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TheHerald By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges
VOLUME CXXXI ISSUE 1
Geneva, NY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
Classes of 2011 Add Excellence In Record Numbers
Why Go Greek? By ADAM MALITZ ‘09
HWS Communications The largest number of first-year students in 22 years will pull up, unpack and establish a new home on Friday at the Hobart and William Smith campus. “The Colleges are excited to welcome incoming classes that will continue to add to the academic and extracurricular excellence of Hobart and William Smith,” said President Mark D. Gearan of the 605 students, who hail from 33 states and six countries. One third of the incoming class enrolled early decision—the highest rate in HWS history. Among them are captains of athletic teams, presidents and founders of school clubs, recipients of Eagle and Silver Scout Awards and editors of major school publications, including yearbooks, newspapers and literary magazines. These new students have demonstrated records of academic achievement, with nearly one-third receiving merit awards, and nearly one-third as members of the National Honor Society. Committed to maintaining the 11:1 student to faculty ratio, the Colleges will also welcome 30 new faculty members, specializing in academic areas ranging from environmental studies and political science to English and psychology. The new professors will bolster an already impressive lineup of academic professionals making Hobart and William Smith their home. In order to accommodate the 2,000 students returning to campus in the coming days, the Colleges have renovated two new residence halls on campus: Carr-McGuire House and the Abbe Center for Jewish Life, which will house nearly 40 students between them. To provide additional space, the Colleges will lease New Future Manor, an apartment building just off campus, accommodating approximately 40 students. The 2007-2008 academic year will officially begin on Wednesday, Aug. 29, with the convocation ceremony on Stern Lawn, where civil rights leader Congressman John L. Lewis (D-GA) will deliver the Convocation Address.
Gentleman of Hobart College,
Students carrying flags marks the welcome celebreation of Convocation with guest speaker Representative John Lewis, See Page 4, (Kevin Colton/HWS Communications)
“Gangs” of Geneva, New York By ROSS W. GREEN ‘09 Upon coming back to campus, many Hobart and William Smith students have been caught up in a whirlwind of rumors, many of which are quite daunting and scary. Perhaps one of the most prominent of these rumors is that of escalating gang violence in downtown Geneva over this past summer. The purpose of this article is thus to clear up the rumors, to shed some light on the situation, and to offer some helpful safety tips for freshman who are not accustomed to the HWS scene, and also to upperclassman as a reminder of how to be prudent and watchful. The Finger Lakes Times reported on July 30, 2007 that, “[a]round 4 a.m, city police responded to reports of several shots being fired and when they arrived they found Elvin Manuel Cruz, 17 [year old]…on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound. Cruz was taken to Geneva General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.” Upon hearing this heartbreaking news, many Geneva citizens were a combination of appalled, angered, scared, and crestfallen.
Two days later, Tremaine Green, after a warrant was put out for his arrest, gave himself in, and was taken into custody on charges of second-degree murder, violation of probation and failure to appear (after reportedly missing a parole hearing for his previous arrest of disorderly conduct). Green has since plead not guilty to these charges, and continues to maintain his innocence. Geneva citizen’s worst fear was realized two weeks later; the Finger Lakes Times reports that, on August 20, 2007, “[a] local man who witnesses said was in a nearby car when Elvin Cruz was killed…was shot…”. The victim, Jason Turner, was immediately brought to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was later listed as in stable condition. Alexis Rivera, 17 years old, was immediately arrested, and was charged with attempted murder. Frank T. Pane, the Police Chief in the City of Geneva, was very quick to quell the notion that this incident was gang related. Chief Pane maintained that, “there have apparently been fights in the past between these
HSG UPDATE
New Board, New Agenda By TRIPPE DUKE Managing Editor Last Tuesday the Hobart Student Government (HSG) held its first meeting, and set the tone early as a year of change. With a high turnout for the first meeting of around 65 gentlemen arranged in Napier 203, the quorum quickly got down to business and held a vote to move back to a more spacious Coxe Hall, where the meetings have traditionally been held. Once things settled down in Coxe 8, the executive board introduced its plans to refit the HSG Constitution. As pointed out by Rob Poole, the new Director of Student Activities, there were some loopholes which could cause problems for HSG specifically in the areas of voting regulations. The main issue arises when the current voting regulations call for a minimum turnout of 75% at a Hobart where less than half of the student body votes in the most important of elections. The proposed plan to operate off of a working constitution was passed by the quorum, despite the concerns of some that it now places exclusive control of the new constitution in the hands of the HSG and the Constitution
