CULTURE MAG ED. V

C U LT U R E MAGAZINE PRESENTED BY

GRASPING ROOTS Edition V

Table

Of

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Mission Statement

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Editor’s Note

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[workaholic]

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Green Thumb

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Critiquing Professionalism

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Missing

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No Disrespect

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Tired, Uncertain Hopeful: Reflecting with Saphire Ruiz ‘22

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A Word with Roots

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13 15 16 Contents Pen yourself into a certain Rite, Right, Write

Contributors

Mission Statement Mission Statement Mission Statement Our missions is to highlight the vital components of the Black, Brown, and Asian communities of color across college campuses. These components are defined by the culturally-embedded perspective of our shared historical experiences, and includes a distinct artistic expression, nuanced academic pursuits, and culturallyguided intellectual engagements. As an outlet for news, knowledge, art and entertainment, this magazine seeks to empower these communities by supplying members with a reminder of the core cultural narratives that distinguish these individuals as unique and powerful.

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Editor’s Note Our magazine’s founders have left our campus with an incomparable treasure.

In the words of Culture’s previous editors, “Grasping Roots is Hamilton’s only publication created by students of color, for students of color.”

We are dedicated to providing a platform for the intellectual and artistic expression of Hamilton’s cultural agents.

This magazine stands above and beyond in highlighting the unique creativity and individuality of Hamilton’s often overlooked underrepresented student body.

It is my pleasure to present the fifth edition of Grasping Roots’ Culture Magazine.

Sincerely, JAHMALI MATTHEWS ‘22 GRASPING ROOTS’ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Green Thumb The flowers on my desk are dying, just like everyone said they would as they laughed at me for always killing my plants.

Sometimes I am obsessed with myself other times, I bite my nails until they bleed because I am too lazy to file them and accidentally scribble on my pillow case with no intent of washing it for at least four weeks.

At least I never forget to water my plants nurturing hope for the one leaf that is green singing softly to them and wondering why they still die.

Eva Hayes ‘24

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{workaholic} I realized this morning I forgot how to dream and shrugged off the covers of my bed and took a second I didn’t have to clear my head from that misty haze of the first night of sleep in a couple days it was 5:00AM and there was still work left on my laptop still on on my crooked desk where it spewed light in a whitish blue and a pretty smile from a girl I knew reminds me that I need to change my screensaver and it’s been a while now but I keep forgetting my dreams Julio Demb ‘23

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By Kathrine Kim ‘22

PROFESSIONALISM

IS

at it’s core, a suffocating and demanding performance. One has to follow hundreds of unsaid etiquette rules—provide a thank you to your interviewer for a better evaluation, nod your head to coworkers, even complete strangers, and always make sure you appear enthusiastic, or risk getting written off as an “intimidating” figure. Supervisors measure professionality by the amount of skills and responsibilities you juggle simultaneously, especially those that you might not even be responsible for or have never learned. Likewise, professional clothing and styles are just as stifling.

For starters, one need only look at how “professional” looks constrain movement of the body. There is little room in these looks that let the body feel relaxed. The stiff and fragile fabrics of blouses and blazers make it hard to navigate environments freely, since one wrong move could crease or stain them. The cuts of dress pants must be iron-pressed and tailored to fit the body, as if the point is for them to entrap the skin instead of making it breathe. This restriction of the body also translates to how one poses; to slouch, arch, or bend your body, especially in “professional”

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clothes, is considered improper and inappropriate. It almost feels like anything that even hints at the freedom of motion should be eradicated in the eyes of professionals.

Professional outfits also frequently prioritize skinny silhouettes, to the point where anyone who is not skinny is frequently excluded from wearing these looks.

One frequently hears how a professional outfit should be “streamlined”, that blazers and pants should be “sticking” to the body: in essence, professional clothes not only constrain bodily movements, but also do not even consider the existence of bodies and features that aren’t skinny and “streamlined.”

In addition, the ideal “professional” wardrobe looks alarmingly devoid of decoration. The concept of “less is more” dominates these looks, to the point where the tiniest piece of ornamentation feels like a risky action that could invite coworkers’ condescension, or worse, a supervisor’s disapproval. Nude eyelids and lip gloss dominate professional workspaces more than boldly pigmented eyeshadows and glitter lipstick. Elaborate costume jewelry is considered gaudy pieces for special occasions, while simple chains and rings are called tasteful and more suited to daily workspaces.

Monochromatic outfits are more accepted than an outfit that is multicolored and made of many patterns (note how even in popular media, sleazy characters usually wear plaid and striped suits, as if to indicate that patterned clothing is ‘inferior’ to that without).

