabulous food. Italian foods are prepared daily
with fresh ingredients. I rarely enjoy something as
decadent as this dessert.
the architecture
This is the ceiling inside the Basilica San Vitale in
Ravenna. I visited it during one of the first weekends
here, and it has remained my favorite church ever
since.
travel
blood oranges
Every day, huge markets are set up in the piazzas.
My favorite stands are the fruit vendors. Blood
oranges are very popular in Italy; they are ‘dolce’
(sweet) and, true to their name, stain your hands
bright red.
carnevale
‘Carnevale’ is a huge festival that takes place in
Venice. Everyone dresses in costumes and masks to
celebrate. School is canceled for days and all of the
little kids dress up, littering the streets and piazzas
with confetti.
pratto della valle
This is the ‘Pratto della Valle.’ Once a Roman
amphitheater, the “Prato” is now a place where
people gather to skate, stroll, or chat. It continues
to play a central role in everyday life in Padova. I go
here to picnic and sunbathe…uh, I mean, study in
the afternoon.
travel
Stop #8: Brussels
See: Grand Place – This is the central
market square in Brussels, surrounded
by gorgeous buildings such as the town
hall and Hôtel de Ville.
Stay: 2G04 Quality Hostel – The name
doesn’t lie. This hostel is among the best
in Brussels, centrally located in case you
want to crawl back in bed after a long
night of pub crawling.
Eat: Taverne du Passage – Great
Belgian food. Be ironic and try the ‘filet
americain’ and frites.
Stop #9: Paris
See: Finally, you’ve reached
your last stop on your very
own Eurotrip. Yes, the Eiffel
Tower is a must. You also have
to see both the Cathédrale
de Notre-Dame de Paris, as
well as the Musée du Louvre
—one of the best museums
in the world.
Stay: St. Christopher’s – A
brand new hostel.
Eat: Oh, the joy of Parisian
food. Don’t leave Paris without a stop at
Domaine de Lintillac. This intimate Parisian
bistro is a great place for taste testing various
types of foie gras and pates.
Stop #7: Amsterdam
See: Don’t lie to yourself,
you will at some point wind
up in the Red Light District.
It’s a fascinating place to
people watch and explore a
completely different side of
Europe.
Stay: Flying Pig Downtown
Hostel – this place has a sort of
grungy charm, complete with
a pool table, DJs blasting music, and a
basement called the ‘Happy Room’.
Eat: Have a quick bite at Maoz for a
falafel and mingle with Dutch students—
it’s a popular hangout for the college
crowd. Then head to Paradiso, a music
club where some of the most famous
artists have performed, such as David
Bowie and The Rolling Stones.
Stop #1: Barcelona
See: Las Ramblas – One of Spain’s most
popular areas, Las Ramblas is filled
with fresh flower and food stands, small
shops, and street performances by
actors and mimes.
Stay: Hostal Lausanne – Pretty rooms,
high ceilings, and a central location.
Eat: Cervecería Catalana – Delicious
tapas and flautas (skinny sandwiches).
the bottom line
Round-trip ticket from NYC to Paris during the summer: approximately $900
Global Eurail Pass: $779 (www.eurail.com)
30 nights in hostels @ approximately $35/night: $1,050
A strong backpack: $175
Money for food, souvenirs, museums, and going out: approx. $50/day: $1,500
Trip Total: $4,404
Stop #2: Florence
See: Galleria Degli Uffizi – Rumored
the greatest Renaissance art galler
world. Book a ticket in advance, es
during the summer months.
Stay: Ostello della Gioventù – A 17t
villa turned hostel, located in a lush
You are sure to meet a lot of fellow t
here.
Eat: Mario’s – A popular trattoria, kn
the delicious pasta dishes (surprise, s
d to be
ry in the
specially
centry
garden.
travelers
th
nown for
surprise).
travel
Stop #6: Munich
See: Dachau – This
was the first Nazi
concentration camp.
Though it may not be
the most fun part of
your trip, it is a huge
part of world history
and should be visited in
person.
Stay: Wombat’s – Weird
name, but it’s one of the
best hostels in Europe.
Backpackers often wind
up staying here longer than anticipated
because they enjoy it so much.