Review Committee. Without the previously established regulations requiring the involvement of the entire Hobart student body, it seems as if the HSG now has the ability to create a constitution which will serve its best interests under the aegis of efficiency The HSG is still in its forming period however, with no real business able to be done until the fourteen day report, in which the Budget Allocations Committee (BAC) will divvy up the $180,000 of student tax dollars between various student clubs and organizations. Next week elections will be held during the meeting at appoint new members to the various committee’s associated with the HSG. These committee’s include the BAC, I.T. Services, Campus Services, Academic Affairs, Sexual Grievance, Food Services, Diversity Equity and Social Justice, Committee on Standards (COS), as well as a Fall Nationals Committee. Each of these committees represent the most efficient manner in which a student can actually have some control within the college bureaucracy. Want some bacon on
your cheeseburger then the Food Services committee is where you need to be to make it happen. In addition to those listed above, there will also be appointments to the Constitution Review Committee consisting of nine people, with two representatives from each class as well as a member of the executive board. Elections for First Year student government positions are also being tentatively planed for September 21. Next on the agenda was Mark O. Vogelgesand ’08, who proposed his plan to supply the student body with free reusable coffee mugs, which will include discount prices at the Café. Tim Horstman ’08 was next with his proposal for funds to purchase an AED for the new student EMS squad, which will help keep hearts beating and students from unnecessary trips to the hospital courtesy of Campus Security. The HSG meets weekly on Tuesdays at 8:00PM in a location to be announced, all Hobart students are encouraged to attend and vote.
individuals, which has now escalated to a shooting, then retaliation two weeks later.” Pane immediately added that this is a “conflict between two groups of people,” and in no way appears to be organized or gang related. Pane argued that Geneva is a very safe place. In fact, he cited that last year had the lowest crime rate in several years, with most incidents being acquaintance crimes. Chief Pane was quick to remind the HWS community that, “if we thought that [HWS students] were in danger, we’d let you know.” Pane insists that Hobart and William Smith faculty and students should go about their normal activities, but as always, “know your surroundings, whether downtown or on campus.” Pane also offered some other helpful hints on how to stay safe: always travel in groups, be careful of alcohol consumption because over-drinking leaves one extremely vulnerable, and, as always, do not drink when underage at the bars downtown because the bars will get raided this year.
Monday, September 10th, marks the beginning of Rush week. Events will be held at Delta Chi, Chi Phi, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha, and Phi Sigma Kappa for students interested in pursuing Greek life. Any Sophomore or Upperclassman is eligible, provided they have a GPA of 2.25 and are in good standing with the Dean’s office. If you are interested, however, are not sure what which Fraternity/Society would be best for you, we strongly recommend you attend these events and get to know the men in each house. For many of you there may be a certain question in the back of your mind: Why go Greek? That is an excellent question. Fortunately, there are many great reasons to go Greek! Sadly, this article can only highlight a fraction of the benefits... Allow me to pass on a few pieces of advice: My first piece of advice is look at many of the leaders at Hobart College. If there is a club, sports team, or any other type of organization you are apart of, chances are there is someone Greek involved in it too. Most of Hobart Student Government and other prominent organizations (e.g. Chimera and the Druids) have Greek men leading them. In the past four years all Hobart Student Trustees have been Greek. The successes of these individuals are not solely based on their house, rather, the type of character required to be a Greek man. To say the least, the list of Hobart campus leaders is made up of mostly Greek men. My second piece of advice is to look past the stigmas given to many Greek systems. Fraternities are made up of men. Most of the men who pledged last year never expected to go Greek in the first place. The purpose of a Fraternity is to be a support network for men. The bonds of brotherhood allow Greek men to break social barriers–not reinforce
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