Thus, the look of professionality is stylistically repetitive. The many button-downs, suitsets, and blouses look almost indistinguishable, with the same ideas that clothing should be tailored to the body, that one should look minimalistic, to the point of lackluster, when dressing as a professional.

Some may argue that this is untrue, that the definition of professional clothing is changing, as younger people are starting to wear baggy cotton pants and looser hoodies to professional workspaces. To this, I argue that this is a highly generalizing statement, as it truly depends on whether one’s supervisor is kind enough to these outfits in the workspace. Additionally, I would argue that such allowances happen to young people in workspaces because of their youth. Consider the older sales associates of designer boutiques and perfumeries. Consider the “sophisticated” looks of professional elders, and how they tend to wear clothing that is monochromatic, restraining, and tediously plain. While some exceptions may be made, the general sentiment of professionality is clear; it continues to value the same motionless, skinny, and simplistic silhouettes, especially when one grows older.

There is also, notably, a lack of culture in these professional looks. Clothing that indicates any cultural tradition is not considered professional wear; in fact, one would most likely be ridiculed, stared at, or patronized for wearing clothing that indicates their culture on a mundane work day. It does not feel coincidental that cultural clothing is often colorful, made of many fabrics and patterns, and comes in many different shapes that allow movement for the wearer to partake in events that celebrate their culture, like dances and games.

With all of this context in mind, it is not a stretch to say that the ideal professional look is a strict enforcement of whiteness. It constrains the movement of bodies and re-

peatedly emphasizes cultureless visuals, and thus targets people of color. They are told that clothing that shows off their culture and traditions are not professional, and should only be for celebratory office events, and even during these so-called inclusive events, they are often tokenized for wearing such outfits in a workspace. Even if they might wear “professional” clothes, they often get comments that they shouldn’t adopt comfortable body poses in these clothes (slouching, hunching, bending), as if the very concept of people of color being at ease in their bodies is an affront and threat to professionality. They must wear the same monochromatic and repetitive outfits, no matter how much they might want to incorporate some culture or decoration into said outfits, or risk their supervisors considering them unprofessional and unfit for their work positions.

So how to combat these notions? There is no reforming or eradicating the standards of a professional look: these looks are predominant in many workplaces and stem from harmful foundations that will always make them preserve some damaging ideal. To this writer, one should acknowledge these truths and then disregard the expectation that they can truly adopt a professional look. While it may seem pessimistic at first, coming to terms with both concepts feels somewhat liberating.

One can never look perfectly professional, so why waste time assimilating into those standards?

Let the body breathe through motions and posings; adopt maximalist and ornamental styles; mix different patterns and fabrics; embrace cultural clothing. It is a futile task to live up to the restrictive standards of professionality, and to live with that truth and turn your back on these standards may not be a direct solution, but a specific attitude to survive the exhausting expectation to uphold “professional looks.”

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No Disrespect You say that we aren’t that different.

How I wish that was true.

You and I are nothing alike.

Your schools looked like fancy cars, student parking lots, and big auditoriums.

Your school trips look like coach buses and hotel stays.

Your schools sound exactly what I hear on TV High School Musical Part 1, 2, and 3 It screams of the childhood that I’ll never see See, my school could not afford an entire building, so we shared the space with two others.

My school looked like metal detectors.

My greetings were quick pat-downs.

I didn’t even have an auditorium for graduation

I didn’t show up to school sometimes for extra work shifts.

If only schools gave awards for more than just perfect attendance.

Maybe if Mom just came to the parents-teachers conference.

Then, maybe we’d be the same.

See, my teachers were not prepared to hear the life I lived.

My schools were not prepared for people like me, much less so for BIPOC communities.

What’s funny is that I never dreamed about coming to college.

I thought it’d be my younger sister to go first.

But, I was begged by my mom with cries only mothers know.

So, I’m here, I’m here worried about home and if it’ll be there.