Eat: Hofbräuhaus – This may be a tourist
trap, but who cares. The enormous mugs
of beer are delicious, and they even have
food if you want to do something crazy,
like eat.
europe
on a
shoestring
Stop #5: Prague
See: Charles Bridge – the connection
between Old Town and New Town, it is
one of the most gorgeous sights in the
Czech Republic. Get there at sunrise,
because you can barely walk through
the mob of tourists when the weather is
nice.
Stay: Hostel Sokol – It was once a riverside
mansion. Enough said.
Eat: U Fleku – Triple threat: it’s a large pub,
restaurant, and micro-brewery. Features
include stunning architecture and great,
authentic Czech food.
Stop #4: Vienna
See: Donauinselfest – A popular, open-air
music festival that takes place annually
at the end of June. It is Europe’s largest
outdoor festival, with about 3 million
visitors each year. The best part? It’s
free.
Stay: Hostel Ruthensteiner – Run by
incredibly friendly owners, a handmade
wooden bar, and a lot of personality.
Eat: Schnitzelwirt Schmidt – What would
a trip to Vienna be without a Wiener
schnitzel?
Stop #3: Rome
See: – A trip to
Rome just isn’t
complete without
a visit here.
Stay:
Casa
di
Santa Francesca
Romano – a comfy
inn run by a local
church.
Pretty
rooms, and there
is even a waterfall.
Eat: San Crispano –
Forget real food- this is the best gelato
in town. Try the honey sorbet.
For years,
backpacking through
Europe has been
a rite of passage
into adulthood. But
Europe is enormous
and overwhelming—
just where exactly are
you supposed to go,
and how much freeflowing cash do you
need to have a good
time? Travel Editor
Melissa Kong gives
you a breakdown of
the places you must
see and the price tag
you should expect for
a month’s worth of
travel.
founder’s note
the continental
spring 2008
POWER IN POLITICS
UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL
hamilton students
MAKE their mark
on CAPITOL HILL
europe on a
shoestring
at home
with joan
BEHIND
CLOSED
DOORS:
EXPOSED!
SUMMER FESTIVALS
I
n the beginning, there
were just two Katies
exchanging emails on
different continents. I was in
DC and Katie Stinchfield ’07
was in Paris, and somehow we
managed to communicate all
our hopes and ideas for a new
campus life magazine that we
would call The Continental.
Starting a magazine is no easy task- a realization that became evident
to me, Stinch, and the staff as we traded free time, sleep and sanity to
produce the premiere issue of The Continental. With each subsequent
issue, we have worked out the kinks in the system and learned a lot
along the way about the role of campus media, and the challenges and
benefits of a diverse readership.
After spending countless hours working on the magazine, one
of the hardest things about running the magazine is hearing negative
feedback about The Continental. Every one-liner in Thumbs Up/
Thumbs Down, every issue of The Duel Colonial and The Hessian,
and every overheard comment used to drive me crazy. I couldn’t
understand how our fellow students could attack their peers’ work, and
have no regard for the people who had worked so hard to pull together
the magazine.
I can’t remember the exact moment when I realized that this
criticism was really much-needed feedback, but over the course of
the last two years I have learned to see it as such. Every comment now
brings us one step closer to understanding what readers want to see
THE SALARY
SCANDAL
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
in the magazine. Every satirical issue of The Duel Colonial shows us
where we pushed too many buttons, or where we fell short. Every bit of
feedback has influenced some aspect of the magazine’s development,
and for that, I am grateful.
Throughout this experience, our editorial board has learned a lot
about the Hamilton community. We’ve discovered that it is too easy
to rely on the stereotypes of “darksider” or “lightsider.” We’ve found
that students want to see as many groups as possible featured in the
magazine because they want their Hamilton experience to be captured
in the pages of student publications. We’ve learned that horses and
photo shoots aren’t a good mix. We learned to survive on advertising
dollars. We’ve figured out ways to please as many readers as possible,
without losing the uniqueness of the magazine. And in the process,
we’ve found a balance—offering everything from hard news stories to
advice on what to wear to a tailgate.
I could not be more proud of The Continental’s editorial board
and staff because they continually push themselves to outdo the last
issue. From our first issue to this 100-page issue, every one has worked
hard to improve the content and design of the magazine. Additionally,
this year we launched a great website—contmag.com—which allows
readers to comment and be more involved in the magazine.
My greatest accomplishment at Hamilton has been the magazine
that you hold in your hands. Although it is still in its infancy, I have high
hopes for the future of The Continental and look forward to seeing
how the magazine develops in the next few years.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Transcription

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