Justin Chan ‘22

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Missing i feel like i’ve been missing for 21 years or maybe latent is a better term; existing but not yet developed present but not actualized unconscious but potentially able to achieve expression inactive quiet motionless it’s not quite accurate to say that i’m alive or that i am seeing or that i am hearing or that i am smelling and touching and sensing sometimes i am not even breathing the air caught within the webs of everything my body fears who knew that something could be existing but not developed present but not actualized unconscious and inactive and quiet and yet still choke hoping the person who’s watching will save them the person who’s watching who’s in them because it’s not quite accurate to say that i am seeing or that i am hearing or that i am smelling and touching and sensing in fact i am in some empty abyss watching myself act with motion while i am emotionless watching myself see and hear and smell and touch except i am never seeing or hearing or smelling or touching

what the hell is going on when do i return when do i develop when am i actualized when am i conscious when will i stop feeling so lonely and empty and restless Saphire Ruiz ‘22

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Ti re d , Un c e r t a i n , Hopf u l :

R e f l e c t i n g w it h S ap h i re Ru i z’ 2 2 The last time I interviewed Saphire Ruiz was over zoom in Spring 2021, and were both remote for the semester. For someone whose name I had seen in emails and other publications, I don’t think I ever knew Saphire Ruiz the person until I interviewed them in person. Saphire Ruiz is a senior who uses they/them pronouns and is part of the final cohort of the Posse Boston at Hamilton College. Saphire’s timeline throughout Hamilton has been impressive by all means. They are the former president of the student body and the former co-chair of the Black and Latinx Student Union and the Feminist of Colors Collective.

Also, they have been involved with the Women’s Center (now the Center for Intersectional Feminism) and fighting against Posse Boston’s removal. Currently, they are an “independent actor trying to figure out what [they] are going to do with their life” without exhausting themself any When I asked Saphire how they felt as just “Saphire Ruiz” and no longer “SA President Saphire Ruiz,” there was a shift in the room. “Saphire Ruiz” is an identity they told me they could never return to, having made enough of a name amongst the student body that they will always be associated with the Student Assembly as well as the Black Lives Matter work the college used to portray themselves as a diverse body. The amount of visibility Saphire received far exceeded what they had expected. I can understand how this came to be. Diversity and inclusion have slowly but surely become marketing tools used by institutions and businesses to tout their “fair” business practices while hiding the true, deeply-ingrained issues underneath. Before Saphire became president, I honestly can’t say I had an idea of who Saphire was, and perhaps that opportunity has been lost. In higher education, marginalized groups are either hyper-visible and tokenized, or invisible and ignored. Being in the spotlight has been a traumatic experience for Saphire. Marginalized groups are constantly cast in the spotlight for going against institutional agendas. Through the general body, institutions can punish us and wear us down until we feel just as Saphire does: traumatized, used, and exhausted.

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Even by the time of our interview, almost three weeks after their resignation, Saphire continues to be pulled into Student Assembly affairs. Publications report on SA, and as a former president, Saphire offers their insights. They could refuse interviews, but that wouldn’t mean they would be out of the spotlight. “Saphire Ruiz” will continue to be “former SA president Saphire Ruiz” in their final year. Given the publicity they have experienced, there is no option out of the spotlight for Saphire. Unsurprisingly, in some publications, Saphire believes information about them and their role while on SA have been grossly misrepresented.

While serving as SA President, Saphire experienced severely limited freedom to speak about issues they noticed with fear of worsening already tense relationships with the administration. SA, especially reading through the minutes, has become a point of gossip as opposed to an organization supporting students and their demands. In fact, Saphire challenged even my own perceptions of what SA is supposed to represent: SA has its roots in the Kirkland Assembly, which served as a way for students and faculty to express grievances to the college. SA was not intended to act as a “bridge” between students and the administration.

Saphire explains,

“The idea of student governments came directly out of student activism and created explicitly for advocating for students. The institution has done a great job of convincing everyone that we are here to be a bridge and so individual students can talk to us about general needs of the student body, we can pretend to listen, pretend to do something about it, and say ‘well we met with your student representatives, so we’re doing something about it”.

However, the administration’s gradual control over the student assembly has not only been their doing. Over time, students have also contributed to the decline of the SA’s power. As Saphire described how previous presidents explained their interactions with administration often ended with dismissal, I realized how apathy reproduces itself. So what if the original intention was to advocate for us? What can we do about it now?

Perhaps there is no answer to such questions, and SA is too weak now to ever get a hint of its original purpose.

But this is not a hopeless situation. Listening to Saphire, I couldn’t help but also tell them about how they had sparked my own reflection about the trauma Hamilton and its administration has caused me as a POC student.

To our Culture magazine readers who may feel pessimistic by the end of this piece, I want to leave you with advice that Saphire has imparted during our interview: “I think that one of the only ways that hope can be sus-

tained is through solidarity of community… To create solidarity and community, you have to be dedicated to each other in ways that are probably really scary because we are taught not to be dedicated to each other like that.

We are taught to be very individualistic, but you have to love each other and care for each other and hold each other and yourself accountable You have to interrogate not just your biases but why do you think the way you think? Why do you behave the way you behave? How is your behavior impacting others? How do you handle conflict?

Do you cut off people immediately? Do you go through a transformative justice process? Understanding love is necessary to understanding community and solidarity, which are necessary to have hope.

Even by the time of our interview, almost three weeks after their resignation, Saphire continues to be pulled into Student Assembly affairs. Publications report on SA, and as a former president, Saphire offers their insights. They could refuse interviews, but that wouldn’t mean they would be out of the spotlight. “Saphire Ruiz” will continue to be “former SA president Saphire Ruiz” in their final year.. Given the publicity they have experienced, there is no option out of the spotlight for Saphire. Unsurprisingly, in some publications, Saphire believes information about them and their role while on SA have been grossly misrepresented.

While serving as SA President, Saphire experienced severely limited freedom to speak about issues they noticed with fear of worsening already tense relationships with the administration. SA, especially reading through the minutes, has become a point of gossip as opposed to an organization supporting students and their demands.

Written by Shania Kuo ‘23

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A WORD WITH ROOTS WRITTEN BY IRENA CHEN ‘25 There is, however, still structure and consistency in their work. They have an E-board that includes two head co-chairs and four teams: their secretary team, academic support team, social media team, and treasury team. ROOTS frequently organizes workshops and study sessions for its members. Some of their past workshops include discussing topics such as destigmatizing tutoring, class registration guidance, organization tips for academic success, and mental health support. Importantly, ROOTS values

day-to-day mental health of their members, starting every meeting with guided meditation to diminish the negative influence of life stressors that their members struggle with.

When I first walked into the interview with ROOTS co-chairs, Joel Adade ‘22 and Frank Valoy ‘23, I knew very little about what ROOTS represented and contributed to campus. All I knew was that ROOTS is a student organization aimed to support students of color in STEM. My immediate thought went to specific workshops and resources it could provide these students. Surely, this is a part of what ROOTS does, but as I learned more about them throughout the interview, I began to form a deeper understanding of the critical core mission of ROOTS and its valuable contributions to the Hamilton community.

ROOTS Hamilton’s Society for Students of Color in STEM aims to create a community for underrepresented minorities interested in STEM. As a student organization, ROOTS provides individual level support for each of their members. As Joel Adade puts it, “When I think of the impact ROOTS has, I think I’m more focused on the individual student level. With the amount of work that goes into building an org from literally scratch into what it is today, all of it is worth it because of the community that we built and the impact that it has on students.”

Fundamentally, ROOTS’ mission consists of fostering valuable networks for their members, offering them support and opportunities. Since ROOTS aims to impact its members on an individual level, their work is constantly evolving based on the needs of their members at the given moment.

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ROOTS works to connect students with valuable off-campus connections. The club’s Level Up series brought speakers from outside of Hamilton, including alumni, to speak on their experiences working in STEM in the real world. Individuals invited were from a variety of STEM disciplines, including those in their medical residency and members of the class of 2020 speaking on their experiences starting work during the pandemic.

The series served a few purposes: to give insight into what it is like working in STEM after college, to provide some practical information like how to apply to medical and graduate schools, to make ROOTS members aware of different options working in STEM, and most importantly, to encourage members to follow their passions through learning about some of the fascinating work others are doing. Moreover, Joel mentions being extremely proud of sending members to the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), a four day conference that brings together a community of underrepresented minorities in STEM to present their research, enhance professional development skills, and network. This year, ROOTS has sent 25 students to ABRCMS, 7 of whom have presented the research they’ve worked on over the summer. Of these 7 members, Joel Adade ‘22, Nate Keyes ‘22, and Frank Valoy ‘23 have received awards and national recognition for their research.

Some have the misconception that ROOTS is doing what the QSR and the career center are doing. In reality, ROOTS often relays information from the career center to its members. As for the QSR, the study sessions ROOTS hosts are targeted at creating a long-term community of STEM support for marginalized students; this goal differs from the service-based assistance of the QSR. ROOTS has no interest in doing what is already being done. While it is important to recognize the specific resources ROOTS provides its members, these opportunities are catered to the needs of the members at the given time. The foundation of ROOTS’ work is creating a community for students of color in STEM. ROOTS’ workshops and study sessions reinforce a sense of community and build confidence within each member.

When speaking on the impact of ROOTS, Frank Valoy mentions a recurring theme he has heard from members: “a lot of them [say] ROOTS feels like a family.” Coming from ROOTS members themselves, these comments speak volumes on the success ROOTS has had on achieving their mission. Their members have created a space that even welcomes students who aren’t dedicated to STEM to attend their meetings, simply to enjoy the unique energy of ROOTS. Despite being a club in its second full year, head co-chair Joel Adade already has a unique perspective on where he sees ROOTS in the future. Joel explains, “I don’t want ROOTS to be one thing or one way. I don’t want to think that every year ROOTS needs to function the same way it functioned when we started.” ROOTS is really for the students. With a whole new group of students every four years, ROOTS is expected to adapt and support the students who are here at that time. Ultimately, though, Joel mentions, “you don’t want Hamilton to be in a place where you need ROOTS.” The ideal future for ROOTS is a Hamilton without it. When Hamilton’s students of color in STEM no longer feel the need for ROOTS, that is when the organization has achieved its ultimate purpose.

When asked how we can best support their organization, Frank and Joel invite the larger Hamilton community to acknowledge ROOTS and encourage those who would benefit from their support to attend their meetings. Faculty and administration, please be an advocate for ROOTS. If there are any resources or conferences that would be beneficial for its members, please share it with the organization. Finally, ROOTS wants to highlight to the Hamilton community not only the current E-board members but also the founding members.

Head Co-Chairs: Kaela Makins ‘21, Joel Adade ‘22, Frank Valoy ‘23.

The Secretary Team: Yaa Konama Pokuaa '21, Pablo Reina-Gonzalez '22, Ebu Ojogwu '23, Crystal Lin '23, Paige McKenzie '25.

The Social Media Team: Urbana Anam '21, Brenda Torres '22, Pyu Pyu Win '24, Eliza Gonzalez '24, Taliyah James '24. The Treasury Team: Nate Keyes '22, Tam Ha '24, Sarah John '24, Anusha Karki '24.

The Academic Support Team: Donna Le '21, Adam Valencia '22, Dianne-Lee Ferguson '22, Josh Zeledon '23, Crystal Lin '22, Jorge Perez-Vazquez '24.

For those who want to be involved in ROOTS, stop by their weekly meeting on Wednesdays 7-8pm at SCCT 2048 or follow their instagram @roots_stem.

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Pen Yourself into a Certian Rite, Know your rites Know your rights Know youre right in this fight

Know your rites Know your rights Know you’re right in this fight What is truth if not expressed In a frame that seeks to oppress Of course the line of regress the line of regrets Is linked to progress When all weve faced are obstacles

Know your rites Know your rights Know youre right in this fight Lets address the dressing of an issue that is not our own Lets accept the fact that people have not grown To accept me To accept us To accept we United never felt so distant When peace and and communion feels so nonexistent And so is inconsistent What about me What About me Can we Seem to not agree On Know your rites Know your rights Know you’re right in this fight 13

My history my people tainted In which ways can a dialectic for us be painted Issues in double consciousness cant account for those that dont even think of me Think of me When is there ever time Know your rites Know your rights Know you’re right in this fight I pray for days when time doesnt feel suffocating Where time feels freeing I pray for days where feeling safe is a constant Not an option I pray for days where voices will be listened to Voices that matter I pray for days where we can be All that we are meant for Until then Know your rites

Know your rights

Know you’re right in this fight Josten Perez ‘22

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C o n t r i b u t o r s Julio Demb ‘23

Emily Fianco ‘23

Ashley García ‘22

Brianna Padilla ‘25

Skyla Patterson ‘23

Liam Garcia-Quish ‘22

Josten Perez ‘22

Christa Ingabire ‘25

Saphire Ruiz ‘22

Eva Hayes ‘24

Taliyah James ‘24 Mckela Kanu ‘22 Jason Le ‘23

Anokhi Manchanda ‘22

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Toscana Ogihara ‘22

Isis Riviere ‘25

Emnet Sisay ‘22

Dawun Smith ‘22

Maria Elizabeth Chipres Urueta ‘25 Quincy Williams ‘23

Editor-in-Chief Jahmali Matthews ‘22

Photographers Christie Lam ‘25 Tashi Lhamu ‘22 Chidera Uwakwe ‘24

Photo Editors Justin Chan ‘22 Malik Irish ‘22

Layout

John Fecunda ‘23 Nathalie Martinez ‘23

Writers

Irena Chen ‘25 Shania Kuo ‘23 Kathrine Kim ‘22

Creative Team

Esther Akinpelu ‘22 Kahleel Bernard ‘22 Olivia James ‘23 Katlynn Leon ‘25 Nandini Subramaniam ‘22

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SEE YOU NEXT SEMESTER !